In partnership with Tuesday, 15 April, 2025 I 16 Shawwal, 1446
Profit
Rs 50.00 | Vol XV No 278 I 44 Pages I Lahore Edition
NA UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION VOWS SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE, CONDEMNS ISRAELI ATROCITIES
T g
TARAR SAYS PAKISTAN'S POSITION ON ISRAEL g PTI’S HAMID RAZA EXPRESSES UNWAVERING REMAINS IN LINE WITH QUAID' VISION SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
HE National Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution on Monday expressing strong solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine and condemning ongoing Israeli atrocities in Gaza. The resolution, presented by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, urged the United Nations to take immediate steps to halt Israeli aggression and play an active role in the reconstruction of war-torn Gaza. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum took part in the debate, strongly denouncing Israeli actions and expressing support for the Palestinian cause. “This House demands that the brutalities being committed by Israeli forces be immediately stopped,” the resolution stated. “The House salutes the 60,000 Palestinian martyrs and strongly condemns the continued bombings even after the announcement of a ceasefire. Israeli aggression is a failure of the international community.”
The resolution also demanded the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territories. Tarar, while addressing the House, said that Pakistan’s position on Israel is in line with the vision of the country’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. “The Quaid had made it clear that Pakistan would not support the Zionist state, and the current government stands firmly on that principle,” he stated. He highlighted the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting that over 65,000 Palestinians have been martyred, with more than 100,000 severely injured. “A new chapter of brutality has been written in Palestine, where innocent civilians — including children, women, and the elderly — have not been spared,” he said. The law minister stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has forcefully raised the issue of Israeli oppression at all international forums. “The people of Palestine need the support of the global community now more than ever,” he stressed. He also drew parallels between the
situations in Gaza and Indian-occupied Kashmir, reiterating that both issues must be resolved in accordance with United Nations resolutions. “Our national stance on Palestine is clear and consistent. Whether it’s Palestine or Kashmir, voices for self-determination can be silenced through dialogue, but not through force and violence,” the minister concluded. In his address, PTI MNA Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza, a prominent religious leader, expressed unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in these difficult times. He called on the Government of Pakistan to intensify diplomatic efforts and pressure the international community to intervene. PPP MNA Abdul Qadir Patel emphasized Pakistan’s long-standing and clear stance on the Palestinian issue. He criticized the lack of accountability in the National Assembly in the past, referencing a speech that hinted at recognizing Israel, for which the member faced no suspension or disciplinary action.
Patel also pointed out the historical incident where a Pakistani political party supported an election campaign in the UK for a Jewish candidate, calling it a troubling contradiction amidst Israel’s continued oppression. “To call an OIC meeting, we need a leader like Bhutto,” Patel remarked, adding, “and becoming Bhutto means being ready to embrace sacrifice.” He pledged full support for any parliamentary resolution on Palestine, reaffirming that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) manifesto has always upheld the causes of both Kashmir and Palestine. He also took aim at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), blaming their policies for bringing the country to the brink of collapse. Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulations Syed Mustafa Kamal recalled a previously passed resolution during the martyrdom of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, proposing two key initiatives including relocating Palestinian children to Pakistan for continued education and bringing the wounded for medical treatment.
Bodies of eight Pakistanis killed in Iran’s Mehrestan await transfer to Taftan CHAGAI
STAFF REPORT
The bodies of eight Pakistani nationals, who were shot dead in Iran’s Sistan region, have yet to arrive in Taftan, Chagai district authorities confirmed on Sunday. The victims, employed as car mechanics, were killed by unidentified gunmen at their workshop in Mehrestan, located around 230 kilometers from the Pakistan-Iran border.
Chagai’s Deputy Commissioner (DC) stated that the local administration is in close contact with Iranian officials and the Pakistani embassy in Tehran to facilitate the transfer of the bodies. The Pakistani embassy in Tehran has indicated that it may take up to two more days for the bodies to be transported to the border town of Taftan. Once in Taftan, arrangements for the onward transportation of the bodies to Bahawalpur will be carried
out, the DC confirmed. Six of the victims hailed from Khanqa Sharif, a rural area in Bahawalpur, while the remaining two were from Tehsil Ahmedpur Sharqia. The region of Sistan-Baluchestan, known for its strategic location, has seen frequent clashes between security forces and separatist militants, as well as smugglers trafficking opium from Afghanistan. The area has been a hotspot for such incidents, including shootings and border clashes.
IN TODAY’S ISSUE
ATTENTION Some readers have complained that they are not getting the magazine with their newspaper copy. Please call or WhatsApp us at the following number to register a complaint. Contact: 0307-7338168
Police trace suspects in Rawalpindi KFC attack through CCTV footage irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk
RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
Police on Monday said they had traced the individuals involved in vandalising an international fast food outlet in Rawalpindi’s Saddar area through CCTV footage, and pledged swift arrests. The incident, which occurred Sunday evening, is part of a broader trend of attacks targeting outlets of international food chains—particularly Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)—amid public anger over Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. According to the first information report (FIR) filed by the manager of the KFC Saddar branch, a group of 10–12 armed men stormed the premises around 8:30pm, harassed customers, and shouted slogans. “When we tried to stop them, they hurled abuses and threatened to kill us,” the complainant stated. The FIR, registered at Cantt police station, invoked sections 148 (rioting with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), and 506(ii) (criminal intimidation with threats of grievous harm) of the Pakistan Penal Code. A spokesperson for the Rawalpindi police confirmed that the suspects were identified using CCTV footage and would be apprehended soon with the help of NADRA’s database. “Lawbreaking and rioting will not be tolerated. Offenders will be dealt with an iron hand,” the police said in an official statement. Police have since deployed additional personnel to protect international fast food outlets in the city, warning that any misbehavior toward citizens or businesses would be met with strict action.