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Ex-PM Sharif, allies agree to form coalition government

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Former Pakistani PRime minister Shahbaz Sharif (L), Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) party (C) and Pakistan's former President Asif Ali Zardari pictured during a press conference in Lahore, Pakistan on February 13, 2024. (Photo courtesy: @pmln_org/X)
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Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (C) speaks during a press conference in Islamabad on February 13, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 14 February 2024
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Ex-PM Sharif, allies agree to form coalition government

  • Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz nominates Shehbaz Sharif as candidate for PM, Maryam Nawaz for Punjab CM posts
  • IPP, PML-Q, MQM-P and BAP parties affirm support for PML-N-led government, vow to unite to tackle Pakistan’s crises
Updated 14 February 2024
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Six Pakistani political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) announced on Tuesday that they have agreed to form a coalition government at the center, seeking to end a political stalemate after last week’s inconclusive elections.

Political parties have been scrambling since last week to forge alliances for a coalition government at the center. Thursday’s general elections saw independent candidates backed by ex-PM Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) win 93 seats, while PML-N obtained 75 seats, and the PPP won 54.

Khan’s PTI ruled out the possibility of a coalition government with the PPP or the PML-N, saying that it would instead forge alliances with religious parties Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to form coalition governments in the center, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

“Friends, we have decided that we will sit together to form a government and pull Pakistan out of its problems,” PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari told reporters at a news conference held at the residence of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) party. 

The press conference took place after Zardari, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Aleem Khan, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) representative Sadiq Sanjrani, Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Hussain held a detailed meeting. 

Zardari called for reconciliation, inviting the PTI to hold talks with other parties on tackling the host of crises that Pakistan faces.

“We welcome them [PTI] to join us in this process, and all political forces are invited to engage in discussions about reconciliation,” the PPP co-chairman said. 

In a surprise development, PML-N information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb announced on social media platform X that the party’s chief, Nawaz Sharif, had nominated his younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, as its candidate for the prime minister’s post. 

She said he had also nominated his daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, for the post of Punjab chief minister. 

Speaking at the press conference, Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s economic crisis was the most important challenge facing the country at the moment. 

“Only those nations move forward whose leadership unites and decides to end their differences to ensure their people’s progress,” he said. He pointed out that the new government would have to “fight a war” against unemployment and inflation. 

MQM-P leader Siddiqui vowed to support a PML-N-led government at the center. 

“With mutual cooperation, we will strengthen democracy and support Mian Shehbaz Sharif,” he told reporters. “We have supported him before and will do so in future.”

Political parties need to boost their seat count to the required 169 in the National Assembly. Along with the 266 directly elected seats, there are also 70 reserved seats — 60 for women and 10 for non-Muslims— allocated based on each party’s strength in the National Assembly, to determine their final standing.

A prime ministerial candidate needs to demonstrate a simple majority of 169 seats in the National Assembly, which consists of 336 seats.’

While the PPP, PML-N and MQM-P have a combined strength of 146 seats, the IPP has two seats, the PML-Q has three seats and the BAP has one. 

Bhutto Zardari says PPP not to be part of government 

Earlier on Tuesday, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had announced his party would support the PML-N’s candidate for the prime minister’s post. However, he said the PPP would not be part of the government and that he would pull out of the race for the premiership. 
 
“We are not in a position to join the federal government ourselves, we are not interested in taking ministries, but we also don’t want to see political chaos and perpetual chaos in the country,” Bhutto Zardari told reporters at a news conference at Zardari House in Islamabad. 

“We will be willing to support [the PML-N] on an issue-to-issue basis, in case of important votes, candidate for prime minister of Pakistan and to ensure the government is formed, and political stability is restored,” he added. 

The Bhutto scion said he was pulling out of the race for Pakistan’s prime minister. 

“The reality is that the Pakistan Peoples Party does not have a mandate to form the federal government and because of that, I will not be putting myself forward for the candidacy of prime minister of Pakistan,” he announced. 

