‘Hindus & Muslims Shouldn’t Be Able To Buy Each Other’s Houses,’ Says Kanpur’s BJP Mayor, Pramila Pandey
New Age
Islam News Bureau
19 July 20123
Kanpur
mayor Pramila Pandey. Photo: Twitter/@pramila_pandey
-----
India
• Bombay High Court Stays Jalgaon
Collector's Order Restricting Namaz in Mosque
• Rohingya Muslims Demand Release From
'Holding Centre' In J&K's Kathua, Clash With Police
--------
Europe
• UK Government Says Primary Domestic
Threat Comes From Islamist Terrorism
• Tory MP Tobias Ellwood says Islamic
Emirate has totally transformed Afghanistan
• ‘Hardened’ Islamist terrorists jailed
over foiled plots are set to be released this year
--------
Mideast
• Islamic Jihad: Cairo Meeting Will Be
Fruitless In Light Of Political Detentions
• PM Barzani Congratulates Muslims on
Islamic New Year
• HM King congratulates Bahraini people,
Arab and Islamic nations on Hijri New Year
--------
Africa
• Tinubu felicitates with Muslims on
Islamic new year
• Emir Of Bauchi Leads Muslim Faithful
In Special Prayer For Rainfall
• New Islamic Year: Barau urges
Nigerians to imbibe lessons of compassion, tolerance
--------
Arab World
• Saudi Cabinet Welcomes Leaders Ahead
Of GCC—Central Asia Summit
• Run by a Saudi couple, Bee Ways
travels all over the Kingdom in search of greenest pastures
• Museum at King Abdulaziz University
showcases Saudi geological heritage
• Madinah Mayor To Join Prestigious
Global Leadership Program
• Central African Republic confirms
support for Saudi bid to host World Expo 2030
--------
Pakistan
• Imran Khan 'Apologetic' For Hostile
Speech Against Female Judge
• Pakistani passport ranked fourth worst
globally
• Ukrainian foreign minister to arrive
in Islamabad tomorrow
• Army Act applies to 'specific class',
not all: CJP Bandial
• US 'ready' to work with any elected
Pakistani government
• Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan
after CJP Bandial’s retirement: Khawaja Asif
• Military trials of civilians: AGP told
to seek directives from govt regarding right of appeal in military courts
• Islamabad ATC extends bail of Imran in
3 terrorism cases
• Pakistan facing ‘exceptionally high’
risks, says IMF
--------
North America
• US Teen, Davin Daniel Meyer, Accused
of Trying to Go to Iraq to Fight for Islamic State Group
• Trudeau scorched as ‘stupid,’
‘ignorant’ for response to Muslim parents’ concerns over school curriculum
• Muslim community demands answers into
stabbing at Olive Garden last month
• CAIR-LA, Partners Welcome Community
College District’s Resolution Recognizing the Muslim Community
---------
Southeast Asia
• Islamic New Year Can Inspire Muslims
In Maintaining Harmony: Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs
• Maal Hijrah: Hope for Muslims to be
better Ummah, with new mission and vision - Cabinet Ministers
• Muslims across the country usher in
Maal Hijrah 1445H New Year with special prayers
• Muslims should raise social awareness
on Islamic New Year: Speaker
--------
South Asia
• Shia Ulema in Kabul 'Fully Ready' for
Muharram Events
• Islamic Emirate Abolishes Attorney
General’s Office
• Two Men Flogged in Public in
Afghanistan’s Laghman
• 640 Children Killed or Wounded By
Explosive Remnants of War in Afghanistan: ICRC
• Congress Reintroduces Afghan
Adjustment Act
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindus-muslims-bjp-mayor-pramila/d/130254
------
‘Hindus & Muslims Shouldn’t Be Able
To Buy Each Other’s Houses,’ Says Kanpur’s BJP Mayor, Pramila Pandey
Kanpur
mayor Pramila Pandey. Photo: Twitter/@pramila_pandey
-----
Shikha Salaria
18 July, 2023
Lucknow: Kanpur Mayor Pramila Pandey
wants to make sure Hindus and Muslims can’t buy each other’s houses. During a
visit to the city’s Muslim-majority Munshi Purwa area Tuesday, she said she
would urge the state’s Yogi Adityanath government to ensure just that.
Speaking to the media, Pandey, a BJP
leader who first became mayor in 2017 and was re-elected in the civic body
elections in May this year, said this would ensure that both “communities stay
together”.
“This will ensure (good) intentions (are
kept). Hindus tend to flee,” she said.
Her visit to the area came on the back
of a complaint about illegal encroachments near a Hindu shrine, she said. “I
had received a complaint from an elderly man about a shrine and a well in
Munshi Purwa being occupied by some members of the Muslim community,” she told
the media. “So I reached here. They have occupied the well and dumped garbage
upon it. Someone has made a window and a gate near the shrine. This shows bad
intentions.”
Pandey said she had no problem with
Muslims, but added that she was worried about their “intentions”.
“You (Muslims) caused so much (trouble)
that Hindus left (this place),” she said. “Don’t touch the shrine. The shrine
belongs to us. It will remain where it is. (But instead) you make a door or a
window near it, (even) relieve yourself (there). This is wrong.”
A video of Pandey during the visit
showed her making some more controversial remarks. While walking through the
area, Pandey is heard asking about some of its houses. “How will cleaning
happen? Hindus think that they (Muslims) are paying more money, sell off the
house and leave. They (Muslims) have money,” she can be heard saying.
When ThePrint reached Pandey’s office by
phone for a response, this reporter was directed to her media in-charge Prashant
Shukla, who said the mayor had received complaints about encroachment in the
area.
“When the mayor visited the spot, about
100-200 people also reached there. The well was covered with construction
debris and the occupants had extended the awnings (of their house) and were
trying to occupy the entire premises. She directed the junior engineer to probe
the matter. If the work is illegal, it will stop. Otherwise, no action will be
taken,” he said.
This isn’t the first time that Pandey
has courted controversy. The BJP leader’s demolition drive against alleged
illegal encroachments in Saket Nagar last month led to several meat and fish
shops being removed. While the authorities claimed the establishments were
illegal, the action drew protests from their owners, who claimed they had been
operating in the area for years.
During the 2022 assembly elections,
Pandey was booked for allegedly having clicked pictures inside a polling booth
and sharing them on WhatsApp.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
Source: theprint.in
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France Riots: No, France Has Not Banned
Citizens From 57 Muslim Countries
Photo: Boom
Live
----
18 July 2023
A post claiming that France has banned
citizens from 57 Muslim countries after the recent riots in the country is
false and no such announcement has been made by the French government. The post
also goes on to falsely claim that Indian citizens have been exempt from the
ban. Widespread riots had broken out in France after a 17-year-old boy of
Algerian heritage was shot dead by a police officer at a traffic stop in the
Paris suburb of Nanterre on June 27, 2023.
The caption of the viral post reads,
"*Big Breaking News : France has banned visas and passports of people from
all 57 Muslim countries in the world except India."
Fact-Check Boom found that the viral
claim is false and the French government has not banned citizens from 57 Muslim
countries from entering the country while exempting Indian citizens. We ran a
keyword search and did not find any credible news outlets reporting on any such
ban by France. Also, we did not find any official announcement by the French
government on banning citizens from 57 Muslim countries. The official Twitter
account of the French Embassy in India also has not put out any such
announcement or notification on travel restrictions on citizens from Muslim
countries. BOOM reached out to the French Embassy in India, the article will be
updated upon receiving a response. Even on the official website for visas in
France, we did not find any information on restrictions on citizens from Muslim
countries as mentioned in the viral post.
Source: boomlive.in
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.boomlive.in/fact-check/world/fake-news-france-banned-visa-passports-57-muslim-countries-france-riots-factcheck-22547
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‘We Are Brothers’: Latin American
Jewish, Muslim Groups Gather For Landmark Meeting
Members of
the Latin American Jewish Congress and the Muslim World League meet at a hotel
in Buenos Aires, July 2023. (Courtesy of the World Jewish Congress via JTA)
-----
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) — In what
both organizations are touting as a milestone moment for South American
religious groups, leaders from the World Jewish Congress’ Latin American
chapter have met with leaders from the Muslim World League.
Over 40 members of the groups from
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Peru
and Venezuela, along with three representatives of the Muslim World League
based in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, met in Buenos Aires for two days last week. They
discussed ways to collaborate and published a “decalogue” of agreements, which
includes future interfaith programming in South American schools and
invitations to members of each group to participate in holiday services of the
other faith.
Among the Islamic representatives was
the Imam Emerson Bukele, president of the Islamic-Hispanic American community
of El Salvador and brother of the country’s president, NayibBukele.
“It was a meeting of the two religions,
but also with a lot of different voices, with youth and adults, men and women,
different countries, experiences — so it’s very important that we established a
decalogue of best practices,” Melody Amal Khalik Kabalan, president of the
Islam Institute for Peace based in Buenos Aires, told the Jewish Telegraphic
Agency. “Everyone expressed what worked better in their communities and also
expressed the challenges, and we all wrote this decalogue to share and expand
the best experiences.”
Other points of the document include pledges
to play sports together; to organize activities to address common problems and
tensions (including the Abrahamic Hummus Championship); to create a series of
cultural days, which could feature museum tours and other programming; and to
jointly fight hate speech.
“In other latitudes, an initiative like
this would be considered a miracle,” said Claudio Epelman, executive director
of the Latin American Jewish Congress, an arm of the World Jewish Congress.
“From Latin America, we are spreading hope to those places where an encounter
between Jews and Muslims is an unthinkable event.”
The Muslim World League, an NGO, is
funded by Saudi Arabia.
“The stories we share confirm today that
we are brothers, and that each community is supporting the other,” said Maram Alkharboosh,
director of alliances for the Muslim World League. “We have to live in peace.
The differences are a feature and not a bad thing.”
Source: timesofisrael.com
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Islamist Involvement In Sudan Conflict
Could Complicate Peace Efforts
According to
Reuters, thousands of Islamists and former members of the banned National
Congress Party have joined the conflict in support of the Sudan Armed Forces,
something Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan denies. AFP/GETTY IMAGES
------
Jul 18, 2023
About a week after fighting broke out in
mid-April in Sudan, jailed members of the regime of former dictator Omar
al-Bashir walked out of prison. They had been detained in Khartoum’s Kober
prison since 2019 and, for some, their release signaled an alarming new
dimension to the conflict.
Observers are concerned that Islamist
elements of the former regime, including the prisoners, provoked the fighting
and remain behind the violence in the capital and Darfur region, Amgad Farid,
former executive assistant of Prime Minister AbdallaHamdok and pro-democracy
activist, told OrientXXI.
“They have always been active; they have
always sought to sabotage the democratic transition,” Farid told the
publication.
For members of the Forces of Freedom and
Change (FFC), the public appearance of former regime members outside prison
proves “the deposed regime and its dissolved party are — through their assets
in the armed forces — behind the ongoing war,” according to a report by Agence
France-Presse.
The men at the heart of Sudan’s
violence, Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader known as Hemedti, have accused each other of
recruiting Islamists; both have denied doing so.
In November 2022, al-Burhan publicly
stated that Islamists would not return to power and warned them to avoid meddling
with the political neutrality of the army.
“The army will not allow any group to
return to power through it, neither the National Congress nor the Islamic
Movement,” al-Burhan said the time. “We say to the National Congress that 30
years of power is enough for you.”
Al-Burhan’s statement was undercut by
the death of an Islamist fighter named Mohammed al-Fadl, who died in Khartoum
while fighting alongside the SAF against the RSF militia.
Sudan’s Islamists argue that Islam
should shape the country’s political and legal systems. Since the outbreak of
violence between the SAF and RSF, al-Burhan has reactivated many of Sudan’s
pre-2019 Islamist systems, including intelligence and the People’s Defense
Force.
Critics say an Islamist-SAF alliance
will make it more difficult to end the chaos engulfing the country and could
upend any effort to move Sudan toward democracy after the fighting between the
SAF and RSF ends.
Islamist forces within the SAF could at
some point begin to operate on their own.
