You are here

  • Home
  • Hundreds attend Yahya Sinwar’s funeral in Karachi, condemn western support for Israel’s war

Hundreds attend Yahya Sinwar’s funeral in Karachi, condemn western support for Israel’s war

Hundreds attend Yahya Sinwar’s funeral in Karachi, condemn western support for Israel’s war
People gather for the funeral prayer of Yahya Sinwar in Karachi, Pakistan on October 19, 2024. (AN Photo)
Short Url

https://arab.news/btsmb

Updated 19 October 2024
Follow

Hundreds attend Yahya Sinwar’s funeral in Karachi, condemn western support for Israel’s war

Hundreds attend Yahya Sinwar’s funeral in Karachi, condemn western support for Israel’s war
  • Reportedly the architect of last year’s Hamas attack in Israel, Sinwar was killed on battlefield on Thursday
  • People attending the symbolic funeral say Palestinians remain steadfast even after one year of Israel’s war
Updated 19 October 2024
NAIMAT KHAN
Follow

KARACHI: Hundreds of people gathered in Karachi on Saturday for the funeral prayer of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader killed on the battlefield two days ago, criticizing the United States and European countries for backing Israel’s war and asserting that the loss of leadership would not stop Palestinian resistance.
Sinwar was widely regarded as the architect of last year’s attack in Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the taking of nearly 250 hostages. Hamas described the cross-border raid as a response to the deteriorating conditions of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
The incident ignited a full-scale Israeli military assault on the Gaza Strip, which has lasted for over a year, killing about 43,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and destroying hospitals, residential neighborhoods and refugee camps while uprooting millions in the region.
Sinwar survived the Israeli airstrikes, fighting against heavily armed soldiers until the end. Israeli forces tried to pinpoint his location inside a badly damaged building in Gaza using a drone. In his final act of defiance, however, he threw a stick at the drone before his death.
“The mountain of resilience, Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas, has laid down his life while resisting Israeli terrorism in Palestine and has now returned to his Lord,” Muneem Zafar Khan, the top leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) religio-political party in Karachi, which arranged the symbolic funeral, told the people.
“The United States, Britain, Germany and France are all aligned against the oppressed,” he added.
Khan said despite more than a year of resistance, Palestinian children and mothers remain steadfast.
The JI leader said the US, Britain and Israel must understand they cannot defeat the Palestinian resistance despite all their efforts.
A Hamas spokesman, Khaled Qadumi, also addressed the gathering over the phone, describing “the stories of martyrs” as a beacon of hope for peace and the beginning of the journey to freedom.
“The battle between faith and disbelief continues, and the criminals are celebrating Yahya Sinwar’s martyrdom,” he said. “The forces of falsehood believe they have won, but the blood of Yahya Sinwar and all martyrs will bear fruit.”

Topics: Yahya Sinwar

Pakistan’s naval chief tours Dutch shipyard, briefed on ship maintenance and construction

Pakistan’s naval chief tours Dutch shipyard, briefed on ship maintenance and construction
Updated 19 October 2024
Follow

Pakistan’s naval chief tours Dutch shipyard, briefed on ship maintenance and construction

Pakistan’s naval chief tours Dutch shipyard, briefed on ship maintenance and construction
  • Pakistan has been actively working to bolster its naval capabilities through induction of advanced warships
  • Both sides discussed greater interaction between their armed forces through exercises, exchange programs
Updated 19 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Naveed Ashraf took a detailed tour of a shipyard during his official visit to the Netherlands, where he was briefed on the maintenance and construction of various ships, according to a statement released by the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad on Saturday.
Pakistan has been actively working to bolster its naval capabilities through the induction of advanced warships. Recently, it inducted PNS Babur and PNS Hunain, two state-of-the-art vessels, into its fleet.
These warships are part of a broader effort to enhance maritime security and operational readiness. PNS Babur, constructed in Turkiye, and PNS Hunain, an offshore patrol vessel from Romania, are equipped with cutting-edge technology to address both surface and air threats.
This move underscores Pakistan’s focus on modernizing its navy to protect its maritime interests​
“Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf called on Military and Naval Leadership of the Netherlands during an official visit [to that country],” the official statement informed, adding that professional matters of mutual interest, including bilateral defense collaboration, came under discussion.
It said the naval chief underscored the importance of enhancing interactions between the armed forces of both countries through exercises and training exchange program.
“Later on, the Naval Chief visited DAMEN Shipyard of Royal Netherlands Navy and Zeven De Provincién Class Frigate,” the statement continued. “During his visits CNS was given a detailed briefing on ships’ maintenance and construction activities.”
Admiral Ashraf also visited Royal Netherlands Navy Headquarters and called on Commander Royal Netherlands Navy, Vice Admiral René Tas.
During the meeting, matters of defense ties and mutual bilateral naval collaboration and regional maritime security were discussed.
The naval chief highlighted the contribution of Pakistan Navy toward regional maritime peace and stability through its initiative of Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) and participation in Combined Maritime Force.
The statement said his visit to the Netherlands was expected to further augment and expand defense ties between the two countries.

