Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘Bilawal jawan admi hai, usay ghussa barri jaldi aajata hai’: Zardari about son’s threat to leave ministries

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari while talking about his son, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, said that he is a young man and easily gets angry.

    “Bilawal is a young man; he gets angry quickly. I am used to showing patience for 67 years. He is Oxford returned; he does not believe in such things. He says a promise was made to me [by the federal government]; where is the money? Either you shouldn’t have made the promise, now that you have, you should fulfill it,” said Zardari when talking about his son’s statement that PPP can leave ministries if promises made to flood victims were not fulfilled.

    Addressing a ceremony at the inauguration of Seed Subsidy programme for flood-affected farmers in Karachi on Sunday, March 5, Bilawal said, “Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif] and the federal government made promises for the flood victims, and those promises and announcements need to be fulfilled. I will be talking to the premier; we [will] take up this issue in the National Assembly.”

    “Wherever these promises were made need to fulfilled, otherwise it will be very difficult for us [PPP] to continue working in the ministry,” added Bilawal.

  • ‘Topi hee nahin, sherwani bhi utaaroonga’: PTI’s Shamim Naqvi protest against rising inflation

    ‘Topi hee nahin, sherwani bhi utaaroonga’: PTI’s Shamim Naqvi protest against rising inflation

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader MPA Firdous Shamim Naqvi decided to remove his cap and unbutton his sherwani during a session of the Sindh Assembly on Monday to protest against rising inflation.

    Naqvi said the poor in Sindh did not have the financial means to feed their family members. He added that there had been an unprecedented hike in the prices of essential food products as common people could not buy them anymore.

     “I won’t just take my cap off, but my sherwani too,” the PTI MPA said.

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sharmila Farooqui said it was not appropriate to take off one’s clothes like this [in public]. “Do they undress like this in their houses? Mothers, sisters, daughters and wives are sitting here [in the House],” she said.

  • ‘Can we talk my Lord?’; Saqib Nisar denies, then confirms Khan contacted him

    ‘Can we talk my Lord?’; Saqib Nisar denies, then confirms Khan contacted him

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar has given contradictory statements about communicating with former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Nisar told journalist and anchorperson Adil Shahzeb of Dawn News that he had had no contact with Khan. However, he agreed that he had been in touch with former spymaster General (retd) Faiz Hameed.

    Adil Shahzeb, while speaking on Geo News program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said that he talked to Nisar at 10AM on March 6 and the ex-CJP asked if he would lobby for Imran Khan as if his character was any less than the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief. “Are my capabilities and intelligence levels any less than Imran Khan’s that I would lobby for him?” Saqib Nisar was quoted as saying by the journalist.

    It was shocking for me, Adil said on the show.

    However, while talking to journalist Zahid Gishkori of Samma News, the former CJP confirmed that he had, in fact, spoken to Imran Khan.

    Gishkori tweeted the supposed conversation between Nisar and Khan.

    “Can we talk my Lord? Which time is convenient to talk?” read Khan’s text sent to Nisar some two weeks ago, as per Gishkori. It was 8PM when Justice Saqib Nisar responded, “You’re welcome.” 

    Gishkori while speaking on Shahzeb Khanzada’s show, said that Khan asked for Nisar’s help in the court cases filed against him, to which the former CJP responded: “I can’t help you”.

    “It is a difficult time for me,” Khan reportedly said, at which the ex-CJP reiterated that he wouldn’t be able to help the PTI chief out. 

    “I advised him that you are a former Premier and are targeting institutions and that he shouldn’t weaken institutions with unnecessary criticism,” the former CJP was quoted as saying by Gishkori.  

    The CJP also reportedly warned Khan about trouble if he continued with his ways.

  • Have evidence against Faiz Hameed, claims Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, in an interview with Naya Pakistan, has claimed that she has evidence against the former Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed.

    Maryam Nawaz said that she had been talking against Hameed even when he was the sitting DG ISI. “I submitted an application to the court with evidence when he was the DG ISI.”

    “Imran Khan said the Jail Bharo Tehreek was successful, but I have not seen such a failed movement in history,” she said, adding that the PTI chief had plastered his leg for fear of going to jail.

    She reiterated that the “traces” that Lt Gen (retd) Hameed left behind can still be found in the institution, which are supporting Khan till date citing that as the reason he doesn’t go to jail.

