TTorrential rains claim 195 lives Pakistan since Jul y 1: NDMA
At least 195 people have been killed and 362 were injured in separate rain-related incidents caused by torrential rains of the current monsoon season in different parts of the country from July 1 to August 17, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in its report released on Sunday The disaster management authority elaborated on the devastation caused by continued wet spells which resulted
ter) which by the government s own admission has been banned in Pakistan I swear the government of Pakistan did not block or slow down the internet,” Khawaja asserted, addressing the growing public frustration over the intermittent internet issues that have plagued the nation Khawaja explained that the government has been in constant consultation with experts, working tirelessly to understand and resolve the situation She noted that users resorted to using VPNs when certain applications failed to download adding that turning VPN on slows down the phone
This statement comes amidst widespread disruptions to internet
velopments in the IT sector including the government s plan to introduce the 5G spectrum in 2025, which she promised would deliver the fastest internet speeds Furthermore she highlighted the foundation stones laid for IT Parks in Islamabad and Karachi initiatives expected to generate over 10 000 jobs and millions of dollars in revenue These IT Parks are being developed in collaboration with South Korea The minister also disclosed plans to establish at least 250 e-employment centers nationwide in partnership with provincial governments Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, she mentioned, has allocated more than Rs60 billion for the IT sector in the budget despite the challenging economic conditions Khawaja praised the sector s exports which have reached Rs3 billion, and noted that the IT sector is among the top priorities of the Prime Minister and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Additionally she announced the creation of a digitisation commission to be led by the Prime Minister himself IT experts contest minster s claim on VPNs use Meanwhile, the Information Technology (IT) experts ridiculed State Minister for IT Shaza Fatima s claim that the widespread use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) caused internet disruption in the country Gov
services with millions of users struggling to maintain connectivity particularly with mobile data in certain regions The Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP) and other experts have suggested that these issues may be linked to increased security and surveillance measures including the installation of a firewall designed to control the dissemination of unwanted content Earlier in the week, Khawaja defended the government’s decision to implement this internet firewall describing it as a necessary cybersecurity measure Every country in the world takes such steps, she stated on Thursday, emphasizing the need for enhanced capabilities to combat evolving cybersecurity threats Look at the cybersecurity attacks being carried out on the country and globally States must respond adequately to these threats,” she added Khawaja assured that she remains in close contact with IT authorities to address ongoing internet issues announcing that a meeting on the matter is scheduled for next week In response to the current connectivity challenges, she revealed that the government is actively working on increasing internet capacity by laying four additional internet cables across Pakistan During the press conference Khawaja also shared significant de-
Bokhari
ICCI for star ting direc t flights for Indonesia
PRESIDENT CHAMPIONS NATIONAL TREE
PL ANTATION TO COUNTER CLIMATE CHANGE
Pakistan Railways to restar t Sir Syed Express under new public-private model
S ta f f R e p o R t Pakistan Railways has announced the reinstatement of the Sir Syed Express (35UP/36DN) on the Karachi Cantonment to Rawalpindi route under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) set to commence operations from September 1st The train, known as Sir Syed Express (35UP), will begin its journey from Karachi Cantonment at 9:00 PM, traveling through various cities including Hyderabad, Khanpur Khanewal Faisalabad Sangla Hill Wazirabad Gujrat and Jhelum with its arrival in Rawalpindi scheduled for 8:55 PM the next day In the reverse direction, the Sir Syed Express (36DN) will
Gilani advoc ates for youth role in development at college convoc ation
contributions of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to democracy and the enduring legacy of the 1973 constitution established by the late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto He underscored that differing viewpoints enrich the democratic process
NDMA warn of heav y rainfall, flooding as monsoon wreaks havoc on countr y
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 In contrast the water flow in the major rivers – Chenab Ravi Jhelum and Sutlej remains at normal levels The PDMA has dispelled widespread rumors suggesting that India has released two lakh cusecs of water into the rivers, assuring the public that these claims are baseless The water levels in key Indian dams including Bhakra Pong and Orthen are significantly lower than last year, with Bhakra at 54%, Pong at 53%, and Orthen at 26% Meanwhile, water levels in Mangla Dam are at 70% capacity, and Tarbela Dam is nearly full at 99% Despite the low-level flood situation persisting in the Indus River the PDMA remains confident in managing the situation and keeping the public informed As Southern Punjab braces for more rain, the PDMA's proactive measures and clear communication aim to prevent panic and ensure the safety of those in vulnerable areas 11 D I E S E V E R A L I N J U R E D I N R A I N-R E L AT E D I N C I D E N T S: In various rooftop, wall collapse and electrocution incidents during heavy rainfall 11 people were killed and several other injured across the country A house’s rooftop caved in in Attock’s Pindi Ghaeb area leaving four people dead Moreover a fouryear little girl died and three other injured in another rooftop collapse incident in Sadiqabad district during rainfall Meanwhile, a man electrocuted to death in Tabba Sultanpur area of Mailsi in Punjab The rooftop of a house collapsed in Jacobabad s Garhi Khairo town leaving a woman and her son dead The rain-related incidents claimed three lives in Sindh s Jacobabad district during the last 24 hours In a rooftop collapse incident in Badani area of Kashmore district claimed the life of woman and four others were injured during rainfall Meanwhile a girl died when a mud hut collapsed in Shahdadkot district s Warah town
