Current Final

Category: National

  • ‘Two more years’: Journalist predicts timeline for Imran Khan’s release

    ‘Two more years’: Journalist predicts timeline for Imran Khan’s release

    Senior journalist Muneeb Farooq, while speaking on the ARY News program on February 27, revealed key political predictions for Pakistan, including a possible timeline for Imran Khan’s release.

    “Till 2027, there will neither be a national government nor general elections in between. And Imran Khan will not be released during this time. These are a few things that are not going to happen,” declared Muneeb Farooq.

    His statement prompted a response from the show host, Muhammad Malick, who remarked, “You’re speaking as if you’re part of the constitutional bench deciding the final orders on these issues.”

    Malick’s comment brought a smile to the faces of all participants, while Muneeb Farooq replied: “I am just a small journalist, and what I’m sharing is simply news; these three things will not happen till 2027. I was very hopeful that some political space could be recovered for Imran Khan.”

    He added, “That did not happen, and the situation has become even more serious. Other senior journalists can correct me if I’m wrong, but PTI and other opposition parties currently have no leverage to negotiate with either the government or powerful sectors.”

    Muneeb Farooq went on to say that this current system “was stitched together, [and] it has now become strong,” adding that “It is actively pushing its opponents back and instilling fear. That is why this system is here to stay for a while.”

    He also opined that any dialogue between government leaders and PTI members would be futile, as the government lacks the power to make significant concessions to PTI.

    “Can they [government] guarantee PTI that elections will be held in two years? No, they can’t. Can they offer them [PTI] some political space for Imran Khan? No, they cannot,” Muneeb added.

    In early January, Muneeb Farooq quoted a “powerful person” as saying that ongoing negotiations between the government and PTI would yield no results unless Imran Khan admitted to his past political mistakes.

    “PTI has only one demand, and that is the release of Imran Khan from jail. Their other demands are not of significant importance […] Khan wants to come out of jail without any restrictions,” the journalist said in a video on his YouTube channel.

    He further quoted the “powerful person” as saying that PTI’s chances would improve if Khan “took ten steps back” and admitted his past political mistakes.

  • ‘We switch channels when her ads show up’: Students react to CM Maryam’s promotions

    ‘We switch channels when her ads show up’: Students react to CM Maryam’s promotions

    Days after a 60-page advertising supplement in newspapers highlighted Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz’s one-year performance as the provincial chief executive, journalist Mansoor Ali Khan has held a public show at a private educational institution in Lahore, during which he asked students how they reacted to government advertisements.

    As per the details, the show featured an interactive session between students, panelists, namely Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza and CM Maryam’s spokesperson Syed Kousar Kazmi, and the journalist himself.

    When host Mansoor asked a student how she felt about the Punjab CM’s promotions, the student said that she chose to not watch any of those ads. Asked how she felt when ads suddenly popped up on media channels, the student replied, “We switch channels,” leaving the audience, including the PTI leader, in stitches.

    While the student expressed disappointment over the provincial government’s performance and asked Kazmi to “focus less on advertisements”, the spokesperson challenged her, asking to point out a single project that had not actually been introduced.

    When asked why incarcerated former premier Imran Khan was not getting any airtime, Kazmi said that they couldn’t arrange a press conference for a convict, adding that contrary to former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s stint in jail under PTI rule, jailed Khan spent hours speaking to his lawyers and journalists.

    PTI’s Aliya Hamza was also questioned about Khan’s use of words like “thieves” and “dacoits” for other politicians and the fact that he himself had now been jailed for corruption in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

    As Hamza attempted to evade the question, instead saying that Khan was only kept in jail so that the current rulers’ “politics won’t end”, the Mansoor chimed in, asking her whether the PTI considered property tycoon Malik Riaz a “corrupt” man.

    If he committed corruption, then he is a corrupt man, she said.

    “Don’t you know about it?” the host asked, to which Hamza said that the same should be proven in court.

    It merits a mention the debate surrounding government ads comes days after leading newspapers published a 60-page advertising supplement showcasing Nawaz’s one-year performance as CM of Punjab.

    Many social media users mocked Maryam Nawaz for focusing on her branding and questioning her marketing technique.

