Fearful for decades, Pakistan's main parties now openly campaign in Karachi

Supporters of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), install billboards by a campaign office, ahead of general elections in Karachi, Pakistan July 17, 2018. Picture taken on July 17, 2018. (REUTERS)
Updated 24 July 2018
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Fearful for decades, Pakistan's main parties now openly campaign in Karachi

  • At the last election in 2013, the MQM won 16 of Karachi's 20 seats, and critics say they were aided by a campaign of intimidation and violence
  • With few opinion polls of Karachi alone, it's unclear which of the major parties will reap the spoils of the MQM's fracture

KARACHI: For over 25 years, maverick political leader Altaf Hussain had an iron grip on Karachi, able to bring Pakistan's largest city to a standstill with a single phone call.
But much has changed in the last five years in the coastal metropolis of 20 million people, and the transformation is playing out in the run-up to Pakistan's general election next week.

The country's three main national parties now campaign openly in the teeming, financial hub, once considered one of the world's most dangerous cities and dominated for decades by Hussain's Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), even though he himself has lived in self-imposed exile in London since 1992.

"Karachi is peaceful today," said Shehla Raza, a candidate for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in one of Karachi's parliamentary constituencies. "I am going to bazaars (markets), multi-storey apartment blocks, I am getting a tremendous response."

At the last election in 2013, the MQM won 16 of Karachi's 20 seats, and critics say they were aided by a campaign of intimidation and violence.

Some months after the election, a paramilitary crackdown transformed Karachi, sharply bringing down murder and kidnapping rates, while splits within the MQM's leadership in 2016 broke the grip of Hussain.

Hussain's representatives in London did not respond to requests for comment. Hussain has denied charges in the past of exhorting his supporters to violence. He has said hundreds of MQM members have been arrested and killed in extra-judicial operations.

Authorities say they have targeted criminals and militants irrespective of political affiliation, and brought down crime rates considerably.

According to the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, at least 57 people were killed and nearly 300 injured in violence in Karachi from January 2013 until the election in May that year. This year, police say, just two murders have been reported.

The change is palpable in the city - people throng to shopping malls and restaurants until past midnight. In earlier years, the city would essentially shut down soon after dark.
With elections coming up, Karachi is festooned with party flags and posters and small neon-lit trucks scurry around the city with photographs of leading candidates.

PPP workers installed billboards sporting the face of party leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari atop the MQM's former headquarters, an act that would have been unimaginable in previous elections.

TEMPTING PRIZE

The city's current 21 seats represent a tempting prize for the main parties vying for control of the 272 elected seats in the National Assembly. They may also be crucial for smaller parties hoping to play kingmaker if, as many expect, the elections result in a hung parliament.

Nationally, polls suggest the election is between the opposition party of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of now-jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, which hopes to win a second term in office.

Both Khan and Sharif's brother, Shehbaz Sharif, are among the contestants for seats from the city.

Also hoping for a strong showing is the Bhutto family's PPP, which is running third nationally in opinion polls but dominates politics in the rest of Sindh province, where Karachi is located.

The MQM emerged from the city's university student movements in the 1980s, giving voice to ethnic Mohajirs, descendants of Urdu-speaking migrants from India, who form the largest group in the city.

For much of the 1990s, security forces in Karachi cracked down on the MQM, eventually pushing Hussain to seek asylum in the United Kingdom.

Even from exile in London, Hussain controlled the city through a powerful network, a security official and several former MQM leaders told Reuters.

Then, in 2013, the national government led by then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave free rein to the paramilitary Rangers for a sweeping crackdown on crime.

In 2016, MQM leaders in Karachi announced a split from Hussain and his inner circle in London amidst infighting and a leadership struggle leaving the party in disarray with three competing factions.

While the PPP hopes to regain its base in Karachi, equally confident is Khan's PTI party, which has traditionally done well in large cities and won one Karachi seat in 2013.

