Current Final

Category: National

  • Prime Minister directs further reduction of electricity prices

    Prime Minister directs further reduction of electricity prices

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to further reduce power tariffs and expedite the implementation of the action plan for future power generation projects, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

    Presiding a meeting in Islamabad to evaluate and discuss the country’s future electricity and power plans, the prime minister stressed the need to prioritise low-cost power projects based on local resources.

    PM Shehbaz said that low-cost power projects produced environment-friendly and affordable electricity.

    He further directed that the current electricity generation capacity should also be shifted to solar energy.

    “Globally, electricity is being produced from environmentally friendly, low-cost solar energy,” he noted, adding that Pakistan was fortunate in this regard as the country had vast potential for solar energy.

    The prime minister was informed about the progress of ongoing hydropower projects across the country and was also briefed on the progress of phasing out inefficient power plants that consumed more fuel but produced less electricity.

    He ordered the immediate closure of such outdated power plants, adding that closing them would not only save valuable foreign exchange but also reduce electricity costs for consumers.

    The premier instructed that immediate action be taken against all officials deliberately obstructing reforms in the power sector and that reforms in the electricity transmission system be expedited.

    “The power transmission system should be upgraded according to international standards,” the prime minister ordered.

    He also directed the swift implementation of a system based on modern technology for the selection and transmission of low-cost electricity.

    The prime minister issued instructions to complete all measures for the reform of the power sector within the specified timeline.


    The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahad Cheema, Awais Leghari, Dr Musadik Malik, Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik and other senior officials.

    Today’s meeting came after the federal government on Tuesday approved settlement agreements with eight independent power producers (IPPs) running on bagasse, aiming to reduce electricity tariffs and save around Rs240 billion for the national exchequer.

    The decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting. The approval followed recommendations from the Ministry of Energy’s power division.

    The power plants agreeing to revised production costs included DW Unit I, Unit II, RYK Mills, Chiniot Power, Hamza Sugar, Al-Moez Indus¬tries, Thal Indus¬tries and Chinar Industries.

    After the agreements’ approval, the Central Power Purchasing Age¬ncy will seek approval from the National Elec¬tric Power Regulatory Authority for tariff adjustments.

    The Prime Minister’s Office had said in a press release the agreements were expected to reduce electricity prices for consumers and provide an estimated Rs238bn relief to the exchequer.

  • VIDEO: Aleema Khan ‘tears up’ describing Imran Khan’s jail conditions

    VIDEO: Aleema Khan ‘tears up’ describing Imran Khan’s jail conditions

    Aleema Khan, the sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, can be seen in viral footage from December 13, engaging in an informal conversation with journalists about the conditions of the jail where her brother, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is detained.

    When a reporter mentioned that Khan had been in prison for over a year, she corrected him, saying, “It has been a year and a half.”

    The reporter then asked if Khan was able to speak to his sons abroad. Aleema replied, “He [Imran Khan] has said this multiple times in front of a judge. Every prisoner is allowed to talk with their family members once a week. Whatever Imran Khan requests, it is refused.”

    She also revealed that Khan had asked for warm clothes, “but they don’t provide them to him,” adding, “It’s so cold, especially in his cell, because it’s open from above.”

    “The second thing he asks for is a phone call with his sons, but they don’t allow that. If he asks for a book, it takes many days for them to deliver it. He’s asked for these three things, and we struggle to verify whether he’s been given them or not. They create so much confusion and delay,” Aleema remarked.

    When a reporter asked if Imran Khan had requested “cornflakes cereal” in prison, she replied, “No, he has never asked for anything like that. He has only asked for these three things: warm clothes, books, and phone calls with his sons.”

    Reiterating the conditions of his cell, Aleema further explained that it is open from above, and plastic sheets are placed above in winter. “But as you know, it doesn’t have much effect on the temperature because the breeze passes through.”

    “We offered to give him weighted blankets for warmth, but according to prison rules, that’s not allowed. Only comforters are allowed. We will try again to provide him with other things for warmth. He has been given a small fan heater, but it doesn’t help much because of the open cell,” Aleema added.

    “They don’t turn on the TV either, and he said that although it only has the PTV channel, he wanted to watch it. But they don’t allow that. The newspapers resumed a few days ago,” stated Aleema Khan.

    Imran Khan has also instructed his party leaders and supporters to launch a “civil disobedience” movement starting December 14. He demanded the release of PTI workers and called for the formation of a five-member negotiation team in a statement from his X account.

