Bhutto-Zardari’s party weighs options for government formation after Pakistan polls present no clear winner

Pakistan Peoples Party chariman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (2nd left from center) and former president Asif Ali Zardari (3rd left from center) holds party's central executive committee in Islamabad, Pakistan, on February 12, 2024. (PPP)
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Updated 13 February 2024
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Bhutto-Zardari’s party weighs options for government formation after Pakistan polls present no clear winner

  • The development comes amid brewing of political alliances with the likelihood of the formation of a coalition government in the country
  • A prime ministerial candidate must demonstrate a simple majority of 169 seats in the National Assembly when it convenes in coming days

ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s party held on Monday a meeting of its central executive committee (CEC), which deliberated on the results of Feb. 8 national election and the future strategy of the party with regard to the formation of a new government.

The development came amid brewing of political alliances with the likelihood of the formation of a coalition government in the South Asian country of more than 241 million people after Thursday’s vote failed to present a clear winner.

Independent candidates, most loyal to Khan, gained the highest 101 parliamentary seats in the election, followed by three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that bagged 75 seats and Bhutto-Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that clinched 54 seats.

The PPP said its CEC members held discussions with regard to last week’s election and the future of the country after no party managed to gain a simple majority in the 266-member National Assembly, lower house of Pakistan parliament.

“The members exchanged views over the country’s current political and economic situation,” it said in a statement issued after the CEC meeting in Islamabad. “Members of the CEC of the PPP have made various suggestions regarding the political, economic and governmental situation of the country.”

Briefing the media after the meeting, PPP’s Sherry Rehman said while the CEC would continue its deliberations on Tuesday, the party had decided to form committees to “negotiate with other political parties.”

A day earlier, Sharif’s PML-N and the PPP reached a consensus for “political cooperation” between the two parties, the PML-N said in a joint statement, following a huddle between the two sides in the eastern city of Lahore.

Last week, both Sharif and Khan claimed victory following Thursday’s national election, leading to uncertainty regarding formation of the next government in Pakistan that is grappling with multiple crises.

The possibility of a political stalemate in the country leading to delays in both reforms and crucial foreign funding has sparked a selloff in its international bonds and fueled fears of further economic misery for the South Asian country.

A prime ministerial candidate must demonstrate a simple majority of 169 seats in the 266-member National Assembly when the House convenes in the coming days.


250,000 Pakistanis register for Hajj 2026 as deadline ends today

Updated 6 sec ago
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250,000 Pakistanis register for Hajj 2026 as deadline ends today

  • Applicants can choose between government and private Hajj schemes after registering
  • Registration is mandatory for all intending pilgrims, though no fee is required at this stage

ISLAMABAD: Some 250,000 Pakistanis have signed up to perform Hajj in 2026 as the deadline for mandatory registration ends today, Wednesday, state media reported.

Last month, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the launch of the Hajj registration process, which would remain open until July 9. After the deadline, applicants will be able to choose between the government and private Hajj schemes.

Intending pilgrims can register through 15 designated banks, and only those who complete the process will be eligible to perform Hajj next year. No fee is required at the registration stage.

“With just one day remaining for the mandatory registration of Hajj 2026, as many as 250,000 Pakistanis have completed the process,” the Associated Press of Pakistan said in a report on Tuesday.

“It is noteworthy to mention that Wednesday, July 9, is the final date for intending pilgrims to register for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage.”

People may also submit their applications online, it said, adding that the expenses and other terms and conditions of Hajj 2026 will be issued separately as per the Hajj policy.

Registration is mandatory for pilgrims who were left out of the private scheme this year, as well as for Pakistanis residing abroad.

Pakistan had received a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025, evenly divided between the government and private Hajj operators.

However, a major portion of the private quota remained unutilized due to delays by companies in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government filled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.

Private operators blamed the situation on technical glitches such as payment issues and communication breakdowns.


Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home — police

Updated 26 min 29 sec ago
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Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home — police

  • Ali’s body was discovered when a court bailiff arrived at her rented flat to get it vacated
  • The actress appeared on ARY’s reality TV show ‘Tamasha’ as well as in a 2015 film ‘Jalaibee’

KARACHI: Humaira Asghar Ali, a Pakistani actor and model, was found dead at an apartment in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, police said late Tuesday.

Ali’s body was discovered when a court bailiff arrived at the rented apartment to get it vacated on court orders on a complaint filed by the landlord, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mehroz Ali.

“The landlord had filed a court case to have the premises vacated. Today, when the bailiff arrived with a court-issued break-and-enter order and forced open the door, the woman’s body was found inside,” SSP Ali told Arab News.

“The woman has been identified as Humaira Asghar Ali who was a TV actress. It has been learned that she was originally from Lahore.”

The deceased actor was best known for her appearances on ARY’s reality TV show ‘Tamasha’ as well as a 2015 action thriller, ‘Jalaibee.’

Following post-mortem, Karachi Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said, the deceased’s body was in a “very advanced stage of decomposition,” which suggested that she died around a month ago.

“We have collected all relevant samples for analysis. Cause of death reserved,” Syed said.

Ali’s death comes just weeks after renowned actress Ayesha Khan was found dead in her apartment in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, according to police.

Her neighbors reported a foul smell emitting out of her apartment that led to the discovery of the 84-year-old’s body.


Imran Khan’s sons to lobby US, march in Pakistan in new protest movement — sister

Updated 08 July 2025
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Imran Khan’s sons to lobby US, march in Pakistan in new protest movement — sister

  • Khan’s PTI party last week announced new protest campaign after top court denied it reserved parliamentary seats
  • His sister says Khan’s sons will highlight rights situation in Pakistan in US, ‘injustice’ being done to ex-PM

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, will lobby in the United States (US) about Pakistan’s human rights record before traveling to the South Asian country to join a protest movement by their father’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Khan’s sister announced on Tuesday.

The PTI last week announced it would launch a nationwide protest movement against the government after the Islamic month of Muharram, days after Pakistan’s top court denied the party reserved parliamentary seats for minorities and women.

Khan’s party has frequently held protests in recent years, demanding a probe into Feb. 2024 election results and the release of Khan, who has been jailed for nearly two years. His sons live in the UK and have not visited Pakistan in years, facing criticism by Khan opponents for not joining demonstrations for their father’s release, which his party was calling supporters from all over the nation to join.

Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, told reporters in Rawalpindi on Tuesday that his sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, had decided to travel from the United Kingdom (UK) to the US and would eventually arrive in Pakistan to play their role in the PTI’s protest campaign against the government.

“Firstly, they are going to America and they’re telling all their friends, ‘And we will go and tell them [US administration] about the human rights [situation] and what injustice is being done to their father [in Pakistan]’,” Aleema said.

“Secondly, Sulaiman [and] Qasim have said, ‘After that, we will come to Pakistan.’ And they want to play their part in the [protest] movement.”

This is not the first time Khan’s sons have spoken about Pakistan’s domestic politics and their father, who has been in jail on corruption and other charges.

In a rare interview with business influencer and citizen journalist Mario Nawfal in May, they had urged US President Donald Trump and the “people of influence” around the world to help free their father from prison, speaking of alleged “suppression of democracy” in Pakistan and a lack of basic facilities for Khan in his prison cell.

Khan’s PTI has held frequent protests demanding his release and against the Pakistani government over what it says were rigged general elections in Feb. 2024 and a campaign to subdue PTI and its support base since Khan’s ouster from the PM’s office in April 2022.

Pakistani authorities deny the allegations and accuse the ex-premier and his party of leading violent anti-government protests in the past, particularly in May 2023 and Nov. 2024. Hundreds of PTI supporters were jailed after riots allegedly ordered by the party against the army on May 9, 2023, while the government says four troops were killed in protests in November last year to demand Khan’s release. The PTI denies instigating followers to violence.