thought-provoking albeit nostalgic introduction to the work He lauds the author ’s attempt terming it as an innovative literary exercise in the backdrop of a buzzing industrial town parallelly transiting to a viable centre of knowledge, culture and art Names of some notable authors with their publications (projected in the book), are being mentioned here to give the reader an idea of the author ’s vast reading and his ability to analyse and appreciate the experience Hafiz Ludhianvi s Meraj-e-Safar Khaliq Qureshi s Shakh-e-Sidra, Dr Riaz Majeed s Rabbana
La-kal Hamd, Ahmad Shahbaz Khawar s Rooh Zaa’ir Hai Shahr-e-Tayba Ki, Syed
Masroor Badayuni’s Hamdia Qit’aat Rai Khuda Bakhsh Kalyar’s Seerat-e Rahmat-eAlam Faiz Jhanjhanvi s Aabshar Dr Suraj Narayan s RagoN May Shararay Shafqat Hussain Shafqat s Saakit RaushniyaN, Dr Abdul Aziz Malik s Mu asar Tanqeedi Rujhanat, Zaheer Qureshi’s Teri Wadi Wadi GhumooN, Prof Ashraf Khan Sharaf ’s Shahr-e-DilbaraN Prof Afsar Sajid’s Tazkiray Aur Tajziyey Altaf Hassan Qureshi s MulaqataiN Dr Shabbir Ahmad Qadri s Farzand-e-Urdu Dr Saeed Ahmad s Par-eTa oos, Dr Yunus Amin Sheikh s Neeli
Sindh
Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani said that local authorities across the province had been mobilised as various districts saw heavy rainfall a day ago
The minister was briefing the participants of a meeting held with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in the chair on Sunday to review the damages caused by the rains and relief measures being taken to mitigate the people’s sufferings
Widespread heavy rain across the interior districts of Sindh on Friday night and Saturday wreaked havoc causing heavy flooding in urban and as well rural areas
As per a forecast by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), heavy downpours and thunderstorms are expected across Sindh till tomorrow (Monday) According to an update issued by the PMD s Flood Forecasting Division at 8am in the last 24 hours, Khairpur received the highest amount of rainfall (169 millimetres) with Larkana ranking second (123mm) Rohri and Mohenjo Daro each witnessed 119mm of rain while Sukkur received 100mm and Jacobabad 99mm Dadu (75mm) Mirpurkhas (35mm) Padidan (31mm) and Chhor (24mm) were among other areas to see heavy showers
Presiding over a highlevel rain emergency meeting at CM House on Sunday morning, CM Murad noted that heavy rains in Sukkur, Dadu, Jacobabad, and Naushahro Feroze had inundated roads and streets there Therefore effective measures must be taken to protect the life and property of the people and then dewatering efforts should be made, he added I want to see the entire government machinery including district administration [and] local bodies, particularly in
the rain-affected areas working on the roads, helping people, and the irrigation department patrolling on the embankments of the canals and distributaries to avoid breaches ” CM Murad said The meeting was attended by Ghani Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon, Advisor Najmi Alam, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Local Govt Secretary Khalid Hyder Shah and Health Secretary Rehan Baloch Salman Shah director general of the Sindh Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Rangers DG Maj-Gen Azhar Waqas Corps Headquarters and Komkar representatives, and Weather Director Ameer Hyder, among others, were also present in the meeting CM Murad was further briefed that the PDMA has provided 35 diesel engines eight dewatering machines and 12 tractormounted machines as well as two mirage trucks for dewatering mud pumps Regarding losses, the CM was informed that 21 persons sustained injuries, five buffaloes perished and 48 houses were damaged PDMA DG Salman Shah informed the CM that 26 150 tents 80 750 mosquito nets 25 650 chataais 12 300 cotton mattresses, 12,900 synthetic sleeping mats, 7,700 hygiene kits and 25,750 jerry cans had been sent to the rain-affected areas to provide relief to the people
Torrential rain spell of the monsoon season broke the
literary insight and adeptness Dr Riaz Majeed has contributed a
Aankh Samundar, Syed Wasil Hashmi s Aa’ina Khamosh Tha, Sarwar Khan Sarwar’s Fishar-e-Zabt Rubi Jafri’s Ma’eN Aur Tum Bashir Ejaz’s Lyallpur Nama, Prof Khalid Shabbir ’s Warq Warq Zindagi Dr Riaz Ahmad Riaz s Bar Sabeel-e-Safar Ashfaq Babar s Ab Parinday YehaN Nahi Aatay et al Sana Nama
It is a large collection of Riaz Ahmad Parwaz’s Na’at numbering 499 Dr Riaz Majeed has written its foreword
IT might seem that the Prime Minister s decision to hand over the plan prepared by British economist Stefan Dercon, to a ministerial committee for review, implied dissatisfaction with the plan, but actually it means that the plan is to be indigenized, and brought a degree of ‘buy-in’, with the inclusion of the Special Initiatives Facilitation Council national coordinator Lt Gen Sarfraz Ahmad ensuring that the Army is given a formal voice in this plan A former chief economist at the UK’s Department for International Development and currently a professor of economics at Oxford Dr Dercon’s preparation of a plan for Pakistan was both surprising and hurtful for many economists However, his report was bound to be vetted
