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Tag: Pakistan

  • Watch- Pakistan’s Diplomatic Blunder: German Minister Svenja Schulze Halted Over Handbag, Sparks Criticism |

    During an official visit to Pakistan, German Federal Minister of Cooperation, Svenja Schulze, reportedly encountered an unexpected situation at the Prime Minister’s meeting venue, leading to a wave of online criticism and questions about Pakistan’s hospitality towards foreign dignitaries. Several social media users claimed that Schulze was subjected to unexpected security check during her visit.

    As Schulze arrived to meet Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Ministers for Economic Affairs and Commerce, she was reportedly stopped by a security official at the entrance. The official allegedly asked Schulze to hand over her bag before entering the building. Schulze, however, refused to comply, politely thanked the official, and began walking back towards her car.

    Watch the viral video


    The situation took an unusual turn when it was noted that neither Prime Minister Sharif nor any of his ministers were present at the gate to receive the German Minister. This absence added to the growing tension as Schulze returned to her vehicle. Realizing the potential diplomatic faux pas, the security team quickly reconsidered their stance and allowed Schulze to enter the building with her bag. While the video is being shared online with the mentioned claim and the same has not been verified by the Zee News independently.

    Islamabad: German Development Minister Schulze arrives for a meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif, his security guards demand that she hand over her handbag.

    Schulze turns around and walks back towards the car. Suddenly the handbag is allowed in. pic.twitter.com/LtADGMjrlu

    — Azat (@AzatAlsalim) August 21, 2024

    The incident quickly gained attention online, with netizens expressing their shock and disgust over the treatment of a visiting foreign dignitary. Many criticized the lack of courtesy extended to Schulze, with some pointing out that had she decided to leave, it could have impacted Pakistan’s ongoing economic discussions.

    One user mocked the situation, saying, “Had Schulze returned, Pakistan’s begging bowl would have been left empty.” Another commented on the power dynamics, stating, “They tried to make a show of force & authority—She showed them that they are irrelevant to her. If they wouldn’t play by her rules, they wouldn’t play at all. So they yielded—Their power move backfired & they got humiliated.”

    The incident has cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening cooperation between Germany and Pakistan, raising questions about the handling of foreign dignitaries by Pakistani authorities.

  • J&K Terror Attack Fallout? Center Removes BSF DG, Deputy With Immediate Effect |

    The Central government today ordered immediate removal of BSF Director General (DG) Nitin Agrawal and his deputy, Special DG (West) YB Khurania, returning them to their respective state cadres with immediate effect, according to a government order. The BSF, a force of approximately 2.65 lakh personnel, is responsible for guarding India’s borders with Pakistan in the west and Bangladesh in the east. The action comes amid sudden increase in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

    At least 22 people, including 11 security personnel and a village defense guard (VDG) member, have been killed this year in such incidents in Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua and Doda districts. Five terrorists were also killed in two encounters in Kathua and Doda districts last month.

    Agrawal, a 1989-batch Kerala cadre officer, had taken charge as the Border Security Force chief in June of last year. Khurania, a 1990-batch Odisha cadre officer, was leading the force’s operations along the Pakistan border as Special DG (West). Separate orders from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) stated that both officers were being “prematurely” repatriated with “immediate effect.”

    Troop Deployment in J&K

    With a surge in terror attacks, the Center has increased deployment of forces in the Union Territory. Two battalions of Border Security Force (BSF) troops, totaling 2,000 personnel, have been airlifted from Odisha and deployed in Kashmir. A total of 1,500 elite Assam Rifles troops will be deployed under the operational control of the Army, with their primary mission being to ‘secure peaks and upper reaches’ in Kashmir.

    Para-Commandos Deployed

    The Army is also redeploying forces to counter battle-hardened terrorists of foreign origin. Estimates suggest that around 80 of these terrorists are operating in small groups in the upper reaches of the Pir Panjal range. In response to recent threats, the government has approved the deployment of 200 armor-protected vehicles (APVs). This decision follows a deadly attack on July 5 in Kathua district, where a military convoy was targeted, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers and injuries to five others.

