Iranian FM on Islamabad visit, says Tehran reserves right to ‘legitimate defense’ against Israel

Update Iranian FM on Islamabad visit, says Tehran reserves right to ‘legitimate defense’ against Israel
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi (second left) calls on Pakistan Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on November 5, 2024. (Pakistan Government)
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Updated 05 November 2024
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Iranian FM on Islamabad visit, says Tehran reserves right to ‘legitimate defense’ against Israel

Iranian FM on Islamabad visit, says Tehran reserves right to ‘legitimate defense’ against Israel
  • Araghchi is in Pakistan on a two-day visit to discuss Middle East tensions, bilateral ties
  • Decries Israel’s “acts of genocide” in Gaza, ongoing attacks in Lebanon, assault on Iran on Oct. 26

ISLAMABAD: Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan’s capital on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to discuss a range of issues, including tensions in the Middle East, saying at a press conference that Tehran reserved the right to a “legitimate defense” against Israeli aggressions though it did not seek escalation.
Araghchi was addressing a joint media briefing with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in which he spoke about Israel’s “crimes and acts of genocide” in Gaza, its ongoing attacks in Lebanon and its assault on Iran on Oct. 26.
Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday threatened Israel and the US with “a crushing response” over attacks on Iran and its allies. Any further attacks from either side could engulf the wider Middle East, already teetering over Israel’s assault of the Gaza Strip and its ground invasion of Lebanon, into a wider regional conflict as the US goes into a presidential election today, Tuesday.
“Unlike the Israeli regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not seek escalation,” Araghchi told reporters. “However, we reserve our inherent right to legitimate defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and we would certainly respond to the Israeli aggression in a proper time and in a proper manner.”
Since the deadliest attack by Hamas in its history on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has carried out air and ground strikes in Gaza in which over 42,000 people have been killed. Since late September, it has also been at war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are allies of Iran.
Pakistan, a major ally of Saudi Arabia, shares a long border with Iran but ties have been frosty over a range of issues, including cross-border militancy.
During Tuesday’s press conference, the Iranian foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s stance in condemning Israeli aggression against Iran.
“We [Muslim nations] are working toward a solution to stop these atrocities and to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza and Lebanon at the upcoming OIC meeting, especially as winter approaches, which will only intensify the hardships of the homeless and refugees in Gaza and Lebanon,” Araghchi added.
Saudi Arabia will also host a joint Arab-Islamic summit on Nov. 11 to address Israeli assaults in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon.
PAK-IRAN TIES

Speaking about bilateral relations, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s commitment to the promotion of ties with Pakistan in all areas, including economic, political, academic, cultural, and tourism.
“The objective of this round of consultation is the promotion of the all-out relations between Iran and Pakistan with a new focus on the bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of trade and economy,” he added.
Speaking at the media briefing, Pakistani FM Dar said during his meetings with Araghchi, he had emphasized the need for an “urgent” ceasefire, de-escalation, and dialogue aimed at realizing the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
“We also resolved that in the upcoming joint Islamic summit in Jeddah, which has been scheduled for the 11th of November, we would pool our efforts in order to make sure that we come up with a joint approach to the issues for which this joint summit has been called,” Dar said.
Dar said both sides had also discussed ways to enhance cooperation across several key areas, including trade, energy, and border security.
“We agreed to intensify collaboration on border management and address shared challenges as we underscored that terrorism and extremism pose a serious threat to the regional peace and pledged to coordinate our joint efforts to eradicate these challenges,” he added.
Araghchi later held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen its relations with Iran by maintaining regular high-level exchanges and enhancing mutually advantageous cooperation across all spheres of shared interest, according to Sharif’s office.
“During the meeting, the worrying situation in the Middle East region came under discussion. While reaffirming Pakistan’s unequivocal support to the Palestinian people in their just struggle for self-determination and statehood, the Prime Minister reiterated strong condemnation of and grave concern over the Israel’s ongoing genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
“The Prime Minister also emphasized upon the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, provision of unhindered humanitarian assistance and, above all, grant of the inalienable right to self-determination to the Palestinian people, as guaranteed to them by the relevant resolutions of the UN, as well as OIC.”
Sharif once again condemned Israel’s attack against Iran on October 26, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the statement. The Iranian foreign minister thanked the prime minister for Pakistan’s principled position and briefed him on Iran’s perspective regarding the situation in the region.
Pakistan and Iran have had a rocky relationship despite several commercial pacts between the two countries on trade, energy, and security. Both countries signed the $7 billion Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project agreement in 2004 but 20 years on, the project remains incomplete due to funding challenges and threats of US sanctions over doing business with Tehran.
Iran has completed the pipeline’s construction on its side of the border while Pakistan is seeking a US waiver to go ahead with building the project. Pakistan has also hired two prominent US law firms, Willkie Farr & Gallagher and White & Case, to defend its position in an international arbitration case initiated by Tehran over the stalled gas pipeline project, the attorney general confirmed to Arab News on Monday.
Pakistan and Iran are also often at odds over instability on their shared, porous frontier, with both countries routinely trading blame for not doing enough against militants who carry out cross-border attacks.
Tensions surged in January when Pakistan and Iran exchanged airstrikes, both claiming to target alleged militant hideouts in each other’s countries


