ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi congratulated Saudi Arabia on Friday for holding a successful G20 summit earlier this month while interacting with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, on the sidelines of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Niger.
They discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries and the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Qureshi said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed historic and brotherly relations. He also praised the kingdom’s principled stance on Kashmir and expressed his gratitude for its unstinting support to Pakistan over the issue.
The Pakistani foreign minister also discussed the current situation in Indian-administered Kashmir and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s role in the Muslim world.
According to an official statement released by Pakistan’s foreign office, Prince Faisal bin Farhan praised Pakistan’s role in regional security.
The two officials also agreed to increase bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, economy and commerce.
It was decided that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would exchange official delegations for greater collaboration in the coming days.
Pakistan praises Saudi Arabia for holding successful G20 summit
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Pakistan praises Saudi Arabia for holding successful G20 summit
- Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi meets his Saudi counterpart on the sidelines of the OIC foreign ministers’ conference
- The two officials agree to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, economy and commerce
Curfew extended in Gilgit-Baltistan, probe ordered after deadly Khamenei protests
- At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Government also announces a de-weaponization campaign, crackdown on hate speech and cybercrime in region
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Tuesday extended a curfew in Gilgit district and ordered a judicial probe into violent protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week, an official said.
At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in GB, where protesters torched and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations regional offices, an army-run school, software technology park and a local charity building.
The violence prompted regional authorities to impose curfew in Gilgit and Skardu districts on March 2-4 as officials urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcers, amid widespread anger in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, over Khamenei’s killing.
On Tuesday, the GB government convened to review the situation and announced the extension of curfew in Gilgit among a number of security measures as well as ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the weekend violence in the region.
“The government has made it clear that the law will strictly take its course against elements involved in vandalism at government institutions, private properties and incidents of vandalism in Gilgit and Skardu and no kind of mischief will be tolerated,” Shabbir Mir, a GB government spokesperson, said in a statement.
“In view of the security situation, curfew will remain in force in Gilgit, while the decision to extend the curfew in Skardu will be taken keeping the ground realities and the changing situation in view.”
The statement did not specify how long the curfew will remain in place in Gilgit.
Besides the formation of the judicial commission to investigate the violent clashes, the government also decided to launch a large-scale de-weaponization campaign in the entire Gilgit district, for which relevant institutions have been directed to immediately complete all necessary arrangements, according to Mir.
In addition, a crackdown has been ordered on hate speech, spread of fake news and cybercrime.
“The aim of these decisions is to ensure the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens and crack down on miscreants,” he said. “Approval has also been given to immediately survey the affected infrastructure and start their restoration work on priority basis.”
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Pakistani authorities have since beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
