Current Final

Category: Politics

  • PPP stops Punjab chapter from making alliance with PTI for senate elections

    PPP stops Punjab chapter from making alliance with PTI for senate elections

    PPP’s top leadership has prevented its provincial chapter from attempting to persuade Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to form a non-political alliance in the upcoming Senate election.

    PPP Punjab chapter suggested forming an electoral alliance with PTI for women and technocrat seats in Punjab.

    The PTI proposed it to the special committee of the PPP after receiving a conditional offer. They asked the PPP to vote for Yasmin Rashid.

    Sources told SAMMA that in return, the PPP offered to support Faiza Malik in women’s seats. 

    PPP instructed the party leadership in Punjab to form an alliance with the political allies Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) instead of PTI.

  • PTI decides to march against alleged poll rigging

    PTI decides to march against alleged poll rigging

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced to stage a protest against the alleged rigging in the 2024 general elections. The incarcerated founder of the party Imran Khan believes that the mandate was stolen from people and post-poll rigging was rampant.

    According to them, election results were changed in the Form 47s compared to Form 45s to benefit the current ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
    PTI member and the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) also said “The incumbent government at the Centre has been formed after stealing PTI’s 180 seats.”

    Previously, the party had sought permission from the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad to lawfully stage a protest in the capital city but received no reply. After this, they reached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to be allowed to hold a rally. It is believed that they wanted to stage the protest on Pakistan Day but later decided against it and set the date to March 30.

    Imran Khan’s party is also set to hold a press briefing on the impacts of upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) package on the general public on March 25.

  • Court wants Imran Khan, Qureshi presented before judge

    Court wants Imran Khan, Qureshi presented before judge

    A district and sessions court approved a request on Friday to bring Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi to court. The court directed authorities to make sure that the politicians appear in court on April 20th.

    Judicial Magistrate Mureed Abbas heard the petition for the production of evidence in the Parliament attack case involving Imran Khan and others. During the hearing, Naeem Panjotha, the lawyer representing the former prime minister, presented his arguments.

    The lawyer argued that the Superintendent of Adiala jail does not obey the order of any court. He insisted the court ensure that jail officials adhere to the orders and produce Khan.

    He also said that jail authorities come up with excuses and don’t even arrange for a video link hearing for the PTI founder.

    The judicial magistrate, following Panjotha’s arguments, said Khan is in Adiala jail and the situation is different, and while the option of video link is there, the attendance takes place in the e-court.

  • Gandapur gets bail; arrest warrants suspended

    Gandapur gets bail; arrest warrants suspended

    An Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad has given permission for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to be granted pre-arrest bail in the judicial complex vandalism case. Meanwhile, the Sessions Court has stopped his arrest warrants in cases filed at Bani Gala and Golra police stations in Islamabad.

    The ATC granted Gandapur interim bail until April 17, approving his pre-arrest bail request.

    Gandapur’s lawyer Raja Zahoorul Hassan told the court his client was named in the first information report (FIR), but he had no role in the vandalism incident as he was not present on the scene. The lawyer further revealed that despite facing 50 FIRs, Gandapur was not even being allowed to reach the court.

    However, Gandapur turned himself in to the Sessions Court in Islamabad, which led to the cancellation of the arrest warrants issued against him in cases filed at Bani Gala and Golra police stations.

  • One Sailor martyred in operation against illegal Indian fishermen

    One Sailor martyred in operation against illegal Indian fishermen

    A Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) ship, patrolling Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), came into contact with eight Indian fishing vessels that were engaging in illegal fishing activities within the boundaries of Pakistani waters.

    A Pakistani sailor was martyred and two Indian fishermen went missing at sea, the PMSA statement said on Thursday. To escape the Pakistani authorities, one of the illegal fishing boats started speeding back towards Indian waters. During the intense pursuit, the vessel remained out of the authorities’ reach despite warnings to halt.

    “Eventually, the fishing vessel slowed down, allowing the PMSA ship’s boarding team to embark,” said the statement. “However, after PMSA personnel were on the fishing vessel, it suddenly accelerated speed and altered its heading, thereby colliding with the PMSA ship. Consequently, the fishing vessel capsized and sank with all personnel on-board i.e. PMSA boarding team and fishermen, being thrown into sea.”

    Following this, the fishing vessel sank and PMSA ship acted swiftly, rescuing five out of seven Indian fishermen and four of its own personnel.
    “However, regrettably, one PMSA sailor, Muhammad Rehan, later embraced martyrdom while two remaining Indian fishermen are still missing at sea.”

  • SC declares dismissal of former IHC judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui unlawful.

    SC declares dismissal of former IHC judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui unlawful.

    The Supreme Court on Friday ruled the dismissal of former Islamabad High Court (IHC) senior judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui as illegal, issuing directions that he may now be considered a retired judge.

    The decision was announced by a five-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Irfan Saadat. The bench had reserved the verdict on Aziz’s plea in January this year.

    In his petition, the former judge challenged the decision of Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) removing him from office and an Oct 11, 2018 notification because of which he was dismissed for a controversial speech he had delivered at Rawalpindi Bar Association.

