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Pakistan yesterday began a nine-day shutdown affecting travel and tourist hotspots in a bid to prevent a surge in Covid-19 cases during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Already battling a third wave of infections amid apprehensions about the crisis across the border in India, the government has imposed the most severe restrictions since a one-month lockdown in April last year. “These measures have been necessitated by the extremely dangerous situation which has been created in the region with the spread of virulent mutations of the virus,” tweeted planning minister Asad Umar, who has been leading the government response to the outbreak. Eid, which comes at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, usually sees the mass movement of people around the country and tourist spots crowded with Pakistanis. Last year the country saw a spike in cases in the weeks after the celebrations. Businesses, hotels and restaurants as well as markets and parks will be closed, while public transport between provinces and within cities has been halted. The military has been mobilised to monitor the restrictions. Mosques, however, which have been packed each night throughout Ramadan will remain open. Authorities fear curbs on places of worship could ignite confrontation. Pakistan has seen a daily death toll of more than 100 in recent weeks. Overall, Pakistan has registered 854,240 infections and 18,797 deaths from Covid-19. While official daily infection numbers remain low, between 4,000 and 5,000, the country conducts only around 40,000 tests a day — a fraction of its 220 million population. Health officials have warned that hospitals are operating at close to capacity and they have rushed to increase the number of intensive care beds. International flights have been slashed and border crossings with Iran and Afghanistan closed, except for trade. Flights and land crossings with neighbouring India — reeling from a devastating outbreak with hundreds of thousands of new cases a day — were closed before the pandemic because of political tensions. Pakistan, which has so far vaccinated only a fraction of its population, received its first batch of 1.2 million AstraZeneca doses on Saturday under the delayed Covax global vaccine sharing scheme. Meanwhile, a research centre studying the disease in the country said yesterday a coronavirus variant first discovered in the United Kingdom now accounts for up to 70% of infections across Pakistan. “There is a 60% to 70% prevalence of the UK variant in Pakistan (today),” Professor Dr Mohamed Iqbal Chaudhry, director at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, told Reuters, adding that this figure was 2% in January. The ICCBS works on Covid-19 samples and provides research and data to the government. The “UK variant”, known as B.1.1.7 and first identified in Britain late last year, is believed to be more transmissible than other previously dominant coronavirus variants. Chaudhry added, however, that it was yet to be established if the variant was more deadly. He also said a variant found in neighbouring India, which has seen a massive surge of cases in recent weeks, had not been detected in Pakistan yet, but that was because they did not have the kits needed to detect the variant, named B.1.617. The kits to detect the variant had been ordered and would soon arrive in the country, he said. Chaudhry said there was a high possibility that the variant had already reached Pakistan since the diasporas of the two countries interact closely in Gulf states. The country has recently stepped up its vaccination drive, inoculating around 3.3 million people. Pakistan yesterday received its first batch of 1.2 million Covid-19 vaccine doses under its Covax quota, Unicef said in a media release. “Today Pakistan received its first shipment of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines (SII-AZ AZD1222) from the COVAX Facility,” it said. Covax, a global programme to provide vaccines, has recently been hit by supply problems.

Pakistan has closed land crossings with Iran and Afghanistan for travellers and slashed international flights as the government warned of a “critical” few weeks ahead in the battle against the coronavirus (Covid-19). The border restrictions were announced on Sunday as the country prepared to mark the Eid al-Fitr, which usually sees the mass movement of people between cities and villages as well as the return of migrant workers and overseas Pakistanis for celebrations. Pakistani officials have anxiously watched the coronavirus crisis unfolding in neighbouring India. The Civil Aviation Authority said on Saturday that from tomorrow, 80% of flights would be suspended for two weeks, mainly from the Middle East, until mid-May when the Eid holidays are over. Foot crossings with Iran and Afghanistan would also be sealed, the country’s coronavirus task force said, adding that trade would be exempt. Flights and land crossings with neighbouring India – reeling from a devastating outbreak with hundreds of thousands of new cases a day – were closed before the pandemic because of political tensions. Impoverished Pakistan is struggling to contain a third wave of infections, with more than 800,000 cases and 18,000 deaths declared. Only a small fraction of its 220mn population has been vaccinated. Planning Minister Asad Umar, who has been leading the government response to the outbreak, said the next two weeks are “critical”, as health authorities rushed to increase intensive care capacity. Last year, Pakistan saw a spike in cases following Ramadan and the Eid. Mosques have remained open throughout the month of Ramadan, with few adhering to social distancing guidelines during huge nightly gatherings of worshippers. Private gatherings, shops and restaurants have faced tight restrictions, with military personnel mobilised to help enforce rules. The government has also announced a ban on travel between provinces for more than a week over the Eid and imposed closures on hotels and tourist spots.

