Despite crackdown, Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan’s popularity, vote bank intact — analysts

Security officers escort Pakistani former Prime Minister Imran Khan as he appeared in Islamabad High Court, Islamabad, Pakistan, May 12, 2023. (Photo courtesy: REUTERS/File)
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Updated 02 June 2023
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Despite crackdown, Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan’s popularity, vote bank intact — analysts

  • Experts say Khan’s vote bank is still intact despite recent crackdown on party workers, exodus of leaders
  • They say Khan should review anti-establishment policy to galvanize public support, win upcoming elections

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan still enjoys wide public support, especially in the country’s populous Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, despite a massive crackdown against his supporters and defections of his senior party leaders since the violent protests of May 9.

About a hundred senior party leaders, including Khan’s close aides and former cabinet ministers, announced to quit the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party while condemning the May 9 protests that spread across the country following the ex-premier’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court in a graft case.

Security forces sprang into action against “arsonists and rioters” after protesters carrying the PTI flags stormed and vandalized public buildings and military installations, including the official residence of a top general and the army headquarters in Rawalpindi. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters and senior party leaders were rounded up on charges of inciting violence. Many of them later announced to quit the party and some even said they were going to take a break from politics.

Despite the current hardships of Khan and his party, political analysts said the ex-premier was still “among the most popular leaders” in the country, thought he needed to review his policies to win the next election.

“At the moment, Khan has a direct confrontation with the establishment and no political leader, irrespective of his popularity, can form a government in Pakistan without the establishment,” Sohail Warraich, a senior journalist and political analyst, told Arab News on Friday.

The establishment is a euphemism for the country’s powerful military in Pakistan. Historically, the army has ruled the country for more than half of its 76-year existence and continues to wield considerable power in the matters related to its security and foreign affairs.

The general elections in Pakistan are scheduled to be held in October after the expiry of the five-year term of the national and provincial legislative bodies.

“The electable are leaving the party and many more will quit,” he continued. “But Khan’s vote bank is still intact.”

Warraich said the ex-premier should “review his anti-establishment policy” to galvanize the public in his favor to secure a victory in the upcoming elections.

Since his ouster from power in April last year in a parliamentary no-confidence vote, Khan has been striving to make a political comeback by riding the wave of popularity. Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy where political parties field candidates in constituencies to win a majority to form the government.

Asked about the crackdown against Khan’s party, Zebunnisa Burki, a political analyst, said the recent developments seemed to be an attempt to make the former prime minister irrelevant.

“Apparently, the whole move appears to be suggesting a minus Imran Khan in the upcoming elections,” she said, adding the “powerful circles” in Pakistan seemed to be dismantling PTI into different factions to divide Khan’s public support.

She maintained if the PTI got divided into different groups before the elections, the future of Khan-led party would be bleak since “the electable still enjoy a significant support in their constituencies even without Imran Khan.”

“The PTI defectors may also form a forward bloc to win over the party supporters, but then again the voter still remains loyal to Khan only,” she continued. “There seems to be interesting times ahead in Pakistani politics, but it will be extremely difficult to take Khan out of it.”

PTI leaders and loyalists describe the prevailing circumstances as a “temporary” phase in their party’s history, saying they will not make much difference to their support base.

“The party is still intact, and these defections won’t make any difference to Imran Khan’s popularity,” Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, the ex-premier’s close aide, told Arab News. “This is all very temporary.”

However, Bukhari acknowledged the crackdown was aimed at dismantling the party, though he added these attempts would not succeed as long as the people were supporting Khan.

“Khan still enjoys overwhelming public support across Pakistan and it is even more than before as every arrest is making PTI stronger and resilient,” he said.

Bukhari predicted “70 percent” turnout in the upcoming elections since people were angry to see what was happening to the former prime minister and would do everything to bring him back to power.

“Imran Khan is a symbol of hope for majority of Pakistanis since they believe only he can steer the country out of the current political and economic mess,” he said.

The political parties in Pakistan have suffered defections and desertions in the past when their leaders fell apart from the military establishment, but they still remained part of parliamentary politics with varying strength.

