U.P. Promotes Tombs of Muslim Devotees of Sri Krishna, Raskhan and Taj Bibi, for Tourism
New Age Islam News Bureau
28 October 2022
The Samadhi of Taj Bibi at
Mahavan in Uttar Pradesh. File | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy
-----
• Human Rights Watch Says Hundreds Massacred in Mali
by Islamic State Jihadists
• Regression in Afghan Women and Girls’ Rights Is
‘Unprecedented’, Says UN Special Rapporteur
• ISIS Claims Responsibility for Gun Attack on
Pilgrims at Shia Shrine in Iran
• Pope Francis Commends Muslim Council of Elders'
Peace Promotion Efforts By Promoting Dialogue Between Religions And Cultures
India
• Right-Wing Group Sri Ram Sene Seeks Withdrawal of
Loudspeaker Licence To Mosques In Karnataka
• No Changes Should Be Made to Muslim Personal Law In
Conflict With Islamic Law, Says Indian Union Women’s League
• Congress demands white paper from Modi government on
'plight of Kashmiri Pandits'
• Submit proof of ‘deletion of Muslim, Yadav voters’
names’ claim, EC tells Akhilesh
• Making sense of a political outreach to Pasmanda
Muslims
--------
North
America
• UN expert urges international probe of Iran
‘brutality’ amid protests
• US, Israel Made Concessions To Lebanon Due To Fear
Of War: Amos Hochstein
• US orders family members of gov’t employees to
depart Abuja, Nigeria
• Russia’s use of Iranian drones in Ukraine
‘appalling’: Blinken
--------
South
Asia
• Attack on Taliban Vehicle Carrying Military
Employees Kills Five in Afghanistan, Islamic State Claims Responsibility
• 2 Dead as Loaded Truck Overturns in Central
Afghanistan
• Russia’s Putin Warns of Terrorist Cells in Afghan
Borders
--------
Mideast
• Israelis fearful as UN commission set to probe
apartheid charges against Israel
• Protesters Condemn UK Meddling in Iran's Domestic
Affairs
• Iranian Military Chiefs Pledge Retaliation to Shiraz
Terror Attack
• Iranian Human Right Chief Lashes out at West for
Supporting Terrorists
• Ex-Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Brother
Seeks to Do Business with Saudi Arabia
• Two Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in West
Bank: Palestinian health ministry
• Disillusioned Palestinian Voters May Shape Israeli
Election
• Iran places Mahsa Amini’s family under house arrest:
Report
• Iran summons German envoy, accusing Berlin of
meddling in its internal affairs
--------
Europe
• Presence of PKK terrorist group in front of Council
of Europe disturbs Turks in France
• Australia begins repatriating wives and children of
Islamic State fighters
• Turkey’s defence company Baykar to build Ukraine
plant in two years: CEO
--------
Arab
World
• Iraqi Parliament Approves Premiership of Mohammed
Shia Al-Sudani
• Saudi Arabia, China Foreign Affairs Ministers
Discuss Expansion Of Ties
• Head to Sharjah to See the Qur’an by Female Scribe
In 1844AD, And Other Rare Manuscripts
• Lebanon’s Hezbollah ends ‘exceptional’ mobilization
against Israel
• Four pro-Iranian fighters killed in Israeli strikes
near Damascus: War monitor
• Saudi energy minister discusses oil market stability
with French counterpart
• Global survey identifies critical accessibility
barriers, tech needs in education
• Saudi anime expo opens, promising top art, music and
cosplay
• US theft of resources: American military forces
smuggle wheat crops, crude oil from northeast Syria to Iraq's Kurdistan
--------
Africa
• South Africa Responds to US Terror Alert, Assures
Citizens Of Safety
• Jordan’s PM reshuffles cabinet, 11 new ministers
announced
• Museveni’s son boasts he’ll be Uganda’s next
president
• Over 1,400 candidates apply for parliamentary
elections in Tunisia
--------
Pakistan
• Minorities Enjoy Complete Religious Freedom In
Pakistan: Minister Inter-Faith Harmony
• In A First, ISI Chief, Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum
Attends Presser to Counter Imran's Anti-Army Tirade
• ‘If institutions apolitical, why hold a press
conference’: Imran raises questions on ISPR presser
• No convictions in 96pc of journalist killings in
Pakistan: report
• Army claims PTI offered Bajwa ‘indefinite extension’
in return for trust vote help
• Slain journalist Arshad Sharif laid to rest at
Islamabad’s H-11 graveyard
• KP govt claims CM has nothing to do with ‘threat
alert’ for Arshad Sharif
• Islamabad police told not to directly fire teargas
shells at long march protesters
• ECC okays Rs31bn supplementary grant to defence
ministry
• Ministers discuss energy sector in first
Saudi-Pakistani steering committee meeting
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Avoid Turning Mosques into Political Arena -
Kelantan Islamic Religious Council
• Syed Saddiq to know fate over graft charges tomorrow
• Next govt must curtail Bar Council’s politicking,
says Zaid
• Court rejects Najib’s bid to attend Parliament
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/devotees-raskhan-taj-bibi-bhagwan-krishna/d/128292
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U.P. Promotes Tombs of Muslim Devotees of Sri Krishna, Raskhan and Taj
Bibi, for Tourism
The Samadhi of Taj Bibi at
Mahavan in Uttar Pradesh. File | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy
-----
Sreeparna Chakrabarty
OCTOBER 28, 2022
Forgotten for long, the State tourism department has
redeveloped the tombs of Raskhan and Taj Bibi as a tourist complex with an open
air theatre
Amid the forested lanes of Gokul in Mathura are the
once forgotten tombs of Raskhan and Taj Bibi, arguably the two most famous
Muslim devotees of Lord Krishna. With the Uttar Pradesh Government focused on
creating Krishna Janmabhoomi as a major pilgrim tourist destination in the
State, the redevelopment of these burial sites has been prioritised. A 14-acre complex has been developed around
the two hitherto neglected tombs.
A senior State Tourism Ministry official, who did not
wish to be named, told The Hindu that the decision had been taken “keeping in
mind the discussion around communal amity in the country nowadays”. “Here are
two widely respected Muslim devotees of Krishna and poets of repute. We wanted
them to be rediscovered,” the source said.
Raskhan or Syed Ibrahim Khan was a 16th century Sufi
Muslim poet born either in Amroha or Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh. He became a
follower of Krishna and spent his life in Vrindavan.
Taj Bibi, also known as the ‘Mughal Mirabai’, was the
daughter of a Muslim nobleman, appointed by the Mughals to protect the Gokul
area. According to a publication of the State-run Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad:
“Taj Bibi wrote poetry during the Mughal time when the ruling class belonged to
the Muslim religion. She had shown great courage by giving up recitation of
Kalma Quran and announcing that she was a Hindu devotee.”
The official said the tomb complex was proposed to
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as one of the first pilgrim
tourist sites to be developed in the Braj (Mathura-Vrindavan) area, and the CM
was “excited” about the project, for which funds were released immediately.
Mr. Adityanath visited the site after its completion,
as has Mathura MP Hema Malini.
The complex includes an open air theatre, a film
centre, and a food court. The open air theatre, which can host around 500
people, holds shows on the lives and works of Raskhan and Taj Bibi. The film
studio has the capacity to host 50 visitors.
The administration is screening a special documentary
on Ras Khan six-seven times daily. The complex receives around 2,000-3,000
visitors each day.
“The total cost of the project was around ₹10 crore,”
Pankaj Verma, Deputy CEO, Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad, said. The Parishad is
dedicated to the redevelopment of the Braj region as a pilgrimage destination.
According to local officials, apart from the increase
in tourist footfalls, the area itself has been resuscitated as it had become a
haven for drug addicts and petty criminals. Taj Bibi’s mausoleum, which had
been in a state of complete ruin, had been encroached upon.
Officials said there may be many more such
historically important sites in Braj, which have to be redeveloped by providing
better infrastructure for tourists.
“In the Mathura-Vrindavan area, the Banke-Bihari
temple alone sees a tourist footfall of around 2.72 crore pilgrims each year.
If we provide the required infrastructure to visitors, we can encourage them to
stay back for night halts too. This would be a big boost to the local economy
and job creation as well,” Shailja Kant Mishra, Vice Chairperson, Braj Teerth
Vikas Parishad, said.
Source: The Hindu
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
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Human Rights Watch Says Hundreds Massacred in Mali by
Islamic State Jihadists
United Nations police
patrol Ménaka region in northeast Mali on June 13, 2021. © 2021 MINUSMA/Gema
Cortes
-----
OCTOBER 28, 2022
Armed groups affiliated with the Islamic State group
have massacred hundreds of people in northeast Mali this year, Human Rights
Watch (HRW) said Thursday, adding the state was not doing enough to protect
civilians.
Tens of thousands of villagers from the Menaka and Gao
regions have fled their homes after losing their livestock and belongings in
attacks since March, the rights group said in a report.
The abuses have largely targeted the Daoussahak
people, a Tuareg tribe, according to the watchdog.
It said large swathes of Malian territory have come
under the control of groups affiliated with the Islamic State in the Greater
Sahara (ISGS).
“Islamist armed groups in northeast Mali have carried
out terrifying and seemingly coordinated attacks on villages, massacring
civilians, looting homes, and destroying property,” Jehanne Henry, HRW’s senior
Africa adviser, said in the report.
“The Malian government needs to do more to protect
villagers at particular risk of attack and provide them greater assistance.”
The assertion contradicts claims by Mali’s ruling
junta, which seized power in 2020, that it has turned a corner in the fight
against the insurgency that has wracked the country since 2012 — and put
jihadist groups on the run in recent months.
The rights watchdog described attacks in 13 locations,
all with similar modus operandi.
In Inkalafane, in the Menaka region, “a large group of
armed men arrived in an armed vehicle and riding motorcycles” on March 28. They
killed 35 civilians, the report said, citing a 55-year-old shepherd who escaped
the attack.
The security situation in the Menaka and Gao regions
has deteriorated considerably since March.
HRW noted that the outbreak of violence eight months
ago coincided with the withdrawal of French troops from Mali.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA, “should
continue to ramp up its patrolling, deterrence flights, and interactions with
the affected communities,” the report said.
MINUSMA has previously complained that the junta is
limiting its operations.
Source: The Defense Post
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/10/28/hundreds-massacred-mali-islamic-state/
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Regression
in Afghan Women and Girls’ Rights Is ‘Unprecedented’, Says UN Special
Rapporteur
The
UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard
Bennett
-----
By
Saqalain Eqbal
27
Oct 2022
The
UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard
Bennett, said that severe restrictions and barriers have been put in place in
Afghanistan intended to render women “invisible” in society, a setback
“unprecedented” in the country’s history.
The
current deterioration in the rights of Afghan women and girls, according to
Bennett, is unprecedented in the history of Afghanistan as it fits the pattern
of gender segregation, he stated during a press conference in New York.
He
claimed that when compared to the achievements and gains of the previous 20 years,
the fall is worse than what Afghan women and girls went through in 1996, the
year the Taliban initially took power.
According
to Bennett, the Taliban in Afghanistan impose numerous restrictions on women
and girls. With restrictions on their freedom of movement and expression, most
women no longer have access to employment opportunities, and the UN rapporteur
noted that women’s civic and political roles have diminished and disappeared
completely.
“There
are many restrictions and severe barriers for women and girls who are excluded
largely from employment, political and public life with limits on freedom of
movement, association, expression and it fits the pattern of gender segregation
aimed at making women invisible,” Bennett said.
The
UN rapporteur’s visit included stops in Kabul, Bamyan, and Panjshir, and it
occurred shortly after the Kabul attack on the Kaaj education center that
killed 54 female students and injured
114 others.
Bennett
added that there were many obvious examples of discrimination against
minorities like Hazaras, Shiites, Sufis, Sikhs, and Hindus in Afghanistan.
According
to some statistics, more than three million girls have been denied access to
education for 402 days, making Afghanistan the only country where girls are
prohibited from attending school past the sixth grade.
Bennett
added that he visited Bamyan province in central Afghanistan where some schools
were open to girls in grades six and up, but the Taliban governor totally
ignored this decision of the people. Bennett used this illustration to
demonstrate how the Taliban’s political structure is complex and fragmented.
The
UN Special Rapporteur confirmed the deplorable situation of human rights in
Panjshir province in northern Afghanistan, where the armed resistance against
the Taliban continues. He continued by saying that Panjshir is now under strict
military control by the Taliban, the situation there is unique compared to
elsewhere in Afghanistan, and the media is not permitted to report from this
province.
In
addition, Bennett emphasized his concern about the media, claiming that it was
not permitted to report the attack on the Kaaj school in Afghanistan as it
occurred. The Taliban forbade media from visiting the scene of the tragedy and
the nearby hospitals.
The
UN special rapporteur, who has 30 years of experience advocating for human
rights, urged the international media to pay more attention to the situation in
Afghanistan. With only two reporters present at his press conference at the UN
headquarters, Bennett deservingly criticized the media and the international
community for being disheartened.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
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ISIS
Claims Responsibility for Gun Attack on Pilgrims at Shia Shrine In Iran
A
general view of the Shah Cheragh Shrine after an attack in Shiraz, Iran October
26, 2022 | Reuters
-----
October
27, 2022
A
gunman, on Wednesday, opened fire on worshippers of a Shia shrine-- Shah
Cheragh. At least 20 were killed and dozens of others were wounded.
The
radical Sunni Muslim jihadist group Islamic State, via Telegram channels,
claimed responsibility for the attack.
The
semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the attackers were in a car as
they shot at pilgrims and staff at the entrance to the shrine. Two of the three
terrorists have been arrested. The police are on the lookout for the third
person.
"This
crime will definitely not go unanswered, and the security and law enforcement
forces will teach a lesson to those who designed and carried out the
attack," Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said, DW reported.
The
governor of Fars province told CNN, “the terrorist first targeted the servant
and guard of the shrine and intended to attack the congregational evening
prayers, but one of the servants shut the door on him.”
The
attack took place on the same day riot police fired at protesters who had come
out against the custodial death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for failing to
adhere to the country's conservative dress code. The riot police also used tear
gas at protesters, who had gathered at Amini's home town of Saqqez, a city in
the Kurdistan province to mark 40 days following Amini's death.
Source:
The Week
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
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Pope
Francis Commends Muslim Council of Elders' Peace Promotion Efforts By Promoting
Dialogue Between Religions And Cultures
Photo:
Emirate News Agency WAM
-----
October
28, 2022
Abu
Dhabi: Pope Francis of the Catholic Church has received Mohamed Abdel Salam,
Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE), in the Vatican.
The
Pope stressed the importance of continuing to work to promote dialogue between
religions and cultures for peace and human coexistence, expressing his
appreciation for the role of the MCE in this regard.
For
his part, the MCE Secretary-General, Mohamed Abdel Salam, expressed the
appreciation of the Council and its Chairman, Prof. Ahmed El-Tayyeb, Grand Imam
of Al-Azhar and MCE Chairman, for Pope Francis' efforts to consolidate
brotherhood and coexistence among all human beings, as well as his constant
calling for peace and promoting the culture of interaction.
At
the end of the meeting, the MCE Secretary-General presented the Pope with the
shield of the Muslim Council of Elders, which has three words: "Peace,
coexistence and human brotherhood."
The
Pope congratulated Abdel Salam on his new mission as Secretary-General of the
MCE, wishing him success.
Abu
Dhabi-based Council
The
Abu Dhabi-based MCE is an independent institution concerned with promoting
peace in Muslim and non-Muslim societies and spreading the values of dialogue,
tolerance, coexistence and human brotherhood.
The
council includes a group of the nation's wise men and scholars who are known
for their moderation.
