ISLAMABAD: Clad in a tracksuit and ankle weights, Imran Khan lounges in a plush chair and announces this is his political moment: the World Cup cricket champion believes power in Pakistan is his for the taking.
After years in the wilderness the former all-rounder is riding a wave of populism as rival parties stumble, decrying the venality of Pakistan’s political elite and promising an end to rampant corruption if he can win a general election due this year.
Often likened to US President Donald Trump for his populist flair and Twitter tirades, he prefers to draw parallels with former US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders or British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn.
“It is one of the most ridiculous comparisons,” he sighs, when asked about Trump during an interview at his hillside home near Islamabad.
But despite once describing a potential meeting with the US president as a “bitter pill,” Khan says he would be prepared to work with Trump to stop the “insanity” in Afghanistan.
“This war will only end through talks,” he says. “The solution does not lie in more bombs and guns.”
In the West, the man who led Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup champion cricket team is typically seen through the prism of celebrity, with memories of his headline-grabbing romances and playboy reputation standing out.
Back home, the 65-year-old cuts a more conservative persona as a devout Muslim, often carrying prayer beads and nurturing beliefs in living saints.
To his legions of fans, Khan is uncorrupted and generous, spending his years off the pitch building hospitals and a university.
“(He) deserves a chance over all the other leeches,” says supporter Shahid Khan, a 26-year-old engineer.
But Khan is also described as impulsive and brash, too tolerant of militancy and fostering close links to Islamists, amid speculation over his ties to Pakistan’s powerful military establishment.
Khan entered Pakistan’s chaotic politics more than two decades ago promising to fight graft and build a welfare state in the nation of over 200 million.
But for his first 15 years as a politician he sputtered, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party never securing more than a few seats in the national assembly.
“Sports teaches you that life is not in a straight line,” he says.
“You take the knocks. You learn from your mistakes.”
In 2012 PTI’s popularity surged with hordes of young Pakistanis who grew up idolizing Khan as a cricket icon reaching voting age.
The wave of youth support accompanied festering dissatisfaction among the middle class with the country’s corrupt and dynastic political elite.
Khan admits his party was ill-prepared to capitalize on the gains in time for the 2013 election.
But that was then. “For the first time, we’ll be going into elections prepared,” he says of 2018.
He points to his party’s governance of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province as a blueprint for nationwide programs focusing on human development.
Rahimullah Yusufzai, a veteran journalist based in KP’s capital Peshawar, says the party has done well on legislation — but implementation has been slow, as PTI grapples with inexperienced political newcomers and indiscipline.
“He has been there for more than four and half years,” Yusufzai says. “People are trying to figure out, what change did he bring?“
Others fear Khan’s mercurial nature is unsuited to being prime minister.
Last month he made headlines after asking his supporters in a tweet to pray he finds “personal happiness which, except for a few years, I have been deprived of,” following still unverified claims he had married his spiritual adviser.
“Imran Khan is very, very impulsive — a trait leaders score low on,” says Harris Chaudhry, a 23-year-old student.
Detractors have also attacked Khan for his repeated calls to hold talks with militants and for his party’s alliance with Sami ul Haq, the so-called Father of the Taliban whose madrassas once educated militant supremos Mullah Omar and Jalaluddin Haqqani.
Khan defends the partnership, saying Haq is instrumental to reform and helping poor students at risk of being radicalized in Pakistan’s long war on extremism.
To his opponents, he is merely latching on to a groundswell of naked populism.
“Imran Khan is right now the beneficiary of a wave of celebrity politicians who are anti-politicians,” explains Husain Haqqani from the Washington-based Hudson Institute, suggesting Khan has also benefited from ties with the military, whose penchant for meddling in Pakistani politics is well known.
Still, many believe this is the best political opportunity Khan will ever have.
His arch nemesis Nawaz Sharif was ousted from the premiership in July, leaving the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in disarray; while the once mighty Pakistan People’s Party has wilted into a shell of its former self.
This election, Khan says, is PTI’s “biggest chance” at victory, even as doubts reverberate after his party lost a by-election this week.
But when asked if, should he lose, would he hand over the party leadership to a successor, Khan is cryptic.
“I’m the only cricket captain in our history who left when he still could have been the captain,” he says.
First the world, now Pakistan: Imran Khan seeks election glory
First the world, now Pakistan: Imran Khan seeks election glory
Greece wants Turkish crackdown on migrant smugglers
- Greek Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos is expected to discuss the issue with Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in November
- Disasters involving would-be asylum seekers occur regularly off the coast of Greece, one of the main countries through which people seek to enter the EU
ATHENS: Greece is to ask neighboring Turkiye to crack down harder on gangs trafficking would-be asylum seekers, a senior migration official said on Thursday.
“We are not doing enough about migrant smugglers. We are raising the issue with our European peers and our Turkish neighbors,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
“The cooperation which we intend to intensify with Turkiye will focus on the war against smuggling networks,” the source added.
Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos is expected to discuss the issue with Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in November.
More than 37,000 asylum seekers entered Greece in the first nine months of the year, mainly from Turkiye, according to ministry figures.
Arrivals are predicted to reach 50,000 by the end of the year.
Disasters involving would-be asylum seekers occur regularly off the coast of Greece, one of the main countries through which people fleeing poverty or war in Africa, Asia and the Middle East seek to enter the European Union.
Several people have drowned in migrant boat sinkings in recent days.
Greek government officials have stressed that the country’s camps — which can accommodate some 50,000 asylum seekers while their claims for refuge are processed — are not currently under pressure.
But two key new facilities have faced obstacles.
The EU in 2021 allocated 155 million euros ($167 million) to the Greek government to build new camps on the Aegean islands of Lesbos and Chios.
But work on both projects has been held up by local opposition.
In Chios, the plan may have to be scrapped altogether, the ministry official admitted on Thursday.
Lesbos, meanwhile, has faced an ongoing dispute about widening a road through a pristine forest to the new camp, which is nearly complete.
UK reiterates call for Lebanon ceasefire at donor conference, pledges more than $32m in aid
- UK pledged £15 million ($19.4 million) to support Lebanon’s humanitarian needs, including food, medicine and clean water
- Additional £10 million to match public donations
LONDON: The UK government renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah during the Lebanon Support Conference held in Paris on Thursday.
Minister for the Middle East Hamish Nicholas Falconer delivered the UK’s position as the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon continues to worsen.
“The situation in Lebanon is worsening daily, and civilian casualties are mounting,” Falconer said, highlighting the importance of swift action.
“The risks of further escalation cannot be overstated. We cannot let Lebanon become another Gaza.”
Falconer reaffirmed the UK’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense, citing Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel as the origin of the conflict.
“Let us not forget that this conflict started when Hezbollah launched rockets at northern Israel, forcing the Israelis to flee their homes,” he added.
The minister also called on Iran to halt its involvement in the region, urging Tehran to “immediately halt those attacks, and stand down its proxies.”
The UK pledged £15 million ($19.4 million) to support Lebanon’s humanitarian needs, including food, medicine and clean water, with an additional £10 million to match public donations made through the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region.
“We are working with the Lebanese Armed Forces, the sole legitimate defender of that state, to support security and stability,” Falconer said. He was accompanied by Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, a senior UK military officer leading efforts to support Lebanon’s defense forces. Smyth added that British forces stand “ready to do more.”
The UK government also called for the protection of aid workers, particularly those working with the UN, and condemned threats to the safety of UN peacekeepers in the region.
“The aid workers striving to alleviate suffering in Lebanon must be able to carry out their duties in safety — including UN workers, who have a vital role to play in resolving armed conflict and mitigating its impact,” Falconer said.
He also reiterated the UK’s stance on a political resolution to the conflict, calling for a solution in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which aims to secure long-term peace on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border.
“A political solution (consistent with 1701) is the only answer — and the only way to secure a stable future for those on both sides of the Blue Line,” he said.
Bangladesh bans student wing of Sheikh Hasina’s party under terrorism law
- Ban in response to pressure from student movement that toppled Hasina
- Experts warn against banning of political groups, polarization of society
DHAKA: Bangladesh’s interim government has banned the student wing of the Awami League party of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s, citing the group’s role in the deadly violence during the recent popular uprising.
A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday night said the Bangladesh Chhatra League was banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act with immediate effect.
The ministry accused the BCL of misconduct over the past 15 years, including violence, harassment and exploitation of public resources.
The notification said there was evidence of the group’s “conspiratory, destructive and provocative acts against the nation along with various terror activities” during the nationwide protest that forced Hasina to flee to India.
Initially peaceful student-led demonstrations started in Bangladesh in early July against public-sector job quotas. Two weeks later, they were met with a violent crackdown by security forces aided by BCL activists, which according to UN estimates left more than 600 people dead.
The violence led to a nationwide uprising, which on Aug. 5 forced Hasina to leave for neighboring India and an interim cabinet led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge.
There was no comment from the Awami League as many of its leaders have been arrested over accusations of their role in the unrest, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party — the main opposition party, whose members were persecuted during Hasina’s 15-year rule — was not enthusiastic about the ban.
“What we believe in is the rule of law. Whenever any such decision is taken, it ought to be made through a process of law. Anything that is extraordinary and beyond due process will always have some pitfalls. I believe, if a public hearing or some more clear legal process was adhered to prior to invoking such a decision, it would be more acceptable,” Nawshad Jamir, BNP’s international affairs secretary, told Arab News.
“BCL has done some most heinous crimes in the past however, even then, they are also entitled to a fair justice system.”
The banning of BCL and crackdown on Awami League comes in response to escalating demands from the student movement that organized the July protest. The movement’s members have been also calling for the removal of President Mohammed Shahabuddin — an Awami League member, who in accordance with Bangladesh’s constitution remained in office after Hasina’s resignation.
