ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday met a senior European Union official to thank the inter-governmental body for its support for Pakistan’s GSP Plus status, hours after it passed a controversial cybercrime law that rights bodies and journalists allege is aimed at suppressing freedom of expression online.
The GSP Plus status gives developing countries such as Pakistan a special incentive to pursue sustainable development and good governance. Countries have to implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labor rights, the environment and good governance in return for the EU to cut its import duties to zero on more than two-thirds of the tariff lines of their exports. In October 2023, the EU rolled over the current GSP Plus status for developing countries, including Pakistan, till 2027.
Pakistan’s digital rights experts, however, have raised concern that the government’s action of adopting the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment Bill, 2025, which opposition and journalists say is aimed at taking action against dissent on social media platforms, can put Pakistan’s GSP Plus status in danger.
Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, met EU Special Representative for Human Rights Ambassador Olaf Skoog at the foreign ministry’s office on Wednesday.
“The DPM/FM highlighted Pakistan-EU’s growing cooperation in the political and economic spheres and appreciated EU’s continued support for Pakistan’s GSP plus status,” the ministry said.
Dar underscored the importance of Pakistan-EU dialogue on human rights, emphasizing that Islamabad was a firm believer in the protection of fundamental rights. He said the Pakistani government continued to enact and strengthen human rights legislation.
The ministry said Skoog “positively” assessed the potential of Pakistan-EU relations and appreciated the continued growth of collaborative partnership across all sectors.
“The EU SR is on a four-day visit to Pakistan,” the ministry said. “The visit is part of Pakistan-EU joint efforts to enhance dialogue on Human Rights.”
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday signed the bill into law after it was approved by both houses of Pakistan’s parliament following noisy protests by journalists and lawmakers.
The new amendment bill now proposes the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to perform a range of functions related to social media, including awareness, training, regulation, enlistment and blocking.
SMPRA would be able to order the immediate blocking of unlawful content targeting judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies or material which promotes and encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state or its institutions.
The law also makes spreading disinformation a criminal offense punishable by three years in prison and a fine of two million rupees ($7,150).
A copy of the bill seen by Arab News has set imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs2 million or both for “whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society.”
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar told reporters last week that the bill will protect journalists and not harm them.
“This is the first time the government has defined what social media is,” Tarar said. “There is already a system in place for print and electronic media and complaints can be registered against them.”
He said “working journalists” should not feel threatened by the bill, which had to be passed because the Federal Investigation Agency, previously responsible for handling cybercrime, “does not have the capacity to handle child pornography or AI deep fake cases.”
Pakistan appreciates EU for GSP Plus status after passing controversial cybercrime law
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Pakistan appreciates EU for GSP Plus status after passing controversial cybercrime law
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- Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meets EU Special Representative for Human Rights Ambassador Olaf Skoog in Islamabad
- Pakistani rights activists say government’s new cybercrime law is aimed at cracking on dissent on social media
A three-decade wait is about to end for Pakistan’s passionate cricket fans
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- International teams avoided Pakistan after 2009 terror attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore
- Plenty of stars will be missing in action including India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Aussie pacer Pat Cummins
ISLAMABAD: A three-decade wait finally ends for Pakistan on Wednesday when it stages its first major International Cricket Council tournament since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with Sri Lanka and India.
A 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lanka playing squad at Lahore resulted in international teams avoiding tours to Pakistan for almost a decade because of security concerns. The Sri Lankan test team returned in 2019 as international cricket made slow inroads back.
Since then, there’s been progress on bringing bigger, multinational events to Pakistan, where cricket — by a long margin — is the most popular sport.
But it doesn’t come without complications. Long-standing geo-political tensions mean India won’t send a team to Pakistan. So instead, India, which just about bankrolls the sport globally, will play its matches in the United Arab Emirates.
Why the hybrid hosting model?
India’s top team hasn’t played in Pakistan since 2008, and the two countries have tended to only compete against each other in major tournaments, including World Cups.
