ISLAMABAD: A senior State Department official denied any American role in bringing Pakistani leaders to power on Monday, saying the administration in Washington had always pursued a policy of engagement toward the South Asian country and worked with all governments over a wide spectrum of issues.
The statement comes only a few weeks ahead of the general elections in Pakistan, which are scheduled to be held by the election commission on Feb. 8.
The deep-rooted suspicion among Pakistanis toward the United States regarding political manipulation has intensified following last year’s ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan, who publicly accused the Biden administration of orchestrating his downfall. American officials have repeatedly denied the allegation but found it difficult to dispel the public perception in Pakistan.
The recent decision of Khan’s political rival, Nawaz Sharif, to end his four-year self-exile in London and return to Pakistan to lead his party’s election campaign, despite a conviction on graft charges from an accountability court, has further fueled suspicions among some about potential political manipulation before the national polls.
“The United States does not play any role in choosing the leaders of Pakistan,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said during his media briefing in Washington. “We engage with the leadership shown by – or the leadership decided by the Pakistani people, and we will continue to engage with the Government of Pakistan on all [the important] issues.”
Miller was asked why the United States had not condemned Sharif’s return to the country to carry out political activities despite being convicted by a local accountability court.
The State Department official also responded to a question about mounting tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent weeks, encouraging both countries to resolve their issues diplomatically.
“It’s something that we have been engaged on,” he added. “We’ve detailed the substance of some of those specific engagements over the past few weeks, and we will continue to do so.”
Pakistani officials have accused the government in Kabul of not doing enough to end cross-border militancy after a string of deadly attacks which they blamed on the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) network.
The TTP leadership is said to be based in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has also started deporting unregistered foreigners, mostly Afghans, since November while citing security reasons.
US denies political meddling in Pakistan amid rising suspicions ahead of general elections
https://arab.news/2egfj
US denies political meddling in Pakistan amid rising suspicions ahead of general elections
- State Department says Washington works with all Pakistani administrations over a wide spectrum of issues
- Matthew Miller also urges Pakistan and Afghanistan to find diplomatic solutions to their mounting tensions
Pakistan, Bahrain military leaders discuss regional security, bilateral cooperation
- General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, commander of National Guard of Bahrain, meets Pakistan’s army chief
- General Syed Asim Munir stresses importance of collaborating to address shared security challenges, maintaining regional peace
ISLAMABAD: The top military officials of Pakistan and Bahrain discussed regional security and ways to strengthen bilateral military cooperation to meet security challenges, Pakistan’s military said on Tuesday.
General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, the commander of the National Guard of Bahrain, met Pakistan’s Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said.
Al Khalifa praised Pakistan Army’s professionalism and appreciated their efforts in combating “terrorism,” the ISPR said.
“During the meeting, both leaders engaged in discussions on matters of mutual interest, the regional security landscape, and avenues for strengthening bilateral military cooperation,” the military’s media wing said.
Munir underscored the significance of enhanced collaboration in addressing shared security challenges and fostering peace and stability in the region, the ISPR added.
Bahrain is a key member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and a favorite destination for the Pakistani workforce since the early 1970s, according to Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with Gulf countries and regularly partakes in bilateral military drills with them to foster joint cooperation to counter security challenges.
Both countries have established a Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) at the level of the foreign ministers, with the Pakistan-Bahrain trade volume between $500 million and $1 billion in recent years, as per Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
Pakistan anti-graft body seals several properties of real estate developer for ‘defrauding’ citizens
Pakistan anti-graft body seals several properties of real estate developer for ‘defrauding’ citizens
- M/s Bahria Town, which claims to be Asia’s largest private real estate developer, has several projects in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and other Pakistani cities
- Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau last month booked Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz Hussain in a graft case, initiated process to extradite him from Dubai
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s anti-corruption watchdog has sealed numerous properties of a private real estate developer, M/s Bahria Town, for “defrauding people of billions of rupees,” Pakistani state media reported on Monday.
M/s Bahria Town, which claims to be Asia’s largest private real estate developer, has projects in several cities, including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, in the South Asian country.
Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said it had registered several cases of fraud and deception against Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz Hussain and others in Islamabad and Karachi courts, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
Hussain and his associates are accused of illegally occupying both government and private lands in Karachi, Rawalpindi and New Murree to establish housing societies without permission and defrauding people of billions of rupees.
“In recent actions related to this, numerous commercial and residential properties of Bahria Town in Karachi, Lahore, Takht Pari, New Murree/Golf City, and Islamabad have been sealed, including multi-story commercial buildings,” the Radio Pakistan report read.
