News Analysis India

Tag: Shehbaz Sharif

  • 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.

  • ‘Prefer To Remain In Jail Rather Than…’: Imran Khan Says No Negotiation, No Deal With Pakistan Govt | world news

    Lahore: Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan has said that he would prefer to remain in jail for nine more years than strike a deal with those who have enslaved his country. The PTI boss has categorically ruled out an agreement with those ”who have enslaved the country.” In a message for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers on the party’s 28th Foundation Day, Khan said that the “ worst dictatorship” was imposed on the country which was becoming the basis for the “destruction” of the economy, government rule, democracy and judiciary”. Khan also called on every individual to play their role in stopping this descent towards the country’s ruin.

    “It is my message for the nation that I will give any sacrifice required for actual freedom but will never compromise on my or my nation’s freedom,” the former Pakistan PM said. The cricketer-politician further alleged that he has been kept behind bars for the past nine months due to “fake and concocted cases”.

    “I will remain in jail if I have to for nine more years, or more, but I will never strike a deal with those who have enslaved my nation,” he said in his message.

    On April 25, 1996, Chairman Imran Khan laid the foundation of Pakistan Movement on the principles of justice, humanity and self-control. Despite the hardships, difficulties and continuing oppression and exploitation, Pakistan Movement continues its patient struggle for the real freedom of Pakistan. #28YearsOfStruggle pic.twitter.com/DCAgkir1hS — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 25, 2024


    Since losing power in April 2022, the 71-year-old former cricketer-politician has been found guilty in at least four cases. Khan is currently lodged in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi because of these convictions. After disagreements with the powerful military, Khan’s political party has faced a crackdown. Many party members have been arrested or left the party after violence erupted following Khan’s arrest last year.

    Khan’s party leader, Shehryar Afridi, recently said they are willing to talk with the Army chief and other military leaders for the country’s security. They won’t talk with other political parties like the PPP or PML-N. Afridi called these parties “rejected” and said they can only talk with the military leadership. He also said that if these parties abandon their positions, then PTI will decide whether to work with them or not.

    Afridi mentioned that Khan wanted to talk with the military from the beginning, but there was no response. If there had been a response, they would have made it public.

    Earlier, PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said Khan was being pressured to accept a deal, but PTI denied having any secret talks with the military. In the February 8 election, independent candidates supported by PTI won over 90 seats in the National Assembly. However, the PMN-L and PPP formed an alliance after the election, keeping Khan’s party from forming a government.”

  • Saudi Echoes India’s No Interference From External Parties Stance On Kashmir After Talks With Pak

    New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi de-facto ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently convened for an official meeting at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca on April 7. During the meeting, they emphasized the importance of discussions between Islamabad and New Delhi. to settle their “outstanding issues,” with a particular focus on the Kashmir matter. The statement came in a joint statement which was issued a day after the meeting, reported news agency PTI.

    The statement comes at a time when for a long time, New Delhi has maintained that Kashmir is a matter to be resolved directly between India and Pakistan, without any involvement or interference from external parties.

    Saudi Arabia and Pakistan talked about strengthening the friendly ties between the two countries and finding ways to work together better in different areas. They also talked about issues in the region, like Kashmir, as mentioned in their statement.

    “The two sides stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to ensure peace and stability in the region,” PTI reported quoting the statement.

    The relationship between the two countries took a downturn after India scrapped Article 370 of its Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and divided the region into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.

    Pakistan reacted strongly to India’s decision, reducing diplomatic relations and expelling the Indian ambassador. India has consistently informed Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country, both historically and in the future.

    India has expressed its desire for normal, friendly relations with Pakistan, provided there is an absence of terrorism, hostility, and violence.

  • Cash-Strapped Pak PM Sharif & Cabinet Ministers To Forgo Salaries | world news

    Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Cabinet on Wednesday unanimously decided to forego their salaries and related benefits due to the precarious economic condition of the country.

