LAHORE: Pakistan removed Islamist leader Saad Rizvi from its terrorism watchlist on Thursday, paving the way for his release from detention under a deal to end weeks of deadly protests by his followers over an alleged blasphemy.
The move came a week after the government agreed to free 2,000 detained members of his Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) movement, lifted a ban on the group and agreed to let it contest elections.
In return, the TLP has agreed to shun the politics of violence and withdraw a demand to have France's ambassador expelled over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by a French magazine, negotiators have said.
The TLP took to the streets in mid-October, kicking off weeks of protests and clashes that killed at least seven policemen, injured scores on both sides and blocked the country's busiest highway.
At the height of the violence, Prime Minister Imran Khan's government banned the TLP, designated it a terrorist group and arrested Rizvi.
A government notification seen by Reuters said the TLP chief Saad Rizvi's name was "hereby deleted" from the terrorism watchlist after authorities lifted the ban.
It did not go into further details and the government and the interior ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But legal experts said a removal from the watchlist would be a legal prerequisite for any release.
The TLP, which can mobilize thousands of supporters, was born in 2015 out of a protest campaign to seek the release of a police guard who assassinated a provincial governor in 2011 over his calls to reform blasphemy legislation.
It entered politics in 2017 and surprised the political elite by securing more than 2 million votes in the 2018 election.
The next national election is scheduled for 2023, and analysts expect political groups to start gearing up from early next year.
Pakistan takes Tehreek-e-Labbaik leader off terrorism list under deal to end protests
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Pakistan takes Tehreek-e-Labbaik leader off terrorism list under deal to end protests
- Experts say a removal from the watchlist can be a legal prerequisite for Saad Rizvi's release from prison
- The TLP was born in 2015 out of a protest campaign to seek the release of a police guard who assassinated a provincial governor in 2011
Pakistan’s first female central bank governor dies at 71
- Shamshad Akhtar led the State Bank of Pakistan from 2006 to 2009 and later served twice as caretaker finance minister
- Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb describes Akhtar as an accomplished economist and an outstanding human being
KARACHI: Shamshad Akhtar, Pakistan’s first woman to serve as governor of the central bank and one of the country’s most internationally experienced economic policymakers, died at the age of 71, officials said on Saturday.
Akhtar led the State Bank of Pakistan from 2006 to 2009, becoming the first and only woman to lead the institution since its establishment in 1948. She later served twice as caretaker finance minister, overseeing fiscal management during transitional governments ahead of the 2018 and 2024 general elections.
According to local media reports, Akhtar died of cardiac arrest.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over her passing in a statement.
“The president paid tribute to her services in the field of economics and financial management, noting her contribution to strengthening economic governance in the country,” the presidency said, adding that he extended condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb described Akhtar as a highly accomplished economist and an outstanding human being.
“Dr. Shamshad Akhtar was a dignified, principled and wise voice in Pakistan’s economic history,” he said.
He said she served Pakistan with integrity and dedication across several senior economic roles, adding that her national service would always be remembered with respect.
At the time of her death, Akhtar was serving as chairperson of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, a role that placed her at the intersection of Pakistan’s monetary policy, fiscal management and capital markets.
Beyond Pakistan, she held senior positions at major international institutions, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Born in Hyderabad, she was educated in Karachi and Islamabad and held advanced degrees in economics from institutions in Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Akhtar was widely regarded as a technocrat known for institutional discipline, policy continuity and a strong commitment to economic reform.
With input from Reuters
