ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and ex-finance minister Miftah Ismail formally launched a new political party on Saturday, calling for individuals with “ability and influence” to join their ranks to bring about change in the country amid a deeply polarized environment.
Both politicians were senior members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party but recently decided to part ways due to growing differences with its leadership.
Ismail, who took over as finance minister two years ago during a critical period for Pakistan’s economy, advocated for strict structural reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which led to significant economic hardships for the population. His decisions were later criticized by party colleagues for being detrimental to PML-N’s political standing, leading to his sidelining by the current deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar, who is closely aligned with the Sharif family.
Abbasi criticized the broader approach of PML-N politics, arguing that despite multiple opportunities to govern, the party had failed to effect meaningful change for the people.
Together, the two politicians have decided to mobilize the public to “change the system” to create promising economic opportunities for everyone.
“To be in Awaam Pakistan, you need ability and influence,” Abbasi said while launching the new political faction. “If you have neither, you cannot be a part of this party.”
He said there was a long list of the political parties which had been created by the establishment, a euphemism for the country’s powerful military that has directly ruled the country for nearly three decades since independence in 1947.
“People ask us directly or indirectly, is the establishment with you? Have you got their permission? This is the biggest argument that highlights the failure of Pakistan’s politics,” he continued.
“Today, a common man in this country realizes and thinks there is no politics without the establishment,” he said, adding that all state institutions should have a constitutional relationship.
Addressing the gathering, Ismail said that Pakistan had become a “predatory” state where the rulers and the state were like a hunter and the public had been reduced to a prey.
“This budget is a reflection of the rulers’ priorities,” he said, referring to the finance bill approved last month while lamenting that taxes had been doubled for the salaried class.
“You all have to join politics,” he continued. “Politics can’t be left to politicians only, common people have to join it as well.”
The former finance minister informed all positions in the newly launched party had a term limit.
“No one will have a position for more than two terms,” he added. “Merit must be promoted on every level.”
Former PM Abbasi, ex-finance minister Ismail launch new political party amid polarized environment
https://arab.news/r9znv
Former PM Abbasi, ex-finance minister Ismail launch new political party amid polarized environment
- The former PML-N leaders emphasize meritocracy, say all office bearers will serve for two terms
- Miftah Ismail calls Pakistan ‘predatory’ state, laments more taxes on the salaried class in the budget
Four key match-ups in Pakistan-England Test series
- The Stokes-Shah showdown lit up the Twenty20 World Cup final in Melbourne in November 2022, with the batter surviving Shah’s lethal spell
- But barely a month later the rivalry was renewed in Rawalpindi stadium as Shah bowled Stokes for 41 on the day when England piled record haul
MULTAN: Test encounters between Pakistan and England have often been defined by player-on-player showdowns which inject added drama into the already heated confrontation.
Ahead of their three-match series starting Monday in Multan, AFP Sports looks at four key match-ups set to entertain:
Pakistan’s pace spearhead was sidelined with a knee injury when England inflicted a 3-0 clean sweep in 2022. This time he has a chance to halt England’s juggernauts led by opener Duckett.
The left-hander smashed a brilliant century on the Test’s opening day two years ago as England amassed a first-day world record of 506-4 — blazing a trail for Pakistan’s first-ever home whitewash.
Duckett has proven capable of upsetting any bowler with his aggression straight out of the gate.
But Shaheen’s lethal yorkers and swing with a new ball regularly put brakes on the scoring rate and secure wickets up front.
Watch out as the pair tussle for control.
Two years ago, Ahmed was just 18 when he became the youngest England bowler to take a five-wicket haul on debut against Pakistan in Karachi.
Now matured, he is likely to face down Pakistan star batter Azam — one of his victims back in 2022.
Ahmed’s googly could prolong Azam’s run drought, with Pakistani looking to rediscover his touch to counter the wiley spinner.
Azam quit his white-ball captaincy this week to focus on his role at the crease.
His showdown with Ahmed will be the first test of whether he can return to form.
Root has a phenomenal record as England’s top batter — soon set to break former skipper Alistair Cook’s career record of more than 12,000 Test runs.
But in the 2022 tour, it was spinner Abrar who dismissed Root in each innings of the second Test in Multan for low scores of 8 and 21.
Nonetheless, Root holds the record for most hundreds for England with 34, achieving half of them over the past four years.
Pakistan will rely on Abrar for slow and turning wickets. A spin duel between the pair will be a clash to watch.
The Stokes-Shah showdown lit up the Twenty20 World Cup final in Melbourne in November 2022, with the batter surviving Shah’s lethal spell and hitting a fighting half-century to secure England’s triumph.
But barely a month later the rivalry was renewed in Rawalpindi stadium as Shah bowled Stokes for 41 on the day when England piled up its record haul.
Shah missed the next two Tests with a shoulder injury. But when the three-match series starts next week he will have more experience and better fitness — although the contest could be delayed as Stokes races to overcome a hamstring niggle in time for the first Test.