  • Himanta Biswa Sarma: ‘Rahul Gandhi learned mathematics from Pakistan’: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma mocks Congress leader

    Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on July 20 mocked Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for celebrating after securing 99 seats in the LS Elections. He mocked that Rahul Gandhi learned mathematics from Pakistan as in India, 240 is greater than 99. “BJP won 240 seats, and Rahul Gandhi told PM Modi in the Parliament that Modi lost. Then I thought, from where did Rahul Gandhi learn this mathematics? The mathematics in India says that 99 is less than 240. He must have learned it from Pakist6an, Bangladesh…,” he said.

  • Militancy, dialogue cannot go together, Pakistan must stop sending terrorists: Abdullah

    Srinagar: Former CM of J&K, Farooq Abdullah, on Tuesday said that militancy and dialogue cannot go together and Pakistan has to stop sending intruders from across the border.

    Reacting to the attack in Kathua, he said militancy cannot change the border or the reality on the ground. “If the neighbouring country thinks it can change things on the ground by sending terrorists here, that will not happen. They will fail,” he said.

    “We will be forced to go to war. That country (Pakistan) is already a mess,” Abdullah said.

  • Third eye: Russia shows the map, lift rumours, and mango diplomacy

    Showing the Position on MapIn a noteworthy move ahead of SCO summit and Indian PM’s Moscow visit, Russian stateowned media Sputnik has published a map of SCO member states and dialogue partners that displayed PoK as part of India. Clearly, the message can’t be missed, and the move may not go down well with either Pakistan or China, both SCO members. Russia has always maintained that the entire Kashmir is part of India. No Walls, No Ears: It’s Safe to TalkUddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis were once on friendly terms. However, they are now bitter political enemies, thus their simultaneous entry into an elevator in the state legislature building sparked conjecture. Thackeray dismissed any such speculations and even joked with journalists later. “I’m informed that even walls have ears. We will conduct quiet talks in lifts from now on because they do not have walls,” he explained. Saying it With Fruit and SweetsIt’s pineapple and mango diplomacy between India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sent mango, hilsa fish and sweets to Tripura CM Manik Saha. The gifts included 400 kg of exquisite Hariavanga (Haribhanga), the most famous mango of Dinajpur and Rangpur region of Bangladesh, 50 kg of delectable hilsa fish and 50 kg rasgulla (sweets). On the other hand, Tripura CM sent 500 kg pineapples as a “gift” to Bangladesh Prime Minister.

  • Pakistani court acquits Imran Khan in 2022 protest vandalism cases | World News

    Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Monday acquitted jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and other top leaders of his party in two cases related to vandalism during an anti-government protest march in 2022.

    The 71-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party founder has been in jail since August last year after being convicted in some of the nearly 200 cases slapped on him since his ouster in April 2022.

    The district and sessions court of Islamabad acquitted Khan, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, ex-communication minister Murad Saeed, and other PTI leaders in two cases of vandalism during the ‘Haqeeqi Azaadi’ march, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

    In May 2022, the former cricketer-turned-politician launched a march toward Islamabad from Lahore to topple the coalition government of Shehbaz Sharif that assumed power after he was ousted as the premier following a vote of no confidence.

    The rally was part of the PTI’s struggle to achieve “real freedom” and deliver the nation from the “slavery” of the “US-backed” coalition government. Khan had accused the coalition government of coming to power through a “US-backed conspiracy”.

    The Islamabad police at that time filed separate cases against 150 people, including Khan, Qureshi and other party leaders, over allegations of arson and vandalism in the federal capital.

    Earlier this month, a judicial magistrate of Islamabad also acquitted Khan in two cases of vandalism during his party’s two long marches in 2022.

    Judicial magistrate Shaista Kundi heard the pleas filed by the former prime minister for his acquittal in the cases registered at Islamabad’s Lohi Bhair and Sahala police stations and one related to his production in the court.