He said the PPP had formed a committee to engage with other parties to form the government. He said the committee would deliberate on the PPP’s vote on important issues such as the national budget, the prime minister’s election, and important legislation. Bhutto Zardari said the party would also field its candidates for the National Assembly speaker, chairman of the Senate, and president.
 

Topics: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) elections 2024

Pakistani bank signs LC Confirmation deal with International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation

Updated 05 November 2024
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Pakistani bank signs LC Confirmation deal with International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation

  • This product facilitates trade flow by allowing exporters and issuing banks to gain assurance from the ITFC
  • It will support private sector clients by working with banks in Organization of Islamic Cooperation states
Updated 05 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Meezan Bank, a leading Islamic bank in Pakistan, has signed a new strategic partnership with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) under its Letter of Credit (LC) Confirmation product to support the private sector, the Pakistani bank said on Tuesday.
This product facilitates trade flow by allowing exporters and issuing banks to gain assurance from the ITFC, a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, to secure payment and thus eliminate credit risks, according to a statement issued by Meezan Bank.
It will support private sector clients, including small-medium enterprises (SMEs), by working with local banks in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries to facilitate various import transactions.
The agreement was signed by Nazeem Noordali, Chief Operating Officer of ITFC, and Syed Amir Ali, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Meezan Bank, in the presence of executives from both sides.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our business relationship with ITFC as we solidify our partnership. This arrangement reinforces our Bank’s commitment to reliability, stability, and financial excellence,” said Syed Amir Ali, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Meezan Bank.
“The Letter of Credit Confirmation Agreement strengthens our position in the market, enabling us to capitalize on new opportunities and facilitate international Islamic trade.”
Meezan Bank is the first bank in Pakistan to partner with ITFC for the LC Confirmation facility. It will enable the Pakistani bank to extend geographical coverage by leveraging the ITFC network, both in member and non-member countries. It will also enable the Bank to handle LC Confirmation transactions of up to 12 months.
“We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Meezan Bank through this Letter of Credit Confirmation Agreement, which reflects our commitment and support to private sector clients in our member countries,” M. Nazeem Noordali, Chief Operating Officer of ITFC, was quoted as saying by Meezan Bank.
 

Topics: Meezan Bank Pakistan

Pakistani actors Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed starrer ‘Love Guru’ to release on Eid

Updated 05 November 2024
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Pakistani actors Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed starrer ‘Love Guru’ to release on Eid

  • The movie will be directed by industry veteran Nadeem Baig and also feature actor Ahmed Ali Butt
  • Pakistani cinema has witnessed a revival over the past decade with the release of a number of movies
Updated 05 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani superstar Mahira Khan has said that her new film ‘Love Guru’ will be released on Eid next year, which will feature her alongside actors Humayun Saeed and Ahmed Ali Butt.

Khan, who will be playing the female lead alongside Saeed, said the movie is directed by Nadeem Baig. Both Khan and Saeed appeared together in the Pakistani film ‘Bin Roye’ nine years ago, with fans admiring their chemistry on screen.

“There is one project that we are shooting for the past month,” Khan told reporters at an event in London. “It’s film Love Guru that will be released on Eid.”

The actress expressed happiness and thanked her fans for the amount of love she received in London.

Khan has made a mark in international cinema with her performances in ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ (2022) and Bollywood flick ‘Raees’ (2017) alongside Shah Rukh Khan. Her acting skills in the two movies were widely praised by critics and made her a household name in Pakistan and India.

Pakistani cinema industry has witnessed a revival over the past decade with the release of a number of movies, including ‘Zinda Bhaag’ (2013) and ‘Ho Mann Jahaan’ (2016), which were based on a mix of traditional and modern themes.

The success of these films has led to an increase in investment in movie production, with many new films being released each year.

Topics: Mahira Khan Pakistan

Pakistan, China conclude bilateral air exercise to bolster interoperability

Updated 05 November 2024
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Pakistan, China conclude bilateral air exercise to bolster interoperability

  • The exercise simulated various military tactics in near-realistic, multi-domain operations
  • Pakistan is separately holding a joint military exercise, Harimau-Markhore II, with Malaysia
Updated 05 November 2024

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Tuesday concluded a bilateral air exercise aimed at strengthening interoperability between the two air forces, the Pakistani military said.

