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Pakistan’s interior minister resigns citing ‘personal reasons’

Special Pakistan’s interior minister resigns citing ‘personal reasons’
Pakistan's caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti speaks during a press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, on October 26, 2023. (AP/File)
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Updated 16 December 2023
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Pakistan’s interior minister resigns citing ‘personal reasons’

Pakistan’s interior minister resigns citing ‘personal reasons’
  • Sarfraz Bugti resigned on Friday, hours before Pakistan’s election regulator issued schedule for polls
  • Two other Balochistan government officials resign less than two months before general elections
Updated 16 December 2023
SAADULLAH AKHTER
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ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti resigned this week for “personal reasons,” his spokesperson confirmed on Saturday, less than two months before Pakistan heads to the polls.

The development takes place at a precarious time for Pakistan, as the South Asian country inches toward polls scheduled for Feb. 8 amid a surge in militant attacks, particularly in northwestern Pakistan.

“The federal minister tendered his resignation to the prime minister on December 13, which was accepted on Friday night,” Bugti’s spokesperson Rizwan Saeed told Arab News over the phone.

Pakistan’s election regulator announced the schedule for polls on Feb. 8 on the Supreme Court’s directives Friday night. Pakistan’s law bars any member of a caretaker set-up from contesting elections, prompting speculation Bugti stepped down to contest the upcoming polls.

Saeed did not comment when asked whether Bugti would contest elections from his home constituency in Dera Bugti.

Bugti, 42, is a member of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). He was elected as a senator from Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province in 2021. He previously served as interior minister for Balochistan after winning the election in 2013.

Separately, two members of the Balochistan government confirmed they had resigned as well.

“I have resigned as minister and the chief minister of Balochistan has accepted my resignation,” Nawabzada Jamal Khan Raisani, provincial minister for youth, sports and culture, told Arab News.

Sardarzada Umair Muhammad Hassani, adviser to the chief minister for mines and mineral department, confirmed he had stepped down as well.

“For now, I have just resigned from the provincial cabinet but let’s see what the future may hold,” Hassani told Arab News.

Topics: Pakistan’s Sarfraz Bugti

Iran kills four after deadly attack in province bordering Pakistan

Iran kills four after deadly attack in province bordering Pakistan
Updated 1 min 3 sec ago
AFP
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Iran kills four after deadly attack in province bordering Pakistan

Iran kills four after deadly attack in province bordering Pakistan
  • Ten police officers were killed in Sistan-Baluchistan in an attack claimed by Jaish Al-Adl militant group
  • The suspects were killed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, who were backed by intelligence and police
Updated 1 min 3 sec ago
AFP

TEHRAN: Iranian armed forces on Sunday killed at least four “terrorists” behind a deadly attack on police the day before in the country’s southeast, Tasnim news agency reported.
Ten police officers were killed in Sistan-Baluchistan province on Saturday in an attack claimed by the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish Al-Adl.
In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards backed by intelligence forces and police on Sunday killed at least four “terrorists” suspected of involvement in a drone strike, Tasnim said, citing the Guards.
“During this operation, four terrorists were killed, some were wounded and escaped and four others were arrested,” it said.
“The operation to arrest and destroy the remaining terrorists is still ongoing.”
The official IRNA news agency, citing a police statement, reported the death of “10 personnel in two patrol units” in what it called an ambush.
Sistan-Baluchistan borders Pakistan and Afghanistan and is one of the most impoverished provinces in the Islamic republic.
Saturday’s attack was one of the deadliest in the area in recent months.
In early October, at least six people, including police officers, were killed in the province in two separate attacks.
Jaish Al-Adl claimed responsibility for the two attacks in a message on Telegram.
Formed in 2012 by Baloch separatists, the group is considered a “terrorist organization” by both Iran and the United States.

