Pakistan to grant MFN status to India

Pakistan is likely to grant Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India next month, Minister of State for Commerce Abbas Khan Afridi told the Senate in Islamabad. Afridi’s statement rebuffed media reports that the government may delay awarding MFN status to India as the government was facing pressure from various stakeholders, particularly from industrialists associated with the textile industry in Pakistan. Religious extremist groups and a section of the conservative media have also opposed the move, reports the Tribune.

Islamabad has already missed a December 31 deadline to give MFN status to New Delhi as well as to end a negative list regime and trade.

Responding to a question posed by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Senator Najma Hameed, Afridi informed the lawmakers that the government is committed to implementing its decision by next month.

“We want this credit (of granting MFN status to India). We are heading towards the final stage now,” said Afridi. He, however, explained that “The MFN status will be awarded to India by prioritising state interests, taking all stakeholders on board in Pakistan.”

Senator Hameed had sought the progress made to grant MFN status to India as well as the benefits that Pakistan wanted to achieve after awarding this new status to India. Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim informed the House that positive progress has been made on the issue.

Fahim also clarified that after awarding this status to India, New Delhi will have no excuse against promoting business in the region. New Delhi has been accusing Pakistan that it’s not fulfilling the criteria set by World Trade Organisation (WTO).

“At various multilateral economic forums, India would not be able to use the argument of Pakistan being non-compliant to World Trade Organisation agreements in terms of holding back MFN status from WTO member state,” he said. The policy of new visa regime between the two nations has already been implemented with three agreements signed in September last year for countering the non-tariff barrier issues being faced by Pakistani exporters.

Pakistan groups hold candle light vigil for Delhi gang-rape victim

Members of Pakistani civil society groups held a candle light vigil in the capital to express outrage at the gang-rape of a young woman in India and to show solidarity with Indian civil society’s demand for stronger laws to punish rapists.

The protesters lit candles and shouted slogans like “We show solidarity with women in India” and “We will stand up for women everywhere”.

A number of passers-by joined the gathering at Super Market in the heart of Islamabad last evening and expressed grief at the gang rape that triggered protests across India.

The vigil was organised by the Potohar Organization of Development Advocacy, Sisters Trust Pakistan and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

Several persons who addressed the gathering demanded the death penalty for rapists while others favoured strict punishment, including life imprisonment.

“Violence against women in any part of the world diminishes all of us. Therefore we are here to show solidarity with the women of India and to express our resolve to end violence against all women,” Sameena Nazir, director of Potohar Organization of Development Advocacy, was quoted as saying by the media.

The civil society groups will continue to raise their voice whenever there is violence against women in Pakistan, India or anywhere in the world.

“The media in India and Pakistan must play its role in stopping violence against women,” she said.

Rehana Hashmi, president of Sisters Trust Pakistan, said there were no borders in showing solidarity for women’s rights.

“We strongly condemn the brutal violence against the female medical student in India and demand strict punishment for those who committed or supported this crime,” she said.

Poet and rights activist Harris Khalique said: “After this barbaric incident, we need to question where are the values of Sufism, Buddism and non-violence that India and Pakistan always advocate”.

Rukhshinda Parveen from the NGO Rakshi said societies must stop blaming women for cases of violence against them.

“Men and boys need to be educated that women’s bodies are not commodities and all women are worth respect, no matter what dress they wear or how they look,” she said.

The gathering observed a moment of silence for the victim of the gang-rape in India and demanded a law on domestic violence against women in Pakistan.

Note : Who said Pakistan is our Enemy Country, People are divided only because of the inefficient politicians .. this happened in the heart of Islamabad and they lit candles for their sisters in India.

After Malala shooting, Taliban threaten another Pakistani girl

The Pakistani Taliban have threatened to attack another schoolgirl for exposing their atrocities, the Dawn reported on Monday.

Hina Khan from Swat was on Taliban‘s hit list for publicly criticising their atrocities, the daily said.