Source:
Gulf News
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click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
India
Right-Wing
Group Sri Ram Sene Seeks Withdrawal Of Loudspeaker Licence To Mosques In
Karnataka
Oct
28, 2022
By
Arun Dev
Days
after the Karnataka government issued 10,889 licences to use loudspeakers at
various mosques across the state, pro-Hindu group Sri Ram Sene demanded that
the permission to be withdrawn, claiming it is against the Supreme Court order.
Three
thousand Hindu temples and 1,400 churches have also been permitted the same.
On
October 21, the BJP government permitted 10,889 mosques in the state to use
loudspeakers. The police department has issued licenses as per guidelines in
this regard. A total of 17,850 applications were submitted from mosques,
temples, and churches for the use of loudspeakers. Three thousand Hindu temples
and 1,400 churches have also been permitted the same. The license has been
given for two years. The government has collected ₹450 as the fee.
Objecting
to the move, Sri Ram Sene chief, Pramod Muthalik, questioned the government
decision to issue licence to the mosques. “The government has issued permission
to use loudspeakers at 3,000 temples, 14,000 churches, and over 10,000 mosques.
Today, noise pollution is happening due to mosques and not temples. How can the
government permit over 10,000 mosques?” questioned Muthalik.
The
Sri Ram Sene chief also accused the mosques of using 4 to 8 loudspeakers per
mosque.
“The
Supreme Court guidelines say loudspeakers can be only used between 6 am to 10
pm, but still several mosques are using loudspeakers for azaan from 4 am.
Moreover, at every mosque, they use 4 to 8 loudspeakers, causing difficulties
for educational institutes, hospitals and others. They use these loudspeakers
five times a day,” the Sri Ram Sene chief said.
On
May 10, the Karnataka government had asked all users of “sound-producing
instruments” to obtain written permission from authorities within 15 days, as
part of a broad set of directions to regulate the use of loudspeakers in the
state, in the wake of azaan versus Hanuman Chalisa row.
The
circular was issued by an under-secretary to the government following a note
sent by state chief secretary P Ravi Kumar to additional chief secretary Jawaid
Akhtar, department of forest, ecology and environment, to tackle the issue.
The
circular, which comes into effect immediately, stated: “All existing users of
loud speakers/ public address system and sound producing instruments shall
obtain written permission from the Designated Authority within 15 days.”
The
circular comes when some right-wing organisations have threatened to intensify
their campaign to play the Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques that play azaan
(call for prayers) through loudspeakers.
“Those
who do not obtain permission, should voluntarily remove loud speakers/public
address system and sound-producing instruments or else the same shall be
removed by the designated authority within 15 days from the deadline given,”
the circular added.
The
circular comes when some right-wing organisations have threatened to intensify their
campaign to play the Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques that play azaan (call for
prayers) through loudspeakers.
Citing
the Supreme Court ruling dated July 18, 2005, and October 28, 2005, regarding
the implementation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000,
the circular said the loudspeaker or the public address system should not be
used except after obtaining permission from the designated authority.
The
issuing of the licences was however delayed and the 15-day deadline was not
completed by the police department.
“Even
after a month, no permits have been issued for the use of loudspeakers in the
city as the process of identifying and issuing the permissions was finalised.
After much delay, the process was completed last week,” said the police.
Responding
to the government decision, BJP national general secretary CT Ravi said the
government followed the rule of law in issuing the licences. “There is a
Supreme Court order on the use of loudspeakers. Even after these licences are
issued, police will have to enforce the decibels level and make sure it is
under the limits,” he said.
Karnataka
Waqf Board chairman N K Mohammed Shafi Saadi said Muslim scholars in the state
would take an appropriate decision on azaan by adhering to the Supreme Court
judgement.
Source:
Hindustan Times
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
No
Changes Should Be Made to Muslim Personal Law In Conflict With Islamic Law,
Says Indian Union Women’s League
OCTOBER
27, 2022
Noorbina
Rasheed submits memorandum to Parliamentary Standing Committee
Indian
Union Women’s League (IUWL) national general secretary P.K. Noorbina Rasheed
has requested the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on
Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice constituted to review personal
laws in the country that no changes be made to the Muslim personal law that
will be in conflict with Islamic Law (Sharia law).
In
a memorandum addressed to Deputy Secretary Goutam Kumar attached to the Rajya
Sabha Secretariat, the IUWL leader said Muslim personal law was enacted and
maintained to enable Muslims to follow the verdicts of the Holy Quran. Personal
laws were enacted in compliance with the Indian Constitution for a certain
class or group of people based on religion, faith, and belief.
In
India, everyone belongs to different castes and religions and have their own
faiths and belief systems based on religious scriptures. As far as Muslims are
concerned, their faiths and belief systems are based on the Holy Quran and
Sunnah, Ms. Rasheed said.
The
Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public
Grievances, Law and Justice chaired by Sushil Kumar Modi has identified the
subject ‘Review of Personal Laws’ for detailed examination. To have a wider
consultation, the Committee has decided to invite memoranda containing views
and suggestions from stakeholders interested in the subject.
Upon
examination, the Committee will recommend to the government various reforms,
statutory and otherwise, required in personal and family laws followed by
different religious and social groups of the country. Those interested should
send their views and suggestions in form of a memorandum to the Committee
addressed to Goutam Kumar, Deputy Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat (phone
011-2303 5187) to rsmemocpers@sansad.nic.in
Source:
The Hindu
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Congress
demands white paper from Modi government on 'plight of Kashmiri Pandits'
Oct
27, 2022
NEW
DELHI: The Congress on Thursday attacked the BJP over the alleged exodus of
Kashmiri Pandits from south Kashmir's Shopian district and demanded that the
Modi government release a white paper on the plight of the minority community
during its eight-year rule. The opposition party also hit out at the BJP-led
Centre over the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir and
said the government must apologise for it.
As
terrorists carried out a number of targeted killings recently, 10 Kashmiri
Pandit families left their village, Choudharygund, in Shopian out of fear and
reached Jammu, according to residents.
Members
of the minority community, who have since been camping in Jammu, ruled out any
plan to return to the Valley.
However,
authorities in Shopian have attempted to put on a brave face by claiming no
exodus of Kashmiri Pandits has taken place from the district.
Addressing
a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress' media department
head Pawan Khera said that when the first migration of Kashmiri Pandits took
place in 1989, V P Singh's government was in office with the BJP's support.
"In
1986, when the first riot against Kashmiri Pandits took place, Rajiv Gandhi's
government was in office at the Centre. Kashmiri Pandits walked from the
national stadium to Rajiv Gandhi's office, he heard them and Ghulam Mohammad
Shah's government was brought down," Khera said.
The
BJP only talks of zero tolerance but what it actually means was shown by Rajiv
Gandhi, he claimed.
Slamming
the Centre, Khera said 70 ministers of the government are carrying out an
outreach programme in Kashmir and asked if any of them visited a camp of
Kashmiri Pandits.
"What
is this outreach when you cannot reach out to the Kashmiri Pandits living in
the camps there," he asked.
Citing
an order, the Congress leader also alleged that Kashmiri Pandit employees are
being "threatened" to return to work against their wishes.
There
have been 30 targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits from January to October this
year, he claimed.
"We
demand a white paper from the Modi government on the plight of Kashmiri
Pandits. In the last eight years, all that has been done and not been done by
this government should come out in that white paper," Khera said.
"You
(the government) will have to answer for the 80 killings. How is this normal,
answer this," he added.
Asked
about Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's article titled '75th Anniversary of Five
Nehruvian Blunders on Kashmir', Khera said those leaders of the BJP who are
students of "WhatsApp nursery" need to revisit their history classes.
"If
all that they are saying is true, how is it that during the Manmohan Singh era
targeted killings stopped and 75 per cent of the people would participate in
the democratic process of elections in the state? We would be happy to get the
answer to that," he said.
The
BJP leaders have no idea of contemporary history of the country, he said.
It
is very easy to blame Jawaharlal Nehru for this, Indira Gandhi for something
else, PV Narasimha Rao for something else and Manmohan Singh for the rest,
Khera said.
"Give
us answers. You have been in power for eight years. What has been your
achievement in those years in Jammu and Kashmir? You cannot hold elections. You
cannot protect Kashmiri Pandits. Is that your achievement? You must apologise
for what happened in 1989, you must apologise for what is happening now,"
he said, attacking the BJP-led Centre.
Kashmiri
Pandit Puran Krishan Bhat was gunned down by terrorists outside his ancestral house
in Shopian's Choudharygund village on October 15.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Submit
proof of ‘deletion of Muslim, Yadav voters’ names’ claim, EC tells Akhilesh
27th
October 2022
New
Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked Samajwadi Party
President Akhilesh Yadav to submit documentary proof to substantiate his
allegation that the poll panel had deliberately deleted the names of around
20,000 voters belonging to the Yadav and Muslim communities from the electoral
rolls in almost all the 403 Assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh at the
behest of the BJP and its aides.
Stating
that the law doesn’t provide for electoral roll based on caste or religion, the
poll panel noted that the Representation of People Act, 1950 and the
Representation of People Act, 1951 envisage various provisions aimed at
ensuring purity of electoral registration, revision and final roll and
provisions for penalties and criminal liabilities for undue interference,
including false declaration knowingly and promoting enmity between classes.
Sources
said that since Yadav’s statement regarding alleged mass deletion of names,
that too of a particular group of voters, is extremely serious and has
far-reaching implications on the integrity of the poll process, the EC has
asked the Samajwadi Party leader to submit documentary proof based on which he
levelled the allegation.
Taking
due cognisance of the statement reportedly made by Yadav while addressing the
media recently and considering his stature as a seasoned politician and an
ex-Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the EC has asked Yadav to furnish details
to the Commission by November 10, so that necessary action can be taken, said
sources in the poll panel.
As
per EC sources, Yadav has been asked to submit Assembly-wise data of deletion
of names, including names and numbers of alleged wrongful deletions, supporting
evidence or documents of such electors whose names have allegedly been deleted.
Source:
Siasat Daily
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Making
sense of a political outreach to Pasmanda Muslims
Tariq
Mansoor
OCTOBER
27, 2022
The
BJP’s move to reach out to Pasmanda Muslims could signal the first serious
attempt by the party to locate the minority community in its arc
There
has been a considerable churn within the Indian Muslim community in response to
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to
make an outreach to deprived minority groups such as Pasmanda Muslims,
especially in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP president, J.P. Nadda, has directed party
cadres to organise programmes for Pasmanda Muslims to accord them sneh
(affection) and samman (respect).
Sceptics
see it as an electoral tactic to fragment the social unity of Muslims and
ameliorate the vote base of the BJP. However, considering that the BJP has
triumphed in the past two general elections and multiple State elections
without the electoral support of Muslims, this narrative seems off the mark.
Whatever may be the motivation, it does signal an inflection point in the outlook
of the BJP vis-à-vis India’s largest minority — as a first serious attempt by
the BJP to locate Muslims in its arc.
Deconstructing
an identity
This
development has spotlighted the identity of Pasmanda Muslims and issues related
to social justice and stratification within the Muslim community. It is true
that the caste system, as has traditionally existed among the Hindus, is not
acknowledged under Islam. Yet, it has been assimilated in the cultural life of
Muslims owing to their centuries’ old coexistence with Hindus. The
distinctiveness of Indian Muslims lies in their ‘lived reality’, having more
socio-cultural affinity with Hindus than with Muslims in foreign lands.
The
Indian Muslim community can be stratified along three lines — Ashrafs (elite
class), Ajlaf (backward class) and Arzal (most backward class). According to
estimates, Ashrafs constitute 15%-20% of the Muslim population. Pasmanda,
literally meaning ‘those left out’ or ‘marginalised’, is a collective
expression for Ajlaf and Arzal — who constitute the remaining 80%-85%. The norm
of hereditary occupational specialisation, as a feature of the Indian caste
system, is mirrored in the occupational profile of Pasmanda Muslims — barbers,
weavers, potters, faqirs, bidi workers, etc. They are predominantly low-wage
workers employed in the unorganised sector marked by pitiful work conditions.
So, ‘Pasmanda’ is not a caste but a class which is representative of backward
and subjugated castes within the Muslim community.
PM’s
outreach serves multiple purposes
Political
parties have not been mindful of this internal stratification within Muslims —
with an emphasis only on religion as the basis for their inclusion. This has
worked to the advantage of the Muslim elites or Ashrafs, who, despite being
numerically inferior to the Pasmandas, have cornered most of the ‘Muslim
representation’ in various political parties. The Ashraf-driven Muslim politics
has over-emphasised sentimental issues such as Muslim personal law, Babri
Masjid, etc., thereby subverting the bread and butter issues which resonate
more with the Pasmandas.
So,
what drives the Prime Minister’s Pasmanda outreach? It is but quite natural for
a political party to have electoral considerations underpinning its outreach to
social groups. However, the Prime Minister’s and the BJP’s desire to
accommodate Pasmanda Muslims should be seen as serving multiple purposes.
First,
it highlights the anomalies of political under-representation of deprived
groups in the Muslim community intra se. Second, it brings issues related to
their development to the forefront vis-à-vis issues of pure sentiments. This is
in line with the Prime Minister’s address to the Muslim community at the
centenary celebrations of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in December 2020,
where he laid out the essentials of empowerment — women’s education, economic
independence, entrepreneurship and employment — and played down the compulsions
of ideological differences. He said, “The country is progressing on a path
where none can be left behind because of religion.” Third, it fits in with the
Prime Minister’s resolve of ‘ sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka
prayas’. Lastly, it suggests an acknowledgement within the BJP that
accommodation of religious diversity should be an important consideration for a
national party in a political democracy such as India.
As
beneficiaries
Further,
the BJP government has been highlighting that its various welfare schemes are
benefiting all sections without discrimination. Be it funding the unfunded
under the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana or distribution of cooking gas under
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, faces or identities of beneficiaries are
irrelevant. The Pasmandas, an economically marginalised class, form a specific
category of beneficiaries under these schemes. In fact, unofficial figures of
the Ujjwala Yojana in Uttar Pradesh show that economically backward Muslims
have benefited in a proportion greater than their population.
Source:
The Hindu
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
North
America
UN
expert urges international probe of Iran ‘brutality’ amid protests
27
October, 2022
The
UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran denounced on Thursday the
“brutality” of Tehran’s regime and called for an international mechanism to
investigate scores of deaths since the start of recent protests.
Protests
have gripped Iran since Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old of Kurdish origin, died on
September 16, three days after her arrest in Tehran by the notorious morality
police for allegedly breaching the Islamic dress code for women.
“Iran
is in turmoil in part as a consequence of the killing” of Amini, Javaid Rehman
told a press conference, describing her as “a victim of state brutality and
state repression.”
“Protesters
are seeking justice,” he said.
Underscoring
an “absence of any domestic channels of accountability,” Rehman called for the
international community to set up an international investigative mechanism
aimed at ensuring that Iran answers “for what has happened since the death of
Jina Mahsa Amini.”
“Clearly
there has been a lot of brutality,” he said, adding that “a minimum of 250
people who have been killed by the state since the wave of these protests
started” in mid-September, including more than 25 children.
He
said, however, that the figure was “very conservative” and that there was “no
doubt” many more people had been killed.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US,
Israel made concessions to Lebanon due to fear of war: Amos Hochstein
28
October 2022
The
US mediator in the Lebanon-Israeli regime maritime borders demarcation deal has
admitted that the reason for the concessions made by the United States and
Israel in favor of Lebanon was the fear of war.
In
an interview on Thursday, Amos Hochstein noted that “War was a real threat and
that if it happened, all oil and gas fields and international trade in the
Mediterranean Sea and most importantly the flow of energy resources between the
[Persian] Gulf and Europe would be disrupted.”
