ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) overturned the decision of Pakistan’s election regulatory authority to revoke the symbol of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, declaring it unconstitutional and enabling the PTI to regain it.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took away the “cricket bat” as PTI’s election symbol in an order issued on December 22 after declaring its intraparty polls null and void for violating its regulations.
Khan’s party moved the PHC against the decision which led to the restoration of its election symbol ahead of the Feb. 8 national polls. Later, the court temporarily upheld the ECP order in a review petition, though it continued the case proceedings and ultimately issued its verdict in favor of the party.
“The Peshawar High Court has announced that the Election Commission of Pakistan took the ‘bat’ symbol from PTI forcefully and it was snatched away by issuing an illegal order,” Barrister Ali Zafar told the media after the verdict was announced. “That decision has been declared null and void, and the ECP has been asked to give the ‘bat’ symbol back to the PTI immediately.”
“No one can stop the PTI from winning the elections after this,” he added.
Election symbols are crucial in Pakistan where, according to World Bank data, the adult literacy rate is just 58 percent.
The cricket bat is reflective of ex-PM Khan’s past as a successful cricketer, who led Pakistan to their only 50-over World Cup win in 1992, propelling him to an unrivaled position among the country’s cricket greats.
Political analysts previously said without the restoration of their election symbol, the PTI leaders would have to contest the upcoming elections as independent candidates.
“The election commission cannot snatch a party’s election symbol even if it does not hold intraparty polls,” Zafar told the PHC a day earlier. “The ECP’s verdict [against the party] should be nullified since it has been made with malafide intention.”
The PTI has frequently complained in recent months it is not getting a level playing field ahead of the next general elections.
Many of its top leaders are facing a number of legal cases against them and are currently incarcerated in high-security prisons in different Pakistani cities.
Pakistani court restores ex-PM Khan’s party symbol ahead of national polls, rules revocation unconstitutional
https://arab.news/6mq77
Pakistani court restores ex-PM Khan’s party symbol ahead of national polls, rules revocation unconstitutional
- The country’s election body took away ‘cricket bat’ as PTI’s symbol while declaring its intraparty polls null and void
- PTI leader Barrister Ali Zafar says no one can stop his party from winning the elections after the high court decision
In talk with Iran president, Pakistan PM urges dialogue to restore peace in Middle East
- The development came a day after Tehran attacked a US base in Qatar in retaliation for airstrikes on its nuclear facilities
- The crisis appeared to put Islamabad in a difficult position to balance its equation with Iran, other Gulf partners, and the US
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the third time in as many days and urged dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace in the Middle East, Sharif’s office said.
The development came a day after Tehran attacked a United States (US) base in Qatar in retaliation for US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities late last week. The US strikes followed days of Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear program and military leadership.
Qatar condemned the Iranian missile attack and called it a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty, saying it reserved the right to respond directly and in accordance with the international law. The Iranian attack raised fears about a wider conflict in the already volatile region.
The crisis appeared to put Islamabad in a difficult position to balance its equation with Iran, other Gulf partners, and the US, which remains one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners and a critical source of military and economic assistance.
“The prime minister said that Pakistan was closely following the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East. He emphasized the importance of restoring peace through dialogue and diplomacy,” Sharif’s office said after his telephonic conversation with the Iranian president.
“He reiterated Pakistan’s support for Iran at all diplomatic forums, including at the UN Security Council and the OIC [Organization of Islamic Cooperation], while calling for adherence to international law and the UN Charter principles, by all sides.”
The development came hours after US President Donald Trump said that Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” to be phased in over 24 hours.
But Israel warned its public to take shelter after detecting missile launches from Iran early Tuesday. The launches came after 4am local time in Tehran, the time Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would stop its attacks if Israel ended their airstrikes.
It was unclear yet how the latest developments would impact the possible ceasefire agreement.
President Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan’s consistent and principled support to Iran throughout the crisis, according to Sharif’s office.
“He also acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” it said. “The two leaders agreed on the importance of unity among the Ummah during this most challenging time. They agreed to remain in touch.”
