WILL NEVER ACCEPT ‘ESTABLISHMENT’S CONTROLLED RULE’, FA ZL DECL ARES
g JUI-F CHIEF URGES PUBLIC TO REJECT ESTABLISHMENT RULE, ACCUSING RULERS OF BETRAYING PAKISTAN ’S IDEOLOGY
g SAYS MADRA SA S WILL BE REGISTERED BUT NOT SUBORDINATED, CLAIMING 2010 AGREEMENTS BEING VIOLATED
g QUESTIONS WHY COUNTRY ’S LEADERSHIP LACKS COURAGE TO OPENLY SUPPORT PALESTINIAN RIGHTS WHILE MODI OPENLY BACKS ISRAEL
PESHAWAR
LU N C H I N G into a diatribe against the government and the establishment Jamiat Ulema-
e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday declared that they did not accept the current “establishment’s controlled” governance system urging the public to reject the establishment s rule
This is not the government of the people, but of the establishment Pakistan belongs to all of us, not just a few institutions If today’s rulers deny Pakistan’s ideology it is our duty to uphold it Maulana Fazl stated while addressing Israel Murdaabad Conference in Peshawar on Sunday
He alleged that the current leadership had betrayed the country’s founding principles warning that the consequences of their actions would harm the nation
He reaffirmed his party s support for the Palestinian cause and denounced Western powers for historical and ongoing atrocities
PM takes Nawaz Sharif into confidence on Fazl’s proposal
Addressing a large gathering Rehman stated that the conference sent a strong global message of solidarity with Palestinians and their rights We stand firmly on our principled position The West, which committed massacres during World Wars I and II continues to kill Muslims in Afghanistan Iraq and Palestine he said He accused the US and Western nations of being the murderers of humanity citing the deaths of 50 000 women and children in Palestine He questioned, If Saddam Hussein was executed for military operations in one city, why can’t Netanyahu be held accountable for similar crimes?” Moreover the JUI-F chief criticised Pakistan s past and present policies particularly under former President General Pervez Musharraf for aligning with the US and providing military bases and air corridors for op-
Civil disobedience if our demands not met, war ns PTI’s Omar Ayub
stated He further accused the government of fascism, alleging that hospital morgues were emptied, and individuals were coerced into falsifying injury reports as accident victims Over 5 000 PTI workers were arrested he added Ayub called for an investigation into the use of force during the November 24 protests He alleged that US-made weapons including sniper rifles were deployed against unarmed citizens He also accused the government of using funds from the Coalition Support Fund against PTI workers
“We demand the release of PTI workers and a transparent inquiry into who ordered the use of firearms on November 24 If justice is not delivered and profiling of youth continues, we will move towards civil
disobedience, Ayub warned The PTI leader announced that a prayer ceremony for the martyrs will be held on December 13 followed by a global prayer initiative by overseas PTI workers on December 15 Highlighting the path forward Ayub said, Our high-powered committee, consisting of Asad Qaiser, Ali Amin Gandapur, Hamid Raza and myself is ready for dialogue Anyone willing to negotiate is welcome Senator Shibli Faraz echoed the call for engagement, urging the government to involve the committee formed by the PTI founder “Pakistan with a population of 250 million deserves the rule of law The prevailing uncertainty and artificial instability must end through dialogue, he said Faraz also warned of the consequences of prolonged unrest, especially in regions like Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa which are grappling with terrorism We must prevent youth from choosing the wrong path, he emphasized
erations in Afghanistan He warned If the current government continues to follow such policies, they will find JUI workers standing firmly in opposition He further accused the establishment of being disconnected from the people He questioned why the country s leadership lacks the courage to openly support Palestinian rights while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly backs Israel
S ugar mills face expor t licence c ancellation over crushing delays
The SAB reviewed the country’s sugar stock expressing satisfaction over current reserves The minister noted that the timely start of the crushing season was a significant achievement that would stabilize sugar supplies and market prices Taking notice of complaints from farmers about low sugarcane prices the minister instructed the sugar commissioner to present a
minister reiterated
importance of fulfilling export commit-
POLIOVIRUS DETECTED IN SEWAGE SAMPLES FROM 14 DISTRICTS
Islamabad meeting strengthens ties between Palestine and Kashmir solidarity movements
ISLAMABAD
A high-profile meeting of the Friends of Palestine and Kashmir was convened in Islamabad, chaired by Sirajul-Haq, the former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan
The gathering was attended by leaders from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) as well as prominent figures from Pakistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), and international representatives of the Palestinian cause The APHC delegation was led by Convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi with senior members including Farooq Rahmani Pervez Ahmad Haji Muhammad Sultan, Mushtaq Ahmad Butt, Imtiaz Ahmad Wani, Zahid Safi,
Muhammad Ashraf Dar, and Syed Gulshan Ahmad The AJK delegation featured key leaders such as Dr Mushtaq Khan Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami AJK/GilgitBaltistan former Ameer Abdul Rashid Turabi, and Secretary General of Azad Kashmir Jamaat-e-Islami Jahangir Khan, along with Raja Zaheer Khan Bilal Al-Astal Director General of Friends of Palestine and Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais head of its Political Bureau were also present During the meeting, Bilal Al-Astal and Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais highlighted the ongoing Palestinian resistance calling the Tofan Al-Aqsa movement a critical turning point in exposing Israel s genocidal actions since 1948 We have successfully shown the
