‘NO LENIENCY OR TALKS WITH MISCREANT’: PM DECL ARES ENDGAME OF TERRORISTS
g SAYS NATION UNITED FOR ELIMINATION OF TERRORISM, VOWING SACRIFICES BEING RENDERED WILL NEVER BE SQUANDERED
officers and personnel of the security forces
The cabinet members also offered Fateha for the victims of terror incidents and Rana Afzaal, the brother of Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, who passed away on Monday
g SUCH UNHOLY DESIGNS MEANT TO IMPEDE PROGRESS, CPEC PROJECTS AND UNDERMINE SINO-PAK RELATIONSHIP: PM
Naqvi says ter rorists in Balochistan will receive a ‘strong message’ soon
QUETTA: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday stated that there was no need for a major operation in Balochistan and assured that the terrorists would soon receive a “clear message ” saying that terrorists operating in the province can be dealt with by a single Station House Officer (SHO)
Addressing a press conference in Quetta alongside Balochistan Chief Minister Sardar Sarfraz Bugti, Naqvi emphasised that the purpose of his visit was to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Balochistan and to assure them that the federal government fully supports the provincial leadership The federal government is
The
being
the guise of friends
This is a clear message There are no two opinions on this,” the prime minister said addressing the meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by him on Tuesday
The prime minister began his remarks by reiterating the condemnation of the terror incidents held in different parts of the country during the last couple of days killing dozens of citizens and the
The prime minister said that it was no secret that the terrorists of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghanistan were behind these terrorist attacks The government has sensitised the Afghan government on the subject and also taken effective actions against them he added
Referring to the killing of passengers in Balochistan on Monday he said such incidents could not terrorize the people Such unholy designs are just meant to impede the country’s progress, ongoing CPEC projects in Balochistan and undermine the relationship between Pakistan and China he remarked
He told the cabinet members that the government had assured to provide allout resources to the armed forces to fight out the terrorists and that the Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and the armed forces personnel were de-
concern over the incidents calling them unac-
termined to purge this scourge “Inshallah their nefarious designs will be foiled provided we identify our enemies and forge unity to eliminate them, he urged Calling the recent terror incidents a “moment of reflection”, Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated there was no room for terrorists in the country He announced that he would visit Balochistan very soon to hold in-depth
ceptable These acts of terror are intolerable, but they cannot intimidate us The terrorists will soon receive a strong message,” he asserted Responding to a journalist's question Naqvi clarified that the Balochistan government is fully alert and more determined than ever to confront terrorism He dismissed the need for a large-scale operation, reiterating that the terrorists are only a minor threat “These terrorists have attacked from hiding If they had the courage they would face us directly Our forces are well-equipped to deal with them and their elimination will not require extensive operations, Naqvi explained Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti highlighted the challenges of securing Balochistan s vast terrain noting that terrorists often exploit isolated areas to carry out attacks He assured that the government is actively responding to these threats Pakistan s Balochistan province has recently seen an uptick in violence including target killings and militant attacks S
deliberations on the situation and decide on immediate measures Asif urges leaders of Balochistan to take ownership to end menace of terrorism Meanwhile, Minister for Defense Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday urged the political leaders of Balochistan to take the responsibility and ownership for ending the menace of terrorism in the province
He had added that security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) conducted 23 622 small and large-scale IBOs in the country this year out of which 2 045 operations were carried out in the second half of July President Zardari lauds security forces for successful operation
Appreciating the security forces for carrying out a successful operation against the Fitna al Khawarij President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed that the state will continue taking action until the complete eradication of terrorism from the country
“Security forces demonstrated courage and sent the terrorists to hell they said and paid tribute to the soldiers who embraced martyrdom during the operations
