The Supreme Court of Pakistan has questioned the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision to overturn the death sentence of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf.
The initial death sentence was imposed by a special court in December 2019 on charges of high treason.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, leading a four-judge bench, expressed astonishment at the approach taken by LHC, suggesting that it may have exceeded its jurisdiction in the matter.
“At best, the LHC could do was to allow the prayers sought in the petition, but what the court did was uprooting the special court itself,” Justice Isa said.
The special court had originally adjudicated the high treason charges against Musharraf.
A four-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan conducted the hearing of the appeals of Bar Councils and others against the judgment of a three-member bench of the LHC.
The Supreme Court’s scrutiny focused on the LHC January 2020 order, which not only declared the special court’s ruling unconstitutional but also entertained Musharraf’s appeal against his death conviction.
A three-member bench of the LHC, headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and comprising Justice Muhammad Masood Jahangir and Justice Ameer Bhatti on January 13, 2020, had declared; “The Special Court was established without an iota of doubt that very basis of initiation of proceedings against the petitioner/ General (R) Pervez Musharraf, since its inception to the culmination are beyond the constitutional mandate, ultra vires, coram-non-judice, unlawful, hence, any superstructure raised over it shall fall to ground.”
It further said; “Trial in absentia is declared as illegal, unconstitutional being repugnant to injunctions of Islam, as well as, Article 2-A, 8 and 10-A of the Constitution.”
Pervez Musharraf passed away earlier this year, on February 5, after a prolonged illness.
The Supreme Court’s review also brought attention to concerns about the LHC’s territorial jurisdiction.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah noted that the constitution of the special court was never directly challenged.
The Chief Justice cautioned against labeling Musharraf as an absconder during the hearing, as it could prejudice the ongoing appeal.
The hearing is set to continue next Tuesday.
The Supreme Court has asked the petitioner’s counsel to conclude arguments on Musharraf’s petition against the Special Court judgment.
On Thursday, a special court established under the Official Secrets Act 2023 ordered authorities to present Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and the Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on November 28 at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC).
The orders were issued in today’s meeting, conducted outside Adiala jail for the first time after Islamabad High Court’s order to annul the August 29 notification for a jail trial.
Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain asked for a copy of the recent IHC order on jail trial. After reading the order, the judge told Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s lawyer, Ali Bukhari, that the order is a big victory for his client.
On Tuesday, the IHC declared null and void the notification of Imran Khan’s jail trial in the cipher case.
The IHC order also stated that all the notifications issued by the ministry regarding Imran Khan’s jail trial are not valid according to law because they do not follow procedure and fulfill necessary requirements.
Former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have been booked under the Official Secrets Act 1923 in the cipher case.
While the terms of a ceasefire deal are being finalized Israel and Hamas, the Israeli army has reportedly arrested the director of al-Shifa Hospital on Thursday.
According to media reports, hospital director Muhammad Abu Salmiya and several other medical personnel have been detained as Israel continues its Gaza offensive.
The arrest has been reported by Khalid Abu Samra, a department chief at the hospital via AFP news agency as well as the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.
“Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the director of al-Shifa medical complex, has been arrested by the Israeli occupation forces. And even earlier, two Palestinian paramedics had been arrested by the Israeli occupation forces,” said Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from southern Gaza.
“This gives a clear sign that there is no immunity inside the Gaza Strip, neither for medical workers, civil defence crews or even journalists, as the attacks have reached all classes in the Palestinian community.”
Al Jazeera has also revealed that according to spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra, Gaza’s Health Ministry has decided to put a halt on coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the evacuation of wounded people and medical staff.
He claims that Israel and the UN are responsible for the arrest of medical personnel, further stating that Israeli forces have mistreated medical staff and patients.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ruled against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a matter related to the party’s intra-party elections and the issuance of election symbols, as per Geo News.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday ruled that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) intra-party polls were not transparent, ordering the party to hold new elections if it wishes to retain its ‘bat’ symbol.