world the oppressive face of Israel, which has led many nations to recognize the Palestinian state We urge the free people of the world to acknowledge our right to freedom they stated They drew parallels between the Palestinian and Kashmiri struggles, emphasizing, The brave Kashmiri people understand our pain, as our struggles are deeply connected ” Siraj-ul-Haq addressing the gathering reaffirmed Pakistan’s unshakable support for the people of Palestine and Kashmir The 220 million people of Pakistan stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the oppressed peoples of Kashmir and Palestine in their quest for freedom The entire nation will continue its steadfast support until Kashmir is liberated from India s oppressive occupation and Palestine from Israel s tyranny he declared
L ahore to launch first floating restaurant near Harbanspura
condemned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its tactics of using innocent youth from Pakhtunkhwa as “human shields during protests” calling for accountability for those behind the May 9 and November 26 incidents In an interview with a private news channel, Daniyal Chaudhry expressed outrage over PTI s actions, accusing the party of putting innocent lives in danger He refuted PTI’s claims of widespread killings, stating that no weapons were involved in the protests He criticized PTI for instigating actions that caused harm to civilians and undermined public safety Chaudhry pointed out that authorities had designated the Sinjrani spot as the official protest location, providing the necessary facilities for a peaceful demonstration However protesters ignored these provisions leading to chaos and instability The situation escalated further when the protesters launched an attack on Islamabad raising serious concerns about the security and safety of the public Daniyal Chaudhry labeled the protesters’ actions as unjustifiable, stating that the authorities had no choice but to take action to restore order and stability in the capital He also reiterated that the government has always been open to negotiations with PTI but criticized the party for consistently backtracking on their commitment to dialogue
Pakistan and C hina sign MoU
to establish tex tile industr y park
ta f f R e p
R t A significant milestone in Pakistan-China trade relations was marked on Sunday as the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) and Pakistan s Board of Investment (BOI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the 2024 China Textile Conference in Keqiao, Shaoxing The agreement aims to establish a textile industry park in Pakistan, a move that is expected to foster trade relations, facilitate technology transfer and enhance industrial capacity The signing ceremony highlights China’s focus on upgrading its textile industry which is currently undergoing major transformations driven by science technology sustainability and fashion trends Pakistan s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi addressed the conference emphasizing the importance of the MoU for strengthening the bilateral trade framework between the two countries This is a historic MoU that will lay the foundation for developing textile parks in Pakistan It will enhance bilateral trade, foster technology transfer, and bolster the capabilities of our textile sector,” he stated The conference brought together leaders to discuss key topics including “Innovation Environment Materials Artificial Intelligence and Production Processes as part of the global transformation of the textile industry The discussions focused on promoting innovation and the optimization of the global textile supply chain Ambassador Hashmi further noted, Pakistan was given the exclusive privilege of being the only foreign participant at the annual China Textile Conference The signing of this MoU, along with the participation of key Pakistani textile industry representatives, highlights the potential for fruitful collaboration between Pakistan and China in the textile and apparel sector ”
A shrafi opposes Fazlur Rehman’s stance on madrasa registration
ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Allama Tahir Ashrafi, the head of the Pakistan Ulema Council, on Sunday publicly opposed Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s position on the registration and regulation of madrasahs in Pakistan In his recent statement Ashrafi emphasized that madrasahs are educational institutions and should therefore be registered under the Ministry of Education rather than the Ministry of Industries as suggested by Rehman Ashrafi recalled the consensus reached in 2019 on the registration process of madrasahs, following multiple discussions and consultations Key figures, including former Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, played a central role in ensuring that the registration framework was carefully deliberated and finalized He urged that political motives should not disrupt the agreed-upon process which took years to develop To date 18 000 madrasahs have already registered under the current framework Ashrafi warned that constant changes would lead to confusion and open the door for political manipulation potentially undermining the stability of the system and the future of millions of students in madrasahs He further pointed out that 10 out of the 15 madrasa boards have distanced themselves from the proposed changes Ashrafi reiterated that any madrasa wishing to affiliate with the Ministry of Industries is free to do so but the broader system should remain under the Ministry of Education This disagreement has once again brought the issue of madrasa registration into the political discourse with Ashrafi stressing the importance of maintaining stability and consistency for the sake of both the students and the madrasa system in Pakistan
US stocks hit record highs on corporate news