    She claimed that fake cases were registered against her father, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Maryam Nawaz also said that party members used to get arrested at the start of proceedings.

  • ‘Hitler ko bhi public support thi’, says Zardari about Khan’s popularity

    ‘Hitler ko bhi public support thi’, says Zardari about Khan’s popularity

    Former President and Pakistan People’s Pakistan (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has talked about the current political crisis in the country in a wide-ranging interview with Nasim Zehra.

    In the interview, he ruled out the possibility of talks with the PTI Chief Imran Khan. At one point, he called him “too arrogant” for that.

    Zardari again raised questions about Imran’s perception as a politician. When asked about public support towards Khan, he said that even Adolf Hitler had public support when he made the Nazi party.

    https://twitter.com/NasimZehra_at8/status/1632429902422069250?s=20

    When asked about Khan’s refusal to show up at court hearings, Zardari disclosed the difficulties he had to face while he was under the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) during Imran Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister (PM).

    The former president took a jibe at the PTI head, stating that he always appeared in court whenever he was summoned.

    “NAB se mera jhagrah tab hua, jab unhy ne mujhe Eid ki namaz bhi nahin parrhne di” (My fight with NAB started only when they didn’t let me offer Eid prayer).

    He said, “Later, I went to court and complained to them, then they shifted me to Adiala Jail.”

    Talking about the economy, Zardari believed that borrowing money from countries won’t help Pakistan unless the nation expands its resources and stand on its own feet.

    https://twitter.com/NasimZehra_at8/status/1632428810846052353?s=20

    Zardari also said that PPP will not boycott the elections if they take place however it’s a “dangerous mode”.

    https://twitter.com/NasimZehra_at8/status/1632428579018424326?s=20

    He also admitted that there is a law and order problem and lack of money but added that the “Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is an independent body and everybody will have to follow their instructions.”

    He also revealed that discussions with PM Shehbaz haven’t taken place yet over this matter.

    https://twitter.com/NasimZehra_at8/status/1632422661639790592?s=20
  • ‘Imran Khan ko mukammal taur par sadiq aur amin nahi qarar diya tha’: Saqib Nisar

    ‘Imran Khan ko mukammal taur par sadiq aur amin nahi qarar diya tha’: Saqib Nisar

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar has said that he did not declare former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan Sadiq and Amin [truthful and honest] on all aspects of his conduct.

    Journalist Adil Shahzeb disclosed details about his conversation with Nisar, stating that the former CJP said, “Imran Khan was declared Sadiq and Amin on three points. Akram Sheikh had only asked for a verdict on three points he gave against Imran Khan. On all three points, Imran Khan was found, Sadiq and Amin.”

    Nisar claimed that those talking about the court verdicts today “do not know anything about the law”.

    “The person who is attacking the courts today was a favourite of the courts. Apart from one case, he always got relief from the courts,” the former CJP claimed.

    The former CJP also revealed that his WhatsApp has been “hacked” for two days and the data has not been recovered.

    “I fear that my data may be used for special purpose however, the hackers will be disappointed,” said Nisar. He also claimed that before the hack different recordings were merged and audio was created.

    In the past few weeks, there had been speculation on Twitter that “explosive” audio leaks related to judiciary might surface soon.

    Journalists Azaz Syed and Umer Cheema also talked about possible audio conversation leaks on their YouTube show ‘Talk Shock’.

    Talking about the former spymaster, General (retd) Faiz Hameed, the former CJP was asked if he pressured Nisar to disqualify Nawaz Sharif in the Panama case. “Who is Gen Faiz Hameed, to pressurise me? I am being accused that I am lobbying for Imran Khan in the judiciary, why would I do that, I am worried about the future of my children,” said Nisar in reply.

    He also said that the contact between them was reserved to Lt Gen Hameed messaging him to ask about how he was doing.

    The former top judge said that he would no longer give interviews and a book about his life would be published after his death that would have the “complete story”.

  • Constabulary personnel martyred in Balochistan attack

    Constabulary personnel martyred in Balochistan attack

    A bombing has left at least nine personnel of the Balochistan Constabulary (BC) martyred and 13 people wounded in Bolan, Balochistan on Monday morning.

    According to media reports, preliminary evidence suggests that the blast was a suicide attack. However, the exact nature will be disclosed after a thorough investigation.