The PTI has been asked by the commission to hold fresh elections within 20 days in a reserved verdict announced today.
“PTI’s intra-party elections cannot be accepted,” stated the verdict, directing it to hold polls and submit the record within seven days.
“If PTI fails to hold elections within 20 days then it will have to face severe consequences. In case of failure to hold [intra-party] elections, the [PTI] will not be eligible to secure an election symbol,” said the verdict.
During the hearing, PTI’s legal counsel, Barrister Gohar, revealed that the intra-party elections were conducted before amendments to the party constitution and were later reverted.
According to the Election Commission’s previous reserved decision on September 13, it was stated that PTI’s intra-party elections were not transparent and did not adhere to the party constitution.
Speaking to Geo News, PTI spokesperson Barrister Gohar Ali asserted that the PTI Chairman can contest elections and will do so as long as the ballot symbol remains with them.
He emphasized that the Chairman cannot be disqualified, and the Election Act, under Articles 62 and 63, does not bar Imran Khan from participating in elections.
Barrister Gohar further clarified that the Chairman was only penalized in one case, which was declared void by the High Court, and he remains eligible for all offices. He reiterated that the Chairman has the authority to lead the elections and will continue to do so.
In response to the Election Commission’s decision, the PTI spokesperson expressed disappointment, stating that the commission did not fulfill the demands of justice, and the decision seemed to be delayed for some specific purpose.
He announced that they would challenge the order at the appropriate forum and asserted that the ballot symbol will remain with them.
On Wednesday, the Federal Cabinet Sub-Committee on Exit Control List (ECL) proposed placing the names of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, former special assistant to Prime Minister Zulfi Bukhari, and former advisor to PM Shahzad Akbar on the no-fly list, Geo has reported.
The recommendation was given during yesterday’s committee meeting, attended by caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, Minister for Communications Shahid Ashraf Tarar, and various officials from the interior ministry and other departments.
The sub-committee suggested 41 names to place on no-fly list and Imran Khan’s name to include in the ECL due to the £190 million UK settlement case.
On the other hand, the sub-committee recommended removing 13 different types of cases from the ECL. On the instructions of the judiciary, the names of seven individuals have been removed from ECL.
The caretaker federal government will have final right to approve the recommendations.
Anchorperson Mansoor Ali Khan has recently revealed details about what incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) women leaders do in jail.
Talking on a vlog published on his YouTube channel on November 22 titled “In the line of interviews: Who is next? | Dr. Yasmin Rashid’s message to Mansoor Ali Khan from jail”, he explained that he got a call from a woman who said that she wants to deliver Dr. Yasmeen Rashid’s message to him.
According to him, Yasmeen, PTI Central Punjab’s President, is taking care of other PTI-related women incarcerated in Central Jail Lahore.
Interestingly, they play Scrabble to pass their time in jail.
He further revealed that Dr. Yasmeen Rashid is doing well and feels healthy.
The Lahore police registered a case against the PTI leader for allegedly setting vehicles on fire on May 9, the day the PTI chairman was arrested from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Mansoor Ali Khan stated during his vlog that Yasmeen Rashid will not only contest the election against Nawaz Sharif but Shehbaz Sharif too.
Previously, she contested the election from National Assembly (NA) 130 which is the same constituency as Nawaz but this time she intends to be a contestant in NA 132 which is Shehbaz’s constituency.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has yet to finalise the delimitation process but these are the areas that fell under NA 130 and NA 132.