“All surveys and polls suggest one thing: Imran Khan is the most popular leader in Pakistan, especially in Punjab and KP provinces, and his PTI party would sweep the upcoming polls,” Habib Akram, a senior journalist and political commentator, told Arab News.

He said there was no future of any forward bloc or electable without Khan, adding the recent by-elections in the country had “clearly demonstrated that people’s vote is only for Khan.”

“In this age of digital and social media, importance of political parties has increased manifold as people prefer parties over electable while voting,” he said. “As long as Imran Khan is alive and doing active politics, people will vote for him.”


Eyeing sustainable growth, Pakistan to unveil national budget today

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Eyeing sustainable growth, Pakistan to unveil national budget today

  • Pakistan released pre-budget document a day earlier which said economy expected to grow 2.7 percent in outgoing fiscal year
  • Budget comes as Pakistan undertakes efforts to navigate tricky path to economic recovery, guided by IMF-backed fiscal reforms

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s coalition government will unveil the national federal budget today, Tuesday, for the fiscal year till June 2026 with Islamabad eyeing sustainable economic growth and vowing to continue ahead with painful fiscal reforms to ensure that. 

The budget comes a day after the government unveiled the annual Economic Survey, a pre-budget document assessing the economy’s trajectory over the past year, which said Pakistan’s economy is expected to grow 2.7 percent in the outgoing fiscal year, missing Islamabad’s 3.7 percent target. 

The budget every year highlights the government’s plans to raise revenue, outlines its expenditures, states inflation and growth assumptions as well as allocations for several areas such as defense, education, health and other sectors of the economy. 

“The Federal Budget for the next fiscal year will be presented in the National Assembly on Tuesday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported, adding that the lower house of parliament will meet at 5:00 p.m. for the session. 

“Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will present the Federal Budget in the National Assembly and later he will lay a copy of the Finance Bill, 2025, containing the Annual Budget Statement before the Senate.”

The budget comes as Pakistan undertakes efforts to navigate a tricky path to economic recovery. The South Asian country, which came to the brink of a sovereign default in June 2023, has since then undertaken painful macroeconomic reforms that it credits for gains such as a low inflation rate, increasing investors’ confidence in the stock market and current account surpluses. 

Pakistan has vowed to stay the course of long-term reforms, which include widening the tax net, taking steps to privatize loss-making state-owned assets, slashing subsidies and undertaking reforms in energy and other vital sectors.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team concluded its visit to Pakistan last month after discussions with authorities regarding the budget, broader economic policy and reforms under its ongoing $7 billion loan program for the country.

The IMF last month approved the first review of Pakistan’s loan program, unlocking a $1 billion payment. A fresh $1.4 billion loan was also approved under the IMF’s climate resilience fund. The IMF’s loan is vital for Pakistan which is trying to revive its debt-ridden economy. 

In a televised news briefing on Monday afternoon while releasing the Economic Survey, Aurangzeb reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing IMF-backed structural reforms to transform the fundamentals of Pakistan’s economy.

“The DNA of Pakistan’s economy has to be fundamentally changed through tax and energy reforms that have started showing remarkable results,” he said.

According to the survey, Pakistan’s revenues rose sharply over the past year. It said tax collections increased by 26.3 percent to Rs9.3 trillion ($32.9 billion), while total revenues stood at Rs13.4 trillion ($47.5 billion). The primary surplus also improved to 3.0 percent from 1.5 percent.

Government expenditure during this period rose to Rs16.3 trillion ($58 billion), with current and development spending increasing by 18.3 percent and 33 percent, respectively. On the external front, Pakistan recorded a sharp turnaround in its current account, moving from a $1.3 billion deficit to a $1.9 billion surplus, driven by improved exports and record remittance inflows.
 


