justice kashmir begins
| | |

Justice for Kashmir begins with implementing UN re…

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Tipu Usman, has urged the international community to play a more proactive role in resolving the Kashmir dispute, declaring that “justice for Kashmir begins with implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions” and reaffirming that Pakistan’s support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir “remains unwavering and unconditional.”

He was addressing a seminar organised by the Pakistan High Commission in London to observe Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir, marking the anniversary of India’s August 5, 2019 decision to revoke the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The event brought together British parliamentarians, diplomats, community leaders and members of the British Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora, who condemned India’s revocation of Article 370 and reiterated support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.

In his keynote address, Tipu Usman called upon the international community, particularly the United Kingdom, to stand on the side of justice by urging India to reverse the unilateral measures introduced on August 5, 2019, restore the rights and special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and honour the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“Pakistan’s support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir remains unwavering and unconditional,” he said, adding that a peaceful and lasting settlement of the dispute must be achieved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people as reflected in the UN resolutions.

The seminar was attended by Lord Qurban Hussain, Baroness Nosheena Mobarik, Afzal Khan MP and Adnan Hussain MP, alongside prominent community figures including Councillor Yasmine Dar, UK-Pakistan Kashmiri Councillors Forum Chairman Liaqat Ali MBE, Jammu Kashmir Self Determination Movement International Chairman Raja Najabat Hussain and former Deputy Mayor of Peterborough Mohammad Nadeem.

Speakers strongly criticised India’s constitutional changes of August 2019, describing them as illegal and unconstitutional. They expressed concern over the human rights situation in IIOJK and called for an immediate end to alleged rights violations. Participants stressed that the Kashmir dispute remains an internationally recognised issue that should be resolved through dialogue and in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

The seminar also proposed a strategic roadmap to enhance engagement with policymakers, parliamentarians and international stakeholders to build support for a just and lasting resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Messages from the President of Pakistan, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were read out during the event, reiterating Pakistan’s continued diplomatic, political and moral support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The ceremony concluded with participants observing a minute’s silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the Kashmir conflict.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Bangladesh hands ODI captaincy to Litton Das, drops Mehidy

    Bangladesh has a new face leading its One-day International side. Litton Das has officially taken over ODI captaincy duties from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirming the change on Wednesday. The decision comes not long after Bangladesh suffered a series defeat against Zimbabwe earlier this month. It is worth noting that the shift only affects the ODI format. Najmul Hossain will keep his position as Test captain, so the two roles remain separate. Litton was already Bangladesh’s T20 captain before this appointment. With this move, he now leads two of the three formats, while the board continues its approach of splitting captaincy responsibilities. Board president Tamim Iqbal explained that having separate leaders for white-ball and red-ball cricket was part of preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup, which South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe will jointly host. Tamim spoke positively about Mehidy’s time as captain, highlighting his strong results across several series. Still, he pointed to a dip in Mehidy’s batting form as the main reason behind the change. He mentioned having a conversation with Mehidy directly and said the outgoing captain was understanding of the board’s decision. Mehidy stepped into the ODI captaincy role about a year ago, replacing Najmul, who had briefly captained the team in all three formats. During his tenure, Bangladesh secured ten wins out of twenty ODIs. The early stretch of his captaincy was difficult, with the team losing several matches in a row. Things improved significantly afterward, as Bangladesh strung together four consecutive series wins at home against the West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia. That momentum slowed following the away series loss to Zimbabwe. This is not new territory for Litton either. He previously captained Bangladesh in seven ODIs, a stretch that included a memorable series win over India in 2022. Tamim also addressed questions surrounding Bangladesh’s proposed home series against India in September. He said he remained hopeful the tour would proceed, describing Bangladesh as a safe environment for visiting teams. He added that talks with India’s cricket board had been going well and that more clarity was expected soon. This uncertainty follows an earlier standoff, when Bangladesh’s previous board opted out of playing in India during this year’s T20 World Cup due to security concerns tied to a Bangladeshi bowler’s IPL release. Tamim acknowledged that some decisions were beyond his control, since government involvement plays a role too, but said an update should come soon.