Pakistan traveled to India for the 50-over World Cup in 2023. But India’s reluctance to return the favor put this Champions Trophy tournament in doubt before the sport’s international governing body and both countries agreed on a solution. It’s similar to when Pakistan hosted the 2023 Asian Cup but India played its tournament games in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan was subsequently awarded the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup and the International Cricket Council agreed in principle that Pakistan will also play its games at a neutral venue when India hosts ICC tournaments until 2027.
When the archrivals do meet each other in ICC tournaments, it tends to catch the attention of more than a billion cricket-mad fans.
The group game on Feb. 23 in Dubai will certainly fit into that category. Pakistan will host 10 games, including one semifinal. The final will be played at Lahore on March 9 if India doesn’t qualify. Dubai is scheduled to host all three of India’s group matches and a semifinal.
What is the Champions Trophy?
The eight-nation, limited-overs tournament hasn’t been contested since 2017, when Pakistan beat India in the final in England.
The Champions Trophy was launched in 1998 and initially held every two years but later moved to a four-year cycle in between World Cups — the pinnacle in cricket’s one-day format.
International cricket has three main formats: test matches, which can last up to five days; one-dayers (or ODIs), where both teams are allocated 50 overs to bat and matches take up to 8 hours; and Twenty20s (or T20s), where both innings comprise 20 overs and games last just a few hours.
Pakistan was awarded the 2008 Champions Trophy, but due to security concerns the tournament was shifted to South Africa in 2009.
India was due to host the Champions Trophy in 2021, but it was replaced with the T20 World Cup and was played in the UAE.
The eight participating teams this time were based on rankings after the 2023 World Cup in India, with Pakistan qualifying automatically as host. India, New Zealand and Bangladesh are in Group A with host Pakistan. England, South Africa, Australia and Afghanistan are in Group B.
Two former Champions Trophy winners — Sri Lanka and the West Indies — didn’t qualify for the ninth edition, which include 15 games across 19 days.
Boycott threat against Afghanistan
Politicians in England and South Africa urged their cricket authorities to boycott Champions Trophy group games against Afghanistan because of the Taliban’s ban on women’s sport and general erosion of women’s rights.
South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie last month said if the ultimate decision was his, then a South Africa vs. Afghanistan match “certainly would not happen.”
In a similar move, more than 160 politicians in Britain urged the England and Wales Cricket Board to take a stand and boycott the Feb. 26 game against Afghanistan at Lahore.
However, despite describing the “appalling oppression” of women in Afghanistan as “gender apartheid,” English cricket administrators confirmed that the game will go ahead.
Stars missing
Australia will be without its World Cup-winning pace trio with Mitchell Starc joining injured Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood on the sidelines. With Marcus Stoinis’ surprisingly retired from ODI cricket late last month and allrounder Mitchell Marsh out injured, Australia will look to its bench strength to win the only missing ICC trophy from its cabinet.
Jasprit Bumrah, the key cog in India’s bowling armory, was ruled out of the tournament because of a back problem he sustained during the test series against Australia in January.
Also sidelined with injuries are England’s Jacob Bethell and Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar. New Zealand is still sweating on the fitness of fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who picked up hamstring injury during a recent T20 league series.
Stadiums upgrades
With work around the clock over the last four months and millions of dollars invested, Pakistan organizers finished upgrading the three stadiums at Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Described as “miracle” by Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium has gone through a massive overhaul with all the stands being reconstructed in 117 days. Karachi’s National Bank Stadium and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi are the two other venues where major works were carried out. Karachi is hosting the tournament opener Wednesday between Pakistan and New Zealand.
Pakistan discusses economic cooperation with Middle Eastern countries at AlUla conference
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- Pakistan’s finmin holds discussion with counterparts from UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and other GCC countries
- Discussions revolved around financial policies, development strategies and sustainable growth, says Finance Division
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb participated in a group discussion with his counterparts from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to discuss regional economic cooperation and development strategies, the Finance Division said on Monday, as the Pakistani finmin attends day two of the Emerging Markets Conference 2025 in AlUla city.