Zimbabwe pip Pakistan in T20 thriller for consolation win

Zimbabwe pip Pakistan in T20 thriller for consolation win
Updated 05 December 2024
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Zimbabwe pip Pakistan in T20 thriller for consolation win

Zimbabwe pip Pakistan in T20 thriller for consolation win
  • Pakistan was seeking series sweep after winning the first two matches by 57 runs and 10 wickets respectively
  • Pakistan, who also beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in ODI series, now head to South Africa for eight-match all-formats tour

BULAWAYO: Zimbabwe grabbed a consolation two-wicket victory over Pakistan in a thrilling final Twenty20 international on Thursday, with tailender Richard Ngarava getting them over the line with one ball to spare.
Pakistan, seeking a series sweep after winning the first two matches by 57 runs and 10 wickets respectively, rested several key players and made 132-7 off 20 overs in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe responded strongly initially with opener Brian Bennett scoring 43, but the Pakistan bowlers hit back and the loss of home captain Sikandar Raza (19) spelt trouble.
Needing 12 runs from the last over for victory, Tinotenda Maposa struck a four, a six and a single to level the scores with three balls remaining.
Tashinga Musekiwa was caught by Tayyab Tahir off the bowling of Jahandad Khan to increase the tension at the Queens Sports Club.
Ngarava then became the hero, striking the penultimate ball back toward Khan. It hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end and deflected to mid-off for the winning run as Zimbabwe reached 133-8.
Top scorer Bennett said: “We have got Afghanistan from next week in all formats so it is nice to win and establish some momentum.”
Pakistan skipper Salman Agha reserved special praise for batter Saim Ayub and wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem after the two white-ball series victories.
“I think Saim and Sufiyan have long futures ahead and will serve Pakistan for many years. Saim has been playing all three formats and doing really well. Sufiyan too.”
Bennett hit a six and six fours in his knock as he took Zimbabwe to 73-2 before wickets started to fall regularly.
Agha was the leading Pakistan scorer with a 32 that included three fours while Blessing Muzarabani took two wickets for Zimbabwe.
Pakistan, who also beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in a one-day international series, now head to South Africa for an eight-match all-formats tour that starts on December 10 with a Twenty20 international.


Pakistani PM expresses ‘deep disappointment’ on absence of global accountability for Israeli actions in Gaza

Pakistani PM expresses ‘deep disappointment’ on absence of global accountability for Israeli actions in Gaza
Updated 05 December 2024
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Pakistani PM expresses ‘deep disappointment’ on absence of global accountability for Israeli actions in Gaza

Pakistani PM expresses ‘deep disappointment’ on absence of global accountability for Israeli actions in Gaza
  • Shehbaz Sharif meets Palestinian envoy to Islamabad, reiterates call for immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza
  • Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israel’s military campaign since last year has killed more than 44,500 Palestinians

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed “deep disappointment” on the absence of global accountability for Israel over its military assault in Gaza that has laid much of the enclave to waste.

Israel launched its air and ground war in Gaza after Hamas-led fighters attacked Israeli communities across the border on Oct. 7 last year, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says that Israel’s military campaign since then has killed more than 44,500 Palestinians and injured many others.

“The Prime Minister expressed his deep disappointment at the absence of global accountability of Israel and reiterated the call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and unhindered flow of humanitarian assistance to the suffering Palestinian people in the occupied territories,” Sharif’s office said in a statement after he met Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Zuhair Mohammad Hamadallah Zaid, in Islamabad.

Sharif’s meeting with the envoy came on the day Amnesty International released a report saying Israel’s actions in Gaza met the definition of the crime of genocide. Israel strongly rejected that accusation, denouncing Amnesty as a “deplorable and fanatical organization.”

Speaking to Zaid, Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s “strongest condemnation” of Israel’s actions.

