Senior leader detained as ex-PM Khan’s party holds nationwide protests against ‘election rigging’ in Pakistan

Senior leader detained as ex-PM Khan’s party holds nationwide protests against ‘election rigging’ in Pakistan
Policemen detain Salman Akram Raja (C), a candidate of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party at a protest against the alleged skewing in Pakistan's national election results, in Lahore on February 17, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 17 February 2024
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Senior leader detained as ex-PM Khan’s party holds nationwide protests against ‘election rigging’ in Pakistan

Senior leader detained as ex-PM Khan’s party holds nationwide protests against ‘election rigging’ in Pakistan
  • Salman Akram Raja was arrested by police in Lahore, as he vowed to raise his voice for justice in Pakistan
  • PTI was severely hamstrung ahead of February 8 polls, with rallies banned and party symbol taken away

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab police arrested a leader of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Saturday amid nationwide protest by its followers against what they described as “brazen rigging” in the February 8 general elections which did not result in a decisive mandate for any political party.
Khan’s PTI was severely hamstrung ahead of the national polls, with rallies banned, its party symbol taken away, and dozens of its candidates rejected from eligibility to stand. Despite all these challenges, the party stunned everyone after independent candidates, mostly loyal to its founding leader, grabbed over 100 seats in the National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan’s parliament.
However, the PTI urged its supporters to protest election rigging, saying it was deprived of a “two-third majority” in parliament. During one such demonstration in the eastern city of Lahore, police arrested Salman Akram Raja, who contested the national polls from NA-128 but was notified to have lost the contest.
“They are arresting me illegally,” Raja told the media shortly before being carried away by the police. “I stand with the people and will continue to raise my voice for justice.”
Only a day ago, he told the international media in Islamabad he was leading the race by 100,000 votes before he was forced to leave the election office in violation of the relevant laws. In the morning, he discovered that his opponent had secured 172,000 votes and defeated him.
The PTI shared the video of Raja’s arrest, calling it “Extremely shameful and disgusting act.”
“He must be immediately released,” it added.

Prior to that, the PTI asked its followers to come out into the streets to protest the alleged rigging in the elections.
“Imran Khan’s PTI has called for country wide protests against the unprecedented, massive, brazen rigging in General Elections 2024, where PTI’s win of 180 National Assembly seats & a two-third majority in Parliament, was cut down to half,” the PTI said on X.
Pakistan’s election commission has denied the accusations and said legal forums were present to address any specific concerns relating to the polls.
Hammad Azhar, a PTI member, invited all political parties affected by the alleged irregularities in election to join their peaceful protest on Saturday.

 
He also announced locations for protests in the country’s most populous Punjab province and in the federal capital of Islamabad.

 
Protests were also called in several other cities across the country, including Karachi and Quetta.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad police said it had not yet received any request for a rally by the PTI.
“No rally or procession will be allowed inside the high security zone,” they said on X, adding more personnel have been summoned for Saturday’s protest.
“Legal action will be taken in case of blocking the road and illegal assembly,” the Islamabad police said, quoting its inspector-general.

 
This is the third time since the election that Khan’s PTI, along with other political parties, have staged protests in various parts of the country over election irregularities, especially over prolonged delays in the release of final results. The party has challenged these results in several constituencies.
Khan, who has been in jail since August last year after he was convicted in a case involving the sale of state gifts, accuses Pakistan’s powerful military of sidelining him and his party from politics. The military denies Khan’s accusations and says it does not interfere in political matters.
On Friday, his party announced sitting in opposition in parliament and in the provincial legislature of Punjab, saying this was despite receiving a significant mandate in the Feb. 8 polls.
“Politicians usually face the allegation that they have a lust for power, but we have decided to sit in the opposition at the center and in Punjab,” PTI’s Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said.

 


Imran Khan has allowed party to submit demands to Pakistan government in writing — aide

Imran Khan has allowed party to submit demands to Pakistan government in writing — aide
Updated 08 January 2025
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Imran Khan has allowed party to submit demands to Pakistan government in writing — aide

Imran Khan has allowed party to submit demands to Pakistan government in writing — aide
  • Second round of discussions between both sides ended inconclusively last week after Khan’s party demanded more time to consult ex-PM
  • PM’s special assistant on political affairs says negotiations to resume after National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq returns from overseas trip 

