Pakistan, Saudi Arabia condemn Israel’s barbaric attack on Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza that martryed 100 Palestinians.
Sultah Johar Hockey Cup: Pakistan to face Australia in Semi Final
DNA
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia concluded the group stage of Sultan of Johor Cup hockey with a 2-3 defeat to Pakistan in Johor Baru on Tuesday. Pakistan will now face Australia in the Semi Final which shall be played on Friday, November 3. Match will start at 3 pm PST.
Pakistan started aggressively by taking a 3-0 lead in the first half through Abuzar (13th-minute field goal), Ahmad Arbaz (21st-minute penalty corner) and Mohd Khan (24th-minute PC) strikes.
The Young Tigers showed stronger resistance in the second half, where Shahmie Irfan Suhaimi opened the scoring through a 47th-minute PC.
Shafiq Ikhmal Daniel scored Malaysia’s first field goal of the tournament when he struck in the 51st minute.
PML-N calls for early elections
Ahsan Iqbal briefs media after party meeting; says party wants to see Nawaz as the next prime minister of Pakistan
Abbas Hashmi/DNA
LAHORE: The PML-N has demanded immediate elections in the country. PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal expressed these while talking to media after a party meeting chaired by Nawaz Sharif in Lahore.
“The party has invited applications from November onward from the candidates for contesting national and provincial assemblies elections and would hold a special general council at the Sharif Medical city on Nov 4 to express solidarity with the Palestinian people,” said Iqbal.
Briefing the media, the PML-N leader urged the courts to quash all the ‘fake’ cases against Nawaz Sharif and the elections should be held during the last week of January 2024.
He, without naming PTI chief, said the PMLN people were locked up in fake cases and now the PTI chairman should also be locked up in order to punish him for telling a lie.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is set to kick off his party’s election campaign on November 10, as the general elections draw closer.
Nawaz — who left for London in November 2019 for medical treatment following the Lahore High Court’s approval — returned to Pakistan on October 21 after a four-year self-imposed exile in a grand welcome organised by the party at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan.
“We will strengthen judicial institutions if we come into power,” the PML-N supremo said, according to sources, while chairing his party’s in-person meeting for the first time in four years at his Jati Umra residence.
The three-time former prime minister will oversee the party’s parliamentary board for distribution of tickets and will also lead the party’s election campaign via his countrywide tours, a private channel reported.
Earlier, media reported that the PML-N meeting was to mull over the current political situation, general elections, and other issues in the Jati Umra meeting.
The huddle was also to discuss the launching of the party’s manifesto ahead of the upcoming general elections.
It is pertinent to know that the PML-N’s supremo has received flak from political opponents most notably Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for receiving allegedly “undue relief” in relation to various legal cases.
The former prime minister, since his return, has had his pleas restored by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against accountability courts’ conviction verdicts in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases.
The ousted premier was handed an accumulative 18-year jail term in the aforementioned cases.
Last week, the Punjab government also suspended Nawaz’s conviction in the Al-Azizia reference.
Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani claimed that he had received consent from Caretaker Prime Minister to “retain Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Ishaq Dar as Leader of the House”.
During a special session of Upper House of Parliament, an objection was raised against the use of the title of Leader of the House by Ishaq Dar.
PPP leader Shahadat Awan asked why the PML-N Senator had been labelled as the leader of the house on the agenda even though the elected government did not exist.
Responding to the query, Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani said he had received consent from Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaarul Haq Kakar that Ishaq Dar would continue as the leader of the house.
However, the Prime Minister’s Office has not yet confirmed the appointment of Senator Dar as Leader of the House.
Sources within the PM’s Office told media that they have no information about appointing Dar as house leader. Moreover, the relevant parliamentary section of the government has also expressed ignorance in this regard.
It is pertinent to mention here that Ishaq Dar was appointed as leader of the house in the Senate by the then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Dar was sworn in as a senator after he had returned to the country after a five-year-long ‘self-exile’. Following this, he was sworn in as the new finance minister.
The PML-N leader had left the country in 2017 while standing trial in a corruption reference.