Islamists brought al-Bashir to power in
1989 and were crucial to his ability to remain in power. Al-Bashir recruited
the Janjaweed, an Arab militia group, to suppress rebels in Darfur 20 years ago
and later elevated those fighters to become the RSF as a counterweight to the
armed forces. Both the SAF and Islamists opposed the decision because it
created an independently financed armed force within Sudan.
Under al-Bashir, the SAF had many
Islamist officers. Following the 2019 coup that deposed al-Bashir, Islamists
supported military rule with a technocratic bureaucracy running the country’s
day-to-day operations.
Former members of al-Bashir’s now-banned
National Congress Party (NCP) have said publicly that they have no ties to the
fighting and only backed the army politically.
However, according to Reuters, about
6,000 members of the country’s disbanded National Intelligence and Security
Service (NISS) — an agency populated largely by Islamists from the al-Bashir
era — sided with the SAF before fighting broke out on April 15.
“We are fighting and supporting the army
to protect our country from external intervention and keep our identity and our
religion,” said one unnamed Islamist fighting alongside the army told Reuters.
Hemedti has continued to accuse the SAF
of working with Islamists to maintain control of the country and undermine its
transition to civilian rule.
After the joint SAF-RSF coup that
deposed al-Bashir in 2019, al-Burhan banned the NCP and had many of its members
arrested. However, two years later, following the 2021 coup that disrupted
Sudan’s transition to civilian rule, al-Burhan brought many of the former NCP
members back into the government to keep it operating.
He also disbanded the commission that
had been created to dismantle the financial networks created by allies of
al-Bashir.
As Sudan’s de facto leader, al-Burhan
has garnered support from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
All three countries’ governments are anti-Islamist, so an overt connection to
Islamists could cost al-Burhan their support.
“The resurgence of Islamists in Sudan’s
military poses a significant challenge for regional powers and threatens to
undermine efforts towards a democratic transition,” analyst Kasturi Chakraborty
recently wrote for BNN Breaking news agency.
Source: adf-magazine.com
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Kaaba's Kiswah Replaced To Mark The New
Islamic Year
Replacement
of the covering of the Holy Kaaba. SPA
-----
Jul 19, 2023
The covering of the Kaaba at the Grand
Mosque in Makkah was changed on Tuesday night ahead of the Islamic New Year.
The Islamic New Year will fall on
Wednesday, July 19, this year, marking the beginning of Muharram.
The kiswah was usually changed each year
on the ninth or 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic
calendar, but was moved to the first day of Muharram last year.
Sheikh Abdulrahman Al Sudais, General
President of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, had said
that the change was based on a royal decision.
Replacing the kiswah is done separately
for each side of the Kaaba, the square stone structure at the centre of the
Grand Mosque that millions of pilgrims walk around as part of Hajj rituals.
The covering for each side is raised to
the top of the Kaaba and unfurled over the old covering, which is then loosened
and lowered.
A specialist team is supervising the
process, which involves removing the golden rings fastening the kiswa to the
Kaaba, clothing the holy site in its new cover and finally removing the old
cover by letting it drop underneath the new one.
Around 200 skilled craftspeople worked
on producing the 56 pieces of hand-embroidered kiswah, said the Saudi Press
Agency, and each piece took between 60 to 120 days to embroider.
It comprises 47 pieces of natural silk,
each 98cm by 14 metres. The silk is given an inner lining of strong cotton to
protect it.
A total of 120kg of gold thread and
100kg of silver were used in the process.
Replacement of the covering of the Holy
Kaaba. SPA
After the old kiswah is removed, it is
cut into small pieces that are given out to selected people and organisations.
Since 1962, the kiswah has been produced
at the Kiswah Al Kaaba factory in Makkah, owned and run by the Saudi
government.
Gold thread adorns the black silk,
spelling out Quranic passages, as well as phrases such as “no God but Allah”
and “glory to God” in Al Thuluth style of calligraphy.
The kiswah is heavily perfumed with oud
before being installed.
Source: thenationalnews.com
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India
Bombay High Court Stays Jalgaon
Collector's Order Restricting Namaz in Mosque
SukanyaShantha
Mumbai: Days after the Jalgaon district
collector arbitrarily issued an order preventing the Muslim community from
offering namaz at the 800-year-old Jumma Masjid, the Aurangabad bench of the
Bombay high court has come to the community’s rescue.
A single-judge bench of the high court
comprising Justice R.M. Joshi put a two-week stay on the collector’s order on
Tuesday, June 18. With the court’s order, the Jumma Masjid Trust has regained
control over the mosque and the community will be able to offer namaz there
like before.
Confirming the Bombay high court’s
order, advocate S.S. Kazi, representing the Jumma Masjid Trust committee, told
The Wire that “the court, along with imposing a stay on the collector’s order,
has also directed his office to hand over the keys to the mosque to the Trust
committee. The Masjid will once again be open to the community.”
The Jumma Masjid in Jalgaon’sErandol taluka
is a registered property under the waqf board. Until May this year, the mosque
had a smooth run, without ever facing any state interference.
The centuries-old mosque, however,
suddenly became a site of controversy because of a complaint filed by an
unregistered organisation called the Pandavwada Sangharsh Samiti. The
complainant, Prasad Madhusudan Dandawate, moved a petition before the Jalgaon
district collector Aman Mittal in mid-May.
Dandawate, a member of the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, claimed that the
mosque was “illegally” built over a Hindu place of worship and that it should
be taken over by state authorities.
The Wire had earlier reported on the
controversial order by the collector, which Trust members had alleged was
passed without giving them a fair hearing.
Following the collector’s interim
restraint order, the Trust committee moved the Bombay high court and also made
an additional representation before the collector for a just hearing.
The waqf board also sent its lawyer to
point out that the collector had no jurisdiction to decide on the legality of
the property as it is registered with the board.
Members of the Trust had earlier told
The Wire that they were unaware of the claims made until they received a notice
at the end of June. When they appeared before the collector’s office for a
hearing, the committee alleged that it was not given a fair hearing.
As soon as the notice was issued, the
Trust committee members approached the Jamiat-e-Ulama Maharashtra, a
humanitarian organisation, for legal help.
“We had asked the committee to
immediately move the high court against the collector’s order. We also wrote to
waqf board chairman Wajahat Mirza and requested him to intervene immediately,”
said advocate Shahid Nadeem of the Jamiat-e-Ulama.
District collector Mittal, who had
scheduled a hearing on the matter today, has not deferred the hearing following
the development in the high court.
Source: thewire.in
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Rohingya Muslims demand release from
'holding centre' in J&K's Kathua, clash with police
18th July 2023
JAMMU: Lodged at a "holding
centre" here for the past over two years, over 200 Rohingyas from Myanmar
on Tuesday held a protest and clashed with guards inside Hiranagar sub-jail
demanding their release, official sources said.
However, a senior police officer
dismissed the protest as "normal", saying they are holding protests
for the past one month for their release from the centre.
A total of 271 Rohingyas, including 74
women and 70 children, are lodged at the sub-jail that was notified as a
"holding centre" on March 5, 2021, for lodging illegal immigrants.
The official said the protest inside the
holding centre broke out when a woman fell sick in the morning.
"Senior police and jail officials
rushed to the scene and the situation is under control," he added.
The sources said police used mild force
to disperse the protesters who reached near the main gate of the facility.
Rohingyas went on an indefinite hunger
strike against their lodgment at the centre in May but called off their protest
after they were persuaded by senior police and jail officials that the matter
has been taken up with the Centre, and whenever the orders are received, they
will be released or deported to their country of origin.
Most of the detained foreigners were
found living illegally in Jammu during a special verification drive.
The Rohingyas are a Bengali-dialect
speaking Muslim minority in Myanmar.
Following persecution in their country,
many of them entered India illegally through Bangladesh and took shelter in
Jammu and other parts of the country.
Many political parties and social
organisations in Jammu have been urging the Centre for the deportation of
Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals, alleging that their presence is a
"conspiracy to alter the demographic character" in the region and a
"threat to peace".
More than 13,700 foreigners, including
Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi nationals, are settled in Jammu and Samba
districts of Jammu and Kashmir, where their population has increased by over
6,000 between 2008 and 2016, according to government data.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/jul/18/rohingya-muslims-demand-release-from-holding-centre-in-jkskathua-clash-with-police-2596053.html
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Mideast
UK government says primary domestic
threat comes from Islamist terrorism
19 July, 2023
By: Eastern Eye
THE primary domestic terrorist threat to
the UK comes from Islamist terrorism with explicit affiliation to terrorist
groups such as al-Qaeda and Daesh (Islamic State group) making way for online
extremist influences, according to a government report on Tuesday (18).
It said Islamist terrorism accounts for
approximately 67 per cent of attacks since 2018, about threequarters of the MI5
caseload and 64 per cent of those in custody for terrorism-connected offences.
The home secretary, SuellaBraverman,
said the report highlighted a “persistent and evolving” threat to the UK from
Islamist groups overseas. “The risk from terrorism is rising, and we must do
everything within our power to reduce it,” she said in a written statement to
the Commons.
“Since the last version of the report in
2018, nine terrorist attacks have been declared in the UK, in which six people
died and 20 people were injured. Overseas, 24 UK nationals have been killed in
11 terrorist attacks. The majority of these were Islamist in nature,” Braverman
added.
“Through this updated strategy, and by
taking a more agile, integrated and aligned approach, we will do everything
within our power to keep the public safe,” she said.
Source: easterneye.biz
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Tory MP Tobias Ellwood says Islamic
Emirate has totally transformed Afghanistan
18th July 2023
The prominent Conservative MP Tobias
Ellwood has praised the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan for transforming the
nation and has urged the British government to re-establish formal relations.
Ellwood, who is a former soldier,
government minister and is the current chair of the Defence Select Committee,
made the comments after a visit to Afghanistan sponsored by The Halo Trust, a
mine-clearing charity.
Writing in The Telegraph, he said: “Two
years after the Taliban forced the West to scuttle from Kabul, I’ve just
returned from an Afghanistan which is totally transformed. Hold your breath.
Security has vastly improved, people are free to travel and the widespread
corruption that impacted at every level of former President Ashraf Ghani’s
government has all the disappeared. And the dreaded black market opium trade
that blighted the nation’s economy has seemingly gone.
“This war-torn nation has not
experienced relative peace like this since the 1970s. And it shows. The
congested streets are bustling with life as everyone goes about their business
– free from the infinite checkpoints and perpetual fear of violence. The
Taliban authorities are no more visible than our own police are in London.”
Ellwood did criticise the IEA’s
restrictions on female work and education, but said it could be used as a tool
to negotiate with the Afghan authorities.
He said: “The real challenge lies ahead:
the decision whether or not to re-engage with the victors of this long-drawn
conflict. The West now holds international aid, including the $9bn in frozen Afghan
assets abroad. The British Embassy is closed for political rather than security
reasons. Of course the boycott endures because of the Taliban’s regressive laws
against women’s education and employment…
“If the West continues to sulk we could
be making another blunder which pushes the nation to a fiscal cliff potentially
igniting another cycle of instability, terrorism and mass migration. A more
pragmatic strategy is necessary. The Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights
may well serve as a negotiation tool for a shared understanding. But such a
possibility will remain unknown until we wake up. The first step is reopening
our embassy. The second is to get real. Afghanistan’s future could be war again
or life as a Chinese vassal. The middle way I saw – however queasy we feel
about it – needs us to rethink and re-engage.”
Along with the US and other NATO allies,
the UK invaded Afghanistan in October 2001, following the September 11 attacks.
After the fall of the first Islamic
Emirate, the UK contributed troops to the ISAF, established by the United
Nations Security Council in December 2001 to “maintain security” in
Afghanistan.
British forces were initially deployed
to the capital, Kabul, and the surrounding areas. In 2006, the UK took over the
command of NATO’s Regional Command South in Afghanistan, with responsibility
for security in Helmand Province.
The UK deployed a substantial number of
troops to Afghanistan, with peak troop levels reaching around 9,500 in 2011.
In April 2021, US President Joe Biden announced
the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, leading to the eventual
collapse of the Afghan government and a rapid Taliban takeover.
As part of the broader withdrawal, the
UK, along with other NATO allies, also withdrew its remaining troops from
Afghanistan.
