Latest news with #Naeem
TimesLIVE
7 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Sudan war shatters infrastructure, costly rebuild needed
One consequence of the infrastructure breakdown can be seen in a rapid cholera outbreak that has claimed 172 deaths out of 2,729 cases over the past week alone mainly in Khartoum. Other parts of central and western Sudan, including the Darfur region, are similarly ravaged by fighting, while the extensive damage in Khartoum, once the centre of service provision, reverberates across the country. Sudanese authorities estimate reconstruction needs at $300bn for Khartoum and $700bn for the rest of Sudan. The UN is doing its own estimates. Sudan's oil production has more than halved to 24,000 barrels-per-day and its refining capabilities ceased as the main al-Jaili oil refinery sustained $3bn in damages during battles, oil and energy minister Mohieddine Naeem told Reuters. Without refining capacity, Sudan now exports all its crude and relies on imports, he said. It also struggles to maintain pipelines needed by South Sudan for its own exports. Earlier this month, drones targeted fuel depots and the airport at the country's main port city in an attack Sudan blamed on the UAE. The Gulf country denied the accusations. All of Khartoum's power stations have been destroyed, Naeem said. The national electrical company recently announced a plan to increase supply from Egypt to northern Sudan and said earlier in the year that repeated drone attacks to stations outside Khartoum were stretching its ability to keep the grid going. LOOTED COPPER Government forces re-took Khartoum earlier this year and as people return to houses turned upside down by looters, one distinctive feature has been deep holes drilled into walls and roads to uncover valuable copper wire. On Sudan's Nile Street, once its busiest throughway, there is a ditch about one metre deep and 4km long, stripped of wiring and with traces of burning. Khartoum's two main water stations went out of commission early in the war as RSF soldiers looted machinery and used fuel oil to power vehicles, according to Khartoum state spokesperson Altayeb Saadeddine. Those who have remained in Khartoum resort to drinking water from the Nile or long-forgotten wells, exposing them to waterborne illnesses. But there are few hospitals equipped to treat them. 'There has been systematic sabotage by militias against hospitals, and most medical equipment has been looted and what remains has been deliberately destroyed,' said health minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, putting losses to the health system at $11bn. With two or three million people looking at returning to Khartoum, interventions were needed to avoid further humanitarian emergencies like the cholera outbreak, said UN Development Programme resident representative Luca Renda. But continued war and limited budget means a full-scale reconstruction plan is not in the works. 'What we can do ... with the capacity we have on the ground, is to look at smaller-scale infrastructure rehabilitation,' he said, like solar-power water pumps, hospitals, and schools. In that way, he said, the war may provide an opportunity for decentralising services away from Khartoum, and pursuing greener energy sources.
Shafaq News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Hamas open to handing over Gaza administration, official says
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, a senior Hamas official confirmed that the group is engaged in direct talks with the United States about the Gaza conflict, viewing US President Donald Trump as a potential mediator for a peace agreement. Bassem Naeem, a member of Hamas's political bureau and head of its political department in Gaza, spoke with Sky News, disclosing that Hamas has presented its proposed deal both through intermediaries and directly to certain figures within the US administration. The group's demands, according to him, include a prisoner exchange, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, unrestricted access for aid into Gaza, and reconstruction of the territory without forced displacement, all contingent on a ceasefire. Naeem also noted the possibility of Hamas relinquishing control of Gaza, highlighting the group's acceptance of an Egyptian peace proposal calling for the formation of an independent Palestinian body, politically unaffiliated, to administer the territory. 'Until then, as an occupied people, we retain the right to defend ourselves and resist the occupation by all means,' Naeem stressed. Addressing the US president, who is currently visiting the region, he expressed confidence in Trump's ability and willingness to broker a peaceful resolution. 'Gaza's population deserves to live in peace and dignity, like all peoples everywhere. If sufficient pressure is applied on Israel to end the conflict promptly, the United States can help achieve this, and we stand ready to cooperate toward a more peaceful region,' Naeem added. Hamas has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
