Pakistan stresses need to reverse ‘alarming tide’ of Islamophobia on international day to combat it

Pakistan stresses need to reverse ‘alarming tide’ of Islamophobia on international day to combat it
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during a meeting in Islamabad on March 7, 2025. (PID/File)
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Pakistan stresses need to reverse ‘alarming tide’ of Islamophobia on international day to combat it

Pakistan stresses need to reverse ‘alarming tide’ of Islamophobia on international day to combat it
  • The UN adopted a resolution, co-sponsored by Pakistan, in 2022 to mark the day amidst increasing hatred, discrimination and attacks against Muslims
  • The date was chosen as the anniversary of the mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which 51 people were killed during Friday prayer in 2019

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed the need to reverse an “alarming tide” of Islamophobia in the world, his office said on Saturday, as the world marked the international day to combat the phenomenon.
The International Day to Combat Islamophobia is an international observance designated by United Nations (UN) in 2022, which takes place on March 15 each year. The date was chosen as the anniversary of the mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which 51 people were killed during Friday prayer in 2019.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, which was co-sponsored by Pakistan, to mark this day amidst increasing prejudice, hatred, discrimination and attacks against Muslim communities as well as their sacred symbols and places of worship in the world.
In his message, Sharif said March 15 not only serves as a “stark reminder” of the gravity of the challenges being faced by Muslims worldwide, but also as a powerful call to action, reflecting the collective will of the international community to combat Islamophobia through concrete legislative and policy measures.
“However, much more is urgently needed to reverse the alarming tide of Islamophobia and end the flagrant violations of fundamental human rights and religious freedoms,” he said in a statement issued from his office.
“At a time when religious intolerance is on the rise, we reaffirm that no justification exists for blasphemy or the desecration of sacred symbols under the guise of freedom of expression.”
In his message on the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the world was witnessing a “disturbing rise” in anti-Muslim bigotry that had led to attacks against religious groups, urging the international community to act toward its resolution.
“We are witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry that is part of a wider scourge of intolerance & attacks against religious groups & vulnerable populations,” Guterres said on X.
“This International Day to Combat Islamophobia, let’s work together to uphold equality, human rights & dignity.”
Sharif said Pakistan was extremely proud to have led this important initiative at the UN and welcomed actions taken by some member states to outlaw the desecration of the Holy Qur’an as well as to address systemic marginalization of Muslims.
“Respect for all faiths and their revered figures is essential for global peace and harmony,” he said. “It is imperative that international forums recognize the profound hurt caused by such acts and work collectively to prevent them.”
Sharif urged the international community, human rights organizations, and global leaders to raise awareness against Islamophobia as well as to prevent incidents of desecration of the Holy Qur’an, attacks against mosques, and other acts of religious intolerance against Muslims.
“In line with the decision of the United Nations General Assembly, we also look forward to the early appointment of a UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia as an important milestone toward addressing this challenge,” he said.
“Let this day serve as a catalyst for global unity and solidarity not only in speaking out and acting against the rising tide of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred but also in promoting dialogue, harmony, and mutual understanding across religions, faiths, cultures, and civilizations.”
The prime minister said it was important to take these measures to overcome divisions and build mutual respect across diverse communities and his country remains steadfast in its commitment to spreading Islam’s true message — one of love, peace, and tolerance.


Trump administration weighs travel restrictions on Pakistan, several other countries, memo says

Trump administration weighs travel restrictions on Pakistan, several other countries, memo says
Updated 7 sec ago
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Trump administration weighs travel restrictions on Pakistan, several other countries, memo says

Trump administration weighs travel restrictions on Pakistan, several other countries, memo says
  • A total of 26 countries including Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance
  • A US official cautions there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration of President Trump

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters.
The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.
In the second group, five countries — Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan — would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.
In the third group, a total of 26 countries that includes Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments “do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days,” the memo said.
A US official speaking on the condition of anonymity cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The New York Times first reported on the list of countries.
The move harkens back to President Donald Trump’s first term ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the US to detect national security threats.
That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their “vetting and screening information is so deficient.”
Trump’s directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term.
He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and “anywhere else that threatens our security.”
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.