    In his speech, Aziz blamed the country’s premier spy agency ISI of illegally using their influence to manipulate the court proceedings and forming their choice of benches in cases related to indictment of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

    However, since the court noticed that since the former judge had attained the age of 62 years, he would not be able to resume his previous service as a judge. “Consequently, Justice Siddiqui shall be deemed to have retired as a judge of the IHC and he will be entitled to receive all the benefits and privileges due to a retired judge, by allowing these petitions in the above term,” it stated.

  • Zardari wants to use presidential protection in NAB cases

    Zardari wants to use presidential protection in NAB cases

    President Asif Ali Zardari has filed for Presidential immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution in two National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases. The clause provides protection to high-ranking state officials from all legal proceedings in court for any action taken by them during their terms in office.

    In the Park Lane Case, Mr Zardari is accused of allegedly using his influence to extract loans from the state exchequer for dummy corporations during his term as the President from 2008 to 2013. It is important to note that Mr Zardari, along with his sister and several other business associates, are accused in this case as well. However, the Presidential immunity only protects Mr Zardari.

    The other NAB case is known as the Thatta Water Supply reference in which Asif Ali Zardari and others are accused of illegally awarding different contracts to private contractors. Zardari’s counsel emphasized that President Zardari’s status as the country’s elected head granted him immunity from legal action, thus rendering the continuation of the case against him untenable.

    The accountability court has since issued a notice to the NAB, seeking a response to Mr Zardari’s application for immunity by April 22.

    President Asif Ali Zardari has filed for Presidential immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution in two National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases. The clause provides protection to high-ranking state officials from all legal proceedings in court for any action taken by them during their terms in office.

    In the Park Lane Case, Mr Zardari is accused of allegedly using his influence to extract loans from the state exchequer for dummy corporations during his term as the President from 2008 to 2013. It is important to note that Mr Zardari, along with his sister and several other business associates, are accused in this case as well. However, the Presidential immunity only protects Mr Zardari.

    The other NAB case is known as the Thatta Water Supply reference in which Asif Ali Zardari and others are accused of illegally awarding different contracts to private contractors. Zardari’s counsel emphasized that President Zardari’s status as the country’s elected head granted him immunity from legal action, thus rendering the continuation of the case against him untenable.

    The accountability court has since issued a notice to the NAB, seeking a response to Mr Zardari’s application for immunity by April 22.

  • Two army officials martyred in suicide blast in DI Khan

    Two army officials martyred in suicide blast in DI Khan

    The military’s media wing reported on Friday that a suicide blast on a convoy resulted in the deaths of two soldiers who embraced martyrdom. 

    The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that a suicide bomber detonated himself near a convoy on Thursday.

    “Resultantly, two brave sons of soil, Naib Subedar Yasir Shakeel, 38, resident of District Kohat, and Sepoy Tahir Naveed, 34, resident of District Kohat, embraced shahadat (martyrdom),” the ISPR said.

    The military’s media wing also said that security forces are committed to eliminating the terrorism from the country.

    “Moreover, the perpetrators of this cowardly attack will be brought to justice,” it said.

    On the other hand, armed forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Panjgur district on Thursday, during which one terrorist was killed and two others sustained injuries, the ISPR said.

  • Drama stirs up as Khan’s presence in  Punjab Assembly takes stage

    Drama stirs up as Khan’s presence in  Punjab Assembly takes stage

    Imran Khan, incarcerated founder of PTI, caused chaos in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday as a portrait of the former prime minister was placed on the opposition leader’s seat, leading to disorder in the house. Members of the treasury walked out after the chair refused to take any action.

    During Thursday’s budget session, which resumed after a two-day break, Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar chaired the session. PML-N lawmakers Malik Waheed and Bilal Yameen protested when they saw Mr. Khan’s portrait on opposition leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachhar’s seat.

    On a point of order, they demanded the chair remove the portrait of a person “who has been convicted by a court of law and is still behind bars.” They claimed that bringing the picture of a convict into the house was against assembly rules.

    The chair advised the protesters to join the budget session instead of raising objections. However, the two PML-N members kept protesting, interrupting the session. They then left when the deputy speaker didn’t make a decision about the portrait.

  • IMF wants Pakistan to increase petrol prices

    IMF wants Pakistan to increase petrol prices

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) conveyed to the Pakistani authorities that while the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) has considerably increased in recent years, the taxation of petroleum products has declined since 2019. “The relatively low rate of taxation of petrol is also reflected in the sale price relative to other countries.” The IMF emphasized that there is a difference of gasoline prices when compared to selected neighboring countries and emerging economies.

    The average 2023 price of gasoline at the pump was $1.12 per litre against $0.97 per litre in Pakistan. The IMF report said that taking off the exemption of petroleum products under the Sales Tax would increase prices by 18% with the standard rate of General Sales Tax.
    Moreover, the IMF has also recommended in its Technical Assistance Report with the Pakistani authorities to raise taxes on domestically manufactured automobiles and on luxury goods such as yachts. It also said to increase border control to stop smuggling of oil derivatives.

    Pakistan faces a problem of smuggling especially on it Western borders with both Iran and Afghanistan. A 2023 Civil Intelligence Agency report exposed that Pakistan faced loss of more than Rs. 60 billion annually due to smuggling of more than 2.81 billion litres of oil from Iran to Pakistan, as per the report of Business Recorder.

    The Fund also recommended the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to tax e-cigarettes equal to tobacco in the country.