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Category: Politics

  • President Alvi to discuss ‘game of audio and videos leaks’ with COAS Munir

    President Alvi to discuss ‘game of audio and videos leaks’ with COAS Munir

    President Dr Arif Alvi has said that he had made it a point to discuss the “game of audio and videos leaks” with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.

    “I am surprised why this is going on. It should not continue in any sense of morality,” said Dr Alvi during a wide-ranging conversation with journalists, leaders of business community and foreign diplomats at a dinner on Saturday.

    Alvi revealed that former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and his team helped Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Senate and during the elections as well.

    The president that Khan had no thought of sacking Gen (retd) Bajwa, stating, “No, I don’t think so. That was a rumour.”

    The president said that we should let go of the past and forgive people for the mistakes they had committed earlier, so a new beginning could take place.

    “Let’s make a country that we deserve,” the President said. He rued that institutions had not played their role, even the judiciary, pointing out that the courts had given verdicts allowing a dictator to change the constitution. He referred to the Reko Diq case in which Pakistan had to pay a fine of $7 billion.

    “If you criticise the judiciary, it will reduce the efficacy of the entire judiciary. If you criticise the army, it becomes a matter of disrepute and we don’t want that,” the president said. He, however, added that this principle was often stretched and applied to every situation, due to which one could not say anything against them.

    Discussing Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s response to India, Dr Alvi remarked that the minister had done the right thing. He said the world and the global order was based on vested interests. “A good reply was given by Bilawal sahib,” he stated.

  • US embassy issues warning to American staff based in Pakistan of a possible attack

    The embassy of the United States of America (USA) has warned its Islamabad-based staff of a possible attack on the Marriott Hotel and “prohibited” them from visiting the hotel during the Christmas holidays.

    On Sunday, the embassy issued a security alert stating: “The US government is aware of information that unknown individuals are possibly plotting to attack Americans at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad sometime during the holidays. Effective immediately, the embassy in Islamabad is prohibiting all American staff from visiting the hotel.”

    The US also urged its staff to refrain from non-essential travel in Islamabad during the holiday season.

    Meanwhile, the Islamabad police raised security levels to high alert in the capital. The police said that checking was increased at all entry and exit points, requesting residents to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

    The capital administration has also put a ban on all types of gatherings for two weeks and declared a high alert in the city for 48 hours.

    The American embassy directive followed a suicide bombing in I-8, a residential area of Islamabad on Friday, which killed a police officer and wounded 10 people.

    Pakistan is facing a resurgence of terrorism since the militant Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) called off its ceasefire with the government in late November.

    Seven separate blasts ripped through Balochistan on December 25 killing six soldiers and injuring dozens of others.

    Last week, TTP militants seized control of the Counter-Terrorism Department’s (CTD) compound in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and held hostages inside the compound for almost two days.

  • CM Elahi will take confidence vote before Jan 11: Fawad Chaudhry

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry has announced that Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, will get a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly before January 11.

    Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan has already summoned a session of the assembly on Jan 11.

    In a press conference on Saturday, Fawad Chaudhry claimed that the coalition government in Punjab has the support of 187 lawmakers.

    He added that Imran Khan chaired a meeting of the party’s senior leadership on Saturday where it was decided that the vote of confidence would take place at the earliest.

    Earlier in the week, the Lahore High Court had reinstated Elahi as the chief minister and also issued notices to all parties involved in the case, summoning them to appear before the bench on January 11.

    The court suspended Punjab Governor Muhammad Baligur Rehman’s order till the next hearing (Jan 11) and also did not make it compulsory for the CM to take a vote of confidence on his orders.

    In a meeting on Saturday, PTI chief Imran Khan predicted that the next general elections would be held in March or April.

    On Friday, CM Elahi said that the Punjab Assembly would be dissolved in line with Khan’s directives. His statement came moments after he assured the high court that he would not dissolve the legislative.

  • US gives out $200m for gender equality, democracy in Pakistan

    US gives out $200m for gender equality, democracy in Pakistan

    Senators in the United States of America (USA) approved a sweeping annual spending package of $1.7 trillion, allocating $200 million for gender equality and strengthening democracy in Pakistan.

    Ukraine has got the lion’s share, with $45 billion approved in a aid and reforms to election law.

