Pakistan’s Imran Khan defiant even as longer sentence looms

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan gestures as he speaks during an interview with AFP at his residence in Lahore on May 18, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 15 January 2025
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Pakistan’s Imran Khan defiant even as longer sentence looms

  • The former prime minister can get 14-year prison term this month in the Al Qadir Trust graft case
  • Analysts believe the security establishment is using the sentence as a bargaining chip with Khan

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, Pakistan’s most popular politician, is facing a 14-year prison term this month in a case his party says is being used to pressure him into silence.
The former prime minister, long a source of frustration for the powerful military, has been in custody since August 2023 and faces a slew of legal cases he says are politically motivated.
A looming verdict for graft linked to a welfare foundation he set up with his wife, the Al-Qadir Trust, is the longest-running of those cases, with a verdict postponed on Monday for a third time.
“The Al-Qadir Trust case, like previous cases, is being dragged on only to pressure me,” Khan said this month in one of his frequent statements railing against authorities and posted on social media by his team.
“But I demand its immediate resolution.”
Analysts say the military establishment is using the sentence as a bargaining chip with Khan, whose popularity undermines a shaky coalition government that kept his party from power in elections last year.
“The establishment’s deal is he comes out and stays quiet, stays decent, until the next election,” said Ayesha Siddiqa, a London-based author and analyst on Pakistan’s military.
Analysts say the military are Pakistan’s kingmakers, although the generals deny interfering in politics.
Khan said he had once been offered a three-year exile abroad and was also “indirectly approached” recently about the possibility of house arrest at his sprawling home on the outskirts of the capital.
“We can assume from the delays that this is a politically motivated judgment. It is a Damocles sword over him,” Khan’s legal adviser Faisal Fareed Chaudhry told AFP.
“The case has lost its credibility,” he said, adding that Khan will not accept any deal to stay silent.
Khan has been convicted and sentenced four times in other cases. Two cases have been overturned by the Supreme Court, while judges have suspended the sentences from the other two.
The specialist anti-graft “accountability court” is set to announce the verdict and sentence in the welfare foundation case on Friday, two days after government envoys are scheduled to meet leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to ease tensions.
The PTI has previously sworn to refuse talks with a government its leaders claim is illegitimate, alleging the coalition seized power by rigging February 2024 polls.
They say they will only take part if political prisoners are released and an independent inquiry is launched into allegations of a heavy-handed response by authorities to PTI protests.
Otherwise, Khan has threatened to pull his party from the negotiations and continue with a campaign of civil disobedience that has frequently brought Islamabad to a standstill.
The most recent protests flared around November 26, when the PTI allege at least 10 of their activists were shot dead. The government says five security force members were killed in the chaos.
“The government would like to appear legitimate, and for that they need PTI to sit down in talks with them,” said Asma Faiz, associate professor of political science at Lahore University of Management Sciences.
“Ideally, they would be looking to offer some relief to Imran Khan and his party to appease the domestic and international criticism,” she told AFP.
For now, it appears to be a stalemate, said Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute director at The Wilson Center in Washington.
“The army might be willing to give Khan a deal that gets him out of jail, but Khan wouldn’t accept the likely conditions of his freedom,” he told AFP.
“Another problem is I can’t imagine the government agreeing to an investigation of November 26. But PTI won’t budge on that demand.”
A stint in exile is common in the trajectory of political leaders in Pakistan who fall out of favor with the military and find themselves before the courts, only to return to power later.
Three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif served only a fraction of a sentence for corruption, spending several years in London before returning to Pakistan in late 2023.
Former and current president Asif Ali Zardari moved to Dubai after his party was rebuked by the generals.
Both men are now considered the chief architects of the ruling coalition.
But exile might not fit with the carefully worked image of Khan, whose political rise was based on the promise of replacing decades of entrenched dynastic politics.
“I will live and die in Pakistan,” Khan said in a statement shared by his lawyers. “I will fight for my country’s freedom until my last breath, and I expect my nation to do the same.”


