Opposition slams govt for Kashmir-like treatment at home
The Opposition in the Punjab Assembly lambasted the government for its double standards, stating that, on one hand, it expresses solidarity with Kashmiris against their mistreatment and cruelty, but on the other hand, it subjects the Opposition to similar treatment.
Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, condemned the act of setting fire to houses, banks, and state properties under the guise of a protest or rally. Speaking to journalists, he said, 'Peaceful protest is everyone's right, but turning such an event into chaos and violence cannot be allowed under any circumstances.'
He added that August 5 is the day of 'Youm-e-Istehsal' (Day of Exploitation), and everyone should stand by the Kashmiris. However, PTI created division by announcing protests on August 14, a national day.
'Today, the focus should have been on voicing against the cruelty towards the people of Palestine and Kashmir, rather than damaging the national cause under the guise of protests,' Speaker Khan warned. He further stated that turning protests into anarchy is unjustifiable.
On the other hand, the Opposition's parliamentary leader, Ali Imtiaz Warraich, condemned the government's dual conduct, adding that, on one side, the government observes August 5 as a day to voice against the exploitation of Kashmiris and Palestinians, but on the other hand, it treats the Opposition with the same cruelty.
He mentioned that PTI had called for a nationwide protest on August 5. In response to this call, PTI lawmakers assembled outside DHA Rehbar, but the police arrested nine of their lawmakers. 'PTI conducted a peaceful protest, yet even its lawmakers and workers were arrested,' he said.
Warraich warned that PTI would devise a future strategy if its lawmakers and workers were not released.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Only 1.5% of Gaza farmland usable: FAO
PARIS: Only 1.5 percent of Gaza's farmland is accessible and undamaged – less than a square mile – according to the latest satellite survey published Wednesday by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, which warned the Palestinian territory was on 'the brink of a full-scale famine'. In its previous survey, published at the end of May, the FAO had indicated that less than five percent of Gaza farmland was both accessible and undamaged, based on data from the UN Satellite Centre. The survey, which dates from July 28, found that 8.6 percent of Gaza's farmland was accessible, but only 1.5 percent, or 2.3 square kilometres (less than one square mile) was both accessible and usable. An additional 12.4 percent of farmland is undamaged, but not accessible. An overwhelming majority of Gaza's farmland – 86.1 percent – is damaged, the survey found. 'Gaza is now on the brink of a full-scale famine,' the FAO's director-general Qu Dongyu said in a statement. Dozens of Palestinians killed in Gaza as Hamas official vows to 'break' Israel 'People are starving not because food is unavailable, but because access is blocked, local agrifood systems have collapsed, and families can no longer sustain even the most basic livelihoods,' he added. Qu called for safe and sustained humanitarian access to restore local food production and avoid a further loss of life. 'The right to food is a basic human right,' he said. Before the conflict, agriculture accounted for around 10 percent of the Gaza Strip's economy. The FAO estimated that more than 560,000 people, or a quarter of the population, were being at least partially supported by agriculture and fishing. The Israeli government is under growing pressure to bring the war in Gaza to an end, with concern mounting after the United Nations warned that famine was unfolding in the territory of more than two million Palestinians. The October 2023 attack by Hamas that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, the majority of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. The Israeli offensive has killed at least 61,158 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Gaza health ministry, which are considered reliable by the United Nations.