If he’s ready, Stokes will have to overcome a fiery Shah looking to push him to the hilt.
Pakistani military says two militants killed in volatile northwest
- One of the deceased militants was said to be involved in bomb attack on convoy of foreign diplomats
- Pakistan blames surge in militancy on groups operating from Afghanistan, Kabul denies the allegations
KARACHI: Two militants were killed and one was apprehended in a joint intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said on Saturday.
The operation was jointly conducted with law enforcement agencies in Charbagh area of the Swat district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
The deceased militants included Atta Ullah alias Mehran who was involved in multiple militant activities, including a bomb attack in Swat on a convoy of foreign diplomats last month that killed one police officer.
“Sanitization of the area is being carried out,” the ISPR said in a statement. “Security forces in coordination with law enforcement agencies are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.”
Swat — a snow-capped mountain valley split by turquoise waters — is one of Pakistan’s most famed beauty spots, but its reputation has a dark side.
In 2012, Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban while campaigning as a schoolgirl for education in the same district that later earned her the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Pakistani Taliba historically have roots in Afghanistan and share the same ideology as the Afghan Taliban. From 2007 to 2009, they killed thousands of civilians and seized control of several areas of Swat Valley before being driven back by the military.
Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks in recent months and says militants mainly associated with the Pakistani Taliban frequently launch attacks from hideouts in neighboring Afghanistan, targeting police and other security forces.
Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for facilitating anti-Pakistan militants. Kabul denies the charges.
Royal Saudi Air Force joins Sindh Shield 2024 exercise in Pakistan
- The event, hosted at Mushaf Air Base, brings together air forces from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkiye in a comprehensive training scenario
- Lt. Gen. Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, commander of the RSAF, saw off departure of Saudi contingent from King Abdulaziz Air Base in Eastern Sector
RIYADH: The Royal Saudi Air Force has deployed to Pakistan for the multinational Shield of Sindh 2024 exercise.
The event, hosted at Mushaf Air Base, brings together air forces from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkiye in a comprehensive training scenario.
Lt. Gen. Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, commander of the RSAF, saw off the departure of the Saudi contingent from King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Eastern Sector.
Before takeoff, he conducted a thorough inspection of equipment and received detailed briefings on the operational readiness of flight crews, technical teams and support personnel. The Saudi contribution to the exercise is substantial, featuring a squadron of six Tornado aircraft.
Speaking about the exercise, he said: “Our participation in Shield of Sindh 2024 serves multiple objectives. It strengthens our bonds with Pakistan and other participating nations, while also providing a platform to demonstrate the exceptional capabilities and professionalism of the Royal Saudi Air Force, and allowing air and support crews to gain more combat experience in unconventional and electronic warfare environments.”
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Pakistan to face India in Dubai tomorrow
- Pakistan, who have never made it out of the group stages, beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs in opener
- On the other hand, India lost their opening group match to New Zealand on Friday by 58 runs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan women’s team will face India on Sunday in their Twenty20 World Cup group stage match in Dubai, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Pakistan, who have never made it out of the group stages in eight previous attempts, beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs in their World Cup opener on Thursday.
The Pakistani side is scheduled to play its second group match against India at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.
“The match will start at 3:00 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time,” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported on Saturday.
Pakistan made 116 in their 20 overs in the opening match. They staged a determined fightback to beat Sri Lanka, with left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal claiming three wickets.
Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail and player of the match Fatima Sana all took two each for Pakistan against Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka.
On the other hand, India lost their opening match to New Zealand on Friday by 58 runs.
India were never in the chase after losing openers Shafali Verma, for two, and Smriti Mandhana, for 12, inside the first five overs.
Pakistani and Russian generals review defense cooperation, express satisfaction with progress
- Pakistan and Russia have worked to strengthen their defense and security relations in recent years
- Russia’s Deputy Chief of General Staff Sergey Istrakov lauds the professionalism of Pakistani armed forces
ISLAMABAD: Russia’s Deputy Chief of General Staff Sergey Yuryevich Istrakov held a meeting with Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza in Rawalpindi on Friday, during which both military commanders reviewed bilateral defense cooperation and expressed satisfaction with its trajectory.
Pakistan and Russia have worked to strengthen their defense and security relations in recent years, marking a shift from their historically strained ties during the Cold War period. The two sides conducted a joint military exercise in 2021, a few years after Pakistan received four Mi-35 attack helicopters from Russia in 2017.
Earlier this year, General Mirza also visited the Russian Federation to engage with the top military leadership in Moscow.
“During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction on positive trajectory of bilateral defense cooperation and discussed the evolving security situation in the region with a view to promote regional peace and stability,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement while sharing details of the meeting.
“The visiting dignitary lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism,” it added.
In addition to defense ties, Pakistan and Russia have expanded their collaboration in economic and energy sectors.
This includes discussions on gas pipelines, crude oil supplies and broader trade relations, underlined by Moscow’s recent support for Pakistan’s inclusion in an economic bloc consisting of five major economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
