KARACHI: A top Pakistani journalist body on Friday condemned a recent visit by a group of local journalists and researchers to Israel, calling it an “effort to whitewash Israeli war crimes against Palestinians.”
A 10-member Pakistani delegation of journalists, intellectuals and influencers this month visited Israel for a week to learn about the Holocaust and the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, according to Israeli media.
Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and has consistently called for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and pre-1967 borders.
In a statement on Friday, the Karachi Press Club's (KPC) joint action committee, which represents multiple journalist unions, said the Pakistani journalists who undertook the visit do not represent the “broader media community of Pakistan.”
“We stand firm in our unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and denounce any attempt to normalize relations with a regime engaged in systematic ethnic cleansing,” the committee said in a joint statement, citing KPC President Fazil Jamili.
“The journalists in Pakistan have always been at the forefront of highlighting the suffering of oppressed people, and we will not tolerate any actions that undermine this solidarity.”
Israel Hayom, a Hebrew-language Israeli newspaper, reported the Pakistani journalists and researchers, including two women, arrived in Israel this month and carried passports declaring their invalidity for travel to Israel.
“Despite this, they bravely accepted an invitation from Sharaka, an organization working to strengthen relations between Israel and South Asian countries,” the report said. “To protect the delegation members, their passports were not stamped, and publication of their visit was delayed until they returned safely home.”
In response to media reports about the visit, the Foreign Office in Islamabad said Pakistan’s position on Israel “remains unchanged.”
“Pakistani passports explicitly state they are ‘not valid for travel to Israel’,” it said.
“Pakistan does not recognize Israel and steadfastly supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.”
The KPC committee lamented that the visit, which occurred at a time when over 150 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces for exposing the truth, amounted to “complicity in Israel’s war crimes and genocide against the Palestinian people.”
It called for an immediate investigation into how these individuals were able to visit Israel.
Top journalist body condemns ‘illegal visit’ of Pakistani journalists to Israel
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Top journalist body condemns ‘illegal visit’ of Pakistani journalists to Israel
- Israeli media reported a 10-member Pakistani delegation this month visited Israel for a week
- Karachi Press Club calls the visit an ‘effort to whitewash Israeli crimes,’ demands investigation
Babar Azam ends century drought as Pakistan seal Sri Lanka ODI series
- Pakistan chase down 289 with strong partnerships by Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan
- Sri Lanka’s 288–8, anchored by Janith Liyanage’s 54, wasn’t enough after multiple dropped catches
RAWALPINDI: Babar Azam hit his first international century since August 2023 to lift Pakistan to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second day-night international on Friday.
Azam notched an unbeaten 102 for his 20th one-day international century to help Pakistan overtake Sri Lanka’s 289-run target at Rawalpindi Stadium.
The win gave Pakistan a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series with the final match on Sunday. Pakistan won the first match by six runs — all in Rawalpindi.
Arriving at the crease amidst a huge roar from the crowd after opener Saim Ayub fell for 33 in the 10th over, Azam played his famous cover drives to perfection.
He reached the three-figure mark with a pulled single off pacer Pramod Madushan, raised his bat to the crowd before bowing to the ground.
Azam had gone 33 ODI innings without a hundred and 82 innings in all, including Tests and Twenty20 internationals.
Azam added a 100-run stand for the second wicket with Fakhar Zaman who scored an aggressive 78 with a six and eight boundaries to set up a successful chase.
Sri Lanka fumbled in the field, dropping Zaman on 20, 28 and 78 before Janith Liyanage pulled off a stunner off pacer Dushmantha Chameera but it was too late.
Building on the platform, Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 51 not out, added another 112 for the unbroken third wicket stand with Azam deservedly hitting the winning single.
Azam cracked eight boundaries while Rizwan’s knock had a six and five boundaries.
A delighted Azam said: “I was also waiting for my century, so I am thankful to the Almighty,” said Azam. “It is more delightful that it has come in the team’s win.”
Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka said: “We were outclassed by Pakistan.
“We did not score a big total and then had quite a few dropped catches which did not help us.”
Earlier, spinner Abrar Ahmed finished with 3-41 while pace bowler Haris Rauf claimed 3-66 as Sri Lanka scored 288-8 after they were sent in to bat.
Liyanage top-scored with a fighting 54, hitting a six and two fours.
Liyanage added 61 for the fifth wicket with Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made 42, and another 73 for the sixth with Kamindu Mendis, who scored 44.
Sri Lanka made a confident start of 51 before Pathum Nissanka was run out for 24 attempting a third run.
Abrar then derailed the innings with three wickets, removing Kamil Mishara for 27, Kusal Mendis for 20 and Asalanka for six in the space of 36 runs.
Rauf dismissed Samarawickrama and Kamindu to compensate for the absence of captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed the match with a fever.
Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with a brisk unbeaten 37 off 26 balls, adding 44 at the end with Pramod Madushan, who was 11 not out.
The second ODI was delayed by a day after several Sri Lankan players considered abandoning the tour over security fears following Tuesday’s suicide bombing in Islamabad, just a few miles from the stadium.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket managed to convince the players to stay with enhanced security measures.