    The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting as part of the government's austerity policies, aimed at curbing unnecessary expenditures, according to a press release by the PM Office.

    The Cabinet has already introduced measures restricting foreign trips funded by the government, ordering federal ministers, parliamentarians, and government officials not to go on foreign trips by using government funds without prior approval.

    The measures are focused on promoting fiscal responsibility and optimizing governmental resources in the face of economic challenges, due to which the country needs a fresh loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Last week, President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also decided to forego their salaries while in office citing similar reasons.

    Former president Arif Alvi was drawing Rs 8,46,550 per month, which was fixed by Parliament in 2018. Zardari is one of the richest politicians in Pakistan.When Sharif was the prime minister in his earlier term, a similar measure was announced in February 2023. .

    However, these measures are commonly considered cosmetic to show that the government was sharing the burden of the people badly hit by grinding inflation.

    In reality, the president, the prime minister and most of the ministers belong to the privileged, rich class and are not dependent on their salaries.

    Incidentally, earlier in the day, a statement from the IMF said that it has reached a staff-level agreement with cash-strapped Pakistan that will enable it to get the next tranche of USD 1.1 billion of the earlier sanctioned loan.

  • Who Is Mian Javed Latif? Senior Nawaz Sharif Party Leader Who Has Called Shehbaz A 'Puppet' Of Military | world news

    LAHORE: A senior Pakistani politician has stirred a big controversy by making a bold statement against the incumbent PML-N government in the country that has caught everyone's attention. Mian Javed Latif – the man at the center of the controversy – is a close aide of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He has suggested that the current government led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is merely a “puppet” regime, indirectly implying that the military holds the reins.

    Latif, a stalwart from Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and a former federal minister, made these remarks during a television interview. He pointed out that the PML-N failed to secure a simple majority in the National Assembly during the recent general elections. Latif asserted that the current government is effectively controlled by the military, regardless of which party appears to be in power.

    PML-N Mum Over 'Puppet' Remark

    Despite the significance of Latif's statements, the PML-N has not officially responded. This is the first time a senior leader from the ruling party has openly acknowledged the government's status as a “puppet setup” orchestrated by the military.

    In the aftermath of the February polls, where independent candidates supported by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged victorious, the PML-N formed a coalition with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and other smaller parties. This alliance secured key positions in the government, including the prime ministerial and presidential posts.

    Allegations Of Rigging In Pakistan Polls

    Imran Khan and PTI have persistently accused the military establishment of electoral manipulation, labeling the elections as massively rigged. Pakistan has a history of military involvement in governance, either directly or indirectly.

    During the television interview, Latif stood by his remarks despite being questioned by the anchor. He insisted that he was speaking the truth, maintaining his stance even when prompted about potential personal motivations.

    Who Is Mian Javed Latif?

    Mian Javed Latif, born on January 1, 1964, in Sheikhupura, is a seasoned Pakistani politician. He has been associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) since 2008 and has consistently won elections, serving as a member of the National Assembly. Latif comes from a politically active family background, with his father also a politician. He has held various positions within the PML-N and has contested and won seats in multiple general elections, displaying a strong electoral track record.

    Latif has faced controversies despite his political successes, including a public altercation with fellow politician Murad Saeed in 2017. However, he later apologized for his actions. Mian Javed Latif's recent comments have sparked debate and scrutiny within Pakistani political circles, highlighting the ongoing tensions between civilian leadership and military influence in the country's governance.

  • Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Calls For 'Freedom Of Kashmiris, Palestinians' In Victory Speech | world news

    ISLAMABAD: Addressing the National Assembly after being picked as the next prime minister of the ruling coalition of the PML(N), PPP and other small outfits, Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday called out the 'global silence' on the prevailing situation in Gaza while seeking a bipartisan resolution in the House advocating 'freedom' for Kashmiris and Palestinians, Dawn reported.

