Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘Imran Khan won’t return to power’: Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    ‘Imran Khan won’t return to power’: Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    While talking to the media after attending a training convention as the chief guest at Jamia Uloom-i-Sharia, Jamiat Ulama e Islam (Fazlur Rehman) emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman said,

    “It is out of the question that Imran, who is a product of a fake and bogus election, will return to power again.”

    He further said, “He has been disqualified because of his performance; his disqualification is a direct result of his own rule, governance, and policies.”

    He added that many in PTI are booked in several cases and will have to clear their names from cases pending in courts if they wish to contest the elections.

    While talking about general elections, he raised concerns over holding elections in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at a time when they face extreme winters.

    “In January, weather would be harsh in Chitral, Khuzdar, and other parts of KP and Balochistan,” he said, adding that despite concerns, his party won’t demand any delay in polls.

    The JUI-F is ready to contest elections whenever the Election Commission announces a date, he said, adding that he is against the philosophy of “Caretaker Government”.

    “I don’t recognize the caretaker government because in [this] government, ‘caretakers’ are someone else,” he said in an apparent reference to the establishment.

  • Inquiry launched into killing of four villagers during operation in Sakrand

    Inquiry launched into killing of four villagers during operation in Sakrand

    Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, has on Saturday initiated an inquiry into the tragic incident in Sakrand, where four villagers lost their lives during a law enforcement operation. The CM has called for a comprehensive report on the incident within four days.

    The operation, carried out by law enforcement agencies, aimed to apprehend militants associated with the banned Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army. In the course of the operation, four individuals were killed, and nine others, including four Rangers personnel, sustained injuries. A Rangers spokesman released a statement mentioning that the operation was intelligence-based and targeted high-value individuals, as per Dawn.

    However, Sindh United Party (SUP) Secretary General Roshan Burriro claimed that those killed were supporters and revealed that a confrontation had ensued between security forces and villagers. The situation escalated when law enforcement officers opened fire, resulting in tragic deaths and injuries.

    Subsequently, grieving villagers staged a protest and blocked a section of the National Highway while carrying the coffins of the deceased individuals.

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) took to X (former Twitter) to demand an independent investigation into the incident, emphasizing the importance of justice for the affected families.

    “The deaths of at least four people, killed allegedly by law enforcement agencies during a security operation in a village near #Sarkand in Sindh, must be investigated independently. While the government should take all possible steps to improve law and order in the province, this in no way excuses extrajudicial killings, which HRCP has always opposed. We urge the caretaker chief minister to take notice of this incident. Those families currently protesting in Sarkand deserve justice. Additionally, the whereabouts of Liaquat Jalbani, a student initially in the custody of law enforcement personnel, who was brought to the village when this incident took place, must be established.”

    CM Baqar firmly stated that such incidents should not occur and formed a three-member committee to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter, with a mandate to deliver its findings within four days.

    The Sindh Home Department has issued an order appointing Hyderabad Commissioner Khalid Hyder Shah to lead the inquiry committee, assisted by the Shaheed Benazirabad deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and Karachi DIG Special Branch. The committee’s task is to ascertain the causes behind the clash that resulted in the loss of lives and injuries to law enforcement personnel.

    Protest by the families and relatives of the deceased villagers came to an end after the initiation of the judicial inquiry and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).

    The FIR was filed under Sections 302 (intentional murder) and 324 (murder attempt) of the Pakistan Penal Code based on the complaint of Rahib Jalbani, the brother of one of the deceased individuals. According to the FIR, the security officials arrived at a house in the village and accused those present of being terrorists before opening fire. The complainant’s brother and another individual died on the spot, while several others were injured.

    SUP President Syed Zain Shah clarified that the deceased villagers were not politically affiliated, and their bodies will be laid to rest following a funeral in the village. He also mentioned that the villagers agreed to end their protest after authorities committed to conducting a judicial inquiry.

    SUP leaders highlighted that the villagers were ready to visit and inquire about the health of injured Rangers personnel, expressing concern that labeling the villagers as terrorists was a significant stigma. Law enforcement officers had claimed they had acted based on information about miscreants in the area.

  • Nawaz Sharif believes in divine justice: Ishaq Dar

    Nawaz Sharif believes in divine justice: Ishaq Dar

    Former finance minister Ishaq Dar has said in a major policy statement on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) narrative that Nawaz Sharif has left his matters to Allah to punish his tormentors and those who threw him out of power using illegal, vindictive, and unethical means, as reported by Geo News.

    It is pertinent to remember that on September 22, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif conveyed that former army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Gen Faiz Hameed, Saqib Nisar, and Asif Saeed Khosa should be brought to justice.

    When asked about Sharif’s stance on individuals such as former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) ex-director general Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, and the Panama judges, Dar reiterated Sharif’s commitment to leaving his fate in the hands of Allah. Dar mentioned how various individuals who were perceived as unjustly targeting Sharif have faced exposure and accountability, highlighting Judge Arshed Malik’s video confession and Justice Shaukat Siddiqui’s revelations.

