
CM Gandapur's aide plegdes lasting peace in Kurram
PESHAWAR:
Advisor to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif, addressed a grand jirga at the Commissioner's Office in Kohat, reaffirming the government's commitment to restoring peace in Kurram district.
He emphasized that the ongoing conflict is not a religious or sectarian issue but a result of hatred.
Saif urged all stakeholders to recognize the devastating consequences of violence, highlighting that no external force is responsible for the loss of lives and propertyrather, it is internal divisions that have fueled this crisis.
He stressed that war and hatred only bring destruction and that genuine progress can only be achieved by setting aside hatred and embracing unity.
"The real problem is not religious; it is our personal hatred. When we allow hatred to consume us, we forget the teachings of Islam and the values of humanity," he stated. "The solution lies in rejecting hatred and promoting understanding. The day we choose peace over hostility, we will no longer have to mourn the loss of our people or rebuild our damaged communities."
He condemned the repeated cycles of violence, urging participants to reflect on past mistakes and commit to a future of coexistence.
The advisor acknowledged the peace agreement facilitated by the government and signed by both parties, stressing that it was developed with the consensus of local leaders and stakeholders. However, he expressed concern over attempts by certain elements to disrupt peace efforts through misinformation and further violence.
"The government has played its role as a facilitator, and we stand by our commitment to implementing the agreement," he said. "However, lasting peace requires the active participation and responsibility of the people. The identification and handing over of miscreants to law enforcement is crucial for stability."
Addressing concerns about governance and security, he assured that the government is fully engaged in ensuring the safety of the region.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
Israeli strikes kill 42 in Gaza on first day of Eid, say Palestinian officials
Displaced Palestinians mourn and carry injured and killed Palestinians who lost their lives after Israeli airstrike and artillery shelling on Eid al-Adha morning in Khan Yunis, Gaza on June 06, 2025. PHOTO: ANADOLU AGENCY Listen to article As Palestinians in Gaza mark the first day of Eid al-Adha, Israeli attacks have killed at least 42 people across the enclave since dawn this morning. Shelling, airstrikes reported in Khan Younis, Gaza City, Jabalia amid ongoing humanitarian catastrophe Israeli forces continued with their brutality and did not spare Palestinians on the first day of Eid al-Adha, one of Islam's holiest festivals, by carrying out a series of airstrikes and artillery attacks across the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, killing 42 people and injuring several others, according to eyewitnesses and medical sources. Despite the festive occasion, many Palestinians performed Eid prayers amid the rubble of their destroyed homes, as Israel's genocidal war continues to devastate the besieged enclave. In southern Gaza, Israeli warplanes carried out multiple raids in Khan Younis, while heavy artillery targeted residential neighborhoods in the central, northern, and eastern parts of the city, witnesses said. Plumes of smoke rose across southern Khan Younis as shelling and air raids intensified. According to medical sources, a child was shot dead by Israeli forces near the Al-Saraya detention area in Khan Younis. Another civilian succumbed to injuries sustained in a previous Israeli strike on the city. Four Palestinians were killed and several others were injured when an Israeli drone struck a mobile phone charging station set up between tents sheltering displaced families west of Khan Younis. In Rafah, four more Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces near an aid distribution center, the same locations that have been the target of deadly Israeli attacks since their establishment late last month. Following an Israeli airstrike on the town of Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis, rescue crews found one body under the rubble. Eyewitnesses also reported that Israeli troops carried out demolitions of buildings in northern Khan Younis. In northern Gaza Strip, medical sources reported that nine Palestinians were killed and several others injured after Israeli forces bombed residential homes in Jabalia with the casualties transported to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. Heavy shelling hit the Al-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, while air raids struck Jabalia town, residents said. This marks the fourth Eid al-Adha observed under the shadow of war in Gaza, which has been reeling from a deliberate and systematic campaign of extermination since Oct. 7, 2023. Israel, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a genocidal offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 54,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among the enclave's more than 2 million inhabitants. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war crimes against civilians in the enclave.


Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Business Recorder
PM announces new era with Pak-US ties
ISLAMABAD: America's 249th birthday bash in Islamabad went full throttle on Wednesday as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a bold 'new era' in US-Pakistan relations – reminding everyone that Washington was one of Pakistan's earliest backers way back in 1947. At a glittering Independence Day celebration hosted by the US Embassy – a full month before July 4 – PM Sharif declared that Pakistan and America were stepping into a 'new era' of relations, while tossing sharp jabs at India and tipping his hat to Donald Trump. 'This is a new chapter,' Sharif told a high-profile crowd packed with political bigwigs, top brass, civil society members, and diplomats. 'We're committed to strengthening Pakistan-US relations. Both countries believe in democratic traditions and the supremacy of the constitution.' Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja were amongst the politicians that joined the ceremony. PM Sharif said that the US was one of the first nations to recognise Pakistan after its 1947 independence. He thanked Washington for decades of development support – but made sure no one forgot the cost Pakistan has paid fighting terror. 'We've lost over 90,000 lives. Our economy's taken a $150 billion hit,' he said. 'Pakistan's sacrifices in counterterrorism are second to none.' On this occasion, PM Sharif slammed India over the recent four-day war between the two nuclear armed rivals, branding the Pahalgam incident as a false-flag operation and accusing New Delhi of using the tragedy to target civilians. 'We called for an international investigation – India responded by bombing us,' he said, adding that Pakistan had responded in kind by shooting down six Indian aircraft. Still, the prime minister stressed his desire for regional peace. He credited international efforts, including those by US President Trump, for helping to de-escalate hostilities and secure a ceasefire. 'We appreciate President Trump's efforts in promoting peace and economic cooperation.' Meanwhile, acting US Ambassador Natalie Baker opened with a warm 'As-Salaam-Alaikum' – in Urdu, no less – as she spoke of shared values, mutual respect, and a future rich with potential. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Business Recorder
04-06-2025
- Business Recorder
Million-plus pilgrims to begin Hajj under blazing sun
MAKKAH: More than a million worshippers were set to join Islam's most important rite under a beating sun as the Hajj pilgrimage kicked off Wednesday, with authorities scrambling to avoid last year's 1,000-plus deaths in sweltering heat. In temperatures that are expected to climb to more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), robed pilgrims will slowly circle the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site – the black cubic structure at the centre of Makkah Grand Mosque. About 1.4 million pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the multi-day hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam that must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means. Authorities have ratcheted up anti-heat measures such as extra shade to avoid a repeat of last year, when 1,301 people died as temperatures hit 51.8C (125.2F). Pilgrims come together in Makkah under scorching desert heat On Wednesday, pilgrims will perform the tawaf – walking seven times around the Kaaba, which Muslims worldwide pray towards each day. They then head to Mina, the site of a giant tented city, before the Hajj's high-point: prayers on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is believed to have delivered his final sermon. Before entering Makkah, pilgrims must first enter a state of purity, called ihram, which requires special dress and behaviour. Men don a seamless shroud-like white garment that emphasises unity among believers, regardless of their social status or nationality. Women, in turn, wear loose dresses, also white, exposing just their faces and hands. Pilgrims arriving on buses were already trickling into Mina on Tuesday afternoon, greeted by staff offering them coffee and dates. 'I am so happy, it's such an amazing feeling,' said Reem al-Shogre, a 35-year-old Saudi national performing Hajj for the first time. Artificial intelligence Following last year's lethal heatwave, authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related ailments. Shaded areas have been enlarged by 50,000 square metres (12 acres), thousands of additional medics will be on standby and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, Saudi Arabia's Hajj minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP last week. Artificial intelligence technology will also help track the deluge of data and footage, including video from a new fleet of drones, to better manage the massive crowds. Authorities said most of the deaths last year were among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to air-conditioned tents and buses. This year, they have stepped up a crackdown on unregistered worshippers, using frequent raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text alerts. PIA successfully completes its pre-Hajj operations Hajj permits are allocated to countries on a quota basis and distributed to individuals by lottery. But even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs prompt many to attempt the Hajj without a permit, even though they risk arrest and deportation if caught. Large crowds at the Hajj have proved hazardous in the past, most notably in 2015 when a stampede during the 'stoning the devil' ritual in Mina, near Makkah, killed up to 2,300 people in the deadliest Hajj disaster. Makkah Route Initiative to be expanded: minister Saudi Arabia, which is home to Islam's holiest sanctuaries in Makkah and Medina, earns billions of dollars each year from the hajj, as well as the lesser pilgrimage known as umrah, undertaken at other times of the year.