Current Final

Category: Politics

  • What is happening in France?

    What is happening in France?

    Protests have erupted in France after police shot dead Nahel M, a 17-year-old boy of Algerian descent, on Tuesday for allegedly driving his car towards police.

    Police said that the teenager was driving his car towards them, but footage emerged on social media on Wednesday contradicting their narrative. A video clip showed a police officer pointing his weapon through the window and appearing to fire at point-blank range, with a voice saying “You are going to get a bullet in the head.”

    The protests started on Wednesday soon after the video of the incident started circulating on social media.

    French government’s stance:

    French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday the shooting was “inexplicable” and “unforgivable”.

    “Nothing can justify the death of a young person,” said Macron, adding that the incident had “moved the entire nation”.

    However, the Macron government is rejecting accusations of racism among police.
    “Any accusation of racism or systemic discrimination in the police force in France is totally unfounded,” the foreign ministry said.

  • PM Shehbaz appreciates ‘efforts and hard work of Ishaq Dar’ for securing IMF deal

    PM Shehbaz appreciates ‘efforts and hard work of Ishaq Dar’ for securing IMF deal

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has appreciated efforts of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his team at the Ministry of Finance to secure a deal with The International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    “Alhamdulillah, I am pleased to announce that Pakistan has reached a Staff-Level Agreement with the IMF on a nine-month US$3 billion Stand-By Arrangement,” the pm wrote in a tweet posted on Friday after news of the deal being finalised came through.

    Talking about the economic implications of the staff-level agreement between Pakistan and IMF, Sharif wrote, “This arrangement will help strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, enable Pakistan to achieve economic stability, and put the country on the path of sustainable economic growth, Insha’Allah.”

    “I would like to appreciate the efforts and hard work of Finance Minister @MIshaqDar50 and his team at the Ministry of Finance for achieving this outcome. I would also like to thank MD IMF @KGeorgieva and her team at the IMF for their cooperation and collaboration, especially during the course of last week.”

    PM Shehbaz Sharif along with Ishaq Dar will address a news conference regarding the staff level agreement with IMF in Lahore today at 4pm.

  • Online harassment of any journalist unacceptable: White House

    Online harassment of any journalist unacceptable: White House

    The White House strongly condemned the online harassment of a Muslim female reporter who asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the rights of religious minorities during his joint press conference with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

    National Security Officer of the White House, John F. Kirby, said this kind of behaviour against any journalist is unacceptable.

    Sabrina Siddique, associated with Wall Street Journal, asked the Indian Premier, “What steps are you and your government willing to take to improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities in your country and uphold free speech?”
    Modi answered, “In India’s democratic values, there is absolutely no discrimination, neither based on caste, creed, age, nor any kind of geographic location”.

    Sabrina Siddique later said that she is facing online harassment after asking the question. She also mentioned that she is a Muslim, which is why she has been targeted.

  • ‘Most painful Eid for me’: Imran Khan reminiscences about jailed party leaders, workers

    ‘Most painful Eid for me’: Imran Khan reminiscences about jailed party leaders, workers

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, while wishing Eid to fellow countrymen, has said that this is the most painful Eid for him, as his party leaders and workers are in jail for exercising their constitutional right to protest peacefully. 

    “Eid Mubarak to my Pakistanis. This is the most painful Eid for me. Around 10,000 of our workers and supporters are jailed and being treated as criminals for exercising their constitutional right to protest peacefully,” he wrote.

    “Our brave leaders including women leaders, Dr Yasmin Rashid and Aliya Hamza are in jail and refusing to leave PTI. 16 of our workers shot dead and 8 others suspected to have been killed but cannot be confirmed because relatives have gone underground because of the fear of police. 50 others suffered bullet wounds,” the tweet added.

    “Shockingly no mention of the use of this excessive force by security forces on unarmed protesters. And no independent investigation to ascertain what really happened on 9th May. Instead, by peddling a one sided anti-PTI official narrative, a reign of terror has been unleashed on anyone associated with the party with only one aim to dismantle it before elections.”

    He further wrote, “InshAllah PTI and the nation will come out of this dark phase much stronger. Also, there’s been a total clampdown on the media with all those critical of this fascist government facing its wrath. Imran Riaz Khan has been abducted and his whereabouts unknown for over 40 days now, and 5 of our respected journalists who have had to flee the country, we remember them too on this Eid.”

