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Pakistani foreign minister heads to New York to address emergency UNGA session on Palestine

Ambassador of Palestine to Pakistan, Ahmed Ameen Rabei (second left) calls on Pakistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shah Mahmood Qureshi (first left) in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 17, 2021. (Photo courtesy: Shah Mahmood Qureshi/Facebook)
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Updated 18 May 2021
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Pakistani foreign minister heads to New York to address emergency UNGA session on Palestine

  • On Monday, US once more prevented UN Security Council from issuing public statement on worsening Israeli attacks on Palestine
  • Pakistan’s parliament on Monday passed unanimous resolution over ‘unconscionable brutality’ of Israel against Palestinians
Updated 18 May 2021
Aamir Saeed Sabah Bano Malik

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi left for Turkey on Monday night from where he will fly to New York to attend and address an emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on worsening Israeli attacks on Palestine, Pakistan’s permanent mission to the UN said on Tuesday.
On Monday, the United States once more prevented the United Nations Security Council from issuing a public statement on the Israeli assault as the White House said it was pursuing “quiet, intensive diplomacy.”
For the past week Washington, a strong ally of Israel, has been isolated on the 15-member council over its objection to a public statement by the Security Council on the worst violence between Israel and the Palestinians in years because it worries it could harm behind-the-scenes diplomacy.
The death toll in Gaza jumped to 188 overnight, including 55 children, amid an intensive Israeli air and artillery barrage since the fighting erupted last Monday. Ten people have been killed in Israel, including two children, in thousands of rocket attacks by Hamas and other groups.
“On the special instructions of PM Imran Khan, the FM Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi will speak at @UN General Assembly #UNGA debate on “The situation in the Middle East” & the “Question of Palestine” on 20 May 2021,” Pakistan’s permanent mission to the UN said in a Twitter post.

“The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will hold meetings with various dignitaries in NewYork. He will hold talks with local & int’l media representatives & present Pakistan’s views on the situation in #Palestine.”

In a Twitter post, Qureshi said:
“Pakistan joins hands with Palestine, Sudan and Turkey to address an emergency session on #Palestine called by the United Nations General Assembly. Pakistan stands firmly with the people of Palestine.”

Pakistan’s lower house of parliament on Monday passed a unanimous resolution against what Qureshi called the ‘unconscionable brutality’ of Israel against Palestinians.
“Today in Parliament proud to present a resolution, unanimously adopted, in support of #Palestine, condemning Israeli’s unconscionable brutality & reaffirming Pakistan support for a two-state solution,” Qureshi said in a tweet.

The country’s National Assembly suspended its routine agenda to discuss ongoing Israeli airstrikes in which over 200 Palestinians have died so far.
The lower house passed a resolution calling upon the United Nations Security Council to ensure Israel immediately stopped ongoing crimes against Palestinians and halted its aggressions, which it said had violated the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque, a holy site for more than 1.5 billion Muslims.
The parliamentary resolution called upon the UN Secretary General to “establish an independent inquiry tribunal to investigate the crime of genocide by the apartheid Israeli regime against the Palestinian people.”
The parliament also urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take “immediate decisive steps” for the protection and safety of the Palestinian people and break the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza in order to provide humanitarian assistance.
Presenting the resolution in the National Assembly, Foreign Minister Qureshi said Pakistan had demanded total withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territories and would urge the UN General Assembly to convene an urgent session on the ongoing Israeli attacks against Palestinians.
Pakistan’s permanent mission to the United Nations has also called on the UN Security council to hold Israel accountable for “war crimes” and condemned its use of “indiscriminate force” against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Pakistani mission urged the UN Security Council to call Israel for an immediate halt to the use of arbitrary force, offer protections to civilians and ensure full compliance with international and human rights laws.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met the ambassador of Palestine, Ahmed Jawad A.A. Rabaei, on Monday and condemned “continuous and indiscriminate” attacks by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) against Palestinians.
“Foreign Minister Qureshi strongly condemned violence by the Israeli Forces against innocent worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement. “While conveying his deepest sorrow and condolences for the innocent victims of lethal attacks by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza and the West Bank, he categorically condemned IDF’s continuous and indiscriminate attacks that had resulted in martyrdom of more than 140 Palestinians, including 39 children and 22 women, and injured more than 1,000.”
Ambassador Rabaei expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s “unwavering support and steadfast policy” on Palestine and “appreciated Pakistan’s continuous efforts to engage the international community for protecting Palestine.”
Over 1,000 protesters gathered outside the Islamabad Press Club on Monday in a show of solidarity with Palestine. The demonstration was organized by the Awami Workers Party (AWP), the Women’s Democratic Forum (WDF), and the Progressive Student Federation.
Fatimah Quaider, a student organizer, told Arab News she knew people were “dying to get out and do something” to show support for Palestine, and hence she had started messaging people to coordinate a protest.
“Every night the bombings, it was becoming too much to bear — so I sent out three or four messages working on a plan and it’s spread like wildfire,” Quaider said. “People are coming for the protest because they are angry and heartbroken.”
“We all are here because there is a deafening silence all over the world and we are protesting against that silence,” said human rights activist Samar Minallah. “If we don’t speak up today it’s going to be us tomorrow.”
Protests were also held in Lahore, Karachi and other Pakistani cities.