This is the first time since the 1960s that a foreign economist has advised a Pakistani government on how to run the economy However, even before then, and continuously until the present day, foreign economists have been advising Pakistan indirectly, through the international financial institutions which have been employing them This plan has been developed by an economist employed by the government of Pakistan thus qualifying it as a homegrown plan The plan is clearly not a ‘take ít-or-leave-it’ document which falls if anything is changed However the plan is to be reviewed according to whether it accords with the PML(N) election manifesto and: The Planning Ministry s 5Es (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate) Framework After all, it is also supposed to provide the government with its game plan for the rest of the term
The Dercon plan springs no surprises, and anyone feeling that the long hard slog can be avoided (which is what critics really would like) would not like the plan, which is quite orthodox in that it recommends strict implementation of reforms and the exercise of political will to carry them through There does not seem to be any magic bill or golden bullet which would allow gain without pain The high-powered committee which is to be chaired by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar must not allow any unreasonable or parochial objections to weigh on it The target of 6 percent GDP growth combined with an exports target of $60 billion is not going to be achieved without strict discipline, even if there is some quick-fix solution in sight If the Dercon plan can be made to work, it should If the country benefits, it will not matter that Dercon is a Belgian settled in the UK
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Is the needed sincerit y there?
TTH E Paris Olympics which wrapped up on August 11 marked a historic milestone for China The Chinese contingent secured 40 gold 27 silver and 24 bronze medals setting a new record for their best performance in overseas competition This success wasn t just about the medal count; it was a testament to China’s growing dominance in global sports The fierce rivalry between China and the USA played out until the final day echoing the tension seen at the Tokyo Olympics China s triumph in Paris pushed its total Olympic gold medals past the 300 mark, a journey that began in 1984 with Xu Haifeng s shooting victory Over the past four decades, China’s sports programme has transformed from occasional breakthroughs to consistent world-class achievements This evolution reflects not only athletic excellence but also a deep commitment to the spirit of competition and national pride As China continues to rise as a sports superpower, its athletes success on the
How China’s soft power shone at the Paris Olympics
global stage not just as a competitor but as a formidable rival to the USA NPR reported that the medal count highlights China as the primary Olympic contender against the USA, particularly in the race for gold This shift in dynamics has not gone unnoticed especially in light of the controversy surrounding the
confirmed Shukur s killing it has denied involvement in Haniya s death These incidents have created a volatile atmosphere, as both Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to retaliate, raising the risk of a wider regional war Iran’s pledge to respond to Haniya’s death combined with Hezbollah s promise of revenge has placed the entire region on edge There is growing concern that a larger-scale conflict could erupt at any moment, with Israel as the primary target In response, the USA, along with its European allies France, Germany, Italy, and the UK has sought to prevent such an escalation These nations issued a joint statement warning Iran against attacking Israel emphasizing that any aggression could trigger a major regional security crisis Despite these diplomatic efforts, Iran has maintained its right to retaliate for what it views as an unprovoked attack on its ally Beyond the high-level geopolitical manoeuvres and strategic interests the human cost of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is profound particularly in Gaza The ongoing Israeli airstrikes and military operations have resulted in the deaths of countless Palestinian civilians Gaza, already suffering from a blockade and economic hardships, has seen its infrastructure further devastated by repeated Israeli bombardments Schools hospitals and homes have been reduced to rubble exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis
The killing of Ismail Haniya whether by Israel or other actors, has only intensified the suffering of the Palestinian people Amidst the violence, civilians women, children, and the elderly continue to bear the brunt of the conflict International organizations and humanitarian groups have called for an immediate ceasefire to allow aid to reach those in need but Israel has thus far shown little inclination to halt its military operations
At the same time, regional powers like Iran and Turkey, both of which support Hamas, must also be engaged in any long-term peace process Without their buy-in, any ceasefire agreement risks being short-lived Iran in particular has significant influence over both Hamas and Hezbollah and its involvement will be crucial in preventing further escalation The Palestinian struggle for self-determination remains at the core of the conflict For Palestinians, peace cannot merely be the cessation of hostilities but must also include justice an end to the occupation the recognition of Palestinian sovereignty and the right of return for refugees Any peace agreement that fails to address these fundamental issues will not hold, as it will be seen as legitimizing Israel s continued control over Palestinian land and resources International support for Palestinian rights has grown in recent years with many civil society groups human rights organizations and even governments calling for an end to the occupation and the establishment of a viable independent Palestinian state These voices argue that sustainable peace in the Middle East is only possible if the Palestinian people are given the same rights and freedoms that others in the region enjoy As peace talks unfold in Doha the world watches to see whether they will bring temporary relief or pave the way for a more lasting resolution While the Biden roadmap offers a structured plan for de-escalation, its success depends on the willingness of all parties Israel, Hamas, and their regional allies to engage in genuine dialogue and compromise However the road to peace in the Middle East is fraught with challenges and the deep historical political and social divisions between Israelis and Palestinians cannot be ignored Peace, if it comes, will require not only diplomatic efforts but also a commitment to justice and equality for the Palestinian people The writer can be reached at: writetomahossain@gmail com I s a d i p l o m a t i c s o l u t i o n p o s s i b l e ? Reviewing the plan a