and two of its affiliate groups, the military s media affairs wing said on Tuesday The ISPR A statement said that the operations were based on “robust intelligence and resulted in major setbacks to Fitna al Khawarij and its affiliates During these daring and highly successful IBOs being conducted since 20 August 2024, security forces have so far successfully neutralized twenty-five Khwarij including Kharji ring leader Abuzar alias Saddam who has been sent to hell while 11 Khawrij have been injured the statement said However, during the conduct of operations, four brave soldiers, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) ” it said
We will neither compromise on the peace and order of the country nor hesitate to make any sacrifices for the protection of the motherland ” they said Police thwart militant attack on Kurram toll plaza checkpoint in Lakki Marwat On the other hand the police repulsed a late-night attack by militants on a police checkpoint at Kurram Toll Plaza in Lakki Marwat that left one officer injured while another individual died of a heart attack triggered by the terror of the incident 2 5 K h a w a r i j s i n c l u d i
ISPR Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that the move was made because the TTP was a mischief-making group that was neither an ideology nor has anything to do with Islam or Pakistan ”
The heavy losses inflicted upon Fitna Al Khawarij in these operations were a testament to the valour and commitment of the security forces to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country it added Earlier this month the government declared TTP as Fitna al-Khawarij and all other terrorists associated with the group as khariji (outcasts) Speaking during a press conference
E R S T O C O M B AT P O W E R T H E F T
PAKISTAN BELIEVES IN POWER OF DIGITAL INCLUSION: CHAIRMAN SENATE
Referring
that in the realm of cyber security, Pakistan is aware of the critical importance of safeguarding the digital infrastructure As cyber threats continue to escalate globally with a 38% increase in cyber-attacks in 2023 alone we are taking proactive measures to strengthen our cyber security , he remarked Highlighting the significance
contracts in senate committee hearing
Heav y rain disrupts domestic and international flights across Pakistan
ISLAMABAD
Heavy rain, coupled with administrative challenges, led to widespread disruptions in flight schedules across Pakistan, affecting over 30 flights Airports in major cities like Karachi Islamabad and Lahore witnessed significant delays causing inconvenience to numerous passengers A notable instance of delay was seen in the foreign airline’s flight SV701 from Jeddah, which was delayed by two and a half hours Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) also reported several delays including a two-hour delay for PK-302 from Karachi to Lahore Additionally, PK-300 from Islamabad to Karachi, initially scheduled for 11 am, faced a similar two-hour delay
International flights were not exempt from the disruptions The Karachi-Istanbul flight TK-709 was delayed by three hours now set to depart at 9 am PIA s PK-744 from Madinah to Karachi was delayed by four hours, further complicating travel plans for returning passengers Other affected flights included PK768 from Jeddah to Quetta, which arrived an hour and 15 minutes late and PK-715 from Multan to Madinah now rescheduled for a noon departure after a four-hour delay The Dubai-Islamabad flight PK-134 was also delayed by three hours Flights arriving in Islamabad from Sharjah Dammam Muscat and Dubai experienced delays as well Passengers on PK-713 from Islamabad to Madinah now face a six-hour delay with departure pushed to 10 am Additional delays
were reported for flights from Islamabad to Istanbul Jeddah Muscat and Dubai PIA s domestic routes also felt the impact with the Islamabad-Skardu flight PK-451 rescheduled for 10 am, two and a half hours later than planned The Islamabad-Riyadh flight SV-725 will now depart at 1:40 pm, a four-hour delay while PK-325 from Islamabad to Quetta will leave at 4:30 pm also two and a half hours late The IslamabadKarachi flight PK-369 is delayed by two hours, now set for a 6 pm departure The widespread delays have caused considerable frustration among travellers who expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of timely communication and the disruptions to their travel plans Authorities have yet to issue an official statement addressing the ongoing issues
‘No lenienc y or talks with miscreant’: PM declares endgame of terrorists
Balochistan province, already grappling with instability, faced multiple attacks in various districts on Monday
The attacks began with the destruction of the Dozan railway bridge in the mountainous Bolan Valley This critical infrastructure linked Balochistan with Sindh and Punjab via a train service Reports indicated that its destruction has severed a vital connection, and further isolated the province The Musakhail district witnessed the most horrific incident in which 23 passengers were forced off a bus and brutally slain one after another
The violence did not spare the Kalat district either, where an attack on security forces left 10 people dead, including