Pakistan Hajj Mission awarded for excellence as Saudi Arabia unveils 2026 pilgrimage policy

Updated 16 min 59 sec ago
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Pakistan Hajj Mission awarded for excellence as Saudi Arabia unveils 2026 pilgrimage policy

  • Pakistan’s director general of Hajj says early release of Hajj policy will ensure timely preparations
  • He calls the Excellence Award a recognition of the ‘outstanding performance’ of the Pakistan team
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Hajj Mission received an “Excellence Award” during a ceremony at the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to mark the completion of this year’s pilgrimage, officials said on Monday, as Riyadh unveiled a new policy and timeline for Hajj 2026. The recognition came at the close of the 2025 Hajj, which took place from June 4 to June 9 and drew millions of pilgrims to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah Pakistan was among several countries managing large-scale contingents during the annual religious gathering. “The Excellence Award is a recognition of the outstanding performance by our administrative staff, Hajj assistants and group leaders, as well as the continued support of the government,” said Director General of Hajj Abdul Wahab Soomro, who received the award on behalf of the Pakistan Hajj Mission, according to an official statement. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Religious Affairs Secretary Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, and Director of Hajj in Makkah Azizullah Khan were present at the ceremony, held in Makkah. According to Soomro, Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdul Fattah Mashat also shared the timeline and policy framework for the 2026 pilgrimage season. “The early release of the Hajj 2026 policy right after this year’s pilgrimage is meant to ensure timely preparations,” he said. Soomro added under the new guidelines, registration of Hajj operator profiles on the Masar platform would begin from 1st Muharram 1447 Hijri, the beginning of the new Islamic year, allowing companies and national missions to begin logistical planning well in advance. Saudi Arabia hosts the annual Hajj under an international quota system and collaborates closely with national authorities from Muslim-majority countries to organize travel, accommodation and safety for pilgrims. Pakistan, with one of the world’s largest Hajj contingents, has traditionally relied on government and private-sector coordination to manage the pilgrimage process.

Songs of healing: Karachi’s blind musician uplifts young patients at kidney hospital 

Updated 09 June 2025
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Songs of healing: Karachi’s blind musician uplifts young patients at kidney hospital 

  • For over two decades, Zainab Imran has used music to bring comfort to children battling chronic illnesses
  • SITU is a highly regarded hospital for its urology and transplantation services, particularly kidney transplants

KARACHI: In the waiting area of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), soft music drifted through the corridors earlier this month.

Children began to gather, some sitting beside a woman at the keyboard, others nestled quietly in their parents’ laps. 

The melodies bring calm, even joy, to an otherwise tense space filled with long waits to see doctors and the dread of the difficult treatments that follow. 

At the heart of this daily ritual is Zainab Imran, a 44-year-old blind singer known among staff and patients as the “nightingale of SIUT.” 

For more than 20 years, she has been performing for young patients at SIUT, a leading health care facility in Karachi, highly regarded for its urology and transplantation services, particularly kidney transplants. 

“If these children find happiness through my singing, then nothing is greater than that,” Imran said as she prepared for another session of singing. “I cannot see, but I truly feel their pain, what they’re going through, how hard it must be. When they smile, even briefly, it brings me deep inner peace.”

Her journey with SIUT began in February 2004, when she met Javed Mir, a musician with polio who hosted children’s music programs on national television. 

“He used to sit with me and sing for the children. He encouraged me and taught me so much,” she recalled.

During her first performance at SIUT’s children’s ward around two decades, Imran played national songs on a keyboard. 

The response was overwhelming — clapping, smiles, and laughter filled the room. But behind the joy, there was also visible pain.

“Many children were crying, they were in such pain,” she said.

Her mother, who had accompanied her to the hospital, gently urged her to continue and to be strong for the children who needed her.

Imran also credits the support of SIUT founder Professor Dr. Adib ul Hasan Rizvi as a defining moment. 

“He placed his hand on my head and said, ‘You are our daughter, and you can do anything.’ That gave me strength.”

Imran has since become a beloved fixture at SIUT. To her, music is not just art, it is also medicine. 

“It’s often said that music is food for the soul,” she said with a smile. “If you’re upset or sad, even humming a tune can help you feel better. That’s exactly how I see music as well.”