Hard power was also on show
medal rankings at the Tokyo Olympics The US media s keen focus on the medal table at Paris suggested a growing unease, while China appeared to be savouring its Olympic journey However the real story goes beyond the medal tally The behaviour and spirit of the Chinese athletes reflect a deeper narrative While the medals signify China s hard power the athletes poise confidence and the unity displayed during the Games are a testament to China s burgeoning soft power As China continues to shine in both arenas, it’s clear that these Olympics have been about more than just sports; they’ve been about China confidently asserting itself
Nonetheless Washington s involvement remains crucial, as the USA has significant leverage over Israel, particularly in terms of military aid and diplomatic support The success of the current talks in Doha largely depends on whether the USA can pressure Israel to abide by the terms of the ceasefire and allow meaningful reconstruction efforts in Gaza
second phase involves the full release of all Israeli hostages and the complete withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Gaza The third and final phase includes the reconstruction of Gaza, prioritizing housing for those whose homes have been destroyed as well as providing additional relief to civilians affected by the conflict The Biden Administration believes that successful implementation of this roadmap could prevent Iran from directly intervening, thereby avoiding a broader regional conflict The hope is that temporary relief from violence will provide a foundation for future peace efforts However this optimism is overshadowed by a complex web of regional dynamics and unresolved grievances that have perpetuated the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades
Recent incidents further complicate the situation, notably the killings of prominent leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah which have heightened tensions On July 31 Ismail Haniya Hamas political leader was reportedly killed in a covert operation in Tehran Iran s capital On the same day, Fuad Shukur, a senior commander of Hezbollah, was assassinated in Lebanon Hamas and Iran have both accused Israel of orchestrating these assassinations While Israel
One of the fundamental challenges in achieving peace in the Middle East is the deep-seated mistrust between the parties involved Israel and Hamas as well as their respective allies have been locked in cycles of violence for decades Attempts at ceasefires or peace agreements have repeatedly broken down often due to provocations miscommunications, or the refusal of one side to compromise on critical issues such as borders, settlements, and the status of Jerusalem The USA while trying to play the role of mediator has historically been seen as biassed toward Israel undermining its credibility in the eyes of many Palestinians and their supporters
As peace talks unfold in Doha, the world watches to see whether they will bring temporar y relief or pave the way for a more lasting resolution While the Biden roadmap offers a structured plan for de-escalation, its success depends on the willingness of all par ties Israel, Hamas, and their regional allies to engag e in g enuine dialogue and compromise
Reclaiming the Dream
M A HossAIN
DR IMRAN KHALID
FO R several days the situation in Bangladesh has been a topic of discussion in Pakistan The student movement toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government after over 400 deaths hundreds of injuries and millions of takas property damage The unrest stemmed from the special quotas and privileges given to those who participated in the 1971 War of Independence, which negatively impacted other students The government responded with heavy force labeling the protesters as “Razakars ” a term used in Bangladesh to describe traitors and Pakistan-supported armed groups
Both Pakistan and Bangladesh remain entangled in the legacy of the 1971 War The political leadership, bureaucracy, and establishments of both nations have exacerbated this growing animosity The Razakars AlBadr Al-Shams and East Pakistan Civil Armed Forces were pro-Pakistan and nonBengali individuals
Currently, according to the Bangladeshi government and the International Red Cross, 147,637 people, cleared by the Pakistani government are stranded in Bangladesh and awaiting repatriation to Pakistan However the Pakistani government is not seriously considering their return Despite orders from the Bangladesh Supreme Court, these individuals refuse to accept Bangladeshi citizenship, hoping Pakistan will repatriate them a hope that seems unlikely In 2024, a resolution for their return was presented in the Sindh Assembly but it was strongly opposed by the Pakistan People s Party The Pakistani government does not want to implement the tripartite agreements of 9 April 1974 and 28 August 1978, According to Google, Wikipedia, and other sources there are about 2 million Pakistani Bengalis living in Pakistan with 116 settlements in Karachi alone Whether in industries factories domestic work fisheries or other businesses, Pakistani Bengalis play an active role Pakistan s economy would be incomplete without them
Their presence in Pakistan is the greatest testament to their love for the country Their ancestors graves are in Pakistan and they represent the third generation In fisheries