five security officials and five civilians In Noshki militants attacked near the Frontier Corps fort resulting in injury to five civilians Further south, in the Sibbi district, six bodies were discovered, adding to the rising toll from the violence Militants also targeted the Daringarh police station in Mastung though fortunately there were no casualties in this attack In the Pishin district a hand grenade attack injured two people, with a government office as the target Meanwhile, in Lasbella, three security officials were murdered in a targeted attack though a major assault was repulsed by the forces In response to the attacks on innocent civilians the military sprang into action and wiped out 21 suspected militants, while a major terrorist attack was thwarted in the Lasbela district
Wh I L E the country has not gone out of control, it is showing signs of creaking at the joints at least 23 travellers were pulled off buses, identified as Punjabis and shot dead by 30 to 40 militants there were also a number of attacks on law enforcement personnel with no less than 14 killed in clearance operations that saw 21 terrorists being killed after 50 people were killed, the province joined Punjab in being affected by terror on a grand scale after it experienced a massacre of 11 policemen in the badlands of Rahim Yar Khan the latest massacre also affects Punjab for the victims hail from districts like Gujranwala, toba tek Singh and Khanewal It was commendable for Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti to say that the attack was not aimed against Punjabis but it simply is not true the attacks had the hallmark of Baloch militants, and may indicate that the militants may be getting restive It may even be a response to the operation in the Punjab kutcha which borders Balochistan, and which equally provides its militants a refuge as much as the criminals who seek refuge there It is also worth noting that the terrorists are seeking refuges because their safe havens are under attack by a military operation in the Dera Ismail Khan area a threat to their refuge in the kutcha would be seen by them as an existential threat the Baloch separatists might have become desperate this latest operation seems to be aimed at driving a wedge between Punjab and Balochistan, which means that the narrative of exploitation is not working and this is a desperate attempt to jumpstart it the alliance between Baloch separatists and sectarian militants is worrisome in that respect, because it is not certain how the latter will fit into the equation the Baloch separatists now need Balochistan towns to start receiving bodies, but there are simply not enough Balochistanis in Punjab for this the problem of Balochistan is one of their experiencing interference from the Centre It is not a matter of throwing money at the problem also, it is not Balochistan alone but the entire country which is experiencing this instability What is needed is a firm approach, with the government leading the effort both to solve the province’s developmental issues as well as dealing with the terrorists, whatever ideology they might espouse the government has previously traced the links of Baloch separatists to Indian intelligence Its interference cannot be ruled out
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Th E 2024 Democratic National Convention was an exhausting roller coaster ride for arab americans and supporters of Palestinian rights It was a messy affair with highs and lows some small victories and some setbacks But on balance the naysayers are wrong because Palestine and supporters of Palestinian rights were big winners during the four days in Chicago We didn’t get language on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict changed in the party platform nor did we get a Palestinian american speaker in prime time from the convention s main stage But the issue of Palestine was front and centre from Monday through thursday and in the days that followed they were little wins, to be sure, but they were victories, nonetheless On Monday, the convention agreed to host a panel on Palestinian suffering at an official site It was co-chaired by Minnesota attorney General (former Congressman) Keith Ellison and myself It featured the compelling testimonies of: Dr tanya haj-hassan who told harrowing stories of children and medical workers who were victims of the genocidal war on Gaza; Layla Elabed, a Palestinian american leader of the national Uncommitted Movement that garnered 750 000 voters protesting the administration’s complicity in the war; former Congressman andy Levin who lost his reelection due to aIPaC spending millions to defeat him; and hala hijazi a Palestinian american Democratic Party fundraiser who had lost scores of family members in Gaza there had been over 30 of these official side pan-
