Pakistan moves to ensure security of its students as clashes rock Bangladesh, curfew imposed

Pakistan moves to ensure security of its students as clashes rock Bangladesh, curfew imposed
Activists take part in a protest march as they demand justice for victims arrested and killed in the recent countrywide violence in Dhaka on August 2, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 05 August 2024
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Pakistan moves to ensure security of its students as clashes rock Bangladesh, curfew imposed

Pakistan moves to ensure security of its students as clashes rock Bangladesh, curfew imposed
  • At least 55 people were killed and hundreds injured in clashes in Bangladesh as police tried to disperse protesters calling for PM Hasina to resign
  • One-third of 144 Pakistani students in Bangladesh have already gone to Pakistan, while a few more will be leaving in next few days, high commission says

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s high commission in Dhaka has asked Pakistani students to stay indoors and away from renewed anti-government protests in Bangladesh, which killed dozens of people and injured hundreds on Sunday.
At least 55 people were killed and hundreds injured in clashes in Bangladesh as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse tens of thousands of protesters calling for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign.
The government declared an indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6pm on Sunday, the first time it has taken such a step during the current protests that began last month. It also announced a three-day general holiday starting from Monday.
Pakistan’s high commission in Dhaka said it was closely monitoring the changing situation and was in constant contact with Pakistani citizens, especially students. 
“As soon as the situation started to deteriorate, the students were asked to reach the High Commission immediately,” it said in a statement. “Those who could not reach have been contacted through telephone and asked to be confined to their rooms and separate themselves from the current situation.” 
One-third of the 144 Pakistani students studying in Bangladesh have already gone to Pakistan, while a few more students are leaving for Pakistan in the next few days, according to the high commission. Some of the students who remained in Bangladesh have reached the high commission. 
“The High Commission is in constant touch with the students and will continue to take all possible measures to ensure their safety,” it said. “High Commission officials are also in touch with Bangladesh authorities.”
The unrest, which has prompted the government to shut down Internet services, is Hasina’s biggest test since January when deadly protests erupted after she won a fourth straight term in elections that were boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Critics of Hasina, along with human rights groups, have accused her government of using excessive force against protesters, a charge she and her ministers deny.
Last month, at least 150 people were killed and thousands injured in violence touched off by student groups protesting against quotas for government jobs.
The protests paused after the Supreme Court scrapped most quotas, but students returned to the streets in sporadic protests last week, demanding justice for the families of those killed.


Pakistani IT firms poised to make ‘lasting impression’ as major tech show kicks off in Dubai

Pakistani IT firms poised to make ‘lasting impression’ as major tech show kicks off in Dubai
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Pakistani IT firms poised to make ‘lasting impression’ as major tech show kicks off in Dubai

Pakistani IT firms poised to make ‘lasting impression’ as major tech show kicks off in Dubai
  • The annual GITEX Global exhibition is considered one of the world’s largest tech shows that connects industry leaders with major tech and innovation startups
  • Pakistan aims to showcase its growing capabilities in the IT sector through a contingent of 24 leading exhibitors from the country, the Pakistani embassy says

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani information technology (IT) firms are poised to make a “lasting impression” by showcasing their tech potential at the four-day Gulf Information

Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2024, the Pakistani embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Sunday, a day before the exhibition’s opening in Dubai.

The annual GITEX Global exhibition is considered one of the world’s largest tech shows that connects industry leaders with major tech and innovation startups as well as government officials, expert investors and corporate buyers. This year’s exhibition will run from Oct. 14 till Oct. 18.

Pakistan aims to showcase its growing capabilities in the IT sector through a contingent of 24 leading exhibitors at the event, which offers an opportunity for companies to connect with global tech leaders, investors, and potential partners.

“The Government of Pakistan is facilitating a 156-square-meter exhibition space at the Dubai World Trade Center where Pakistani companies are poised to make a lasting impression,” the Pakistani embassy in Abu Dhabi said in a statement.

“This year’s participation underscores Pakistan’s growing influence in the global digital economy and reaffirms the country’s potential as a leading IT destination.”

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said that the South Asian country was proud to be recognized as the ‘Tech Destination of the Year 2024’ by GITEX Global, which was a testament to Pakistan’s progress in IT and tech industries.

“This recognition reinforces Pakistan’s status as an emerging hub for digital innovation and entrepreneurship,” Ambassador Tirmizi was quoted as saying by the embassy.

Pakistan was declared the 2024 event’s “Tech Destination of the Year” following the participation of Pakistani IT firms in the previous GITEX editions, Sajjad Mustafa Syed, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), told Arab News last week.

“There will be representation of IT sector of 180 countries, more than 200,000 sizeable trade buyers of IT services, 65,000 top-level IT executives from world over and 7,000 multinational companies of IT and allied industries [in the GITEX Global tech show],” he said on Friday, adding that Pakistani IT firms were expecting to generate leads of up to $500 million for the country.

