Govt bans New Year celebrations in solidarity with oppressed Palestinians: PM

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday announced that in view of the shocking situation in Palestine, the Government of Pakistan had completely banned all kinds of events regarding the New Year celebrations to express solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians. He also urged the general public to show solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza and observe simplicity at the beginning of the New Year.

The prime minister, in a special televised message, said that the entire Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah were deeply saddened by the genocide of the oppressed Palestinians, especially the massacre of innocent children, in Gaza and the West Bank. “Since October 7, 2023, more than 21,000 innocent Palestinians have been martyred by the brutal Israeli forces, including a large number of innocent children – around 9,000,” the prime minister remarked.

He said to stop the Israeli bloodshed, Pakistan had raised its voice for the oppressed Palestinians at every world forum and it would always continue to do so in future as well. PM Kakar pointed out that Pakistan had sent two consignments of relief goods for the Palestinian brothers and sisters, while the third one would be dispatched soon. Likewise, he said, the Government of Pakistan was in close contact with Egypt and Jordan for the provision of timely relief to the Palestinians, besides evacuation of the injured from Gaza and their treatment. The prime minister prayed to Allah Almighty that the New Year might dawn with the message of peace, prosperity and harmony for Pakistan and rest of the world.