ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whose party is considered a front-runner to win general elections in February, will kick off his campaign next week, aides said, days after the Supreme Court cleared him to run for a fourth term.
The campaign for the Feb. 8 poll, delayed since November, looks set to fire up a lackluster race in an uncertain political environment after Sharif’s main rival and former premier Imran Khan, was jailed and disqualified from contesting.
“We will, God willing, start our mass campaign on Jan. 15,” Pervaiz Rashid, a close Sharif aide told Reuters, adding that the former premier would speak at a rally two days later.
Analysts believe the South Asian nation’s powerful military has thrown its backing to Sharif, 74, after it was locked in a standoff with former cricket star Khan, 71.
That gives Sharif an edge in a country where army generals mostly decide on making or breaking governments.
“Sharif is a front-runner because he and his party are back in the military’s good graces,” said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia specialist at Washington think tank the Wilson Center.
“In the polarized, vendetta-driven environment of Pakistani politics, it is brutally simple: Nawaz is a bitter rival of Imran Khan, and that serves the army well, which turned on Khan and doesn’t want him to return to power.”
The military’s public relations wing did not respond to a request for a comment.
Sharif’s party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb also did not respond to a question about his ties with the military.
Despite Sharif’s return to Pakistan in October from four years in self-imposed exile, his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had not yet begun its campaign, since he faced a lifetime bar from contesting polls.
On Monday, however, the Supreme Court scrapped such lifetime election bans for those with criminal convictions, clearing the way for Sharif to run.
Major players such as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of late prime minister Benazir Bhutto have already begun campaigns, but these have been muted compared to past polls.
The two largest parties, the PML-N and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have yet to gear up four weeks ahead of the election.
Bhutto’s son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, her party’s candidate for prime minister, pointed to the delay in launching Sharif’s campaign, saying it called into question whether elections would be held at all.
Khan’s PTI, the winner of the 2018 elections, which is known for festive gatherings that draw a good turnout, is grappling with a military-backed crackdown.
Its campaign efforts must also contend with state-backed efforts to block candidates on legal and technical grounds, it said, with its leader in jail.
“We are going through an election where people have no trust as they know and they are seeing that the state is blatantly pushing one party against the wall,” said author and political commentator Ayesha Siddiqa.
“We may get some activity, of course, when Sharif gets out and holds rallies.”
Sharif’s key pledge will be to rebuild the $350-billion economy which is in dire straits, battling high inflation, an unstable currency and low foreign exchange reserves, despite averting a debt default with an IMF bailout last summer.
“We have delivered on the economic front every time we came to power,” said the aide, Rashid. Previous terms in office saw Sharif favor policies focused on ambitious infrastructure-led economic growth.
Sharif, elected prime minister in 1990, 1997, and 2013, has blamed his 2017 ouster and subsequent corruption convictions on the military, with which he had fallen out. The military denies this.
That fallout is believed to have stemmed from differences over handling relations with arch-rival and neighbor India and his government’s treason trial of a former ruler and army chief, the late General Pervez Musharraf.
Still, Sharif appears to be the only viable option for the generals, said Aqil Shah, an author and specialist in the military politics of Pakistan at the University of Oklahoma.
“The military institution is only concerned with preserving and advancing its hegemonic interests,” he said. “Hence, it has no permanent enemies or friends.”
Pakistan’s former PM Nawaz Sharif to launch election campaign as front-runner
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Pakistan’s former PM Nawaz Sharif to launch election campaign as front-runner
- Sharif’s key pledge will be to rebuild the $350-billion economy which is in dire straits, battling high inflation
- His main rival and former premier Imran Khan has been jailed and disqualified from the Feb. 8 national polls
Pakistan Senate chairman leaves for Saudi Arabia to strengthen bilateral ties
- Yousuf Raza Gillani to meet Saudi Shoura Council chairman, governors of Riyadh and Madinah during visit
- Pakistan and Saudi Arabia closely cooperate in defense, military, economy, trade and other vital sectors
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani left for a five-day trip to Saudi Arabia on Monday with his visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and promoting institutional cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh, the Senate Secretariat said.
