RIYADH, OCT 26: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman had ordered the release of Pakistani pilgrims who were arrested and detained for sloganeering and hounding a PM-led delegation at Masjid-i-Nabwi in Madina this April.

PM Shehbaz, who will be concluding a two-day trip to Saudi capital Riyadh today, thanked the crown prince in a tweet for ordering the release.

“I am deeply grateful to the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mr Muhammad bin Salman, who, on my request, ordered the release of the Pakistanis arrested in Saudi Arabia for the April 2022 incident.

We pray to Allah Almighty to make us better Muslims who forgive each other’s mistakes,“ he said.

In April, PM Shehbaz, along with a delegation comprising federal ministers and others, had gone on a three-day trip to Saudi Arabia. On their visit to Masjid-i-Nabwi during the trip, some Pakistani pilgrims had hounded them, shouted slogans against them and even physically attacked some members of the delegation.

Videos of the incident had gone viral on social media, prompting swift action from Saudi authorities and leading to the arrest of some of the pilgrims.

PMs agree to take fraternal bonds to ‘new heights’

Earlier, PM Shehbaz and Crown Prince Salman, who was named the kingdom’s prime minister last month, agreed to upgrade and enhance bilateral ties and fraternal bonds between the two countries to “new heights”.

The two held a bilateral meeting in Riyadh during which they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations.

Taking to Twitter, PM Shehbaz described the meeting as “excellent”.

“We agreed to upgrade and enhance bilateral ties and fraternal bonds between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to new heights in line with the requirements of [the] changing world. I told [the crown prince] people of Pakistan are eagerly looking forward to his visit,” he said.

The premier thanked the Saudi leadership for extending assistance to Pakistan during the recent devastating floods, particularly for establishing the air bridge between Riyadh and Islamabad to provide relief goods in flood-affected areas, the report said.

For his part, the Saudi crown prince termed the fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia very important for the two countries as well as for the region and the world, the report added.

Later, the premier and his accompanying delegation performed Umrah at Makkah’s Grand Mosque. PM Shehbaz “prayed for the peace and prosperity of Pakistan as well as Muslim ummah,”.

PM Shehbaz landed in Riyadh on Monday where he was received by Riyadh Governor Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud at the airport. The premier is accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and other officials.

He also addressed the Future Investment Initiative Summit in Riyadh on Monday, saying that Pakistan was “ripe for market innovation” and the country was ready to reach out to potential investors for the future of its upcoming generations.

SIALKOT: PTI Chairman Imran Khan Wednesday dubbed his “Azadi March” as the “biggest freedom movement” in the country’s history after getting a boost from the top court’s decision.

“My heart believes it will be the biggest freedom movement in the history of Pakistan. We will continue our struggle till the nation gets its rights via elections,” Khan told a party event in Sialkot.

The Supreme Court earlier rejected the federal government’s request to immediately stop the long march to Islamabad, with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial advising the government to hold talks with the former prime minister.

The long march to Islamabad will kick off on October 28 (Friday) from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk in the morning despite the government’s repeated warnings to Khan.

Before it approached the top court, the government issued repeated warnings to the PTI chief, with a top official saying that the authorities would multiply their May 25 policy by 10 if Khan announces another long march.

If the PTI holds another long march, then it would be the second time they would be coming to Islamabad. The last march was held on May 25 and ended with Khan abruptly calling off the march after reaching Islamabad.

“The old and the new workers should start mobilising. This is not a war for power or politics, but a war against a foreign conspiracy, which resulted in the installation of thieves on us,” Khan told his supporters.

The ex-prime minister said his long march aimed at securing “real” independence for the nation by defeating the ruling “dacoits”.

“All the sacrifices [for Pakistan] will be in vain if the gang of thieves keeps ruling us. I will depart from Lahore on Friday. This will be Pakistan’s biggest freedom movement.”

Khan said his struggle would continue until the day the nation is allowed to elect its representatives as against the “American slaves who are imposed on us repeatedly”.

Issuing a warning of his own to the federal government, the ex-premier told Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to gear up as he and his “handlers” would witness a sea of people in the capital.

Lashing out at authorities, Khan said he would hold those accountable who had “mistreated” PTI leader and ex-interior minister Azam Swati.

The PTI leader was taken into custody by the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing (CCW) in Islamabad on October 13 after a case was registered against him over tweets against the army chief. However, he was granted post-arrest bail almost eight days later in return for surety bonds worth Rs1 million.

“They are picking up our social media workers,” Khan said, expressing his anger towards the authorities. “But it won’t just be Imran Khan [in Islamabad], it will be entire Pakistan.”

