Tag: Pakistan

  • US President Biden invites Pakistan for virtual summit on democracy, leaves China and Turkey out

    United States (US) President Joe Biden has invited 110 countries, including Pakistan, for a virtual summit on democracy. The summit is expected to take place on December 9 and 10.

    According to a list posted on the US State Department website, America’s top rival China and North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) ally Turkey are missing from the list.

    Surprisingly, US traditional Arab allies Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are also not invited. From the Middle East region, only Israel and Iraq are excepted to join other countries for the meeting.

    The conference was a campaign pledge by Biden, who has placed the struggle between democracies and “autocratic governments” at the heart of his foreign policy, reports Dawn. However, the second edition of this meeting will take place in person next year.

    While announcing the summit in August, the White House said the meeting would “galvanise commitments and initiatives across three principal themes: defending against authoritarianism, fighting corruption, and promoting respect for human rights”.

  • Why did Bangladesh not give the T20I series trophy to Pakistan?

    Why did Bangladesh not give the T20I series trophy to Pakistan?

    Pakistan beat Bangladesh with a clean sweep in the three-match T20I series on Monday, November 22 but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) did not give the winning trophy to the team.

    Read More – ‘We are on the right track’: Babar Azam after Pakistan whitewashed Bangladesh in T20I series

    According to Geo Super, the Pakistan squad was left “surprised” after they did not get a trophy despite winning the series.

    However, a spokesperson of the BCB told the management of the Pakistan team that they would hand over the trophy after the conclusion of the Test series.

    The BCB further added that the head of the board was supposed to hand over the trophy to the Pakistani squad but it could not be done due to his unavailability.

    The spokesperson said that officials of the board and sponsoring companies were not part of the bio-secure bubble, therefore, the trophy awarding ceremony could not take place in line with the Covid-19 protocols.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to play a two-match Test Series starting from November 26. The Second Test match will be played during December 4-8.

  • ‘He is not a terrorist’: UN criticises arrest of Indian Occupied Kashmir activist

    ‘He is not a terrorist’: UN criticises arrest of Indian Occupied Kashmir activist

    The United Nations (UN) has condemned and criticised the arrest of Khurram Parvez, a prominent human rights activist in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) on terror funding charges.

    UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor called the act ‘disturbing’ and tweeted, “He [Parvez] is at risk of being charged by authorities in India with terrorism-related crimes. He’s not a terrorist, he’s a Human Rights Defender.”

    An Indian official told Reuters that Parvez was arrested on Monday by India’s federal National Investigation Agency (NIA). According to the official, Parvez’s residence and office were searched and a mobile phone, laptop, and books were seized. However, a spokesperson for the NIA confirmed Parvez’s arrest on Tuesday.

    Currently, the human rights activist is being held under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which allows for the detention of up to six months ‘without’ trial.

    Reuters has reported that the activist’s lawyer, Parvez Imroz, could not immediately be reached for comment.

    Back in 2016, Parvez was arrested and detained on similar charges. Later, he was released without being convicted of any crime.

    He is one of Kashmir’s best-known activists and head of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, a group of rights organisations working in the region.

  • #AbhiNoneDoneAward: ‘Classic case of Indian fabrication and pure fantasy to hide embarrassment,’ says Pakistan

    #AbhiNoneDoneAward: ‘Classic case of Indian fabrication and pure fantasy to hide embarrassment,’ says Pakistan

    In a statement issued a day after Abhinandan Varthaman was given the Vir Chakra medal by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said this was a “classic case of Indian fabrications and pure fantasy to appease the domestic audience and hide embarrassment”.

    “Pakistan categorically rejects the entirely baseless Indian claims that a Pakistani F-16 aircraft was shot down by an Indian pilot before he was captured by Pakistan in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in February 2019,” said the FO in a statement.

    “India’s insistence on propagating a lie that has been thoroughly exposed is ludicrous and nonsensical. Granting military honours for imaginary feats of gallantry is contrary to every norm of military conduct. By giving such [an] award, also as an afterthought, India has only made a mockery of itself,” the FO statement added.

    “Indian Air Force was completely outplayed on the day. It is obvious that India’s farcical story has no credibility whatsoever before the international community.”

