Page 11 - Pakistan Link - August 25, 2023

PAKISTAN PAKISTAN LINK - AUGUST 25, 2023 - P11

High-Risk Rescue Operation Succeeds, n By Anwar Iqbal Bolton Urges Congress to

Chair-Lift Survivors Get ‘Second Life’ WASHINGTON: The US Congress Take Closer Look at Cypher
should look at the allegedly leaked
cypher about former prime minister
lifts and rickety rope bridges are the fast- Imran Khan’s ousting when it returns
est way to move from a village on one hill- from summer recess, says a former US
side to its nearest neighbor across ravines national security adviser John Bolton.
and valleys. The schoolchildren, aged be- In an interview with VOA broad-
tween 10 and 16, had been coming down casting service, recorded this week,
from their homes in Jhangri to a school Mr Bolton said he “worries about” the
in Battangi, two villages in the Allai valley, Biden administration’s foreign policy
when the calamity struck at around 7am. about South Asia because “it’s not
The journey by chair lift usually took just clearly defined”.
Children receive first aid after they a matter of minutes, whereas travelling Asked if the language used in the
were rescued from the stranded chair- on the rough mountain roads and tracks cypher was usual for a State Depart-
lift, in Battagram, August 22 - Reuters takes hours. It would be 16 hours before ment official, the former Trump and
the high-risk rescue operation brought Bush administrations official said he
PESHAWAR: When Pakistani villager everyone safely off the flimsy chair lift saw the report published by The In-
Gul Faraz rang his family to raise the as it dangled 183 meters (600 feet) above tercept news site and noted that it was
alarm that a cable had snapped and he ground, the military said, reducing the about “an effort to get Pakistan’s sup-
and seven schoolchildren were trapped height estimated by officials earlier but port” against Russia’s unprovoked in-
in a chair lift swaying in the wind high making it no less deadly. vasion of Ukraine.
above a rocky ravine, he doubted he There were fears the remaining cable “I would be stunned if that’s exactly
would ever see home again. could give way any time, and cries of what they said. It would be remarkable The Federalist Society
"It is an unforgettable day," Faraz said 'God is Great' arose from people gathered for the State Department, under any
on Wednesday, a day after army com- around to see the children brought down administration, but particularly under Minister. Otherwise, I think it will be rent political situation in Pakistan, he
mandos performed a miraculous rescue, on harnesses by soldiers on a zip line. the Biden administration, to be calling tough going ahead.” said: “I do not agree with Imran Khan
winching two to safety with a helicopter, "At some point, I had lost hope that for Imran Khan’s overthrow.” Mr Bolton said even if the text pub- on everything he has ever said, and he
and bringing the rest down on a zip line we would safely return home," Faraz told The purported cypher that the Paki- lished by The Intercept was “close to doesn’t agree with me but when the
when it became too dark to fly safely in Reuters by telephone from his home, stan Embassy in Washington sent to Is- being true”, it would be a problem. “So, military take it to the point of disman-
the gusting winds. where his family was receiving visitors lamabad in March last year, contained I hope that when Congress comes back tling a legitimate political party (and)
"I can't tell you what we experienced from villages across the region, all offer- the embassy’s account of a meeting from summer recess in early Septem- putting … an elected leader like Imran
yesterday when one cable of the chair lift ing thanks for their survival. between US State Department officials, ber, perhaps they can take a look at that khan in jail for no apparent reason,
suddenly snapped and we were stranded Having dreaded the worst, Pakistan including Assistant Secretary of State and find out how accurate that report they are contributing to delegitimizing
in the air," said Faraz, who at 20 years old exulted with relief and pride over the for the Bureau of South and Central was.” their own institution.”
was the only adult aboard, and the only daring rescue. "It was heartening to see Asian Affairs Donald Lu, and Pakistani ‘Confused and inarticulate’ Commenting on the demand by
person with a cell phone. the whole nation praying and standing envoy Asad Majeed Khan. In reply to another question, Mr some US lawmakers that Washington
He called his family first, and then a united.... in the hour of need," caretak- It quotes Mr Lu as telling the Paki- Bolton said Biden administration of- should raise this issue with Pakistani
private news channel, whose coverage er Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Ka- stani envoy: “I think if the no-confi- ficials “don’t know what their strategic authorities, Mr Bolton urged the
quickly drew the attention of the world's kar told a news conference in Karachi. dence vote against the Prime Minister imperatives are. And it’s been confused Biden administration to take a clear
media to the drama unfolding in the re- Those prayers were answered for Faraz succeeds, all will be forgiven in Wash- and inarticulate on the situation in position before the “terrorists, China
mote mountainous region. and the children. "We got a second ington because the Russia visit is being Pakistan”. and Russia take advantage” of the
It is a part of the world where chair life," he said. - Reuters looked at as a decision by the Prime Explaining his position on the cur- situation. - Dawn

