Pakistan
The curious case of the clueless Captain
In the latest round of musical chairs which the federal cabinet regularly indulges in, Hammad Azhar became the Finance Minister for exactly 18 days, an embarrassing record.
Imran Yaqub Khan
Shaukat Tarin is now the Finance Minister while Hammad has Energy portfolio. Fawad Chaudhry was rescued from the boondocks of Science and Technology and handed over the ministry he did once hold, Information. Shibli Faraz, meanwhile, switched over to Fawad’s former ministry. Omar Ayoub was picked up from Energy and dropped over at Economic Affairs. Khusro Bakhtiar was made Minister for Industries. Hafeez Sheikh, the third of the four finance ministers we have had till now in three years, remains missing in action.
Confused? So are we.
Changes within the team are the prerogative and the right of every captain. Team changes, however, can reflect desperation and in this instance, they are doing exactly that. The game is slipping away from the captain. Instead of reprimanding the bowlers, the captain is taking out his frustrations at the fielders, dispatching them to all corners of the field one after the other. Alas, he is still losing the match.
It wasn’t too long ago that the opposition leader who claimed to have “200 experts” of every field in his team became the Prime Minister and drafted his first, 21-member team. Of those 21, at least 12 members were borrowed from previous regimes, especially Musharraf 11. Sheikh Rasheed, Fawad Chaudhary, Farogh Nasim, Tariq Basheer Cheema, Ghulam Sarwar, Zubaida Jalal, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Shafqat Mehmud, Khusro Bakhtiar and Abdul Razzaq Dawood were part of Musharraf’s team.
The prized ministry, Finance, went to Imran’s own team member, the much-touted Asad Umar who had been presented as a miracle worker. Just eight months after he took oath, Umar was sent back to the pavilion by the captain, replacing him with Zardari’s team member Hafeez Sheikh. And now Hafeez Sheikh has been sent packing too, replaced in quick succession by Hammad Azhar and now Shaukat Tarin, yet another Zardari veteran.
Imran’s team faces the dual challenge of financial crisis and smoothing over the multiple embarrassments created by the rest of their ranks. Whenever corruption or incompetence came to the forefront, the relative team member was temporarily removed from public eye only to be inducted right back at a later date. Amir Kiyani, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Azam Swati all went through this process.
The vice-captain of the team also had a pivotal role in bringing his party to powe. From ensuring electables select the PTI for contesting elections, to zooming around in his private plane for the purpose of gathering support from independents, to financing the party itself, Jahangir Khan Tareen was the most important member of the team. Today, he is no longer in his captain’s good books.
Far from being bereft at losing his leader’s favour, Tareen has instead shown his mettle by gathering support from the captain’s team, including his close confidants Aun Chaudhry as well as provincial ministers Tariq Bashir Cheema and Noman Langrial. Another former Zardari team player, Raja Riaz, went so far as to challenge Imran Khan when he talked to the media outside the court in which Tareen was appearing for bail. Let this matter end here, he warned.
Being a “bold” cricket captain or being lucky is no substitute for having political acumen. Perhaps the only similarity between cricket and politics is that one tiny mistake can go a long way in turning the tide against the player. Tauseef Ahmed can win a match by hitting a memorable six off the one ball left to him. But in politics, a good team player is the man who plays for his peers, his captain and the country. Personal glory is not important. If they deliver, there will be no need for the captain to change the team again and again.
It is astonishing that for a man who led his team to victory in the World Cup, Imran Khan had no game plan when he took charge of the government. If the Prime Minister did indeed have a game plan, then it was a curious one, because its implementation has been a complete and utter disaster.
And what of the people who handed charge over to this partuclar man and made him the captain? Did they have a game plan? It seems obvious by now, the match begin without any planning. Imran Khan’s luck has played a crucial part, disabling the opposition into a position of disadvantage. The match has turned from a one-day to a long test. One that will most likely not end soon and without victory.
Pakistan
Kyrgyz Charge d’affaires handed over a demarche over violent incident against Pakistani students
The Kyrgyz authorities expressed regret over the incidents of violence against foreign nationals including Pakistanis in Bishkek last night and also pledged to hold an inquiry and punish the perpetrators
Islamabad: Charge d’affaires of the Kyrgyz Embassy in Pakistan Melis Moldaliev on Saturday was called to the Foreign Office for a demarche by Director General (ECO & CARs) Aizaz Khan, conveying the deep concerns of the Government of Pakistan about the reports of last night’s incidents against Pakistani students studying in the Kyrgyz Republic.