The invitation to Gillani and his delegation was extended by Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council, the secretariat said. The Majlis Al-Shoura, or Consultative Council, is a legislative body that advises the Saudi king on issues that are important to Saudi Arabia.
“Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani has left for a five-day trip to Saudi Arabia with a delegation,” the Senate Secretariat said in a statement.
“The aim of the visit is to further promote bilateral relations and institutional cooperation.”
The Pakistani delegation will hold high-level meetings with the Shoura Council chairman, governors of Madinah and Riyadh, and conduct other high-level meetings, it said.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial relations that have resulted in close cooperation in defense, military, economic and other sectors.
Last month, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed investment agreements worth $2.8 billion while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pledged to expedite a $5 billion investment portfolio for Islamabad.
Saudi Arabia has frequently bailed Pakistan out of its economic crisis over the years, coming to its aid with loan rollovers and providing oil on deferred payments to Islamabad.
Sri Lankan artist immortalizes Pakistan’s Olympic hero Arshad Nadeem with special painting
- Arshad Nadeem won Pakistan its first Olympic gold medal since 1992 in August with record-breaking javelin throw
- Titled “The Throw,” Mueen Saheed’s painting features an abstract portrayal of Nadeem and his mother
ISLAMABAD: Sri Lankan artist Mueen Saheed has paid tribute to Pakistani Olympian Arshad Nadeem by dedicating a “special painting” to the sportsman, state-run media recently reported, as a mark of respect for bagging the gold medal for his country earlier this year.
Nadeem made history at the Paris Olympics in August by setting a new record for the longest javelin throw in the global competition, winning Pakistan its first gold medal since 1992 with a record-breaking 92.97m javelin throw.
Saheed last week concluded an art cultural tour in Pakistan where he showcased his artwork at three major exhibitions in Lahore and Islamabad.
“Renowned Sri Lankan artist, Mueen Saheed made a memorable addition to his tour of Pakistan by presenting a special painting dedicated to Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s celebrated Olympic gold medalist, to the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA),” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Sunday.
The painting, now a part of the PNCA’s prestigious permanent collection, pays homage to Nadeem’s remarkable achievements and his role in uniting fans across borders.
Titled “The Throw,” the painting features an abstract portrayal of Nadeem and his mother, veiled behind Saheed’s distinctive brushstrokes and use of small squares, the APP said.
The presentation ceremony at the PNCA in Islamabad, part of the artist’s “Passages of Light” exhibition, was attended by key figures in the arts and culture sector, including PNCA Director General Muhammad Ayoub Jamali and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
“Arshad Nadeem’s story is one of resilience and humility,” Saheed explained. “His victory at the Olympics and the moments of sportsmanship with his Indian counterpart, Neeraj Chopra, were powerful examples of unity in competition.”
Tarar praised Saheed’s gesture, noting the significance of honoring a national hero whose journey resonates beyond sports, inspiring audiences from Pakistan, India, and around the world, the state-run media said.
Belarus President Lukashenko to arrive in Pakistan today amid Islamabad protest
- Thousands of ex-PM Khan supporters expected to arrive in Pakistan’s capital for anti-government protest
- Pakistan, Belarus expected to sign several agreements during Aleksandr Lukashenko’s three-day visit to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on a three-day visit today, Monday, as thousands of supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan march toward the capital for an anti-government march.
Pakistan’s state media said last week that Lukashenko was expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on bilateral cooperation while several agreements would be signed between the two countries.
His visit comes at a time when thousands of supporters of jailed ex-PM Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party are headed toward Islamabad for a protest “long march.” Khan’s party is demanding his release from prison, independence of the judiciary and protesting against alleged rigging in the February national elections.
“President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko will undertake three-day visit to Pakistan from today,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
As a 68-member delegation from Belarus arrived in Pakistan’s capital on Sunday ahead of Lukashenko’s visit, Pakistan’s government described the PTI’s protest as a “deliberate conspiracy” against the country’s “honor,” vowing stern action against any persons found violating the law.
The government last week took measures to enhance security in Islamabad, sealing off key highways and motorways leading to the capital from surrounding areas with shipping containers.
Security in the capital has also been beefed up with the deployment of paramilitary forces and police while the government has suspended Internet services in areas deemed sensitive for security.