WI T H I N hours Israel assassinated the political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, and a senior military commander of Hezbollah, Fuad Shokr That these executions which took place on July 30 and 31 happened in Tehran and southern Beirut respectively signal Israel s willingness to violate Iranian and Lebanese sovereignty and provoke both actors in pursuit of its strategic aims, even if doing so risks wider war Israel’s attack was the second on Beirut’s southern suburbs since October 7 following the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri deputy chief of Hamas s political bureau Despite this Hezbollah has exercised restraint evidenced in its avoidance of attacks on Israeli cities or civilians These assassinations also came a few days after an Israeli attack on Yemen’s Hodeidah port that killed nine in retaliation for a drone strike launched by the Houthis a Yemeni political movement allied to Tehran that killed an Israeli in Tel Aviv The Houthis, who continue to halt and seize ships passing through the Gulf of Aden, have threatened further attacks in response to the Israeli strike Accordingly the G7 ministerial meeting held on August 4 expressed fears of a regionalization of the crisis starting with Lebanon and called on all parties to avoid escalation The United States, France, Great Britain, and other Western states have even called on their nationals to leave Lebanon as quickly as possible These regional tensions are growing against the backdrop of Israel s genocidal war which has claimed the lives of more than forty thousand Palestinians Meanwhile the negotiations for a final cease-fire between Israel and Hamas have been postponed After the assassination of its chief negotiator Haniyeh Hamas is rightly suspicious of the idea that Israel has any intention to enter talks in good faith The group has insisted that it will not participate in talks unless Israel halts its operations in Gaza and has called for a return to the cease-fire deal proposed by President Joe Biden on July 2 Israeli recalcitrance has only increased the risk of a wider war
HEZBOLLAH: WHAT REACTION? Officials from Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to avenge the deaths of Haniyeh and Shokr Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened Israel with “severe punishment ” and Hezbollah’s leaders made similar pronouncements On its side Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his
Abdul Qadir Bacho Diwan has played a significant role in strengthening Pakistan s economy and has even received an award from the Prime Minister of Pakistan Pakistan s history, from its creation to its struggle for independence, is incomplete without mentioning Pakistani Bengalis Whether it’s the 1757 battle with Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah the 1857 War of Independence the 1905 partition of Bengal the 1906 founding of the All India Muslim League by Nawab Salimullah Khan of Dhaka, or the moving of the 1940 Lahore Resolution by Moulvi A K Fazlul Huq, Bengali leaders have played a crucial role Even after the formation of Pakistan several Prime Ministers were of Bengali origin including the second Prime Minister Khawaja Nazimuddin, the third Mohammad Ali Bogra, the fifth Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, and the eighth Nurul Amin, whose graves are within the precincts of Mazar-e-Quaid Before 1971 many key positions and ministries were held by Pakistani Bengalis In modern times one prominent figure is Dr Kaiser Bengali who has significantly contributed to Pakistan s economy Pakistani Bengalis have made immense sacrifices for the defense of Pakistan In the 1965 Indo-Pak war the East Bengal Regiment defended the BRB canal in Lahore with their blood and they crushed India s Poona Horse tank regiment in the Chawinda sector by strapping bombs to their bodies, earning the title of Tiger Regiment In 1971, when the mandate of the Pakistani Bengalis was not accepted, and during the brutal Operation Searchlight which involved enforced disappearances rape of women and mass killings of students and teachers the love of Pakistani Bengalis for Pakistan remained unshaken Planting love with bullets, Washing the land’s chest with blood, You think the path is being cleared I am certain the destination is being lost ” Despite all the state oppression these patriotic individuals migrated from East to West Pakistan, unable to accept the existence of Bangladesh “When the earth’s body became barren, This land was bequeathed to us ” In 1978 dictator Gen Zia-ul-Haq issued a presidential ordinance requiring every Pakistani Bengali to apply for citizenship through the federal government The doors
of the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad have always been closed to the common poor, and thus, this black law was imposed on Pakistani
Bengalis
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto enacted the National Registration Act and issued manual identity cards In 2000 General Pervez Musharraf founded NADRA, making the situation for Pakistani Bengalis worse NADRA made it nearly impossible for Bengalis in Pakistan, whether in Chakwal, Narowal, Karachi, or Kashmir to obtain identity cards As a result Pakistani Bengalis were treated similarly to how India treats Kashmiris
A National Aliens Registration Authority (NARA) was established, staffed by racist and prejudiced officials This authority, with the help of the police, raided factories, fisheries and Bengali settlements detaining Bengalis and issuing them NARA cards despite their Pakistani documents labelling them as foreigners
During the PML(N) government ,then Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali further complicated these issues by establishing District Level Committees (DLC) consisting of ISI IB police special branch and NADRA members Due to a lack of interest from committee members hundreds of cases are pending and the DLC has revoked the citizenship of thousands of individuals, now ordering them to reapply for Pakistani citizenship
The third generation of Pakistani Bengalis born and raised in Pakistan is still not recognized by the government
Born raised and matured They were shocked to hear that this land is not ours