  • You will now face FIR for overspeeding on motorways

    You will now face FIR for overspeeding on motorways

    The National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) have launched a strict crackdown on over-speeding under the orders of Inspector General Police (IGP) Riffat Mukhtar Raja. 

    Drivers caught exceeding speed limits will face heavy fines, and in some cases, police will register FIRs against them.

    According to a spokesperson from the Motorway Police, vehicles driving over 150 km/h on the motorway will be stopped immediately. The officers will fine the driver and may also file an FIR. The speed limit for cars on three-lane motorways is 120 km/h, while public transport vehicles must not go beyond 110 km/h. Authorities are also working on improving speed monitoring on national highways to prevent accidents and enhance road safety.

    Motorway Police raised fines for various traffic violations in 2023. The fine for over-speeding has increased from Rs750 to Rs2500. The penalty for illegal overtaking has risen from Rs300 to Rs1500. Driving without a license now results in a fine of Rs5000, compared to the previous Rs750. Failure to give way to emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, now carries a Rs1000 fine, while negligent driving now incurs a fine of Rs1500 instead of Rs300.

    The National Highway Authority (NHA) has also introduced an additional toll tax for vehicles without an M-Tag or those with low balances in their M-Tag accounts. This rule has been in effect since February 1. 

    According to an official notification issued on January 31, vehicles without an M-Tag or with insufficient balance will have to pay 25% extra in toll charges. These measures aim to improve road safety and ensure smoother traffic flow on national highways and motorways.

  • Ex-PTI leader Pervez Khattak appointed advisor to PM Shehbaz Sharif

    Ex-PTI leader Pervez Khattak appointed advisor to PM Shehbaz Sharif

    Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) and ex-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Pervez Khattak, Muhammad Ali, and former top bureaucrat Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah have been appointed as advisors to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Thursday, stating, “As per clause one of the Article 93 of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President on the advice of the Prime Minister, has been pleased to appoint with immediate effect, the following as Advisor to the Prime Minister with the status of the Federal Ministers: Pervez Khattak, Muhammad Ali and Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah.”

    As per the notification, after appointing Mr Muhammad Ali as an advisor to the PM, he ceases to hold the office of the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM).

    In a separate notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday, 12 federal ministers and nine ministers of state have also been appointed.

    The newly inducted federal ministers include Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Hanif Abbasi, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Sardar Yousuf, Rana Mubasher, Raza Hayat Hiraj, Junaid Anwar, Shaza Fatima, and Moin Wattoo; Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Mustafa Kamal; Khalid Magsi from Balochistan Awami Party (BAP); and independent leader Aurangzeb Khichi.

    Similarly, the nine ministers of the state include Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Aun Chaudhry and PML-N leaders Barrister Aqeel, Malik Rashid, Talal Chaudhry, Abdul Rehman Kanju, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Dr Mukhtar Bharath, Wajih Qamar, and Khel Das.

    Meanwhile, Haroon Akhtar, Huzaifa Rehman, Talha Barki, and the recently expelled Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from PTI, Mubarak Zeb, have been appointed as Special Assistants to the PM.

    Mubarak Zeb was among four lawmakers expelled by PTI on Thursday for violating party rules by voting in favour of the 26th Amendment against party directives, Dawn News reported.

    According to a notification issued by PTI’s Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi, the decision to expel Zeb was made following the completion of an inquiry and recommendations from the party’s political committee, founding chairman, and chairman. The expelled members were Amanullah Khichi, Mubarak Zeb, Zahoor Qureshi, and Usman Ali.

    With these additions, PM Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet has expanded significantly despite their tall claims of austerity.

    Before the expansion, the federal cabinet comprised 21 members—18 federal ministers, two ministers of state, and one advisor—apart from four SAPMs.

    Shortly after President Zardari awarded the prestigious Nishan-i-Pakistan to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Thursday, federal ministers and ministers of state took oath at the Presidency.

  • Pakistan’s democracy ranking drops amid political chaos: report

    Pakistan’s democracy ranking drops amid political chaos: report

    The latest Democracy Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) reported that Pakistan’s democracy ranking fell from 3.25 in 2023 to 2.84 in 2024 amid political chaos marked by election upheavals.

    The global democracy rankings report, published on Wednesday, highlights that Pakistan experienced violence both before and on Election Day, February 8, 2024.

    The EIU stated, “The most popular politician, Imran Khan, whose own democratic credentials are questionable, was jailed shortly before the election took place.”

