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Second batch of 64 Palestinian students arrive in Pakistan's capital to continue medical studies

Second batch of 64 Palestinian students arrive at Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad, Pakistan on October 15, 2024. (Al-Khidmat Foundation)
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Updated 15 October 2024
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Second batch of 64 Palestinian students arrive in Pakistan's capital to continue medical studies

  • Islamabad says a total of 192 Palestinian students from Gaza will continue fully funded studies in Pakistani institutions
  • Second batch of Palestinian students are from the fourth and fifth year of medical and dental curriculum, says NGO
Updated 15 October 2024
Fatimah Amjad

ISLAMABAD: A second batch of 64 Palestinian medical and dental students from Gaza arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday morning to continue their education in Pakistani educational institutions, a leading non-governmental organization involved in the initiative confirmed.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced in July that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) will provide scholarships to over 100 Palestinian students so that they can continue their studies in Pakistan as Israel’s war wreaks havoc in the Middle East. The initiative is a collaboration between Doctors of Rehman, Global Relief Trust and the leading Pakistani non-governmental organization, Al-Khidmat Foundation. 

The second batch of a total of 192 Palestinian students departed Cairo for Islamabad on Monday. The development took place hours after the first batch of 27 Palestinian students from Gaza arrived in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore. 

“Praise be to god, the second batch of 64 Palestinian students arrived at Islamabad airport this morning,” Al-Khidmat Foundation said in a statement. “The students are from fourth and fifth year of medical and dental curriculum.”

The foundation said that its delegation received the “excited” students at the airport. In pictures shared with the statement, Al-Khidmat Foundation members can be seen posing with Palestinian students and handing out roses to them.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has killed over 42,000 people in Gaza through relentless bombardment despite ceasefire calls and angry protests in several countries around the world. The Jewish state has bombed thousands of buildings, included medical institutions in the territory, as it carries out airstrikes and ground offensives in Gaza. 

There have also been widespread reports of substantial damage to educational institutions along with reports of deliberate targeting of Palestinian academics. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other sources have documented severe damage to Gaza’s health care facilities, including the largest hospital Al-Shifa, which has been rendered non-functional due to extensive damage in the ongoing conflict.

The WHO has also warned of the outbreak of diseases in Gaza, reporting that cases of meningitis, jaundice, impetigo, chickenpox and other upper respiratory tract infections have been recorded in the area. 

Topics: Palestinian students in Pakistan Al-Khidmat Foundation

Pakistan’s Punjab forms committee to probe alleged rape of Lahore student

Updated 4 min 2 sec ago
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Pakistan’s Punjab forms committee to probe alleged rape of Lahore student

  • Hundreds of students protested this week over alleged rape of Lahore college student by security guard
  • Seven-member committee headed by Punjab chief secretary to probe incident college says is “false”
Updated 4 min 2 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: The chief minister of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province on Tuesday formed a committee to investigate the alleged rape of a college student in the eastern city of Lahore, following clashes between police and students over the reported incident. 

Hundreds of students on Monday staged protests over the reported rape of a student of a private college in Lahore, forcing the closure of one of the campuses while police and provincial government officials denied the incident took place.

The incident was first reported on social media over the weekend, with varying accounts stating the rape took place on Thursday or Friday evening in the basement of the Punjab College for Women campus in Lahore. Police on Monday said no victim had come forward to file a complaint and the college dismissed the allegations as “false.”

“Apropos the subject, the chief minister has constituted a high-powered committee to investigate the reported incident of rape crime at the Punjab College for Women,” a government notification shared by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the ruling party in Punjab province, said. 

The seven-member committee is headed by the chief secretary with the advocate general of Punjab, home secretary, higher education secretary, special education department secretary and specialized health care and medical education department secretary as members. The seventh member would be any other member co-opted by the committee, the notification said. 

Police on Monday took into custody a security guard who was identified as the culprit by students online. The notification said that one of the terms of reference of the committee would be to gather facts, collect evidence and record any statements related to the alleged incident. 

