Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Justice Munib Akhtar walks out of Judicial Commission meeting

    Justice Munib Akhtar walks out of Judicial Commission meeting

    Supreme Court Justice Munib Akhtar walked out of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) meeting, which was held to review the JCP Rules 2024 concerning the elevation of judges to the superior judiciary.

    The News reported that Justice Akhtar asked Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan about the progress of the government’s intended legislation on superior court judges. AGP Awan responded that he should direct his question to Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and stated that the meeting was not the appropriate forum for such questions.

    Following these remarks, Justice Akhtar suggested postponing the meeting but faced disagreement from fellow judges, prompting him to walk out alone. The JCP meeting continued without him.

    The commission, led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, discussed various clauses of the rules. The meeting was attended by four provincial law ministers and top court judges, including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, retired Justice Manzoor Malik, and AGP Mansoor Usman Awan.

    There has been no official confirmation regarding Justice Munib Akhtar’s departure from the meeting.

    Earlier, the commission wrote to the chief justices of the five high courts, requesting nominations for candidates to be elevated as additional judges under the 2024 Rules.

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif credits ‘friendly nations’ for securing IMF deal

    PM Shehbaz Sharif credits ‘friendly nations’ for securing IMF deal

    Prime Minister (PM) Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has acknowledged the efforts of friendly countries for facilitating Pakistan in securing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme.

    Speaking to young parliamentarians of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), he lauded the efforts of China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, the Army Chief and the incumbent government’s economic plan team.

    PM Sharif said that he hoped the upcoming IMF programme would be the last.

    He clarified that there will be no tolerance for tax evasion and stressed extending tax collection.

    Journalist Fakhar Durrani revealed in Talk SHOCK, a YouTube channel, that the IMF demanded two things from the Pakistan government before approving a seven-billion-dollar loan.

    He claimed that the first demand was a two billion dollars guarantee, which the government fulfilled by securing it from Standard Chartered Bank; the second demand was also fulfilled by securing a guarantee from Saudi Arabia on the deferred oil payment.

  • ‘PPP not in favour of Governor Raj, but…’; Bilawal Bhutto leaves option open

    ‘PPP not in favour of Governor Raj, but…’; Bilawal Bhutto leaves option open

    Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said that his party is not in favour of imposing Governor Raj in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), but the option could be considered following the deteriorating security situation in KP.

    Talking to journalists after attending a National Assembly (NA) session, former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto stated, “PPP is generally not in favour of Governor Rule. There are very limited circumstances for it.”

    He remarked that the 18th Amendment to the Constitution made sure that if a governor rule is imposed anywhere, the provincial assembly has the authority to ensure it is not imposed for a longer period.
    Responding to the security situation in Balochistan and KP, he remarked that CM KP is struggling in his own village.

    He said, “The Centre and provincial government must deal with this situation together. For the first time, it is visible that it’s not just a question of national security but also there is a threat to the establishment of peace.”

    Responding to questions about nineteenth constitutional amendment, Bhutto said that it would be made with the representative’s consensus of all parties in the committee.

  • Govt set to introduce constitutional package today

    Govt set to introduce constitutional package today

    The federal government’s highly anticipated Constitutional Package which includes significant judicial reforms, including increasing the retirement age of Supreme Court and High Court judges, is set to be introduced in parliament today.

    Although the government has kept quiet on the exact details of the proposed amendments, it has been working hard to achieve the votes required to pass the constitutional amendment.

    Dawn News reported that it is uncertain whether the ruling coalition has secured the magic number—around 224 votes out of a total of 335 members in the national assembly—to pass the legislation.

    However, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, while talking to journalists yesterday, said, “We have completed the number game in the lower house of parliament.”

    Geo News reported that the government intends to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court judges to 68, with the retirement age of other high court judges also increased to 65.

    Sessions of both parliamentary houses have been summoned this evening with only an hour’s gap.

  • Imran Khan to face trial over controversial post

    Imran Khan to face trial over controversial post

    Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a case against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, for a controversial post made on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

    Recalling the tweet posted by former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, FIA declared his post controversial, claiming that it was inciting government officials to mutiny.

    The FIA Cybercrime Wing’s inquiry revolves around a video uploaded on May 26, in which Khan’s X account reportedly stated: “Every Pakistani should study the Hamood ur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor, General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

    Meanwhile, founder PTI Khan refused to answer to FIA interrogation until his lawyer was present with him.

    Earlier, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ata Tarrar hinted at the possible probe of Khan’s social media account by FIA, claiming that accounts were allegedly used to “create chaos and anarchy” in the country and “undermining the national security,” Associated Press Pakistan (APP) reported.

    The minister claimed that posts associated with Khan were trying to mobilise the people against major institution heads, including the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).