“NEVER LOSE HEART”

Founded in 1974 as a 12-bed ward within a public hospital, SIUT has grown into a 2000-bed hospital with multiple units. In 2024 alone, it treated 4.2 million patients, including over 600,000 outpatient visits and more than 500,000 dialysis sessions.

Professor Dr. Ali Asghar Lanewala, head of the Pediatric Nephrology Department, said the facility’s outpatient pediatric clinic saw 300 to 400 children on each of its four weekly working days, with families often waiting three to four hours to see a doctor. 

“Her very melodious voice creates a vibrant atmosphere, and she engages the children by singing familiar songs with them,” he told Arab News. “This way, the long three to four-hour waiting period becomes a bit easier for the children.”

Imran hopes she can carry on singing for as long as life allows her. 

“Never lose heart. Insha’Allah, everything will be fine,” she told the children as she started to tap the keys of her keyboard. 

“Children must stay brave and strong, and keep reminding themselves, ‘No, I have to get better’.”


Pakistan expects 2.7% economic growth in FY25 amid weak farm and industrial outlook

Updated 09 June 2025
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Pakistan expects 2.7% economic growth in FY25 amid weak farm and industrial outlook

  • Current account swings to $1.9 billion surplus after record remittance inflows and stronger exports
  • Some analysts expect industrial and services sectors to post decent growth due to lower interest rates

KARACHI: Pakistan’s economy is expected to grow 2.7 percent in the outgoing fiscal year, missing the government’s 3.7 percent target due to what analysts called weaker-than-expected performance in the agriculture and industrial sectors, as Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled the annual Economic Survey on Monday.

The survey, released ahead of the national budget on June 10, serves as a pre-budget document assessing the economy’s trajectory over the past year.

It outlines key indicators and policy challenges facing the country, which remains under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program and is navigating a fragile recovery after a prolonged financial crisis.

“This has been a gradual recovery,” Aurangzeb told a televised news briefing in Islamabad, adding that the country’s economic performance must be viewed in the larger global context.

The finance minister said after contracting by 0.2 percent in FY23, Pakistan’s economy grew 2.5 percent last year and is expected to expand slightly to 2.7 percent in the outgoing year.

“We plan to stay the course to ensure that we remain on the sustainable growth trajectory,” he added.

Aurangzeb reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing IMF-backed structural reforms to transform the fundamentals of Pakistan’s economy.

“The DNA of Pakistan’s economy has to be fundamentally changed through tax and energy reforms that have started showing remarkable results,” he said.

The minister maintained staying in the IMF program would help Pakistan bring permanence to its hard-earned macroeconomic stability and reduce its economic vulnerability.

“Implementing a 37-month, US$7 billion IMF Extended Fund Facility (IMFEFF) has bolstered policy credibility and provided essential financial support to promote inclusive and reform-driven growth,” the Economic Survey also proclaimed.

Analysts said Pakistan targeted 3.7 percent economic growth for the outgoing fiscal year but was forced to revise it to 2.7 percent last month due to underperformance in the agriculture sector.

“The government did fall short of its 3.7 percent GDP growth target for FY25 and primarily it was due to a major setback in the agriculture sector,” said Sana Tawfik, head of research at Arif Habib Limited.

“The agriculture sector posted a growth of just 0.6 percent so the situation was especially concerning in major crops,” she added.

According to the survey, the agriculture sector is expected to grow by 0.56 percent, while the industrial and services sectors are likely to expand by 4.77 percent and 2.91 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, inflation has eased significantly, giving room for monetary easing.

Aurangzeb called the inflation trend a “fantastic story” for Pakistan, with the pace of price hikes slowing to a record low of 0.3 percent in April. Inflation is expected to settle at 4.3 percent in the outgoing financial year.

The State Bank of Pakistan also cut its benchmark interest rate by over 1,000 basis points to 11 percent in FY25, with more easing likely ahead.

“This is the domain of the State Bank and the monetary policy committee so I don’t want to comment on that,” Aurangzeb said. “But I do expect where our core inflation is, where headline inflation is, there is room to do more.”

