Over 1,200 arrested over blasphemy protests in Pakistan

Pakistan's slain religious scholar laid to rest

Thousands on Saturday attended the funeral of renowned religious scholar and parliamentarian Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, who was stabbed to death on Friday at his residence in garrison city of Rawalpindi, local media reported.The funeral was held in Akora Khattak, Haq’s native town located some 123 kilometers (76 miles) from capital Islamabad, which was attended by thousands of his students, party activists, politicians and parliamentarians.He was laid to rest in the courtyard of Jamia Haqqania, for which he served as principal for decades.Haq, 82, was stabbed to death by two unknown guests who came to see him at his residence, according to initial investigations.Life back to normal after protests end in PakistanHis guard and servant who were taken into custody by the police for questioning told investigators that the two guests came and desired to see Haq who was resting in his bedroom.Haq, according to the two, sent them to a nearby market to buy some refreshment for the guests. When they returned home, they found Haq lying in a pool of blood, the guard and the servant claimed.The police, according to English daily Dawn, have released the two employees so that they could attend Haq’s funeral indicating that the two could be detained for further questioning.China says more talks needed on economic aid for PakistanHaq, a former senator, was head of a famous religious seminary at Akora Khattak town in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where several Afghan Taliban leaders, including their slain founding leader Mullah Omer, studied. For this reason, he was often referred to as the "Father of Taliban".He was member of the Senate from 1985 to 1991 and again from 1991 to 1997.In the July general election, he aligned with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

Life back to normal after protests end in Pakistan

Education institutions, roads and markets reopened on Saturday across the country after the government reached an agreement with religious groups last night, an official said."The protest has been called off after government accepted our demands and signed an agreement with our party" Peer Muhammad Afzal Qadri, Patron in Chief of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan told reporters.The religious groups agreed to call off the protest following government assurances of placing a travel ban on Aasia Bibi and no objection to a review petition against the verdict in the top court.On Wednesday, the Supreme Court acquitted Aasia Bibi, a christian women, who had been sentenced to death by a district court in November 2010 for blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.Angry protesters, mainly the newly-emerged Sunni group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), blocked roads in the capital Islamabad, and other cities and towns, including Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Sialkot, suspending commercial and business activities and paralyzing traffic.Pakistan: Acquittal of Christian woman protestedPakistani premier to pay official visit to ChinaThe government also closed all education institutions across the country due to blocking of roads and violent protests.Intermittent incidents of violence, including burning of vehicles and pelting of security troops with stones were reported in some cities on social media, however, there was no confirmation of the reported violence. News channels did not cover the protests following government orders in an attempt to cool down mounting tensions.However, the agreement signed by government ministers and TLP leaders read that the government has assured the religious groups to released all the people who were arrested by law enforcement agencies during the violent protest in different parts of the country.Bibi has been kept at an undisclosed location for her safety.Her brother James Masih told local English daily Dawn that his sister had no other option but to leave the country soon. France and Spain have already offered asylum to Bibi and her family.Making up 3 percent of a total 210 million population, Christians are one of the two largest minorities in Muslim Pakistan.In Pakistan, blasphemy against Islam or Prophet Muhammad is a criminal offense that can carry the death penalty. While the state has never executed anyone under the law, mere allegations have stirred mass protests and violence.Pakistan's army denies role in Aasia Bibi acquittalChina promises Pakistan support as Khan tells of 'very difficult' economyPakistan: Talks falter, more Aasia Bibi protests loom

China says more talks needed on economic aid for Pakistan

China will provide Pakistan with economic aid but more talks will take place to fix the details, a senior Chinese diplomat said, after new Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday.Pakistan's foreign reserves have plunged 42 percent since the start of the year and now stand at about $8 billion, or less than two months of import cover.Last month, Pakistan received a $6 billion rescue package from Saudi Arabia, but officials say it is not enough and the country still plans to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avert a balance of payments crisis.It would be Pakistan's 13th rescue package from the multilateral lender since the late 1980s.Pakistan's army denies role in Aasia Bibi acquittalSpeaking to reporters in Beijing's Great Hall of the People following Khan's talks with Li, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said his country would help."During the visit the two sides have made it clear in principle that the Chinese government will provide necessary support and assistance to Pakistan in tiding over the current economic difficulties," Kong said."As for specific measures to be taken, the relevant authorities of the two sides will have detailed discussions," he added, without giving details.Khan told Chinese President Xi Jinping the previous day that he had inherited "a very difficult economic situation" at home.China promises Pakistan support as Khan tells of 'very difficult' economyThough China is Pakistan's closest ally, Khan's newly elected government has sought to re-think the two countries' signature project, the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which Beijing touts as the flagship infrastructure programme in its vast Belt and Road Initiative.Pakistan has looked to amend CPEC to put greater emphasis on projects that focus on social development, rather than purely on infrastructure.Kong said there would be no change in the number of projects under CPEC."There is no change at all. If there were, it would only be to increase, not decrease" the number of projects, he added.However the scope of the project would increase and will tilt in favour of people's livelihoods, Kong said, also without elaborating.After visiting Beijing, Khan is set to be a key note speaker at a major import fair in Shanghai, an event that China hopes will show the world the country welcomes foreign companies and their products.