Bashar al-Asad’s downfall was too abrupt to prevent uncer taint y about the future
TH E collapse of the Syrian Army was both sudden and unexpected However even before the dust settled, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad fled his capital Damascus ahead of attacking rebels, who announced their arrival and takeover on state-run TV The rebels had recently launched an offensive from their base in Idlib but it was the fall of Homs that made Bahar s position untenable because the ll of Homs meant that Damascus was cut off from the Mediterranean coastline Thus came to end one of the enduring non-monarchical dynasties of the Arb world While Bashar s father Hafez al-Assad s took power in 1971, he succeeded him after his death in 2000 Thus Syria is set to have a non-Assad president for the first time in 53 years Another major change is that the rebels are not Alawites which is a sect of Shias The Hayat Tehrir Al-Sham is not just Sunni but is also designated a terrorist organization which means that its leader, Abu Muhammad Al-Jawlani, may face difficulties in dealing with the outside world It is not known how the outside world will react, for the country has been wracked by civil war since 2011 The Hayat itself is descended from the Jubhatun Nusra, which was thought to have Al-Qaeda links That provides it with a (rather tenuous) link to the Islamic State which for a brief time controlled large areas of Syrian territory almost all desert
The change reflects little gain for the USA, but a major loss for both Iran and Russia, which were both heavily invested in keeping Bashar in power, to the extent that both provided military help In fact a very senior figure in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in an Israeli strike on Iran’s Damascus consulate Iran had also arranged for Hizbullah fighters to go from Lebanon to Syria and fight for Bashar However, three developments, all distracting allies from helping him, ensured that no help was forthcoming any longer Iran got distracted by Israel s massacre in Gaza Russia got embroiled in Ukraine and must now be concerned about its naval base in Latrakia its only foreign base in the world Hezbollah was attacked by Israel The Middle East may find itself in for a greater shakeup than the Arab Spring This change may provide Turkey its first opportunity to intervene in the Middle East ever It also places an Islamist regime in the heart of the Arab world This is one of those times when Pakistan has no other choice but to maintain a masterful activity and keep its powder dry
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
B alancing finance, trade and adaption
cerns for international trade
TH E urgency to grapple with climate change cannot be stressed enough, especially with developing countries bearing the higher brunt of this global crisis that they have contributed the least to Most climate-vulnerable countries look towards international negotiation platforms like the ones offered at the Conference of the Parties to put forward their concerns and scale up any substantive climate action Viewing it from a broad spectrum, these negotiations provide an insight into how multilateralism comes into action when pursuing a common goal like the climate crisis While all parties involved push for escalating climate action the approach amongst different groups of countries is varied For instance, Small Island Developing States and other climate-vulnerable developing countries would advocate more for accessible climate finance that can be channeled to climate adaptation and mitigation Developed countries like the USA and several European countries at least observed in COP29 are more hooked on diversifying the sources of climate finance to ramp up mitigation and adaptation initiatives Intrinsically, every country shapes climate action demands based on its domestic climate, economic and social landscape These factors feed into the negotiations put forward by different countries on such global platforms No COP can be termed fully successful since a certain group would feel that their demands might not have gotten the light they intended to get However, some positive conclusions do come to the surface For instance, at COP29, governments agreed on rules on how countries can formulate trade and register carbon credits after years of impasse International carbon markets over the years witnessed a decay of credibility having crashed twice in the last two decades A study found that less than 16 percent of issued carbon credits translated into any substantive real emissions reductions Hence, having an agreed set of international rules on carbon markets is a commendable outcome of the recent international climate negotiations A significant aspect of negotiations that should be accentuated more is trade, forming an important part of multilateralism For instance, the European Union is undergoing a green transformation in its trade policy While in itself, it is a positive step taken towards sustainability several developing countries face this sudden onus of decarbonization which is not fair to them For example the European Union s carbon border levy will put a higher price on cement, and other imports based on their carbon dioxide emissions The costly climate-related trade policies inflicted by wealthy countries should incorporate the longer-term repercussions of such immediate policies Hence the international climate negotiation must incorporate climate-related con-
Another topic that these climate negotiations should be tackling more widely is Artificial Intelligence and digitization The irony needs to be understood here: while digitization can be used to understand climate factors like meteorological variables (precipitation, temperature, etc ) better, helping formulate effective climate mitigation and adaptation policies the data centres and cloud computing are mostly powered by fossil fuels and the burning of these petrochemicals means more greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere Climate finance has always taken centrestage in these negotiations because, at the end of the day, climate finance is needed to implement climate action which can be capital-intensive It is especially hard for developing countries since many countries are politically and economically fragmented and a good deal of climate finance is needed to mitigate the impact of the climate crisis While the recent COP29 set a goal of mobilizing at least $300 billion per year by 2035, three times more than the previous goal of $100 billion per year till 2020 a myriad of resentments was observed from different countries