Pakistan boosts intelligence-sharing with Gulf states to curb drug trafficking
- The development comes months after Islamabad hosted the Pakistan-Gulf Cooperation Council Counter-Narcotics Conference
- Oman has appointed its drug liaison officer in Pakistan, reflecting shared commitment to drug-free Gulf and South Asia
KARACHI: Pakistan and Gulf countries have intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking by enhancing intelligence-sharing, Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) said on Tuesday, with Oman appointing a drug liaison officer in Islamabad.
The development comes months after Islamabad hosted the Pakistan-Gulf Cooperation Council (Pak-GCC) Counter-Narcotics Conference, marking the first-ever formal assembly of anti-narcotics leadership from Pakistan and all six GCC member states, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait along with special observers from Italy.
For years, drug traffickers have exploited geographical and technological loopholes, using Pakistan as a transit hub and GCC nations as lucrative markets, according to the ANF. Despite ongoing efforts, the scale of smuggling seizures continues to expand, with traffickers now leveraging the dark web, cryptocurrency, and synthetic drug manufacturing to evade law enforcement agencies.
“During the conference, the Director-General of Narcotics of the Sultanate of Oman announced the appointment of drug liaison officer in Pakistan,” the ANF said in a statement.
“Acting on this decision, Mr. Suleiman Al-Hanai has been appointed as Oman’s first Drug Liaison Officer in Pakistan who has assumed his official responsibilities in Islamabad.”
The announcement signals a new phase in relations between the two countries as they align their efforts in the global war on drugs, according to the ANF. The appointment reflects a shared commitment by Pakistan and Oman to safeguard their societies and promote a drug-free environment across the Gulf and South Asian regions.
In recent years, the ANF has successfully intercepted tones of illicit drugs, dismantled trafficking rings through road, border, dry port, airport and sea routes, and strengthened global relationships. With its advanced intelligence capabilities and strategic operations, the ANF has intensified collaboration with GCC security agencies, ensuring that traffickers find no safe passage between these regions.
In June 2024, the ANF also stepped up its international cooperation against drug trafficking through a workshop backed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, uniting national, regional and global agencies to strengthen data-sharing and coordination.
Pakistan stocks see strong recovery as Iran-Israel ceasefire reports boost investor sentiment
- US President Donald Trump said Monday that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ‘complete’ ceasefire to be phased in over 24 hours
- Analyst says the momentum is likely to continue, with valuations still shy of a long-term mean and due to market-friendly budget
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday witnessed a strong recovery amid a reported ceasefire between Israel and Iran, traders and analysts said.
On Monday, United States (US) President Donald Trump said on social media that Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” to be phased in over 24 hours.
The benchmark KSE-100 index surged by 6,079 points, or 5.23 percent, to close at 122,246 points on Tuesday afternoon, compared to the previous day’s close of 116,167 points.
“Stocks closed near all-time high after Iran, Israel agreed to a ceasefire receding fears of escalation in the Middle East tensions,” Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation told Arab News.
“Upbeat economic data on cement sales for Jul-May’25, bull run in global equities and receding fears over high inflation, impact on exports for supply disruptions over Middle East conflict played a catalyst role in the record bullish close.”
Raza Jafri, head of research at Intermarket Securities Ltd., attributed the momentum to reduction in international oil prices along with settling regional tensions.
In volatile trading on Tuesday, crude futures slumped more than five percent after Trump’s declaration of the Iran-Israel ceasefire.
“With valuations still shy of a long-term mean and Pakistan having recently unveiled a market-friendly budget, bullish momentum is expected to continue,” Jafri added.
On Monday, Pakistan’s stocks and currency markets had tumbled as investors reacted to the US foray into the Israel-Iran conflict a day earlier.
Monday’s 3.2 percent fall to 116,167 points was the worst since May 8, when the index had plunged 5.9 percent day-on-day during the India-Pakistan military standoff.
Pakistan reaches out to key allies amid ‘serious escalation’ in Middle East tensions
- PM meets envoys of China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar as Iran-Israel conflict risks wider regional war
- Iran fired missiles at US base in Qatar on Monday, triggering fears of escalation despite ceasefire call
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met with the ambassadors of Pakistan’s key allies China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in Islamabad, as the foreign office expressed concern over a “serious escalation” in Middle East tensions.
