KARACHI: Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the chief of Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (JuD), a UN-designated terrorist organization, has said that its political front, the Milli Muslim League (MML), will make Hyderabad Deccan, Junagadh and Kashmir part of Pakistan. They had opted to join it but were forcibly occupied by India.
Addressing an election gathering in Karachi’s North Nazimabad neighborhood, Saeed said the MML, which unlike like other leagues being curved out of Pakistan Muslim League is not personality-centric, will complete the mission of the founder of Pakistan.
Nearly 300 candidates of the MML, a party blacklisted by the US because of alleged terror links, are contesting under the banner of Allah-o-Akber Tehreek (AAT).
Hafiz Saeed on Sunday arrived in the megacity of Karachi to address three election gatherings in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Nazimabad and Orangi Town neighborhoods of the city and lead a rally to visit different vicinities.
“Pakistan is a gift of God as it was created on 27th Ramadan. When Quid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was asked about the government, he said we have a model to follow, which was presented and practiced 1400 years ago,” the JuD chief said, adding that in the past 70 years the rules didn’t run the state according to the wishes of the founder, owing to which the areas occupied by India couldn’t be secured.
“Had Pakistan been run according to the wishes of Quid, the Hyderabad Deccan, Junagadh and Kashmir would have become part of our country long before,” he said, vowing that the MML, after forming a government in the country, will make these areas part of Pakistan.
Saeed urged a large number of women participants of the gathering to start a door-to-door campaign to pass on the message. “I urge my brothers and sisters to start a door to door campaign. We have kicked off a movement. People are contesting elections for their party we are fighting election for Pakistan.”
The Milli Muslim League, which was proscribed as a terrorist group by the US in April 2018, had announced it would push for its registration as a political party with the Election Commission of Pakistan but if that failed it would field independent candidates from across Pakistan.
Later it announced it would contest elections under the banner of AAT with 265 contestants. The number, however, reached 300 when independent candidates also announced to contest with the symbol “Chair.”
JuD chief, Hafiz Saeed, addresses election rallies in Karachi
JuD chief, Hafiz Saeed, addresses election rallies in Karachi
- The Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (JuD) chief vows to make Hyderabad Deccan, Junagadh and Kashmir part of Pakistan after coming into power
- Around 300 MML candidates are contesting the 2018 general election under the banner of Allah-o-Akber Tehreek (AAT)
IMF mission begins talks in Islamabad as Pakistan seeks next program review
- Finance ministry confirms ‘kick-off meeting’ with visiting IMF delegation
- Review critical for next tranche under $7 billion bailout program
Karachi: Pakistan began formal talks with a visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation on Monday as the country prepares for the next review of its $7 billion bailout program.
The IMF team is in Pakistan to conduct a review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) approved in September 2024, a multi-year program aimed at stabilizing the economy after a balance-of-payments crisis, high inflation and dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
Pakistan has so far received roughly $3 billion of the EFF. Successful completion of the latest review could pave the way for the release of the next tranche of funds, subject to IMF board approval.
Separately in 2024, Pakistan also secured about $1.3 billion under the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility, a climate-focused funding window aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to manage environmental and disaster-related risks.
“Kick-off meeting with IMF Mission held today,” the finance ministry said on Monday as it shared visuals of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and senior officials meeting the delegation in Islamabad.
IMF country representative in Pakistan, Mahir Binici, told Arab News in an emailed statement;
“An IMF mission led by Ms. Iva Petrova has started discussions with the authorities in Karachi and Islamabad on the third review of Pakistan’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement and the second review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).”
The discussions are expected to focus on Pakistan’s fiscal performance, revenue collection targets, structural reform implementation and broader macroeconomic stability measures agreed under the program.
The review comes at a sensitive time for Pakistan’s economy, with rising global oil prices and regional instability adding pressure to inflation and external accounts. Analysts say continued IMF engagement remains crucial for maintaining investor confidence and securing external financing.
Pakistan entered the IMF program to restore macroeconomic stability, strengthen public finances and rebuild foreign exchange reserves. Authorities have repeatedly described the reform agenda as necessary to ensure long-term economic resilience.
Further meetings between technical teams are expected over the coming days.
