KARACHI: The streets of Karachi and other cities of southern Sindh province wear a deserted look after an electric election campaign ended midnight on Monday. However, political parties say they still have a lot to do before the polling starts on Wednesday morning.
“The campaign has officially ended but there is no rest for us as we still have to do a lot before polling starts tomorrow,” Aminul Haque, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) spokesperson and candidate for NA251 Orangi constituency, told Arab News.
“By Monday night I had done 60 different jalsas (election gatherings) in the most difficult times under serious terrorist threats, especially in Bannu and Karak, and in the hottest weather. I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of people who came to these jalsas,” Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) tweeted, officially calling it a day.
On the last day of the campaigning, the PTI chairman addressed four rallies in Lahore.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president, Shehbaz Sharif, who concluded his party’s election campaign by holding a public rally in Dera Ghazi Khan, tweeted: “Back in Lahore after a grueling campaign, capped by a huge, charged jalsa in DG Khan, morale among our supporters is very high. Leading the campaign in the absence of Mian sahib and with all the hurdles was a big challenge, but our part rose to the occasion.”
“Lucky to have such a good, motivated team. We fought the good fight and, what’s more important, we are on the right side of history! Let us VOTE on the 25th for the bright future of Pakistan and Pakistanis!” Sharif said in another tweet.
The Pakistan People’s Party Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who addressed public gatherings in Shahdatkot, Garhi Khairi, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Garhi Yasin before paying a visit to the graves of former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, tweeted: “What an incredible journey this has been, across every corner of this great country. Thank you for all the love you have shown. This campaign has highlighted more than ever the need for us to come 2gether as a nation 2 build a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan #July25.”
On its last day, the Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) leaders Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Sirajul Haq addressed election rallies in Lower Dir, whereas Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) held its last in its stronghold, Liaquatabad locality of the city.
Haque said the list of election-related things to do is long.
“Today, the MQM’s candidates and working team will ensure if the voters’ cards have been distributed and if the permission for setting up polling camps has been obtained,” Haque said, adding that preparing material, arranging transport and placing an order of Biryani for polling-day lunch are also among the list.
The door-to-door contact campaign also continues and the parties say they are ensuring that no one is left unattended. “Today, we will ensure that everyone has been asked to vote for us,” Haque said.
“The workers we needed till last night are required at the election cells of constituencies for planning of polling-day strategy,” Waqas Shaukat, a Pakistan People’s Party leader, told Arab News.
Zahid Askari, the MMA spokesman in Karachi, says duties for his party workers have already been assigned. “Our workers will check in today for briefing regarding their election duties, including working as polling agent and persuading workers and commuting those needing transport to the polling station,” Askari told Arab News.
Askari said locally the workers continue to contact the electorate about coming on the polling day to vote.
Speaking to Arab News, Chief Secretary Sindh, retired Major Azam Suleman Khan said the election material was taken to polling stations in the presence of army personnel and police. “The process is still under way and it will be completed shortly,” he said.
Khan says a comprehensive security plan has been chalked out to hold peaceful elections across the Sindh province. “Army, paramilitary rangers and police will jointly provide security at 17,747 polling stations, of which 5673 have been declared sensitive,” Khan said, adding that at each polling station four army personnel, two inside and two outside the station, will be deployed to ensure security along rangers and police whereas a quick response force will also be ready.
“We have held a series of meetings with the parties’ leaders and with their cooperation and tightened security we will hold a peaceful election,” he vowed.
“We have also installed 21,000 CCTV cameras in sensitive polling stations across the Sindh, which will be centrally monitored,” Khan concluded.
Campaign over but there are still things to do for political workers in Karachi
Campaign over but there are still things to do for political workers in Karachi
- Army, paramilitary rangers and police will jointly provide security at 17,747 polling stations, of which 5,673 have been declared sensitive
- City witnesses door-to-door contact campaigns despite parties ending election gatherings
Pakistan voices security concerns over presence of US weapons in Afghanistan
- The weapons and equipment were reportedly left in the aftermath of a chaotic withdrawal of US and allied forces from Afghanistan in August 2021
- Islamabad says it has repeatedly asked authorities in Kabul to take necessary measures to ensure these weapons do not fall into the wrong hands
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday voiced “profound concern” over the presence of advance United States (US) weapons in Afghanistan, which Washington has sought to be returned by Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers.