Death toll in Pakistan’s train hijacking rises to 31, army says

Death toll in Pakistan’s train hijacking rises to 31, army says
Updated 12 min 34 sec ago
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Death toll in Pakistan’s train hijacking rises to 31, army says

Death toll in Pakistan’s train hijacking rises to 31, army says
  • Militants took over the Jaffar Express in a remote mountain pass in Balochistan province, blowing up train tracks in the attack
  • Army spokesperson Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said soldiers killed 33 insurgents, rescued 354 hostages and brought the siege to a close

ISLAMABAD: The death toll from a militant hijacking of a train in Pakistan’s southwestern mountains has risen to 31 soldiers, staff and civilians, the military said on Friday as it accused India and Afghanistan of backing the insurgents.
The separatist Baloch Liberation Army, which claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack, released a statement saying its fighters had escaped with 214 hostages and since executed all of them, without giving any evidence to back that up.
Militants took over the Jaffar Express in a remote mountain pass in Balochistan province, blowing up train tracks in the attack then holding passengers hostage in a day-long standoff.
Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said soldiers killed 33 of the insurgents, rescued 354 hostages and brought the siege to a close. He added there was nothing to suggest the BLA had taken other hostages from the scene.
A final count showed 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers had died in the attack and rescue mission, Chaudhry said, up from a previous estimate of 25 casualties.
He added that Pakistan had evidence that India and Afghanistan had backed the insurgents, echoing accusations made by the foreign ministry after the attack. Both countries have denied the accusation.
The separatist group released a statement in response to the army, saying it had killed all the hostages in its custody. Pakistani officials have accused the group of making exaggerated claims in the past.
“This battle is not over yet but has intensified,” the BLA said in its statement.
The BLA is the largest and strongest of several ethnic Baloch insurgent groups which have been fighting for decades to win independence for the mineral-rich province, home to major China-led projects including a port and gold and copper mines.


UN Security Council urges global cooperation to bring perpetrators of Pakistan train attack to justice

UN Security Council urges global cooperation to bring perpetrators of Pakistan train attack to justice
Updated 22 min 11 sec ago
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UN Security Council urges global cooperation to bring perpetrators of Pakistan train attack to justice

UN Security Council urges global cooperation to bring perpetrators of Pakistan train attack to justice
  • Pakistan’s military has called India the main sponsor of ‘terrorism’ in Balochistan after the attack
  • It has also claimed BLA militants were in touch with ‘handlers’ in Afghanistan during the hostage crisis

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday condemned a militant attack on a passenger train in southwestern Balochistan province, the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement, calling on all countries to actively cooperate with Islamabad in bringing those responsible to justice.
The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) bombed part of a railway track and stormed the Jaffar Express on Tuesday afternoon in Mushkaaf, a rugged area in the mountainous Bolan range of Balochistan. The group took hundreds of hostages before security forces launched a rescue operation that ended the crisis after 36 hours.
“Members of the UN Security Council through a press statement today have condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack on Jaffar Express Passenger Train,” the foreign office said in its statement.
It added the council members “underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.”
The UNSC further “urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Pakistan in this regard.”
The Pakistan military maintained the BLA fighters remained in contact with their “handlers” in Afghanistan throughout the hostage standoff, reiterating its longstanding claim that Afghan authorities back anti-Pakistan groups. The administration in Kabul has denied the allegation.
During a media interaction on Friday, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, also called India the main sponsor of “terrorism” in Balochistan, claiming that New Delhi had a “nexus” with the BLA. Indian authorities have previously denied such allegations.
He further accused Indian mainstream news organizations of “glorifying” the hostage crisis and pushing a narrative of instability in Pakistan.
The foreign office said the UNSC reaffirmed that militant violence in all its forms constituted a serious threat to international peace and security and stressed the need for states to combat it through all means permissible under international law.
In addition to that, it expressed condolences to the victims’ families and extended sympathies to the people and government of Pakistan.
The UNSC also reaffirmed that acts like the attack on the passenger train were “criminal and unjustifiable,” regardless of the motivation behind them.


