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Political climate of Karachi soars as Imran, Bilawal prepare for faceoff in polls

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Chairman Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, submitted nomination form here at City Courts, Karachi here on Thursday, June 8, 2018 (Photo by Omar R. Quraishi)
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Chairman Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, shaking hand with workers and supporters after submitted nomination form here at City Courts, Karachi here on Thursday, June 8, 2018 (Photo by Omar R. Quraishi)
Updated 09 June 2018
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Political climate of Karachi soars as Imran, Bilawal prepare for faceoff in polls

  • Imran Khan submitted nomination form to contest election from NA-243, a constituency where Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) won the last two general elections.
  • Bilawal is contesting from two National Assembly seats – NA-246 of Karachi’s Lyari area and NA-200 of Larkana – which his party has been wining since 1970s.
Updated 09 June 2018
Naimat Khan

KARACHI: Political climate of Karachi, which had become cold due to split within major political party of the city – The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – has soared up after chiefs of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chose this important metropolis as battleground for contesting 2018 general elections.

Election commission of Pakistan (ECP) has fixed July 25, 2018, as the date for general elections on the national and provincial assemblies in the country. According to ECP, the aspirant candidates can submit their nomination papers till June 11, 2018.

A day earlier, Bilawal submitted his nomination papers to contest elections from two National Assembly seats – NA-246 of Karachi’s Lyari area and NA-200 of Larkana – which his party has been wining since 1970s.

PTI Chief Imran Khan submitted his nomination form for NA-243 of the city.

Zia Ur Rehman, a Karachi-based political commentator, says Karachi is very a important city for major political parties which is why heads of major political parties have been contesting polls from the metropolis.

“First, Karachi is electorally highly symbolic at national level. Second, Participation of Bilawal and Imran will boost the electoral campaigns of their parties’ candidates contesting from various parts of the city,” Rehman opines.

Experts believe that PPP has played safe by fielding its chief on a seat which the party has been wining since its inception whereas PTI has taken a risk to choose NA-243 where the party could only emerge as a runner-up and that too when its popularity was at the peak in 2013.

“Lyari is a safe constituency for PPP as the party has been winning this seat for the past several decades by drawing support from its Baloch and Katchi ethnic electorate and this is the reason why the PPP has chosen Lyari for its young chairperson.”

PTI has chosen Gulshan-e-Iqbal, a constituency that houses upper-middle and middle-class population of the city. Khan’s participation from the area will help the party's other candidates to muster votes from Mohajir and upper-middle class neighborhoods of the city.

According to the new delimitation, NA-243 now comprises areas of former NA-251 and NA-252, which as per the results on ECP’s official website, were among the city’s seats where PTI had not only secured second position but Imran Khan’s party had also got good number of votes, upsetting the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain.

Faisal Subzwari, former provincial minister and senior MQM leader sees PTI’s decision to pitch Khan from a known MQM stronghold as an unwise move.

“No doubt PTI had been runner up from these constituencies in 2013 but it was a wave in favor of PTI, which it has badly failed to retain,” the MQM-P leader says, adding despite split within the MQM-Pakistan, his party is in strong position to win the said seat.

Head of the PTI’s central media cell, Iftikhar Durrani, admits that the split within MQM shaped PTI’s decision to choose this constituency. “However, that’s not the only reason. Our election management cell has worked it out scientifically. We have conducted several surveys after which we took this decision. We are sure that Imran Khan will win with huge margin.”

Durrani says Khan will not only win this seat but it will give boast to party’s election campaign in Karachi over a large number of seats.

On Bilawal’s choice of constituency, MQM-P’s Subzwari says PPP has played safe by fielding Bilawal from Lyari but it will be really hard for it to retain the previous margin as the party has lost turf over the last several years. “In past local gangers would muster support for the party. Gangs have been eliminated,” he says.

President PPP Karachi division and former minister, Saeed Ghani, says it was his party’s decision to field Bilawal as a candidate from Lyari. “This seat belongs to Bhuttos and the people have never reposed their trust in anyone else. Bilawal will not only retain the previous winning margins but he will win with biggest margins.”

With both PPP and PTI dreaming great results for their leaders, the political climate of Karachi rises for the big day.