    It is to be noted that Pakistan’s allocation is under the US fund for gender equality, which is a 20-fold increase from the funds reserved in 2020.

    In 2020, the US congress cleared $10m for addressing gender disparity and $15m for strengthening democracy in Pakistan. In 2000, Pakistan received $25 million for the same purpose.

    The sweeping annual spending package was rubber-stamped by the House of Representatives.

    House Majority Leader Steny Hoye said: “This bill is a critically important piece of legislation not only to keep our government funded, keep our people being served but also to show that the United States of America’s government works.”

  • Won’t let provincial assemblies fall prey to Imran Khan’s ego, says Rana Sanaullah

    Won’t let provincial assemblies fall prey to Imran Khan’s ego, says Rana Sanaullah

    On Saturday, Railways and Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and Food Security Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema held a press conference in Lahore, calling on the apex court to take suo motu notice of the ongoing political turmoil in Punjab.

    Sanaullah said that the Governor has the constitutional right to ask the CM to attain a vote of confidence if he plans to dissolve the provincial assembly to satisfy someone’s ego.

    He added that they would not let two provincial assemblies fall prey to [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman] Imran Khan’s arrogance.

    “Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is trying to ensure that all the assemblies complete their tenure,” he said.
    He added that they do not intend to avoid elections; in fact, they are preparing their candidates for general polls.

    Rana added that the LHC provided ultimate relief to Parvez Elahi. He said that he has heard PTI is offering Rs20 million each to their estranged MPAs.
    “Imran wants the establishment to indulge in politics and help him attain power once again,” said Rafique.

  • Despite giving assurance to court, Elahi insists assembly ‘will be dissolved’

    Despite giving assurance to court, Elahi insists assembly ‘will be dissolved’

    Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi has said on Friday that the Punjab Assembly will be dissolved in line with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s directives, moments after he assured a high court that he would not dissolve the legislative.

    “The decision to dissolve the assemblies is final; Imran Khan’s decision will be implemented,” the chief minister wrote on his official Twitter handle.

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) restored Elahi as the chief minister on Friday evening, December 23, following an undertaking submitted by him stating that he would not dissolve the provincial assembly.

    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry has also emphasized that provincial assemblies will be dissolved “in any case”.

    “The undertaking that Pervaiz Elahi has given is technical. However, the PTI does not agree with the undertaking that was given to the court.

    Assemblies will be dissolved in any case,” Fawad told journalists in Lahore.

  • ‘Ineffective after removal as CM’: PML-N, PPP withdraw no-trust motion against Elahi

    ‘Ineffective after removal as CM’: PML-N, PPP withdraw no-trust motion against Elahi

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Friday withdrew the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, terming it unnecessary and ineffective after his de-notification as Chief Minister by the Governor of Punjab.

    PML-N leader Khalil Tahir Sandhu said , “The no-trust move became ineffective as the governor has denotified the CM.” He added that PML-N had withdrawn only the motion against the chief minister, and the ones against Speaker Sibtain Khan and the deputy speaker are still pending.

    On the other hand, Elahi and other MPAs of the PML-N and PML-Q started arriving at the Punjab Assembly on Friday afternoon.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial assembly’s ongoing session will be held today following the speaker’s disposal on Tuesday of the governor’s order for Elahi to obtain a vote of confidence from the house, terming it “against the Constitution and Rules of Procedure”.

    Elahi on Friday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging Governor Balighur Rehman’s de-notification from the chief minister’s office.

    Governor Rehman de-notified Elahi in the late hours of Friday, citing a failure to take the vote of confidence from the provincial assembly as political turmoil in Pakistan’s largest province reached breaking point.

  • ‘A man I can trust’, says Reham Khan about her husband

    ‘A man I can trust’, says Reham Khan about her husband

    Reham Khan has tied the knot with an overseas Pakistani, 36-year-old Mirza Bilal Baig, who lives in the US. Mirza Bilal Baig is a corporate professional and has been married twice before. He has one child from a previous marriage.

    Reham Khan and Bilal tied the knot in a simple ceremony in Seattle.

    The news was shared by Reham from her official social media pages with pictures of the two.

