KHUZDAR, Balochistan: The election in Pakistan have never been free of compromises but in one Balochistan district — Khuzdar — parties ideologically poles apart have made election alliances, laying to rest their ideologies amid the tough contest for one national and three provincial assembly seats.
About 13 candidates are contesting for the only national assembly seat — NA-269 in the Khuzdar district of southwestern Balochistan province. Thirty-five candidates are in the race for three provincial assembly seats, PB-38, PB-39 and PB-40, which fall in the same districts.
One of those contesting as an independent candidate is Mir Shafiq Ur Rehman Mengal, popularly known as Shafiq Mengal, who is accused of involvement in militancy in Balochistan and ties with banned outfits. In an interview with BBC Urdu, Mengal, an alumnus of Atchison College Lahore who later gained admission to a madrasa, has denied that he formed the militant organization Difa-e-Balochistan, which is accused of mass murders.
His allies, however, are none other than the National Party (NP) of Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, who has been critical of militancy in the Balochistan province. Bizenjo and his party also claim to be anti-establishment.
“Why are you so much concerned only about Shafiq in such a large Balochistan? You may ask me about Quetta, Makran, Gwadar, Mastung, Dera Bugti, Dera Murad Jamali and Kohlu etc but you seem so much concerned about Shafiq and I don’t know anything about him,” Jan Muhammad Buledi, central information secretary national party and former Balochistan government spokesman, told Arab News when asked about the NP’s alliance with Shafiq Mengal. Buledi did not refute that his party had an alliance with Mengal.
According to the agreement, which Mir Shafiq-ur-Rehman Mengal unveiled before journalists in Khuzdar two days ago, on the national assembly seat the National Party will support Mengal and vote for “Rabbit,” an election symbol of Mengal, who will be a joint candidate of their “Jhalawan Panel.” Both parties will vote for Sardar Muhammad Aslam Bizenjo of the National Party on PB-39 and Mir Shamir Bizenjo of the same party on PB-40, whereas on PB-38 they will be free to vote for the candidate of their choice.
This is not the only strange alliance in the Balochistan district.
Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, former chief minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz who resigned in January 2018 ahead of a no-confidence vote, is running as an independent candidate for the national assembly on NA-269 and as a PMLN’s candidate for the Balochistan assembly for PB-38-Khuzdar-1. Zehri has, however, entered into an alliance with a party formed by those who had ousted him from power.
“According to the agreement between Sardar Sanaullah Zehri and Balochistan Awami Party, the BAP will vote for Zehri on NA-269 and PB-38 and Zehri’s supporters will vote for Shakeel Ahmed of BAP on PB-39, whereas on BP-40 both are free to vote for the candidate of their choice,” said Younus Baloch, a local journalist in Khuzdar. Sardar Sanaullah Zehri is contesting with the symbol “Jeep” for the National Assembly and “Tiger” for the provincial assembly seat.
The third notable alliance has been reached between the Sardar Akhter Mengal-led liberal and nationalist Balochistan National Party (BNP) and the religo-political party Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). According to Baloch, the MMA will support Akhter Mengal on NA-269 and PB-40. In return, the BNP will vote for Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s candidates, Abdul Khaliq and Meer Younas Aziz Zehri, on PB-38 and PB-39.
Anwar Sajidi, a senior analyst, said strange alliances between parties ideologically poles apart are happening because political parties have become weaker. “The political parties have put their ideologies behind as their dependency on others has increased and now they don’t bother about who they are going to be allied with,” Sajidi told Arab News.
“We see more local alliance and the reason is that political parties have become weaker after losing local support due to-non deliverance.”
Sajidi said that the impact of this trend will be very bad. “This will depoliticize the people and the masses will lose their confidence in the political parties, which is not good for the country,” he said.
Elections in Balochistan’s Khuzdar unite foes, ideological opponents
Elections in Balochistan’s Khuzdar unite foes, ideological opponents
- The secular nationalist party, NP, has made a “Jhalawan alliance” with Shafiq Mengal, an independent candidate who is accused of links with religious sectarian outfits
- Former chief minister Sanaullah Zehri has formed an alliance with the Balochistan Awami Party that ousted him from power
Around 540 Pakistani students to return from Bishkek today via commercial flights— deputy PM
- First batch of 130 Pakistani students from Bishkek arrived in Lahore on Saturday night
- Fifty students have also registered to return home via special air force flight, says deputy PM
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar announced the government has arranged three commercial flights to repatriate around 540 Pakistani students from Bishkek today, Sunday, following violent clashes in the city this week that led to the evacuations.