Pakistan has closed land crossings with Iran and Afghanistan for travellers and slashed international flights as the government warned of a "critical" few weeks ahead in the battle against Covid-19. The border restrictions were announced Sunday as the country prepared to mark the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which usually sees the mass movement of people between cities and villages as well as the return of migrant workers and overseas Pakistanis for celebrations. Pakistani officials have anxiously watched the coronavirus crisis unfolding in neighbouring India. The Civil Aviation Authority said Saturday that from Wednesday, 80 percent of flights would be suspended for two weeks, mainly from the Middle East, until mid-May when the Eid holidays are over. Foot crossings with Iran and Afghanistan would also be sealed, the country's coronavirus task force said, adding that trade would be exempt. Flights and land crossings with neighbouring India -- reeling from a devastating outbreak with hundreds of thousands of new cases a day -- were closed before the pandemic because of political tensions. Impoverished Pakistan is struggling to contain a third wave of infections, with more than 800,000 cases and 18,000 deaths declared. Only a small fraction of its 220 million population has been vaccinated. Planning minister Asad Umar, who has been leading the government response to the outbreak, said the next two weeks are "critical", as health authorities rushed to increase intensive care capacity. Last year, Pakistan saw a spike in cases following Ramadan and Eid. Mosques have remained open throughout the month of Ramadan, with few adhering to social distancing guidelines during huge nightly gatherings of worshippers. Private gatherings, shops and restaurants have faced tight restrictions, with the army mobilised to help enforce rules. The government has also announced a ban on travel between provinces for more than a week over Eid and imposed closures on hotels and tourist spots.

Pakistan will reduce the number of international flights into and out of its airports by 80% to help curb rising coronavirus (Covid-19) cases, the government said yesterday. The restrictions will come into effect on May 5 and will run to May 20, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement, though it did not specify which flights or destinations would be affected by the measure. The controls will be reviewed on May 18, the government said in a statement endorsed by the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), which oversees Pakistan’s response to the pandemic. The restrictions will be applied to chartered and private flights as well as scheduled services. All international passengers upon arrival at Pakistani airports on remaining services would be required to undergo rapid antigen testing and will also have to show an RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours before boarding a Pakistan-bound flight. Passengers with a negative Covid-19 test will still undergo self-quarantine at home for 10 days, and those found positive will be shifted to a self-paid facility for the same period of time. Inbound passengers will also need to download an app on to their phones to help monitor their movements. There will be exemptions on these controls for children under 12 years old, disabled persons, high-level international dignities, and Pakistani deportees. Pakistan has seen record deaths in recent days from the coronavirus and stricter restrictions on movement and gathering in public are planned for the upcoming Eid holiday.

Health officials in the Pakistan province of Sindh said they have detected two coronavirus (Covid-19) variants first identified in Brazil and South Africa. It would be the first detection of those variants in Pakistan confirmed by officials. “Yesterday 13 samples underwent genomic study at the Agha Khan University Hospital, of these 10 were of the UK variant, and two were of the Africa and Brazil variants,” Minister for Health & Population Welfare Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said yesterday. The highly contagious variants were discovered at a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, which has also reported the most deaths in any city, accounting for 3,903 of the country’s 17,811 deaths. Some 820,823 cases have been detected in the country, with 5,112 in the last 24 hours, according to the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), which oversees the government’s pandemic response. “You can see these strains and the kind of pressure that can be put on our health facilities,” Pechuho said. “If you contract the Brazilian or South African variants, you can become extremely ill,” he warned. Pakistan has seen record deaths in recent days from the coronavirus, and stricter restrictions on movement and gathering in public are planned for the upcoming Eid holiday.

Pakistan has purchased 13mn doses of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine from three Chinese companies and expects to receive them in the next two months, its health minister said yesterday. The vaccines were procured from Sinopharm, CanSinoBio and Sinovac, Faisal Sultan said. They will supplement around 2.4mn shots from the Covax programme for poorer nations that are expected to arrive during that period. “We will be continuously procuring from all available sources across the world,” Sultan said. “For now, China remains the primary source for vaccines to meet our present and ongoing needs but all our options are open for effective and safe vaccines.” Sultan said around 2.4mn doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, part of the first tranche of 14mn doses under the Covax programme run by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Gavi, would also be arriving and it would likely come from South Korea. Only slightly more than 2mn people have been vaccinated so far in the country of 220mn people, the lowest rate in South Asia. The Covax programme has committed 45mn doses to the country up to the end of 2021, and deliveries were meant to start in March. However India, making the AstraZeneca vaccination, halted supplies due to its own worsening Covid-19 situation. “The delay in Covax meant that our expected volume of vaccination could not materialise in February and March,” Sultan said. “But ... the drive is picking up speed.” Pakistan – scrambling to secure any supplies – started a vaccination drive in February with 1.2mn doses donated by China, and was able to procure over 4mn doses from China in April. Although Pakistan is not seeing the crisis suffered by neighbouring India, cases have been increasing and the death toll of 201 recorded on Tuesday was the highest daily toll since the pandemic began. Pakistan has recorded 17,680 Covid-19 deaths and a total of 815,711 cases.