PTI CARAVAN
Meanwhile, the PTI convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur left Peshawar around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday and reached Swabi in the evening, where it was joined by protesters from across the province.
The caravan then proceeded to Ghazi Barotha near Punjab, where it expects resistance from federal authorities.
Hajji Fazal Elahi, a PTI provincial lawmaker, told Arab News the party workers were determined to reach D-Chowk, the protest venue in Islamabad.
“There are hurdles as the government has placed barriers in different places. We will try our best to remove them, but if we don’t succeed, we’ll spend the night here,” he said, referring to Ghazi Barotha.
“We will go to D-Chowk and cross all the barriers, even if it takes a day or two,” he added.
Pakistan says protests cost $684 million daily as Imran Khan’s supporters march on Islamabad
- Finance Ministry’s estimates exclude losses from IT, telecom sectors and provincial economies
- Imran Khan has called for protests demanding his release, with demonstrations also held abroad
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance has prepared a report estimating economic losses of Rs190 billion ($684 million) per day due to political protests, Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Sunday, as supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan march toward Islamabad to demand his release.
The protest, led by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has effectively cut off the federal capital from other cities, with authorities using shipping containers to seal all entry and exit points and announcing the closure of all educational institutions in Islamabad.
The disruption has also impacted small businesses, with slow Internet and telecom services further compounding the economic losses.
“Protests result in a daily loss of Rs190 billion,” the finance minister said in a statement circulated by his office, warning of repercussions for the national economy.
According to the ministry’s report, the GDP suffers a daily loss of Rs144 billion, accounting for the largest share of the economic impact. Additionally, a decline in exports results in a daily loss of Rs26 billion, while disruptions in foreign direct investment contribute Rs3 billion to the daily losses.
Losses in the IT and telecom sectors are significant but separate from these figures.
“The federal government’s daily loss is Rs190 billion, while provincial losses are even higher,” Aurangzeb noted, without providing detailed provincial breakdowns.
Khan, who has been incarcerated for over a year on charges he claims are politically motivated, has urged his followers to rally both in Pakistan and abroad.
PTI supporters in countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Spain and Japan have also organized demonstrations, calling for the former prime minister’s release.
As tensions persist, the government remains firm in its resolve to maintain public order, with Finance Minister Aurangzeb stressing that the ongoing unrest is severely undermining the country’s economic recovery efforts.
Pakistan urges climate justice at COP29, highlights gaps in global commitments
- It highlights mismatch between developed nations’ pledges and developing countries’ needs
- Romina Alam says Pakistan is forced into debt to manage the fallout of climate disasters
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top climate change official on Sunday voiced concern over the widening gap between global climate commitments and the needs of vulnerable nations as COP29 ended in Azerbaijan.
Addressing the closing plenary, Romina Khurshid Alam, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Climate Change, emphasized Pakistan’s acute vulnerability to phenomenon, citing devastating floods, glacial melt, extreme heatwaves and droughts that have affected millions and strained the country’s resources.
“Climate justice is not charity; it is a moral obligation,” she said during her statement, criticizing the mismatch between developed nations’ pledges and the requirements of developing countries to implement their climate plans.
The Pakistani official welcomed the adoption of the Baku Climate Unity Pact, though she expressed “mixed feelings” about the outcomes.
“We note critical gaps in the decisions adopted here,” she said. “Global solidarity is important, but the goals set by developed countries fall short of addressing the needs of developing nations to implement their NDCs [Nationally Determined Contributions] and National Adaptation Plans.”
Alam highlighted the inequity in the international climate finance system, pointing out that countries like Pakistan are being forced into debt to manage the fallout of climate disasters.
“The climate crisis is turning into a debt crisis because the means of implementation are not clear,” she added.
The Pakistani official urged all parties to return to the negotiating table with renewed determination ahead of COP30.
“Multilateralism remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s climate diplomacy, and we hope for greater equity and commitment in addressing outstanding critical issues,” she added.
Pakistan is ranked as the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. Apart from floods, droughts and heatwaves, the country’s eastern cities in Punjab have also witnessed unprecedented smog, taking the AQI level as high as 2,000.