Lebanon
on Thursday formally signed a sea border deal with Israel that would demarcate
its southern maritime border. The final paperwork was submitted to the United
Nations in Naqura, South Lebanon, concluding a long path of indirect
negotiations of 12 years with the Israeli regime.
On
a related note, well-informed sources told al-Binaa newspaper that had it not
been for the threat made by Hezbollah, which fortified the official Lebanese
position, the Israeli regime would have started the extraction in Karish
according to the plan and disregarded all understandings.
In
an interview with Al-Hurra in mid-June, Hochstein said that Lebanon has to
“stop thinking” about being right regarding the indirect maritime border talks.
He claimed that Lebanon has “nothing,” in a clear message to Lebanese
negotiators to accept the US-Israeli provisions.
However,
a day ahead of Hochstein’s arrival in Lebanon, Lebanese President Michel Aoun
underscored that it is out of the question to waive Lebanon’s rights to invest
its gas and oil wealth, expressing firm rejection of Israeli threats.
On
the same day, Speaker Nabih Berri met Hochstein and also affirmed Lebanon’s
right to invest in its oil wealth, noting that this right is unanimously agreed
upon by all the Lebanese.
Lebanon’s
Hezbollah resistance group assured multiple times that the Arab country was the
only negotiator and decision-maker in terms of the deal and that the role of
the resistance is to support the Lebanese government’s decisions.
Earlier
in June, Hezbollah Secretary General Seyed Hassan Nasrallah asserted that the
movement is committed to defending Lebanon’s maritime wealth, warning that all
options were on the table. On July 2, Hezbollah launched three drones toward
Karish field, in a clear message to Tel Aviv about the group’s seriousness in
dealing with the maritime issue.
Two
weeks later, Nasrallah warned the Israeli regime it will be prevented from
extracting gas and oil if Lebanon is not allowed to extract its own riches and
issued his well-known “beyond Karish” equation.
“Write
down the new equation: Karish, what’s beyond Karish and what’s beyond, beyond
Karish, and we are following up on all fields, wells and platforms across
Palestine,” he said, implying that no Israeli target is out of Hezbollah’s
precision missiles reach.
On
Thursday, following the signing of the maritime deal, Nasrallah described the
deal as “a great victory to Lebanon,” adding that it is neither an
international accord nor a Lebanese recognition of the Israeli apartheid
regime.
Source: Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/10/28/691721/US-Israel-concessions-Lebanon-fear-war-US-mediator
--------
US
orders family members of gov’t employees to depart Abuja, Nigeria
Servet
Günerigök
28.10.2022
WASHINGTON
The
State Deprtment on Thursday ordered the departure of family members of US
government employees from Nigeria’s capital Abuja, citing a heightened risk of
terrorist attacks.
The
order comes two days after the department asked non-emergency US government
employees and family members to leave the city.
In
its travel advisory, it warned Americans to reconsider traveling to Nigeria due
to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and maritime crime.
The
US embassy in Abuja is only able to provide emergency assistance to US citizens
in the city and the consulate in Lagos is providing all routine and emergency
services to US citizens in Nigeria, according to the department.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Russia’s
use of Iranian drones in Ukraine ‘appalling’: Blinken
October
27, 2022
OTTAWA:
Russia’s use of Iranian drones in Ukraine is “appalling,” US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken said Thursday, adding that the United States and allies would
seek to block such shipments.
Russia
has used the drones to “kill Ukrainian civilians and destroy the infrastructure
they rely on for electricity, for water, for heat. It’s appalling,” Blinken
said during a visit to Ottawa.
“Canada
and the United States will keep working with our allies and partners to expose,
to deter and to counter Iran’s provision of these weapons,” he vowed.
Kyiv
and its Western allies have repeatedly accused Moscow of using Iranian-made
drones in attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks.
Ukraine
has said around 400 Iranian drones have already been used against the civilian
population of Ukraine, and Moscow has ordered around 2,000.
Tehran
has rejected the allegation, its Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
saying this week: “We have not supplied Russia with any weapons or drones for
use in the war against Ukraine.”
“If...
it becomes clear to us that Russia has used Iranian drones in the war against
Ukraine, we will definitely not be indifferent about this issue,” he added.
The
United States, alongside Britain and the European Union, have already imposed
sanctions on Iran over the issue of drones.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2189311/world
--------
South
Asia
Attack
on Taliban vehicle carrying military employees kills five in Afghanistan,
Islamic State claims responsibility
OCTOBER
27, 2022
Unknown
armed men attacked a vehicle carrying medical personnel of a Taliban military
unit
An
attack on a vehicle in western Afghanistan killed five medical personnel
employed by Taliban security forces on Thursday, a defence ministry
spokesperson said.
The
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the militant
group’s channel on Telegram.
Taliban
Ministry of Defence spokesperson Enayatullah Khowrazmi said several employees
were also injured in the attack.
“This
morning, unknown armed men attacked a vehicle carrying medical personnel of the
207th Al-Farooq Army Corps,” said Khowrazmi, referring to a Taliban military
unit headquartered in the western province of Herat.
Since
taking over the country in 2021, the Taliban say they have focussed on
restoring security to the war-torn nation.
However,
in recent months a number of attacks have taken place and the United Nations
has said security is deteriorating.
In
the western city of Herat, a large blast hit near a mosque in September,
killing 18 people including a pro-Taliban cleric and in July, an attack on a
Al-Farooq 207 Corps vehicle killed two security force members.
Several
attacks have also taken place in Kabul, including an explosion this month that
hit a mosque in the vicinity of the heavily fortified interior ministry
compound, killing four people and wounding 25.
Source:
The Hindu
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
2
Dead as Loaded Truck Overturns in Central Afghanistan
By
Saqalain Eqbal
27
Oct 2022
Two
people were reported dead and three more injured as a result of a road accident
in Bamyan province in central Afghanistan, according to local Taliban
officials.
The
spokesperson of the Taliban governor for Bamyan province, Abdul Saboor Farzan
Saighani, said that the traffic accident took place on Tuesday night, October
25, in the provincial capital of Bamyan.
A
Mazda truck that was traveling from the Yakawlang No. 1 district toward Bamyan
city swerved off the road and overturned in the Kotal Shahidan area, the
governor of Bamyan’s spokesman added.
The
provinces have recently reported a high number of traffic accident cases. Two
vehicles on the Balkh-Jawzjan highway in northern Afghanistan collided,
resulting in the fatalities of 4 people and severe injuries of 3 others.
This
traffic accident took place on Wednesday, October 27, where two cars were said
to have been driving at high speeds.
Photos
of the crash showed that both vehicles have sustained significant damage, with
their windows cracked and their wheels rammed inside.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/2-dead-as-loaded-truck-overturns-in-central-afghanistan-76742/
--------
Russia’s
Putin Warns of Terrorist Cells in Afghan Borders
By
Saqalain Eqbal
27
Oct 2022
Vladimir
Putin, the president of Russia, warned of the concentration of militant groups
on Afghanistan’s borders as well as their attempts to infiltrate Central Asia
and set up clandestine terrorist cells.
Putin
reportedly warned of the development of terrorist groups on the Afghan border
and their infiltration into the Commonwealth Independent States during a speech
at the Commonwealth Council of Heads of Security and Special Services on
Wednesday, October 26.
“The
concentration of militant groups in Afghanistan, especially at the border with
Central Asian states, certainly creates a potential risk of an invasion in the
region,” the Russian president stated.
Putin
asserts that attempts to stage a color revolution and spark armed conflicts
pose a threat to the safety of all Commonwealth Independent States members.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning against large crowds
congregating in squares and other public areas.
He
underlined the continued collaboration of the council’s member states and added
that terrorists would travel along migration routes and must be found and
destroyed before they could form a clandestine cell.
This
comes as ISIS terrorist group has claimed responsibility for a recent attack in
Iran that killed 11 and injured 27, while the Iranian officials had said that
ISIS threats were entirely neutralized. However, with the return of the Taliban
in Afghanistan, it appears that these risks have resurfaced in Iran.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/russias-putin-warns-of-terrorist-cells-in-afghan-borders-03743/
--------
Mideast
Israelis
fearful as UN commission set to probe apartheid charges against Israel
28
October 2022
The
UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian
Territory says it will investigate apartheid charges against Israel, stoking
serious fears among Israeli authorities that the probe would recognize the
regime as apartheid due to its ongoing atrocities against Palestinians.
The
three members of the commission said during a briefing at the United Nations in
New York on Thursday that future reports will investigate apartheid by Israel.
They
said the investigation had so far focused on the “root causes” of the conflict,
which they ascribe to Israel’s presence in the West Bank.
Navi
Pillay, a former UN human rights chief who chairs the commission, called
apartheid “a manifestation of the occupation.”
“We’re
focusing on the root cause which is the occupation and part of it lies in
apartheid,” Pillay said.
“We
will be coming to that. That’s the beauty of this open-ended mandate, it gives
us the scope,” she added.
Commission
member Miloon Kothari also said the open-ended nature of the probe allowed it
to examine the apartheid charge.
“We
will get to it because we have many years and issues to look at,” he said.
“We
think a comprehensive approach is necessary, so we have to look at issues of
settler colonialism,” Kothari said.
“Apartheid
itself is a very useful paradigm, so we have a slightly different approach but
we will definitely get to it,” he added.
The
UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights Watch and other international human
rights organizations have accused Israel of apartheid in the past two years.
Earlier
this year, reports emerged that the Israeli Foreign Ministry was planning a
campaign to head off accusations of apartheid by the commission.
A
leaked cable reportedly revealed Israeli officials were concerned about the
damage the commission’s first report could do if it referred to Israel as an
“apartheid” regime.
The
commission presented its latest report to the UN General Assembly on Thursday.
The
28-page report condemns Israel for violating international law by making its
control over the West Bank permanent and by annexing Palestinian-owned land in
occupied al-Quds and the West Bank as well as Syrian land in the Golan Heights.
It
also slams Israel for discriminatory policies against Arab citizens, stealing
natural resources, and gender-based violence against Palestinian women.
In
March 2021, former International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Fatou
Bensouda announced in a statement the launch of a war crimes investigation in
the Palestinian territories, which have been under Israeli occupation since
1967.
The
probe is expected to include the 2014 Israeli military onslaught against the
Gaza Strip, the “Great March of Return” demonstrations in 2018, and the Israeli
settlement expansion across Palestinian lands, including East al-Quds.
Bensouda
said at the time that her inquiry would be conducted “independently,
impartially and objectively, without fear or favor.”
Last
year, the Israeli advocacy group B’Tselem said Israel is an “apartheid regime”
that systematically oppresses the Palestinians via military occupation and
racist laws.
US
daily Patriot-News said American politicians must explain to the people why
more than $4 billion of taxpayer money is given annually to support apartheid
Israel.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Protesters
Condemn UK Meddling in Iran's Domestic Affairs
2022-October-27
Holding
placards and chanting slogans against the British government, the demonstrators
protested against London's hostile policy towards Tehran.
They
asked the Iranian authorities to retaliate the UK government's actions and
other nations that interfere in Tehran's affairs.
"The
Iranian nation will never forget that half of Iran's 20 million population died
during the World War II due to food hoarding for British soldiers. Furthermore,
the plundering of the Iranian nation's assets during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras
will not be erased from the memory of the Iranian nation," the protesters
announced in a statement.
Iranian
demonstrators reminded the UK government that its actions are "an example
of a crime against humanity".
They
stated that the British government has participated in a military attack on
Iraq and Afghanistan and killed civilians, including children, and
"Britain is known to Iranians and the whole world for its history of
colonization and exploitation".
"Although
the UK no longer has the capabilities to directly attack Iran, it continues to
express its hostility against the Iranian nation through other methods. Today,
London-based Persian language news networks has become a center for those who
aspire to disintegrate Iran," Iranian protesters sressed.
They
urged the UK to stop meddling in Iran's affairs, "Otherwise, the Iranian
people will give London a crushing and tooth-breaking response."
Last
week, Iran imposed sanctions on several British individuals and organizations
for their role in supporting terrorism, promoting and instigating terrorism,
violence and hate-mongering and violation of human rights. Tehran announced the
embargoes as a "tit for tat" move against the sanctions that have
been imposed by some European countries on Iran.
The
sanctioned entities include Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre,
Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Volant Media UK Ltd, Global
Media Group, DMA Media, BBC Persian and Iran International TV networks.
The
sanctions are imposed on the British entities "due to their intentional
actions in supporting terrorism and terrorist groups, promoting and inciting
terrorism, violence, and hatred, and violating human rights", the
statement read.
The
measures by the listed entities have led to "riots, violence, and
terrorist acts" against the Iranian nation, the foreign ministry noted.
The
Iranian Foreign Ministry also stated that it holds the UK government to account
for supporting terrorists and human rights violators who are "organizing
and inciting riots and terrorist acts" in Iran from UK soil.
Protests
erupted in several cities across Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, a
22-year-old Iranian woman who fainted at a police station in mid-September and
days later was pronounced dead at a hospital. The demonstrations soon turned
violent. A special committee has been established to investigate different
aspects of her tragic death.
Iranian
officials blame Western countries for orchestrating the riots to destabilize
the country.
Supreme
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei severely censured
the deadly riots, saying they were orchestrated in advance by the United States
and the Israeli regime.
“I
state it clearly that these developments were planned by America, the Zionist
regime and their acolytes. Their main problem is with a strong and independent
Iran and the country’s progress. The Iranian nation proved to be fairly strong
during recent events and will bravely come onto the scene wherever necessary in
the future,” he added.
In
recent days, Iranian officials have blamed the United States, the European
Unions, and several Western states for meddling in Iran's internal affairs over
the death of Mahsa. They advised the US and its allies against
"opportunism and instrumentalization of the issue of human rights" by
misusing the incident.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010805000631/Presers-Cndemn-UK-Meddling-in-Iran's-Dmesic-Affairs
--------
Iranian
Military Chiefs Pledge Retaliation to Shiraz Terror Attack
2022-October-27
The
top military officials have warned the foes that their hostile actions and
crimes will badly backfire on them.
Maj.
Gen. Baqeri on Thursday extended condolences to the bereaved families of the martyrs
of the Shah Cheragh terrorist attack, and said that "the plot has been
devised and directed by the vicious Western-Hebrew-Arabic triangle".
"The
internal and foreign perpetrators and masterminds behind the terror attack will
soon be caught by the security and intelligence forces of the Islamic Republic,
and they will be punished for their disgraceful deeds," the senior
commander warned.
Maj.
Gen. Salami also condemned the barbaric crime and sinister action at Shah
Cheragh holy shrine, and expressed his condolences on the martyrdom of Iranian
pilgrims in the terror attack on Wednesday.
The
top commander delivered a stern warning to the sponsors of the horrific crime,
stressing that the Iranian nation will eventually bring them to justice.
"This
horrific crime showed that the enemies of the dignity, power and progress of
Iran have not stopped committing any crime to achieve their malicious goals and
wishes and are ready to kill and shed the blood of defenseless men, women and
children even during prayers and thanking Almighty God time in the shrine of
Ahl Al-Bayt of great Prophet (PBUH)," he said.
Salami
warned the perpetrators and their supporters that the wrath of anger and
revenge of the Iranian nation will burn down "the camp of Satan", and
will finally punish them severely for their heinous acts.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iranian
Human Right Chief Lashes out at West for Supporting Terrorists
2022-October-27
“Terrorists
continue to target innocent Iranian civilians,” Qaribabadi wrote on his Twitter
account on Thursday.
“Over
17,000 people have been assassinated in Iran in four decades," he added.
"Based
in the US and Europe, the terrorists enjoy their unwavering backing. Why are
the human rights mechanisms silent about the deadly Shiraz terrorist attack?”
the official said.
