Latest news with #Islamabad
Arab News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan's top court rules Imran Khan's party ineligible for reserved parliamentary seats
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's top court on Friday ruled the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan is not entitled to reserved seats in the national and provincial legislatures, setting aside an earlier judgment that had granted the party its share. The Supreme Court's Constitutional Bench dismissed all review petitions filed by PTI and allied petitioners, reinstating the Peshawar High Court's earlier ruling rejecting the allocation of reserved seats to the party. 'The impugned majority judgment dated 12.07.2024 is set aside… and the judgment rendered by the Peshawar High Court, Peshawar is restored,' the short order read. The dispute about the reserved seats stems from the February 8 general elections, where PTI candidates contested as independents after the party lost its electoral symbol for not holding valid intra-party elections, as required under the Elections Act. Despite winning the most general seats in the national polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ruled that PTI was ineligible for reserved seats for women and minorities in parliament, which are allocated based on proportional representation from among the seats won by political parties. Last year in July, the Supreme Court reversed the ECP's decision, terming it unconstitutional and ordering the reserved seats to be allocated to PTI. However, the government subsequently passed amendments to the Elections Act, 2017, in a move widely seen as targeting PTI's eligibility for reserved seats. The revised law stipulated that only those candidates who had formally declared their party affiliation before the returning officer — and whose party had submitted lists of nominees for reserved seats within the legal deadline — would be entitled to such allocations. Since PTI-backed candidates contested the February election as independents, and the party did not submit lists for reserved seats, the amendments effectively barred it from claiming a share. With Friday's verdict, the apex court has now ruled that the independents backed by PTI in the February election cannot be treated as party nominees for the purpose of seat allocation. Responding to the development, Khan's party described the short order as the 'funeral … of justice' in a social media post. The government, on the other hand, welcomed the decision, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulating its legal team's 'tireless efforts.' 'The decision has upheld the supremacy of the Constitution and law, and ensured correct interpretation of legal provisions,' he said in a statement. 'The opposition should now join the government in playing a constructive role for the country's development and prosperity,' he added. The reserved seats in question will now be allocated to other political parties, including Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and its coalition partners. The top court's verdict will numerically strengthen the government while dealing yet another blow to Khan's PTI, which has faced legal and political challenges since the downfall of its administration in a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Arab News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan won't turn blind eye to allies' wrongdoing, says deputy PM on US strikes in Iran
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday his country did not turn a blind eye to US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this month, adding that close relations with a country do not justify silence in the face of wrongdoing. The statement came during a news briefing in the federal capital, where Dar spoke to the media about Pakistan's recent diplomatic engagements, including his participation in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Istanbul and the Pakistan-United Arab Emirates Joint Ministerial Commission. Despite a recent revival in bilateral ties with Washington, Pakistan formally condemned the US strikes in a statement, calling them a violation of international law and affirming Iran's right to self-defense under the UN Charter. 'Just because relations are good with a country doesn't mean you should consider something wrong to be right,' he told the media. 'As you witnessed, we didn't hesitate or delay,' he continued. 'I spoke with the foreign secretary, gave a task to the spokesperson and we exchanged draft statements. It's now a part of the historic record: we criticized the attack, and we did it on record.' Dar's remarks came in the wake of a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel that erupted after Israeli strikes targeted Iranian nuclear and military sites, prompting retaliation from Tehran. The war began while the administration in Tehran was holding nuclear negotiations with the US that later joined the fray, launching its own strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. While Washington said the attacks had set back Iran's nuclear program by years, there was international concern over a wider regional war. Dar said he had been personally involved in formulating the country's response as Islamabad prepared its official statement. Pakistan, currently a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), also raised the issue at the world body in New York.
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
British Council, Sindh government to train 30,000 teachers, impact two million students
ISLAMABAD: The British Council and the Government of Sindh have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to improve English language teaching in public schools, aiming to train 30,000 teachers and indirectly benefit over two million students, according to a statement issued on Friday. English is a compulsory subject in Pakistan's schools and colleges and remains the dominant language in government, academia and the corporate sector. Despite years of formal exposure, however, many students struggle to use the language effectively, raising concerns about the quality and methods of instruction. The new initiative aims to address these challenges by equipping teachers with inclusive and multilingual approaches that support more effective language acquisition. 'This agreement renews our partnership with and commitment to the people and Government of Sindh,' said James Hampson, Country Director, British Council Pakistan. 'Our ambition of supporting 30,000 teachers and 2 million children is a great next step.' Under the agreement, the British Council will deliver its 'English as a Subject for Teachers and Educators' (EaSTE) program to newly inducted primary and early childhood teachers. The collaboration also includes training 1,000 in-service teachers as mentors and deploying a scalable digital Learning Management System (LMS) to facilitate continuous professional support. 'Our focus is not just on access but on quality,' said Sindh Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah at the occasion. 'Through this initiative, we are equipping our teachers with the tools they need to teach English more effectively, in ways that reflect the linguistic and cultural realities of our classrooms.' The program builds on the British Council's long-standing work in education in Pakistan and replicates a successful model from Punjab, where EaSTE reached more than 140,000 teachers.