“It was impressed on the Kyrgyz Charge d’affaires that the Kyrgyz government should take all possible measures to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani students and citizens residing in the Kyrgyz Republic,” Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press statement.
“The Government of Pakistan takes the matter of the safety and security of its national around the world very seriously and would take all necessary measures to ensure their well-being,” it was asserted.
The Kyrgyz authorities expressed regret over the incidents of violence against foreign nationals including Pakistanis in Bishkek last night and also pledged to hold an inquiry and punish the perpetrators.
The Government of Pakistan was in contact with the Kyrgyz Government to ensure the safety and security of its nationals at risk in view of the mob riots of last night in the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Embassy of Pakistan has opened an emergency helplines and responding to queries of students and their families.
Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Hassan Ali Zaigham has been in close contact with senior Kyrgyz authorities.
According to the Kyrgyz Health Ministry, four Pakistanis were provided first aid and discharged while one was under treatment for jaw injury.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has directed the Foreign Office to monitor the situation round-the-clock and to fully assist and facilitate Pakistani nationals.
Meanwhile, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said that the law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic took prompt measures to arrest the people involved in the incident.
The situation was completely under the control of the security forces, and the safety of citizens and public order were ensured. There were no serious injuries among those who took part in the incident. About 15 citizens applied to medical institutions for examination, it was added.
Regional
Salik visits Rehlat Manafea Company, reviews Hajj days’ arrangements
Upon arrival, the company’s CEO, Ahmed Abdullatef Tammar, along with his team, welcomed the Pakistan delegation, led by the religious minister
Makkah Al- Mukarrama: Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain visited the Rehlat Manafea Company, a service provider, on Sunday to review the arrangements made for Pakistani Hujjaj, particularly during the five Hajj days in Mashair from 8-12 Zilhaj.
Upon arrival, the company’s CEO, Ahmed Abdullatef Tammar, along with his team, welcomed the Pakistan delegation, led by the religious minister.
Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dr Syed Ata-ur-Rehman, Director General (Hajj), Jeddah/Head of Pakistan Hajj Mission, Abdul Wahab Soomor, Director Makkah, Faheem Afridi, Head of Medical Mission, Brigadier Jamil Ahmed Lakhiar, Director Mouavneen Asghar Yusufzai and other officials assisted the minister in the meeting.
Minister Salik Hussain appreciated the company for making timely and elaborate arrangements, including transport, accommodation, and catering in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalfa. He stressed the need to explore ways and means for further collaboration in Hajj-related matters aimed at extending maximum facilitation to the guests of Allah Almighty at the holy land. During the meeting, CEO Ahmed Abdullatef Tammar said the company, which has a team of highly skilled professionals, has finalized 100 percent arrangements well before time.
The minister invited the CEO to visit Pakistan for increased cooperation and collaboration in future Hajj-related plans. Accepting the invitation, the CEO said he would visit Pakistan in August.
Later, Chaudhry Salik Hussain took a round of Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalfa to witness the arrangements on the ground. The minister expressed satisfaction over the arrangements.
The visit of Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain to Rehlat Manafea Company demonstrated the government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and spiritually fulfilling Hajj experience for Pakistani pilgrims. The minister’s appreciation for the company’s efforts and his invitation to the CEO to visit Pakistan reflect the government’s desire for continued collaboration and improvement in Hajj-related services.
Pakistan
Kyrgyz authorities contacted to ensure Pakistani students’ safety: Dar
Pakistan’s Embassy says that foreign students living in Bishkek including those from Pakistan, were subjected to violence by locals in the aftermath of their brawl with Egyptian nationals a few days ago
Lahore: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said that the government had established contact with the Kyrgyz authorities to ensure the protection of Pakistani students in Bishkek, amidst the incidents of mob violence.
The deputy prime minister was addressing a joint press conference with Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Minister Amir Muqam at party's Model Town office in Lahore on Sunday.
According to Pakistan’s Embassy, foreign students living in Bishkek including those from Pakistan, were subjected to violence by locals in the aftermath of their brawl with Egyptian nationals a few days ago. Some hostels of medical universities in Bishkek and private residences of international students including Pakistanis were attacked.
The deputy prime minister calling the reports of mob attacks on students “extremely concerning” instructed the Pakistan’s ambassador to Kyrgyzstan to fully facilitate them.
The embassy has already shared the helpline numbers +996555554476 and +996507567667, and had responded to a hundreds of calls from the students and their families.
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