ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, parliamentarians and thousands of people on Friday offered funeral prayers in absentia for Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, condemning Israeli military actions in Palestinian territories.
Haniyeh and a bodyguard were killed in the pre-dawn attack on their accommodation in Tehran early on Wednesday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said. He had traveled to Iran to attend Tuesday’s swearing-in of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The Hamas leader’s assassination came just hours after Israel struck a southern suburb of Beirut, killing Fuad Shukr, the military commander of Hamas-allied Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, deepening fears of a wider regional escalation.
Sharif along with Pakistani lawmakers offered prayers at Parliament House in Islamabad, which were broadcast live by the state television. Separately, hundreds of people offered funeral prayers in absentia for Haniyeh at Islamabad’s iconic Faisal Mosque.
“An incident of worst brutality has come to the fore, which the entire world, including Pakistan, Turkiye, Malaysia, China and Russia, has condemned in the strongest words,” Sharif said at an earlier press talk on Friday, referring to Haniyeh’s assassination.
“The world peace institutions, which were formed decades ago to establish law and order, I believe their conscience must be awaken today.”
Funeral prayers for the slain Hamas chief were offered elsewhere in the South Asian country as well.
Separately, Pakistan’s National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, passed a unanimous resolution expressing its “unified grief and anger” over the ongoing Israeli oppression and brutality against Palestinians for the last nine months.
“This house strongly condemns the ongoing state oppression and brutality by Israel in Palestine as a tragedy for the Muslim Ummah and the world,” read the resolution passed by the National Assembly, expressing solidarity with the Palestinians and extending condolences to the family of Haniyeh.
The resolution called on the international community to take “collective action” to halt Israel’s oppression and brutalities and deliver justice to the Palestinian people.
“This house calls for the immediate admission of the State of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations,” the resolution added.
The Pakistan parliament also decided to continue to supply aid to Palestine and take effective measures for medical assistance to the oppressed Palestinian brothers and sisters, including treatment in Pakistan.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza in October last year, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations and demanded international powers and multilateral bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza. The South Asian country has also dispatched several aid consignments for the Palestinians.
Separately, Sharif told Pakistan’s parliament on Friday that his country would continue to provide relief goods and medical assistance to the Palestinians.
“It has been decided to continue providing relief goods to Palestine and will undertake measures for the wounded Palestinians through which arrangements will be made to bring them to Pakistan for treatment,” he said.
“We have also decided Palestinian medical students will be admitted to Pakistani medical colleges.”
Israel launched a war on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023 in response to an attack by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Militants also took around 200 Israelis hostage.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign against Hamas has killed at least 39,480 people in Gaza, according to the Gaza health ministry.
PM among thousands at Islamabad funeral in absentia for slain Hamas leader
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PM among thousands at Islamabad funeral in absentia for slain Hamas leader
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- Pakistan observes ‘Day of Mourning’ in solidarity with Palestine after killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran
- Pakistan parliament passes resolution demanding global community deliver justice to Palestinian people
Pakistan’s newly commissioned warship visits Saudi Arabia on maiden voyage
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ISLAMABAD: A newly commissioned Pakistani warship, PNS Hunain, visited Jeddah on its first international voyage and conducted a bilateral exercise with the kingdom’s naval forces, Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia said on Sunday.
PNS Hunain, an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), was commissioned into the Pakistan Navy in July this year during a ceremony held at Constanta Port in Romania.
The vessel is equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems and is designed for multi-purpose operations, including anti-ship and anti-air warfare.
It also supports search and rescue missions, maritime security operations and can embark helicopters for extended operations.
“The newly commissioned PNS Hunain visited #Jeddah on its maiden voyage,” the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh informed in a social media post. “Also conducted bilateral exercise with #RSNF Ship Al Riyadh.”
The Pakistan Navy regularly participates in both bilateral and multilateral exercises, particularly with regional countries, to enhance interoperability and ensure collective maritime security.
It is also actively involved in addressing non-traditional threats such as piracy, contributing to the safe passage of trade through critical sea lanes, particularly in the Indian Ocean.
Pakistani forces kill eight Afghan Taliban in border clash after ‘unprovoked firing’ — state media
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- The two countries have previously witnessed similar skirmishes, leading to the closure of border crossings
- Pakistani officials blame Afghan Taliban for sheltering and facilitating banned militant networks like the TTP
ISLAMABAD: Security forces in Pakistan killed eight Afghan Taliban fighters in a border clash, state-owned media reported on Sunday, following “unprovoked firing” from the other side on Pakistani checkpoints.
