ISLAMABAD (AP) — A court in Pakistan's capital has barred the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan from holding a planned rally in Islamabad on Sunday on the eve of an official visit by the president of Belarus.
The ruling Thursday was a setback for supporters of Khan who planned to stage a massive rally ahead of the three-day visit of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, which starts Monday, to demand the former prime minister's release. It was not immediately clear whether Khan’s party would withdraw its call to hold the protest.
The court has asked authorities to inform Khan's party about the sensitivity of Sunday when authorities will be making arrangement to receive Lukashenko who will be in the capital along with a 60-member delegation on Monday. The court also asked the government not to allow any rally or sit-ins in the capital on that day.
Pakistani authorities have already banned rallies in the city for two months for security reasons, and the government has vowed that it would not allow anyone, including the supporters of Khan, to violate the ban.
Khan was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament and he has been held in a prison for more than a year after his first conviction in a graft case.
Thursday's court order came a day after another court granted bail to Khan, but with a slew of other charges pending against him, the opposition leader is staying behind bars.
Khan has so far been embroiled in over 150 cases and has been sentenced in several, including to three years, 10 years, 14 years and seven years to be served concurrently under Pakistani law. His convictions were later overturned in appeals but he cannot be freed due to other, pending cases against him.
FILE - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, right, and Bushra Bibi, his wife, speak to the media before signing documents to submit surety bond over his bails in different cases, at an office of Lahore High Court in Lahore, Pakistan, on July 17, 2023. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary, File)
DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland is debuting two forwards and starting Sam Prendergast at flyhalf against Fiji in autumn rugby on Saturday.
Leinster hooker Gus McCarthy and Ulster flanker Cormac Izuchukwu will make their test debuts among nine changes, two of them positional, after Ireland squeezed past Argentina 22-19 last Friday.
McCarthy captained Ireland to an Under-20 Six Nations Grand Slam last year. Izuchukwu became an Ulster regular last season and has been with the Ireland squad since the July tour of South Africa.
“(Izuchukwu has) been in around our squad for a while now,” Ireland coach Andy Farrell said. “The Emerging Ireland tour, the first tour (of South Africa in 2022), was when we first came across him. But the difference between the first tour and the second tour (this year) was like chalk and cheese. He was young on that first one but his ability, his point of difference with the maturity — he deserves a chance to show us what he's got.”
As for McCarthy, Farrell said, “Rugby is a strange game. You think there's a pecking order and all of a sudden a kid gets an opportunity and shows up really well. We took him on the training week (in Portugal) as a development player and he showed up really well and he's forced our hand and deserves a shot as well.”
Prendergast debuted in the Argentina win with 19 minutes to go, and will start this time, in place of a rested Jack Crowley. Scrumhalf Craig Casey, who played the last seven minutes, will also start, with Jamison Gibson-Park also dropping out.
Bundee Aki has come back into the midfield for Garry Ringrose, and fullback Jamie Osborne has replaced Hugo Keenan to get his first start at home in his fifth test. Left wing James Lowe has also been rested and Jacob Stockdale given a run for the first time since August 2023.
A much-changed bench includes Tom O'Toole, the tighthead prop who was concussed only two minutes into a replacement appearance against New Zealand two weeks ago, and Connacht back-rower Cian Prendergast and Ulster center Stuart McCloskey, who last played for Ireland in Rugby World Cup warmups 15 months ago.
Tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong failed for another week to recover fully recover from a month-old hamstring injury.
Fiji overcame Spain 33-19 last weekend in Madrid and has been restored mainly to the side which beat Wales 24-19 two weeks ago in Cardiff.
The only changes from that game bring into the run-on XV Bayonne tighthead prop Luke Tagi, Drua lock Mesake Vocevoce and Drua wing Ponipate Loganimasi for the suspended Semi Radradra.
The reserves also include Stade Francais lock Setareki Turagacoke, who became the youngest Fiji men's international at 18 last weekend when he came off the bench against Spain. He scored a try, mauling from his own lineout take. Turagacoke joined the Stade Francais academy this year and made his Top 14 debut six weeks ago.
Lineups:
Ireland: Jamie Osborne, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale, Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Caelan Doris (captain), Josh van der Flier, Cormac Izuchukwu, Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Gus McCarthy, Andrew Porter. Reserves: Ronan Kelleher, Tom O'Toole, Thomas Clarkson, Iain Henderson, Cian Prendergast, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Stuart McCloskey.
Fiji: Vuate Karawalevu, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Waisea Nayacalevu (co-captain), Josua Tuisova, Ponipate Loganimasi, Caleb Muntz, Frank Lomani; Elia Canakaivata, Kitione Salawa, Ratu Meli Derenalagi, Temo Mayanavanua, Mesake Vocevoce, Luke Tagi, Tevita Ikanivere (co-captain), Eroni Mawi. Reserves: Sam Matavesi, Haereiti Hetet, Samu Tawake, Setareki Turagacoke, Albert Tuisue, Peni Matawalu, Vilimoni Botitu, Sireli Maqala.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Ireland's players line up for the singing of national anthem ahead of the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Ireland and Argentina, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
