DNA

ISLAMABAD: The Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has directed the Information Minister Murtaza Solangi and the Information Ministry officials to look into the problems of the media industry and resolve them on priority.

He passed these directions during a meeting with the Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, Secretary Information Zahoor Ahmed and the Principal Information Minister Dr Tariq Mahmood.

The Prime Minister recognized media role. He said the government believes in independence of PRESS.

He asked the Ministry officials to continue meetings with the media bodies for better coordination between the government and the media.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 27 /DNA/ – Indonesian Cultural Troupe from West Sumatra Province concluded its trips in Pakistan by performing in The National University of Modern Languages (NUML) and Iqra University. The performance is part of cultural program of the Indonesian Embassy to deepen cultural connections between people of Indonesia and Pakistani.

Consisting seven performers, the Troupe entertained audiences with several traditional dancings showcasing the unique culture of the only matriarchal community in Indonesia. Among the peculiarities of the dances were the fusion of firmness of martial arts works and graceful movements. Traditional musical instruments and flutes played during the event made performance more unique. One talented Pakistani dancer recipient of the 2023 Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship (BSBI) also joined the performance.

“We warmly welcome this cultural performance to take place in NUML as it reminds me connected-similarities in the poems made by famous poets of two countries, Allama Muhammad Iqbal from Pakistan and Chairil Anwar from Indonesia,” explained Prof. Dr. Jamil Asgor Jammi, Dean of Languages NUML in his welcoming speech.

The similar sentiment was also expressed by the academic community in the Iqra University on the following day. “By this performance, we know that the good impression about Indonesia is not only from Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. This dance is very elegant. The dancers neatly cover their body and their movements are also very polite,” commented Dr. Jasim Tariq, Assistant Professor Business Administration Department, Iqra University, who just returned from the Umrah.

In his remarks Indonesian Ambassador Adam Tugio stated that this performance by Syofyani Dancing Group was only one small part of huge diversity of Indonesian, an archipelago that has hundreds of tribes and local languages, living in 38 provinces with their own respective uniqueness. The envoy further encouraged Pakistani students to apply for fully funded scholarships provided by the Indonesia government to get first hand experience of unique culture of the Archipelago and simultaneously to witness the cultural fusion as reflected in customs and cuisines. “Currently, Pakistani students are the largest recipients of educational scholarships from the Indonesian Government,” he added while pointing out the similarities between various words in Urdu and Indonesian.

Brig. Shehzad Munir, Director General of NUML and Engr. Khizer Zaki, Director for Student Affairs, Iqra University while expressing his admiration to the unique cultural dance from Indonesia, thanked the Indonesian Embassy for its initiative and expressed interest for furthering academic cooperation including student exchanges in various fields.

Universities are among the important partners in bolstering the people-to-people relations between Indonesia and Pakistan. Apart from showcasing Indonesian cultural arts, the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad has also organised Online Intership Program (OIP) to introduce modern Indonesia through series of public lectures by experts from universities and think tanks in Indonesia.

Ottawa: October 27, 2023

The Pakistan High Commission in Ottawa and the Consulates General in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver observed “Kashmir Black Day” and organized Photographic Exhibitions on October 26, 2023, depicting atrocities of Indian occupation forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) which were attended by the members of the Pakistani community.

In a video message on the occasion of “Kashmir Black Day”, High Commissioner Zaheer A. Janjua said, “we have come together to express our unflinching support and solidarity to Kashmiri brethren, who remain undeterred by the oppressive Indian occupation forces in their struggle for right to self- determination”.

The High Commissioner reiterated that the brave struggle of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination has proven that India’s brutality and military might can never suppress the Kashmiris. He underscored that the people of Kashmir have already chosen their path, and Pakistan will continue to extend moral, diplomatic, and political support to the indigenous and legitimate Kashmiri struggle for their right to self-determination.

The High Commissioner also highlighted the historical significance of October 27^th when Indian forces entered in the valley against will of Kashmiris. He condemned the continued brutal use of force by the Indian Occupation Forces and Indian illegal steps taken since 5 August 2019 including imposition of strict curfew and complete lockdown of the valley of IIOJK. “It is imperative that the international community must come forward and demand India’s compliance with its international obligations in line with UN Security Council’s resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir”, he added.