Troops have been deployed in 16 major cities in Pakistan to assist civilian authorities in enforcing measures meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including the wearing of masks in public and the closing of non-essential businesses after 6pm. “Starting at 6am this morning, troops have been sent to aid the civilian administration in each district,” military spokesperson Major-General Babar Iftikhar said yesterday. The announcement came as the country recorded its highest daily death toll in recent days since the start of the pandemic, and officials said the health care system was nearing its breaking point. Iftikhar said that 570 people were on ventilators in the country and 4,300 in critical condition. In some cities more than 90% of ventilators were occupied, and industrial production of oxygen could soon be diverted for health purposes. “Ensuring adherence to precautionary measures (for the pandemic) and maintaining law and order will still be the responsibility of civilian authorities,” Iftikhar said. “The Pakistani army will aid other law enforcement agencies as emergency responders to stop the spread of the virus.” Pakistan has recorded 17,187 deaths and 800,452 cases so far, and is in the midst of a third wave. The federal government has opted not to impose nationwide lockdowns seen in some other countries, saying such measures could endanger the lives of many who rely on daily wages. Instead, officials have said the percentage of tests returning positive would dictate what lockdown measures are taken in a given area. But even in those areas measures such as markets being closed after 6pm each day, and mask wearing mandates have gone largely unenforced. With only around 2mn vaccine doses administered and supplies short, officials have pleaded with the public to follow the precautionary guidelines. On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the public to wear masks and follow other precautionary guidelines, and said the military would be called on to enforce the measures. Pakistan risked finding itself in a situation like in neighbouring India otherwise, Khan said. “If our situation becomes the same as in India, then we will have to close down cities,” Khan said on Friday. “We can’t do that because, as we have seen already, the poor suffer the most when lockdowns are imposed.”

Plodding his way through the desert in remote southwest Pakistan, Roshan the camel carries priceless cargo: books for children who can no longer go to school because of coronavirus lockdowns. The schoolchildren, who live in remote villages where the streets are too narrow for vehicles, put on their best clothes and rush out to meet Roshan. They crowd around the animal shouting “the camel is here!” Pakistan’s schools first closed in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in March 2020, and have only opened sporadically since then, with around 50mn school-age children and university students told to continue their education from home. It’s been especially difficult in places like Balochistan, where in many villages internet access is almost non-existent. Raheema Jalal, a high school principal who founded the Camel Library project with her sister, a federal minister, says she started the library last August because she wanted children around her remote hometown to continue learning despite schools being closed. The project is a collaboration with the Female Education Trust and Alif Laila Book Bus Society, two NGOs that have been running children’s library projects in the country for 36 years. Roshan carries the books to four different villages in the district of Kech, visiting each village three times a week and staying for about two hours each time. Children borrow books and return them the next time Roshan visits. “I like picture books, because when I look at the pictures and the photographs, I can understand the story better,” nine-year-old Ambareen Imran told Reuters. Jalal hopes to continue and expand the project to cover more villages, but needs funding: around $118 a month is needed now each month for Roshan. Murad Ali, Roshan’s owner, says he was taken aback when he was first contacted about the project, but thought camels were the sensible mode of transport. He says he enjoys the trips and seeing the happy children and still earns as much as he used to when he transported firewood. Balochistan makes up nearly half of Pakistan by area, but the sparsely populated province is also the country’s most impoverished. Children in Mand read books brought by Roshan the camel.

The foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan called on the Afghan Taliban yesterday to reaffirm its commitment to achieving a negotiated settlement for lasting peace in Afghanistan. In a joint statement issued after talks in Istanbul, the three foreign ministers underlined “the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire” to end the violence and “provide a conducive atmosphere” for peace negotiations. A US-backed Afghan peace conference to be hosted in Istanbul hosted by Turkey, Qatar, and the United Nations today was postponed over the Taliban’s non-participation. Ankara has said the talks will be held after Ramadan, but no new date has been set. Yesterday the foreign ministers of Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan discussed the planned conference, aimed at fast-tracking an agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban following Washington’s announcement that foreign troops will leave Afghanistan by September 11. The ministers “called on all parties, in particular the Taliban to reaffirm their commitment for achieving an inclusive negotiated settlement leading to lasting peace in Afghanistan desired by the Afghan people, the region and the international community”, according to the joint statement. They also “deplored the continuing high level of violence in Afghanistan”. Speaking at a joint news conference after the talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara’s support for the Afghan peace process and efforts to organise the conference in Istanbul would continue. “As the co-organisers, we are continuing talks on this with all sides,” he said, alongside Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Afghan Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar joined the meeting via video link for health reasons, Cavusoglu said. The Taliban had earlier refused to attend any summits until all foreign forces were pulled out of Afghanistan. The Taliban and the United States last year agreed that all foreign forces would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by May 1, a date that was pushed back last week by US President Joe Biden. The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, when they were ousted by US-led forces. Since then, they have waged a long-running insurgency and still control wide swathes of territory.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday asked a radical group to end its violent campaign to oust the French ambassador, saying the unrest was harming the nation. Rioting has rocked the country for the past week since the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was detained after calling for a march on the capital to evict France’s top diplomat. The government opened negotiations with the TLP after they freed 11 police abducted during week-long anti-blasphemy protests against France in which four officers were killed, the interior minister said. The police officers were abducted during clashes outside TLP headquarters in the eastern city of Lahore, which according to the group also killed its three members. Photographs of the police officers, with their heads, legs and arms heavily bandaged, were posted on social media by their captors. “They’ve released the 11 policemen they had held hostage,” Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said in a video statement. He said negotiations with the TLP were under way. The group has waged an anti-France campaign for months since President Emmanuel Macron defended the right of a satirical magazine in Paris to republish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — an act deemed blasphemous by Muslims. Khan said he also wants to stop “the insult of our Prophet (PBUH) in the name of freedom of speech” by western nations, but said he could not expel ambassadors every time it occurred. “If we keep protesting our whole lives we would only be damaging our own country and it will not impact (the West),” Khan said in a recorded address shown on television. “It doesn’t make any difference to France,” he added. The TLP has called for a march on the capital Islamabad, where security has been boosted in recent days, tonight if the ambassador has not been expelled. France’s embassy, which last week sent an urgent advisory recommending French nationals and companies leave the country, sent out a fresh alert yesterday telling its citizens to avoid gatherings. Khan said a week of protests had caused major disruption to cities, damaged property and left several police officers dead. Lahore police had earlier put the death toll at six. TLP leaders say several of the party’s supporters have also been killed and many wounded in clashes. Calls for a nationwide strike in solidarity with the protesters was widely supported by mainstream religious groups and in Lahore and Karachi, many shops and markets were closed and some transport services halted. Few issues are as galvanising in Pakistan as blasphemy, and even the slightest suggestion of an insult to Islam can supercharge protests and unite the country’s warring political parties. Khan’s government has struggled to bring the TLP to heel over the years, but this week announced an outright ban against the group. In his address, he told Pakistanis that he was working with other Muslim nations to “jointly explain” to the West how “Muslims sentiments are being hurt”. “Expelling the French ambassador would mean cutting ties with European Union, half of our textile export goes to Europe, this means half of our textile exports will be reduced, which means unemployment and closure of the factories,” he added. The embassy is sending home non-essential French staff, a source at the foreign ministry in Paris told AFP. A source at Punjab governor’s office said the TLP in negotiations were demanding the release of their leader Saad Rizvi, whose detention last week sparked the protests, and a vote in parliament on the expulsion of the French ambassador, while the government wants an end to the repeated unrest. Lahore police said yesterday that TLP supporters were refusing to bury the bodies of supporters being held at the mosque. Also at the site was an oil tanker seized by crowds on Sunday. Pakistan’s PSX 100 stock exchange opened 500 points down in the morning though recovered later in the day.

To master the art of recitation, 21-year-old Hassan Ali Kasi had to follow a strict regime of yoga, hours of rehearsing vocal scales — and a total ban on biryani To master the art of Qur’an recitation, 21-year-old Hassan Ali Kasi had to follow a strict regime of yoga, hours of rehearsing vocal scales — and a total ban on biryani. His dedication is paying off, and he was recently named champion of an international online qari competition hosted by Afghanistan, where he was up against men from 25 other countries. Revered in Pakistan, qaris are professional reciters of the Qur’an , called upon to lead prayers at mosques and also to teach the Muslim holy book to students. They are in particularly high demand during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting currently being observed around the world. “One of the very first elements of preaching was recitation. It is as old as Islam,” Kasi told AFP in the capital, Islamabad. Qaris require perfect Arabic pronunciation, a difficult feat in Pakistan where Urdu is the national language. A finesse of rhythm and intonation produces the slow, melodic sound similar to the distinctive adhan, or call to prayer, delivered through loudspeakers from the top of mosques five times a day. Recitations during competitions can last for 15 minutes, so Kasi practises yoga to help with breath control, and vocal exercises to strengthen his voice. “A qari should be able to recite for a minimum of 50 seconds without taking a breath,” said Kasi, an Islamic Studies student at a university in the capital. “The throat is very sensitive, a qari should avoid cold water and fatty food as it produces too much mucus, which causes abrasion when you touch high notes,” he cautioned. He was tutored in the Qur’an  by his father, and his recitation skills quickly earned him recognition at national level where he won numerous awards before making it onto the international stage. Many qaris emerge after being taught at religious schools known as madrassas, where young boys are taught to memorise the Qur’an  — often with little understanding of the Arabic language and also at the expense of other subjects. Education activists say the colossal effort that can often take years to master fails to prepare students for the workforce. But for hundreds of thousands from impoverished background, it is the only schooling available, providing free shelter, clothes and food. Very few madrassas are open to girls. Boys who complete their studies can go on to become teachers or lead prayers at mosques around the world — even if they earn little money from it. “One has to be meticulously hardworking,” said Abdul Qudus, from the Wafaq-ul-Madaris al-Arabia, the country’s largest group of madrassas. “The voice is a gift from God, but one has to polish it.” He said hundreds of prayer leaders in the Middle East are madrassa graduates, while others are now teaching the Qur’an  online to Pakistanis living overseas in Europe or America. Kasi, who spends hours practicing verses ahead of competitions, said quality teachers were the key to his winning voice. “When you follow a good qari, you can spread your voice across the world,” he said.

