Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to appear before Supreme Court tomorrow: sources

    Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to appear before Supreme Court tomorrow: sources

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain will appear before the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday (tomorrow) over the matter of his letter to Punjab Assembly (PA) Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari on the day of the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) election (July 22), sources have revealed according to Geo News.

    According to media reports, he has left for the capital.

    It is pertinent to mention that after reading Shujaat’s letter to the House, Mazari dismissed the 10 votes of PML-Q cast in favour of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, which led to his [Elahi] defeat in the CM election against Hamza Shehbaz.

    Following the election, a plea was filed by Elahi challenging Mazari’s ruling. On Saturday, the apex court heard it and said that incumbent CM Hamza Shehbaz will work as a trustee CM till Monday and adjourned the hearing.

    ‘Hamza Shehbaz will work as trustee CM till Monday’: Supreme Court

    In a plea filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi challenging Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari’s ruling, the Supreme Court (SC) has said that incumbent Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz will work as a trustee CM till Monday and adjourned the hearing.

    The judges also remarked that the deputy speaker’s ruling appeared to be illegal. Earlier today, a three-bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial heard Elahi’s plea after last night’s Punjab CM election.

    The court has also made it clear that Hamza will work in accordance with the law and the Constitution until then. According to the top court, Hamza is not allowed to use his power as CM in any way that would benefit him personally.

    Outside the court, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PT) leader Farrukh Habib told reporters that the government’s side had no responses or credible arguments to present.

    He said the case has become very “simple and clear” and after today’s hearing, Elahi would be the “legal and constitutional” chief minister once the court verdict comes. He said Hamza is restored only as a “trustee” chief minister so that the province’s governance is not impacted and his oath today has been withheld.

    Earlier today, CJP directed Dost Mazari to appear before the court so that he could explain his position. However, he did not show up. Irfan Qadir, Mazari’s lawyer, asked the court for more time and said he wanted to submit a written response. The court granted him time till Monday.

    It is pertinent to mention that Elahi had the support of 10 PML-Q MPAs apart from PTI. However, a day before the CM Punjab election, a meeting took place between Shujaat and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, which turned the tables in Hamza’s favour. On the day of the election, Shujaat directed his MPAs to vote in favour of Hamza.

    However, the lawmakers cast votes in favour of Elahi but Mazari dismissed their votes. Later both PTI and PML-Q challenged Mazari’s ruling as they were of the view that it is unconstitutional.

    SC summons Punjab Deputy Speaker Mazari at 2pm on Elahi’s petition

    The Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday summoned Punjab Assembly (PA) Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari at 2pm in connection with a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi challenging his ruling during the chief minister’s run-off election held on July 22.

    A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar, directed Mazari to submit the complete record of yesterday’s election to the court.

    Elahi’s counsel Barrister Ali Zafar informed the court that in the run-off election yesterday, Hamza secured 179 votes against his client’s 186.

    The SC’s opinion in the May order, Zafar said, states that the parliamentary party can give directions to lawmakers on whom to vote for, and the PML-Q’s parliamentary party decided to back Elahi, but despite that, Mazari dismissed 10 PML-Q votes.

    “They ignored the parliamentary party’s decision,” Zafar said.

    At this, the chief justice said that all the relevant parties — deputy speaker, chief minister, and Punjab attorney-general — should be issued notices so they can provide their version.

    “We wish to hear from the deputy speaker personally. Only the deputy speaker can tell us which paragraph he was referring to,” Justice Bandial said.

    Elahi files a petition against the deputy speaker’s ruling

    In his petition, Elahi requested the court to hold the deputy speaker’s ruling leading to Hamza’s re-election as “bogus and false”.

    “Hamza Shehbaz may kindly be declared disqualified as the Punjab chief minister/ member of the provincial assembly,” the petition read.

    It requested the court to declare the deputy speaker’s decision to discard the votes of 10 PML-Q lawmakers on grounds of Article 63-A of the Constitution as “unconstitutional”.

    What happened in Punjab on July 22?

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) candidate Hamza Shehbaz on July 22 retained the post of the Punjab chief minister after a three-vote victory against the PTI’s candidate, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

    Dost Mazari, citing the Supreme Court’s opinion on Article 63-A of the Constitution, rejected 10 votes cast by PML-Q members in favour of Elahi “against the party line”.

