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  • ‘If you have a gun… I have a gun’: Gandapur quotes The Godfather during army chief meeting

    ‘If you have a gun… I have a gun’: Gandapur quotes The Godfather during army chief meeting

    Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur revealed on Samaa TV’s program last night that he quoted a line from the legendary movie The Godfather during his conversation with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen Asim Munir.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar and CM Gandapur confirmed on January 16 that they met with the Army Chief in Peshawar.

    While discussing security issues with the COAS, CM KP quoted a phrase from The Godfather movie: “If you have a gun in your hand and I have a gun in my hand, so we can talk reasons.”

    It merits a mention that The Godfather, a legendary 20th-century crime film about the Italian mafia, does not have such a quote.

    However, in 2024, an AI-generated audio clip featuring the movie’s protagonist, Marlon Brando (who played the original Godfather), was released on social media, which had a somewhat similar quote.

    The AI-generated audio follows as: “If you hold a gun and I hold a gun, we can talk about the law. If you hold a knife and I hold a knife, we can talk about rules. If you come empty-handed and I come empty-handed, we can talk about reason.”

    Gandapur claims to have told the Army Chief, “We will have to be on board with many policy decisions, while we also need to review those policies that haven’t given us any benefits,” adding that the most significant problem in KP is that people have lost trust in the state. “We need to restore that trust.”

    Interestingly, however, the Chief Minister of KP did not stop with the apparent movie references and went on to quote from Gladiator during his meeting with Gen Asim Munir.

    “I used a quote from Gladiator, ‘If you want to win freedom, win the crowd’. That is what I told the Army Chief that to win this battle, they will have to win the crowd. Any person who knows the dynamics of this area knows what I am talking about. Without the public support in KP, terrorism can not be eliminated,” he said.

    CM KP claimed that the Army Chief responded positively to his opinions and stated, “The Chief said that we should try our best, along with the federal government, to negotiate with the Afghan government. Just to be clear, I am not talking about negotiations with the terrorists, but rather with the Afghan government.”

  • Army has not received Imran Khan’s ‘letter to Gen Asim Munir’, says Wajahat Kazmi

    Army has not received Imran Khan’s ‘letter to Gen Asim Munir’, says Wajahat Kazmi

    Amid claims by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, that Khan wrote a six-point letter to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, journalist Wajahat Kazmi quoted security sources as saying that no such letter has been sent to them.

    “Imran Khan, as party supremo and former premier, has written a six-point letter to the army chief, expressing solidarity with the military in its fight against terrorism, and acknowledging the sacrifices made by our soldiers,” Chaudhry said on Monday while speaking to media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

    Khan’s counsel had said that the letter brought to the army chief’s attention all cases of terrorism against political leaders and the use of force against PTI workers, adding that it also expressed concern over intelligence agencies’ operations and the country’s economy.

    Chaudhry further maintained that Khan urged the army chief to reconsider policies and called for the formation of a judicial commission.

    Kazmi took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, claiming, “Another failed attempt by Imran Khan to create a storm in a teacup. PTI is staging drama over a supposed letter to the Army Chief, but security sources confirm no such letter was received—nor will it be. The establishment has made it clear: talk to political parties, not them.”

    PTI Chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, while speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, had stated that Imran Khan wrote a letter to General Syed Asim Munir. However, he did not confirm whether the letter was dispatched.

    Gohar said that Imran, in his letter, touched upon some of the reasons that created the perceived gap between the establishment and the public, including the 2024 elections, the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, and the recent controversial Peca Act.

    Another journalist, Ammar Solangi, claimed that Imran Khan’s letter has not been dispatched to the army chief so far.

    Solangi wrote in a post on X, “…. [Imran] Khan has asked Barrister Gohar to draft a letter to COAS. Neither the letter has been written nor dispatched so far.”

    He further claimed that the jailed former premier has no access to writing material and, therefore, cannot write a letter by himself. “The fact is that he [Imran Khan] has asked his barristers to bring him a letter as per the themes given by him. While barrister Gohar agreed, Faisal Chaudhry [Imran Khan’s lawyer] wanted the tone to be sweetened,” he added.

  • Imran Khan writes to army chief; says entire nation stands with armed forces

    Imran Khan writes to army chief; says entire nation stands with armed forces

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry on Monday claimed that the jailed former prime minister (PM) has written a six-point letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.