Since its defeat in August 2021 the UK
has had no formal relations with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
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https://5pillarsuk.com/2023/07/18/tory-mp-tobias-ellwood-says-islamic-emirate-has-totally-transformed-afghanistan/
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‘Hardened’ Islamist terrorists jailed
over foiled plots are set to be released this year
A group of “hardened” terrorists jailed
over foiled plots around the time of the London bombings of 2005 are poised to
be freed before the end of the year in a potential danger to the public, it was
revealed on Tuesday.
The unnamed Islamist offenders are due
to be released after serving lengthy sentences for plots aimed at killing members
of the public and are one of the most significant batches of terrorist
releases.
Their imminent release emerged as Home
Secretary SuellaBraverman unveiled a new counter-terrorism strategy, known as
Contest, setting out the threat to this country and the measures being taken to
combat it.
The document warns that some freed
offenders will pose a threat that “may last for years” and that many will need
monitoring by police, MI5 or others to keep the public safe.
The risk posed by freed Islamists was
highlighted by the Fishmonger’s Hall attack of 2019 in which two people, Jack
Merritt and Saskia Jones, were killed by the released convict Usman Khan and
the Streatham attack the following year by Sudesh Amman shortly after his
release from prison.
Sentencing powers were strengthened in
response through new legislation which also ended automatic early release for
terrorist convicts.
But it emerged on Tuesday that what was
described as a particularly worrying cohort of offenders are due for release
before the end of the year.
It is understood that they include some
jailed in the 2000s, when foiled attacks include a plan to blow up the
Bluewater shopping centre and a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners flying
in and out of Heathrow.
Others due for release include some
jailed more recently under proscription laws outlawing organisations such as
Islamic State.
The Home Office also warned that Russia
is stoking the far-Right terrorist threat in Britain by spreading radicalising
propaganda in a threat that is likely to increase.
In the new assessment setting out the
scale of the terror threat facing the UK — which it says is rising — officials
say that “hostile state actors such as Russia” are exploiting “extreme
Right-wing narratives” to foment discontent in this country.
It adds that the Kremlin is “seeking to
promote divisive and polarising narratives in the West” as part of a far-Right
threat which is increasingly “transnational” in origin but manifesting itself
here more often.
The Contest assessment emphasises that
Islamists continue to pose the greatest danger to the public here, accounting
for two thirds of attacks since 2018, three quarters of Mi5’s caseload, and 64
per cent of terrorist prisoners.
But it discloses that the terror threat
from the extreme Right — which a decade ago was negligible — has been behind 22
per cent of attacks in the past five years and a quarter of Mi5’s caseload, as
well as 28 per cent of terror prisoners. It adds that unlike Islamists,
far-Right terrorists tend not to operate in groups but in “informal online
communities which facilitate international links”.
On the Russian role, the document
states: “Extreme Right-wing narratives are also exploited by hostile actors,
such as Russia, which is seeking to promote divisive and polarising narratives
in the West, which is likely to increase in the future.”
Tuesday’s document also warns that
conspiracy theories are being used as “gateways” to radicalisation.
Another section warns that the “vast
majority” of freed terrorist inmates will require “long term risk management”
by police, Mi5 and others and pose a potential danger that “may last for
years”.
Source: standard.co.uk
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Africa
Tinubu felicitates with Muslims on
Islamic new year
July 18, 2023
President Bola Tinubu has Tuesday
felicitated with Muslims in Nigeria and around the world on the Islamic new
year.
Tinubu in a statement prayed that the
incoming new year would usher in peace and prosperity.
He said,”I send my heartfelt
felicitations to Muslims in Nigeria and around the world as we witness the end
of another Hijri lunar calendar.
“I pray the incoming Hijri Year 1445
usher in a more peaceful and prosperous period in our lives.”
The President urged Nigerians and
Muslims globally to imbibe the important values of patience, perseverance and
faithfulness.
“While celebrating the New Year, I
implore you, fellow compatriots, to imbibe the important values of patience,
perseverance and faithfulness, which were at the roots of the decision by
Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to migrate from Mecca to Madina, 1445
years ago.
“As we persevere and struggle to
confront our present challenges and the temporary pain we experience, I enjoin
you to remain hopeful that there is light and prosperity at the end of the
tunnel.
“My team and I are leaving no stone
unturned in our bid to deliver on the promises we made, in spite of the present
difficulties.
“As we usher in the New Islamic Year, I
urge you all to engage in prayers and supplications to God Almighty to direct
and protect our path to greatness and prosperity in Nigeria,” he said.
Source: newsdiaryonline.com
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Emir of Bauchi leads Muslim faithful in
special prayer for rainfall
July 18, 2023
The Emir of Bauchi, AlhajiRilwani
Sulaiman Adamu, has led thousands of Muslim faithful in special prayer, seeking
Allah’s intervention for abundant rain in the emirate and the state.
The prayer was held at the central Eid
ground on Tuesday.
DAILY POST reports that the special
prayer commenced at the Juma’a mosque in Gwallaga, Bauchi, by 8 am, as well as
in every Izalah Eid ground across the state capital.The leadership of the
JIBWIS Islamic sect in the state had urged its members across the state to
participate in the special prayers for rainfall.
Garba Hassan, the leader of JIBWIS in
Bauchi State, directed that all leaders across the LGAs mobilise their members
to participate in the prayers until their objectives are met.
Source: dailypost.ng
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New Islamic Year: Barau urges Nigerians
to imbibe lessons of compassion, tolerance
As Muslims across the world celebrate
the new Islamic Year, 1445 AH, the Deputy Senate President, Senator
JibrinBarau, CON, has urged Nigerians to imbibe lessons of compassion, peace
and support for one another.
Barau, while congratulating fellow
Muslims and other Nigerians on the New Year and the commemoration of the
migration (Hijra) of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah, he sought for
national development.
Barau, who represents Kano North
Senatorial District, said this on Tuesday, in a statement by his media office.
“As we celebrate the new Islamic Year,
1445 AH, let us reflect on the importance and historical significance of the
Hijra and the overall teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and follow
his examples, “he enjoined.
The Deputy Senate President assured
Nigerians of the commitment of the National Assembly to come up with
legislation that would support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deliver his
campaign promises as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He urged the citizens to continue to
support the administration, assuring them that the policies being formulated by
President Tinubu would address the challenges facing the country.
“The direction is clear and the policies
are well-thought-out and geared towards addressing the challenges facing us as
a country. With our support at the parliament and the understanding of
Nigerians, the promised land is assured, where things will work for all,”
Senator Barau said.
Source: vanguardngr.com
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Arab World
Saudi Cabinet welcomes leaders ahead of
GCC—Central Asia summit
July 19, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on
Tuesday welcomed state leaders participating in the Gulf Cooperation
Council-Central Asian countries summit
and the 18th GCC Supreme Council consultative meeting that will take
place on Wednesday.
The ministers wished them success in
promoting solidarity and cooperation, for the benefit and development of the
two regions.
In another arena, ministers also
commended the signing of several agreements between the Kingdom and Turkiye in
various fields, and the launch of the Lighthouse Initiative between Saudi
Arabia and Japan for cooperation in clean energy, which will serve as a beacon
to guide other countries and regions in their endeavor to develop their
strategies and plans to achieve their net-zero goals.
Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and
Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia on Saturday and
Monday, respectively, and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah.
During the weekly Cabinet session
chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, the ministers affirmed
Saudi Arabia’s keenness to consolidate economic cooperation with various
countries by stimulating the government and private sectors and continuing the
exchange of visits between business owners.
They also praised the outcomes of the
Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030 roundtable meeting held on Sunday and the signing of
26 agreements in vital economic sectors, as well as what was included in the
Saudi-Turkish Investment Forum in terms of inking 9 memorandums of
understanding in several fields.
The officials reaffirmed the Kingdom’s
continuation of its efforts in support of dialogue, tolerance, moderation and
rejection of extremism.
In this regard, they welcomed the UN
Human Rights Council’s adoption of the Draft Resolution on Countering Religious
Hatred Constituting Incitement to Discrimination, Hostility or Violence, which
was actively called for by the Kingdom and several countries.
The Cabinet reiterated Saudi Arabia’s
affirmation, during the meetings of the Executive Council of the Organization
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons held in The Hague, regarding its
consistent policy aimed at strengthening cooperation to ban all types of
weapons of mass destruction and prevent their proliferation.
Source: arabnews.com
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Run by a Saudi couple, Bee Ways travels
all over the Kingdom in search of greenest pastures
July 18, 2023
JEDDAH: Saudi couple Ahmed Badghaish and
Nada Khaled Malaika have been working hand-in-hand together as beekeepers for
two decades.
Over the years, they have transformed a
modest business into a thriving apiary named Bee Ways that houses 1,200
beehives and is registered under the Ministry of Environment, Water and
Agriculture, and licensed by the Ministry of Commerce for beekeeping and honey
production. They have gained international recognition for the exceptional
quality of their honey and honeycomb-based products.
Bee Ways won the gold and silver awards
at the London International Honey Quality Competition for two different honeys
in 2022, and the Great Taste Global Gold prize for their Talh honey at the
London Honey Awards in 2021.
Commenting on their roles within Bee
Ways, Malaika said: “My husband (Badghaish) oversees the beehive in terms of
administration and operation, while I work on the transformational products.”
To work as beekeepers as a couple is to
embark on a voyage of shared passion and purpose. “We complement each other,”
she said.
Hailing from Jeddah, Badghaish and
Malaika began their beekeeping journey with nothing more than a passion for
nature and an innate curiosity about the world of bees.
“Beekeeping started as a hobby and grew
into a full-time profession,” Malaika said. “We acquired more knowledge by
engaging in regular practice, interacting with seasoned individuals, and
extensively reading about this field.
“We had the opportunity to learn from
experts both within the Kingdom and globally. Thanks to electronic channels and
specialized beekeeping accounts, we are continually exposed to the finest
practices and experiences available.”
To pass on their knowledge, they conduct
training workshops in Jeddah and around the Kingdom.
“We have conducted several workshops,
including an introduction to beekeeping and honey production. We have also held
a practical workshop on beeswax manufacturing and soap making as well.”
They have held workshops at Hayy Jameel
in Jeddah, such as the “This is Edible Gold: Advanced Beekeeping” workshop last
year that taught participants how to construct beehives and included
step-by-step instructions on urban beekeeping.
Together, they tend to the hives,
ensuring their inhabitants’ well-being, health, and happiness. “My husband
filtrates the honey and extracts the wax, and I take care of dealing with great
quantities of honey,” Malaika added.
They craft sanctuaries of safety and
sustenance, providing the bees with an abundant array of blossoms and
encouraging nature’s collaboration.
They take pride in their meticulous
operation, ensuring that every step of the honey production process is executed
with utmost care and precision by strategically placing their beehives amidst
fertile landscapes with floral diversity.
Speaking on the importance of providing
this aid to bees, Malaika added: “Given the immense expanse of our cherished
Kingdom and the abundance of flower varieties gracing its pristine landscapes,
it poses a considerable challenge for bees to journey thousands of kilometers
unaccompanied in their quest for nectar. Therefore, we follow the seasons by
traveling with our beehives around the Kingdom in search of a better
environment.”
Bee Ways follows the nomadic beekeeping
method that takes the bees all over the country’s greenest pastures. From the
enchanting fields of lavender in Al-Jouf in the north and the jasmine flowers
of Jazan to the humble date palm groves in Madinah, Qassim, and Al-Ahsa, their
bees have access to a wide array of nectar sources, resulting in honey that
boasts a distinctive, rich flavor.
The name of their apiary brand, Bee
Ways, is a nod to their travels around the Kingdom with their bees, passing
through deserts, mountainous regions, and valley roads.
“These ways and routes were meant to
help bees reach the sources of nectar through us. Producing 1 kg of honey
requires the bees to visit approximately 4 million flowers. Therefore, forests
and farms are necessary to produce commercial quantities of monofloral honey.
However, we cultivate clover and pumpkin on our farm in Al-Jouf,” Malaika
explained. “We produce approximately three tons of honey every year.”