    “Pakistan stands as ready and resolute to thwart any hostile designs as it was in February 2019. India would do well to learn a lesson from its botched attempt to violate Pakistan’s sovereignty and refrain from any misadventure in [the] future,” the FO warned.

    Abhinandan was arrested on Feb 27, 2019, after his aircraft was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) upon violating Pakistani airspace.

    He was initially captured by locals in Azad Kashmir before being taken into custody by Pakistan Army personnel. 

  • Kartarpur Corridor reunites Pakistani and Indian friends separated during partition

    Kartarpur Corridor reunites Pakistani and Indian friends separated during partition

    The Kartarpur Corridor has brought together two friends separated after India was divided into two countries, Dawn has reported.

    Sardar Gopal Singh from India who is now 94 and Muhammad Bashir from Pakistan who is now 91 got separated in 1947. They both hugged each other when they met almost after six decades.

    Sardar Gopal Singh came to Kartarpur to perform religious rites at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and Bashir visited Kartarpur as a visitor.

    Gopal Singh, while recalling old memories, said that both of them were young at the time of partition. Bashir, who is from Narowal, said that even before partition, Gopal and he used to visit Baba Guru Nanak’s Gurdwara.

    Read more-Indian Punjab CM, Indian politicians at Kartarpur to celebrate Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary

    People on social media have expressed their love for both Gopal and Bashir.

    https://twitter.com/RezinaSultana9/status/1462690486116782081

    The Kartarpur Corridor, which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district, reopened in November. The pilgrimage to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara was suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • All petrol pumps will be closed, petroleum dealers announce strike on Nov 25

    The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has announced a countrywide strike on November 25 for selling petrol “on low-profit margins”, reports The News.

    The association’s spokesperson said that all petrol pumps across the country, including Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, will remain closed on November 25 (Thursday).

    He said the strike could extend to an “unspecified period” if the government continues to ignore the association’s demands.

    According to him, “We have no other option but to go on strike as the government has failed to meet the November 17 deadline for the fulfilment of our demands.”

    Previously, the association had made a similar announcement for November 5 but withdrew after a team from the government agreed to increase margins on the sale of petroleum products by six per cent.

    However, there has been no progress ever since.

    PPDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said petroleum dealers have been in a difficult position due to the high cost of business and low margins. He said that the government guarantees a margin of only 2 per cent on sales of fuel oil in the face of rising electricity tariffs.

    “We demand the government to cancel our petrol pumps licences. Nearly 50 per cent of the petrol pumps will close down permanently with licence cancellation as no one will reapply for acquisition”.

    Earlier this month, the government had announced the rise of up to Rs 8.14 per litre of petroleum products.

  • A clean sweep, Pakistan wins a thriller against Bangladesh

    A clean sweep, Pakistan wins a thriller against Bangladesh

    Pakistan beat Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series in Dhaka on Monday through a clean sweep. Set 125 to win, Mohammad Nawaz sealed the deal with a boundary off the final delivery at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

    Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah Riyad (3-10) claimed three wickets in the final over. Haider Ali top-scored with 45 off 38 balls. Mohammad Wasim (2-15) and Usman Qadir (2-35) earlier claimed two wickets each for Pakistan.

    Opener Mohammad Naim top-scored with 47 off 50 balls for Bangladesh while Shamim Hossain and Afif Hossain added 22 and 20 runs respectively.

    Pakistan won the first two matches by four wickets and eight wickets respectively.

    Pakistan needed 8 from three balls and suddenly, it looked like Bangladesh can pull this off. Iftikhar’s hit brought Pakistan back before Nawaz sealed it with a four off the last ball after two non-balls.

    Haider Ali was declared Player of the Match after scoring the top runs. While Mohammad Rizwan is the Player of the Series.

    “The way everyone has put in the efforts, credit goes to the players. You can always improve. Like our fielding has improved, our middle order has won games for us. Whatever mistakes we made, we want to make sure we don’t repeat them in the upcoming games. We want to carry this momentum into the Test matches. I want to thank the fans here,” said skipper Babar Azam in the post-match ceremony.

