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Tag: Pakistan

  • Pakistan Cricket Team Players Host $25 ‘Meet and Greet’ Dinner, Face Backlash From Ex-Pakistani Captain Ahead Of T20 World Cup | Cricket News

    The Pakistan cricket team and its players continue to spark controversies. Just before the start of their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, they reportedly hosted a ‘private dinner’ in the USA, inviting fans for a ‘meet and greet.’ However, this event wasn’t free or for charity; it had an entry fee of $25, which upset many in the Pakistani cricket community. Rashid Latif, a legendary Pakistan cricketer, took to social media to criticise this event organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board and the players.

    In a video shared by Latif, fans could meet Pakistan players during the private dinner if they paid $25. Latif and others in the video were shocked by this concept.

    “There are official dinners, but this is a private dinner. Who can do this? It’s terrible. That means you met our players for $25. God forbid, if something went wrong, people would say the boys are just making money,” Latif said in the video.

    Let’s Save The Star & Be Stars Unofficial Private Dinner During WC24#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/BXEgPyA2p2 — Rashid Latif | (@iRashidLatif68) June 4, 2024

    Presenter Nauman Niaz condemned the ‘sad state of affairs’ in the Pakistan team, while a fan suggested the price should have been higher if they proceeded with the idea. Latif acknowledged the concept of charity dinners but found a private dinner with a fee unacceptable.

    “People tell me that whoever calls the Pakistani players, they just ask, ‘how much money will you give?’ This has become common. Things were different at our time, we had 2-3 dinners but they were official. But this is highlighted because it’s the World Cup. So the players should be careful. The amount of 25 dollars shouldn’t be blatantly used like this. You attend 2-3 dinners, but without the commercial angle. You can go for charity dinners and fundraisers, but this is neither fundraising nor a charity dinner. This is a private function with the name of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket associated with it. Don’t make this mistake,” he added.

    T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan’s WC campaign to begin from tomorrow against USA

    The Pakistan team will start their World Cup campaign against the USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday, June 6. The Men in Green aim to begin their campaign with a win against the USA. In the last edition of the T20 World Cup, Pakistan reached the final but lost to England. Tomorrow Against USA.

  • Pakistani court acquits Imran Khan in 2022 protest vandalism cases |

    Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Monday acquitted jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and other top leaders of his party in two cases related to vandalism during an anti-government protest march in 2022.

    The 71-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party founder has been in jail since August last year after being convicted in some of the nearly 200 cases slapped on him since his ouster in April 2022.

    The district and sessions court of Islamabad acquitted Khan, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, ex-communication minister Murad Saeed, and other PTI leaders in two cases of vandalism during the ‘Haqeeqi Azaadi’ march, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

    In May 2022, the former cricketer-turned-politician launched a march toward Islamabad from Lahore to topple the coalition government of Shehbaz Sharif that assumed power after he was ousted as the premier following a vote of no confidence.

    The rally was part of the PTI’s struggle to achieve “real freedom” and deliver the nation from the “slavery” of the “US-backed” coalition government. Khan had accused the coalition government of coming to power through a “US-backed conspiracy”.

    The Islamabad police at that time filed separate cases against 150 people, including Khan, Qureshi and other party leaders, over allegations of arson and vandalism in the federal capital.

    Earlier this month, a judicial magistrate of Islamabad also acquitted Khan in two cases of vandalism during his party’s two long marches in 2022.

    Judicial magistrate Shaista Kundi heard the pleas filed by the former prime minister for his acquittal in the cases registered at Islamabad’s Lohi Bhair and Sahala police stations and one related to his production in the court.

  • Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit China from June 4-8; Will there be discussions to upgrade CPEC?

    New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, from June 4 to 8, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif will hold meetings with the Chinese President along with other officials.

    “At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to China from June 4 to 8. The visit will have three segments,” Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a press briefing.

    The Pakistan PM and Chinese president will hold discussions to upgrade China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. CPEC is a USD 50 billion Pakistani component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The 3,000 km Chinese infrastructure network project is under construction in Pakistan and aims to connect Pakistan’s Gwadar and Karachi ports to China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region by land.

    “The two sides will further undertake discussions to strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, upgrade China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, advance trade and investment and enhance cooperation in defence, energy space, science and technology and education,” Baloch said.

    Besides Beijing, the Pakistan PM will visit the cities of Xian and Shenzhen.

    In Beijing, Shehbaz Sharif will meet Xi Jinping and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Qiang.

    Further, he will also hold meetings with the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji and heads of key government Department, Baloch said.

    Moreover, Shehbaz Sharif will address the Pakistan-China Business Forum in Shenzhen with leading business entrepreneurs and investors from both countries.

    “An important part of PM’s visit will be meetings with corporate executives of leading Chinese companies, dealing in oil and gas, energy, ICT, and emerging technologies,” Baloch said.

    He will also visit economic and agricultural zones in China.

    Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson emphasised that the PM’s visit is a manifestation of the iron-clad China-Pakistan friendship characterized by frequent high-level exchanges and dialogues.

