‘It’s a boy’ for Shoaib and Sania/node/1396431/pakistan
‘It’s a boy’ for Shoaib and Sania
Mirza and Malik enjoy a high profile owing to their successful sports careers and their unusual marriage straddling the border of nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan. (AP/File)
Sania Mirza announced her pregnancy in April, prompting speculation her tennis career was over
Mirza said the baby’s surname would be Mirza-Malik
Updated 30 October 2018
AFP
NEW DELHI: Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and his wife Sania Mirza, Indian tennis star, welcomed their first child early on Tuesday.
“Excited to announce: It’s a boy, and my girl is doing great and keeping strong as usual #Alhumdulilah. Thank you for the wishes and Duas, we are humbled. #BabyMirzaMalik,” Malik tweeted, prompting a flood of congratulatory messages on social media from fans.
Mirza and Malik enjoy a high profile owing to their successful sports careers and their unusual marriage straddling the border of nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan.
“It’s a boyyyy!!!!” Mirza’s her younger sister, Anam Mirza, wrote on Instagram.
Malik’s manager and agent, Ameem Haq, said the former Pakistan captain was “over the moon” to become a father.
“#BabyMirzaMalik boy is here! Baby and mother are all smiles, the dad is over the moon,” Haq tweeted.
Mirza, who is a three-time Grand Slam doubles winner, announced her pregnancy in April, prompting speculation her tennis career was over. She had been sidelined since last October with a knee injury.
The 31-year-old, who became the first Indian to win a WTA tournament singles title in 2005, has said the baby’s surname would be Mirza-Malik.
All-rounder Malik, 36, has been Pakistan’s key player in the limited-overs format after he retired from Test cricket in 2015.
Two militants lay down arms, accuse foreign agencies of interference in Pakistan’s Balochistan
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by landmass and rich in mineral resources, has for decades faced a low-level insurgency by Baloch separatist groups
Pakistani officials have in the past blamed hostile agencies for fanning insurgency in Balochistan to disrupt China-led development projects in the region
ISLAMABAD: Two Baloch separatist militants on Friday announced their surrender to authorities in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, accusing foreign intelligence agencies of interfering in the region to “destabilize” the South Asian country.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by landmass and rich in mineral resources, has for decades faced a low-level insurgency by Baloch separatist groups, who accuse Islamabad of exploiting the province’s natural resources, such as gold and copper, while neglecting the local population.
Successive Pakistani governments have denied the allegations, saying they prioritized Balochistan’s development through investments in health, education and infrastructure projects, accusing hostile intelligence agencies of inciting the Baloch youth to violence in the region.
On Friday, top counter-terrorism officials in Balochistan held a press conference alongside two Baloch separatist militants, who announced laying down arms and quitting their fight against the Pakistani state.
Najeeb Ullah, a former member of the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA) who hails from Balochistan’s Makran division, said he had fought for years against Pakistan, but it was a meeting with “intelligence officials of a neighboring country” that made him realize that they were only being used to “destabilize” Pakistan and not for Balochistan’s separation.
“I met intelligence officials of a neighboring country and I presented before them several suggestions to further our struggle [for Balochistan’s separation],” he told reporters in Quetta.
“But they rebuked me and said, ‘We have nothing to do with your freedom. We will support you [only] to destabilize Pakistan’.”
Ullah did not name any country, neither divulge more details about the meeting, but Pakistan has in the past accused India, Iran and Afghanistan of sheltering militants that operate in the region, an allegation denied by all three.
He criticized leaders of Baloch separatist outfits for living a “life of luxury” abroad and inciting Baloch youth to violence in the impoverished region.
He said he looked into Balochistan’s affairs more deeply after his meeting with foreign intelligence officials, which eventually led him to quit militancy.
“I reached this conclusion that all of our [separatists] organizations are playing in the hands of foreign countries who are using us to achieve their ulterior motives,” Ullah said.
Abdul Rashid, another militant who remained associated with various separatist outfits in Balochistan for 15 years, also announced his surrender at the press conference, speaking to reporters in the Balochi language as he could not speak Urdu.
Pakistani officials have in the past accused foreign agencies of fanning militancy in Balochistan to disrupt China-led development projects in the region.
China has pledged over $65 billion in infrastructure, energy and other projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Pakistan this month inaugurated a Chinese-funded airport in Balochistan’s Gwadar, while Beijing is also helping Pakistan develop a deep-water port close to the new airport, a joint venture between Pakistan, Oman and China that is close to completion.
Aitzaz Goraya, the deputy inspector-general of the Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), said the debriefing of the two former militants had made them aware of more things that could help their investigations.
“The role of hostile intelligence agencies, which we, the government, its institutions and the CTD, knew to quite an extent, some more names and people have been brought before us, who are involved in it and how they are being funded,” he said.