Arab ambassadors show solidarity with Palestine
Heads of Arab diplomatic missions in Islamabad pay a solidarity visit to the Embassy of the State of Palestine and praise and appreciate Pakistan’s position
DNA
ISLAMABAD: The ambassadors of the Arab countries accredited in Islamabad made a solidarity visit to the Embassy of the State of Palestine, in light of the dangerous developments and dangerous humanitarian conditions experienced in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially the brutal aggression against the Gaza Strip.
During his welcoming speech, His Excellency the Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Ahmed Rabi, touched on the seriousness and horror of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli occupation forces continuing to commit war crimes and genocide against Palestinian civilians and their destruction of necessary civilian facilities, especially hospitals. He provided an explanation of what is happening in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
At the end of his speech, he explained that the entire population of the Gaza Strip has been living for weeks without electricity, water, gas, oil, or health supplies after the tightening of the Israeli siege, amid a shameful international deficit. The occupation forces only allowed a small number of trucks to enter over the course of a week, out of huge humanitarian supplies donated by Arab and Islamic countries and some other countries.
For their part, the Arab ambassadors thanked His Excellency Ambassador Rabii for the briefing, and expressed their absolute and unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of the war, genocide, and crimes against humanity they are facing.
In their interventions, they also stressed the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and independence and to build their independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in accordance with the decisions of the United Nations.
The Arab ambassadors praised and appreciated Pakistan’s honorable position in supporting the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people in all international forums. Appreciating the official position expressed by His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Dr. Arif Alvi, His Excellency the Prime Minister, Mr. Anwarul Haq Kakar, his government and ministers, His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jalil Abbasi and his ministry, and Pakistan’s ambassadors to various countries and the United Nations.
The Arab ambassadors appreciated and praised the statement and press statement issued by the Army Commander, General Assem Mounir
As well as the Pakistani Parliament, all political parties, political and partisan forces, and civil society organizations, they also thanked Pakistan for organizing and sending humanitarian aid by plane via Egypt to Gaza
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In their interventions, they also stressed the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and independence and to build their independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in accordance with the decisions of the United Nations.
ICC World Cup 2023: Fakhar stars as Pakistan keep their semi-final hopes alive
Kolkata, OCT 31: After losing four consecutive matches, Pakistan made an excellent comeback and thumped Bangladesh by seven wickets in the 31st match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India, on Tuesday.
Fakhar Zaman made his comeback after five matches and made sure that he makes the most of it as the left-handed batter scored 81 runs off 74 deliveries with three fours and seven sixes — with one of them being a 99-metre maximum.
Abdullah Shafique also scored 68 runs as he combined forces with Zaman to build a 128-run opening partnership that put the Green Shirts in a dominating position.
However, in a convincing victory, skipper Babar Azam failed to stand till the end and finish the game for Pakistan as he got out for nine runs, getting caught by Mahmudullah at long on while trying to hit a six.
Mohammad Rizwan (26) and Iftikhar Ahmed (17) finished the game for the Green Shirts, who remained alive in their race to the semi-final of the World Cup.
Batting first, Bangladesh met with Shaheen Afridi’s first-over magic as Tanzid Hasan was removed for a duck in the first over by the left-handed pacer.
Problems continued for the Tigers as Najmul Hossain Shanto (4) and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim (5) were removed by Afridi and Haris Rauf respectively in the next five overs, leaving Bangladesh at 23-3 in 6 overs.
However, Littos Das and Mahmudullah formed a 79-run partnership, helping their side to post crucial runs against the deadly pace attack of Pakistan.
However, Das lost his wicket to Iftikhar Ahmed as he was getting closer to his fifty. Mahmudullah followed his counterpart soon enough as he was bowled out by Afridi for 56 runs.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan contributed 43 runs while Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 25 but their efforts at the lower order were not enough to take their side to a completive total as the entire Bangladeshi team were all out for just 204 runs.
Shaheen and Wasim Jr were the pick of the bowlers for Babar Azam-led unit as both pacers bagged three wickets each.
Pakistan will now play New Zealand in another must-win match on November 4 in Bengaluru. The Green Shirts would have to win the match at all costs if they want to keep their hopes of playing the event’s semi-final alive.
Court orders Imran Khan’s sisters, Asad Umar to join May 9 probe
LAHORE, OCT 31 (DNA) — A local court in Lahore has ordered the two sisters of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Asad Umar to join the investigation in the cases registered against them following the violent incidents of May 9 and an attack on the Jinnah House.
