ISLAMABAD: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently assured a fellow parliamentarian that there have been “no recent indications” from Pakistani authorities that they intend to try former prime minister Imran Khan in a military court, reiterating that he had the right to a fair trial and due process.
Protesters linked to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party attacked and damaged government and military buildings on May 9, 2023, after his brief arrest that day in a land graft case. Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots. The military has also initiated trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
The development raised fears among Khan supporters of his possible trial by a military court, prompting the former prime minister to file a petition in the Islamabad High Court against it. The petition was dismissed by the court in September after the government said it had not decided whether or not it wanted to try the former premier.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson in September hinted at Khan’s possible military trial, saying that though the matter was sub judice, using military personnel for personal or political gains invites legal action.
In response to an Oct. 16 letter penned by Labour legislator Kim Johnson, Lammy assured him that the UK government engages regularly “at a senior level” with Pakistan on the country’s political situation.
“We have no recent indications from the Pakistani authorities that they intend to try Imran Khan in a military court, but my officials continue to monitor the situation closely,” Lammy wrote in a letter to Johnson dated Nov. 11.
The UK official said he has raised concerns about the potential use of military courts to try civilians, including Khan. Lammy added that such courts can lack transparency and independent scrutiny, making it difficult to assess their compliance with international standards.
“While Pakistan’s judicial processes are a domestic matter, we have been very clear that the Pakistani authorities need to act in line with their international obligations and with respect for fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process and humane detention,” he wrote.
“This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan’s citizens.”
Lammy said he remains concerned by restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in Pakistan, including those in relation to political opposition.
“In our engagements with the authorities, we continue to underline that the freedom to hold and express views without censorship, intimidation or unnecessary restriction is a cornerstone of democracy,” he said.
Khan’s close aide, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari shared Lammy’s letter on social media platform X.
“Respect for free and fair elections, and the rule of law, underpinned by an independent judiciary, are the bedrock of a democracy,” Bukhari wrote. “Pakistanis continue to struggle for theirs.”
Khan, arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, was ousted from office after a parliamentary no-trust vote in April 2022 and has since waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the country’s powerful military and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government.
Khan’s party says the military and his political rivals rigged the Feb. 8 general election to form the Sharif-led government. Both deny the charge.
No indication from Pakistan on trying Imran Khan in military court — UK foreign secretary
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No indication from Pakistan on trying Imran Khan in military court — UK foreign secretary
- UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says Khan, like other Pakistani prisoners, has right to fair trial and due process
- Pakistan’s military has initiated trials of at least 103 Khan supporters accused of attacking military installations last year
Young Pakistani introduces smart tools to bridge AI gap for millions of Sindhis worldwide
- Sindhi, an Indo-Aryan language with a history that spans approximately 2,400 years, is spoken in Pakistan and India, and by diaspora in several regions
- Fahad Maqsood Qazi has developed previously unavailable Sindhi text-to-speech and speech-to-text AI models and shared on open-source platforms
KARACHI: Fahad Maqsood Qazi was performing a seemingly straightforward task of developing an automated artificial intelligence (AI) dubbing system for his software firm in Pakistan’s southern city of Hyderabad last year, when he hit the wall: the fundamental text-to-speech (TTS) and speech-to-text (STT) models simply didn’t exist for his native Sindhi language.
This unexpected hurdle while working at Flis Technologies ignited a passion in the 23-year-old IT professional to bridge the AI gap for a language spoken by around 40 million people globally, including a significant diaspora whose children risk losing their linguistic heritage, and soon he started working on his Sindhi-language TTS and STT systems.
In August last year, he began manually transcribing hours of Sindhi audio content from YouTube, stories, audiobooks, vlogs and news reports to form a training dataset. Qazi took a sigh of relief when he discovered that a Google employee, Asad Memon, had recently added Sindhi to Mozilla’s Common Voice project, a global effort to crowdsource voice data for underrepresented languages.
Qazi merged the Common Voice data with his own and began training the AI models. By January this year, he had built functioning Sindhi TTS and STT systems. Sindhi also lacked a tokenizer, a crucial component to process text in AI models, so Qazi built his own. Months of rigorous work, training and refining various models led the 23-year-old to a significant breakthrough that can help future generations of his community to connect with their roots — Sindhi, an Indo-Aryan language with a history that spans approximately 2,400 years and its origins dating back to the 3rd century BCE.
“Since Sindhi isn’t formally taught in most diaspora communities, many young Sindhis grow up without the ability to read or write the language,” said Qazi, who graduated in computer science, explaining a lack of exposure to Sindhi could lead to a gradual loss of identity.
“My tools aim to change that. By allowing people to communicate in Sindhi through speech and text, my tools would help them stay connected to their roots.”
In March, Qazi publicly shared these models on LinkedIn and uploaded them to HuggingFace, an open-source platform for machine learning models, making them freely available to developers and researchers worldwide, which marked a pivotal moment for Sindhi in the digital age.