NA 130
3-4 Gulberg F.F.C A.B.C.Q Block flates , Model town extention A-3 gulberg 3 Abu Bakr Block, New Garden Town Abu Bakr Street Shah Kamal Road Achra Baba Azam Chowk Aebak block new garden town Ahata Mol chand Feroz pur road ichra Ahata Mol Chand Ichra Ahmed Block, New Garden Town Akram Park Guromangat Akram Park Guromangat 3 Alhamd colony Alhamd Colony Allama Iqbal Town Ali Block New Garden Town Ali Park new samanbad Allama Iqbal Block Town Ravi Block Anayat colony , L block ANC Model Town A-one Nabi Pura gulberg 3 A-one Nabi Pura gulberg 4 Asif Block Allah Iqbal Town Askari 5, Flates Gulberg- 3 Askari Gulberg 3 Askari housing complex Gulberg 3 Askari-5, Gulberg 3 Ataturk Block, New Garden Town Atiq Street Shah Kamal Road A-Two Ghalib Market gulberg 3 Aurangzeb Block, New Garden Town Aurangzeb Block, Tariq Block New Garden Town Avenue civil Services academy Azeez park Ichra B-1 Gulberg 3 B-2 Audit Colony gulberg B-2 Gulberg 3 B-3 Gulberg 3 Babar Block, New Garden Town Baddar Block Allama Iqbal town Bahar Colony No.2 kot Lakhpat Bank Colony Bhabra Gulberg 3 Bhatti colony link road Moon street B-J-K Block Gulberg 3 Bloc k Model Town Block A Faisal Town Block B Faisal Town Block B-2 Gulberg Block C Faisal Town Block C-E gulberg 3 Block C-E Gulberg-3 Block D Faisal Town Block D New Muslim Town Block L Model Town Extension Block N LDA Flat Model Town Block N model town Block P Model Town Bukhari Market Rehmanpur Busti Allah Hoo Gulberg- C Block Model Town C Block New Muslim C-1, C-2, gulberg 3 Canal Park Canal Park Gulberg, 2 Canal Park, Ahata Bashi Ram Canal Park, Gulberg colony, D. Block Chah Mughal Chakian Ichra Chaudhary colony Samanabad Chaudhary colony samanbad Chenab Block Allama Iqbal Town Clifton Colony Cristian colony , Khan colony gulberg-3 D Blcok Model town D block Model Town D Block safdar Market Model Town Dohata Colony Ichra Dohata Colony Muhammad Ali road ichra E Block Model Ton E Block Model town E Block Model town, K Block Edin Villas, Q Block Model town F.C college Ferozpur road F.C college Kachi Abadi Falcon Colony Falcon Colony Gulberg 3 Fazila Colony Ichra Fazila Colony Shah Jamal Feroz Pur Road ichra Flate Block GOR-2 Model Town G,H Block Model town Garden Block, Ali Block Garden Block, Garden Town Ghazali Khushnama Flate Block GOR-2 Model Town Ghazali Park Ghos Azam Colony Gulberg-2 Gopal Nager GOR 3 SHADMAN Gulab Devi Hospital , Civil Eveation Quarters Gulberg 3, Block No4 Gulberg Block G,H Gulshan Block Allama Iqbal town Hafeez center Halli road Hameed Ali park Hameed park Hassanine Street Ashiqabad Hinray Kay gulber3 Hinza Block Allama block town Huma Block Allama Iqbal town Ichara Main Bazar Ichra Marbel Market, Muneer Shaheed Road Ichra Mata Rani Ichra Millat park Ichra sultan Ahmed Road Rehman pura Shah Jamal Chowk Ichra Sultan Ahmed Road Zaildar Road Shah Din Scheme Islam abad colony paki thathi Ithaad Colony Ithaad colony gulberg 3 Ithaad Colony Ichra J Block Model Tonw Jail road Shadman Market Jamia Asharfia / Asharfia Park J-Block gulberg 3 Jevan Hana Garden Town Jinnah Park Gulberg-2 Kacha Ferozpur Road Kachi Abadi F. C Collge Gulberg 3 Kachi Abadi Shah Jamal Kamboh Street Ichra Kamran Block Allama block town Karamabad Rehmanpur Karim Block Allama Iqbal Town