China, Pakistan vow to safeguard economic corridor plan

China and Pakistan on Sunday dismissed the growing propaganda against the multi-billion-dollar economic corridor project and vowed to safeguard it from all threats.Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a joint statement following meetings of the country’s Prime Minister Imran Khan with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping in Beijing.China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the $64 billion project, which is the part of Beijing’s most ambitious foreign economic initiative -- One Belt One Road -- aims to connect northwest China to Pakistan's southwestern Gwadar port through a network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport cargo, oil and gas.Pakistan's slain religious scholar laid to restLife back to normal after protests end in PakistanChina says more talks needed on economic aid for PakistanChinese reiterated its full support to Pakistan's commitments and counter-terrorism efforts and commended the sacrifices made by the Pakistani nation in fight against terrorism, the statement said.“The Chinese side recognized Pakistan's efforts in actively strengthening financial regulations to combat terrorism financing and called on all relevant parties to view Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts in an objective and fair manner,” it added.Meanwhile, Pakistan also reaffirmed its “unwavering support” for one-China policy and reiterated its opposition to any attempt to undermine China's sovereignty.Chinese leadership noted the growing volume of bilateral trade and agreed to take concrete measure to address trade imbalance with Pakistan.To resolve the imbalance and trade deficit issue, the two sides agreed to conclude the second phase of the China-Pakistan free trade agreement “as early as possible” and continue discussion on the Pakistan-China agreement on trade in Service.Chinese chip firm Fujian Jinhua denies stealing IP from MicronAustralia trade minister to visit China in sign of thawTrump says 'I think we'll make a deal with China' on trade

China, Pakistan ink agreements on bilateral cooperation

China and Pakistan on Saturday signed 15 agreements and memorandum of understandings (MoUs) for cooperation in diverse fields, including poverty alleviation, agriculture and transfer of electronics, local media reported.The agreements were signed in a delegation level talks between the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the people in Beijing, according state-run Radio Pakistan.Khan is currently on a four-day official visit to China.According to Radio Pakistan, China would also help Pakistan to modernize the metrological department in the country while both countries would also extend cooperation in the field of higher education.Earlier, Khan was warmly welcomed by his Chinese counterpart upon his arrival at the Great Hall of the people in Beijing.During their meeting, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang expressed his desire to work closely with the new government in Pakistan to further strengthen the "all-weather" strategic partnership for shared future, said a statement by spokesman of Pakistani premier.Pakistan, Turkey to sign free trade agreement 'soon'Both side expressed satisfaction at the progress of multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project and hoped that the process of industrial development of Pakistan will accelerate with the launch of special economic zones and industrial park in Pakistan, the statement said.The $64 billion project, which is the part of Beijing’s most ambitious foreign economic initiative -- One Belt One Road -- aims to connect northwest China to Pakistan's southwestern Gwadar port through a network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport cargo, oil and gas.Chinese leadership assured the visiting Pakistani premier to provide necessary support and assistance to his country in tiding over the current economic difficulties."China will help Pakistan to come out in current economic crises, however the relevant authorities of the two side will have detailed discussion to fix the details," Kong Xuanyou, Chinese vice foreign minister told reporters following the meeting of both prime ministers.Last month, Saudi Arabia has injected of a $6-billion bailout package to provide temporary relief to the ailing economy of Pakistan.The package, which includes $3 billion for balance of payment support, was announced after a meeting between Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Future Investment Initiative Conference in Riyadh.Grappling with a colossal $18 billion current account deficit, Pakistan has already sought the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to deal with the exacerbating balance of payment issue. An IMF mission is scheduled to visit Islamabad on Nov. 7, to discuss the terms and the size of the loan.

Pakistan, Turkey to sign free trade agreement 'soon'

Pakistani president said on Saturday that his country is likely to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Turkey, local media reports said.According to Associated Press of Pakistan, Arif Alvi said during an event in Karachi that a FTA would boost the bilateral trade between the two countries.Alvi said he discussed the FTA with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his recent visit to Istanbul.He said there were seven meetings held on the issue before, but the FTA was not realized because of concerns of Turkey."Now, these hindrances will be removed and the FTA will be finalized soon," Alvi said.