    The EIU Democracy Index report underscored that global democracy is in its worst shape since the index was first introduced nearly two decades ago.

    According to the report, Norway topped the list as the world’s most democratic country for the 16th consecutive year, scoring 9.81, followed by New Zealand and Sweden.

    The United States’ (US) score remained unchanged in 2024, and it continues to be classified as a “flawed democracy,” ranking 28th.

    The report noted that France’s score fell just below the 8.00 threshold to qualify as a “full democracy” as a result of a decline in its score for the functioning of government. As a result, France was downgraded from a “full democracy” to a “flawed democracy” in 2024.

    Following the tumultuous political events at the end of 2024, South Korea’s score also dropped below the 8.00 threshold, losing its classification as a “full democracy.”

    However, Portugal was upgraded to a “full democracy,” along with Estonia (for the first time) and the Czech Republic (for the first time since 2013). Estonia and the Czech Republic are now the only two Eastern European countries classified as “full democracies.”

    Meanwhile, Afghanistan has remained the lowest-ranked nation since 2021, with a score of just 0.25. The most significant decline was seen in Bangladesh, which dropped 25 places.

    According to the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), the 2024 general election in Pakistan recorded the highest voter turnout in the country’s history.

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also raised concerns regarding the reliability and trustworthiness of the 2024 general election.

  • ‘Rizwan bans non-Muslim workers from entering prayer room,’ Imam Ul Haq claims

    ‘Rizwan bans non-Muslim workers from entering prayer room,’ Imam Ul Haq claims

    A clip has surfaced online featuring Pakistan cricket team opener player Imam-ul-Haq discussing the leadership qualities of white ball captain Mohammad Rizwan.

    During a podcast, host Roha Nadeem asked Imam to associate Pakistan cricket team players with preselected words. When the word “the leader” was mentioned. Imam said, “I cannot recall any name right now; everyone is fighting with each other.”

    He then paused a bit and said that he would call Rizwan “the leader”, given that the latter can gather everyone during prayer time. 

    Further describing Rizwan’s leadership, Imam said that Rizwan manages all things, including searching out a room for prayers, laying white sheets there and banning all hotel workers from entering the prayer room if they’re not Muslim. 

    He said that Rizwan usually creates a WhatsApp group and then sends the prayer timings there, adding, “This is all done by Rizwan, so this is why I’ll say he has good qualities.” 

    When asked who the “fitness expert” on the team is, Imam was quick to respond that incumbent red ball captain Shaan Masood had been the fitness expert right from the start.

    The host chimed in, “Seems like he has a proper fitness routine.” Imam said that Masood has the latest techniques and keeps bringing them into the team, whether it would be regarding batting or fitness. “However, he is a fitness freak and is very fit,” said the opener batsman.

    On being asked about who Imam would associate with the word “marriage counsellor”, he replied that Rizwan and all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed are marriage counsellors in the team. “He [Rizwan] tells everyone to get married,” he added. 

    After losing the first match to New Zealand, Rizwan-led Pakistan cricket team lost the match against India in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champion Trophy 2025 too at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. With New Zealand winning their second match against Bangladesh on Monday, Pakistan was officially eliminated from the ICC CT 2025 tournament.

    Following the defeat from India, Rizwan, while speaking to reporters on Sunday, said his team had paid a heavy price for failing to build on the momentum. “The middle order wasn’t good enough,” he added.

    “As a captain, I don’t like this (depending on other teams). If you’re good enough, you show it by winning and keeping things in your hands. What matters is that India and New Zealand beat us. They played strong and we didn’t play well. If we get a chance (to sneak through) then so be it,” he said.

  • Bilawal defends PECA, 26th Amendment at Oxford

    Bilawal defends PECA, 26th Amendment at Oxford

    Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated on Tuesday that the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment was approved in a compromised form rather than its original version.  

    Speaking at Oxford University, Bhutto claimed, “PPP, as far as a parliamentary force, is the only party to consistently oppose the legislations,” adding that he wanted to draw the attention of those criticising PECA amendment to the fact that the original proposal had included 30-year imprisonment as penalty for social media posts. 

    “We [PPP] always engaged in a process and contributed through amendments our input to passing [PECA amendments], which is not an ideal legislation, but better legislation than was initially proposed (sic),” Bhutto said, defending the changes.

