MULTAN: The outcome of this week’s general election will no doubt be shaped by political battles in the southern regions of Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province and its political heartland, analysts said, with the winner in the area playing a pivotal role in the formation of the government at the center and the province.
South Punjab comprises three divisions, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur, and has 13 districts. For decades, this region in Punjab has seen fierce electoral battles between landed families like the Qureshis, Gilanis, Khosas, Nawanis, Dogars, Legharis, Khars and Jakhars.
Historically, the 46 national and 93 provincial assembly seats in South Punjab represent over 32 percent of Punjab’s population and are crucial in making or breaking governments. This Feb. 8, 21.89 million registered voters in South Punjab are expected to decide who wins this crucial region and could in turn rule the country.
“South Punjab’s role has always been important in the formation of governments at the center and Punjab, and much of the politics here revolves around electables,” Shakeel Anjum, a Multan-based journalist and analyst, told Arab News, referring to politicians with personal clout in their communities and a sizable vote bank.
Traditionally, he added, ahead of elections most influential politicians in South Punjab joined the party expected to come into power. For example, in 2018, many electables joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party of Imran Khan, which went on to form the government at the center.
“In the February 8 elections [this year], it seems the PML-N is the king’s party and the environment is being made conducive for it [to win the polls],” Anjum added.
“POLITICAL HEAVYWEIGHTS”
Winning big in South Punjab will put the PML-N in a very strong position, analysts and politicians said, as past election results show the party that wins this region often forms the government both at the center and in the province.
In 2018, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 26 National Assembly seats in South Punjab, forming the central and provincial governments, while its rival, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, won 11 seats as compared to 34 in the 2013 elections. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won 23 seats in South Punjab in 2008 and formed the government at the center, but could win only four seats from here in the 2018 national polls, when it was effectively wiped out as a national-level party and relegated to its traditional strongholds in Sindh province.
PML-N’s Punjab General Secretary Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said he was optimistic about his party’s prospects in South Punjab this election cycle as well.
“People know the PML-N is the only party that delivers on its promises related to development projects,” he said. “Therefore, we are expecting a win in South Punjab.”
The PPP also aims to win back its lost glory.
The party’s Bahawalpur Division president, Engineer Javaid Akbar Dhillon, estimated the PPP would win more than 15 National Assembly and 30 provincial assembly seats from South Punjab in this election.
“Our position is very strong in Multan, Muzaffargarh and Rahim Yar Khan while we will also win seats from Layyah and Kot Addu,” he told Arab News.
“Some electable and political heavyweights of South Punjab are contesting for national and provincial assembly seats on the PPP ticket and we hope they will win their respective constituencies.”
“TOUGH COMPETITION”
But like elsewhere in Punjab, the real competition will be between the PML-N and candidates backed up ex-PM Khan’s PTI.
Moeen Riaz Qureshi, PTI president in the area, said the party was leading the election race in all three divisions of South Punjab despite what he described as a state-backed crackdown against the party and the arrests of its leaders and supporters.
“PTI has fielded candidates on all national and provincial seats in South Punjab and people are responding positively to our campaign,” he told Arab News. “We are hopeful to get a lead in South Punjab like we did in the last elections.”
Dr. Shahzad Ali, the director of media studies at the Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, said the PML-N was trying to create the perception that its victory was a foregone conclusion but in reality his party would still face a tough competition against the rival PTI party in South Punjab.
“So maybe in some of the constituencies, located in the countryside of South Punjab, the PML-N will be able to win certain seats,” he said. “But in urban areas, there is going to be a tough competition despite one of the political parties, that is the PTI, being sidelined.”
Anjum the analyst said many independent candidates from South Punjab would also be important in the ultimate game of numbers.
“It seems as if whatever government comes up, the independents will have an important role in it,” he said, “and they will play a decisive role in forming the government.”
In South Punjab, tough election contests that could decide who wins Pakistan
https://arab.news/jzw22
In South Punjab, tough election contests that could decide who wins Pakistan
- Past election results show party that wins South Punjab often forms government both at center and in Punjab
- For decades, region has seen electoral battles between clans like Qureshis, Gilanis, Legharis, Khosas, Khars
England Women’s cricket coach using AI to pick team ahead of series with Pakistan
- Jon Lewis says technology worked in multi-format Women’s Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia
- Pakistan Women’s National Cricket Team will play Twenty20 and ODI series in England later this month
LONDON: England Women’s cricket coach Jon Lewis revealed Friday he is using artificial intelligence to aid team selection, saying the technology helped his side square last season’s Ashes.
Lewis first became familiar with the work of London-based PSi when he took charge of the UP Warriorz franchise in India’s Women’s Premier League.
Now the 48-year-old former England paceman uses the company to assist with his decisions about squad composition, team balance and in-game match-ups between players.