    So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

    BC is a department of the provincial police force that provides security at important events and in sensitive areas, including jails.

    Pakistan is dealing with a rapid rise in terror attacks since talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November last year.

    Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo has condemned the attack on Balochistan Constabulary and expressed grief.

    This is a developing story.

  • ‘Wazaarat rakhna mushkil hoga’: Bilawal warns of leaving PDM

    ‘Wazaarat rakhna mushkil hoga’: Bilawal warns of leaving PDM

    Pakistan People Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said on Sunday that it will be difficult for his party to remain part of the federal government if the center does not fulfil its promises of giving relief to flood victims of Sindh.

    Addressing a ceremony at the inauguration of Seed Subsidy programme for flood-affected farmers in Karachi on Sunday, Bilawal said, “Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif] and the federal government made promises for the flood victims and those promises and announcements need to be fulfilled. I will be talking to the premier; we [will] take up this issue in the National Assembly.”

    “Wherever these promises were made need to fulfilled, otherwise it will be very difficult for us [PPP] to continue working in the ministry,” added Bilawal.

    However, PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali-Zardari has said that they stand with the Shehbaz-led government.

    It is pertinent to mention here that PPP is part of the federal coalition government with Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari holding the Foreign Minister slot while among other portfolios, that of the State Ministry for the same also being held by the party’s Hina Rabbani Khar.

  • ‘Kapray istari karne ke liye frying pan bhi nahin deeya,’ Asad Umar jokes after being released from jail

    ‘Kapray istari karne ke liye frying pan bhi nahin deeya,’ Asad Umar jokes after being released from jail

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar has been released from Rajanpur District Jail after he voluntarily got arrested as part of his party’s Jail Bharo Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement).

    After the release, Umar praised party workers for participating in the movement.

    In another tweet, he took a jibe at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, joking that jail officials did not provide him with a frying pan to iron his clothes.

    Several other prominent leaders also got released from jail including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senator Azam Swati and Zulfi Bukhari.

    Swati, after being released from Raheem Yar Khan district jail, said that “political engineering should stop now”. 

    PTI’s Zulfi Bukhari and Fayyaz ul Hassan Chauhan were released from Sargodha jail, while former Punjab Governor Umar Sarfaraz Cheema, Azam Khan Niazi, Sadaqat Abbasi, Ejaz Khan and others were also among the released PTI workers.

    The movement had been announced by PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the wake of the coalition government’s spree of arrests of key PTI leaders. However, after the Supreme Court’s verdict about the elections, the PTI chief called off the movement.

    LHC orders release of arrested PTI leaders during Jail Bharo Tehreek

    Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the release of the arrested leaders of PTI during Jail Bharo Tehreek.

    Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh issued the order on the application of Fawad Chaudhry. The court suspended the detention orders of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and other party leaders..

    The court also asked the parties, including the Punjab government, to respond on March 7.

    It is pertinent to mention here, that PTI leaders Shah Mahmood, Asad Umar and other leaders and activists were arrested from Lahore and transferred to other jails in the province.

  • Ali Haider Zaidi says will leave PTI if it allies with Zardari

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Ali Haider Zaidi said that he will leave his party and politics altogether if Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and former President Asif Ali Zardari allies with the party.

    In a wide-ranging podcast with Shehzad Ghias Shaikh, the former minister said, “Mei chordoga PTI, mei polticis bhi chordoga“(I will leave PTI, I will even leave politics).

    Zaidi said that saying Karachi is being ruled by Zardari’s “mafia”.

    When asked why PTI did not deliver on its promises to Karachi when Imran Khan was in power, the PTI leader was of the view that circumstances were different at the time, however, he admitted that the party could’ve done more.

    He also added that “Imran Khan is a figure whom everybody wants to be close with.”

    Answering Shehzad’s question about why Imran Khan didn’t visit the victims’ families of the 2020 PIA plane crash in Karachi, Zaidi said that he was overburned at the time.

    It is pertinent to mention that very few visits have been made by the-then prime minister Imran Khan to Karachi.

    Earlier this year, PTI suffered a major setback in Sindh local body elections when PTI Karachi Chapter President and Sindh Assembly lawmaker Khurram Sher Zaman suffered defeat in UC XI of Sadar Town for his nomination for Karachi mayor slot to the PPP candidate.