KARACHI: Representatives of Pakistan’s Hindu community on Sunday marched in support of the Muslims of Delhi affected by violent riots in the Indian capital last month, and announced they would celebrate this year’s Holi festival on Monday with sobriety as a message of protest against the violence in India.
The Hindu community in Pakistan makes up about two percent of the country’s population of 210 million people and the majority lives in southern Sindh province. For this religious group, the annual festival of Holi is normally celebrated with great zeal in Karachi, as a commemoration of spring and color.
But the 2020 Delhi riots which erupted on the night of Feb. 23 and led to the deaths of 53 people, mostly Muslim, in violent ways, have dampened the joy of the impending festival, the demonstrators said.
“Our Muslim brothers were being oppressed and killed, and their property was damaged in Delhi. It has really hurt us and prompted us to march today,” Pundit Mukesh Kumar, one of the march’s organizers, told Arab News and added: “The festival of Holi, which starts on Monday evening will be celebrated but to fulfil religious obligations only-- without all the colors and merry-making.”
On Sunday, as nationwide Aurat March demonstrations garnered national attention, the Hindu marchers continued their own impassioned protest. Community members said they have suspended all major events usually associated with the festival.
“We have canceled our main events of throwing colors, playing music and showing happiness,” Kumar said
“We urge upon the UN and world community to stop Modi and his government from meting out bad treatment to religious minorities. We also urge our Hindu brothers in India to stand up for the rights of Muslims and other religious minorities,” he said.
“Our Muslim brothers have never been a hurdle to our festival, instead they’ve always protected us,” he said. “They celebrate it with us.”
Referring to India’s controversial new citizenship law which Muslims and civil libertarians in India have been protesting since the beginning of the year, Dr. Rakesh Motiani, a local leader of Pakistan People’s Party said India’s Muslims were only protesting against a bad law.
“It’s unfortunate that the Modi government tried to stop them from protesting by resorting to the worst form of violence,” Motiani said at the Karachi Press Club.
Shanti Devi, a demonstrator and woman in her 60’s, said the Muslims of India should be considered equal citizens of their country.
“It hurts us a lot when Muslims are tortured in India. All should be considered human beings, and only then will peace prevail and society prosper,” she said.
“We are all humans and have the right to live in our countries peacefully.”
Pakistani Hindus march, cancel major Holi celebrations to protest Delhi riots
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Pakistani Hindus march, cancel major Holi celebrations to protest Delhi riots
- Community members say will celebrate this year’s Holi festival with simplicity and sobriety
- Pakistan’s Hindu community makes up about two percent of country’s population with majority living in Sindh
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Family members on trial for murder of British-Pakistani girl
- 10-year-old Sara Sharif was found dead in bed at family home in Woking on Aug. 10, 2023
- Day before body was found, Sara’s father, step-mother and uncle left UK for Pakistan
LONDON: The body of a 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl whose death sparked an international manhunt was found with burn marks believed to have been made by an iron, a prosecutor told a London court on Monday.
Sara Sharif was found dead in bed at her family home in Woking, southern England, on August 10, 2023.
The discovery triggered a manhunt in which Interpol and Britain’s foreign ministry coordinated with authorities in Pakistan.
The day before Sara’s body was found, her father, 42-year-old taxi driver Urfan Sharif, step-mother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle Faisal Malik, 29, left the UK for Pakistan with Sharif’s five other children.
All three adults are on trial for her murder.
A post-mortem examination found “signs of traumatic head injury,” apparent scald burns on the inside of her ankles and bite marks — five to her left lower arm and one to her inner thigh — that were “probably human.”
Sara’s stepmother Batool has refused to provide a dental impression for comparison with the bite marks, the prosecutor said.
Other injuries included to Sara’s ribs, shoulder blades, fingers and 11 separate fractures to the spine, he added.
The jury was played a recording of a “calm” phone call on the evening of August 8, 2023, in which Batool asks about booking flights to Islamabad.
Sara’s body was found in the family’s empty house after an emergency call, apparently from Pakistan, alerting officers was made by a man identifying himself as the father.
A note from her father found next to her body appeared to contain a confession, the prosecutor told jurors.
“Love you Sara,” said the note, which was shown to the jury.
A second page added: “Whoever see this note its me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter by beating.
“I am running away because I am scared but I promise that I will hand over myself and take punishment.”
Another page read: “I swear to God that my intention was not to kill her but I lost it.”
A handwriting expert who analyzed the note concluded it was written by Urfan Sharif.
The three defendants — arrested in September last year after disembarking from a flight from Dubai — all deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
Pakistan gears up to host regional leaders for key SCO summit in Islamabad today
- Prime ministers, key officials from China, Russia, India and Iran to attend two-day SCO summit in Islamabad
- Summit takes place with heightened security measures in place in Islamabad after recent surge in militant attacks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host leaders from Russia, Iran, India, China and other regional nations today, Tuesday, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) 23rd Council of Heads of Government summit in Islamabad where important discussions related to multilateral cooperation in economy, trade and militancy is expected to take place.
Pakistan’s capital Islamabad has been in lockdown ahead of the two-day conference scheduled for Oct. 15-16, with some its main arteries blocked amid heightened presence of police and paramilitary forces in various parts of the city. The government has announced a three-day public holiday in Islamabad starting Monday, with schools and businesses closed due to security concerns ahead of the meeting.
The SCO is sometimes touted as an alternative to the Western-dominated NATO military alliance. The prime ministers of Russia, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are expected to take part in the summit while India’s foreign minister and Iran’s first vice president are also expected to attend the regional event. Mongolia’s prime minister will attend the event as an observer while the deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and foreign minister of Turkmenistan has been invited as a special guest.
“Pakistan is all set to host meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Islamabad on Tuesday and Wednesday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said in a report.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair the CHG session and is expected to hold meetings with regional leaders on the sidelines of the event. SCO leaders will adopt important organizational decisions to further enhance cooperation among member states and approve the inter-governmental body’s budget during the summit.
Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang arrived in Islamabad on Monday to attend the SCO meeting, marking the first time in 11 years that a Chinese premier visited the country. Qiang oversaw the signing of several cooperation agreements with Pakistan on trade and investment and virtually inaugurated a China-sponsored international airport in the port city of Gwadar.
PAKISTAN’S SECURITY WOES
Pakistan is wary of security troubles ahead of the key regional summit, with the South Asian country witnessing a surge in attacks recently. A suicide attack in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Oct. 6 killed two Chinese engineers and injured 10 others, raising questions over Islamabad’s ability to host the conference.
Pakistan army troops will be responsible for the security of the capital’s Red Zone, the location of the parliament and a diplomatic enclave and where most of the meetings will take place, according to the interior ministry.
A decades-long insurgency in Balochistan by separatist militant groups has led to frequent attacks against the government, army and Chinese interests in the region to press demands for a share in mineral-rich regional resources. China has frequently urged Pakistan to ensure security for its citizens.
Islamabad is also battling a surge in militancy in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bordering Afghanistan where Pakistani Taliban or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants have increased attacks against security forces since November 2022 after a fragile truce between both sides broke down.
Pakistan blames the Afghan government for sheltering TTP militants who launch attacks on its soil, a charge Kabul has repeatedly denied.