At
least 15 people were martyred and 19 wounded in a terrorist attack in the
Southern Iranian city of Shiraz. Report suggested that the terrorist who
attacked the Shah Cheragh holy shrine is not an Iranian citizen. Tehran warns
that the masterminds of the attack will face crushing retaliation.
Back
in August, Qaribabadi blamed the Western countries for their double-standard
policies on terrorism, and described his nation as the biggest victim of
terrorism.
“It
is necessary for those countries who are faced with the phenomenon of terrorism
to engage in serious cooperation in order to fight this ominous scourge. Due to
common terrorist threats posed to Iran and Turkey, the two countries need to
bolster cooperation in fighting terrorism,” he noted.
Gharibabadi
also criticized Western countries' double standards in dealing with terrorism,
stressing, “On the one hand, they accuse Iran of violating human rights, but on
the other, they martyr 17,000 innocent Iranian citizens through terrorism or
violate the rights of millions of Iranians through imposition of unilateral
sanctions and jeopardize their right to life.”
Iran
calls terrorism and extremism as result of the inefficiency of the current
international situation, and stresses it wants a world free from violence and
extremism.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Ex-Israeli
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Brother Seeks to Do Business with Saudi Arabia
28
October 2022
An
Israeli entrepreneur, who is a former naval officer on an Israeli submarine, is
looking forward to selling electric trucks to the Saudis, in a new deal that
reflects the unofficial normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and
Israel.
Asher
Bennett, the brother of the former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the
founder of the London-based e-truck maker Tevva Motors, is another Israeli
entrepreneur in the growing stream of those seeking business in Saudi Arabia
which still resists acknowledging diplomatic ties but functions on the basis of
its friendly unofficial policies towards the Israeli regime.
“There’s
a lot of interest in the [Persian] Gulf for our technologies, so I’m here from
time to time,” Bennett said on the second day of the Future Investment
Initiative conference.
In
an interview at the King Abdulaziz Convention Center, the site of the
conference in the Saudi capital, the Israeli entrepreneur said he was invited
to Saudi Arabia last year and the trip was an eye-opener to him.
As
Saudi Arabia is setting new environmental standards to reduce reliance on
fossil fuels, Bennett thinks this is the perfect chance for him to do business
with the kingdom.
Like
Bennett, who has American parents, many Israelis are dual citizens and face few
restrictions on entering the Arab country. In other cases, Saudi officials have
granted special visas to admit Israelis, particularly tech executives, without
a second nationality.
Bennett,
53, said he developed an interest in e-vehicles through his service as a naval
officer on an Israeli submarine, which was propelled by batteries attached to a
large electric motor.
At
least four Israelis were invited to speak at this week’s conference, including
Samer Haj Yehia, chairman of Bank Leumi and an Arab citizen of Israel, and
US-born Jonathan Medved, founder and CEO of the venture capital investing
platform OurCrowd.
On
Thursday, the final day of the conference, Jonathan Medved, chief executive of
online venture investing platform OurCrowd, was direct in his speech saying in
a panel that included two Saudis: “We’re proudly from a little country just
down the road called Israel.”
Medved
said it was becoming normal for Israeli companies to operate in the kingdom,
comparing the development to the fall of the Iron Curtain separating Western
Europe and the Soviet bloc and predicting that political detente would follow
the commercial opening.
Saudi
Arabia’s crown prince and de facto leader Mohammad bin Salman has in the past
expressed admiration for Israel’s tech industry and said he sees the Israeli
regime as a “potential ally.”
Israeli
companies are increasingly being allowed to operate in the Saudi kingdom
despite the fact that Riyadh has not joined the 2020 Abraham Accords, which
normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,
Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, some of which are Saudi Arabia’s key Arab allies in
the region.
In
2020, following Israel’s then-premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Riyadh
where he met with Mohammad bin Salman, Riyadh granted permission to Israeli
airlines to use its airspace, hours before the first Israeli flight to the UAE
was set to take off.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Two
Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in West Bank: Palestinian health ministry
28 October,
2022
Two
Palestinians were killed Friday by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank,
the Palestinian health ministry said.
The
ministry announced the death of Imad Abu Rashid, 47, who “was killed by the
Israeli occupation, after being shot in the abdomen, chest and head”.
In
a later statement, it announced the death of Ramzi Sami Zabara, 35, “from a
critical wound by the occupation (Israeli) bullets in the heart, in Nablus”.
The
Israeli army said in a statement it had received information “regarding a
shooting attack from a moving vehicle” on a military target near Nablus.
“Soldiers
conducting routine activity in the area identified two suspicious vehicles and
responded with live fire towards them, hits were identified,” it added, without
specifying whether any fatalities had occurred.
Local
sources told AFP that the two men, who hailed from Askar camp near Nablus, were
members of the Palestinian Security Forces and were killed during an armed
clash with the Israeli army at Huwara, south of Nablus.
The
incident is the latest in a deadly week in Nablus, where Israeli forces have
conducted regular raids and imposed tight restrictions on movement.
On
Tuesday, five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli operation in the city
targeting a nascent militant group called “The Lions’ Den”.
The
group is a loose coalition of fighters that emerged in recent months, in
parallel with a sharp rise in Israeli raids on the northern West Bank.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Disillusioned
Palestinian voters may shape Israeli election
28 October,
2022
Disillusionment
with politics among Palestinian citizens could help determine next week’s
election in Israel where former premier Benjamin Netanyahu is bidding to return
to power, just a year after an Arab party joined an Israeli government for the
first time.
With
polls showing the conservative former leader still unsure of a majority, Arab
parties could help form an anti-Netanyahu bloc and decide the government if the
turnout among Palestinian voters is high enough.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
But,
a week before the Nov. 1 ballot, some polls suggested the participation rate
among Palestinian voters could fall to historic lows, with one survey showing
only 42 percent sure of casting a ballot.
Other
polls, meanwhile, indicate Palestinian turnout could rise slightly from last
year’s 44.6 percent to as much as 50 percent - still well below the 67.4
percent national rate in last year’s election.
Arabs
in Israel account for a fifth of its 9 million people and most are descendants
of Palestinians who remained within the newly founded state after the 1948 war.
They have long debated their place in the nation’s politics, balancing their
Palestinian heritage with their Israeli citizenship.
Some
citizens identify as Palestinian, despite their Israeli citizenship, while others
prefer to be called Arab citizens of Israel, because they want to emphasize
equal rights with Jewish Israelis.
With
prospects for the creation of an independent Palestinian state as distant as
they have ever been, the rise of the United Arab List (UAL) - known by its
Hebrew acronym Ra’am - has shifted the debate in Arab Israeli politics.
The
Arab Muslim party won 4 lawmakers in Israel’s 120-member parliament at
elections last year and broke with tradition by joining a broad coalition
government.
Abandoning
nationalist rhetoric, the party focused instead on combating organized crime
and improving planning and infrastructure in Arab areas, which opinion polls
show are top priorities for Palestinian citizens in Israel.
According
to Yousef Makladeh, founder and director of the Statnet Research Institute, the
UAL’s gamble to break the taboo of joining a government paid off. Opinion polls
he conducted show that more than 70 percent of eligible Palestinian voters now
support an Arab party participating in a coalition, whether they intend to vote
themselves or not.
Crami
Amer, a 47-year-old electrical engineer and resident of Kufr Qasem, a city in
central Israel bordering the occupied West Bank, said he will vote for UAL.
“They
are being practical and are thinking of new ways to support our people and
advance our society,” Amer said.
But,
even after finally taking a seat at the ruling table, many Palestinians in
Israel say they’ve lost hope in their ability to affect change as an Arab
minority in a Jewish state.
Makladeh,
the pollster, said the most repeated phrase during interviews with 200
Palestinian citizens in Israel for a recent poll was: “We are voting for
nothing.” Tuesday’s election will be Israel’s fifth in less than four years.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Iran
places Mahsa Amini’s family under house arrest: Report
27
October, 2022
Iranian
authorities have placed Mahsa Amini’s family members under house arrest, Al
Arabiya reported on Thursday.
“We
hold the Iranian authorities responsible for the killing of Mahsa Amini at the
hands of the security forces,” Irfan Murtazai, a cousin of Amini confirmed in a
call with Al Arabiya.
Protests
took place in Amini’s hometown of Saqqez and other parts of Iran on Wednesday
to mark 40 days since she died in police custody, videos shared on social media
showed.
Iranian
security forces reportedly opened fire at people who gathered at the cemetery
where Mahsa Amini is buried, a witness told Reuters.
Demonstrations
have swept across Iran since September 16 when 22-year-old Amini died three
days after collapsing in police custody.
The
demonstrations have become one of the boldest challenges to the Islamic
Republic’s clerical leadership since the 1979 Iranian Revolution with
protesters calling for regime change.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Iran
summons German envoy, accusing Berlin of meddling in its internal affairs
Haydar
Sahin
28.10.2022
Iran
summoned Germany’s ambassador Thursday over "meddlesome" remarks by a
number of German officials concerning the ongoing unrest in the country.
In
his meeting with Hans-Udo Muzel, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri
Kani said the stances taken by German officials including Foreign Minister
Annalena Baerbock were unacceptable and irresponsible and had provoked riots in
the country, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The
deputy foreign minister for political affairs touched on the comments by some
German officials that provoked rioting and law-breaking in Iran, describing
such irresponsible stances as a breach of the rules and principles of
international law and incompatible with the tradition of the long relations
between the two countries, saying they are unacceptable," it added.
Mahsa
Amini, 22, died in mysterious circumstances last month after being detained by
the country's morality police for wearing "inappropriate dress.”
Angry
protests which first broke out in the city of Sanandaj in western Iran later
spread across the country.
Wednesday
marked 40 days since her death and saw fresh protests in several cities,
including the capital Tehran, amid heavy deployments of police on the streets.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Europe
Presence
of PKK terrorist group in front of Council of Europe disturbs Turks in France
Omer
Tugrul Cam
27.10.2022
The
presence of the PKK protesting in front of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg,
France is disturbing locals with roots in Türkiye, where the PKK is known as a
terrorist group that has killed tens of thousands of people.
For
years, PKK members and their supporters have been protesting about 100 meters (about
330 feet) from the entrance of the Council of Europe building, even though the
group is also recognized as a terrorist organization by the European Union,
which France is part of.
The
sit-in protests by PKK members, who unfurl banners of the terrorist group, and
pictures of its terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan, have been going on for a
dozen years.
Hundreds
of members of the group coming from European countries such as Germany,
Belgium, the Netherlands, or other cities in France, make a scene and sometimes
resort to violence during Council of Europe sessions.
In
years past, many PKK members tried to break into the Council of Europe or the
nearby European Court of Human Rights building and also clashed with the
Strasbourg police. Some of the PKK members who damaged the buildings were
arrested. But to date no PKK members have faced serious punishment for these
actions.
Locals
Turks disturbed
Turks
living France expressed their discomfort and uneasiness about the presence of
the murderous terrorist group in the country.
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency, Ali Gedikoglu, head of the Strasbourg-based humanitarian NGO
COJEP International, voiced his displeasure about this situation.
“We
are disturbed by the campaign that this structure, which is an extension of the
terrorist organization, has been conducting in Strasbourg for years to
influence the public, especially Council of Europe deputies and
decision-makers.”
Saying
that the PKK is trying to spread propaganda to the French public, which is
being victimized, Gedikoglu said that they are also working to warn the public
about this.
The
PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the European Union, and
the US, and is responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women,
children, and infants.
Though
recognized as a terror group, the PKK openly maintains a dangerous foothold in
Europe, including in such areas as human trafficking, drugs, and organized
crime. Turkish officials have long complained to European countries that PKK
terrorists are free to walk the streets of European cities, and militants can
stage pro-terrorist protests without the police ever challenging them.
PKK
activities should be banned in Europe
Turks
living in France stress that any activity of the PKK should be banned
throughout Europe.
Gurhan
Ay, a press officer for Strasbourg-based NGO Organization Racism Islamophobia
Watch (ORIW), also underlined this.
Complaining
that they brought up the issue many times before local leaders in Strasbourg,
but nothing changed, Ay added: "This is unfortunately a reflection of the
hypocritical behavior of Europe.”
Zekeriya
Sahin, who has been a journalist in France for years, said they have known
about the terrorist organization's activities in Strasbourg for years and that
European countries apply double standards when it comes to the PKK.
Stating
that PKK members try to create the impression that the terrorist group is
innocent and victimized, Sahin stressed: "Actually, we’re telling people
that this is not so.”
Strasbourg,
Council of Europe remain silent
Anadolu
Agency efforts to get a response to the issue from the mayor and other
officials of Strasbourg were fruitless.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Australia
begins repatriating wives and children of Islamic State fighters
28
Oct 2022
SYDNEY,
Oct 28 ― Australian relatives of dead or jailed Islamic State fighters are en
route to Sydney, local media reported today, as the country begins the
controversial repatriation of dozens of Australian women and children from
Syrian refugee camps.
Australia
first rescued eight children and grandchildren of two dead Islamic State
fighters from a Syrian refugee camp in 2019, but has held off repatriating any
others until now.
The
four women and 13 children left the al-Roj refugee camp in northern Syria
yesterday afternoon and crossed the border into Iraq to board a flight home,
the Sydney Morning Herald and state broadcaster ABC reported.
A
spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil declined to comment, citing
the sensitive nature of the issue.
Local
media reported some women may be charged with terrorism offences or for
entering Syria illegally.
Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese said today that the government would act in line with
advice from national security agencies.
“We'll
continue to act on national security advice which is what we have done up to
this point... we will always act in a way that keeps Australia safe,” he said.
The
decision is controversial in Australia and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on
Friday said the move was not in the country's best interest, “particularly
where they've been mixing with people who hate our country, hate our way of
life.”
Source:
Malay Mail
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Turkey’s
defence company Baykar to build Ukraine plant in two years: CEO
28 October,
2022
Turkish
defense company Baykar is planning to complete the construction of its
manufacturing plant in Ukraine in two years, its chief executive said on
Thursday, after the company became highly renowned for their drones’ success in
thwarting Russian forces.
The
aerial drones supplied to Ukraine by Baykar were instrumental in Ukraine’s
defense against Russian amour and anti-aircraft systems in the first few weeks
of the Russian invasion.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Its
Bayraktar TB2 drone gained so much prominence with the public that Ukrainians
composed a song about it and some allies launched unprecedented, crowdfunded
campaigns to buy more.
As
part of an agreement between Turkey and Ukraine, signed just before Russia’s
February 24 invasion, Baykar had agreed to build its second manufacturing plant
in Ukraine.
CEO
Haluk Bayraktar told Reuters on Thursday that plans were moving ahead despite
some obstacles created by Russia’s invasion. “Our plan is moving ahead,” the
chief executive said on the sidelines of the SAHA defense expo in Istanbul.
“Right
now we have architectural design. The detailed design phase is finished. And we
will move ahead with construction actually... within two years we would like to
finish it.”
Ukraine
figures prominently in Baykar’s supply chain, especially with the new heavy-lifter
drone Akinci and unmanned fighter jet Kizilelma, or Golden Apple, currently
under development. Both use Ukrainian engines from Motor Sich and from
Ivchenko-Progress.
Expanding
orders
Deployment
of the company’s Bayraktar TB2 drone has been a major factor influencing
conflicts from Syria to Azerbaijan and Ukraine, pushing Baykar into the global
spotlight and transforming it into a major manufacturer and exporter.
The
battle-proven TB2 drone is being sold to 24 countries including NATO member
Poland, while the company signed deals with five countries for exports of its
much larger sibling Akinci.
While
the TB2 can lift off with up to 150 kg (330 pounds) of missiles or equipment,
Akinci, first delivered to Turkish armed forces last year, can fly much higher
and take off with 10 times the weight.
