ISLAMABAD: China and Pakistan have decided to accelerate development on the Gwadar Port in southwestern Balochistan, aiming to operationalize it as a hub for regional connectivity, according to a joint statement issued on Tuesday, with Beijing seeking “targeted security measures” to ensure a safer environment for bilateral cooperation.
The joint statement was released during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
The two countries have enjoyed a longstanding relationship, marked by strategic cooperation in trade, defense and infrastructure development. They have been collaborating on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multibillion-dollar infrastructure and regional connectivity initiative, with plans to expand it by focusing on industrialization and socio-economic development.
However, China has stressed the need for heightened security for its workers in Pakistan following recent deadly suicide bombings against them.
“Recognizing the significance of the Gwadar Port as a key hub for cross-regional connectivity, the two sides reaffirmed their readiness to speed up the development of the auxiliary infrastructure of the Gwadar Port, to steadily attract more cargo shipments to the port, to find a solution to inadequate water and power supply at an early date, to accelerate the development of the port’s industrial zone, and to solidly enhance connectivity between the port and other parts of Pakistan,” the statement proclaimed.
Pakistan has offered the landlocked Central Asian states access to its ports in Gwadar and Karachi, enabling them to trade with the rest of the world via sea routes.
The Chinese premier also inaugurated the Chinese-funded airport in Gwadar virtually during his ongoing visit to Pakistan.
The joint statement also mentioned the recent conversations between China and Pakistan over the security issues, highlighting the concerns raised by Beijing.
“Acknowledging the efforts made by the Pakistani side to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan, the Chinese side underscored the need and urgency to take targeted security measures in Pakistan, to jointly create a safe environment for cooperation between the two countries,” it said.
Militant groups targeting Pakistani civilians and security forces have also launched deadly attacks on Chinese workers in the past, killing a significant number of them in high-profile attacks.
Earlier this month, two Chinese engineers were killed in a massive explosion in Karachi only a few days before the arrival of China’s PM. This was the attack on Chinese workers in Pakistan since the beginning of the year.
The two countries also agreed to increase high-level official visit to discuss the progress on CPEC.
The Chinese side also reiterated its support for Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones.
China, Pakistan to fast-track Gwadar Port development, boost security for bilateral cooperation
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China, Pakistan to fast-track Gwadar Port development, boost security for bilateral cooperation
- China seeks ‘targeted security measures’ from Pakistan after deadly attacks against its nationals
- Both sides agree to turn Gwadar into a key regional connectivity hub, develop its industrial zone
England 239-6 in second Test after Sajid strikes for Pakistan
- Spinner takes three wickets in space of 10 deliveries during final session
- England lead series 1-0 after winning first Test by an innings and 47 runs
MULTAN: Pakistan spinner Sajid Khan took three wickets in the space of 10 deliveries including centurion Ben Duckett to leave England on 239-6 in the second Test in Multan on Wednesday.
An absorbing second day’s play on a turning pitch ultimately belonged to the hosts, who lead by 127 runs after their first-innings 366.
England had been cruising nicely at 211-2 when Sajid removed Joe Root (34), Duckett (114) and Harry Brook (nine) in the final session.
From the other end, fellow spinner Noman Ali dismissed England skipper Ben Stokes for one as a suddenly rattled England lost four wickets in the space of 14 runs.
At the close, Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse were at the crease with 12 and two respectively.
With the Multan pitch — which was also used for the first Test — offering sharp spin, the home team will be looking for a lead in the first innings for a series-levelling win.
England lead the three-match series 1-0 following their innings and 47 run win in the first Test.
In all, 11 wickets fell on the day with Sajid taking 4-86 and Noman 2-75.
Sajid bowled first Test triple century-maker Brook with a sharp turning delivery while Root — who smashed 262 in the last match — was bowled off an inside edge while sweeping.
Duckett scored aggressively before edging a drive off Sajid to the slip where Salman Agha took a sharp catch.
Before England’s slide it was Duckett who dominated, cracking 16 boundaries in his knock during which he also crossed 2,000 runs in his 28th Test.
Duckett added 73 for the opening stand with Zak Crawley (27), 52 for the second with Ollie Pope (29) and another solid 86 for the next with Root.