“Additionally, hundreds of bank accounts and vehicles of Bahria Town have been frozen, and further actions in this regard are being carried out rapidly.”
There was no immediate comment from Bahria Town in response to NAB’s allegations.
The development comes more than a month after NAB filed a reference in an accountability court in Karachi, nominating Hussain, his son Ahmed Ali Riaz, former Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Sharjeel Inaam Memon, then local body minister and now information minister of Sindh, among 33 people for illegally transferring government land to M/s Bahria Town for its Bahria Town Karachi project in 2013 and 2014.
Hussain, who currently lives in Dubai, is one of Pakistan’s wealthiest and most influential businessmen and the country’s largest private employers. The anti-graft body this year said it had initiated the process to seek Hussain’s extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who was also charged in another land corruption case involving former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife.
A Pakistani court in January sentenced Khan to 14 years in prison and his wife, Bushra, to seven years, in the case in which they are accused of receiving land as a bribe from Hussain through the Al-Qadir charitable trust in exchange for illegal favors during Khan’s premiership from 2018 to 2022. Khan says he and his wife were trustees and did not benefit from the land transaction. Hussain too denies any wrongdoing relating to the case.
Hussain has recently launched a new project of luxury apartments in Dubai and NAB has prima facie evidence that certain individuals from Pakistan are illegally aiding him in this process by transferring their money to the UAE for investment in the project. These funds have been sent to foreign countries through “illegal means,” Radio Pakistan reported, citing the anti-graft body.
“Any funds transferred from Pakistan for this project will be considered money laundering, and legal action will be taken against the involved elements without discrimination,” the anti-corruption watchdog was quoted as saying.
“NAB will continue its legal actions against Bahria Town Pakistan without any delay or pressure to fully protect the rights of the citizens of Pakistan.”
Saudi Wafi Energy hires top stratcom firm to build ‘trusted presence’ in Pakistan
- Wafi Energy Pakistan partners with Nutshell Communications to enhance its brand position in country
- Saudi fuel company made headlines last year when it acquired majority shares of Shell Pakistan Limited
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s leading fuel station company, Wafi Energy Pakistan, this week announced its partnership with public relations and advocacy firm Nutshell Communications to enhance its presence in the South Asian country.
Wafi Energy, an affiliate of the Asyad Group, made headlines last year when it became the majority shareholder of Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL) in November 2024. It now holds approximately 87.78 percent of the total issued share capital of SPL. However, the Shell brand will remain in Pakistan through retail and brand licensing agreements, with SPL as the exclusive brand licensee.
Wafi Energy announced it had partnered with Nutshell Communications, which says on its website it offers clients integrated PR, full spectrum marketing and communications services to build its brand’s reputation.
“Nutshell Communications are experts at strategic communications and brand positioning,” Wafi Energy Pakistan CEO Zubair Shaikh was quoted in a press release issued by Nutshell Communications. “This partnership will play a key role in helping us build a strong, trusted presence in Pakistan’s energy landscape.”
Shaikh said the company aimed to invest in sustainable fuel and lubricants solutions, and advancing infrastructure to support Pakistan’s evolving energy needs.
Nutshell Group Chairman Azfar Ahsan reaffirmed his firm’s resolve to support transformative industry collaborations.
“Global partnerships are essential to strengthen Pakistan’s economic resilience and energy independence,” Ahsan was quoted as saying. “Wafi Energy Pakistan’s presence significantly enhances Pakistan’s regional standing, and we are committed to nurturing this partnership toward continued growth and mutual success.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have moved in recent months to further strengthen trade and investment ties. Pakistani and Saudi businesses signed several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in October 2024 worth $2.8 billion.
Islamabad is also eyeing Saudi investment in key sectors such as oil and gas, renewable energy, mining and minerals, infrastructure and others to keep its fragile $350 billion economy afloat.
Pakistan top parliamentary panel on national security to meet today amid rising militant attacks
- Pakistan military to hold in-camera briefing of parliamentary committee on country’s prevalent security situation
- Meeting takes place after separatist militants stormed train in Balochistan last week, held over 400 passengers hostage
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security will hold an in-camera meeting today, Tuesday, to discuss surging attacks in the country’s western provinces bordering Afghanistan and Iran, particularly Balochistan.
The meeting takes place amid a sharp rise in militant attacks last week in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. The most prominent of these attacks was led by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) outfit last Tuesday, whose fighters stormed the Jaffar Express train in a remote mountain pass in Balochistan and held over 400 passengers hostage. The military launched an operation and after a day-long stand-off, rescued 354 hostages and killed 33 insurgents. A final count showed 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers had died in the attack.