Kashmir Blcok Allama Iqbal Block Khan colony Q Block Kothy Pind Faisal Town Kousar colony, Model Town L Block , Kalma Chowk L, J, K Wahdat Colony Lala Zar Colony LDA Flat Model Town Link Road Model Town M Block , Bulberg 3 , Bhabra M block , Gublerg 3 M Block , Gulberg Ferozpur road M. Block Wahidat M. Block Wahidat Colony M.M Alam Road Gulberg-3 Main Bazar Gopal Nagar gulberg 3 Main Bazar ichra Madina Bazar Main Bazar Zaildar Road Ichra Main Bluavard Gulberg- 2, P-Block Main Bluavard Gulberg-2, P-Block Main Gulberg Makkah colony , gulberg Makkah Colony block-1-Gulberg 3 Makkah Colony block-2 Gulberg 3 Makkah colony gulberg Makkah colony Street No.17-18 Makkah colony Street No.19-22 Maqbool Road Ichra Mehran Block Allama Iqbal Town Miraj Street ichra Model colony , Makkah Colony Model colony , Makkah colony Gulberg 3 Model Colony gulberg Model Colony Model Model Colony Model town Near Q block Model Town Block A Model Town Block B Model Town Block F Model Town Block F, E Block Model Town Block F, K Block Model Town Block G Model Town Block H Mohammad pur Faisal Mohammadpur Faisal Muhallah Sultan Ahmed Road Muhallah usman street , Muhallah usman street , nawab street Bhatti colony link Road Muhammad Pura Ichra Mumdoot Block Mustafa town Wahdat Road Muslim Block Allama Block town Mustafa abad , gulberg N block model town Nabi pura Two gulberg 3-2 Najaf colony Najaf colony , Hinza Block Naqsha Stop New Muslim Town Nargis Block Allama Iqbal Block Town Nasir Colony gulberg 2 Nawab Pura Ichra nawab street Bhatti colony link Road Nawaz Shareef Colony Nawaz Shareef Colony, Ferozpur Road Neelam Block Allama Iqbal Town New Muslim Town New Muslim Town EGC Colony New Muslim Town EGC Colony New union park New union park samanabad Nishtar Block Allama Iqbal Town Nishtar Park Allama Iqbal Town Nizam Block Allama Iqbal Block Town Nizam Block, Bhekay wal Nizamuddin Road Ashiq P Block, gulberg 3 P-3, link road BGECHS, Model town PAF Falcon Colony Gulberg 3 PAF Falcon Complex Pak Block Allama Iqbal Town Pakistani chowk Ichra Pakistani chowk Ichra Hamiyon Street Pakistani Chowk Ichra, Peer Ghazi Road Ichra Phase B-3, GECHS Pind Bhekay Wal Punjab University New Campus Pura Air Port , PIA colony PWD colony , Bhekay wal Q Blcok Model town Extention Q Blcok Model town Flates Q Block Model town Q Block Model town extention Q Block Umer Colony Kousar colony Qurban line , Iqbal Qurban line , Iqbal colony , gulberg Qurban line, kachi abadi R Blcok Model town Bahar Colony R Block Model Town R Block Model Town Extention R, Block Model town R, Block Model town Bahar colony Rachna Block Allama Block Rahat Park Rakh Chandray Rasool park Samanabad Ravi Block Allama Iqbal Town Rawan Abadi Raza Block Allama Iqbal Town Rehman Pura Akbar Street Rehmanpura Rehmanpura Ichra Rehmanpura Karam Abad Research Staff Colony New Campus Sadiq Trade Center, H- Block Sadiq Trade Center, H-Block Sait merry Colony Gulberg 3 Sakindria Block Allama Iqbal Town samanabad Sardar pura Ichra Satlej Block Allama Iqbal Town Search Colony New Campus Search Colony New Campus Shadman colony Shadman Colony 1 Shadman Colony Jail road Shadman colony No.1 Shadman II Shah Di Khui New Shah Di Khui New Campus Shah Jamal Shah Jamal Colony Shah Jamal Colony Shadman