
Members of Pakistani community remember late Benazir Bhutto
Doha
Members of Pakistani community in Qatar paid glowing tributes to Pakistan's ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the Islamic world's first female Prime Minister and a staunch advocate for democracy, on the occasion of her 72nd birthday.
Born on June 21, 1953, Bhutto survived three assassination attempts before being assassinated on December 27, 2007, shortly after addressing an election rally at the historic Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi.
Prominent among those who attended the meet organised by Pakistan People's Welfare Association (PPWA) were Malik Sarfaraz Khan, chief patron; Malik Shahid Nazir, president; Fazal, vice president; and Raja Aftab Ahmed, general secretary.
The speakers paid heartfelt tributes to the late Benazir Bhutto, portraying her as a selfless and visionary leader who tirelessly championed the rights of the underprivileged, women, and marginalized communities. They reflected on her pivotal role in fortifying democratic institutions in Pakistan and acknowledged her unwavering commitment to the nation's democratic evolution.
The Bhutto family, they noted, has made enduring contributions to the country's progress, consistently advocating for the welfare of the common people. They emphasised that Benazir Bhutto dedicated her entire life to public service, embodying a legacy of courage, compassion, and national devotion.
Bhutto was popularly known as daughter of the East. She paid her first visit to Qatar in August 1994. She later came here in 2002 and 2006. In recognition of her courageous struggle for democracy and protection of the human rights, UN posthumously honoured Bhutto with Human Rights award in 2008.
Hashtags

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


Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
NRNA Qatar General Convention elects Padam Giri as its president
Tribune News Network Doha The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) National Coordination Council Qatar successfully held its 11th General Convention at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Doha, electing a new Executive Committee for the 2025–2027 term. Held with grandeur and broad participation, the event saw Padam Giri elected unopposed as President, leading a 36-member executive team. The biennial convention serves as a platform for the Nepalese diaspora in Qatar to renew leadership and enhance community engagement. The newly elected committee was officially sworn in by Election Commissioner Kamalni Guragain, who administered the oath of office and confidentiality. Padam Giri will lead the council alongside Roshan Aryal as First Vice-President, Subash Thapa as Second Vice-President, and Lila Rai as Third Vice-President. Ram Kumari Tamang was elected Women's Vice-President, with Tank Bahadur B K serving as Youth Vice-President. Shiva Bhujel has taken office as General Secretary, while Prem Kumar Basnet and Mohammad Azad Mansur will serve as Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, respectively. The secretarial team includes Khemraj Subedi, Isilal Pandit, and Shankarman Rai. Apsana Miya will serve as Women's Coordinator, with Chham Bahadur Chand as Youth Coordinator. In addition, the executive committee includes 19 members representing various sectors of the Nepali community in Qatar. The Audit Committee is headed by Padam Bahadur Ranabhat, with Sajid Eqbal and Hemraj Rijal as members, tasked with overseeing financial transparency. Qatar's representatives to the International Coordination Council (ICC) include Minraj Wagle, Jhavindra Belbase, Shiv Kumar Mahato, and Ishwar Raj Paudel. The convention was held under the patronage of Dr Badri KC, president of the NRNA ICC. It was attended by Salha Al Khalaf from Qatar's Ministry of Labour, officials from the Ministry of Interior, leaders of other expatriate communities, advisors and honorary members of the ICC, as well as representatives from various Nepali organisations across Qatar. Salha Al Khalaf, a distinguished guest at the event, extended his best wishes to the newly elected team and indicated that a follow-up meeting would be scheduled soon to explore future programmes and areas of cooperation. Dr Badri KC affirmed that the newly elected executive team is the official representative body of NRNA Qatar, operating under the Government of Nepal. He expressed confidence that the committee would adhere to the organisation's constitution and follow the directives of the ICC in its operations. Guided by the motto 'For Nepaleas, By Nepaleas,' NRNA Qatar has been at the forefront of various social, cultural, and philanthropic initiatives. The organisation maintains close collaboration with Qatari governmental bodies, charitable institutions, the Nepali Embassy, and other expatriate communities. Padam Giri, the newly elected President, is a veteran community leader who previously served two terms as General Secretary. He is recognised for his institutional experience and his collaborative efforts during significant events such as FIFA 2022 and the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he engaged effectively with Qatari authorities and community groups. The convention was chaired by Organising Committee Coordinator Keshab Karki and facilitated by Member Secretary Roshan Aryal.


Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Ministry of Endowments concludes teaching Arabic course in Tatarstan
QNA Doha The Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center (Bin Zaid), a Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs affiliate, concluded its Arabic Language teaching skills development course, which targeted 15 teachers from the Republic of Tatarstan's Islamic schools. Under the patronage of Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs HE Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanim, a closing ceremony was held at Bin Zaid Center's headquarters on Sunday, which reflected the deep cultural and religious ties between Qatar and the Republic of Tatarstan. Part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to promote the Arabic language and strengthen Islamic culture globally, the course aimed to train teachers and enhance their linguistic and educational skills, along with their Islamic knowledge. It ran from July 6 to August 3. In a speech delivered on behalf of Bin Zaid Center Director Dr. Saleh Ali Al Marri, his assistant Sultan Saad Al Badr said that the course aligns with the State of Qatar's vision and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs' mission to support the Arabic language and foster cultural connections with the Islamic world. He noted that this program is part of a series of Bin Zaid Center's international initiatives carried out in countries such as Russia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to its academic component, the program featured cultural visits, scholarly gatherings, and field tours to Qatar's Islamic and heritage landmarks, deepening participants' understanding of Islamic culture. The closing ceremony included a video presentation about the course, as well as a speech delivered by one of the course's participants on behalf of himself and his colleagues, expressing their gratitude to Qatar's government and people, for the care and attention they received during the programme. At the end of the event, participants were honoured and presented certificates, in the presence of Assistant Undersecretary for Islamic Affairs at the Ministry Khalid Shaheen Al Ghanim, in addition to Bin Zaid Center Director Dr. Saleh Ali Al Marri.


Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar marks World Day against trafficking in Persons 2025
QNA Doha The State of Qatar yesterday observed the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2025, held annually on 30 July. The event, themed 'Human Trafficking is Organised Crime – End the Exploitation', was organised by the Ministry of Labour and the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, with wide participation from government, security, and judicial bodies, international organisations, diplomatic missions, and civil society. The commemoration reflects Qatar's ongoing commitment, through the Ministry of Labour, to combat human trafficking in accordance with Islamic values that uphold human dignity, as well as its obligations under international law and support for global anti-trafficking efforts. The State of Qatar has established a comprehensive legal and institutional framework that supports prevention, protection, and prosecution, aligned with the UN Global Plan of Action. The National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, established by Cabinet Decision No. 15 of 2017, coordinates efforts across local and international partners, runs specialised training programs for enforcement officers, and works to raise awareness of the crime's patterns and response methods. Assistant Undersecretary for Migrant Labour Affairs Hamad Faraj Dalmouk opened the event by highlighting Qatar's integrated and progressive approach to combating human trafficking, notably the launch of the 2024â€'2026 National Plan. The plan focuses on four pillars: prevention, protection, prosecution, and cooperation, both national and international, led by the National Committee to ensure an effective and sustainable response. He outlined legislative, institutional, and procedural reforms taken as part of Qatar's broader labour market transformation. Internationally, Qatar continues to strengthen cooperation with labour-sending countries via agreements and MoUs, joint worker protection committees, and recruitment oversight. He noted Qatar's recent agreement with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to establish an international centre for training and research in combating human trafficking. He affirmed that the Ministry of Labour places top priority on addressing human trafficking and forced labour, in alignment with Qatar's Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030). With Qatar a major destination for migrant workers, the ministry has adopted a range of proactive measures to prevent exploitation and uphold a fair and lawful working environment. Among these efforts is ensuring that migrant workers arrive in Qatar without incurring exploitative recruitment debts, an essential step in eliminating forms of forced labour and empowering workers to perform with dignity. Qatar has also enacted a comprehensive set of laws and safeguards to protect workers' rights before and after arrival. For his part, Head of the ILO Office in Qatar Max Tunon emphasised the day's global significance as a reminder of the international community's responsibility to combat exploitation and forced labour. He noted that around 50 million people worldwide continue to suffer under such conditions, calling it a gross violation of human rights and decent work standards. He reaffirmed the ILO's commitment to partnering with governments and private stakeholders to address root causes, support victims, and hold perpetrators accountable. Tunon praised Qatar's progress, including legal reforms to the sponsorship system, enhanced complaint mechanisms, and expanded services for victim support. He described the 2024-2026 National Plan as 'a comprehensive document grounded in local realities and a deep understanding of the structural risks facing some workers.' He stressed the importance of a victim-centred approach that respects victims' choices and rights while maintaining strong accountability. He also noted that trafficking prevention is a shared responsibility requiring sustained, coordinated action. Qatar's experience, he added, illustrates what can be achieved through political will, institutional collaboration, and openness to international partnerships. As the new national plan is implemented, the ILO reaffirmed its full support for Qatar's human rights-based approach and its efforts to create a safe and fair working environment for all. In turn, Acting Chief of the IOM Mission in Qatar Roula Hamati praised the Ministry of Labour for its firm commitment to combating trafficking, particularly among vulnerable worker groups. She acknowledged the challenge of properly identifying victims, who are sometimes misclassified as offenders, and highlighted Qatar's advanced policy approach focused on dignity and protection. She noted that this international day serves as a call for joint action to safeguard human dignity. The ministry, in cooperation with IOM and other partners, has trained dozens of first responders, including labour inspectors and enforcement officials, on identifying and referring victims of trafficking and forced labour through appropriate, victim-sensitive channels. Roula Hamati commended Qatar's model of unified action between government entities, international organisations, embassies, civil society, and the private sector, calling it unique in the region. She confirmed IOM's continued support for this collaborative approach and praised the tangible achievements in labour market reform and worker protection mechanisms, viewing them as a strong basis for further regional and international cooperation. This year's commemoration aligns with the United Nations' objectives to raise awareness of trafficking as an organised crime, strengthen international collaboration, and provide victims with the psychological and social support needed for reintegration. It also aims to empower individuals and communities to report suspected human trafficking cases and contribute to building safer, fairer societies. During the event, several entities were honored for their contributions to Qatar's national anti-trafficking efforts, including the Supreme Judiciary Council, Ministry of Interior, Public Prosecution, Ministries of Justice and Public Health, Qatar News Agency, Aman Center, and the Workers' Support and Insurance Fund, in recognition of their efforts to raise awareness and promote worker protection.