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The curious case of the clueless Captain

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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 Profile 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.

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Sports

United clinch third PSL title by beating Sultans in season 9 Final

Islamabad United successfully chased down the target of 160 runs set by Multan Sultans in the final over at National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Monday night.

Published by Hussnain Bhutta

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Karachi: In the final match of the HBL PSL Season 9, Islamabad United secured their third championship title by defeating Multan Sultans by 2 wickets on Monday night. 

The match, held at Karachi's National Bank Stadium, witnessed Multan Sultans' Skipper Mohammad Rizwan, winning the toss and opting to bat first.

The Sultans made 159 runs at the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. 

Islamabad United successfully chased down the target in the final over.

For Islamabad United, the chase was initiated by Martin Guptill and Colin Munro, but both couldn't stay long at the crease, with Munro departing after scoring 26 runs. 

Following Munro's dismissal, Salman Butt joined Guptill, but he too couldn't contribute much and was out after scoring only 10 runs off 11 balls. Asad Shafiq, coming in at number five, provided some resistance along with Guptill, but Guptill's departure for 50 runs off 32 balls halted their progress.

Soon after Guptill's dismissal, Asad Khan also fell victim to Usama Mir's delivery, followed by quick dismissals of Haider Ali and Faheem Ashraf. After Faheem Ashraf's departure, Imad Wasim and Nasim Shah responsibly played and managed to cross the target with one ball to spare, with Imad scoring 18 runs and Nasim contributing 17 runs.

 From Multan Sultans' side, Usman Khan remained the top scorer with 57 runs, while Mohammad Rizwan scored 26 and Shadab Khan scored 11 runs. Yasir Khan and David Willey contributed 6 runs each, with Imad Wasim taking 5 wickets and Shadab Khan dismissing 3 players for Islamabad United.

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Regional

Imran Khan discharges in two cases

However, the plea has been rejected regarding Imran Khan’s appearance in court.

Published by Qurrat Tul Ain

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Islamabad: Judicial magistrate Islamabad has approved the discharge plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) founder Imran Khan in long march vandalism case.

According to the details, judicial magistrate Shaista Kundi heard the pleas regarding appearance in court and discharge.

Shaisata Kundi discharged Imran Khan in two cases. 

PTI’s lawyer Naeem Panjutha pleaded that the court summon Imran Khan.

Shaista Kundi stated that at first give arguments on the discharge plea of Imran Khan. She asked that who will be responsible if something happens on the way while bringing Imran Khan to court. 

Naeem Panjutha said that earlier Imran Khan has been appearing in courts by himself when Zaman park operation was conducted, warrants were issued, government's job is to provide security, He said that he wants to give arguments in PTI's founder presence.

Judge Shaista said that attendance on bail would have been necessary but not on application production.

However, the plea has been rejected regarding Imran Khan’s appearance in court.

On PTI's plea of ​​acquittal, lawyer Naeem Panjutha argued that it has been only one kind of role in all the cases against Imran Khan while multiple cases were registered in a single day. 

He said that at that time the notification did not issue neither told to anyone member of the party regarding the implementation of section-144.

Naeem Panjutha remarked that the plaintiff is the station house officer (SHO) who has no authority to file the case, not even the statements of witnesses in the cases filed against Imran Khan.

Shaista Kundi questioned that whether Imran Khan has been acquitted in cases before.

Lawyer Naeem replied the court that earlier Imran Khan had been acquitted in several cases.

It should be noted that cases were registered against the PTI’s founder in the Sahala and Lohi Bhir police stations.

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Regional

SIC nominates Malik Ahmad Bhachar as opposition leader

SIC’s chairman said that Malik Ahmad Bhachar is temporarily nominated as leader of opposition.

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Lahore: Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) has nominated former member of provincial assembly Malik Ahmad Bhachar as opposition leader and Moin Ud Din Riaz Qureshi as deputy opposition leader in Punjab assembly.

According to the details, SIC’s chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza announced the appointments of these two leaders.

Sahibzada stated that it is the extreme of lawlessness that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Mian Aslam Iqbal nominated for the Leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly is not even being allowed to take oath.

SIC’s chairman said that Malik Ahmad Bhachar is temporarily nominated as leader of opposition in accordance with the message and instructions received from chairman PTI and with the consultation of Mian Aslam Iqbal.

He further said that Moin Ud Din Riaz Qureshi has been nominated as deputy leader of opposition, Mian Aslam Iqbal will be Leader of Opposition after taking oath.

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