The
expanding order book is expected to net around $1 billion in export revenues
this year, Bayraktar said, about 50% higher than last year’s $650 million, with
a further 50% growth expected in 2023.
Though
Baykar is not the only military drone developer in Turkey, the TB2 has figured
so prominently in conflicts that it now spearheads Turkey’s global defense
export push. Last year the company made up a fifth of Turkey’s $3.2 billion in
defense exports, according to data from Turkish Exporters Assembly.
The
company will invest the revenues for expansion of production lines, Bayraktar
said. “Our production capacity with TB2, we do 20 units per month. For 2023 our
target is to do minimum 30 (units) a month,” he said.
Space
technologies
Research
and development on the fast drone fighter jet Kizilelma, which analysts say
represents significant expansion of capabilities for slow moving reconnaissance
and missile carrying drones, will pick up as well, Bayraktar said.
Kizielma
will be capable of taking off from and landing on short-runway aircraft
carriers, with a maiden flight expected in the next few months.
The
TB3, a short-runway-capable version of the TB2, is expected to finish its
testing phase by the end of 2023, Bayraktar said.
The
company is also expanding its focus to space technologies to complement its
unmanned vehicle system. “We are now investing in space technologies... Not
well established segments, but new areas where you can bring new innovative
solutions,” Bayraktar said.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Arab
World
Iraqi
parliament approves premiership of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani
October
28, 2022
BAGHDAD:
Iraqi lawmakers approved a new government yesterday ending more than a year of
deadlock, but still faces many challenges.
Prime
minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, 52, who previously served as Iraq’s human
rights minister as well as minister of labour and social affairs, will head the
new government.
Sudani’s
picks for 21 ministries passed during a parliament vote on the Cabinet.
He
named the former head of the state-run South Gas Co (SGC) Hayan Abdul Ghani as
oil minister, Taif Sami as finance minister, and kept Fuad Hussein as foreign
minister for a second term.
Sudani
vowed to reform the economy, fight corruption, improve deteriorating public
services, and combat poverty and unemployment among other things.
He
also promised to amend the election law within three months and hold early
parliamentary elections within a year.
“The
epidemic of corruption that has affected all aspects of life is more deadly
than the corona pandemic and has been the cause of many economic problems,
weakening the state’s authority, increasing poverty, unemployment, and poor
public services,” Sudani said in his speech in parliament ahead of the vote.
Sudani
is the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc known as the Coordination
Framework, an alliance of Iran-aligned factions. He took over from former prime
minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who had been leading a caretaker government, after
anti-government protesters took to the streets in their thousands in 2019,
demanding jobs and the departure of Iraq’s ruling elite.
They
accuse the political class that took over after the 2003 US invasion that
toppled Saddam Hussein of corruption that has driven the country into
dysfunction and economic ruin.
Yesterday’s
vote comes a year after an election in which populist Shi’ite Muslim cleric
Moqtada al-Sadr was the biggest winner but failed to rally support to form a
government.
Sadr
withdrew his 73 lawmakers in August and said he would quit politics, prompting
the worst violence in Baghdad for years when his loyalists stormed government
buildings and fought rival Shi’ite groups, most of them backed by Iran and with
armed wings.
Sadr,
who has not declared his next move, has a track record of radical action,
including fighting US forces, quitting cabinets, and protesting against
governments.
Many
fear protests by his supporters. Sadr appeared to oppose Sudani’s candidacy
because he is an ally of former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The
year-long political paralysis has left Iraq without a budget for 2022, holding
up spending on much-needed infrastructure projects and economic reform.
Iraqis
say the situation is exacerbating a lack of services and jobs even as Baghdad
earns record oil income because of high crude prices and has seen no major wars
since the defeat of the Islamic State five years ago.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
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Saudi
Arabia, China foreign affairs ministers discuss expansion of ties
28 October,
2022
Saudi
Arabia and China discussed ways to expand bilateral relations in a meeting
between the foreign ministers of the two countries.
Saudi
Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan chaired the
virtual meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the Kingdom’s Foreign
Ministry said in a statement.
The
meeting was held as part of the fourth edition of the Political and Foreign
Affairs Committee under the China-Saudi High-Level Joint Committee.
The
ministers reportedly signed off on the “executive work program of the Political
Affairs Committee.”
Deputy
Foreign Minister Walid al-Khuraji and Undersecretary at the Ministry for
Political Affairs Dr. Saud al-Sati was also present during the meeting.
China’s
state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday that the country “appreciates
Saudi Arabia's pursuing of an independent energy policy and making active
efforts to maintain the stability of the international energy market.”
The
remarks come after OPEC+, the producer group comprising the Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) plus allies including Russia, announced
oil output cuts after weeks of lobbying by US officials against such a move.
The
US accused Saudi Arabia of kowtowing to Moscow, which objects to a Western cap
on the price of Russian oil in response to its invasion of Ukraine.
Saudi
Arabia maintains that the OPEC+ decision was “purely economic.”
“China
stands ready to step up communication and coordination with Saudi Arabia on
hotspot issues in the Middle East, jointly safeguard regional peace and
stability, and strengthen coordination with Saudi Arabia on multilateral
platforms such as the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization and the G20,” Xinhua reported after the two foreign ministers
spoke.
The
latest interaction follows a call between Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and China’s National Energy Administrator Zhang
Jianhua, earlier this week.
The
duo discussed global energy security and agreed to work together to support the
stability of the international oil market.
They
also highlighted the importance of “long-term and reliable” oil supply to
stabilize a dynamic global market that is currently facing “complex and
changeable international situations,” according to a Saudi Press Agency report.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Head
to Sharjah to see the Qur’an by female scribe in 1844AD, and other rare
manuscripts
October
28, 2022
Sharjah:
Sharjah Museums Authority will be showcasing a number of rare Qur’an
manuscripts and Islamic calligraphy from the Hamid Jafar Quran Collection
between Oct. 31 and March 19, 2023 at Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation.
The
exhibition “Sacred Words, Timeless Calligraphy: Highlights of Exceptional
Calligraphy from the Hamid Jafar Qur’an Collection,” will feature a number of
exquisite manuscripts that will be displayed for the first time ever.
Businessman
Hamid Jafar began the collection with a vision of presenting Islam’s influence
as a unifying force and a source of inspiration in disparate cultures from
Andalusia and the Maghreb through to the Near East to South East Asia and
China.
Over
40 years, he has added numerous works spanning fourteen centuries of Islamic
civilisation tracing back to the dawn of Islam.
The
highlights
The
manuscripts on view will include a magnificent Qur’an by female scribe Sharifah
Wahidah Yaqutah, dated 1844AD, and a 1.7m-high page of the Baysunqur Qur’an
that dates back to 1400AD and a folio from one of the oldest and largest surviving
Qur’an manuscripts from the “Tashkent Qur’an” which dates back to the second
century AH/ 8th century AD.
The
exhibition reflects Sharjah Museums Authority’s focus on celebrating Islamic
culture and heritage, and offers museum visitors insights into the origins and
history of Islamic calligraphy while also shedding light on its development
through copying and preserving Quran manuscripts during a period spanning 14
centuries.
Source:
Gulf News
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Lebanon’s
Hezbollah ends ‘exceptional’ mobilization against Israel
27 October,
2022
Lebanon’s
Hezbollah will end an “exceptional” mobilization against Israel after
threatening to attack for months, its leader Hassan Nasrallah said Thursday
after Lebanon and Israel struck a maritime border deal.
“All
the exceptional and special measures and mobilization carried out by the
resistance for several months are now declared over,” Nasrallah said in a
televised speech, calling the agreement a “great victory for Lebanon.”
“Our
mission is complete,” Nasrallah said, adding that the deal “is not an
international treaty and it is not a recognition of Israel.”
On
July 2, Israel said it had downed three drones launched by Hezbollah that were headed
toward the border offshore field of Karish which was partly claimed by Lebanon.
Nasrallah
had warned Israel against reaching for the reserves before a deal was
finalized.
The
agreement between the countries, which are still technically at war, was applauded
by world leaders including US President Joe Biden.
It
was signed separately on Thursday by Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun in Beirut
and by Israel’s Prime Minister Yair Lapid in Jerusalem, and went into effect
after the papers were delivered to mediators.
Earlier
in the day Lapid had claimed that the deal meant Lebanon de facto “recognizes
the State of Israel, in a written agreement.”
Aoun
had retorted that the deal had no “political implications.”
The
United States-mediated deal is set to unlock potential off-shore gas resources
for Lebanon, at a time when the country is reeling from three years of grueling
economic crisis.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Four
pro-Iranian fighters killed in Israeli strikes near Damascus: War monitor
27
October, 2022
Four
pro-Iranian fighters were killed early Thursday during Israeli strikes on
several positions near Damascus, a war monitor said, in the third such attack
in less than a week.
Israel
has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian territory since civil war
broke out there in 2011, targeting government positions as well as allied
Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters.
Explosions
were heard in the Syrian capital in the night of Wednesday to Thursday, an AFP
correspondent reported.
“At
around 00:30 am, the Israeli enemy carried out an aerial aggression from the
direction of the occupied Palestinian territories targeting several positions
in the vicinity of Damascus,” the Syrian defense ministry had said in a
statement.
Syria’s
air defense intercepted several missiles, the ministry added.
It
did not provide any details on the targets and said that the strikes caused
material damage.
The
Israeli strikes targeted “weapons and ammunition depots and bases housing
Iranian-backed groups a few kilometers from Damascus International Airport,”
the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.
The
UK-based war monitor, which relies on a wide network of sources in Syria, later
said that four pro-Iran fighters, including one Syrian, were killed during the
strikes.
On
Monday, Israel struck the vicinity of Damascus, wounding one soldier, after a
strike three days earlier targeted Syrian military sites near the airport.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Saudi
energy minister discusses oil market stability with French counterpart
28
October, 2022
Saudi
Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman held discussions on
supporting and increasing the stability of the international oil market with
his French counterpart, the official state news agency SPA reported Friday.
In
a virtual meeting with France's Minister for Energy Transition, Agnes
Pannier-Runacher, Prince Abdulaziz discussed continuing close communication and
strengthening cooperation to address emerging risks and challenges, SPA
reported.
SPA
added that in the meetings the ministers “stressed the need to increase the
stability of the international oil market, to continue close communication, and
to strengthen co-operation o address emerging risks and challenges.
Both
sides confirmed they would strengthen the bilateral relations between the two
countries and highlighted the need to ensure “secure and reliable supplies of
energy in to global markets.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Global
survey identifies critical accessibility barriers, tech needs in education
27
October, 2022
A
recent global study has revealed that student expectations following the
COVID-19 pandemic do not fully align with what university leaders are
envisioning for the future, indicating an opportunity for higher education
institutions to make adjustments to the learner experience in support of better
outcomes.
“As
universities continue to drive digital transformation, they’re faced with new
hurdles around everything from course delivery and support services to
accessibility and how they equip their students and staff with technology,”
said Jim Milton, Chairman and CEO at Anthology, a leading provider of education
solutions that support the entire learner lifecycle.
Anthology
offers the largest EdTech ecosystem on a global scale for education, recently
combining with Blackboard to support more than 150 million users in 80
countries.
Milton
recently announced in Dubai the results of its 2022 global research study
‘Comparing Global University Mindsets and Student Expectations.’ The study
surveyed more than 5,000 higher education leaders and current students from
countries around the world, including the US, Australia, Brazil, Colombia,
India, Japan, Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
The
survey targeted student respondents who are currently enrolled at a higher
education institution pursuing a degree or diploma. University leader
respondents are currently senior leaders (Dean, Provost, Rector, etc.) at a
higher education institution. In total, 2,572 current university leaders and
2,725 students completed the survey.
“We
believe that technology plays a vital role in shaping the future of higher
education across the globe, and results from this study validate that viewpoint
as leaders consider the impact of technology and data on the overall student
experience,” he said.
Blackboard
merged with Anthology last year to become one company, formalizing the promise
of a new era in education.
With
Blackboard and Anthology together, the combination brings the most comprehensive
and modern EdTech ecosystem at a global scale for education.
The
two-day Anthology Together Middle East 2022 (ATME) held in Dubai was the first
conference as a combined company created to gather leaders and experts in
education from across the Middle East and Africa to better understand the needs
of this next generation of learners,
Session
topics spanned student success through digital and blended learning, academic
adoption, online assessment and feedback, data analytics and protection,
accessibility, inclusive learning — all with a nuanced focus on the MEA region
and supplemented with use cases.
“We
believe that technology plays a vital role in shaping the future of higher
education across the globe, and results from this study validate that viewpoint
as leaders consider the impact of technology and data on the overall student
experience,” the Anthology CEO said.
Lack
of technology access
Outside
the pandemic, the economy continues to have the most significant impact on
learners across all regions (73 percent), followed by a lack of access to
technology (35 percent). Lack of technology access was significantly higher in
the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, where 54 percent of students indicated
this was a challenge.
University
leaders in most regions are largely in sync with these challenges but only 30
percent of higher education leaders in the Middle East and Africa felt that
technology access was a concern for their students, indicating a discrepancy
between their perception and the student experience.
Hybrid
Instruction for the future
More
than 80 percent of students globally now prefer that at least some of their
courses or instructional meetings take place online. Leaders are moving their
universities in the right direction, with more than a third (38 percent)
indicating that a mix of online and in-person course delivery would be the
model at their institution by 2025, increasing from 16 percent currently.
Nearly
a quarter of North American leaders (24 percent) stated that courses would still
be offered in an entirely in-person format by 2025 – a significantly higher
percentage than any other region.
The
highest percentage of students interested in fully asynchronous courses were
from North America, representing the largest gap compared to student
preferences for how courses are offered.
Investing
in holistic tech
Learners
globally want – and expect – technology to be more prevalent in their higher
education experience and university leaders agree, with 60 percent stating that
their university currently lacks the appropriate digital learning tools to help
students succeed.
While
only 26 percent of university leaders have significantly increased the number
of digital learning tools utilized over the past two years, more than half are
considering additional investments in technology moving forward.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Saudi
anime expo opens, promising top art, music and cosplay
RAHAF
JAMBI
October
28, 2022
RIYADH:
The Saudi Anime Expo kicked off here on Thursday as part of Riyadh Season, with
organizers promising a feast of live performances and the best of the Japanese
genre’s art and music.
Those
who were present at the opening ceremony included Japan’s Ambassador Fumio
Iwai, Saudi Entertainment Authority CEO Faisal Bafarat, Manga Production CEO
Dr. Essam Bukhari, Groundworks CEO Yasuhiro Kamimura, and Shueisha Inc. General
Manager Takanori Asada.
Bafarat
said this year’s event has over 30 experiences for fans. “This expo is evidence
of the diversity of content in Riyadh Season and we cater to all interests.”
He
said Saudi Arabia has a longstanding relationship with anime culture, having
attracted people of all ages. “After the success of the expo in 2019, we worked
on several partnerships with the Japanese side, and the Anime Expo in 2022 is
the result of this cooperation and partnership,” Bafarat said.
The
three-day exhibition will allow fans to interact with their favorite
characters, attend live performances by celebrities, and have discussions with
producers and voice actors. There will also be local and international cosplay
competitions, and screenings of the latest anime films.
Groundworks’
Kamimura told Arab News: “This is the first time I’ve participated in an event
in Saudi Arabia, and I am very happy and surprised by the size of the expo. I
participated in many anime exhibitions in the world, but for the first time, I
saw this great variety in the same place and of such high quality. I am happy
with the number of Saudis who love Japanese business.”
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2189631/saudi-arabia
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US
theft of resources: American military forces smuggle wheat crops, crude oil
from northeast Syria to Iraq's Kurdistan
27
October 2022
As
part of the US military’s systematic smuggling of basic commodities out of
Syria, a convoy of nearly two dozen US military trucks and tankers has carried
tons of grain and crude oil from the northeastern province of Hasakah to the
semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq.