Shah Jamal Colony Shadman I, II Shah Kamal Road (Ithaad Park) Shair Shah Colony Sher Shah Block New Garden Town Shora Kothi Rehman park Sultan Ahmed road , Sultan Ahmed road , Zaildar Road Shah Din Scheme Ichra Tariq Block, New Garden Town Thay Pind Firdos Market Tipo block, Garden Town T-P block Guberg 2 T-P Block Gulberg-2 ulberg Block G,H Umer Block Allama Iqbal Town Umer Street , usman street, Link Road Union park samanabad Union park samanbad Usman Block, New Garden Town Usmana Bazar ichra Wahdat Colony Wahdat Park Wahdat Road Wahidat Colony Shah Kamal Road Z.Blcok flates Model town Zafar Ali road , Azeez Zafar Colony Nadeem Shaheed Road Zahoor Ilahi Road Gulberg 3 Zaildar Park Ichra Ahata Mol Chand Zaildar Road Ichra Zeenat Blcok Allama Block
NA 132
Araiyan Main Bazar Hidyara Muhallah Aahilo Wali Gali Kahna Nau Aahiloo Aasil Karogy Aasil Suleman Aatoo Asil Air Avenue Phase-8 DHA Airport Road Sehjpal Chowk Amam Bargah Araiyan Esayan Badhoki, centeral Park Badoki Badoki, centeral park Badoki, Haveli Mochiyan Baduwar Baho Bholy Baoo Wala Baoo Wala Barki Road Baoo Wala Barki Road Main Bazar Baoo Wala Caras Colony Baoo Wala Darbar Khawaja Wali Road Bar Ka Khurd Barki Barki Government Barki Koheryan Barki Muhallah Koyan Barki Muhallah. Basti Eid Gah , Kachwana road kahna Basti kachwana Basti kahna Nau Bawa Wala Bawa Wala Main Bazar Bay Dag, Jalal Abad Berhaman Abad Bhangali Bhatta Kohar Badian Road Bhatta Kohar Juggian Alfa Bheeni Sandhu Burhaman Abad Burka Kalan Chak Aahiloo Chak Dheera Chaneeko Mondi Chapa Dara Iqbal Butt Chapa Masjid Hafiz Sahib wali Class Mari Dara Abdul Rehman Aahilo road kahna Nau Dara Chahil Dera Pindi Dev Sani Dhala Dhaloke Dhaloky Dhalwan Dheerkay Dhori Dogran Khurd Drag Pura Chak Bhart Fatah Jhung Sing wala Fazal Park Chacho Wali Khurd Sharqi Gaga Gajjumata Gajjumata ( Afzal Park / Millat Town) Gajjumata ( Asif town No.12) Gajjumata ( Faisal Town/ Shalimar Town) Gajjumata ( Ghosia park) Gajjumata ( Ghosia Park/ Niko Wali Haveli) Gajjumata ( Ghulam Hussain colony) Gajjumata ( Green Scheme cap Housing Scheme) Gajjumata ( Gulshan Muneer Housing scheme Street No.3-4) Gajjumata ( Gulshan Muneer Housing scheme) Gajjumata ( Gulzar colony) Gajjumata ( Haveli Hakim Wali / Haroon Park) Gajjumata ( Haveli Samanbad) Gajjumata ( Millat / Gulshan Muneer Housing Scheme) Gajjumata ( Muhammad Pura / Haroon Park) Gajjumata ( Muhammad Pura Sawa) Gajjumata ( New Avenue colony/ gulshan Muneer Colony) Gajjumata ( Rehmat Park / Khalid town) Gajjumata ( Rehmat Park / Millat Town) Gajjumata ( Rehmat Park) Gajjumata ( Rehmat Park/ Millat Town) Gajjumata ( Shahzad colony) Gajjumata ( Tiba Ansarian) Gajjumata (Khalid Town) Gajjumata (Robi Nala Madina town) Ghali Mohammad Ali Tail Wala Kahna Nau Gheenay Ghillar Colony Ghohawa Ghohawa Badian Road Ghond Ghondi Gooband Pur Guli Haji Alam Ansari, Gulzar Park Gulvera Gulzar Park Guru Mangat Nau Abad Hadyara Muhallah Arayan Hair ( Ahmadi colony) Hair ( Badian road) Hair ( Fareed Kot) Hair ( Khandyala) Hair ( Khandyanwala) Hair ( Meeran town ) Hair ( Sabzi wala pul) Hair ( Saddique town) Hair ( Wara Jattan) Haji Park Badian Road Harpalkay Hassan Abad Health Center Manhala Hidyara Hidyara Basti Jan Hidyara Basti Jan Muhammad Hidyara Boher wali Masjid