“This has given us more clarity in our investigations.”
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Omani navies have conducted a joint exercise to enhance interoperability between the two forces, Pakistan Navy said on Friday, following a port call in Muscat by two Pakistan Navy ships.
Pakistan Navy’s Tabuk and Rah Naward ships visited Port Sultan Qaboos, where they were warmly received by Omani authorities, according to the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of Pakistan Navy.
During the visit, Pakistani mission commander and commanding officers held meetings with Royal Navy of Oman’s director-general operations and plans, Maritime Security Center commander and commandant of the Said bin Sultan naval base.
“During these interactions, matters of mutual interest, Navy-to-Navy engagements, and cooperation in maritime security were discussed,” the DGPR said in a statement.
“Following the port call, PNS Tabuk conducted a passage exercise with a Royal Oman Navy ship Al Shamikh. The exercise at sea aimed to enhance interoperability between the two navies and promote shared learning through coordinated activities.”
Pakistan Navy ships were also opened for visitors, including ambassadors, diplomats and military attaches of various countries as well as a large number of Pakistani community members.
Pakistan and Oman are maritime neighbors and frequent visits of dignitaries, port calls by ships, joint exercises and coordinated patrols have been a regular feature of bilateral ties between the two countries.
“The visit of PNS Tabuk and Rah Naward will further strengthen bilateral relations between the two navies,” the DGPR added.
Pakistani journalism body criticizes new law regulating social media
The new regulations will set up a social media regulatory authority that will have its own investigation agency and tribunals
These tribunals will be able to try and punish offenders with prison sentences of up to three years and fines of Rs2 million
Updated 24 January 2025
Reuters
ISLAMABAD: A new law in Pakistan aimed at regulating social media content has angered journalism groups and rights activists, which say it is aimed at curbing press freedom and called on Friday for nationwide protests next week.
Parliament introduced and passed the amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act on Thursday.
The new regulations will set up a social media regulatory authority that will have its own investigation agency and tribunals, according to a draft on the parliament’s website. Such tribunals will be able to try and punish offenders with prison sentences of up to three years and fines of two million rupees ($7,200) for dissemination of “false or fake” information.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told parliament on Thursday the law was introduced to block fake and false news on social media, which he said had no specific regulations to govern it.
The president of Pakistan’s Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Afzal Butt, said the government had not consulted any journalistic bodies before introducing the law, adding he believed it was intended to gag freedom of speech and intimidate journalists and their media outlets.
“We reject this unilateral decision by the government to set up any such tribunals,” Butt told Reuters. “We also are in favor of regulations, but, you know, a law enforcement agency or a police officer can’t decide what is false or fake news.”
The PFUJ said in a statement it would start countrywide rallies against the new law next week and that if the law was not withdrawn, it would stage a sit-in protest outside parliament.
Digital rights activists also criticized the new law.
Reporters Without Borders, an organization that promotes and defends press freedom, ranked Pakistan low on its 2024 world Press Freedom Index, at number 152. The group also says Pakistan is one of the most dangerous places for journalists to work.
KARACHI: A Pakistani high court on Friday sought a response from Pakistani authorities over alleged harassment, extortion and unlawful restrictions on Chinese nationals imposed by police in the southern Sindh province, after a group of six Chinese nationals filed a petition against their alleged mistreatment.
China has become a crucial trade and investment partner for Pakistan since the initiation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2013, under which Beijing has pledged over $60 billion in investment projects in Pakistan. A significant number of private Chinese investors have since arrived and established businesses with local partners in Pakistan.
In Sindh, the provincial government has established a Special Protection Unit (SPU) within the provincial police force to ensure security of Chinese nationals, under threat from separatist groups operating in neighboring Balochistan province which have also carried out attacks on Chinese interests and citizens in Karachi, the commercial hub of the country.
On Friday, a Sindh High Court (SHC) bench, led by Justice KK Aga and Justice Adnan Karim, issued notices to the Sindh government, Pakistani foreign ministry and China’s missions in Pakistan seeking their response within four weeks over alleged police harassment of Chinese nationals, days after the Sindh police suspended an SPU officer after a video of him manhandling a Chinese national went viral online.
“The core of the petition is that despite high-level requests for Chinese investment under CPEC and private initiatives, Chinese nationals involved have been subjected to harassment and corruption upon arrival,” Peer Rehman Mehsud, the petitioners’ lawyer, told Arab News.
“In some cases, families were reportedly confined to their residences for nearly a week, infringing on their right to freedom of movement, as protected under both international and Pakistani law.”
While the Chinese consulate in Karachi and a spokesperson for the Sindh police did not respond to Arab News’ request for comment, the provincial government said it would conduct an inquiry into the allegations.
