ISLAMABAD: The Palestinian baseball team, which is currently in Pakistan to participate in the 15th West Asia Cup, aims to uplift the Palestinian people through sports, its members said on Friday, as they called for “freedom of movement” in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The seven-nation event, organized by the Pakistan Baseball Federation (PBF), is being held at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad from January 27 till February 1. Apart from the host Pakistan, teams from Palestine, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and Afghanistan are participating in the event.
For most of the Palestinians, nothing comes easily, be it survival in the occupied territories or fulfilling their aspirations. However, the Palestinian baseball players, who are making their international debut, say they are “excited” to be a part of the tournament.
“We are using sports to uplift our people and show that there is humanity in our people. Our people deserve to be represented well, you know, our people deserve to have sports, freedom of movement,” Nader Ihmoud, a second baseman and designated hitter, told Arab News.
Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories since 1948 has been a major issue and has had consequences for the Palestinians in every field.
To participate in the West Asia Cup, Palestinian players from the Gaza Strip and the United States came together to form a team. The squad, which was formed two and a half years ago but has been facing difficulties in practicing together, was invited to the tournament by the Baseball Federation of Asia.
“Most of our players are in the US and half in Gaza and imagine we can’t practice together. We should be able to practice together wherever we need but we can’t because of the occupation does what it does,” said Ihmoud, who lives in the US.
“You can ask Gaza people [teammates] how hard it was for them to come to this tournament. It should be very easy for me to travel to Gaza and play with my teammates but it’s not.”
Tariq Suboh, the Palestinian catcher, said with this tournament the team want to do their part to put Palestine on the international sports stage with an impact. “We want the world to know our community for athletics,” he maintained.
“The players have not been able to properly practice because of the community’s financial constraints and distances [from one state to another] but together we are ready to showcase our passion,” Suboh added.
“We hope this [tournament] is the start of a bright future of baseball in Palestine.”
The PBF has partnered with Baseball United, first-ever professional baseball league that helps develop the game across the Middle East and South Asia, to host the West Asia Cup, an official World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) tournament.
In a country where cricket is the most popular sport — played, watched and loved by people — Shah has been carrying forward the legacy of his father, the late Syed Khawar Shah, to promote baseball by representing Pakistan in several international tournaments.
The baseball governing body, founded in 1992, has been conducting several international tournaments including Asian Baseball Cup and Asian Baseball Championship.
In October last year, the Pakistani team represented the country at World Baseball Classic (WBC) Qualifiers in Panama City, bringing a game in spotlight with the rare participation, but lost the opening match against Argentina.
This was also the first time Pakistan scored a run in the WBC since its participation in 2016.
Speaking to Arab News, PBF President Syed Fakhar Ali Shah said the sports body aims to help participants play an international league being organized by Baseball United in Dubai in November.
“They [Baseball United] are saying they might give $5,000 to each player if they join the league,” Shah added.
With West Asia Cup debut, Palestine team hopes to nurture sports talent at home
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With West Asia Cup debut, Palestine team hopes to nurture sports talent at home
- The Palestinian baseball team is participating in the ongoing tournament in Pakistan with other nations
- Palestinian players from US and Gaza Strip formed a team which was then invited to play in Pakistan
Pakistan PM calls $729 million current account surplus in November encouraging for country
- According to SBP data, November marked the fourth consecutive month of a current account surplus
- Shehbaz Sharif says the surplus will stabilize Pakistan’s economic position, boost investor confidence
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s current account recorded a surplus of $729 million in November 2024, according to central bank data released on Tuesday, signaling progress in the country’s economic recovery and prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to describe it as a positive development.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported that November marked the fourth consecutive month of a current account surplus, as the government continues to grapple with the aftermath of years of economic instability.
Pakistan has faced high inflation, a widening fiscal deficit, foreign exchange shortages and currency depreciation in recent years. However, there is a growing acknowledgment the country’s macroeconomic indicators are gradually improving, reflected in a significant surge in the stock market in recent weeks.
“The current account surplus of $729 million in November 2024, for the first time in ten years, is extremely encouraging for the national economy,” Sharif said in a statement issued by his office.
“The reduction in the State Bank of Pakistan’s policy rate, gradual decline in inflation and the increase in the current account surplus are clear evidence of the government’s successful economic policies,” he added.
The prime minister said the surplus would strengthen Pakistan’s position in global economic markets and enhance confidence among both domestic and international investors.
“The record increase in the current account surplus will stabilize Pakistan’s position in the international economic market and boost investor confidence,” he noted.