Topics: Pakistan Palestine UNGA New York Israel

Saudi cadet bags gold medal as fresh batch graduates from Pakistan Military Academy

Updated 21 min 6 sec ago
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Saudi cadet bags gold medal as fresh batch graduates from Pakistan Military Academy

  • Forty-nine cadets from “friendly countries” graduate from Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, says army
  • The PMA provides initial training to Pakistani cadets and recruits from friendly countries such as Saudi Arabia
Updated 21 min 6 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army awarded the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Overseas Gold Medal to a Saudi cadet in recognition of his performance, as a fresh batch of local and international cadets graduated from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) on Saturday, the army’s media wing said. 

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, was the chief guest at the passing out parade of the 149th PMA Long Course at the academy in Kakul. General Metin Gürak, the chief of the Turkish general staff who is on an official visit to Pakistan, was the guest of honor at the ceremony. 

Gen. Mirza reviewed and spoke to cadets at the parade while General Gürak presented the awards to the distinguished cadets, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. 

“The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Overseas Gold Medal was awarded to Friendly Country Senior Under Officer Fahad Bin Aqil Al Towarqi Al Fallaj from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the ISPR said. 

The army’s media wing said 49 cadets from “friendly countries” also graduated at the ceremony. The coveted Sword of Honour was awarded to Academy Senior Under Officer Muhammad Nauman Abdullah. 

The President’s Gold medal was awarded to Company Senior Under Officer Muhammad Abdullah Javed of the 149th PMA Long Course, the army’s media wing said. 

“Since its inception, PMA has remained the cradle of leadership and center of excellence for cadets joining the premier institution of Army,” Gen. Mirza was quoted as saying by the ISPR. 

“Over the years, PMA has also trained scores of foreign cadets whose brilliant performance in their respective Armies stands testament to the professional ethos of PMA.”

 The PMA in Kakul, Abbottabad, provides initial training to Pakistan Army cadets and recruits from friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and elsewhere in the world.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy fraternal relations, leading the two countries to cooperate in trade, defense and other vital sectors. 

The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the cash-strapped South Asian country’s largest source of remittances. 

Topics: Pakistan Military Academy

Pakistan to hold by-elections on 21 national, provincial assembly seats on Sunday 

Updated 20 April 2024
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Pakistan to hold by-elections on 21 national, provincial assembly seats on Sunday 

  • Polling will be held on seats vacated by candidates or where polling was postponed due to various reasons 
  • Polling will take place on seats vacated by PM Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Ministers Maryam Nawaz and Ali Amin Gandapur
Updated 20 April 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will conduct by-elections on 21 national and provincial seats on Sunday, state-run media reported on Saturday, marking the country’s first major electoral exercise since the contentious general elections of Feb. 8. 

The by-elections would be held on the national and provincial assembly seats that were vacated by candidates following the Feb. 8 elections. 

