Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘Pakistan default ho chuka hai’: Khawaja Asif

    ‘Pakistan default ho chuka hai’: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Pakistan has already defaulted, and that we’re all citizens of a bankrupt country.

    “You all have heard that Pakistan is going to default. That has already happened. Pakistan has defaulted and we’re all living in a bankrupt country,” the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader said on Saturday while addressing a public gathering.

    “If we sell two golf clubs we will be able to pay off two third of our debt. These golf clubs are constructed on 1500 kanal of land in Pakistan. Have seen leaders begging for 230 million dollars.” said Khawaja.

    The minister also said that houses of the poor are demolished so that the real estate mafia can make money.

    “A cheetah killed a man in Islamabad, no one had the guts to register the FIR on the right person. The FIR was registered against an ‘unknown’ person,” said Khawaja while addressing the crowd.

    He also said that terrorism came to Pakistan because of our leaders.

  • Gen Bajwa wanted to ‘resettle’ members of TTP in the country, claims Shireen Mazari

    Gen Bajwa wanted to ‘resettle’ members of TTP in the country, claims Shireen Mazari

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari has claimed that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa wanted to “resettle” members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the country, after Afghan Taliban’s take over of Kabul in August 2021.

    “Bajwa at one point brought up the matter (of Taliban) — General Faiz Hameed was also present at the time — that there are Pakistani nationality families in the TTP who want to return to the country,” said Mazari, while speaking on Dawn News programme ‘Doosra Rukh’, which will air at 7pm tonight.

    “If they accept the Constitution and lay down their arms, something should be done for some sort of resettlement and talks should be held,” narrated Mazari adding that it was clearly decided that before initiating a dialogue, a committee will be formed between the elected representatives and the military to “form a consensus as our elected people have a lot of reservations.”

    The former minister asserted that the blame for failing to deal with the TTP would “fall not on us but the imported government”.

    The PTI leader insisted that Gen Faiz had made a visit “in the beginning to talk to the Afghan government” and not the Taliban.

    On Friday, TTP attacked the Karachi police chief’s office, martyring three persons including security personnel while 18 people sustained injuries. Five terrorists were also killed in the attack.

  • Police conduct search operation outside IK’s Zaman Park residence

    Police conduct search operation outside IK’s Zaman Park residence

    The Punjab police have conducted a search operation outside Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park, Lahore on suspicion of possible security threat and to locate any suspicious item.

    The police also used a metal detector in the search operation.

    The police also carried out a search operation in the camps outside Khan’s residence.

    In the late hours of Friday night, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters gathered in large numbers at Khan’s residence to thwart any attempt of arrest.

    Since the ouster of Imran Khan from power, his party has said that Khan’s life is in danger.

  • Sheikh Rashid to be formally charged on March 2 in Zardari allegations case

    Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid will be formally charged on March 2 by a district and sessions court in Islamabad for accusing former President Asif Ali Zardari of plotting an assassination attempt on Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    The court has also ordered that the former interior minister’s appears before the judge on the said date.

    Rashid requested the court to set March 15 as the date for indictment. However, the judge said that the high court has given its orders and the date cannot be extended.

    Court grants bail to Sheikh Rasheed in Zardari remarks case

    On Thursday, Rashid was granted bail in this case by Islamabad High Court (IHC).

    The high court approved his application and passed an order to submit surety bonds worth Rs50,000.

    Earlier, a district and sessions court of Islamabad rejected his bail, after which he approached the high court.

    In the early hours of February 2, Rashid was arrested from his home in Islamabad and was later handed over to police on a two-day physical remand.

    Rashid was also booked in another case in Karachi for allegedly using inappropriate language against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

  • President, PM condemn Karachi police chief office attack

    President, PM condemn Karachi police chief office attack

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Arif Alvi have condemned Friday’s terrorist attack on the office of the police chief in Karachi.

    The building came under attack around 7:10pm, triggering an operation initiated by law enforcement agencies immediately after, with cops and soldiers of the Pakistan Army and Rangers taking on the terrorists together.

    Three persons, including security personnel, were martyred, while 18 people sustained injuries. Five terrorists were also killed in the attack.

    As the operation to clear the attackers out from the building has finally concluded, people from across the country, including officials and celebrities, have come together to condemn the attack.