  • One Governor may change in upcoming days, predicts Faisal Vawda

    One Governor may change in upcoming days, predicts Faisal Vawda

    Senator Faisal Vawda has predicted on Friday that one of the four provincial Governors may lose their seat over allegations about moral corruption in the coming days. 

    Appearing on the ARY News programme Aiteraz Hai, former federal minister Faisal Vawda stated that the Governor, who he did not name, might be changed either in “a week or it could take up to two months, but the ball is rolling now.”

    On being asked to reveal the name of the Governor, Vawda hinted that he was involved in illegally acquiring money, creating confusion, and damaging the country’s reputation. 

    It should be mentioned here that the Governor represents the federal government in the provinces.

    Currently, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan serves as the Governor of Punjab, while Faisal Karim Kundi holds the Governor’s position in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Kamran Tessori is the Governor of Sindh, and Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail represents the federal government as the Governor of Balochistan.

    Vawda did not stop there. He went on to pass bizarre remarks about the Chief Ministers (CM) of all four provinces. “Except Murad Ali Shah, all CMs, including Maryam Nawaz, Ali Amin Gandapur and Sarfraz Bugti, are illiterate as they cannot write six lines of English,” he stated. 

    Following the indictment of the ex-spymaster General (R) Faiz Hamid, Faisal Vawda reiterated that he wouldn’t be surprised if the founder of Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, were tried by a military court.

    He stressed that the army filed a charge sheet after collecting all the evidence, adding that it seemed the PTI’s civil disobedience would be postponed under the guise of honouring party martyrs.

    Former Director General (DG) of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen (r) Faiz Hamid was formally charged with engaging in political activities and misusing his authority as the chief of the country’s premier intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported Tuesday.

    On December 13, during the Hum News program FAISLA AAP KA, Vawda asserted that a new social media campaign would be launched by the PTI in which Pakistan would be mentioned by showing footage of Syrian prisoners.

    On the issue of PTI’s committee on negotiations, he maintained that the government must hold talks and the PTI should join hands. “The head of the government is Nawaz Sharif; (but) he is not making any statement. Imran Khan has good thinking skills and is now asking for talks,” he said.

  • Imran Khan’s trusted people were involved in attacking him, claims Faisal Vawda

    Imran Khan’s trusted people were involved in attacking him, claims Faisal Vawda

    Senator Faisal Vawda on Thursday claimed that close aides of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan were involved in the attack that left him shot in the leg during a rally at Wazirabad in 2022. 

    Appearing on Hum News’ FAISLA AAP KA with Asma Shirazi, Vawda said, “When Imran Khan finds out that his trusted people were involved in the attack on him, it will shake the ground beneath his feet.”

    He dismissed social media claims that Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was aware of the Wazirabad attack, stating, “If someone says that Imran Khan was mindful of the incident, then he is an idiot.”

    The Senator also discussed journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder, emphasising that the verdict in the case would be the last nail in the coffin, adding, “If the courts do not reveal the details of the cases, then I will speak up.”

    Former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, who was present in the panel along with Vawda, stated that revealing details of the Wazirabad attack on Imran Khan would be beneficial.


    Faisal Vawda chimed in, “You should also find out who the beneficiaries of the firing were; then you will know the whole story.”

    On November 3, 2022, Imran Khan, along with other party leaders, was injured, and one party worker was killed when a gunman opened fire on the party founder’s container as the convoy reached Wazirabad’s Allah Wala Chowk.

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    According to the Punjab police, the deceased was identified as Muazzam Nawaz.

    Fawad Chaudhry, who was also present in the convoy, told Reuters hours after the incident, “It was a clear assassination attempt. Khan was hit, but he’s stable. There was a lot of bleeding. If the shooter had not been stopped by people there, the entire PTI leadership would have been wiped out.”


    PTI leaders Ahmed Chattha and Chaudhry Yousuf along with party workers Omer Meyer and Rashid were wounded in the incident, PTI social media had claimed.

    Following the firing, Imran Khan was immediately shifted to Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, while the rest of the injured people were taken by ambulances to the nearby Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology, Reuters reported.

    Four days after the attack occurred, a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged at the City Police Station in Wazirabad with sub-inspector Aamir Shahzad as the complainant.

    The FIR was registered under various charges, including terrorism, murder and attempt to murder, with sections 302, 324, 440 and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 included. 

    According to the FIR text, Imran Khan and other PTI leaders were headed to Wazirabad from Allahwala Chowk when, at 4 pm, the accused, Naveed, opened fire from the left side of the container, killing Muazzam, son of Nawaz of Bharoki Cheema, who was a participant in the rally.

