Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Pakistan says no to talks with Taliban

    Pakistan says no to talks with Taliban

    Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that Pakistan is not engaged in peace talks with the proscribed group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), emphasising that neither does it plan to hold such talks in future.

    She remarked in a press briefing, “I will reiterate what we have said in the past. Pakistan is not holding any talks with the terrorist organisation, the TTP. We have no plans to hold these talks with TTP.”

    Recently, a video gained traction on social media showing the Afghan deputy interior minister advising Pakistan to resolve issues with TTP through talks because Pakistani military could not win this war. He also underscored that TTP does not enjoy public support at all that is why they should mediate with Pakistani authorities too.

    When asked about the Afghan minister’s comments, Baloch replied, “Islamabad expects the Afghan authorities to take action against these terror groups and their leadership for the crimes they are committing and terrorist attacks for which they are responsible in Pakistan.”

    The strong statement came after a terror attack in Shangla targeted Chinese nationals. CTD’s investigation hints that the attack was planned in Afghanistan.

  • Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman elected as new emir of Jamaat-e-Islami

    Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman elected as new emir of Jamaat-e-Islami

    Prominent politician Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman has been elected as the new emir of Jamaat-e-Islami for the next five years on Thursday.

    JI Central Information Secretary Qaisar Sharif said that during the recent intra-party polls, almost 45,000 party members cast their votes to elect a new emir.

    “Naeem received over 80 percent of the votes and became the sixth emir of the party,” he added.

    Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman will remain the party chief till 2029, the party’s information secretary confirmed.

  • Indian government involved in killing of Pakistani nationals

    Indian government involved in killing of Pakistani nationals

    The Indian government has been involved in killing people in Pakistan since its adoption of a recent strategy to eliminate threats to Indian governments on foreign soil.

    A report printed in The Guardian revealed that India’s foreign intelligence agency allegedly began killing ‘hostiles’ as part of its new national security strategy in 2019, after the Pulwama attack in India when it was decided in Indian security circles that they needed a pre-emptive strategy.

    Recently, intelligence officials in Pakistan claimed almost 20 killings have been committed by Indian government on Pakistani soil. Mostly, people related to the Khalistani movement or Kashmir militant groups, have been targeted.

    Indian officials also stated that their new rogue strategy was inspired by the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Turkish soil. “What the Saudis did was very effective. You not only get rid of your enemy but send a chilling message, a warning to the people working against you,” he said.

    The killings in Pakistan are carried out by Indian intelligence sleeper cells in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). For instance, in the case of killing of Shahid Latif, the commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed, there were many failed attempts to kill him but ultimately it was an illiterate 20-year-old Pakistani who carried out the assassination in Pakistan in October, allegedly recruited by RAW in the UAE, where he was working for a minimal salary in an Amazon packing warehouse.

  • Kakar out, Gillani in; PPP takes final decision

    Kakar out, Gillani in; PPP takes final decision

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has nominated former prime minister and party loyalist Yousaf Raza Gillani as its candidate for the slot of Senate Chairman on Thursday.

    Jamil Soomro, political secretary of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, issued a notification on Thursday, putting to rest all speculation that the party will nominate another former Prime Minister, Anwaar Kakar, for the covered post.

    Following an agreement between the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on certain positions, like the post of president, Senate chairman, and governorship of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were given to the PPP. However, the posts of Senate deputy chairman, National Assembly speaker, and governorship of Sindh and Balochistan were provided to PML-N.

    The former prime minister has the support of a total 54 senators, including 24 from the PPP, 19 from PML-N, four from the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), three from the Awami National Party (ANP), three independents, and one from the National Party.

    However, if he gets the support of three MQM-P and five JUI-F senators, this number will become 64, which means Yousaf Raza Gillani will be in a comfortable position to get elected to the seat of Senate Chairman.

    On the other hand, the PTI has the support of 20 senators and one each from the BNP and PML-Q, taking the tally to 22.

  • Doctor refutes allegations of poisoning Bushra Bibi

    Doctor refutes allegations of poisoning Bushra Bibi

    Doctor Asim, Bushra Bibi’s physician, has said that she’s not being poisoned, contrary to her recent allegations.

    Former First Lady Bushra Bibi had earlier alleged that her food was poisoned due to which she was in poor health.
    She is currently incarcerated in a sub-jail at her husband Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence where she had passed the remarks.

    On Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership demanded that a full medical checkup of Bibi should be conducted. Even Imran Khan, former Prime Minister, told the court that his wife was being poisoned and that she had marks on her skin and tongue.

    He also requested in court that Dr Asim Yunus of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre should medically examine Bushra Bibi.

    Today, her physician Dr Asim examined her and briefed the media that there were no symptoms of food poisoning at the moment.