Local
sources, requesting anonymity, told Syria’s official news agency SANA that 22
military vehicles loaded with wheat crops and crude oil from the Jazira Region
rumbled through al-Waleed border crossing in al-Ya'rubiyah region and entered
the Iraqi territories on Wednesday.
The
US military has for long stationed its forces and equipment in northeastern
Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at preventing
the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.
Damascus,
however, maintains the deployment is meant to plunder the country’s natural
resources. Former US president Donald Trump admitted on several occasions that
American forces were in the Arab country for its oil wealth.
On
September 21, China called on the United States to stop plundering Syria’s
resources and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Arab
country.
“We
call on the United States to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,
unilaterally lift sanctions, and end the theft of Syria’s national resources,”
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing.
Russia:
HTS militants preparing false-flag chemical attack in Syria’s Idlib
Meanwhile,
Russia’s Defense Ministry has warned that members of the Takfiri Hayat Tahrir
al-Sham (HTS) terrorist outfit are planning to stage yet another false-flag
chemical attack against civilians in the northwestern province of Idlib to
implicate Syrian government forces.
The
deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, Major General Oleg
Yegorov, said the center has received information that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
terrorists intend to use shells containing toxic materials against ordinary
people, and then accuse Syrian government troops of assaults on civilian
infrastructure and residential areas.
This
is while Syria surrendered its stockpile of chemical weapons in 2014 to a joint
mission led by the United States and the Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which oversaw the destruction of the weaponry. It has
also consistently denied using chemical weapons.
Back
in April 2018, the United States, Britain, and France carried out a string of
airstrikes against Syria over a suspected chemical weapons attack on the city
of Douma, located about 10 kilometers northeast of the capital Damascus.
That
alleged attack was reported by the so-called White Helmets group, which
published videos showing them purportedly treating survivors.
Washington
and its allies blamed Damascus for the Douma attack, an allegation strongly
rejected by the Syrian government.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Africa
South
Africa responds to US terror alert, assures citizens of safety
Hassan
Isilow
27.10.2022
South
Africa has assured its citizens of safety after the US Embassy issued a terror
alert on Wednesday.
In
a statement, the South African presidency said that the alert “is part of the
US government’s standard communication to its citizens.’’
“It
is the responsibility of the South African security forces to ensure that all
people within our country feel safe,” the statement said.
On
Wednesday, the US Embassy issued an alert saying it has received information
that terrorists may be planning to conduct an attack targeting large gatherings
of people at an unspecified location in the greater Sandton area of
Johannesburg on Oct. 29.
Sandton
is South Africa’s richest suburb frequented by some of the wealthiest and most
influential people in the country.
The
US said it did not have further information regarding the timing, method, or
target of the potential attack but advised embassy staff to avoid crowds of
people and other large public gatherings in Sandton during the weekend.
“Law
enforcement agencies continue to monitor for any threats to our citizens, our
nation and our sovereignty,” the South African presidency said.
It
further stated that threats are assessed continuously and are acted upon to
ensure the safety of all.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Jordan’s
PM reshuffles cabinet, 11 new ministers announced
27 October,
2022
Jordan’s
Prime Minister Bisher al Khasawneh announced a cabinet reshuffle on Thursday.
The
British-educated former veteran diplomat and palace aide was appointed two
years ago to restore public trust over the handling of COVID-19 and deliver
prosperity.
The
finance, foreign and interior ministers were kept in place in the reshuffle,
which changed nearly a third of cabinet ministers overall. Of 11 new ministers,
three are women.
Khasawneh
has sought to accelerate reforms pushed by King Abdullah to help the oil
importing country reverse a decade of sluggish growth hovering at around two
percent that was worsened by the pandemic and conflict in neighboring Iraq and
Syria.
The
government last summer unveiled a plan to attract over $40 billion of
investments over the next 10 years. It said it was committed to implementing
free market reforms.
The
Royal Decree approved the appointment of the following ministers:
Nasser
Shraideh as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State
for Public Sector Modernization
Wajih
Azaizeh as Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs
Ahmad
Maher Abul Samen as Minister of Public Works and Housing and Minister of
Transport
Azmi
Mahafzah as Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and
Scientific Research
Yousef
Shamali as Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply and Minister of Labour
Faisal
Shboul as Minister of Government Communications
Wafaa
Bani Mustafa as Minister of Social Development
Kholoud
Saqqaf as Minister of Investment
Nancy
Namrouqa as Minister of State for Legal Affairs
Zeina
Toukan as Minister of Planning and International Cooperation.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Museveni’s
son boasts he’ll be Uganda’s next president
27
October, 2022
The
controversial son of Uganda’s veteran leader Yoweri Museveni for the first time
Thursday publicly declared his ambition to become president of the East African
country.
Observers
have long considered that Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who recently became embroiled in
a diplomatic spat with Kenya over a threat on Twitter to invade Nairobi, was
being groomed for the top job.
“The
only way I can repay my great mother is by being President of Uganda! And I
shall definitely do it!!” the powerful 48-year-old general tweeted.
Although
Kainerugaba has in the past denied claims he intends to succeed his 78-year-old
father – one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders – he has enjoyed a rapid rise
through Uganda’s army ranks.
After
the social media row, Museveni had sought to rein in his wayward only son by
telling him to stay off Twitter when it comes to affairs of state and to stick
to subjects like sport.
But
a defiant Kainerugaba has continued to post on a variety of issues, tweeting
last week: “I am an adult and NO ONE will ban me from anything!”
Museveni
had apologized to Kenya in early October after Kainerugaba, among other
remarks, suggested it would take his troops two weeks to capture Nairobi.
Museveni
nevertheless defended his son as a “very good general,” after promoting him to
the rank despite stripping him of his role as leader of Uganda’s land forces.
To
many Ugandans, Kainerugaba’s position as heir apparent has been obvious with
his dizzying climb through the military, but the government has in the past
taken a harsh line against anyone discussing the matter.
In
2013, police shut two independent newspapers and two radio stations for 10 days
after they published a leaked confidential memo by a senior general alleging
that Museveni was grooming Kainerugaba to succeed him.
Kainerugaba’s
comments on sensitive foreign policy matters have often caused diplomatic
headaches for Uganda.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Over
1,400 candidates apply for parliamentary elections in Tunisia
Adel
Thabeti
28.10.2022
TUNIS,
Tunisia
A
total of 1,429 candidates have applied to contest Tunisia's parliamentary
elections scheduled to be held on Dec. 17, the country's election commission
said.
Faroukh
Bouasker, head of the Independent High Authority for Elections, said in a
televised interview that the deadline for receiving applications from
candidates ended on Thursday.
The
representation of women candidates stands at 15%, he added.
After
the vetting process, the final list of candidates will be announced on Nov. 2,
he said.
This
September Tunisian President Kais Saied amended the elections law so that
voters choose individuals instead of the party.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Pakistan
Minorities
Enjoy Complete Religious Freedom In Pakistan: Minister Inter-Faith Harmony
October
28, 2022
Federal
Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony, Mufti Abdul Shakoor
here on Thursday said that the minority communities were enjoying complete
religious freedom in Pakistan and could freely observe their religious rituals
without any fear. The Minister expressed these views as chief guest while
addressing a conference titled ‘Inter-faith harmony and present day
requirements’ organized by the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and
Interfaith Harmony, at a local hotel.
“There
are no restrictions on minorities regarding practicing of their religious
obligations at churches, temples, Gurdwaras and others respective worships
places,” he said, adding that Islam was the religion of peace, brotherhood and
emphasizes on mutual coexistence and showing respect to others’ believes. He
said Islam prohibits all kinds of violence including militancy, extremism and
torture and those killing innocent people have no religion.
Source:
Pak Observer
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://pakobserver.net/minorities-enjoy-complete-religious-freedom-in-pakistan-shakoor/
--------
In
A First, ISI Chief, Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum Attends Presser to Counter
Imran's Anti-Army Tirade
Oct
28, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The chief of Pakistan's ISI Thursday broke with a decades-long tradition of
silence in public to appear at a presser alongside the head of the army's media
wing and counter former PM Imran Khan's alleged anti-military narrative ahead
of his long march from Lahore to Islamabad, starting Friday.
"I
know you are shocked to see me among you, and I can understand your
surprise," Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum began amid a frisson of excitement
coursing through the gathering.
"But
today is a different day; I am not here for myself but for my institution,
whose soldiers and officers sacrifice their lives every day for this country. I
broke my silence because I saw the country and our institutions facing threats
due to the lies that were being perpetuated and accepted by the youth," he
said.
Lt
Gen Anjum, whose appointment as ISI chief in place of Lt Gen Faiz Hameed in
October last year had been resisted by the erstwhile Imran-led government,
claimed that army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa received "a lucrative
offer" in March for an extended stint if he helped the former PM beat the
then opposition's no-confidence motion against him. "It (the offer) was
made in front of me. He (Gen Bajwa) rejected it because he wanted the
institution (the army) to move forward from a controversial to a constitutional
role," the ISI chief said.
Without
naming Imran, he said that while everyone had the right to an opinion, it was
intriguing that Gen Bajwa was being branded "a traitor" by the very
person who had praised him.
"If
you (Imran) see him as a traitor, then why do you meet him through the back
door? Don't do this. It's a big contradiction between your words and your
actions," Lt Gen Anjum said
The
ISI chief said that words like "neutral, jaanwar (animal), Mir Jafar and
Mir Sadiq" were being used against Gen Bajwa and the army just because the
institution had refused to bend to "his unconstitutional and illegal
acts".
Never
before in Pakistan's chequered history had an ISI chief appeared in public to
directly address the media on any issue.
Military
spokesperson Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar said the facts behind Imran's claim about a
foreign conspiracy behind his ouster and Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif's
killing in Kenya needed to be determined. "Since Arshad was an
investigative journalist, he had looked into the so-called conspiracy when it
surfaced," he said. "It has to be determined who exactly benefited
from his killing."
Gen
Iftikhar claimed that on August 5, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (provincial)
government of Imran's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf issued a "threat
alert" on the instructions of CM Mahmood Khan, saying a splinter group of
the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan was looking to target the journalist.
"No
information was shared with the institutions that provided them the
information," Iftikhar said, adding it proved the alert had been issued
with the objective of getting Arshad to leave the country.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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‘If
institutions apolitical, why hold a press conference’: Imran raises questions
on ISPR presser
October
27, 2022
PTI
Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday raised questions on the unprecedented press
conference held by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed
Anjum and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar
earlier today, saying that if institutions were apolitical what was the purpose
of holding a “political presser”.
In
an interview with journalist Amir Mateen aired on 92 News, the former premier
said that today’s press conference was “unprecedented” and “never heard of”.
“Either
there should be some issue that concerns them, like security, but they held a
political press conference so I don’t understand this. Could the defence or
interior minister or prime minister not have done this? What was their [the
institutions’] job in holding the press conference?”
The
PTI chief then went on to say that if he started giving answers “it will cause
a lot of damage to the country”.
“Ever
since I was removed from the government, I tried my best to prevent any harm to
the country and army from my side. I know that if I say anything about the
establishment it will impact the army.
“But
when they do a press conference like this […] and if I start responding […] it
will directly go on our army and I don’t want to hurt them in any way. This is
why I always try my criticism to be constructive and beneficial,” Imran said.
He
continued that he had been criticising “dirty harry” — who according to him has
been recently posted in Islamabad — for the torture inflicted on Azam Swati and
Shahbaz Gill.
“Our
effort is to criticise them. With these actions that you’re doing, who is
hurting? The country is being hurt, and what is happening because of these
acts?”
Talking
about “backdoor talks”, Imran said that before the no-confidence vote, he was
aware of the “conspiracy” being hatched to topple his government.
“I
very publicly said again and again that I had told Gen Bajwa that if at this
time this conspiracy succeeds it will have a direct impact and loss on the
economy.
“I
warned and said that there were talks of an extension here. I told him that if
they’re offering you [an extension], then we can do the same,” Imran said.
“To
say that I was making deals in closed rooms […] what would I achieve from a
deal? I said do this for Pakistan. But they didn’t stop the conspiracy and look
what happened.”
Elaborating
on the “deal”, Imran said that the meeting took place at the President’s House.
“And in it, one thing was said […] what I have said publicly several times […]
that except for elections there is no other way.”
Talking
about the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif, Imran said that everyone knew
“attempts were made to silence him”.
“Look
at his programme, then who was in danger because of him […] look at his tweets.
This is not hidden. Why did the public come out like this for his funeral?
People knew him and his truth.
“Arshad
Sharif’s truth will never be hidden. He sent a letter to the Islamabad High
Court and President Arif Alvi saying that his life is in danger. He said the
same to me and I advised him to leave the country. But he was so brave he
didn’t want to go,” the PTI chief added.
On
PTI leader Faisal Vawda’s press conference yesterday, Imran said he had seen
many close people in his life change and show a different side during testing
times.
“I
was very saddened by what he did and I was not expecting it. This was done on
request. I know on whose request this was done — dirty harry’s request.”
In
a surprise media talk on Wednesday night, Vawda had alleged that blood would be
shed and bodies would fall during the PTI long march — slated to commence from
Lahore on Friday, October 28.
During
the interview today, Imran alleged that “dirty harry” was very close to Vawda
and he had “no doubt” that “all this drama about bloodshed [in the long march]”
was done at the shadowy figure’s request.
No
unconstitutional demands made in backdoor talks: Umar
Earlier
in the day, PTI leader Asad Umar had said that his party chief never made any
unconstitutional demands in “back door talks”.
In
a media talk flanked by fellow party leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fawad
Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari and Hammad Azhar, Umar said that the matters discussed
behind closed doors were no “secret”.
“Imran
Khan has discussed them in rallies and press conferences. The demands have been
in front of the public since forever.”
Umar
passed these comments in an apparent response to Lt Gen Anjum. In the press
conference earlier today, the DG ISI — seemingly talking about Imran — had said
that while citizens had the right to their opinion, why did “you praise him
[the army chief] so much in the past if he was a traitor?”
“If
you see him as a traitor, then why do you meet him through the back door? […]
Don’t do this where you meet quietly at night through the back door and express
your unconstitutional wishes but call [the army chief] a traitor in broad
daylight. That’s a big contradiction between your words and your actions,” he
had said.
Lt
Gen Anjum also made the revelation that in March, Chief of Army Staff General
Qamar Javed Bajwa was given a “lucrative offer” for an extension in his tenure.
“It was made in front of me. He rejected it because he wanted the institution
to move forward from a controversial role to a constitutional role.”
In
the media talk in Lahore later in the day, Umar said that Imran owned both the
army and the country. “But will Imran Khan agree with every decision taken by
the army? Are there actions or decisions that he criticises? Absolutely. This
is his constitutional right.”
You
may not agree with the criticism but in Imran Khan’s point of view, these are
all things that if followed, would lead to the betterment of the army and the
country, he said.
Umar
also clarified that Imran had never said anything that would weaken the army.
“So these things said should be reviewed […] maybe there is a need for
consideration.”
Meanwhile,
in response to a question, he confirmed meetings on an extension for Gen Bajwa.
However, he added that if such talks behind closed doors were brought out into
the open then “who knows what talks [Imran Khan] will start bringing out.”
PTI
long march to be ‘peaceful and within limits of the law’: Qureshi
At
the beginning of the media talk today, PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said
that two press conferences were held in the last few hours and both had
“further complicated matters”.
“We
think a new Pandora’s box has been opened,” he said, pointing that a prominent
thread in the press conference held by the military’s top brass today was that
the institutions had decided to stay apolitical.