    As a result, Hamza received 179 votes, while Elahi, who was backed by the PTI, managed to bag 176 votes.

  • ‘Elahi will remain my candidate for CM slot,’ reveals Chaudhry Shujaat

    ‘Elahi will remain my candidate for CM slot,’ reveals Chaudhry Shujaat

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has come forward and clarified why he backed out at the last moment and opposed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Minister (CM) slot nominee — his cousin and party leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

    The PML-Q chief said that he could not support “anyone who criticised state institutions”, adding that he has had relations with institutions for the last 30 to 40 years, which is why Pervaiz Elahi could not be PTI’s candidate.

    The PML-Q leader said that there is stability in Pakistan until there are institutions. He is of the view that using abusive language against institutions cannot be tolerated as institutions consider the integrity of the country their duty.

    He also clarified that Elahi “was, is and would remain” his candidate for the office of the chief minister, however, he [Shujaat] could not allow him to become “the nominee of PTI”.

    In a series of tweets, Hussain made these revelations. According to PML-Q leader and Elahi’s son Moonis, the Twitter account does indeed belong to the PML-Q chief and is operated by his son, Chaudhry Salik Hussain.

    In his tweets, Shujaat Hussain suggested that “all political leaders’ personal interests should be subordinate to national interests so that the country could come out of this quagmire”.

    Moonis Elahi also claimed that Shujaat was under “immense pressure” and that’s why refused to support Pervaiz Elahi as a candidate for Imran Khan. Talking to the media, Moonis said he had gone to see Shujaat Hussain and asked whether he had written the letter to which he replied that he did.

    According to Moonis, Shujaat told him that he has instructed the PML-Q MPAs not to vote for anyone in the chief minister’s election.

  • Man arrested for being allegedly involved in producing, selling child pornography on dark web

    Man arrested for being allegedly involved in producing, selling child pornography on dark web

    The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime wing has arrested a man from Islamabad for his alleged involvement in producing child pornography. The man named Muhammad Yasir was arrested for allegedly selling child pornography on the dark web.

    “He used to store objectionable content in different Google accounts to avoid legal action. The agency has also traced all the accounts of the suspect,” said an FIA official.

    According to the preliminary investigation, the suspect was in contact with numerous child pornography organisations that are involved in creating and distributing child pornography on the internet and dark web. The suspect was found to have a significant volume of child pornographic content as well as multiple social media and Google accounts that were utilised to store the information.

    A case has been registered against him under the Prevention Of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

  • Police arrests 106 professional beggars in a crackdown

    Police arrests 106 professional beggars in a crackdown

    In a crackdown against professional beggars, the Rawalpindi Police arrested 106 beggars over the course of three days in an effort to reduce the issue of panhandling and lower the risk of traffic accidents caused by jaywalking.

    According to a police spokesman, the anti-beggary squads carried out raids in various neighborhoods, took action against professional beggars, and detained them in various police stations throughout the city on the orders of Senior Superintendent of Police, Operations Rawalpindi, Waseem Riaz.

    SSP Riaz claimed that specialised anti-begging squads were making a valiant effort to combat the rise in professional beggars.

    “The professional beggars stand on various highways and squares of Rawalpindi city and not only affect the flow of traffic but also increase the risk of accidents. Therefore, the public is requested not to serve alms to them, as discouraging such factors will not only improve the society, but also the flow of traffic,” he said.

  • WHO declares global health emergency over monkeypox outbreak

    WHO declares global health emergency over monkeypox outbreak

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) on July 23 declared monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency. WHO now sees this virus as a significant enough threat that global response is needed to prevent it from spreading.

    Last month, WHO decided to not declare it a global emergency but ever since then, cases are on the rise. So far, more than 16,000 cases have been reported along with five deaths from 75 countries. Infection rate rose by 77 per cent from late June through early July.

    The last issued global health emergency was in January 2020 in response to Covid-19 outbreak.

    Monkeypox has majorly been spreading in men who have sex with men and Europe is the epicentre now.

    This virus causes a painful pimple like rash, which then spreads over the body. People who have contact with the fluid from those blisters can catch this virus.

    According to US Centers for Disease and Prevention, symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle ache, chills, exhaustion and rash looking like pimple. If you have a rash, it is advised to stay isolated in a room. Most people recover from monkeypox in two to four weeks.