The Indus Shield-Chinese exercise, a bilateral module of the Indus Shield 2024 military exercise, concluded at an operational air base of Pakistan Air Force (PAF), according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.

It witnessed participation from People’s Liberation Army Air Force with its personnel and high-tech equipment comprising Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, J-16 and J-10C fighter with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) equipment, HQ-22 surface-to-air defense system, Potent Airborne Electronic Warfare YTG-9 Platform, and the KJ-500 airborne early warning system pitched against the PAF’s J-10C and JF-17 Block-III fighter jets simulating contemporary aerial combat scenarios.

“The successful execution of such a large-scale exercise demonstrates Pakistan Air Force’s joint operational readiness among allied nations while addressing contemporary security challenges,” the ISPR said in a statement.

“Aimed at validating interoperability between China and Pakistan in the face of contemporary air combat challenges and by simulating various military tactics in near-realistic, multi-domain operations training environment, Indus Shield-Chinese has maximized the warfighting potential of both the participating air forces.”

Indus Shield-2024 is the largest multinational regional exercise, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye among 24 countries taking part in it. The exercise aims to foster interoperability and training through state-of-the-art facilities.

Pakistan is separately holding a joint military exercise, Harimau-Markhore II, with Malaysia, Pakistani state media reported on Tuesday. The two-week-long exercise began at the National Counter-Terrorism Center in Pabbi in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtukhwa (KP) province.

“The exercise will strengthen bilateral relations between the Malaysian and Pakistani forces and provide opportunities to benefit from each other’s experiences and expertise in the future,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.

Pakistan frequently holds exercise drills with regional and international allies to foster interoperability and joint deployment concepts to strengthen regional and global security.

Also, Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Zulfiquar visited Port Djibouti during deployment on a regional maritime security patrol, the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of Pakistan Navy said on Tuesday.

The commanding officer of PNS Zulfiquar called on senior military leadership and explored avenues for further collaboration, while the crew had professionally rewarding interactions with Djibouti Navy and Coast Guards during the port call.

“Pakistan and Djibouti enjoy close and cordial relations based on mutual respect and understanding. Both the countries also have numerous common interests in maritime arena,” the DGPR said in a statement. “Upon departure, PNS Zulfiquar conducted Passage Exercise with Djibouti Coast Guards to enhance inter-operability.”

Topics: China Pakistan ties pakistan air force

Pakistan approves Hajj Policy 2025, adds new role to improve pilgrim services

Updated 05 November 2024
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Pakistan approves Hajj Policy 2025, adds new role to improve pilgrim services

  • Pakistan will send 179,210 pilgrims, equally divided between the government and private sector
  • Government will prioritize first-time pilgrims in the official balloting process, says a statement
Updated 05 November 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the Hajj Policy 2025, said an official statement, specifying a quota of 179,210 pilgrims and introducing a new position of the “nazim” or administrator to ensure improved services for those embarking on the spiritual journey.
Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, is an annual pilgrimage to Makkah undertaken by millions of Muslims. Pakistan has one of the largest Hajj quotas provided by Saudi Arabia to any Muslim country amid immense demand for the pilgrimage, with many citizens waiting years for an opportunity to participate.
“The federal cabinet approved the Hajj Policy 2025 on the recommendation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony,” an official handout from the Prime Minister’s Office said. “The cabinet was informed that Pakistan’s Hajj quota for 2025 will be 179,210, divided equally between the government and the private sector.”
The new policy includes the creation of a “nazim” position, aimed at ensuring the well-being of pilgrims throughout the journey.
“For every 100 pilgrims, one nazim will be appointed from the welfare staff,” the handout added, underscoring the government’s intent to improve the pilgrimage experience.
Under the policy, children under 12 will not be allowed to travel for Hajj. Government quota allocation will be conducted through computerized balloting, with 1,000 seats reserved for hardship cases and 300 for laborers or low-income employees registered with the Workers Welfare Fund or the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution.
Additionally, the Makkah Route Initiative, offering streamlined immigration services, will be available at Islamabad and Karachi international airports. To further enhance the experience, Hajj Group Organizers will sign service agreements with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, with close monitoring of service quality.
In light of previous challenges, the cabinet has increased compensation for pilgrims who may pass away or get injured during the pilgrimage. The families of deceased pilgrims will receive Rs1 million to Rs2 million, while injured pilgrims will receive Rs1 million in compensation.
A specialized Hajj management app has also been developed to support pilgrims, along with extensive training initiatives.
The cabinet directed priority in the balloting process to first-time pilgrims and emphasized the importance of ensuring top-quality services for all participants.

