Month: July 2024

Revitalising bilateral ties between Pakistan and China, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir has said that they “are exceptional and have always weathered the vicissitudes of the strategic environment with mutual trust and unwavering belief in each other’s support”.

The army chief made the remarks on the occasion of the 97th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China hosted at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.

According to the military’s media wing, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong was the chief guest on the occasion. Defence Attaché Major General Wang Zhong, Chinese Embassy officers and officials from the tri-services of Pakistan attended the event

 

General Munir, while welcoming the Chinese guests, congratulated the PLA and praised its contribution to Chinese defence, security and the nation’s development.

During his speech, the army chief termed the Pak-China bilateral ties “exceptional” and based on “unwavering belief in each other’s support”.

“Relations between the Pakistan Army and the Peoples Liberation Army are strong and both militaries continue to engage in bilateral military cooperation, demonstrating the iron-clad brotherhood between the two countries,” he concluded.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Zaidong thanked COAS Munir for hosting the event for the 97th anniversary of the founding of the PLA.

“Pakistani military has always been at the forefront of countering terrorism and has made great sacrifices for the peace and stability of Pakistan and the region,” the diplomat said.

“We stand ready to work with our brethren to combat terrorism and firmly believe that no force can destroy the iron-clad friendship between China and Pakistan and the brotherhood between the two militaries,” he concluded.

Prior to this prestigious event, Chinese Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) Liu Jianchao paid a three-day visit to Pakistan last month to co-chair the third meeting of the Pakistan-China Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) for the political parties on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

In his meeting with COAS Munir, he had lauded the Pakistan Army’s support in providing security to Chinese nationals and projects in the country, according to the ISPR.

They had also discussed matters of mutual interest, including regional peace and stability, and reviewed progress on the multibillion-dollar CPEC project.

The COAS reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the strategic partnership with China and pledged full support for the successful implementation of CPEC, a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Chinese investment and financial support for Pakistan since 2013 have been a boon for the South Asian nation’s struggling economy, including the rolling over of loans so that Islamabad is able to meet external financing needs at a time when foreign reserves are critically low.

Beijing has over $65 billion in investment in road, infrastructure and development projects under the CPEC as part of the Belt and Road scheme.

French news agency AFP reported that the death toll in Thursday’s violence had risen to 32. Reuters had reported that 13 people were killed, adding to six dead earlier in the week, and could not immediately verify the higher number.

There was fresh violence in some parts of the country on Friday and police were using tear gas to disperse protesters, a Reuters photographer said.

India’s Economic Times newspaper reported that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government “was forced” to call in the army late on Thursday to help “maintain order”. Reuters could not independently verify the information.

Although the protests were sparked by student anger against the controversial quota system, some analysts have said that tough economic conditions, including high inflation, rising unemployment, and depleting foreign reserves, were pouring fuel on the fire.

The protests have also opened old and sensitive political faultlines between those who fought for Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, including Hasina’s Awami League.

Authorities had cut some mobile services on Thursday to try to quell the unrest but the disruption spread across the country on Friday morning, Reuters witnesses in Dhaka and New Delhi said. Telephone calls from overseas were mostly not getting connected and calls through the internet could not be completed.

Web sites of several Bangladesh-based newspapers were not updating on Friday morning and their social media handles were also not active.

Only some voice calls were working in the country and there was no mobile data or broadband on Friday morning, a Reuters photographer in Dhaka said. Even mobile-to-mobile text messages were not going through, he added.

News television channels and state broadcaster BTV were off the air while entertainment channels continued normal transmission, a Reuters witness said. Some news channels displayed a message that said they were not able to broadcast due to technical reasons and that programming would be back soon, the witness said.

Streets in the capital Dhaka were deserted on Friday, which is a weekly holiday in the country. There was little traffic and very few rickshaw pullers on the streets and thin crowds near a vegetable and fish market, he said, adding that a protest rally had been called at the main mosque at around 0800 GMT.

The official websites of the Bangladesh Central Bank, the prime minister’s office, and the police appeared to have been hacked by a group calling itself “THE R3SISTANC3”. Operation HuntDown, Stop Killing Students, it said in identical messages on both sites, adding in bright red font: “It’s not a protest anymore, it’s a war now.

“Prepare yourselves. The fight for justice has begun,” said another message at the bottom of the page which also had small pictures of five men and two dogs without giving details about them.

“The government has shut down the internet to silence us and hide their actions. We need to stay informed about what is happening on the ground,” it said, adding that the “spirit of our students remains unbroken”.

