Sindh Minister for Revenue Makhdoom Mehboub Zaman gifted a garland made of dollars and a gold tiara to his private secretary Saif Ali Shah at his wedding ceremony in Hyderabad.
Apart from the minister, Member of National Assembly (MNA) Makhdoom Jameel uz Zaman and other officials also participated in the wedding ceremony held in Hyderabad.
The pictures of the groom wearing the garland while sitting with the minister have gone viral on social media.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to India, Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali, in an interview with The Hindustan Times said that his country has played a role in the past in addressing tensions between India and Pakistan, though any future role it might play would be up to both neighboring countries.
Talking to Foreign Editor at The Hindustan Times, Rezaul Hasan Laskar about Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks about asking the UAE to help build a bridge with India, the ambassador said his country has “played such a role in the past”, but future endeavours will depend on both India and Pakistan.
He also talked about expanding the gulf country’s relationship with India, saying that UAE is engaged in technical discussions to finalise a rupee-dirham arrangement for trade as part of the efforts to build on the free trade agreement signed by the two countries last year.
He also said that UAE is keen on revisiting the arrangement for flights to India and introducing flights to more Indian destinations to help bring down airfare.
He said: “If you check the price of a ticket today, it’s more than 50 per cent higher than it used to be a few years back or it used to be pre-Covid. That’s already a market signal that we need to pay attention to because we are talking about this entire relationship and aviation is a crucial point in expanding this relationship.”
When asked about UAE’s plans to invest in food parks and renewable energy in India under the I2U2 framework, Jamal said the conversation between the Gujrat government and UAE is going on.
In recent times, both countries have grown close. In November 2022, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India to further strengthen its bilateral relationship with India.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a money-laundering case worth Rs849 million against Farhat Shehzadi aka Farah Gogi, a close aide and friend of former First Lady, Bushra Bibi, Geo News has reported.
The money-laundering and kickbacks case was sent to FIA by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE).
The first information report (FIR) says that unusual transactions worth millions were found to have taken place in Farah Gogi’s accounts, allegedly through corruption and bribery. The money was then sent out of the country.
The FIR also states that the money was made through transfers of government officials including deputy commissioners and police.
Gogi allegedly also used her influence in the awarding of government contracts including one contract worth Rs80 million via the XEN of Sheikhupura, receiving kickbacks in the deal.
Political parties from across the spectrum are reacting to Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) elections suo moto case.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry welcomed the verdict, saying, “It’s a victory for the Constitution”.
The Supreme Court, the PTI leader added, has bound the federation to provide all sorts of support with security and provision of funds for carrying out polls.
When asked whether elections will happen on April 9, as earlier suggested by President Arif Alvi, he responded by saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) proposed in court that the commission can make the elections possible on April 25.
He also said that if the government doesn’t agree to the SC’s verdict, the top court will send the government home under Article 187.
He also added that all five judges endorsed the principle of the election within 90 days. During a media talk, the PTI leader stressed that “Election is the foundation of the state.”
On the other hand, Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid congratulated the nation on the verdict and asked the country to “prepare for the elections”.
He hoped that PTI is going to form governments in KP and Punjab
From the government side, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that there is no need to review the decision of the Supreme Court’s verdict, nor is it a matter that requires interpretation.
He said that petitions are still being heard in High Courts, and the interpretation of the decision can also be seen there.
He also stressed that the verdict is quite clear. However, the law minister took a jibe at President Alvi, saying that he breached the constitution by giving a date for the elections in both provinces.
Earlier today (Wednesday), the top court directed all relevant authorities to hold elections within 90 days.
The decision was passed three-two in favour of the verdict by the five-member bench, with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail giving dissenting notes.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has announced to suspend his party’s Jail Bharo Tehreek (Voluntary Arrest Movement).
Taking to Twitter, Khan said, “We welcome the Supreme Court (SC) judgement. It was responsibility of SC to uphold Constitution & they have valiantly done that through their judgement today. It is an assertion of Rule of Law in Pak.”
“We are suspending our Jail Bharo movement & moving forward with election campaigns in KP & Punjab,” tweeted Khan.
It is pertinent to mention here that the announcement comes right after Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed all relevant authorities to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) within 90 days.
Reading out the verdict reserved on Tuesday evening, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should suggest a date for polls to President Arif Alvi.
“Elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assembly,” the verdict says, emphasizing that it was the constitutional responsibility of the Governor to announce an election date.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has on Wednesday directed all relevant authorities to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) within 90 days.
The decision was passed three-two in favour of the verdict by the five-member bench, with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail giving dissenting notes.
Reading out the verdict reserved on Tuesday evening, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should suggest a date for polls to President Arif Alvi.
“Elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assembly,” the verdict says, emphasizing that it was the constitutional responsibility of the Governor to announce an election date.
“Parliamentary democracy is a salient feature of the Constitution. There can be no parliamentary democracy without Parliament or the provincial assemblies. And there can be neither Parliament nor provincial assemblies without the holding of general elections as envisaged, required and mandated by and under the Constitution and in accordance therewith,” the top court remarked.