    Reham, while sharing the news about her marriage wrote, ” I am delighted to share the good news with my followers & well-wishers that I have tied the knot in a simple marriage ceremony with Mirza Bilal. In the absence of my parents I want to request you for your prayers and kind wishes as I embark on my new life. Life is about love and understanding, and after a very long lonely struggle I finally met a man who impressed me with his intelligence and won me with his honesty and his composure. Although Mirza is a good 13 years younger to me, he is the sage in my life. A man I can trust. A man who will be around me in my darkest hour. A man who I feel safe with. Like you have welcomed me in your hearts and prayers, I am sure you will extend the same warmth to the man who I have chosen to share my life with. I would like to thank Mirza’s parents for warmly welcoming me into their beautiful family, and my children for being supportive as always. Special thanks to my son for fulfilling duties of being my Vakeel. Finally, as we are both hoping it will be third time lucky for us, I would politely request you to respect the privacy of our respective immediate families & our children.”

    Mirza Bilal Baig is a former model and has also been part of “The 4 Men Show”, “Dil Pey Mut Ley Yaar” and “National Alien Broadcast”.

    Have a look at his pictures:

  • ‘No action can be taken against any CM over speaker’s actions’: Elahi challenges governor’s denotification order in LHC

    ‘No action can be taken against any CM over speaker’s actions’: Elahi challenges governor’s denotification order in LHC

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervaiz Elahi on Friday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging Governor Balighur Rehman’s de-notification from chief minister’s office.

    In the petition, Elahi has appealed to the court to declare the governor’s move illegal.

    “No action can be taken against any chief minister over speaker’s actions,” maintains the petition.

    Governor Rehman denotified Elahi in the late hours of Friday, citing a failure to take the vote of confidence from the provincial assembly as political turmoil in Pakistan’s largest province reached breaking point.


    “Since the CM has refrained from obtaining the vote of confidence at the appointed day and time, he ceases to hold office. Orders issued this evening,” Governor Rehman stated.

    Following the governor’s instruction, Chief Secretary of Punjab Abdullah Khan Sumbal, also notified the dissolution of the provincial cabinet. “Mr Pervaiz Elahi has ceased to hold office of the Chief Minister Punjab with immediate effect,” reads the notification. 

  • ‘Suicide blast’ in Islamabad’s I-10: One policeman martyred, several injured

    ‘Suicide blast’ in Islamabad’s I-10: One policeman martyred, several injured

    A suicide blast in a vehicle left a policeman martyred and at least six people injured in Islamabad’s I-10/4 sector on Friday, the federal capital’s police said in a statement.

    Shortly afterwards, the Islamabad Police declared a “red alert” in the city.

    According to Deputy Inspector General of Police Sohail Zafar Chattha, the police spotted a “suspicious vehicle” with a man and a woman aboard at 10:15am in the area.

    “When the police stopped the vehicle, the couple came out of the car. The long-haired man, while being checked by the officers, went inside the vehicle on some pretext and then detonated himself,” he said in a media briefing at the crime scene alongside Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon.

    Police officials said that cops had stopped a “suspicious” taxi for snap checking when the explosion occurred.

    In a tweet, the Islamabad police said police officers were conducting snap-checking when they signalled to the suspicious vehicle to stop.

    “A suicide bomber aboard the vehicle detonated a bomb soon after the car stopped near the officers,” it said.

    Injured cops were moved to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

    All the hospitals in Islamabad have been put on high alert, a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services said. The ministry said to ensure the attendance of all the medical and paramedical staff.

    The Ministry of Health said that all federal hospitals should be kept on high alert keeping in view the current situation.

    Soon after the blast, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif summoned a report of the suicide blast and also condemned the terror incident.

    The PM also paid tribute to the martyred policemen, adding that the nation pays tribute to its martyrs. He added that the whole nation will fight against terrorism. 

    “The plan to shed innocent blood has failed due to the action of the law enforcement agencies,” said the PM. He also announced a martyr package for the family of Head Constable Adeel Hussain.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed that “two terrorists” were killed in the blast.

    “The vehicle used in the blast was registered in Chakwal. The car entered Islamabad from Rawalpindi […] it was packed with explosives and headed for a high-value target in the capital,” he said.

    Sanaullah added that had the car reached its target, it would have caused heavy losses.

    The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released on Friday.