  • Imran Khan biggest military product himself: Talal Chaudhry

    Imran Khan biggest military product himself: Talal Chaudhry

    Senator Talal Badar Chaudhry on Thursday lashed out at former Premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter’s campaign to boycott military-made products.

    “The biggest fauji [army] product was founder PTI [Imran Khan] himself,” said Talal Chaudhry while addressing the 344th session of the Senate.

    The Senator highlighted the aggressive approach of Imran Khan’s party, saying that it had been 28 years since the party formed yet they never “talked about reconciliation.”

    “When Nawaz Sharif [three times Prime Minister] was in jail, they [PTI] used to do politics over Nawaz Sharif’s illness and had also used it for bargaining.” 

    Talal criticised the former ruling party’s sudden wish to begin a dialogue with the PM Shehbaz Sharif-led government, claiming that PTI was demanding the negotiation to “save Faiz Hamid [ex-spymaster]” from an ongoing military trial.

    Former Director General (DG) of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen (r) Faiz Hamid was formally charged with engaging in political activities and misusing his authority as the chief of the country’s premier intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported Tuesday.

    According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, the former spymaster was also charged with violating the Official Secrets Act, misusing authority and government resources, and causing wrongful losses to individuals.

    “These actions have compromised state security and interests,” ISPR added.

    As per the statement, the process of Hamid’s field general court-martial (FGCM) was initiated on August 12 under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act.

    On Thursday, recalling the PTI leadership’s reported past claims of not holding dialogue with the mandate-stolen government but with the establishment, Chaudhry criticised PTI’s leadership’s sudden tilt to have a dialogue with the government and asked, “Are we no more thieves? Whenever the PML-N-led central government offered negotiation in the past, it was considered a weakness, he said.

    Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation with the Geo News programme “Geo Pakistan” Friday, advisor to PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah revealed that the former ruling party had not approached the government yet to initiate the process of dialogue despite the rival party’s claims of having formed a negotiations committee.

    Recently, jailed Imran Khan-founded party established a five-member negotiation committee comprising Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur, Chief Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza, lawyer Salman Akram Raja and former Speaker NA Asad Qaiser.

    Rana Sanaullah assured that his party (PML-N) would not turn down any message for negotiation from PTI, noting, “If PTI reaches out, we will not refuse to engage.”

  • Imran Khan disappointed with party leadership

    Imran Khan disappointed with party leadership

    Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, speaking to journalists at Adiala Jail, expressed his “disappointment” with the current party leadership over their “lack of action on the D-Chowk incident,” Geo News reported on Thursday.

    Correspondent Shabbir Dar reported that Khan raised serious concerns about the political environment outside the prison.

    “When I read the newspapers, I got the impression that there was a friendly atmosphere outside the prison, and everyone was living happily,” said the former Prime Minister.

    “I expected the D-Chowk issue to be raised vigorously in Parliament and other forums, but to my surprise, that didn’t happen,” he added, expressing shock at the party leadership’s response.

    He voiced his grievance, saying, “When I am cleared of one case, a new one is initiated against me. PTI should have shown a stronger reaction to this.”

    PTI conducted an unsuccessful march towards Islamabad following Khan’s “final call” on November 24, which led to multiple fatalities, including security officials and protesters.

    When the protesters reached their destination at D-Chowk, no party leader was visible at the site. Meanwhile, when the government launched a crackdown, Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reportedly left Islamabad in the early hours of November 27.

    Imran Khan has since instructed his party leaders and supporters to initiate a “civil disobedience” movement starting December 14.

    In a statement issued from his X account, Khan demanded the release of PTI workers and called for the formation of a five-member negotiation team.

    The team aims to discuss two key demands with the government: the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, and the release of all under-trial PTI workers.

    Khan outlined “two stages” for the proposed civil disobedience movement. In the first phase, he wrote, “We will appeal to overseas Pakistanis to limit remittances and initiate a boycott campaign. In the second phase, we will escalate further.”

    This, however, is not Khan’s first call for a civil disobedience movement. In 2014, he made a similar announcement during a 126-day sit-in in Islamabad, even famously burning his electricity bill on stage as a symbolic gesture.

    Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, while talking to journalists, explained the potential impact of a boycott by the Pakistani diaspora. She stated that Pakistan’s economic system “is actually sustained by the hard work of overseas Pakistanis.”

