News

People on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border desire a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan

Published

3 years ago

09/09/2021

Since the Afghan Taliban’s seizure of Kabul last month, the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, located in a tribal hamlet in Pakistan’s northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, has seen a large influx of individuals entering and exiting Pakistan. Xinhua’s correspondents witnessed the resumption of normalcy in travel and trade between the two nations during a recent visit to the border, with border guards letting visitors with valid passports to enter and exit the border on both sides. People entering Pakistan and communities living along the borderland stretch told Xinhua that they hoped for peace in Afghanistan with no outside involvement.

They also hoped that the Afghan Taliban would maintain a constructive attitude in order to establish the groundwork for a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Riaz Shah, a cab driver in the Pakistani border town of Landi Kotal, believes that peace in Afghanistan is critical for the prosperity of both Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the Afghan people want to see the country progress in a peaceful environment after being battered by war and terrorism for the past two decades.

“I hope that everything will return to normal after the Taliban takeover and that all of their promises concerning education and economic possibilities would be realized,” Shah told Xinhua. According to Shah and other border inhabitants, the US invasion not only caused a catastrophic humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan but also caused people living along the border in Pakistan to suffer from increased terrorist activity in the region.

Since their arrival in Afghanistan, US troops have killed over 40,000 civilians and forced 11 million people to flee their homes. He claimed that the Afghan Taliban had taken a number of constructive moves. “Afghans today yearn for a breath of fresh air; after everything they have endured, they deserve to live in peace. Ordinary Afghans simply want to earn their living in peace, without fear of being shot by a bullet or hit by a bomb “Wahid Ullah, a 38-year-old shopkeeper in Landi Kotal, confirmed the report to Xinhua.

Yaaraaz Shinwari, a Pakistani border town resident with numerous friends and family in Afghanistan, believes that the Taliban will bring about great change in the country by taking a more progressive stance.

“From the Taliban’s remarks and statements, it appears like they are off to a good start, and the people of Afghanistan and those of us who live closest to them want that to continue,” Shinwari added.

“We are really pleased with the Taliban’s actions. They have enabled women to do business, work in hospitals, and do whatever they choose within the confines of Sharia law. We want them to keep up the fantastic work.” The Pakistani teen stated that when the security situation in Afghanistan improves, tribal dwellers of Pakistan who live along the border will be able to engage in sound commercial ventures with the people of Afghanistan.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

News

Maldives’ ex-president Yameen walks free after Aarah conviction overturned

Published

7 hours ago

18/04/2024

Former Maldivian leader Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom walked free on Thursday, after the High Court overturned a conviction against him for money laundering and bribery.

Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison on December 25, 2022, on charges of bribery and money laundering in connection to the sale of V. Aarah. The High Court delivered its verdict on Thursday, after a months-long pause in the appeal proceedings.

But instead of a full exoneration, the court overturned the two convictions and ordered a retrial in the case.

Earlier on Thursday, the High Court overturned the three-year prison sentence issues against Yameen’s co-defendant in the case, former Felidhoo MP Yoosuf Naeem, who was convicted of bribing the former president.

Delivering the judgement, Judge Hassan Shafeeu – who chaired the three-member bench – said that the Criminal Court committed major wrongs in the trial. He said the verdict was issued “outside the bounds of the law.”

The other two judges concurred.

The High Court’s judgement comes four months after it concluded appeal hearings in the case. The sentencing hearing was scheduled on Wednesday night, after Speaker Mohamed Aslam – a top politician from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – threatened to lodge a case with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) over the prolonged appeal process.

This marks the second time for a court to overturn a conviction against Yameen. In 2021, the Supreme Court overturned a five-year sentence issued against him for money laundering in connection to the sale of GA. Vodamulla – another island which was leased for resort development during his administration.

The conviction in the Aarah case had disqualified Yameen from contesting the 2023 presidential elections. Though he initially asked the then-opposition PPM-PNC (Progressive Party of Maldives-People’s National Congress) coalition to boycott the election, he later endorsed President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who won the vote taken by the coalition’s joint senate to produce a backup candidate.

Yameen was transferred home on October 1, 2023 – a day after President Muizzu won the presidential election.

But less than a week after President Muizzu took office in November, Yameen left the ruling PPM-PNC and initiated efforts to form a new party, the People’s National Front (PNF).

He has also grown increasingly vocal in his criticism of President Muizzu’s administration, has repeatedly alleged that President Muizzu and other members of the PPM-PNC leadership had never wanted him freed.

Source(s); sun.mv

News

Seventy-five housing units to be established in Dhiggaru

Published

7 hours ago

18/04/2024

The Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development has awarded the project of constructing 75 housing units in Dhiggaru, Meemu Atoll to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).

The agreement for the project was officially signed by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development Zeeniya Ahmed Hameed and the Chief Executive Officer at MTCC Abdulla Ziyad during a ceremony.

Under the terms of the agreement, the project will entail the construction of 75 housing units spread across 1,000 acres in Dhiggaru. Each unit will consist of three rooms, three washrooms, a sitting room, a kitchen, a dining area, and a laundry room. The project is slated to commence and be completed within 420 days.

This initiative stems from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to Dhiggaru last year, during which he pledged to kickstart the construction of 75 housing units and committed to further development in the area in the following year.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Hilmy appointed as new defense chief

Published

14 hours ago

18/04/2024

Major General Ibrahim Hilmy has been appointed as the new Chief of Defense Force.

The appointment was made President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the Commander in Chief of the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), on Thursday.

He was presented with his letter of appointment in a ceremony held at the President’s Office on Thursday morning.

The president also appointed Brigadier General Ahmed Ghiyas as the Vice Chief of Defense Force.

Hilmy, who had been serving as Vice Chief of Defense Force, was promoted to the position of the Chief of Defense Force following the outgoing Chief of Defense Force, Lieutenant General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef’s retirement on Wednesday.

Abdul Raheem had received an honorable discharge from military service upon reaching 60 years of age.

He served for 39 years.

Source(s): sun.mv