The system plots projected outcomes depending on the composition of each side.
“I can send multiple different line-ups to the PSi in London and they run, I think, about 250,000 simulations per team that I send, with all different permutations that could happen through the game,” he said.
We are able to run simulated teams versus the simulated opposition to give us an idea about how those teams may match up against each other.
“I came across it during my time at UP Warriorz and it’s something I looked at and thought it could add some value to the England Women’s cricket team.”
Lewis said he still favored a “people-first approach” but he added: “What data can do is give you a really objective view of what could happen and what has happened previously. I think it will help with borderline decisions in terms of selection and match-ups.”
Lewis, who has spoken to England’s rugby union coach Steve Borthwick about his own use of the PSi model, said the system had proved its worth as his side drew last season’s multi-format Women’s Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia.
“There was one selection particularly last year, one period of the Ashes that we targeted as a team,” said Lewis, speaking at the announcement of England’s squad for T20 and ODI series at home to Pakistan later this month.
“There were a couple of selections where AI really helped because both players I was thinking about picking were both in really good form and were both really selectable and it did help with those selections.
“We saw a real strength in Australia and we matched up our strength to that. That worked really, really well and it helped us win the T20 series in particular, which got us back in the Ashes.”
AI is becoming an increasing feature of top-level sport, with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach saying last month it could help identify talented athletes “in every corner of the world.”
He said AI could also provide more athletes with access to personalized training methods.
Pakistan launches special cybercrime unit under controversial PECA law, shifts role from FIA
- The agency will be led by director general with 15-year experience in digital forensics or public administration
- Pakistan’s information minister recently spoke against online harassment, emphasized upholding of digital rights
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has established a new investigation unit under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, tasked solely with focusing on cybercrimes in the country, a role previously performed by a dedicated wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The PECA law was originally enacted to combat various forms of cybercrime, including cyber terrorism, unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment, aiming to enhance the security of cyberspace for users and businesses.
However, the law stirred controversy, particularly because its provisions were seen by critics as tools that could potentially curb freedom of speech and suppress dissent.
These concerns were also validated by instances of journalists being booked under the law, with courts raising objections regarding its application.
“There shall hereby stand established the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to exercise jurisdiction under the Act and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) shall cease to perform functions as designated investigation agency under the Act,” said a notification taken out by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication on April 24 that referred to the PECA law.
“All personnel, cases, inquiries, investigations, assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, privileges and matters related thereto or connected therewith subsisting immediately before commencement of these rules in respect of the defunct cybercrime wing of the FIA shall stand transferred to the NCCIA,” it added.
The new investigation agency will be led by a director general who will be appointed by the government for two years.
The individual performing the role will have at least 15 years of experience “in the field of computer sciences, digital forensics, cyber technology, law, public administration, information technology, telecommunication or related fields enabling him to deal with offenses under the Act.”
The notification said the FIA’s “defunct” cybercrime wing would continue to operate until suitable appointments are made to run the new agency.
Pakistan’s information minister Attaullah Tarar announced only a day ago that the government was setting up a new authority to end online harassment and uphold the digital rights of the people.
Pakistan calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza ahead of OIC summit in Gambia
- Ishaq Dar demands joint action by Muslim states at an OIC preparatory meeting to confront rising Islamophobia
- The Pakistani deputy PM will meet leaders from other Muslim countries at the two-day summit starting Saturday
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza along with a humanitarian corridor for international aid agencies to provide relief to the people of Palestine ahead of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s summit in Gambia this weekend.
The ceasefire call was issued by the country’s newly appointed deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar, while addressing the summit’s preparatory meeting in the Gambian capital of Banjul, where he arrived on Wednesday.
Dar is scheduled to participate in the OIC summit, convened to discuss and address major issues affecting the Muslim world, ranging from political and economic challenges to social and cultural matters.
These summits aim to promote Muslim solidarity in social and political affairs, coordinate efforts to safeguard the interests and well-being of Muslims and work toward resolving conflicts and issues in the Muslim world.
“Dar expressed Pakistan’s deep concern about the ongoing genocide and starvation of Gaza people and called for the reactivation of OIC’s Ministerial Committee on Israeli aggression against the Palestinians, offering Pakistan’s assistance to the body,” said the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.
The report said he called for an end the Israeli siege leading to a humanitarian crisis for the people of Palestine and to hold Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration accountable for its “war crimes.”
“Ishaq Dar stressed the imperative of joint action by the OIC to confront rising Islamophobia, which was manifested by an increasing number of incidents of discrimination, violence, and incitement against Muslims around the world,” the APP report continued.
“He stated that while global social media platforms had set for themselves a clear understanding and the responsibility of content relating to ‘Antisemitism’ and ‘Holocaust denial’, same was not the case for blasphemous and anti-Islamic content that was responsible for widespread distress among Muslims and the global wave of Islamophobia,” it added.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister is scheduled to interact with leaders of other Muslim states at the two-day OIC summit beginning on Saturday.
