Pakistan calls for global action over Israel’s killing of Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza

Palestinian rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike on a residential area in Gaza City's Shujaiyya neighbourhood, on April 9, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 10 April 2025
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Pakistan calls for global action over Israel’s killing of Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza

  • Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan urges the world to put end to Israeli violations of international law
  • Israel deliberately killed 15 Palestinian emergency workers last month in a shooting incident captured on video

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan urged the international community on Thursday to take notice of Israel’s latest “barbarity” in the Gaza Strip while referring to the killing of 15 Palestinian emergency workers in a shooting incident captured on video.
The emergency workers were shot dead on March 23 and buried in shallow graves. Initially, the Israeli military claimed it opened fire after unmarked vehicles approached its soldiers in the dark, but later changed the statement after video footage emerged showing clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks with their lights on coming under fire.
The war in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has continued despite repeated international appeals for a ceasefire. The Palestinian death toll has reportedly surpassed 50,000, with women and children making up a significant portion of the casualties.
“Pakistan in the strongest possible terms condemns the continued aggression and atrocities committed by Israeli occupation forces in occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in Gaza,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during his weekly media briefing.
“In the latest incidents of brutality, Israel has mercilessly killed 15 Palestinian emergency and civil defense workers,” he continued. “Pakistan demand that the international community should take immediate notice of this barbarity and stop this blatant violation of international law and charter of the United Nations.”

Khan highlighted his country’s condemnation of the continued aggression by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has consistently supported the Palestinian demand for an independent state based on pre-1967 borders.
It has repeatedly raised concerns over the Gaza conflict at various global forums, including the UN Security Council, and has called for a ceasefire and accountability for Israel’s actions.

 


Pakistan stocks rebound on easing regional tensions, gain over 1,500 points

Updated 13 January 2026
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Pakistan stocks rebound on easing regional tensions, gain over 1,500 points

  • The development came after Iran said it was keeping communication channels with Washington open amid cost-of-living protests
  • It followed a threat by President Donald Trump last week to intervene militarily if Tehran continued cracking down on protesters

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) edged higher on Tuesday as the benchmark index gained more than 1,500 points, with analysts citing easing regional tensions following signals of potential talks between Iran and the United States (US).

The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 1,567.36 points, or 0.86 percent, to close at 183,951.50 points, compared to the previous close of 182,384.14 points when the market had shed more than 2,000 points, according to PSX data.

Iran has been witnessing public unrest over worsening economic conditions. Around 2,000 people, including security personnel, have been killed in violent protests, Reuters reported, citing an Iranian official.

Tehran said on Monday that it was keeping communication channels with Washington open as US President Donald Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on countries trading with the Islamic republic.

“Stocks showed sharp recovery at PSX after Iran and US signal talks over unrest in Iran,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities, told Arab News.

“Surging global crude oil prices and speculations ahead of corporate results in the earnings season played a catalyst role in bullish close.”

Najeeb Ahmed Khan Warsi, digital and retail business officer at Al-Habib Capital Market, said the index had seen a three-day bearish streak.

“Geopolitics and global volatility driving downturn, profit-taking and economic concerns weigh in,” he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistani market research firm Topline Securities said the benchmark index ended the session on a “positive note” on Tuesday.

“Trading interest remained subdued, as total market volumes reached 1,033 million shares, while the value of shares traded stood at Rs62.9 billion,” it said in a daily market review on X.

United Bank Limited (UBL), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Muslim Commercial Bank Limited (MCB), Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK) and Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) jointly contributed 936 points to the index, according to the research firm.

Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC), Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SAZEW) and Haleon Pakistan Limited (HALEON) collectively shaved 158 points off the index.

“Bank of Punjab (BOP) led the volume rankings, emerging as the most actively traded stock with 73 million shares,” Topline Securities added.