Current Final

Category: Politics

  • PTI wants  EU to public report on February 8 polls

    PTI wants  EU to public report on February 8 polls

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded on Monday that the European Union (EU) publish a report on the February 8 general elections. 

    “The EU report on the elections should be made public,” PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

    Hasan confirmed that the EU delegation visited Pakistan before the elections and gave its report on the general elections directly to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    “The EU report is very sensitive and important,” he added. The party has repeatedly complained about alleged widespread rigging and manipulation of election results in last month’s general elections, stating that its mandate was’stolen’.

    The former ruling party’s founder, Imran Khan, had also written to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), calling on the global lender to hold an audit of the election results before approving any new loan for Islamabad—aa demand excused by the Washington-based lender, citing its “narrow mandate on economic issues” and saying that it does not comment on domestic political developments.

  • SC seeks details of military trials of civilians

    SC seeks details of military trials of civilians

    The Supreme Court (SC) has sought details of civilians being tried in military trials over their alleged role in May 9 riots. A six-member bench — led by Justice Aminuddin Khan and including Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Azhar Hasan Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan — heard a set of intra-court appeals (ICAs) against its Oct 23 unanimous ruling nullifying the military trials of civilians.

    The case references 103 civilians currently in army trials for their alleged involvement in attacks on army installations.
    It is important to note that last year, a five member bench had unanimously declared military trials of civilians as null and void.


    However, on December 13, ruling on an appeal filed by the then-caretaker federal government and provincial governments of Punjab, KPK, Balochistan, in a 5-1 majority verdict, the SC conditionally suspended its previous ruling.


    Recently, former CJP Jawad S. Khawaja, who is one of the petitioners to challenge military trials, had requested for an early hearing, stating that continued presence of civilians in military custody was worrying. His counsel also objected to the size of the bench saying, “It is my request to the court to urge the SC committee to constitute a nine-member bench.”

  • Police official transferred after stopping black window car of PML-N MPA

    Police official transferred after stopping black window car of PML-N MPA

    A police officer was transferred on Sunday for stopping the car of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Malik Waheed Awan.

    Sub-inspector Yasir and other officials halted Waheed’s vehicle with tinted windows while the MPA was inside the car.

    A video showing the conversation between the PML-N leader and police personnel surfaced online, where the politician can be heard saying, “I am Malik Waheed, not just an ordinary MPA.”

    Awan demanded an on-camera apology from the policeman. However, Sub-Inspector (SI) Yasir and officials apologised to MPA Malik Waheed. Later, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi transferred sub-inspector Yasir to the judicial wing.

    In a video statement, Malik Waheed stated that he had come to thank the trader’s community in the constituency after winning the election, but the police deliberately stopped his vehicle.

    The PML-N leader added that he is a police-friendly person and salutes the police.

  • Bajwa, Faiz Hameed didn’t violate constitution, says Khaqan Abbasi

    Bajwa, Faiz Hameed didn’t violate constitution, says Khaqan Abbasi

    Former prime minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said on Sunday that he didn’t ever seen former Army Chief General (R) Qamar Javed Bajwa and former Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. General (R) Faiz Hameed breach the constitution.

    Any wrongdoing should be addressed in a proper way, the former Prime Minister said on Samaa TV’s show “
    Do Tok with Kiran Naz. He also talked about different domestic issues and Pakistan’s relationship with other countries.

    Abbasi criticised the debate about Muhammad Aurangzeb’s selection as Finance Minister in the federal cabinet, emphasising the significance of competence rather than just party membership.

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also advocated for accountability and said that the establishment of a truth commission is necessary to keep the facts transparent.

    Abbasi also emphasised that the Prime Minister should chair the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to ensure quick and effective decision-making in economic affairs.

  • Sher Afzal Marwat faces off with PTI’s social media team over Shahid Afridi

    Sher Afzal Marwat faces off with PTI’s social media team over Shahid Afridi

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) maverick leader Sher Afzal Marwat and the party’s social media team are facing off on the issue of criticism of former cricketer Shahid Afridi.

    Ali Muhammad Khan is also upset with the behavior of the PTI social media team.

    Sher Afzal Marwat wrote on X, “Why Shahid Afridi? Now a campaign is going on against Shahid Afridi due to an alleged statement on May 9. I saw few statements attributed to me against Shahid Afridi. So we should reject fake news. I have not come across any such statement from Shahid Afridi and it seems that some elements are spreading false news against him. Shahid Afridi is a living legend, a Pashtun (Afridi) who became the hero of Pakistan.”

    “I am inspired by the Afridis with their many qualities and Shehryar and Shahid Afridi have always been my heroes. I know that Shahid Afridi holds Imran Khan in a high regard and the propaganda against Shahid Afridi seems to be in the hands of those who want to settle a personal score with him.”

    Talking about PTI’s social media team he said, “PTI social media teams are requested to spread good things about Shahid Afridi. We also need to react swiftly to false propaganda from PTI’s platform in future. Such unwitting participation in a malicious campaign against individuals should always be stopped as soon as possible. I personally confirm that the campaign against Shahid Afridi is false and futile and I deeply regret it.”

