Senate approves bill mandating Arabic be taught in all Islamabad schools

The Senate on Monday approved the Compulsory Teaching of the Arabic Language Bill 2020 which makes teaching of the Arabic language mandatory in primary and secondary schools in Islamabad.

The bill was presented by PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi and approved near-unanimously by members of the Senate, with PPP Senator Raza Rabbani offering the sole dissenting note. The ministry concerned will implement the bill within a period of six months.

The bill states that Arabic will be taught in schools in Islamabad from grades 1 to 5, while Arabic grammar will be taught to grades 6 to 12.

Abbasi said Arabic is the world's fifth most-widely spoken language and the official language of 25 countries. He emphasised that learning Arabic could open up more job opportunities for Pakistanis in the Middle East and lead to lower unemployment and increased remittances. He also said the Holy Quran and daily prayers were read in Arabic and "we would not go through the problems we are currently facing if we understood the Holy Quran."

He added that he was in favour of multiple languages being taught such as Russian, Spanish and English. "No one objected to this [teaching of English] and said that English shouldn't be taught."

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan concurred with Abbasi, saying that the government "categorically supported" the bill. He added that according to Article 31 of the Constitution, "Measures should be taken to spend our lives according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah."

According to Khan, learning Arabic was crucial to "become a good Muslim [...] and understand God's message".

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri also voiced his support for the bill and said, "Arabic is the language of the heavens." He added that learning Arabic could help in understanding the Holy Quran.

Rabbani, meanwhile offering his dissenting note, alleged that the legislation was the state's attempt to use "Islam for achieving a political agenda". He further added that the state was trying to eliminate Pakistan's multicultural and multi-lingual diversity by importing "Arab culture".

"The Arab culture is not mine, [the] Indus Valley [Civilisation] is my culture."

He said that the bill would give priority to Arabic over regional languages when, according to him, Arabic had nothing to do with the religion of Islam or the Holy Quran beyond being the language it was revealed in. "We don't need a certificate from anyone of being a Muslim," Rabbani said, while disagreeing with the notion of being outside the fold of Islam if one didn't support the adoption of Arabic.

The bill was earlier moved by Abbasi in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education in October 2020. The committee had approved the bill and directed the education ministry and Federal Directorate of Education to complete tasks related to its implementation within six months.

The bill next required approval by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Education and then by both the Senate and National Assembly.

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Governments around the world condemn Myanmar's military coup

The United States led governments around the world in calling for the restoration of Myanmar's democracy on Monday after the military staged a coup, arresting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other politicians.

United States

The United States "will take action against those responsible if these steps are not reversed", White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

She added that the US opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of the November elections, which handed Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) an overwhelming landslide, but sparked allegations of vote irregularities by the routed military-backed party.

Newly appointed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called on Myanmar's military "to release all government officials and civil society leaders and respect the will of the people of Burma as expressed in democratic elections on November 8."

Before the coup, Washington, alongside several other Western nations, had urged the military to "adhere to democractic norms" in a January 29 statement that came as the commander-in-chief threatened to revoke the country's constitution.

Australia

"We call on the military to respect the rule of law, to resolve disputes through lawful mechanisms and to release immediately all civilian leaders and others who have been detained unlawfully," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said.

Read Timeline: Events in troubled Myanmar since Suu Kyi's NLD party came to power

 

United Nations

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "strongly" condemned the military's detention of Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other leaders.

"These developments represent a serious blow to democratic reforms in Myanmar," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Singapore

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "grave concern about the latest situation in Myanmar," adding hopes that all parties would "exercise restraint."

The city-state advised Singaporeans in Myanmar to stay vigilant "in view of the fluid situation."

Canada

Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, tweeted that Myanmar’s military "wrote the Constitution this way so they could do this."

"The Constitution of 2008 was specifically designed to ensure military power was deeply entrenched and protected," he said.

 

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PM Imran, COAS Bajwa discuss national security matters

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday called on Premier Imran Khan in Islamabad, a statement issued by Prime Minister Office (PMO) said.

Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid was also present during the meeting, it added.

Matters pertaining to internal and external security were discussed during the meeting, it further stated. No further details were provided by the Prime Minister Office.

This is the third high-level huddle at the PM Office between the trio within a month as meetings also took place on January 11 and 25.

Observers believe that the meeting, which took place on January 25, might be linked with the current Afghan situation particularly after the Biden administration announced to review the peace deal with the Afghan Taliban.

The meeting was believed to have taken place to finalise Pakistan’s strategy as the Biden administration will soon formally contact Islamabad to discuss the peace efforts in Afghanistan.