Topics: PTI MQM

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Top Bangladeshi commander meets Pakistan Navy officials, discusses regional maritime security

Updated 54 min 18 sec ago
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Top Bangladeshi commander meets Pakistan Navy officials, discusses regional maritime security

  • The development comes amid a thaw in relations between both nations since PM Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August
  • The two sides discussed joint military exercises, reciprocal visits and training exchange programs, Pakistan Navy says
Updated 54 min 18 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Lt. Gen. SM Kamr-ul-Hassan, principal staff officer (PSO) of the Bangladesh armed forces division, on Sunday met senior Pakistan Navy officials and discussed with them regional maritime security cooperation, Pakistan Navy said.
Lt. Gen. Hassan toured Pakistan Navy ships and units during his visit to the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, according to the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of Pakistan Navy.
He met Pakistan Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Abdul Munib, Coast Commander Rear Admiral Faisal Amin and Managing Director of Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) Rear Admiral Salman Ilyas.
“During these engagements, discussions focused on professional matters of mutual interests, including regional maritime security and bilateral defense collaboration,” the DGPR said in a statement.
“Various potential areas of cooperation were highlighted, such as joint military exercises, reciprocal visits, and training exchange programs between the two countries.”
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
In the years since, Bangladeshi leaders, particularly former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, chose to maintain close ties with India. Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since Hasina’s ouster as a result of a student-led uprising in August, witnessing a marked improvement.
“The visit of Lt. Gen. SM Kamrul Hassan is expected to further strengthen defense ties between the two brotherly nations, enhancing cooperation and solidifying the bonds between the armed forces of Pakistan and Bangladesh,” Pakistan Navy said.
Lt. Gen. Hassan, who is currently on a visit to Pakistan, this week met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir in Rawalpindi, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing. During the meeting, both military commanders stressed the need for an enduring partnership between the two countries to remain “resilient against external influences.”
Earlier in the day, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said it would send two trade delegations to Bangladesh on Jan. 19-20 to increase bilateral relations and economic collaboration as both countries move to repair strained ties.
“The first delegation of dates comprising 13 exporters will leave for a week-long visit on Jan. 19 while the second delegation of citrus will leave for a business-to-business (B2B) meeting on Jan. 20,” the TDAP said.
The delegations will explore more trade opportunities, promote business partnerships and Pakistan’s export potential in the Bangladeshi market, it added.
The development comes days after the signing of a landmark agreement between Pakistan and Bangladeshi businesspersons to establish a joint business council between the two countries.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is also scheduled to visit Dhaka at the start of February to further consolidate the relations between the two countries.

Topics: Pakistan Bangladesh Ties Pakistan Navy

Pakistan to launch yuan-denominated Panda bonds by June, finance minister says

Updated 19 January 2025
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Pakistan to launch yuan-denominated Panda bonds by June, finance minister says

  • The South Asian country intends to raise approximately $200 million from Chinese investors through Panda bonds
  • Muhammad Aurangzeb says the move is part of a strategy to achieve sustainability in Pakistan’s balance of payments
Updated 19 January 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that Pakistan plans to launch yuan-denominated Panda bonds in June to enhance its presence in Chinese capital markets, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.
The development follows an upgrade in Pakistan’s sovereign rating by all three major credit agencies. The country aims to get into the “single-B” category that would allow it to return to global bond markets to raise funds.
Aurangzeb said the South Asian country intends to raise approximately $200 million from Chinese investors through the issuance of the Panda bonds, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“This step is part of a broader strategy to transition Pakistan’s economy toward export-driven growth, with a focus on achieving sustainability in the country’s balance of payments,” he was quoted as telling Hong Kong’s TVB news channel.
The South Asian country is navigating a challenging economic recovery path and has been buttressed by a $7 billion facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September. The government is optimistic it will meet the terms of the program.
Pakistan is being advised on the issuance of Panda bonds by the China International Capital Corporation, a partially state-owned financial services company, according to the finance minister. However, the latest figure is lower than the $300 million targeted by Pakistan last year.
Aurangzeb extended an invitation to Hong Kong to send delegations to explore trade and financial opportunities in Pakistan, according to the Radio Pakistan report.
“Hong Kong could serve as a strategic hub for joint ventures between Chinese and Pakistani companies,” he said.
To revive its $350 billion economy, Pakistan has been making efforts to position itself as a regional trade and transit hub by leveraging its strategic geopolitical position.
The South Asian country has witnessed a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity involving officials from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China and Central Asian nations in recent months.

Topics: Pakistan China Ties Pakistan economy

Pakistani security forces kill five militants in volatile southwest — military

Updated 19 January 2025
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Pakistani security forces kill five militants in volatile southwest — military

  • The militants were killed while attempting to ‘infiltrate’ Pakistan’s border in Balochistan’s Zhob district
  • Islamabad blames a surge in militancy on militants operating out of Afghanistan, Kabul denies allegation
Updated 19 January 2025
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have gunned down five militants in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province, the Pakistani military said on Sunday.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province in terms of landmass that borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been the site of a low-level insurgency by Baloch separatists and religiously motivated militant groups.
The militants were killed while attempting to infiltrate Pakistan’s border in Balochistan’s Zhob district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
“Pakistan has consistently been asking Interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Khwarij [Pakistani Taliban militants] for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.”
The Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have frequently targeted Pakistani forces in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The group has also maintained some presence in Balochistan. 
This week, Pakistani security forces also killed 27 militants in an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Kacchi district, according to the ISPR. The deceased militants had been involved in militant activities against security forces as well as innocent civilians and were “highly wanted” by law enforcement agencies.
Islamabad has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.