    “Imran Khan, as a party supremo and former premier, has written a six-point letter to the army chief, expressing solidarity with the military in its fight against terrorism, and acknowledging the sacrifices made by our soldiers,” Chaudhry said while speaking to media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

    Chaudhry said Khan’s letter maintained that the entire nation was standing with its armed forces, and also highlighted for Gen Munir the issue of “fraudulent elections”, the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and 26th amendments besides the Al-Qadir Trust case verdict against him.

    The letter brought to the army chief’s attention all cases of terrorism against political leaders and the use of force against PTI workers, Khan’s lawyer said, adding that it also expressed concern over intelligence agencies’ operations and the country’s economy.

    Chaudhry further said that Khan, in the letter, urged the army chief to reconsider policies and called for the formation of a judicial commission.

    The development comes weeks after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan met Gen Asim Munir. While speaking to media outside an Adiala Jail courtroom on January 16, Gohar had confirmed the meeting and shared the details of the same.

    “Ali Amin Gandapur and I held a meeting with the COAS, during which we outlined all of PTI’s concerns and priorities,” he had said.

    Ex-PM Khan had also confirmed the development to reporters, saying that Gohar had met the army chief in Peshawar.

    Days after this, prominent journalist Mansoor Ali Khan had revealed that PTI chief Gohar had once again held a meeting with army officials between January 21 and 22.

    Speaking on his YouTube channel, Mansoor, while revealing details of the meeting, stated that PTI demanded the release of incarcerated Khan, urging the establishment not to try him in military courts.

     Without naming names, he said, “A federal minister was also present in the meeting along with an intelligence officer. However, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir was not there this time.”

    According to Mansoor Ali Khan, PTI leaders tried to discuss the role of the chief secretary of KP in the province. However, the meeting attendees refused to discuss it. “During the gathering, the discussion about the Public Accounts Committee also took place,” he said while referring to the recent unopposed appointment of Junaid Akbar as PAC chairman.

    As per the journalist, Gohar, along with the army officials, expressed a wish to hold another meeting in the last week of January or the first week of February, which both sides agreed upon. However, no time frame for the next meeting was announced.

    Terming the meeting cordial, Mansoor stated that the meeting attendees did not behave aggressively, and there was no row during the gathering.

  • First arrest made under controversial PECA amendments

    First arrest made under controversial PECA amendments

    A man in Muzaffargarh has become the first to be arrested under the newly-passed amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for spreading “fake news”.

    According to reports, Umar Butt was taken into custody following a joint operation by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing and Muzaffargarh police. Butt was arrested for defaming one Sharif’s reputation through unsubstantiated claims on social media, the FIA said, adding that further investigation was underway.

    Following the passage of the controversial amendments from the Parliament, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the PECA Amendment Bill 2025 into law on January 29. The amendments to the law were passed amid countrywide protests by journalists, fearing it would be used to crack down on freedom of expression in the country.

    The federal government says it strengthened PECA to tackle fake news and unlawful online content. The amendment introduced severe penalties, including up to three years in prison and fines of Rs2 million for spreading disinformation or fake news, both of which, critics say, have been “broadly” defined.

    Another key provision is the establishment of a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) tasked with regulating social media platforms and removing unlawful content. The DRPA will have powers to investigate complaints, remove content, and enforce digital ethics. The amendments also redefine social media platforms and mandate compliance from social media companies, which may require registering and appointing local representatives.

    The first arrest under the amendments comes days after a WhatsApp group administrator in Pakpattan was arrested for an insulting message against Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz.

    According to an FIR lodged at the Farid Nagar police station, the post shared in his WhatsApp group used “filthy language” for the provincial chief executive.

    “The suspect deliberately uploaded an immoral, insulting post on social media, while the group admin, knowing that said post was immoral, offensive and illegal, did not delete it, and rather gave other groups members the opportunity to see the post,” the FIR read, alleging that the admin was trying to “spread chaos among the public”.


     
    The suspect and the group admin were nominated in a case under Section 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person) of PECA 2016 and Section 509 (insulting modesty or causing sexual harassment) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

  • Cops in Lahore let me pass through multiple times: Imran Riaz reveals

    Cops in Lahore let me pass through multiple times: Imran Riaz reveals

    Renowned YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan recently revealed in an interview that the police had helped him escape Pakistan while he was visiting Lahore.