Topics: Iran Iran pakistan ties

Pakistani forces kill four militants in restive northwest — military

Pakistani forces kill four militants in restive northwest — military
Updated 27 October 2024
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Pakistani forces kill four militants in restive northwest — military

Pakistani forces kill four militants in restive northwest — military
  • The militants were killed in two separate encounters in North Waziristan and Khyber tribal districts
  • Pakistan blames surge in militancy on militants operating out of Afghanistan, Kabul denies the charge
Updated 27 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed four militants in two separate operations in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said on Sunday.
Two militants were killed in an exchange of fire during an intelligence-based operation in the North Waziristan district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
In another encounter in the Khyber district, Pakistani troops effectively engaged a group of militants, killing two of them and injuring three others.
The ISPR said the deceased militants had been “actively involved” in militant activities against law enforcement agencies as well as the civilians.
“Sanitization of the area is being carried out,” it said in a statement. “Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, has witnessed a number of attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups that targeted security forces convoys and check posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
Islamabad blames Kabul for facilitating anti-Pakistan militants and says it has consistently taken up the issue of cross-border attacks with the Taliban administration.
The Taliban deny allowing the use of Afghan soil for attacks against any country and say rising violence in Pakistan is a domestic issue of Islamabad.

Topics: Pakistan Army

Pakistan proposes regional climate data bank for evidence-based response to disasters

Pakistan proposes regional climate data bank for evidence-based response to disasters
Updated 27 October 2024
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Pakistan proposes regional climate data bank for evidence-based response to disasters

Pakistan proposes regional climate data bank for evidence-based response to disasters
  • The proposed V20 Climate Action Data Bank will consolidate data on climate risks, economic losses and resilience-building needs
  • Pakistan PM’s climate aide says it is inevitable to enhance access to reliable data to strengthen climate resilience strategies 
Updated 27 October 2024
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Romina Khurshid Alam, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s coordinator on climate change, on Sunday proposed the establishment of a regional climate data bank to help Vulnerable Twenty (V20) group of countries prepare an evidence-based response to climate disasters.
The PM’s climate aide reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to boost regional collaboration among the V20 group, which represents 70 countries from the most climate-vulnerable regions, and pledged her all-out support to set up the V20 Climate Action Data Bank at a recent high-level meeting of V20 representatives, according to the Pakistani climate change ministry.
This centralized platform will aim to empower V20 nations to effectively cope with adverse fallouts of climate change by providing critical evidence-based information needed for informed decision-making and resource mobilization from available regional and international climate funding channels for the result-oriented climate actions through adaptation and mitigation efforts.
“Establishing the proposed data bank would be indeed a groundbreaking initiative to consolidate data on climate risks, economic losses and financial resilience-building needs of the V20 group member countries,” Alam said in a statement on Sunday.
Established in October 2015 in Lima, the V20 group is a coalition of finance ministers from countries highly susceptible to climate change impacts and aims to promote greater investment in climate resilience and low-emission development. As of October 2024, the V20 comprises 70 member countries from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific, collectively representing over 1.7 billion people and account for just 5 percent share in the total heat-trapping global carbon emissions.
The V20 countries are disproportionately affected by climate change. Many of these nations grapple with rising sea levels, extreme weather events and rapid environmental degradation that threaten their economies, essential infrastructures, populations and livelihoods, according to the Pakistan PM’s climate aide.
Given the V20 countries’ heightened climate vulnerability, the new data bank is inevitable to enhance access to reliable data to strengthen climate resilience strategies and leverage international funding.
“By centralizing data and making it widely accessible for decision-makers, policymakers and planners, we can ensure that every dollar is well spent and every action is informed by the best available evidence,” she added.
Pakistan is recognized as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change effects in the world and has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns which have led to frequent heat waves, untimely rains, cyclones and droughts in recent years. Scientists have blamed the events on human-driven climate change.
In 2022, unusually heavy rains triggered flash floods in the South Asian country, killing over 1,700 people and causing economic losses of around $30 billion.
By pooling data, Alam highlighted, the V20 members could engage in joint risk analysis, promote innovative financial mechanisms and coordinate responses to climate challenges more effectively.
“With this this new and crucial collaborative approach, the V20 countries can also strengthen collective resilience efforts, ensuring that countries can better prepare for and respond to climate impacts, ultimately fostering sustainable development,” she said.
“By enhancing risk management, timely informed decision-making and strengthening regional cooperation can also help attract investment and yield economic benefits.”

