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Rally held in Charsadda to express solidarity with armed forces
by Faiz Muhammad
CHARSADDA: A rally was held at Farooq Azam Chowk here on Friday under the auspices of Tehreek Khushal Pakistan, Shabqadar, to express solidarity with the Pakistan Army and acknowledge the services of the armed forces and police for the country’s security.
A large number of activists, local elders and citizens participated in the rally and raised slogans in favour of the Pakistan Army and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police. The participants were carrying national flags and banners and chanted slogans in support of the security forces.
The rally was led by Tehreek Khushal Pakistan president and former nazim Mohammad Ilyas Khan. Former district nazim Fahad Khan, Manzoor Khan, former tehsil nazim Akhtar Gul, Rais Ahmad, Saleem Khan Khwazikhel, Rehmanullah and other leaders and activists also attended the event.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Ilyas Khan, Mr Fahad Khan, Mr Manzoor Khan, Mr Akhtar Gul, Mr Rais Ahmad, Mr Saleem Khan, Mr Rehmanullah and other speakers said the armed forces and other security institutions had played an important role in defending the country and safeguarding its sovereignty.
They said security personnel had rendered sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and continued to perform their duties under difficult circumstances to maintain peace and stability in the country.
The speakers also appreciated the role of the KP police, saying its personnel had made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and maintaining law and order in the province.
They said police officers and personnel had faced serious security challenges while performing their duties and that their sacrifices should be remembered and acknowledged. They also called for greater public solidarity with law-enforcement personnel working to maintain peace in the province.
The speakers said the armed forces were responsible for defending the country’s geographical frontiers and had important responsibilities relating to national security. They maintained that people had repeatedly demonstrated solidarity with the security forces during difficult periods and should continue to support efforts aimed at ensuring peace and stability.
Referring to recent tensions between Pakistan and India, the speakers claimed that the Pakistan Army had demonstrated its defensive capabilities and effectively responded to Indian actions. They said the response had, in their view, enhanced Pakistan’s standing internationally.
The speakers stressed that national unity and public confidence were essential in matters relating to the country’s defence and security. They said differences on other issues should not undermine collective efforts for the protection of the country and the promotion of peace.
The participants also chanted slogans in favour of Pakistan, the Pakistan Army and the KP police. The speakers said the people would continue to play their role in promoting peace, stability and national unity.
They also paid tribute to the personnel of the armed forces and police who had lost their lives while performing their duties and expressed solidarity with their families.
The organisers said the purpose of the rally was to convey a message of solidarity with the country’s security institutions and to recognise their sacrifices. They called for continued cooperation between citizens and law-enforcement agencies for maintaining peace and protecting public life and property.
The rally concluded with prayers for the security, stability and prosperity of the country and for peace in the region.
National
40 Million Pakistanis Hit by Climate Change, Thousands Displaced, Injured: Musadik Malik
PROVINCE REPORT
ISLAMABAD : Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik has warned that climate change is creating a growing but largely unrecognized migration crisis in Pakistan, saying nearly 40 million people have been affected by climate-related disasters, including displacement, injuries, disabilities and the destruction of entire settlements.
Addressing a ceremony marking the formal launch of the Civil Society Alliance on Migration (C-SAM) in Islamabad, the minister said thousands of Pakistanis had lost their homes and livelihoods during recent floods, yet their displacement was not adequately recognized as migration.
Dr. Musadik Malik said that in the last five major floods in Pakistan, around 6,000 people had lost their lives while 19,000 others were injured or disabled as a result of disasters. He said these affected families had also suffered the loss of their ability to support their children and elderly parents.
“These are unnamed stories and do not fall under any migration account,” the minister said, highlighting the human cost of climate-related displacement.
He noted that Pakistan contributes less than one per cent to global pollution, yet its people are paying a heavy price for climate change. He said recent floods had forced large numbers of people to leave their homes, but such climate-induced displacement was often overlooked in global discussions on migration.
Referring to the growing threat of extreme weather, the minister also said that 500 people had died in a single heatwave in one Pakistani city, underscoring the increasing risks faced by vulnerable communities.
The minister was speaking at the formal launch of C-SAM, an alliance comprising more than 50 civil society organizations working to promote safe and dignified migration in Pakistan.
The ceremony was attended by the Canadian High Commissioner, representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC), civil society leaders from across Pakistan and other stakeholders.
Speaking on the occasion, IOM Head of Programme Darius Pamparas said civil society organizations were closest to communities, which was their greatest strength. He said different organizations witnessed different stages of the migration journey, and C-SAM had been established to help bridge the gaps between these efforts.
C-SAM Chairman Mubarak Ali Sarwar said the alliance’s real value would not be measured by the launch ceremony but by the collective action taken in the period ahead.
OEC Managing Director Nasir Khan Kashani emphasized the importance of evidence-based policymaking, saying civil society could make a meaningful contribution by bringing facts and experiences from communities into the policy process.
The newly launched alliance aims to provide a platform for civil society organizations to coordinate their efforts, strengthen evidence-based advocacy and contribute to policies promoting safe, orderly and dignified migration in Pakistan.
The C-SAM secretariat is based at the OxDev Initiative in Islamabad, with technical support from IOM and financial support from Canada.