    On the other hand, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan has said, “The founder of PTI and Shahid Afridi are both national heroes. If Shahid Afridi’s words are not appropriate, it can be his personal opinion.”

    PTI’s social media activist Azhar Mashwani responded to Marwat’s statement about Shahid Afridi and said, “Marwat Sahib! This sentence of yours is reprehensible and should be deleted immediately, do not respond or comment on internal party talks on social media. You should avoid such action.”

  • Government planning to start second phase of Afghan repatriation

    Government planning to start second phase of Afghan repatriation

    The government of Pakistan has started preparing the second phase of a controversial repatriation drive, sending Afghans back to their homeland. District and police authorities have been tasked to map and collect all the relevant data of their locations across the country.

    Dawn has reported that authorities have been advised to expedite the mapping of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders. “We have already started the mapping process,” said Abid Majeed, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s additional chief secretary.
    “It will pick up pace after Ramazan and we hope to complete the survey before April 30,” he said.

    As of yet no date has been formally announced, however, an official told Dawn that it could begin in early to mid-summer, following approval from the federal government.

    Amnesty International has called on Pakistan to immediately stop and reverse its decision of sending back Afghan people back to their country.

    Pakistan began the repatriation process of “undocumented aliens” in November last year. The repatriation of Afghan refugees, which was part of the National Action Plan, has also now found its way into Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s 100-day working plan.

  • Pakistan to review trade ties with India, says FM Dar

    Pakistan to review trade ties with India, says FM Dar

    Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has stated that Pakistan will think about re-establishing trade relations with India, suspended since August 2019, when the Narendra Modi-led government ended the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

    “Pakistani businessmen want trade with India to resume,” the foreign minister said while addressing the media at the Pakistan High Commission in London at the end of his visit to the UK and Europe on Saturday.

    In August 2019, the Modi-led government unilaterally changed the special status of the occupied valley, causing Pakistan to downgrade its ties with India.

    In February 2021, despite the strained relationship between the two neighbours, Pakistan and India both agreed to renew the 2003 ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan has connected its choice to improve relations with India to the reinstatement of the special status of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

    Recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on becoming of prime minister of Pakistan.

    “Congratulations to [Shehbaz Sharif] on being sworn in as the prime minister of Pakistan,” Modi wrote in a brief message on X, formerly Twitter.

  • PTI denied permission for protest on March 30

    PTI denied permission for protest on March 30

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been denied permission by district authorities to hold a protest on March 30 in Islamabad. The party had reached out to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to get permission for holding a rally on March 30 after the district administration of Islamabad did not respond to the party’s request. However, the capital’s administration on Sunday finally refused to allow PTI to hold a public rally against alleged poll rigging in 2024 general elections, citing security concerns.

    The reply from the administration came after the deadline given to them by the IHC to take a decision on PTI’s request to stage a protest in the capital city.

    PTI’s regional president Aaamir Masood Mughal opined that his party would again approach the courts. “If you can’t provide security even in the capital, then you have no right to stay in the government,” he added.

    PTI also planned to hold a press briefing about the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) package, its consequences on the public and the economy on March 25.

  • Iran Ambassador fears US may hinder Pak-Iran gas pipeline project

    Iran Ambassador fears US may hinder Pak-Iran gas pipeline project

    Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Reza Amiri Moqaddam has said that the United States may create obstructions in the payment procedure of Pak-Iran gas project, however, both countries could find a solution to this.

    The Ambassador’s statement came after US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu, in a congressional hearing, gave caustic remarks regarding the gas pipeline project and emphasized that the US would try to halt the mega project.

    “I fully support the efforts by the US government to prevent this pipeline from happening,” he said during a congressional hearing on 19 March. “We are working toward that goal.”
    “We are tracking this planned pipeline between Iran and Pakistan … Honestly, I don’t know where the financing for such a project would come from. I don’t think that many international donors would be interested in funding such an endeavor,” the US official added, highlighting that the White House “will uphold both in letter and spirit all sanction laws related to Iran.”

    The Iranian envoy pointed out that Iran had already completed its side of the agreement by constructing a 1,000 kilometers gas pipeline on its side and Pakistan had yet to start it. “The Iranian gas pipeline is in the wider interest of people of both countries,” he added.

  • Is Aurangzeb being pushed in background to give Dar more control?

    Is Aurangzeb being pushed in background to give Dar more control?

    In a surprising move, the Finance Minister of Pakistan finds himself cut from two major financial decision-making committees, while paving the way for a much bigger role in financial matters for Ishaq Dar, Express Tribune has reported.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reshuffled four cabinet committees. As a result, Finance Minister Aurangzeb now heads only one committee instead of three.
    PM Shehbaz kept the chairmanship of the very important Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet instead of giving the Finance Minister the portfolio.

    Meanwhile, the PM has given Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar the chairmanship of Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCOP) – a post normally headed by the Finance Minister of the country.

    Tribune reported that there was some apprehension within the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) regarding the appointment of Aurangzeb as the Finance Minister and it was decided within the party leadership that Dar would stay in charge of economic affairs but in a different capacity.

    Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb now chairs only the Cabinet Committee on State-owned Enterprises (CCoSOEs).