  • Kabhi haan kabhi na; Attaullah Tarar rules out govt-PTI talks

    Kabhi haan kabhi na; Attaullah Tarar rules out govt-PTI talks

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has ruled out reports that the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government was recently engaged in negotiations with the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).     

    In a telephonic interview with Geo News’ Shahzeb Khanzada, Attaullah Tarar said, “No meeting took place between PM Shehbaz Sharif and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq at the latter’s residence.”    

    The Minister’s remarks came after reports claimed that meetings took place between the National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and the former ruling party’s Asad Qaiser, Omer Ayub Khan and Chief Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza at the Speaker House in the federal capital yesterday.    

    Sources told Geo News that the meeting took place after telephone contact was established between Asad Qaiser and Ayaz Sadiq.      Following the “icebreaker” meeting, PTI and the government expressed willingness to sit together on the dialogue table with no preconditions ahead of Imran Khan’s civil disobedience movement call, the insiders claimed.    

    “They [PTI leadership] are looking to dodge their political failures. How can anyone trust the PTI or their guarantees,” Tarar asked.    

    Civil disobedience movement call  

    Imprisoned Imran Khan, on Thursday (November 5), warned the government on X (formerly Twitter) that his party would begin a “civil disobedience movement” if two demands were not met.    

    He demanded 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.     

    “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.    

    PTI ended its three-day-long march on Tuesday (November 26) after security forces initiated a crackdown on PTI demonstrators. However, after the protest march concluded, several casualties were reported, including the three Rangers personnel and a police official.    

    According to PTI, 12 party followers were dead. Meanwhile, the PML-N government denied that there were casualties.    

    Additionally, the former premier on Thursday post also announced a “grand gathering” in Peshawar on December 13 to “pay homage to the martyrs” that PTI believe were the victims of the state offensive grand operation during last week’s party protest at Islamabad, adding, “all opposition parties will be invited to attend.”

  • $250,000 compensation for Chinese nationals killed in Pakistan

    $250,000 compensation for Chinese nationals killed in Pakistan

    The federal cabinet on Wednesday decided to provide compensation of $250,000, equivalent to six crore ninety-five lac eighteen thousand nine hundred seventy-four rupees to Chinese nationals who were killed in Pakistan, The News reported.

    Pakistan is working on an online application (App) for Chinese nationals to register themselves and track their movements. China has proposed to establish a joint venture security company, and such a mechanism is currently under consideration, Interior Ministry officials told the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Planning Development.

    In a briefing to the National Assembly (NA) panel, the Director of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), Col. Usman, told the committee there were 20,000 Chinese nationals in Pakistan, including 2,700 who were working on CPEC projects and remaining on non-CPEC projects as well as those scattered in their individual capacity. The standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the security of Chinese nationals have been updated in recent months in consultation with the Chinese Embassy to provide foolproof security.

    Moreover, Nacta Director Colonel Usman informed the participants that a total of 14 terrorist attacks have occurred against Chinese nationals since 2021: two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), four in Balochistan and eight in Sindh. In these assaults, “20 Chinese were killed and 34 injured, while eight Pakistanis fell dead and 25 were injured,” he added.

    Furthermore, Nacta officials said Karachi was the primary target for terrorist organisations to cause damage to Chinese interests, noting, “Hostile Intelligence Agencies (HIAs) are the main director and financier of attacks on Chinese.”

    This came after two Chinese engineers returning to work on a project after a holiday in Thailand were dead in October’s airport bombing.

    The attack was claimed by the banned outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

    The committee was also informed that in the last ten months, 7,984 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted, including 3,882 in Punjab, 994 in Sindh, 2,807 in KP, 285 in Balochistan and 16 in ICT. In these operations, 206 terrorists were killed and 1,312 arrested.

    “There has been no direct terrorist attack on CPEC projects so far,” the Nacta director clarified.

    The committee was told that one per cent of the cost of CPEC projects was dedicated to security purposes, and two special security divisions of the army were deployed to secure CPEC projects. The Special Protection Unit (SPU) and Special Security Units were employed to protect Chinese nationals.

  • Will Gen Faiz Hamid’s case impact Imran Khan? Here’s what analysts are saying

    Will Gen Faiz Hamid’s case impact Imran Khan? Here’s what analysts are saying

    Days after former Director General (DG) Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) General (R) Faiz Hamid was indicted in multiple cases, political analyst Nusrat Javed has stated that former Premier Imran Khan could be questioned in relation to the cases the retired General is facing.