Any quantitative goals were scarce for three facets of climate finance (mitigation adaptation and loss and damage) There should have been more focus on loss and damage since last year, COP28, signaled a positive outcome in the establishment of funds for loss and damage Only a total of $84 6 million has been pledged with the largest amount coming from Australia of $32 6 million this year towards that fund This paints a negative
A t h r e a t t o r e g i o n a l s t a b i l i t y
Tbrings the legal framework in this dispute defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of Seas (UNCLOS) UNCLOS defined that 200 nautical miles from the state coastline are States EEZs and have rights over resources in their respective EEZs But China s actions near the Philippines and Vietnam EEZs may be violating the UNCLOS The Philippines filed a case against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) for violating the UNCLOS The 2016 PCA ruling invalidated China s territorial claims declaring them inconsistent with international law and norms Beijing dismissed the ruling as null and void by citing the ‘nine-dash line’ and asserting historical control over the region based on ancient maps and records These actions by China threaten the stability of the region The ASEAN states have sought diplomatic solutions, but China s economic influence over some members (Laos and Cambodia) hindered any progress The Philippines and Vietnam are increasing their military and defense capabilities by joining alliances with the USA and Australia The presence of US bases in the Philippines and Taiwan involved the risk of global conflict over the South China Sea Since 2020, the USA has conducted several freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) in
the South China Sea sailing warships through disputed waters to challenge China’s excessive claims In March 2023 The USS Milius operated near the Paracel Islands the region claimed by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan USA conducts FONOPs to affirm the principles of international law under the UNCLOS China protests against these FONOPs, accusing the USA of violating its sovereignty This includes the risks of accidental clashes which can escalate and lead to global conflict These interactions are complex and can cause conflict due to misunderstandings between the USA and China
The ambition of China is to dominate the region by militarizing the artificial Islands However this poses a great danger to regional stability due to non-adherence to International law To overcome the risk of global conflict between China and the USA the global community must prioritize multilateral dialogue to avoid any misunderstandings All states including China and ASEAN must comply with legal frameworks, like UNCLOS to ensure peace and security in the South China Sea The tensions in the South China Sea is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unchecked geopolitical rivalries
The writer is a freelance columnist writer He can be reached at adanshawal53@gmail com
Embracing AI: beyond the fear of automation
Kitchen Garden of Badin
adan Shawal akbar
Understanding the FDI flow in Hong Kong and China
FO
HONG KONG: A STRATEGIC FINANCIAL
HUB: Hong Kong has been historically a place where international investors have looked to invest in With the region being renowned for its open economy, transparent regulatory environment and its regional proximity to China For decades its position has been playing an important role for both China and international investors Hong Kong s status as an international financial centre has made it an important destination for foreign capital in the form of foreign direct investments entering into China and Chinese capital
internationally The “one country two systems” framework essentially granted Hong Kong a level of economic autonomy that reassured investors of its independence in legal and economic matters However due to recent political shifts, including the enactment and implementation of the National Security Law in 2020 has sparked debates about the city s long-term stability and so-called independence from China While investors from the West have cited their concerns about these developments occurring, it is Hong Kong s infrastructure and economic policies that successfully continue to attract
regional investors and businesses seeking access to China Hong Kong s resilience in attracting FDI can also be attributed to its free-market policies, well-regarded judiciary, and sophisticated financial services sector However despite the political uncertainties, Hong Kong remains a bridge between global markets and China’s rapidly evolving economy
MAINLAND CHINA: AN INVESTMENT
GIANT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORI-
TIES: Mainland China, which is the world s second largest economy after the USA, has consistently attracted substantial FDI over the past few decades This has also been evident from the fact that ever since the economic reforms of the late 20th century China has sought to attract foreign investment in order to accelerate its industrialization, technological development and infrastructure expansion
The FDI inflows into China have been strategically directed towards industries like advanced manufacturing technology and green energy At the same time China has also emerged as a significant investor in external initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which seeks to extend Chinese influence by building trade networks and infrastructure across Asia, Africa and Europe