He also lauded Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb along with the rest of the government’s economic team for their efforts in achieving the milestone.
The SBP’s latest figures and recent policy measures signal optimism, though the government itself acknowledges that sustained economic reforms and investment inflows remain critical for long-term stability.
Indian woman trafficked to Pakistan returns home after 22 years
- Hammida Banu Shaik was trafficked to Pakistan in 2002 under the guise of a job offer in Dubai
- A local cleric in Karachi located her family via social media and facilitated her return to India
KARACHI: An Indian woman trafficked to Pakistan over two decades ago returned to her homeland via the Wagah Border in eastern Punjab province to reunite with her family after 22 years, a local cleric who located her family across the border and facilitated her return confirmed Tuesday.
Hammida Banu Shaik was trafficked in 2002 after an employment agency offered her a job in Dubai. Having spent nine years working in Doha during the 1990s, Shaik did not suspect the job offer was part of a plot to kidnap and traffic her.
She was eventually taken to Pakistan, where she was kept in illegal confinement in the southern city of Hyderabad. After three months, she managed to escape through a window and fled to Karachi, where she spent the remainder of her time in the country.
Arab News reviewed proof of Shaik’s employment in the Middle East and her Indian nationality while covering her story two years ago.
“Shaik was handed over to Indian government officials at the Wagah Border, who processed her immigration, and she entered India,” the local cleric, Waliullah Maroof, told Arab News.
“She was given protocol by the foreign ministry at the Karachi and Lahore airports, and she was transported to the Wagah Border like a VIP [very important personality],” he added.
Maroof recalled receiving a call from an Indian embassy official on Nov. 25, confirming Shaik’s Indian nationality and instructing her to arrive at the Wagah Border on Dec. 16 to ensure her safe return.
The Indian woman expressed her joy upon returning home, where she was reunited with her family amid emotional scenes.
“I’m very happy to go [to my country],” she said in a video recorded before her departure from Karachi and later posted by Maroof on YouTube. “Tomorrow I will travel on an airplane to the border.”
However, Shaik also expressed concern for a friend, Shehnaz, who she said was trafficked to Pakistan alongside her and whose whereabouts remain unknown.
“I appeal to the Pakistani and Indian governments to help my friend just like they have helped me,” she said.
In 2022, Shaik saw her children for the first time in two decades when Maroof managed to locate them through social media and arranged a video call with her family.
During her years in Pakistan, Shaik married a Pakistani man who, she said, cared for her until his death.
She recounted that he had agreed to help her search for her family and send her to India on the condition that she promised to return to Pakistan.
Father and stepmother jailed for 10-year-old Sara Sharif’s murder after UK trial
- Sharif was found dead in August 2023 at her home in Woking after ‘serious and repeated violence’
- The family fled to Pakistan after Sharif was killed, before they were arrested last year in September
LONDON: The father and stepmother of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl who was found dead in her home in Britain, were on Tuesday jailed for 40 and 33 years respectively for her murder after a trial which heard harrowing details of Sara’s treatment.
Sharif was found dead in August 2023 at her home in Woking, a town southwest of London, after what prosecutors said was a campaign of “serious and repeated violence.”
The family fled to Pakistan immediately after Sara Sharif was killed, before they were arrested in September 2023 at London’s Gatwick airport after flying from Dubai.
Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors at the start of the trial that Sara had suffered injuries including burns, multiple broken bones and bite marks.
Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, 43, and his wife Beinash Batool, 30, stood trial at London’s Old Bailey court charged with her murder, which they denied.
Last week, the jury convicted Urfan Sharif and Batool of Sara’s murder. Sara’s uncle Faisal Malik, 29, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of causing or allowing Sara’s death.
Sharif and Batool appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey, where they heard a statement read on behalf of Sara’s mother Olga Domin who called them “executioners.”
“You are sadists, although even this word is not enough for you,” her statement read. “I would say you are executioners.”
Judge John Cavanagh sentenced Sharif to a minimum of 40 years in prison and Batool to a minimum of 33 years. Malik was sentenced to 16 years.
“The courts at the Old Bailey have been witness to many accounts of awful crimes, but few can have been more terrible than the account of the despicable treatment of this poor child that the jury in this case have had to endure,” Cavanagh said.
“It is no exaggeration to describe the campaign of abuse against Sara as torture.”
