Pakistan
A game of chance
Punjab’s senate elections ended in a whimper. The lead up to the election was marked with plenty of hue and cry, angry statements, fears of votes being traded for money and a presidential reference that was sent to the Supreme Court.
Strange points were raised, such as a secret ballot that would be traceable and proportional representation was questioned. In the end, however, all members were elected unopposed. Not a single ballot paper was required. Enemies sorted out all matters between themselves.
A more pertinent lesson could not have been derived from the development. Political matters need not be taken to court. The wiliness and slyness that is a necessity in any political arena do not belong in the hallowed halls of law. In fact, they sully the sanctity of judicial houses.
Blots on our history, such as Justice Munir’s Doctrine of Necessity, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s death sentence and Musharaff’s LFO have left deep marks. Future judges tried their best to wash out the stains. They did fade, but did not disappear.
Political chances suit only politicians. If after all the bad blood and trash talk that the opposition and government indulged in before sitting down to settle Punjab’s senate polls, anyone believes that either would not give or take an NRO, is incredibly naïve.
What happened in Punjab can be summarized in one sentence i.e. acceptable names got through, unacceptable ones didn’t. Quetta’s Abdul Qadir is one of the lucky few who have been approved of. When PTI Balochistan members objected to his ticket, Qadir switched over to Bap and became a member overnight. Zahoor Agha was brought in as a salve to soothe bruises but had less longevity than a tissue paper. He recanted right after his papers were filed, abdicating the polls in favor of Abdul Qadir. The chosen one is not selected by party workers, after all.
If not a fluke of chance, then what else can we call the (re)rise of former Premier, Yousuf Raza Gillani. At the center of the political battle that will be waged in the capital, Gillani told Maryam Nawaz that he knew of PTI lawmakers who will give him a vote in return for assurances of PML-N tickets in 2023. Consider that the three parties at the center of this particular smorgasbord are the biggest three in the country. The seekers are from the ruling PTI, the givers are from PML-N and the brokers of the deal are the PPP.
And consider how the Punjab settlement, such as it is, was authored by the PML-Q. With an increased likelihood of both the vote and the note disrupting proceedings, Pervez Elahi took it upon himself to manage affairs and bring them to a conclusion acceptable to everyone. He contacted sympathizers in all the major parties, settled the issue and in the process, managed to get a seat for PML-Q’s Kamil Ali Agha.
As for the contest between Gillani and Hafeez Sheikh, well, it might not be of much surprise to anyone if a few pawns here and there switch sides. This is not unprecedented. Here, parties are broken up and formed anew over a period of just 24 hours. If Gillani wins then of course the doors to a no-confidence move will be opened. And that will end the impression of government and establishment being on the same page. The million dollar question is, will that day finally come to pass?
Pakistan
Pakistan conducts anti-terror operations in Afghanistan
The Foreign Office says the operation targeted terrorists affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in Pakistan in collaboration with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Lahore: The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on Monday that Pakistan conducted “intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations” within Afghanistan's border regions, shortly after Kabul reported airstrikes on its territory resulting in eight fatalities.
The Foreign Office said that the operation targeted terrorists affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in Pakistan in collaboration with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). These attacks have led to the deaths of civilians and law enforcement personnel, including the recent incident claiming seven Pakistani soldiers' lives in Mir Ali, North Waziristan.
The airstrikes followed President Asif Ali Zardari's declaration of retaliation for the soldiers' deaths, emphasizing Pakistan's resolve to defend its borders and territory against any aggression. The Hafiz Gul Bahadar group had claimed responsibility for the Mir Ali attack, with security officials noting their operations from the Afghan side, particularly in Khost.
These strikes coincide with increased communication between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban leadership. Pakistan's envoy in Kabul recently met with Mullah Shirin Akhund, the Taliban governor of southern Kandahar, indicating ongoing diplomatic engagements.
The FO reiterated Pakistan's longstanding concerns to the Afghan government regarding terrorist elements, including TTP, finding sanctuary in Afghanistan and launching attacks into Pakistan. Emphasizing respect for Afghanistan's sovereignty, Pakistan consistently advocated for dialogue and cooperation to address shared security challenges.
Expressing dismay over certain Afghan authorities' support for TTP, the FO urged a reconsideration of such policies, highlighting Pakistan's historical support for Afghanistan.