  • Pakistan and Afghanistan to launch luxury bus service in August

    Pakistan and Afghanistan to launch luxury bus service in August

    Pakistan and Afghanistan will launch a luxury bus service between Peshawar and Jalalabad, as well as Quetta and Kandahar, by the end of August.

    During the visit of Pakistan’s official delegation to Kabul, the two nations have also agreed to boost bilateral trade by allowing unrestricted travel for trucks and other goods-carrying vehicles. Meetings were held between the delegation and other top Afghan officials, including the temporary ministers of foreign and commerce.

    In a joint statement released at the conclusion of three days of talks between Pakistani and Afghan officials (July 18–20), both sides committed to continuing their efforts to remove obstacles through mutual cooperation and coordination.

    The delegation from Pakistan was led by Commerce Secretary Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui and included businessmen as well as senior members of various ministries. The delegation from Afghanistan was led by Nooruddin Azizi, the minister of trade and industry, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister.

    In order to ensure prompt clearance of trade and transit traffic and to address bottlenecks and obstacles on a priority basis, the official also agreed to make border crossing points more efficient.

    In an effort to further boost trade between the two nations, the two sides approved the implementation of the Temporary Admission Document (TAD), which permits free movement of vehicles engaged in bilateral trade but prohibits the loading and unloading of cargo at border crossing points.

    Additionally, all crossing points, particularly Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan, and Chaman-Spin Boldak, will have longer operating hours, according to the authorities.

    The bilateral discussions were still centred on trade. Both parties concentrated on enhancing bilateral trade, transit, and accessibility as well as taking the necessary actions to facilitate trade and address issues faced by importers, exporters, traders, and business owners in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    In parallel, a delegation from the Afghan business community headed by Khan Jan Alokozai, co-chairman of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJJCCI), arrived in Pakistan on Thursday to take part in a roundtable of Pak-Afghan trade stakeholders. Members of the PAJCCI as well as senior business figures from the Kunar and Nangarhar Chambers of Commerce and Industry make up the delegation.

    Zubair Motiwala, chairman of the PAJCCI, lauded the efforts of the commerce chamber in setting up visits to Chaman, Torkham, and Swat for joint discussions on bilateral and transit trade, exploring new trade avenues, removing trade barriers, and aiding governments in formulating policy.

  • Ruling coalition demands full court bench in Punjab CM case

    Ruling coalition demands full court bench in Punjab CM case

    The ruling coalition has demanded that a full court bench should hear the petitions filed in reference to the election of the Punjab chief minister (CM) election.

    In a statement, the coalition parties said it will be fair that a full court bench comprising all the honourable judges of the Supreme Court should review the hear Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) review request, the present petition, and other related applications together, and schedule them for hearing together and issue a single ruling because these are matters of national, political and constitutional importance.

    Criticising Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, the joint statement said that he wants to move Pakistan’s democracy and right to governance towards “default”, “just as he did with the economy”.

    “Imran Khan’s attitude and thoughts are like a ‘termite’ eating away at  Pakistan […] but the ruling coalition reiterates its commitment that there will be no compromise on the constitution, democracy, and people’s right to rule,” they said.

    They added that the coalition parties will move forward on every forum together and they will “fight against the darkness of fascism”.

    ‘Enough is enough. Don’t expect us to follow one-sided decisions, says Maryam Nawaz

    Reacting to the events of last night, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz said that she disapproved of how things were unfolding said that the party will not accept “one-sided” decisions by the Supreme Court of Pakistan,

    “Amid pressure due to bullying, threats, misbehaviour and abuses, if the house of justice makes specific decisions via the same bench and negates itself, negate its own decisions, puts its weight behind a single side then do not expect us to bow our heads before such one-sided decisions. Enough is Enough!” tweeted the PML-N leader.

    The PML-N leader said that the current political chaos and instability started with the Supreme Court’s court decision on Article 63A, adding that it made an “arbitrary interpretation” of the constitution to not count the MPAs that voted voluntarily. 

    “With utmost respect, I request that a full bench be constituted”: Atta Tarar

    PML-N leader Ataullah Tarar demanded that since this is a matter related to the interpretation of the Constitution, a full bench should hear the petition.

    The PML-N leader said that court hearings related to constitutional matters that have taken place recently — since the no-confidence motion against ex-prime minister Imran Khan — warrant a full bench.

