ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations said on Tuesday Israel’s war on Gaza was not to destroy Hamas following a surprise attack launched by the group in October but to erase the “idea of Palestine” as the UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire.
Israel resorted to airstrikes and initiated a ground offensive in Gaza after the Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200 people and was described by Hamas as a response to the deteriorating condition of Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 18,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 50,000 wounded in Israel’s attacks which also targeted hospitals and residential neighborhoods.
Prior to the UN General Assembly vote, US President Joe Biden, whose administration has fully backed the war on Gaza, told a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign that Israel was losing international support because of “indiscriminate bombing that takes place.”
“Israel’s goal is not only to erase Hamas,” Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram said while addressing the world body. “This is a war against the Palestinian people. Israel’s goal is to erase not only a people but the entire idea of Palestine.”
The United States, which previously vetoed a call by the UN Security Council for cease-fire, tried to amend the text of the General Assembly resolution with Austria to condemn “the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas” but could not find enough support.
Ambassador Akram argued against the amendment, saying any blame “has to be placed on both parties, especially on Israel.”
“When you deny people freedom and dignity, when you humiliate and trap them in an open-air prison where you kill them as if they were beasts, they become very angry and they do to others what was done to them,” he said. “Therefore, for Austria and my friend from the United States to blame Hamas in their amendments is not equitable.”
The Pakistani diplomat noted over 80 percent of Gaza’s population had been driven out of homes while thousands were missing and buried under the rubble.
“Is this any form of legitimate self-defense,” he wondered, asking the UN members to see the “one-sided slaughter that is taking place” while trying to put an end to it.
Pakistan says Israel’s Gaza offensive aims to erase ‘idea of Palestine’ as UNGA demands cease-fire
https://arab.news/jqtx3
Pakistan says Israel’s Gaza offensive aims to erase ‘idea of Palestine’ as UNGA demands cease-fire
- Ambassador Munir Akram calls Gaza ‘open-air prison’ where people of Palestine are killed like ‘beasts’
- He says Israel’s bombing of the Palestinian territory cannot be described as legitimate self-defense
Government says Imran Khan’s ‘detailed’ medical report shared, family disputes claim
- Khan underwent an eye procedure last month, PTI says family was not informed
- Ex-PM’s sister says only brief notes provided despite Supreme Court assurance
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government said on Friday a “detailed” medical report of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan had been shared with his family following directions from the prime minister’s office, even as Khan’s relatives disputed the claim and accused jail authorities of withholding information.
Concerns over Khan’s health were raised by his family and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party last month after the government confirmed he was taken from prison to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a brief eye procedure. Authorities said at the time that Khan’s condition was stable and the treatment routine, while PTI leaders said they were not informed in advance and questioned the lack of transparent medical disclosure.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the report was prepared by PIMS and had been forwarded to the prison authorities and handed over to Khan’s family.
“A letter was written by the Leader of the Opposition to the Prime Minister and PTI Leaders also approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding medical check up of Mr. Imran Ahmad [Khan] Niazi who is serving his sentences in Central Jail Rawalpindi (Adiala),” he said in a social media post on X.
“On directions from Prime Minister’s Office, a detailed report has been sent by Executive Director PIMS Hospital to the Superintendent of Central Jail Rawalpindi (Adiala) which has been handed over to the family,” he added.
However, the former prime minister’s sister Aleema Khan said they had not received complete medical reports, despite assurances given by the country’s top judge.
“The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court committed last Friday that Imran Khan’s medical reports would be provided to his family,” she said on X. “Today, when the jail superintendent appeared before the ATC [Anti-Terrorism Court], only two brief notes were submitted.”
She said the government’s conduct reflected a disregard for the court’s order, urging the Chief Justice of Pakistan to issue a contempt notice to the jail authorities and ensure that Khan’s medical reports were handed over to his family without further delay.
The dispute has renewed tensions surrounding Khan’s incarceration, which has become a flashpoint in Pakistan’s deeply polarized politics.
Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been in prison since August 2023 following multiple convictions that he and his party say are politically motivated, a charge the government denies.