“This
was always our wish […] according to the Constitution, every institution has a
role and if every institution remains and works within its role then it will be
easier and no difficulties will be created.”
Talking
about Vawda, Qureshi said that all of PTI’s rallies in the past had been
peaceful. “During our May 25 caravan, the government inflicted violence on us
and we couldn’t even fully defend ourselves.
“Our
policy is very clear that our march is peaceful and will be within the limits
of the law and will respect the Constitutional needs,” the former minister
asserted.
Qureshi
said that his presser was an attempt to spread fear among people. “Immediately
after the announcement of the march, we received information that the people
were enthusiastic and had started preparing for it.
“To
lead them astray and create fear amongst them, this was a weak effort which
failed,” Qureshi said, highlighting that live coverage was given to Vawda even
by the state television.
He
then called on people to participate in the long march, promising that it will
be peaceful.
Qureshi
continued that it was being said that PTI was trying to spur political
instability. “We did not create political instability, instead, we are
representing its solution, we think political instability has arrived and are
presenting a democratic solution — elections.”
The
PTI leader added that PTI had always respected institutions and defended them.
“To
give the perception that we want to damage the sanctity of institution is
contrary to reality. Imran Khan has had a stance and said again and again that
a strong army is the need of Pakistan,” he said.
However,
in an answer to a question from media persons, Qureshi said that if the
military was apolitical, it “should not have held this press conference at
all.”
‘If
the cypher is untrue, why hasn’t it been probed?’: Fawad
Separately,
Fawad Chaudhry said that along with the respect of the institutions, it was
also important to respect the people’s choices.
Since
the day of the no-confidence vote, the people of Pakistan have shown, not once
but twice, who they want as the leader of the country.
“The
press briefing held by the ISPR today, to be honest, I was shocked. See, if
Rana Sanaullah or Khawaja Asif hold a press conference, we can respond to them.
But press conferences held by institutions […] there is a certain level of respect
attached to them. We can’t respond to them,” he said.
Chaudhry
went on that military heads’ demand regarding an investigation in the cypher —
which Imran has touted as evidence of a foreign conspiracy to oust his
government — was fair, adding that PTI had been demanding a probe into it since
the first day.
“The
Supreme Court should tell us. The president wrote a letter for an investigation
into the cypher. The question is that even if the cypher is untrue, why hasn’t
it been probed?
“We
want a powerful commission to be formed and the same should be done in the case
of slain journalist Arshad Sharif,” Chaudhry added.
‘DG
ISPR’s presser completely untruthful’: Mazari
Meanwhile,
former human rights minister Shireen Mazari said she was “very saddened” by the
DG ISPR’s press conference and termed it as a totally “untruthful statement”.
She
questioned how the DG ISPR had deduced that Arshad Sharif was under no threat,
given that he was “brutally murdered” eventually.
Mazari
said Sharif had told her that he was being targeted by assassins and there was
a bounty on his head.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
No
convictions in 96pc of journalist killings in Pakistan: report
Ikram
Junaidi
October
28, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
There have been no convictions in 96pc of murder cases of journalists in
Pakistan between 2012 and 2022, according to Freedom Network’s Annual Impunity
2022 report released on Thursday.
The
report “The killing fields: no justice for Pakistan’s murdered journalists” was
launched ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against
Journalists, which falls on November 2.
The
research was framed in the context of the 10-year anniversary of the 2012 United
Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity,
which Pakistan had first endorsed in October 2013 and later committed to
implementing in the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021.
According
to the report, 53 Pakistani journalists were killed between 2012 and 2022 but
the perpetrators were convicted in only two out of these 53 cases.
Says
53 journalists killed between 2012 and 2022 but the perpetrators were convicted
in only two cases
In
the remaining 96pc of the cases, the criminal justice system failed to deliver
justice for the slain journalists and their bereaved families.
“This
open-ended impunity for crimes against journalists and media in Pakistan is
taking an ugliest shape and latest killing of under-threat journalist Arshad
Sharif in Kenya reminds us how stronger perpetrators of crime and press freedom
predators are getting,” Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of Freedom Network,
reacted to the report findings.
The
report stated that “due to poor investigation, the police fail to produce
challans in many cases, killing the chances of justice at an early stage of the
legal system” and “due to the poor quality of prosecution, most cases never
complete the trial process in the courts.”
Mr
Khattak said the report’s findings indicated that even though Pakistan
legislated exclusively on the safety of journalists at the federal level and in
Sindh province, the journalists remained unsafe.
The
report is based on data collected from the families of the journalists killed
as well as from their news colleagues, local press clubs and unions of
journalists.
Most
dangerous regions
Of
the 53 journalists murdered for their work in Pakistan between 2012 and 2022,
the highest fatalities were in Sindh (16, or 30pc of the total) followed by
Punjab (14, or 26pc of the total).
Worst
enemies of journalists
Unidentified
persons constituted the biggest suspected threat actor to journalists in
Pakistan during 2012-2022 with 15 of the 53 journalists (or 28pc) murdered in
the reporting period being targeted by them, according to the family members or
colleagues of the victims.
Organised
crime and militant groups were the second and third most suspected perpetrators
of journalist killings, respectively.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1717278/no-convictions-in-96pc-of-journalist-killings-in-pakistan-report
--------
Army
claims PTI offered Bajwa ‘indefinite extension’ in return for trust vote help
October
27, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), struggling to secure its government in the face
of a looming vote of no-confidence brought by the Pakistan Democratic Movement
(PDM) alliance, in March offered the army chief “an indefinite extension”
apparently in return for help in surviving it, claimed Lt. Gen. Nadeem Anjum,
chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, on Thursday.
In
an unprecedented, explosive and rather strongly-worded press conference, his
first since assuming office in October last year, the spy chief — who was
accompanied by Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar, the director general of Inter-Services
Public Relations (ISPR) — spoke at length, often candidly, on issues ranging
from the diplomatic cypher at the heart of Khan’s ouster, to the protest march,
and to the cold-blooded assassination of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
Talking
about the “lucrative offer” of extension, Gen. Anjum claimed the offer to the
army chief was “made in front of me. He [Gen. Bajwa] rejected it because he
wanted the institution to move forward from a controversial role to a
constitutional role.”
Taking
a thinly-veiled jibe at the PTI chairman Gen. Anjum said the former prime
minister met the army chief in the night and then called him a “traitor” the
morning.
“If
the commander-in-chief [of Pakistan Army] is a traitor then why did you meet
him behind the curtain? Meeting [him] is your [constitutional] right but it
cannot be possible that you meet at night and call [him] a traitor,” he said.
Gen.
Iftikhar opened the press conference, saying the purpose of his talk was to
shed light on Sharif’s killing and the “circumstances surrounding it”.
“This
presser,” he said, “is being held in the context of presenting facts so that
‘facts, fiction and opinion’ can be differentiated”. Shehbaz Sharif, who just
returned from a state visit to Saudi Arabia, had been “specially informed”
about the sensitivity of the press conference, he added.
The
chief military spokesperson said there was a need to examine how “a false
narrative has been made and people have been misled” on the assassination.
“Institutions,
leadership, and even the army chief himself have been accused without a reason
to create an extraordinary chaotic situation,” said Gen. Iftikhar.
He
said Sharif’s death was a “very tragic incident” and called the journalist an
“icon in the field of journalism, a naval officer’s son and a martyr’s brother
and a serving officer’s brother-in-law”.
His
programmes will be seen as a role model for journalists, he added.
Gen.
Iftikhar shared the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa issued a threat alert for
Sharif on August 5 on “special directive of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan”. This
shows the threat alert was issued with the aim to force Sharif to leave the
country, he claimed.
“Salman
Iqbal [ARY News boss] told [executive vice president at the station] Ammad
Yousuf after Shahbaz Gill’s arrest to send Sharif out of the country,” he said,
adding that the ARY Group boss must “be brought back to Pakistan” and made part
of the investigations into the death of the journalist.
“We
all should wait for the formation of an inquiry commission. Have confidence in
your institutions. We have been washing the mistakes of the past with blood for
the last 20 years. We can make mistakes but we can’t be traitors or
conspirers,” said the military spokesperson.
Gen.
Iftikhar also confirmed the military has requested the government to conduct a
high-level probe into the killing of Sharif.
POLITICS
BEING PLAYED WITH CYPHER
“Since
Arshad was an investigative journalist, he also looked into the cypher issue
when it surfaced,” shared the general. He also highlighted the journalist had
also interviewed the then-prime minister Khan on the issue, adding that at the
time, it was claimed that he was shown the confidential diplomatic document.
“Facts
linked with the cypher and Arshad Sharif’s death need to be found. So there is
no ambiguity left in this regard,” said the director-general of ISPR.
He
said that the facts linked with the cypher and Sharif’s death need to be found,
so there is no ambiguity.
Disclosing
how the cypher issue began, Gen. Iftikhar said the army chief had discussed it with
Khan on March 11 after which the latter had termed it to be “not a big issue”.
“It
was surprising for us when on March 27 a piece of paper was waved and an
attempt was made to build a narrative that was far from reality.”
He
said that several facts had come to light regarding the cypher revealing the
“baseless and unfounded” narrative surrounding it. The ISPR informed the
National Security Committee (NSC) that no proof was found regarding the
conspiracy against the PTI government, he said.
The
ISI also did not find any evidence regarding the conspiracy, he added. “This is
all part of the record. We wanted to bring this to the public. And we left the
decision to the then-government.”
However,
this did not happen and more rumours were spread to gain political mileage, he
said, adding that the Pakistan Army was also targeted.
At
this time, Sharif and other journalists were fed a particular narrative and an
attempt was made to defame Pakistan and the country’s institutions across the
world, he said.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Slain
journalist Arshad Sharif laid to rest at Islamabad’s H-11 graveyard
Shakeel
Qarar | Abdullah Momand | Fahad Chaudhry
October
27, 2022
Slain
journalist Arshad Sharif — who was shot dead amid mysterious circumstances in
Kenya on Sunday last week — was laid to rest at the H-11 graveyard in Islamabad
on Thursday with hundreds of people in attendance.
A
large contingent of police was deployed at the graveyard where journalists and
members of the civil society reached in huge numbers. During Sharif’s burial,
slogans of “Allahu Akbar” were chanted.
Afterwards,
personnel of the Pakistan Army paid tribute to the journalist and a garland
from Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa was laid at his grave.
Earlier,
Sharif’s funeral prayers were offered at Shah Faisal Mosque. A large number of
journalists, politicians and civil society members including Azam Swati, Shibli
Faraz, Murad Saeed, Faisal Karim Kundi, Kashif Abbasi, Waseem Badami and Sami
Ibrahim attended the funeral prayers in the capital.
Dawn’s
correspondent at the site estimated that nearly 20,000 people attended the
funeral while thousands others gathered outside the Faisal Mosque.
Meanwhile,
an AFP report, citing police personnel deployed at the scene, said the mosque
drew up to 40,000 mourners, with people spilling into the gardens and
surrounding streets.
Supporters
of the PTI made up a large proportion of the crowd, waving flags and shouting
“Arshad, your blood will bring revolution”, the report said.
“Arshad
Sharif sacrificed his life to expose the faces of the corrupt and we should not
let that sacrifice be for nothing,” Muhammad Iqbal, a 35-year-old shopkeeper
and PTI supporter who had travelled from the neighbouring garrison city of
Rawalpindi, said while speaking to AFP.
After
prayers, coffin bearers struggled to push through the crowd to a waiting
ambulance for onward passage to a graveyard.
Separately,
funeral prayers in absentia were also held in Lahore.
According
to a security order issued by Islamabad police, security around Shah Faisal
Mosque was beefed up ahead of the funeral, with the deployment of 3,792
security personnel. These include six inspectors and 1,010 police constables.
The
security arrangements will be overseen by three superintendents of police and
five assistant superintendents of police/deputy superintendents of police, the
order said.
Sindh
police personnel, numbering 204, and 2,500 Frontier Corps personnel have also
been deputed to assist Islamabad police, the order said.
The
killing
Sharif
was shot dead in Kenya allegedly by the local police on Sunday night, with an
official police statement later expressing “regrets on the unfortunate
incident” and saying an investigation was underway.
Initially,
the Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by
police in a case of “mistaken identity”.
However,
reports from the Kenyan media later reconstructed the events surrounding the
killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing
was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.
“They
were stopped by GSU officers who, according to the police, were responding to
reports that a stolen vehicle had been sighted in the area,” a report by Nation
Media Group said.
The
report noted contradictory versions of police that earlier claimed Sharif and
his brother defied orders at a checkpoint but later alleged that Sharif’s
brother “shot at” one officer and injured him. It quoted police as saying that
the incident prompted police to shoot back.
Sharif’s
body arrived in Pakistan yesterday (Wednesday). A post-mortem was later
conducted at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.
Probe
into the killing
On
Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that a judicial commission
would be formed to probe the journalist’s killing.
Moreover,
the government has also constituted a team to probe the killing. Initially, a
three-member body, comprising Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director Athar
Wahid, Intelligence Bureau (IB) deputy director general Omar Shahid Hamid and
Lt Col Saad Ahmed of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was formed. Later, the
team’s size was cut from three to two with the exclusion of the ISI official.
The
team will travel to Kenya immediately and Pakistan’s High Commission in Nairobi
will facilitate the visit of the committee members, according to a notification
issued by the Foreign Office.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
KP
govt claims CM has nothing to do with ‘threat alert’ for Arshad Sharif
Manzoor
Ali
October
28, 2022
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Thursday claimed that provincial Chief Minister
Mahmood Khan had nothing to do with the issuance of a letter by the
counter-terrorism department regarding threats to the life of senior TV
anchorperson Arshad Sharif.
A
‘threat alert’ regarding the plans of a splinter group of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban
Pakistan to target Mr Arshad earlier in August this year has put the spotlight
on CTD advisory as director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations
Major-General Iftikhar Babar told a presser on Thursday said the CTD letter in
question was issued on the directives of CM Mahmood Khan.
In
a video statement, spokesman for the provincial government Barrister Mohammad
Ali Saif said the CTD was front-line entity of the provincial government and
issuing alerts regarding terrorist threats and crackdown on terrorism were its
mandate.
“Our
Chief Minister [Mahmood Khan] has nothing to do with the issuance of CTD threat
alerts,” he said.
Says
issuance of such letters CTD’s ‘routine activity’
Mr
Saif said the issuance of such alert was a ‘routine activity’ for the CTD.
He
said the Intelligence Bureau, CTD and other agencies also issued threat alerts.
The
spokesman insisted that as far as Arshad Sharif was concerned, the journalist
and his family were getting threats.
“We
are not saying this and rather, the [slain] journalist’s own statements
suggested so,” he said.
Mr
Saif said had the CTD’s threat alert been false, Mr Arshad would have not been
killed in Kenya.
Regarding
the use of the Bacha Khan Airport, Peshawar, by Mr Arshad to leave Pakistan, he
said airports and other organisations overseeing them were in the control of
the federal government.
He
said the centre had the administrative control of the Federal Investigation
Agency, Anti-Narcotics Force and Customs.
The
spokesman said if the federal government had any objection about Mr Arshad’s
departure from the country, it could have easily stopped him.
“The
Peshawar airport is an international airport and anyone can travel from it,” he
said.
Regarding
official protocol for the slain journalist in Peshawar, he said the provincial
government usually provided the services of protocol officers to important
personalities, including senior journalist, on request.
He
added that protocol officers facilitated those persons until their arrival at
the airport and that the matters inside the airport fell in the domain of the
federal authorities.
Earlier
in the day, the ISPR and ISI directors general told a news conference that the
KP government issued a ‘threat alert’ letter on Aug 5 on the directives of
Chief Minister Mahmood Khan declaring a TTP splinter group was ‘looking to
target Arshad Sharif’.