In response to Khan’s call, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif said that the PTI chief would not bring a revolution in the country, rather his long march was just for “appointing an army chief of his choice”.

“The nation has seen his revolution in the last four years of his tenure.”

“Imran Khan, who terms others as thieves, has proven himself to be the biggest thief in history with indisputable evidence of foreign funding, Tosha Khana, and a robbery of 50 billion.”

Islamabad, OCT 26: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the federal government’s request to immediately stop PTI chief Imran Khan’s long march to Islamabad, with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial advising the government to hold talks with the former prime minister. 

The federal government filed a contempt of court plea against the PTI chairman in the Supreme Court over his long march to the federal capital. 

In its petition, the government said, “Imran Khan is making announcements to attack Islamabad”, which it claimed was a violation of a court order. It urged the apex court to direct the PTI chief to ensure the implementation of its orders related to protests and sit-ins.

A five-member bench, headed by CJP Bandial, comprising Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Sayyed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi heard the plea today. 

A day earlier, Khan said PTI will kick off its long march on October 28 (Friday) from Lahore.

The former prime minister said that all party workers, supporters and leaders will gather at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk at 11am from where they will march towards Islamabad.

Today’s hearing

In his arguments during the hearing, Additional Attorney General Aamir Rahman said that the reports of police and intelligence institutions have been reviewed.

The additional attorney general said that the court had first asked when did the PTI chief give a call for the long march.

He said that the court order came on May 25 at 6pm, while the announcement was made by Khan at 6:50pm and he made the second announcement at 9:54pm.

“The PTI had requested to stage a sit-in at the Srinagar Highway,” he said. “Khan had also announced to go to D-Chowk even before the court order.”

Rahman said that later PTI leaders Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhary, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Usman Dar, Shahbaz Gill, and Saifullah Niazi also gave a call to party workers to arrive at D chowk.

Meanwhile, the court sought a response from Khan over the plea seeking contempt proceedings against him.

“From Khan’s statement, it seems like he was informed about the court’s orders as he said that the SC ordered removing barricades,” the CJP remarked as he summoned the PTI chairman to clarify before the court who said what.

Rehman contended that Khan’s latest call to reach D-chowk is a contempt of court, he said, while referring to the end of PTI’s long march at Jinnah Avenue on May 26.

“Khan crossed the restricted area H9 and reached Blue Area where he ended the rally,” he said.

The additional attorney general further stated that PTI lawyers Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhry assured the court that they would not cross the restricted area.

At this, CJP Bandial said that Rehman’s argument has some weight therefore it would be better to seek a response from those who assured.

DNA

OTTAWA, OCT 26: Pakistan High Commissioner to Canada Zaheer A. Janjua has lauded Human Concern International (HCI), a charitable non-governmental Canadian organization, for raising CAD 500,000 through donations for the rehabilitation of people affected by floods in Pakistan.

He said he had travelled to various parts of Canada and had attended various fundraising events arranged by the Pakistani diaspora in Canada and he had been thoroughly impressed with the sincerity and enthusiasm with which the vibrant Pakistani diaspora in Canada had answered the call for help to their brothers and sisters in Pakistan and contributed millions of dollars to the flood relief and rehabilitation efforts in Pakistan.

He was speaking to a large gathering of Pakistani Canadians, members of the Canadian civil society, politicians, members of Canadian Parliament and Senate gathered in Ottawa under the banner of Human Concern International for raising funds for construction of houses for the flood victims in Pakistan.

Besides High Commissioner Zaheer Janjua, Greg Fergus, Parliamentary Secretary to the Canandian Prime Minister and to the President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Paul Thoppil, Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia-Pacific at Global Affairs Canada, Member Senate of Canada Ms Salma Ataullahjan, Member Parliament Shafqat Ali, Member Parliament Sameer Zuberi, Member Parliament Chandra Arya, Member Parliament Marie-France Lalonde also attended the dinner which resulted in an on-the-spot collection and contributions of CAD 102,000 funds for the flood victims in Pakistan.

It was announced that Human Concern International, run and staffed mostly by members of Pakistani diaspora had collected CAD 400,000 through two fundraising dinners held in Toronto and London Ontario in the past week. The organisation plans to use the donations for construction of houses for the people rendered homeless by recent floods in Pakistan.

Addressing the event, High Commissioner Zaheer Janjua highlighted the grave consequences climate induced calamities had caused for countries like Pakistan which had little to do with global emissions. He said that Pakistan had become a victim of climate induced catastrophic floods even though it contributed less than 1 per cent to global emissions but in the vulnerability index it was already amongst the top 5 countries.