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan has allowed his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to submit its demands in writing to the government during the next round of negotiations between the two sides, Khan’s top aide and PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said on Wednesday, as both sides attempt to break the political deadlock in the country. 
The second round of discussions between the two sides took place on Jan. 2 ended inconclusively after Khan’s party demanded more time to meet and consult the ex-PM before submitting their demands in writing.
Khan’s ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote in 2022 has plunged Pakistan into a political crisis, particularly since he was jailed in August 2023 on corruption and other charges. His party has regularly held protests to demand his release, with many of the demonstrations turning violent.
“Today Khan has said that you can give our demands in writing [to the government],” Gohar Ali Khan told reporters after his meeting with the former prime minister at the central prison in Rawalpindi. “So we will give our demands at the negotiation table in writing.”
Khan’s party has previously stated two demands: the release of all political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate protests on May 9, 2023, and Nov. 26, 2024, which the government says involved Khan supporters, accusing them of attacking military installations and government buildings.
“We will present our two demands in writing because even though there is no need to do so, we don’t want it to [delay the talks] by using it as a reason,” he said.
At a press conference on Wednesday evening, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said talks between both sides had been paused as National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who is heading the government’s delegation, has left the country on an “emergency” visit to a foreign country. 
“As soon as he returns, the second meeting that they want [with Imran Khan] will be held and after that we expect that they will present their demands seriously,” Sanaullah told reporters. 
The next date for talks between the PTI and the government has not been finalized. Last week, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government’s negotiation committee, said the talks could encounter “serious hurdles” due to the PTI’s failure to submit its demands in writing at the next meeting.


Afghanistan hire Younis Khan as mentor for Champions Trophy in Pakistan

Afghanistan hire Younis Khan as mentor for Champions Trophy in Pakistan
Updated 08 January 2025
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Afghanistan hire Younis Khan as mentor for Champions Trophy in Pakistan

Afghanistan hire Younis Khan as mentor for Champions Trophy in Pakistan
  • Younis Khan, 47, played 118 Tests, 265 ODIs and 25 T20Is for Pakistan before retiring in 2017
  • Afghanistan is in Champions Trophy Group B with England, Australia and South Africa

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan has hired former Pakistan captain Younis Khan as a mentor for its men’s cricket team at next month’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said in a statement on Wednesday that the 47-year-old batting great will join the team in Pakistan ahead of the Champions Trophy and will stay with Afghanistan at the tournament.
Younis, who played 118 tests, 265 ODIs and 25 T20s for Pakistan, retired from international cricket in 2017 and briefly worked with the national team as batting coach in 2021 before quitting after differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Afghanistan is in Group B with England, Australia and South Africa. It will play its first match against South Africa at Karachi on Feb. 21.
More than 160 UK politicians have urged England to refuse to play against Afghanistan. The politicians wrote asking the England and Wales Cricket Board to take a stand against the Taliban regime’s assault on women’s rights.
It will be a second stint for Younis with Afghanistan, having previously worked with the team at a training camp in Abu Dhabi in 2022.
It will be the third straight major ICC tournament where Afghanistan has utilized local expertise by appointing a mentor, after former India international Ajay Jadeja for the 2023 World Cup in India, and Dwayne Bravo as bowling consultant at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and US
“Since the Champions Trophy is being held in Pakistan, it was required to assign a talented and experienced player as mentor from the hosting country,” ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan said.
Afghanistan finished sixth at the World Cup in India after beating England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to seal its Champions Trophy place. At the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan advanced to the semifinals.
The Champions Trophy will begin Feb. 19 in Karachi.
India, which is in Group A with Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh, will play all its games in Dubai.


Pakistani women require permission from male guardians to perform Hajj alone — religion ministry

Pakistani women require permission from male guardians to perform Hajj alone — religion ministry
Updated 08 January 2025
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Pakistani women require permission from male guardians to perform Hajj alone — religion ministry

Pakistani women require permission from male guardians to perform Hajj alone — religion ministry
  • Saudi Arabia allowed women to perform Umrah and Hajj on their own in October 2022
  • Number of women applicants for solo Hajj has nearly doubled from last year, says official

ISLAMABAD: Women intending to perform Hajj alone need permission from their male guardians such as fathers, husbands or in the absence of both, other close male relatives, officials of Pakistan’s religion ministry and the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) said on Wednesday.
In October 2022, Saudi Arabia allowed women to perform the Islamic pilgrimages of Umrah and Hajj without “a mahram,” a male with whom Islam forbids a woman to marry due to her close relationship with them. Examples of a mahram for a woman include her father, husband, son and brother, among others.
The CII, a constitutional body responsible for advising the government on matters related to Islam, ruled in June 2023 that a woman will be allowed to perform Hajj without her male guardian subject to two conditions: that she has permission from her spouse or parents for the pilgrimage, and that she has a “group of reliable female pilgrims and there is no threat to her dignity.”
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry spokesperson, Muhammad Umer Butt, said women wishing to perform Hajj without a male guardian were required to submit written permission from their father, husband, or other guardians along with their Hajj 2025 application.
“Last year we facilitated single women for Hajj, and they are allowed again this year with the number of applicants nearly doubling from 3,027 in 2024 to 6,028 this year,” Butt told Arab News.
He said that after the Saudi government’s decision to allow women to perform Hajj on their own, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs sought guidance from the CII and implemented their recommendations.
“The ministry has ensured that these women will travel in women-only groups, prioritizing their safety and comfort,” Butt said.
Butt said the majority of female pilgrims who have applied for Hajj this year are accompanied by mahrams. A small number of women faced difficulties in the availability of mahrams and have opted to travel for the pilgrimage alone, he said.
CII spokesperson Rana Zahid explained the religious body’s 2023 decision, saying that women were permitted by Shariah to perform Hajj alone if they were unable to find male guardians.
“However, this permission is subject to certain conditions and the woman must obtain consent from her father, husband (if married), or guardian,” Zahid said. 
He said such women must also travel with a trustworthy group of women or “reliable companions,” ensuring there is no apparent risk or threat to her safety and dignity. 
Saudi Arabia has allotted Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, to be divided equally between the government and private schemes.


Pakistan sisters set father on fire after rape — police 

Pakistan sisters set father on fire after rape — police 
Updated 08 January 2025
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Pakistan sisters set father on fire after rape — police 

Pakistan sisters set father on fire after rape — police 
  • Sisters took petrol from motorcycle and set fire to father while he slept on Jan. 1, say police
  • Father had been raping eldest girl for a year, twice attempted to rape younger one, sisters allege

LAHORE: Two teenage sisters were arrested in Pakistan for killing their father by setting him on fire in revenge for rape, police said Wednesday.
The father was attacked in the Punjabi city of Gujranwala on January 1 and taken to hospital where he died on Tuesday.
“The girls said that they decided among themselves to find a ‘permanent solution’,” Rizwan Tariq, a senior police official in the city, told AFP.
They then took petrol from a motorcycle and set their father on fire as he slept, he added.
The pair, who are step-sisters, said their father had been raping the eldest girl for a year, and had twice attempted to rape the younger girl.
Their mothers — who are both married to the man — knew about the abuse but did not know of the revenge plan.
AFP has not named the man in order to protect the identities of the girls, one of whom is from a previous marriage.
One of the wives has also been arrested while the second is being questioned.
“We expect to present them before the court in a few days, as soon as we finish the investigation,” Tariq added.


Pakistan dispatches convoy of 40 aid trucks for violence-hit Kurram district

Pakistan dispatches convoy of 40 aid trucks for violence-hit Kurram district
Updated 08 January 2025
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Pakistan dispatches convoy of 40 aid trucks for violence-hit Kurram district

Pakistan dispatches convoy of 40 aid trucks for violence-hit Kurram district
  • Tribal and sectarian clashes have caused medicine, food and fuel shortages in Kurram district
  • Armed men attacked aid convoy en route to Kurram district on Saturday, injuring five persons

PESHAWAR: The government in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Wednesday dispatched a convoy of 40 vehicles carrying relief items for the violence-hit Kurram district, an official confirmed, days after an aid convoy en route to the area came under attack.
Five people, including a top administration official, were injured when armed men shot at an aid convoy en route to Kurram district near Bagan, a tense locality in the district, on Saturday. The convoy was stalled as the provincial government vowed stern action against the culprits and their facilitators.
Kurram, a northwestern district of around 600,000 people in the KP province, has been rocked by tribal and sectarian clashes since Nov. 21 when gunmen attacked a convoy of Shia passengers, killing 52. Sporadic clashes since then have killed at least 136 people before the provincial government brokered a ceasefire between the warring tribes last week.
“A convoy of 40 vehicles carrying relief items for Kurram district was sent safely today,” Muhammad Ali Saif, a spokesperson for the KP government, said in a statement. 
Saif said a convoy of 10 vehicles had reached Bagan while another comprising 30 vehicles will arrive at Parachinar, the district’s capital, and Upper Kurram “soon.”
“The convoy was sent after successful negotiations with local protesters till late last night,” the spokesperson said.
The violence in the district forced authorities to block a main road connecting Kurram’s main town of Parachinar with the provincial capital of Peshawar, causing medicine, food and fuel shortages in the area.
Saif said more aid convoys will be sent to the district after peace is established there.
The Saturday gun attack took place days after a grand jirga, or council of political and tribal elders formed by the KP provincial government, brokered a peace agreement between the warring Shia and Sunni tribes on Jan. 1, following weeks of efforts.
Under the peace agreement, both sides had agreed on the demolition of bunkers and the handover of heavy weapons to the authorities within two weeks.
It was also decided that land disputes in the volatile district will be settled on a priority basis with the cooperation of local tribes and the district administration.
The agreement said opening of banned outfits’ offices will be prohibited in the district, while social media accounts spreading hate will be discouraged via collective efforts backed by the government.