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Islamists prevail in Pakistan, force law minister Zahid Hamid to resign

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Islamists-Faizabad-protest

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, other Islamic groups had laid siege on Islamabad last week protesting against a ‘blasphemous’ amendment to the Elections Act

Late on Sunday night, Pakistan’s Federal law minister Zahid Hamid resigned from office; a decision that is likely to pave the way for ending a week-long siege of the country’s capital, Islamabad, by hard-line Islamist groups who have been protesting against a now-abandoned ‘blasphemous’ amendment to the Elections Act, 2017.

Hamid’s resignation was a key demand put forth by the protestors – led by the hitherto little-known hard-line group Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLYR) – as a pre-condition for ending their agitation, which had turned violent and claimed six lives while leaving over 200 injured through the weekend.

The standoff had begun between the government and protestors over a recent amendment to the Elections Act, which sought to alter the ‘Finality of Prophethood’ declaration that electoral candidates in the country have to mandatorily make while being sworn-in.

Although the government had hastily abandoned the amendment, with some sections having even declared it as a ‘clerical error’, the protestors had continued their agitation and pressed for Hamid’s resignation as the first condition for restoration of normalcy.

The TLYR has claimed that Hamid oversaw the introduction and passage of the Elections Amendment Bill 2017, which altered the text of a form that candidates contesting elections need to sign. The candidates were earlier expected to “solemnly swear” that they believe Muhammad was Islam’s last prophet. The new amended form – now abandoned – asked candidates to swear that they “believe” in the finality of Muhammad’s prophethood – an issue of semantics that the hardliners felt was the Pakistan government’s ‘softening’ of stance against the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam – a persecuted minority group who many in the Islamic country don’t consider to be Muslims.

While a detailed statement by Hamid is still awaited, his fleeting comments have been flashed by media organisations in Pakistan in which he has claimed that the contentious amendment was not his handiwork but one that was “formulated by a parliamentary committee comprising members belonging to all political parties.”

Hamid told Pakistan’s Geo TV that he was “not directly responsible for the introduction of the controversial amendment to the Finality of Prophethood declaration for electoral candidates” but that he had decided to step down from his office of the Federal law minister “in order to restore peace in the country.”

Pakistan’s leading media organisation Dawn said in a report: “The minister’s resignation comes in the aftermath of Saturday’s botched operation against protesters at Faizabad and ‘successful negotiations’ with leaders of the demonstration late on Sunday night”.

With Hamid resigning, evidently under pressure from the Islamists, TLYR leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi addressed a press conference at the Faizabad Interchange protest site in Islamabad and ordered his followers across Pakistan to end the sit-ins and go home. He also announced an end to the strike being observed on Monday and called for opening businesses and shops.

Rizvi declared that the Islamist protesters camping at the Faizabad Interchange will depart from the protest site within 12 hours, as soon as implementation of the agreement reached with the government is started.

The TLYR leader claimed that Pakistan’s Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and Major General Faiz Hameed had acted as guarantors for the agreement between the protestors and the federal government.

A report by Dawn said that according to a document circulating among journalists that bears signatures of the protest leaders and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, among others, the federal government has agreed to the following demands put forth by the TLYR in order to end the sit-in:

  1. Remove Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid from his position immediately. “Tehreek-i-Labaik will issue no fatwa [religious decree] of any kind against him.”
  2. The report prepared by Raja Zafarul Haq-led committee will be made public within 30 days and whoever is named in the report for being responsible for the change in the election oath will be acted against under the law.
  3. All protesters arrested between November 6 until the end of the sit-in from across the country will be released within one to three days according to legal requirements. The cases registered against them and the house arrests imposed on them will be ended.
  4. An inquiry board will be established to probe and decide what action to take against the government and administration officials over the operation conducted by security forces against protesters on Saturday, November 25. The inquiry should be completed within 30 days and action will be taken against those found responsible.
  5. The federal and provincial governments will determine and compensate for the loss of government and private assets incurred from November 6 until the end of the sit-in.
  6. The points already agreed to concerning the Government of Punjab will be fully implemented.