It would also ascertain the appropriateness of the responses to the incident by the college and the Punjab Police when the incident came to light. 

“The committee shall submit the report along with the findings to the chief minister within 48 hours,” the notification said.

In a video statement shared on social media, the father of the alleged rape victim regretted that his daughter’s name was being associated with the incident. Standing beside Additional Superintendent of Police Shehrbano Naqvi, the father said his daughter was admitted to a hospital after she slipped and suffered an injury to her backbone. 

“We have handed her medical reports and everything to the police,” he said. “Those who have daughters, only then can understand the pain we are going through [because of the rumors.]“

Topics: punjab college incident Lahore Punjab College for Women

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Pakistani students force closure of Lahore college campus amid protests over rape reports

Pakistan win toss, bat in second England Test

Updated 26 min 25 sec ago
AFP
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Pakistan win toss, bat in second England Test

  • England lead the three-match series 1-0 after an innings and 47-run victory in the first Test
  • Defeat prompted Pakistan to drop Babar Azam and pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah
Updated 26 min 25 sec ago
AFP

MULTAN: Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and decided to bat Tuesday in the second Test against England in Multan.
England lead the three-match series 1-0 after an innings and 47-run victory in the first Test, played at the same venue.
The defeat – Pakistan’s sixth in as many Tests – prompted their selectors to drop ace batsman Babar Azam.
Also left out were pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, plus spinner Abrar Ahmed, who had been hospitalized with fever during the first Test.
Batsman Kamran Ghulam will make his debut in place of Azam.
Pakistan opted for three spinners in their attack in the shape of Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood and Noman Ali with only one pace bowler, Aamer Jamal.
England captain Ben Stokes returns from a hamstring injury and fast bowler Matthew Potts comes into the side, with Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes left out from the first Test.
The third and final Test begins on October 24 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood
England: Ben Stokes (captain), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
TV umpire: Sharfuddoula Saikat (BAN)
Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)

Topics: Pakistan v England Multan

Pakistan reports fresh polio case, taking 2024 tally to 33 

Updated 15 October 2024
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Pakistan reports fresh polio case, taking 2024 tally to 33 

  • Pakistan reports latest polio case from southwestern Quetta district in Balochistan province 
  • Pakistan faces challenges in fight against polio, most prominent among them militancy 
Updated 15 October 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistan’s polio program said this week another case of the poliovirus has been reported from the country’s southwestern Quetta district, taking the total number of cases this year to 33. 

Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains the last polio-endemic country in the world. Starting from late 2018, Pakistan saw a resurgence of cases and increased spread of polio, highlighting the fragility of gains achieved in the preceding three years.

“Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health Islamabad has confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type-1 case from Quetta District of Balochistan,” the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme said on Monday. 

The total number of poliovirus cases this year from Balochistan has increased to 17 while the number of cases reported from Sindh are 10. The northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has reported four while one case each has been reported from Punjab and Islamabad.

The polio program said that environmental samples from Quetta district and Quetta city have been consistently positive for poliovirus this year, indicating continued circulation of the virus and risk to children. It added that this year, 37 positive environmental samples and three cases have been reported from Quetta, while Quetta district has reported 65 positive environmental samples and 11 cases.

The program said implementing polio campaigns across Pakistan was a “challenge” last year. 

“Campaigns were staggered or postponed due to localized protests, boycotts and insecurity, leading to a cohort of missed children who can sustain poliovirus transmission,” the statement said. “This outbreak is indicative of the harm children suffer due to missed vaccination opportunities.”

Pakistan’s polio eradication program began in 1994 and the number of cases has declined dramatically since then but the country continues to face challenges in its fight against polio, including militancy, with polio workers targeted by attacks, particularly in the KP province.

The polio program has adapted to respond to climate disasters such as floods but continues to face disruptions. There are also gaps in supplementary immunization activities, especially in areas where the virus is still present.