The PTI announced the latest round of protests after the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench on June 27 ruled that the party was not entitled to reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies, upholding an earlier verdict by the Peshawar High Court. The dispute arose after the PTI lost its electoral symbol ahead of the February 8, 2024 national polls and its candidates contested as independents.

Despite PTI-backed candidates winning the most general seats, the party was denied reserved seats for women and minorities, which are allocated to political parties based on proportional representation, by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The government lost its two-thirds majority in parliament in July 2024 when the top court reversed the ECP’s decision, terming it unconstitutional and ordering the reserved seats to be allocated to PTI. The ECP and the political parties had filed review petitions, which were accepted by the top court last week.


Chinese air chief hails Pakistan’s ‘textbook’ response in recent India conflict — ISPR

Updated 08 July 2025
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Chinese air chief hails Pakistan’s ‘textbook’ response in recent India conflict — ISPR

  • PLA Air Force chief praises ‘precision and discipline’ of PAF in face of Indian aggression
  • High-level visit follows Indian claims Beijing gave Pakistan ‘live inputs’ during four-day war

ISLAMABAD: The Chinese air chief has praised Pakistan’s military response during its May conflict with India as a “textbook example” of modern warfare, the Pakistan army said on Tuesday, quoting remarks that come amid renewed Indian allegations of Chinese support to Islamabad during their latest conflict in May. 

Lt. Gen. Wang Gang, chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), made the comments during a high-level visit to Islamabad on Monday, where he met Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and discussed regional security, airpower cooperation, and bilateral military ties.

“He praised the decisive and measured response delivered by PAF pilots under the resolute leadership of the Air Chief, describing it as a textbook example of precision, discipline and courage in the face of unprovoked aggression,” the Pakistani army said in an official statement, quoting Wang. 

The Chinese general “paid rich tribute to the exemplary performance” of the PAF during the conflict with India, which took place from May 7 to 10 and involved drones, missiles, and artillery fire before a US-brokered ceasefire ended hostilities.

Wang’s remarks follow claims by Indian Army Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh, who last week alleged China had provided Pakistan with “live inputs” about Indian military positions during the May fighting. Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has rejected the claim as “factually incorrect” and a “shoddy attempt” to explain India’s battlefield failures.

While Beijing has not officially responded to the Indian allegations, the Chinese delegation’s strong endorsement of PAF’s conduct has added diplomatic weight to its deepening military alignment with Islamabad.

“Lt. Gen. Wang Gang expressed deep appreciation for the high state of operational readiness and the cutting-edge capabilities of Pakistan Air Force,” the official statement said, adding that he was “particularly impressed by PAF’s seamless integration of Multi-Domain Operations, terming it a hallmark of modern air warfare.”

The visiting delegation was also given a detailed briefing on the PAF’s evolving force structure, modernization plans and strategic initiatives.

Air Chief Marshal Sidhu “reiterated that Pakistan and China enjoy historic and time-tested ties rooted in mutual trust, strategic convergence and shared aspirations for regional peace & stability,” the statement added.

Pakistan and China have long collaborated on airpower development, including co-producing the JF-17 fighter jet and holding joint training exercises. But their military alignment has grown closer in recent years, particularly amid rising tensions with India, with whom both have longstanding disputes. The latest visit reinforces that trajectory, military observers say.

“The meeting stands as a testament to the shared resolve of Pakistan and China to advance their time-tested strategic partnership through deepened cooperation and innovation-driven collaboration,” the Pakistani military said.

In an address this week, Munir said India had failed to achieve its stated military objectives in “Operation Sindoor,” New Delhi’s campaign during the May conflict.

Pakistan said it launched “Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos” in retaliation for Indian attacks on civilian and military sites. India claimed it had only targeted militant infrastructure.

Tensions between the neighbors had escalated into a brief war after an April 2025 militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed several tourists, an incident New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, which Islamabad denied.
 