Aurangzeb is in Saudi Arabia to attend the two-day conference, which has been organized by the Saudi finance ministry in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The event brings together emerging market finance ministers, central bank governors, policymakers, public and private sector leaders, international institutions and academics.
The Pakistani finance minister participated in a group discussion with his counterparts from the Middle Eastern countries at the sidelines of the conference, the Finance Division said.
“The discussion focused on regional economic cooperation, financial policies, and development strategies, with participating countries exchanging views on shared economic goals and sustainable growth opportunities,” it said.
The global conference takes place at a time when the world economy is facing persistent shocks, trade tensions between major world powers, geopolitical instability and tight financial conditions.
Pakistan is navigating a fragile economic recovery under a $7 billion IMF loan program secured in September 2024, after implementing austerity measures and policy reforms to avert a sovereign default in 2023.
To facilitate Pakistan’s economic recovery, Saudi Arabia signed 34 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $2.8 billion last October to boost private sector investment in key areas, including energy, infrastructure and technology.
Speaking to Arab News on Sunday, Aurangzeb emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s leadership in economic reforms offers important lessons for Pakistan as it embarks on its own structural changes.
“As we go through our own structural reforms at this point in time, on the back of the macroeconomic stability that we have achieved, there’s a lot to learn from Vision 2030,” the minister said. He added that the Kingdom is well ahead of its targets of Vision 2030, “so there’s so much to learn in Pakistan from our partners in Saudi Arabia.”
Imran Khan announces nationwide protest in Pakistan after Ramadan for ‘restoration of democracy’
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- Khan asks party’s negotiation committee to expedite communication with opposition parties, people from all walks of life
- Pakistan’s ruling coalition government accuses Khan and his party of leading violent protests, particularly in 2023 and 2024
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan has announced that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party will launch a nationwide protest movement with other opposition parties for “the restoration of democracy” and Pakistan’s constitution after the holy month of Ramadan.
Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 on a slew of charges that he says are politically motivated, claims the February 2024 general elections were rigged by the caretaker government at the time and the election commission, who had the army’s backing, to keep him away from power. All three deny the allegations, with the army repeatedly saying it refrains from interfering in political matters.
The former premier and his party have been accused of leading violent anti-government protests in the past, particularly in May 2023 and November 2024. On May 9, 2023, frenzied mobs across the country carrying the PTI’s flags attacked government and military installations while in November last year, Khan supporters gathered in Islamabad to demand his release from prison. The government says four troops were killed in clashes with Khan supporters. The PTI denies it instigated its followers to violence in both instances, accusing the military and its political rivals of resorting to rights abuses, including torture and a nationwide crackdown against its supporters.
“After the holy month of Ramadan, we will formulate a strategy in collaboration with all opposition parties and launch a nationwide protest movement,” a statement posted from Khan’s social media account on X said on Sunday night.
The cricketer-turned-politician said he has directed his party’s negotiation committee to expedite communications with other parties, adding that the PTI would invite individuals from all sectors of Pakistan including lawyers, farmers, laborers, scholars and students to participate in the protest.
“This protest will be for the restoration of democracy and the constitution, and for our genuine freedom and sovereignty,” he added.
Khan’s party held negotiations with the government in December 2024 to ease political tensions in the country. However, talks between both sides broke down in January after the PTI pulled away, accusing the government of not fulfilling its two principal demands of forming judicial commissions to investigate the 2023 and 2024 protests.
The government rubbished the PTI’s allegations, accusing the party of “unilaterally” abandoning talks without waiting for the government to respond to its demands.
“Despite our repeated demands, no judicial commission has been formed to investigate the events of May 9th and November 26th (2024),” Khan’s statement read. “The truth would have been revealed to the public if such a commission had been established.”