GITEX Global is known for bringing together global tech giants, governments, start-ups, and investors, offering a platform for transformative innovations. Pakistan’s involvement in the event demonstrates its commitment to advancing its digital economy and enhancing its global footprint in the tech industry.


Chinese premier could inaugurate Beijing-funded airport in Pakistan during visit

Chinese premier could inaugurate Beijing-funded airport in Pakistan during visit
Updated 13 October 2024
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Chinese premier could inaugurate Beijing-funded airport in Pakistan during visit

Chinese premier could inaugurate Beijing-funded airport in Pakistan during visit
  • The start of operations at the $200-million Gwadar International Airport has been pushed back after deadly attacks by separatist militants
  • Premier Li Qiang, along with ministers and government officials, will visit Pakistan from Oct. 14 to 17, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said

KARACHI: Chinese premier Li Qiang could inaugurate operations at a Chinese-funded airport in Pakistan’s Balochistan province during his visit to the country in the coming week, information minister Attaullah Tarar told reporters on Sunday.
The start of operations at the $200-million Gwadar International Airport has been pushed back for a security review after deadly attacks by separatist militants in August in the area, government and aviation sources said.
Li, along with ministers and government officials, will visit Pakistan from Oct. 14 to 17, Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry said on Sunday.
Pakistan is hosting the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which comprises nine full members, including China, India, Iran and Russia, and is scheduled for Oct. 15 and 16 in Islamabad.
The new airport will handle domestic and international flights, according to Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority, and will be one of the country’s biggest airports.
The initial plan was for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to inaugurate the airport on Aug. 14 alongside Chinese officials, but that was called off after an ethnic Baloch rights group started a sit-in protest, the officials said.
A decades-long insurgency in Balochistan by separatist militant groups has led to frequent attacks against the government, army and Chinese interests in the region to press demands for a share in mineral-rich regional resources.
Two Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion near the international airport of the southern Pakistani city of Karachi last week, the Chinese embassy in Pakistan said.
Separatist militant group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said had targeted Chinese nationals, including engineers.
China said on Thursday it would work with Pakistan to protect the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan.
Besides the separatists, the region is also home to Islamist militants, who have been active again since 2022 after revoking a ceasefire with the government.


SCO summit: Authorities issue three-day traffic diversion plan for Islamabad, Rawalpindi

SCO summit: Authorities issue three-day traffic diversion plan for Islamabad, Rawalpindi
Updated 13 October 2024
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SCO summit: Authorities issue three-day traffic diversion plan for Islamabad, Rawalpindi

SCO summit: Authorities issue three-day traffic diversion plan for Islamabad, Rawalpindi
  • Pakistan is hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government summit in Islamabad on Oct. 15-16 under its rotating chairmanship of the organization
  • The summit comes amid heightened security concerns due to a rise in militant attacks as well as a protest call by jailed ex-PM Imran Khan’s party

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad police on Sunday issued a traffic plan for the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi from Oct. 14 till Oct. 16 on account of a meeting of representatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.
Pakistan is hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government summit in Islamabad on Oct. 15-16 under its rotating chairmanship of the organization, with the participants expected to discuss issues related to trade, economic cooperation, security, and regional stability.
The summit comes amid heightened security concerns due to a rise in militant attacks across the South Asian country as well as a call for protest by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party over a denial by authorities to visit him.
In a statement on Sunday, the Islamabad traffic police advised residents of the twin cities and travelers to take alternate routes to avoid any inconvenience, saying more than 1,100 traffic officials will be on duty for the SCO summit from Oct. 14 till Oct. 16.
“People traveling from Peshawar to Rawat via GT Road should go through Taxila, Motorway, Chakri Interchange and Chak Baili Road,” they said in the statement.
“Those traveling from Lahore to Peshawar via GT Road should take the Rawat, Chak Baili Road, Chakri Interchange, Motorway and Taxila route.”
People traveling from Islamabad to Rawalpindi via Margalla Road were asked to use 9th Avenue as traffic from Faisal Avenue to Zero Point would be diverted toward 9th Avenue, according to the statement.
Those who wish to travel from Bharakahu to Rawalpindi may go via Qur’ang Road, Bani Gala and Lehtrar Road, while those coming to Islamabad from Rawalpindi may use Murree Road from Saddar.
“[Islamabad] Expressway will remain closed for all traffic from Zero Point, Faisal Avenue till Koral Chowk,” the statement read. “Those coming to Faizabad via Col. Sher Khan Shaheed Road should use Stadium Road from the 9th Avenue signal.”
For heavy traffic vehicles en route to Lahore from Peshawar, the traffic police urged drivers to take the Taxila, Motorway, Tarnol Railway Crossing, Fateh Jung Road Interchange and Motorway.
Similarly, heavy traffic coming to the twin cities from Lahore would be redirected through Chak Baili Road, Chakri Interchange and Motorway.
In the weeks leading up to the summit, Pakistan’s authorities have cracked down hard on dissent, banning an ethnic nationalist movement and introducing new laws that restrict protest in the capital. They have also arrested hundreds of supporters of Khan who attempted to march on Islamabad earlier this month. Islamabad has authorized the deployment of troops on the streets for the duration of the summit.
The SCO is sometimes touted as an alternative to the Western-dominated NATO military alliance. While the bloc has a mandate to discuss security, the Islamabad summit is due to focus on trade, humanitarian and cultural issues.