Separated by war, Bangladeshi man reunites with Pakistani family after more than 50 years

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Separated by war, Bangladeshi man reunites with Pakistani family after more than 50 years

  • Iftikhar Hussain was a child when his father from a village in Chakwal was killed in the 1971 war
  • His mother, a Bengali woman, decided to stay in the newly independent state with her children

CHAKWAL: After a heartbreaking separation of over five decades, a Bangladeshi citizen reunited with his family earlier this year in a village in Pakistan’s Chakwal district, marking a moment of joy and healing.
The emotional reunion was celebrated with drumbeats from villagers as Iftikhar Hussain, 60, embraced his long-lost relatives in Choa Gunj Ali Shah, the ancestral village of his father, Abdul Rauf, who had served in the Pakistan Army in East Pakistan before the 1971 secession.
“The way they welcomed me made me very emotional,” Hussain told Arab News this week, visibly moved by the warmth he received.
“I hope that my family in Pakistan can visit Bangladesh, and my family there can come here so that we can continue this bond.”

This handout photo shows Iftikhar Hussain arriving after over 50 years in a Pakistani village in Chakwal district. (Handout/AN Photo)

At its inception in 1947, Pakistan was split into two wings — West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) — separated by more than 1,600 kilometers of Indian territory. Though united by religion, the two regions were culturally, linguistically and politically distinct. Over time, tensions grew as East Pakistanis felt marginalized by the central government in the west.
Complaints of economic neglect, political underrepresentation and cultural suppression deepened the divide, eventually escalating into a full-blown crisis. By 1971, amid mounting unrest and a military crackdown, the conflict spiraled into a war, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.

Iftikhar Hussain speaks during an interview with Arab News following a family reunion after over 50 years in a Pakistani village in Chakwal district on January 30, 2025. (AN Photo)

Hussain’s father had married a Bengali woman, Munawara Begum, during his deployment in the eastern wing. The couple had five children, who once visited Chakwal in 1969. However, the 1971 war not only divided the country but also shattered their lives.
Hussain said his father lost his life, and his body was never recovered. Devastated and fearing the tensions that followed the conflict, his mother chose to remain in Bangladesh with her children.
At first, both sides of the family stayed in touch by writing letters. However, the exchanges were fraught with danger, as letters from Dhaka were written in Bengali and those from Chakwal in Urdu, often requiring translation.
When translators were unavailable, communication would come to a standstill.

Iftikhar Hussain gestures during a meeting with his relatives and neighbours following a family reunion after over 50 years in a Pakistani village in Chakwal district on January 30, 2025. (AN Photo)

Aftab Hussain, Hussain’s cousin in Chakwal, said each time his uncle’s name was mentioned by someone, everyone in the family would start crying.
“When we finally got in touch with them, their letters would come in Bengali [language], and we had to get them translated in Chakwal,” he said.
“We would read those letters so many times that the ink would fade because of our tears.”
Things worsened when Chakwal was designated as a separate district in 1985, and their village name was changed from Choa Gunj Al Bair to Choa Gunj Ali Shah. The administrative change, unknown to Hussain’s family, complicated efforts to stay connected.
By the early 1990s, all correspondence had ceased, and the families lost touch completely.
Decades later, social media rekindled hope of a reunion.
Hussain’s younger brother, Abdul Khaliq, posted pictures of their father on Facebook, seeking assistance to reconnect with their relatives in Chakwal.
The posts caught the attention of a local social media activist, Arshad Mehmood, in Chakwal who took it upon himself to reunite the separated family.
“I am truly happy that two families have reunited,” Mehmood said, as he shared how he traced Hussain’s relatives in Pakistan.
Hussain said he had recently retired from a bank in Bangladesh before embarking on his journey to Pakistan.
“Most of my elder relatives have passed away. Now, I have one cousin brother and a sister left [in Bangladesh],” he said, before briefly pausing and continuing again with his eyes shining with emotion.
“Everyone here is so happy to see me. I wish my family here [in Pakistan] can visit there [Bangladesh], and my family there may come here.”


