ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former caretaker interior minister Sarfraz Bugti announced to join the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) at a ceremony in Turbat, Balochistan, on Monday after stepping down from his post over the weekend to contest the next general elections.
According to Pakistan’s legal framework, members of a caretaker setup are responsible to organize free, fair and transparent election and cannot participate in the national polls.
Bugti, who previously belonged to the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), had been elected to the Senate in 2021.
“The Pakistan Peoples Party is not a new political faction for me,” he told the ceremony in Turbat in the presence of the top PPP leader and former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari.
“When I was born, I was part of the same party,” he added. “My father launched his political career from the PPP and continued to remain part of it until his death.”
The former interim minister said Balochistan was an underdeveloped province where people rightly complained of their deprivations.
He also acknowledged the province had been grappling with significant security deficit, hoping that the situation would soon improve under the PPP leadership.
Addressing the ex-president, Bugti emphasized the need for proper road network for enhanced connectivity within the province and called for more hospitals and medical facilities in remote areas.
He also said the PPP government in the province would counter nationalist politics and deal with the specter of separatism by carrying out development work in Balochistan.
Bugti, who resigned from Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s cabinet citing “personal reasons,” previously served as Balochistan’s home minister after winning the 2013 elections as an independent candidate.
Soon after, he joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) which has traditionally been PPP’s rival party.
Top politician from Balochistan province joins Pakistan Peoples Party as electioneering begins
https://arab.news/w6u3a
Top politician from Balochistan province joins Pakistan Peoples Party as electioneering begins
- Sarfraz Bugti resigned on the weekend as caretaker minister since caretaker setup members are barred from contesting national polls
- The former caretaker minister was previously part of the Balochistan Awami Party when he became a senator in 2021
PCB sets Feb. 11 as date for player auction for Pakistan Super League 11th edition
- The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and a maximum of 20
- The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced that the player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held on Feb. 11, setting the stage for franchises to begin assembling squads for the country’s premier Twenty20 tournament.
The development came after a workshop regarding PSL player auction at the Qaddafi Stadium, which was presided over by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and PSL CEO Salman Naseer.
The workshop was attended by PSL officials, all eight franchise representatives, members of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, PCB officials and other capped players.
“The HBL PSL management shared a detailed presentation on the mechanics of the retention and the auction process and consulted with all the participants,” the PCB said.
“It was agreed that the HBL PSL player auction will take place on Wednesday, 11 February.”
The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and maximum of 20 players per franchise. The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size, according to the PCB.
It would be mandatory for the franchises to play minimum of three and maximum of four foreign players in the playing XI. The teams are also required to have minimum of two uncapped Under 23 players in the squad and one in the playing XI.
Players either retained or picked in the auction will be engaged for two-year contracts with their respective franchise teams, the board said, adding that franchise teams will be able to retain a maximum of seven players for the 12th edition of the tournament.
“I’m delighted that a consultative and productive session was held between the franchises, players and management today resulting in informed and strategic decisions which will pave the way for bright future for the HBL PSL,” Naqvi said.
“The Player Auction model is a landmark step for the HBL PSL, offering players better financial opportunities through an increased salary purse and a transparent acquisition process, while making the league more competitive and attractive.”
PSL CEO Naseer said the player auction system modernizes player recruitment by promoting fairness, transparency, and market-driven value, strengthening the PSL’s appeal for both players and franchises.
“Today’s workshop saw all views being taken into consideration and this rich feedback will be reflected in our execution of a successful player auction scheduled next month,” he said.
PSL has become a key pillar of the country’s cricket economy, providing financial stability to the PCB and serving as a talent pipeline for the national team. The 11th edition of the league is set to begin from Mar. 26 while the final is expected to be played on May 3, as per the PCB’s schedule.
