Future Bloc: Attempts to Undermine Relations with Saudi Arabia will Fail

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri presides a cabinet meeting at the governmental palace in Beirut, Lebanon September 29, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri presides a cabinet meeting at the governmental palace in Beirut, Lebanon September 29, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
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Future Bloc: Attempts to Undermine Relations with Saudi Arabia will Fail

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri presides a cabinet meeting at the governmental palace in Beirut, Lebanon September 29, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri presides a cabinet meeting at the governmental palace in Beirut, Lebanon September 29, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo

Lebanon’s Future parliamentary bloc warned against campaigns to undermine its relations with Saudi Arabia, underlining the presence of local and regional media outlets that publish fake news and fabricated reports to harm the interests of the Kingdom and other Arab countries.

In a statement following its weekly meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, the bloc noted that an ongoing campaign was aimed at distorting and inciting resentment against the Kingdom by circulating false stories that will hurt Arab countries.

The bloc warned “those seeking to damage Lebanon’s relationship with Saudi Arabia that their plan will fail.”

The statement emphasized the Future Bloc’s “commitment and loyalty - in all its bodies and political formations – to the relationship established with Saudi Arabia.”

The bloc praised the “major investment programs in infrastructure, which are being prepared by Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, to be presented by the government at the international support conference, to help Lebanon develop and strengthen its infrastructure and contribute to restore economic growth and increase employment opportunities.”

It also highly valued the premier’s effort to contain the repercussions of the recent crisis between President Michel Aoun and Speaker Nabib Berri over the decree of the officers’ promotion.

On a separate note, the bloc hailed the “high professionalism of the internal security forces and the information division which, in a record time, revealed that one of the assistants of Major General Ashraf Rifi organized a shooting against his car in Tripoli – an operation that spared the city and its people a useless futile sedition.”

The Future bloc also condemned a car bomb in Sidon Sunday that targeted a Palestinian official, describing it as “a crime aimed at destabilizing the city [Sidon] and Lebanon.”



Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
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Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)

Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain sparked controversy when he revealed that 50,000 Pakistanis have gone missing in Iraq over the years.

He urged the Baghdad government to immediately launch a probe into how the Pakistanis entered Iraq to visit religious sites during the month of Muharram, he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Ummat newspaper.

Islamabad is investigating how people have traveled outside Pakistan through illegal means, he remarked.

The permanent committee for religious affairs and interfaith harmony has since proposed new policies for trips to holy sites in foreign countries, including Iraq.

In Iraq, the minister’s comments drew mockery and condemnation on social media and sparked renewed debate over illegal workers in the country.

Politician Mishaan al-Juburi urged the government to make a statement over Hussain’s comments, warning that they may impact security and the labor force.

Hussain’s comments coincided with Iraqi police announcing the arrest of six Pakistanis in Baghdad on charges of theft.

Previously, military intelligence also announced the arrest of a nine-member Pakistani kidnapping and extortion gang in Baghdad. The gang had kidnapped foreigners for ransom.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi expressed his concern and condemnation over the increasing number of illegal workers in Iraq.

He said his ministry will investigate the disappearance of the Pakistanis.

He confirmed that several tourists, including Pakistanis, have flocked to Iraq in recent days, and many have taken up employment without the necessary legal permits.

He warned that this phenomenon is negatively impacting the national economy.

The ministry will not be lenient in taking the necessary legal measures against the violators, he vowed.

Iraq welcomes all tourists, whether they are here on a religious visit or otherwise, but they must respect local laws and regulations, declared Asadi.

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala.