ISLAMABAD: The Palestinian baseball team, which is currently in Pakistan to participate in the 15th West Asia Cup, aims to uplift the Palestinian people through sports, its members said on Friday, as they called for “freedom of movement” in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The seven-nation event, organized by the Pakistan Baseball Federation (PBF), is being held at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad from January 27 till February 1. Apart from the host Pakistan, teams from Palestine, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and Afghanistan are participating in the event.
For most of the Palestinians, nothing comes easily, be it survival in the occupied territories or fulfilling their aspirations. However, the Palestinian baseball players, who are making their international debut, say they are “excited” to be a part of the tournament.
“We are using sports to uplift our people and show that there is humanity in our people. Our people deserve to be represented well, you know, our people deserve to have sports, freedom of movement,” Nader Ihmoud, a second baseman and designated hitter, told Arab News.
Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories since 1948 has been a major issue and has had consequences for the Palestinians in every field.
To participate in the West Asia Cup, Palestinian players from the Gaza Strip and the United States came together to form a team. The squad, which was formed two and a half years ago but has been facing difficulties in practicing together, was invited to the tournament by the Baseball Federation of Asia.
“Most of our players are in the US and half in Gaza and imagine we can’t practice together. We should be able to practice together wherever we need but we can’t because of the occupation does what it does,” said Ihmoud, who lives in the US.
“You can ask Gaza people [teammates] how hard it was for them to come to this tournament. It should be very easy for me to travel to Gaza and play with my teammates but it’s not.”
Tariq Suboh, the Palestinian catcher, said with this tournament the team want to do their part to put Palestine on the international sports stage with an impact. “We want the world to know our community for athletics,” he maintained.
“The players have not been able to properly practice because of the community’s financial constraints and distances [from one state to another] but together we are ready to showcase our passion,” Suboh added.
“We hope this [tournament] is the start of a bright future of baseball in Palestine.”
The PBF has partnered with Baseball United, first-ever professional baseball league that helps develop the game across the Middle East and South Asia, to host the West Asia Cup, an official World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) tournament.
In a country where cricket is the most popular sport — played, watched and loved by people — Shah has been carrying forward the legacy of his father, the late Syed Khawar Shah, to promote baseball by representing Pakistan in several international tournaments.
The baseball governing body, founded in 1992, has been conducting several international tournaments including Asian Baseball Cup and Asian Baseball Championship.
In October last year, the Pakistani team represented the country at World Baseball Classic (WBC) Qualifiers in Panama City, bringing a game in spotlight with the rare participation, but lost the opening match against Argentina.
This was also the first time Pakistan scored a run in the WBC since its participation in 2016.
Speaking to Arab News, PBF President Syed Fakhar Ali Shah said the sports body aims to help participants play an international league being organized by Baseball United in Dubai in November.
“They [Baseball United] are saying they might give $5,000 to each player if they join the league,” Shah added.
With West Asia Cup debut, Palestine team hopes to nurture sports talent at home
https://arab.news/p92ss
With West Asia Cup debut, Palestine team hopes to nurture sports talent at home
- The Palestinian baseball team is participating in the ongoing tournament in Pakistan with other nations
- Palestinian players from US and Gaza Strip formed a team which was then invited to play in Pakistan
Ramadan moon sighted, Pakistan to observe first fast on Thursday
- Moon-sighting testimonies received from Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Mardan and other cities, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee says
- Muslims in Pakistan and around the world fast from dawn till sunset during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's central moon-sighting committee announced on Wednesday that the Ramadan moon had been sighted and the nation would observe the first fast of the holy month from Thursday.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC), Pakistan's official body responsible for sighting the new moon marking the beginning of each Islamic month, held a meeting to sight the Ramadan crescent in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar.
"Testimonies of sighting the moon of the holy month of Ramadan were received from many parts of Pakistan," RHC Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said during a news conference. "These [areas] included Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Swabi, Killa Saifullah and Mardan. And the moon has been sighted," he added.
"Hence, it was decided according to consensus that the first of Ramadan, 144 A.H. will fall on Thursday, March 23, 2023, God willing," Azad said.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, wherein Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise till sunset for a month.
This is followed by the sighting of the new moon and is marked by Eid Al-Fitr, a religious holiday and celebration that is observed by Muslims across the world.
Pakistan's election regulator postpones Punjab elections to October 8
- Not possible to hold and organize elections fairly and peacefully on April 30, says Pakistan's election regulator
- Fresh schedule will be issued in due course of time with poll date on October 8, says Election Commission of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's election regulator on Wednesday announced that polls in Pakistan's most populous Punjab province have been postponed from April 30 and will now be held on October 8.
After much political and legal debate, Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi announced April 30 as the date for Punjab provincial assembly elections earlier this month.
The president announced the date after Pakistan's top court ruled that elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the provincial legislatures.
The controversy was triggered when former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and allies dissolved the Punjab and KP provincial assemblies in January, in a bid to force the government of PM Shehbaz Sharif to announce nationwide polls.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said in a notification that it held meetings on March 20, 21, and 22 to "deliberate extensively" on the matter of Punjab elections after receiving briefings from law enforcement agencies, ministries of finance, defence, interior and the secretary of Punjab,
"The Commission after considering the reports, briefing and material brought before it, has arrived at the just conclusion that it is not possible to hold and organize the elections honestly, justly, fairly, in a peaceful manner and in accordance with the Constitution and law," it said.