They have registered their AsiriSidr
honey and Samra Al-Hijaz honey through the Ministry of Culture in the Slow Food
International Organization category as a distinctive local product from Saudi
Arabia.
Explaining the true potential of
beekeeping, Malaika added: “Many people believe that beekeeping is only about
producing honey, but there are many other products that can be derived from the
beehive. These products can create high-value-added items.
“In addition to producing natural honey
from different parts of the Kingdom, we utilize all the bee by-products.”
Sustainability is at the core of Bee
Ways, which also offers eco-friendly beeswax products including food packaging
wax which can be used as an alternative to aluminum and plastic, which may
degrade and release toxic compounds once mixed with food.
With over 20 years of experience, the
Bee Ways duo have built a deep understanding of the healing properties of honey,
and have tapped into the burgeoning market of skin care products with their own
diverse range that utilizes leftover honey and honeycomb.
“We offer more than fifty different
products. These include local honey in various types, soaps, creams made from
bee products, and candles,” Malaika said.
Other natural ingredients to their
skincare products and soaps include olive and almond oil, goat milk, outs,
shea, pollen, and pumpkin. They also meticulously infuse their concoctions with
organic plant extracts, essential oils, and exotic herbs sourced from the
diverse nature of the Kingdom.
“Bee products are considered therapeutic
and (are) natural remedies for those who know how to benefit from them. Beeswax
is used to make creams, moisturizers, and scented candles as well. Pollen
grains are also beneficial for the skin and body in general,” Malaika added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Museum at King Abdulaziz University
showcases Saudi geological heritage
July 18, 2023
RIYADH: The Geological Education Museum
at King Abdulaziz University is a treasure trove of minerals, meteorites, and
rocks from around Saudi Arabia and abroad.
The museum, which opened in 1977, holds
thousands of rare mineral artifacts, rocks, maps, aerial and field photographs,
and various scientific tapes. It is home to precious resources for students and
researchers.
Rushdi Taj, general supervisor of the
museum, told Arab News: “It is an educational museum that contains many types
of earth-forming rocks, which of course include sedimentary and metamorphic
igneous rocks.
“We also have rock samples from the
Jabal Al-Malsa volcano, which erupted in the city of Madinah in the year 1256
and was located in a mountain southeast of the city.”
Jabal Al-Malsa was the last volcano to
erupt in what is now Saudi Arabia. The event lasted several days with lava
flows traveling 23 km, the longest of which came to rest just over 8.2 km from
the Prophet’s Mosque.
The volcano created a lava field called
Harrat Rahat, today a prominent tourist area, along with the nearby Al-Wahbah
Crater.
As well as this, Saudi Arabia is home to
a vast area of Cenozoic volcanic rocks, stretching approximately 90,000 sq. km,
making it one of the most important and largest areas of alkali olivine basalt
in the world.
Speaking on the other samples in the
museum, Taj said: “In addition to the numerous mineral ores and sources that
come from Saudi mines and quarries, along with a variety of minerals, we also
have the meteorite that fell in the Empty Quarter in 1863, southeast of
Riyadh.”
Among the museum’s other attractions is
a synthetic dinosaur skull made using a template. It represents the skull of a
Tyrannosaurus that would have lived in the Cretaceous era around 66 million
years ago.
Bader Hakami, dean of the College of
Earth Sciences, noted that the museum is attached to a room of teaching aids
and video projectors, which display scientific and educational films.
He explained that the museum has evolved
into an enduring record of the advancement of science and the Kingdom’s
discoveries of minerals, rocks, ores, and oil fields over time.
Taj added that the museum is crucial for
the next generation since it will educate them on the Saudi Arabia’s geology
and its primary mineral and oil resources, which are used to produce building
materials.
Visiting hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 11
p.m.
Source: arabnews.com
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Madinah mayor to join prestigious global
leadership program
July 18, 2023
RIYADH: A Saudi mayor has been selected
to take part in a prestigious professional management training program with 40
counterparts from around the world.
Madinah region official, Fahad
Al-Bulihshi, will participate in the seventh class of the year-long Bloomberg
Harvard City Leadership Initiative, joining mayors from nine countries.
The initiative, billed as the flagship
program of the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, aims to help
leaders improve their key organizational practices, bolster their teams’ use of
data and evidence, drive collaboration and innovation across sectors, and
deliver impact for communities.
By applying the knowledge gained,
participants are hopefully equipped to assist in improving quality of life for
residents and achieving sustainable economic development in cities.
Through workshops, coursework, and
convening with peers to learn about various practices, program organizers said
that on completion of the scheme participants would be able to close the gap in
executive development for the public sector and improve the lifestyles of city
dwellers.
The initiative is part of Harvard’s
efforts to improve public administration, leadership, and governance. Its key
areas of focus are on education, environment, government innovation, public
health, and the arts.
Along with Al-Bulihshi from Saudi
Arabia, officials taking part in the seventh class of the initiative will come
from the US, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Brazil,
and South Africa.
Since its 2017 launch, 275 mayors and
more than 470 senior city leaders have participated in the program.
Source: arabnews.com
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Central African Republic confirms
support for Saudi bid to host World Expo 2030
July 18, 2023
RIYADH: Special envoy to the president
of the Central African Republic Jules Njawe said on Tuesday that his country
supports Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh.
At a press conference held after President
Faustin-ArchangeTouadera hosted Saudi Royal Court adviser Ahmed bin Abdulaziz
Kattan, Njawe said the president supports all events hosted by the Kingdom and
is certain that it has all the capabilities needed to organize Expo 2030 in
Riyadh.
Kattan conveyed the Saudi government’s
thanks for the Central African Republic’s support which it said stemmed from
distinguished relations between the two countries.
Source: arabnews.com
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Pakistan
Imran Khan 'apologetic' for hostile
speech against female judge
July 19, 2023
ISLAMABAD: At the district and sessions
court on Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan once again
offered an apology related to the case of threatening a female judge, Zeba
Chaudhry.
Khan appeared before the Judicial
Magistrate Islamabad, Malik Aman, and expressed remorse for his hostile speech
during one of his political rallies at the federal capital's F-9 Park area last
year. He targeted Islamabad's senior police officials and Judge Chaudhry
through his remarks.
This episode occurred shortly after
Khan's removal from office in April 2023, as he threatened to take legal action
against the aforementioned individuals for allegedly mistreating his party
leader, Shahbaz Gill, and vowed not to let them go unpunished.
Khan had particularly named Chaudhry
during his political rally held at the F-9 park in Islamabad.
During the hearing, the PTI chief maintained
that he was apologetic when he visited the said judge's court earlier.
"I went to the court of the female
judge and said that if my statement offended anyone, I apologise," Khan
told Judge Aman while on the rostrum.
Over a month after making the threats,
the PTI chairman went to the judge's courtroom to offer an apology. But the
police closed the room of the female judge and told him that she was on leave.
"I have come to apologise to
judicial magistrate Zeba Chaudhry," Khan told the court reader to convey
his message to the judge and bear witness to his arrival.
Meanwhile, at the district and sessions
court today, he spoke about seeking legal action in a passionate speech and
expressed regret over his statement. "I apologise if I crossed the line."
The former premier maintained he hasn't
broken a single pot to date.
"I formed a political party for the
supremacy of justice 27 years ago, I have not broken a single pot to
date," Khan said.
The case
A case had been registered against the
former prime minister under the Anti-Terrorism Act for threatening Judge
Chaudhry and senior police officers of the Islamabad police during a public
rally in August last year.
The IHC had then started contempt of
court proceedings against the former prime minister.
Later on, the high court removed the
terror charges and also pardoned the PTI chief after he had tendered an apology
in the contempt case.
But a similar case had been filed
against the PTI chief — after the registration of the first information report
(FIR) against him — and is still pending before the sessions court.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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Pakistani passport ranked fourth worst
globally
July 19, 2023
Pakistan has been ranked as a nation
with the fourth worst passport in the world, according to a global citizenship
and residence advisory company Henley & Partners.
The nation of over 220 million stands at
the 100th position among the 227 countries rated on the index, the results of
which are estimated via the number of destinations that their residents can
access without possessing a prior visa.
Earlier this year, Pakistan was ranked
among the five worst passports, as per the
London-based advisory firm Henly& Partners.
According to the report, Pakistanis had
access to 35 countries with an on-arrival visa facility until January this year
which has now come down to 33.
Meanwhile, Singapore leads the index as
possessing the most-coveted passport in the world pushing Japan — leading the
list for the last five years — to the third position shared with South Korea,
Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg and Sweden granting their citizens access
to 189 destinations without a prior visa.
Singaporeans, on the other hand, can
visit at least 193 destinations visa-free around the world out of the total
227.
While Asia has conventionally dominated
the rankings in the index, Europe is making a comeback with Germany, Italy, and
Spain rising to the second spot, offering visa-free access to 190 destinations.
The United States of America and the
United Kingdom, which were once leading the index, are witnessing their
rankings plummet. However, Britain has shown improvement, moving up to the
fourth place, while the US' ranking has taken a dip to eighth with access to
183 visa-free destinations.
The Henley Passport Index, which ranks
199 passports based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, is
regularly updated to reflect changes in visa policies. The average number of
visa-free destinations, over the years, for travellers has nearly doubled from
58 in 2006 to 109.
Despite the case, there remains a
significant gap in travel freedom between the top-ranked and bottom-ranked
countries. Nationals of conflict-ridden countries including Afghanistan, Iraq
and Syria possess the least travel privileges, with access to just 27, 29, and
30 destinations, respectively.
"The general trend over the history
of the 18-year-old ranking has been towards greater travel freedom, with the
average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free nearly
doubling from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2023," a statement by Henley &
Partners read.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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Ukrainian foreign minister to arrive in
Islamabad tomorrow
July 19, 2023
Ukrainian Foreign Minister DmytroKuleba
will arrive in Islamabad for an official two-day visit tomorrow (July 20), the
Foreign Office said in a statement on Wednesday.
During his visit to Pakistan, the
Ukraine minister will call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He will also hold
detailed discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
"Pakistan and Ukraine enjoy close
and cordial relations, particularly in the fields of trade, investment,
agriculture and higher education," the ministry's statement read.
Foreign Minister Kuleba's visit, which
will begin following his arrival on July 20 and conclude on the 21st, is the
first-ever ministerial one from Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic
ties between Pakistan and Ukraine in 1993.
"It is expected to contribute to
further strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries," the
statement further added.
Last week, The News reported about
Koliba's "emergency" visit to Islamabad.
According to the sources, the foreign
ministers of Pakistan and Ukraine were to discuss the food crisis in the wake
of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Meanwhile, government officials said
that Pakistan wanted an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war and a peaceful
resolution of the conflict.
Where Pakistan stands on the
Ukraine-Russia war?
Islamabad maintains a neutral stance on
the Russia-Ukraine war as it has expressed concerns over the humanitarian
crisis in the war-torn country, but never openly condemned Russia.
Pakistan has multiple times abstained
from voting on the United Nations against Russia, seeking support for the call
for the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine.
Last year, FM Bilawal reiterated
Pakistan's neutrality on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying that Islamabad was
not taking sides.
“We would not be taking sides as we are
sick and tired of wars and conflicts," the minister said in an interview
with Al Jazeera.
Later in the same month, a statement
from the Foreign Office said that Pakistan's stance on the matter remained
"unchanged", insisting that the country had taken a “principled
stance” on the issue, which is seen as a major diplomatic test for Islamabad to
maintain balance in its ties with big powers.
“We want to have broad-based, objective,
balanced and mutually beneficial relationships with all major powers, including
the United States and China,” the FO spokesperson added.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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Army Act applies to 'specific class',
not all: CJP Bandial
July 19, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan
(CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday directed Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP)
Mansoor Usman Awan to seek the government's directives on Pakistan Army Act
1952, saying that "the Army Act does not apply to all".
The law applied to a "specific
class", CJP Bandial said during the hearing of a set of pleas against
trials of citizens under military rules.
A six-member bench, headed by the top
judge and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Munib
Akhtar, Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Ayesha A Malik, resumed
the proceedings on the constitutional petitions this morning.