ber of standing ovations in support of the speakers and issues raised It was understood that securing the official sponsorship for the panel wasn t the victory we sought Our goal remains a change in US policy But recognition of Palestinian suffering and Israel s and the USa’s responsibility for producing this genocidal war was important and could not be dismissed News that an Israeli american family would take the convention s main stage to tell about their son who was a hamas-held hostage upped the ante and led us to insist that a Palestinian american also be invited to tell the story of their family in Gaza Days of negotiations followed When the decision was made to not extend an invitation abbas alawieh another of the leaders of the National Uncommitted Movement led a protest walkout from the arena and a sitin in front of the convention I called this campaign decision a bone-headed unforced error It was deeply hurtful to Palestinian americans who felt their humanity wasn’t being recognized It threatened to erase the positives gained by the campaign’s recognition of our panel leaving supporters of Palestinian rights with a sour taste in their mouths But it also meant and this is important to recognize that the issue of Palestine and the effort to silence our voices would once again be elevated to the centre of discussion Over the next 24 hours, we held multiple press conferences and spoke one-on-one with dozens of journalists ensuring that the issue of Palestinian
not true democracy No political party is based on or running through democratic modes and means the learned scholar of Islam as well as of the West and the great poet of Urdu allama Iqbal very correctly told us about Western democracy in the following couplet: Jamhuriyat ik trzi-i-hukppmat hai kai jismain/Bandon kogina jata hai tola nahin jata
(Democracy is that system of government in which/Men are counted not weighed ) During the whole freedom struggle the allIndia National Congress the largest and pio-
neering political party of the Subcontinent, did not raise or use any religious slogan while the Muslim League did and was founded on the basis of religion and that was Islam Quaid-eazam Muhammad ali Jinnah said in a speech delivered on 13 vJanuary 1948 in Peshawar that the demand of Pakistan was not made just to get a country, but to get a laboratory, rather a laboratory to practise Islam today we still feel ashamed that Pakistan could not be the laboratory of the practice of Islam Our country s socio-political and economic structure is not Islamic or democratic It is a universal truth that without being a part or under a religion, Islam, politics is a terribly cruel system Pakistan cannot survive even be safe unless it practises and implements Islam Our forefathers were told by the Quaid and by then Muslim League that only Islamic laws would be implemented in Pakistan but that promise is still waiting to be fulfilled We are duly ashamed at the failure to fulfill If we want to survive, we should abandon inhuman and Un Islamic set-ups forever and that too as early as possible If we are to fill the pot with pure water first we must empty the pot and throw away its dirty water and then clean the pot after that, the pot could be filled with pure water We must avoid following the blind following of the West and un-Islamic ideas We should remove all un-Islamic rules laws principles and practices We should leave blind faith in Western and un-Islamic regulations and imitation The writer is a freelance columnist
Quota Conundrum
Dr MuhaMMaD afzaal
quota for the children of freedom fighters while supporting quotas for ethnic minorities and people with disabilities
istan Democratic Movement (PDM) a 13-
SO U T H Asia is a region located in the southern part of Asia that is known for its religious variety and significant geographical significance The region consists of seven countries namely Pakistan India Bangladesh Sri Lanka Maldives Nepal and Bhutan According to a World Bank report, the total population of South Asia exceeds 1 8 billion people India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are the most populated countries in the region However both Pakistan and Bangladesh are now experiencing significant political turmoil which includes social unrest ethnic inequities and economic issues This instability is not just impacting particular countries but also impacts on the entire region
The removal of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from her post is a recent event that illustrates the political turmoil in Bangladesh Her ouster happened due to massive protests led by students against the job quota system The High Court ruled that the government’s decision to abolish the contentious quota system in 2018 was controversial and unconstitutional Consequently the system was reinstated leading to widespread protests According to an Al-Jazeera report of 16 July 2024, 56 percent of public sector jobs are reserved under this quota system, including 30 percent for descendants of 1971 freedom fighters 10 percent for women 10 percent zila quota for backward districts five percent for ethnic minorities and one percennt for people with disabilities Only 44 percent of jobs are merit-based The protests, which started on 1 July 2024 at the University of Dhaka, rapidly spread to other public institutions across Bangladesh The protesters demanded the elimination of the 30 percent
