Current Final

Category: National

  • Dialogue with PTI will be subject to Nawaz Sharif’s approval, says Rana Sanaullah

    Dialogue with PTI will be subject to Nawaz Sharif’s approval, says Rana Sanaullah

    Advisor to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has clarified on Wednesday that whenever the government initiates negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), they will be subject to the approval of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    “Government will take establishment on board in negotiations during its talks with PTI. Likewise, whatever PTI decides [in talks with the government] will be subject to the approval of Imran Khan,” Sanaullah said in Geo News’ Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath.

    Commenting on former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent call to launch a civil disobedience movement if two of his demands are not met, the advisor to the PM observed, “They [PTI] will not achieve anything from the civil disobedience movement, and it will fail just like the November 24 protest.”

    “Overseas Pakistanis do not send rupees to the government; they send it to their loved ones,” Sanaullah pointed out. He asked why PTI is expecting that overseas Pakistanis would compromise their children’s education by not sending remittances to Pakistan.  Sanaullah then stated that PTI can fulfil its desire if it is in a hurry to launch a civil disobedience movement. 

    On November 6, Imran Khan announced the launch of a civil disobedience movement; however, following the request of his party leaders, Khan deferred the call for a “few days.”

    Previously, Jailed Imran Khan had formed the committee comprising Opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, lawyer Salman Akram Raja and former speaker NA Asad Qaiser. This committee has been tasked with holding dialogue with the incumbent government to fulfil their two demands, including the release of “political prisoners” facing trial and the constitution of a judicial commission to probe the events of May 9, 2023, and a late-night crackdown on the PTI protesters on November 26.

    On being asked about whether the government had offered the former ruling party to release Imran Khan in two weeks if the November 24 protest march was restricted to Sangjani, Sanaullah dismissed the claims by saying that apart from the release of Khan, the government indeed had offered to initiate dialogue with PTI.

    Additionally, Sanaullah stressed the need for dialogue between the opposition and the government, saying that “political issues must be resolved only through dialogue.”

  • US imposes new sanctions targeting Pakistan’s ballistic missile program

    US imposes new sanctions targeting Pakistan’s ballistic missile program

    The United States of America on December 18 sanctioned four entities for their involvement in the development of long-range missiles, consequently targeting Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.

    According to a fact sheet issued by the US State Department, The National Development Complex (NDC) based in Islamabad, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, Affiliates International and Rockside Enterprise, all located in Karachi, have been identified “in light of proliferation threat of Pakistan’s long-range missile development.”

    It merits mentioning that the US had previously targeted several Pakistani companies in April, October, and September of this year to disrupt Pakistan’s missile and drone programs.

    The sanctions freeze any US property belonging to the targeted entities and bar Americans from doing business with them.

    “The NDC has worked to acquire items in furtherance of Pakistan’s long range ballistic missile program – including special vehicle chassis intended to be used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles and missile testing equipment.  The United States assesses NDC is responsible for Pakistan’s development of ballistic missiles, including the SHAHEEN-series ballistic missiles,” stated the fact sheet released by US State Department.

    Pakistan’s foreign ministry issued a press release today, calling the recent sanctions “unfortunate and biased.” 

    “Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are meant to defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia. The latest installment of sanctions defies the objective of peace and security by aiming to accentuate military asymmetries. Such policies have dangerous implications for the strategic stability of our region and beyond,” read the press release issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


    Meanwhile, security experts on social media weighed in on the recent sanctions with Michael Kugelman writing on X (formerly Twitter): “The US has sanctioned Pakistan’s National Development Complex over proliferation-related concerns tied to ballistic missile development. This is a big deal; unlike recent rounds of US sanctions, this targets a government entity instead of just companies.”


    Another Geopolitical analyst Talha Ahmad posted on X: “Unlike the previous sanctions that targeted private companies, this time US has moved up on the ladder and now has sanctioned a government institution —Pakistan’s National Development Complex.”

    Ahmad opined that Pakistan’s nature of ballistic and strategic weapons programme is mainly to counter-balance India’s threat. He further explained: “India is leading the proliferation by introducing emerging technologies and massive missile buildup with no opposition from US. The BMD and other developments add to deterrence instability. Pakistan’s strategic program has always been India-centric. Pakistan-specific sanctions indicate the ‘politically motivated sanctions’. Nevertheless, these actions would undermine the strategic balance and would achieve the opposite of what is being ‘officially’ claimed.”

    “Pakistan would do whatever it takes to maintain deterrence stability. No sanctions would be able to force Pakistan to compromise on its desire for sovereignty and freedom especially in a changing security environment in the region with a Far-right expansionist regime running the show in Dehli. Pakistan will continue building on counter-force capabilities and if needed would change its strategic posture,” concluded the geopolitical analyst Talha Ahmad.

