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Pakistan Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff: China corridor is ‘stabilizing force’ for South Asia

Pakistan Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff: China corridor is ‘stabilizing force’ for South Asia
The screengrab taken from the video by China News Service on September 13, 2024 shows Pakistan's Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza addressing 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, China. (China News Service via Reuters)
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Updated 13 September 2024
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Pakistan Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff: China corridor is ‘stabilizing force’ for South Asia

Pakistan Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff: China corridor is ‘stabilizing force’ for South Asia
  • General Sahir Shamshad Mirza emphasizes Pakistan’s strategic bond with China at a major Beijing forum
  • He hails CPEC as a game-changing initiative to ensure greater regional connectivity and economic growth
Updated 13 September 2024
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza said on Friday the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was not just beneficial for his country’s economy but also a “stabilizing force” for South Asia.

CPEC is a massive infrastructure and economic development initiative that was launched in 2015 as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It aims to enhance connectivity between the two states through a network of roads, railways, energy projects, and special economic zones.

The primary goal of CPEC is to improve Pakistan’s infrastructure, boost trade, and create jobs while providing China with direct access to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan’s Gwadar Port.

It is widely viewed as a strategic partnership between the two countries that has the potential to reshape the region’s economic geography.

“Our relations with [the] People’s Republic of China are truly special and time-tested relationship that not only serves as a testament to our all-weather strategic cooperative partnership but also as a cornerstone for peace and stability, both for Pakistan and the region that are today fraught with challenges,” Mirza said while addressing the Security Cooperation and Asia-Pacific Prosperity and Stability Session of the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in China.

“Ladies and gentlemen, [the] China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative,” he continued. “It is an initiative of enhanced regional connectivity and economic development. Indeed, CPEC is not only a game changer for Pakistan’s economy, but also a stabilizing force in South Asia.”

The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum is being held from September 12 to 14, with unprecedented participation from over 100 countries and organizations. Under the theme of “Promoting Peace for a Shared Future,” this year’s event features critical discussions on global security, regional stability, and innovative technologies in defense.

The Pakistan government is already negotiating “CPEC 2.0” to mark the second phase of the joint corridor project carried out by the two countries, shifting the focus from infrastructure and energy projects to industrial cooperation, agriculture, socio-economic development and technological advancements.

CPEC 2.0 also aims to develop new Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to attract foreign investment and boost industrial growth, as part of Pakistan’s economic revitalization strategy.

– With input from China News Service via Reuters

Topics: Pakistan China Ties CPEC General Sahir Shamshad Mirza Arab News Pakistan

Pakistan dismissed for 556 after Salman Agha hits hundred in first Test

Pakistan dismissed for 556 after Salman Agha hits hundred in first Test
Updated 1 min 45 sec ago
AFP
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Pakistan dismissed for 556 after Salman Agha hits hundred in first Test

Pakistan dismissed for 556 after Salman Agha hits hundred in first Test
  • Left-arm spinner Jack Leach was the most successful of all English bowlers with 3-160
  • Agha remained unbeaten on 104 as last man Abrar Ahmed was caught by Ben Duckett
Updated 1 min 45 sec ago
AFP

MULTAN: Pakistan were dismissed for a mammoth 556 in their first innings on the second day of the opening Test against England on Tuesday, after Salman Agha hit a century.

Agha remained unbeaten on 104 – his third Test hundred – as last man Abrar Ahmed was caught by Ben Duckett off Joe Root for three after Pakistan resumed the day in Multan at 328-4.

Pakistan lost Naseem Shah (33) and Mohammad Rizwan (naught) in the first session. Saud Shakeel scored 82 while Shaheen Shah Afridi made 26.

Left-arm spinner Jack Leach was the most successful English bowler with 3-160 while Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse took two wickets apiece.

Topics: Pakistan v England

Imran Khan, KP chief minister named in police complaint over constable’s death in Islamabad

Imran Khan, KP chief minister named in police complaint over constable’s death in Islamabad
Updated 55 min 22 sec ago
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Imran Khan, KP chief minister named in police complaint over constable’s death in Islamabad

Imran Khan, KP chief minister named in police complaint over constable’s death in Islamabad
  • The cop lost his life during a clash with PTI supporters who wanted to protest for Khan’s release in the capital
  • Police specifically mention the PTI president of Islamabad, accusing him of torturing the constable who died
Updated 55 min 22 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur have been named in a police complaint after the death of a constable in Islamabad during the recent protest by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Clashes erupted in the federal capital and nearby cities on Friday and Saturday as police tried to stop PTI supporters from entering Islamabad, with officials accusing protesters of throwing stones, firing bullets and launching tear gas shells, causing dozens of injuries and one death.
PTI supporters, mainly arriving from KP under Gandapur’s leadership, were responding to Khan’s call to gather in Islamabad and protest near the parliament building.
The police complaint, filed over the weekend and reported by the media on Tuesday, also named PTI stalwarts Omar Ayub, Azam Swati and Islamabad president Aamir Mughal, accusing some of inciting the violent protests while others of actively participating in them.
“Through court orders, Imran Khan has been given unusual and unnecessary contact and meeting facilities outside of the jail manual, due to which he continues to incite his political workers to violence against the state and its institutions,” the police complaint read.
“He directs the PTI to lead such violent crowds that could create chaos and disorder in the country,” it added. “Acting on these orders, Ali Amin Gandapur, using provincial government resources, provided support and directly and indirectly led the protesters, ordering them to reach D-Chowk [in Islamabad for protest] and attack or kill any security personnel who stood in their way to free Imran Khan.”
The official document particularly mentioned the PTI’s Islamabad president, accusing him of direct involvement in the death of the police constable.
“Aamir Mughal, along with other participants, forcibly grabbed Constable Abdul Hameed and assaulted him with kicks, punches, sticks and stones,” it said while referring to a clash at the entry point of the capital.
The police said that violence occurred despite warnings to PTI supporters that the government had imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibits large gatherings.
It claimed that Constable Hameed was “kidnapped” and tortured.
He was later found unconscious by his colleagues but succumbed to his injuries.