He called for an urgent global action to deal with what he called a clear and present danger staring us in the form of climate change. He warned that Pakistan had witnessed the manifestation of climate change but tomorrow it could be some other country. He noted that while it was great to have lovely agreements such as Paris Accord to address the climate change issue, it was also necessary to pay attention to what was happening on the ground.

QAZI SHOAIB KHAN / District Correspondent, Attock

ATTOCK, OCT 26 /DNA/ – Punjab Food Department Rawalpindi arrested 274 wheat smugglers along with recovery of  5338 metric tons of wheat and wheat products  from their possession during the months of  August to October. This was told  by the  District Food Controller Rawalpindi Sufian Asif Awan while briefing newsmen about the anti wheat smuggling activities by the food department at Brahma-Bhattar toll plaza  near here on  Wednesday.

While, replying different questions, he said from August 1 to October 23, the food department has seized the bids of 274 vehicles including 32 wheels trailers, trucks and mini trucks to smuggle wheat and flour from the various parts of the Punjab to KP. He said that seven check posts were established at various points of the district to check the anti wheat smuggling activities. He said that bids were foiled at designated and un-designated routes especially Islamabad- Peshawar motorway (M-1), Rawalpindi- Peshawar GT road and link routes especially Taxila-Khanpur road and Taxila-Hattar road. He said that 274 persons were booked and send behind bars after registration of cases under food act for wheat and flour smuggling during this period.

District Food Controller Rawalpindi Sufian Asif Awan while narrating the details of confiscated 5338 metric ton of wheat and wheat products, he said that among this confiscated items,  as many as 3449.10 metric ton of wheat smuggling bids was foiled and subsequently confiscated. He added that 120 vehicles were also taken into custody  and as number of crew members were booked and arrested accordingly.

He further said that 154 vehicles of wheat products like flour, fine flour and maida smuggling bids were foiled during the period. He said that during the crackdown against the wheat products smuggling mafia, 1888.90 metric ton wheat products smuggling bids were foiled and 154 accused were booked under FoodAct, he added.

He further said that 80 truckers point were  established to supply flour to the masses on daily basis at their door steps in various markets and bazaars across the district.He said that the with the recommendation of the concerned assistant commissioners of the relevant tehsils, flour is being supplied to as many as 2200 shops on daily basis  across the district.

DNA

Islamabad, OCT 26: American Muslims, despite being merely 1% of the total US’ population and poorer than their native non-Muslim compatriots, donate around $4.5 billion annually, which is more than what the general population hands out. The conservative Muslims, moreover, also happen to be more open to diversity in their philanthropic practices. While their motivational factors may vary, including empathy and social welfare, a big reason behind this range of Muslim philanthropy is their religious beliefs and values.

These were the research findings depicting the trends of Muslim philanthropy in the US, as put by Dr Shariq Siddiqui, assistant professor, Philanthropic Studies and director, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, who was visiting Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) to deliver a talk on ‘Trends in Muslim Philanthropy and Cooperation Models’.

Underscoring the significance of research on Muslim philanthropy, Dr Siddiqui shared that these research findings and philanthropic trends equip nonprofits and philanthropic leaders and organizations with the knowledge to educate people about Muslim philanthropy, and respond to the challenges of the society. This also gives way to more questions that should be made a priority by Muslim non-profit organizations to develop empirical research.

Dr Siddiqui also presented his views on cooperation models between organizations to conduct research on Muslim philanthropy. He upheld that independent research requires adequate resources, while Muslim non-profit organizations are resource constrained with extra mandates. This serves as one of the main reasons for the shutting down of Muslim organizations and their lack of collaboration with other Muslim and interfaith organizations.

Inter-faith foundations also don’t collaborate with Muslim organizations because of their lack of knowledge about the cooperation areas where Muslim organizations can help them as well as Islamophobia and fear of involvement in terrorism-funded activities. Moreover, Muslim organizations are not as visible as they should be.

Dr Siddiqui stressed the building of associations and collaborations between Muslim nonprofit entities. In this regard, he shared the Community Collaborative Initiative advanced by him as an example of a collaboration model between 25 Muslim organizations to stimulate research based on Islamic knowledge building with an approach that brings forward all kinds of philanthropic ideas.

Furthermore, he emphasized adopting a religious philanthropic approach in a way that indigenous informal philanthropy, cultural activities, and Islamic traditional values are incorporated into Muslim philanthropy as they can unlock the contemporary problems and improve the sustainability of the society.

It is particularly important in the future when governments would increase regularizations and see themselves as funder and director of private money. Though the formal sector would attain legitimacy and profit from regulations, the informal philanthropy would be at a disadvantage.