Violence persisted in the southwestern province as three paramilitary soldiers were among five killed in a suicide blast in Balochistan’s Nushki district on Sunday. The escalation in attacks prompted Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to convene a session of the parliamentary panel on Tuesday at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice.
“An in-camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security will be held at the Parliament House in Islamabad at 11 a.m. today,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The state-run media said a “comprehensive briefing” on the country’s security situation will be given to committee members by the military leadership, which would include parliamentary leaders from all political parties and members of the federal cabinet.
Oil-and-mineral-rich Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and least populated province, has been plagued by a long-running, low-level insurgency where ethnic Baloch separatists accuse the central government of denying locals of a share in the province’s resources. Islamabad and Pakistan’s military strongly reject the allegations.
The military has a huge presence in Balochistan and has long run intelligence-based operations against insurgent groups such as the BLA, who have escalated attacks in recent months on the military and nationals from longtime ally China, which is building key projects in the region, including a port at Gwadar.
More than 50 people, including security forces, were killed in August last year in a string of assaults in Balochistan claimed by the BLA.
Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bordering Afghanistan has also seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since November 2022, when a fragile truce between the state and the Pakistani Taliban or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down.
The TTP has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against Pakistan’s security forces and civilians since 2007 in KP.
Pakistan accuses the Afghan government of sheltering TTP militants, allegations which have strained ties between the two neighbors and prompted strong denials from Kabul.
Karachi street performer juggles hardships, brings smiles on bustling food street
- Jamal Shah began performing in theater as a teenager but lost his job during the coronavirus pandemic
- He says survival is a battle, as he navigates the harsh stage of the streets to support his five children
KARACHI: As dusk falls over Burns Road, Karachi’s busy food street, a man in a bright blue curly wig and neon-yellow jacket steps into the crowd, a red clown nose perched on his face. His hands, covered in red gloves, juggle colorful balls, drawing the attention of people, particularly children who watch with excitement.
This is Jamal Shah, a street performer whose journey from stage artist to roadside entertainer is a tale of resilience and a deep desire to connect with people through his passion for performance.
Before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered theaters and circuses, Shah was a seasoned performer, traveling across Pakistan’s four provinces and receiving praise for his magic shows and juggling acts.
Since 1998, the 41-year-old has led a life of artistic fulfillment. But the pandemic changed everything, leaving him and countless others jobless.
“Before COVID, I used to perform in theaters, circuses, variety shows, magic shows, and festivals,” Shah said, his voice cutting through the noise. “I am not just a street artist. I am a trained theater and stage performer.”
Yet, circumstances forced him out of familiar settings, leaving him to perform on the streets, where passersby are often too absorbed to notice his skillful acts.
“I turned to street performances after [theater] shows were shut down,” he said. “Without these shows, I had to find a way to survive with a wife and five children. I live on rent, so I had no choice but to perform on the streets.”
Every evening, Shah leaves Quaidabad on his motorcycle, making a 25-kilometer journey to the Burns Road in heart of Saddar, which has been his lifeline for the past five years.
During Ramadan, he performs from Iftar to Suhoor, his efforts barely enough to cover his family’s basic needs.
“My family is struggling,” Shah told Arab News. “One of my children is unwell, I am also unwell, and so is my wife. But I decided that I would not beg from anyone. Instead, I would use my skills here.”
But the street is a harsh stage where sometimes speeding motorcyclists crash into him and passersby occasionally hurl mocking remarks. Despite the hardships, Shah takes comfort in the smiles he brings to children’s faces.
“When I see children smiling, my personal sorrows fade away,” he said. “I never bring my grief to the public. As for my tears, I know when they well up and when I hide them. When I am performing, the character I embody requires me to conceal my tears, which I do, while striving to keep people happy and smiling.”
His children, who once went to school, now attend a seminary for religious education. Shah said his greatest desire was to provide them with a brighter future.
“I want to support my family and children so that my children can also go to school and study, educate themselves, play a positive role in society and become its valuable members,” he said. “If my children get an education, they will develop a good character.”
Shah’s dedication to his craft is unwavering, making him pledge to perform until there is strength in his body.
“One must fight for survival,” he added. “Whether it’s scorching heat or cold, I am here.”
Shah said performers like him felt duty-bound to spread joy among people.
“Every person deprived of happiness should find joy in watching us, and their sadness should be transformed into smiles and happiness,” he said, his eyes reflecting the flickering lights of the food street and hope for a better future.