Arab News
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
From pavement to passion: Islamabad's young skateboarders push for recognition
ISLAMABAD: On a hot summer afternoon in Islamabad's F-9 Park, laughter echoed across the cracked concrete as teenagers cruised over curbs and kick-flipped their boards with casual defiance. For this small but growing community of skateboarders in the Pakistani capital, the pavement is a playground — and a protest. Globally, skateboarding has long been associated with youth culture. It is a sport that thrives in urban settings and offers young people a sense of identity, freedom, and creative expression. Since its rise in the United States in the 1960s, it has evolved into a global movement, now part of the Olympic Games and supported by thriving communities from Brazil to Japan. In this context, Pakistan is fertile ground for the growth of skateboarding — a nation of over 240 million people where nearly 64% of the population is under the age of 30. But the country does not officially recognize skateboarding as a sport. Its official game is field hockey but cricket dominates pitches, TV screens and public discourse. Other sports like football, badminton and volleyball enjoy some government support but skateboarding remains entirely on the fringes. 'There's not even one dedicated skate shop in Pakistan,' said Ali Hamza, a 21-year-old engineering student who founded Skate Pakistan, a grassroots movement using Instagram to grow and connect the local skate scene. 'It's still seen by many as a toy.' Hamza's Instagram page, started in 2021 'just to see if anyone else was skating,' soon connected him to others across Islamabad and beyond. Today, Skate Pakistan meetups attract 12–15 regulars, with larger competitions drawing dozens. Most participants are teenagers with limited access to professional training or gear, and the initiative is driven entirely by volunteers and enthusiasts, growing into a fledgling community of teens and young adults passionate about the sport and eager to see it taken seriously. Hamza's own introduction to skateboarding came through Hollywood films as a child. At the time, he assumed the aerial tricks were camera tricks. 'Honestly, I used to think it was fake,' he said, laughing. 'Like, how can a board that's not even attached to your feet fly up like that?' Curious, he bought a cheap board from a local sports shop in 2019. With no coaches or skateparks in Islamabad, Hamza turned to YouTube tutorials and online courses to learn the basics. 'My first day on the board, my father was holding one arm and my brother held the other. I was just praying I wouldn't fall,' he said. Fall he did and repeatedly. But with each tumble, he said, the fear wore off. 'The more I fell, the more this fear lessened.' While Pakistan has a few modest skateparks — including one in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, and another set up with German NGO support in Karachi in 2020 — most skateboarders still ride on sidewalks, underpasses, or abandoned lots. Security guards at parks often ask them to leave. Potholes, rough terrain, and broken pavement pose daily hazards. But the lack of infrastructure and support hasn't stopped the community from growing. 'I mean, it's fun, it's something physical, you're out with your friends, so why not?' said Hasaan Khan, 16, a regular at the sessions held in Islamabad's F-9 park. 'Skateboarding builds up your endurance, since you keep falling over and over again,' added Rija Mughal, also 16. 'It's pretty good for your physical health too.' BUILDING A MOVEMENT For many, skateboarding took off during COVID-19, when lockdowns closed schools and sports grounds. 'I found an old skateboard at home during COVID, had nothing else to do, so I started riding around,' said Ahmed Ali Rana, who was 13 at the time. 'It just clicked.' Rana said he was nervous at his first Skate Pakistan competition but was surprised by how welcoming everyone was. 'That's the best part. It's not just about the sport, it's about the friends and the community.' Zayan Nadir, another teen skater, said skating gave him a mental escape: 'It helps people get away from their problems. But to build a bigger community in Pakistan, you need more skate shops, more skate parks, and more freedom for skaters.' Currently, there's no national or provincial skateboarding federation, and the Pakistan Sports Board does not include the sport in its list of recognized disciplines. In contrast, neighboring India has had multiple international skateboarding events and boasts over two dozen skateparks, including some that cater to underprivileged youth. The inclusion of skateboarding in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games also helped raise its profile globally, particularly among younger audiences. Yet, in Pakistan, there is little official recognition, funding, or visibility. Hamza said public perception also remained a big hurdle. 'There's still this idea that a skateboard is a toy, not a sport,' he said. 'That's what we are trying to change through social media.' At a recent meetup, teenagers practiced ollies and kick turns on a concrete ramp while others filmed slow-motion footage for Instagram reels. There were no referees, no medals — just scratched boards, scraped knees, and smiles. Hamza said the goal now was to push for formal recognition and better infrastructure so more young people across Pakistan could skate without obstacles — literal or social. 'We just want people to see that this is serious,' he said. 'It deserves space, support and respect.'
Arab News
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan begins registration of intending pilgrims for next year's Hajj
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has begun registration of intending pilgrims for next year's Hajj pilgrimage for both the government and private schemes, its religious affairs ministry said on Friday. Intending pilgrims can register themselves through 15 approved banks and only registered candidates will be considered eligible for Hajj 2026, according to the ministry. After the registration, which will continue till July 9, pilgrims will be able to opt for government or private Hajj scheme. No fee will have to be paid for Hajj registration. 'Hajj registration is being carried out on the instructions of the Saudi Arabian government,' the religious affairs ministry said in a statement. 'The Saudi Arabian government will set the Hajj quota based on the registration.' The expenses and other terms and conditions of Hajj 2026 will be issued separately as per the Hajj policy, according to the statement. Registration will be mandatory for pilgrims who were left out of the private scheme this year as well as Pakistanis residing abroad. Pakistan received a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025, which was evenly divided between the government and private Hajj operators. While the government filled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims, a major portion of the private quota remained unutilized due to delays by companies in meeting payment and registration deadlines. Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the religious affairs ministry to begin preparations for the 2026 Hajj immediately, calling for urgent reforms to the country's private Hajj scheme. 'The operational plan should be developed in accordance with the Hajj policy issued by Saudi Arabia,' he said. 'No negligence in serving pilgrims next year will be tolerated.' Previously, Pakistan's religious affairs minister, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, had confirmed that over 67,000 private-sector slots went unused, despite a last-minute effort to reclaim some of the allocation. The shortfall prompted criticism and concerns over regulation and the capacity of private Hajj companies.