The situation worsened when the ruling party attacked the student protesters This escalated the tensions between the students and the governing bodies On July 21, the Supreme Court mandated a decrease in the allocation percentage reducing it from 30 percent to five percent for descendants of independence fighters one percent for ethnic minorities, one percent for persons with disabilities and transgender individuals, while the remaining 93 percent of employment opportunities would be based on merit Nevertheless protesters continued their efforts urged the government to apologize and resign Amidst the unrest Sheikh Hasina resigned on 5 August 2024 and fled to India with military assistance Following her departure, hundreds of protesters entered her residence and raided the Parliament In response the army chief Ge Waker-uz-Zaman promised to establish an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus, to control the situation As reported by Al-Jazeera on 7 August, approximately 300 individuals were killed and thousands injured during a very turbulent phase of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure Since the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan from power in April 2022 Pakistan has been facing significant political and economic instability Khan was removed from his post after a vote of no-confidence passed by Parliament Khan claimed that his removal was a US conspiracy as he refused tp cut ties with China and Russia However the USA denied its involvement in any conspiracy After Khan s removal Shehbaz Sharif formed a government under the Pak-
party alliance in the National Assembly Khan has faced many legal cases during the PDM government, including the corruption case of the Al-Qadir Trust, the Toshakhana case, and many charges like murder, terrorism, and so on On 9 May 2023 Khan was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau from the Islamabad High Court in the corruption case of AlQadir Trust His arrest led to massive protests across the country by his supporters who blamed the military for his arrest But the military denied any involvement behind his arrest and political troubles In response police arrested almost more than 2000 protesters But the Supreme Court ordered his immediate release from imprisonment as his arrest was illegal The Islamabad High Court also gave him pre-emptive bail in other cases related to corruption Khan was detained once again in Lahore on 5 August 2023 after being sentenced to three years in prison by an Islamabad Court for the unlawful sale of government gifts Gradually the allegations against him grew to include treason, unlawful marriage, instigating anti-state aggression, and promoting the destruction of military and governmental assets Following the dissolution of Parliament an interim government was established with Anwar ul Haq Lakar who was sworn in as caretaker PM During Kakar s tenure the PTI saw a significant crackdown, including the abduction and expulsion of party members Kakar also failed to carry out free and fair elections within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies
On January 13 the electoral symbol of the PTI the Bat was banned due to the failure to conduct intra-party elections properly As a result, PTI candidates were forced
to take part in elections as independent candidates However candidates supported by PTI emerged winners with a decisive majority in the general elections held on February
initiators and supporters Recently Bollywood celebrities faced backlash for supporting Palestine including Madhuri Dixit, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Ritika Sajdeh (wife of cricketer Rohit Sharma)
The question is why has the world’s biggest democracy and the non-Muslim country with the largest Muslim population aligned itself with the apartheid regime of Israel instead of Palestine? The answer seems straightforward it is the ruling farright BJP alliance that has turned a secular India into polarised polity with an ever increasing anti-Muslim bias owing to its inflammatory rhetoric The alliance between India and Israel has increasingly been marked by mutual antiMuslim sentiments as both countries view Muslim communities and groups as a threat Under the leadership of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu, this relationship has strengthened military collaboration and ideological alignment often framed within the context of rising Hindu and Jewish nationalism
Even worse has been the fact that instead of condemning Israel s recent crimes against humanity, the BJP-led government has started to emulate them in India especially in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir
Indian diplomat Sandeep Chakravorty has
To mitigate the political turmoil in South Asia, political par ties with the help of establishment divisions should focus more on political and economic challenges in both Bangladesh and Pakistan Bangladesh has faced many vulnerabilities due to the recent protests that happened in July and the star t of August The Bangladeshi government should focus on key problems of their citizens by granting them their basic rights, to sustain political stability On the other hand, the government of Pakistan with the help of law and enforcement agencies should resolve the issue of Form 45 and Form 47