At least seven Pakistan police officers and special rangers were taken hostage yesterday by supporters of a radical Islamist party, officials said, after days of violent anti-France protests. Rioting has rocked the country for the last week since the leader of the now-banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was detained in the second biggest city Lahore after calling for the expulsion of the French ambassador. The protests have paralysed cities and led to the deaths of six policemen, prompting the French embassy to recommend all its nationals temporarily leave the country. “The TLP members are holding five police officers and two rangers hostage,” said Rana Arif, a police spokesman in Lahore told AFP, referring to the country’s paramilitary force. Firdous Ashiq Awan, a spokeswoman for the Punjab provincial government, said 12 policemen had been abducted and taken to a TLP mosque in Lahore, where hundreds of supporters were gathered. “Violent groups armed with petrol bombs and acid bottles stormed the Nawankot police station this morning,” she tweeted, adding that six police officers have now died in clashes this week. A video circulating online — the authenticity of which has been confirmed to AFP by Lahore city police — shows a senior police officer with a blood stained bandage wrapped around his head being held at the mosque. The deputy superintendent, the third most senior officer from the raided station, speaks to the camera with an expressionless face. The camera then swings round to show wounded TLP supporters gathered on the floor. The TLP has been behind an anti-France campaign for months since President Emmanuel Macron defended the right of Charlie Hebdo magazine to republish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — an act deemed blasphemous by many Muslims. TLP leaders say several of the party’s supporters were killed in yesterday’s clashes. “We won’t bury them until the French ambassador is kicked out,” Allama Mohamed Shafiq Amini, a TLP leader in the city, said in a video statement. The party has given the government an April 20 deadline to act. Mohamed Shabir, an injured TLP protester, said supporters had been staging a peaceful sit-in when they were attacked by police. “They fired directly at us and threw acidic water. Some men had their chest burned, others their back, face or whole body,” he told AFP. “The government of Pakistan has done a big injustice to us.” The police said they had not attempted a clearance operations and had acted in self defence. They would not comment on the reported TLP deaths. An oil truck was seized and petrol bombs thrown at officers, both Arif and Awan said. An AFP reporter at the scene said police used tear gas against stone-throwing protesters. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said TLP supporters had blocked 191 sites over the past week, with the mosque in Lahore now a gathering point. “No negotiations are taking place, tried for two-three months but they are not ready to backtrack from their agenda and the government has no other choice but to establish its writ,” he said at a press conference. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has struggled to bring TLP to heel over the years, but this week announced an outright ban against the group — effectively labelling it a terrorist outfit. Still, on Saturday he suggested the party hadn’t been banned for its ideology, but rather its methods. “Let me make clear to people here & abroad: Our govt only took action against TLP under our anti-terrorist law when they challenged the writ of the state and used street violence & attacking the public & law enforcers,” he tweeted. Khan said insulting the Prophet (PBUH) hurt Muslims around the world. “We cannot tolerate any such disrespect & abuse,” he added. Pakistan on Friday blocked social media and instant messaging platforms for several hours to head off major protests. Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Pakistan. The French embassy’s call for its nationals to leave Pakistan appears to have gone largely unheeded so far with many questioning the embassy’s move and saying they had received unstinted support and solidarity from Pakistanis. All of those who spoke to AFP vowed to stay back in Pakistan. Police personnel climb onto an ambulance with injured colleagues as it rushes for medical assistance.  (Reuters)