The weapons and equipment, coopted by the Afghan Taliban, were reportedly left behind in the aftermath of a chaotic withdrawal of US and allied forces from Afghanistan in August 2021. The previous administration of Joe Biden maintained that US forces had not left behind any equipment during the withdrawal that could be used by militants to target Pakistan.
However, President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 accused the Biden administration of giving “our military equipment, a big chunk of it, to the enemy,” conditioning Afghan aid to the return of these weapons. Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on Wednesday called for the humanitarian aid not to be politicized.
“The presence of US advance weapons in Afghanistan, left behind in the aftermath of the withdrawal of its troops in August 2021, has been an issue of profound concern for the safety and security of Pakistan and its citizens,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“These weapons have been used by terrorist organizations, including the TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan], to carry out terrorist attacks in Pakistan.”
The statement came months after Pakistani security sources said custom authorities had seized a large cache of US-made weapons and ammunition worth approximately Rs35 million ($125,000) at a border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The weapons seized at the Torkham border crossing in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province included M4 rifles and magazines, security sources said in Oct. last year.
Pakistan has struggled to contain surging militancy in KP since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the TTP, and the state broke down in November 2022.
The TTP and other militant groups have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
In 2024 alone, the Pakistani military reported that 383 soldiers and 925 militants were killed in various clashes.
“We have been repeatedly calling upon the de facto authorities in Kabul to take all necessary measures to ensure that these weapons do not fall into the wrong hands,” the foreign office added.
The development comes at a time of strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
Lion cub gifted to Pakistani YouTube star causes wedding chaos
- Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in the South Asian country and his week-long nuptials in late December were plastered over celebrity gossip websites
- Pictures spread rapidly online when a sleepy lion cub was presented to him in a gold-chained cage in front of thousands of guests who partied late into the night in Lahore
LAHORE: A Pakistani YouTube star who was gifted a lion cub on his wedding day has avoided jail after promising a judge to upload animal rights videos for a year.
Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in the South Asian country and his week-long nuptials in late December were plastered over celebrity gossip websites.
When a sleepy lion cub, resembling young Simba from the 2019 “Lion King” film, was presented to him in a gold-chained cage in front of thousands of guests who partied late into the night in the eastern megacity of Lahore, pictures spread rapidly online.
Butt captioned a video of the event “it’s raining gifts,” racking up nearly 10 million views.
The morning after, police raided his house, confiscated the cub and kept the newly-wed in custody overnight.
“We found out about the lion cub through social media,” said Faisal Mushtaq, an inspector from the Punjab provincial wildlife department.
Police officers went to Butt’s house and found the lion cub roaming around the garage, he said.
“It was in a poor condition, as it was very cold,” said Mushtaq.
Last week, Butt pleaded guilty to owning an undocumented wild animal but the judge waived a possible fine and prison sentence of up to two years for a more tailored punishment.
Every month for one year, he must post a five-minute video dedicated to animal rights, said the order by judge Hamid Ul Rahman Nasir.
The social media influencer agreed to the conditions, after admitting in a court statement that he “set a poor example” by accepting the gift and going on to “glorify it.”
Butt is one of the country’s highest-paid YouTube stars, according to the platform, and usually posts videos about his family’s daily life, from arguments to new car purchases.
Tanvir Janjua, a veteran wildlife official in Punjab, said the cub was likely bought for between 700,000 and 800,000 Pakistani rupees ($2,500-$2,900).
“It is so wrong, morally and legally, to take away such a small cub from its mother,” which was likely still feeding it, he told AFP.
NEW REGULATIONS
A week after the YouTuber was arrested, an adult lion escaped from his cage, running through the narrow streets of a Lahore neighborhood as residents clambered to their rooftops.
The full-grown adult male was eventually shot dead by a security guard, prompting heated outrage on social media about the dangers of keeping a big cat in a residential area.
Big cats are imported and bred across Pakistan, seen as symbols of wealth and power to the elite that own them.
Last year, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which rules the government, banned supporters from bringing lions — the symbol of the party — to political rallies.