The court order stated, “In situations where the assembly is not dissolved by order of the governor, the constitutional responsibility of appointing a date for the general election that must follow is to be discharged by the president.”
“The Election Commission must proactively be available to the president or the governor, and be prepared for such consultation as required for a date for the holding of general elections,” the order said.
The court directed President Arif Alvi to announce the date of the Punjab election after consulting with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and directed the KP governor to announce the date for polls in his province.
It further said that in ordinary circumstances, the general election in Punjab ought to be held on April 9 — the date given by the president — but because there were delays in the announcement of the poll date, it might not be possible for the province to meet the 90-day deadline.
“The Election Commission is therefore directed to use its utmost efforts to immediately propose, keeping in mind ss. 57 and 58 of the 2017 Act, date to the president that is compliant with the deadline. After consultation with the ECP, the President shall announce a date for holding the general election to the Punjab Assembly.”
Meanwhile, the SC directed the KP governor to appoint a date for elections in the province after consulting the ECP.
Justice (R) Nasira Iqbal has criticised the ongoing Jail Bharro Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement) initiated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying that she is unable to understand the purpose behind it.
Justice Nasir, mother to incarcerated PTI leader Waleed Iqbal, was asked by Voice.pk whether she will file bail for her son, said: “Did I ask him to go? I told him that this act is not appropriate”.
Not mincing her words when it came to PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Justice Nasira said, “Jo leader in ka bana huva hai, woh toh ghar betha huva hai bail before arrest li huvi ha” (Their leader is sitting at home and has obtained bail before arrest).
She quoted Gandhi as an example, stating that he was an actual leader who gave his arrest first. She said that while Imran himself is at home, he has asked others to present themselves for arrest.
The judge was of the view that instead of the movement, they all should be focusing on campaigning for elections. She predicted that elections are going to take place in the next 40 days.
She also talked about the other PTI leaders who are being kept in different jails. She said that at first, they all were in Kot Lakhpat Jail, however, later they were transferred because of space constraints.
A five-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) has reserved its verdict and said that it would announce the verdict in the elections suo motu case tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11am.
The hearing of the case has been completed.
Last Wednesday, the top court took suo motu notice of the delay in holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Earlier, the apex court directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the coalition government to sit together and decide on a date for elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab by 4pm today (Tuesday).
In this regard, the top court directed Shireen Mazari and Fawad Chaudhry to consult with their party chairman, Imran Khan—who has been making appearances before various courts since Tuesday afternoon— and coalition partners’ lawyers to consult with their leaders and update the court.
The instructions were issued after a five-member bench resumed hearing the apex court’s suo motu proceedings regarding the delay in the provincial polls.
During the hearing on Tuesday, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial stated that none of the institutions, other than the court, had the authority to extend elections further than 90 days.
The CJP also said that the court wanted to wrap up the proceedings today. “Our entire work is on halt because of this case,” he added and adjourned the hearing.
The hearing has resumed again.
On February 27, SC resumed the hearing regarding election date suo motu notice.
The bench, which previously included nine SC judges, has been reconstituted to a five-member bench after four judges disassociated themselves. Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Yahya Afridi recused themselves from hearing the case.
A five-member bench has now started listening to the hearing of the case. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has said that the case has to be wrapped up by 9:30 tomorrow.
At the previous hearing, the coalition parties — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamat-e-Ulema Islami-Fazl (JUI-F) — had presented a note in the apex court asking two SC judges, Justice Ahsan and Justice Naqvi, to recuse themselves from the case.
CJP Bandial said that four members of the bench have disassociated themselves from the bench. “The remaining bench, however, will continue hearing the case.
“We will continue the hearing for the interpretation of the Constitution because what the Constitution says depends on its interpretation,” he stated.
CJP Bandial also pointed out that the note of one of Justice Mandokhail had emerged on social media even before the verdict was released. “We will take precautions so that such an incident does not recur in the future.”
The CJP also addressed the issue of Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail’s objection note being leaked on social media, assuring that measures would be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
He remarked that whatever written in the Constitution was conditional on the interpretation of it, noting that the case was critical and warranted swiftness.
Starting out his arguments, PTI’s counsel Barrister Ali Zafar said that the chief minister of Punjab sent a summary regarding dissolution of assembly to the governor.
However, he said that the governor did not comply to it following which the assembly automatically dissolved after 48 hours.
The counsel argued that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had requested the date of polls from the governor, who refused, citing that he was not the one who dissolved the assembly.
Zafar said that President Arif Alvi summoned chief election commissioner for finalizing the date for polls however he did not show up.
Following this, the lawyer said that the president unilaterally announced the dates for elections in both provinces.
He emphasized that the Constitution clearly stipulated that elections could not exceed 90 days after the dissolution of the assembly.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that there was a difference between automatic dissolution of assembly and that performed by the governor.