"The Commission hereby withdraws the election program issued vide Notification No. F. 2(3)/2023/Cord dated 8th March, 2023 and fresh schedule will be issued in due course of time with poll date on 08th October, 2023," it added.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details come in
Pakistan seeks parliament ruling to empower authorities to tackle ex-PM Khan's party
- Ruling was asked for in joint session of parliament convened over instability caused by crisis over Khan
- Interior minister requested house give "guidance" to government about violence stoked by Khan's supporters
LAHORE: Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday sought a parliament ruling to empower authorities to tackle former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party's alleged involvement in violence.
The ruling was asked for in a joint session of parliament convened over the instability caused by the crisis over Khan.
Sanaullah told the house nearly 68 security personnel were injured in clashes and 16 arrested Khan aides will be tried on terrorism charges.
The clashes erupted after Khan's supporters prevented police and paramilitary forces from arresting him in a case in which he is accused of unlawfully selling state gifts during his tenure as premier from 2018-2022. He denies any wrongdoing.
The minister requested the house give "guidance" to the government about the violence stoked by Khan's supporters, who he said included "miscreants, armed groups, and terrorists".
"It is required that the security forces should be given authority and other measures to deal with this issue," he said, adding that Khan's agenda is "chaos and anarchy."
The government has alleged that Khan's supporters had militants among them and ministers have called for proscribing Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Khan has rejected the allegation, saying that the government wanted his party out of politics.
The former premier has demanded snap elections since he was ousted in a parliamentary vote of confidence in April last year. Khan's successor Shehbaz Sharif has said that a general election will be held as scheduled later this year.
Pakistani TV anchor breaks internet for continuing bulletin amid powerful earthquake jolts
- Local TV anchor Shah Faisal says powerful earthquake "frightened" him
- 6.5-magnitude earthquake in parts of Pakistan killed at least 10 on Tuesday
PESHAWAR: A Pakistani TV anchor broke the internet this week after a video of him continuing to read a news bulletin amid a powerful earthquake late on Tuesday evening was shared widely on social media.
At least 10 people were killed and over 60 injured in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Tuesday night when a 6.5-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of the South Asian country.
In a video that has gone viral on social media since, young TV anchor Shah Faisal, 30, can be seen reading the news when tremors start to shake the studio. Instead of running to safety, the journalist, who works for Pashto-language Mashriq TV in KP's provincial capital Peshawar, breaks the news of the earthquake.
"The cameraman had already fled while I was here in the studio," Faisal, who hails from Mardan city, told Arab News in an interview at the studio. "I was speaking, but in my mind, I kept thinking, 'What will happen now?' Our studio is on the fifth floor and it was shaking a lot, there were a lot of jolts."
Before the quake struck, Faisal was reading a news story about Prime Minister Shehbaz during the 09:00 p.m. bulletin. Next, Faisal can be seen swaying from side to side. Numerous LED TVs in the background and his own laptop are also seen shaking as another man scurried out of the studio behind the anchorman who continued with the bulletin.
One of the two producers working with him fled for safety, Faisal said. The second one took over and told him to break the news of the earthquake.
Faisal said he initially thought the earthquake would be of a similar nature to a “milder” one that had taken place in KP around two months ago.
"This one was very severe and its duration was longer too," Faisal said, adding that the quake "frightened" him.
After the jolts, Faisal immediately called home to inquire after his family and learnt that his father was watching him on TV as the earthquake occurred.
Faisal has since been reading comments on social media about his viral video. Almost 90% of them are encouraging while the remaining are critical of his choice to continue with the bulletin rather than run for cover.
"But it is our belief that life and death is in the hands of Allah," Faisal said.
"And on the day that we are decreed to leave here [this world], we will leave on that day. I had faith and praise be to Allah, he gave me encouragement."
UAE-based Carrefour partners with Pakistani NGO to help the needy in Ramadan
- Carrefour, Pakistan’s Alkhidmat Foundation to provide meals to less privileged Pakistanis in Ramadan
- The two will also provide humanitarian aid to people affected by the devastating quake in Türkiye, Syria
ISLAMABAD: Retail company Carrefour Pakistan, owned and operated by UAE-based holding firm Majid Al Futtaim, announced on Wednesday its decision to join hands with Pakistani non-profit organization (NGO) Alkhidmat Foundation to provide relief to earthquake victims in Syria and Turkiye, and provide free meals to the less privileged in Pakistan during Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and charity. The first fast in Pakistan is likely to be observed on Thursday, March 23.
Through the collaboration, Carrefour said the two would provide meals to the less privileged Pakistanis in Ramadan and also send relief items to victims of the recent devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.
“We believe in the power of collective action and community support. We are greatly pleased to join hands with Alkhidmat Foundation to play our part in eliminating food hunger in the country, whilst providing relief to those affected by the earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria,” Umer Lodhi, Carrefour Pakistan’s country manager, said.
“We hope our combined efforts will make a positive impact on those who need it the most.”
The statement added that customers would also have the opportunity to give back to the community this Ramadan by purchasing special, pre-packed boxes filled with essential food items such as rice, flour, oil, dates & pulses.
The pre-packed boxes, it said, will then be distributed among needy families to help provide them some relief during Ramadan as the South Asian country grapples with decades-high inflation.
“Earthquake relief boxes comprising shelter supplies, clothing, and non-perishable food items are available for customers to buy and donate at all Carrefour stores,” the statement said.
