ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday lashed out at opposition leader Nawaz Sharif over his recent comments against the country’s top military leadership, saying it would now be his ‘utmost effort’ to bring the former prime minister back to Pakistan to face jail.
Khan was addressing a convention of the Tiger Force, a one-million-strong task force of young volunteers set up to facilitate official coronavirus relief efforts which has now been put to work in aid of multiple other Pakistan government departments.
At a protest rally in the eastern city of Gujranwala in the early hours of Saturday, Sharif, who addressed tens of thousands of people via video link from London, accused the army chief of “packing up” his government. The military has consistently denied meddling in politics.
Sharif’s second term as PM ended when his government was toppled in a military coup in 2000. He was prime minister for a third term from 2013 to 2017, when he was removed by the Supreme Court amid corruption revelations over his personal wealth.
He was subsequently convicted of graft but says the accusations are politically motivated. On October 25 last year, Sharif was granted bail and got court clearance to leave the country for medical treatment in London.
“From today it will be my utmost effort that you [Sharif] be brought back to this country,” Khan said to a charged crowd. “And you will be kept in a regular jail, not a VIP jail … You come back and I’ll see how we keep you.”
Addressing Sharif’s remarks against the military, Khan referred to two separate attacks on military convoys this week, in which 20 people, including 13 soldiers, were killed.
“Attacks are being carried out against our soldiers, our soldiers are sacrificing their lives,” he said.
“Why are they sacrificing their lives? It’s for us and this country. And this jackal [Sharif], who ran from here, is sitting there [in London], used this language against our army chief and the DG ISI [intelligence chief],” Khan said, as the crowd rang out in angry cheers.
“The opposition is going to see a different Imran Khan now,” the PM added, dismissing the Gujranwala rally as a ‘circus.’
Last month, nine major opposition parties formed the Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) to launch countrywide protests aimed at forcing Khan to resign and call early elections. The first rally was held in Gujranwala on Friday evening. Rallies are also planned for Karachi and Quetta later this month.
PM Khan’s PTI party swept to power in August 2018 after defeating all major opposition parties. The opposition alliance says the party won a rigged election, which Khan’s government denies.
The next general election is scheduled for 2023.
My 'utmost effort' to bring Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan to face jail — PM Khan
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My 'utmost effort' to bring Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan to face jail — PM Khan
- Prime minister addresses Tiger Force convention, responds to former premier’s comments blaming army top leaders for ousting his government
- Sharif is in London on medical bail from a seven-year-prison sentence, Khan says he will be returned to Pakistan to serve the rest of his sentence in a regular prison
Semi-final spot at stake as arch-rivals India, Pakistan clash in U-19 Cricket World Cup
- Pakistan have won the toss and elected to field first in high-octane clash in Bulawayo
- Pakistan have to beat India by huge margin to overtake them on run rate for semifinal spot
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India will lock horns in a highly anticipated 2026 Under-19 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup contest today, Sunday, at Bulawayo amid political tensions between the two nations.
The arch-rivals will clash in the final match of the Super Sixes round of the U-19 World Cup. England, the other team from Group 2 with India and Pakistan, have already qualified for the final four of the World Cup.
For India, who have six points, a simple win will take them through to the semifinals. For Pakistan, who have four points, a win alone won’t ensure them a semifinal berth. The Green Shirts’ run rate of 1.484 is significantly lower than India’s 3.337, meaning they will have to beat India by a huge margin to win.
For instance, if Pakistan bat first and post 300, they need to win by 85 runs. If they bowl first and restrict India to around 200, they will need to chase it down in around 31.5 overs.
“Pakistan U19 win the toss and opt to field first,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote on social media platform X.
Pakistan trounced India the last time the Under-19 teams met in the final of the Asia Cup tournament last month. The Green Shirts thrashed India by 191 runs after scoring 347 in Dubai, courtesy of a stellar century by Sameer Minhas.
The match between the two sides was marked by hostility, with both sides refusing to shake hands and engaging in verbal battles on the field.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have surged after their brief military altercation in May last year, have also impacted their relations in cricket.
India beat Pakistan thrice in the senior men’s Asia Cup tournament held in September last year. In all three matches, players of both teams refused to shake hands and engaged in a war of words on the field in the later two fixtures.