"We hope that when Imran Khan wins from Karachi and becomes prime minister, it would help undo the deprivations and neglect the metropolis has faced for years," senior PTI leader Imran Ismail told Reuters.

Even Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, which does not have traditional support outside its political heartland in Punjab province, is campaigning hard in Karachi.

With few opinion polls of Karachi alone, it's unclear which of the major parties will reap the spoils of the MQM's fracture – or if one of the remaining factions can hang onto the loyalty of Mohajir voters.

Hussain himself, still in exile, is not a factor: the faction he controls has announced a boycott of the polls.
"Political parties again want to win Karachi, temporarily they will, but in the long run only Altaf Hussain and his companions will be victorious," Hussain said in a speech earlier this month. 


Trump is living in a Russian-made ‘disinformation space,’ says Ukraine’s Zelensky

Updated 3 sec ago
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Trump is living in a Russian-made ‘disinformation space,’ says Ukraine’s Zelensky

  • Trump suggested Tuesday that Ukraine was to blame for the war on its territory
  • Talks between top American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday sidelined Ukraine and its European supporters
KYIV: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that US President Donald Trump is living in a Russian-made “disinformation space” as a result of his administration’s discussions with Kremlin officials.
Zelensky said he “would like Trump’s team to be more truthful.”
He made the comments shortly before he was expected to meet with Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, who arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday. Kellogg will meet Zelensky and military commanders as the US shifts its policy away from years of efforts to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump suggested Tuesday that Kyiv was to blame for the war, which enters its fourth year next week, as talks between top American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia sidelined Ukraine and its European supporters.
French President Emmanuel Macron was to hold a videoconference on Ukraine later Wednesday with leaders of over 15 countries, mostly European nations, “with the aim of gathering all partners interested in peace and security” on the continent, his office said.
Key European leaders held an emergency meeting in Paris on Monday after they felt they had been sidelined by the Trump administration.
Trump’s comments are likely to vex Ukrainian officials, who have urged the world to help them fight Russia’s full-scale invasion that began Feb. 24, 2022.
Trump also said at Mar-a-Lago that Zelensky’s rating stood at 4 percent.
Zelensky replied in a news conference in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv that “we have seen this disinformation. We understand that it is coming from Russia.” He said that Trump “lives in this disinformation space.”
Trump also suggested Ukraine ought to hold elections, which have been postponed due to the war and the consequent imposition of martial law, in accordance with the Ukrainian Constitution.
Zelensky questioned claims, which he didn’t specify, that 90 percent of all aid received by Ukraine comes from the United States.
He said that, for instance, about 34 percent of all weapons in Ukraine are domestically produced, over 30 percent of support comes from Europe, and up to 40 percent from the US
The battlefield has also brought grim news for Ukraine in recent months. A relentless onslaught in eastern areas by Russia’s bigger army is grinding down Ukrainian forces, which are slowly but steadily being pushed backward at some points on the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.
Trump told reporters at his Florida residence Tuesday that Ukraine “should have never started” the war and “could have made a deal” to prevent it.
Kellogg said his visit to Kyiv was “a chance to have some good, substantial talks.” Zelensky was due to travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday but canceled his trip in what some analysts saw as an attempt to deny legitimacy to the US-Russia talks about the future of his country.
American officials have signaled that Ukraine’s hopes of joining NATO in order to ward off Russian aggression after reaching a possible peace agreement won’t happen. Zelensky says any settlement will require US security commitments to keep Russia at bay.
“We understand the need for security guarantees,” Kellogg said in comments carried by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Novyny on his arrival at Kyiv train station.
“It’s very clear to us the importance of the sovereignty of this nation and the independence of this nation as well. ... Part of my mission is to sit and listen,” the retired three-star general said.
Kellogg said he would convey what he learns on his visit to Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “and ensure that we get this one right.”