The nationwide agitation, the biggest since Hasina was re-elected earlier this year, has been fuelled by high youth unemployment. Nearly a fifth of the country’s 170 million population is out of work or education.

Protesters are demanding the state stop setting aside 30 per cent of government jobs for the families of people who fought in the 1971 war of independence.

Hasina’s government had scrapped the quota system in 2018, but a high court reinstated it last month. The government appealed against the verdict and the Supreme Court suspended the high court order, pending a hearing of the government’s appeal on August 7.

The government said on Thursday it was willing to hold talks with the protesters but the demonstrators refused, saying, “Discussions and opening fire do not go hand in hand”.

Hundreds of people have been injured this week as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up groups of protesters, who torched vehicles, police posts, and other establishments.

The capital’s main university campus had been the site of the worst of the nationwide protests, but on Thursday there were stronger demonstrations in other pockets of the city.

Bangladesh has been reeling from the ripple effects of the Russia-Ukraine war and secured a $4.7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in January 2023.

The IMF concluded a second review of Bangladesh’s bailout programme in June this year, giving the country immediate access to about $928 million in loans for economic support and about $220 million to combat climate change.

Any opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) would be non-binding, but it comes amid mounting concern over Israel’s onslaught against Hamas sparked by the group’s brutal October 7 attacks.

A separate high-profile case brought before the court by South Africa alleges that Israel has committed genocidal acts during its Gaza offensive.

Judges will read their findings at 1300 GMT at the opulent Peace Palace in The Hague, the home of the ICJ.

The UN’s General Assembly asked the ICJ in late 2022 to give an “advisory opinion” on the “legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem”.

The ICJ held a week-long session in February to hear submissions from countries following the request — supported by most countries within the Assembly.

Most speakers too during the hearings called on Israel to end its 57-year occupation. They warned a prolonged occupation posed an “extreme danger” to stability in the Middle East and beyond.

But the United States said Israel should not be legally obliged to withdraw without taking its “very real security needs” into account.

Israel did not take part in the oral hearings.

Instead, it submitted a written contribution in which it described the questions the court had been asked as “prejudicial” and “tendentious”.

The General Assembly has asked the ICJ to consider two questions.

Firstly, the court should examine the legal consequences of what the UN called “the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”.

This relates to the “prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967” and “measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem”.

In June 1967, Israel crushed some of its Arab neighbours in a six-day war, seizing the West Bank including east Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt.

Israel then began to settle the 70,000 square kilometres of seized Arab territory.

The UN later declared the occupation of Palestinian territory illegal, and Cairo regained Sinai under its 1979 peace deal with Israel.

The ICJ has also been asked to look into the consequences of what it described as Israel’s “adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures”.

Secondly, the ICJ should advise on how Israel’s actions “affect the legal status of the occupation” and what are the consequences for the UN and other countries.

The ICJ rules in disputes between states. Normally, its judgements are binding although it has little means to enforce them.

In this case however, the opinion it issues will be non-binding, although most advisory opinions are in fact acted upon.

The mourning processions in connection with the Youm-e-Ashur — the tenth of Muharram-ul-Haram — were taken out across the country on Wednesday to pay homage to Imam Hussain (RA) and his devoted companions for their sacrifice in Karbala.

Mobile phone and internet services were suspended in all cities with Pakistan Army troops and Civil Armed Forces (CAF) deployed to prevent any untoward incident and maintain the law and order situation.

This day is a poignant reminder of the unwavering resilience of Imam Hussain (RA), the beloved grandson of the Prophet (PBUH), his family, and devoted companions, who valiantly defended Islam in the face of opposition and cruelty.

The Ashura processions concluded peacefully across the country, whereas, mobile phone and internet services were also being restored gradually in different parts of the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the Pakistan Army, local administrations, police force and law enforcement agencies for making excellent security arrangements which ensured peaceful observance of Youm-e-Ashur in the country.

The prime minister said that with the grace of Allah Almighty, the situation throughout the country remained peaceful on Youm-e-Ashur.

“All the processions and Majalis were held with religious devotion,” the PM Office Media Wing stated in a press release.

He said that the authorities and officials belonging to administration, police force, law enforcement agencies and the armed forces were present in the field and also expressed gratitude to them for ensuring law and order on the day.

Karachi

The mourning procession in the country’s biggest city was taken out from Nishtar Park and culminated at Husainia Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar after passing through its traditional routes.