Many individuals have been detained due to their NARA cards In 2017, this racist authority was merged with NADRA, ending its oppressive practices However, the NARA records made many Pakistani Bengalis stateless Obtaining a passport after an identity card remains extremely difficult for Pakistani Bengalis Despite having ID cards the Passport Office, solely due to their Bengali ethnicity, sends their citizenship verification to the Special Branch, which remains pending for years Pakistani Bengali children and youth are deprived of education due to the lack of Bforms Many talented athletes and gymnasts cannot represent Pakistan due to the absence of identity documents Union councils refuse to register the birth of Bengali children Their job and employment opportunities are limited and without identity cards they are employed at minimum wages
Currently around 160 Pakistani Bengali fishermen entered Indian territorial waters while fishing and are now imprisoned in Indian jails Human rights activist Advocate Ali Changezi Sindhu is striving for their release in the Lahore High Court However due to the blocking of their Pakistani identity cards the government is not confirming their citizenship and the Special Branch refuses to work on their documents without bribes The families of these fishermen are now facing starvation The author of this article wrote to the Chairman of the Senate regarding these se-
Iranian officials stated that only a cease-fire deal in Gaza could stay the Islamic Republic s hand from responding to Israel
country was at a very high level of preparedness for any scenario both defensive and offensive The United States, for its part, has responded by committing to increasing its presence in the region so as to more easily offer support to its main ally This includes more warships “carrying ballistic missile defense and an additional squadron of combat aircraft US officials have also announced that the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Georgia, an aircraft carrier and submarine, will be dispatched to the region to bolster Israeli defenses Hezbollah’s secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah declared in a speech on August 7 a week after the assassination of Shokr that the response to the aggression against Beirut s southern suburbs will surely come and will be harsher than the responses to past assassinations He made clear that while the party will act “with courage ” its actions will not be impulsive Fear that a miscalculated response will provide Israel with a pretext for broadening the war explains Hezbollah s caution Even prior to the assassination of Shokr, the Israeli occupation forces had been continually escalating their military actions against Lebanon throughout its territory and not limited to the border regions It has killed more than four hundred of Hezbollah s soldiers in Lebanon and Syria including many senior military officers, since October 7 Israeli attacks have also displaced more than one hundred thousand civilians and destroyed infrastructure and large areas of farmland along the southern border Israel s objective is to force the party to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended Israel’s 2006 War on Lebanon, without withdrawing its own forces from the border region or forswearing launching future attacks on Lebanon
According to Nasrallah it is Israelis who have chosen to escalate the confrontation with Lebanon and Iran As well as being grounded in the facts, statements such as these are intended as responses to the hostility of large sectors of Lebanon’s population and sections of its political parties that accuse Hezbollah of taking the risk of setting the country ablaze Although Nasrallah stated sometimes the Palestinians [have] asked us to increase the pressure on Israel and intensify our attacks We have always taken into consideration the internal situation [in Lebanon] ” the aim of Hezbollah is not “ to annihilate Israel now but to prevent it from emerging victorious by pursuing a unity of fronts strategy While Hezbollah s military capacities have increased significantly since the 2006 war, this has not coincided with a growth in popular support In Lebanon the party has become increasingly politically and socially isolated outside the Shia population While 62 percent of Israelis support a full force
attack on Lebanon only 30 percent of Lebanese say they trust Hezbollah despite the fact the vast majority of the population would describe Israel s war as genocidal A recent survey showed that support for Hezbollah outside the Shia community is at one of the lowest points in its history
The party has however succeeded in preventing sectarian tensions from flaring up in Lebanon even after the bombing that killed twelve children in Majdal Shams, a town on the Syrian Golan Heights occupied by Israel and inhabited by a Syrian Druze population Hezbollah has denied any responsibility or involvement in the attack which Israel blames on it The vast majority of the Syrian population in the occupied Golan heights have refused Israeli citizenship and suffers from numerous discriminations by the Israeli state Weapons experts told Associated Press that evidence suggests a rocket from Lebanon potentially fired accidentally was responsible for the strike which Israel s Iron Dome missile-defense mechanism detected but did not intercept Regardless of the cause of the deaths, Israeli officials have instrumentalized this event to target the southern suburbs of Beirut and stoke sectarian tensions within Lebanon
Preventing sectarian tensions from rising dramatically on the national scene has been one of Hezbollah s main achievements since Israel launched its genocidal assault on Gaza The party has enacted a rapprochement with sectors of the Lebanese Sunni population, the vast majority of whom are supportive of the Palestinians Since October 7 sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shias in Lebanon have reduced considerably Moreover Jama ah al-Islamiya (also known as the Muslim Brotherhoods s Movement in Lebanon) has, under the umbrella of Hezbollah’s political influence, participated in some military actions against Israeli occupation forces at the Lebanese border while more and more Sunni sheikhs have openly supported the resistance during their Friday sermons including senior figures from Dar al-Fatwa, the official body overseeing the religious affairs of Lebanon s Sunnis, which in the past had vehemently opposed Hezbollah Hezbollah will no doubt respond to the Israeli bombing of Beirut But because of the delicate balance of sectarian interests within the country protecting its own civilians and military infrastructures, particularly the ones (re)built after the 2006 war, and because of the catastrophic consequences of a war for the Lebanese population it will seek to avoid causing a wider conflagration