Pakistan expands Makkah Route Initiative to Karachi, plans flights for Hajj pilgrims from May 9
- Saudi staff will have access to eight counters and required equipment at Karachi airport’s international departure area
- Pakistan first joined the Makkah Route Initiative in 2019 as part of a pilot program that was introduced in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: In a major development for Hajj pilgrims in Pakistan, the government plans to launch flight operation to Saudi Arabia under the expanded Makkah Route Initiative to the southern port city of Karachi from May 9, according to an official statement released on Friday.
The initiative, launched by Saudi authorities in collaboration with several Muslim-majority states, facilitates the annual Islamic pilgrimage for numerous people traveling to Makkah.
Under the initiative, tasks like immigration processing are completed in the pilgrim’s home country, allowing them to bypass these procedures upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. This not only reduces waiting times and congestion at Saudi airports but also enhances the overall experience for pilgrims by making their journey more comfortable and focused on spirituality.
Pakistan joined the initiative in 2019 as part of a pilot program that began in Islamabad. Its success led to plans for the program’s expansion to other cities, with pilgrims from Karachi preparing to benefit from it for the first time this year.
“The Hajj flights under the Road to Makkah Project will commence on 09 May and conclude on 08 June,” the statement circulated by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority said, adding that all the relevant agencies at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport have assured of unwavering commitment for the successful implementation of the program.
The official statement was released after a meeting at the Karachi airport that focused on the initiative.
All stakeholders, including airline representatives, ground handling agencies, border health services, airport security, Federal Investigation Agency, customs and Anti-Narcotics Force were present during the deliberations.
The meeting focused on the procedures involved at different stages of Hajj pilgrims’ stay at the airport, beginning with their arrival at the facility until their departure, following Saudi immigration formalities.
It was agreed that Saudi staff would have access to eight counters and all the required equipment in the international departure satellite area.
The airport manager stressed the importance of providing a seamless experience to pilgrims and urged all agencies to treat and welcome them as honored guests.
Senior journalist among three killed in bomb attack in Balochistan on World Press Freedom Day
- Khuzdar Press Club president was killed after a motorcyclist attached an explosive device to his vehicle
- Journalists say media workers were also killed in the past but their murderers were never brought to justice
QUETTA: A senior journalist was killed in a powerful blast that claimed at least two other lives in Pakistan’s volatile southwestern Balochistan province, confirmed a senior administration official on Friday, after a motorcyclist attached an explosive device to his vehicle at a bustling market area.
The incident that took place in Khuzdar, a remote city in the region, on World Press Freedom Day sent shockwaves through the media community in the province that has witnessed much violence in the last couple of decades.
Maulvi Muhammad Siddique Mengal, the targeted journalist, was currently the president of the Khuzdar Press Club and had also received threats from unknown individuals in the past.
“President of the Khuzdar Press Club Maulvi Muhammad Siddique Mengal and two bike riders near his vehicle were killed in the attack,” Deputy Commissioner Khuzdar Arif Khan Zarkoon told Arab News after the emergence of the CCTV footage of the attack. “Five people were injured who were shifted to the District Hospital Khuzdar for treatment.”
“Mengal was traveling in his private vehicle to a mosque to offer Friday prayers when an unknown man attached a magnetic explosive device to his vehicle which exploded at Chamrook Chowk and killed him on the spot,” he added.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
“Maulvi Siddique Mengal had been receiving threats from unknown people for the last year,” said one of the local journalists who requested anonymity. “He survived a firing attack nine months ago. Journalism has become a life-threatening profession in Khuzdar. We even closed Khuzdar Press Club for more than six months after threats by unknown people in 2012.”
Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, particularly for those working in the country’s western Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international organization working for journalists’ safety, at least 62 media workers have been killed in targeted attacks in Pakistan since 1992.
The Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) has strongly condemned Mengal’s murder, demanding the arrest of the perpetrators of the Khuzdar blast.
Khalil ur Rehman, the BUJ president, said targeting a journalist on World Press Freedom Day was an attempt to suppress the voice of media workers in Balochistan.
“Forty-two journalists have lost their lives in Balochistan over the last two decades, while 10 journalists were killed in Khuzdar district during the last decade, but not a single murderer of journalists has been arrested yet,” he told Arab News. “Journalists in Balochistan are already facing security challenges, but this attack indicates that targeted attacks against journalists have started again.”
Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, chief minister of Balochistan, has strongly condemned Mengal’s killing, ordering an investigation into it.
“The Balochistan government will utilize all resources to arrest the perpetrators involved in the killing of the senior journalist in Khuzdar,” he said in a statement. “Terrorists involved in sabotaging peace in Balochistan won’t succeed.”