    President Dr Arif Alvi sent out a message of support through the President House Twitter account, stating: “The entire nation stands with its security forces against terrorists. Efforts will continue to eradicate the menace of terrorism.”

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemning the attack, tweeted, ” I strongly condemn the terrorist attack on the police in Karachi and salute the brave police and law enforcement personnel who foiled the attack. Terrorists may have forgotten that Pakistan is the nation which defeated terrorism with its bravery and courage.”

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took to Twitter and tweeted, “Sindh police have bravely faced and crushed terrorism before. We have full faith they will do so again, such cowardly attacks will not deter us.”

    Security forces cleared a five-storey police compound on the port city’s main thoroughfare in an hours-long operation during which three militants of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed while two policemen, one Rangers official and a citizen embraced martyrdom.

    At least 19 men, mostly police and Rangers officials, sustained injuries in the exchange of fire with militants who stormed the heavily guarded Karachi Police Office after lobbing a hand grenade at its main entrance, police and hospital officials said.

    The outlawed TTP has claimed responsibility for the latest ambush.

  • Sanaullah calls for forensic test of Elahi’s alleged ‘leaked audio’

    Sanaullah calls for forensic test of Elahi’s alleged ‘leaked audio’

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday called on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to take notice of a recent audio leak purportedly involving former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

    Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Sanaullah called for a forensic test of the leaked phone recording. He also urged the top judge to bring the culprits to justice.

    “If the former Punjab CM is found guilty after the forensic, then the matter should be presented before the judicial committee,” he added.

    In a sensational audio leak that surfaced online on Thursday, Elahi, can allegedly be heard talking to a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, about Mohammad Khan Bhatti’s case.

    The audio recordings, released in three parts, allegedly feature the voice of Elahi, a close ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), talking to three different people.


    In the first part, Pervaiz Elahi is talking to lawyer Jahangir Jhoja in Punjabi, and asks him to ensure that Mohammed Ali Bhatti’s case is put up before the said judge. Bhatti, the former Secretary of Punjab Assembly, considered a close aide of Pervaiz Elahi’s, was arrested from Karachi on February 6 while he was en route to Sindh High Court for protective bail.

    Jhoja allegedly replies to Pervaiz Elahi that they will try to make it happen. Pervaiz Elahi then says, “He is dabang (bold).”


    In the second audio leak, Pervaiz Elahi talks to Abid Zuberi, the President of Supreme Court Bar Association. Elahi again asks him to ensure that the case is put up before the same judge. “Have they filed the case sir,” Zuberi asks, to which Elahi replies in the affirmative, asking Zuberi not to tell anyone.

    Zuberi then says, “Day after tomorrow, Dogar’s case will be heard too, on 14th. [The judge] is part of the bench.” Elahi does not seem to remember who Dogar is, upon which Abid Zuberi reminds him that Ghulam Muhammad Dogar was the CCPO Lahore. “He has been removed but the case still is pending before the court, Sir,” Zuberi says. “I will discuss it,” said Pervez Elahi.

    The third and final audio allegedly is of a phone conversation between Pervaiz Elahi and the judge himself. The former Chief Minister tells the judge that he is coming over to meet him. He also asks if Muhammad Khan is there to which the reply is that he has reached. Elahi then allegedly says that he is coming without protocol and is quite near. He allegedly says that he will offer salam and then depart.

    The audio clip is cut off at this point.

  • No more Amreeki sazish? Fawad Chaudhry meets Donald Blome

    No more Amreeki sazish? Fawad Chaudhry meets Donald Blome

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry has confirmed on Twitter that he met with United States (US) Ambassador Donald Blome and other senior American officials.

    Taking to Twitter, Chaudhry wrote, “Had a good meeting with US ambassador and senior officials. The worsening HR [human rights] situation in Pakistan was a particular focus of discussion.”

    Chaudhry said, “The political situation and PTI position on various issues came under discussion. Such meetings are part of mutual desire to have relationship based on equality and well being of people.”

    Last week, PTI Chairman Imran Khan yet again came up with another narrative regarding his version of “regime change”. The former Prime Minister said that former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa told United States (US) that Khan is anti-America, which resulted in his ouster.

    In an interview with Voice of America, Khan said, “As things unfolded, it wasn’t the US who told Pakistan, it was unfortunately, from what evidences have now come out, it was General Bajwa who actually somehow managed to tell the Americans that I was anti-America and so it was not imported from there actually it was exported from here to there.”

