RAWALPINDI: Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday said that his country would continue to build the capacity of Royal Saudi Land Forces during a meeting with Major General Talal Abdullah Al-Otaibi, Military Adviser to His Royal Highness Minister of Defense, Saudi Arabia, according to an official handout shared by the army.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regionals security and measures to further enhance bilateral defense collaboration including Training Exchange Program were discussed,” read the statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Gen. Bajwa “affirmed Pakistan Army’s support toward capacity building of Royal Saudi Land Forces,” the statement added.
During the meeting held at the army’s General Head Quarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the visiting dignitary acknowledged Pakistan Army’s valuable contributions particularly toward regional peace and stability, the ISPR noted.
The Kingdom’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf Saeed Al Malkiy, was also present during the meeting.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have always maintained cordial relations with each other. The diplomatic ties between the two countries improved further after Prime Minister Imran Khan assumed the top political office of the country last year.
Saudi Arabia rescued Pakistan’s dwindling economy by offering Pakistan’s new political administration a significant relief package. The Kingdom also pledged to invest $21 billion in various projects during the crown prince’s visit to Islamabad in February this year.
Saudi-Pak generals discuss regional security, enhance defence collaboration
Saudi-Pak generals discuss regional security, enhance defence collaboration
- Saudi Major General Al-Otaibi acknowledged Pakistan army’s contribution to regional peace
- Pakistan Army will continue building capacity of Saudi land forces, army chief says
Pakistan court directs authorities to form medical board to assess Imran Khan’s eye condition
- Islamabad High Court rejects jailed ex-PM’s request for immediate transfer to private hospital
- Medical board comprising doctors from PIMS and Shifa to submit report on possible transfer
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani high court on Thursday directed authorities to form a medical board of government doctors to assess whether jailed former prime minister Imran Khan needs to be transferred to a hospital, his party said, following a rejection of his request to be moved to a private facility for treatment.
The development comes after the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said last week that Khan’s vision had “improved remarkably” since he was given an Anti-VEGF injection amid concerns related to his eyesight.
Anti-VEGF injections are commonly used to treat retinal vein occlusion and other retinal vascular disorders by reducing swelling and abnormal blood vessel growth inside the eye. Prior to the development, the ex-premier had complained of rapid deterioration in vision in one of his eyes.
“The Islamabad High Court has rejected Imran Khan’s request for immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital,” the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said in a post on X.
“The court directed that the Chief Commissioner immediately constitute a medical board comprising doctors from PIMS and Shifa Hospital,” it continued. “The medical board will submit a report, on the basis of which the Chief Commissioner will decide whether a hospital transfer is to take place or not.”
The PTI said the court’s decision had raised questions over the judiciary’s independence.
“Delaying a medical emergency and handing it over to administrative discretion is a violation of human rights,” it said. “The issue of Imran Khan’s health is not just about one individual but reflects the entire judicial and state system.”
The 74-year-old cricketer-turned politician has been in prison since August 2023 in cases that he and his party say are politically motivated.
Khan was taken to PIMS for a medical procedure earlier this year, as his party questioned the transparency of the medical update and demanded independent access to his care.
Khan was removed from office in April 2022 through a parliamentary vote of no confidence that he says was orchestrated at the behest of the former administration in Washington by his political rivals with backing from the military. His allegation has been denied by all parties involved.
Since his imprisonment, Khan has faced multiple convictions and ongoing legal proceedings that authorities say follow due process, while his party describes them as efforts to sideline him from politics.