    He stated that Bushra Bibi’s health was not 100 per cent fine and detailed tests should be done. “If there was anything two months ago, I did not see it but her health is better now,” Dr Asim declared.

  • Iss dafa Parliament se bahir nahin jayenge; PTI changes protests strategy

    Iss dafa Parliament se bahir nahin jayenge; PTI changes protests strategy

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Wednesday that his party- along with allies in opposition- is planning a protest however rather than playing fractious politics, this time his party will be taking the parliamentary route.

    Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, the PTI chairman said that the party was in talks with a few parties in the opposition like Jamaat-i-Islami, BNP-Mengal, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen which would continue after Eidul Fitr break.

    When the chairman was asked about his party’s strategy for staging protests, he emphasized that PTI would not go for a sit-in, or a boycott of parliament even though they believe that their mandate has been stolen.

    “It is everyone’s demand that elections should never be rigged. The people vote for someone and someone else comes to power, this shouldn’t happen,” he said, explaining the reasons behind the protest movement.

    This decision can be seen as a significant shift from past party politics for the last decade.

  • Tehreek e Namoos Pakistan sends threatening letters to SC

    Tehreek e Namoos Pakistan sends threatening letters to SC

    After arriving at the doorsteps of Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges, letters containing suspicious powdery substance and threatening messages have been sent to the four Supreme Court (SC) judges – including Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.

    Importantly, on the same day four judges of Lahore High Court received the threatening letter as well containing suspicious powdery substance.

    The suspicious powder was suspected to be anthrax.

    The letter sent to the SC jurists read, “You people at the Supreme court of Pakistan are pretending to do justice since the inception of this country. Year after year this country is pluming into chaos, poverty, corruption and disorder. SCP was supposed to be the final and ultimate check for all that is wrong in our holy country instead it became very part of the problem and rescuer of evil.”

    It further said, “Judges, Generals and politicians are the curse and disease of motherland. We Tehreek e Namoos e Pakistan say NO More…”

    Tehreek e Namoos Pakistan (TNP) is a relatively new militant group whose name emerged once before last year. It was when a team of the Wild Life Department discovered explosives and maps related to sensitive installations of the Red Zone at Margalla hills, on Trail 5 of Islamabad, September 17 2023.

  • Change culture of lying, accusations’, Maryam wants speedy trials in defamation cases

    Change culture of lying, accusations’, Maryam wants speedy trials in defamation cases

    The Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz presided over the fifth session of the provincial cabinet on April 3.

    The cabinet approved the creation of special speedy trial courts across the province aimed at the expedition of cases related to the physical and sexual assault of children.

    Furthermore, the cabinet was briefed on the proposed amendments to the defamation laws and the establishment of speedy trial courts in defamation cases as well.

    A bill is set to be presented in the Punjab Assembly which would aim to issue decree within ninety days and most importantly completion of trial within 180 days in defamation cases.

    “The culture of lying and accusation will have to be changed,” said Maryam Nawaz in the session.

    It was also observed that the notices in defamation cases could be given through major newspapers, social media, and courier services following the passage of the bill.

  • Rana Sanaullah says Imran Khan sentences won’t sustain

    Rana Sanaullah says Imran Khan sentences won’t sustain

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah has said that the convictions against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan before the elections damaged the ruling party PML-N.

    He stated that either of the sentences awarded to Khan would not “sustain” before an honest judge.

    “The cases in which the PTI founder was sentenced significantly damaged us [PML-N] in the elections due to the victim card used by the PTI. The manner in which the case proceedings were held and the sentences were awarded, they would not sustain before a judge who upholds principles of justice,” Sanaullah said while speaking to Kamran Shahid on Dunya News.

    Sanaullah even said that either the judge would remand back the case or could even exonerate Mr Khan and further said that his party would have no objection if he got a bail.

    Former interior minister Sanaullah was also of the opinion that PTI took advantage of its victim card and also pushed the country into a crisis – which PML-N government now has to look after.

  • ‘Kisi ka koyi aur agenda hai…woh chief justice bun jayein’, CJ Isa says won’t allow attack on judiciary

    ‘Kisi ka koyi aur agenda hai…woh chief justice bun jayein’, CJ Isa says won’t allow attack on judiciary

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa has said during the hearing of Supreme Court’s Suo moto notice taken on the Islamabad High Court judges’ letter that, “There is zero tolerance on the independence of judiciary.”

    The hearing is being conducted by a seven-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising six other judges — Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.

    CJP Isa remarked, “Judges must be sure that they are not in danger.” He also emphasized that he could not exercise contempt power in any other court because “the court which is in contempt will exercise this power itself.”

    Importantly, the lawyers had demanded a full court in the suo moto case to which CJP raised an important point that where were these lawyers when not a single meeting of the full court was conducted in four years.

    The chief justice said: “My colleagues and I will stand before any attack on the independence of judiciary.”