    Dar said: “There are two choices: take revenge and personal scores settlement or fix the country and the economy. Nawaz Sharif has left his matter to Allah the Almighty. I have never seen in history that nature has exposed culprits in such a short time. Look how Judge Arshed Malik made his video confession of unfairly convicting Nawaz Sharif, how Justice Shaukat Siddiqui exposed injustice to Nawaz Sharif and informed the nation. This has happened in the fastest manner because Nawaz Sharif had left his matter with Allah and Allah is the best of judges.”

    Dar said that Sharif’s focus, upon his return to Pakistan, will be on nation-building, to help the country come out of the crisis, to bring economic progress and reforms, to bring prosperity to the nation and to reduce the difficulties of the masses, to put Pakistan on the path of progress.

    Dar said: “Allah has exposed them and Allah will hold them accountable too. Some are hiding, some are on the run and some are unable to show their faces. This is happening thanks to Allah’s justice and today the whole world knows that these were fraudulent and false cases against Nawaz Sharif; that he was victimised and the nation of Pakistan paid a price for this. The biggest victim in all this is Pakistan, the progress of Pakistan has been pushed back many decades as Pakistan has become the 4th economy of the world today and under Nawaz Sharif, it was the 24th economy of the world. This is the sum total of the destruction of Pakistan.”

    He further said: “The formation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is a step in the right direction. All stakeholders are part of it. The vehicle needed for it is already formed in the shape of the Pakistan sovereign wealth fund. Lots of sub-funds will be formed under it. These are revolutionary steps. If we win elections, I have no doubt that Pakistan will take off again.”

    Speaking to journalists after meeting Sharif and Maryam Nawaz at Thornhope House, both Shehbaz Sharif and Dar said that the narrative of PML-N will be defined by the fact that Pakistan progressed under Nawaz from 2013 till 2017 and then his govt was dislodged and the journey of Pakistan’s economic progress was halted.

    “The programme is final for October 21 and Mian Nawaz Sharif is returning to Pakistan,” Dar told the media.
    Dar will be returning to Pakistan on Saturday. He said he would appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the re-opened assets beyond means case.

    He said: “This is a false case, based on falsehood and lies. I have not missed my tax returns for a second in my life but lies as big as mountains were told about me to victimise me by the Saqib Nisar-led system in order to bring in Imran Khan projects which have failed badly. I will prove before the courts that I am an innocent man who has been victimised on political grounds.”

  • FIA submits challan against PTI leaders in cipher case

    FIA submits challan against PTI leaders in cipher case

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed a challan against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case on Saturday.


    The agency asked the court to hold the two at trial and sentence them, claiming that the former prime minister and vice chairman were found guilty in the matter.


    According to Geo’s sources, Asad Umar, former PTI secretary-general, was not included on the list of suspects. Azam Khan, formerly Imran Khan’s principal secretary, has been referred to as a “strong witness” in the case.


    The FIA also included Azam Khan’s confessions made under Sections 161 and 164 with the challan that Imran Khan keep the cipher to himself and used against the state.
    Last month, FIA booked Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi under official secret act for misusing and misplacing classified document for their political interests.


    “Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in the secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” read the first information report (FIR) registered against the PTI leaders.

  • Who hasn’t paid house rent for the last 12 years?

    Who hasn’t paid house rent for the last 12 years?

    Janay kab hongay kum, PTI leadership ki zindagi kay gham

    The owner of ‘Insaf House’, PTI headquarters in Karachi, who rented the place to PTI leadership, has approached a court to seek unpaid rent worth more than Rs 10 million accumulated over the past 12 years, as per Geo News.

    Dues calculated till July 2023 are Rs 13.9 million. The rent agreement was signed between the landlord and PTI’s late leader Naeem ul Haque, President Arif Alvi, and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail. Meanwhile, Firdous Shamim Naqvi and Samar Ali Khan signed the agreement as ‘guarantors’.

    Under the rental agreement, PTI leaders including Alvi, Ismail and Haque had agreed to pay Rs100,000 in rent each month.
    Party leaders, including President Arif Alvi, might face legal consequences after the owner filed a case under section 15 of the Sindh Rental Ordinance Act 1969.

    As per the documents, PTI leadership not only faces legal consequences due to unpaid rent but also might face charges for violating the agreement’s clause that prohibited any political activities at the premises.

    If the case is decided in favor of the landlord, Alvi, Ismail, and the guarantors might even face disqualification.

    PTI had moved the court to de-seal the Insaf House after it was cordoned off following the May 9 riots. The court directed authorities to de-seal the party’s office and barred any gathering of more than five people at the premises.

  • Former FIA chief joins PML-N

    The ex-Director General (DG) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Bashir Memon joined Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday.
    The former FIA chief has assumed the role of convener for the 12-member committee established by Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz within the PML-N Sindh. This committee’s purpose is to facilitate Nawaz Sharif’s welcome arrangements upon his return home next month.


    Apart from Memon, the committee tasked with ensuring the attendance of party workers in welcoming the PML-N leader includes Muhammad Zubair, Nehal Hashmi, and Kheeal Das Kohistani.