    Appearing on Public TV’s Khabar Nashar on Wednesday, Nusrat Javed claimed, “A message has been conveyed to the prisoner [Imran Khan] of Adiala Jail to prepare for questions related to Faiz Hamid’s inquiry.”

    Meanwhile, senior journalist Javed Chaudhry, on his YouTube channel, revealed that during his tenure as Prime Minister, Imran Khan had tasked Faiz Hamid, to make up a fake drug case against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah.

    Faiz Hamid had collected all information about Rana Sanaullah and placed Anti Narcotic Force (ANF) officials on his route to arrest him from the motorway on the drug case, said the senior journalist, adding, “The case was completely fabricated.”

    Meanwhile, Muneeb Farooq, while appearing on Geo News’ Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath on Wednesday night, claimed that the major charges against Faiz Hamid were linked to post-retirement involvement in political activities.

    “May 25, 2022 protest was orchestrated after consulting with Faiz Hamid.”

    Moreover, he also highlighted that there is a possibility that the former DG ISI’s confessional statements about his alleged involvement in political activities had been recorded or were being recorded with time.

    In the same talk show programme, senior journalist Umar Cheema stated that ex-spymaster Gen Faiz Hamid’s case would conclude very soon.

    On Tuesday (November 11), Ansar Abbasi claimed that Faiz Hamid was in contact with around 50 politicians- most belonging to PTI.

    The sources told Abbasi that prior to the arrest of Faiz Hamid, he was warned more than once by the military authorities about his post-retirement objectionable activities, but he did not stop.

    Gen Faiz Hamid arrest

    Lt Gen Faiz Hamid was arrested in August this year on the accusation of abusing his power and raiding a private property development business during his time as head of the ISI, a premier intelligence agency.

    He remained the Chief of ISI during the founder PTI Imran Khan’s administration, from 2019 to 2021, and retired early in December 2022.

    ISPR statement

    Former director general (DG) of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen (r) Faiz Hamid was formally charged with engaging in political activities and misusing his authority as the chief of the country’s premier intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported Tuesday.

    According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, the former spymaster was also charged for violating the Official Secrets Act, misusing authority and government resources, and causing wrongful losses to individuals.

    “These actions have compromised state security and interests,” ISPR added.

    According to the statement, the process of Hamid’s field general court-martial (FGCM) was initiated on August 12, under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act.

    Additionally, the military’s media wing said, the former spymaster’s role in creating agitation and unrest, including the May 9 riots, “in collusion with vested political interests”, was also being investigated.

    “Lt Gen (r) Faiz Hamid is being afforded with all legal rights as per the law,” it added.

  • ‘Don’t force us to take to streets again’: Gohar calls govt out over protesters’ deaths

    ‘Don’t force us to take to streets again’: Gohar calls govt out over protesters’ deaths

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has warned the government of further protests if the demand for an inquiry into the alleged deaths of party workers during last month’s Islamabad demonstrations was not met.

    “If shots were fired, then responsibility must be assigned. We demand that justice be served and that we get it through this House. Do not force us to take to streets again,” he said while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly.

    Barrister Gohar also called on the government to have the “courage to give answers”, saying that people will remember “the echo of bullets for generations”.

    The PTI chief was referring to party’s claimed death toll of 12 during violent clashes between workers and law enforcement during formers’ march on the federal capital in the last week of November. Protests had turned ugly amid heavy resistance from the authorities and a subsequent crackdown on PTI workers three days into the march.

    With conflicting reports on number of casualties pouring in, the government had reported six deaths, including four law enforcement personnel; whereas the PTI’s claimed toll ranged from 9 to over a whopping 200. No evidence, however, was brought forward by the opposition party to prove its claims as misinformation flooded the internet. The government also maintained that only non-lethal rounds were used to disperse the protesters.

    On Wednesday, Barrister Gohar declared that the demonstrators in Islamabad were peaceful and no one carried any weapons. They did not use “guerilla force”, he said in response to government claims of armed protesters attempting to lay siege on the capital.

    “They were Pakistani civilians. They did not have any training,” he asserted.

    Barrister Gohar also called out defence minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Khawaja Asif. “You have been in this parliament for more years than my age… is it becoming of you as a leader to say that no bullets were fired?”

    “This is not the time for revenge but you could have called for a case to be filed… for an investigation. These are your citizens and our citizens. We say it is our government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but all the people there are not just PTI’s. People from all ethnicities, all religions, and all political parties live there […] but we do not open fire at anyone,” he added.

    Gohar said that despite the government declaring PTI leaders and workers as miscreants, the party did not hit back by calling the PML-N “murderer league”.