    On January 29, President Asif Ali Zardari signed PECA amendment into law, despite the journalist fraternity raising concerns.

    Section 26(A) of the PECA amendment bill states: “Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend upto three years or with fine which may extend to Rs2m or with both.”

    He downplayed claims that the PPP had weakened democracy by passing the 26th Constitutional Amendment, maintaining that democracy in Pakistan is not very stable. In the same breath, Bilawal claimed Pakistan is not the only country facing the challenge of an unstable democracy.

    Separately, the opposition’s two-day Grand Alliance Conference, focusing on the supremacy of the constitutions, commenced in Islamabad on Wednesday. 

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Awam Pakistan’s President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen’s (MWM) Nasir Shirazi and others were present in the meeting.

    Addressing the conference, former premier and ex-Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Abbasi said that the incumbent government was so fearful today that even a conference to discuss the Constitution could not take place.

    Lambasting the PML-N and PPP for imposing restrictions on the conference, Abbasi questioned why the authorities had failed to end political instability in the country. “When political parties abandon their principles, nations cannot function,” he added.

  • ‘Imran Khan’s persecution a stain on Pakistan’s history,’ US lawmakers say in latest letter

    ‘Imran Khan’s persecution a stain on Pakistan’s history,’ US lawmakers say in latest letter

    Two congressmen, Joe Wilson and August Pfluger, have written a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling for the release of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.  

    Republican Representative Joe Wilson took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday to share the letter, writing in the caption, “Grateful to join @RepublicanStudy Chairman @RepPfluger to urge @SecRubio to free Imran Khan and work to restore democracy in Pakistan. US-Pakistan relations are strongest when they are based on freedom.”

    The letter read, “You (Marco Rubio) recall that Imran Khan was Prime Minister in your first term, and you both shared a strong relationship. He is widely beloved in Pakistan, and his release would usher in a new era of U.S.-Pakistan relations with freedom value at its core”.

    Drawing a parallel between Imran Khan and U.S. President Donald J. Trump as victims of “judicial abuse,” the letter stated that Imran Khan was imprisoned on trumped-up charges.  

    According to the letter, both congressmen urged Rubio to work with Pakistan to restore democracy, human rights, the rule of law, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly.  

    Emphasising that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, must be treated like any other politician, the letter noted, “He (Imran Khan) does not belong in prison, and his persecution is a stain on Pakistan’s history.”


     
    “… Your (US Secretary of State) goal is to have the strongest relations with every country in the world, and the strength of the US Pak relationships hinges on freedoms with Imran Khan.”

    Earlier this month, Wilson also wrote a letter to the political and military leaders of Pakistan to Free Imran Khan.

    The previous letter read, “… I have many disagreements with Mr. Khan, particularly his stance in support of the Chinese Communist Party and War Criminal Putin. However, democracy cannot work if political opponents are unjustly detained on politicised charges rather than defeated in the ballot box.”


    “I urge Pakistan to uphold democratic institutions, human rights, and the rule of law, and respect the fundamental guarantees of due process, freedom of press, freedom of assembly and freedom of speech of the people of Pakistan.”

     
    In a letter, Wilson stressed that Imran Khan’s release would be a major step toward strengthening U.S.-Pak relations.

    The Republican Party member highlighted that a strong U.S.-Pakistani relationship is in the national interest of both countries. He underscored that, for over 75 years, U.S.-Pakistani bilateral relations have been strongest since Pakistan embraced its democratic ideals of the rule of law.

  • Maryam Nawaz’s 60-page advertisement showing one-year performance sparks online debate

    Maryam Nawaz’s 60-page advertisement showing one-year performance sparks online debate

    A 60-page advertising supplement showcasing Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Maryam Nawaz’s one-year performance as Chief Minister of Punjab has been published with Pakistan’s leading Urdu newspapers, sparking a furious row online.

    Many social media users mocked Maryam Nawaz for focusing on her branding and questioning her marketing technique.

    A social media user posted a video online on Wednesday with the caption, “In today’s newspapers, you will get 60 pages at the most reasonable price, and you’ll accumulate a good amount of waste paper.” In the video, the user can be seen counting the advertisement pages featuring Nawaz’s performance in one year.

