Tag: Saudia

  • Normalisation of ties with Israel puts Mohammad Bin Salman’s life at risk

    Normalisation of ties with Israel puts Mohammad Bin Salman’s life at risk

    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) is at risk of assassination amid his normalisation of ties with Israel, reports Politico, a U.S.-based publication.

    MBS reportedly told a U.S. Congress member that he is risking his life for a significant deal with the U.S. and Israel.

    Posing a question to the U.S., he said, “What did they do to protect Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated after making a peace deal with Israel?”

    The crown prince, however, is reportedly determined to pursue the mega-deal with the U.S. and Israel despite the threats, deeming it pivotal to his country’s future.

  • Pakistani scientist Dr. Mehmood Khan receives Saudi citizenship under Vision 2030

    Pakistani scientist Dr. Mehmood Khan receives Saudi citizenship under Vision 2030

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has granted Saudi citizenship to Pakistani scientist Dr. Mehmood Khan. A royal decree was issued under Vision 2030 to confer nationality upon scientists, medical doctors, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and distinguished talents with unique expertise and specialization in their respective fields.

    Dr. Khan currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Hevolution Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing aging-related treatments, accelerating drug development timelines, and improving access to therapeutics that extend human lifespans.

    Saudi Arabia initiated Vision 2030 to attract and retain exceptional global talent, thereby enhancing the country’s economic and social development.

  • No political slogans allowed during Hajj, warns Saudi Arabia

    No political slogans allowed during Hajj, warns Saudi Arabia

    Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiyyah, on June 6, warned pilgrims that political slogans are not allowed during Hajj.

    Saudi Minister of Hajj Tawfiq al-Rabiyyah told reporters in Riyadh that, “Hajj is for worship and not for any political slogans, so no one will be allowed to raise political slogans during Hajj,” Geo News reported.

    The Saudi Minister for Hajj said that Hajj is a form of worship, and the Saudi government wants to ensure that Hajj remains the highest manifestation of humility, peace and spirituality.

    Moreover, the official page of news publication ‘Inside The Haramain’ posted the minister’s press conference with the caption, “Hajj is for worship only, not for political slogans.”

    The post further added, “Making Dua for Palestinians especially our brothers in Gaza is not banned, this is completely false. What is banned is raising political slogans, be it from any country or region. ONLY the Dhikr of Allah can be raised in the Two Holy Mosques and Mosques.”

  • MBS likely to visit Pakistan next month

    MBS likely to visit Pakistan next month

    Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman is likely to visit Pakistan next month after a recent visit by the Saudi delegation led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

    The News has reported that the Crown Prince, also the Prime Minister of the Kingdom, will come to Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

    The schedule of the visit is being worked out through diplomatic channels. Meanwhile, the Saudi foreign minister had highly productive meetings with the political and military leadership before returning home late Tuesday evening.

    Earlier, during the meeting of foreign ministers of both countries, Foreign Minister Dar expressed pleasure at the arrival of the high-powered Saudi delegation, terming it as an “impressive group of dignitaries visiting Pakistan for the first time during his long political career”.

    The Saudi FM stressed the importance of a strategic partnership between the two countries and expressed commitment to strengthening investment in the country.

  • ‘Views my own about Saudi’s role in IK’s removal’; Marwat tries damage control for PTI

    ‘Views my own about Saudi’s role in IK’s removal’; Marwat tries damage control for PTI

    Sher Afzal Marwat has offered clarification on his allegation that Saudi Arabia was involved in the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2022.

    Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “The statement made by me in live show was based on my personal views. I never claimed in my interview that the stance had any official backing of the PTI.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has ‘criticised’ its maverick member Sher Afzal Marwat for alleging that Saudi Arabia played a role in the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    PTI’s official X (formerly Twitter) account posted a statement which read, “Marwat’s views do not undermine the strategy or position of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in any way, nor do they consider them as factual statements. This may be his personal opinion which is not supported or approved by the leadership or workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf at any level.”

    Moreover, the post said that Saudi Arabia is one of Pakistan’s closest and most trusted Islamic brotherhood countries and Imran Khan had a relationship of mutual respect and trust with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS).

    Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s close aide Zulfi Bukhari also clarified on X, “Neither Imran Khan nor PTI holds any such opinion about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. KSA has ALWAYS been & will be our closest brotherly country.”

    He also said that the recent visit by the Saudi delegation is a testament to Pakistan’s brotherly relations with KSA.

    Moonis Elahi also said his piece on X, “I think Sher Afzal Marwat Sahib is mistaken. His recent statement against Saudi Arabia is also not correct because PM Imran Khan never mentioned Saudi Arabia in the regime change plan. As far as I remember, Khan Sahib has always used good words for the Saudi government.”

    Earlier, Sher Afzal Marwat, the popular Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member, in a talk show on GTV, gave a new twist to the alleged ‘regime change’ of 2022 when he remarked that Saudi Arabia was directly involved in the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan.