    He confirmed the social media reports from last week that he had left the country, giving credit to former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Qasim Suri, for his assistance.

    The former TV host took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, stating, “I am proud that my Lord granted me steadfastness against every injustice. I have endured the worst torture and terrifying imprisonment. I have been arrested 10 times and faced dozens of cases. I was even forcibly stopped from performing Hajj, but my Lord granted me patience. I have some important responsibilities to fulfil, and I will return to Pakistan soon, InshaAllah.”

    For the past month, Khan had remained out of the public eye. However, he continued to upload regular vlogs on his YouTube channel, though his videos did not reveal any background details, leaving his exact location unclear.

    In a recent interview, Riaz confirmed: “I spent most of my time in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan. But at one point, I thought it had been so long since I’d attended a social gathering. So, I went to Lahore in a car to attend an event hosted by my friend.”

    The interviewer asked how he managed to visit Lahore when he was allegedly wanted by law enforcement agencies, to which he replied: “The cops saw me so many times at different police check posts and they just told me to get away quickly. Even if I go through some random police checkpost now; unless they are instructed especially to catch me, they will let me pass through.”

    Riaz also narrated that during his visit to Lahore, he visited a hospital to check up on an acquaintance, saying: “When we went to the hospital, around 30-40 people recognized me, and a commotion started. They wanted to take pictures with me, but my friend told them it would be dangerous for me. They all agreed, and nobody took any pictures. They dropped me off at my car. To this day, I do not know who those people were.”

    He opined that there is a general paranoia in Pakistan that a person is being tracked through online gadgets, but as long as one takes precautions like using VPNs, it is generally safe.

  • VIDEO: Islamabad SHO threatens to beat kite-flyers with a shoe, demolish their homes

    VIDEO: Islamabad SHO threatens to beat kite-flyers with a shoe, demolish their homes

    A viral undated video has shown an Islamabad police officer using the loudspeaker of a mosque to warn kite-flyers, threatening to publicly beat them up with shoes, file an FIR [First Information Report] against their fathers and demolishing their homes.

    As per the details, the viral video showed a man introducing himself as the SHO [station house officer] of the federal capital’s Secretariat Police Station, Ashfaq Warraich.

    “If someone is caught flying a kite, I will file an FIR against their father and will beat them publicly with a shoe,” he can be seen as announcing through the loudspeaker of a mosque, adding that kite-flying was a deadly game that could cost someone their life.

    In the video, Warraich goes on to say that anyone involved in kite-flying would also have their house demolished.

    The video that started doing the rounds on social media Sunday has left netizens divided. While some commend the SHO for his commitment towards cracking down on the deadly game, others are criticising him for threatening the public with “extrajudicial” actions.

    “I agree with this message from @ICTPolice. Children stand on rooftops to fly kites. They may fall and get injured, and the kite strings can also harm others by cutting their throats. Show no leniency; this is truly a deadly game and should be banned!” wrote one user.

    Another social media user wrote, “SHO Sahab ki baat bilkul theek hai. bache to bache hote hain lekin ghar k badon ko is baat ka khyaal rakhna chahiye k patangbaazi se apne bachon ko door rakhen [SHO Sahib is absolutely right. Kids are just kids. However, grownups at home should keep their kids away from kite flying].”

    “Under what law can the SHO demolish houses?” asked a netizen.

    Another user questioned the “misuse of authority” by the cop and wrote, “An SHO in Islamabad allegedly used a mosque’s loudspeaker to threaten kite-flyer fathers with severe punishments. This misuse of authority questions the integrity of legal governance. Lawlessness in the capital [sic].”

    “Seriously? Policeman, not even officers, threats tax payers face the house being demolished and jailed on the illegal case 4 Kite flying. Some1 promised him next police chief [sic],” said another user.

    “Steps should be taken to stop kite flying, but this behaviour of the police officer is very worrying. It seems that the Islamabad police have been trained to adopt an aggressive attitude, which is very dangerous. The use of derogatory words towards the public indicates the flaws in the Islamabad police system,” read a separate post.

  • ‘Madam CM, Sindh was first’: Sharjeel Memon reacts to Maryam’s electric buses claim

    ‘Madam CM, Sindh was first’: Sharjeel Memon reacts to Maryam’s electric buses claim

    Sindh Information and Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon has reacted to a claim by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz, setting facts straight regarding the launch of electric buses as public transport by a provincial government.