  • | |

    Nawaz Sharif looks beyond AJK: PML-N’s next poli…

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s victory in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections is more than another electoral success. It marks the return of Nawaz Sharif as the party’s undisputed political strategist and sends a clear message that his sights are now set far beyond AJK—towards the next general elections. For months, political observers questioned whether Nawaz Sharif would ever resume an active leadership role. His recent engagement has answered that question decisively. From personally chairing meetings in Murree with party ticket holders to spearheading the election campaign, Nawaz Sharif demonstrated that he remains the final authority within PML-N. The AJK result carries political significance because it is the first major electoral victory under his renewed leadership. It has strengthened his position within the party while boosting the morale of PML-N workers who have long awaited his full return to frontline politics. One defining feature of Nawaz Sharif’s political career has been his ability to think several moves ahead. Those who have closely followed his journey know he rarely makes impulsive decisions. Instead, he carefully plans, builds consensus and prepares the ground long before the political battle begins. Having observed Nawaz Sharif’s politics closely over the past two decades, including during his years in London, I have found that patience and long-term planning remain his greatest political strengths. Today, Nawaz Sharif is supported by two of the strongest pillars within the party. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif continues to lead the federal government at a time when Pakistan has emerged from severe economic challenges. His government has worked to restore macroeconomic stability, rebuild investor confidence and improve Pakistan’s international standing. Equally important has been his unwavering loyalty to his elder brother. Throughout decades of political highs and lows, Shehbaz Sharif has stood firmly beside Nawaz Sharif, rejecting opportunities that could have divided the party and instead prioritising unity. Alongside him is Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who has evolved into the party’s most influential leader of the next generation. During PML-N’s years in opposition, she became the face of the party’s resistance, leading rallies, energising workers and keeping the party politically active during its most difficult period. Since assuming office, she has focused on governance, launching development and welfare initiatives that her supporters believe are reshaping Punjab. With Shehbaz Sharif managing the federation and Maryam Nawaz governing Punjab, Nawaz Sharif appears free to concentrate on what has always been his greatest strength—building the party organisation. His meetings with legislators, workers and local leaders suggest that organisational consolidation is now at the heart of his strategy. The AJK campaign may therefore be remembered as the beginning of a much larger political roadmap. Rather than waiting for the next general election to be announced, Nawaz Sharif appears to be rebuilding PML-N from the ground up, strengthening party structures, reconnecting with workers and preparing candidates well in advance. It is a strategy that has defined many of his previous political successes. Critics who predicted the end of Nawaz Sharif’s political career may need to revisit their assumptions. Pakistan’s political history has repeatedly shown that experienced leaders cannot be measured solely by temporary setbacks. Nawaz Sharif has returned before, and each comeback has reshaped the country’s political landscape. The message emerging after the AJK elections is unmistakable: Nawaz Sharif is looking beyond a single electoral victory. His focus is firmly fixed on preparing PML-N for the next national political contest. Whether one agrees with his politics or not, one reality is becoming increasingly clear: Nawaz Sharif is once again thinking several steps ahead. If history is any guide, that is when he has proved to be at his most politically effective.

  • | |

    ECC approves hike in petrol, diesel dealers’ mar…

    ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved an increase in the dealers’ margin on petrol and diesel by Rs1.34 per litre. According to sources, the dealers’ margin on both petrol and diesel has been raised from Rs8.64 to Rs9.98 per litre. Vice Chairman of the All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Owners Association Nauman Butt thanked the prime minister and petroleum minister for approving the increase. The association said the government had fulfilled its long-standing demand by increasing the dealers’ margin by Rs1.34 per litre. Meanwhile, the government collected more petroleum levy revenue than both its target and the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) estimate during the last fiscal year. According to Finance Ministry sources, petroleum levy collections exceeded Rs1.56 trillion during the previous fiscal year. More than Rs50 billion was also collected under the Climate Support Levy. Petroleum levy collections were around Rs100 billion higher than the government’s target and Rs21 billion above the IMF’s estimate. At present, a petroleum levy of Rs80 per litre is being charged on petrol. High-Speed Diesel carries a levy of Rs77.28 per litre. In addition, a separate Climate Support Levy of Rs5 per litre is being imposed on both petrol and diesel.

