Here’s what’s happening across the border: TLP chief and far-right leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi arrested; Momina Mustehsan sings Ko Ko Korina again.
Either Wagah or Kashmir route will be adopted for Kartarpur Corridor
Indian high commissioner in Pakistan Ajay Bisaria Friday said both Wagah border and Kashmir are options under consideration to develop the Kartarpur Corridor, reported Dawn.
“We have two models — either Wagah border or Kashmir route will be adopted,” he was quoted saying at an informal meeting with reporters.
Bisaria informed the media that a gate would be first erected at the border crossing.
When asked about communication between India and Pakistan, Bisaria confirmed that some diplomatic channels were active between the two countries but refused to divulge further details.
India’s Union Cabinet decided Thursday to accept the Imran Khan government’s offer and develop a corridor that will link the Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district with the International Border so that Sikh pilgrims can visit the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur in Pakistan’s Narowal district without the requirement of a visa.
TLP chief Khadim Rizvi taken in ‘protective custody’
Khadim Hussain Rizvi, chief of far-right political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), was taken into “protective custody” Friday by Lahore police, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced on Twitter, reported Dawn.
“Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police and shifted to a guest house,” tweeted the minister.
Chaudhry clarified that Rizvi’s arrest was not in relation to the case of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian who was acquitted of blasphemy charges last month. Rizvi was the mastermind behind Asia Bibi’s protests.
Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police and shifted to a guest house.They insisted to come to Rwp refusing Governments proposal for alternative arrangements
It’s to safeguard public life, property and order and has to do nothing with Asia Bibi case
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 23, 2018
The police crackdown against the TLP chief and his party workers comes ahead of Rizvi’s call to his party associates to assemble in Islamabad on 25 November to observe martyr’s day.
Chaudhry said that this was done to “safeguard public life, property and order”.
“The TLP has become a continuous threat to the life and properties of the citizens and is doing politics under the guise of religion… the situation is fully under control, people should remain peaceful and fully cooperate with authorities,” tweeted the minister in Urdu.
Govt did it best to convince them but they refused every offer and started to provoke violence. Public is requested to stay peaceful n calm State is responsible to defend finality and respect of Holy Prophet PBUH. Law shall take its course and it cannot be left to individuals.
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 23, 2018
According to Dawn report, at least 30 of the party’s workers have been arrested from Islamabad alone.
Former Pak defence minister drags Kulbhushan Jadhav’s name in Chinese Consulate attack
Former Pakistan defence minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khwaja Muhammad Asif Friday said that the Chinese Consulate attack in Karachi was a result of planning by the country’s “enemies” through the “likes of” Kulbhushan Jadhav.
“Our enemies operating through their proxies want to belittle & disparage our success in war on terror. Attack on Chinese consulate is not random, enemies of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) & peace in this region are active to implement their nefarious agenda thru likes of Kulbashan Jadev,” he tweeted Friday evening.
Asif’s message came a few hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan indicated through a statement that the attack was carried to undermine Pakistan’s trade deals with China.
Our enemies operating thru their proxies want to belittle & disparage our success in war on terror.Attack on Chinese consulate is not random,enemies of CPEC & peace in this region are active to implement their nefarious agenda thru likes of Kulbashan Jadev ..
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) November 23, 2018
Asif asserted that China stood together with Pakistan “against this enemy”. He claimed that Pakistan will win the war against terror.
War on terror in our region is common cause of Pakistan & China,we stand together against this enemy.Sacrifices of our security forces in defending the Chinese consulate are the latest in war against terror.A war not of our making but IA victory will be ours
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) November 23, 2018
Momina Mustehsan sings Ko Ko Korina again, this time on Instagram
Pakistani singer Momina Mustehsan, of the Afreen Afreen fame, shared a minute-long video of her singing veteran musician Ahmed Rushdi’s classic song Ko Ko Korina on Instagram Friday.
Mustehsan performed the song even after she and singer Ahmad Raza Mir received flak for their rendition of the same song on music show Coke Studio last month, The Express Tribune reported.
Mustehsan had drawn severe criticism from people for the Coke Studio performance but this did not deter her from covering it again.
Mustehsan sang the song on Instagram in collaboration with musician brothers Leo Twins.
She captioned the video with the line “Aik maheena of trolling ki khushi mai, aik aur tohfa. (Here’s a gift to celebrate a month of trolling).”
ज़रा सोचिए, देश का बंटवारा हुआ, एक सिख ने भी इसकी मांग नहीं की, सिक्खों ने मेहनत कर धन कमाया तो 1984 में बेरहमी से कत्ल किए गए, आज सिक्ख अपने गुरु के स्थानों के खुले दर्शन करना चाहते हैं तो भी इन्हें पसंद नहीं है वाह रे देश, विभाजन के समय कह देते कि हिंदू राष्ट्र रहेगा तो सिख भी अपना देश बना लेते, देश के आजादी में 80 फीसद त्याग करने वालों को बुरा कहते हैं