KARACHI: Indian Premier Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Paris on the sidelines of the ongoing 21st UN Climate Change Conference, noted the host of Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ in his analysis on the current affairs on Monday. It appears, he observed, the Indian premier and Afghan president have now realised that maintaining good relations with Pakistan is essential. Khanzada quoted the sources as saying that Nawaz-Modi meeting was at the desire of the Indian premier, who took the lead to go to Nawaz Sharif. They chose an isolated sofa in the hall and talked in a friendly atmosphere. Continuing his analysis, Khanzada said that with its utmost efforts the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf managed to emerge clean and clear from the dents and damages it suffered time and again. It scored well in the first-ever local bodies’ elections in Islamabad. The results of these elections could also reflect on the LB polls in Rawalpindi. He remarked in the analysis that Dr Asim Husain’s case has taken a new and important turn after Deputy Medical Director Ziauddin Hospital, Dr Yusuf Sattar, who verified all allegations listed in the FIR. This is a very important confession and would prove a turning point in the case, he opined. An important participant of the programme was chief of the Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad. He declared that the LB polls in Rawalpindi would present a picture similar to the elections in Lahore. He said the PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami, and People ’s Party, along with independent candidates, have formulated a different strategy for the LB elections. Sheikh Rashid said he will give real tough time to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Rawalpindi. He said the PTI had a hard-hitting fight with the PML-N in Islamabad. Sheikh Rashid recalled he had won the LB election in Rawalpindi three times, whereas lost there twice. He said the PTI does not have enough experience and know-how of contesting elections. Actually the party is still learning the science of elections. He forecasted that just a few contestants with the election symbol of Tiger would manage to win in the NA-55. He observed that Imran Khan is the engine of the PTI and is pulling it. On the other hand there are a number of issues within the party, however, Imran keeps hawkish eye on them. Sheikh Rashid went on to say that the citizens of Rawalpindi will go along ‘Sheikh Rashid Express Way’ and will have nothing to do with ‘Metro’. He analysed that the LB polls have little role in the national politics. He said there is no option of opposition in Punjab and the rest of the opposition is fake. Sheikh Rashid observed that Dr Asim’s case is winding up the People’s Party and this situation will not allow the leadership of the party in London and Dubai to enjoy sound sleep. He remarked that November 30 will prove a new turn in the politics of Pakistan, as a politician has confessed of committing crimes. The effects of this confession will inflict damages far and wide. This is just the beginning and the end would come to the fore within three to four months. Yet another speaker in the programme was PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. He said the PTI does not appear to be giving a contest in the LB elections of Islamabad. He informed that 90 percent of independent contestants of the polls were seeking tickets from the PML-N. Representative of the Geo News in Paris, Khalid Hameed Farooqi said there was a determined diplomacy behind the meeting of the prime ministers of Pakistan and India. The US played very important role in Nawaz-Modi meeting. It was the US that convinced the Indian prime minister to meet Nawaz Sharif. The meeting of the two prime ministers, however, cannot be termed as a breakthrough but was just a positive step towards improvement in their relations. Khalid Hameed Farooqi said Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was already arranged. The duration of the meeting was decided to be twenty minutes, stretched to more than one hour. Ashraf Ghani termed his meeting with Nawaz Sharif as positive and fruitful. Indian journalist Ponya Prasun Bajpai said the meeting of the prime ministers of India and Pakistan cannot be termed as a ‘turning point’. He said it is necessary that both countries found a proper way out. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wants holding talks with Pakistan. The Pak-India dialogue must begin tomorrow if not today. He alleged that Shev Sena does not want that the BJP government had extended relations with Pakistan. Another speaker of the programme was former test cricketer Sikandar Bakht. He opined that there is no place for Muhammad Hafeez and Suhail Tanweer in the T20 team of Pakistan. The captainship of Shahid Afridi is being questioned and there are comments after England defeated Pakistan. He observed that performance of the Pakistan team had fallen. He pointed out that Shahid Afridi’s ratio of losing matches was increasing. The former test cricketer suggested that Shahid Afridi needs to improve his own performance. He compared the performance of Shahid Afridi to loadshedding in Lahore, where the power supply goes off for 18 hours and is available for six hours. He said Shahid Afridi seldom shows his performance and then vanishes. He said Sarfraz Ahmad is the best of the new youngsters but always remains under pressure. His performance remained better in T20 and tests and one-dayers. There is need to give Sarfraz confidence. Shahid Afridi is facing problems as he has been making so many changes in the team.