During the hearing, AGP Awan opened his
arguments with the details about the losses incurred during the violent
protests of May 9, once again requesting the court to form a full bench to hear
the matter.
Meanwhile, CJP Bandial inquired which
sections were applied in the cases linked with the May 9 protests.
At this, the attorney general informed
the court that Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) has also been
included in the cases as the accused's offences were not civil nature.
Justice Naqvi then asked if any army
official died amid protests.
Responding to the query, AGP Awan said
there were no such reports.
When asked how this section was included
when no deaths of army officials were reported, the official said he wasn't
giving arguments on the matter as per orders.
At this, CJP Bandial also ordered the
AGP to seek directives on this issue.
Later, the court adjourned the hearing
till 9:30am on Friday, giving Awan two days to get directives from the
government.
The petitions
Following the arrests made in connection
with the violent riots that erupted across the country on May 9, the government
announced its decision to hold military court trials of those found guilty of
damaging and attacking military installments — a move both the government and the
army considered a low blow.
In light of this decision, PTI Chairman
Imran Khan, former chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja, legal expert Aitzaz Ahsan,
and five civil society members, including Piler Executive Director Karamat Ali,
requested the apex court to declare the military trials
"unconstitutional".
In this petition filed through his
lawyer, the former CJP Khawaja pleaded that Section 2(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the
Pakistan Army Act were inconsistent with the fundamental rights granted by the
Constitution and should be struck down.
Moreover, five members of civil society
from different cities — represented by Faisal Siddiqi — appealed to the apex
court to declare illegal the trial of civilians in the military courts.
Similarly, Ahsan's petition challenged
the government's decision to try civilians in military courts.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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US 'ready' to work with any elected
Pakistani government
July 19, 2023
As the National Assembly is expected to
be dissolved ahead of its constitutional term next month, the United States has
reiterated its stance of working with a government elected by Pakistanis.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State Elizabeth Horst, during a conference on the future of Pakistan-US
Relations in Houston on Tuesday, said: "We do not have any position on any
political candidate or party."
Horst, who heads the Pakistan bureau at
the US State Department, also said: "The US supports democratic
principles, freedom of speech, and the rule of law."
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have decided that the National Assembly will
be dissolved prematurely — and at least three days before its stipulated term.
However, Information Minister Marriyum
Aurangzeb denied that the date of dissolution is finalised, saying it would be
decided in consultation with the PDM and other allied parties, and an
announcement would be made.
Donald Lu and 'false' claims
Pak-US deteriorated when Imran Khan was
in power and worsened further when he blamed America for his ouster,
specifically Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu.
The allegations against the assistant
secretary of state are "categorically false", Horst said, noting that
America's stance was conveyed to Pakistani officials on numerous occasions.
While now former prime minister Khan
blames ex-army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and others for his
ouster, he still, on occasions, names Lu as well.
But the US official said her nation does
not let "propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation get in the way of
any bilateral relationship, including our valued partnership with
Pakistan".
During the last 75 years, Pakistan-US
relations have been fruitful for the world as well as the region, Horst said,
noting that the US does not interfere in Pakistan's political matters.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1092002-us-ready-to-work-with-any-elected-government
--------
Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan
after CJP Bandial’s retirement: Khawaja Asif
July 19, 2023
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo
Nawaz Sharif is expected to return to Pakistan after the retirement of Chief
Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, hinted Defence Minister Khawaja
Asif, adding that they have a threat from the behaviour of “good to see you” —
referring to the top judge.
Speaking on Geo News programme “Aaj
Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath” on Tuesday, the defence minister expressed his
severe concerns over the behaviour of the apex court, especially during the
past few months, saying: “One should not take the risk of Nawaz Sharif’s
return” in this situation.
Nawaz — who has been in self-imposed
exile in London since November 2019 — stepped down as the prime minister on
July 28, 2017, after being disqualified from holding public office by the
Supreme Court in a landmark verdict.
The five-member Supreme Court bench had
unanimously disqualified Nawaz for failing to disclose his un-withdrawn
receivables constituting assets from UAE-based Capital FZE in his nominations
papers for the 2013 General Election, stating that this meant he was not
"honest" and "truthful", as per the Constitution.
CJP Bandial will serve in the top
judicial office until September 16, 2023, when he is due to be replaced by
Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
It is pertinent to mention here that CJP
Bandial-led three-member bench on May 11 directed the anti-graft agency
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to present PTI Chairman Imran Khan two
days after his arrest in a graft case. Adhering to the orders, Khan was
presented before the bench in Courtroom No. 1, under a tight security cordon.
At the outset when the ex-PM came to the
rostrum, he was greeted by the incumbent chief justice who welcomed him by
saying: “Good to see you.”
Responding to a question, the PML-N
stalwart said that his party supremo’s homecoming before the upcoming general
elections in the country is necessary.
Underscoring the need for compensation
with Nawaz before executing the polls in the country, the PML-N leader said
that his party workers have been waiting for their supreme leader for the past
three and half years. He added that injustice was made to the three-time former
prime minister.
Maryam demands 'overturning' Nawaz's
conviction
In February this year, PML-N Senior
Vice-President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz demanded redressal of "injustice"
against her father Nawaz Sharif before the next elections take place in the
country.
Maryam, while addressing her party's
workers' convention in Sahiwal, said: “Elections will be held after the
conviction of innocent Nawaz Sharif is overturned.”
Speaking to the PML-N workers, the PML-N
leader also said: "Justice first, then elections will be held." She
added that polls would be conducted in the country when the vote is given
respect.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1091802-nawaz-sharif-to-return-pakistan-after-cjp-bandials-retirement-khawaja-asif
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Military trials of civilians: AGP told
to seek directives from govt regarding right of appeal in military courts
July 19, 2023
The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday
directed Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan to seek
directives from the government regarding the right of appeal in military
courts.
The directive came as a six-member
Supreme Court (SC) bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata
Bandial and consisting Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice
Yahya Afridi, Justice SayyedMazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha A.
Malik, heard a set of pleas challenging the military trials of civilians.
During today’s hearing, AGP Awan said
that the violent incidents of May 9 had caused losses of Rs2.5 billion,
including Rs1.9bn to military installations, as he again called for the
formation of a full court.
A day earlier, CJP Bandial had observed
that civilians should not be put through the rigours and harshness of military
courts, since they enjoy certain constitutional protections, and besides, such
trials were not according to the Constitution.
“The military law is a tough law and
meant to be different from the ordinary law that may be good for military
personnel only,” the CJP had observed. One of the concerns about such trials,
the CJP observed, was that the verdicts of a military court were not open to
the public, nor subject to judicial review.
The observation came when AGP Awan cited
a June 23 note by Justice Yahya Afridi, in which the judge had urged the CJP to
consider reconstituting a full court consisting of all available judges to hear
the matter.
The chief justice had also turned down
the government’s request to form a full court to hear the petitions, explaining
the unavailability of judges. He had also expressed satisfaction over the
treatment of suspects facing military trials.
Earlier this week, the federal
government had argued that the trial of those accused of violence against the
armed forces under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 was an apt and
proportionate response under the constitutional framework and statutory regime.
Today’s hearing
At the outset of today’s hearing, AGP
Awan came to the rostrum to continue his arguments. He informed the bench that
the attack on the Lahore Corps Commander House took place at 5:40pm, noting
that all attacks on military installations took place “approximately at the
same time”.
“On May 9, sensitive military
installations were attacked between 3pm and 7pm,” he said. AGP Awan said that a
wall was demolished at the Mianwali airbase where aircraft were parked, adding
that fuel for the planes was also present there at the time.
He said that the office of the
Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI) Hamza Camp in Rawalpindi and the Armed
Forces Institute of Cardiology were also attacked by rioters. “Violent
incidents also took place in Rawalpindi’s Chaklala,” he said, adding that
petrol bombs were also used.
He said that the violent incidents of
May 9 had caused losses of Rs2.5 billion. The AGP also showed pictures of
people entering General Headquarters Rawalpindi as well as images of miscreants
wearing the Lahore Corps Commander’s uniform.
The attorney general said that a Canteen
Store Department (CSD) store was set ablaze in Lahore. He said that the
miscreants involved in attacking the Faisalabad ISI office were allegedly
armed. Further detailing the violence of May 9, AGP Awan said that Lahore and
Peshawar were “laid to waste” while the toll plaza on the Swat motorway was
also set ablaze.
“On May 9, the situation in Sindh and
Balochistan was under control,” he noted. He further said that the army showed
“flexibility” regarding the May 9 incidents. “Military officers are not trained
to deal with protesters like police officials are,” he said.
“Are you saying that army officers only
know how to shoot?” CJP Bandial asked. At this, AGP Awan said that army
officers were not taught how to disperse such crowds.
Sensitive military installations,
including the Lahore Corps Commander House, GHQ and airbases, were attacked in
a “systematic manner”, he said. He further said that military installations had
suffered a loss of Rs1.9bn while more than 200 people, including 184 law
enforcers, were injured during the violence.
he events of May 9 did not happen
suddenly, they were carried out in a systematic manner,” the AGP said as he
again requested for a full court bench to hear the pleas against military
trials of civilians.
The attorney general contended that such
an incident had never before taken place in the country’s history. Talking
about the Liaqat Hussain case, which was also referenced during previous
arguments by the petitioners’ lawyers, he said that the crime was civilian in
nature. “Even in the 21st Amendment [case], the crime was of a civilian
nature,” he said.
At this, Justice Naqvi interjected and
said that the case concerning the 21st Amendment was completely different.
“Military courts were established through a constitutional amendment,” he said.
“You are saying that it is the first
time the people attacked military installations,” the CJP remarked. He also
asked AGP Awan to talk about the points raised by the petitioners. “What is the
punishment in military courts under Section 7 of the Army Act?” he asked.
“Under Sections 3 and 9, the punishment
in military courts is two years imprisonment,” the AGP responded.
“Is that the maximum punishment?” the
CJP asked, to which the AGP replied in the affirmative.
“Then the punishment in ordinary courts
is more,” Justice Bandial observed, adding that there were more severe
punishments under civil laws.
Justice Akhtar then said that the data
and facts as well as the allegations put forth by the attorney general were
“very serious” in nature. “Entering a prohibited area is also a crime,” he
said, adding that Section 3 of the Army Act would be applicable in this case.
Justice Bandial then remarked that there
was an element of “seriousness” regarding the events of May 9. “In my memory,
there is no such incident where institutions were attacked across the country,”
he observed.
He told the AGP to assure the court that
fair trial and processes would be followed before giving arguments on the
constitutional aspect of the case. “Certainly, the court will not allow
something that is unconstitutional,” he said.
“If the right of appeal is to be given
in a trial under the Army Act, then give it through legislation,” Justice
Afridi said. CJP Bandial remarked that the AGP would have to satisfy the court
that the right of appeal would be given.
“The question is whether or not one will
have the right to appeal in a court created under the Constitution,” Justice
Afridi said.
Justice Bandial then observed that
Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav was given the right of appeal, to which the AGP
said that the “alien” was given the right through legislation.
“Is he ‘alien’ or Indian? The word alien
has other interpretations,” Justice Ahsan remarked with a smile.
CJP Bandial then asked the AGP to seek
instructions from the government regarding whether a right of appeal would be
given or not. The AGP said that he would be able to seek instructions in this
regard by Friday, following which the hearing was adjourned till then.
The pleas
The petitions were filed by former CJP
Jawwad S. Khawaja, Aitzaz Ahsan, Karamat Ali, and PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
Khawaja, who filed the petition through
his counsel Advocate Khawaja Ahmad, requested the top court to declare the
trial of civilians by military courts unconstitutional.
The former CJP pleaded that Section
2(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Pakistan Army Act were inconsistent with the
fundamental rights conferred by the Constitution and therefore void, and should
be struck down.
As an interim measure, all proceedings
against civilians based on the sections should be suspended or, in the
alternative, any military court should be restrained from passing a final order
in any case against civilians based on the sections, the petition stated.
Before this petition, five members of
civil society from different cities, through their counsel Faisal Siddiqi,
sought as illegal the trial of civilians in the military courts in connection
with the violence in the country of May 9.
