Category: World

Lahore (Nut-Desk)

Pakistan is observing Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir today to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, as it marks two years of Indian occupied Kashmir’s(IoK) military siege.

Two years ago, on August 5 2019, the Narendra Modi government revoked the territory’s special status, withdrawing the autonomous status that the Kashmiris and Pakistan have vehemently opposed since then.

A host of events have been arranged in order to denounce the Indian unilateral, illegal actions against the Kashmiri people. Solidarity walks of one mile will be arranged in all the main cities, including the federal capital.

The participants of the walk will wear black bands and carry the flags of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. A one-minute silence was observed across the country while traffic was also halted for a minute, and sirens were sounded. Radio and television channels will play Pakistan and Azad Kashmir’s national anthems immediately after the one-minute silence.

A rally was also arranged at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mark the day. Speaking to the rally, President Alvi said no Pakistani will rest until occupied Kashmir, under Indian military siege, is not liberated.

“Pakistan will liberate occupied Kashmir,” he said. “Let me warn India that Pakistan is a strong nation,” he added.

President Alvi said that Kashmir was to become part of Pakistan at the time of partition, if it were not for India’s wrongful actions. He said Islamabad would not hold talks with New Delhi until it reversed its August 5 actions.

He said India was changing the demographics of occupied Kashmir to suit its agenda, adding that New Delhi had trampled the principles of freedom and was setting back efforts to restore peace in the region.

Speaking to the media, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan will continue to support oppressed Kashmiris. “A day will come when they get the freedom from Indian occupation. Indian Aug 5 actions have been rejected by the people of Kashmir and the rest of the world,” he noted.

 

Lahore (Nut-Desk)

Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa has stepped down as the chairman of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority. Bajwa confirmed his departure in a series of tweets saying he will be replaced by Khalid Mansoor as the CPEC Authority head.

“I bow my head before Allah Almighty for giving me an opportunity to raise & steer the important institution of CPEC Authority as one window for all CPEC projects, charting the future direction. [It] wouldn’t have been possible without full confidence& support of the PM & his Govt,” he tweeted.

“The course is set for future progression of CPEC, this journey will go on,” he continued.

“My best wishes to Kahlid Mansoor sb, who is fully equipped to take it forward. CPEC is life line for Pakistan, it will transform us into a progressive and fully developed country InshaAllah.”

NUT sources said Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the appointment of Khalid Mansoor as his special assistant on CPEC and on Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed Khalid Mansoor as his special assistant on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor affairs, resulting in the resignation of chairman of CPEC Authority, Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa.

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly signed a four-book deal with Penguin Random House. Prince Harry recently revealed he’s set to release a memoir in “late 2022”, and it has now been reported the duke and his wife Meghan are set to write three further books for the publisher.

Earlier this week, it was announced that he will publish an intimate memoir of his life, which will include the “definitive account” of his “experiences, adventures, losses and life lessons”.

This is the first time a prominent member of the royal family has written an account of their personal life. The book is reported to be only “the tip of the iceberg”. Prince Harry’s second book will be published after the Queen’s death. The Duchess of Sussex, too, will write a “wellness” guide as part of the contract. The content of a fourth installment remains is yet to be revealed.

The Duke has been overseeing the bidding process and has told publishers to start at £18 million. It is predicted that the final figure with Penguin Random House could be as high as £29 million. The book is expected to go on sale towards the end of 2022. All its proceeds will go to charity.

The description went on to say Harry’s book would cover his “lifetime in the public eye”, as well as “the joy he has found in being a husband and father”. A spokesperson for the Sussexes, on the other hand, claimed the reports were “false” and insisted that only one memoir was planned by the Duke.

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Inspired by her late father’s career, Mona decided to join the military and the first group of Saudi women soldiers to work in Islam s holiest sites, where they are helping secure the hajj annual pilgrimage.

Since April, dozens of female soldiers have become part of the security services that monitor pilgrims in Makkah and Medina, the birth places of Islam.

Dressed in a military khaki uniform, with a hip-length jacket, loose trousers and a black beret over a veil covering her hair, Mona spends her shifts roaming in the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

“I am following the steps of my late father to complete his journey, standing here at the Grand mosque in Makkah, the holiest place. To serve the worshippers is a very noble and honourable task,” said Mona, who declined to give her family name.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pushed through social and economic reforms as part of plans to modernise the conservative Muslim kingdom and attract foreign investment under a diversification drive.

Under his reform plan, known as Vision 2030, the crown prince lifted a driving ban on women, allowed adult women to travel without permission from guardians and granted them more control over family matters.

But the reform plan has been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent, including on women s rights activists. Saudi Arabia has restricted the hajj to its own citizens and residents for the second year in a row, barring millions of other pilgrims from abroad in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Samar, another soldier watching pilgrims near the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure that Muslims believe was built by Abraham, said she was encouraged by her family to join the military, after psychology studies.

“This is a huge accomplishment for us and it is the biggest pride to be in the service of religion, the country and the guests of God, the most merciful,” she said.

Lahore (Nut-Desk)

Former wife of Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday slammed anti-Semitic tirade made by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz wherein she described their sons as “Goldsmith s grandsons.

Maryam Nawaz had criticized PM Imran Khan and his sons while addressing a rally in Azad Kashmir held in connection with the forthcoming elections. Maryam was addressing a rally in Azad Kashmir when she responded to PM Imran Khan’s statement made earlier about Nawaz Sharif attending a polo match in the UK to watch Maryam’s son, Junaid Safdar, play. The PM said: “The poor should go to jail and the powerful get NROs (National Reconciliation Ordinance) and go park themselves abroad and watch their grandson’s polo match.”

She said “Junaid is Nawaz Sharif’s grandson, not Goldsmith’s. He’s Nawaz Sharif’s grandson, he’s not being raised in the lap of Jews.”

Reacting to the anti-Semitic slur on twitter, Jemima said, “My kids are “being raised in the lap of the Jews,” announced Maryam Nawaz Sharif today.” She went on to add, “I left Pakistan in 2004 after a decade of anti-semitic attacks by the media and politicians (weekly death threats and protests outside my house). But still, it continues.”

Ghilaf-e-Kaaba Changed during Hajj 2021

Lahore (Nut-Desk)

The annual ritual to change Ghilaf-e-Kaaba was held at Masjid al-Haram in Saudi Arabia where Muslims are performing second downsized Hajj due to coronavirus.

670 kg pure silk, 120 kg of gold and 100 kg of silver have been used to prepare the new Ghilaf. The covering cloth of the Kaaba, known as Kiswa, is changed on 9th Zilhaj every year on the day of Arafat.

The Hajj pilgrims will proceed to Arafat today, to perform the main ritual of “Waqoof-e-Arafat”. They will listen the sermon to be delivered at Nimra Mosque and perform Zohr and Asr prayers together.

The pilgrims will spend time in Arafat with prayers for acceptance of their pilgrimage and recitation of Qur’anic verses until sunset.

DOHA: Pakistanis can now get Qatar’s visa on arrival as the Gulf state has announced a new immigration policy and issued directives to the concerned authorities in this regard.

According to details, Pakistani citizens would be granted a 30-day tourist visa upon arrival at the airport for a fee of QAR 100 valid for a period of 30 days which can be extended for the same period.

VISA CONDITIONS: Valid passport for at least 06 months: Confirmed return ticket: Polio vaccination certificate: Confirmed hotel reservation in one of the country’s hotels during the visit period: Fully vaccinated with vaccines approved by the Ministry of Public Health and completing a period of 14 days after the last dose: Must have a certificate confirming negative PCR test completed during 48 hours from the time of arrival.

The visitors have been asked to register themselves on the Ehteraz platform (WWW.EHTERAZ.GOV.QA) to obtain the approval of Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health before travelling. Passengers who have not received both doses of the vaccine 14 days prior to arrival will not be allowed to enter.