practices Before the Modi government came to office India was a decent democracy but now things have changed drastically as the BJP has introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 – which allows nonMuslim religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to seek citizenship – a measure that threatens Muslims into submission and keep them under check In contrast Israel is doing the same – or in fact even worse – to Palestinians whose lives property, economy and liberty are all under constant threat of erasure Ideological resonance between Zionism and Hindutva is another reason behind India’s waning support for the Palestine cause and mild response against the atrocities of apartheid regime in the Middle East Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and later Hindu nationalist thinkers, such as M S Golwalkar, were fascinated by the success of Zionism in creating a Jewish state in Israel They viewed it as a prototype for their aspiration of establishing a Hindu Rashtra in India This admiration stemmed from shared ethno-nationalist ideologies that prioritise race and territory An expansionist agenda also glues the two together The concepts of ‘Akhand Bharat’ (Undivided India) and the expanded borders of Israel are driven by nationalist and exclusionary ideologies The Akhand Bharat vision seeks to incorporate neighbouring countries like Pakistan Bangladesh Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar into a greater Hindu India Similarly, the Greater Israel movement advocates for the annexation of the West Bank and other occupied Palestinian territories Jordan parts of Iraq and Egypt
FROM SCRATCH: ‘GREATER ISRAEL’: These expansionist agendas are often fuelled by religious and ethnic nationalism, portraying minorities as threats to the dominant group’s identity and interests By demonising and scapegoating minorities the far-right governments can consolidate their power and distract from their failures in governance However, such expansionist policies are not only unethical but also impractical and detrimental to regional stability and peace They perpetuate conflicts displace populations and divert resources from pressing domestic issues like poverty inequality and development
Thus, it would not be wrong to suggest that the current strengthening of bonds between India and Israel is more grounded in their ethno-nationalist worldviews and hostility to Muslims rather than mutual strategic interests But any bond that is based on hatred against any community doesn t persist forever and crumbles under the weight of its own policies Thus, it would be wise for India and Israel to revise their adversarial approach against their foes and minorities for a lasting peace in Middle East and South Asia As continued hostilities would further exacerbate existential threats for them rather than resolving existing ones
L o c a l a d m i n a n d
WHO is destroying the houses and property of Muslims? Who razed the house of Shahzad Ali in Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh to the ground? Who signed the orders? Who gave the order and who crushed Shahzad Ali s three vehicles? On whose orders was a procession of Muslims taken out and in it, youth forced to chant the slogan ‘Police hamara baap hai (police is our father)’? Who took a rape accused in Assam near a pond at 3 am claiming it was the site of the crime of rape? And how was the accused allowed to die there? Did he really jump into the pond while trying to escape despite such police presence and die by drowning? Who believes this claim of the Assam police ? How was it predicted by journalists a day before? All this is decided implemented and done by administrative and local police officials They cannot shirk their responsibility by saying that a chief minister asked them to do this or that there was an order from above Stone pelting took place during a protest by Muslims at Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh They were expressing their anger against the public insult of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and wanted to file a first information report How the protest gave way to a clash with police who was involved in it and who instigated it can only be known after an impartial investigation Local Congress leader Shahzad Ali was trying to convince the angry protesters to not indulge in violence, according to reports, when stone pelting started Were there some miscreants infiltrating the protesting mass who did it? This is a legitimate question But the police immediately without any investigation decided that Ali was among those who incited the violence and the very next day his house was razed to the ground and all his vehicles were crushed Along with this Muslims were made to walk out in a procession that was meant to humiliate them publicly
Under which provisions of the law was all this done? The administration first justified the demolition of the house by saying that it was on government land, then said that it was very close to a water body and then said that the land belonged to Shahzad Ali but the map of the house was not approved In India or Madhya Pradesh is an entire house demolished if its plans are not approved by authorities –that too without proper notice?
Why does the District Magistrate not have the courage to say that he really wanted to teach Muslims a lesson and hence he hit a respected person of the community so that everyone got the message?
p o l i c e o k a y i n g b u l l d o z e r a c t i o n a g a i n s t M u s l i m s
The crimes that were committed by Hindut va gangs or mobs are now being committed by the administration and the police
Why is he resorting to lies and half-truths?
