ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday condemned the latest “senseless” act of desecration of the Qur’an in the Netherlands in front of a number of embassies of Muslim countries.
Anti-Islam activists have burnt and damaged several copies of the Muslim holy book in recent months, prompting outrage in the Muslim world and demands the nations’ governments ban such acts.
Intentionally burning the Qur’an is seen by Muslims as a blasphemous and insulting act worthy of severe punishment.
“Pakistan condemns in the strongest terms the latest senseless and deeply offensive act of desecration of the Holy Qur’an that took place in The Hague, the Netherlands in front of some embassies of OIC member countries including Pakistan,” the Pakistani foreign office said.
“It is a deliberately provocative and Islamophobic act that has hurt the sentiments of Muslims around the world. Such acts cannot be condoned under the guise of freedom of expression, opinion and protest.”
The foreign office said Pakistan believed freedom of expression came with responsibilities and governments should actively prevent racist and Islamophobic acts that incite religious hatred.
“Pakistan’s concerns have been conveyed to the Dutch authorities. We urge them to be mindful of the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and Muslims around the world and take active steps to prevent such hateful and Islamophobic acts.”
Last month the United Nations Human Rights Council approved a disputed resolution on religious hatred in the wake of the burning of a Qur’an in Sweden, prompting concern by Western states who say it challenges long-held practices in rights protection.
Pakistan condemns latest desecration of Qur’an in the Netherlands
https://arab.news/63n7p
Pakistan condemns latest desecration of Qur’an in the Netherlands
- Anti-Islam activists have burnt, damaged several copies of Muslim holy book in recent months
- Desecrations have enraged Muslims, unleashed demands governments ban such acts
Pakistan Super League expands with two new cricket teams sold at record prices
- Hyderabad and Sialkot franchises bought for a combine $12.75 million at PCB auction
- US-based aviation and healthcare group, local real estate consortium among winning bids
ISLAMABAD: Hyderabad and Sialkot will join the eleventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as its latest franchises after they were bought for record prices at an auction organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday.
The PCB had shortlisted 10 bidders for the live auction held at Islamabad’s Jinnah Convention Center on Thursday evening. FKS, an aviation and health care conglomerate based in the US who also run the Chicago Kingsmen team, bought the Hyderabad franchise for a whopping Rs1.75 billion [$6.2 million].
The other winner was OZ Developers, a real estate consortium, which bought the Sialkot franchise for Rs1.85 billion [$6.55 million] at the auction. Both prices were the highest amount paid for a PSL franchise.
“The New Era is here like never before,” the PCB wrote on social media platform X.
“Hyderabad and Sialkot are the two new teams in #HBLPSL!“
Pakistan’s telecommunications giant Jazz and Inverex Group, a leading player in the solar energy sector, were also among the 10 qualified bidders.
The PSL is Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket league which features a mix of local and international players. The league already has six city-based teams which include Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.
PCB will run the Multan Sultans team for the 11th edition before looking for a potential buyer. The previous owner of Multan Sultans, Ali Tareen, announced last month he was walking away from his ownership of the franchise.
The decision came after a bitter public spat between Tareen and the PCB over how it managed the cricket league.
The 11th edition of the league is set to begin from Mar. 26 while the final is expected to be played on May 3, as per the PCB’s schedule.