    The party is preparing for a grand reception for Nawaz — who is set to return to Pakistan on October 21 — and plans to hold a massive rally of one million people in their stronghold — Lahore.
    The development comes after Raja Riaz, who was formerly the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly (NA), made the decision to join the Nawaz-led party, after meeting the former Prime Minister in London.

  • You can’t get 100-page passports now

    You can’t get 100-page passports now

    The government has announced a temporary suspension on the issuance of passports with 100 pages. A statement issued by the Passport office expresses regret for the inconvenience and clarifies that this decision is part of the Directorate General (DG) of Immigration and Passports’ plan to introduce electronic passports (e-passports) nationwide.

    The transition initially began in Islamabad and has since been extended to all passport offices across the country following the federal government’s introduction of e-passports in June.

    As of August 16, 2023, new fee schedules have been implemented for e-passports, while fees for standard passports will remain unchanged.

    Here are the updated fee details for e-passports:

    1. For a standard 36-page passport valid for 5 years, the cost is set at Rs. 9,000.
    2. An urgent e-passport option is available for Rs. 15,000.
    3. A 72-page e-passport for regular processing will cost Rs. 16,500.
    4. Urgent service for the 72-page e-passport is priced at Rs. 27,000.
    5. If you opt for a 36-page passport with a 10-year validity, the normal fee is Rs. 13,500.
    6. The urgent service for this passport type costs Rs. 22,500.
    7. Additionally, a 72-page passport with a 10-year validity will incur a standard fee of Rs. 24,750, with an urgent processing fee of Rs. 40,500.

    The government’s decision to temporarily suspend the issuance of 100-page passports is in line with their efforts to streamline passport services and introduce more secure electronic passports to enhance the travel experience for Pakistani citizens.

  • Four dead, 12 Injured in a suicide blast in Hungu Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    Four dead, 12 Injured in a suicide blast in Hungu Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    An explosion in a mosque in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has caused four fatalities, including a police officer, and injuries to 12 individuals on Friday, local authorities have confirmed.

    The incident took place within the confines of Doaba Police Station during the Friday sermon, when a large number of worshippers gathered at the mosque for their weekly prayers.

    Hangu District Police Officer (DPO) Nisar Ahmed reported that a group of 30–40 individuals is currently trapped beneath the debris after the mosque’s roof collapsed, and an operation is underway to rescue them.

    Ahmed said two suicide bombers were involved in the attack; one targeted the gate of the police station, and the other blew himself up inside the mosque.

    He mentioned that the 12 individuals who were saved from the debris have been transferred to a nearby hospital.

    Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has taken notice and instructed officials to declare a state of emergency in all city hospitals.

  • 50 martyred in Mastung mosque blast

    50 martyred in Mastung mosque blast

    An explosion in Balochistan’s Mastung district on Friday has resulted in the deaths of at least 50 individuals, including a police officer, and left over dozens others injured. This marks the second major blast in the district in September.

    Mastung Assistant Commissioner Atta Ul Munim has stated that the explosion occurred near the mosque where individuals had gathered to commemorate Eid Miladun Nabi, which is the celebration of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

    The AC stated that the explosion, believed by law enforcement to be a suicide blast, took place near the Madina Mosque. He also mentioned that there were plans for people to participate in a procession afterward.

    Provincial Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai said that “the provincial government will bear all the expenses for the treatment of the injured”.

    This marks the second significant blast that has struck fear into the Mastung region in the past 15 days. In the previous blast on September 14, Hafiz Hamdullah, a leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), and numerous others sustained injuries.

    UK high commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott has condemned the blast in Mastung and she said in her tweet on X that ” Balochistan. Violence has no place in our world. My heart goes out to the victims and their families during this incredibly difficult time”.

    https://twitter.com/JaneMarriottUK/status/1707694012365246686

  • PTI leaders arrested in Gawadar

    PTI leaders arrested in Gawadar

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leader Farrukh Habib, along with eight other people, have been arrested in Gwadar by security forces.

    Balochistan Caretaker Minister for Information Jan Achakzai confirmed the arrests to Dawn.

    Security personnel in plain clothes conducted a raid and arrested Farrukh Habib and eight other people from a local hotel in Gawadar after they got a tip-off. Habib was minister of state for information in the PTI government and president of PTI’s western Punjab wing.

    Those arrested in the raid include Habib’s brother and father-in-law, who were taken to an unknown place after their arrest.

    “The PTI leader reached Gwadar along with his brother, father-in-law and six other people to cross into Iran from Gwadar,” Mr Achakzai told Dawn.

    Habib, his brother and father-in-law have been shifted to an unknown place while six other people were handed over to Gawadar police, who have been released on bail after initial investigation.

    Those released on bail were: Jawad Ehsan Raza, Muhammad Mohsin, Abdul Jabbar, Muhammad Nadeem, Muham¬mad Saqib Nasim and Mudassir. They belong to Lahore, Karachi and Bahawalpur.