Hidyara Muhallah Hidyara Muhallah Araiyan Esayan Hidyara Muhallah Araiyan Main Bazar Hidyara Muhallah Awan Hidyaran Jattan Imran Wali Street, Shahzada road Ismail Pura Ghohawa Jhaliyan Jhalo Jhalo Health center Jhalo Kashmir Muhallah Jhalo Khokhar House Jhalo P/S girls Jhalo Jhalo Phatik Railway Jhamin Jhandeer Jhulkay Jhulkay ( Post office kahna Nau) Jhulkay ( Shareef park) Jhulkay (Anwar Wali Haveli / Central park) Jhulkay (Anwar WaliHaveli / Central park) Jowad Town Ghohawa dian Road Juggian Alfa Kachwana Basti, eid Gah Kachwana Basti, eid Gah Basti kahna Nau Kahna Kuhna Kahna Kuhna ( Gulshan Shafiq colony) Kahna Kuhna ( Kashmir Pati) Kahna Kuhna ( Muhallah/ Muhallah Meowatian) Kahna Kuhna ( Purana Muhallah) Kahna Nau Kahna Nau, Town Committee Karankay Karbath Kark Keerka Keet Keet ( Gaon) Khand Khanokharni Khar Maliyan Khawaja Khaliq Kheera Khuda Buksh Colony Bhatta Chowk Khushal singh Wala Koheriya Gujjar Muhallah Koheriya Malik Muhallah Kot Islam pura Kot Mela Ram Kot Nabi Baksh Kot Purs Ram ( Azad town) Ladhaykay Bhullar Ladhykay Ladhykay, Bhullar , Lakhoky Lalwa Lehna Singh Wala Lidher Main Bazar Baoo Wala Barki Road Main Bazar Manhala kalan Malik Chohar Wali Malik Chohar Wali Street Ameen Wali Street malik Pura Malik Pura Bhatta Kohar Malik Pura Bilal Town Maliyan Malkhoki Mandyala Manhala kalan Meer Colony Kahna Nau Mohalla Manawala Mohalla Rehmat Pura Badian Road Mojokay chak Danokay Mota singh wala Moya Kalan Moya Khurd Moza Bhatta Kohar Khuda Buksh Colony Ghazi Road Moza Ghohawa Moza Ghohawa Gulshan Scheme Muhallah Baabywal Muhallah Main Bazar Muhallah Meowatian Muhammad Muhammadi pur Munhala Kalan Munhala Khurd Mustafabad, lalyani Nai Abadi Class Mari Nai Abadi Ghohawa Nai Abadi Ghohawa Badian Road Nalka Stap Baoo Wala Naror Lailah pur Naseeb Abad Naseem Abad , Bilal Nagar Natha singh wala Nathoki Nawa Pind Gujjaran Nayab Colony Bhatta Chowk Near Aatta Floor Masjid Kahna Nau Noor Pur Noorani Masjid Street Chairman Wali Nurwar – Londo Khan Nurwar -Dara Ghory Khan Nurwar- Dara Moj Khan Nurwar govt girls high school Nurwar-Dara Muhammad Ismail Opal Paday Dara Lal Din Pandoki, Haveli Khokhran Pandoki, Mashmola Sultan Pura Pandoki, Muhallah Araiyan Pandoki, Muhallah Baba Bhullay Shah Pandoki, Muhallah Khokhran Pathankay Phadhana Phadhana Gharki Phadhana Muhallah Jattan DA Phularwan Phulrwan Pudri Qila Jeewan Singh Rahman Pura Raja Bhola Rakh Rakh Bangali Rakh Banikat Rakh Bhangali Rakh Dara Chahil Rakh Dhori Rakh Herdut Singh Rakh Padri Rakh Teda Rakh Teda Berhaman Ram Pura Kalan Ram Pura Khurd Road Nepal Bohigen Roadanwala Rustam Park Kahna Nau Sangat pura School Shahzad Shahzada Road , Deri Pura Shahzada Road Kahna Nau Shajpal Shajpal Bhatta Kohar Shankay Soora Sraich Street Gorgeous Warrior Street Street Master Amaad ul Street Master Amaad ul Din Kahna Nau Taqi Pur Dara Yousaf Chaki Wala Terda Thatha Khurd Thather Thay Pura The Sija Mirja Theh Janib Tiba Ghohawa Tiba Ghohawa Badian Road Tiba Ghohawa Badian Road Tiba Ghohawa Badian Road Masjid Bilal Tiba Ghohawa Bhatta Kohar Tiba Ghohawa Bhatta Kohar Main Bazar Tiba Ghohawa Pind Titlay
The Christian leadership in Bethlehem have announced they will not have Christmas celebrations in the West Bank this year in light of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza which has resulted in killing more than 13,000 people.
