ISLAMABAD: A court in Pakistan has overruled the decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan to ban the Milli Muslim League (MML) from registering as a political party.
Islamabad High Court’s Justice Amir Farooq ordered the commission to review its decision, effectively clearing the way for the party to field candidates.
MML was launched by Jamaat-ud-Dawah founder Hafiz Saeed in August 2017, but its registration application was rejected in October. Pakistan’s Interior Ministry had asked the ECP to take into account that the US had placed a $10 million bounty on the head of Saeed.
MML appealed on the grounds that the country’s constitution allows anyone to engage freely in political activities.
The MML welcomed the March 8 high-court decision, saying: “Our supporters across the country are very happy. In the 2018 general elections MML will emerge as major political force.”
Court ruling clears way for Hafiz Saeed’s Milli Muslim League to field candidates in Pakistan elections
Court ruling clears way for Hafiz Saeed’s Milli Muslim League to field candidates in Pakistan elections
Pakistan PM to visit Qatar today to explore trade, investment, energy cooperation
- Shehbaz Sharif to lead high-level delegation comprising deputy premier, senior ministers and officials on two-day visit
- Sharif to meet Qatari amir, discuss economic collaboration, regional and global developments, says Pakistan’s foreign office
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Qatar today, Monday, for a two-day visit to the country during which both sides will explore new avenues of cooperation in trade, investment, energy and manpower export, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Sharif will visit Qatar from Feb. 23-24 at the invitation of Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the foreign office said. The Pakistani premier will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as well as other ministers and senior officials.
Sharif is expected to meet the Qatari amir during his visit and review bilateral ties, political engagement, economic collaboration, energy partnership and people-to-people exchanges, it added.
“The two sides will also explore new avenues of cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, energy, infrastructure development and manpower export,” the statement said.
The foreign office said Sharif’s visit will provide both leaderships an opportunity to exchange views on regional and global developments, reaffirming their resolve to work closely for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Pakistan enjoys robust trade and investment relations with Qatar. In 2022, the Qatari amir’s office said that the Qatar Investment Authority aims to invest $3 billion in Pakistan to support the South Asian nation’s cash-strapped economy. This investment would focus on Pakistan’s transport, civil aviation, education, health, culture, media, communications, information technology and labor sectors, the amir’s office said.
Qatar is also host to almost 300,000 Pakistanis, which is a large part of the country’s total population, according to Pakistan’s foreign office. Qatar employs a large number of Pakistanis in the health, education, engineering, finance and public service sectors.
A large number of semi-skilled and unskilled Pakistani work force also dominate the construction and transport sectors of Qatar. Pakistan’s efforts to expand employment opportunities for its skilled labor in Qatar have led to both sides signing several memoranda of understanding and letters of intent over the years.
The two nations also promote bilateral cooperation through several forums such as the Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC), Joint Ministerial Commission, Joint Business Council and Working Group on Trade & Investment.
Qatar was also instrumental in easing tensions by hosting talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in October last year, after both sides were involved in fierce border clashes that killed several and wounded dozens.