Western governments should treat people who insult the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) the same as those who deny the Holocaust, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said yesterday. Speaking after a week of violent protests in Pakistan by a radical party outraged by French government support for magazines publishing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Khan said insulting the Prophet (PBUH) hurt Muslims around the world. “We Muslims have the greatest love & respect for our Prophet (PBUH),” he tweeted. “We cannot tolerate any such disrespect & abuse.” The group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was banned Thursday after days of violent protests during which four policemen were killed. The radical party has orchestrated a months-long campaign for the expulsion of the French ambassador to protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s defence of the cartoons’ publication. “I... call on Western govts who have outlawed any negative comment on the holocaust to use the same standards to penalise those deliberately spreading their message of hate against Muslims by abusing our Prophet (PBUH),” Khan tweeted. Denying the Holocaust is illegal in several European countries — including Germany and France — and offenders can be jailed. Khan suggested the government had not banned the TLP because it disagreed with TLP’s motivation, but rather its methods. “Let me make clear to people here & abroad: Our govt only took action against TLP under our anti-terrorist law when they challenged the writ of the state and used street violence & attacking the public & law enforcers,” he said. “No one can be above the law and the Constitution.” Meanwhile, the French community in Pakistan is torn between disbelief, fear and annoyance in reaction to their embassy’s call for them to leave the country after Francophobic rioting this week by an extremist party. Most, it seems, have decided to stay put. In a terse three-line e-mail, accompanied by the words “urgent”, the embassy in Islamabad on Thursday recommended its nationals and French companies temporarily leave Pakistan, because of “serious threats”. The e-mail, which did not specify the nature of the risks, caused shock and consternation among the few hundred-strong French community. Jean-Michel Quarantotti, who has taught French at the American school in Islamabad for three years, was first alerted to the embassy advisory by a student. “I won’t hide from you that at first I felt a little bit of fear, panic,” he told AFP. “It’s not my first foreign country — I did a lot before arriving in Pakistan — but I was really shocked. I didn’t expect to go through this.” His first thought was to pack up and leave, but after discussing the situation with colleagues he said reason took over from emotion. “The Pakistanis around me advised me to stay,” he said. “They told me that they would protect me. “It was very touching to see the solidarity around me, from people who told me: ‘We are here for you, do not worry, we will defend you’.” The embassy announcement came after days of violent protests orchestrated by the radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) after the arrest in Lahore Monday of leader Saad Rizvi, who had called for a march on the capital to demand the expulsion of the French ambassador. Four policemen were killed in the rioting. Many of the French people contacted by AFP questioned the timing of the embassy’s message as the Pakistani government had just announced the ban on the TLP and seemed to have the situation under control. “Yes, there are a lot of risks to live here,” said Quarantotti, “but we don’t need to panic the French community with words that are badly chosen. “We wonder a little why France needed to publicise this message at the international level, when it could have given a much more discreet message to the (French) community”. Fellow national Julien — an assumed name because he does not wish to divulge his identity — has also chosen to stay put. “It’s a recommendation, so I won’t leave,” he told AFP. He also refused his employer’s offer to repatriate him to Europe or put armed guards outside his home. “Anyway, since October, November, it’s been all ups and downs. So we’ll wait for it to calm down,” the Islamabad resident said. “The watchword is vigilance,” added Laurent Cinot, a consultant for the World Bank who arrived in the capital less than two months ago. He said any threat was not from ordinary Pakistanis, but only the TLP. Another Frenchman living in Lahore — who is not allowed to give his name or that of his French company for security reasons — has spent nearly ten years in Pakistan in two stints. “Since I’ve been here a long time, I didn’t really panic,” he said. Still, he is the only French national contacted by AFP who will leave — on the orders of his employers. For Cinot, the embassy message will have the unfortunate effect of sending back another very negative picture of Pakistan to France. “It does not deserve it because, honestly, it is a magnificent country with people who are quite fascinating and kind... extremely kind,” he said.

The Pakistan government imposed an hours-long shutdown of social media and instant messaging platforms yesterday, after days of violent anti-France protests. The move came after French nationals and companies in Pakistan were advised by their embassy to temporarily leave the country, in the wake of rallies led by a religious party that paralysed many cities and left four police officers dead. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) cut Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Telegram until late afternoon yesterday to “maintain public order and safety”, following a request by the interior ministry. Political parties frequently use social media to rally supporters, and the announcement came just before Friday prayers, which usually draw huge crowds to mosques where firebrand sermons have in the past catalysed protests. Pakistani authorities have used strategic social media bans and cuts to mobile services in the past in an attempt to head off major protests. Some rights activists criticised yesterday’s social media blackout, warning that it could lead to more severe curbs on freedoms. Thousands of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) supporters spilled onto the streets in cities across the country on Monday after their leader was detained following his calls for the expulsion of the French ambassador. Prime Minister Imran Khan said yesterday that four police officers had been killed and more than 600 injured in clashes. Protests had been cleared from most cities yesterday, but in Lahore hundreds of TLP supporters continued a sit-in at a religious school and party headquarters. More than 200 people have been arrested, police sources said, while the TLP said some of its supporters had died. Farhan Ahmed, a driver in Lahore, said the government had blocked WhatsApp to prevent people from sharing information about how much the TLP “have suffered” in protests. “What is being done to them is not good ... the government doesn’t want us to talk about what they have done,” he said. Anti-French sentiment has been festering for months in Pakistan since President Emmanuel Macron threw his support behind a satirical magazine’s right to republish certain cartoons. On Thursday the French embassy advised all its citizens and companies to pull out of Pakistan, citing “serious threats to French interests”.