  • Who Are Majeed Brigade? The Baloch Liberation Army's Suicide Squad Behind Gwadar Port Attack In Pakistan |

    NEW DELHI: The recent attack on a complex near Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port, claimed by the Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), has once again brought attention to the persistent issue of separatist violence in Balochistan province. Two soldiers were martyred while eight terrorists were killed by the Pakistan Army after it thwarted an attack on the Gwadar Port Authority Colony on Wednesday, according to the military's media wing.

    The BLA And Majeed Brigade

    The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) stands out as a prominent separatist group amid the array of such movements in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but most underdeveloped province. The Majeed Brigade is named after two brothers, Majeed Langove Senior and Majeed Langove Junior, who carried out suicide attacks in August 1974 and March 2010, respectively. Majeed Senior tried to assassinate then-Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto when he was on an official visit to Quetta. He wanted to kill him for dismissing the National Awami Party's government in Baluchistan, but Majeed Senior lost his life during the operation. Majeed Junior sacrificed himself to save his associates when Pakistani security forces raided the house where they were staying in Quetta's Wahdat Colony. Majeed Junior held back the raid to give his associates time to escape.

    Historical Context

    The roots of the Baloch insurgency trace back to Pakistan's inception, with the province's annexation in 1948 sparking a protracted struggle for independence. Ethnic Baloch, despite the region's resource wealth, has faced systemic marginalization and economic disparity. The construction of the China-backed Gwadar Port symbolizes this injustice, exacerbating tensions as outsiders disproportionately benefit from local resources.

    Birth Of Majeed Brigade

    The death of Majeed Langove Junior in 2010, resisting Pakistani forces in Quetta, galvanized Baloch nationalists and solidified the Langove brothers' legacy. As the BLA sought to intensify its resistance, the Majeed Brigade was formed under Aslam Achu's leadership. This suicide squad carried out its inaugural attack in 2011, targeting key figures aligned with the Pakistani state.

    Continued Struggle

    In subsequent years, the Majeed Brigade continued its campaign of violence, targeting Chinese interests and symbols of Pakistani authority. Attacks on Chinese engineers, the Chinese Consulate in Karachi, and strategic installations like the Gwadar Pearl Continental Hotel and the Pakistan Stock Exchange underscore the group's determination to disrupt perceived exploitative ventures and challenge state control.

    Role In Gwadar Port Attack

    The Majeed Brigade's role in the recent attack near Gwadar Port reaffirms its status as a potent force within the Baloch insurgency. As Pakistan grapples with internal strife and external pressures, understanding the motivations and dynamics of groups like the Majeed Brigade remains paramount in addressing the root causes of Baloch militancy and fostering sustainable peace in the region.

  • Pakistan Poll Body Rejects PTI-Backed SIC Plea Seeking Allocation Of Reserved Seats.

    ISLAMABAD: In a huge setback to Imran Khan, Pakistan's election commission on Monday ruled that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) is not eligible for the reserved seats allotted to women and minorities in Parliament and their share of seats should be allotted to other parties. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the split decision with a 4-1 majority, with ECP Punjab member Hassan Bharwana dissenting with the majority verdict.

    The ECP said the SIC, a political alliance of Islamic political and Barelvi religious parties in Pakistan, is not entitled to claim quota for reserved seats due to having “non-curable legal defects and violation of a mandatory provision of submission of party list for reserved seats which is the requirement of law”.

    The ECP had reserved the verdict on the petitions filed by the SIC seeking the allocation of women and minority seats after PTI-backed winning candidates joined its ranks following the February 8 elections. More than 90 independent candidates backed by jailed former prime minister Khan won the elections to the National Assembly.

    A five-member bench, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the matter and reserved the verdict on February 28. The PTI-backed independent candidates took the lead in the February 8 elections after they won the 92 National Assembly seats followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) (79) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) (54).

    The reserved seats were allocated to all political parties according to their strength in the assemblies except the PTI-backed SIC. “The seats in the National Assembly shall not remain vacant and will be allotted by proportional representation process of political parties on the basis of seats won by political parties,” the order said.

    The ECP had not allotted 23 seats out of 60 for women and 3 out of 10 for minorities in the National Assembly to any party. The main reason for not allotting the reserved seats was that the SIC had not provided a list of candidates for the reserved seats. By law, every party should provide a list of candidates to the ECP before elections.