    “Let's all come together…and the National Assembly should pass a resolution for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians,” PM-designate Shehbaz said in a 'victory speech' at the Assembly. The Pakistan National Assembly on Sunday elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif as the 24th elected Prime Minister of the country, during a session that started with Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members creating a ruckus by shouting slogans.

    The PM-designate stated further that amid the severe economic downturn in the country and livelihood concerns of the people, even the expenditures of the National Assembly were being paid by borrowed money, Dawn reported. He replied that the biggest challenge for Pakistan was that “all of the expenditure was being met via loans only”, the report noted.

    “All of these (expenses for running the House) is being met via loans over the last few years. This is the biggest challenge faced by the country today,” he said. “All of our salaries are being paid via taxes. Does such a situation warrant such hooliganism?” he added, in a veiled dig at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and other rival voices who have been contesting the results of the February 8 general elections.

    He also rued the debt crisis that the country is grappling with, Dawn added in its report. Meanwhile, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party leadership decided to go to the Parliament despite its reservations over the poll outcome in the country.

    Despite its decision to participate in the session of the newly elected National Assembly, Rehman said his party's original position to reject the 2024 elections was being proven right. “In the history of Pakistan, we used to think that 2018 was the biggest rigging that took place in the general election, however, 2024 has broken that record,” Rehman said in Karachi.

  • Setback For Imran Khan, Shehbaz Sharif Elected PM Of Pakistan For Second Time |

    New Delhi: The Pakistan National Assembly convened on Sunday to appoint Shehbaz Sharif, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as the 24th Prime Minister of the nation. The session commenced with disruptions as members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) shouted slogans, as reported by Geo News based in Pakistan.

    Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, officially declared Shehbaz Sharif’s victory in the Prime Ministerial election. Sharif secured 201 votes, surpassing his opponent, Omar Ayub Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and SIC candidate for prime minister, who received 92 votes. Despite protests from SIC lawmakers, Speaker Sadiq proceeded with the announcement.

    The session is being chaired by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. The session started with the oath-taking of PML-N leader Jam Kamal. However, the House soon started echoing slogans and chants raised by SIC members in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and the eight-party alliance backing Shehbaz Sharif.

    Following this, Sadiq asked the Assembly staff to ring the bell for five minutes so that any member that is not present in the house could come to the floor for the PM’s election. After the bells were rung, Sadiq directed the National Assembly staff to lock the doors and announced the method for electing PM, according to Geo News report.

    Following this, the Pakistan National Assembly speaker informed the lawmakers about the candidates who were contesting for the PM’s post. He said, “Valid nominated candidates are Shehbaz Sharif and Omar Ayub. Honourable members who wish to vote in favour of Shehbaz may proceed to the lobby on the right side designated as ‘Lobby A’.”

    Ayaz Sadiq then asked those who want to vote for Omar Ayub Khan can proceed to the left-hand side towards “Lobby B” to get their votes recorded. As the voting process started, members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) announced a boycott of the elections and walked out of the house, according to Geo News report.

    Balochistan National Party’s Sardar Akhtar Mengal did not vote, however, he remained on his seat in the Assembly. After the polling process concluded, the Pakistan National Assembly secretary gave details regarding the voting process to the speaker. After the completion of counting, Ayaz Sadiq ordered the Pakistan National Assembly staff to ring the bell to summon the lawmakers back in the house for the announcement of the results.

  • DNA Exclusive: Analysis Of Bilawal Bhutto-Shehbaz Sharif’s ‘Deal’ To Form Government In Pakistan | India News

    New Delhi: In a surprising turn of events, Bilawal Bhutto, the chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has given up his ambition to become the prime minister of Pakistan and instead secured the president’s post for his father, Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the co-chairman of PPP. Bilawal has struck a deal with Nawaz Sharif, the leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), to form a coalition government in the country, ending the political uncertainty that prevailed for 12 days after the general elections.

