ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, led by three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, anticipates it would win a “clear majority” in the upcoming general election, a senior leader of the party said this week, despite the surging popularity of its chief rival, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Sharif, 74, was born into a wealthy, industrialist family in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore. In the 1980s, Sharif was a protégé of Pakistan’s third military dictator, General (retired) Zia-ul-Haq, and became the dominant politician in Pakistan’s most populous and prosperous province, Punjab. The province is allocated the highest number of seats, meaning whichever party wins the most seats in Punjab is better placed to form its government in the center as well.
The party has won general elections in Pakistan thrice, in 1990, 1997 and 2013, but also has a troubled history with the country’s powerful military.
Sharif’s last three terms as prime minister in 1990-93, 1997-99, and 2013-17 ended before he could complete his tenures as he was removed by a military-backed president in 1993, ousted in a military coup in 1999, and disqualified by the Supreme Court in 2017.
In 2013, the PML-N bagged 166 seats in the general elections that year to form its government at the center. It lost the 2018 elections to the PTI, led by Sharif’s rival and cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, after bagging only 82 seats. Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, were jailed on graft allegations in 2018, less than two weeks before polls were held. The party claims the elections were heavily rigged.
Sharif went abroad in 2019 after a court allowed him to seek medical treatment and returned in October 2023, marking the end of four years of a self-imposed exile to lead his party in the elections. The PML-N believes Sharif will once again lead the party to victory.
“We are anticipating securing a clear majority in the upcoming elections, forming the government at both the federal and Punjab level,” Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, the party’s chairman, told Arab News on Tuesday.
“Sharif’s legacy of effective governance, particularly in addressing economic challenges, is unmatched and his recent tenure from 2013-17 exemplified his ability to navigate economic issues successfully.”
It was under Sharif’s premiership in 2015 that China and Pakistan signed an agreement relating to a multi-billion-dollar economic corridor, which is part of President Xi Jinping’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Sharif’s party has always positioned itself as one that champions development, and takes credit for building a vast network of roads and launching state-of-the-art mass transit projects.
Haq said if the PML-N wins the national polls, its primary focus would be crisis management and to address Pakistan’s primary challenges such as inflation and lack of security.
Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president of the Islamabad-based think tank PILDAT, said the PML-N’s prospects of winning polls in Punjab and at the center were bright. He cited the results of a recently held survey by Gallup Pakistan, which said Sharif was catching up to Khan in approval ratings.
“This survey was done much before the PTI’s election symbol was taken away,” Mehboob told Arab News, referring to a decision by Pakistan’s election regulator last month to strip the party of its election symbol, a cricket bat.
The decision was a setback as the PTI’s candidates can only contest polls as independents.
“And now, this disadvantage will also impact them [PTI],” he explained.
Mehboob explained that “swing voters,” who are not traditionally aligned with a political party, tend to vote for the party they perceive is favored to win elections.
“In these elections, that party is the PML-N,” he noted.
Mehboob said relatively, the PML-N’s previous performances in terms of governance were better than other political parties.
“Economy is the key challenge and improving relations with India is a key factor for Pakistan to improve its economy, to divert its spending away from India which Sharif always propagated,” he said.
The PML-N was a part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a coalition of parties that ousted Khan from the prime minister’s office in a parliamentary no-trust vote in April 2022. After Khan’s ouster, Sharif’s younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, remained prime minister till August 2023.
Once close to Pakistan’s powerful military, Khan accuses the army of colluding with his rivals, the PML-N among them, to oust him from office in 2022. The military denies the allegation.
Public surveys and a string of by-elections proved Khan’s PTI surged in popularity as Shehbaz Sharif governed a country steeped in overlapping economic, security and political crises. Analysts have predicted PTI candidates pose the most serious challenge to the PML-N in the hotly contested Punjab province.
Political analyst Aasiya Riaz agreed that the PML-N’s chances of winning the upcoming elections were bright. She said it enjoyed better relations with the military than Khan’s PTI.
“How much that translates into seats for the PML-N would depend on voters on Feb. 8,” Riaz told Arab News.
However, she said Sharif’s decision to soften his stance toward the military, with whom he has had bitter relations in the past, could haunt the PML-N in terms of popularity with the masses.
His government was toppled by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in October 1999 after Sharif attempted to sack the army general. In 2013, after Sharif was disqualified by Pakistan’s top court on corruption charges, he once again blamed the military for orchestrating his ouster from office.