    The SIC may not have imagined getting any seat but it suddenly rose to prominence after the independent candidates backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf joined the right-wing religious party with the hope to get the reserved seats. Earlier, Khan's PTI was deprived of its common symbol of bat and its candidate had to contest independently. The decision of ECP would impact the election of the president and members of the Senate which are due this month.

    PTI's Senator Ali Zafar speaking in the Senate lashed at the ECP verdict, calling the ECP chief and its members to resign. “They don't deserve and should step down,” he said. He also announced a challenge to the ruling in the Supreme Court and demanded that the election of the president and new senators should be stopped until the matter was adjudicated by the apex court.

    “We demand that the election of the president and senators should be postponed otherwise the process will be reversed if the top court granted our petition,” he said.

  • Maryam Nawaz Makes History As First Female Chief Minister Of Pakistan’s Punjab Province.

    LAHORE: Maryam Nawaz, a prominent figure in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has made history by becoming the first woman chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province. The announcement came following a decisive victory in the election, where she secured a remarkable 220 votes, leaving her opponent, Rana Aftab Ahmad of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), without a single vote due to the boycott by SIC members.

    Opposition Boycott

    The Punjab Assembly session, overseen by the newly-elected Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan, saw members of the Sunni Ittehad Council boycotting the proceedings. Speaker Khan, in response, restricted the session solely to the chief ministerial elections, disallowing any speeches by lawmakers. Efforts to resolve the boycott led to the formation of a committee tasked with persuading the boycotting legislators to return to the Assembly.

    Clear Majority Ensures Victory

    Maryam Nawaz’s candidacy faced opposition from Rana Aftab Ahmed of the Sunni Ittehad Council. Despite the competition, the PML-N’s significant presence ensured Maryam Nawaz’s triumph, securing a clear majority within the house.

    PML-N Dominance Punjab Assembly

    Prior to Maryam Nawaz’s historic win, the PML-N had already showcased its strength in the Punjab Assembly by securing victories in the speaker and deputy speaker elections. Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan clinched the speaker’s position with 224 votes, while Malik Zaheer Ahmed Channer secured the deputy speaker’s post with 220 votes, solidifying the party’s dominance.

    Maryam Nawaz: A Brief Background

    Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, began her journey in politics after being actively involved in the family’s philanthropic endeavors. Her political career gained momentum in 2012, and she played a pivotal role in the PML-N’s election campaign during the 2013 general elections. Despite facing challenges, including a brief stint as the Chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, she continued to rise within the political sphere.

    Parliamentary Debut

    Maryam Nawaz’s victory in the 2024 Pakistani general election marked her parliamentary debut, as she secured seats in both the National Assembly of Pakistan (NA) and the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, further solidifying her position as a key figure within the political landscape of Pakistan.

  • Pakistan: PML-N And PPP To Form Coalition Government; Shehbaz Sharif To Be PM, Asif Ali Zardari President |

    After almost two weeks of poll results, two key political parties in Pakistan have agreed to form a coalition government, bringing an end to the deadlock and keeping Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf in the opposition. Addressing the media, PML-N President and former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the parties have agreed on a power-sharing formula.

    As per the deal, it has been decided that Shehbaz Sharif will be the joint candidate for both parties for the slot of Prime Minister and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari will be the joint candidate for the President’s slot, informed Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

    Shehbaz Sharif said that the independent candidates, who emerged victorious in the majority by securing more than 100 seats, were invited to form the government, but they failed to achieve the required numbers. He added that other parties such as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, the Pakistan Muslim League, and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party supported PML-N and PPP in the government-making endeavour.

    The upcoming government will work together to pull the country out of the ongoing crises, said Shehbaz Sharif, expressing the hope to be able to deliver. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto said the details of the sharing of key constitutional offices between the PPP and PML-N will be announced in the coming days.

    Previously, the Election Commission of Pakistan released the outcomes for 265 out of 266 seats in the National Assembly following the general elections held on February 8. No single political party attained a simple majority, necessitating alliances among parties to establish the central government for the next. five-year term.