Topics: Hajj 2025 hajj Pakistan Saudi Ties

Pakistan government defends bills extending tenure of armed services chiefs

Updated 05 November 2024
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Pakistan government defends bills extending tenure of armed services chiefs

  • Parliament has approved bills to extend tenure of army, navy, and air force chiefs from 3 to 5 years
  • Opposition fears extending tenure will consolidate the hold of already all-powerful army chief
Updated 05 November 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has defended the passage this week by Pakistan’s parliament of bills that extend the tenures of the army, navy and air force chiefs, saying the move would check against services chiefs granting themselves extensions and “formalize” the duration of their service.

The bills, approved by Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate on Monday, have been pushed by the coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif which argues that they are aimed at building continuity and avoiding some of the political turmoil that usually surrounds the appointment of the army chief every three years. The bills also extend the tenure of the heads of the navy and air force, though those positions hold less influence in Pakistan.

The office of the army chief is considered to be the most powerful in the country, with the army having ruled Pakistan for almost half of its 75-year -long history. Even when not directly in power, the army is considered to be the invisible guiding hand in politics and holds considerable sway in internal security, foreign policy, and economic affairs, among other domains. Several army chiefs in the past have been given extensions in service.

“What we did [passage of bills], these extensions [in army chief’s term] started from Ayub Khan’s time,” Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said, referring to a Pakistani general who carried out a military coup in 1958 and ruled until 1969.

“That thing has been formalized now, and we have increased the tenure. You pick up the rest of the institutions. [...] the National Assembly [term] is also for five years.”

“Now the trend of extensions, how it was in the past that people gave an extension to themselves [will be ended],” Asif added, referring to now retired Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who served as army chief from 2016-22 after getting a three-year extension.

Speaking to a Pakistani news channel, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar also said the uncertainty surrounding the army chief’s appointment had been addressed through the new legislation.

“The five-year tenure [of the services chiefs] will not affect the institution’s merit-based system … The amendments are not introduced suddenly, instead the consultation on them was underway, and this legislation is not done for any individual.”

OPPOSITION STANCE

As the bills were passed on Monday in the National Assembly, opposition lawmakers from the PTI party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan chanted against the measure. Some of them tore up copies of the bills and threw them at Speaker Ayaz Sadiq for not allowing debate. A similar protest by lawmakers from Khan’s party took place when the bill was quickly passed by the Senate, where Sharif’s party also holds a majority. The bill will now go to the president for his approval.

Omar Ayub Khan, a top leader of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, told reporters after the bill passed that the legislation “is neither good for country nor for the armed forces.”

The PTI is widely believed to be against an extension in service particularly for incumbent Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, who it considers to be behind the ouster of Khan from the PM’s office in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022. The PTI also says the army is behind legal cases against Khan that have kept him in prison since August last year. The military denies any interference in politics.

The passage of the new bills follows controversial amendments made to the constitution last month, granting lawmakers the authority to nominate the chief justice of Pakistan, who previously used to be automatically appointed according to the principle of seniority.

The amendments allowed the government to bypass the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, and appoint Justice Yahya Afridi as the country’s top judge.

The opposition and the legal fraternity had opposed the amendments, arguing that they were aimed at granting more power to the executive in making judicial appointments and curtailing the independence of the judiciary. The government denies this.

Topics: Khawaja Asif National Assembly of Pakistan

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