Earlier Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had told the press that he had a recording of the District Magistrate of Bhind in which he is allegedly heard saying that he will demolish the houses of Muslims, not Hindus He is also allegedly heard saying that he will demolish houses only where there is a “Hindu Muslim angle In a murder case for instance the administration reportedly demolished the houses of the accused Muslims but refused to take such action against a Hindu accused in a similar case Just before that, in Ujjain, in a rape case, the house of the accused Muslim was demolished but not that of the other accused who was a Hindu In Madhya Pradesh itself we saw the statement of the District Magistrate of Dindori, Ratnakar Jha, two years ago: The shop and house of Asif Khan, the accused in the kidnapping of a student in Dindori district, have been razed to the ground For two days action has been taken against the shops and illegal houses of accused Asif Khan Asif Khan s crime was that he had married a Hindu woman It was a legal marriage But as happens in India, the girl’s family created a ruckus The District Magistrate demolished Asif Khan’s father ’s house Under which law? And he also announced it proudly When asked he clarified that the villagers wanted his house to be demolished, so he demolished it For the last five to six years, in certain parts of the country, as soon as an allegation is made against Muslims, the administration demolishes their houses and shops at the blink of an eye It is as if administrative reflexes have now mutated The moment they see or hear a Muslim name among accused, they take out their bulldozers and JCB machines Some of them even engage a band to celebrate the demolitions It appears that sadism has now become a feature of the administrative culture in India They get pleasure out of the pain of Muslims It is not even necessary that they have their own houses In Udaipur, a Muslim teenager stabbed a Hindu
MIDDLE EAST MONITOR
Muneeb TAriq pAnsoTA
CORPORATE CORNER
AH cl AsH: Us GeneRAl
informed the groups that it would not be hosting the event
“Théâtre Rialto has informed us that they have cancelled host Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem s event this weekend and will not host his tour stop, CIJA stated on social media The organisation cited the cleric’s “antisemitic and homophobic rhetoric” as a threat to the safety of the local community
The event was part of Al-Hakeem s speaking tour across Canada which has sparked outrage from politicians and Jewish organisations
The Eventbrite pages for the Montreal event, as well as upcoming events in London and Vancouver were deleted following the theatre s decision Additionally promotional content for the tour was removed
from Penny Appeal Canada’s website and social media channels
The controversy surrounding AlHakeem extends beyond Montreal In Winnipeg, where the cleric was scheduled to speak on August 21, B’nai Brith Canada called on St Peter’s Church and the Archdiocese of Winnipeg to cancel the event Although the Archdiocese issued a statement indicating that the church was instructed to disinvite Al-Hakeem, the disinvitation did not occur
The Saudi cleric has a history of making inflammatory statements In a recent video Al-Hakeem referred to Jews as having an inherent hatred for Muslims claiming that the events in Gaza demonstrated this enmity
A conference organized by the Indian Muslims for Civil Rights (IMCR) in New Delhi strongly denounced the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, labeling it as a planned attempt to seize Waqf properties and a broader threat to the rights of minority groups across India Held at the Ghalib Institute in the Indian capital the event united parliamentarians, legal experts, and community representatives from across the country in their opposition to the bill AAP MP Sanjay Singh address-
ing the gathering described the bill as a threat not only to Muslim properties but also to those of other minority communities including Sikhs Buddhists and Hindus Singh called for a collective struggle against the bill, warning that failure to unite could result in further encroachments on minority properties Congress MP Naseer Hussain reaffirmed his party s commitment to opposing the bill He emphasized the need for a unified, secular front in this battle and urged Muslim organizations and communities to counter the misinformation surrounding the bill Maulana Fazlur Raheem Mu-
jaddidi, General Secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board labeled the bill as a systematic attempt to dispossess Muslims of their Waqf properties and exacerbate their marginalization Former Indian Minister K Rahman Khan echoed these concerns, framing the bill as part of a decade-long conspiracy against the Muslim community Former MP and IMCR Chairman Mohammad Adeeb committed to presenting any resolutions from the conference to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), while Supreme Court
‘TALKS END IN STALEMATE’: ALL TRADERS’ BODIES
TO OBSERVE SHUTDOWN TODAY
ment’s handling of the economy, highlighting the influence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the national budget It is shameful that the Prime Minister admits Pakistan s budget was dictated by the IMF, he stated He condemned
(FBR) Tajir Dost Scheme Key trade bodies including furniture makers and nanbais (roti and naan makers) have pledged to join the strike Several political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI-F, have also voiced support
Shahid Ghafoor Paracha stated that traders are fighting for the public, as the taxes directly impact common people “Businesses are on the brink of closure ” Paracha said predicting a historic shutdown on August 28
