Arafat, JUN 15: More than 1.5 million Muslims braved extreme heat to reach Mount Arafat on Saturday for the high point of the annual Haj pilgrimage, praying for hours, especially for Palestinians in conflict-ridden Gaza.

Clad in white, worshippers began arriving at dawn for the most gruelling day of the annual rites, ascending the rocky, 70-metre hill where Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) gave his last sermon.

“This is the most important day,” said 46-year-old Egyptian Mohammed Asser, who came prepared with a list of prayers. “I pray also for the Palestinians. May God help them.”

This year’s Haj is unfolding in the shadow of the fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which was triggered by the latter’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7.

The assault resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Israel’s retaliatory military offensive and bombardment in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 37,266 people, also mostly civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.

Saudi Arabia’s minister in charge of religious pilgrimages, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, warned last week that “no political activity” would be tolerated during Haj.

But that did not stop at least one pilgrim from chanting in support of the Palestinians who have endured more than eight months of incessant bombardment.

“Pray for our brothers in Palestine, in Gaza … may God give victory to the Muslims,” he shouted.

In a message to Haj pilgrims on Saturday, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said“ “The ironclad resistance of Palestine and the patient, oppressed people of Gaza … must be fully supported in every way.”

Some 2,000 Palestinians are performing the Haj at the special invitation of Saudi King Salman, official media said.

Haj, one of the world’s biggest religious gatherings, is increasingly affected by climate change, according to a Saudi study published last month that said regional temperatures were rising 0.4 degree Celsius each decade.

The rituals, which take at least five days to complete and are mostly outdoors, are “not easy because it is very hot”, said Abraman Hawa, 26, from Ghana.

“We have sun … but it is not as hot. But I will pray to Allah at Arafat, because I need his support,” she added.

The temperature was expected to hit 43°C today, creating challenges for pilgrims who arrived at Mount Arafat after spending the night in a giant tented city in Mina, a valley outside Makkah.

Saudi authorities have urged pilgrims to drink plenty of water and protect themselves from the sun. Since men are prohibited from wearing hats, many carry umbrellas.

Mustafa, an Algerian pilgrim who gave only his first name, clung to his umbrella which was handed out by Haj organisers, saying, “It’s what saves you here”.

Another man, an Egyptian who preferred to remain anonymous, said he was drinking “a lot of juice and water” and had twice stopped to rest on the roadside.

More than 10,000 heat-related illnesses were recorded last year, 10 per cent of them heat stroke, a Saudi official told AFP this week.

Ahmad Karim Abdelsalam, a 33-year-old pilgrim from India, admitted that he found the prospect of passing hours on Mount Arafat “a little scary”.

But with the help of an umbrella and water sprays, “God willing, everything will go well”, he said.

Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and all Muslims with the means must perform it at least once. Yet visas, doled out to individual countries on a quota system, can be difficult to obtain.

“It’s a chance that only comes once in a lifetime, I couldn’t not come,” said Abdulrahman Siyam, a 55-year-old Iraqi pilgrim who was performing the rituals on a prosthetic leg.

After Mount Arafat, the pilgrims will head to Muzdalifah, where they will collect pebbles to carry out the symbolic “stoning of the devil” ritual in Mina on Sunday.

The Haj is an important source of legitimacy for the Al Saud dynasty, whose monarch has the title “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques”, in Makkah and Madina.

It is also a major financial windfall for the conservative country, which is trying to develop religious tourism as part of a drive to reduce its dependence on crude oil.

The kingdom received more than 1.8 million pilgrims last year for Haj, around 90pc of whom came from abroad.

It also welcomed 13.5m Muslims who came to perform Umrah and aims to reach 30m pilgrims in total by 2030.

Premier Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated the entire country and Muslims everywhere on the annual Haj pilgrimage and Eidul Azha.

“We all pray to Allah that he accepts our prayers and sacrifices,” he said while addressing the nation.

ISLAMABAD, JUN 15 /DNA/ – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to abolish all institutions, ministries and departments that have become a burden on the exchequer, saying that this move alone will save tax payers’ billions of rupees and put the country on the path of prosperity.

“The abolishment of all ministries and department which, instead of serving [nation], have become a burden on the masses is indispensable,” the premier stated while addressing the nation on Saturday.

“When we came to power, the economic conditions at that time were evident to everyone, and we saved the country from default,” the premier said.

The PM gave credit to the last Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance and the top leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) including President Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for pulling the country out of difficult economic situation.

Appreciating his government’s prudent economic policies, PM Shehbaz said the country was now moving on a path of progress after coming out of economic difficulties.