However, stringent new regulations banning private ownership of big cats in residential areas are currently making their way through Punjab’s provincial government.
Breeders would have to buy a license and have at least 10 acres (four hectares) of land on a site approved by wildlife officials.
‘NEVER BE YOUR PET’
The gifted lion cub, which hasn’t been named, is now enjoying the winter sun in an open pen at Lahore’s sprawling Safari Zoo on the edge of the city, under the watchful eye of a handler.
Janjua, also the zoo’s deputy director, has conducted hundreds of raids against owners, breeders and poachers over the past 33 years to confiscate wild animals, including lions which often had their teeth and claws removed.
“Look at these YouTubers who use these animals to get clicks. What kind of a message are they spreading by being cruel to these animals?” he said, scornful of those who parade them in their cars and at political rallies.
“They can never be your pet. For two or three months it won’t say anything but after that, it will turn aggressive.”
As he nears retirement, Janjua says attitudes toward animals have worsened throughout his career. Laws, however, have improved, he says.
“Now wildlife officials have dedicated uniforms, weapons and we will get our own courts,” he told AFP.
“The courts that already exist are now strict about animal cruelty.”
Next two years ‘crucial’ for Pakistan to expand presence in key Saudi business sectors— envoy
- Ahmad Farooq urges Pakistan to impart skills to its workforce in line with requirements of Saudi market
- Says Pakistanis can enhance presence in Kingdom’s construction, IT, health care, hotels and hospitality sectors
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq this week said that the next two years are crucial for Pakistani entities to expand their presence in key Saudi business sectors, urging them to capitalize on Riyadh’s ambitious measures to make its economy less dependent on oil.
Saudi Arabia is consolidating its economy on modern lines under the Vision 2030 program, which is a strategic development framework intended to cut the Kingdom’s reliance on oil. It is aimed at developing public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism.
Pakistan has pushed for greater trade and economic ties with the Kingdom in recent months. In October 2024, the two countries signed business agreements worth $2.8 billion. Saudi Arabia is also home to over two million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the largest source of foreign workers’ remittances for the South Asian nation.
Farooq visited the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday to engage with Pakistani businesspersons and industrialists, a statement from the KCCI said.
“Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq, while highlighting the massive transformation in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030 focused on diversifying the economy beyond oil, emphasized that the next one to two years will be crucial for Pakistan in expanding its presence in Saudi Arabia,” the KCCI said.
Farooq noted that the there would be “abundant opportunities” in Saudi Arabia’s construction, information technology, health care and hotels & hospitality sectors in the next two years.
He stressed the need for Pakistan to impart skills to its workforce so that they can secure employment in the Kingdom.
“If we do not claim our share immediately, it will be taken by competitors but to achieve this, Pakistan needs to focus on improving its workforce by imparting training as per Saudi requirements.”
The Pakistani envoy stressed that Saudi Arabia aims to become a regional IT hub, creating a substantial demand for human resources and expertise.
He said this presented Pakistan’s IT companies a “significant opportunity” to provide services and products to the rapidly growing sector.
Farooq said Saudi Arabia will host four major international events in the next decade, namely the Asian Football Cup in 2027, the Asian Winter Games in 2029, the World Expo in Riyadh in 2030, and the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
“To support these events, Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in infrastructure, including the construction of 250 new hotels,” Farooq said.
“This expansion creates opportunities for Pakistan’s home textile industry, food exports, and trained workforce in hospitality and housekeeping.”
He said mega construction projects in Saudi Arabia, such as Neom City, also presented opportunities for Pakistani contractors.
“Companies from around the world are securing lucrative contracts, and Pakistan must also seize this opportunity,” Farooq said.
Pakistan appreciates EU for GSP Plus status after passing controversial cybercrime law
- Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meets EU Special Representative for Human Rights Ambassador Olaf Skoog in Islamabad
- Pakistani rights activists say government’s new cybercrime law is aimed at cracking on dissent on social media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday met a senior European Union official to thank the inter-governmental body for its support for Pakistan’s GSP Plus status, hours after it passed a controversial cybercrime law that rights bodies and journalists allege is aimed at suppressing freedom of expression online.