Pakistan to take on New Zealand today in Tri-Nation ODI series opener

Updated 45 min 59 sec ago
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Pakistan to take on New Zealand today in Tri-Nation ODI series opener

  • The series between Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa is taking place from Feb. 8 till Feb. 14
  • It comes ahead of eight-nation Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan will host from Feb. 19 onwards

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will face off New Zealand today, Saturday, in the opening match of a Tri-Nation one-day international (ODI) series at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium.
The series between Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa is taking place from Feb. 8 till Feb. 14 at the newly renovated Lahore and Karachi stadiums, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand will begin at 2pm Pakistan time.
“We are excited to be playing again in front of our home crowd and the newly constructed stadiums in Lahore and Karachi,” PCB quoted Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan as saying.
“The preparations have gone well so far with the players looking to give their best in the tournament leading up to the ICC event.”
The Tri-Nation series will help prepare the Pakistani side for the upcoming eight-nation International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan will be hosting from Feb. 19 onwards.
The PCB has renovated its stadiums in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi in anticipation of the 50-over tournament that will be the first global competition held in Pakistan in 28 years.
New Zealand will take on South Africa in Lahore on Feb. 10. The third match will be played in Karachi between Pakistan and South Africa on Feb. 12, while the final will be played on Feb. 14.


Two cops killed, two injured as militants attack police post in northwest Pakistan

Updated 53 min 8 sec ago
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Two cops killed, two injured as militants attack police post in northwest Pakistan

  • The incident occurred in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when militants attacked police with heavy weapons
  • Pakistan has struggled to curb militancy in its northwest since a truce with Pakistani Taliban collapsed in 2022

ISLAMABAD: Two policemen were killed and two others wounded after militants attacked a police check-post in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, a police official said on Saturday.
Pakistan has struggled to contain surging militancy in KP since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the state broke down in November 2022.
In 2024 alone, the military reported that 383 soldiers and 925 militants were killed in various clashes.
The latest incident occurred in the Bannu district of the province when militants attacked the police post in Fateh Khel, a rundown locality on the outskirts of Bannu, according to local police officer Nadir Khan.
“Terrorists mounted the attack at midnight, leaving two police officers, Rahimullah and Ziaullah, dead and two others injured,” Khan told Arab News.
“The terrorists, who used heavy weapons in the attack, were forced to flee after the police retaliated.”
While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, the suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, who have frequently targeted security forces and police convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
Saturday’s attack comes days after a Pakistani soldier and 12 militants were killed in a counterterrorism operation in the restive region that borders Afghanistan.
Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.


Minister invites Saudi businesses to invest in Pakistan’s IT, energy and healthcare sectors

Updated 08 February 2025
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Minister invites Saudi businesses to invest in Pakistan’s IT, energy and healthcare sectors

  • Jam Kamal Khan engaged in a series of high-profile meetings during first-ever ‘Made in Pakistan’ exhibition in Jeddah
  • He assured Saudi investors of a business-friendly environment, tax exemptions and investor protection laws in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan has engaged in a series of high-profile meetings in Jeddah and invited leading Saudi businesspersons to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s energy, agriculture, information technology (IT), health care, infrastructure and consumer goods sectors, the Pakistani government said on Saturday.
The discussions were held during the first-ever “Made in Pakistan” exhibition, held in Jeddah on Feb. 5-7, which focused on business collaborations, investment opportunities and Saudi brands entering the Pakistani market.
In a key meeting with prominent Saudi businessmen, Khan highlighted growth in Pakistan’s exports to Saudi Arabia by 22 percent to $700 million last year, assuring Saudi investors of a business-friendly environment with tax exemptions, investor protection laws, and access to a 240-million-strong consumer market.
“Saudi business leaders expressed keen interest in collaborating with Pakistani counterparts, particularly in construction materials, textiles, and food industries,” the Pakistani government’s Press Information Department (PID) said in a statement.

Jeddah Chamber Chairman Muhammad Yusuf Naghi gestures during a meeting with Pakistan Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan (2R) in Jeddah on February 6, 2025. (Photo courtesy: X/@JeddahChamber)

“Several proposals were discussed to enhance trade partnerships and industrial investment, with the minister extending an invitation for them to visit Pakistan and participate in trade exhibitions like TEXPO, Food-AG, and the Healthcare & Mineral Show.”
The discussions touched on Pakistan’s recent ease-of-doing-business initiatives, including Pakistan Single Window (PSW) and the National Compliance Center, aimed at streamlining trade regulations and enhancing export standards.