Topics: militancy in Pakistan Pak Afghan Border

Masood defends Pakistan’s spin-spiced formula after West Indies win

Updated 19 January 2025
AFP
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Masood defends Pakistan’s spin-spiced formula after West Indies win

  • Pakistan completed the win before tea on the third day as spinners Sajid Khan grabbed 5-50 and Abrar Ahmed finished with 4-27
  • The Test lasted fewer than eight sessions on a dry, grassless Multan Stadium pitch, with spinners taking 34 of 40 wickets to fall
Updated 19 January 2025
AFP

MULTAN: Skipper Shan Masood defended Pakistan’s formula of using spin-friendly pitches to win home Test matches after a 127-run victory over the West Indies in Multan on Sunday.
Pakistan completed the win before tea on the third day as spinners Sajid Khan grabbed 5-50 and Abrar Ahmed finished with 4-27 to dismiss the West Indies for 123 after setting a 251-run target.
The Test lasted fewer than eight sessions on a dry and grassless Multan Stadium pitch, with spinners taking 34 of the 40 wickets to fall.
Sajid finished with nine wickets, fellow spinner Noman Ali six and the West Indian left-armer Jomel Warrican took a maiden 10-wicket haul.
Pakistan bowled just one over of pace in the match.
“If we want to be a top side in the World Test Championship then we have to sacrifice some things, like we did with the fast bowling in this Test,” Masood said.
Pakistan made drastic changes after going winless in 11 home Tests since 2021, using industrial fans and patio heaters to dry the Multan pitch against England last year.
Sajid and Noman took 39 of the 40 wickets to give Pakistan a come-from-behind 2-1 series win against England, repeating the same ploy against the West Indies.
Masood’s captain counterpart Kraigg Brathwaite had no issue with it.
They will play the second Test from January 25 at the same venue.
“They’re at home so they got their decision how they want the pitch to behave,” said Brathwaite.
“It was a difficult pitch to bat on for sure.
“We expect the same type of pitch in the second Test so we got to come better with bravery and belief.”
Left-hander Alick Athanaze hit the only half-century for the tourists in the match with 55, an innings Brathwaite wants his batters to learn from.
“He swept it on both sides so we just have to be brave,” said Brathwaite.
“We have got one more Test and we have to believe in ourselves.”

Topics: Pakistan vs West Indies Multan Test Shan Masood Pakistan cricket team

Pakistan to send trade delegations to Bangladesh on Jan. 19, 20 amid thaw in ties

Updated 19 January 2025
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Pakistan to send trade delegations to Bangladesh on Jan. 19, 20 amid thaw in ties

  • Pakistan to send business delegations of citrus, date fruits to Bangladesh next week
  • Trade exhibition to showcase Pakistan’s potential in Bangladeshi market, says organizer
Updated 19 January 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said on Sunday it will send two trade delegations to Bangladesh from Jan. 19-20 in a bid to increase bilateral relations and economic collaboration, as both countries move to repair strained ties. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.

In the years since, Bangladeshi leaders, particularly former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, chose to maintain close ties with India. Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since Hasina’s ouster as a result of a student-led uprising in August 2024, witnessing a marked improvement.

The TDAP said that it would send two Pakistani trade delegations focusing on the trade of date fruits and citrus between the two countries.

“The first delegation of dates comprising 13 exporters will leave for a week-long visit on Jan. 19 while the second delegation of citrus will leave for a business-to-business (B2B) meeting on Jan. 20,” the TDAP said. 

It said the business delegations aimed to explore more trade opportunities, promote business partnerships and Pakistan’s export potential in the Bangladeshi market. 

Muhammad Zubair Motiwala, TDAP chief executive, said the authority planned to organize a trade exhibition in Bangladesh where Pakistani entrepreneurs will have a chance to showcase their products. 

“Pakistan is one of the top ten importers of Bangladesh, covering sectors such as textiles, agriculture, food, chemicals and basic metals, but there is still room for further expansion of these imports,” he said. 

He said both countries have been in talks for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) since 2002, adding that it could pave the way for greater opportunities for the people of both countries. 

The development comes after Tuesday’s signing of a landmark agreement between Pakistan and Bangladeshi businesspersons to establish a joint business council between the two countries.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is also scheduled to visit Dhaka at the start of February to further consolidate the relations between the two countries.

Topics: Pakistan Bangladesh

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