The GSP Plus status gives developing countries such as Pakistan a special incentive to pursue sustainable development and good governance. Countries have to implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labor rights, the environment and good governance in return for the EU to cut its import duties to zero on more than two-thirds of the tariff lines of their exports. In October 2023, the EU rolled over the current GSP Plus status for developing countries, including Pakistan, till 2027.
Pakistan’s digital rights experts, however, have raised concern that the government’s action of adopting the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment Bill, 2025, which opposition and journalists say is aimed at taking action against dissent on social media platforms, can put Pakistan’s GSP Plus status in danger.
Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, met EU Special Representative for Human Rights Ambassador Olaf Skoog at the foreign ministry’s office on Wednesday.
“The DPM/FM highlighted Pakistan-EU’s growing cooperation in the political and economic spheres and appreciated EU’s continued support for Pakistan’s GSP plus status,” the ministry said.
Dar underscored the importance of Pakistan-EU dialogue on human rights, emphasizing that Islamabad was a firm believer in the protection of fundamental rights. He said the Pakistani government continued to enact and strengthen human rights legislation.
The ministry said Skoog “positively” assessed the potential of Pakistan-EU relations and appreciated the continued growth of collaborative partnership across all sectors.
“The EU SR is on a four-day visit to Pakistan,” the ministry said. “The visit is part of Pakistan-EU joint efforts to enhance dialogue on Human Rights.”
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday signed the bill into law after it was approved by both houses of Pakistan’s parliament following noisy protests by journalists and lawmakers.
The new amendment bill now proposes the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to perform a range of functions related to social media, including awareness, training, regulation, enlistment and blocking.
SMPRA would be able to order the immediate blocking of unlawful content targeting judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies or material which promotes and encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state or its institutions.
The law also makes spreading disinformation a criminal offense punishable by three years in prison and a fine of two million rupees ($7,150).
A copy of the bill seen by Arab News has set imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs2 million or both for “whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society.”
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar told reporters last week that the bill will protect journalists and not harm them.
“This is the first time the government has defined what social media is,” Tarar said. “There is already a system in place for print and electronic media and complaints can be registered against them.”
He said “working journalists” should not feel threatened by the bill, which had to be passed because the Federal Investigation Agency, previously responsible for handling cybercrime, “does not have the capacity to handle child pornography or AI deep fake cases.”
Saudi Fund for Development reviews agriculture, medical projects in northwest Pakistan
- Projects include agricultural institute, veterinary and thalassemia centers and children’s hospital in Malakand
- Visiting delegation expresses satisfaction with ongoing progress, directs timely completion of all projects
PESHAWAR: A Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) delegation visited Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday to review their ongoing agriculture, medical and educational projects in the area, the KP government’s disaster management authority said.
KP’s Malakand Division is known for its picturesque Swat Valley and popular tourist destinations. It has navigated a turbulent path due to militancy and conflict in recent years, coupled with the devastating effects of natural disasters like floods.
The SFD has provided financial assistance to Pakistan and funded development projects in various parts of the country. It has already done significant work to rehabilitate infrastructure in Malakand to improve people’s access to socioeconomic services and civic amenities.
“Today a Saudi delegation led by Director of Central Asia Operations Muhammed Almasoud visited Swat and reviewed three key ongoing projects,” the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) KP said in a statement.
“The Saudi delegation expressed deep satisfaction with the construction work and instructed the timely completion of the projects.”
These projects include an Agriculture Research Institute, a Veterinary Research Center, a Category D Hospital, a Thalassemia Center in Battagram, and a Special Children’s School in Swat with a total cost of approximately $4.6 million, the statement said.
“Additionally, the construction of the 82-kilometer road from Chakdara to Fatehpur has been completed at a cost of Rs3.4 billion [$12.2 million] which is a significant development milestone for the area,” the KP PDMA said.
Pakistan has sought closer economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia in recent months, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly stating his desire to collaborate with the Kingdom in trade, defense, economy, agriculture, tourism, energy, mining and minerals.
In October last year, businesses in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed several agreements to the tune of $2.8 billion to promote bilateral trade and investment with each other.
Last year in April, the Kingdom also pledged to expedite a $5 billion investment portfolio for Islamabad, further boosting foreign investment prospects in the country.