Topics: Polio Pakistan

Italian aircraft carrier arrives in Pakistan on maiden voyage to boost defense cooperation

Updated 15 October 2024
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Italian aircraft carrier arrives in Pakistan on maiden voyage to boost defense cooperation

  • Three-day visit to enhance maritime collaboration between both navies, says Pakistan Navy
  • Pakistan Navy regularly conducts defense agreements, training and joint exercises with counterparts
Updated 15 October 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: The Italian Navy’s Carrier Strike Group comprising an aircraft carrier and a frigate arrived in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi this week, the navy confirmed, for a three-day visit to enhance regional maritime security and defense cooperation between the two countries. 

The visiting Italian fleet comprises aircraft carrier Cavour and the Alpino frigate, which arrived in Karachi on Monday. The group was welcomed by Pakistan Navy’s senior officials and Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Marilina Armellin upon their arrival.

The visit marks the first ever by an Italian aircraft carrier to Pakistan. 

“The Italian Navy Carrier Strike Group comprising Aircraft Carrier Cavour and frigate Alpino arrived in Karachi on a three-day visit followed by a bilateral exercise,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement on Monday. 

A delegation led by Armellin and Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri called on Pakistan Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Abdul Munib to discuss “matters of mutual interest including interoperability and avenues for future collaboration,” the Pakistan Navy said. 

Karachi Commander Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi also visited Cavour where he was briefed about the aircraft carrier’s capabilities by Italian Commanding Officer Captain Francesco Fagnani. 

During the media brief, the Italian officials “endorsed the role of Pakistan Navy in regional maritime security and highlighted the importance of interoperability between the two navies,” Pakistan Navy said. 

The Italian defense industries’ capabilities were also showcased in a Defense Industries Exhibition held aboard the warship Alpino. 

In September, Italian Navy ship Morosini visited Karachi to conduct a bilateral exercise with the Pakistan Navy to bolster interoperability between the two forces. 

Topics: Pakistan Italy ties

Babar-less Pakistan head into second England Test with spin-laden lineup

Updated 15 October 2024
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Babar-less Pakistan head into second England Test with spin-laden lineup

  • Pakistan head into second Test in Multan against England without star batter Babar Azam and pacers Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi
  • Pakistan playing XI includes three specialist spinners in Zahid Mehmood, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, with Aamer Jamal only pace option
Updated 15 October 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan captain Shan Masood will depend on three spinners to run circles around England on Tuesday as he takes on Ben Stokes’ side without the likes of stellar batsman and former captain Babar Azam, and pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi. 

In a shocking development announced earlier this week, Pakistan dropped Azam, Shah and Afridi after a string of lackluster performances by the trio. Azam has not scored a fifty in his last 18 Test innings and managed just 30 and five in the first Test which England won on Friday after piling up 823-7 declared. Pakistan’s defeat was the latest in a string of humiliating Test losses at home, with the South Asian country becoming the first nation to suffer an innings defeat after scoring more than 500 runs in its first innings. 

“We are confident that this break from international cricket will help these players regain their fitness, confidence and composure, ensuring they return in top shape for future challenges,” Aqib Javed, the newly inducted member of the selection committee, said in a statement earlier this week. 

“They remain some of our finest talents with much more to contribute to Pakistan cricket. We are fully committed to supporting them during this period so they can come back even stronger.”

Pakistan announced their playing XI on Monday, with Aamer Jamal their only fast bowling option in the squad. The selection committee has named spinners Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Zahid Mehmood in the playing XI, marking a huge shift in Pakistan’s tactics that have mostly relied on fast bowlers. Haseebullah Khan, Mehran Mumtaz, Khan and batter Kamran Ghulam were the other names included in the 16-man squad for the second and third Test matches. 

Masood will be under added pressure as Pakistan remain winless in the last 11 Test matches at home. Since captaining the Test side for the first time ever in January this year, Pakistan have lost six Test matches on the trot. The South Asian country suffered a 2-0 humiliating Test series whitewash against Bangladesh at home last month. 

Squad:

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood.

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.

Topics: Pakistan v England England v Pakistan Babar Azam Shan Masood

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