Pakistan PM orders crackdown on sugar hoarders creating ‘artificial shortage’ in Ramadan

Pakistan PM orders crackdown on sugar hoarders creating ‘artificial shortage’ in Ramadan
Updated 44 min 42 sec ago
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Pakistan PM orders crackdown on sugar hoarders creating ‘artificial shortage’ in Ramadan

Pakistan PM orders crackdown on sugar hoarders creating ‘artificial shortage’ in Ramadan
  • Shehbaz Sharif says the country has ample sugar reserves, dismisses genuine shortfall concerns
  • He directs officials to work with sugar mills to monitor the commodity’s supply and consumption

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday ordered strict action against hoarders creating an “artificial shortage” of sugar during the holy month of Ramadan, directing officials to coordinate with sugar mills to monitor its supply and consumption across the country.
Food prices in Pakistan often surge during Ramadan due to increased demand and supply chain inefficiencies. However, a major factor is hoarding and speculative pricing by traders who artificially inflate market rates to maximize profits.
Last month, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb warned the government would not spare hoarders, whose actions contribute to annual spikes in the cost of essential commodities during the holy month.
“We will not allow anyone to hoard sugar or manipulate prices through speculative trading,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement quoting Sharif.
He directed authorities to crack down on profiteers and hoarders creating “artificial shortages” and present a report on the action taken.
“Strict monitoring of sugar supply and consumption must be ensured,” he added.
Sharif also instructed officials to establish coordination mechanisms with sugar mills to oversee the distribution of the commodity and prevent its artificial shortages.
He assured that the country had ample sugar reserves, dismissing concerns of a genuine shortfall.
“Those creating a false crisis must be brought within the ambit of the law,” he said. “During the holy month of Ramadan, we will not allow ordinary citizens to be exploited by the market mafia.”
Sharif directed the chief secretaries of all four provinces to ensure sugar was made available to the public at government-set prices during a high-level meeting in the federal capital.
The meeting, attended by federal ministers, senior government officials and provincial representatives via video link, reviewed sugar supply, consumption and pricing trends.
Officials also briefed the prime minister on the current stock levels and market conditions.


Pakistan eyes leadership in digital finance as it launches crypto council to regulate digital assets

Pakistan eyes leadership in digital finance as it launches crypto council to regulate digital assets
Updated 14 March 2025
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Pakistan eyes leadership in digital finance as it launches crypto council to regulate digital assets

Pakistan eyes leadership in digital finance as it launches crypto council to regulate digital assets
  • The council will help integrate blockchain innovations into Pakistan’s financial framework
  • Pakistan’s finance chief says government wants responsible crypto ecosystem for economic growth

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Friday his country wanted to be a leader in digital finance as the government officially launched the Pakistan Crypto Council to establish regulatory guidelines for crypto adoption.
The newly established council is a government-backed initiative that seeks to integrate blockchain and cryptocurrency innovations into Pakistan’s financial and economic framework. Led by key policymakers, regulatory heads and industry experts, it plans to establish a progressive digital asset ecosystem.
The government’s decision to launch the council marks a shift in Pakistan’s stance on cryptocurrencies, moving from previous resistance to a more open and regulatory-focused approach.
“The world is moving rapidly toward digital finance, and Pakistan wishes to be a leader in the space,” an official statement circulated after the launch quoted the finance minister as saying.
“The establishment of the Pakistan Crypto Council is a step toward embracing innovation while ensuring that we create a regulatory framework that protects investors and the financial system,” he continued. “We are committed to fostering a responsible and progressive crypto ecosystem that can contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth.”
Earlier this month, the government appointed Bilal Bin Saqib as lead adviser to the finance minister to develop policy measures ahead of adopting digital currencies.
Saqib will serve as the council’s CEO, bringing his expertise in blockchain technology, investment strategy and digital innovation to spearhead the initiative.
“Our goal is to ensure that Pakistan becomes a competitive player in the global digital economy while prioritizing security, transparency and innovation,” he said at the launch. “By bringing together key stakeholders, we aim to strike a balance between progressive policymaking and fostering an environment where entrepreneurs and businesses can confidently explore the potential of blockchain technology.”
As the council begins operations, it aims to prioritize engagement with international crypto and blockchain organizations to ensure best practices.
It will also collaborate with fintech startups, investors and blockchain developers to encourage responsible innovation and safeguard consumers through a strong legal and compliance framework.