Nevertheless China’s approach to FDI is evolving Policies like Made in China 2025 emphasize the government s focus on reducing dependence on foreign technology by fostering domestic innovation and increasing its domestic output and path towards self-reliance Tighter regulations and growing scrutiny and criticism of foreign firms operating in sensitive sectors also reflect China s
broader concerns regarding its economic security and intellectual property protection Moreover China s global dynamics which include its rising trade tensions with the USA and Western restrictions on technology exports to China, have also influenced the FDI patterns However despite these challenges, China still remains a top FDI destination due to the fact of its having a massive consumer base advanced logistics infrastructure and a central role in global supply chains
DISTINCT CHARACTERISTICS OF HONG KONG AND CHINA FOR FDI: Regarding Hong Kong and mainland China, both regions exhibit distinct characteristics in their FDI landscapes These characteristics reflect their unique economic policies and governance models Some of the more prominent characteristics which differentiate both the regions include various sectors that play their part in attracting FDI The main reasons for Hong Kong traditionally being a magnet for FDI is due to its free market economy stable financial institutions and its transparent legal system Hong Kong also acts as a bridge between global markets and due to this fact China has made it a key hub for multinational corporations In recent years, sectors such as finance, professional services real estate and trade have dominated FDI inflows However political developments particularly the enactment of the National Security Law have raised concerns about the autonomy of Hong Kong and its long-term economic prospects Even despite these developments, Hong Kong still continues to thrive as a financial center due to its strategic importance and its strong ties to mainland China
POLITICAL ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT TRENDS: The FDI flow in both Hong Kong and China is deeply interconnected with the political-economic landscapes of both the regions The status of Hong Kong as a global financial hub depends on its ability to balance its economic autonomy and economic status with its political alignment with Beijing On the other hand mainland China s FDI strategy reflects its broader goals of self-reliance and global economic integration Investors in both of these regions are influenced
TH E only conclusion that can be drawn from much of the Indian media’s recent coverage of Bangladesh is that it is a Hindu-hating country
The venom that is being spewed the language that is being used the hatred that is being spread and the demeaning stereotype that is being portrayed about us seem geared towards generating a hatred for Bangladeshis among the Indian people The longterm impact of this, along with its backlash here, will be very difficult to neutralise
What is India’s gain from such stigmatisation of its neighbour? Isn t it harming both our countries? It is harming us because it demonises Bangladesh It is harming India because it proves once again that India wants to dominate its neighbours and will not allow any of them to choose their own policies These policies are not inherently against India, per se, but are merely expressions of each nation’s own way of moving forward
My Nepali journalist friends tell a story of Indian attitude and behaviour that are far from flattering to say the least Public perception in Bhutan is not favourable towards India either The Maldives insistence that India’s meagre military presence must end is as clear a message as it can get Doesn’t the election of the new leadership in Sri Lanka also carry a special message for our big neighbour? Together do these not form a common view of how India s neighbours perceive it? Should this not compel India s policymakers to spend more time understanding their neighbours, rather than dismissing contrarian sentiments as inconsequential, baseless or rooted in jealousy or, in Bangladesh’s case ingratitude?
n t i
ered according to Indian leaders and media
to establish Bangla as a state language They toppled Gen Ayub Khan’s “Iron Regime ” turned Bangabandhu s Six-Point Movement (1966) and the students 11-Point Movement (1969) the most powerful movements that even Pakistan s military could not suppress Our students were the strongest force behind the Awami League’s victory in the 1970 election and, of course, they along with the peasant-based youth spearheaded the formation of the armed struggle during our Liberation War
The glorious tradition of student activism continued after Bangladesh s establishment with students resisting military dictatorships, autocracy and oppression, and supporting democracy, rights and social equality
So, what happened during the “36 Days of July” is a continuation of the same tradition and even more The latest uprising was far more energetic vigorous and allencompassing Nobody believed that the Hasina government could be toppled through mass demonstration But the students did it, and that is where lies its uniqueness
What India is doing is refusing to acknowledge that we have the right to change our government democratically While the regime change may not have followed the usual electoral route which the former prime minister herself prevented (ironically if she had allowed for the holding of free elections and lost she might have at least remained in the country instead of facing the humiliation of fleeing) it was an expression of public will that elections typically reflect It was democracy in full play
From the outset India did not accept this Instead it embraced conspiracy theories which continue to dominate its thinking