  • ‘It Was Our Fault…’: What Is The 1999 Agreement, Pakistan’s Former PM Nawaz Sharif Confessed To Have Breached? , India News

    Acknowledging Pakistan’s mistake, former Prime Minister of the nation Nawaz Sharif accepted on Tuesday that Islamabad ‘violated’ an agreement with India in 1999. Sharif’s repentance came during his speech as he assumed the presidency of the ruling party, PML-N, during a meeting of its general council.

    Lahore Declaration

    Sharif referred to the “Lahore Declaration,” an agreement he signed with India’s Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on February 21, 1999, aimed at promoting peace and stability between India and Pakistan. Despite this, shortly after the signing, Pakistani troops moved into the Kargil district in Jammu and Kashmir, sparking the Kargil War.

    In the ‘Lahore Declaration’ both nations, India and Pakistan, agreed to share a vision for peace and stability between their countries, believing that an environment of peace and security is in the supreme national interest of both countries and that resolving all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, is essential for achieving this goal.

    Among other points, the agreement also acknowledged that nuclear capabilities increase countries’ responsibility to avoid conflict.

    What Sharif confessed?

    Nawaz said, “On May 28, 1998, Pakistan carried out five nuclear tests. After that, Vajpayee Saheb came here and made an agreement with us. But we violated that agreement. It was our fault.”

    He asserted that he conducted the nuclear tests despite pressure from the United States to avoid doing so.

    “President Bill Clinton had offered Pakistan USD 5 billion to stop it from carrying out nuclear tests, but I refused. Had (former prime minister) Imran Khan, like a person, been in my seat, he would have accepted Clinton’s offer,” reported ANI, quoting Nawaz Sharif.

    Earlier in 2018, the former PM was ousted by an apex court bench headed by then-chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar from the position of political party president. After six years, Sharif was elected uncontested in the general council meeting of the party.

  • Pakistan News: 28 people killed as bus plunges into ravine |

    KARACHI: At least 28 people, including women and children, were killed on Wednesday in Pakistan after a speeding passenger bus veered off the road and fell into a ravine in the remote Balochistan province, according to media reports. The bus, heading from Turbat to Quetta, fell into the ravine near Washuk town, around 700 kilometres from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province.

    The accident was a result of overspeeding, according to the report, which said that women and children were among the deceased. The accident took place after the tyre of the passenger bus burst, Geo News reported quoting rescue officials. At least 28 people were killed in the accident. About 22 people sustained injuries in the accident and were sent to the Civil Hospital in Basima.

    Road accidents are common in Pakistan where traffic rules and safety standards are hardly followed. On May 18, at least 13 people belonging to the same family were killed and nine others were injured as a truck plunged into a ditch in Punjab’s Khushab district.

    On May 3, at least 20 people lost their lives while 21 others sustained injuries after a passenger bus veered off a narrow mountain road and plummeted into a ravine in Gilgit Baltistan.

  • Pakistan’s Imran Khan Is A ‘Watch Thief’? Not US, Pak Itself Says THIS | world news

    New Delhi: Former Pakistan Prime Minister who has been in jail since August last year has been accused of illegally obtaining and selling high-value gifts from the state gift repository. Former cricketer Imran Khan was handed jail sentences – one of 14 years and the other three years – in two cases about illegally acquiring and selling state gifts. Both sentences have been suspended by high courts while his appeals are heard.

    However, in recent development, a probe by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has revealed new corruption allegations against Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), according to Geo News. The investigation revealed that Khan had unlawfully acquired and sold seven watches from the state gift repository during his tenure as the country’s leader. The latest case alleges that he retained and sold ten valuable gifts without properly declaring them to the authorities or depositing them into the Toshakhana, as required by law.

    As per the rules, any gifts received by the head of state, first lady, or president exceeding PKR 30,000 in value must be registered in the state gift repository The inquiry report also disclosed that Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, previously convicted in a Toshakhana case. , had received and kept a watch, a ring, and a necklace that should have been handed over to the gift depository.

    Additionally, the report indicated that state gifts were obtained or retained at significantly reduced prices, with discrepancies in the valuation of luxury items by an inexperienced private appraiser lacking the required expertise.

    The Geo News reported that the NAB’s findings indicate possible collusion between the buyers of the Graff watches and a private appraiser, who allegedly undervalued the watches by Rs 30 million.

    Following these revelations, the NAB has been authorized to extend the investigation against Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, both of whom have been served summonses. The couple has challenged the notices in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), with Bushra Bibi’s appeal scheduled for June 4 and Khan’s appeal set for June 24.

  • Tax On Monthly Pensions? Pakistan Faces Another Uphill Task From IMF | world news

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission has asked Pakistan to start taxing pensions that are Rs 1,00,000 per month, as per an ANI report citing ARY News. The IMF also demanded Pakistan to make changes to its pension system as part of a new financial aid program.

