Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Arrest warrant issued for Rana Sanaullah for threatening govt officials

    Arrest warrant issued for Rana Sanaullah for threatening govt officials

    An arrest warrant for Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has been issued by Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Gujranwala today (Friday) for allegedly threatening judiciary and government officials in his public speeches.

    The court also directed the police to present the minister on March 7 and issued a show-cause notice to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and the Superintendent of Police (SP), ordering them to appear before it on the same day.

    A terrorism case was registered against Sanaullah in August last year on the complaint of a citizen, Sheikh Shekaz Aslam. The first information report (FIR) stated that during his speeches on April 15, 2021, and January 29, 2022, the interior minister had threatened to stop the judiciary from doing its job and kill the children of the Punjab police officials.

    According to the first information report (FIR), the complainant saw the federal minister’s threatening remarks on Geo News‘ programme ‘Naya Pakistan’.

    The FIR states: “The purpose of Sanaullah’s statements was to terrorise the judiciary, chief secretary, commissioner and people of the country,” adding that “his aim was to stop the officials from working and prevent them from fulfilling their lawful responsibilities.”

    Moreover, he demanded an investigation against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader.

  • ‘Want to meet your father, go where Section 144 is imposed and get arrested’: LHC’s judge’s reply to Zain Qureshi

    ‘Want to meet your father, go where Section 144 is imposed and get arrested’: LHC’s judge’s reply to Zain Qureshi

    During a hearing on the petition filed for the recovery of the jailed leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the courtroom in Lahore High Court (LHC) burst into laughter as the judge gave a hilarious response to Zain Qureshi, son of Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    During the hearing, the court inquired from the lawyer of the petitioner why his clients were arrested, to which the lawyer said that they had started Jail Bharro Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement). Justice Shahram then asked the lawyers that why they were “playing with the courts”, to which the lawyer said that these were symbolic arrests. “We are not asking for bail, we have come to the court to protect their rights.”

    The response promoted laughter in the court, on which the judge said, “You were saying yourself to arrest him, now if he is arrested, what is the urgency?”

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s son, Zain Qureshi, also appeared in the court and said in his statement, “I was not arrested but my father was arrested, they are not allowing me to meet him.”

    Justice Shahram instructed Zain Qureshi to go to the place where Section 144 is imposed. “You will be arrested and then you will be able to meet your father too.”

  • ANI propagating baseless propaganda against China, Pakistan: EU Disinfo Lab

    ANI propagating baseless propaganda against China, Pakistan: EU Disinfo Lab

    The European Union (EU) DisinfoLab in its latest investigative report has highlighted that leading Indian media outlet Asian News International (ANI) is engaged in baseless propaganda against China and Pakistan by referring to sources that “do not exist”.

    “The narratives pushed by these fake personae and/or organisations are almost entirely about criticising Pakistan and China, countries that are not India’s greatest allies on the international stage,” said the report called ‘Bad Sources (BS).’

    The report is a follow-up to two previous investigations published in 2019 and 2020.

    The investigation reveals that the news agency repeatedly quoted a think tank that was dissolved in 2014. Moreover, it has been using quotes from non-existent journalists, bloggers and geopolitical experts.

    “Fake personae, self-described as James Bond fans, basketball players and management consultants, became geopolitical experts quoted by ANI numerous times on topics such as Pakistan’s army doctrines and China’s ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’,” said the DisinfoLab.

    “A think tank, dissolved in 2014, is now quoted about twice a week by ANI,” as per the report.”The think tank’s website falsely mentions real Canadian university professors as participants in a conference that they never attended, even concocting false quotes by these academics,” it said.

  • Six terrorists shot down by CTD in Lakki Marwat operation

    Six terrorists shot down by CTD in Lakki Marwat operation

    At least six terrorists were gunned down during an operation in the Dadowala area of Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), counter-terrorism department (CTD) officials have confirmed.

    According to the CTD, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the slain terrorists who were involved in terror attacks and assaults on security forces.

    CTD added that the operation was launched after it received information regarding the presence of the terrorists in Dadowala. The department added that the terrorists were planning to launch an attack on the Abbasia police check post.

    Terrorism is rising again across the country as attacks increased since the end of the ceasefire with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) last year.

  • No luxury cars, no five-star hotels, federal cabinet’s perks and salaries cut amid economic crisis

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has announced major cuts in perks and facilities that were being given to the federal cabinet as the economic crisis worsens.

    Addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Islamabad, the Premier, flanked by members of the federal cabinet, said that ministers, state ministers and special advisers had decided “willingly” to forego their salaries and perks. He said that all ministers would now pay their own telephone, electricity, water and gas bills.

    The premier further said that federal ministers would also travel in economy class and will not stay in five-star hotels during foreign trips.

    He asserted that no cabinet member or government officer will use a luxury car, adding that “Until June 2024, there will be a complete ban on purchasing all types of new cars.”

    The head of government also said that “to conserve gas and electricity, advice for opening offices at 7:30am during summer has been accepted.”

    Shehbaz Sharif said that it has also been decided that government employees will not be allotted more than one plot, saying that this would be implemented from tomorrow.

    He said that in terms of food, only a single dish would be allowed at government events.

    Talking about the Toshakhana, the premier said that the federal cabinet has decided that no one will be allowed to retain state gifts worth more than $300 (approx. Rs70,000). He also added that the government has decided to make the Toshakhana record public.

    Responding to a question from a reporter, PM Shehbaz said that the measures would save Rs200 billion annually.

    He said that matters with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are at the “last stage” and hoped that everything will go well.

    The development has taken place while Pakistan is eyeing a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week as the country reels under a foreign reserve shortage.

    Earlier this week, the National Assembly passed the IMF-dictated Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023, seeking to impose an additional Rs170 billion in taxes.