Pakistan Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan (2R) gestures during a meeting Abdul Aziz Omar Alsakran, deputy governor of international relations in foreign trade authority, and the Council of Saudi Chambers Chairperson Hassan Moejeb Alhwaizy and other delegates in Jeddah on February 6, 2025. (Photo courtesy: X/@jam_kamal)

Saudi Arabia presents a key export opportunity for Pakistani businesses, given its strong consumer demand, large expatriate workforce and ambitious Vision 2030 economic reforms that emphasize diversification and foreign investments.
Pakistan has sought to strengthen business-to-business (B2B) ties with the Kingdom, with both sides announcing during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh last October that they had signed 34 memorandums of understanding and agreements worth $2.8 billion to enhance private sector collaboration and commercial partnerships.
Pakistan’s trade volume with Saudi Arabia reached $5203.19 million in fiscal year 2023-24, marking an increase from $5010.47 million in the previous year, according to the Pakistani mission in Riyadh. Khan said Pakistanis living in the Kingdom sent a total of $7.4 billion in remittances to the South Asian country in the last fiscal year.
A major highlight of Khan’s visit was his meeting with Rami Abu Ghazala, the owner of Saudi food chain Albaik which is set to make a debut in Pakistan after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Oct. last year. The minister was given a tour of Albaik’s operations, where he met Pakistani employees working at the fast-food giant.

Pakistan Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan (R) gestures with Rami Abu Ghazalah, CEO and co-owner of Saudi fast food chain AlBaik, during a visit to an outlet in Jeddah on February 7, 2025. (Photo courtesy: X/@jam_kamal)

“During the discussions, Albaik confirmed its expansion into Pakistan, stating that the process is in its final stages following the signing of an MOU,” the PID said.
“The first Albaik branches in Pakistan are expected to open soon, creating new job opportunities and strengthening economic ties between the two nations.”
In another significant meeting, Khan met with Pakistani investors and business leaders based in Jeddah. He said that 1.7 million Pakistanis traveled to Saudi Arabia in the past five years, making it the top destination for Pakistani emigrants.
Khan noted that the Pakistan Investor Forum, recently established in Jeddah, was playing a key role in guiding new market entrants and fostering Pakistani-Saudi business collaborations.


Opposition parties to stage protests today on first anniversary of Pakistan’s disputed elections

Updated 08 February 2025
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Opposition parties to stage protests today on first anniversary of Pakistan’s disputed elections

  • Imran Khan asked his party leaders and supporters to mark Feb. 8 as a ‘Black Day’ by holding protests
  • Jamaat-e-Islami’s Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman also called for demonstrations against ‘stolen mandate’

KARACHI: Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and another opposition faction, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), are set to stage protests today, Saturday, to mark the first anniversary of the last general elections in the country, which they claim were rigged.
Last month, Khan called on PTI leaders and supporters to mark Feb. 8 as a “Black Day” and hold protests across the country to raise their voice against alleged election irregularities. The national polls were marred by a countrywide shutdown of cellphone networks and delayed results, leading to widespread allegations of election manipulation by opposition parties like PTI and JI.
The caretaker government, which oversaw the electoral exercise, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), deny the charges. However, the US House of Representatives and several European countries have called on Islamabad to open a probe into the allegations — a move Pakistan has thus far rejected.
After Khan’s protest announcement, JI leader Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman also called for demonstrations on Feb. 8, calling the election a “stolen mandate.”
PTI leaders circulated video messages Friday evening, urging their supporters to mobilize. One of them, Meher Bano Qureshi, daughter of Khan’s close aide Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said people came out in large numbers to vote for her party last year before its candidates were made to lose.
“Today, we have an opportunity to once again remind everyone that the people of Pakistan stand exactly where they did on February 8, 2024, even on February 8, 2025,” she said. “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will reclaim its mandate and will not allow the sanctity of its votes to be trampled upon. If we remain silent today, we will lose the value of our votes forever.”
Khan’s PTI planned to hold a protest rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, a historical monument in Lahore symbolizing the country’s independence, but it was denied official permission by the Punjab provincial administration led by the rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The PML-N administration also imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, banning large gatherings across the province to prevent political demonstrations. The PTI is now expected to hold a rally in Swabi, located in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the party remains in power.
Meanwhile, JI plans to stage a protest outside the ECP office in Karachi. The party did not win any National Assembly seats in the general elections but secured two provincial seats in the Sindh Assembly and one in the Balochistan Assembly.
Khan’s PTI candidates contested the Feb. 8 elections as independents after the party was barred from the polls. While they won the most seats, they fell short of the majority needed to form a government, which was instead formed by a coalition of rival political parties led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.