It underscored the collective threat posed by groups like TTP to regional peace and affirmed Pakistan's commitment to collaborative counterterrorism efforts.
Pakistan reaffirmed its dedication to finding joint solutions to combat terrorism and prevent any strain on bilateral relations with Afghanistan.
Sports
McIlroy cards a 65 at Players amid 1st-rd. drama
Rory McIlroy carded a 7-under 65 at the the Players Championship on Thursday despite some controversy following his tee shot on the seventh hole, which found the water, and the ensuing drop.
McIlroy, the 2019 Players Championship winner, was tied atop the leaderboard with Xander Schauffele and reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, who had much more uneventful opening rounds at TPC Sawgrass.
McIlroy had just taken the lead at 8 under when he pulled his drive left on the par-4 seventh hole, his 16th of the round. McIlroy's ball crossed a hazard, bounced and kicked into the water.
The issue was whether his ball hit above a red hazard line on the slope of a fairway bunker or below it. If the ball hit above the red line, McIlroy was permitted to take a drop at that spot. If the ball hit below the line, however, he would have to go much farther back to drop and hit his third shot.
From the tee, McIlroy was certain that he saw his ball hit above the red line. Norway's Viktor Hovland and Jordan Spieth, who were playing with McIlroy, didn't seem so sure.
It made for a rather uncomfortable moment in what was generally a comfortable round for McIlroy, who tied a Players Championship record with 10 birdies in a round.
"It would have been nice to shoot 62 and not hit two in the water," McIlroy said.
Canada's Nick Taylor and England's Matt Fitzpatrick were 1 stroke behind at 6 under, while world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler, the defending Players Championship winner, was tied for sixth at 5 under, along with Jason Day, Ludvig Åberg and four others.
Play was suspended at 7:32 p.m. ET because of darkness with nine golfers still on the course, and the first round will resume at 8:50 a.m. Friday. The second round will begin as scheduled at 7:40 a.m.
"I knew the scores were going to be fairly low today," said Scheffler, who won last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational and is trying to become the first back-to-back winner at the Players Championship. "The golf course is pretty soft, and we had unusually low winds, I'd say, for TPC Sawgrass, and the scores obviously reflected that."
Scheffler opened with a bogey on the par-4 first hole -- his only one of the round -- and then ran off three straight birdies. He picked up three more birdies on the back.
"You can't really force it around this place, like I've said a bunch of times, you really can't," Scheffler said. "It was nice bouncing back after the rough start and just playing a really good round of golf."
McIlroy's contentious conversation with Hovland and Spieth on the seventh hole was the story of the day. After the round, McIlroy insisted that he saw his ball hit above the red hazard line. He ended up making a double bogey. McIlroy had a similar situation when he hit his tee shot into the water on No. 18, his ninth hole.
"It was just a matter of whether it was above the line or below, and I thought I saw it pitch above the line [on No. 7]," McIlroy said. "[No.] 18 was a pretty similar situation. Again, adamant it crossed, it's just a matter of where it crosses. I think this golf course more than any other, it sort of produces those situations a little bit."
Hovland and Spieth declined to comment after their rounds. Hovland made a double bogey on the last hole to card a 1-over 73; Spieth posted a 2-over 74 with four birdies and six bogeys.
The golfers' conversation on the seventh fairway lasted about 10 minutes before McIlroy took a drop.
"I think Jordan was just trying to make sure that I was doing the right thing," McIlroy said. "I mean, I was pretty sure that my ball had crossed where I was sort of dropping it. It's so hard, right, because there was no TV evidence. I was adamant. But I think, again, he was just trying to make sure that I was going to do the right thing."
After looking for his ball in the water and not finding it, McIlroy and his caddie, Harry Diamond, walked back to the spot where they believed his ball had landed.
Hovland walked across the fairway with his hand in his pockets and told McIlroy, "We don't know for sure that it crossed the line."
"I'm pretty comfortable saying that it did -- that it landed above the red line," McIlroy said.
"I thought it was really close," Hovland said. "I can't say either way."
Then Spieth walked across the fairway and chimed in. Members of the TV crew had apparently told him that McIlroy's ball hit below the line.
"Everyone that I'm hearing that had eyes on it, which is again not what matters, is saying they're 100 percent certain it landed below the line," Spieth said. "That's all I'm saying."
