Rawalpindi: The Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) Department of Pakistan Army Thursday said that the May 9 tragedy was a failed attempt to bring about a self-made and narrow-minded revolution.

According to the statement issued by the ISPR, the Armed Forces, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and Services Chiefs strongly condemned the tragedy on May 9.

ISPR stated: “On this dark day, politically motivated and brainwashed miscreants staged a coup, violence was deliberately resorted to against state institutions, miscreants deliberately vandalized sacred symbols of the state”.

According to ISPR, the aim of the miscreants was a failed attempt to bring about a self-imposed and narrow-minded revolution in the country. The armed forces showed utmost restraint and foiled the dastardly plot of the saboteurs, ringleaders as well as their masterminds.

Failing to undermine national cohesion and stability, the plotters, facilitators and executors of the conspiracy launched a vicious campaign of hatred against the armed forces and the state to perpetuate the narrative, they said, adding that practitioners launched a vicious campaign of hatred against the armed forces and the state to twist the narrative to their advantage and place the blame on state institutions. This is why the planners, facilitators and implementers of the May 9 tragedy cannot be compromised nor will they be allowed to flout the law of the land.

According to the ISPR statement, bringing the real perpetrators of May 9 to justice is important to ensure that no one in the future dare to desecrate the monuments of our heroes and the symbols of our unity through such unnecessary acts.

ISPR said that the main objective of these miscreants was to spread chaos, create conflict between people and armed forces and destabilise Pakistan.

According to the department, today the armed forces of Pakistan renew their resolve to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan and thwart the nefarious intentions of Pakistan's internal and external enemies.

“Our martyrs and their families are the pride of Pakistan. The armed forces of Pakistan pledge to uphold its dignity and honor at all costs, the armed forces of Pakistan have a very special bond with the people of Pakistan,” they added.

ISPR continued that today let us strongly condemn the conspiracies to weaken Pakistan and work together for the prosperity and stability of our beloved country.

It is pertinent to note that after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, significant unrest was seen as a result of violent riots across the country.

On May 9, rioters attacked military installations and torched and staged demonstrations at various locations across the country, during which hundreds of people were arrested.

Washington DC: US President Joe Biden on Wednesday publicly warned Israel for the first time that the US would stop supplying it weapons if Israeli forces make a major invasion of Rafah, a refugee-packed city in southern Gaza.

“I made it clear that if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – that deal with that problem,” Biden said in an interview.

Biden's comments represent his strongest public language to date in his effort to deter an Israeli assault on Rafah while underscoring a growing rift between the US and its strongest ally in the Middle East.

Biden acknowledged US weapons have been used by Israel to kill civilians in Gaza, where Israel has mounted a seven-month-old offensive aimed at annihilating Hamas. Israel's campaign has so far killed 34,789 Palestinians, mostly civilians, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

"Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers," he said when asked about 2,000-pound bombs sent to Israel.

A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington had carefully reviewed the delivery of weapons that might be used in Rafah and as a result paused a shipment consisting of 1,800 2,000-pound (907-kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs.

Israel's UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan, earlier this week called Washington's decision to delay shipments "very disappointing" although he did not believe the US would stop supplying arms to Israel.

Israel this week attacked Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians have sought refuge, but Biden said he did not consider Israel’s strikes a full-scale invasion because they have not struck “population centers.”

The interview was released hours after Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III acknowledged publicly Biden’s decision last week to hold up the delivery of thousands of heavy bombs was taken out of concern for Rafah, where Washington opposes a major Israeli invasion without civilian safeguards.

Israel's campaign in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. That killed about 1,200 people with about 250 others abducted, of whom 133 are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

The United States is by far the biggest supplier of weapons to Israel, and it accelerated deliveries after the October 7 Hamas-led attacks.

In 2016, the US and Israeli governments signed a third 10-year Memorandum of Understanding that provides $38 billion in military aid over the 10 years, $33 billion in grants to buy military equipment and $5 billion for missile defense system. Last month, congress approved $26 billion in additional funding for Israel.

Biden said the US would continue to provide defensive weapons to Israel, including for its Iron Dome air defense system.

“We’re going to continue to make sure Israel is secure in terms of Iron Dome and their ability to respond to attacks that came out of the Middle East recently," he said. "But it’s, it’s just wrong. We’re not going to – we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells."

SOURCE: REUTERS

Lahore: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Thursday started the pre-Hajj operation and the first Hajj flight PK-717 from Lahore departed for Madinah.

329 Hajj pilgrims departed from the first Hajj flight which was seen off by PIA Chief Project Officer Khurram Mushtaq. A grand ceremony was also organized to see off the Hajj pilgrims at Lahore Airport.

Chief Project Officer Khurram Mushtaq said that Hajj pilgrims should remember Pakistan and PIA in their prayers. PIA has formed special Hajj teams to facilitate pilgrims in Pakistan and Madinah. PIA is transporting pilgrims to Madinah and Jeddah.

It is pertinent to note that PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat is directly supervising the Hajj operation, special arrangements were made for the pilgrims at Lahore Airport.

Earlier in the night, the first flight of the private airline carrying 150 Hajj pilgrims departed from Karachi International Airport for Madinah while the second flight from Karachi arrived in Saudi Arabia carrying 180 pilgrims. The officials bid farewell to the pilgrims.

Under the government scheme, the Hajj operation which started today will continue till June 9 and 68,000 pilgrims will reach the Holy Hijaz through 259 Hajj flights. Under the Road to Makkah project, the Saudi authorities are conducting the immigration of Hajj pilgrims in Karachi.