Mehboob touched on the PML-N’s past relations with the military, noting that the party had had bitter disagreements with the institution. He said that could prove to be a challenge if the PML-N emerged victorious on Feb. 8.
“And I don’t know whether this will happen this time also or not, but that is something which they need to manage better,” he said.
The other flaw, he said, was that the PML-N had a history of appointing Sharif family members to key positions of power.
Riaz agreed.
“The party has historically neglected parliament and the provincial assemblies,” she said. “It has been unable to invest in institutional building and consensus forums which remained the party’s major weakness.”
Ex-PM Sharif’s party eyes ‘clear majority’ in upcoming Pakistan elections
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Ex-PM Sharif’s party eyes ‘clear majority’ in upcoming Pakistan elections
- Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N party has traditionally held sway in Pakistan’s biggest Punjab province
- Analysts believe the PML-N’s prospects of winning elections at the center, Punjab are ‘bright’
No official word from India it will participate in Champions Trophy in Pakistan — PCB
- Mohsin Naqvi’s statement comes amid Indian media reports their team may not play the tournament
- PCB chief maintains sports should be free from politics, says Pakistan’s preparations are continuing
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday there has been no official communication from Indian cricket authorities regarding their national team’s participation in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Champions Trophy scheduled to take place in Pakistan next year, despite recent reports in the Indian media suggesting otherwise.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan mean the two South Asian rivals only face each other at international tournaments. The Indian team last visited Pakistan in 2008 for the 50-over Asia Cup.
India’s refusal to play on Pakistani soil since then forced the PCB to settle for a “hybrid model” during last year’s Asia Cup, in which only four of the 13 matches were held in Pakistan, with the remaining nine played in Sri Lanka.
“For the past two months, there have been reports in Indian media that the Indian team is not coming [to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy],” Naqvi said during a news conference in Lahore.
“As far as what Indian media is reporting, if the Indian media is reporting this, then with that there must also be a letter that the ICC will give us [Pakistan] or the Indian [cricket] board must have announced [this decision] somewhere,” he continued. “So far, no such letter has reached me or the PCB.”
The ICC Champions Trophy, set to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025, marks Pakistan’s first time hosting this prestigious tournament. The PCB has been preparing extensively, investing in stadium upgrades and infrastructure improvements to meet international standards.
Naqvi emphasized the need to keep sports free from political influence, adding the preparations for the Champions Trophy would continue as planned with hopes for a successful event.
The ICC has previously expressed satisfaction with Pakistan’s preparations, signaling that the tournament remains on track.
The PCB chief said during his media talk he was in contact with the cricket authorities in other countries, saying they were all excited about the upcoming event and wanted to play the tournament in Pakistan.
Pakistan, UAE sign agreements in customs, rail, airport infrastructure, maritime sectors
- UAE minister of state for foreign trade calls on Pakistani PM Sharif
- In May, Pakistan said UAE had committed $10 billion in investments
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the UAE on Friday signed four MoUs in the sectors of customs, rail and airport infrastructure, maritime shipping and logistics, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office in Islamabad said in a statement.
The MoUs were signed between the Pakistani ministries of maritime affairs, aviation and railways and the Federal Board of Revenue with the Abu Dhabi (AD) Ports Group.
“As per these MoUs, Pakistan and AD Ports Group would explore potential collaboration in customs, rail, airport infrastructure and maritime shipping and logistics sectors,” the PM’s office said after Sharif met a delegation of UAE investors led by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE minister of state for foreign trade.
“These MoUs are aimed at improving digital customs controls, developing dedicated freight rail corridors, upgrading Pakistan’s maritime fleet and marine services, as well as Pakistan’s international airports.”
Sharif said the delegation’s visit demonstrated that the UAE government wanted to enhance its “investment footprint” in Pakistan and continue to play a “crucial role” in boosting Pakistan’s economy.
“The Prime Minister highlighted the comprehensive economic partnership between the two nations across sectors such as trade, energy, and investment, which has contributed to growth and prosperity in both countries.”
The UAE delegation’s visit to Pakistan comes as Islamabad is seeking to strengthen trade and investment ties with friendly nations.
In May this, Pakistan said the UAE had committed $10 billion to invest in promising economic sectors in Pakistan.
Riyadh has also promised a $5 billion investment package that cash-strapped Pakistan desperately needs to shore up its dwindling foreign reserves and fight a chronic balance of payment crisis. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also signed 34 MoUs worth $2.8 billion last month.