Allama Shehanshah Hussain Naqvi addressed the mourners at the beginning of the procession.

To ensure security, the mourners were allowed to enter the designated procession areas after a thorough check.

The mourners, to show their love for those who lost their lives in Karbala, also donated blood, in light of which several blood donation camps have also been set up.

Lahore

The mourning procession started at around 8am from Nisar Haveli and concluded after reaching Karbala Ghamay Shah Imambargah.

The procession went through its traditional route, in which a swarm of people participated. In light of the people’s participation, stalls have been set up by volunteers for food and water (niaz and sabeel).

For security purposes, all the roads coming towards Mochi Darwaza were closed using containers and barbed wires.

At the main gate, a security check was set up, where people were allowed to enter after being checked thoroughly.

Peshawar

About 12 processions were held in Peshawar today with the first one starting from Imam Bargah Syed Ali Shah Rizvi at 11am.

Keeping in view the security situation in the city, around 14,000 police officers were deployed while bomb disposal unit personnel were also present to clear the passageways of the procession.

All the procession routes were blocked while mobile phone services were also suspended. The mourning processions were monitored through CCTV cameras.

Multan

In the city of saints, the central procession started from Imam Bargah Hira Haideri in the early hours of the day. When the believers reached Chowk Ghala Godam, they not only mourned but also performed “zanjeer zani”.

The procession went through its usual route, crossing Lakkar Mandi Chowk, Ghanta Ghar, Water Works Road, and other areas. It ended on Namaz-e-Maghrib at Dargah Shah Shams Tabrez.

The small processions also joined the central procession. In all, 116 Youm-e-Ashur processions and over 130 majalis were staged in Multan, for which more than 6,000 security personnel — apart from volunteers — have been deployed.

CCTV monitoring was conducted of all prominent processions and CPO Multan Sadiq Ali Dogar told Geo News that to enter the procession, there’s only one way — and it’s allowed after a three-layered security check.

Rawalpindi and Islamabad

The main procession of Ashura in Islamabad started from Imambargah Colonel Maqbool and ended at Imambargah Qadeemi after passing through the designated routes.

Meanwhile, the first central mourning procession departed from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain Teli Mohalla in Rawalpindi.

According to the police, mobile phone service remained partially suspended in surrounding areas while police jammers were also present along the traditional routes.

Metro bus service was also suspended in Rawalpindi.

More than 6,000 policemen and 900 traffic police personal were also deployed across the city.

Quetta

The Ashura procession started from Alamdar Road in Quetta at around 9am while phone services have been suspended.

Hyderabad

Strict security arrangements were made for Ashura in Hyderabad with over 4,000 personnel and officers deployed for the security of the procession.

All the streets and shops on the route of the procession were closed, said the senior superintendent of police, adding that a control room was also set up to monitor the procession.

President, PM messages

In his message on Ashura, President Asif Ali Zardari stressed upon the need of display of unity and facing the forces of cruelty and evil with steadfastness while learning lessons from the incident of Karbala.

He appealed to the entire nation to stand for forbearance, hard work and justice, besides realising the requirements of the poor and the needy.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz stressed to promote equality, tolerance, unity and discipline within ourselves to deal the internal and external threats facing the country.

Advising to draw inspiration from the values of fortitude and courage from the martyrs of Karbala, the premier said everyone should forget the racial, professional, linguistic and other differences to make our country stronger.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sent good wishes to United States President Joe Biden after it was announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the positive test for the 81-year-old Democrat after the president of UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights organisation, said Biden would not be able to speak at a scheduled event due to the diagnosis.

“He is vaccinated and boosted and experiencing mild symptoms,” Jean-Pierre added.

As he boarded Air Force One to depart Las Vegas to recuperate in Delaware, Biden told reporters: “Good, I feel good.” But he climbed the stairs slowly, holding the railing tightly and pausing a few steps in and again towards the top.

Following the announcement by the White House, the 72-year-old prime minister took to his social media to wish Biden a quick recovery from the illness.

In a post on X, Shehbaz wrote: “Wishing President Biden @POTUS swift and complete recovery from Covid. Good wishes.”

Shehbaz’s post comes days after he, along with other prominent political figures, inlcuding President Asif Ali Zardari and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan, condemned the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania.

Biden’s illness comes at a crucial time for him as he has been losing ground in battleground states against Trump, who is headlining a triumphant convention this week.

The White House said Biden planned to spend a long weekend at his Delaware beach house. It was unclear how long the sickness would keep him for the campaign trail.