    “Therefore, with the utmost respect, I request that a full bench be constituted to hear this case as well,” the PML-N leader said.

    ‘How long will State institutions continue to allow this? We are not far from Sri Lanka moment’: Imran Khan

    PTI Chairman Imran Khan, in a series of tweets, said that Pakistan was “not far” from defaulting and the state would soon depict a likeness to Sri Lanka, which has defaulted on its external debt.

    Khan said in just over three months — from the time he was ousted from power — the “Zardari-Sharifs mafia” has “brought the country to its knees”, politically and economically.

    Khan alleged they had done so “to simply save their illegally accumulated wealth amassed over 30 years of plundering Pakistan”.

  • Van driver in Dera Ghazi Khan rapes woman

    Van driver in Dera Ghazi Khan rapes woman

    A man in Dera Ghazi Khan raped a woman at Rajanpur wagon stand. The woman who had come from Multan to drop off her son and hand him over to her husband in Kotmithan was raped by a van driver who took her to Rajnapur wagon stand.

    The Kotmithan police have registered a rape case against the man.

    What happened?

    The 35-year-old woman in the first information report (FIR) said that she travelled from Multan to hand over her son to her husband, with whom she had some differences, in Kotmithan.

    She wanted to send her son with the van driver alone, but as he began to cry, she had to go with him.

    She further said that they arrived in Kotmithan at 10:30pm. She handed over her son to his father. Her husband and son then left.

    After the woman was alone in Kotmithan, the bus driver said to her that there will be no bus available for Multan till morning. He invited her to spend the night at his sister’s home in Rajanpur. The van driver took her to Rajanpur wagon stand and raped her and fled from the scene.

    The police are investigating the matter.

  • ‘Soft intervention’ by the Establishment due to political crisis: report

    ‘Soft intervention’ by the Establishment due to political crisis: report

    In an exclusive conversation with Geo News, senior journalist Ansar Abbasi revealed that the establishment is considering holding elections in October.

    “A soft intervention by the establishment between the government and the Opposition has raised the prospect of early talks and general elections in the country in October,” said Abbasi.

    In view of the current political and economic instability, the establishment is considering persuading the politicians for negotiations as in the past, but the final decision in this regard has to be taken by the politicians, said Abbasi on Geo News.

    Abbasi further said that after the unconditional intervention of the establishment between the government and the Opposition, talks between the political parties are likely to begin soon and the prospect of general elections in October is starting to look clear.

    DG ISPR has denied the news of an intervention: Kamran Khan

    However, senior journalist Kamran Khan tweeted that Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar has denied the news of a ‘soft intervention’.

    “In a conversation with me, DG ISPR General Babar Iftikhar has strongly denied the news regarding the military leadership’s interest in any political issues, including initiating a political dialogue. He has requested that the media should refrain from such rumour-mongering,” tweeted Kamran Khan.

    Imran Khan ready for talks, likely to write a letter to President Alvi: Suhail Warraich

    Senior journalist Suhail Warraich revealed that in a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan yesterday (July 22) along with senior journalist Mujib-ur-Rahman Shami, it was discussed that politicians should hold talks on three important issues.

    “Number one, elections, including election reforms. Number two, the economic agenda, and number three, the army chief’s appointment. These are the three things that should be discussed before the next elections. Imran Khan is ready for talks. There is a likelihood that he may write a letter to the president, who can then invite all parties for discussions.”

    Suhail Warraich further said that all stakeholders now feel that such discussions should be held between all political parties.

  • ‘The Minor shall be handed over to Sindh Police by Punjab govt’: Salman Sufi

    ‘The Minor shall be handed over to Sindh Police by Punjab govt’: Salman Sufi

    The Punjab government will hand over The Minor to the Sindh Police, Head of Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit Salman Sufi tweeted.


    “As per court decision, The Minor shall be handed over to Sindh Police by the Punjab Government. She shall be taken to the child protection bureau Sindh and later produced in front of Court in Sindh. Punjab child protection bureau & social welfare department stand ready to assist.”

    She will be presented before the Sindh High Court on July 25.

    The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday ordered to transfer The Minor to Karachi. A two-member SHC bench announced its verdict on a petition filed by The Minor’s father Syed Mehdi Ali Kazmi regarding the alleged kidnapping and child marriage of his daughter.