Polling on Sunday is scheduled to be held on five National Assembly seats, 12 Punjab Assembly seats, two Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly seats and two Balochistan Assembly seats. 

“Polling will start at 8:00 in the morning and it will continue till 5:00 p.m. without any break,” Radio Pakistan said. 

Polling for NA-8 Bajaur and PK-22 Bajaur were postponed on Feb. 8 after the murder of a candidate, Rehan Zeb Khan. Polling will also be held in NA-44 Dera Ismail Khan, where the National Assembly seat was vacated by Ali Amin Gandapur, who retained his provisional assembly seat to become KP’s chief minister. 

Similarly, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif vacated her NA-119 seat in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore, choosing instead to keep the PP-159 constituency that she also won. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif won elections on two provincial and National Assembly seats. He left the NA-132 Kasur and Lahore’s PP-158 and PP-164 seats vacant, preferring to retain the NA-123 Lahore constituency. 

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari won two National Assembly seats. He retained the NA-194 Larkana constituency, leaving the NA-196 seat in Qamber Shahdadkot vacant.

Pakistan’s Feb. 8 elections were marred by delayed results, a countrywide shutdown of mobile phone services and rigging allegations. Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) accused Pakistan’s election regulator of manipulating the results of the elections, claiming in reality it had won over 180 National Assembly seats. 

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected the PTI’s allegations, saying polling results were delayed due to the shutdown of mobile phone services countrywide. Pakistan’s caretaker administration had said the mobile services were suspended due to security reasons, rejecting rigging allegations by Khan’s party.

Independent candidates backed by Khan secured the highest number of seats in the National Assembly. However, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly, as a court decision prevented Khan-backed candidates from contesting polls with the PTI’s symbol. 

Topics: Chief Ministers Maryam Nawaz Ali Amin Gandapur by-elections

Death toll from heavy rains in northwestern Pakistan rises to 46

Updated 20 April 2024
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Death toll from heavy rains in northwestern Pakistan rises to 46

  • Forty-six casualties include 25 children, 12 men and nine women, says Provincial Disaster Management Authority
  • Heavy rains and lightning strikes have killed at least 36 people in Pakistan’s Punjab and Balochistan provinces since April 12
Updated 20 April 2024
WASIM SAJJAD

Peshawar: The death toll from rain-related incidents in northwestern Pakistan rose to 46 on Saturday, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Saturday, while the number of injured climbed to 60. 

“As many as 25 children, 12 men and nine women are among those who died in rain-related incidents during the last eight days,” the report said about heavy rains that began in the province last Friday, April 12. 

The number of injured has risen to 60, which includes 33 men, 16 children and 11 women, the PDMA said. 

The current spell of showers is likely to continue till April 21, the PDMA said this week. The provincial government has released Rs110 million to be distributed among the affected families and dispatched aid, including tents, kitchen kits, blankets, hygiene kits, mosquito nets and mattresses, to the affected areas, according to the authority.

As the rains are expected to continue intermittently until April 21, the PDMA said it had already a letter to all district administrations to remain alert and take precautionary measures.

In the southwestern Balochistan province, heavy rains have killed 15 people since Friday and triggered flash floods in several areas, according to provincial authorities.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said climate change had become a “challenge” for the provincial government.

“Current rains are unusual which were never reported in a thousand years,” he told reporters on Friday. “The government has been helping the masses with available resources and our teams have reached all districts to help the people affected by rains and floods.”

Pakistan has received heavy rains in the last three weeks that have triggered landslides and flash floods in several parts of the South Asian country.

The eastern province of Punjab has reported 21 lighting- and roof collapse-related deaths, while Balochistan, in the country’s southwest, reported 10 deaths as authorities declared a state of emergency following flash floods.

In 2022, downpours swelled rivers and at one point flooded a third of Pakistan, killing 1,739 people. The floods also caused $30 billion in damages, from which Pakistan is still trying to rebuild.