    “This regime change operation took place due to cooperation between the two countries Saudi Arabia and America. Saudis played the role of a conduit in the regime change,” said the PTI member.

    When anchorperson Gharida Farooqi said to Marwat that this is a very serious allegation because Saudi Arabia is a brotherly country of Pakistan, he replied that his allegations are a reality because KSA makes policies on the whims of the USA.

    “Someone made an allegation on Imran Khan that he did mimicry of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS) and he got to know about it so that could also be the reason for this,”, said Marwat after being questioned by the journalist about Saudia’s motivation for it.

  • Nawaz Sharif free in Avenfield apartments reference

    Nawaz Sharif free in Avenfield apartments reference

    In a massive relief for the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference on Wednesday.

    The verdict was announced by a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

    Nawaz Sharif was facing a 10-year jail sentence in the Avenfield properties corruption reference since July 2018, charged with owning assets beyond known income. An additional one-year sentence was imposed for non-cooperation with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), both to be served concurrently.

    Having been declared a proclaimed offender in two cases, Al-Azizia and Avenfield, in December 2020, Nawaz Sharif spent nearly four years in London on medical grounds before returning to Pakistan last month. Upon his return, he sought the restoration of appeals against his convictions, which had been dismissed for non-prosecution during his medical stay abroad.

    The second case against Nawaz was the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, for which Nawaz Sharif received a seven-year jail term on December 24, 2018, accompanied by a fine of Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million. The decision for this case is yet to be taken. 

    The IHC restored these appeals in a decision last month, leading to today’s pivotal hearing. Nawaz Sharif’s legal counsel, Amjad Pervaiz, argued before the court, pointing out perceived loopholes in the Avenfield reference.

    Nawaz’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz questioned the ownership of the properties, arguing that there was neither verbal nor documented evidence indicating Nawaz’s ownership. The defense emphasized the lack of evidence proving that Maryam Nawaz and other family members were under Nawaz’s patronage.

    Pervez argued that the NAB failed to prove any of the allegations against Nawaz Sharif. “The properties in question were acquired at different times, with some being acquired between 1993 and 1996. The appellant had no connection to these properties, and the prosecution did not clarify their relation to the properties in the reference.”

    He said that Wajid Zia, former DG FIA, admitted that there was no evidence to establish Nawaz Sharif’s connection to the properties. The charge sheet stated that the assets were not in accordance with declared assets.

    The court based the sentence on assumptions, and the decision was generally written without specific evidence. It was written that children are generally under the guardianship of their father, he said.

  • Hajjis to get mobile sims and free internet

    Hajjis to get mobile sims and free internet

    Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Aneeq Ahmed has said that the government will provide free-of-cost mobile SIMs with roaming internet packages for pilgrims, on Tuesday.

    He further stated that female abayas having a Pakistani flag on the backside and 13 Kg suitcases will also be provided to pilgrims performing hajj this year.

    The minister said that it was a historic step that the caretaker government has declared a significant reduction of one lac in government Hajj expenses, adding that a further Rs50,000 will also be reduced in the coming few days after which Hajjaj will get back their money in their accounts.

    He further revealed that a new mobile application has been designed to assist pilgrims, which will provide navigation support and enable constant communication between pilgrims and relevant officials.

    Initially available in English and Urdu, the application will later incorporate various regional languages, he said, adding that, the app will also provide digital training programs to every pilgrim.

    The minister also disclosed a project that the Ministry of Hajj in collaboration with the Ministry of Education has planned to convert city mosques into schools to enroll out-of-school children where the Imam of mosques will play a leading role.

    Minister said that mosques will play their role as community centers in every city area, adding that imams will resolve community issues as well after offering prayers.

    He said that the Ministry of Hajj is taking all four provinces on board and enhancing the connectivity of mosques.

    While describing another project, minister for religious affairs said that his ministry with the collaboration of health ministry has another project in which medical clinics will also be part of mosques.

    Lady health workers and other essential staff of doctors will also be provided in all masajid where they will facilitate to citizens visiting inside the masque of areas, he added.

  • A timeline of Nawaz Sharif’s fall from power and return to Pakistan

    A timeline of Nawaz Sharif’s fall from power and return to Pakistan

    Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif got disqualified when the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) announced its decision on July 28, 2017 in the Panama Papers case.

    After that, Nawaz Sharif and three of his children were referred to an accountability court, which was ordered to file corruption cases against Sharif’s family within six weeks.

    In July 2018, the expelled prime minister was imprisoned for 10 years in Avenfield properties corruption case, an assets-beyond-means trial.

    Nawaz’s sentence then got extended to one more year for not cooperating with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the same case.

    His daughter, PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, had initially received a seven-year jail sentence in the same case. However, she was subsequently acquitted in September 2022, along with her husband, (retd) Captain Safdar.

    In Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, the PML-N supremo was sentenced to seven years in jail on December 24, 2018. Nawaz Sharif was taken to Adiala jail in this case, and then he got shifted to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on the very next day. He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million in this case.