Recalling the days when he started working on these tools, Qazi said he realized that Sindhi was missing from the AI revolution and without publicly available speech datasets, tokenizers or linguistic tools, the language had virtually been excluded from the digital future.
“This was shocking for us,” he told Arab News. “Imagine, 40 million Sindhis in the world, yet no one had built these essential AI systems for their language.”
Qazi says his work will have a “profound impact,” particularly on Sindhi-speaking children growing up in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and the United Kingdom.
For the diaspora communities wherein the language isn’t formally taught, these Sindhi AI tools offer a vital link to their cultural identity, according to the IT professional.
These models can be integrated with mobile keyboards for Sindhi voice-to-text (VTT) messaging, while the TTS model can be used to listen to written Sindhi content, according to Qazi.
They have the potential to empower uneducated adults and the elderly within the Sindhi community, both at home and abroad.
“This means everyday conversations with family and friends, even over messaging apps, can happen in Sindhi. That kind of natural, daily use can help preserve the language and keep it alive across generations,” he said.
“A parent who doesn’t know how to read Sindhi will be able to read stories out loud to their children through my text to speech model. Elderly people who never learned to read or write Sindhi can now speak to search for information and listen to responses.”
Qazi hopes his AI tools will play a significant role in long-term growth and integration of the Sindhi language on global digital platforms.
“This technology can play a key role in ensuring that Sindhi doesn’t just survive, it thrives in the digital age,” he said.
“By giving Sindhi a presence in AI systems like TTS and STT, I am ensuring it to be part of global platforms such as voice assistants, educational apps, audiobooks, and translation tools. That kind of integration was impossible before.”
PCB condemns ‘abusive language’ directed at Pakistan players after New Zealand loss
- The statement follows Khushdil Shah’s altercation with Afghan fans at Mount Maunganui
- Khushdil Shah stepped in when anti-Pakistan slogans emerged, the cricket board says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday condemned “abusive language” directed at Pakistan players by foreign spectators after the national side suffered a 3-0 loss against New Zealand in their one-day international (ODI) series.
The PCB statement followed Pakistan all-rounder Khushdil Shah’s altercation with fans following Pakistan’s loss to New Zealand at Mount Maunganui.
The board said foreign spectators hurled inappropriate remarks at cricketers present on the field.
“When anti-Pakistan slogans emerged, cricketer Khushdil Shah stepped in and urged the spectators to refrain,” the PCB said in a statement.
“In response, Afghan spectators escalated the situation by using further inappropriate language in Pashto.”
The development comes at a time of strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan over a surge in militants attacks in Pakistan’s western provinces that border Afghanistan. Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
In the past, Pakistani and Afghan fans have also been engaged in heated exchange of words during various fixtures accusing each other of interference.
“Following the Pakistani team’s complaint, stadium officials intervened and ejected the two disruptive spectators,” the PCB added.
Pakistan to send high-level delegation to US over 29 percent tariff on exports
- Muhammad Aurangzeb says Pakistan is looking at the situation as both an opportunity and a challenge
- He informs the government is finalizing recommendations for a ‘win-win’ outcome for both countries
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s finance chief Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Saturday the government plans to send a high-level delegation to Washington to discuss the United States’ recent decision to impose a 29 percent tariff on Pakistani goods, describing the move as both a challenge and an opportunity to reset trade ties.
The finance minister’s remarks at a news conference came days after US President Donald Trump announced “reciprocal tariffs” on multiple countries, a measure widely viewed as a setback for a global economy still recovering from the pandemic. Trump defended the tariffs as necessary to address trade imbalances and what he termed unfair treatment of American goods abroad.
Pakistan’s inclusion in the tariff list has raised concern in Islamabad as the country pushes for export-driven growth. The US is Pakistan’s largest export destination, and the newly imposed duties threaten to undermine its fragile economic recovery.
Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week formed a steering committee led by Aurangzeb to assess the impact of the tariffs and develop a policy response.
“You should never let a good crisis go to waste,” Aurangzeb told reporters. “So, we are looking at it both as a challenge and as an opportunity. On the opportunity side, it’s a relative value discussion in terms of what is happening at other locations and jurisdictions. And on the challenge side, what we can do in terms of the negotiations with the US administration.”
“In the next couple of days, we are going to finalize our recommendations to the prime minister and ... with [his] approval ... send a high-level delegation to Washington to get our views across and to ensure that we want to be ... a long term strategic partner [with the US],” he added.
Aurangzeb said a policy package was under development to guide future discussions with American officials.
“We want to make sure that we, in terms of our representations, put forward how we see [the tariff issue] in the medium to long term as a win-win situation for both Pakistan and the US,” he said.