    Pakistani journalist Syed Talat Hussain condemned the US policy writing on X: “US tries to hit Pakistan’s nuclear delivery systems. Announces sanctions on four entities. The real game is now coming to the fore. Now you understand what the fuss and campaign is all about.”

  • Punjab government changes winter vacation schedule

    Punjab government changes winter vacation schedule

    The Punjab Education Department has issued a new notification for winter vacations in schools, nullifying the previous one. 

    The new notification states that the winter holidays will begin on December 23 instead of December 20. Schools will reopen on January 13, 2025.

    Earlier, a notification was issued for holidays in private and government schools in Punjab from December 20 to January 10, 2025.

    The winter vacation schedule for other provinces is given below.

    Sindh


    Sindh School Education Department announced that all the public and private schools and colleges across Sindh will remain closed for winter vacations from December 22, 2024 (Sunday) to December 31, 2024 Tuesday.

     
    Schools and colleges are expected to reopen on January 1, 2025 (Wednesday).


    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa


    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in an official statement, announced the schedule for winter vacations in schools across the various regions of the province.


    The schedule says that schools in the plain areas of KP will observe winter vacations from December 22 to 31, 2024.


    However, the schools in the mountainous regions will remain closed for an extended period of time from December 22 to February 28, 2025, because of harsh weather conditions.


    Balochistan


    Balochistan government has also announced winter vacations for educational institutions across the province, which also varies for schools in cold and warm regions.


    Schools in cold regions will remain closed from December 16 to February 28 and will reopen on March 1, 2025. 


    Meanwhile, in the warmer regions, the vacations will begin on January 1 and conclude on January 10.


    Keeping the harsh conditions in check, Bolan Medical College (BMC) in Quetta has also declared winter vacations in an official announcement. The college will remain closed for teaching purposes from December 16 until February 28, 2025.

    However, the teaching and administrative staff is required to ensure their presence. 

  • Imran Khan will urge overseas Pakistanis to halt remittances if demands are not met, says Aleema Khan

    Imran Khan will urge overseas Pakistanis to halt remittances if demands are not met, says Aleema Khan

    Aleema Khan, sister of former Premier Imran Khan, stated on Tuesday that her brother has warned that he would urge overseas Pakistanis to halt sending remittances if the government does not fulfill two of his demands.

    “If a judicial commission comprising three senior Supreme Court judges is not established to investigate the events of May 9 and November 26 and political prisoners are not released, I will definitely give a call to overseas Pakistanis to stop sending remittances,” Aleema Khan quoted her brother as saying while speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. 

    Imran Khan’s sister claimed that overseas Pakistanis have already stressed that they will stop sending remittances once the party founder officially gives the call, but party leaders have advised Imran Khan to wait, fearing the move could badly affect the country’s economy.

    “I care about the country, so I’ll wait a few more days,” Aleema quoted her brother as saying.

    She alleged that with the help of former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, the incumbent government had compromised the independence of the judiciary by introducing amendments to the constitution.

    “They [government] take their dollars abroad, […] while poor workers abroad send dollars back to Pakistan. You are running the country on those very dollars,” she said.

    Additionally, Aleema mentioned that PTI’s political downfall was part of a London plan aimed at dismantling the party. She also condemned what she said was a crackdown on peaceful protests and party followers last month.

  • Lawyer wants contempt of court for not writing ‘Honourable’ before Chief Justice’s name

    Lawyer wants contempt of court for not writing ‘Honourable’ before Chief Justice’s name

    Advocate Afaq Ahmed has filed a contempt of court application in Lahore High Court on the matter of not righting “Honourable” before the Chief Justice in a notification pertaining to the appointment of new judges.


    Lahore High Court’s Justice Farooq Haider chaired the proceedings of the office objection on the petition of Afaq Ahmed Advocate.


    The petition was filed against Secretary of Judicial Commission Niaz Muhammad Khan. The petitioner in the case stated that writing “Honourable” before the name of the Chief Justice is a legal requirement. However, it was skipped in the notification for the appointment of new judges, making it disrespectful. 

    Thus, the petition requested the contempt of court proceedings to be initiated against the Secretary Judicial Commission for issuing an ambiguous notification.


    While hearing the case, the court directed the Advocate General Punjab to provide judicial assistance on the matter of not writing ‘Honorable’ before the name of the Chief Justice in the notification for the appointment of new judges.


    The Advocate General will be assisting in the light of the decision of the higher judiciary.


     Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court’s Registrar’s Office objected to the application and emphasised that the notification was issued correctly and the application was inadmissible.

  • I do not have a button to shut down the internet: IT Minister

    I do not have a button to shut down the internet: IT Minister

    State Minister for Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has addressed the issue of internet shutdowns and the ban on X (formerly Twitter) in the country.

    Addressing the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday, the IT Minister said that shutting down the internet does not benefit the government, adding, “I do not have a button to shut down the internet.”

    She further stated that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reports suggest that the internet has improved by 28 per cent in Pakistan since last year, adding that mobile internet users have grown by 24 per cent.

    Responding to the ban on X, Khawaja remarked that freedom of expression has nothing to do with the prohibition of X and substantiated her claims by saying, “On the public level, Facebook and TikTok are widely used, while only two per cent of Pakistani citizens use X.”

    She said if there really was to be a ban on freedom of expression , then “Facebook and TikTok would have been banned” instead of X.

    Khawaja stated, “I don’t think any other country has as much freedom of speech as this country has.” However, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2024 reports on the World Press Freedom Index placed Pakistan on the ranks of 152 out of 180 countries.

    Additionally, the IT Minister, however, while highlighting the negative side of freedom of expression, said that people often use social media to defame others and treat public officeholders as if they are “public property.”

    It merits a mention that after the general election of 2024, X was banned in the country and was only accessible through Virtual Private Network (VPN), which the government had also started to ban due to “security concerns.”


    Meanwhile, on December 16, following approvals from the federal cabinet in June this year, the IT Minister tabled the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, 2024, in the NA session, which aimed to create a digital identity for citizens to centralise social, economic, and governance data.

    The bill read that it was expedient to enable the people to become a digital nation by leveraging the transformative power of digital technologies, responsible use of data, innovative service delivery models and robust digital public infrastructure to accelerate sustainable economic development, improve citizen well-being, and modernise governance frameworks for efficient and effective public service delivery.

    As per the bill, key governance bodies such as the National Digital Commission (NDC), Strategic Oversight Committee (SOC), and the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) will be established.

    Here are some reactions on the statement of the IT Minister On X ban in Pakistan:

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  • Taliban have taken control of my constituency: Sher Afzal Marwat

    Taliban have taken control of my constituency: Sher Afzal Marwat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Khan Marwat on Tuesday dismissed claims that terrorist organisation Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were not present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, where his party holds power.

    Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the lawmaker said, “I cannot return to my constituency because the Taliban have taken control there, and many other districts share the same problem.”

    He also highlighted that the province is engulfed in unrest, and inflation is increasing.

    Recalling the claims of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif that PTI should make the first move for negotiation, Marwat emphasised that political parties must rest aside their egos.

    PTI leader called on Rana Sanaullah to share the government’s official stance on holding dialogue with PTI, adding that all stakeholders must sit together and find a solution to the polarised situation in the country.

    On December 6, imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, in a message on X (formerly Twitter) had said that he had formed a five-member negotiation committee comprising Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur, Chief Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza, lawyer Salman Akram Raja and former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser.

    The founder of Pakistan’s biggest opposition party had also announced that if two demands, including the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 and November 26 events and the release of the political prisoner, remain unmet, the “civil disobedience movement” will follow.

    On the floor of NA, Rana Sanaullah noted that six weeks ago, PM Shehbaz Sharif went straight to the opposition members and shook hands with them, adding that Shehbaz Sharif announced that the government was ready to hold negotiations with the opposition on every matter. However, lawmaker Omer Ayub Khan responded using harsh words.

    Sanaullah also stressed that the parliamentary democratic system cannot work until the opposition leader and leader of the house don’t sit and have a dialogue.

    “For the first time, a pleasant breeze came from the opposition […] but talks cannot be held at gunpoint,” Khawaja Asif responded to Marwat on the same floor.

    The minister reiterated that the repeated attacks on Islamabad and calls for civil disobedience movement will not pave the way for negotiations. 

    “The nation is suffering losses in our political war,” he said, stressing the need for “a change that would create a good environment.”

    Khawaja Asif recalled the Parachinar incident by saying that, as per the constitution, it was the responsibility of the provincial government to solve the disputes between the two clans in the Kurram district, adding that the KP government prioritised last month’s protest march towards the federal capital instead of solving the Kurram land dispute.

  • Winter vacations to begin all across Pakistan

    Winter vacations to begin all across Pakistan

    Temperatures are dropping, and it is the time of the year when winter vacations begin all across Pakistan. 


    Traditionally, school-going children from mountainous regions get prolonged holidays, while children from the plains get a brief break for the last ten days of the last month of the year. 


    For 2024, some changes have been made to the schedule. 