The court also extended the interim bail of the accused till Nov 22. Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Arshad Javed on Tuesday heard the interim bail applications of Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Asad Umar.
During the hearing, Asad Umar and both sisters of the PTI chairman appeared in the anti-terrorism court, where the investigating officer took a stand and they wanted the arrest of the accused. He said that the accused were not joining the investigation.
The IO rued that the accused obtained interim bail for two months and did not appear before the investigating officer and the JIT. He alleged that the accused told a lie before the court when they informed it that they had gone to join the investigation but the investigating officer was not there.
The lawyer of the accused told the court that they should tell us what were the charges against Asad Umar and the two sisters of Imran Khan. “We know that they have written all the accused as guilty and they are going to do the same even after the accused join the investigation,” the lawyer added.
After hearing arguments, ATC Judge Arshad Javed extended the interim bails of Asad Umar and Imran Khan’s sisters till November 22.
On the other hand, talking to media outside the anti-terrorism court, Aleema Khan said that if the PTI women joined the investigation, they were being threatened. She said it’s lamentable that our own people were perpetrating this oppression and cruelty, and not the enemy. — DNA
Hamas battles Israel in Gaza as US says ‘does not back ceasefire at this time’
Palestinian death toll at 8,306, significantly fewer humanitarian aid trucks reach the besieged enclave
GAZA, OCT 31: The United States does not support current calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, the White House said, adding that “pauses” to get aid into Gaza should be considered instead as Palestinian resistance fighters continued to battle Israel’s invading forces early on Tuesday.
“We do not believe that a ceasefire is the right answer right now,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. “We do not support a ceasefire at this time.”
Gaza health authorities say that 8,306 people, including 3,457 minors, have been killed in Israeli attacks since Oct 7. UN officials say more than 1.4 million of Gaza’s civilian population of about 2.3 million have been made homeless.
Smoke and flames rise during an Israeli air strike on west Gaza. PHOTO: Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also dismissed calls for a halt to fighting that has deepened the Palestinian enclave’s humanitarian crisis.
Witnesses said Israeli forces targeted Gaza’s main north-south road on Monday and attacked Gaza City from two directions. Israel claimed its troops freed a soldier from Hamas captivity, one of 239 captives who Israel says were captured on October 7.
The al-Qassam brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, said fighters clashed early on Tuesday with Israeli forces “invading the southern Gaza axis, (including) with machine guns, and targeted four vehicles with al-Yassin 105 missiles,” referring to locally produced anti-tank missiles.
The militants also targeted two Israeli tanks and bulldozers in northwest Gaza with the missiles, al-Qassam said.
Netanyahu said late on Monday that Israel would not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas in Gaza and would press ahead with its plans to wipe out the group.
“Calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism, to surrender to barbarism. That will not happen,” Netanyahu said in televised remarks.
Military specialists said Israeli forces are moving slowly in their ground offensive in part to keep open the possibility that Hamas fighters will negotiate the release of the hostages.
The relative caution with which Israeli troops have taken and secured slices of territory in the first days of sustained ground operations in Gaza stands in contrast to the past three weeks of unrelenting air strikes on the besieged Mediterranean enclave, as well as to Israel’s previous land offensives there.
‘Disaster on top of disaster’
Israel’s military claimed it struck more than 600 Hamas targets in recent days in Gaza, where Palestinian civilians are in dire need of fuel, food and clean water.
The UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA) said that water supply through a pipeline from Israel to southern Gaza was cut off on Monday “for unknown reasons”, and that an announced repair of another pipeline to central Gaza did not take place.
“At the time of writing, no water is provided to Gaza from Israel,” OCHA said on its website.
Significantly fewer humanitarian aid trucks have reached the besieged enclave than are required, UN officials said, and civil order has broken down with people storming UN warehouses in search of food.
“It’s a disaster on top of a disaster. Health needs are soaring and our ability to meet those needs is rapidly declining,” World Health Organization regional emergencies chief Rick Brennan said, reiterating international calls for a ceasefire to enable a larger humanitarian operation.
Aid trucks have been trickling into Gaza from Egypt over the past week via Rafah, the main crossing that does not border Israel. It has become the main point of aid delivery since Israel imposed a “total siege” on Gaza after Oct 7.