Likewise, Ahsan, who has also served as
a former law minister and also spearheaded the 2007 lawyers’ movement,
explained that the primary purpose of his petition was to ensure that none of
the thousands of civilians who have admittedly been arrested for allegedly
having partaken in the May 9 violence and being nominated for trial be tried by
military courts.
The petitioner said he did not seek to
scuttle the trial of any civilian before any lawfully established court of
criminal jurisdiction.
In his petition, the PTI chairman sought
a declaration against the arrests, investigation, and trial of civilians in
peacetime under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 as well as the Official
Secrets Act 1923.
Source: dawn.com
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--------
Islamabad ATC extends bail of Imran in 3
terrorism cases
July 19, 2023
An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC)
on Wednesday extended the bail of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in three cases
pertaining to violence outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) and the
Islamabad High Court (IHC) until July 26.
In early March, the former premier was
booked by the capital’s Ramna police in two cases. He was accused of leading
mobs to the FJC and the IHC as he appeared for hearings there.
Additionally, a third case was filed
against him by the Golra police station for allegedly causing unrest outside
the FJC when he went there on March 18 for a Toshakhana case hearing.
During the last proceedings, the ATC had
issued bailable arrest warrants for the PTI chief and summoned him on July 19.
The hearing was conducted by ATC Judge
Abul Hasnaat Muhammad Zulfikar today.
Ahead of his arrival in court, the PTI
tweeted a video of the former prime minister’s vehicles and security detail
reaching a rainy Islamabad.
Accompanied by his legal team led by
Salman Safdar, the PTI chief later reached the courtroom.
As the hearing began, the judge
addressed the police, asking them to declare the suspect innocent if he was
innocent or present any evidence they had.
The judge warned them that if the
investigation was not conducted properly, he would personally summon the police
inspector general.
Imran’s lawyer argued that the former
prime minister had been wrongly implicated in the case. He added: “If there is
nothing against him, then let us know, and we will withdraw our bail plea.”
The counsel also expressed concern about
the police serving as both the complainant and investigator in the cases.
The judge briefly called the PTI chief
to the rostrum as both sides furnished their arguments. After considering the
arguments, the court granted bail to the former premier in three cases until
July 26.
Toshakhana case
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court
reserved its verdict on a petition filed by the PTI chairman challenging the
maintainability of a criminal complaint against him for allegedly concealing
details of Toshakana gifts.
Imran’s counsel, Khawaja Haris, informed
the court that the sessions court pronounced its verdict “merely 15 minutes”
after hearing arguments from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), without
allowing the PTI chief’s legal team to present their version.
He added that their request to postpone
the hearing from July 8 to July 10 was also rejected. Haris argued that if a
high court sends a case back to the trial court, it should be referred to a
different court instead. He contended that a judge who had already expressed a
clear stance should not have been assigned the same case.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq asked
about the next date of the sessions court hearing. The counsel replied that it
was fixed for Thursday (tomorrow).
After hearing arguments, the judge
reserved his ruling on the plea.
The Toshakhana case
The case, filed by ruling party
lawmakers, is based on a criminal complaint filed by the Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP).
The case alleges that Imran had “deliberately
concealed” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana — a repository
where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept —
during his time as the prime minister and proceeds from their reported sales.
Imran has faced a number of legal issues
over his retention of gifts. The issue also led to his disqualification by the
ECP.
On Oct 21, 2022, the ECP concluded that
the former premier had indeed made “false statements and incorrect
declarations” regarding the gifts.
The Toshakhana is a department under the
Cabinet Division that stores gifts given to rulers and government officials by
heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries. According to Toshakhana
rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom
these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.
The watchdog’s order had said Imran
stood disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.
Subsequently, the ECP had approached the
Islamabad sessions court with a copy of the complaint, seeking proceedings
against Imran under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the
gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime
minister.
Judge threatening case
Separately, the PTI chief also appeared
before another local court in Islamabad for the hearing of a case related to
alleged threats made to a judge.
The hearing was conducted by Judicial
Magistrate Malik Aman, and Imran’s counsel, Salman Safdar, represented him in
court.
As the hearing commenced, Safdar stated
that his client was being falsely accused in all the cases, and he pointed out
that the police were acting as both accusers and investigators.
The counsel argued that Imran had a
clean record with no prior criminal involvement throughout his 71 years of
life.
Salman Safdar highlighted that terrorism
charges were unjustly filed against Imran, and he questioned the ongoing nature
of the case despite the lack of witnesses and evidence. He also pointed out
that neither Judge Zeba nor the Inspector General had come forward as
witnesses, yet warrants were continuously being issued against them.
The lawyer raised concerns about how
charges could be framed against his client without recording statements under
Section 161 of the Pakistan Penal Code. He insisted that the case was
fabricated for political motives.
Appearing before the judge, Imran
explained to the court that the words he used in his speech were spoken in the
heat of the moment.
He added that he had even personally
visited Judge Zeba Chaudhry’s court to offer his apologies for those remarks.
Imran reiterated that he had always been a law-abiding citizen and had never
violated the law throughout his life.
During the proceedings, the prosecutor
expressed surprise and concern over the fact that both the judge and the IG did
not provide their statements in the case.
However, he clarified that the judge’s
statement would have been recorded if she had been present at the location
where the threatening remarks were allegedly made.
The judge took a break in the hearing.
The PTI chairman had on August 20, 2022
condemned the police as well as the judiciary over the alleged custodial
torture of Shahbaz Gill and announced that his party would file cases against
then-Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, the DIG and
Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry.
Initially, Imran was booked under
various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
Besides, Islamabad High Court (IHC) also initiated contempt of court
proceedings against him.
A month later, the IHC removed the
terrorism charges against Imran and also pardoned him after he tendered an
apology in the contempt case.
However, a similar case, filed after the
registration of a first information report (FIR) against him for threatening
the judge, is pending before the sessions court.
Source: dawn.com
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Pakistan facing ‘exceptionally high’
risks, says IMF
July 19, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan needs another
International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and support from other multilateral
lenders beyond the coming election cycle and the ongoing standby arrangement,
the lender said in a report released on Tuesday.
“Resolving Pakistan’s structural
challenges, including long-term BOP [balance of payments] pressures, will
require continued adjustment and creditor support beyond the current programme
period,” the Fund said in a 120-page report analysing Pakistan’s macroeconomic
outlook.
The report is based on the Memorandum of
Economic and Fiscal Policies (MEFP) signed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and
State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmed.
“A possible successor arrangement could
help anchor the policy adjustment needed to restore Pakistan’s medium-term
viability and capacity to repay,” it said.
The IMF assessment noted that Pakistan’s
economic challenges were complex and multifaceted, and risks were exceptionally
high. “Addressing them requires steadfast implementation of agreed policies, as
well as continued financial support from external partners. Consistent and
decisive implementation of programme agreements will be essential to reduce
risks and maintain macroeconomic stability,” it said.
Lender insists addressing structural
challenges will require sustained support, another IMF programme
On its part, according to the report,
the government has given an international undertaking for immediately notifying
about a Rs5 per unit increase in electricity rates and over 40pc increase in
gas rates, as the gas sector circular debt is now competing with power sector
losses.
It has committed to address drivers of
circular debt flow in the power sector by notifying recent tariff increases
determined by Nepra with effect from July 1, and notification of quarterly and
monthly tariff adjustments without delays stand ready to take quick additional
measures in case set revenue targets are missed.
The government has also promised
renegotiation of power-purchase agreements with remaining power producers
(including Chinese) or prolonging their debt servicing tenors.
In the gas sector, the government has
committed to immediate notification of gas tariff adjustments determined by
Ogra, besides merging the gas rates for both local and imported natural gas
through a weighted average tariff.
The government has also given an
undertaking to ringfence fiscal programme as envisaged in the recent budget and
other commitments with the IMF.
For this, the government will not allow
supplementary grants for any additional unbudgeted spending over the
parliamentary approved level in the current fiscal year, at least until the
formation of a new government after the elections (except in case of a severe
natural disaster).
The government has also given a
“commitment not to launch any new tax amnesties or grant further any new tax
exemptions in 2023-24 including through the budget or statutory regulatory
orders without prior [assembly] approval”.
The government has also provided
agreements with each province on their commitment to achieving an end-FY24
fiscal position consistent with the fiscal year’s general government primary
balance goal of Rs401bn and continuing focus on critically urgent energy sector
policies, including not to introduce any fuel subsidy, or cross-subsidy scheme,
in FY23 and beyond.
In addition, the government has
committed to ensuring monetary and financial stability by returning to a
market-determined exchange rate, lowering inflation toward the target, and
rebuilding foreign exchange reserves.
It said the authorities would refrain
from providing guidance or expressing a preference to market participants
regarding the exchange rate or regulating demand for forex through (either
formal or informal) administrative action.
Once proper market functioning is
restored, the authorities have committed to maintaining the average premium
between the interbank and open market rates at no more than 1.25pc and no less than
minus 1.25pc during any consecutive five business day-period and publish daily
interbank and open market exchange rates.
Source: dawn.com
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--------
North America
US Teen, Davin Daniel Meyer, Accused of
Trying to Go to Iraq to Fight for Islamic State Group
July 19, 2023
DENVER, COLORADO —
A teenager from the United States who
allegedly planned to go to Iraq to fight for the Islamic State group was
arrested Friday as he tried to board a flight to Turkey.
Davin Daniel Meyer, an 18-year-old from
the U.S. state of Colorado, has been charged with attempting to provide
material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the U.S.
Attorney's Office for Colorado announced late Monday.
Meyer's lawyer did not immediately
return a telephone message or email seeking comment.
According to his arrest affidavit, law
enforcement began investigating him in June 2022 when someone who knew him
contacted the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The person said they were
concerned because, after following white supremacist ideology, Meyer, then 17,
had turned to Islam and was frequently watching and listening to "radical
Islamic sermons online." The FBI was notified by the sheriff's office, it
said.
The person, who was not identified in
the document, said Meyer said "he wanted to die in his early twenties for
Allah."
"In October 2022, the individual
informed the FBI that Meyer had stated that if he could not go to the Middle
East, he planned to get fertilizer and build a bomb in the United States,"
the arrest affidavit said.
The document noted that Meyer had
previously undergone mental health treatment and has been diagnosed with
conditions including autism spectrum disorder and major depressive disorder.
Soon after he turned 18 in November,
Meyer began communicating online with someone he thought was an Islamic State
facilitator but was actually a paid FBI informant, the document said. The
following month, that person introduced Meyer to another informant who claimed
to be an Islamic State travel facilitator, who met with Meyer three times to
talk about his plan to pay and prepare for traveling to join the Islamic State.
Meyer talked about problems finding a
job that would allow him to follow his religious practices, such as not having
to interact with women or listen to music, it said. After his mother offered to
pay for an apartment for him and cover some living expenses for him, he decided
to use that money to pay for his trip and buy gear that he needed to become a
fighter, the document said.
Concerned that his mother would worry
about him, he talked about leaving a note on the counter saying he had left by
his own choice.
Meyer bought a ticket for July 14 to
travel to Ankara, Turkey, where he believed he would meet with Islamic State
members and travel on to Iraq to become a fighter, the arrest affidavit said.
That day, he "repeatedly expressed
anxiety and hesitation" to one of the informants, but he also
"repeatedly expressed determination to go through with his plans," it
said.
Meyer was arrested after showing his
boarding pass to the gate agent and walking down the jet bridge to the plane,
the arrest affidavit said.
Source: voanews.com
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https://www.voanews.com/a/us-teen-accused-of-trying-to-go-to-iraq-to-fight-for-islamic-state-group-/7186895.html
--------
Trudeau scorched as ‘stupid,’ ‘ignorant’
for response to Muslim parents’ concerns over school curriculum
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
was called out by critics for his response to Muslim parents protesting LGBTQ
curriculum and gender ideology in schools.
Trudeau spoke with a Muslim man who
asked the prime minister to "protect our culture [and] our
belief[s]."
"First of all, there is an awful
lot of misinformation and disinformation out there [from] people on social
media, particularly fueled by the American right-wing [who] are spreading a lot
of untruths about what is actually… in the curriculum…," Trudeau said in a
July 9 video posted to TikTok.