In a letter, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem have unanimously agreed to cancel the commemoration of Christmas to conform to the spiritual significance of the holiday while Palestinians are being brutally killed by Israeli forces.
“Each year during the sacred seasons of Advent and Christmastide, our Christian communities throughout the Holy Land take great delight in their preparations for the commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” the patriarchs wrote in a joint letter.
“In addition to attendance in religious services, these celebrations have normally involved participation in numerous public festivities and the large-scale display of brightly lit and expensive decorations as a means of expressing our joy at the approach and arrival of the Feast of the Nativity.”, it further stated.
“But these are not normal times. Since the start of the War, there has been an atmosphere of sadness and pain. Thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, have died or suffered serious injuries,” the bishops continued. “Many more grieve over the loss of their homes, their loved ones, or the uncertain fate of those dear to them. Throughout the region, even more have lost their work and are suffering from serious economic challenges. Yet despite our repeated calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence, the war continues.”
City officials in Bethlehem have also been taking down Christmas decorations in solidarity with Palestinians.
“Bethlehem Municipality crews announced the dismantling of Christmas decorations installed several years ago in the city’s neighbourhoods and removing all festive appearances in mourning for the martyrs and in solidarity with our people in Gaza,” the city posted on Facebook on November 14.
Why Bethlehem is significant for Christians?
Bethlehem is located 10 kilometres south of the city of Jerusalem. Since at least the 2nd century AD, people have believed that Jesus was born where now stands the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is considering the appointment of “officers from diverse departments,” including judiciary, federal, and provincial governments, and officers from ECP as district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) in the upcoming election on February 8, The News has reported on Thursday.
According to the report, it is highly likely that ECP will use a mix of officers, but no official decision has been taken in this matter.
“The Election Commission is left with no option but to engage officers from diverse departments. Already, the provincial election commissioners are in the process of finalising lists of officers for the poll job, besides Central Secretariat,” a senior official of the ECP told The News.
The source from ECP also said that judiciary had rejected the request to appoint officers for election duty because of multiple reasons, including several pending cases. However, one of the smaller provincial high courts expressed a willingness to provide officers for election duty.
To a question, he said around 1,000 DROs and ROs would be involved in the nationwide election duty.