“No
such information was shared with the relevant institutions,”Lt-Gen Iftikhar
said adding that the conduct showed the threat alert was issued with the aim to
force Mr Arshad to leave the country.
“There
were reports that he (Arshad Sharif) did not want to leave the country but he
kept being reminded that he faced a threat to his life. On Aug 10, he left
Peshawar airport thorough EK-637 for Dubai. He was provided a complete protocol
by the KP government,” he said, adding that the journalist was escorted by KP
officers to the airport.
On
August 5, the CTD KP had issued the ‘threat alert’ about a TTP splinter group
planning to target the slain journalist.
The
alert said it had been learnt through some reliable sources that a splinter
group of TTP in its meeting held in the Sur Karez, Spin Boldak, Afghanistan,
had discussed to target anchorperson Arshad Sharif in future.
“For
executing their plan, terrorists have finalized to conduct reconnaissance of
the target and to locate him at the suitable place, more probably at Rawalpindi
and its adjoining areas,” it said.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Islamabad
police told not to directly fire teargas shells at long march protesters
Munawer
Azeem
October
28, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad police have issued instructions to its officers pertaining to the
code of conduct during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) long march expected
to reach the federal capital on October 4.
According
to the instructions, officers deployed at the frontline will be wearing
anti-riot gear whereas those without proper gear will be posted outside the
reach of the protesters. Similarly, the police personnel deployed to counter
the long march will not be armed with weapons and would only be allowed to
carry batons.
They
have been told to avoid the upper parts of the body when hitting protesters in
case of baton charge and use their shields effectively in case of stone-pelting
by the protesters.
According
to the instructions, the SSP Headquarters will responsible to ensure the supply
of anti-riot gears and logistic support to force deployed to control the law
and order situation in light of the long march.
Safe
City authority asked to provide drone cameras to record protest
Meanwhile,
Dawn has learned that thousands of long-range teargas shells available with the
capital police can “seriously injure” people or in some cases even cause deaths
if fired directly at protesters. The police officials have been told to avoid
firing these shells at protests directly. The police have arranged 50,050
shells, half of them long-range, and 616 guns to shell protesters with teargas.
Moreover,
instructions are also issued to SSP Headquarters to equip each Armed Personnel
Carrier (APC) with 500 long-range teargas shells and 500 short-range teargas
shells. The SSP has also been instructed that at least 100 handcuffs should be
provided to each prison van.
The
officials and officers are also asked to avoid talking over religious and
political issues with each other, especially expressing their sentiments
towards religious and political parties.
The
supervisory officers and in-charges were told to make sure that all personnel
wear anti-riot gear and that all the personnel should carry water bottles,
handkerchiefs, and salt.
The
police teams have also been told to arrange screwdrivers for rubber bullets
guns in case empty cartridges get stuck in the chamber.
The
director general of Safe City Authority was asked to issue drone cameras along
with operators to 11 Superintendents of the Police whereas all supervisory
officers and in-charges are asked to be equipped with video cameras to make
videos of the protest.
SDPOs
and SHOs are asked to maintain law and order and collect information from their
respective jurisdiction respectively, as per the officials. The SSP Security is
responsible for the security of sensitive installations, including the
Diplomatic Enclave, Presidency, PM House, Foreign Office, Nadra Headquarters,
State Bank of Pakistan, Parliament House, Parliament Lodges, Cabinet Blocks,
Pak Secretariat, Judges Enclave, Ministers’ Colony, Supreme Court, PTV, Radio
Pakistan, and Election Commission of Pakistan, the officers said.
The
AIG Special Branch is asked to collect information and in this regard and
deploy officials in plainclothes, they said, adding that the bomb disposal
squad will also be tasked to scan sites of deployment.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
ECC
okays Rs31bn supplementary grant to defence ministry
Khaleeq
Kiani
October
28, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Thursday
approved a Rs31 billion supplementary grant to the defence ministry and cleared
an out-of-court settlement with three “non-performing and defaulter” oil and
gas companies over 11 exploration and concession blocks to push for new
domestic hydrocarbon finds.
In
a meeting presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the committee also
approved payment of monthly salaries to the remaining employees of the defunct
Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) throughout the year and allowed the transfer of the
working interest of Eni — an Italian multinational energy company — in
Pakistan to a little-known firm on the guarantee of Hubco.
An
official statement said the ECC approved technical supplementary grants of
Rs30.89bn in favour of the defence division for unspecified expenses and Rs1bn
for the Ministry of Housing and Works.
The
meeting also approved a summary of the petroleum division to revive petroleum
exploration blocks that were revoked by the division because of “non-performance
of work commitment and non-payment of financial obligations” of the three local
companies — Dewan Petroleum, Petroleum Exploration Limited (PEL) and Oil and
Gas Investment Limited (OGIL).
The
government earlier terminated licences to Dewan and PEL on five exploration
blocks each and another of OGIL for default in terms of non-completion of their
committed exploration activities and non-payment of rental and other dues. The
companies, however, secured stay orders from various courts.
The
petroleum division told the ECC that in all the 11 blocks, status quo orders
were passed by the respective civil courts and Islamabad and Sindh high courts.
The litigants approached the government and showed interest in exploring the
awarded blocks.
The
petroleum division then claimed that the litigation timeframe was always
unpredictable and even if a case was decided at one forum, a higher forum was
available up to the Supreme Court until a final decision was reached.
“Hence,
litigations over these revoked blocks may be long drawn and it can take
substantial time to conclude,” it said, arguing that this would not only result
in depriving the exploration and production (E&P) sector of investing in
these areas but also deprive the country of benefits from the expected local
oil and gas discoveries and reserves.
Such
discoveries could contribute towards minimising the energy deficit of the
country and thus save foreign exchange. Therefore, the petroleum division said
it had developed a framework to revive revoked licences through an out-of-court
settlement. The ECC approved the proposed framework.
The
ECC also approved a summary for amendments to the Import Policy Order 2022 to
allow the import of the Holy Quran subject to a no-objection (NOC) certificate
from the relevant federal or provincial authority as required by Lahore and
Balochistan high courts to ensure error-free printing, publishing, recording
and import of Quran.
The
meeting also approved another summary of the commerce ministry seeking an
amendment to an ECC’s earlier decision made on July 25 for correcting records,
minutes and notification to apply regionally competitive rates of electricity
and gas for export sectors. Under the corrections, the rate is Rs19.99 per unit
of electricity with effect from Aug 1 and $9 per unit of regasified liquefied
natural gas with effect from July 1.
The
ECC also allowed the grant of the development and production lease to the
Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) for 15 years with effect from Jan 15, 2022
over the Kandhkot mining lease area on existing gas price and subject to the
condition that the PPL would pay all the financial obligations under the
Petroleum Policy 2012.
The
Kandhkot discovery was made by PPL in 1959. The government granted the mining
lease over the Kandhkot gas field for a period of 30 years in 1962, which was
renewed for another 30 years in 1992.
The
ECC also approved a change of effective control from Eni ULX Limited, Eni UK
Limited and Eni Oil Holdings B.V. in respect of its subsidiary companies — Eni
Pakistan Limited, Eni Pakistan (AEP) Limited and Eni Pakistan (M) Limited,
respectively — to the Prime International Oil and Gas Company Limited (PIOGCL).
The
approval is subject to the condition that the PIOGCL shall be liable to the
government for all the minimum work commitments and financial obligations and
the government’s revenue would not be adversely affected after this change of
effective control.
It
was reported that Hubco would own the PIOGCL with a 50 per cent share in Eni’s
working interests in Pakistan while the remaining half of shareholding would be
owned by Eni’s employee buyout (EBO) group.
It
was reported that the former employees of the outgoing multinational had the
technical strength and, with Hubco’s financial support, would be well suited to
run the operations. Hubco agreed to provide the guarantee for fiscal
obligations.
The
ECC also approved a 25.6pc increase in the maximum retail price of paracetamol
plain and extra (both 500mg) tablets to Rs2.35 and Rs2.75 apiece, respectively,
and 12pc increase in liquid paracetamol price to Rs117.6 per bottle.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1717279/ecc-okays-rs31bn-supplementary-grant-to-defence-ministry
--------
Ministers
discuss energy sector in first Saudi-Pakistani steering committee meeting
28
October, 2022
Saudi
Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Pakistan's Finance
Minister Ishaq Dar discussed cooperation in the energy sector as they held the
first meeting of the Saudi-Pakistani Steering Committee of the Economic Pillar,
the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.
The
Saudi-Pakistani Supreme Coordination Council is co-chaired by Saudi Arabia’s
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In
a statement, Prince Abdulaziz confirmed that the Kingdom considers Pakistan an
important partner in its development plans and programs and that the two
countries are striving, through the work of this Subcommittee, to promote areas
of cooperation, find new partnership opportunities, and create initiatives of
mutual benefit and interest to both counties and their peoples.
Prince
Abdulaziz commended the strong and historic relations between Saudi Arabia and
Pakistan, confirming that the Saudi-Pakistani cooperation and joint projects
are on the right track.
“Prince
Abdulaziz pointed to the cooperation in energy, under which many topics are
currently being discussed, such as cooperation in the oil industry and supply,
petrochemicals, electricity, renewable energy, industry, transport, and many
other potential opportunities,” SPA reported.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Southeast
Asia
Avoid
Turning Mosques into Political Arena - Kelantan Islamic Religious Council
27-10-
2022
KOTA
BHARU: The Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK) has
reminded all mosque officials not to be involved in any campaign or activity
involving political parties.
Its
president, Tengku Tan Sri Mohamad Rizam Tengku Abdul Aziz, said that all imams
in all mosques state-wide should prevent mosques from being used as political
arenas and places for campaigning when the 15th general election is underway.
“A
directive has already been issued by MAIK on Oct 11, in relation to the delay
in issuing special permission to religious speakers in mosques in the cities,
districts and mukim throughout Kelantan, with the aim of preventing mosques
from becoming campaign venues for certain groups to deliver their agenda.
“I
would like to remind mosque officials that it is necessary to ensure that only
speakers who have religious teaching credentials from MAIK are allowed to
deliver lectures in mosques, as stated in Section 91 of the MAIK Enactment,” he
told reporters after meeting 610 imams at the Sultan Ismail Petra Silver
Jubilee Islamic Complex hall, here today.
He
said that this includes delivering sermons, which meant that only mosque
officials and appointed preachers were allowed to deliver them, to avoid the
sacred pulpit being turned into a ‘campaign arena’ for the purposes of personal
interests and certain groups.
Source:
The Sun Daily
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/ge15-avoid-turning-mosques-into-political-arena-maik-NF10044900
--------
Syed
Saddiq to know fate over graft charges tomorrow
October
27, 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR: The High Court here will deliver its decision tomorrow on whether Syed
Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman will be acquitted or ordered to enter his defence on
charges of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of
assets and money laundering.
Syed
Saddiq, 29, was charged as the then Bersatu Youth wing chief entrusted with
control of its funds with abetting the wing’s former assistant treasurer, Rafiq
Hakim, with CBT of RM1 million at CIMB Bank Bhd on Jalan Stesen Sentral 2 here
on March 6, 2020.
The
charge, framed under Section 406 of the Penal Code, provides for a jail sentence
of up to 10 years with whipping and a possible fine, upon conviction.
He
was also charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code with misusing RM120,000
from the bank account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise for himself
by causing Rafiq to dispose of the money at Malayan Banking Bhd at Taman Pandan
Jaya here between April 8 and 21, 2018.
He
faces a jail term of up to five years and whipping, and is liable for a fine,
if found guilty.
The
Muda president and former Muar MP was also charged with two counts of
money-laundering, involving two transactions of RM50,000 each believed to be
proceeds from unlawful activities, transferred from his Maybank Islamic Bhd
account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account at a bank in Taman Perling,
Johor Bahru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.
The
charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering,
Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which
provides for a jail sentence of up to 15 years and liable for a fine of not
less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of the unlawful activity,
upon conviction.
The
case, which began on June 21, is being heard by justice Azhar Abdul Hamid.
The
prosecution closed its case on Sept 27 after calling 30 witnesses. They included
Syed Saddiq’s parents, Shariffah Mahani Syed Abdul Aziz and Syed Abdul Rahman
Abdullah Asagoff, Rafiq and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigating
officers Nurul Hidayah Kamarudin, Syahmeizy Sulong and Asbi Munip.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Next
govt must curtail Bar Council’s politicking, says Zaid
October
27, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has called on the government to amend
the laws governing the legal profession to prevent lawyers from using the Bar
Council to engage in political activity.
“As
(former Singapore prime minister) Lee Kuan Yew once said, those who want to
engage in politics should enter the political arena. Do not use professional
bodies (for such purposes),” Zaid said in a video posted on Facebook.
He
was reacting to a press statement issued by Bar president Karen Cheah on
Tuesday.
Cheah
had confirmed that the Bar Council declined an invitation extended by a task
force set up by the government to take part in an inquiry into the contents of
a book written by former Pakatan Harapan (PH) attorney-general (AG) Tommy
Thomas.
The
800-page report was finalised and presented to the Cabinet last month. It was
declassified by the government and released to the public on Friday.
In
its report, the task force identified potential criminal offences and
wrongdoings by Thomas and former PH prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad,
including in relation to the appointment of judges.
“Once
again, the Bar Council is showing its political stripes,” Zaid said.
“They
are questioning the validity of the report by the special task force, claiming
that, having been set up by the government and not pursuant to a royal
commission, the task force’s impartiality was doubtful.”
He
said Cheah’s criticism of caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s
decision to declassify the report was reflective of politicking on the part of
the Bar Council.
“This
is the attitude of the Bar Council, which should be in favour of transparency.
They ought to support declassification, but will not do so due to their
political stance,” he said.
“This
is why I suggest that the next government – which hopefully will be a Barisan
Nasional government – comes down hard on the Bar Council. Enough of them using
that body as a political vehicle.”
Zaid,
who is a member of the Bar, called out the council for hiding behind its
statutory duty to further the cause of justice.
“For
the sake of those three words, they think they can comment on anything, object
to anything,” he said.
“That
is the guise under which they stray time and again into the political arena.
“There
are many other matters that the Bar Council ought to address, particularly,
improving the professionalism, quality and welfare of its members, which they
have failed to give due attention to.”
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Court
rejects Najib’s bid to attend Parliament
Ho
Kit Yen
October
27, 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR: Former prime minister Najib Razak’s bid to commence a legal challenge
against the prisons department’s refusal for him to attend the Dewan Rakyat has
been denied by the High Court here.
“There
is no more Parliament for him (Najib) to attend,” said Justice Ahmad Kamal
Shahid this morning.
“It
is clear that with the dissolution of Parliament, its term has ended. The
applicant (Najib) is no longer the (Pekan) MP.”
Najib
had filed his bid on Oct 5 to commence judicial review proceedings against the
government for refusing to let him attend the Dewan Rakyat meeting scheduled
from Oct 3 to Nov 29.
However,
all sittings of the lower house were vacated after Parliament was dissolved on
Oct 10
Najib
wanted the court to set aside the prisons department’s decision at the end of
last month to refuse him permission to attend the sittings for security
reasons.
He
had also sought to revoke the department’s decision to refuse him access to his
officers for purposes of parliamentary, legislative and constituency work.
Kamal
said he had taken note of the fact that the Dewan Rakyat’s dissolution had been
gazetted and that a general election would be held on Nov 19 when new MPs would
be elected.
“There
is no possibility for him (Najib) to become an MP again. He is now a prisoner
and the law forbids a convicted person from contesting unless and until a
(royal) pardon is given to quash his conviction (in the SRC International
corruption case),” he said.
The
court made no order as to costs.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/devotees-raskhan-taj-bibi-bhagwan-krishna/d/128292
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