He swept spinner Agha for a boundary to reach his fourth Test century off just 120 deliveries, having completed his half-century off just 47 balls.
The hosts used Sajid in the second over as they chased an early England wicket but opener Crawley held out twice.
At 49-0 he survived a run-out when Sajid removed the stumps before grabbing the ball with the England opener out of his crease having being sent back by Duckett.
On 24 Crawley overturned a leg-before decision by New Zealand umpire Chris Gaffaney off Sajid before his luck ran out three runs later.
Crawley was finally caught behind off left-arm spinner Noman as the home team successfully reviewed a not-out decision by Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena.
Earlier, Pakistan’s tail had frustrated England by adding 107 runs after resuming at 259-5, with Jamal and Noman adding an invaluable 49 runs for the ninth wicket.
But from 358-8 at lunch Jamal was dismissed off the very first ball after the interval, bowled by Brydon Carse, who finished with 3-50.
Spinner Jack Leach ended Noman’s 32-run knock by having him caught in the deep by Carse to finish with 4-114.
Chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab dismisses alleged Lahore college rape as ‘lie’
- Hundreds of students protested, clashed with police this week against alleged on-campus rape of Lahore college student
- Maryam Nawaz blames former PM Khan’s party of spreading “false” rape allegations on social media to create unrest
ISLAMABAD: The chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab on Wednesday dismissed the alleged rape incident of a Lahore college student as a “lie,” accusing former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of using it to incite students and create unrest in the province.
Hundreds of students on Monday and Tuesday 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 a Punjab College for Women campus in Lahore. Police said no victim had come forward to file a complaint and the college dismissed the allegations as “false.” Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz formed a committee on Tuesday to investigate the alleged rape following clashes between police and students this week.
“An issue was made out of nothing and a lie was spread about an event that didn’t even take place,” Sharif said in a press conference on Wednesday. “A movement or chaos was created by provoking students and inciting them by leading them astray. This campaign was based on lies.”
Sharif said a college student whose name was being used as the rape victim, was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital on Oct. 2 after she fell at home and suffered injuries.
“Her mother was in such a distressed condition, she told me it was my responsibility to expose those who spread this lie and hold them accountable,” Sharif said, adding that the story was spread on social media by students and journalists who were biased in favor of the PTI.
She described the entire incident as a “disgusting and dangerous conspiracy” concocted by the PTI at a time when the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit was taking place in Pakistan.
“There is this one party, [Pakistan] Tehreek-e-Insaf, whom I call a terrorist party, and their agenda is that when Pakistan is progressing, they regress,” she said. “So we went to the bottom of a story and conspiracy that they crafted, we took out its minutest details. They used children.”
The chief minister said social media accounts linked to PTI supporters were responsible for spreading the “false” rape allegations, urging Pakistan’s high courts and their judges to take action against those who spread the false news.
“I would request them that this concerns everyone’s children, their lives and honor,” Nawaz said. “Please ensure they do not flee from this, all those against whom there is irrefutable evidence.”
Pakistan’s Sindh approaches high court for judicial inquiry into killing of blasphemy suspect
- Dr. Shahnawaz Kanbhar’s family alleges he was killed in police custody last month after being blasphemy allegations
- An inquiry committee constituted by Sindh’s inspector general determined doctor was killed in “fake encounter”
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Sindh government on Wednesday approached a high court for a judicial inquiry into the alleged police killing of a doctor after he was accused of committing blasphemy.
Dr. Shahnawaz Kanbhar, accused of sharing blasphemous content online, was arrested last month in Sindh’s Umerkot district and killed hours later by police in a purported shootout. According to media reports, police said Dr. Kanbhar was killed unintentionally when cops asked two men on a motorcycle to stop but one of them opened fire, prompting police to shoot back. Police said it was only after the shooting that they learned the slain man was the doctor being sought by them for alleged blasphemy.
His family disputes the police account, claiming he was murdered in custody. A subsequent inquiry committee constituted by Sindh’s inspector general of police determined that the encounter was a “fake” one.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from Pakistani rights activists, who have demanded a transparent investigation into the incident. One person was killed and dozens arrested last week in Karachi after opposing protests by rights activists and an ultraconservative party in Pakistan over the issue triggered clashes with police.