French nationals and companies in Pakistan were advised by their embassy yesterday to temporarily leave after violent anti-France protests paralysed large parts of the country. Anti-French sentiment has been simmering for months in Pakistan since the government of President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for a satirical magazine’s right to republish cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — deemed blasphemous by Muslims. Yesterday, the Pakistan government banned an extremist political party whose leader had called for a march on the capital to demand the expulsion of the French ambassador. Saad Rizvi, leader of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), was detained hours after the Tuesday call, bringing thousands of his supporters onto the streets in cities across the country. Two police officers died in clashes during which water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets were used. “Due to the serious threats to French interests in Pakistan, French nationals and French companies are advised to temporarily leave the country,” the embassy said in an email yesterday to French citizens. “The departures will be carried out by existing commercial airlines.” Extra security personnel were deployed to the French embassy — inside a guarded diplomatic enclave closed to the public — and shipping containers placed as fortifications around its outer wall. “Our police and rangers are capable of handling the situation,” Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told a press conference later yesterday. “All the French citizens are safe here and there’s no threat to them.” Still, Ludo Van Vooren, a French citizen living in Islamabad, told AFP he was assessing the embassy’s advice. “We are a little shocked and reflecting on what to do,” he said. “Following the incidents of the last few months, we haven’t been panicking, but we are very vigilant. Now, we are trying to work out if things have changed.” Last year around 445 French citizens and more than 30 companies were registered in Pakistan, according to a French government website. The TLP is notorious for holding days-long, violent road protests over blasphemy issues, causing major disruption to the country. Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan. Successive governments have a long history of avoiding confrontation with hardline groups, fearing any crackdown on religious parties could spark wider violence. “We are in favour of protecting the Prophet (PBUH)’s honour, but the demand which they are seeking could have portrayed Pakistan as a radical nation worldwide,” Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told a news conference. Anger erupted in Autumn last year when the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo republished cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Macron’s subsequent defence of free speech triggered anger across the Muslim world, with tens of thousands in Pakistan, neighbouring Iran and other Muslim countries flooding the streets and organising anti-French boycotts. TLP supporters brought the capital Islamabad to a standstill. At the time, Prime Minister Imran Khan, a populist leader, blasted Charlie Hebdo for re-publishing the cartoons, saying “wilful provocations” should be “universally outlawed”. He accused the French president of attacking the Muslim faith and urged Islamic countries to work together to counter what he called growing repression in Europe.

Hundreds of Pakistani Hazara women are learning how to deliver side kicks and elbow blows as martial arts booms within the marginalised community. Hazaras have faced decades of sectarian violence in the southwestern city of Quetta, living in two separate enclaves cordoned off by checkpoints and armed guards to protect them. Women must also contend with routine harassment from men. “We can’t stop bomb blasts with karate, but with self-defence, I have learnt to feel confident,” 20-year-old Nargis Batool told AFP. “Everyone here knows that I am going to the club. Nobody dares say anything to me while I am out.” Up to 4,000 people are attending regular classes in more than 25 clubs in Balochistan province, of which Quetta is the capital, according to Ishaq Ali, head of the Balochistan Wushu Kung Fu Association, which oversees the sport. The city’s two largest academies, which train around 250 people each, told AFP the majority of their students were young Hazara women. Many of them go on to earn money from the sport, taking part in frequent competitions. Martial arts teacher Fida Hussain Kazmi says exceptions are being made. “In general, women cannot exercise in our society ... but for the sake of self-defence and her family, they are being allowed.” The uptake is also credited to national champions Nargis Hazara and Kulsoom Hazara, who have won medals in international competitions. Kazmi says he has trained hundreds of women over the years, after learning the sport from a Chinese master in the eastern city of Lahore. The 41-year-old offers two hours of training six days a week for Rs500 ($3) but gives free classes to women who have lost a relative to militant violence. “The Hazara community is facing many problems... but with karate we can begin to feel safe,” said 18-year-old student Syeda Qubra, whose brother was killed in a bomb blast in 2013.