“However, this way is not only difficult and long but also requires sacrifice from higher-ups in the government and the elite. The entire nation’s eyes are set on the government to see how it steers Pakistan out of the economic crisis and brings about a revolution of prosperity in the country,” he added.

PM Shehbaz said that since he retook the reins of the country with the help of people’s support in form of votes and trust, inflation had dropped to 12% from 38% as a result of the government’s policies.

“This would promote investment and the country would walk down the path of prosperity at a greater pace,” PM Shehbaz said.

PM Shehbaz then referred to the latest petrol and diesel price cuts as a “relief” to the inflation-hit masses.

He, however, admitted that these steps were still not enough amid “storm of inflation” during the last four years that “broke the backbone” of poor class.

PM Shehbaz promised the nation to take further measures to keep providing relief to them and bringing down the inflation, expand investments and provide opportunities of higher education to the youngsters.

“We are not only serious about making Quaid’s dream true but also assure the nation that no difficulty would be an obstacle in our way if we work hard and keep the sentiment of sacrifice and selflessness alive,” he added.

The prime minister said: “Lamenting the past serves no purpose; instead, we must learn from it to reclaim Pakistan’s lost glory.” He emphasised the commitment to realising the vision of Quaid-e-Azam, saying that with a spirit of sacrifice and dedication, “no one can impede our progress.”=DNA

BJP may need to moderate its approach

ISLAMABAD, JUN 15 /DNA/ – The BJP’s dominance in the Indian political landscape is poised to decline with the rise of a strong opposition in the parliament and the assertive stance of a consolidated Muslim electorate against the Hindu exclusionist parties. This sets the stage for a significant shift, potentially necessitating a more moderate approach from the BJP to adapt to the evolving political environment.

These views were expressed by speakers at a session titled “Indian 18th Lok Sabha Elections: Results and Realities” organized by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad. The session was chaired by Khalid Rahman, chairman IPS, and moderated by Syed Nadeem Farhat, senior research fellow at IPS. The speakers included Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, Iftikhar Gillani, Ankara-based senior Kashmiri journalist, Brig. (r) Said Nazir, defense and security analyst, Farzana Yaqoob, former AJK minister and secretary IPS Working Group on Kashmir, and Usama Hameed, an IPS associate.

Highlighting a significant shift in the Indian electorate’s behavior, Iftikhar Gillani noted that voters prioritized local candidate performance over Modi’s popularity. He noted the BJP’s slogan “Abki Baar 400 Paar” lacked empirical support while it was aimed at securing a parliamentary majority to amend the Indian Constitution. This agenda has raised concerns among minorities and Dalits about losing their special rights, and worked in favor of the Indian National Congress in augmenting the anti-BJP sentiment.

Gillani also emphasized the growing assertiveness among Muslims reacting to their systematic marginalization and victimization, which underscored their political maturity under the factor of fear generated during a decade-long BJP rule in the center. He noted the significant development of common strategies of the marginalized communities which garnered rare solidarity between Dalits, Muslims, and Other Backward Classes, hinting at new dynamics and undercurrents in the Indian society.
Ambassador Abrar noted that the BJP alliance’s extremist stance could be mitigated if the Congress alliance delivers a strong performance, potentially reducing the prevalence of hate-based politics.

Talking about the global perception of India’s policies and the reality of its internal politics, Usama Hameed remarked that despite efforts to downplay Pakistan’s relevance, BJP leaders frequently mentioned Pakistan in their speeches. He pointed out that the consolidated vote banks and strategic voting behaviors of Muslims have significantly impacted the election results, even though the number of Muslim candidates had decreased.

In this regard, Said Nazir stressed the need to analyze the impact of BJP’s policies on religious minorities over the past decade. He pondered whether Prime Minister Modi would pursue damage control or escalate these issues in the next five years.
He also emphasized the importance of scrutinizing the reactions of the RSS and other right-wing factions. He speculated that if Pakistan followed an appeasement policy against the arrogant Indian behavior, it might embolden India to continue blaming and stigmatizing Pakistan as a weaker state. Referring to the statements of Indian external affairs minister Jaishankar, in which he again attributed terrorism to Pakistan, the analyst advised the Pakistani government and politicians to follow calculated policies regarding the Eastern neighbor.

In his concluding remarks, Khalid Rahman emphasized that the stability and longevity of the BJP-led alliance is critically dependent on intra-party and inter-party interactions. He said given the self-centered political and administrative characteristics of the Indian prime minister, managing a coalition government would be particularly challenging for him. He also highlighted the importance of analyzing societal transformations in India to understand election outcomes. He pointed out that vulnerable groups might continue to face challenges due to the mindset of the society that has formed over the BJP’s last two tenures.

