The anticipation surrounding the upcoming FIFA World Cup final has crossed over from the sports world into global pop culture. Adding to the star-studded excitement, international music icon Shakira has sent a heartfelt, public message of support to Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team as they prepare to defend their world title against Spain.

Taking to her social media platforms, the Colombian superstar expressed her profound admiration for the legendary No. 10, framing the upcoming final not just as a football match, but as a defining moment for South American pride.

A Bond Rooted in Football History

Shakira’s special message to Messi isn’t just a casual celebrity endorsement; it is built on a long-standing mutual respect that spans over a decade.

The Barcelona Connection: Shakira’s deep ties to FC Barcelona—where she spent years immersed in the club’s culture during her previous relationship with Gerard Piqué—allowed her to witness Messi’s historic rise firsthand at the Camp Nou.

The Inter Miami Reunion: The bond has found new life in recent years, with both Shakira and Messi currently residing in Miami, Florida, following Messi’s groundbreaking move to MLS side Inter Miami.

In her tribute, Shakira praised Messi’s unmatched resilience, humility, and leadership, stating that his journey inspires millions far beyond the pitch. She voiced her unwavering belief that the Albiceleste possess the heart and tactical grit required to lift the trophy once again.

Elevating the World Cup Final’s Global Appeal

Shakira’s vocal support injects even more narrative gravity into an already historic fixture. The final represents the ultimate continental clash, pitting the reigning Copa América and World Cup champions against a ruthless, high-tempo Spanish side that recently captured the European Championship.

For Shakira, who is famously known as the queen of World Cup anthems (having voiced legendary tournament tracks like Waka Waka and La La La), lending her voice to the pre-match buildup underscores the immense cultural weight of this particular final. No matter the outcome, her public rally behind Messi highlights the deep solidarity shared among South America’s most prominent global icons.

MUZAFFARABAD: A personal security guard of former Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas was shot dead on Friday after his convoy came under fire while travelling through his native constituency via the Tain-Dhalkot area, according to officials and his aides.

Officials said that the convoy of Ilyas, who now heads the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) in the region, had travelled around one-and-a-half kilometres beyond the Tain-Dhalkot bridge over the Jhelum River, when unidentified assailants opened fire from the mountainside at around 1:30pm.

Muhammad Asif, a retired commando from Sudhnoti district serving as one of Ilyas’s security guards, was struck in the head after reportedly moving to shield the former premier. He was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries while being moved to a hospital in Rawalpindi.

Officials said Ilyas remained unharmed and in a video message released later in the day, he alleged that the attack had been carried out by armed members of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a claim that could not be independently verified.

There was no immediate response from the group to the allegation.

Tain-Dhalkot falls under LA-22 (Poonch-V), Ilyas’s native constituency. In the 2016 elections, the seat was won by his uncle, Sardar Saghir Chughtai, on a Muslim Conference ticket.

Chughtai later joined the PTI but died in a road accident days before the 2021 elections. Following his death, his widow, Shahida Saghir, contested and won the seat.

She rarely participated in the Legislative Assembly’s proceedings, while her son, Ahmed Saghir, was later appointed an adviser to the AJK government with the status of a minister.

Last year, Ahmed Saghir joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) along with Ilyas, but the latter recently parted ways with the party after being denied tickets from three constituencies, LA-22 (Poonch-V), LA-15 (Bagh-II) and LA-25 (Neelum-I).

He is contesting the regional elections from all three constituencies on the IPP ticket and facing Saghir in LA-22.

According to official sources, Ilyas’s staff informed the Poonch administration on Thursday night that he intended to visit LA-22 to attend meetings and offer condolences to bereaved families.

The sources added that the administration advised him against the visit due to the prevailing law-and-order situation. He was instead advised to visit LA-15 (Bagh-II).

“On his insistence, officials informed him that if he was determined to undertake the visit, he would have to do so at his own risk,” an official said on condition of anonymity.

According to the same sources, Ilyas’s staff subsequently informed the police control room that road closures were “our issue” and asked them only to convey to senior authorities that “Sardar Sahib will visit his constituency.”

In the video message, Ilyas paid tribute to his guard, and said he had sacrificed his life while shielding him and claimed that some other members of the convoy had also sustained injuries

He alleged that the same group, which had been protesting over shortages of flour and other essential commodities, was also blocking roads and holding the state’s machinery and ordinary citizens hostage.

The former premier said efforts to resolve the situation through dialogue had failed and urged the authorities to deal with those responsible “with an iron hand.”

Calling the assailants “terrorists”, he demanded a decisive operation against them, saying that, if required, the army should also play its role.

He further warned that “stones will be answered with stones and bricks with bricks” and alleged that the perpetrators were pursuing “RAW’s agenda” in the state, referring to India’s intelligence agency.

Sources close to Ilyas said he had announced compensation and a residential plot for the family of the slain guard.

Attempts to contact Ilyas’s spokesperson, Sardar Iftikhar Rasheed, were unsuccessful.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday promised to be the voice of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the Centre and globally by bridging the “gap” between the federal capital and the people.

Addressing the rally, the PPP chairman said: “We have seen both good and bad times in AJK, but I have not witnessed the conditions that I am seeing today.”

He termed the prevailing situation a “test” for the AJK government, the state of Pakistan and all political parties.

“It is the primary duty of a politician to be the voice of the people in the Centre and on international forums, but they are not fulfilling their responsibilities,” he said, adding that “politicians have to act as a bridge between the people of AJK and the Centre, but this is not happening.”

He emphasised that this was not an issue limited to AJK; Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan were facing the same fate.

“If the people of AJK give me the mandate, I promise that I will be your voice in Islamabad and globally,” Bilawal said.

He stressed that there was “no issue that cannot be resolved politically and peacefully”, and affirmed his commitment to resolving the AJK issue.

The PPP chairman further said that he had proposed the formation of a truth and reconciliation commission to address the AJK issue.

“If this is acceptable to the government and the protesters in AJK, then this can be a way to resolve our issues.”

He also urged the protesters to halt their demonstrations and the government to refrain from taking further measures until the proposed truth and reconciliation commission was formed and completed its work.

However, the PPP chairman clarified that neither the government nor the protesters had responded to his proposal.

“If this is not the way, I ask the government and protesters to tell me what the alternative is,” he said.

“Protesting is the right of the people, but protests that disrupt the supply of food, fuel and medicine do not affect the government; only the people bear the burden,” the PPP chairman stated.

More to follow