UN rights body urges Pakistan to end military trials of civilians, release them on bail
- The UN body asks the government to release all civilians detained under the jurisdiction of military courts
- It expressed concern over ‘increasing trend of enforced disappearances,’ as well as torture, other rights issues
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Human Rights Committee on Thursday expressed concerns over Pakistan’s use of military courts to prosecute civilians, calling for immediate reforms to safeguard due process and fair trial standards in the country.
The committee, an expert body established under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, one of the core international human rights treaties, primarily monitors its implementation by member states.
Pakistan first expanded military courts’ jurisdiction in recent years to include civilians in terrorism-related cases and lifted its moratorium on the death penalty following the killings of over 100 school children in an attack in Peshawar carried out by militants in 2014.
It has also tried supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in these courts following the May 9, 2023, riots, in which people carrying PTI flags targeted government buildings and military installations after the ex-premier was briefly detained on corruption charges.
“The Committee remains concerned about the use of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 to prosecute civilians in military courts,” said the review document prepared by the UN body. “It is also concerned about reports that indicate a very high rate of convictions handed down by military courts and that those convicted have been sentenced to death in the majority of cases between 2015 and 2019.”
“It is further concerned that military courts lack independence and that civilians tried in military courts do not benefit from the same due process guarantees as those provided for in the civilian judicial system,” it added.
The UN body noted that Pakistan’s Supreme Court had declared the military trial of civilians unconstitutional and contrary to international human rights standards last year in October, though it added that the ruling was suspended, and expressed concern that civilians could remain under military court jurisdiction until the top court issues a final verdict.
“The State party should take prompt measures to review the legislation on military courts, abrogate their jurisdiction over civilians and their authority to impose the death penalty, and bring their proceedings into full conformity with articles 14 and 15 of the Covenant in order to ensure a fair trial,” the document said. “The State party should also release on bail all civilians detained under the jurisdiction of military courts.”
Additionally, the UN body raised broader human rights concerns in the country, noting “the increasing trend of enforced disappearances,” as well as torture and extrajudicial executions.
It particularly mentioned “arbitrary restrictions, in law and in practice, on freedom of expression online and offline, including the broad and alarmingly frequent use of Internet shutdowns,” pointing out that the overall environment in the country makes it difficult to exercise freedom of expression by journalists, activists and human rights defenders.
The UN rights body’s findings and recommendations are not legally binding on member states. However, they carry significant weight and can be used to inform advocacy efforts and to apply diplomatic pressure on countries to adhere to human rights obligations.
Pakistan says operation launched in southwest against separatists behind August assault
- Outlawed BLA claimed responsibility for string of coordinated attacks on Aug 25-26 in which over 50 people killed
- Former separatist who recently surrendered to authorities addresses press conference but unclear if spoke freely
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched an armed operation in its southwestern Balochistan province against separatist militants who were behind multiple attacks in August in which more than 50 people, civilians and security officials, were killed, a senior counterterrorism officer said on Friday.
The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army group claimed responsibility for the attacks, most of which occurred on the night of Aug. 25-26 and indicated that the BLA, which has targeted security forces for years in small-scale attacks and is allied with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), is now much more organized.
Speaking to media on Friday, Counterterrorism Department DIG Aitzaz Ahmed Goraya said two militants had been arrested and three killed in an operation over the weekend in connection with investigations into the August attacks. The two arrested militants had provided, among other leads, information on how the attacks were planned and carried out, where the funding came from, who the local facilitators of the insurgents were and where their hideouts in the mountains of Balochistan were located, Goraya said.
“Now as I speak to you, based on the information, an operation has been launched since the last two days in Duki, Loralai and surrounding districts in which Frontier Corps, CTD, Levies, police and others are taking part,” the CTD official told reporters.
The press conference was also addressed by a Baloch man who identified himself as Talal Aziz and said he had surrendered to authorities after a brief stint as a separatist.
He did not specify when he had turned himself in and it was unclear under what circumstances he addressed the press conference and whether he spoke freely or under pressure from state authorities in Balochistan, a resource-rich but impoverished province where separatist militants have been fighting a decades-long insurgency to win secession of the region. Insurgents say they are fighting what they see as the unfair exploitation of the province’s mineral and gas wealth by the federation at the center.
The Pakistani government and military deny they are exploiting Balochistan and have long maintained that neighbors such as India, Afghanistan and Iran foment trouble in the remote province and support and fund the insurgency there.
