Connect with us

World

 Pakistan’s ex-PM Imran Khan dismisses cases against him as ‘politically motivated’


Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has dismissed in an interview with Al Arabiya cases filed against him as politically motivated accusations that aim to exclude him from the election race.
“These are all politically motivated cases to keep me out of the election race… They are worried that if we go into the elections, which [are] on April 30, they will lose,” Khan said, in reference to the elections for the provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He also explained that he did not intend to evade attending court hearings, noting, however, that when he did not show up it was either due to injuries sustained during November’s assassination attempt against him or due to security threats.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Following the assassination attempt, Khan said he was he was house bound for four months until he fully recovered.
“And since then… I’ve been to every court appearance except one. And the reason was that [this] court is unsafe,” he said, adding that even though the government itself says his life “is under threat,” it would not provide him with security.
He added that when the court hearing shifted to another location, which is the judicial complex, he went there and presented himself. Khan also reiterated his accusations that the government is trying to kill him.
In November, Khan was shot and wounded in the leg during a protest march. He accused Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and army Gen. Faisal Naseer working for the Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency of orchestrating the shooting. Sharif’s government dismissed the accusations as a “pack of lies.”
“They are saying my life is threatened because of some foreign agency. I know it’s not a foreign agency. It is the government itself which is trying to kill me,” Khan said.
Regarding charges that he illegally sold state gifts while he was in office, Khan reiterated that he was innocent.
“This country [has known] me for 50 years… Never in my 50 years have I ever broken the law.”
Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament last April, has claimed that the string of cases against him, which include terrorism charges, are a plot by the government of his successor, Shahbaz Sharif, to discredit him.
Commenting on recent developments that saw the police storm his house on Saturday, Khan slammed the move saying the country has never witnessed “anything like this” as his wife was there alone and he was on his way to Islamabad for a court hearing.
Police stormed Khan’s residence in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday and arrested 61 people amid tear gas and clashes between his supporters and security forces.
Khan explained that police could not have arrested him because he had submitted a surety bond that he will attend the court hearing as scheduled on March 18 – which he did.
“If you give the police a surety bond that you will attend the court on the [set] date… the police cannot arrest you… The reason why my [supporters] came outside my house to defend [me] was because they knew it was not legal. It was abduction. They were coming to abduct me, not arrest me.”
Asked how the situation in the country can be resolved, Khan said the only way to do so is through free and fair elections.
“[We need a] party that takes [the] difficult decisions needed to restructure Pakistan [and] to save our economy from total collapse. The only way out [is through] free and fair elections. There is no other solution.” “Whatever you do, political instability will remain, [and this] means the economy will keep sinking.”
He also highlighted his government’s work after it was formed in 2018, noting that despite COVID-19, it picked up the economy.
“[Then] this conspiracy took place and removed our government, [and] since then, Pakistan’s economy is going in a tailspin,” he said in reference to ousting him in April 2022.
Asked if he regrets entering the field of politics, the former cricket star turned politician said politics for him is not a career but “a mission.”
“I [entered] politics for my country, for justice [and for] the rule of law. These were the ideals I came into politics [with] 26 years ago, and I’m still on that course.”
Read more:

Pakistan police name lone shooter in gun attack on former PM Imran Khan

Pakistan police arrest dozens of supporters of ex-PM Imran Khan

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan rejects Pakistan police report into shooting

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

Continue Reading

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

Continue Reading

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

Continue Reading

Trending