Topics: Values 20 (V20) Climate Action Data Bank

Pakistan appoint Rizwan white-ball captain, recall Babar Azam for Australia tour

Pakistan appoint Rizwan white-ball captain, recall Babar Azam for Australia tour
Updated 27 October 2024
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Pakistan appoint Rizwan white-ball captain, recall Babar Azam for Australia tour

Pakistan appoint Rizwan white-ball captain, recall Babar Azam for Australia tour
  • Mohammad Rizwan will lead the squad with Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were dropped from Pakistan’s last two Tests against England
  • Rizwan led Pakistan in two Tests on the tour of New Zealand in 2020, when Azam was injured but has never led in limited over matches
Updated 27 October 2024
KASHIF IMRAN

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Sunday it had appointed Mohammad Rizwan skipper for the upcoming white-ball tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.
Rizwan replaces Babar Azam who stepped down this month. He led Pakistan in two Tests on the tour of New Zealand in 2020, when Azam was injured but has never led in limited over matches.
Rizwan will lead the squad with Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were dropped from Pakistan’s last two Tests against England in the series Pakistan won 2-0 on Saturday.
“I am confident that Rizwan’s leadership qualities, underpinned by his deep commitment and passion for the game, will help shape this talented team into a consistently successful unit,” PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement.
“Rizwan has earned the respect of his peers and colleagues through his dedication and positive attitude, and I have no doubt that these qualities, combined with his game knowledge and performance, will inspire the next generation of Pakistan cricketers.”
Azam, appointed white-ball captain for the first time in 2019, stepped down after Pakistan’s disastrous first-round exit from the ODI World Cup in India last year.
He was re-appointed for a second time in March ahead of the Twenty20 International World Cup in the United States and West Indies, where Pakistan exited in the first round again.
“I am deeply honored to be appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. Representing Pakistan on the global stage is the greatest privilege and to now be entrusted with leading such a talented and exciting group of players is a tremendous honor. Joining the ranks of some of Pakistan’s legendary limited-overs captains truly is the icing on the cake,” 32-year-old Rizwan was quoted as saying by the PCB.
“I am committed to giving my absolute best in this role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches and my immensely talented teammates. Together, we aim to meet and exceed the expectations of our fans and supporters.”
Rizwan, who debuted in white-ball cricket in 2015, has played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is to date, scoring 5,401 runs with four centuries and accounting for 143 dismissals behind the stumps. As he leads the team in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on 4 November, Rizwan will become Pakistan’s 31st captain. For the first T20I in Brisbane on 14 November, he will be the 12th to captain Pakistan in the format.
PAKISTAN SQUADS FOR AUSTRALIA AND ZIMBABWE TOURS
ODI squad for Australia: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi
T20I squad for Australia: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan
ODI squad for Zimbabwe: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir
T20I squad for Zimbabwe: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan

Topics: Mohammad Rizwan Babar Azam

Pakistan to vaccinate 45 million children in nationwide anti-polio drive

Pakistan to vaccinate 45 million children in nationwide anti-polio drive
Updated 27 October 2024
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Pakistan to vaccinate 45 million children in nationwide anti-polio drive

Pakistan to vaccinate 45 million children in nationwide anti-polio drive
  • Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio remains an endemic
  • Since late 2018, Pakistan has seen a resurgence of cases and increased spread of virus
Updated 27 October 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

ISLAMABAD: Officials on Sunday urged parents to have their children administered anti-polio vaccine as Pakistan gears up for a nationwide inoculation drive from Oct 28.
The development comes amid a deepening polio crisis in the South Asian country, which has reported 41 polio cases so far this year.
The anti-polio vaccination drive aims to inoculate more than 45 million children across the country from Oct. 28 till Nov. 3, according to Pakistan polio program.
“Parents are requested to fully cooperate with polio workers,” Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s focal person for polio eradication, said in a statement.
“Parents must ensure vaccination of their children aged below five years.”
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio remains an endemic.
Since late 2018, Pakistan has seen a resurgence of cases and increased spread of poliovirus, highlighting the fragility of gains achieved in the preceding three years.

Topics: anti-polio program

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