The development took place after frenzied mobs attacked foreign nationals in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek on Friday. The attacks began after videos of a brawl between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students went viral on social media, prompting furious mobs to target hostels of medical universities and private lodgings of international students, including Pakistanis, in the city.
The first batch of around 130 Pakistani students arrived in Lahore late Saturday night. According to official statistics, around 10,000 Pakistani students are enrolled in various educational institutions in Kyrgyzstan, with nearly 6,000 residing and studying in Bishkek.
“Three commercial special flights have been arranged for today (Sunday) on which 540 students will come back while 130 returned yesterday,” Dar told reporters during a media briefing in Lahore.
“A special flight of Pakistan Air Force will also bring around 130 students. So far, 50 students have registered themselves to come on this flight,” he added.
Dar said he spoke with the foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan today, Sunday, who assured him that the situation in the country was under control and that no new incidents had occurred since Friday afternoon.
“Kyrgyz foreign minister has confirmed that 16 foreign students including four to five Pakistanis got injured during this incident and are under treatment,” Dar said.
He added that Kyrgyzstan’s government has also assured that security at students’ hostels has been enhanced and that they were constantly monitoring the situation.
Earlier on Saturday evening, the PM’s Office said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed Dar and another cabinet member, Amir Muqam, to travel to Bishkek on Sunday and address the situation there.
Dar said they were not traveling to the country at the Kyrgyzstan government’s request, adding that Pakistan has instead sent two officers from the foreign office to facilitate the country’s embassy.
“We were supposed to leave today for the Kyrgyz republic but their foreign minister requested [us] not to come because it would give the wrong impression about the incident and would provide fuel to the opposition,” Dar said.
He said Kyrgyzstan’s foreign minister has categorically denied any Pakistani students were killed in the clashes.
“Their (Kyrgyzstan) foreign minister also said they have arrested a few culprits and assured that no one involved will be spared,” the deputy prime minister said.
Dar said Pakistan’s foreign office had summoned the Kyrgyz Charge d’Affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday for a demarche over the current situation.
“It [violence] happened due to a clash between students and foreign students were targeted from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Arab countries,” he said.
Dar said Pakistan’s embassy had confirmed the situation is not tense anymore and that Pakistanis injured are being provided the best possible medical facilities.
Separately, in a telephone call with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Hasan Ali Zaigham, PM Sharif instructed the embassy to make the necessary arrangements for the special plane to bring back Pakistani students.
The prime minister said injured Pakistani students should be brought back to Pakistan on a priority basis.
“The Prime Minister also instructed to ensure repatriation of family members residing in Kyrgyzstan with the Pakistani students,” PMO said.
Pakistan says will push for peace in Middle East if elected non-permanent UNSC member
- Elections for five of 10 non-permanent seats of UNSC for 2025-26 to take place on June 6
- Pakistan has been elected as non-permanent UNSC member seven times, most recently in 2013
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will work for peace in the Middle East and Africa, and promote the right of self-determination of people living under foreign occupation if it gets elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN said on Sunday.
Elections for five of the 10 non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council for 2025-26 are set to take place on June 6. Pakistan says its candidacy has the endorsement of the 55-member Asian Group.
The South Asian country has been elected to the Security Council seven times, most recently in 2013. Other times Pakistan got elected was in 1952-1953, 1968-1969, 1976-1977, 1983-1984, 1993-1994 and 2003-2004.
Speaking to members of the US-based Pakistan Students Association Coalition (PSA Coalition) via video link, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram said election to the Security Council would require Islamabad to play a leading role in addressing Kashmir, Afghanistan and counterterrorism issues.
“Pakistan will articulate developing countries’ aspirations, work for peace and in the Middle East and Africa as well as promote the right of self-determination for peoples under foreign occupation if elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Akram said, according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
Akram spoke about the current state of the world. including key global challenges amid regional conflicts.
“He said that as the intense competition between major powers became a new reality of the world order, the world was undergoing a fast transition from its unipolar status to a bipolar plus order,” the APP said.
The Pakistani ambassador’s comments came as Israel continues its relentless military assault on Gaza. Israel’s attacks against Hamas have killed at least 35,386 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
The Jewish state’s siege has brought dire food shortages and the threat of famine to the densely populated territory.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East and urged world powers to work toward a two-state solution in the restive region, according to the aspirations of the people of Palestine.
Polling for NA-148 by-election in Pakistan’s Multan underway
- Ex-PM Yousaf Raza Gillani vacated NA-148 seat after getting elected Senate chairman
- Tough competition expected between SIC’s Taimur Malik and PPP’s Ali Musa Gillani
ISLAMABAD: Polling commenced for Multan’s NA-148 on Sunday, state-run media reported, with thousands expected to cast their ballots in today’s by-election.