Pakistan calls for just solutions to global conflicts like Palestine for Asia’s enduring prosperity
- Ishaq Dar virtually addresses CICA’s ministerial meeting, asks member states to address root causes of conflicts
- The deputy PM also seeks strengthening regional connectivity for economic integration, sustainable development
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday called for just and inclusive political solutions to long-standing global disputes, such as Palestine and Kashmir, at the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
CICA, a 28-member forum established in 1992 and headquartered in Kazakhstan, began as a Central Asian initiative, though it now includes members from other region like the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As a founding member, Pakistan sees the platform as vital for addressing issues related to economic development and regional integration in its neighborhood.
The meeting, hosted by Azerbaijan, was addressed virtually by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who participated from Egypt, where he is attending a summit of D-8 developing nations focused on Gaza and Lebanon.
Dar highlighted Pakistan was working to promote corporation and advance peace, stability and security in Asia, though he also noted the challenges hindering the shared economic and political objectives of the member states.
“Lasting progress cannot be achieved in isolation,” he told the gathering. “Persistent challenges, including political disputes, conflicts, foreign occupations and the denial of self-determination, along with poverty and illiteracy, undermine the collective development of Asia.”
He emphasized that sustainable peace and security depended on addressing the root causes of conflicts.
“A just resolution of the Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir issues and guaranteeing their right to self-determination is key to fostering lasting peace in the region,” Dar added.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister also highlighted the importance of strengthening regional connectivity to drive economic integration and sustainable development.
He noted that initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could serve as “catalysts for regional economic cooperation and prosperity.”
“As the global economic center of gravity shifts, it is essential that we seize the moment of opportunity to ensure inclusive regional transformation,” he said, underscoring CICA’s role in fostering collaboration across Asia.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to CICA’s vision of advancing dialogue, mutual respect and adherence to international law to resolve disputes.
Dar urged member states to continue utilizing the platform for regional cooperation and collective progress.
Pakistan proposes cybersecurity center of excellence to bolster digital security for OIC nations
- Two-day workshop on cybersecurity challenges and opportunities for OIC nations is being hosted in Islamabad
- PTA chief informs the gathering Pakistan ranks among the top 40 nations in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s telecom regulator on Tuesday proposed the establishment of a center of excellence at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address cybersecurity challenges and ensure a secure digital future for its members.
The OIC is an intergovernmental organization comprising 57 Muslim countries. Established in 1969, it aims to promote unity, solidarity and cooperation among member states on political, economic, cultural and scientific issues.
The proposal to set up the center of excellence on cybersecurity was presented by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman as he addressed the inaugural session of a two-day international workshop focusing on the issue that started earlier in the day.
The workshop, jointly organized by the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and Huawei Technologies in Pakistan, has attracted over 300 participants from various countries, both in person and online.
Discussions focus on critical cybersecurity challenges and opportunities for OIC member countries.
“Cybersecurity is a subject which cannot be handled alone by an organization or a country,” Rehman said at the workshop. “We need collaborations by joining hands with each other, and we should establish a center of excellence at the OIC level to ensure a safe digital future for our people.”
The PTA chairman said that in an era where technology was pervasive, digitization had increased vulnerabilities, making it essential to adopt and deploy technologies that ensure safety, security and the protection of critical networks.
“In this collaboration, we can focus on research, training, sharing frameworks with each other and documenting our collective experiences,” he added.
Rehman highlighted that the PTA had developed vital regulations to guide the country’s telecom sector in protecting critical data infrastructure. He also pointed out that Pakistan currently ranks among the top 40 countries, according to the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024 issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
“Previously, we were ranked 79th in the world,” he informed. “Now, we are 40th globally. This means we have advanced by nearly 30 positions in the cybersecurity domain.”
In his address, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, proposed an OIC ministerial conference on cybersecurity to facilitate experience sharing and the development of robust cyber defense systems across the Muslim world.
“To take this initiative forward, COMSTECH will organize two global cybersecurity forums in Central Asia and Africa in collaboration with Huawei and OIC-CERT [[Computer Emergency Response Team], focusing on capacity building and fostering linkages,” he added.
Sun Xiaofei, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Technologies Pakistan, underscored the critical role played by tech firms in advancing cybersecurity initiatives and enhancing digital resilience.
“Huawei is committed to supporting OIC countries as they work to tackle cybersecurity challenges and protect their digital economies,” he said. “Being a technological leader in ICT, Huawei not only invests in cutting-edge technologies but also prioritizes securing the ecosystem, keeping cybersecurity at the top of its agenda.”
“Working with COMSTECH and OIC-CERT, we aim to help OIC countries formulate policies and frameworks to implement cybersecurity initiatives using our global experience and advanced technology,” he added.
