Peshawar: In response to recent reports about his involvement in Jahangir Tareen's new political venture, Pervez Khattak, the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, said that he had not met the chief of the Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).

“No meeting with Tareen so far. At this time, I prefer not to comment on any political matters,” said the former Defence Minister. 

According to the latest reports,  Khattak emphasized that Tareen's party had not offered him the position of secretary general, nor had he accepted any such offer. He assured that he was currently focused on his existing responsibilities and in touch with his colleagues in the province.

Earlier in the day, the speculations emerged that Khattak would be appointed as the secretary general of the newly-established IPP.

This development follows Khattak's announcement two weeks ago that he was stepping down as the president of PTI's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter. However, an aide of the PTI chief dismissed rumors of Khattak leaving the party and labeled them as "propaganda."

Jahangir Tareen, once a close aide of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and instrumental in the party's rise to power in 2018, officially launched his new party on Thursday, expressing his commitment to contribute to the betterment of the country through politics.

It is worth noting that Tareen and Khattak are not the only former PTI members who have joined the IPP. Several other PTI defectors, who distanced themselves from Imran Khan following the events of May 9, have united with Tareen in his new political venture.

The departure of prominent PTI leaders and their subsequent association with the IPP has caused a significant shift in the political landscape. Many of these individuals, in their press conferences, announced their departure from politics alongside their decision to leave the PTI.

Notable figures who have joined the IPP include Fawad Chaudhry, Ali Zaidi, Imran Ismail, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Aamer Mehmood Kiani, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, Mahmood Baqi Maulvi, Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan, and Murad Raas.

The events of May 9, which led to the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, sparked widespread protests across the country. During the unrest, important military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and the Lahore Corps Commander's residence, were attacked and vandalized.

Islamabad: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday said that two billion rupees were allocated for the Film Finance Fund and one billion rupees for the Artists' Health Insurance in this budget.

Taking to Twitter, Marriyum Aurangzeb said that these measures would play a major role in the growth of our film industry and improvement in the welfare of our nation's artists.

She wrote, "I am equally delighted to announce that funds have been allocated both for the Film Finance Fund and for Artists’ Health Insurance for the first time ever. Rs 2 bn have been allocated for the Film Finance Fund and Rs 1 bn for the Artists’ Health Insurance. I am certain that, jointly, these measures will play a major role in the growth of our film industry and improvement in the welfare of our nation’s Artists. This will play a key role in the promotion of Pakistan’s narrative, heritage and culture through films, as well as the growth of screen tourism in Pakistan,".

I am equally delighted to announce that funds have been allocated both for the Film Finance Fund and for Artists’ Health Insurance for the first time ever. Rs 2 bn have been allocated for the Film Finance Fund and Rs 1 bn for the Artists’ Health Insurance. I am certain that,…

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) June 9, 2023

The Minister further said that this will play a key role in the promotion of Pakistan's narrative, heritage and culture through films, as well as the growth of screen tourism in Pakistan.

Karachi: In a recent development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has engaged in discussions regarding possible alterations to the hosting arrangements for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Reports suggest that the original plans for these prestigious tournaments could undergo changes, with alternative hosts being considered.

According to reliable sources, one proposed switch involves West Indies and the United States hosting the Champions Trophy instead of the T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, Pakistan is speculated to receive monetary compensation in light of the change. However, it is important to note that these discussions are still in their preliminary stages and have been conducted verbally thus far.

The proposal has gained support from broadcasters associated with the upcoming ICC media rights, indicating a potential consensus on the matter. The primary motivation behind this suggested alteration is the scheduling constraints faced by the United Kingdom, which can only accommodate events during the May-June window. As a result, Ireland and Scotland are being considered as viable alternative hosts for the T20 World Cup, given that the original schedule aligns with this timeframe.

This potential change would provide an additional year for West Indies and the United States to develop the necessary infrastructure required for successfully hosting the prestigious Champions Trophy. Furthermore, due to the smaller number of matches in the tournament, the Champions Trophy is seen as a more logistically feasible option for these regions.

However, concerns have been raised regarding the current state of infrastructure in the United States. Hosting an event as significant as the T20 World Cup poses considerable challenges, particularly due to the lack of readily available venues. Additionally, broadcasters in the sub-continent, where returns are typically high, may face potential financial losses if the tournament is held in the far west.

It is worth noting that no official "hosting agreements" have been signed by the countries involved at this stage. The process for initiating these agreements is expected to commence during the ICC annual conference in Durban, scheduled for July. As part of the potential switch, the ICC may approach the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to seek their agreement and explore the possibility of providing financial compensation to accommodate the changes.

Cricket enthusiasts and stakeholders eagerly await further updates on the potential alterations to the hosting of the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy as discussions progress within the ICC.