Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Justice Babar Sattar says tweeting in a trend does not constitute a crime

    Justice Babar Sattar says tweeting in a trend does not constitute a crime

    Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissed a case filed against a citizen for tweeting in a controversial trend on Twitter, reports Samaa.

    In his verdict, Justice Babar Sattar accepted the petition of a citizen against the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over tweeting against state institutions.

    Justice Sattar observed in the judgement that “Tweeting in relation to any trend cannot itself attract criminal liability unless the words used in the tweet constitute as offensive under a penal statute.”

    The words in the tweet in question attracted no criminal liability, he ruled.

    Justice Sattar noted that the court cannot act unless there is something wrong in the words used by the person writing the tweet while the court held that the purpose of registering an FIR was to impose illegal censorship on the expression of a citizen.

  • Khawaja Asif says PM Shehbaz didn’t consult Nawaz on COAS appointment

    Khawaja Asif says PM Shehbaz didn’t consult Nawaz on COAS appointment

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that no decision regarding the appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has been made as yet.

    When asked if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif was not being consulted on the matter, the minister said: “Consultations have not yet taken place on the army chief’s appointment. These are just newspaper reports”, reports Geo News.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has just returned home from Britain after having several meetings with his brother Nawaz. It was being widely reported that the two brothers were holding consultations on who should be the next head of the armed forces.

    Speaking with journalists outside the National Assembly, Khwaja Asif said: “The prime minister has discretion regarding the appointment of the COAS; therefore, he will make the decision on the appointment.”

    Responding to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s interview with Financial Times where he said he “no longer blamed the US” and wants “dignified” ties with the country if he comes back to power, Asif sarcastically asked if this was the first time Khan was taking back his words.

    “He turns away from everything, how many things have been said in the last four years? Has Imran Khan stood by anything he says,” the minister asked.

  • PTI submits petition to Supreme Court to look into attack on Imran Khan

    PTI submits petition to Supreme Court to look into attack on Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has on Monday approached five registries of the Supreme Court (SC) in different cities across the country to seek the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the assassination attack on PTI chief Imran Khan in Wazirabad, the secret recording of PTI Senator Azam Swati and his wife and the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

    In the plea filed in the Lahore registry, former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar is the applicant.

    The petition about the assassination attempt on Imran Khan maintains that following the incident, another “grave injustice” continues to fester as the police have “refused to register the FIR according to the request submitted by the complainant”.

    After the former Prime Minister was shot at during his party’s Long March, an First Information Report (FIR) was not registered. Imran Khan had nominated PM Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah and Major-General Faisal Naseer as the conspirators behind the firing incident. However, later, on the SC’s orders, an FIR was registered by the Punjab police on November 8. PTI rejected the report as it did not contain the names of the people whom Khan wanted to nominate.

    The petition also sought the formation of a judicial commission into the “illegal private video recording” of Senator Azam Swati and his wife which was allegedly recorded while they were staying at an official rest house in Quetta.

    Additionally, the party has also raised the matter of slain journalist Sharif’s murder with the court. The petition said it is crucial that an independent commission inquires about the circumstance that compelled Sharif to flee the country and eventually end up in Kenya.

    In a press conference after submitting the petition to the SC’s Lahore Registry, PTI Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi also made an announcement regarding the petitions.

    He hoped that the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Umar Ata Bandial, would consider his party’s pleas.

    In Karachi, PTI leaders Ali Zaidi and Imran Ismail along with other party members reached the SC registry to file the petition. Meanwhile, former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri and others moved the plea in Quetta.

    Earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif had also written letters to the CJ to form judicial commissions on two issues — the attack on Khan and Arshad Sharif’s murder.

  • ‘It is over, I want good relations especially with the US’: Khan on his removal

    ‘It is over, I want good relations especially with the US’: Khan on his removal

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has said that he no longer “blames the United States (US)” for engineering the Vote of No Confidence that resulted in his government’s ouster, and wants “dignified” ties with the country if he comes back to power.

    Referring to the alleged conspiracy which the former Prime Minister has insisted upon since April of this year, Khan said that “it was over”, in an interview with the Financial Times.

    “As far as I’m concerned, it’s over; it’s behind me. The Pakistan I want to lead must have good relationships with everyone, especially the United States,” he said.

    “Our relationship with the US has been as of a master-servant relationship, or a master-slave relationship, and we’ve been used like a hired gun. But for that I blame my own governments more than the US,” the former premier added.

    The former prime minister also termed his visit to Moscow on the eve of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia as “embarrassing”. He, however, added that trip was organised months in advance.