Topics: Heavy Rains flash floods

US sanctions four international companies for aiding Pakistan’s missile program

Updated 20 April 2024
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US sanctions four international companies for aiding Pakistan’s missile program

  • US State Department announces sanctions against three Chinese companies and one based in Belarus
  • State Department says companies supplied missile-applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic, long-range missile programs
Updated 20 April 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The US State Department announced this week it has imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies and one Belarus-based company for supplying items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. 

As per a press release, the State Department announced sanctions against China-based companies Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co. Ltd, Granpect Company Limited and the Belarus-based Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. 

“These entities have supplied missile‐applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including its long-range missile program,” a press release issued late Friday stated. 

The State Department said Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant had worked to supply special vehicle chassis to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program. 

“Such chassis are used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles by Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which is responsible for the development of Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I ballistic missiles,” it said. 

Washington alleged Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited supplied missile-related equipment, including a filament winding machine, to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program that was also destined for NDC. 

“Filament winding machines can be used to produce rocket motor cases,” the State Department said. 

It said the Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co. Ltd. supplied missile-related equipment to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program, including stir welding equipment. 

It said the company’s supplies were likely destined for Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which develops and produces Pakistan’s MTCR Category I ballistic missiles.

It further said Granpect Company Limited worked with SUPARCO to supply equipment for the testing of large-diameter rocket motors. 

“In addition, Granpect Co. Ltd. also worked to supply equipment for testing large-diameter rocket motors to Pakistan’s NDC,” it added. 

The sanctions mean all property and interests in property of the companies in the US or in possession or control of American citizens are blocked and must be reported to the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the State Department said. 

They also mean that all transactions by American citizens, or those within (or transiting) the US that involve any property or interests in property of the companies, are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt.

Pakistan has so far not responded to the US State Department’s action. 

Topics: US State Department Pakistan’s ballistic missile program

Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir sets sights on T20 World Cup after comeback

Updated 20 April 2024
Shahjahan Khurram 
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Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir sets sights on T20 World Cup after comeback

  • Amir played his first T20 international match for Pakistan on Thursday after a nearly four-year hiatus
  • Pacer says he feels his body is fitter compared to 2019 when he last played for Pakistan in a World Cup 
Updated 20 April 2024
Shahjahan Khurram 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir said this week he has set his sights on the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, as he gears up to mark his return to international cricket after a nearly four-year hiatus. 

The 32-year-old pacer played his first match on Thursday against New Zealand in Rawalpindi but did not bowl a single delivery as rain suspended play during the first over of the match. 

Amir, one of Pakistan’s most prolific fast bowlers, retired in December 2020 after being dropped from the side. He changed his mind last month and decided to restart his career, which had also been stalled by a spot-fixing ban in 2010.

“The way the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management brought me back, it is for a short-term goal, the [T20] World Cup,” Amir told PCB Digital in an interview on Friday. “And that is the biggest goal.”

The left-arm pacer pointed out that Pakistan had played in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2021 and competed in the final of the T20 World Cup in 2022. However, it had failed to “cross the line” and become world champions on both occasions. 

“If that happens [Pakistan win the World Cup] it would be a huge achievement for me, to be a part of that team,” he said. 

Amir said he feels he is much fitter compared to 2019 when he last represented Pakistan in a World Cup tournament.

“See, you cannot express yourself properly in the ground until you’re fit,” he said. “So I feel the way my body feels fresh right now, I can chip in more and prove beneficial to the team via my performance.”

The pacer credited his wife and children for helping him stay positive. 

“She makes sure that all my focus is on cricket,” he said. “I think that always gives me energy and helps me to face whatever I have to.”

Pakistan face New Zealand in the second T20 fixture of the five-match series in Rawalpindi today, Saturday. The two sides will lock horns in Rawalpindi on April 21 before meeting for the remaining two fixtures in Lahore on April 25 and 27. 

Teams:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi

New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (captain), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

Topics: Mohammad Amir Pakistan Cricket Board

Latest updates

Saudi cadet bags gold medal as fresh batch graduates from Pakistan Military Academy
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
Iran FM downplays reported Israeli retaliation
Pakistan to hold by-elections on 21 national, provincial assembly seats on Sunday 
Death toll from heavy rains in northwestern Pakistan rises to 46

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