JUI-F chief backs nationwide traders’ strike
fails to meet their demands Baloch also criticized the govern-
Chaudhry Muhammad Farooq criticized the penalties imposed on traders despite their compliance with tax regulations “Traders are being harassed with fines amounting to hundreds of thousands The government is worsening the system instead of improving it We ve been left with no choice but to strike Farooq said The All Pakistan Restaurants Association and the Bakers and Sweets Association expressed their full support for the strike stressing that the government’s actions have left traders with no alternative but to demand fair treatment and economic justice In a press conference in Islamabad, key trading community leaders declared that the strike would serve as a public referendum against current economic injustices Kashif Chaudhry President of
Journalist shot dead in Sindh’s Ghotki
opponents had also attacked his father he added Meanwhile Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the murder of Journalist Bachal Ghanjio and ordered the Sindh Police chief to ensure early arrest of the killer of the slain journalist Murad Ali Shah expressed his grief and sorrow over journalist Muhammad Bachal Ghanjo's killing and directed the IGP Sindh to arrest immediately the killers of martyred journalist The operation against dacoits should be made more effective, he directed The CM said, We believe in freedom of press ' He prayed that May Allah raise the ranks of the deceased and give patience to the bereaved family
‘All members united’: Barrister Gohar denies existence of any for ward bloc
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated that despite various challenges, PTI members remained united, and there was no forward bloc within the party Speaking to the media after a hearing on PTI's intra-party election case at the Election Commission, Khan mentioned that the party submitted documents for the intra-party elections on March 8 for the third time but
Iran issues final notice, warns of legal ac tion over delayed IP Gas Pipeline
Iran has issued a final notice to Pakistan, warning that it will take legal action in the Paris Arbitration Court if Islamabad fails to construct its portion of the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline by the extended deadline of September 2024
The IP gas project has faced a decade-long delay due to concerns over potential U S sanctions
The Gas Sales Purchase Agreement (GSPA), signed in 2009 under French law designates the Paris-based arbitration court as the forum for resolving disputes between the two nations The court does not recognize US sanctions
In 2019, Pakistan and Iran revised their contract, stipulating that Pakistan would complete its portion of the pipeline by 2024 enabling the intake of 750 million cubic feet of gas from Iran daily Iran extended a 180-day deadline for Pakistan to meet its obligations, which is set to expire in September 2024 However Pakistan has yet to make progress on the pipeline Failure to meet the deadline could result in Iran taking the
matter to the arbitration court, potentially leading to a penalty of $18 billion against Pakistan Tehran had previously issued a legal notice to Pakistan in late 2022 warning of the consequences of further delays The News reported, citing official sources, that some top officials in the Petroleum Division are reportedly strategising in response to Iran s final notice The government is considering hiring a foreign law firm to represent Pakistan s case in the arbitration court Senior officials have expressed frustration over the US sanctions stating that efforts to secure a waiver from the US have been unsuccessful
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday directed take effective measures to ensure the complete elimination of terrorism in response to the spate of violence across the country, especially in Balochistan
President Asif Ali Zardari was talking to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti who called on him at The President House said a statement issued by the President House media wing on Tuesday President Zardari discussed the security and law and order situation in the province with the Interior Minister and the Balochistan CM and was briefed on the recent terror incidents
Iran has dismissed Pakistan’s concerns about US sanctions, pointing out that other countries including Iraq and Turkey have continued to use Iranian gas with US waivers Under the original agreement, Pakistan was obligated to pay $1 million per day in penalties to Iran
A statement issued by the President House said proposals regarding the establishment of law and order in Balochistan were discussed while Zardari stressed the need for effective measures for the complete elimination of terrorists All possible steps should be taken to improve the security situation in Balochistan,” the president told the two officials In Musakhail militants killed 23 people after checking their ID documents In Khadkocha they blocked a highway stormed a police station and held Levies officials hostage In Kalat, attacks on a Levies station, two hotels, and a tribal elder ’s residence left 11 dead and nine injured Meanwhile, six bodies were found in Bolan’s Kolpur area believed to have been shot by mili-
tants In response, security forces neutralised 21 militants as CM Bugti and the interior minister vowed to eliminate terrorism in the province Naqvi vows support for CM Bugti
Earlier in the day Interior Minister Naqvi vowed to stand behind Bugti s government regarding its counterterrorism strategy Addressing the media in Quetta flanked by CM Bugti Naqvi said: My aim to visit is to let you all and the people of Balochistan know that the federal interior minister is standing behind the Balochistan chief minister