In 2009, the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) decided not to appoint judicial officers for election duty, as this had dragged the “judiciary into political controversies”.
Security advisor to former president Barack Obama, Stuart Seldowitz, who was recorded on video spewing Islamophobic slurs at a halal food vendor in Manhattan, has now been arrested and is facing multiple charges.
The New York Police Department has reportedly charged Seldowitz with “aggravated harassment in the second degree, harassment, hate crime/stalking, stalking to cause fear, and stalking at place of employment”, according to communication NYPD shared with Documented.
The video has been circulating on social media where he can be seen calling the man “terrorist”.
“If we killed 4,000 Palestinian kids, you know what? It wasn’t enough”, he added while the vendor insists Seldowitz to leave.
this man is continuing to berate and harass the halal cart vendor. He ends the video with “if we killed 4,000 palestinian kids? It wasn’t enough”. pic.twitter.com/yhu4HSvIEZ
Seldowitz approached the food vendor twice after the first incident.
In one of the videos, he alludes to his “friends in immigration” saying, “the Mukhabarat wants your picture,” apparently making reference to an Egyptian intelligence agency.
“The Mukhabarat in Egypt will get your parents. Does your father like his fingernails? They’ll take them out one by one,” he continues.
Since October 7, when Hamas allegedly attacked Israel which led to Israeli attacks on Gaza, islamophobia has reportedly increased in America.
The New York Times reported that on Tuesday, the police said that no reports had been filed against Seldowitz, but they “confirmed that the commanding officer of the 19th Precinct was aware of the videos and that precinct personnel were monitoring the situation”.
NYT also writes that Seldowitz gave a phone interview in which he claims to have not seen the viral videos and that it all started when he asked the vendor if he was Egyptian. According to Seldowitz, the man supported Hamas although no such claims are recorded on any of the videos circulating the internet.
“At that point, I got rather upset and I’ve said things to him, that in retrospect, I probably regret, though — that I do regret,” Seldowitz said. “Instead of focusing in on him and what he said, I expanded into insulting his religion and so on.”
He further said that he returned to the vendor to ask him whether he was “still a supporter of Hamas,” adding that “I was upset at the fact that he was selling food in a neighborhood in New York.”
And while he is captured giving extremely offensive comments in relation to Islam, Seldowitz denies being Islamophobic.
“I’ve worked with Muslims,” he said, stating that “I have many people who are Muslims and Arabs and so on, who know me very well and who know that I’m not prejudiced against them.”
Pakistan is watching a wave of interviews and the latest twist in this unfolding drama has been disclosed by senior journalist Javed Chaudhry in a recent vlog, hinting that Malik Riaz, a property tycoon, is poised to unravel a series of explosive revelations in the days to come.
Javed Chaudhry’s vlog, providing a sneak peek into an upcoming interview with Malik Riaz, outlined three key points that are expected to rock the political landscape.
First and foremost, the interview is anticipated to shed light on the staggering Rs460 billion penalty imposed on Bahria Town by the Supreme Court. Riaz is expected to reveal what Saqib Nisar got in return for favors. He will also delve into the details of the 460 billion rupees fiasco.
Furthermore, the property tycoon is predicted to make startling claims regarding the 2014 protest, alleging that influential figures orchestrated the demonstration to unseat then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The revelations will also cover how the sit-in was sponsored and from where and how food was provided.
Riaz will also talk about why he advised Nawaz Sharif to leave the country for three months after his resignation.
Riaz is also anticipated to discuss his role in preventing a collaborative effort between Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif against Imran Khan, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that shaped Pakistan’s political landscape.
Riaz will also openly talk about who played what role during Imran Khan’s government and how they all benefited from it.
While specific details of the upcoming interview were not disclosed by Chaudhry, he expressed confidence that Malik Riaz’s revelations would be nothing short of bombshells, suggesting a turbulent period ahead for Pakistani politics.