By that time, a PGA Tour rules official had arrived. McIlroy asked him to check with the TV broadcast, but he was told there were no replays available. McIlroy took a drop and couldn't get up and down, settling for a double-bogey 6. He bounced back with a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole.
"I feel like I'm one of the most conscientious golfers out here, so if I feel like I've done something wrong, it'll play on my conscience for the rest of the tournament," McIlroy said. "I'm a big believer in karma, and if you do something wrong, I feel like it's going to come around and bite you at some point.
"I obviously don't try to do anything wrong out there, and play by the rules and do the right thing. I feel like I obviously did that [on] those two drops."
Schauffele's bogey-free round of 7-under 65 was much more uneventful. He started on the back nine and made the turn at 3 under 33. Then he posted birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 3 and another one on the par-four fifth.
Schauffele ran into trouble on the seventh hole after blocking his tee shot into the trees to the right. He was 163 yards from the hole and surrounded by limbs. His ball was sitting down and there was one opening-straight up.
After telling his caddie, Austin Kaiser, that he could live with attempting a "hero shot," Schauffele took a full swing and hit a high sweeping shot across a bunker and water. His ball landed in the fairway short of the green, and he chipped to 4 ½ feet and made par.
"It was over everything, but it was just like a window that was pretty high up," Schauffele said. "I would not want to hit the shot again."
The highlight of the day was Ryan Fox's ace on the par-3 17th hole, after he had posted an eagle 3 on the par-5 16th. He became the first golfer in Players Championship history to card a 3-1 on Nos. 16 and 17, according to the PGA Tour. It was the 14th ace on the island-green 17th hole since the tournament moved to TPC Sawgrass in 1983.
Pakistan
Punjab CM seeks plan for underground train project in Lahore
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz co-chairs special review meeting with PML-N Supremo Nawaz on 20,000 electric and petrol bikes for students and 657 buses projects in five cities.
Lahore: “Decision has been taken to start metro train projects in three cities of Punjab,” said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, while co-chairing with PML-N Supreme Leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif a special review meeting on 20 thousand electric and petrol bikes for students, and 657 buses projects in five cities.
Madam Chief Minister also sought a plan for the underground train project in Lahore.
Quaid PML-N said, “The number of bikes for students should be increased. The monthly installment of bikes for students should be kept at the minimum.” He added, “It is responsibility of the government to share the financial burden of students,”.
Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said, “The bus fare should also be set at the minimum for the public.”
Earlier, the authorities concerned briefed that 19,000 petrol and 1,000 electric bikes will be given to the students free of interest on easy monthly instalments in collaboration with the Bank of Punjab.
They told that the Bikes would be given to students with traffic license across Punjab. Bikes will be given to the students in easy instalments. Interest will be paid by the Government of Punjab. The monthly installment of the petrol bike will be less than Rs 5000 and that of e-bike will be less than Rs 10000. After e-balloting in May, delivery of bikes will start in the same month.
In cities, 50:50 percent quota is reserved for male and female students, while in villages, 70 percent quota is reserved for male students and 30 percent quota is earmarked for the female students.
Madam Chief Minister said,”Receipt of applications will be announced before Eid.”
Moreover, it was apprised in the meetings that 300 hybrid diesel buses will be purchased for Lahore, 78 for Rawalpindi, 100 for Multan, 110 for Faisalabad, and 110 for Bahawalpur. 27 fully electric buses will be operated in Lahore.
Madam Chief Minister directed to keep bus fares to the minimum possible level.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Information Minister Azma Bukhari, Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, MPA Sania Ashiq, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, Secretary Transport, Finance, Higher Education Department, Chairman PITB, Nofal Dawood from Bank of Punjab. and other senior officers concerned attended the meeting.
-
Pakistan 1 day ago
PM Shehbaz approves extension to Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar
-
Pakistan 18 hours ago
IHC disposes of Ali Amin Gandapur's petition to meet Imran Khan
-
Regional 2 days ago
Asifa Bhutto to contest on NA-207 for by-elections
-
Pakistan 7 hours ago
Punjab CM seeks plan for underground train project in Lahore
-
Pakistan 10 hours ago
Pakistan conducts anti-terror operations in Afghanistan
-
Crime 1 day ago
Country's future hinges upon skilled youth: PM
-
Pakistan 2 days ago
KP CM Gandapur meets Imran Khan in Adiala Jail
-
Pakistan 2 days ago
Gandapur will not complete term, claims Vawda