We all know Sheikh Hasina fled and her government collapsed on August 5 Prof Muhammad Yunus took over on August 8 The three-day gap in forming the interim government created a law and order vacuum during which several Awami League leaders, including members of minority communities were attacked and their properties vandalised While this is true it is also true that many of those targeted and attacked were Awami League activists and some were also special beneficiaries of the discredited regime (this, however, does not justify the attacks on them) So, the incidents should not be painted as fully communal as it was made out to be Such attacks would not have occurred had the police force maintained order However the events of the first few days clouded the Indian government s and media s perception of the changed situation in Bangladesh Instead of waiting, observing, and judging the new leadership, the Indian media went on a spree of misjudging, misinterpreting, and misreporting In my earlier interviews with respected Indian media leaders I pleaded that they should see Bangladesh not through the lens of Hasina but through the lens of democracy Unfortunately my pleas fell on deaf ears and the tirade continued Indian media outlets fed one another and reinforced the story that Hasina s fall was the work of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir assisted by Pakistan’s ISI Students might have started the movement they argue but they were soon outmanoeuvred by the conspirators This was the narrative of the ousted prime minister that the Indian media swallowed hook, line, and sinker
As the narrative of “Hindu killing” dominates Indian media and threatens bilateral relations here is what the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council the most well-organised body of the minority communities, reported on September 19, covering the period from August 4-20 This was the period during which the interim administration was just organising itself, and was at its weakest The council’s report said that a total of 2 010 communal incidents occurred in which nine people were killed four women were raped 69 places of worship were attacked 915 homes were vandalised 953 business establishment were attacked, 38 cases of physical attack occurred, and 21 properties were occupied Prothom Alo, Bangladesh’s most respected Bangla daily conducted its own investigation using 64 of its own correspondents in 64 districts and 69 upazilas (sub-districts) covering the same period (August 520) and found evidence of attacks on 1 068 homes and businesses In addition, there were 22 attacks on places of worship (temples, churches, and prayer places of the Ahmadiyya sect) This daily’s own correspondents personally visited 546 sites (51 percent) and covered the rest through reliable sources There were two deaths: one was of a retired school teacher in Bagerhat Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee and the other was of Swapan Kumar Biswas of Paikgachha Khulna
All attacks on minorities are totally unacceptable
While Bangladesh must work to ensure security for all, does this justify the Indian media’s portrayal of Bangladesh? Are attacks on minorities not a reality in India too? Consider the Godhra train burning incident and the riots that followed which alone killed 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus rendering tens of thousands of people homeless Some estimates suggest that, from 2002 to 2024, 31 riots occurred all over India, of which 20 were between Hindus and Muslims Did the Bangladeshi media respond to that the way the Indian media is responding now?
The recent events that led to the desecration of Bangladeshi flag by demonstrators in India and of Indian flag by some students in our university campuses the killing of a Muslim lawyer in Chattogram and the assault on a Hindu lawyer in Dhaka who was critically injured, were triggered by the arrest of a former ISKCON leader The attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala is condemnable and could and should have been prevented West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s suggestion to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ask for UN peacekeepers to intervene in Bangladesh is an insult that has further worsened the situation The chief adviser s call for national unity and the consensus of all political parties to unite to protect our sovereignty is a clear indication of how seriously we consider the situation It is also an indication of how things may take a seriously wrong turn Irrespective of what they may have been
rayyan Javed
Israeli kills 16 more Palestinians in airstrikes G aza hospital
persons
Balah was struck early on Sunday morning, according to Al Jazeera “We woke up to a loud explosion in the middle of the night said Mahmoud Fayad an eyewitness We ran to the loud screams and found many civilians killed; an entire family, man, wife and their children ”
ported Israeli shelling of the hospital which damaged key equipment including electricity and oxygen pumps hindering critical medical operations
is
at combating Hamas The Gaza Health Ministry reported that more than 44 708 Palestinians have been killed and 106 050 injured in the ongoing conflict which has raged since October of last year Meanwhile, Israel s siege of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya continues On Sunday, Palestinian health officials re-
said Hussam Abu Safia the
“We
and
Access
Netanyahu hails Assad’s ouster as ‘historic day’, weighs strategic impact on region
Israel has watched the rapid overthrow of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with a mixture of hope and concern as officials weigh the consequences of one of the most significant strategic shifts in the Middle East in years Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the ousting of Assad as an historic day that followed the blows delivered by Israel against Assad s supporters Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon that had created a chain reaction throughout the region This of course creates new very important opportunities for the State of Israel But it is also not without risks, he said on a visit to the border area on Sunday Israel has pushed tanks over