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
NA passes resolutions against honour killings, digital harassment
Listen to article The National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed resolutions against honour killings and digital harassment, calling for targeted public awareness campaigns and the introduction of educational modules on digital ethics, privacy rights, and anti-harassment laws in institutions. The resolution against honour killings, moved by Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Shahida Rehmani during a National Assembly session chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, strongly condemned so-called honour killings and called for zero tolerance toward such crimes, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported. It also proposed the formation of an interprovincial task force to ensure coordinated efforts to eradicate honour-based violence. The lower house adopted several other resolutions, including one calling for stronger legal frameworks against unauthorised video recording, cyber harassment, and digital defamation. The House adopted a resolution moved by the Secretary Women's Parliamentary Caucus Dr. Shahida Rehmani, condemning the Honor killings across Pakistan.#NASession @ShahidaRehmani — National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) August 6, 2025 Moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, the resolution urged the federal government to strengthen law enforcement capacity and initiate public awareness campaigns on digital rights and safe reporting mechanisms. It also recommended the inclusion of educational modules on privacy, digital ethics, and anti-harassment laws in educational institutions and the establishment of dedicated complaint desks at police stations. The house also passed a resolution reaffirming Pakistan's historic and unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate struggle for freedom, dignity, and justice. The House, during the National Assembly session, unanimously adopted the resolution reaffirming Pakistan's historic and unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate struggle for freedom, dignity, and Justice. The resolution was moved by Member National… — National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) August 6, 2025 The resolution, tabled by PPP MNA Shazia Marri, expressed deep concern over the intensifying Israeli military aggression in Gaza, which has resulted in widespread civilian casualties and destruction of homes and infrastructure. It condemned the statements and actions of Israeli authorities suggesting a long-term occupation of Gaza, forced displacement of Palestinians, and systematic attempts to erase the territory's Palestinian identity. The resolution further denounced the use of starvation, siege tactics, and collective punishment, terming them war crimes under international law. The House called on the United Nations and the broader international community to fulfil their legal and moral obligations by taking immediate steps to end the aggression, ensure civilian protection, and facilitate unrestricted humanitarian access. It also called for accountability of the occupying power for war crimes and reaffirmed support for the Palestinian right to self-determination. Also Read: Pakistan, Turkiye conclude first bilateral amphibious naval drill The resolution urged the government to continue raising the issue on global platforms, including the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar moved the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2025 — already passed by the Senate — for consideration. However, an amendment moved by MNA Aliya Kamran referring the bill to the relevant committee was adopted. During the Question Hour, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Syed Hussain Tariq, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, raised concern over K-Electric's request for a waiver of Rs76 billion in unpaid dues and the practice of disconnecting entire feeders over non-payment by a few consumers. MNA Mir Munawar Ali Talpur also questioned the rationale behind collective punishment of entire neighbourhoods due to defaults by a few. Minister of State for Energy Abdur Rehman Khan Kanju and Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Division Sajid Mehdi responded to the queries. Speaker Sadiq took notice of the concerns and directed the minister to hold a special meeting with the concerned MNAs to find a viable solution.
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
12 PTI workers arrested for rioting granted bail by Karachi court
A Karachi court on Tuesday granted bail to 12 workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who were detained on charges of rioting, stone-pelting, and attacking police during a protest rally in the metropolis on August 5. The judicial magistrate for District East approved the bail pleas filed by defence lawyers and ordered the release of the accused against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each. Earlier, police had produced the accused before the court and sought their physical remand for further interrogation. According to the investigation officer (IO), the PTI workers had blocked the road during a rally led by senior party leaders, including Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Awab Alvi, and Raja Azhar, at Hassan Square. The IO claimed the protest turned violent when the accused pelted stones at law enforcers and attacked them with sticks, injuring a police officer identified as Aijaz. The IO requested physical custody of the accused for criminal record office verification, adding that several other suspects were still at large. Also Read: Karachi police lodge FIR against 550 PTI workers However, the court turned down police's request and granted bail to all 12 accused, who were identified as Nadir, Abdul Rafi, Sarfraz Jameel, Fida Rehman, Nabi Ahmad, Abdul Rashid, Muhammad Ibrahim, Younus Khan, Zar Wali, Muhammad Hanif, Sohail Ahmad Memon, and Adnan. Later, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh visited the city court to meet the released workers. Speaking to media persons on the occasion, he said that the bail order was a victory for truth and justice. The protest at Hassan Square was peaceful, and that the FIR registered against party workers was fabricated, he claimed. "Police used baton charge and fired shells on peaceful demonstrators," he alleged, adding that his name was not included in the FIR but was later inserted in the remand papers. He reiterated the party's resolve to continue the protest movement until PTI founder Imran Khan is released from jail. "The frustration among the youth is growing with each passing day. Continued incarceration of Imran Khan is not in the country's interest," he added.