    “Punjab is going to be the 1st province to transform its Mass transit to electric vehicles. 1st fleet of 27 e-Buses has arrived. Buses equipped with Wifi, Female Section, Wheelchair ramps, CCTV & Seating for Special persons. Bus stops will be revamped with Water coolers & Mist Fans [sic],” Maryam wrote on X while posting pictures of Punjab’s newly-arrived electric buses.

    Quoting her post, the Sindh info minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader corrected CM Maryam, stating how Sindh had launched electric buses back in January 2023. “Madam CM, It’s good to know that after Sindh, Punjab is the second province who has started EV Buses [sic].”

    Memon went on to support his claim by sharing news clippings confirming the launch of Pakistan’s first electric bus service in Sindh two years ago. “Dates of launch of EV Buses in Sindh are visible in these posts,” he wrote.

    The post was followed by Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari’s response to her counterpart.

    “Apologies, but I don’t understand why you people are becoming so insecure these days. First, summoning traders and scolding them over a conversation made in jest, and now this? By the way, after the Orange Line, three metro projects, Speedo buses, and electric bikes, this is the next step. Anyway, the real situation and story of public transport in Sindh is a topic for another time,” she wrote.

    The conversation continued as Memon replied to Bokhari, urging that the provincial chief executive of Punjab fixed her post.

    “We are not insecure, madam. I just want to correct the facts. My suggestion is kindly edit the tweet of CM sahiba and tell people that you are not the first who started you are second province who started after two years of Sindh [sic],” he said.

    Punjab CM on Friday inaugurated the province’s first fully electric bus service in the provincial capital city, Lahore. The new fleet consists of buses with a capacity of 30 seats and the ability to carry 80 passengers.

    The electric buses are equipped with modern amenities, including GPS tracking, Wi-Fi, USB ports, and ramps for people with disabilities.

    To ensure efficiency, nine specialized charging stations have been set up, and each bus will be able to cover a distance of 250 kilometers on a full charge.

  • 18 soldiers martyred, 12 terrorists killed in Kalat clash

    18 soldiers martyred, 12 terrorists killed in Kalat clash

    At least 18 soldiers were martyred and 12 terrorists killed as security forces launched an operation against an attempt to establish roadblocks in Balochistan’s Kalat district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported.

    According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, terrorists on the night of Jan 31 launched a bid to establish roadblocks in the general area of Kalat’s Mangocher.

    “On behest of inimical and hostile forces, this cowardly act of terrorism was aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment of Balochistan by targeting mainly the innocent civilians,” the statement read, adding that security forces and law enforcement agencies were immediately mobilised to thwart the evil designs.

    Security forces sent 12 terrorists to hell, ensuring security and protection of the local populace, ISPR said. However, it added, during the conduct of operations, 18 brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat.

    “Ensuing sanitisation operations are being conducted and the perpetrators, facilitators and abettors of this heinous and cowardly act, will be brought to justice,” the military vowed, saying that the country’s security forces remained determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan.

    Such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve, it added.

    According to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), President Asif Ali Zardari has strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of 18 security personnel.

    “The president paid tribute to the martyred personnel, praying for their high ranks and for the bereaved families to bear the losses with fortitude,” the President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release.

    He also praised the security forces for their timely action, and observed that terrorist elements wanted to disrupt peace in Balochistan.

    “The people of Pakistan had rejected those elements who wanted to disturb law and order in the country,” he said, adding that the entire nation supported its security forces in the fight against terrorism.

    It merits a mention that a spike in terror activities has been reported over the past couple of months as Pakistan continues to reiterate its resolve for lasting peace in troubled areas of Balochistan.

    Armed insurgency coupled with the use of Afghan soil for terror attacks in Pakistan has witnessed the martyrdom of dozens of security personnel in recent months as Islamabad continues to call on Kabul to ensure that terrorist hideouts across the country’s western border were destroyed.

  • ‘Pay 50 Bitcoin or else…’: Malik Riaz receives death threat

    ‘Pay 50 Bitcoin or else…’: Malik Riaz receives death threat

    Controversial property tycoon Malik Riaz’s security officer Colonel (retd) Khalil Ur Rehman has filed a case at Islamabad’s Aabpara police station against an unknown person for threatening to kill the real estate magnate.