Topics: Admiral Naveed Ashraf Pakistan Navy

Pakistani minister claims enough support to pass contentious amendment seeking judicial reforms

Pakistani minister claims enough support to pass contentious amendment seeking judicial reforms
Updated 19 October 2024
Follow

Pakistani minister claims enough support to pass contentious amendment seeking judicial reforms

Pakistani minister claims enough support to pass contentious amendment seeking judicial reforms
  • Khawaja Asif says the 26th Constitutional Amendment is designed to uphold the supremacy of parliament
  • PTI says ex-PM Imran Khan has asked the party leadership to continue negotiations over the amendment
Updated 19 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Defense Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Saturday that the government had enough support in the National Assembly and Senate to pass the 26th Constitutional Amendment, aimed at ensuring parliamentary supremacy through judicial reforms, but sought broader political consensus to solidify the legislation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has been attempting to introduce a set of constitutional changes since last month, which the country’s opposition and prominent lawyers argue is designed to grant more power to the executive in making judicial appointments.

The proposed amendments initially suggested establishing a federal constitutional court, raising the retirement age of superior judges by three years, and modifying the process for appointing the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The PTI believed the amendments were intended to grant an extension to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is widely thought to be aligned with the government and opposed to its chief rival, ex-PM Imran Khan, though the ruling administration denied the allegation.

Different political parties prepared various drafts of the constitutional amendment during several rounds of negotiations before announcing their agreement on the proposed judicial reforms and submitting it to the parliamentary committee that announced unanimous approval a day earlier.

“We would like to develop a broad-based consensus within the assembly and the Senate,” Asif told the media in Islamabad. “Legislation like this doesn’t happen every day. Occasionally, you feel the need to amend the constitution, and for that, the more consensus that can be developed, the better. Otherwise, I would say that we already have the necessary numbers.”

Speaking about the rationale behind the amendment, he said it was to address the institutional imbalance in Pakistan.

“A major objective of this amendment is to establish the supremacy of Parliament, which is guaranteed by the Constitution,” he explained. “We want to eliminate the encroachment on our turf.”

The minister specifically mentioned Supreme Court verdicts in political matters over the last two to three years, saying they undermined parliamentary decision-making. He noted that the 26th Constitutional Amendment sought to address this issue and confine the judiciary to its own domain.

Asif said all political parties agreed with the objective in principle.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told the media after meeting the party’s founding leader in a high-security prison that ex-PM Khan had allowed his party to continue negotiations over the amendment.

The former prime minister has been in jail for over a year on multiple charges, which he claims are politically motivated.

The PTI chairman said he briefed Khan on the ongoing talks regarding the constitutional amendment, expressing hope that the party would finalize its position after the next round of discussions with its jailed leader on Monday.

 

Topics: 26th Constitutional Amendment Khawaja Muhammad Asif

Pakistani forces kill two militants, capture five in Balochistan operations

Pakistani forces kill two militants, capture five in Balochistan operations
Updated 19 October 2024
Follow

Pakistani forces kill two militants, capture five in Balochistan operations

Pakistani forces kill two militants, capture five in Balochistan operations
  • Military’s media wing says the militants were involved in several attacks on Pakistani officials and civilians
  • Security forces also recovered a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, explosives and suicide vests
Updated 19 October 2024
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Security forces in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province conducted two separate intelligence-based operations, killing two militants and apprehending five more, according to an official statement circulated by the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Saturday.
Balochistan, which shares its border with Iran and Afghanistan, has been the scene of a low-level insurgency by separatist Baloch militant groups. Pakistani authorities believe these armed ethnic outfits are also supported by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose fighters mainly generate violence in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Nearly two months ago, Balochistan witnessed a series of coordinated militant attacks across different parts of the province, killing more than 50 people. Subsequently, Pakistani officials vowed to launch “smart kinetic operations” to deal with the situation, rather than a full-scale military campaign.
“On 18 October 24, security forces conducted a successful intelligence-based operation in [Balochistan’s] District Pishin on the reported presence of Khwarij [militants],” the ISPR said in the statement. “During the operation, five Khwarij were apprehended, and a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, and explosives, including three suicide vests, were seized.”
The statement said the captured militants were involved in multiple attacks targeting security forces and civilians.
It added that in another operation in District Zhob on October 17, two militants were killed during an intense exchange of fire.
The ISPR said Pakistani forces recovered a large quantity of weapons and ammunition from the possession of the dead militants.
It noted that security forces remain steadfast in their commitment to eradicating militant violence from the country and protecting the people from such armed factions.

Topics: Pakistan Military Militancy

Pakistan’s UN envoy criticizes Israel for undermining global legal order

Pakistan’s UN envoy criticizes Israel for undermining global legal order
Updated 19 October 2024
Follow

Pakistan’s UN envoy criticizes Israel for undermining global legal order

Pakistan’s UN envoy criticizes Israel for undermining global legal order
  • Munir Akram says countries eroding international law seek to impose their own interpretations of it on others
  • He points out that ‘restrictive norms developed by non-inclusive forums’ should not be imposed globally
Updated 19 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations criticized Israel for undermining the global legal order on Friday, saying that countries weakening international norms are often at the forefront of demanding that other states uphold the rules-based system.

Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, made this observation while delivering a statement at the Sixth Committee of the world body. The committee handles international legal issues, serving as a forum where member states can discuss and work on questions related to international law. In essence, it is the UN's body responsible for ensuring that legal frameworks are robust and aligned with contemporary challenges.

“Today, we are witnessing before our eyes the destruction of the rule of law at the international level, especially in the genocidal war which Israel has imposed on the people of Palestine and the Middle East,” Akram said while addressing the forum, as reported by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.

He noted that the world was witnessing similar trends, such as violations of international humanitarian law, the dismantling of arms control and disarmament treaties, violence against religious and ethnic minorities and targeted assassinations in third countries.

“Yet, some countries complicit in this erosion of international law continue to advocate adherence to this rule of law, but only as they interpret and apply it,” he added.

The Pakistani diplomat highlighted the urgent need to clarify the idea of rule of law in international governance, emphasizing the critical relationship between national and international law and the necessity of ensuring that existing laws are properly observed and applied.

Additionally, he expressed concerns about selective interpretation and the imposition of restrictive norms developed by non-inclusive forums, without the consent of all UN member states.

He said these norms, such as arms control regimes, should not be imposed globally without universal participation. He also stressed that international law must be adopted through inclusive platforms, giving all nations equal footing.

Akram also called for a clearer distinction between national obligations and international law, reaffirming that no state should impose its national laws on others through coercive measures, which, he added, constituted a violation of the international rule of law.

The Pakistani envoy urged the committee to task the International Law Commission with clarifying the concept of the rule of law and suggested seeking an advisory opinion on the issue from the International Court of Justice.

Topics: Munir Akram

Key ally meets Pakistan PM as efforts to pass contentious constitutional amendments gain pace

Key ally meets Pakistan PM as efforts to pass contentious constitutional amendments gain pace
Updated 19 October 2024
Follow

Key ally meets Pakistan PM as efforts to pass contentious constitutional amendments gain pace

Key ally meets Pakistan PM as efforts to pass contentious constitutional amendments gain pace
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has been attempting to introduce a set of constitutional changes since last month
  • Opposition and prominent lawyers argue the amendments aim to grant more power to the executive in judicial appointments
Updated 19 October 2024
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of a key coalition partner has met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, Sharif’s office said on Saturday, as the ruling coalition intensified its efforts to get a contentious constitutional amendment package approved by parliament.
Sharif’s administration has been attempting to introduce a set of constitutional changes since last month, which the country’s opposition and prominent lawyers argue are aimed at granting more power to the executive in making judicial appointments.
The proposed amendments initially suggested establishing a federal constitutional court, raising the retirement age of superior judges by three years and modifying the process for appointing the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
On Saturday, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that supports Sharif’s government, led a delegation of the PPP members to a meeting with the prime minister.
“Peoples Party delegation meets with the prime minister,” Sharif’s office said in a statement. “Discussions and consultation on the current political situation took place at the meeting.”
The development came a day after Bhutto-Zardari expressed optimism that the constitutional amendments would soon be adopted as political parties were close to reaching a consensus to secure the required majority.
However, Gohar Khan, chairman of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition party, said a fourth draft of the constitutional amendments, containing 26 points, was shared with his party on Friday, adding that the PTI was still deliberating on it.
The PTI has previously said the amendments are intended to grant an extension to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is widely thought to be aligned with the government and opposed to its chief rival, ex-PM Khan, though the ruling administration denied the allegation.
Different political parties prepared various drafts of the constitutional amendments during several rounds of negotiations before announcing their agreement on the proposed judicial reforms and submitting it to a parliamentary committee, comprising government and opposition politicians, on Friday.
“The special parliamentary committee has unanimously approved the draft of the 26th Constitutional Amendment today, Friday,” Syed Khursheed Shah, the committee chairman from the PPP, told the media on Friday.
“It will now be presented to the cabinet for approval before being submitted to both houses of parliament.”
Khan’s PTI said its leadership was due to meet their leader today, Saturday, who has been imprisoned in a high-security jail for over a year on multiple charges. The PTI had also given a nationwide protest call for Friday against the constitutional amendments, though its supporters only came out in small numbers in various Pakistani cities.

Topics: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

Latest updates

Kamala Harris says she won’t give up pushing for end to Israel-Gaza war
Kamala Harris says she won’t give up pushing for end to Israel-Gaza war
ASMO boosts Saudi presence with new partnerships, HQs
ASMO boosts Saudi presence with new partnerships, HQs
Djokovic wins final dance against Nadal, ending legendary rivalry at Six Kings Slam
Djokovic wins final dance against Nadal, ending legendary rivalry at Six Kings Slam
New Murabba honored at Saudi Green Building Forum
Michael Dyke, CEO of New Murabba, receives the award from Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail.
Third Zakat, Tax and Customs Conference to be held in December
Stc Bank

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2024 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.