This is not the first such skirmish along the border between the two neighboring countries.
Previous clashes have led to the closure of key crossings like Torkham and Chaman, severely disrupting trade and halting the movement of people between the two states.
Last month, the Torkham border was shut down for three days after the Afghan Taliban announced they were investigating reports of Pakistani fighter jets allegedly violating Afghan airspace to patrol Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.
“Afghan Taliban opened unprovoked firing with heavy weapons yesterday from inside Afghanistan, targeting Pakistani check posts,” Radio Pakistan said.
“The Pakistan security forces responded effectively and killed eight Afghan Taliban, including key commanders Khalil and Jan Muhammad,” it continued. “Sixteen Afghan Taliban were also injured in the firing.”
Quoting unnamed sources, Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported that the incident took place along the Pak-Afghan border near the Kurram district in the northwest.
However, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has not released an official statement on the matter.
Pakistani officials have previously accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering and facilitating the banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
They have also urged the Kabul administration not to allow such armed factions to use Afghan territory to launch attacks in the region.
The Afghan authorities, however, deny these allegations, maintaining that Pakistan’s security challenges are an internal issue for Islamabad.
Deputy PM Dar seeks increased investment, trade in talks with British-Pakistani lawmakers
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- Ishaq Dar briefs these lawmakers on government’s roadmap for the country’s economic revival
- He says young British-Pakistanis should stay connected with their roots by visiting the country
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar discussed the prospects of increasing investment from the United Kingdom, along with expanding bilateral trade volume, during a detailed interaction with a group of British-Pakistani members of parliament in London, according to an official statement released on Sunday.
Dar embarked on his first five-day official visit to Britain last week following the change of government in the UK, where the Labour Party won the general elections in July and returned to power after 14 years.
He addressed a wide range of issues with senior administration officials in London, including the resumption of Pakistan International Airlines flights to the UK, which he emphasized as a “major priority” for the government.
The last elections in the UK also saw 15 members of Pakistani heritage elected to parliament, many of whom met the deputy prime minister at a dinner hosted by Pakistan’s High Commissioner, Dr. Muhammad Faisal, at the diplomatic facility.
“The Deputy Prime Minister congratulated the newly elected British-Pakistani Members of Parliament,” said the statement released by his office, adding their success in the elections reflected the strength of British democracy and success of its citizens of Pakistani origin.
“The Deputy Prime Minister asked the Members of Parliament for suggestions on how the government could draw more British foreign direct investment in Pakistan and increase the bilateral trade volume,” it added.
He briefed the British-Pakistani lawmakers on his government’s roadmap for the economic revival of the country, acknowledging that security issues over the past several years had caused significant challenges for Pakistan.
However, he emphasized that the government was committed to steering Pakistan back toward economic growth and development. Dar explained the Pakistani administration had to implement politically unpopular measures, noting that they were gradually starting to yield positive results.
He mentioned that inflation had been reduced to single digits and the current account deficit had been brought under control, along with stabilizing the currency.
Dar also highlighted the widespread institutional support for economic reforms and noted that the Special Investment Facilitation Council, established by the government last year, was attracting foreign investors to Pakistan’s energy, mining, information technology and agriculture sectors.
The deputy prime minister further stressed the importance of young British-Pakistanis staying connected with their roots and noted that the Pakistani government had introduced a new visa-free policy to encourage Pakistani expatriates to visit the country.
Pakistan to hold next month’s England Tests in Multan and Rawalpindi — report
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- Reports earlier said schedule for next month’s series can be altered due to construction at proposed grounds
- England are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on October 2, with the first Test match starting on October 7
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will be holding a three-Test series between Pakistan and England in Pakistan, an international cricket website reported on Sunday, citing a spokesperson of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
England last week sought clarity from the PCB over their upcoming Test tour of Pakistan following reports that matches could be moved to another country.
The development came amid ongoing construction work as Pakistan prepares to bring its stadiums at par with international standards before Champions Trophy next year.
“The ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] has given the go-ahead to hold the series in Multan and Rawalpindi,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Naqvi’s spokesperson Mohammad Rafiullah as saying.
The ECB is satisfied with the venues, Rafiullah added.
England are scheduled to play the first Test in Multan from October 7, followed by matches in Karachi and Rawalpindi, but renovations ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy appear to be causing issues at the latter two venues.
