Ceasefire marks dawn of new era of peace in region: minister
LAHORE: Punjab's Minister for Sports, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar, in a statement, said that the recent ceasefire has ushered in a new dawn of peace in the region. He emphasized that the entire nation salutes the sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces, who have bravely defended the motherland on every front.
The Minister said that the war hysteria and conspiracies of the Modi government have been thoroughly exposed on the global stage. He highlighted that both political and military leaderships, united on one front, have effectively crushed the nefarious intentions of the enemy. "This national unity is our true strength," he asserted.
Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar called upon the international community to play a meaningful role in ensuring lasting peace in the region. He stressed that the Pakistani nation stands united against all adversaries, and any malicious intent towards Pakistan will meet a dire fate. Expressing solidarity with the families of the martyrs, the Minister said that their sacrifices will never be forgotten. He stated that the Pakistan Army has dealt heavy blows to the enemy, and has given a strong and clear message on every front that Pakistan will never compromise on its sovereignty. He further stated that Modi's regime has become a threat not only to India but to the peace and stability of the entire region. "The world has now seen the true face of this deceitful government," he concluded.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
US role key to regional peace: CM
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has appreciated the constructive and positive role of the United States amid the Pakistan-India strained relations recently. During a meeting with US Chargé d'Affaires Natalie A Baker and Consul General Kristin K Hawkins, she highlighted the active and positive role of the United States and deemed it highly important for attaining sustainable peace in the South Asian region. Pakistan-US relations are a valuable partnership based on shared values and strategic interests, she said. The chief minister reaffirmed her keenness to strengthen the cordial relations between Punjab and California. She expressed solidarity with the people of California on being a sister state and described her meeting with the US Congressional Pakistan Caucus as positive and constructive. She highlighted, "Pakistan is emerging as a strategic partner for the United States in various sectors, including textile. Punjab is the largest and most economically vibrant province in the country and welcomes US investment and cooperation in multiple sectors. The Pakistani-American community play the role of a strong bridge in further strengthening cordial relations between the two countries." She outlined, "We deem the United States as an important global ally on confronting formidable challenges such as climate change, food security and sustainable development. The Punjab government is keen to further expand its strategic partnership with the United States." Matters pertaining to strengthening the long-standing Pakistan-US relations and enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting. The chief minister thanked Natalie A Baker for supporting Lahore Qalandars in the PSL tournament. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated in her message on the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, "The everlasting solution to the ongoing atrocities in Palestine and Occupied Kashmir is only possible by initiating meaningful dialogue. The international community has to decide and ascertain whether we will continue to lift the dead bodies of innocent children or choose the path of peace through dialogue." She said dialogue among civilizations is the path needed to attain peace, progress and safeguard the humanity. Adopting a culture of respect and tolerance is an effective response to war and hatred. The chief minister said, "Pakistan is a peaceful country, which has always advocated dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect among the comity of nations. We all have to comprehend the spirit of dialogue and abandon the attitude of considering differences, which triggers undue hostility among the nations."
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Church hosts interfaith Eid Milan party
An interfaith Eid Milan Party was hosted at the Naulakha Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, aiming to promote harmony, mutual respect and understanding among religious communities. The event was hosted by Reverend Dr Majid Abel, with Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora as the chief guest. The gathering brought together religious scholars and leaders from various communities, social organisations, and government representatives. Reverend Abel emphasised that the Naulakha Presbyterian Church has always stood for love, tolerance and mutual respect among all religions. He urged the society to collectively work towards a future free from discrimination based on colour, race or religion. In his address, Minister Ramesh Singh Arora reaffirmed the Punjab government's commitment to interfaith peace and harmony. "We are committed to ensuring that people of all faiths feel safe, respected and valued," he added. The speakers highlighted the importance of unity, religious tolerance and mutual respect. They also paid tribute to the Pakistan Army's successful execution of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, recognising its role in securing peace and national integrity.
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Statute and salvation
Listen to article In a moment of historic magnitude and noble resolve, the Parliament of Pakistan has enacted the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025, a legislative triumph in the pursuit of justice, equality and preservation of childhood. By raising the minimum legal age of marriage to eighteen years for both young men and women within the federal capital, this enlightened decree supplants the antiquated ordinance of 1929, a relic of colonial jurisprudence. This bill, advanced with conviction by the member of the National Assembly, Ms Sharmila Faruqui, and championed with eloquence in the Senate by Senator Sherry Rehman, met stiff resistance from conservative quarters who claimed its incompatibility with religious and cultural tenets. Yet, the force of reason triumphed, notably drawing strength from the province of Sindh, where a similar statute has withstood the test of time since 2014. Even the Council of Islamic Ideology, the highest body of religious deliberation in the land, had previously given its assent to Sindh's reform, thereby rendering obsolete the theological objections to the federal measure. Under the auspices of the 2025 Act, any nuptial arrangement involving individuals below the age of maturity is henceforth unlawful within the jurisdiction of Islamabad. Nikah registrars are now duty-bound to authenticate the ages of both parties through national identity documents issued by NADRA. Those who dare defy the law — be they officiants, adult men preying upon minors, or conspirators enabling such unions — shall face stringent punishment, including imprisonment of up to three years and pecuniary penalties scaling to one million rupees. More significantly, the law designates all conjugal relations with a minor as statutory rape, regardless of consent or marital sanction. This legislative deliverance is not merely timely; it is imperative. According to the 2023 Demographic and Health Survey, nearly 28.9 per cent of Pakistani girls are wed before they attain the age of eighteen, while 4 per cent are forced into matrimony before the tender age of fifteen. Such unions, forged in coercion and cloaked in custom, breed domestic violence, maternal mortality and educational deprivation. Though limited in geographical application, the reverberations of this statute are felt far and wide. It heralds a new era wherein the voice of conscience may triumph over the outdated traditions. Provinces such as Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where child marriage remains alarmingly prevalent, must now reflect upon their own legislative inertia and consider whether silence in the face of national reform is a tenable position. A consensus across the republic must now be forged. The provinces must harmonise their legal frameworks with the capital's enlightened statute, thereby affording equal protection to every child beneath the crescent and star. The state must invest in grand campaigns to enlighten families and communities about the grievous costs of premature marriage. The machinery of justice must be fortified with special courts and trained officers capable of swift intervention and resolute enforcement. Moreover, the nation must extend its hand to those vulnerable girls who stand at the precipice of such fates, offering them the sanctuaries of education, psychological support and shelter. Community leaders should emphasise the importance of every child's dignity and protection The latest turn in the saga of the bill reveals that the Council of Islamic Ideology has challenged the Act as un-Islamic, and a petition in the Federal Shariat Court now seeks its annulment on constitutional and religious grounds. The bill's landmark move to ban child marriage and set the legal age at 18 marks a major victory for child rights yet faces constitutional challenges and implementation hurdles that will determine its true effectiveness.