    The former prime minister was released from jail in March 2019. After that, Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed Nawaz Sharif to go to London for treatment for fast depleting platelets levels, and then he left for London in November 2019.

    When he didn’t come back to Pakistan for almost a year, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared him a fugitive.

    On September 9, 2021, PML-N leader Javed Latif claimed that Nawaz Sharif will come back to Pakistan within the year, but that return didn’t work out.

    Latif, a PML-N MNA, was talking to media after visiting NAB’s Joint Investigation Team for a graft inquiry.

    On November 12, 2022, a PML-N party insider expressed confidence that Sharif will be back in Pakistan next month in December, but that didn’t happen either.

    Once again, on August 15, 2022, Javed Latif claimed that Nawaz Sharif will come back to Pakistan in September, as doctors had allowed him to travel.

    “The doctors change their opinion with time. The people are his doctors; the nation has announced its decision that Nawaz Sharif should come back,” Latif added.

    In June 2023, one of the well-informed sources within PML-N also claimed that Nawaz Sharif will come back to Pakistan next month, in July 2023.

    The former prime minister and PML-N president, Shehbaz Sharif, has confirmed multiple times in the last few months that Nawaz Sharif is coming back on October 21, 2023.

    The PML-N supremo left London for Saudi Arabia on October 11 and performed Umrah there. Nawaz Sharif is currently in Dubai and will land in Pakistan on October 21.

    Meanwhile, the IHC has approved Nawaz Sharif’s plea on Thursday, providing him with bail in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases until October 24.

  • Pakistani Hajjis to get special perks to make pilgrimage easier

    The Ministry of Religious Affairs has unveiled its Hajj policy for 2024, designed to bring a revolutionary transformation to the pilgrimage journey for Pakistani pilgrims.

    Caretaker Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed announced this game-changing policy, which will be presented to the cabinet for approval within the next 10 days.

    The most striking feature is the introduction of a short Hajj option, where pilgrims have the flexibility to go for Hajj from 18 to 30 days, which empowers pilgrims to customise their journey as per their preference.

    QR codes for suitcases

    The new policy also introduces technological advances in which each Hajj pilgrim will be provided with two specially designed suitcases adorned with QR codes. These QR codes will contain essential information such as the pilgrim’s name, passport number, residence, school number, and other pertinent details. This innovation aims to streamline logistics and enhance security during the pilgrimage.

    Special Mobile Package

    In a significant step towards connectivity, the ministry has secured an agreement with a Saudi Arabian mobile phone company to offer a special mobile package exclusively for Hajj pilgrims. Priced at Rs 4,000, it enables pilgrims to make audio and video calls, ensuring they can stay in touch with their families back in Pakistan throughout their Hajj journey.

    Minister Aneeq Ahmed expressed his optimism about these advancements, stating, “Now Pakistani pilgrims will not be lost in the crowd. These changes are designed to simplify the Hajj experience, enhance communication, and provide pilgrims with peace of mind.”

    Additionally, the Saudi government has offered official residences for Pakistani pilgrims, further easing their accommodations during their sacred journey.

  • IMF team to visit Pakistan in 2-3 days to finalise ninth review

    IMF team to visit Pakistan in 2-3 days to finalise ninth review

    A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will visit Pakistan in two to three days to “undertake and complete” the key ninth review, according to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    PM Shehbaz said that he spoke to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and stressed that Pakistan will complete the IMF bailout programme.

    “I told her to ease the terms of the deal because I cannot burden the common man any further. We have imposed taxes on the rich strata of the society. I requested her to send a delegation for the ninth review and she replied that a team will visit Pakistan in 2-3 days.”

    “After inquiring about Pakistan’s relations with China and Saudi Arabia, she also told me that China had urged IMF to support Pakistan,” he said.

    The IMF programme is currently stalled, with experts suggesting that the government is reluctant to implement some of the lender’s conditions over their effect on political capital in a year when elections are scheduled to take place.

    PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan was trying to mend its ties with friendly countries as well. “We should appreciate friendly countries for supporting Pakistan over the past few years but the previous government slapped allegations of corruption on Chinese firms and jeopardised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).”

    He stated that the former leadership “had angered friendly nations”, adding that the contribution of Saudi Arabia, UAE and China to Pakistan’s economy is priceless.

    Pakistan needs the IMF programme to restart due to its declining rupee, shrinking reserves, and worse macroeconomic indices.

    The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign exchange holdings dropped by another $245 million on Thursday, down to a critically low level of $5.58 billion. Since April 2014, SBP-held reserves have never been this low.

    At the same time, the government has also been unable in obtaining crucial support from allies.

    The challenge has left Pakistani authorities scurrying to set up foreign exchange amid increased concerns over the country’s capacity to pay its debts and fund imports.

    Additionally, there are market rumours that Pakistan could possibly default, but the Pakistani government is still confident that Saudi Arabia would provide essential assistance for the country’s foreign exchange reserves.