“It has now become imperative that Judicial Inquiry may be conducted into the subject matter incident in order to ascertain the real facts and fix responsibility on the delinquent police officers/officials and individuals in the interest of justice,” a copy of a letter sent by Sindh’s Home Department to the Sindh High Court’s registrar said.
“Foregoing in view, it is requested that Judicial Inquiry may be ordered to be conducted in the subject matter by a serving Judge of High Court under intimation to this department.”
Blasphemy accusations are common in Pakistan and under the country’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death. While no one has been executed on such charges, often just an accusation can cause riots and incite mobs to violence, lynching and killings.
In August 2023, thousands of people set churches and homes of Christians on fire in Jaranwala, a district in Punjab province, over blasphemy allegations in what was one of the worst incidents of violence against Christians in Pakistan.
Human rights groups and civil society organizations have urged the Pakistani government to repeal the country’s blasphemy laws, which they argue contribute to discrimination and violence. They have also called for a comprehensive review of law enforcers’ response to blasphemy accusations.
Oxford University leaves out ex-Pakistan PM Khan’s name from list of chancellor candidates
- Jailed former Pakistan PM Imran Khan applied to run for chancellor’s post in August this year
- Khan studied politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford’s Keble College during the 1970s
ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been effectively ruled out from running for Oxford University’s chancellor after the prestigious institution released a list of 38 candidates on Wednesday who will contest the election for the post, with his name not making the cut.
Khan, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018-2022, applied to be Oxford University’s chancellor in August this year. The former premier has been in jail since August 2023 on various charges from corruption to inciting violence that he says are politically motivated and designed to keep him from power.
Khan is a graduate of Oxford’s Keble College where he studied politics, philosophy, and economics in the 1970s while winning honors for the university’s cricket team and leading Pakistan to cricket World Cup glory in 1992. His connection to Oxford and a CV that includes an eight-year tenure as chancellor of the University of Bradford made him a prominent candidate for the post.
“The first round of voting will take place during Week 3 of Michaelmas Term (week commencing 28 October),” Oxford University said on its website. “The top 5 candidates will go on to a second round, to take place during the Week 6 of Michaelmas Term (week commencing 18 November).”
The chancellor is elected by the members of convocation, which includes all alumni of the university who have been admitted to a degree. To be eligible to run for the position, a candidate must be nominated by at least two members of convocation.
The election process is generally open to distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to public life, academia or other fields.
The position of chancellor of Oxford has existed since 1224. A largely ceremonial role, past officeholders include figures such as Oliver Cromwell, the Duke of Wellington, and former prime minister Harold Macmillan.
Pakistan at UN declares Jammu and Kashmir ‘will never be’ integral to India
- Pakistani diplomat tells special UNGA committee the region’s final status will be decided through plebiscite
- He criticizes India for maintaining heavy military presence to suppress people’s voices in the disputed region
ISLAMABAD: Jammu and Kashmir will never be an integral part of India, Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations said on Tuesday, adding the disputed territory’s ‘final disposition’ should be decided by the Kashmiri people through a plebiscite.
The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been divided between Pakistan and India since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both countries govern parts of the territory but claim it in full, having fought two of their three wars over the disputed region.
Addressing the General Assembly’s Special Political and Decolonization Committee, a Pakistani diplomat, Ansar Shah, criticized India for maintaining heavy security presence in the region to suppress people’s voice.
“First, Jammu and Kashmir is not, never has been, and will never be an integral part of India,” he said. “It is a disputed territory, whose final disposition is to be decided by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a UN-supervised plebiscite, as demanded by numerous resolutions of the Security Council.”
Shah said India had killed over 100,000 Kashmiris since 1989, many of them in “fake encounters.”
“All pro-freedom Hurriyat Leaders have remained incarcerated for years and many have died in custody under suspicious circumstances,” he said. “India seeks to portray the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for liberation and self-determination as terrorism.”
The Pakistani diplomat also lambasted India’s threats of taking over Azad Kashmir, reiterating Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s stance of responding “decisively” to any Indian aggression.