Business Recorder
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
JI asks govt not to give India any guarantee sans it quits aggression
ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, Monday, while slamming India said that unless Indian government refrains from aggressive actions, Pakistan should not provide any guarantees. Talking to a delegation of Sikh community here, Naeem emphasised the importance of fully implementing the Indus Waters Treaty, stating that India's water aggression must be dealt with decisively and permanently. He said that the Pakistani nation will not accept any compromise on the Kashmir issue and stressed that the dispute should be resolved in accordance with United Nations resolutions. The Sikh delegation expressed happiness over Pakistan's recent strategic success and appreciated Jamaat-e-Islami's firm stance. The delegates reiterated that the people of Pakistan, regardless of religious, sectarian, or linguistic differences, stand united in defence of the country. They also celebrated the success of Pakistan's armed forces in countering Indian hostilities. The JI chief stated that the entire nation has set aside political differences in the interest of national security and integrity, a positive sign that the government must take seriously. He urged the authorities to act responsibly and take immediate and meaningful steps to preserve this unity. He said Pakistan had achieved a significant success against Indian aggression. He said that any international mediation on Kashmir must be aligned with UN resolutions. 'The government must not fall for empty statements from world leaders, and should avoid any illusionary hopes while pursuing a principled and firm policy on Kashmir,' he added. Calling Kashmir the 'jugular vein' of Pakistan, he said the people of Kashmir must be granted their right to self-determination. He criticised the Indian media for its toxic and false propaganda and urged the Pakistani government to expose the true face of the Hindutva ideology. 'The world should know that Modi's extremist vision poses a serious threat to the peace of South Asia. Muslims and other minorities in India are unsafe and frequently targeted,' he said. The chief stated that when a nation stands with honour and dignity, its economy can stabilise on its own. 'We must not lose a won battle at the negotiation table,' he asserted. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
False-flag operation: Hafiz Naeem calls for urgent need for national unity
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami's (JI) Central Chief, Hafiz Naeemur Rahman on Saturday emphasized the urgent need for national unity in the wake of a recent false flag operation in India-occupied Kashmir. Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, the JI Karachi headquarters, Hafiz Naeem condemned controversial remarks made by the United States vice president regarding the Pehalgam tragedy, urging the central government to summon the US envoy over the issue. Flanked by JI leaders including Monem Zafar, Saifuddin Advocate, Taufiquddin Siddiqui and MPA Muhammad Farooq, Hafiz Naeem criticized the US for appearing to support the Indian narrative. He thanked China for its unequivocal support of Pakistan and accused India of avoiding a neutral investigation into the Kashmir incident. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- The Hindu
Five persons, including a Christian, arrested on blasphemy charges in Pakistan's Punjab
Five persons, including a Christian, have been arrested on the charges of blasphemy in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said on Tuesday (April 22, 2025). A law-and-order situation was created after a large number of people surrounded the Sajid Shaheed Police Station, Sargodha city, some 200 kms from Lahore, on Sunday, forcing the police to arrest the five suspects for insulting a companion of the Prophet, police said. "Complainant Nisar Ahmad alleged that Naeem, Yasir, Zain, Hanif and Sameul printed stickers containing blasphemous content," police officer Mobin Ali told PTI. He said a large number of people gathered outside the police station, demanding stern action against the suspects. A heavy contingent of police controlled the situation and later arrested the culprits. He said the suspects have been kept in tight security and produced to a magistrate for their physical remand. A case has been registered against the suspects under sections 295-A and 298-A of the Pakistan Penal Code. The Christian suspect said he had nothing to do with the printing of the blasphemous stickers as he is an employee there. Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Pakistan, where anyone deemed to have insulted Islam or Islamic figures can face the death penalty. Often, an accusation can cause riots and incite mobs to violence, lynching and killings. Minorities, including Christians and Hindus, have been frequently subjected to blasphemy allegations and some have even been sentenced for blasphemy in Pakistan.