    As per the widely circulated First Information Report, an email was sent to Malik Riaz on January 12 at 4:15 pm, demanding 50 bitcoin, equivalent to over PKR 1.42 billion, as ransom. “If the demand is not met, Malik Riaz and his family members will be in danger,“ the FIR said.

    The email states that relatives of Malik Riaz and his son Ahmed Ali live in Gulf countries and in the West. “If you want to save these family members life’s (sic)…….then transfer 50 bitcoins to given bitcoin address otherwise mujahiddi of Tehrik isn’t far away from your drawing rooms” the email states. 

    The FIR states that after the threatening email was sent, an unknown person visited the area where Malik Riaz’s daughter resides, which is also the residence where he himself stays, to scout the house.

    “The individual took photos and videos of the house. Footage has emerged showing a person taking pictures and videos while surveying Malik Riaz’s home, which harassed the household,” it reads.

    The FIR states that although the email ID appeared to be from Switzerland, however, demanding ransom through a threatening email and scouting the house confirmed that the email was sent from Pakistan.


    Following former premier Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi’s conviction in the £190 million case, commonly known as the Al-Qadir Trust case, on January 17, the National Accountability Bureau said in a press release on January 22 that Riaz was an absconder in the same case and they had already frozen a number of his assets.

    “Mr Malik Riaz is residing in Dubai, UAE. He has recently launched a project for the construction of luxury apartments in Dubai, UAE. The general public at large is hereby advised and warned to refrain from investing in the stated project. If the general public at large invests in the stated project, their actions would tantamount to money laundering, for which they may face criminal/ legal proceedings,” the press release read.

    Bahria Town owner, in response to the accountability watchdog press release against his Dubai-based project, took to X (formerly Twitter) on the same day, warning, “I am holding back, but there is a storm within me. If this dam breaks, then everyone’s façade will shatter. Don’t forget that the secrets of the past 25–30 years are preserved along with evidence.”


    According to sources, NAB had written a letter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to extradite Riaz to Pakistan.

    As per a source, the FIA will secure Riaz’s extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and then hand him over to the accountability watchdog.

  • ‘Democracy destroyed Pakistan’: Vawda all praise for army chief

    ‘Democracy destroyed Pakistan’: Vawda all praise for army chief

    Senator Faisal Vawda, known for often making tall claims and predictions in Pakistan’s politics, stated on Aaj TV on January 31 that democracy has destroyed Pakistan while calling Army Chief Gen Asim Munir a “ray of sunshine.”

    “As long as this shameless system of democracy runs in Pakistan, the same game will be played over and over again. Neither a Chief Minister nor a Prime Minister can be arrested in the name of democracy,” stated the former PTI member.

    “It is our good luck that Gen Asim Munir has taken the lead in everything, and we can see the results as well. He has no ambitions of his own, and there is no allegation on his family or himself in over 35 years of service. This is a ray of sunshine,” said Faisal Vawda optimistically.

    He further remarked that the narrative of “giving youngsters a chance” under the façade of democracy would set the country back.

    “I have learned this from the Chief [Gen Asim Munir], who is leading the country like Ronaldo, that Pakistan must be put first instead of politics. A man who is strong enough to cut down a tree isn’t afraid of its branches, so when you are in a strong position, you always take a stand,” Vawda said, praising COAS.

    The senator also took credit for stopping the purchase of 1,010 new cars for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials after raising concerns in a Senate Standing Committee meeting.

    During the meeting on January 30, Vawda claimed that FBR officials threatened his life when he raised the issue, stating he was prepared to provide evidence.

    He named several FBR officers and revealed he has compiled a list of 54 corrupt officials, which he is ready to share.

    FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial expressed his concern over the allegations, stating that Vawda’s complaint should be taken seriously as a parliamentarian.

    “If you received threats, I could also be at risk. This matter will not be left unchecked. It will be sent to an investigation agency for a criminal inquiry,” Langrial said.

    Faisal Vawda, while speaking to show host Shaukat Paracha, stated: “I am not a weak man that I will go to the FIA to complain against those officers who threatened me. What I’m about to say, I also said in the Senate meeting: if I am harmed even on a finger, then I will take my revenge in such a way that their seven generations would remember it.”