Kuwait football board quits

KUWAIT: The entire board of Kuwait’s football governing body has resigned after fans were left in sweltering temperatures for hours during a World Cup qualifier against Iraq. Board members quit after an inquiry into ticketing and logistical problems that marred Tuesday’s match at the 60,000-capacity Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, the Kuwait Football Association said in a statement late Saturday. “The board members of the Kuwait Football Association tendered resignations en masse,” KUNA reported. The board had seven members. The association also accepted the resignation of its secretary-general Salah Al-Qanai and public relations director Mohamed Bou Abbas and appointed Dr Saleh Al-Majroub as acting Secretary-General. — Agencies

Pakistan waives visas for Kuwaitis

KUWAIT: In a revision of its visa policy, Pakistan now allows citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain — to enter the country without needing a visa or electronic travel authorization. Travelers from these nations can visit Pakistan for business and tourism purposes by simply purchasing an air ticket, with a stay duration of up to 90 days. This move aims to boost business and tourism ties between Pakistan and GCC countries.

Citizenship of puppet head revoked

KUWAIT: Kuwait announced on Saturday that it has revoked Kuwaiti citizenship from Ala Hussein Al-Khafaji, who headed a puppet government installed during the 1990-91 Iraqi invasion by former president Saddam Hussein. A former officer in the Kuwaiti military, Khafaji fled the country after the liberation of Kuwait in Feb 1991 and sought asylum in Europe. A Kuwaiti court sentenced him to death in absentia in 1993 for treason. He returned to Kuwait seven years later to appeal his death sentence. Kuwait’s court of cassation later commuted the sentence to a life term in prison. The 76-year-old is still serving the sentence. The government also stripped the citizenship of Mohammad Hamad Al-Juwaed, a former officer in the National Guard, after being convicted of spying for Iraq. He was arrested in 2003.