MINA, JUN 15: More than 1.5 million pilgrims descended on the tent city of Mina on Friday, the Day of Tarwiyah, to mark the beginning of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, chanting “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik” (“Here I am, O God, here I am answering your call”).

Pilgrims arrived from all corners of the globe, beginning their journey to Mina early on Friday, Dhul-Hijjah 8, either by vehicles or on foot.

By Thursday night, roads leading to Mina were filled with pilgrims heading to the Holy Site, where they will camp in one of the world’s largest tent cities.

The valley of Mina echoed with the chanting of talbiyah as pilgrims from about 180 countries converged, praising God in an atmosphere of spirituality and faith.

This year’s Hajj, one of the largest religious gatherings globally, includes over 1.5 million pilgrims along with hundreds of thousands of domestic participants.

Upon arriving in Makkah on Thursday, pilgrims performed Tawaf Al-Qudum (Tawaf of Arrival) before proceeding to Mina.

Following the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), pilgrims will spend the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina, engaged in supplications and final preparations for the main Hajj rituals, including the Standing at Arafat on Saturday.

In their Friday sermons at the Two Holy Mosques, imams encouraged pilgrims to seek forgiveness and perform the Hajj rituals with piety.

Sheikh Bandar bin Abdulaziz from the Grand Mosque in Makkah and Dr. Abdul Bari Al-Thubaiti from the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah emphasized the importance of fearing God in all aspects of life.

This year’s Hajj also includes special groups such as 3322 guests of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, including 2000 Palestinian pilgrims from families affected by conflict, 1300 guests from various countries.

It also includes 22 pilgrims from families of conjoined twins recently separated in the Kingdom. Additionally, Syrian pilgrims are participating in Hajj after a 12-year hiatus, arriving via direct flights from Damascus to Jeddah.

The Saudi authorities and Hajj missions from different countries have meticulously prepared to ensure a smooth pilgrimage, despite the challenging heat.

With temperatures posing health risks, the Ministry of Health issued advisories for pilgrims to stay hydrated, seek shade, and avoid direct sunlight during peak heat hours. These precautions are essential for ensuring the well-being of all pilgrims during this sacred journey.

ISLAMABAD, JUN 14 /DNA/ – As the world celebrates the 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day, Pakistan’s largest telecommunication and ICT services provider, PTCL Group (PTCL & Ufone 4G) perpetuates its compassionate legacy of saving lives and ensuring steady blood supply at hospitals and blood banks through its annual blood donation drive.

This year, PTCL Group joined forces with Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) for the drive, held at the Ufone Tower in Islamabad. PTCL & Ufone 4G management and employees, participated in the drive with remarkable enthusiasm and conviction in the significance of their contributions. The campaign is held every year under PTCL Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program to create shared value for fellow citizens and society.

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated to raise awareness regarding the significance of blood donations. The PTCL fraternity is conscious that blood is a non-replicable resource coming only from donors, and that, patients depend on the empathy of fellow citizens for essential medical treatments, surgeries, and emergencies, especially for patients with critical medical conditions like thalassemia, anemia, cancer, trauma, and more.

The selfless contributions of blood donors save millions of lives each year, including those of children. That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the day to recognize the love and humanity of blood donors worldwide, with the theme; ‘20 years of celebrating giving: thank you blood donors!’

Group Chief Marketing Officer, PTCL & Ufone 4G, Syed Atif Raza expressed his gratitude to PRCS for the collaboration and said, “Humanity and altruism are central to the religious and cultural ethos of our society, and shape PTCL Group’s vision for volunteerism, corporate philanthropy, and CSR. We are grateful to be part of a campaign that aims to save the lives of fellow citizens, including children, and fosters mutual empathy, solidarity, and social good. PTCL Group remains committed to exploring ways to create shared value and promote social good for the communities we serve and society at large.”

PTCL Group actively contributes to society, the economy, and the environment through its robust CSR and Volunteerism programs, thereby anchoring it strongly as a conscious and responsible corporate citizen of the country.

Petrol price cut by Rs 10 per liter

ISLAMABAD, JUN 14 /DNA/ – Two major announcements by Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif have been made in one day. After making electricity cheaper for industries, Prime Minister’s big Eid for the people on Eid comes in the shape of reduction of petrol prices.

A big reduction in the price of petrol by 10 rupees 20 paise per liter

While Reduction in the price of diesel by 2 rupees 33 paise per liter has been announced. 

On June 1, the government had reduced the price of petrol by Rs 4 74 paise and the price of diesel by Rs 3 86 paise per litre. So far, a total relief of 35 rupees has been given to the public in the price of petrol per liter.