    In today’s DNA, Zee News analyzed the deal between PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto and PML-N’s Shehbaz Sharif to form a coalition government in Pakistan, ending the political uncertainty that prevailed for 12 days after the general elections.

    DNA: Kingmaker Bilawal made father king! Inside Story of Bilawal-Shahbaz deal#DNA #DNAWithSourabh #PakistanPolitics @saurabhraajjain pic.twitter.com/yFCK2x7gTz — Zee News (@ZeeNews) February 21, 2024

    According to the deal, Nawaz Sharif’s younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, will be the prime minister for the first three years, while Bilawal will be the deputy prime minister. In the last two years, Bilawal will take over as the prime minister, while Shahbaz will become the deputy prime minister. Zardari will be the president for the entire five-year term.

    The coalition partners have also decided to share the key ministries among themselves, with PML-N getting the finance, foreign affairs, defence, and interior portfolios, while PPP getting the information, law, energy, and railways portfolios. The coalition will also include the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), who have won 17 and 4 seats respectively in the National Assembly.

    The coalition has a comfortable majority of 150 seats in the 272-member National Assembly, while the main opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan, has only 31 seats. The PTI has alleged massive rigging in the elections and has refused to accept the results. It has also announced that it will boycott the oath-taking ceremony of the new government and launch a nationwide protest.

    The coalition has been welcomed by the international community, especially by the United States and China, who are the major allies and investors of Pakistan. The coalition has also expressed its willingness to improve its relations with India, Afghanistan, and other neighboring countries, and to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and extremism. However, the coalition also faces many challenges, such as the economic crisis, the energy shortage, the security situation, and the judicial activism. It remains to be seen how the coalition will overcome these hurdles and deliver on its promises to the people of Pakistan.

    Watch Today’s DNA for a detailed analysis of Bilawal Bhutto-Nawaz Sharif’s deal to form government in Pakistan elections:

    Farmers Vs Government… War-like atmosphere. Inside story of Bilawal-Shahbaz deal.

    Watch #DNA LIVE with Sourabh Raaj Jain #ZeeLive #ZeeNews #DNAWithSourabh #KisanAndolan #PakistanPolitics #FarmersProtest #MSP @saurabhraajjain https://t.co/DI0NxpiqCN — Zee News (@ZeeNews) February 21, 2024

  • Pakistan: PML-N And PPP To Form Coalition Government; Shehbaz Sharif To Be PM, Asif Ali Zardari President | world news

    After almost two weeks of poll results, two key political parties in Pakistan have agreed to form a coalition government, bringing an end to the deadlock and keeping Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf in the opposition. Addressing the media, PML-N President and former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the parties have agreed on a power-sharing formula.

    As per the deal, it has been decided that Shehbaz Sharif will be the joint candidate for both parties for the slot of Prime Minister and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari will be the joint candidate for the President’s slot, informed Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

    Shehbaz Sharif said that the independent candidates, who emerged victorious in the majority by securing more than 100 seats, were invited to form the government, but they failed to achieve the required numbers. He added that other parties such as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, the Pakistan Muslim League, and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party supported PML-N and PPP in the government-making endeavour.

    The upcoming government will work together to pull the country out of the ongoing crises, said Shehbaz Sharif, expressing the hope to be able to deliver. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto said the details of the sharing of key constitutional offices between the PPP and PML-N will be announced in the coming days.

    Previously, the Election Commission of Pakistan released the outcomes for 265 out of 266 seats in the National Assembly following the general elections held on February 8. No single political party attained a simple majority, necessitating alliances among parties to establish the central government for the next. five-year term.

  • Asif Ali Zardari, Shehbaz Sharif finalized terms to form government in Pakistan, claims PML-N leader

    PML-N leader Raja Riaz revealed that decisions about the formation of the government have already been made by PPP co-chair Asif Ali Zardari and former PM Shehbaz Sharif.