"If you look at the various
curriculums, you'll see that there is not what is being said out there about
aggressive teaching or conversion of kids to being LGBT. That is something that
is being weaponized," he added.
Fox News’ Judge Jeanine Pirro argued on
"The Five" Tuesday that
Trudeau’s definition of "right-wing" was anyone who questioned
ideology or had a difference of opinion.
"Muslims at night in Canada are
going online to see what the ‘right-wingers’ are saying in the United States. I
mean, it is so ignorant for him to say this. Does he not know anything about
the Quran? Does he not know anything about the religion? Maybe he ought to take
a course on religion so he doesn't sound so stupid," Pirro said.
Co-host Greg Gutfeld said it’s almost as
if Trudeau was complaining that word about what was being taught in schools got
out.
"It's like it was so much better
when we only knew about this stuff. But now parents are actually finding and
reading and seeing what's in the paraphernalia and watching this movement and
realizing this is really dangerous and it's bad. If Trudeau wants to know whose
fault it is, he should look in the mirror," he explained.
Gutfeld argued the pendulum has begun
swinging back to "common sense."
"People are no longer afraid to say
'Sorry, we believe in science,' right? He [Trudeau] is the reason because he
pushed it so far. He became a traitor to men and to women. He's a
self-emasculating Peter Pan, and he elevated trans above boys and girls,"
he added.
"He elevated nonbinary boys over
the toxic masculinity of young boys, right? And then he elevated men who say
they're women over real women when it comes to playing sports. So he actually
operates on a really kind of a cloaked misogyny. He looks so nice and so...but
he'll throw anybody under the bus if it helps him, you know, politically.
That's why he embraced woke culture and he embraced every bad idea."
Source: foxnews.com
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Muslim community demands answers into
stabbing at Olive Garden last month
Jul 18, 2023
Winnipeg’s Muslim community wants
answers after an 18-year-old woman was stabbed on the job at Olive Garden on
Regent Avenue last month.
On Tuesday, leaders in the local and
national Muslim community called on Winnipeg Police Service to conduct a more
“fulsom” investigation into what the service deemed as a random attack.
Aasiyah Khan, chief operating officer
for the National Council of Canadian Muslims, read a statement from the
18-year-old victim who was stabbed multiple times by a 27-year-old man on June
8 at around 8 p.m.
Khan said the woman preferred to remain
anonymous to respect the integrity of the legal process.
The 18-year-old server recalled that a
man came down to sit near her section and she was aware that he was staring at
her. She said she was the only employee working who was black, Muslim or
wearing a hijab.
The man left the restaurant and came
back with a knife and stabbed her in the neck, torso and arms. The woman
managed to hit the man and another person intervened. WPS spokesperson Const.
Claude Chancy thanked the Good Samaritans during a June 9 news conference that
aided the 18-year-old woman after she was stabbed because he said the injuries
were “quite traumatic.”
Source: winnipegsun.com
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https://winnipegsun.com/news/crime/muslim-community-demands-answers-into-stabbing-at-olive-garden-last-month
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CAIR-LA, Partners Welcome Community
College District’s Resolution Recognizing the Muslim Community
July 18, 2023
(LOS ANGELES, CA – 07/18/2023) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today welcomed the
Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD)
Board of Trustees’ passage of the ‘Recognizing Muslim Religious Observances and
the Muslim Community’ resolution in a public meeting on Monday, July 17,
2023.
The joint resolution, which was drafted
by CAIR-LA and members of Santa Ana College (SAC) and RSCCD, was introduced in
response to an Islamophobic incident at Santa Ana College two years prior.
In May 2021, SAC Adjunct Professor Jamie
McDonough was recorded making Islamophobic statements during an Introduction to
Psychology lecture. Her statements, comparing the social roles of Americans in
the United States to Muslims living in Muslim-majority countries, degraded
Muslim women and characterized Muslim men as barbaric and misogynistic,
perpetuating harmful anti-Muslim stereotypes and biases.
SEE: CAIR-LA Condemns Santa Ana College
Professor’s Islamophobic and Xenophobia Rhetoric, Seeks Public Apology
In response, CAIR-LA demanded that SAC
conduct an investigation into the incident and take immediate corrective
action. Over 500 community members and several leading American-Muslim
organizations joined CAIR-LA’s call for greater accountability, including the
Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, the Islamic Institute of Orange
County, and the Islamic Society of Orange County.
SEE: CAIR-LA Demands Release of Results
of Investigation Into Santa Ana College Professor’s Islamophobic
Statements
After months of advocacy, CAIR-LA
secured a meeting with RSCCD Chancellor Marvin Martinez and SAC President
Annebelle Nery, and a partnership was formed whereby the district and college
collaborated with CAIR-LA’s legal and policy departments to jointly draft the
resolution.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Civil Rights
Associate Managing Attorney Dina Chehata, Esq., said:
“This resolution is the product of
nearly two years of CAIR-LA’s advocacy and engagement, which involved our
Muslim leaders, our community members, and our allies. It is a true reflection
of the power we collectively possess to hold institutions accountable for any
conduct that promotes bigotry and prejudice. This resolution is just the first
step of many needed to put meaningful action behind words. We are committed to
working with the district and colleges to ensure that this action is taken and
that our communities are valued, heard, and celebrated.”
In addition to the resolution, the
presidents for both Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College have
committed to forming a joint Presidential Advisory Council comprised of
qualified Muslim community members to guide the colleges on their diversity and
inclusion goals.
CAIR-LA will continue working with RSCCD
and the college districts to form the Presidential Advisory Council and ensure
that RSCCD makes meaningful changes in line with the resolution’s goals and
objectives.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest
Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower
American Muslims.
– END –
Source: cair.com
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---------
Southeast Asia
Islamic New Year Can Inspire Muslims In
Maintaining Harmony: IndonesianMinister of Religious Affairs
Jakarta (ANTARA) –
Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs
Saiful Rahmat Dasuki stated that the Islamic New Year holds a deep meaning that
can inspire Indonesian Muslims in maintaining harmony among people in society.
"The Islamic New Year has a deep meaning
and inspires Muslims in Indonesia in living in the community and life of the
nation," Dasuki stated during the 1445 Islamic New Year Celebration at the
Istiqlal Mosque here on Wednesday.
The deputy minister affirmed that in the
momentum presented by the Islamic New Year, there is a strong spirit to
maintain sound relations between people and strengthen social ties in
Indonesia's diverse society.
Through this celebration, he stated that
Muslims in Indonesia can continue to strengthen the sense of unity, loyalty,
and pride in the country's Islamic historical heritage.
"This celebration can connect
people with the history and identity of Islam in Indonesia," he remarked.
During the celebration, he noted that
all Muslims can reflect on the past, strengthen their beliefs, and take on the
commitment to improving themselves in the new year.
According to Dasuki, Indonesia is like a
"miniature of Medina," a country blessed with harmony and diversity
as well as Islamic values that teach diversity, tolerance, justice, and
compassion.
"The laying of the foundation of
Islam in Medina is also based on religious tolerance," he remarked.
He expressed hope that all Muslims in
Indonesia would learn about wisdom and imbibe values from this Islamic New
Year.
Furthermore, the government will hold
the Gebyar Muharram in the momentum of the 1445 Islamic New Year, on July
25-27, 2023, at the Religious Affairs Ministry's office in Jakarta.
The Ministry's Director of Islamic
Religious Information Ahmad Zayadi stated that in celebrating the Islamic New
Year, the ministry will hold assistance distribution to orphans, an Islamic art
and culture performance show, and launch the Religious Moderation Village
(KMB), and so on.
Source: en.antaranews.com
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Maal Hijrah: Hope for Muslims to be
better ummah, with new mission and vision - Cabinet Ministers
KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the cabinet
posted Maal Hijrah greetings on their respective social media platforms today,
hoping, among others, that the new Islamic year, would give Muslims in the
country the determination to be a better people and have a new vision and mission
in life.
Communications and Digital Minister
FahmiFadzil hoped that the new Islamic calendar would drive Muslims to be more
determined in becoming better persons.
“Salam Maal Hijrah, 1 Muharram 1445H.
Hopefully, in this new year, we will all strengthen our resolve to be better
people in terms of knowledge, practices and behaviour,“ he said.
Sharing a similar sentiment, Education
Minister FadhlinaSidek also hoped that this Maal Hijrah would enhance the
determination of Muslims to become better persons.
“Islam encourages us to be successful,
knowledgeable, and prosperous. The advantages that we have must be used to do
good for ourselves, family, the community and the country.
In the spirit of Maal Hijrah, we should
all resolve to become better people with high morals and character,“ she said
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri
Mohamed Khaled Nordin urged the public to strengthen their faith and make
positive changes in life, while Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk
Seri Mohamad Sabu called on the Muslims to make changes that would bring
greater good.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri MohdAzalina Othman Said
hoped for the Muslims to have a new vision, a new mission, a new life and a
“hijrah” (migration) for the better.
Economy Minister RafiziRamli hoped that
the Maal Hijrah will encourage the people to always strive for good and
strengthen their faith.
Women, Family and Community Development
Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri reminded the Muslims to learn from the
migration of Prophet Muhammad and his companions and the unity forged between
the Muhajirin and the Ansar.
Meanwhile, National Unity Minister Datuk
Aaron Ago Dagang said that in conjunction with the 1445 Maal Hijrah, the people
should strive to move forward to make new achievements and innovations that
will bring blessings to Malaysia Madani.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living
Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing hope the Maal Hijrah 1445 will bring blessings,
happiness and success to all Muslims.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad
Hasan, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, Local Government
Development Minister NgaKor Ming, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Human Resource
Minister V.Sivakumar, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and Minister in
Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Duties) Datuk
ArmizanMohd Ali also conveyed their Maal Hijrah wishes to Muslims in the
country. –Bernama
Source: thesundaily.my
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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/maal-hijrah-hope-for-muslims-to-be-better-ummah-with-new-mission-and-vision-cabinet-ministers-OG11249632
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Muslims across the country usher in Maal
Hijrah 1445H New Year with special prayers
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 ― The recitation
of special prayers was held in several states last night to mark the Maal
Hijrah 1445H/2023M celebrations.
In addition to solathajat (prayer of
needs), Yasin recital and doaselamat (prayer to seek protection) to welcome the
Islamic New Year, state-level award ceremonies for Maal Hijrah personalities
were also held.
In Kuala Lumpur, the celebrations took
place at the National Mosque which was attended by the Minister in the Prime
Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk MohdNa'im Mokhtar and hundreds
of Muslims.
MohdNa'im told Bernama, he hoped that
this year's Maal Hijrah celebrations, themed “PerpaduanTeras Malaysia Madani”, would
give the strength to Malaysians to build powerful unity and mutual tolerance in
building a Madani nation.
In Selangor, Raja Muda of Selangor
Tengku Amir Shah Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah graced the state-level
Ambang Hijrah programme and the Maal Hijrah celebrations at the Sultan
Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque, Shah Alam, which was also attended by
caretaker menteribesar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Tengku Amir Shah presented the Selangor
Maal Hijrah Personality Award to Datuk MohdTamyes Abd Wahid, 72, who served as
the state mufti for 23 years.
In Negeri Sembilan, the Yang
di-PertuanBesar of Negeri Sembilan TuankuMuhrizIbniAlmarhumTuankuMunawir took
part in reciting the special prayer to usher in the new year led by the state
deputy mufti AmranAwaludin at the State Mosque, before performing the Maghrib
and Isyak congregational prayers.
In Penang, the celebrations were held at
the SeberangPerai Tengah District Mosque in Perda which was attended by
caretaker deputy chief minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman.
Islamic astronomy expert Prof Dr
Mohammad Ilyas Shabudin, 73, was presented with the state Maal Hijrah
Personality Award.
In Kelantan, caretaker menteribesar
Datuk Ahmad Yakob and more than 1,000 worshippers attended the celebrations at
the Sultan Ismail Petra KubangKerian Mosque in Kota Baru.
Ahmad presented the Hijratul Rasul 1445H
Personality Award to the Sultan Ismail Petra International Islamic University
College (KIAS) rector, Prof Emeritus Dr Ab Aziz Mohd Zin.
The Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari
TunOpeng attended the recital of the end of the year and the beginning of the
year special prayers at the State Mosque in Petra Jaya, Kuching.
A special tazkirah (lecture) titled d
“Sarawak MajuMakmuri” was delivered by the Department of Islamic Development
(Jakim) officer, IszamPadil. ― Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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--------
Muslims should raise social awareness on
Islamic New Year: Speaker
Jakarta (ANTARA) - House Speaker Puan
Maharani called on Muslims to take the 1445 Islamic New Year as a time to
emulate national values and grow social awareness among one another.
"Muslims can also reflect upon the
national (paradigm) in maintaining togetherness, pursuing unity, and raising a
sense of nationalism and pride over the identity of Indonesia as a country
brimming with pluralism," Maharani noted as per a statement received here
on Wednesday.
The House speaker also called on
Indonesian Muslims to make the Islamic New Year a time to maintain unity and to
self-reflect.
"Islamic New Year serves as a
moment for Muslims to reflect upon themselves, (gauging) their beliefs and
piety, so they can become better in praying and doing good deeds," she
affirmed.
The House speaker urged Muslims to also
recall, learn, and adopt the values that can be found in the tale of Prophet
Muhammad's pilgrimage and implement it in their daily lives.
Maharani also noted that the Islamic New
Year reminds Muslims to dismiss negative habits and become a better person that
promotes peace, harmony, and tolerance.
"Commemoration of Islamic New Year
must encourage Muslims to follow the teachings of Prophet PBUH. In the moment
of Islamic turn of the year, it is best for Muslims to also conduct
(proverbial) pilgrimage by leaving bad things and awful attitudes and adopting
better habits," she remarked.
She expressed hope that the spirit to
change during the Islamic New Year would strengthen national unity, as in her
opinion, Indonesia has been blessed with diverse types of people.
"Beneath the wealth of this
diversity, there is this big responsibility which all ummah in Indonesia must
maintain well, that is unity," she pointed out.
Hence, Indonesians have to ensure the
national wealth, that being diversity, by living in accordance with the
national motto of "Unity in Diversity" in all aspects.
She also commended Muslims, who have
commemorated the Islamic New Year with their cultural approaches.
"Our nation is rich for its
culture, which makes the harmony in national diversity all the more beautiful.
Maintaining national culture is the responsibility of all citizens," she
added.
Maharani believes that only by
maintaining unity can Indonesia stand tall and be known as a sovereign, just,
and prosperous state.
She expected that the religious occasion
of Islamic New Year would be able to inspire believers in pursuing national
unity so as to develop Indonesia for the better.
Source: en.antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/288783/muslims-should-raise-social-awareness-on-islamic-new-year-speaker
--------
South Asia
Shia Ulema in Kabul 'Fully Ready' for
Muharram Events
The members of the council of Shia Ulema
in Kabul said that they have fully prepared for mourning of Muharram days.
The deputy of the council, Mohammad
Hassan Salehi, told TOLOnews that there have been no restrictions on the
ceremonies of the Muharram.
“The Islamic Emirate official announced
that the Shia people can freely hold their ceremonies and there are no
restrictions in this regard,” he said.
"It has not been said 100 percent
that you will not be holding a Muharram event here and are forbidden from using
whips," They only provided us a guideline, saying that it would be better
if we don’t stage ceremonies in areas where they are needed,” said Ali Alizada,
a spokesman for the council of Shia religious scholars in western Kabul.
Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for the Kabul
department of security said that two committees were formed to manage the
security affairs during the Muharram ceremonies. He said on Twitter that the
first committee will be led by the Kabul governor’s office and the second will
be led by the Ministry of Information and Culture.
According to Zadran, the committees
include officials from the Ministries of Vice and Virtue, Information and
Culture, the Kabul municipality, leaders of Shia citizens as well as the
security department.
Meanwhile, residents of Kabul stressed
that security officials should provide tighter security during the Muharram
days.
“We call on the Islamic Emirate to
provide good security for the mourners, so the event can be performed in a
better way,” said Mohammad Hassan Ahmad, a resident of Kabul.
“The job of the government is to provide
security for the people, and we call on the interim government to provide good
security,” said Hamza, a resident of Kabul.
The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman
Zabiullah Mujahid on Tuesday said on Twitter that the freedom of the Shia
citizens of Afghanistan during the Muharram days is protected.
Mujahid said in a statement that the
security forces have taken full measures for the Muharram event in the country.
The statement said that large gatherings
and group travel have been restricted in a bid to provide good security and the
views of the Shia religious scholars have been considered in this regard.
The Muharram month begins on July 19.
The Muharram event is observed worldwide by Shia Muslims across the world.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184254
--------
Islamic Emirate Abolishes Attorney
General’s Office
The purpose of abolishing the AGO,
according to Zabihullah Mujahid, Islamic Emirate's spokesperson, is to prevent
the congestion of departments.
Mujahid said that the "Directorate
of Supervision and Prosecution of Decrees and Orders" will monitor the
implementation of the orders of the Islamic Emirate's leader in both public and
private institutions.
"Too much bureaucracy should be
avoided, which is why the intelligence agencies also have the authority to
monitor and can watch over the implementation of orders. Second, in the courts, if there is a disputed
case of the people, it will be handled by lawyers, and if the system has its
disputes it will proceed through its own channels in whatever way things can be
done best,” Mujahid said.
The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate
added that this institution will have representation in 34 provinces of the
country.
"Its structure and methodology both
changed but the staff has remained the same. The same force that had been
employed at the Attorney General’s Office will be employed at the Directorate
of Supervision,” he said.
According to the decision of the leader
of the Islamic Emirate, the responsibility and stages of investigation,
supervision and prosecution of legal and criminal cases have been entrusted to
the courts and the Intelligence Directorate.
Some legal experts believe that by
restricting the Attorney General's Office's (AGO) authority, justice will not
be properly implemented in the nation.
"The supervision of discovery and
investigation has been removed, the litigation has been removed; therefore, the
Attorney General's Office as a department for monitoring and prosecuting the
orders and directions of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, has limited
authority," said Abdul ShukorDadras, a legal expert.
"We can handle people's complaints
and prevent crimes with the the Attorney General's Office," said Farooq
Alim, ab legal expert.
Earlier, members of the Afghan
Independent Bar Association (AIBA) also claimed that the Islamic Emirate had
shut down the association's Kabul headquarters, halting all activity.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184251
--------
Two Men Flogged in Public in Afghanistan’s
Laghman
By
Fidel Rahmati
July 19, 2023
Taliban’s Supreme Court said on Tuesday
that two individuals were flogged publicly in the eastern province of Laghman,
Afghanistan.
The two men received 30 lashes each
after being accused of “having affairs” and being detained.
In addition, the individuals received a
one-year prison sentence, which increased the severity of their penalty.
Earlier, six people allegedly accused of
abducting women and raping, publicly flogged in a football stadium in Kandahar
province.
Taliban’s Supreme Leader Hibatullah
Akhundzada had previously ordered judges to implement “Sharia law and
retribution” throughout Afghanistan.
The implementation of lashing was
vehemently opposed both in Afghanistan and overseas, and some human rights
organizations called it “hateful” and said it went against human values.
The Taliban group has its priorities
regarding domestic issues in Afghanistan, despite the intense pressure from the
international community to respect human rights, the rights of Afghan women and
girls, and religious and ethnic minorities.
According to figures from the UN, the
Taliban has publicly flogged close to 300 people since November 2022 on various
allegations.
Source: khaama.com
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--------
640 Children Killed or Wounded By
Explosive Remnants of War in Afghanistan: ICRC
July 19, 2023
This figure represents 60% of the 1,092
civilian casualties resulting from these incidents.
In addition, the ICRC emphasized the
urgent need for more initiatives to address the problem of weapon contamination
and intensify public education campaigns on the risks and perils of landmines
and unexploded ordnance.
According to the report, 541 incidents
resulted in these children’s deaths. Unexploded bombs and other wartime
ordinances continue to threaten Afghan people severely. The report said efforts
to remove landmines and other dangerous items were unsuccessful.
“Children have been particularly
vulnerable to fatal or life-changing injuries as they unintentionally step on
landmines or pick up unexploded ordnance littered around the places they stay,
play or do household chores.”
Since the Taliban took control of the
country in August 2021 and a series of restrictions on women and girls, many
donor states and organizations withdrew their funding. ICRC says that the
funding shortfall has affected landmine clearance efforts in the country.
“The dramatic drop in resources and
funding had an equally dramatic impact on efforts to clear landmines and
unexploded ordnance,” ICRC added.
“There is, however, still a desperate
need for the international community to provide technical and financial
assistance to reduce the number of human casualties caused by unexploded
devices.”
In a recent incident in Samangan
Northern province of Afghanistan, at least three children were killed, and two
others were injured in a mine explosion.
The unexploded and abandoned ordonnance
pose a real threat to people, particularly children and women.
Afghanistan reportedly has one of the
worst levels of explosive ordnance contamination globally. In 2023, $18.3
million will be required for a survey, explosive ordnance disposal, and
landmine removal, according to the UN.
Source: khaama.com
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--------
Congress Reintroduces Afghan Adjustment
Act
July 19, 2023
A bipartisan coalition of U.S. Senators
and Representatives has re-introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act.
If the bill passed, tens of thousands of
Afghans who worked with the American forces and were evacuated from the country
in the fall of 2021 would have a path to citizenship.
Most refugees were granted humanitarian
parole and sent to the U.S., which is a temporary immigration status which is
to expire in a few months.
The Biden administration has already
begun a second batch of two-year “humanitarian parole” grants for Afghan
evacuees. Humanitarian parole, however, does not permit someone to apply for a
green card or any other permanent status; it just permits them to reside and
work legally in the United States temporarily.
Additionally, parole is subject to
ongoing executive approval and is open to elimination by a succeeding president
or legal challenge, just like any other discretionary immigration programme.
Afghans who helped the American military
are eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), which do allow the holder to
apply for a green card, but the SIV procedure has been slow.
However, thousands of Afghan evacuees
had already submitted SIV applications and were awaiting a decision when they
were evacuated.
According to DHS, more than 33,000
Afghan evacuees were SIV applicants as of early 2022, Immigration Impact
reported.
The Afghan Adjustment Act of 2023 would
work as follows:
Afghans who are in the U.S. as of the
date the bill is enacted – both those who had entered on visas and those who
were paroled into the U.S. during and after the withdrawal – and their spouses
and kids would be eligible to apply for green cards, once the Department of
Homeland Security issues guidance about how exactly they should do so. (The bill
requires DHS to issue interim guidance within 90 days of the bill’s passage and
final guidance within the first year.)
Afghans who enter the U.S. after the
bill is enacted would also be eligible for green cards if the Department of
Homeland Security certifies that they “directly and personally supported” the
U.S. mission in Afghanistan. (This provision could help Afghans who applied for
humanitarian parole but were stymied by the Slow and Inconsistent way DHS
adjudicated those applications.)
The applicants will be subjected to the
same criminal and security bars as anyone else applying for admission to the
United States. The federal government will be allowed to waive some criminal
bars. However, it cannot waive any bar related to drug trafficking or terrorism
or ignore any crime committed after July 2021 in the U.S.
Applicants for green cards will be
subject to a similar level of vetting as they would be if they were applying to
come to the U.S. as part of the United States Refugee Admission Program (USRAP)
– an intense review process involving several levels of background checks –
before being approved.
Suppose an applicant submits an
endorsement from the State Department (via a “Chief of Mission”) as part of
their successful application. In that case, their green card will be backdated
to the day they were initially admitted or paroled into the U.S. – shortening
the wait before they can apply for U.S. citizenship.
Afghans who receive green cards under
this bill will not be subjected to the typical five-year waiting period before
receiving certain public benefits.
The bill also expands eligibility for
Special Immigrant Visas to Afghans who helped the U.S. in Afghanistan but had
been ineligible for SIV status, such as female members of Afghanistan’s former
military units.
Source: khaama.com
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---------
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindus-muslims-bjp-mayor-pramila/d/130254