ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s political leaders and foreign office on Friday condemned Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa mosque and demanded immediate action by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Israeli security forces on Friday raided the Al-Aqsa mosque, when thousands of Palestinians were gathered for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. Over 150 Palestinians were injured and more than 300 were arrested in clashes set off by the raid.
“Reports of Israeli forces’ raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque, today, indicate 152 injured and more than 300 Palestinians detained,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“This highly condemnable assault on worshippers, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is an egregious violation of all humanitarian norms and human rights laws.”
The clashes come at a particularly sensitive time, when Ramadan this year coincides with Passover, a major weeklong Jewish holiday beginning Friday at sundown, and Christian holy week, which culminates on Easter Sunday. The holidays are expected to bring tens of thousands of faithful into Jerusalem’s Old City, home to major sites sacred to all three religions.
In recent weeks, Israeli forces have killed dozens and injured countless Palestinians in the occupied East Jerusalem and other areas.
Pakistani political leaders condemned Israeli attacks on worshippers and demanded immediate action from the UNSC.
Noorul Haq Qadri, former religious affairs minister and a member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), termed Israeli attacks on innocent Palestinians an “absolutely shameful act.”
“The manner in which Al-Aqsa mosque has been desecrated and religious freedom of Palestinian Muslims has been taken away is very shameful and unprecedented in the whole world,” Qadri told Arab News.
He said the last ten days of brutalities by Israeli forces were “even bigger than Hitler’s and the Nazis’.”
“Until the people of Palestine and Kashmir are not given their right to self-determination, this will remain a challenge to world peace,” Qadri said.
“The Al-Aqsa mosque imam contacted me and I assured him Pakistan’s full support and to take his message to the Pakistani government. I will ask Pakistani government to firmly stand up with Palestinians.”
Raja Zafar ul Haq, a member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, condemned continued brutalities by Israeli forces on innocent worshippers.
“Israel is killing Palestinians with impunity and without any justification,” he told Arab News, regretting neither the UN nor International Criminal Court took notice of these human rights violations.
“We should collectively raise this issue at these forums.”
Senator Taj Haider from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said the Palestinians became victims of extreme cruelty for merely praying at the mosque.
“Pakistan should protest this with full force,” he told Arab News. “The government should call a conference to gather and unite the Muslim world just like former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto did in 1974.”
Liaquat Baloch, a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, said the Israeli attacks were “a clear violation of the UN charter and an attempt to fuel hatred between different religions.” He said it had been going on for the past several years that Israel attacked worshippers in the holy month of Ramadan.
“The UN Security Council must take notice of this and also the countries with veto power must rethink of their support to Israel,” Baloch said.
Pakistani political leaders condemn Israeli raid on Al-Aqsa mosque, demand UN action
https://arab.news/52enq
Pakistani political leaders condemn Israeli raid on Al-Aqsa mosque, demand UN action
- The raid set off clashes that injured over 150 Palestinians, resulted in arrest of 300 others
- Islamabad calls the raid an ‘egregious violation’ of humanitarian norms and human rights laws
Pakistan raises fuel prices by Rs55 per liter as Middle East conflict drives oil surge
- Government says adequate fuel stocks in place despite global energy shock
- Oil prices jump from about $78 to over $106 per barrel amid regional conflict
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 ($0.20) per liter each as escalating conflict in the Middle East sent global oil prices sharply higher and disrupted energy supply routes, officials said.
Global oil markets have been rattled since coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran began last week, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region, raising fears of disruption to key energy shipping routes and pushing petroleum prices sharply upward.
The price adjustment in Pakistan was announced after a joint press conference by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, who said the government was monitoring international energy markets and domestic supply conditions amid the crisis.
“So, the decision we have made by changing the levy a little bit is that we are going ahead with increasing the price of both fuels, petrol and diesel, by Rs55 ($0.20),” Malik told reporters.
“And as soon as this matter settles, we will revise the prices downward with the same speed and take steps on how to increase people’s income and purchasing power.”
He said Pakistan entered the crisis with “comfortable energy reserves” due to earlier planning but rising global prices had forced the government to adjust domestic fuel rates to maintain supply continuity.
He said international petrol prices had climbed from roughly $78 per barrel on March 1 to around $106.8 per barrel, while diesel prices had risen to about $150 per barrel.
Malik added that the government had taken steps to minimize the burden on consumers, noting diesel plays a critical role in agriculture, transportation and public mobility.
Malik also warned that authorities would take strict action against anyone attempting to hoard fuel or manipulate supply for profiteering.
The minister said Pakistan was working with international partners to secure additional energy supplies, including arrangements with Saudi Aramco and the use of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation vessels to transport crude oil imports.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb said a high-level government committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been meeting daily to review developments in global petroleum markets and their potential impact on Pakistan’s economy.
“Pakistan currently maintains adequate energy stocks and macroeconomic stability,” Aurangzeb said, adding that the government’s response was based on preparedness rather than panic.
He said the committee, which includes senior ministers, the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and other officials, was assessing short-, medium- and long-term implications of the crisis for inflation, foreign exchange reserves and broader economic indicators.
Deputy PM Dar said the regional conflict had significantly disrupted global energy markets, with international petroleum prices rising by as much as 50–70 percent in recent days.
The deputy prime minister added that Pakistan was also engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions and restoring stability in the region.
Petroleum prices will now be reviewed more frequently, potentially on a weekly basis, and any reduction in global oil prices would be passed on to consumers.
Pakistan, which relies heavily on imported fuel to meet its energy needs, is particularly vulnerable to global oil price shocks that can quickly feed into inflation and pressure the country’s external accounts.