Dropped: The rise and fall of Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam

Dropped: The rise and fall of Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam
Updated 13 October 2024
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Dropped: The rise and fall of Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam

Dropped: The rise and fall of Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam
  • Pakistan on Sunday left out Azam from the second England Test squad after he failed to pass 50 in his last 18 Test innings
  • It is the first time Azam has been dropped from the Pakistan team since his white-ball debut against Zimbabwe in Lahore in 2015

MULTAN: Babar Azam was on top of the world two years ago — Pakistan captain and top-rated batsman in all three formats — but he will celebrate his 30th birthday at home on Tuesday when the second Test against England begins in Multan.
Pakistan on Sunday left out Azam from the second Test squad after a poor run of form where he has failed to pass fifty in his last 18 Test innings.
It is the first time Azam has been dropped from the Pakistan team since his white-ball debut against Zimbabwe in Lahore in 2015 and Test baptism against the West Indies a year later.
Azam shot to prominence with three successive hundreds in an ODI series against the West Indies in 2016.
He replaced India great Virat Kohli as world number one ODI batsman five years later, a place he still occupies having been briefly deposed in between.
He is still ranked fourth among Twenty20 batsmen but it is the long format where his form has suffered the most and his slump has seen him fall outside the world’s top 10.
A 13-year-old Azam was a ball boy in Pakistan’s Test against South Africa in Lahore in 2007, where he could watch his childhood idol AB de Villiers.
From the streets of Lahore he rose to play in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, topping the batting charts for Pakistan with 298 runs in six games.
Two years in at the U19 World Cup in Australia he was captain and again leading run-scorer, with 287.
In 2015 he was picked for the senior side and after thrilling in the white-ball game developed into a modern-day great in all three formats, often drawing comparison with Kohli.
His opening partnership with Mohammad Rizwan in Twenty20s has realized 3,268 runs in 70 innings — the most by a pair in the format.
He anchored Pakistan’s only T20 World Cup win over arch-rivals India in 2021 in Dubai.
He hit an epic 196 against the famed Australian pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon to draw a Test in Karachi in 2022 — hailed as one of the greatest innings in Pakistan.
But the pressure of captaining a struggling Pakistan took its toll and began to affect Azam’s form with the bat.
Following Pakistan’s first round exit from the 50-over World Cup in India last November, where his side lost to Afghanistan for the first time, Azam stepped down from the captaincy in all three formats.
When the Pakistan Cricket Board hierarchy changed in April this year he was reinstated as white-ball skipper.
But it proved to be a short-lived tenure as Pakistan lost a T20 to Ireland before crashing out of the T20 World Cup in June after being stunned by the USA and losing to India.
He resigned as white ball captain for a second time earlier this month.
But it was in Tests where his form deserted him the most and a poor run in the series defeat against Bangladesh last month saw him score just 64 in four innings.
His 30 and five on a faultless Multan batting wicket in the first Test defeat against England, coupled with the formation of a new selection panel straight after, saw him left out for the second Test despite a vote of confidence from captain Shan Masood and his coach Jason Gillespie
He was seen in an emotional discussion with Gillespie on Sunday at Multan stadium before leaving the squad for the journey home to Lahore.
The break from cricket will give a tired Azam time to rest, reflect and recuperate, after two years of mental, emotional and physical toil on the front line of a struggling side.
“We are confident that this break from international cricket will help these players, especially Azam, regain their confidence,” said selector Aaqib Javed.


England captain Stokes in line for second Pakistan Test return

England captain Stokes in line for second Pakistan Test return
Updated 13 October 2024
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England captain Stokes in line for second Pakistan Test return

England captain Stokes in line for second Pakistan Test return
  • The 33-year-old had missed the first Test which England won under stand-in skipper Ollie Pope by an innings and 47 runs
  • England spokesman says Stokes practiced with the team on Sunday and if declared fit, he will likely replace Chris Woakes

MULTAN: England captain Ben Stokes looks on course to return for the second Test against Pakistan, starting in Multan on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old had missed the first Test which England won under stand-in skipper Ollie Pope by an innings and 47 runs on Friday.
An England team spokesman said Stokes practiced with the team on Sunday. If Stokes is declared fit, he is likely to replace Chris Woakes.
“Ben bowled about four overs at full pace today. He has done some high intensity running and had about a 45-minute batting session in the nets,” said the spokesman.
“He will be assessed after today and a decision will be made on his availability over the course of the next 24 hours.”
England normally name their team two days before the start of a Test, but will wait until a final verdict on Stokes’s fitness on Monday before announcing their side.
Stokes tore his left hamstring while batting during the Hundred domestic competition in August which forced him to sit out of England’s 2-1 home series win over Sri Lanka last month, also led by Pope.
The third and final Test will be played in Rawalpindi from October 24.