Khan alleged his supporters were being denied their right to visit him in prison, describing it as a fundamental violation of his rights.
“Even my own children are not allowed to speak with me, all in an attempt to exert pressure on me,” the former premier claimed.
The government has so far not reacted to Khan’s call for protests.
Khan’s ouster from office since April 2022 has plunged Pakistan into a political crisis, particularly after he was sent to jail in 2023. The former prime minister fell out with Pakistan army’s top leaders in the lead-up to his ouster and has since led an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the institution.
He continues to remain popular among the masses, with his party’s rallies drawing thousands of people in various cities.
ODI World Champions Australia arrive in Pakistan for Champions Trophy tournament
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- Australia will kick off Champions Trophy campaign by facing England in Lahore on Feb. 22
- Injuries have ruled out matchwinners Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Marsh from event
ISLAMABAD: Led by their captain Steve Smith, the Australian cricket team arrived in Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy tournament on Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said days before they are scheduled to take on England in the 50-over event.
The Australian cricket team will arrive in Pakistan in two batches, the PCB said. A 14-member squad comprising Australian coaches, captain Smith and the sports staff reached Lahore from Colombo via Dubai while a 17-member squad, including 15 players of the Australian cricket team, will arrive in Lahore at 8 am on Monday, the board said.
“Australia will play their first match in the ICC Champions Trophy against arch-rivals England on Feb. 22 at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore,” the PCB said.
The Australian cricket team has arrived in Pakistan after suffering a 2-0 away ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka. Smith’s squad lost the first ODI to Sri Lanka by 49 runs on Feb. 12 before losing the second one as well on Feb. 14 by a huge 174 runs.
Before that, the 2023 World Cup winners lost a home ODI series to Pakistan 2-1 in November last year, with Pakistan’s pace attack and opening batter Saim Ayub demolishing the Australians to take home their first away series in the country in 22 years.
Injuries have also impacted the Australian cricket team ahead of the key Champions Trophy tournament. Smith’s squad will be without matchwinners Mitchell Starc, regular skipper Pat Cummins and key seamer Josh Hazlewood, and all-rounder Mitch Marsh. Cummins, Hazlewood and Marsh have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries while Starc has pulled away due to personal reasons. The surprise retirement of Marcus Stoinis has forced Australia to call-up back-up players.
After facing England in Lahore on Feb. 22, Australia are set to clash against South Africa in Rawalpindi on Feb. 25 before heading back to Lahore to face Afghanistan on Feb. 28.
Squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. Traveling reserve: Cooper Connolly
Pakistan’s deputy PM arrives in New York to attend Security Council meeting on multilateralism
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- Pakistan to reaffirm strong commitment to multilateralism in meeting scheduled to be held on Feb. 18
- Summit comes at a time of growing concerns about multilateralism amid increasing conflicts worldwide
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in New York to attend a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on multilateralism and global governance, state-run media reported on Monday.
The meeting will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Feb. 18, as China holds the council’s rotating presidency for the month. The deliberations come at a time of growing concerns about multilateralism, particularly after United States President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, and a growing number of conflicts around the world.
“Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister (FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, flew into New York on Sunday afternoon to participate in the high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on multilateralism and global governance set for Tuesday,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Monday.
APP said Pakistan welcomes the “timely initiative” by China to hold the meeting, saying that it underscores the critical importance of multilateralism in addressing today’s global challenges.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister will reaffirm Pakistan’s strong commitment to the principles of multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations in promoting international peace, security, and sustainable development, the state-run media said. He will also highlight Pakistan’s priorities as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, emphasizing the importance of dialogue, cooperation, and inclusive global governance.
Pakistan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2025-2026 term in June 2024 with 182 out of 193 votes and officially began its two-year tenure on January 1, 2025.
“On the sidelines of the UNSC meeting, the DPM/FM is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts, as well as senior UN officials,” APP said.
Dar is also expected to give interviews to media and hold a press conference for US-based Pakistani journalists.