the border into the buffer zone with Syria to prevent a spillover from the turmoil there but has declared its intention of staying out of the conflict engulfing its neighbour Netanyahu said Israel was working on a policy of good neighbourliness” and would “extend a hand of peace” to Druze Kurds Christians and Muslims
We will closely follow developments We will do what is necessary to protect our border and protect our security, he said in a filmed statement
The lightning advance of Syrian rebel forces since their seizure of Aleppo last week has thrown further turmoil into a region already reeling from the shocks of the war in Gaza and Israel s subsequent campaign against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon
“At the moment, if we aren’t attacked we will just retain the current situation Israel s Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis told Reuters Nobody should think that this threat of the Shiite-Iranian axis of evil has been eliminated entirely, there are changes but we need everyone to be even more vigilant about this said Akunis
Overnight the Israeli military said it was not interfering with internal events in Syria but would “operate as long as necessary in order to preserve the buffer zone and defend Israel and its civilians
The rapid collapse of the Syrian government has presented Israel with a mix of problems and opportunity, said Dina Lisnyansky, a specialist in regional politics at Tel Aviv University
PAK-ChINA FRIENDShIP TOuChINg
ARRIvAL AT BEIjINg
Bangladesh and Pakistan The business modalities such as Government–to-Government (G2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) were discussed Bilateral trade in industrial & commercial products and agricultural produces such as rice onions sugar potatoes dates Jute & jute products tea, fresh fruits & vegetables, and sesame were discussed Both the Deputy High Commissioner and the CEO TDAP expressed their optimism for enhanced trade and commerce between the two brotherly countries Upon receiving an invitation from the Deputy High Commissioner, the CEO TDAP expressed their willingness for Pakistan’s vibrant participation at the upcoming month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) to be organized in January 2025 in Bangladesh
CANTT S TA F F R E P O R T Chairman Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Board National Ranking Badminton Championship concluded in POF Sports Complex at Wah Cantt Maj General Muhammad Kashif Azad, HI(M), Director General Commercial DG(C) Pakistan Ordnance Factories was the chief guest of the closing ceremony In Championship finals in Men Singles: M Ali Larosh (Wapda) beat Pakistan No 1 Irfan Saeed (Wapda) by 21-13, 21-14
Women Singles: Ghazala Siddique (Wapda) beat Mahoor Shahzad (Wapda) retired hurt ( 21-12 4-1)
Men Doubles: Raja Zulqarnain Haider (Army) & M Ali Larosh (Wapda) beat Awais Zahid & Zunain Javed (Wapda) by by 21-18 21-16
Women Doubles: Saima Waqas (Wapda) & Ammarah Ishtiaq (Army) beat Palwasha Bashir (Sindh) & Ghazala Siddique (Wapda) by 21-15, 1221, 21-10 The Chief Guest distributed trophies and prizes among the winners He congratulated the winners and lauded efforts of POF Sports Directorate and Pakistan Badminton Federation in
The Royal Thai Consulate General in Karachi organized a reception to commemorate the National Day of Thailand, the Birthday Anniversary of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great and Thailand s Father Day at the Avari Hotel Karachi
The reception was presided over by Surashete Boontinand, Consul General of Thailand, with the participation of Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Minister of Culture Arif Sulaiman Chairman PTF&B Mr Zaid Tessori and other dignitary guests On this occasion the Consul General of Thailand delivered the remarks about the significance of the event as well as the relationship between Thailand and Pakistan He invited the guests and all the attendants to celebrate the Thai National Day
He shared his experience while working at the Royal Thai Embassy in Islamabad, saying that he was delighted to come to Pakistan to assume his new duty as Consul General in Karachi and that Pakistan was like his second home He cited
PPP Parliamentar y Par t y rejec ts A JK Presidential O rdinance
KARACHI
S TA F F R E P O R T
The Parliamentary Party of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) held an important meeting on Sunday at Zardari House Karachi under the chair of Mrs Faryal Talpur President PPP Women s Wing After comprehensive deliberations, the Parliamentary Party rejected the recently issued
Presidential Ordinance declaring it as contrary to the aspirations and democratic will of the people of AJK The party emphasized that the ordinance undermines the rights of the people and democratic processes, urging the AJK government to immediately withdraw it in the best interest of its citizens
The meeting was attended by all members of the PPP AJK Parliamentary Party, including: Sardar Yaqoob Khan; Chaudhry Muhum-
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T In the wake of ongoing protest of the persons with visual impairment outside Karachi Press Club representatives of the Blind Action Committee (BAC) held two meetings with Officers of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), through coordination
mad Yaseen; Ch Latif Akbar; Faisal Mumtaz Rathore; Mian Waheed; Javed Ayub; Bazil Naqvi; Javed Badhanvi; Ziaul Qamar; Qasim Majeed; Amir Ghaffar Loan; Amir Yaseen and Nabila Ayub
The participants unanimously resolved to stand firmly with the people of AJK and uphold their democratic rights The PPP remains committed to ensuring justice fairness, and the preservation of the aspirations of the Kashmiri people
Pakistan ranked 198th in global internet speed rankings
ISLAMABAD S
The Fake News Watchdog (FNW) has detailed the spread of fabricated news during the recent protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI), debunking several widely circulated stories while pointing to the damaging impact of misinformation