The Palestinian resistance group released a video on Monday that showed three hostages. The women – identified by Netanyahu as Yelena Trupanob, Danielle Aloni and Rimon Kirsht – sat side by side against a bare wall, and Aloni addressed an angry message to the prime minister.
Netanyahu condemned the video as “cruel psychological propaganda” and said Israel’s ground campaign created possibilities for rescuing the hostages.
The conflict has led to demonstrations worldwide in support of the Palestinians, and Islamophobic harassment and attacks.
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin accused the West and Ukraine of stirring up unrest inside Russia after rioters in the predominantly Muslim Dagestan region stormed an airport to “catch” Jewish passengers on a flight from Tel Aviv.
Bangladesh all out for 204 against Pakistan
Kolkata, OCT 31: Pakistan Tuesday restricted Bangladesh to 204 in a must-win World Cup match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.
Bangladesh: Litton Das (wk), Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.
President for mainstreaming visually impaired persons through specialized skill-sets, jobs
ISLAMABAD, Oct 31 (APP/DNA): President Arif Alvi on Monday said it was the collective responsibility of the society to mainstream the visually impaired persons by providing them with vocational skill sets and specialized jobs.
Addressing an event held in connection with the White Cane Safety Day, the president stressed sensitizing the society towards blind and the visually impaired by identifying their special needs and accommodating them.
Begum Samina Alvi, members of the diplomatic community, and visually impaired children attended the event meant to raise awareness about the ways to address the challenges faced by persons with such disabilities, here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The president said career education and vocational skills for visually impaired students should be started as early as possible in the mainstream school system.
This will provide fellow students an opportunity to deal first-hand with persons with disabilities and learn to accommodate them in society, he said.
President Alvi also emphasized improving the accessibility of visually impaired persons through assistive technological gadgets including the personal digital assistants that guide them as the sensory camera sees objects and describes them aloud.
He said the white cane was the tool for the visually impaired person to be identified in public, thus easing their mobility outdoors.
He said ending discrimination and helping such people to become self-reliant and useful members of society needed to be the goal of the State.
Dr Alvi said the country’s first visually impaired diplomat Saima Saleem made history by making a speech at the platform of the United Nations. He also mentioned Yousaf Saleem who became the country’s first visually impaired judge and set a courageous example for other people with such disabilities.
He lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Human Rights for providing educational opportunities to children with disabilities and addressing their specific needs.
Interim Minister for Human Rights Khalil George said the ministry was raising awareness about physically challenged persons through various activities and advocacy programmes.
He said the special needs school under the ministry was providing education through Braille and other modern assistive gadgets.
The visually impaired children presented a tableau on the national song ‘Dil Dil Pakistan.
The president distributed white canes among the visually impaired children and later along with Begum Alvi had a group photograph with them.
Saudi Arabia set to host 2034 FIFA World Cup after Australia drops out
RIYADH, OCT 31: Saudi Arabia are set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup after Australia confirmed it would not make a bid for the mega event on Tuesday’s deadline day.
FIFA had invited bids from Asia and Oceania for the event by October 31.
Football Australia (FA) boss James Johnson had said the country was “exploring the possibility” of 2034, but on Tuesday the governing body said it would instead focus on bids for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup.
Australia’s decision to not proceed with 2034 leaves Saudi Arabia as the only confirmed bidder.
Saudi Arabia announced it would bid only minutes after football’s global governing body called for Asia and Oceania bids on October 4.
The president of the Asian Football Confederation, the sport’s continental governing body to which Australia belongs, said “the entire Asian football family” would stand united in support of the Saudi bid.
A week after FIFA’s invitation, Indonesia said it was in discussions with Australia about a possible joint bid along with Malaysia and Singapore – before saying a week later that it backed Saudi Arabia’s bid.
Australia hosted a successful Women’s World Cup this year but has never hosted a men’s World Cup.
“We believe we are in a strong position to host the oldest women’s international competition in the world – the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 – and then welcome the greatest teams in world football for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup,” FA said.
“Achieving this …would represent a truly golden decade for Australian football.”
FIFA awarded the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Portugal and Spain, also adding World Cup centenary games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