“The Prime Minister assured Ambassador Zaid that the entire Pakistani nation stood united in its solidarity with the brave Palestinian people and would continue to support them in every possible way.”

Sharif stressed the need for a just and lasting resolution to the Palestine conflict, based on the two-state solution, with the creation of an independent state of Palestine with pre-1967 borders and Al Quds as its capital in accordance with UN resolutions. 

Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel.


Pakistan’s Imran Khan indicted for inciting supporters to attack military headquarters last year

Pakistan’s Imran Khan indicted for inciting supporters to attack military headquarters last year
Updated 05 December 2024
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Pakistan’s Imran Khan indicted for inciting supporters to attack military headquarters last year

Pakistan’s Imran Khan indicted for inciting supporters to attack military headquarters last year
  • Khan supporters attacked General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, other military installations on May 9, 2023, following his brief arrest in a land graft case
  • Others arrested in case include Omar Ayub Khan, Basharat Raja and Omar Chatha while 23 suspects including Zulfi Bukhari, Shahbaz Gill declared absconders

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan was indicted on Thursday on charges of inciting his supporters to attack the military’s headquarters (GHQ) in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi last year, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said.
On May 9, 2023, a day after Pakistan’s powerful military publicly rebuked Khan for repeatedly accusing a senior military officer of trying to engineer his assassination, the former PM was arrested by the national anti-corruption agency in a land graft case. 
The arrest sparked a wave of protests by Khan supporters across the country, with the government saying rioters attacked important state buildings and ransacked military facilities, including the GHQ in Rawalpindi and the residence of the army’s top commander in the eastern city of Lahore. 
Hundreds of PTI supporters and dozens of leaders were subsequently arrested while police registered cases against the party’s top leaders, including Khan. 
“Former prime minister Imran Khan, opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan, former law minister Punjab Basharat Raja and several others have been indicted in the GHQ case by ATC [anti-terrorist court],” the PTI said in a statement. 
“Indictment was announced within Adiala prison premises,” the party added, referring to the prison in Rawalpindi where Khan has been incarcerated since last year. 
“Omar Ayub, others, have been taken into custody despite being on transit bails,” the PTI said, adding that the party’s legal team would challenge the indictment in court and “hopefully justice will be served.”
During the hearing of the case in the Adiala prison, the court declared 23 suspects including key Khan aides Shahbaz Gill and Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, absconders.
The hearing of the case has been adjourned until Dec. 10.

In a post on X, the PTI said the “fabricated case” exposed the “reality of an undeclared martial law in Pakistan.”
The federal government and military have not yet commented on Khan’s indictment. 
Nearly 2,000 people were arrested following the May 9 protests and at least eight were killed. The government had called out the army to help restore order.
Thought Khan was released on bail within days of the May 9 arrest, he was later arrested again in August 2023 after he was handed a three-year prison sentence in a corruption case. He has been in jail since then.

His party was barred from Pakistan’s election on Feb. 8 2024, but the would-be candidates stood as independents.

Despite the ban and Khan’s imprisonment for convictions on charges ranging from leaking state secrets to corruption, millions of the former cricketer’s supporters voted for him. Independent candidates from his party won the highest number of seats but not enough to form a government on their own. Khan cannot be part of any government while he remains in prison.

Khan and his party say all legal cases against him are based on made-up charges to keep him out of politics at the behest of the army after he had fallen out with the military’s generals. The army denies the accusation.

With inputs from Reuters 


Pakistan army calls for action against ‘political elements’ using ‘fake news for vested interests’

Pakistan army calls for action against ‘political elements’ using ‘fake news for vested interests’
Updated 05 December 2024
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Pakistan army calls for action against ‘political elements’ using ‘fake news for vested interests’

Pakistan army calls for action against ‘political elements’ using ‘fake news for vested interests’
  • Military’s statement comes after pro-Imran Khan supporters stormed Islamabad last month, demanding his release from prison
  • Khan’s PTI party says at least 20 of its supporters were killed in raid to disperse protesters while the government says four troops died

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of top commanders of the Pakistan army chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir on Thursday called on the government to pass laws to check “unfettered and unethical use” of freedom of expression, saying those spreading “fake news for vested political interests” needed to be brought to justice.

The military’s statement comes as the government has vowed legal action against thousands of supporters of jailed ex-premier Imran Khan who stormed Islamabad last month, demanding his release from prison. The government says protesters killed four security officers in clashes while Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party says at least 12 of its supporters died and “hundreds” were injured as security agencies used live ammunition rounds to disperse protesters, which authorities deny. 