  • |

    Tom Holland refers to Zendaya as his wife yet again in an interview

    Wedding buzz around Tom Holland and Zendaya has been building for months, with speculations running wild across social media about whether the two co-stars have quietly tied the knot. Despite the constant chatter, neither actor has stepped forward with an official confirmation of any wedding ceremony. Even so, Holland has repeatedly let small remarks slip in interviews, comments fans have latched onto as strong hints that the couple may already be married. Each time he has brought it up, it has added fresh fuel to a rumour that simply refuses to die down. His latest comment, though, might be the boldest one yet. During an appearance on the U.K.’s Dish podcast, Holland was put through a quickfire round of questions and asked who he’d choose to bring along on a holiday to Greece. Without missing a beat, he named his wife as the obvious pick for that kind of trip. He jokingly mentioned about how strange it would sound if he instead turned around and told her he was taking his Odyssey co-star Matt Damon along instead. This was not a one-off slip either. Just about a week earlier, in a separate conversation with Wired, Holland was shown an online fan theory questioning whether Athena harboured romantic feelings for Odysseus. His response was instant. He dismissed the idea outright, joking that she could not possibly, since she was already married to him. Taken together, the two remarks suggest that Holland is not being entirely careless with his words. If anything, the repeated references seem almost deliberate, as though he is comfortable letting the truth slip out in small doses rather than making a formal announcement. Fans, meanwhile, have continued piecing together these breadcrumbs, treating each interview as another clue in what has become one of Hollywood’s most talked-about relationship mysteries. Neither Holland nor Zendaya has addressed the speculation directly, and both have generally kept the details of their personal life away from the public eye. Still, moments like these keep the rumour mill running, with fans convinced that an official confirmation is only a matter of time. For now, all they have to go on are Holland’s casual slips, each one adding another layer to a story neither star seems in a rush to fully clarify.

  • | |

    Zimbabwe ferry disaster death toll climbs to 68

    HARARE: The death toll from a ferry disaster on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba has risen to 68 after rescuers recovered 22 more bodies, police said on Saturday. The ferry, operated by the government’s Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, overturned on Tuesday while travelling through rough waters. The vessel was carrying villagers and fish traders who rely on the lake for their livelihoods. Authorities said the boat was licensed to carry 90 passengers but had 114 adults and five crew members on board, along with an unknown number of children. The overcrowding has raised concerns about safety standards as the search for the remaining victims continues. Lake Kariba lies along Zimbabwe’s border with Zambia and is a vital source of transport and trade for communities living around the lake.

  • | | |

    Private sector lending surges 15% in FY2025–26, …

    Pakistan’s private sector borrowing recorded its strongest growth in four years during the fiscal year 2025–26, signaling renewed business confidence and improving economic activity, according to Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Shahzad. Shahzad said private sector credit expanded by nearly 15 percent over the fiscal year, with total lending reaching Rs1.138 trillion. He described the increase as a positive indicator of strengthening economic momentum, driven by greater financial support for businesses and productive sectors. According to the adviser, around 89 percent of the new loans were directed toward key segments of the economy, including manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and agriculture. These sectors have played a central role in boosting production, expanding commercial activity, and encouraging private investment. The manufacturing sector emerged as the largest beneficiary, receiving Rs657 billion in fresh financing. Shahzad noted that the substantial flow of credit reflects increased industrial expansion, higher production capacity, and growing confidence among manufacturers. He added that improved access to financing for the trade and agriculture sectors has further strengthened business operations and supported economic growth across the country. Shahzad emphasized that the surge in private sector lending demonstrates rising investor confidence and reflects Pakistan’s continued progress toward greater economic stability, stronger industrial performance, and a more resilient business environment.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *