Political parties reluctant to launch campaigns amid uncertainty over Pakistan’s election schedule

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A Pakistan anti-terrorist force personal uses a metal detector to check the area of the Election Commission in Islamabad on August 26, 2008. (AFP/File)
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Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and Pakistan's former Foreign Affairs Minister speaks during a press conference in Islamabad on August 19, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 20 August 2023
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Political parties reluctant to launch campaigns amid uncertainty over Pakistan’s election schedule

  • National polls are scheduled for November, though delimitation exercise may delay them till February
  • Political parties say they are ready for the contest but will mobilize people after election schedule announcement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s major political parties remain reluctant to hit the campaign trail due to the uncertainty over the election schedule following a notification of the election commission to complete the delimitation of constituencies by December 14 which can delay the national polls.

The general elections in Pakistan are scheduled to be held within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9, as per the constitution. However, the election commission announced to redraw national and provincial constituencies in keeping with the results of a recent digital census approved by the previous administration of Shehbaz Sharif. The process is likely to take time, surpassing the November deadline for the national polls.

All major political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have publicly demanded the election commission to hold the polls within the stipulated period, though they remain uncertain about the elections schedule. The country’s top body of lawyers, the Supreme Court Bar Association, also sought the apex court’s intervention this week for national polls to be held within the constitutionally mandated period.

“We have been waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision on the general elections date before starting our election campaign,” Pakistan Peoples Party’s information-secretary Faisal Karim Kundi told Arab News. “We want the election commission to hold the polls within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly.”

Kundi said his party was ready for the elections, “but we don’t want to exhaust our workers without knowing when the elections would be held.”

“One of our teams is working on our manifesto which is expected to be rolled out in couple of weeks,” he said, adding that the PPP would start “active election campaign” to mobilize the public after the election commission would issue a formal schedule for the polls.

“So far, there is no clarity as to when the elections will take place,” he said.

Former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI party also said it was “not sure” when to kick off the election campaign and mobilize its supporters.

“We have been facing the wrath of the state for being the most popular party in Pakistan,” Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, the ex-premier’s close aide, told Arab News. “Thousands of our workers have been arrested and dozens of senior party leaders are in jails for committing no crime. However, we are ready to take part in the polls.”

He said the PTI had already chalked out a strategy to contest the elections from each constituency across the country despite the “illegal and unconstitutional” crackdown against the party.

“This is a perfect example of pre-poll rigging as our leaders are being forced to switch their loyalty,” he continued. “A fresh wave of crackdown has been unleashed now. So, let’s see how many of our candidates they manage to remove from the party.”

The PTI leader maintained if the election commission failed to hold polls until November, it would be a violation of the constitution.

“The PTI opponents are petrified by its popularity, but we will contest the elections whenever they are held,” he said.

However, the PTI is currently facing multiple challenges, with its chairman and ex-prime minister Khan currently serving a three-year jail term on charges of illegally selling state gifts. He has also been disqualified for five years from holding public office and is now facing a major charge of being in breach of the Official Secrets Act.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secretary-information in Punjab province, Azma Zahid Bokhari, said her party had been waiting for the return of its founding leader, Nawaz Sharif, from London to kick off its election campaign.

“Nawaz Sharif is expected to return to Pakistan within a month now to lead our election campaign,” she informed.

Sharif has been in London since November 2019 after securing a medical bail following his conviction in a corruption reference. However, he maintains all charges against him are politically motivated and he never indulged in any wrongdoing.

Bokhari said the PML-N leadership was trying to prepare the election manifesto and launch a social media campaign.

“Our party is ready for the polls whenever they are held,” she maintained. “Delay or no delay, it doesn’t matter to us.”

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam senior leader Shahida Akhtar Ali said her political faction may launch election activities in different constituencies from next month since the “situation remains unclear as to when the elections will be held.”

“The elections should be held within the constitutionally mandated time period,” she told Arab News, adding that her party was finalizing the manifesto and would distribute party tickets after the announcement of election schedule.

Senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Syed Amin ul Haque said his party had inaugurated a central election office and was in the process of finalizing the manifesto within a couple of days.

“We have constituted committees at the provincial and district levels to allocate tickets to potential candidates to contest the polls, but we will kick off a formal election campaign after the process of delimitation of constituencies is completed,” he told Arab News.

However, the MQM-P had a different opinion from other political parties on when the general elections could be held.

“The process of delimitation should be completed as early as possible to hold free and fair elections by February next year,” Haque said.


Pakistan seal final spot in Under-19 cricket tri-series with dominant win over UAE

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Pakistan seal final spot in Under-19 cricket tri-series with dominant win over UAE

  • Pakistan posted their highest total of the tournament, amassing 314 for five in 50 overs
  • UAE’s innings ended at 123 in 37 overs, setting the stage for Pakistan-Afghanistan clash

ISLAMABAD: Half-centuries by Farhan Yousuf, Haroon Arshad, Shahzaib Khan and Usman Khan powered Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team to a commanding 191-run victory over the United Arab Emirates in the fifth match of the U19 tri-series at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai on Friday.
The victory secured Pakistan’s place in the final, where they will face Afghanistan U19 on Tuesday, November 26, at the same venue.
This was Pakistan’s second win over UAE in the tournament, having defeated them by 10 wickets in the opening match.
“Pakistan U19 earn an emphatic 191-run win over UAE U19,” the Pakistan Cricket Board announced in a social media post. “They will play the tri-series final on Tuesday.”
The Pakistan team edged Afghanistan by 13 runs in their previous encounter but suffered a loss to them earlier in the series.
After electing to bat, Pakistan posted their highest total of the tournament, amassing 314 for five in 50 overs.
Left-handed openers Shahzaib Khan (71 off 84) and Usman Khan (50 off 64) provided a solid foundation with a 96-run opening stand. Farhan Yousuf (63 off 50) and Haroon Arshad (54 off 34) then built on the momentum with a brisk 75-run partnership for the fourth wicket, while Faham-ul-Haq contributed a steady 37 off 48. For UAE, Noorullah Ayubi and Uddish Suri picked up two wickets each.
Chasing 315, UAE struggled from the outset, collapsing to 52 for five within 16 overs.
Ayaan Misbah (17 off 46) and Uddish Suri (32 not out) attempted to stabilize the innings with a 21-run stand for the sixth wicket, but Misbah fell to Umar Zaib in the 26th over.
UAE’s innings ended at 123 in 37 overs, with Umar Zaib taking four for 51 and Naveed Ahmed Khan claiming three wickets.
The final group match of the series will be played between Afghanistan and UAE on Sunday, November 24.
 


Pakistan PM vows to ‘break any hand’ threatening relations with Saudi Arabia

Updated 22 November 2024
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Pakistan PM vows to ‘break any hand’ threatening relations with Saudi Arabia

  • Statement comes after Imran Khan’s wife released a video message widely viewed as critical of the Kingdom
  • Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are close allies, with nearly 3 million Pakistanis living and working in the Kingdon

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday vowed strict action against anyone attempting to undermine Pakistan’s close relations with Saudi Arabia, declaring that his government would “break any hand” threatening ties between the two nations.
Sharif’s statement appeared to reference recent remarks by Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, who in a rare public message on Thursday assured state institutions that her jailed husband would not seek revenge against political opponents if he returned to power.
She also made remarks in her video message that were widely viewed as implying that the Saudi government had opposed Khan when he was prime minister from 2018-22.
“Such venom-spitting is an unforgivable crime,” Sharif said while addressing a ceremony on Friday. “I, as the prime minister of Pakistan, want to announce that the nation will break any hand trying to undermine the Pakistan-Saudi friendship.”
“This is not a joke,” he continued. “The allegation is beyond understanding. The biggest national interest is being slaughtered to serve the short-term political interest.”
He criticized the former first lady, whose husband’s PTI party is currently in opposition, saying that the Kingdom had never demanded anything in return from Pakistan for extending economic and diplomatic support but instead always “opened its doors.”
“I think there can be no greater enmity against Pakistan than this [issuing such comments],” he said, adding that Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was sacrificing the country’s interest for its political interests.
Sharif said “no one will be allowed to play” with Pakistan’s interests when it concerned “brotherly allies” such as Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also addressed the issue in a press conference, highlighting that over 2.8 million Pakistanis were working in the Kingdom, sending billions of dollars in remittances back to their country every year.
“Our cordial and friendly relationship with Saudi Arabia should not be affected due to someone’s political gains,” he said. “Such a controversial statement is an effort to save PTI’s sinking ship.”
Khan was ousted from the prime minister’s office in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022, alleging that he was removed by his political rivals and the all-powerful military at the behest of the United States. All three parties deny the accusation.
The cricketer-turned-politician has been in prison since August last year, facing a slew of legal challenges. He denies any wrongdoing, claiming that all cases against him are politically motivated to keep him in jail.
His PTI party is set to kick off a “long march” to stage a protest in Islamabad on Nov. 24, aiming to pressure the government into releasing Khan from prison. Authorities have refused to grant permission to hold the gathering and imposed a ban on public assembly in the capital for two months.


Pakistani stocks break psychological 99,000 barrier on optimism over rates, reserves

Updated 22 November 2024
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Pakistani stocks break psychological 99,000 barrier on optimism over rates, reserves

  • An analyst attributes the intraday rally to broad-based gains across most economic sectors
  • The stock market has remained bullish since the government slashed policy rate in November

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday breached a major psychological barrier, surging past 99,000 points during intra-day trading before settling at 97,798.23, as analysts attributed the rally to investor optimism driven by falling lending rates and higher foreign exchange reserves.
The benchmark KSE-100 index climbed 2,057.40 points by 11:10 am, reaching 99,385.79 points from the previous close. However, the index closed at 97,798.23, marking an increase of 469.84 points or 0.48 percent.
Analyst Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation said bank levies on large deposits, surging global oil prices, and rupee stability were fueling investor optimism.
“Stocks remained bullish, led by scrips across the board, as investors weighed falling lending rates and the imposition of bank levies on large deposits following a drop in government bond yields,” he told Arab News. “Surging global crude oil prices, rupee stability, and higher forex reserves played a catalytic role in the record surge at the PSX.”
Last month, Pakistan’s external current account recorded a surplus of $349 million, marking the third consecutive month of surplus and the highest in this period. The current account reflects a nation’s transactions with the world, encompassing net trade in goods and services, net earnings on cross-border investments and net transfer payments.
A surplus indicates that a country is exporting more than it is importing, thereby strengthening its foreign exchange reserves.
A bullish trend has been observed in the stock market since Pakistan’s central bank cut its key policy rate by 250 basis points, bringing it to 15 percent earlier this month. Economic indicators have also steadily improved since securing a 37-month, $7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September.
In the past, the country faced a prolonged economic crisis that drained its foreign exchange reserves and saw its currency weaken amid double-digit inflation. Last year, Pakistan narrowly avoided a sovereign default by clinching a last-minute $3 billion IMF bailout deal.


US vows to be ‘steadfast partner’ after deadly attack in Pakistan’s Kurram district

Updated 22 November 2024
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US vows to be ‘steadfast partner’ after deadly attack in Pakistan’s Kurram district

  • American diplomatic mission says Pakistanis deserve to live free from harm, danger and threat
  • It offers condolences to victims’ families after 41 people were killed by unknown gunmen this week

KARACHI: The United States on Friday condemned a deadly attack in Pakistan’s Kurram district that killed 41 people this week, reaffirming its commitment to stand with Pakistan in ensuring the safety of its citizens against such militant attacks.
Unidentified gunmen targeted vehicles carrying Shiite community members in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday, in one of the deadliest sectarian attacks in recent years. The assault, which also left many critically injured, occurred in a region already plagued by deadly clashes in recent months.
“The United States will remain a steadfast partner as Pakistan works to ensure the safety and security of all its citizens,” Jonathan Lalley, the spokesperson of the US diplomatic mission in Pakistan, said in a statement. “We stand in solidarity with Pakistan and the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in this difficult time.”
Lalley expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for a full recovery for the injured.
“The Pakistani people deserve to live free from harm, danger, and threat, and to feel protected and secure in their daily lives,” he added.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which followed the reopening of a key highway in the region after it was closed for weeks due to sectarian violence.
Kurram, a volatile district near the Afghan border, has been a flashpoint for sectarian clashes between Sunni and Shiite communities, adding to the challenges of maintaining security in the area.
The US-Pakistan forged a counterterrorism partnership in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks, to address regional security challenges. Over the years, however, the relationship faced friction, while the US-led international forces were in Afghanistan.
Despite the tensions, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to security cooperation and counterterrorism efforts, especially in the wake of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
The commitment to security partnership reflects a shared goal of combating extremism and ensuring regional stability.
 


Pakistan, Malaysia agree to enhance military cooperation with focus on air force training

Updated 22 November 2024
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Pakistan, Malaysia agree to enhance military cooperation with focus on air force training

  • Malaysian air chief praises PAF’s advancements in indigenization on his first Pakistan visit
  • His Pakistani counterpart reaffirms commitment to training Malaysian Air Force personnel

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Malaysia have agreed to deepen bilateral military cooperation, with a particular emphasis on joint training and air power collaboration, Pakistan’s military said on Friday.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Royal Malaysian Air Force Chief General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Mohd Asghar Khan bin Goriman Khan at Air Headquarters in Islamabad.
“The [Pakistan] Air Chief reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing military partnership between the two Air Forces through joint training initiatives, particularly within the realm of air power,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. “These initiatives will encompass provisioning of both basic and tactical level training for personnel of the Malaysian Air Force.”
The Malaysian air chief, making his first visit to Pakistan, praised the PAF’s advancements in indigenization and technological innovation. He also expressed interest in bolstering ties through enhanced collaboration in training, maintenance and operational excellence.
The meeting included discussions on defense cooperation, joint exercises and technology sharing, ISPR said, highlighting the robust defense relationship between the two nations.
During his visit, the Malaysian official toured the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park Silicon and the PAF Cyber Command, where he was briefed on Pakistan’s advanced operational capabilities.
He also lauded the innovative projects displayed at the ongoing International Defense Exhibition IDEAS-2024 in Karachi.
Earlier, the Malaysian air chief was presented with a guard of honor upon his arrival, ISPR added.