    Punjab


    In Punjab, vacations will last 20 days, unlike previous years. Secretary of Schools Punjab, Khalid Nazir Wattoo, revealed in a statement that winter vacations in Punjab will begin on December 20 and will last until January 10.

    The change is in response to shifting weather patterns, smog, and climate change, which have prompted the Punjab government to redesign its policies for the coming season.

    “However the school will reopen from 13th January due to weekly offs of Saturday and Sunday on January 11 and 12”, the Secretary of School Education stated in the official notification.


    Sindh


    Sindh School Education Department announced that all the public and private schools and colleges across Sindh will remain closed for winter vacations from December 22, 2024 (Sunday) to December 31, 2024 Tuesday.

     
    Schools and colleges are expected to reopen on January 1, 2025 (Wednesday).


    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa


    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in an official statement, announced the schedule for winter vacations in schools across the various regions of the province.


    The schedule says that schools in the plain areas of KP will observe winter vacations from December 22 to 31, 2024.


    However, the schools in the mountainous regions will remain closed for an extended period of time from December 22 to February 28, 2025, because of harsh weather conditions.


    Balochistan


    Balochistan government has also announced winter vacations for educational institutions across the province, which also varies for schools in cold and warm regions.


    Schools in cold regions will remain closed from December 16 to February 28 and will reopen on March 1, 2025. 


    Meanwhile, in the warmer regions, the vacations will begin on January 1 and conclude on January 10.


    Keeping the harsh conditions in check, Bolan Medical College (BMC) in Quetta has also declared winter vacations in an official announcement. The college will remain closed for teaching purposes from December 16 until February 28, 2025.

    However, the teaching and administrative staff is required to ensure their presence. 

  • Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa shut down my show over his parody, claims Aftab Iqbal

    Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa shut down my show over his parody, claims Aftab Iqbal

    Renowned television host Aftab Iqbal has spoken about his satirical show, which was taken off air by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority back in 2022.

    Journalist Murtaza Ali Shah shared a short video clip on his social media account featuring Aftab Iqbal in which the TV host revealed that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (r) Qamar Javed Bajwa had taken his satirical show off air over his parody.

    Iqbal stated that he made a parody song with visuals related to the then COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, which offended him and led to his satirical comedy show being taken off-air.

    He also acknowledged that if he had not made that parody of the former Army Chief, his show would never have gone off the air. 

    In 2022 Iqbal wrote, “PEMRA is the instrument of a fascist imported govt which can’t tolerate any justifiable criticisms. My Programme, which is recognised as satire, has been forced off the air. Is this democracy worse than Mussolini’s fascist Italy? I intend to contest these illegal actions on every forum.”

    Following the announcement, several journalists, politicians, and activists called on the government to review the action, citing freedom of expression.

  • ‘Coward, coward, coward’; Imran Khan calls out PTI leaders, claims Nusrat Javed

    ‘Coward, coward, coward’; Imran Khan calls out PTI leaders, claims Nusrat Javed

    Political analyst Nusrat Javed on Monday revealed that former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan called leaders of his party “cowards” three times during his interaction with party members at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

    Appearing on Public TV’s Khabar Nashar, Javed said that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, stayed firm on his call for a civil disobedience movement. “I have a strategy. Civil disobedience movement will be successful, but they [the party leadership] are cowards,” Javed quoted imprisoned Imran Khan as saying. 

    The veteran journalist stated that former Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi complained to Imran Khan about the behaviour of party members for not showing moral support to incarcerated leaders, including Yasmin Rashid, who has been jailed for more than a year.

    “PTI leadership never visited jailed party leaders, including Omar Sarfraz Cheema [former Punjab Governor], and they had never appeared at their hearings,” the former foreign minister complained to Imran Khan.

    Imran agreed with Shah Mahmood Qureshi and called party leadership “cowards” again, Nusrat Javed claimed. 

    Javed further claimed that former Premier Imran Khan spent a lot of time with former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry during a meeting in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.

    Faisal Chaudhry, counsel for Imran Khan, while appearing on ARY News programme KHABAR on Monday, confirmed that Shah Mahmood Qureshi had a long conversation with the party founder in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.

    On being asked about the civil disobedience movement, Chaudhry said that Imran Khan would announce the next action plan in the coming days.

    Last week Imran Khan warned the government on X (formerly Twitter) that his party will begin a civil disobedience movement if two demands, including the formation of a judicial commission for a transparent investigation of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, and the release of under-trial political prisoners are not met.


     
    “If these two demands are not accepted, a civil disobedience movement will be launched from December 14,” the founder of the former ruling party warned, adding that the government would be responsible for the results of the movement.