  • Pakistan condemns burning of Quran in Sweden on Eid-ul-Azha

    Pakistan’s foreign office has condemned the burning of the Holy Quran by a protester in Sweden on Wednesday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

    “Such wilful incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence cannot be justified under pretext of freedom of expression and protest”, read the statement issued by the foreign office.

    “Under international law, States are duty bound to prohibit any advocacy of religious hatred, leading to incitement of violence,” it added.

    Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of the Quran in front of Stockholm’s central mosque.

    Turkey has also condemned the desecration, calling it a “heinous act.”

    “It is unacceptable to allow these anti-Islamic actions under the pretext of freedom of expression. To turn a blind eye to such heinous acts is to be complicit in them,” a statement issued by Turkey’s foreign minister read. 

    Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the Quran burning was “legal but not appropriate”.

  • Javed Latif demands punishment for those who launched ‘Chairman PTI’

    Federal Minister and senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Javed Latif, has demanded punishment for the individuals who launched project “PTI Chairman”, Express Urdu has reported.

    While talking to media personnel in Lahore, Javed Latif said that an institution initiating self-accountability sends a positive message, and other institutions should also follow the line.

    He further added that if the individuals who have launched this project [PTI] are not arrested and punished, a similar incident like May 9 could happen again.

    If the serving members can face a court-martial, then the retired officers should also held accountable, he opined.

    Latif further said that both the facilitators and masterminds of May 9 events, no matter how powerful they may be, should face punishment.

  • No Chinese journalist left in India after last one expelled

    No Chinese journalist left in India after last one expelled

    Freedom of expression in India is shrinking as the last remaining Chinese reporter has been expelled from New Delhi. The visa extension of the last Chinese reporter, who was associated with the Chinese official News agency Xinhua, was denied by Indian authorities last month.

    The expulsion marks the first instance in history that not a single Chinese journalist is present in India since 1980.

    Critics say that the action reflects that there is no space for journalists in Modi’s government.

    Indian authorities have been accused of taking such steps to hide cruelty against minorities like Muslims, Kashmiris and Dalits.

  • Public Accounts Committee summons religious affairs officials on lack of facilities for Hajj pilgrims

    Public Accounts Committee summons religious affairs officials on lack of facilities for Hajj pilgrims

    The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs on July 4, over lack of facilities provided to Pakistani Hajj pilgrims.

    Chairman Noor Alam Khan, while presiding over a PAC meeting, criticised the performance of Religious Affairs Minister Talha Mehmood, emphasising that being a minister requires effective performance, not just holding the position.

    Noor informed the committee that he had personally witnessed the plight of the pilgrims and had received videos and written complaints highlighting their difficulties.

    Noor Alam said that not a single complaint had been received during the tenure of the pervious minister, late Mufti Abdul Shakoor, who died in a car accident.

    “This year, the situation is totally messed up. The President and the Federal Minister Talha Mehmood have also gone for Hajj but pilgrims are suffering. The President and the Minister should see what the condition of the pilgrims is,” he added

  • PM extends greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha to all Muslims

    PM extends greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha to all Muslims

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Eid-Ul-Azha is the symbol of sacrifice, equality and compassion.

    In a tweet posted from his official account, the Premier wrote that the occasion “fosters unity by reducing socio-economic inequalities and creates feelings of empathy and complete surrender before Allah Almighty”


    https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1673912422158172162?s=20


    He has also extended Eid-ul-Azha greetings to all Muslims and specifically overseas Pakistani, who are celebrating Eid today (Wednesday).

  • Jahangir Tareen will be PM if IPP wins upcoming election: Aleem Khan

    Jahangir Tareen will be PM if IPP wins upcoming election: Aleem Khan

    During an appearance on Express News programme Kal Tak, Aleem Khan, the president of newly established Istehkam-e-Pakistan (IPP) Party, has said that Jahangir Tareen would be their candidate for premiership in the next general election.

    “[We] will contest against PTI and PDM in the next election because people are against both these parties. IPP will not make seat adjustments with any party in the polls,” he revealed.

    Aleem also confirmed that he invited Asad Umar to join the party, adding that many lawmakers will join IPP after Eid.

    At present, IPP comprises of more than 100 former legislators and leaders of PTI.


    Tareen himself was once considered one of the key figures in PTI, largely credited for getting independent candidates to join the party in 2018, paving the way for the formation of a coalition government.