Thousands of Pakistanis rushed to get inoculated in the first round of commercial sales of Covid-19 vaccines that began over the weekend, with vaccination sites in the southern city of Karachi saying yesterday they had already sold out. Pakistan is currently offering free vaccines to frontline healthcare workers and people over the age of 50, but the drive has thus far been slow, and last month the country allowed commercial imports by the private sector for the general public. The first round saw the commercial sale of the two-shot Russian Sputnik V to the general public for about PKR12,000 ($80) for a pack of two doses. Despite the cost, a number of centres offering the shot reported long queues, with some in Karachi waiting in line for close to three hours. Most in the queue were young Pakistanis still not eligible for government’s free vaccination. “I am very happy to get it, since now it is required for travelling,” Saad Ahmed, 34, told Reuters yesterday after he got his shot at an upscale private sector hospital in Karachi. While the private sale of vaccines has begun, the government and importers are still locked in a pricing dispute. Pakistan initially agreed to exempt imported vaccines from price caps, but later rescinded the exemption and said it would set maximum prices. One pharmaceutical company, which had already imported 50,000 doses of Sputnik V, took the government to court, where it won an interim order allowing it to sell it until pricing is decided. As soon as vaccination was opened for walk-in customers, there were long lines of people, Dr Nashwa Ahmed, who runs vaccination at Karachi’s South City Hospital, told Reuters. Pictures of queues outside the hospital late into the night were shared on social media. The hospital procured 5,000 doses of Sputnik V and in just over two days all its stock had been administered or pre-booked, said a hospital official who asked not to be identified. Companies, including one of Pakistan’s largest banks, have also purchased large quantities to have staff inoculated, the official said. The private sales start as the country deals with a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections and healthcare facilities are fast filling to capacity. The number of patients now in critical care has reached 3,568, the highest since the pandemic started, a cabinet minister, Asad Umar, said on Twitter. Pakistan has thus far reported 687,908 infections and 14,778 deaths.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has replied to a letter written by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, and said Islamabad desires peaceful relations with New Delhi, an official source said. Modi had written to Khan on the occasion of Pakistan’s Republic Day on March 23, also calling for peaceful relations between the two nuclear-armed rivals. Dated March 29, Khan’s letter was not officially released by either side but the official, speaking on anonymity, confirmed its contents which were shared widely on social media. “The people of Pakistan also desire peaceful, co-operative relations with all neighbours, including India,” Khan said in his reply, adding: “I thank you for your letter conveying greetings on Pakistan Day.” Neither the Indian or Pakistani foreign ministries responded to requests for comment. Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper quoted Modi’s letter on March 23 as saying that “India desires cordial relations with the people of Pakistan” and “for this, an environment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is imperative”. India and Pakistan have fought three wars and have shared a fractious relationship since the two gained independence in 1947, and in 2019 tensions rose dramatically as they sent combat planes into each other’s territory. Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has called on both nations to bury the past after the militaries of both countries released a rare joint statement last month announcing a ceasefire along a disputed border in Kashmir.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan removed his finance minister yesterday as part of a government shake-up aimed at bringing in policies to control “rising inflation”, the information minister said. The removal — the second of a finance minister in the 2-1/2 years of Khan’s tenure that witnessed GDP growth falling from 5.6% to -0.4% — coincides with the restart of a $6 billion IMF bailout programme that had been suspended for one year over questions about fiscal and revenue reforms. Pakistan is also preparing to float Eurobonds worth around $2 billion to raise capital from international markets about two months before presenting a budget amid historical remittances and good debt inflows helping to shore up foreign reserves to assist its currency’s recovery against the dollar. “There has been rising inflation, and the prime minister thinks that we need to bring in a fresh team which could devise pro-poor policies,” information minister Shibli Faraz told Dunya News TV. Faraz said the minister for industries and production Hammad Azhar would replace Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. “This wasn’t expected as investors thought that after the IMF deal Mr Shaikh will present the next budget also,” said analyst Mohammed Sohail of Topline Securities. “Market will take it negatively in the short run,” he said. The central bank on March 19 kept its policy rate at 7% for a 10th consecutive month to support economic recovery while keeping inflation expectations well-anchored and maintaining financial stability. It also revised the growth rate to 2% from 3% for the current fiscal year. The South Asian nation recorded 8.7% CPI Y/Y in February. “I am honoured to be entrusted with the additional charge of finance by the Prime Minister,” Azhar said on Twitter. “The world is witnessing supply chain disruptions & rise in food prices. We shall endeavour to protect our ppl from these shocks.” Shaikh had lost a parliamentary election earlier this month that was mandatory for him to keep the office of the finance minister constitutionally. However, he could have stayed in office until June 10.

President Dr Arif Alvi (above) inspects the guard of honour during the military parade in  Pakistan to mark Pakistan’s National Day.