Topics: Imran Khan PTI

Pakistan to sign agreements worth over $2 billion with Saudis later this week — PM

Pakistan to sign agreements worth over $2 billion with Saudis later this week — PM
Updated 08 October 2024
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Pakistan to sign agreements worth over $2 billion with Saudis later this week — PM

Pakistan to sign agreements worth over $2 billion with Saudis later this week — PM
  • Saudi Arabia’s investment minister is scheduled to visit Pakistan from Oct. 9-11 with high-level delegation 
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif vows government will not let opposition “sabotage” Pakistan’s economic progress 
Updated 08 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will sign agreements worth over $2 billion with an incoming delegation from Saudi Arabia later this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday, vowing that his government will not let the opposition derail the country from its path to economic progress. 

Saudi Arabia’s Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih is scheduled to visit Pakistan with a high-level delegation from Oct. 9-11, Pakistan’s foreign office confirmed on Monday. The Saudi delegation will arrive in Islamabad ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit scheduled to be held in the capital from Oct. 15-16. Pakistan’s foreign office said the Saudi delegation’s visit is aimed at boosting economic cooperation between the two countries. 

Addressing his cabinet members, Sharif took aim at former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, saying that its protests last week were aimed at hurting the country’s current economic gains. 

“And now that a Saudi delegation is coming and we are to sign agreements or MoUs worth more than $2 billion with them, to sabotage all these efforts is the biggest enmity against Pakistan,” the prime minister said during his televised address. 

“We will not allow this, we will not tolerate this and under no circumstances this will be allowed. Under any rate, under any cost,” he added. 

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been closely working in recent months to increase bilateral trade and investment deals, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to expedite an investment package of $5 billion to the South Asian country earlier this year.

Pakistan has been eyeing closer cooperation in trade, defense, energy and other sectors of the economy with regional allies as it seeks to escape a prolonged economic crisis that has drained its foreign exchange reserves and weakened its currency. 

The South Asian country formed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a hybrid civil-military body, last year to fast-track decisions related to investment. The SIFC seeks to attract foreign investment, particularly from Gulf countries, for its viral economic sectors. 

'UNBREACHABLE SECURITY'

The Pakistani prime minister also spoke about the Karachi blast on Sunday night that killed three people, including two Chinese nationals. The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which routinely targets Chinese interests in Pakistan, had claimed responsibility for the incident.

Sharif said when a suicide bomber killed five Chinese engineers working on a hydropower project in Pakistan during March this year, the Chinese government sent Pakistan a “concerning” message, asking Islamabad to strengthen security measures for its citizens. 

The Pakistani prime minister said he had informed Chinese officials that Pakistan regretted the incident and was embarrassed by it. 

“But this does not mean that we will let go of matters. Our spirits are higher than they were before,” Sharif said. “And we will not spare any effort in strengthening these matters and to make security unbreachable [for Chinese nationals],” he added. 

The Pakistani prime minister said he had informed China’s ambassador in Islamabad regarding the security measures being taken by Pakistan ahead of the SCO summit. 

China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan, having pledged over $65 billion in road, infrastructure and development projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, that aims to connect China to the Arabian Sea and help Islamabad expand and modernize its economy.

Pakistani woman, cousin arrested for poisoning 13 family members over marriage dispute

Pakistani woman, cousin arrested for poisoning 13 family members over marriage dispute
Updated 08 October 2024
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Pakistani woman, cousin arrested for poisoning 13 family members over marriage dispute

Pakistani woman, cousin arrested for poisoning 13 family members over marriage dispute
  • Incident took place in a settlement in Sindh after the girl’s father opposed the marriage
  • Police initially suspected that the family had died after consuming contaminated milk
Updated 08 October 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistani police have arrested a woman and her cousin for allegedly poisoning 13 family members to death after facing opposition to their marriage, a police official said on Tuesday.

Ameer Bux Brohi and Shaista Brohi, cousins from a small settlement in Sindh, had hoped to marry each other, but their families disapproved of their decision. Last month, Ameer brought poison, which Shaista mixed into the dough, killing six people instantly. Seven more died later while receiving medical treatment.