  • ‘Institute immediate inquiry against Gen Bajwa’: Khan writes letter to Alvi

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday asked President Arif Alvi to “institute an immediate inquiry” against former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa for violating “his oath of office repeatedly” as the army chief.

    “Some very disturbing information has now come into the public domain whereby it is clear that Gen retd Bajwa as COAS violated his oath of office repeatedly,” Khan stated in a letter written to Alvi.

    PTI leader Shireen Mazari also announced the decision to ask for the inquiry on Twitter, sharing pictures of the said letter.

    Citing Javed Chaudhry’s column, Khan wrote that Gen Bajwa had “admitted to journalist Javed Chaudhry that ‘we’ considered Imran Khan [to be] dangerous to the country if he continued to stay in power”.

    He added that it would be “critical to ascertain” from Gen Bajwa that who did he refer to as “we”. The former premier raised the question, “Who gave him (Gen Bajwa) the power to decide that an elected prime minister (Imran) was supposedly a ‘danger to the country if he continued to stay in power’?”

    The former premier then went on to refer to a YouTube vlog made by political commentator Aftab Iqbal. He said according to Iqbal, “Gen Bajwa told him (Iqbal) in conversation that he had tapes of then-PM Imran Khan’s conversations with him”.

    Khan called it a “serious violation” of the former army chief’s oath as well as of his own fundamental human rights. “The question is why and under what authorisation was Gen Bajwa recording confidential conversations?” he asked.

    “I would also point out that Chapter II of the Constitution describes the mandate of the Armed Forces and specifically refers to Articles 243 and 244. Therefore it is your Constitutional duty as President and as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to take immediate action and institute an inquiry so as to establish whether such grave violations of the Constitution and oath of Office under the Constitution have taken place.”

    Imran Khan alleged that Gen (retd) Bajwa violated his oath when he publicly went against the then government’s policy of maintaining neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war.

    “He did this at an international conference in Islamabad on 2 April 2022 — the Islamabad Security Conference. I would like to point out that the govt policy was arrived at after developing a consensus of all stakeholders including MOFA and retired diplomats who had the relevant experience and were area specialists,” he wrote.

  • ‘Get Khan’s blood test done, if he is not addicted to cocaine and ice, I will resign’: Rana Sanaullah

    ‘Get Khan’s blood test done, if he is not addicted to cocaine and ice, I will resign’: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanullah has said that he has every intention of arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, but is bound by permission from the government and Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to do the same.

    Speaking on Geo News’s programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, Rana said,” Get Imran Khan’s blood test done, if he is not addicted to cocaine and ice, I will resign.”

    Talking about elections, Sanaullah said that Khan wants to create anarchy in the country. He went on to say that Khan repeatedly claimed that he will block the roads and a sea of people would come out but he failed to do so. Sanaullah further added that this time he will be dealt with rather strictly.

    On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi opposed putting Khan behind the bars immediately.

    “Even if Imran Khan has done something, I’m not in favour of putting anyone in jail,” the former Premier said while speaking with journalists in Islamabad.

    Commenting on the ongoing cases against the PTI chief, Abbasi said: “After completing this matter, punish Imran Khan if he has done anything.”

    Abbasi added that Khan has committed several wrongs and admitted the mistakes himself. “Imran Khan has himself spoken without any limits. I’m not referring to hearsay, but talking about his own confessions.”

  • ‘Not my govt’; Maryam Nawaz distances herself from her party’s rule

    ‘Not my govt’; Maryam Nawaz distances herself from her party’s rule

    Senior Vice-president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Maryam Nawaz, has distanced herself from her party’s administration, stating, “This is not my government.”

    Talking to a delegation of youth representatives in Lahore, the Chief Organiser of the party acknowledged that inflation is badly affecting poor people in the government but added that she was not a part of the current government.

    The federal government is formed of a coalition of parties of which PML-N is the largest partner, holding the portfolio of Prime Minister and multiple ministries including Finance.

    When asked about spiralling inflation, Maryam Nawaz said that PML-N is not responsible for it. “It will be our [PML-N’s] government when [party head] Nawaz Sharif will be in Pakistan,” she stated, adding that only he can take the country towards progress.