    The global lender will discuss the policy with Pakistan, starting tomorrow as the nation and IMF are close to finalizing their agreement. A main part of the new loan program is to tax monthly pensions over Rs 100,000, as required by the IMF. This measure is expected to be supported by lawmakers to target wealthy pensioners, according to ARY News.

    As talks between the IMF and Pakistan go on, it’s clear that the new bailout will require tough economic actions. Despite this, Pakistan is determined to stick with the IMF loan program and has no plans to look for an alternative.

    To qualify for the new bailout program, Pakistan needs to manage its spending and reduce its budget deficits, according to sources. Last week, the IMF asked Pakistani officials to raise the general sales tax (GST) to 18%, as reported by ARY News.

    This demand came during four rounds of discussions between the IMF and Pakistani officials for a new loan.

  • Babar Azam Scripts HUGE Captaincy Record After Pakistan Beat Ireland In 2nd T20I; Check Here | cricket news

    Pakistan captain Babar Azam has extended his position as the most successful T20I captain of all time after the Men In Green registered a massive win over Ireland in the 2nd match of the series. Pakistan had lost the first T20I to the Irish, much to the shock and dismay of the fans back home. But Pakistan bounced back in style, winning the contest by 7 wickets. Mohammad Rizwan was named the Player of the Match for his outstanding display of batting. After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bowl first. Ireland posted 193 for 7 in 20 overs. Pakistan chased down the total in just 16.5 overs, all thanks to brilliance of Rizwan and also of Fakhar Zaman.

    Chasing 194 runs to win, Rizwan hit 75 off 46 balls, including 6 fours and 4 sixes. Fakhar smashed 78 off 40 balls, hitting 6 fours and sixes each. Pakistan wicketkeeper and batsman Azam Khan hit 30 off 10 balls to return unbeaten after sealing the victory.

    This was the 45th T20I win for Pakistan under the captaincy of Babar Azam. Pakistan captain surpassed Uganda’s Brian Masaba’s record of 44 wins. Third on the list is Aaron Finch with 40 wins (win percentage of 52.63) as T20I captain in 76 matches. MS Dhoni is next best with 41 wins but winning percentage lower than that of Finch. Eoin Morgan is fourth with 42 wins and win percentage of 58.33.

    While Babar failed to worry the scorers against Ireland, edging a Graham Hume ball to keeper Lorcan Tucker in the second over, Rizwan and Fakhar helped Pakistan even the series.

    Fakhar demonstrated his power-hitting abilities by smashing six sixes, while a steadier Rizwan handled the support position admirably as the pair put up 140 in rapid succession to take the game away from Ireland.

    While Fakhar was dismissed in the 15th over to provide the hosts with a glimmer of hope, Azam Khan joined the party to hit an unbeaten 30 from just 10 deliveries to guide Pakistan home.

    Meanwhile, the third and final game of the three-match series will be played in Dublin on Tuesday.

  • It’s 2024 And Pakistan Welcomes Yoga Officially, Govt. Institution Holds Free Classes

    Yoga is normally linked with India and there are not many formal institutions in Pakistan to teach yoga. Though privately people like the physical part of yoga exercises. Many residents appreciated the move to organize Yoga classes with several people inquiring about the programme.

  • ‘Takes Pride In Ghus Ke Marna…’: Former Pakistan Minister Fawad Chaudhary Attacks PM Narendra Modi After Praise For Rahul Gandhi |

    The statement of Pakistan’s former Information and Broadcasting Minister, Fawad Chaudhary, has sparked a controversy in India. Chaudhary shared a post on social media praising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, prompting the BJP to attack Congress and even Prime Minister Modi to accuse Congress of siding with Pakistan. Without naming Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi stated that Pakistan wants to see him as Prime Minister. Fawad Chaudhry has now launched a new attack on PM Modi via X (formerly Twitter).

    “A friend advised me to balance and say something positive about #Modi since hours I am thinking what can be a positive in an Extremist, dogmatist and hater? Someone who take pride in “ghus k Marna” someone who justify killing people only because of faith? Who is demolishing mosques to change history and taking pride in extremist ideology?,” Chaudhary said in a X post.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Fawad shared a video clip of Rahul Gandhi’s speech and praised the Congress leader.  He captioned the post, “Rahul on fire.” 

    Rahul on fire …. https://t.co/6pi1mL0bQN
    — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 1, 2024

    During his election rally in Gujarat’s Anand, PM Modi also mentioned Fawad Chaudhry’s post and accused the Congress and Pakistan of collaboration. While PM Modi accused the Congress of directly colluding with Pakistan under the guise of Fawad’s post, Rahul Gandhi demanded an explanation from PM Modi regarding Prajwal Ravanna’s sex scandal.

    Rahul Gandhi did not respond to Fawad Chaudhry’s question, but BJP leaders are questioning why a Pakistani leader who spews venom against India would support Rahul Gandhi. Meanwhile, the Congress has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of diverting attention away from the election issues by dragging Pakistan.

    With just five days left for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, it is clear that, after issues like mangalsutra, wealth redistribution, and Muslim reservation, the mention of Pakistan will dominate BJP and PM Modi’s election campaign.