Party leaders have described the raid on the protest site as a “massacre,” with social media platforms awash with pictures and video footage that the government has called “fake propaganda” by PTI followers. The government also says there were no civilian casualties. The army was deployed by the government during the raid to disperse protesters, but authorities say only police and paramilitary troops participated while the military acted as a “third line of defense.”

In the aftermath of the protests, the coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed two task forces: one to identify and take legal action against rioters and another to track and bring to justice suspects behind what the government describes as a “malicious campaign” to spread “concocted, baseless and inciting” online news, images and video content against the state and security forces.
 
In a statement released after the Corps Commanders conference on Thursday evening, the army said the forum had “noted with concern the malicious propaganda done in the aftermath of the lawful deployment of the Army in the capital to secure key government buildings and provide safe & secure environment for the valued visiting delegations.”

“This pre-planned coordinated and premeditated propaganda reflects continuity of a sinister design by certain political elements as an attempt to drive a wedge between the public & Armed Forces and institutions of Pakistan,” the statement said in what was a clear reference to the PTI party. “This futile attempt, fueled and abetted by external players, will never be successful.”

The army called on the government to promulgate and implement laws and regulations to check “unfettered and unethical use of freedom of expression to spew venom, lies and sow the seeds of polarization.”

“Those spreading fake news for vested political / financial interests need to be identified and brought to justice,” the statement added. “Forum resolved that Army remains committed to serving the nation & public and guard against all external and internal threats without any bias and political affiliation, and any attempt to pitch innocent people against each other and use of violence as an instrument for vested gains can never be tolerated.”

Khan, who remains a popular figure in Pakistan despite being in prison and facing several court cases, has led a campaign of unprecedented defiance against the Sharif coalition and the all-powerful military, which he accused of being behind his ouster from office in 2022. The army denies it interferes in politics.


Pakistan court issues arrest warrant for ex-PM Imran Khan’s wife in state gifts case

Pakistan court issues arrest warrant for ex-PM Imran Khan’s wife in state gifts case
Updated 05 December 2024
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Pakistan court issues arrest warrant for ex-PM Imran Khan’s wife in state gifts case

Pakistan court issues arrest warrant for ex-PM Imran Khan’s wife in state gifts case
  • Couple is accused of undervaluing gifts from a state repository and buying them at a lesser price
  • Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023, says all cases against him are politically motivated

ISLAMABAD: A court in Pakistan has issued an arrest warrant for jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Khan, due to her repeated absence from hearings in a graft case, Pakistani media widely reported on Thursday.

The Islamabad High Court last month granted Khan bail in what has popularly come to be called the new Toshakhana case, filed in July and involving a jewelry set worth over €380,000 gifted to the former first lady by a foreign dignitary when Khan was prime minister from 2018-2022. The couple was accused of undervaluing the gift and buying it at a lesser price from the state repository. Both deny wrongdoing. 

Khan has been in jail since August last year following his conviction in four cases, two of which have been suspended, including an original one relating to state gifts, and he was acquitted in the rest.

On Thursday, in addition to the arrest warrants, the court also served a notice to Bushra Khan’s guarantor.

“Why should your surety bonds not be seized?” Geo News reported, quoting a judge hearing the case. The proceedings were subsequently adjourned till Dec. 9.

Here is a look at some of the allegations against Khan, the 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, named in dozens of cases since he was ousted from office in 2022, that have kept him behind bars for more than a year.

GRAFT ALLEGATIONS

Khan was first arrested in May 2023 in relation to allegations that him and Bushra received land worth up to 7 billion rupees ($25 million) as a bribe through a trust created in 2018, while he still 

His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has maintained the land was donated for charitable purposes.

Khan was released on bail after three days in prison, during which his supporters attacked and set fire to military and other state installations, with eight people killed in the violence.

ABETTING VIOLENCE

Khan is facing anti-terrorism charges in connection with the violence that followed his arrest in May last year, and in relation to which several of his supporters have already been sentenced.

PTI said in July that authorities had issued fresh arrest warrants for him in three different cases related to the clashes.

STATE SECRETS

Khan was accused of making public a classified cable sent to Islamabad by Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington in 2022, while he still held office.

He was acquitted in the case in June.

UNLAWFUL MARRIAGE

Khan and his wife were accused of breaking Islamic law by failing to observe the mandated waiting period between Bibi’s divorce from her previous husband and their marriage in 2018 .

They were acquitted of the charges in July.

With inputs from Reuters