ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s 23-year-old Arslan Saddique – aka “Arslan Ash” – is now officially the world’s reining Tekken 7 champion.
Saddique defeated Jae-Min “Knee” Bae at the grand final of the 2019 Evolution Championship Series (EVO) in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on August 5th, 2019. In addition to the bragging rights of credentials putting his skillset at the very top of the fighting video game, Saddique walked away with nearly USD $14,000 in prize money.
Saddique has faced Bae, a well-known player in the international gaming community, on three different occasions. The last time was at EVO Japan where Saddique hailing from a relatively uncharted gaming world (Re: Pakistan) was applauded but mostly dismissed according to VICE’s article on his win, but to win back to back in Japan and at the more prestigious North American finals? Something that cannot be ignored.
Saddique is the first player from Pakistan to participate in the Tekken 7 leg of the EVO, and the first player from Pakistan to participate at large at EVO since 2011. He became a player of note in 2018 during the FV x SEA Major Malaysia where he finished in 9th place. Saddique plays Tekken for team VSlash a competitive e-sports team.
Saddique tweeted out about his win writing, “All thanks to Allah Almighty for making me gain success and be an evo champ. Twice consecutively,” further thanking his team and his mom.
Pakistani youth becomes world’s top Tekken 7 player
Pakistani youth becomes world’s top Tekken 7 player
- “Arslan Ash” bagged nearly $14,000 in prize money after beating Jae-Min “Knee” Bae in EVO grand final in Las Vegas
- He is the first player from Pakistan to participate in the Tekken 7 leg of Evolution Championship Series
US freezes immigrant visas for Pakistanis from Jan. 21, non-immigrant travel unaffected
- Pakistan is listed among 75 ‘high-risk’ countries as US revisits immigration policy and screening standards
- Embassy statement follows Pakistan’s request for clarity on scope and implementation of visa restrictions
ISLAMABAD: The United States has formally announced a freeze on the issuance of immigrant visas for Pakistani nationals starting next week, while confirming that non-immigrant visas will continue to be processed, according to a social media post by the US embassy on Friday.
The statement comes two days after the State Department said it would suspend the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, as President Donald Trump presses ahead with a hard-line immigration agenda centered on financial self-sufficiency.
In an update published on its website, the State Department said it was conducting a comprehensive review of immigration policies to ensure that migrants from what it described as “high-risk” countries do not rely on public welfare in the United States or become a “public charge.”
“The Trump Administration is focused on protecting the American people by upholding the highest standards of screening and vetting of visa applicants,” the US embassy said on X. “Effective January 21, the Department of State is pausing issuance to all immigrant visa applicants from selected countries, including Pakistan.”
“This action applies to the issuance of immigrant visas only,” it added. “It does not apply to nonimmigrant visas, such as those for tourists, students, athletes, skilled workers, and their families.”
The embassy said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had instituted the pause until authorities could ensure that new immigrants are vetted “to the maximum degree,” including confirmation that applicants meet eligibility requirements and will not rely on public assistance.
Pakistan’s foreign office said a day earlier that it was seeking clarity from US authorities on the scope and implementation of the restrictions, while immigration consultants and travel agents reported growing uncertainty among applicants with pending cases.
Trump has intensified immigration enforcement since returning to office in January, expanding federal operations across major US cities. Earlier this month, a US immigration agent shot dead a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis, triggering overnight protests and renewed criticism over the administration’s hard-line approach.