Initially, authorities believed the victims had died from consuming contaminated milk. However, chemical analysis conducted by the Sukkur Chemical Laboratory confirmed the presence of toxic substances, including insecticide and benzodiazepine, in the bodies of the deceased.

“We have arrested both Ameer Bux Brohi and Shaista Brohi, who have confessed to their crime,” Dr. Samiullah Soomro, Senior Superintendent of Police in Khairpur, told Arab News. “They told the police that they loved each other and together poisoned their family members.”

Talib Hussain Junejo, Station House Officer in the area where the incident happened, said both families lived together in the same house and consumed the poisoned food. He also informed that 15 members of both families, including Ameer and Shaista, were present when the meals were served, making the law enforcement officials suspicious.
The couple informed the police that Gul Baig, Shaista’s father, had refused the marriage.

“We both decided not to flee to get married,” the police officer said while quoting the suspects’ statement. “Instead, we chose to kill everyone so we could marry freely.”

Junejo said that man and the woman also expressed regret over the actions during the interrogation.

The incident echoes a similar case from 2017, when 21-year-old Aasia Bibi was accused of poisoning her husband’s milk, resulting in the deaths of 17 members of his extended family.

Bibi had repeatedly rejected the man’s marriage proposal but was ultimately forced to marry him. After the wedding, she decided to poison her husband but also caused the death of the rest of the family.

Topics: Karachi Karachi Police Pakistan

A hand-written Qur’an with Sindhi translation passed down over generations in Pakistan’s Karachi

A hand-written Qur’an with Sindhi translation passed down over generations in Pakistan’s Karachi
Updated 24 min 10 sec ago
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A hand-written Qur’an with Sindhi translation passed down over generations in Pakistan’s Karachi

A hand-written Qur’an with Sindhi translation passed down over generations in Pakistan’s Karachi
  • Abdul Latif Sultan Dino Bhojani completed the manuscript in 1932 after working on it for two decades
  • Rajasthani-speaking family tries to daily read from Sindhi Qur’an copy to keep grandfather’s work alive
Updated 24 min 10 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Saghir Hussain Bhojani, a 76-year-old retired statistician, read out the Sindhi translation at his home in Karachi earlier this month as his teenage nephew Mashhood Shoaib Bhojani recited an Arabic verse from a handwritten copy of the Holy Qur’an.

This daily ritual serves not only as a spiritual practice for the Marwari family but also as a bridge to connect them with the Qur’an translation Bhojani’s grandfather, Abdul Latif Sultan Dino Bhojani, took over two decades to write by hand and complete in 1932.

“This [copy of] Holy Qur’an, which Allah has given us through our grandfather, is the greatest treasure for us,” Bhojani, the current custodian of the holy book, told Arab News about the handwritten Qur’anic copy with Sindhi translation. 

Bhojani, whose family is Rajasthani-speaking, said he had received the copy from his mother who had gotten it from her father-in-law when she was 20. 

“My father-in-law trusted me,” Zaitoon Bhojani, 95, told Arab News, recalling how Abdul Latif believed she would take care of the translation he had spent decades preparing and handed her the holy book in 1948, just months before he passed away on January 20, 1949, at age 65.

Zaitoon said her father-in-law sought help in preparing the book from a trunk-full of papers that he carried with him as he moved homes in the cities of Hyderabad, Rohri and finally Karachi, where the Silawat community from Jaisalmer in present day India settled after migrating for business to the region some two centuries ago.

Zaitoon preserved the Qur’an copy and made it a point to ensure her nine children, three daughters and six sons, read it regularly, but as she grew older, she decided to pass it on to her eldest son, Bhojani.

“PRECIOUS INHERITANCE”

Born in 1886, Abdul Latif was the first Muslim mayor of Dadu district in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province and was elected chairman of the Kotri municipality several times. But being a close associate of Soreh Badshah, a champion of Hindu-Muslim unity and a freedom fighter executed by the British, cost him much of his property.

“We do not regret this loss because Allah has bestowed upon us a far more precious inheritance, the Holy Qur’an,” said Bhojani. “No matter how much we take pride in it, it is never enough.”

Abdul Latif spoke Marwari but chose to write in Sindhi for two reasons, according to his grandson: firstly, Marwari itself was not a formal language at the time, and secondly, he was far more proficient in Sindhi.

“He was the most prominent personality in Kotri,” Bhojani said, regretting that the Sindhi manuscript, a rarity at the time it was completed, was never printed.

“My parents were not very educated and didn’t have much understanding, which is why they couldn’t do it,” Bhojani, who retired as a Grade-18 chief statistician in Sindh, told Arab News. 

“It’s also my own incompetence that I didn’t pay attention to [printing] it later ... It should be preserved and read the way my grandfather worked hard to prepare it.”

Bhojani’s nephew, Mashhood, an 18-year-old computer science student, said he would strive to continue the family tradition of reading from and preserving the inherited book. 

“Our native language is Rajasthani and the [copy of] this Qur’an is in Sindhi,” he said as he took a brief pause from recitation.

“I still continue to read it with my uncle so that people like me remain in our family who can continue to read and understand it.”

Topics: Qur’an Karachi Sindhi Language

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