  • ‘Why order investgation on hearsay’; Justice Faiz Isa says cipher investigation is govt’s job

    ‘Why order investgation on hearsay’; Justice Faiz Isa says cipher investigation is govt’s job

    The Supreme Court on Wednesday has rejected all three pleas seeking an investigation into a cipher — presented by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)- endorsing objections raised by the apex court’s registrar.

    Justice Qazi Faiz Isa heard the in-chamber appeals filed by the PTI against the registrar’s objections to the petitions seeking an investigation into the cipher — the cable from the United States of America, allegedly threatening that Imran Khan’s government should be overthrown.

    Asking if dealing with foreign affairs the court’s job, the judge said, “Did Imran Khan make any decision to investigate the matter as the prime minister?”

    He added: “Imran Khan had all the powers to have an investigation conducted. All authorities are under the prime minister.”

    He asked what the court could do in the cipher matter.

    “How can we order an investigation based on hearsay? We do not believe in speculations,” Justice Isa stated.

     “Why do you bring such cases before us? We already have so much on our plate,” the judge asked the petitioners.

    Categorically stating that he will not interfere in state matters, Justice Isa dismissed the three appeals and upheld the registrar’s objections.  

    “How can the judiciary interfere in government affairs? I will not interfere in state matters and neither will allow the government to interfere in judicial matters,” said Justice Isa.

    The judge observed that the Parliament is right beside the Supreme Court, telling the petitioners to “go ask them Parliament” to give them the “authority to intervene into state matters.”

  • ‘Biased’; Rana Sanaullah calls out two Supreme Court judges for conduct towards PML-N

    ‘Biased’; Rana Sanaullah calls out two Supreme Court judges for conduct towards PML-N

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday objected to the impartiality of two Supreme Court judges, terming their conduct “biased” towards Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    In a series of tweets, Sanaullah naming Justice Ejaz ul Hassan and Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi, alleged that they “have a biased attitude towards the PML-N”.

    The minister, while naming both the justices, said one was a supervising judge in the case against Nawaz Sharif and the party doesn’t expect justice.

    He also mentioned a purported audio leak related to the second judge, saying that it had raised questions on his impartiality.

    “Both judges have given verdicts in dozens of cases against Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif. Panama, party leadership, Pakpattan allotment case, Ramzan sugar mills cases are included in the list,” the minister added.

    “The legal team of PML-N will ask the two judges to recuse themselves from the benches hearing the cases of Nawaz Sharif and other leaders of the party,” Sanaullah stated, adding that the two judges will be asked not to hear cases of the PML-N.

  • PTI’s Fayaz Chohan shares pornographic photos on Facebook, says account hacked

    PTI’s Fayaz Chohan shares pornographic photos on Facebook, says account hacked

    Pornographic pictures were shared on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan on Facebook account on Tuesday, leading to great amusement on Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/CorollaViruss/status/1628107745894203397?s=20

    However, the leader has clarified that his account got hacked.

    https://twitter.com/Fayazchohanpti/status/1628266245224013824?s=20

    In a tweet, the PTI leader said that his Facebook page had been hacked since last two weeks and he has written a request to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

    He added that “Everyone knows who is doing this”.

    Last year, PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Instagram account and Asad Umar’s Twitter account were also hacked. Prior to that, former federal minister Hammad Azhar’s e-mail, Twitter, and Apple accounts were also hacked.

  • Will summon Faiz Hameed in Parliament, says Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that he will demand in the parliament that former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director-General (DG) Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed should be summoned to the floor.

    Speaking on Mohammad Malick’s show “Breaking News” on 92 News, he alleged that Hameed brought Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) back to the country. Referencing to Hameed’s visit to Kabul in 2022 asked why Hameed gave out assurances that everything would be okay.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the former spy chief went to Kabul following the withdrawal of United States (US) troops from Afghanistan.

    He was expected to discuss border management and the overall security issue — to ensure that spoilers and terrorist organisations do not take advantage of the situation — with the Taliban.

    Further lashing out at Hameed, the federal minister said that hundreds of thousands of Afghanis are still in Pakistan and put the blame for the recent extreme episodes of terrorism on the former spy chief’s head.

    He also pointed out that terrorism incidents in the country did not increase just within six to eight months.

    Since government talks with the TTP broke down in November, the militant group has intensified its attacks across Pakistan including attacks on the police.

    According to statistics released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), January 2023 remained one of the deadliest months since July 2018.

    In January, more than 100 people lost their lives in a suicide attack at a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines. The TTP initially claimed responsibility for the attack, however, it later backtracked and claimed that it did not perpetrate the bombing.

    TTP is also responsible for the recent attack on Karachi police chief’s office which took place on February 17.

  • PTI’s ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ begins today

    PTI’s ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ begins today

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has announced that the party’s ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek (court arrest movement)’ is set to start today.

    Taking to Twitter, Khan shared two main reasons behind starting the Jail Bharo Tehreek.

    “One, it is a peaceful, non-violent protest against the attack on our constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights. We are facing sham FIRs and NAB cases, custodial torture, attacks on journalists and social media people,” wrote Khan.

    Khan went on to say that the second reason is the economic meltdown brought on by a “cabal of crooks who have money laundered billions in looted wealth and gotten NROs for themselves while crushing the people, especially, the poor and the middle class, under the burden of spiralling inflation and rising unemployment.” 

    The former prime minister also released a video message, urging his followers to “fill up prisons and shatter the idols of fear”.

    In the first phase of the movement, the party’s senior leaders — Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Asad Umar — will voluntarily surrender themselves to the authorities on Tuesday.

    It is unclear what offense party leaders and followers are expected to commit to initiate arrest proceedings.