  • ‘Tea is fantastic’ Abhinandan awarded India’s third-highest gallantry medal

    ‘Tea is fantastic’ Abhinandan awarded India’s third-highest gallantry medal

    Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan in 2019 after his MiG 21 Bison aircraft was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jet, and later returned to India — was awarded India’s third-highest gallantry medal on Monday, reports Asian News International (ANI).

    According to the report, the citation for the award stated: “Wing Commander Abhinandan showed conspicuous courage, demonstrated gallantry in the face of the enemy while disregarding personal safety and displayed [an] exceptional sense of duty.”

    Pakistani Twitterati reacted to the news of Pak-fame Abhinandan and yet again reminded the world of his famous dialogue,  ‘Tea is fantastic’.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Vice President Sherry Rehman tweeted, “Is this for real? Award for drinking tea in Pakistani custody ?”

    Journalist Abbas Nasir tweeted, “India edges past us in the race for being the most delusional country in the Subcon.”

    Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera tweeted, “Feel so sorry for the poor bloke!!!”

    Journalist Fereeha Idrees commented, “Bollywood fantasyland taken next level. Indian Air force is awarding their man for getting shot in air by Pakistani pilots and then landing in Pakistan while thinking he was in India.”

    Abdullah Saad tweeted, “Not the first time that an IAF officer was given Vir Chakra for a fictitious kill.”

    A Twitter user wrote, “Never ever feeling guilty or ashamed about receiving credit for work I didn’t do.”

    Abhinandan was arrested on Feb 27, 2019, after his aircraft was shot down by the PAF upon violating Pakistani airspace.

    He was initially captured by locals in Azad Kashmir before being taken into custody by Pakistan Army personnel. 

  • IMF, Pakistan reach staff-level agreement on policies and reforms

    IMF, Pakistan reach staff-level agreement on policies and reforms

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan reached a staff-level agreement on policies and reforms needed to complete the sixth review under the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), which has been ‘in recess’ since April, the Fund announced in a statement on Monday.

    The agreement is subject to approval by the Executive Board, following the implementation of prior actions, notably on fiscal and institutional reforms. The approval of the agreement will make available 750 million in Special Drawing Rights (SDR), equivalent to $1,059m, read the statement.

    The Fund acknowledged Pakistan’s progress in improving its anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. However, additional time was needed to strengthen its effectiveness, according to the statement.

    “Available data suggest that a strong economic recovery has gained hold, benefiting from the authorities’ multifaceted policy response to the Covid-19 pandemic that has helped contain its human and macroeconomic ramifications,” the IMF said.

    “At the same time, external pressures have started to emerge: a widening of the current account deficit and depreciation pressures on the exchange rate — mainly reflecting the compound effects of the stronger economic activity, an expansionary macroeconomic policy mix, and higher international commodity prices.”

    The IMF emphasised that the monetary policy needs to remain focused on curbing inflation, preserving exchange rate flexibility, and strengthening international reserves.

    The introduction of the Finance Bill in the National Assembly to increase taxes and approval of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill are pre-conditions for the revival of the IMF loan programme, Finance Adviser Shaukat Tarin said last week.

    The IMF said that despite a difficult environment, progress continues to be made in the implementation of the EFF-supported programme.

    “All quantitative performance criteria (PCs) for end-June were met with wide margins, except for that on the primary budget deficit”, said the IMF.

  • Pakistan wins T20 series in Bangladesh

    Pakistan wins T20 series in Bangladesh

    The Pakistan cricket team has won the T20 series in Bangladesh in a 109-run chase as Pakistan won the second T20I by eight wickets to secure a 2-0 series win with one match of the three-match T20I series to spare against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium Mirpur, Dhaka on Saturday.

    Player of the match Fakhar Zaman who scored 34 runs in yesterday’s four-wicket win at the same venue, top-scored with a blazing unbeaten 57 off 51 balls while Mohammad Rizwan contributed 39 off 45 balls as Pakistan went past the target in the 19th over with 11 balls to spare.

    Fakhar finished the match in the company of Haider Ali. Rizwan and Fakhar added 85 for the second-wicket after the tourists lost captain and opener Babar Azam for one in the third over of the innings.

    Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first scoring 108 runs.

    For Pakistan, Shaheen and Shadab took two wickets each, Wasim, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz took a wicket apiece.

    The third and final match of the series will be played at the same venue on Monday, 22 November.