However, there has been no official comment from the PCB and the board has yet to officially finalize venues for each of the three Test matches for the series, according to the report.
England coach Brendon McCullum addressed the issue on Thursday while speaking to reporters at The Oval ahead of the third Test against Sri Lanka.
“We don’t really know (what is happening in Pakistan) but we can’t pick a team until we know where we’re going to play,” he said. “It would be nice if, over the next couple of days, we found out.”
England are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on October 2, with the first Test starting on October 7.
Party of ex-PM Imran Khan holds Islamabad rally for his release
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- Khan, who has been in jail since August last year, was convicted in four cases, all of which have been either suspended or overturned by the courts
- Authorities say several cops injured in clashes with Khan supporters, PTI says law enforcers using “brutal violence” against peaceful rally-goers
ISLAMABAD: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party on Sunday held a large public rally in Islamabad and called for his release from prison within two weeks, as authorities said “several” policemen were injured after Khan supporters pelted them with stones.
Khan, who has been in jail since August last year, faces a slew of charges and was convicted in four cases since he was first taken into custody, all of which have been either suspended or overturned by the courts. Khan remains in jail, however, on new charges brought by Pakistan’s national accountability watchdog regarding the illegal sale of gifts from a state repository while he was prime minister from 2018 till 2022.
The rally by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) comes after it was postponed twice before. The gathering was previously planned for July and then August but was called off both times after permission was revoked over what officials described as security threats and concerns about unrest.
“If Imran Khan is not released within two weeks, then we ourselves will have him released,” close Khan ally, Ali Amin Gandapur, chief minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told a charged crowd in Islamabad’s Sangjani area. “Are you ready to get your [right]? I will lead you. Do not fall back.”
Gandapur announced the party would hold its next rally in Pakistan’s political heart of Lahore, saying authorities would “forget about Bangladesh,” referring to recent protests in the South Asian nation that saw autocrat Sheikh Hasina ousted from power after 15 years.
This was the first rally held by the PTI since the Feb. 8 national elections and was met by authorities in Islamabad blocking dozens of main roads and key intersections to “ensure public safety” during the gathering.
Khan supporters and the police clashed at at least one location in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where police and the interior ministry said several cops were injured after they were pelted with stones “without provocation” by Khan supporters. Khan’s party in turn alleged law enforcers were “shelling and attacking attendees for no reason.”
The PTI says the main aim of the rally was to mobilize supporters for the release of Khan who has waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against Pakistan’s powerful military and blamed the then army leadership of orchestrating his ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote in April 2022. The army says it does not interfere in political affairs.
Khan also faces the prospect of a military trial for treason and attempting to incite a mutiny in the army following the recent unprecedented arrest of former Pakistani spy chief Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed.
Khan’s key ally Gandapur told participants of the Islamabad rally that nobody would be able to hold a military trial of the jailed premier, distancing his party from Gen Hameed who is accused of violating the Pakistan Army Act.
“Fix your institution, fix your generals, fix yourself,” Gandapur said, in a direct reference to the army.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said the PTI had failed to gather a large number of people and was sharing “fake” visuals to demonstrate its strength among the public.
“The millions of people who had to come out [for the PTI rally] in the form of an ocean are not to be seen. Yes, a rally was held as per usual like other rallies, as should happen, it’s a democratic right, and should be held in the time allotted by district administration,” he told the media in a video statement.
“But I fail to understand that to hide the failure of their rally they are tweeting [fake] visuals. Footage from other countries are being run.”
Independent analysts said the PTI had managed to put on a decent show.
“Strong turnout for PTI rally despite the state’s tactics to limit numbers through roadblocks and containers, and despite the risk of violent crackdowns and arrests,” tweeted Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute Director at the Wilson Center in Washington.
“Its size and popularity ensure its mobilization capabilities remain intact despite relentless attempts to curb it.”
The PTI says it has faced a months-long crackdown since protesters linked to the party attacked and damaged government and military installations on May 9, 2023, after Khan’s brief arrest that day in a land graft case. Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots and many remain behind bars as they await trial. The military has also initiated army court trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
The party says it was not allowed to campaign freely ahead of the Feb. 9 general election, a vote marred by a mobile Internet shutdown on election day and unusually delayed results, leading to accusations that it was rigged and drawing concern from rights groups and foreign governments.
The PTI says it won the most seats but its mandate was “stolen” by PM Sharif’s coalition government which formed the government with the backing of the all-powerful military. Both deny the claim.