Pakistan’s largest province, Balochistan borders Iran and Afghanistan and is home to major China-led projects such as a strategic port and a gold and copper mine.
Speaking to media, Aziz said he had studied in Quetta and Sibi before getting a scholarship to pursue higher education at the Punjab University in the eastern city of Lahore, where he met some students from Balochistan.
“They convinced me to take up arms for the independence of Balochistan,” Aziz said, saying that later, when he went back to Balochistan during university holidays, some friends pushed him to attend a protest by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) where he was introduced to some dissidents.
The group says it is a human and ethnic rights movement established in response to alleged state human rights abuses in Balochistan but Pakistan’s government and army have repeatedly called it a “terrorist proxy.”
Aziz said after the BYC sit-in, he became convinced to join militants at their mountain hideouts where he claimed he met many other educated, young people like himself who had been similarly “brainwashed.” There, Aziz said he learnt that the purpose of the Baloch militants was to plot the killings of ethnic Punjabis in Balochistan, who they consider outsiders, and he soon realized that he did not want to be part of any such agenda. He then ran away and surrendered to the authorities.
“These terrorists only wanted to lead Baloch people astray and try to break up Pakistan,” Aziz concluded.
The rise of separatist attacks in bBalochistan poses a major challenge for the weak coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which is battling an economic crisis and political instability as well as a rise in militant violence by both religiously motivated and separatist groups across the country.
Balochistan is also currently in the grips of civil rights protests by young ethnic Baloch who are calling for an end to what they describe as a pattern of enforced disappearances and other human rights abuses by security forces, who deny the charge.
Pakistan eyes $25 billion IT exports in three years, 5G rollout despite roadblocks
- Pakistan’s IT exports face significant challenges due to Internet connectivity issues stemming from firewall installations to regulate content
- In August, the Pakistan Software Houses Association said the country’s economy could lose up to $300 million due to Internet disruptions
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s ambitions to boost its information technology (IT) exports to $25 billion in the next three years and to roll out 5G Internet services, despite challenges from firewall installations.
The Pakistan prime minister expressed these plans during his meeting with a delegation of VEON, an Amsterdam-based multinational telecommunication and digital services company, led by its chairman Augie K. Fabela, to discuss his government’s efforts to “develop and promote” the telecommunications sector, according to Sharif’s office.
The South Asian country’s IT exports face significant challenges due to Internet connectivity issues stemming from firewall installations to regulate content and social media platforms that hinder the ability of local tech firms to communicate with international clients. This results in delayed deliveries, loss of business opportunities and a tarnished reputation for Pakistan’s IT industry, ultimately stifling growth and costing millions of rupees in losses.
In August, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) said the country’s economy could lose up to $300 million due to Internet disruptions caused by the imposition of the firewall. However, State Minister for IT Shaza Khawaja repeatedly denied the use of firewalls by the government as a form of censorship.
“We are determined to achieve the target of increasing IT exports from Pakistan to 25 billion dollars in the next three years,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office. “Steps are being taken to introduce 5G Internet services for faster and reliable Internet services in Pakistan.”
Sharif said the rollout of 5G services would make it possible for his government to achieve the vision of “Digital Pakistan.” He said the telecommunications sector would play an important role in promoting a cashless and digital economy, praising the work of a VEON subsidiary, Jazz Group, and expressing his government’s willingness to promote IT, digitization and artificial intelligence (AI) in Pakistan.
The visiting delegation appreciated the Pakistani government’s efforts to stabilize the economy and termed Pakistan an important country for investment in the IT sector, according to Sharif’s office.
Pakistan recorded $298 million in IT exports in June, up 33 percent from the year before. During the fiscal year that ended in June, Pakistan recorded overall IT exports of $3.2 billion, up 24 percent from $2.5 billion in the previous year.
The South Asian nation has lately encouraged its IT sector and facilitated collaborations with firms in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, China and Qatar, to boost its IT exports.
However, IT-related associations and businesses this year raised alarm over slowing Internet speeds as the federal government moved to implement the nationwide firewall to block malicious content, protect government networks from attacks, and allow authorities to identify addresses associated with what it calls “anti-state propaganda.”
In August, the Pakistan Business Council warned that frequent Internet disruptions and low speeds caused by poor implementation of the firewall had led many multinational companies to consider relocating their offices out of Pakistan, with some having “already done so.”