Philippine ministerial delegation tours Middle East for trade, agriculture deals

Updated 19 min 22 sec ago
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Philippine ministerial delegation tours Middle East for trade, agriculture deals

  • Mission led by Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Agriculture
  • 26 major Philippines exporters are touring Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and the UAE

Manila: In an effort to strengthen the Philippines’ trade presence in the Middle East, a government-led business mission is touring Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and the UAE to explore new market opportunities for the country’s agricultural and non-food products.

Running from Feb. 7-21, the mission, which includes 26 major Philippine exporters, is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture.

The mission began with a visit to Doha, followed by Amman and Riyadh, and is now concluding its final leg in Dubai.

“The DTI and DA partnership seeks to enhance the global competitiveness of Philippine agribusiness by streamlining value chains, promoting value-added processing and ensuring compliance with international standards. This approach is designed to help exporters navigate regulatory requirements and overcome market entry challenges in the Middle East especially, in Saudi Arabia,” Raymond Balatbat, the Philippine ambassador to Riyadh, told Arab News.

“The mission aims to expand market access and promote Philippine agricultural and fisheries exports, as well as non-food products, particularly personal care products. Given the identified sectors, which have high export potential in the Middle East, the DTI partnered with the Philippine Embassies in Doha, Amman, Riyadh and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai as well as local chambers of commerce in setting up the business matching activities. The exporters have scheduled meetings with potential local buyers and distributors in each country.”

In Saudi Arabia, the Philippine delegation engaged in multiple business matching missions, including meetings with the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and retail giants such as Lulu, Manuel Supermarket and Abdullah Al-Othaim Markets.

The mission also made progress in Amman, leading to agreements with Jordanian distributors, especially in the sectors of food and agribusiness, including halal-certified products, processed food and beverages, personal care and cosmetics.

“The matching process was conducted through pre-arranged business-to-business meetings, supermarket scanning and sales calls,” said Angeli Payumo, consul and head of the political and economic section of the Philippine Embassy in Amman.

“On Feb. 10, the 21 representatives of the 12 Philippine exporters visited five of the leading supermarkets in Jordan to gain an in-depth understanding of the Jordanian market. On Feb. 11, a B2B matching event was held at the Amman Chamber of Commerce.”

During the Amman visit, the Philippine delegation held consultations with the Jordan Food and Drug Administration, and the Ministry of Agriculture on import regulations, halal certification and efforts to ease trade barriers.

In the UAE, the mission is focused on meetings in Dubai to explore partnerships in trade and distribution.

“Market scanning activities in Dubai have provided insights into consumer preferences and buying behavior, highlighting a strong demand for high-quality halal-certified food products, healthy and organic alternatives, and convenience-driven packaged goods,” the DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau said in a statement to Arab News.

“The preference for sustainable and ethically sourced products is also growing. These findings will guide Philippine exporters in refining their offerings and marketing strategies to better cater to Middle Eastern consumers.”

The delegation is also taking part in the 2025 edition of Gulfood — one of the Gulf region’s biggest food exhibitions, which takes place in Dubai from Feb. 17-21.

This year’s focus of Philippine exhibitors is on premium food products and brand recognition activities.

“From Gulfood 2025, we expect that we will be able to secure high-value trade deals, expand market access for Philippine exporters, and strengthen relationships with regional distributors and retailers,” the Export Marketing Bureau said.

“The event is expected to influence the future direction of Philippine exports by identifying emerging opportunities in the Middle Eastern market and encouraging more Philippine businesses to explore export ventures in the region.”