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani won the NA-148 constituency in Multan in the contentious Feb. 8 national election. However, Gillani had to vacate the seat after he was elected to the post of Senate chairman in April.
A total of 444,231 registered voters in the constituency are expected to exercise their right to cast votes in 275 polling stations and 933 polling booths set up for the polling exercise. Pakistan’s election regulator has set up 485 polling booths for men and 448 for women, state-run Radio Pakistan said.
Voting commenced at 08:00 a.m. and is expected to continue till 5:00 p.m.
“People in good numbers are arriving at the polling stations to cast their votes at the earliest due to hot weather,” Radio Pakistan said.
“Comprehensive security arrangements have been made for free, fair and transparent polls.”
Eight candidates including the Imran Khan-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) leader Taimur Malik and Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Ali Qasim Gillani are vying for the seat.
The Feb. 8 election was marred by a countrywide shutdown of mobile phone services. The results of the polls, which were declared unfair by Khan and his PTI party, threw up a hung parliament in which no political party emerged with the majority to form its government.
Khan’s PTI, which formed the largest bloc in the National Assembly after winning over 90 seats, said it won a two-thirds majority but was denied victory by Pakistan’s election regulator, accusing it of manipulating votes. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) denied the allegations and so did the caretaker government.
Pakistan’s religion minister arrives in Makkah to review Hajj 2024 arrangements
- Chaudhry Salik Hussain to visit Saudi institutions, catering companies and residences of Hajj pilgrims today, says religion ministry
- At least 22,696 Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Madinah via 93 flights since April 9 when Pakistan started pre-Hajj flight operations
ISLAMABAD: Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain reached Makkah on Sunday to review Hajj 2024 arrangements, the religion ministry said, as Pakistani pilgrims continue to arrive in Saudi Arabia ahead of the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able.
Pakistani pilgrims have been arriving in Madinah since May 9 when Pakistan launched its pre-Hajj flight operations. At least 22,696 Pakistani pilgrims have since arrived in Madinah through 93 flights, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
Hussain, who arrived in Madinah earlier this week to inspect Hajj arrangements, reached Makkah on Sunday to hold important meetings with Saudi officials and gauge preparations for the Islamic pilgrimage.
“Chaudhry Salik Hussain will visit Saudi institutions, catering companies, and residences of Hajj pilgrims today, Sunday,” MoRA said in a statement.
It added the minister would visit the Pakistan Hajj Mission in Makkah’s office after performing Umrah.
Pakistan’s religion ministry said over 11,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims visited the “Riazul Jannah” in Madinah, a small space between the pulpit and the grave of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which 63,805 people will perform the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest will use private tour operators. This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14-19.
UN-linked body grants ‘A status’ to Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights
- Accreditation allows National Commission for Human Rights to sit at Human Rights Council, other UN bodies’ meetings
- NCHR was formed in 2012 for promotion and protection of human rights in Pakistan as per country’s constitution
ISLAMABAD: The Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), one of the largest rights networks worldwide, has granted Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) an A-list status, making it a “historic first” for the South Asian country, state media reported this week,
Representing over 110 National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), their members and staff across all regions, GANHRI is one of the largest human rights networks worldwide. It is also a trusted partner of the United Nations.
The NCHR was formed in 2012 for the promotion and protection of human rights in Pakistan as per the country’s constitution and international rights instruments.
“Despite it being extremely rare for commissions to attain A status in the first round, Pakistan’s NCHR has been accredited with this highest grade in its first try,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Saturday.
“It is also the only country to have attained new A status in this year’s session.”
The status grants NCHR a seat at the Human Rights Council and other UN bodies, APP said, adding that it was “a historic first” for Pakistan.
“In the past, Pakistan’s commission could only act as an observer but now will get a voice at the table,” it said.
“NCHR Pakistan joins the ranks of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, France and others as an A status NHRI.”
The NCHR’s application process involved submitting a lengthy 125-page report about its establishment, independence, composition, organizational infrastructure, working methods, mandate, and quasi-judicial functions.
The NCHR team was interviewed by a committee comprising over 25 persons and select chairpersons of accredited commissions throughout the world before it attained the prestigious status.
“This milestone positions Pakistan’s NCHR in a global alliance of quality, world-class commissions,” the state media said.
“It allows NCHR to speak at the UN Human Rights Council and other global forums to present Pakistan’s case for human rights. Its voice is strategic for financial concessions to Pakistan such as GSP+, FATE, and IME.”