The fake news surrounding the protests has had a devastating impact, said the watchdog said in its latest report issued, noting that the unchecked spread of unverified information has tarnished Pakistan s global image
The watchdog s investigation specifically cited several false claims that made headlines during the protests, including a fabricated statement attributed to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi regarding citizens from Azad Kashmir
There were also ongoing false reports surrounding a video message allegedly from PTI founder Imran Khan as well as fake news concerning the arrests of Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi
Other misleading stories that spread included false reports of hundreds of bodies at PIMS and Polyclinic hospitals and fabricated breaking news about Asad Qaiser s appointment as PTI chairman
The report also pointed to misinformation from a fake social media account purportedly belonging to Imran Khan s son, Suleman Isa Khan, which was used to incite party supporters In addition the watchdog highlighted false reports about the transfer of Imran Khan to Adiala Jail and claims about 600 soldiers resigning from Army academies Fabricated stories about gunfire aimed at Asad Qaiser and Mehmood Khan Achakzai were also flagged
The report further noted the negative impact of misleading statements made by former deputy speaker Qasim Suri regarding Imran Khan s health A press conference by DPO Attock Dr Ghiyas Gul, in which an
old image from PTI protests was shown was also cited as another example of false information
One of the most widely circulated false stories was the death of a PTI worker who allegedly fell from a container during the protests The report stressed that these reports
Not only did the fake news cause significant problems for security agencies, but it also severely affected PTI leadership,” it stated The Fake News Watchdog concluded by stressing that the victims of this misinformation campaign
ISLAMABAD
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) National Issues
Committee held a virtual meeting on Sunday under the chairmanship of party leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari where it was decided to contact the government s committee on Monday to address key coalition issues
The meeting was attended by prominent PPP leaders, including Raja Pervez Ashraf, Sherry Rehman, Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood Naveed Qamar Syed Murad Ali Shah Sardar Saleem Haider Faisal Karim Kundi Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and Ali Haider Gillani
The decision follows the establishment of the government s committee on November 22 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aimed at resolving coalition disputes This development comes amidst PPP’s dissatisfaction over what it describes as the federal government’s lack of consultation on policy matters and unmet commitments to the party
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the government s approach to coalition governance, specifically citing instances such as the recent imposition of internet restrictions and the passage of the canals agreement without PPP’s input
“The federal government does not understand the basics of VPNs ” Bilawal said during an earlier meeting He argued that the restrictions negatively impacted privacy and digital accessibility across the country
He also criticized the canals agreement claiming it was approved while he was engaged in discussions on the 26th Constitutional Amendment This bypassing of the PPP on matters of provincial water rights is
unacceptable, he added Bilawal has also called out the government for failing to allocate resources fairly among provinces a key issue negotiated during constitutional amendment discussions In response to the PPP s concerns Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s 11-member committee comprising senior ministers such as Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Ahad Khan Cheema, was tasked with facilitating political cooperation and addressing disputes with coalition partners
The government’s committee is expected to engage in discussions with the PPP s nine-member delegation which includes senior figures such as former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf federal ministers Naveed Qamar and Sherry Rehman, and chief ministers of Sindh and Balochistan The PPP has intensified its efforts to foster political consensus, not only within the coalition but also with opposition parties Last week Bilawal directed the party’s Rabta Committee to engage with other political entities and explore areas of agreement on key national issues such as security, the digital economy, and agriculture
PPP leaders have voiced their commitment to addressing coalition disputes while highlighting the need for better consultation mechanisms The National Issues Committee’s decision to initiate contact with the government s panel is seen as a significant step toward mending strained ties within the coalition The outcome of these discussions will be closely monitored as both sides work toward addressing grievances and strengthening coalition governance PPP s Central Executive Committee is expected to review the progress made during these engagements in the coming month
was accompanied by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders whom he had met earlier He also recently held discussions with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Jamiat Ulemae-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman but refrained from disclosing details Commenting on his meeting with MQM-P Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Mustafa Kamal at the party s Bahadurabad headquarters Vawda reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring MQM-P s rightful representation and addressing PTI s concerns Kamal expressed solidarity with Vawda, calling for unity among political parties Vawda dismissed PTI s call for a civil disobedience movement on December 14, predicting it would fizzle out He criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister ’s politics and urged respect for the Constitution and