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Trump says Iran agrees to never have nuclear weapons, rejects $300 billion fund claim

Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never possess nuclear weapons under a proposed framework, while dismissing reports that the US would provide Tehran with a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

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Donald Trump statement

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to a commitment that it will never develop or possess nuclear weapons, describing it as a central element of a proposed understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump also rejected reports suggesting that the United States planned to provide Iran with a reconstruction or investment package worth $300 billion. He described such claims as false and said no such arrangement had been agreed.

The remarks come as discussions continue over a broader framework aimed at easing tensions between the two countries. According to Trump, the understanding would ensure that Iran remains without nuclear weapons while opening the door for future engagement if the terms are respected.

Questions remain over final agreement details

Despite Trump’s comments, several aspects of the proposed arrangement remain unclear because the full text of the agreement has not yet been made public.

Reports indicate that negotiations have involved discussions on sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and potential economic measures linked to Iran’s compliance with future commitments. However, the exact scope of these provisions has not been officially confirmed.

Another key issue is how compliance would be monitored. Details regarding inspections, verification mechanisms and the handling of Iran’s existing nuclear materials have yet to be fully explained.

Further negotiations expected

Officials have suggested that discussions on technical nuclear matters could continue even after the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding. Such talks would likely focus on implementation and verification measures.

The proposed framework is being closely watched internationally, as any agreement between the United States and Iran could have significant implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

For now, Trump has maintained that the core objective remains clear: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while denying reports that Washington has committed to a multibillion-dollar reconstruction fund.

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USA start FIFA World Cup 2026 with dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay

The USA opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay, earning three valuable points in Group D.

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The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the hosts delivered an attacking display to collect all three points and make an early statement in the tournament. The match also marked a significant occasion as the USA hosted part of the World Cup opening festivities before turning attention to the action on the pitch.

The Americans took control early and maintained pressure on Paraguay throughout the contest. Their attacking movement and clinical finishing helped them establish a comfortable lead, while Paraguay struggled to contain the hosts’ pace and creativity in the final third.

USA seize control after fast start

The United States settled quickly and found success going forward, creating several opportunities through quick passing and aggressive pressing. Their attacking approach paid off as they built momentum and gradually stretched Paraguay’s defence.

Paraguay attempted to respond and managed to get on the scoresheet, but the South American side found it difficult to match the intensity shown by the hosts. The USA continued to create chances and added further goals to put the result beyond doubt.

With the victory, the United States moved to the top section of Group D and gained an important boost in confidence ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the tournament.

Strong opening result for hosts

A winning start is particularly important in a World Cup campaign, and the USA achieved exactly that with a comprehensive performance. The result gives the hosts valuable momentum as they prepare for the next stage of group play.

For Paraguay, the defeat means they will need a strong response in their remaining group matches to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the tournament featuring an expanded format and more participating teams than previous editions.

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Jaishankar raises deaths of three Indian sailors with Marco Rubio, lodges strong protest

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed India’s strong protest to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over an attack that killed three Indian sailors, stressing that lethal action against commercial shipping is unjustified.

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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday spoke with Marco Rubio and conveyed India’s strong protest over recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors.

According to reports, Jaishankar told Rubio that the use of lethal force against commercial shipping was not justified and underlined India’s serious concerns regarding the safety of civilian seafarers operating in the region. The conversation came days after three Indian mariners were killed in an attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello near the Oman coast.

The incident has triggered diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Washington. India had earlier summoned a senior US diplomat to register its concerns and seek accountability following the attack. The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that actions endangering civilian shipping undermine maritime safety and stability in a strategically important region.

India reiterates concern over maritime safety

India has stressed the importance of protecting civilian seafarers and ensuring the security of international maritime commerce. Officials have expressed concern over multiple incidents involving Indian crew members in West Asian waters in recent days.

The deaths of the three sailors have also sparked calls within India for stronger diplomatic efforts to safeguard Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels in conflict-affected maritime zones.

Background of the incident

The attack involved the tanker Settebello, which was operating near Oman when it was struck during ongoing tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran and maritime operations in the Gulf region. Initial reports indicated that Indian crew members were among those affected, and later confirmations established that three Indian sailors had died in the incident.

India has maintained that civilian shipping should not become a target and has continued diplomatic outreach to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers working across global shipping routes.

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