    Commenting on Khan’s post claiming his comparison with Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Tarar stated that the Bangladeshi public is now demolishing Mujeeb’s statue.

  • ‘Not in favour of Governor Raj’: Faisal Karim Kundi

    ‘Not in favour of Governor Raj’: Faisal Karim Kundi

    Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Faisal Karim Kundi has accused the provincial government of corruption, saying, “I don’t change clothes as much as ministers in KP are being changed.”

    Speaking to journalists at the Peshawar Governor House, Kundi said that it is the provincial government’s responsibility to maintain peace, but the police were on strike.

    While questioning security issues in KP province, he asked, “Where are six billion rupees handed over to the KP government for police?”

    He also said that the provincial government had failed to maintain peace and that no provincial meeting had been held to discuss security issues in KP.

    Responding to provincial-level talks with the Afghanistan government, Kundi clarified that only the federal government has the authority to engage in dialogues with other countries.

  • ‘DIG operations pointed a gun at me,’ says Sher Afzal Marwat

    ‘DIG operations pointed a gun at me,’ says Sher Afzal Marwat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers who were released after their arrests following the September 8 rally have shared their ordeal with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

    Leader PTI Sher Afzal Khan Marwat has revealed that the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) operations threatened him with dire consequences while pointing his 9mm gun at him.

    Marwat alleged that the same treatment had been given to the country’s bigwigs, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Advisor Prime Minister for Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, and Saad Rafiq.

    Opposition Leader NA Omer Ayub Khan said that parliament was humiliated on Tuesday following the arrest of Members of the National Assembly (MNA) from parliament premises.

    Responding to a First Information Report (FIR) lodged against lawmakers on the pretext of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) violation in the Sagjani rally, he clarified that PTI’s rally was delayed due to roads blockage.

  • PPP scores big win in by-election against PTI

    PPP scores big win in by-election against PTI

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Makhdoom Tahir Rashiduddin has won a by-election in Rahim Yar Khan with a huge margin, securing one lac sixteen thousand four hundred twenty-nine votes.

    The by-election, held on Thursday in NA-171, saw the PPP candidate defeat the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Hasan Mustafa, who could only secure fifty-eight thousand two hundred fifty-one.

    In a well-hyped campaign, the polling process continued without a break from 8 AM to 5 PM.

    The by-election took place after the death of PTI Member National Assembly (MNA) Mumtaz Mustafa in the NA-171 constituency, which has 5 lac twenty-six thousand nine hundred seventy-three (526,973) votes.

    Under section 73 of the Election Act, a by-election occurs when an elected official dies, is disqualified, resigns or is unable to continue serving as a lawmaker.

  • PTI calls off Friday rallies to gather strength for Lahore jalsa

    PTI calls off Friday rallies to gather strength for Lahore jalsa

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has cancelled its protests today across the country, to save its strength for the upcoming September 22 Lahore power show.

    The protests were scheduled against the arrests of PTI leaders after the September 8 rally.

    PTI leaders said that the Friday protests were called off at the instructions of founder PTI Imran Khan. The party wanted to gather its strength and mobilise its leaders and workers from across the country.

    Hammad Azhar also tweeted yesterday that the Friday protest has been “postponed” per Khan’s directions, and all focus should be on the Lahore rally.

    PTI spokesman in Punjab, Shaukat Basra, spoke with Dawn News, saying, “Since every peaceful PTI activity has resulted in party leaders and workers’ arrests and registration of FIRs, the party has decided to save its strength and attend the Lahore jalsa with full force and enthusiasm.”

    “The PTI is determined to hold its meeting in Lahore on Sept 22, come what may,” said Basra regarding the issuance of NOC (no objection certificate) by the Lahore administration.

  • ‘Murad Saeed wo tota hai jisme dou jaanain phassi hui hain,’ says Faisal Vawda

    ‘Murad Saeed wo tota hai jisme dou jaanain phassi hui hain,’ says Faisal Vawda

    Senator Faisal Vawda, known for his sensational political claims and explosive press conferences, while talking on the Aaj News programme, claimed, “Murad Saeed is that parrot that holds two people’s lives – Faiz Hameed and Imran Khan.”

    In a reply to a question, Vawda alleged, “Former ISI Chief Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed will throw Khan under the bus, and Khan will blame Faiz in the coming days.”

    “He [Murad Saeed] has been sandwiched between the two because he’ll get in trouble either way whichever side [Faiz or Khan’s] he chooses,” alleged the former PTI senator.

    Furthermore, Faisal Vawda hinted at a nexus between Gen Faiz and Khan regarding the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif and the PTI’s long march on May 25, 2022.

    Vawda also criticised KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur, saying that he used to say nobody’s father could arrest Imran Khan and now claims the same thing about Khan’s possible military trial.