    Another social media user pointed out, “It seems like the government of Punjab has published a 60-page advertisement, most of which is more focused on images of Maryam Nawaz Sharif than on actual performance reports.”

    A third user joked, “These 60 pages are just an event for today; by tomorrow, they’ll be found with pakora (fritter) and samosa vendors.” 

    Sharing the pictures of the front pages of multiple Urdu newspapers, another user opined, “These are today’s newspapers in Pakistan. The entire front page is covered with an advertisement from the Punjab government highlighting Maryam Nawaz’s one-year performance. If marketing is necessary, it should be targeted. Such random blanket marketing won’t affect opponents but is instead alienating their own voters.”

    A fifth user, while highlighting that on Tuesday, the front pages of all major Urdu newspapers in Pakistan were completely identical—the same headlines, subheadings, news, and images, published without any alterations, lamented that media houses and journalists had completely surrendered before the government.

    “This might be the first time a government has published an entire supplement in newspapers regarding its performance. Such supplements are typically published by expos, embassies, and large companies,” quipped journalist Riaz Ul Haq.

    Former Senator Farhatullah Babar commented that a 60-page supplement at public expense was a monstrosity. “Whosoever placed 170 pictures of CM Punjab in its first 30 pages has done a monstrous disservice to her & her government,” he opined on X.

    Meanwhile, TV host and journalist Absa Komal, while sharing the pictures of newspapers on X, wrote in a caption, “These newspapers are no longer associated with journalism—should they now be considered mere publicity platforms for the Punjab government? The eagerness to flatter the government and the financial gains may eventually fade, but the lost credibility will never be restored. The owners and editors of these newspapers have brought shame to the profession of journalism.”

    Earlier this week, a unique advertisement highlighting Nawaz’s one-year performance as the provincial executive remained at the center of the debate.


    The advertisement appeared on the internet on Friday, showing Pakistan’s female cricket team in hot water. Just when defeat seems inevitable, the team’s all-round captain player named Maryam rescues the team while playing a winning knock.

  • Imran Khan tells all PTI members to step down from KP govt positions

    Imran Khan tells all PTI members to step down from KP govt positions

    Founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has directed all party members holding positions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to step down from their party roles. This move aims to allow newly appointed KP chapter president Junaid Akbar to restructure the party without internal restrictions. 

    After visiting Khan in Adiala Jail on Tuesday, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja conveyed the directive. Raja emphasised that the decision was necessary to improve PTI’s provincial organisational framework.

    Last month, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur resigned from his position as head of PTI in KP and was replaced by Junaid Akbar. Raja dismissed any association with expelled individuals such as Sher Afzal Marwat and Fawad Chaudhry and underlined Imran Khan’s commitment to supporting devoted party members.

    Raja added that PTI lawmakers who did not contact the party leadership during the voting on the 26th Constitutional Amendment would have an opportunity to clarify their position.

    Speaking about Khan’s current jail status, Raja also disclosed that the former prime minister is having his rights restricted and is preparing to send an official letter to Pakistan’s Chief Justice Yahya Afridi.

    The letter would draw attention to alleged irregularities in the prison system, specifically highlighting the potential influence of “unseen forces” on the jail administration.

    PTI’s position on political opposition and Sindh

    Raja addressed Sindh’s ongoing political unrest by reaffirming PTI’s dedication to defending the province’s rights, particularly concerning opposition to dam development and governance issues. The party leadership has pledged to continue opposing government policies through legal channels and institutions.

    Separately, Sheikh Waqas Akram, PTI’s central information secretary, criticised the federal government’s economic incompetence and condemned excessive public spending and borrowing. He claimed that Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab, was being strategically positioned for greater political power, which, he said, could further destabilize the nation politically, economically, and socially. He further accused the governing party of “squandering national resources.”

    Khan’s dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s loss in cricket


    Aleema Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, claimed that Imran Khan was able to watch Pakistan’s match against India in the ICC Champions Trophy via PTV despite being denied basic jail facilities. She revealed that Khan, a former cricket captain, shared the frustrations of millions of supporters nationwide, as he was extremely upset by the team’s poor performance.

    These recent events highlight PTI’s ongoing internal restructuring, its challenges in opposition, and Khan’s continued influence over the party despite his imprisonment.