“The Sindh government is committed to protecting the Chinese nationals and providing them with a safe environment,” Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar told Arab News. “We have taken note of the allegations and will conduct a thorough inquiry.”
Mehsud said the petition, which was initially filed in December by 12 nationals, was accepted on Friday after only six complainants were able to fulfill legal formalities required to appear in court due to restrictions on their movement.
Chinese nationals are forced to pay bribes to police officers ranging from Rs20,000 ($71) to Rs50,000 ($179) for permission to leave their homes, according to the petition. It demanded a high-level inquiry into the involvement of police officers in their mistreatment.
“Recently, officials of Police Station Sukhan [in Karachi] sealed seven industrial units of Chinese nationals without any prior notice,” the petition read.
The complainants stated in the petition that they arrived in Pakistan on invitations from top Pakistani officials, including the prime minister and the army chief, who encouraged them to invest in the South Asian country, assuring their safety and a supportive environment for foreign investors, particularly from China.
They said they relied on these assurances and made significant investments in various sectors, but in the months following their arrival, they and other Chinese nationals had been subjected to harassment by Sindh police. The complainants said their movements were “unjustifiably restricted” and they were often detained at their residences on the pretext of “security reasons.”
The petitioners urged the court to order the respondents to help cease their harassment and restrictions on their movement, seeking compensation for the financial losses incurred by them.
Afghan refugees urge Pakistan to ease visa regime after Trump’s pause on US resettlement programs
Around 20,000 Afghans are currently waiting in Pakistan to be approved for resettlement in US
Many Afghans whose visas have either expired or will expire soon fear arrest and deportation
Updated 24 January 2025
AP
ISLAMABAD: Afghan refugees on Friday appealed to Pakistan’s premier to ease a visa regime on humanitarian grounds after President Donald Trump paused the US refugee programs.
Many Afghans whose visas have either expired or will expire soon fear arrest and deportation.
“We don’t know exactly when the pause of the US refugee program will be lifted, but we request Pakistan to extend our stay for at least six months after the expiry of our visas,” said Ahmad Shah, a member of the Afghan USRAP Refugees advocacy group.
Afghan refugees hold placards during their meeting to discuss situation after President Donald Trump paused the US refugee programs, in Islamabad on January 24, 2025. (AP)
An estimated 20,000 Afghans are currently waiting in Pakistan to be approved for resettlement in the US via an American government program.
Refugees approved to travel to the United States in coming days have had their travel plans canceled by the Trump administration. Among those affected are the more than 1,600 Afghans cleared to resettle in the US
Pakistan says it is yet to receive any official intimation from the United States about the suspension of the refugee program. Afghans who are in the country were supposed to be relocated by September 2025.
The refugee program was set up to help Afghans at risk under the Taliban because of their work with the US government, media, aid agencies and rights groups. The US pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021 when the Taliban took power.
An Afghan refugee woman speaks with members of media prior to their meeting to discuss situation after President Donald Trump paused the US refugee programs, in Islamabad on January 24, 2025. (AP)
But in its first days in office, Trump’s administration announced the US Refugee Admissions Program would be suspended from Jan. 27 for at least three months.
Shah said most of the Afghans who are in transition to the United States were now living in a very difficult conditions. “We don’t want to live here permanently, we urge the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to order authorities to extend the visas of Afghan people for at least six months,” he said.
He also urged the United Nations refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration to help Afghans who are waiting for relocation. “If the UNHCR and IOM don’t help us in this difficult situation, who will rise his or her voice for us?” Shah said.
Meanwhile, there is uncertainty among many over their future.
Afghan refugees hold placards during their meeting to discuss situation after President Donald Trump paused the US refugee programs, in Islamabad on January 24, 2025. (AP)
Sarfraz Ahmed, a journalist who fled to Pakistan from Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power, said Friday he had been expecting to receive a call confirming his travel plans, but the suspension of the refugee program by Trump changed everything.
Khalid Khan, a former Afghan army captain who worked for the Afghan air force and helped the US air force during the operations against the Afghan Taliban and other groups, fled his country along with his family in 2023. “I will be in a trouble if I am sent back to Afghanistan,” he said.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there is an agreement with Washington to take Afghans who are in Pakistan to the United States for resettlement by September 2025.
“The arrangements are in place. We have, so far officially, not received any further information on this issue. So that’s all that I can say as far as we are concerned, that arrangement remains in place,” ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan told a news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.
Afghan refugees attend a meeting to discuss situation after President Donald Trump paused the US refugee programs, in Islamabad on January 24, 2025. (AP)
The Taliban has deprived 1.4 million Afghan girls of schooling through bans, according to the United Nations. Afghanistan is the only country in the world that bans female secondary and higher education.