IRAN: Hezbollah s main supporter Iran shares a similar position to that of the Lebanese party It is also attempting to avoid a regional war, despite the assassination of Palestinian leader Haniyeh on its territory and numerous other Israeli attacks against Iranian assets across the region Since October 7 Israel has killed more than twenty se-
nior officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) But much like Hezbollah Tehran moderated its responses Iranian Operation True Promise in April 2024, which fired more than three hundred drones and missiles on Israel, was essentially symbolic seeking to avoid causing real damage Iran launched the operation in retaliation for Israel s strike against the Iranian embassy annex in Damascus on April 1 which killed sixteen people, including seven members of the IRGC and the commander of the al-Quds force for the Levant, Mohammad Reza Zahedi The strike marked Iran’s first direct attack on Israel since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979 But Tehran gave its allies and neighboring countries seventytwo-hours notice so that they would have time to protect their airspace, according to the country’s then foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who died alongside President Ebrahim Raisi in a plane crash on May 19 Forewarned Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) played an important role in helping Israel to neutralize the attack by sharing information with the United States and Israel The Saudi and Iraqi governments also authorized US Air Force tanker planes to remain in their airspace to support US and allied patrols during the operation In addition Iran chose to attack Israel with drones which took hours to reach their destination and were easily identified and shot down, and did not call on its allies (notably Hezbollah) to join in its attack After the operation Iran’s Supreme National Security Council stated that no further military action was currently planned and that it considered the matter closed In other words Iran carried out this strike principally to save face and deter Israel from following up on its attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus In doing so, the Iranian regime clearly signaled that it wanted to avoid a regional war with Israel and the United States which would have come to the aid of Tel Aviv Iran did this primarily to protect itself and its networks of influence in the region Iran s strategic aims, particularly since October 7, have been to improve its political standing in the region so as to be in the best position for future negotiation with the US and to guarantee its political and security interests A full-scale Israeli attack on Lebanon, which would be particularly disastrous for the latter, would weaken Hezbollah and undermine Tehran’s geopolitical influence in the region It would also force Tehran and its allies to act in support of Hezbollah Iran s ruling class is therefore most urgently concerned with analyzing the different potential scenarios that would follow from a response to Israel s assassination These include retaliations carried out only by Tehran, or a coordinated response by the pro-Iranian regional network of influence with Lebanese Iraqi and Yemen allies of Iran being involved The timing of such an operation is still being discussed More recently several
ISRAEL: THE MAIN ACTOR CREATING INSTABILITY AND INSECURITY IN THE REGION: Israeli officials have threatened Hezbollah and Iran on numerous occasions with a wider war or military offensive Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant responded to Nasrallah s speech by stating that it is possible that this battle will escalate into war This is realistic, not theoretical ” Rather than being fearful of this possibility Netanyahu s government has instead pushed Tehran and Hezbollah to escalate and expand the war It is only the latter s restraint in the face of intense pressure that has rendered Israel s actions unsuccessful Tel Aviv, recognizing its strategic importance to America has attempted to drag the United States into the regional war that Washington has been trying to prevent and has thus far not given Israel the green light to conduct But without US support Israel s ability to deal with a regional confrontation would be greatly diminished US officials have used diplomatic channels and the support of its allies in the Middle East to pressure Iran and Hezbollah to consider very carefully their reactions The United States has warned the party that a massive retaliation would only inflame tensions and risk leading to a direct confrontation between them and Israel, which would fight with the backing and support of Washington In
JACOBIN MAGAZINE
Tspread on social media, falsely attributing the attack to either a Muslim or an asylum-seeker The alleged attacker was later identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana a Cardiff-born youth The riots escalated across the country, with mosques being targeted in various cities At the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque in Liverpool two Muslim women shared their concerns in an interview with Sky News Lila Tamea a 26-year-old student expressed the community s fears: There was almost a sense that the po-