Members of Pakistani Community and Kashmiris held a protest/rally in Ottawa in front of Canadian Parliament, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Seminars/Webinar on the Kashmir Black Day were arranged by the Consuls General Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver on the human rights situation in IIOJK.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP/DNA): President Arif Alvi on Wednesday emphasized that for the future of the country, free, fair and credible elections should be held in which all the political parties be given a level-playing field to contest.

In an interview with a private Tv (Geo News) talk show, the president said different quarters were talking about ensuring level-playing field to all the political parties in the country. He said the basic norm should be the democracy and all the political leaders should be given equal opportunities to contest the upcoming elections. To a question, the president maintained that he had condemned 9th May incidents as he was always against such acts of damaged and destruction.

To another query, he said that the constitution provided that a president might continue in the office till election of his successor and as the electoral requirement could not be met in the absence of assemblies, so leaving his office in vacuum was not good for him. In the parliamentary system, changes could take place to governments, he said adding, in the past, unconstitutional elements had derailed the democratic system in the country. The president expressed that despite difficult times, the country was moving on the path to democracy and there was a path to move forward.

Appreciating former premier Benazir Bhutto, the president recollected that during 2001 when he was arrested and sent to jail, he was told by the jail authorities that contrary to dictatorship era, the environment in jails had been changed under the PPP government. He said credit should be given to the PPP as a political party that was the standard bearer of democracy and women’s rights.  The president also lauded former president Asif Ali Zardari for raising the slogan of ‘Pakistan Khappay’.

To a question, the president said the people had the confidence in the superior courts and appreciated incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa as ‘highly respectable personality’, adding that the CJP had unified the court. The nation had great expectations from Justice Qazi Faez Isa, he said and expressed the optimism that the CJP would deliver. The president also reiterated that he had not sent reference against Justice Isa, as he had received it from the office of former prime minister who also maintained that he was not willing to send it.

Elaborating his viewpoint, the president said that the democratic system in the country was continuing but there was always a danger from a lobby that had been working to project that the democratic system in the country had failed. “There is need to unite the country. Pardoning and forbearing are the qualities that can build nations,” he added. In the religion of Islam, he said, consultation and public opinion were given due importance and with regard to the democratic system, the Islamic traditions were marvelous, he opined. About holding of elections in the country, the president said that the matter was subjudice before the courts that would decide the issue.

President Alvi termed the number of out of school children, mental health, malnutrition and stunting issues as the grave ones which could not be resolved if they continued their political wrangling. The president reiterated that two-state was the only solution to Palestine issue, adding on March 23, 1943 two resolutions were passed, one for Pakistan and other for Palestine. Pakistan pursued a policy over Palestine as pronounced by its founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he maintained. Feeling immense grief over a video clip showing a Palestinian child, identifying the bodies of his parents, the president decried it as huge cruelty to the Palestinian people and stressed that no one could accept such inhuman acts.

The president said in the Islamic teachings, sanctity was accorded to a human life. To a query, he replied that on September 13, he had sent a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan for holding of elections in the country and suggestion to consult the superior judiciary over the issue. He said that election law was changed under an amendment and signed by the acting president when he proceeded to Hajj. The president further said that the caretaker law minister and the relevant caretaker provincial ministers were of the opinion that the President had no mandate to give a date for holding of the elections in the country after the amendment.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 25 /DNA/ – Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party and former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called on the Palestinian diplomat Ahmad Jawad Rabei at the Palestinian Embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday and expressed concern and sorrow over the situation in Gaza.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed solidarity with the Palestinian brethren. Chairman PPP said that Pakistan stands with the people of Palestine in this trying and difficult time. He said that the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party together with the Palestinian leadership fought the cause of Palestine in the world. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the martyrdom of hundreds of Palestinian children in Israeli attacks is a stigma on humanity. Chairman Bilawal said that by bombing the hospitals in Gaza, Israel has proved that its existence is a security risk for the region. He said that the international community should play its role to stop the Israeli aggression.

Palestinian diplomat Ahmad Jawad Rabei also presented Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with a symbolic scarf depicting Palestinian resistance. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also recorded his comments in the guest book of the Palestinian Embassy.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat had paid homage to Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who fought for the cause of Palestine, by visiting his mausoleum at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

On this occasion, Senator Sherry Rehman and former Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah accompanied the Chairman PPP.