Barrister Zafar commented that there was a need for someone to intervene in matters of public interest and therefore, the president announced the date.
In response, Justice Mandokhail asked whether the president unilaterally announced the election date or if he was instructed by someone else.
The counsel clarified that the president had provided details regarding the election date in his letter. Additionally, Zafar highlighted that the president had sent two letters to the election commission, with the first one dated February 8 requesting the announcement of the election date.
He added that the main issue at hand was related to the announcement of the election date, which nobody seemed to be prepared for.
The chief justice then asked if the ECP had responded to the president’s first letter, to which the counsel replied in the negative.
During the hearing, PPP’s lawyer Farooq H Naek highlighted that they had filed a petition for the formation of a full court.
The chief justice responded by stating that they would decide on the matter after hearing the counsel’s arguments.
Barrister Zafar maintained that the elections could not be delayed for ten years. The court inquired about the progress in KP and asked if the governor could write a letter seeking consultation on the election date citing terrorism.
The lawyer responded by stating that, according to him, the governor does not possess such authority.
Justice Mazhar asked if the elections could be delayed due to terrorism, to which Justice Ali remarked that the decision on whether the polls would occur could only be taken when a date was fixed for the electoral exercise.
Justice Mazhar then stated that the entire month was wasted on consultations.
Justice Mandokhail inquired if the law and order situation could hamper the organization of the election, to which the CJP responded by reminding everyone that the assemblies in 2013 and 2018 completed their five-year terms.
The DG Law added that the president could only fix the date for the polls once the assemblies completed their term.
Justice Munib Akhtar remarked that the advice of the chief minister was implemented in KP but not in Punjab.
The CJP stated that holding elections was the ECP’s job, while Barrister Zafar pointed out that Articles 218, 219, and 222 of the Constitution declared the election commission responsible for holding elections.
Justice Mandokhail asked who was responsible for announcing the election date, to which Barrister Zafar said that the same question was before the court.
He went on to say that the ECP gets the right to announce the date if Articles 218 and 219 were read jointly.
The hearing was adjourned for a short break and set to resume at 4pm.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’S (PTI) provincial spokesperson Shaukat Yousafzai revealed in a morning show that he has fathered 13 children in total.
During an appearance on HUM News, Yousafzai revealed that he has two wives and 13 children, including 10 daughters and three sons.
The hosts asked Yousafzai if he could say the names of all his children in one go. Yousafzai smiled and started naming his children. However, Yousafzai could only name 12 as he forgot the name of his youngest son.
An Islamabad court has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.
The district and sessions court heard the Toshakhana case where Khan’s lawyer Ali Bukhari and Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) lawyer Saad Hasan were present in court. The hearing of the case was conducted by judge Zafar Iqbal.
Khan’s lawyer informed the court that PTI chief will not be able to appear in the court today. Bukhari requested the court to adjourn the hearing for five days. The court had repeatedly asked Khan to appear at the hearing. However, Khan failed to do so, citing his injured leg and security reasons.
The Election Comission of Pakistan’s (ECP) counsel opposed the request, saying the PTI chief did not want to appear before the court. “It is not the court’s concern how far the party head is travelling from to reach the court.”
He pointed out that Imran could also appear before that court if he was coming to the judicial complex.
The PTI lawyer said his client could come to the court when he was free of the other two cases within the judicial operational timings.
“He should also come here as indictment is pending. Once indicted, he can head to the other courts,” the judge responded.
Khan arrived at Islamabad’s judicial complex on Tuesday afternoon to attend two separate hearings of prohibited funding and terrorism cases filed against him.
Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Raja Jawad Abbas approved Khan’s interim bail until March 9 in the terrorism case, while banking court Judge Rakhshinda Shaheen confirmed bail for the PTI chief in the prohibited funding case.
Khan was required to appear in person in four different cases in Islamabad courts today. The foreign funding case is in a banking court and the terrorism case is in an anti-terrorism court located inside the judicial complex, while Toshakhana and attempted murder cases will be heard at a sessions’ court in F-8 Kacheri.
A large number of PTI workers entered the judicial complex with Khan’s entourage, knocking down its gate and creating chaos as the former Prime Minister’s car arrived at the Complex.
Security arrangements at Sector G-11 of the Judicial Complex were disrupted as PTI workers removed all barriers. Meanwhile, security has also been tightened at the F-8 kachehri.
Islamabad Police also took to Twitter and said, “A suspicious person was identified in the crowd. The man was wearing a camouflage jacket and a black cap and was near Imran Khan’s car. People are requested not to form a crowd. Otherwise tear gas can be used.”
The banking court postponed the proceedings scheduled for all the cases against Khan, citing security concerns.
The court had summoned the PTI chief to appear before it today in the prohibited funding case.
An anti-terrorism court granted interim bail to the PTI chair in the terrorism case filed against him after countrywide protests following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.
ATC judge Raja Jawad heard the case and granted bail till March 9.