According to the country’s central bank, Pakistan exported $5.44 billion worth of goods to the US in 2024. In the first eight months of the current fiscal year (July–February), exports to the US totaled $4 billion, up 10 percent from the same period last year.
Nearly 90 percent of those exports are textiles, which analysts expect to be hardest hit by the new tariffs.
Officials warn the increased cost burden could reduce Pakistan’s competitiveness, particularly if countries like China, Bangladesh and Vietnam — facing higher US tariffs — divert more of their exports to Europe, increasing competition in alternative markets.
The US tariff announcement could also disrupt Pakistan’s economic stabilization efforts, which rely on support from International Monetary Fund programs.
Global financial markets dropped sharply on Friday after China pledged retaliatory tariffs of 34 percent on US goods, heightening fears of a deepening trade war and possible global recession.
Authorities warn of action as nationalist party announces Quetta march for Baloch activists’ release
Authorities warn of action as nationalist party announces Quetta march for Baloch activists’ release
- The development follows Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s announcement of the protest march for the release of BYC leaders
- The provincial government says it will take legal action against people delivering anti-state speeches at BNP protest
QUETTA: The provincial administration of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan on Saturday warned of strict action after a Baloch nationalist party announced to march to Quetta to pressure authorities for the release of activists from an ethnic rights group.
The Balochistan National Party (BNP-M) led by Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Friday announced the march toward the provincial capital after holding two inconclusive rounds of talks with officials, demanding the release of detained ethnic rights activists.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee’s (BYC) top leader, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, and several of her colleagues were arrested on March 22 after staging a sit-in outside the University of Balochistan.
Pakistani authorities charged them with terrorism, sedition and murder following a protest in which three demonstrators were killed, according to police documents.
Mengal decided to launch a protest after objecting to the government’s treatment of female BYC leaders, calling for their immediate release and condemning what he described as the suppression of their democratic rights.
“The provincial government is ready to allow Mengal and his party to protest at Sariab Road [in Quetta], but he is adamant on entering the Red Zone,” Shahid Rind, the Balochistan administration’s spokesperson, said at a news conference, referring to a high-security area housing key government buildings.
“The Government of Balochistan will not allow anyone to violate Section 144, and action will be taken against the protesters,” he added, citing the legal provision that empowers authorities to ban public gatherings of more than four people to maintain law and order.
Rind said Mengal had demanded the release of BYC activists at the very start of the negotiations.
“If the courts provide relief to Mahrang Baloch and other activists, the government will accept the decision,” he continued while explaining the authorities’ position over the issue during the talks.
“We still stand by the offers made to Sardar Mengal,” he added. “But now the ball is in his court.”
During the media interaction, Rind said anti-state speeches had been made during Mengal’s protest, and the government would take legal action against those responsible.
His comments came a day after Pakistan’s top army generals met to review the national security situation and pledged not to let “foreign-backed proxies” and their “political supporters” destabilize Balochistan.
Authorities have long claimed a nexus between Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants and BYC activists, an allegation the latter deny.
The crackdown on BYC leaders followed a deadly train attack last month in Balochistan, in which BLA separatists took hundreds of passengers hostage. The standoff lasted nearly 36 hours until the army launched a rescue operation, killing 33 militants.
A final count showed 26 passengers had also died in the incident.
Authorities later accused BYC activists of storming a mortuary in Quetta and seizing the bodies of three militants.
Asked about reports of government negotiations with BYC chief Dr. Mahrang Baloch in prison, Rind said the provincial administration was not engaged in any such dialogue.
Pakistan to offer full Urdu commentary for PSL this year to reach wider audience
- Cricket commentary was once offered in both Urdu and English during radio and early TV’s golden era
- A senior PCB official calls Urdu commentary a ‘historic moment’ for the league and its growing fanbase
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Saturday it will offer full-match commentary in Urdu for the first time in the history of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) this year, saying the move will make the tournament more accessible to a wider national audience.
Cricket commentary in Pakistan was long delivered in both Urdu and English, especially during the golden era of radio and early television. Legendary commentators like Omar Kureishi and Chishti Mujahid often switched between the two languages or provided parallel coverage.
Urdu commentary was particularly prominent on Radio Pakistan, helping bring the game closer to the masses and expanding its reach across the country.
“Fans will now be able to follow live broadcasts in Urdu, allowing them to enjoy the excitement and action of PSL matches in Pakistan’s national language,” the PCB said in a statement. “This initiative strengthens our connection with the millions of cricket lovers who have long awaited this addition.”
The upcoming edition of the HBL PSL will run from April 11 to May 18 across four cities — Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi.
The PCB said details regarding broadcast arrangements and commentary panels for both Urdu and English will be announced in due course.
PCB Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer called it a “historic moment” for the league and its expanding fanbase.
He said cricket was a unifying force in Pakistan, and by offering commentary in Urdu throughout the tournament, the PCB aimed to bring the excitement and energy of the PSL closer to fans across the country.