Prof. Touhidul Islam, who teaches conflict resolution at Dhaka University, warned against growing social polarization if the interim government was going to achieve national reconciliation, which was one of the first promises made by Yunus as he took office.
“This ban will have a significant influence in the broader political scenario of the country,” he said.
“When there is polarization in society, it always keeps away the concept of reconciliation. The focus should be on minimizing the differences. We are cautiously watching the political developments at the moment.”
The banning of political entities did not contribute to “healthy politics and a democratic system,” Prof. Zarina Rahman, former public administration lecturer at Dhaka University, told Arab News.
“If someone, or an organization, is found to be a terrorist or anti-social element, they should be tried. Someone should be charged with specific accusations,” she said.
“We have a common tendency to remove the head in case of a headache ... If someone violates the rules, we should hold him or her responsible for the particular misdeeds. The authorities should try this method first.”
French culture minister proposes entrance fee for Notre Dame to help fund preservation work
- The iconic cathedral is set to open its lofty doors again five years after it was ravaged by fire
- “Across Europe, visitors pay to access the most remarkable religious sites. With 5 euros per visitor at Notre Dame, we could save churches all over France,” Dati said
PARIS: France’s culture minister, Rachida Dati, has proposed introducing an entrance fee to visit Notre Dame cathedral when it reopens in December, aiming to raise funds for the preservation of the nation’s religious heritage.
The iconic cathedral is set to open its lofty doors again five years after it was ravaged by fire.
The storied interiors, with their soaring ceiling, intricate stained-glass windows and world-class organ, are set to welcome visitors once more — five years after the catastrophic fire in April 2019. Dati’s plan would charge tourists 5 euros ($4.16), which could generate 75 million euros ($62.41 million) annually to help restore France’s crumbling religious buildings. Dati believes Notre Dame could serve as a model for the country’s preservation efforts.
“Across Europe, visitors pay to access the most remarkable religious sites. With 5 euros per visitor at Notre Dame, we could save churches all over France. It would be a beautiful symbol,” Dati said in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper published Wednesday evening.
The funds are desperately needed. France is home to approximately 42,000 Catholic churches, many of which are in a state of disrepair. Experts estimate that one religious building is lost every two weeks due to neglect, fire or vandalism.
The French government has launched several campaigns to combat this crisis, including the (asterisk)Loto du patrimoine(asterisk), which funds restoration efforts. In 2022 alone, the Interior Ministry spent 57 million euros on religious heritage, and over the past five years 280 million euros have gone toward restoring over 8,000 sites. Yet many rural churches remain at risk.
Notre Dame’s reopening is particularly poignant. It once stood as one of the world’s most-visited monuments, attracting 12 to 14 million visitors each year.
Dati’s proposals have garnered support, with Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau saying: “If 5 euros can save our religious heritage, it’s worth it — whether you’re a believer or not.”
Dati said on social platform X that the entrance fee would apply to cultural visitors, not those attending mass or other religious services.
“Religious services must remain free, but every cultural visitor should contribute to preserving our heritage,” she said.
Prior to the fire, Notre Dame’s iconic towers had already charged an entry fee. Visitors paid 8.50 euros to climb the 387 steps and gain access to a panoramic view of Paris and a close-up of the cathedral’s famous gargoyles.
Boats carrying Rohingya land in Indonesia’s North Sumatra and Aceh
- A boat carrying 64 men, 62 women and 20 children landed early on Thursday morning, in the Deli Serdang area of North Sumatra, Raphael Sandhy Cahya Priambodo, the head of regional police, told Reuters
JAKARTA: About 146 Rohingya, including children, came ashore in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province on Thursday, an official said, the second wave of arrivals to the Southeast Asian country within a week.
A boat carrying 64 men, 62 women and 20 children landed early on Thursday morning, in the Deli Serdang area of North Sumatra, Raphael Sandhy Cahya Priambodo, the head of regional police, told Reuters.
“The Rohingya were swimming from the boat to reach the shore,” Raphael said, adding they were temporarily placed in a local administration office.
“All of them survived and are now in a good condition.”
Their arrival came after another boat also carrying about 150 Rohingya, a minority group who have faced persecution in Myanmar, had been stranded in Indonesia’s Aceh province for a week after local residents refused to let it come ashore.
The boat, which arrived in Indonesian waters on Oct. 17, was finally allowed to land on Thursday, the head of fishing community in South Aceh Muhammad Jabal told Reuters, after an appeal from the UN refugee agency to the Indonesian government.
From October to April, when the seas are calmer, many Rohingya Muslims leave Myanmar on rickety boats for Thailand, Muslim-majority Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh.
More than 2,300 Rohingya arrived in Indonesia last year, UNHCR data showed, more than the combined total of arrivals in the previous four years.
They have faced increasing rejection in Indonesia as locals grow frustrated at the number of arrivals.