lice aren’t going to protect us And so, it was really important that there was that show of solidarity from not just the Muslim community It was quite a lot of the non-Muslim community who came out that Friday to defend the mosque Amina Atiq, a 29-year-old poet, voiced her distress over the situation: I felt as if it was not fair that we didn’t get a chance as a Muslim family to grieve for the three little girls Because soon after that we felt as if we were more suspect to that attack Baroness Shaista Gohir, CEO of the Muslim Women s Network, told Sky News that hate crime has been on the rise over the last decade, and current strategies are outdated She called for stronger hate crime legislation with a clear definition of hostility Gohir emphasized the need for more hate crimes to be reported, particularly by Muslim women, to better understand the scale of the issue “What’s really worrying
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Princess Kate still seems to have ongoing issues with Meghan Markle as the future Queen of England prepares to take a significant step,
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SUPPLIES hAUNt INFL
Konnec t by HBL crowns Valorant Champions
Abrar A Mir Chief Innovation & Financial Inclusion Officer – HBL said Konnect congratulates all the gamers for their skills and sportsmanship We are thrilled to see the overwhelming response to these gaming tournaments By leading in this arena Konnect is committed to shaping
150 000 Commenting on the initiative,
Gwadar Free Zone inks agreement with Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone
ISLAMABAD
In a fresh strategic move Gwadar Free Zone (GFZ) has inked a comprehensive economic agreement with Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone (XPFTZ) to build a new pattern of interactive development for logistic trade and commercial growth under the framework of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Gwadar Free Zone signed the economic pact and forwarded it to the administration of Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone for needful action Gwadar Port Authority official told Gwadar Pro China Industry Overseas Development Association is also part of the agreement to expedite coordinated development of the two regions he added “It has been agreed by the contracting parties to jointly promote the economic development of the two trade zones Cooperation in the fields of energy, textile, agricultural products, trade and logistics will be enhanced
through this agreement he said adding that a joint working group would be established to carry out coordination and
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry s Businessmen Panel has called for keeping check on government expenditure and high cost of debt servicing to contain budget deficit, as the Pakistan s
and
‘A WHOLE OF GOVT’ APPROACH MUST TO CURB ELECTRICIT Y THEFT, REDUCE LINE LOSSES:
(PTI) founder and ex-spy chief Faiz Hameed PTI s alleged links with antiPakistan journalists from across the eastern border and its decision to resettle the Fitna-ul-Khawarij from western border in the country He said PTI spokesperson Rauf Hassan’s “provocative and terrible” conversation with an Indian journalist that surfaced earlier in the day had fully exposed the PTI s anti-state agenda
The minister branded the PTI as a foreign-funded party which has been committed to anti-national agenda, resorting to seek support of its foreign masters to undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country after harming its
foreign policy with the cipher conspiracy
Tarar said Rauf Hassan s conversation with the Indian journalists, who holds anti-Pakistan sentiments, was a true reflection of the ideology of the PTI which has been harboring conspiracies against the country including the May 9 arson
He alleged that the PTI social media cell in Islamabad which was in constant contact with the enemies of the country, was involved in running a smear campaign against the Pakistan Army and the Army Chief
Their clamor for a “bloody revolution in the country proved that the PTI had received foreign funding from India for the purpose he said adding it was also revealed by the investigation into the prohibited funding case of the PTI
“Now, the PTI leader ’s contact with Indian journalist proves that he is running anti-Pakistan campaign at the behest of anti-national forces he said regretting that the foreign funded group had crossed all limits of anti-nationalism
There is no doubt that their main goal is to harm Pakistan’s national interests and the army,” he stressed
“These people are pursuing Indian
agenda while sitting in Pakistan, he said, while accusing the PTI of resettling the terrorists in the country at the behest of Indians Faiz Hameed also became a stooge to the PTI founder and resorted to create instability in the country on his behest the minister noted He said the nation fully knew that it was Faiz Hameed who was the agent of the wife of the PTI Founder Bushra Bibi, a central figure in all these conspiracies
“Faiz-Niazi-Bushra nexus” had harmed the country to achieve their ulterior motives he said alleging that the al-
liance was involved in inciting revolt in the state institution he said adding the Faiz-Niazi nexus also tried to create an impression that there was some kind of confusion or division in rank and file of the Pakistan Army
Minister for Information, Broadcasting, Culture and National Heritage Ataullah Tarar on Sunday expressed deep grief over the death of Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Rawalpindi Chaudhry Musrat Abbas who is the brother of Director General Information Department Regional Office Lahore Shafqat Abbas The minister, who was deeply saddened by the news, prayed to the Almighty to rest the departed soul in the eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude Tarar, in a news statement, said Chaudhry Musrat Abbas was a very hardworking and capable officer, and his services for the country would always be remembered
underscores the government’s dedication to fostering peace as a foundation for the economic growth and stability of Balochistan signaling a continued commitment to addressing both immediate security challenges and long-term developmental goals
‘Shakeel Ahmed ousted on corruption charges’: Barrister Saif denies PTI internal