Her family has claimed that despite repeated requests for security from the authorities, no protection was provided to them. They relocated to Islamabad a few years ago.

“But now I feel I would not be able to go to school in Islamabad as well after the renewed threats,” Hina, a Class 11 student, told the newspaper.

“I am more worried now because after the attack on Malala, a red cross on our door and subsequent threats to my family, has made us more insecure,” she said.

According to her father Raitullah Khan: “A few days ago when I came out of my house I saw a red cross on my gate but I removed it assuming it might have been drawn by some kids, but the very next day it appeared again, which really terrified me.”

“Next day, we received a call that Hina will be next after Malala,” the daily quoted Khan as saying Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Oct 9.

She was on her way home from school when an attacker wearing police uniform stopped the school bus and opened fire at her. She was seriously injured.

She is currently undergoing treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, Britain.

‘We are Trained to Hate India’: Pakistani Students

Young children in Pakistan are taught to hate India, says a group of Pakistani students at a workshop conducted by the Sociology Department of Mumbai University. Their visit to the Indian city on a mission of promoting the practice of harmony and bonding among the youngsters of both nations is a positive move which should be appreciated.

“Once hating India was seen as true patriotism. We were trained to hate India but now we feel that there is an urgent need to stress on peace,” Sitara Jabeen, an MPhil student in Peace and Conflicts Studies at the National Defence University, Islamabad told DNA in Mumbai. “There is a group in Pakistan that is involved in terrorism, but the rest of us feel the same pain when India or any other country is attacked,” she said. “Pakistan is as much a victim of violence at the hands of terror outfits as India,” says Sidra Tariq who pursues MPhil in International Relations at the Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad.

Arshi Saleem Hashmi, a professor from the same university, said “stereotypes are kept alive by a lack of understanding between groups of people. One way to shatter them,” she added, “is by engaging the youth of both the countries. The bonding of the youth can break that deadlock.”

Lahore based architect and youth activist, Hina Anwar Ali mentioned the cultural and demographical similarities of Pakistan and India and he pointed out how the youth can work as a centre of peace process between the two countries.
On the other hand, it is not a new allegation against Pakistan’s education system. Jabeen’s statement points out the fact that empowerment of terror in Pakistan have not just quickly taken place. According to a recent study by U.S. government had exposed how Pakistani schools cultivate discrimination and intolerance of other religions. The report stated that the very perception of non-Muslims is as ‘enemies of Islam,’ and nearly all teachers have the same view.
There are so many arguments on the growth of terrorism in Pakistan. Many arguments on what Pakistan schools teach their children reveal that the official textbooks prop up hatred against India, especially Hindus. The text books on Pakistan studies and social studies are the main controversial teachings where the history has been misrepresented and turn to corrupt the harmony with India.

China Vows to Stand by Pakistan

Chinese Vice Premier Meng Jianzhu Tuesday told Pakistan that Beijing will keep on supporting Islamabad and the cooperation to eliminate terrorism will continue. The assurance comes amidst deteriorating ties between Pakistan and the US.

US officials have accused Pakistan and its spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, of supporting Al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network. Pakistan has denied the accusations.

Meng Jianzhu Tuesday met Interior Minister Rehman Malik, discussing a host of bilateral issues, including war against terror.

Both leaders discussed matters pertaining to mutual interests and the emerging geo-strategic situation of the region, reported Online news agency.

The Chinese vice premier arrived here Monday on a two-day official visit to hold talks with the Pakistani leadership.

The visit by the Chinese leader, who holds the public security portfolio, comes at a time of intense strain between Islamabad and Washington with the US pressurising Pakistan to launch an offensive against suspected militant elements in North Waziristan tribal agency.

Meng told journalists that China stands firm with Pakistan in bad and good times.

He reaffirmed China’s continuing support to Pakistan in its fight against militancy and promotion of regional peace and stability.

Rehman Malik thanked China for its support to Pakistan on all issues of major concern to the country and its people.

Malik said that China’s enemy is Pakistan’s enemy.

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