(PTI) announced on Thursday that it PTI Disassociates from UK Lawyers Assigned said. It added that PTI will engage inter- Initially, PTI leaders condemned
LONDON: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf
national legal representation if needed in Yaqoob for launching legal action but
was parting ways with United King- to Take up Imran Khan's Case in UN any matter only through the party secre- the evidence established that the lawyer
dom-based lawyers who were initially tary general. was indeed hired to act for Khan and
directed to take former prime minister The News had revealed that the for- raise funds for international legal aid to
Imran Khan's case to the United Na- mer prime minister, who was removed fight cases in the UN and other forums.
tions and other international courts. from power via a vote of no-confidence It was also revealed that Yaqoob was ful-
After an exclusive investigation of in April last year, had instructed Yaqoob ly authorized with a bulletproof letter of
The News revealed full details of the to seek legal recourse through the UN instruction (LoI) on behalf of Khan and
international legal engagement by the and international courts for his cases. It several other such documents from the
former prime minister and some of his was also revealed that the lawyers were PTI’s top leadership in Pakistan.
aides, the PTI said it has revoked legal instructed to lobby with the UN and A letter, obtained by The News, said
engagements with UK solicitor Rashad international bodies to intervene on his that Siddique was “retained” by the PTI
Yaqoob, his organization Human Rights behalf at the international and Pakistan chief on multiple criminal defense mat-
Legal Aid Foundation (HRLAF) and levels over the events that followed after ters in Pakistan to represent the former
Azhar Siddique, the Pakistan Supreme the May 9 attacks on army installations prime minister. The letter also showed
Court lawyer who is now based in Man- across the country. instructions given to HRLAF’s Yaqoob
chester. The former ruling party said The instructions to approach the “to initiate immediate and urgent inter-
that the PTI and its Chairman Imran UN were passed in a most confidential national litigation to protect and defend
Khan “have no association/connection or on behalf of the PTI and its chairman nor are in any talks with them, and that manner to HRLAF CEO to hire leading the rights of Mr Khan, who has been ar-
with the organization HRLAF or Mr Ra- is hereby revoked. The PTI wants the no one, including Mr Azhar Siddique, is English lawyers to take Khan’s cases to bitrarily convicted, arrested and detained
shad Yaqoob”. public at large to be aware that the PTI/ allowed to appoint any person or orga- the United Nations, UN Human Rights following his recent trial in Islamabad”.
“All communication and engage- its chairman does not maintain any link nization on the chairman PTI’s or PTI’s Council, UN Special Rapporteur on Hu- Yaqoob and Siddique did not com-
ment, if any, with HRLAF or Mr Yaqoob or association with this organization or behalf for any purpose, including inter- man Rights and other international fo- ment on the PTI’s decision regarding the
or any person associated with them by person or anyone associated with them national legal representation,” the party rums, according to the evidence. revocation of their services. – The News

Pakistani Christians Hold Sunday

Services at Churches Burnt by Mob

LAHORE: Pakistani Christians held Akmal Bhatti said. He attended one pensation of two million rupees
services on Sunday at churches that of the services, which drew hundreds ($6,751.05) has been approved for
were vandalized and torched by a of Christians whose homes were each of the affected families.
vigilante mob last week after two partly or completely destroyed when Paramilitary troops have been
Christian brothers were accused of the mob burnt and looted them on guarding the sites of the arson attacks
desecrating the Qur’an. Wednesday. in Jaranwala in Punjab province. The
The services at a handful of church- The pastors later distributed food sites attacked included the historic
es in the city of Jaranwala in eastern rations to those affected, Bhatti said. Salvation Army Church and Saint
Pakistan were led by the bishop of the The provincial government said Paul Catholic Church, three smaller Members of the Christian community condemn the attacks on churches and
diocese, Christian community leader in a statement on Sunday that com- churches and scores of houses. houses in Jaranwala town, during a protest in Karachi
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