Macron to host new emergency talks on Ukraine

Updated 19 February 2025
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Macron to host new emergency talks on Ukraine

  • On Monday, Macron convened key European leaders as well as NATO and EU chiefs for emergency talks to agree a coordinated response to Washington’s shock policy shift on Russia

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron was set on Wednesday to host a new meeting on Ukraine in a bid to coordinate a European response to what he called an “existential threat” from Russia amid a shock policy shift in Washington.
US president Donald Trump has stunned the European Union by indicating he is ready to resume diplomacy with President Vladimir Putin after three years of Russia’s war against Ukraine and discuss the fate of the pro-Western country over the heads of not only Europe but also Kyiv.
On Monday, Macron convened key European leaders as well as NATO and EU chiefs for emergency talks to agree a coordinated response to Washington’s shock policy shift on Russia.
Several smaller European countries including Romania and the Czech Republic were reportedly aghast at not being invited despite being strong supporters of Ukraine, so Macron said he would convene a new meeting Wednesday.
In an interview with French regional newspapers on Tuesday, he said he planned to meet “with several European and non-European states.”
The talks were set to take place Wednesday afternoon, with most participants taking part by video link, according to the Elysee.
“Russia poses an existential threat to Europeans,” Macron said.
France has been one of Ukraine’s main Western backers since Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.
In the interview, Macron appeared open to the idea of sending forces to Ukraine but emphasized this could take place only in the most limited fashion and away from conflict zones.
Paris was not “preparing to send ground troops, which are belligerent to the conflict,” he said.
But France was considering, with its ally Britain, sending “experts or even troops in limited terms, outside any conflict zone.”
Macron also tried to put a brave face on days of head-spinning US declarations, suggesting that Trump “can restart a useful dialogue” with Putin.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Wednesday Macron planned to meet with party leaders “very soon” to discuss Ukraine.
“It is very important that all French people and their elected representatives fully grasp the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in and the difficulty of some of the choices we will have to make,” he told broadcaster RTL.
“Russia has decided to make enemies of us, and we must open our eyes, realize the scale of the threat and protect ourselves.”
He acknowledged past mistakes in dealing with the Kremlin and said it was time to act.
“If we do nothing, if we remain blind to the threat, the front line will move ever closer to our borders,” added Barrot.


Kremlin says Putin and Trump could meet before end of February, agencies report

Updated 19 February 2025
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Kremlin says Putin and Trump could meet before end of February, agencies report

  • The talks in Riyadh were the first time US and Russian officials met to discuss ways to halt the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two
  • Kyiv has said it will not accept any deal imposed without its consent

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump could meet as early as this month, although a face-to-face meeting will take time to prepare, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, according to Russian news agencies.
Peskov said the US-Russia talks held on Tuesday in Riyadh were a “very, very important step” toward reaching a settlement on the Ukraine war, nearing its third year.
“In order to carry out, figuratively speaking, resuscitation measures, diplomats will now begin to work in light of the agreement (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei) Lavrov reached yesterday with (US Secretary of State Marco) Rubio,” Peskov was quoted by state media as saying.
“But this is the first step...Naturally, it’s impossible to fix everything in one day or a week. There is a long way to go,” he added.
The talks in Riyadh were the first time US and Russian officials met to discuss ways to halt the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. No Ukrainian or European officials were invited. Kyiv has said it will not accept any deal imposed without its consent.


Pakistan wants to expel all Afghan refugees from the country, says Afghan embassy

Updated 19 February 2025
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Pakistan wants to expel all Afghan refugees from the country, says Afghan embassy

  • The embassy on Wednesday issued a strongly worded statement about Pakistan’s plans, saying Afghan nationals in the capital, Islamabad
  • The Afghan embassy in Islamabad says Pakistan wants to remove all Afghan refugees from the country and their expulsion is imminent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan wants to remove all Afghan refugees from the country and their expulsion is imminent, the Afghan embassy in Islamabad warned Wednesday.
The embassy issued a strongly worded statement about Pakistan’s plans, saying Afghan nationals in the capital, Islamabad, and the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi have been subjected to arrests, searches, and orders from the police to leave the twin cities and relocate to other parts of Pakistan.
“This process of detaining Afghans, which began without any formal announcement, has not been officially communicated to the Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad through any formal correspondence,” it added.
Besides hundreds of thousands of those living illegally in Pakistan, there are around 1.45 million Afghan nationals registered with UNHCR as refugees.