Praises Israelis as "fighters" & "survivors", undermining the Palestinian cause
LAHORE – This week Pakistani TV anchor Mubashir Lucman appeared on an Israeli news channel, pushing for ties between Pakistan and Israel.
“I am one of those people who say we should shake hands and we should have diplomatic ties,” he told the i24News – an Israeli international 24-hour news and current affairs television channel located in Jaffa Port, Tel Aviv – in an interview.
In a veiled reference to Palestine, he went on to say that "we should not fight the others' wars."
Lucman, who was a member in the cabinet of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf, said he believed Pakistan should revisit its foreign policy and be friends with every state.
“But there is a majority of people who don’t agree with me and look down on me because of my opinion...but I must say that Israel is ‘not a dream but reality’. It’s an important country, a very very vibrant country,” he added.
https://twitter.com/TeamMLucman/status/1328780500476043264
“Israeli nation, they are fighters and survivors, like Pakistanis," he further said.
Lucman, who hosted Khara Sach, stressed that if Israel and Pakistan ever have to shake hands they should do so without the assistance of the United States or any other stakeholder.
The people of both countries are "ill-informed about the matter", he continued, and "need to be educated properly about each other."
"It is time for Pakistan to be 'friends with everyone', including Tel Aviv."
Since Monday, #MubashirLuqman is trending on Twitter with social media users strongly rejecting his stance on the matter.
مبشر لقمان نے بہت کھل کر اسرائیل کے ساتھ سفارتی تعلقات کی حمائت کی ہے ہم جیسے لوگوں کے لئے تو یہ سوچنا بھی مشکل ہے کیونکہ ہمیں اقبال اور فیض نے یہ سمجھایا کہ پہلے فلسطین پھر کچھ اور ، اسی لئے مبشر لقمان مجھے اور جیو کو غدار کہتے رہےانکا یہ انٹرویو سنا تو شکر کیا کہ میں غدار ہوں pic.twitter.com/PRDlGxcWvT
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) November 24, 2020
It’s a shame how he can sit on the #Israel tv and give an interview after what they do to the #Palestinian people. We can never be friends ever & stop this nonsense #StopNormalizingIsrael #MubashirLuqman pic.twitter.com/JZztDqWaRe
— Mishi khan (@mishilicious) November 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/Q_mrii/status/1331616456535121920
https://twitter.com/abdullah_jip/status/1331605477415809024
Many of the social media users also unfollowed the TV personality, calling upon others to boycott him as well.
Let's Unfollow#MubashirLuqman#PakistanRejectsIsrael pic.twitter.com/MOXJPw8ZGY
— Nadeem Dhillon (@nadeem_dhillon) November 25, 2020
I am going to unsubscribe #MubashirLuqman from youtube and tweeter.#MubashirLuqman
— Muhammad Imran (@MuhammadimranAG) November 25, 2020
Lucman's controversial interview comes amid reports circulating on international media, suggesting that there is "pressure on Pakistani state to recognise Israel."
Earlier this month, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also appeared to confirm that there was pressure on Pakistan to sign such an agreement.
However, Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said in a statement released on Tuesday “that the Pakistani Foreign Office categorically rejects baseless speculation regarding the possibility of recognition of the State of Israel by Pakistan”.
Recognition of #Israel is not under consideration.
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) November 24, 2020
PM @ImranKhanPTI’s statements in this context have been clear & unequivocal. PM has made it clear that unless a just settlement of Palestine issue, satisfactory to Palestinian people, is found, 🇵🇰 cannot recognize Israel. 1/2
On Monday, Israeli media reported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had secretly travelled to Saudi Arabia a day earlier for talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Saudi’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, however, denied the report and Netanyahu’s office did not comment on it.
KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on February 4, 2023 (Saturday).
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 279.9 | 283.2 |
Euro | EUR | 300.98 | 301.58 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 337.01 | 337.71 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 75.14 | 75.44 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 73.55 | 73.85 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 189 | 192 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 712.72 | 720.69 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 200 | 202.2 |
China Yuan | CNY | 39.67 | 39.73 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 39.33 | 39.73 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 34.19 | 34.54 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.28 | 3.39 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 2.5 | 2.54 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 878 | 887 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 62.83 | 63.43 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 173.25 | 175.25 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.79 | 27.09 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 696.08 | 704.08 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 73.62 | 74.32 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 204 | 206 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 25.61 | 25.91 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 291.69 | 294.19 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.15 | 8.30 |
KARACHI – The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs 205,200 on Saturday. The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs175,930.
Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs167,318 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 195,157.
Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Karachi | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Islamabad | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Peshawar | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Quetta | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Sialkot | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Attock | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Gujranwala | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Jehlum | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Multan | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Gujrat | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Nawabshah | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Chakwal | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Hyderabad | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Nowshehra | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Sargodha | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Faisalabad | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
Mirpur | PKR 205,200 | PKR 2,430 |
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