Pakistan prequalifies four investors for PIA, greenlights Roosevelt Hotel joint venture deal

Updated 08 July 2025
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Pakistan prequalifies four investors for PIA, greenlights Roosevelt Hotel joint venture deal

  • Pakistani state-owned enterprises lose over $2.87 billion annually, total government support pushes burden past $3.59 billion
  • PIA has roughly accumulated over $2.5 billion losses, while Roosevelt remains one of Pakistan’s most politically sensitive assets

KARACHI: Pakistan has prequalified four investors for the sale of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), while its Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCOP) has approved the transaction structure for the denationalization of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York under a joint venture, the ministry of privatization said on Tuesday.

Pakistan has been seeking to sell a 51-100 percent stake in the struggling national airline to raise funds and reform cash-draining, state-owned enterprises as envisaged under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund program. It would be the country’s first major privatization in nearly two decades.

Among the bidding groups, one is a consortium of major industrial firms Lucky Cement, Hub Power Holdings, Kohat Cement and Metro Ventures. Another is led by investment firm Arif Habib Corp. and includes fertilizer producer Fatima Fertilizer, private education operator The City School, and real estate firm Lake City Holdings. Additionally, Fauji Fertilizer Company, a military-backed conglomerate, and Pakistani airline Airblue, have been approved to bid for PIA.

“The prequalified parties will now proceed to the buy-side due diligence phase — a critical next step in the transparent and competitive privatization process of PIACL,” the privatization commission’s statement said.

PIA, once a respected carrier in Asia, has been propped up by taxpayers for decades due to political interference, corruption and inefficiencies. The airline’s privatization has repeatedly collapsed amid union resistance, legal hurdles and low investor appetite.

Pakistani state-owned enterprises post annual losses of more than Rs800 billion ($2.87 billion), and when subsidies, grants and other support are included, the burden swells beyond Rs1 trillion ($3.59 billion), Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told parliament while presenting the budget for fiscal year 2025–26 earlier this month.

PIA has been one of the government’s most costly liabilities, which has accumulated over $2.5 billion in losses in roughly a decade and been surviving on repeated bailouts that have weighed heavily on Pakistan’s strained budget.

Last month, five consortiums submitted expressions of interest for a 51–100 percent stake in PIA after the government restructured its balance sheet to make the deal more attractive. It also scrapped the sales tax on leased aircraft and is providing limited protection from legal and tax claims. Around 80 percent of the airline’s debt has been transferred to the state.

ROOSEVELT HOTEL

Separately, the CCOP approved the transaction structure for Roosevelt Hotel under a “Joint Venture model with multiple options.”

“This option is aimed at maximizing long-term value for the country, while ensuring flexibility, multiple exit opportunities, and minimizing future fiscal exposure,” the privatization commission said.

How much money the hotel ultimately brings in, and its overall valuation, depends on the type of transaction structure adopted, Privatization Commission Chairman Muhammad Ali told Arab News in an interview last month. If the government formed a joint venture with a private investor, sharing both the risks and future profits, the hotel could be worth four to five times more than its as-is valuation, he said at the time.

“So, depending on what sort of structure you have, how much risk you take, how much effort the government puts in, we can make a lot of money from this asset,” the privatization chief had said.

The Roosevelt, a 1,015-room historic hotel in Midtown Manhattan, has long been one of Pakistan’s most prominent but politically sensitive overseas assets. Acquired by Pakistan International Airlines Investment Limited (PIAIL) in 1979, the hotel occupies a full city block on Madison Avenue and 45th Street. Over the past two decades, successive Pakistani governments have floated plans to sell, lease, or redevelop the property, but no proposal has advanced beyond early-stage planning.

Operations at the Roosevelt were suspended in 2020 following steep financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Pakistan entered a short-term lease with the City of New York to use the property as a temporary shelter for asylum seekers, generating more than $220 million in projected rental income. That agreement ended in 2024 and no new revenue stream has since been announced.

The Roosevelt Hotel is one of several state assets the government hopes will contribute to its target of raising Rs86 billion ($306 million) in privatization proceeds during the fiscal year starting July 1, alongside the sale of PIA and three electricity distribution companies.