Sharif’s meetings with the envoys took place a day after Iran launched missiles against a US air base in Qatar on Monday, causing no casualties, in retaliation for the US dropping 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on Iranian underground nuclear facilities over the weekend. Hours later, US President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement of an Israel-Iran ceasefire agreement, suggesting he may have bombed Tehran’s rulers back to the negotiating table.
Tensions have remained high since June 13, when Israel struck Iran’s nuclear facilities and targeted senior military leadership. Iran has since retaliated with repeated missile strikes against Israel, raising fears of a wider regional conflict and prompting international calls for restraint.
“Pakistan expresses its deep concern and alarm at the serious escalation in the security situation in the region as a result of attacks against USA’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement on Tuesday, urging all sides to exercise restraint and respect fundamental principles of international law.
On Monday morning, Sharif held separate meetings with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki and Qatari envoy Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater.
“Pakistan will continue to work closely with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy” the PM said on his X account.
Sharif also met Qatari envoy Al-Khater to express solidarity with the Gulf country following Iran’s attack on the air base.
In the afternoon, the premier met China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, who, according to a statement from Sharif’s office, “lauded the proactive and positive role being played by Pakistan at every diplomatic forum, including at the UN Security Council, for a peaceful settlement of the [Middle East] crisis through dialogue and diplomacy.”
China has sought to expand its diplomatic footprint in the Middle East in recent years and notably brokered the Saudi Arabia–Iran rapprochement in 2023, which boosted its credibility as a regional peacemaker. It has also offered to help mediate the current crisis, though it plays a more behind-the-scenes role compared to the US or regional states like Qatar or Oman.
Pakistan has condemned Israel’s strikes against Iran and repeatedly called for de-escalation in the region.
Islamabad has also offered diplomatic support to Tehran at international forums and defended Iran’s right to respond to Israeli and US aggression under the UN Charter, carefully balancing this stance with its close security cooperation and economic partnership with the United States, a major backer of Israel.
The US and Israel say their goal is to cripple Tehran’s nuclear program.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia seek to deepen parliamentary cooperation during ongoing visit of Shoura Council
- Both sides agree to promote parliamentary exchanges and share legislative experience
- Parliamentary exchanges are seen as vital to deepen political and legislative partnerships
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly on Tuesday formally welcomed a high-level delegation of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council as the two countries seek to deepen parliamentary cooperation.
The visit is one among many recent efforts to strengthen political, defense and economic links between the longtime allies, who already share robust trade and security partnerships and close cultural ties. Saudi Arabia hosts over two million Pakistani expatriates and has long been a key source of financial support for Islamabad, including during recent economic crises and through workers’ remittances.
“During the National Assembly Budget Session 2025, Honorable Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, along with Members of the National Assembly, extended a warm welcome to the high-level parliamentary delegation of the Pak-Saudi Parliamentary Friendship Committee of the Saudi Shoura Council present in the Speaker’s Gallery,” the National Assembly said in a statement posted on social media platform X.
The Saudi delegation, led by Major General (Retd.) Dr. Abdulrahman bin Sanhat Al-Harbi, chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Committee, includes Dr. Iman bint Abdulaziz Al-Jabreen and Engineer Salem bin Ali Al-Shahrani, both members of the Shoura Council.
The delegation held separate meetings with Speaker Sadiq and other Pakistani parliamentarians earlier, during which both sides agreed to promote parliamentary exchanges and share legislative experience.
“The Pak-Saudi Friendship Group established in the National Assembly is playing an important role in promoting harmony between the parliaments of the two countries,” Speaker Sadiq said in an earlier statement.
“Exchanges of parliamentary delegations will give the parliamentarians of both countries an opportunity to benefit from each other’s experiences.”
Dr. Al-Harbi said Saudi Arabia attached great importance to its relations with Pakistan and reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to working together for peace and development in the region.
Frequent visits by parliamentary delegations complement high-level diplomatic and ministerial interactions between the two nations and are seen as a way to pave the ground for greater people-to-people contacts and new Saudi investments in Pakistan’s energy, mining and infrastructure sectors.
The visit also comes amid Islamabad’s efforts to attract foreign investment and strengthen partnerships with Gulf countries to stabilize its struggling economy.