On the fiscal side, the survey showed that the government managed to contain the deficit at 2.6 percent of GDP for July-March, compared with 3.7 percent during the same period a year ago.

Revenues rose sharply, with tax collections increasing by 26.3 percent to Rs9.3 trillion ($32.9 billion), while total revenues stood at Rs13.4 trillion ($47.5 billion). Primary surplus also improved to 3.0 percent from 1.5 percent.

Government expenditure during this period rose to Rs16.3 trillion ($58 billion), with current and development spending increasing by 18.3 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

On the external front, Pakistan recorded a sharp turnaround in its current account, moving from a $1.3 billion deficit to a $1.9 billion surplus, driven by improved exports and record remittance inflows.

“The industry also struggled. If you look at the manufacturing sub-sector so LSM [large scale manufacturing] remained in the negative territory,” said Tawfik, noting that weak domestic demand, high inflation and elevated interest rates had weighed on performance.

“In short both demand and supply side factors combined dragged down the overall growth across key sectors of the economy,” she continued.

Aurangzeb said the government was working to further reduce energy costs for local investors.

“On the energy side, as I said one-third of the tariffs, seven rupee is not a small amount and Mr. Leghari [power minister] is working on it day in and day out,” he said.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal last week said the government was targeting 4.2 percent growth in the next fiscal year starting July. Aurangzeb echoed this target, noting that growth would be driven by a rebound in agriculture and industry.

“This target would be achieved through growth in industries and agriculture that are expected to rebound on the back of government’s favorable financial, tax and energy policies,” he said.

Pakistan’s multilateral and bilateral partners, including the IMF, World Bank, China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, remain supportive of the country’s reform path.

“With respect to the Fund and multilateral partners I’ve already mentioned we are in a good place with them both in terms of the mission and the senior management of the Fund,” Aurangzeb said. “The monetary institutions and our bilateral partners are standing by us as we move forward.”

Shankar Talreja, an economist and director at Topline Research Ltd., expressed optimism about the outlook.

“There will be some natural rebound in important crops under the agriculture segment,” he said. “Similarly, due to lower interest rates, industrial and services sectors will also post decent growth.”


Over 50 killed, dozens injured in accidents and shootings during Eid in northwest Pakistan

Updated 09 June 2025
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Over 50 killed, dozens injured in accidents and shootings during Eid in northwest Pakistan

  • Fatalities occurred in road accidents, drownings, fires and gun violence across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  • Mardan and Peshawar districts reported the highest death tolls with 14 and 13 fatalities, respectively

PESHAWAR: At least 55 people were killed and 50 others injured in various incidents across Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during the three days of Eid Al-Adha, rescue officials said on Monday.

The fatalities were reported in traffic accidents, drowning incidents, fires and gun violence across multiple districts, including the provincial capital, Peshawar. The injured were taken to local hospitals for medical treatment, according to a statement released by Rescue 1122.

“The total number of deaths across the province during the Eid holidays has reached 55,” Shah Fahad, Director General of Rescue 1122 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said. “Fifty others were injured in shooting incidents and provided emergency medical aid.”

According to the data, Rescue 1122 responded to about 2,000 emergencies and provided medical assistance to 1,897 individuals across the province during Eid.

These included 1,400 medical emergencies, 349 traffic accidents, 112 fire incidents, six drowning cases and 50 crime-related incidents.

In Peshawar alone, the agency handled 418 emergency calls, including 43 road accidents, 338 medical cases, 20 fire incidents and eight gun-related injuries. A total of 431 patients were transported to hospitals in the city.

District-wise, the highest number of fatalities was reported in Mardan (14) and Peshawar (13).

Fire incidents on festive occasions in the province are often caused by barbecues or fireworks, while traffic accidents typically stem from congestion, reckless driving by youth and occasional road rage.

Drowning incidents occur when people visit rivers or lakes for boating without adequate safety measures, and gun-related injuries often result from either criminal activity or celebratory gunfire.