ISLAMABAD: The United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has said that PTI founder Imran Khan’s detention and prosecution in the first Toshakhana case — separate from a case involving his wife and undervalued jewellery — and cipher cases were “without legal basis” and were politically motivated to exclude him from competing in the political arena. The first Toshakhana case alleges that Imran had …

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has offered free health services to Afghan nationals living in the province if United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) agrees to fund the programme. The chief minister expressed these views while talking to a delegation of UNHCR in Islamabad on Monday. The delegation was led by the representative of …

NEW YORK: Pakistan has called on the United Nations for a “concerted campaign” to recover all weapons from terrorist groups, such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Speaking at the UN’s Fourth Review Conference of the Programme of Action (PoA) on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) on Tuesday, Ambassador Munir Akram expressed Pakistan’s “grave concern over the acquisition and use of modern …

NEW YORK: Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, president of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), has underscored China’s significant impact on global peace and sustainable development. Espinosa emphasized the “crucial” contributions of China to the international landscape, particularly in addressing contemporary global challenges and fostering multilateral cooperation. The former UNGA president made the remarks in an exclusive …

HAGUE: The top United Nations court on Friday ordered Israel to halt military operations in Rafah, a landmark ruling likely to increase mounting international pressure on Israel more than seven months into the Gaza crisis. Israel must “immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions …

UNITED NATIONS: In a historic vote, the UN General Assembly decisively approved a resolution on Friday, granting Palestine an enhanced presence within the world body, bolstering its rights and privileges. The resolution passed with an overwhelming majority of 143 countries in favour, signalling a resounding international endorsement. Nine countries, led by the United States, voted against the resolution. Twenty-five countries, …

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has urged the UN General Assembly and the Security Council to address India’s new strategy of conducting cross-border assassinations. During a General Assembly debate on the “Culture of Peace” on Thursday evening, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram highlighted that India was also targeting Muslims, Christians, and other minorities within its borders. He stressed that India’s extraterritorial state …

NEW YORK: Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, on Wednesday said the United States was abusing its veto power on the Palestine-Israel issue. He made the remarks while addressing the UN General Assembly plenary meeting on the use of the veto on the situation in the Middle East. Fu expressed China’s disappointment over a U.S. decision on …

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has joined other nations in urging for the prompt implementation of a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution that calls for a Ramazan ceasefire, paving the way for a lasting and sustainable peace in Gaza. Alongside the ceasefire, the resolution underscores the necessity for the immediate, unconditional release of all prisoners. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said …

NEW YORK: Freedom of expression should not be wielded as a shield for hate speech against Muslims, let alone as a pretext for governmental inaction, stated a Chinese envoy on Friday. China urges all nations to adopt a zero-tolerance stance, take tangible measures to combat discrimination and violence against Muslims, prohibit the incitement of hatred based on religion or belief, …