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Pakistan thanks Chinese President Xi Jinping for COVID-19 vaccine gift

Pakistan on Monday thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for gifting it the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine which reached the country today.

A ceremony was held at Nur Khan Base in Islamabad where 0.5 million doses were given to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

While talking to media, the foreign minister said the "gift is a practical proof of friendship between the two countries," adding that “China once again demonstrated its everlasting friendship with Pakistan," by helping it in times of need.

"This is even more important as we are completing seven decades of diplomatic ties this year," he added.

FM Qureshi said: “I want to thank the Chinese government, President Xi Jinping, and the people of China on behalf of the Pakistani government and Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

The minister also expressed his gratitude to his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, with whom he was in talks for the early delivery of the vaccine.

Qureshi added that Beijing has stood "shoulder-to-shoulder with Islamabad in the fight against the coronavirus."

Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong said Pakistan was the "first country in the world to receive vaccines donated by the Chinese government", calling it a "manifestation of brotherhood".

Rong said that Pakistan is China’s "closest friend" and is a "priority for cooperation." The envoy also mentioned Pakistan's approval of Sinopharm vaccine and trials of another Chinese vaccine.

Earlier today, a Pakistan Air Force aircraft brought back the country's first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines from China, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan confirmed.

"Thank God, the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine has arrived! Grateful to China and everyone who made this happen," Sultan said in a statement released on Twitter.

"I salute our frontline healthcare workers for their efforts and they'll be first to get vaccinated," he said.

Pakistan has asked China for another one million doses. Pakistan is also set to receive 17 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine under a global scheme to deliver coronavirus treatments to developing nations.

About 6 million doses will arrive by the end of March under the COVAX scheme, with the remainder due by mid-year, Sultan announced last week.

The country has reported 1,615 new infections and 26 deaths in the latest 24-hours, taking the total number of cases to 546,428, with 11,683 deaths.

"All eligible citizens as per phases will be informed to register once the vaccine process will start," health ministry announced on its website.

Pakistan signed up last year to the vaccine sharing scheme coordinated by the World Health Organisation to support lower-income countries.

Pakistan has approved both the vaccines for emergency use and will review their approval quarterly, officials said.

 

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PDM poses no danger to the government: PM Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of eleven Opposition parties, "poses no threat to the ruling PTI government" and that its "bubble has burst."

The PM was chairing a meeting of his party's leaders and spokespersons in the federal capital during which he was briefed about various issues, including the foreign funding case, Senate elections, and action taken against the land-grabbing mafia.

Addressing the meeting and responding to the foreign funding case against the PTI, PM Imran Khan said that the party has "submitted the details of more than 40,000 donors, adding that the Opposition failed to submit the details of donors during their tenures.

He said that the PTI has a "clear record in the foreign funding case" and that it received "no money from any foreign source." Taking a jibe at the Opposition parties, he said that now is the time for PML-N, PPP and other parties to be accountable to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the funds they received from abroad.

The premier added that former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif was the one to "bring money into politics," adding that he took money from Osama bin Laden.

"Nawaz Sharif built his ATM through the land-grabbing mafia and the Khokhar brothers are the ATMs of the PML-N," the PM said while also directing his ministers to take strict measures against the occupation mafia in Lahore.

Regarding the issue of the Senate election, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that his government is asking the Senate to make amendments in a bid to make the elections more transparent.

"By objecting to the idea of making the Senate elections more transparent, the Opposition is doing nothing but exposing itself," the PM said.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan also congratulated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for becoming the first province to provide universal health coverage to every citizen.

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PM to personally interact with general public on telephone today

In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will personally interact with the general public on the telephone to address their problems today (Monday).

The prime minister will take calls from the public at 4 pm today. He will personally respond to the queries of the general public. People can contact PM Imran by dialing 051-9210809.
Earlier, PM Imran Khan had said the incumbent government’s efforts to reduce inflation were showing results.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, he had said: “More good news on the economic front. Our efforts to reduce inflation are now showing results.

Consumer price index & core inflation are both now lower than when our government was formed.”

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PM to personally interact with general public on telephone today

In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will personally interact with the general public on the telephone to address their problems today (Monday).

The prime minister will take calls from the public at 4 pm today. He will personally respond to the queries of the general public. People can contact PM Imran by dialing 051-9210809.
Earlier, PM Imran Khan had said the incumbent government’s efforts to reduce inflation were showing results.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, he had said: “More good news on the economic front. Our efforts to reduce inflation are now showing results.

Consumer price index & core inflation are both now lower than when our government was formed.”

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