    About the role of the military, he said the army could play a “constructive role” in his future plans for Pakistan.

    The former premier asserted that there should “be a balance” in civil-military ties as “you cannot have an elected government which has responsibility given by the people, while the authority lies somewhere else”.

  • Pakistani Twitter defends PM Shehbaz against former Irfan Pathan’s remarks

    Pakistani Twitter defends PM Shehbaz against former Irfan Pathan’s remarks

    Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan continues his Twitter tirade against Pakistan cricket fans after he turned his guns towards Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    After the England team crushed Indians in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, the premier wrote an interesting tweet, writing, “So, this Sunday, it’s: 152/0 vs 170/0″, he said in reference to the scores of Pakistan and England against Indian cricket team in T20 World Cups of 2021 and 2022, respectively. Both teams defeated India without losing a single wicket.

    But the premier’s tweet didn’t sit well with Indian cricket fans. Replying to PM Shehbaz’s tweet, on the eve of World Cup final, Pathan said, “Aap mein or hum mein fark yehi hai. Hum apni khushi se khush or aap dusre ke taklif se. Is liye khud ke mulk ko behtar karne pe dhyan nahi hai.” (This is the difference between you and us. We are satisfied with our happiness, while you look for happiness when others are in trouble. That is why you are not concentrating on your country’s well-being).

    Pathan, who has criticised Pakistan’s cricket team and fans in the past, was taken to task by Twitterati with many of them calling him a “hypocrite”.

    https://twitter.com/WrathOfTatars/status/1591373147408068608?s=20&t=iSuBHNZdXjRwT_dg_I5PQA

    Earlier, the Indian bowler came under fire after he cracked a joke at the expense of the Pakistani cricket team during the ongoing T20 World Cup taking place in Australia.

    On Wednesday, when Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 7 wickets and booked a place for themselves in the final of the tournament, Pathan tweeted that while Pakistan won the match, they still have no “grace”.

    After receiving the backlash, Irfan tweeted again and clarified that his comment was not meant for Pakistani players.

  • Daily Mail defamation case: UK court directs PM Shehbaz to deposit nearly Rs8 million

    Daily Mail defamation case: UK court directs PM Shehbaz to deposit nearly Rs8 million

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was ordered by London High Court to deposit £30,000 (Rs7.8 million or almost Rs80 lac) through his lawyer by November 23 after the premier’s advocates applied unilaterally to the court to withdraw the stay application in favour of the trial proceedings to go ahead in Daily Mail defamation case, reports Geo News.

    This “stay” was agreed between all parties — Daily Mail publishers, Shehbaz Sharif and his son-in-law Imran Ali Yousaf — in agreement but then Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyers decided to withdraw the “stay” just ahead of the case management hearing where the dates for the trials were to be set.

    The purpose of the costs and case management hearing is to set directions for the case to proceed to trial and to consider the parties’ costs budgets, i.e. their estimated costs of the proceedings to a conclusion.

    The court has also asked Sharif’s lawyers to submit a comprehensive reply to Daily Mail’s defence within a month or the case could be struck out.

    Earlier, PM Shehbaz’s request for an indefinite adjournment, in this case, was denied by a court. The court had said that if PM Shahbaz and Imran fail to respond to Daily Mail’s lawyers in court, they would have to pay the defendant all the cost of the legal proceedings.

    In July 2019, renowned media law firm Carter-Ruck sued British newspaper The Mail on Sunday, online news site Mail Online and its journalist David Rose on behalf of Shehbaz Sharif for publishing a “politically motivated” article. The story, published on July 14, 2019, had suggested that Shehbaz and Yousaf “stole British taxpayers’ money” given to Earthquake Relief and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) set up to help the victims of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake.

    Earlier this year, London High Court ruled that the article by reporter Rose carried the highest level of defamation (Chase level 1 – the highest form of defamation in English law) against both Shehbaz Sharif and his son-in-law.

  • Imran Khan’s security increased after assassination attempt

    Imran Khan’s security increased after assassination attempt

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s security has been increased after an assassination attempt last week in Wazirabad.

    During the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march, Khan was shot at leaving the party chairman and other leaders injured, while one bystander lost his life.

    As part of increased security arrangements, concrete blocks have been placed around Khan’s Zaman Park residence, reports Dawn.

    Police check-posts have also been set up at the entry and exit points of Zaman Park and a record of visitors to the locality is also being maintained by the Punjab government.

    A special contingent of commandos from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) also reached Zaman Park on Friday to take charge of his security, while the number of local police personnel has been increased with the inclusion of policewomen, to frisk the women visitors coming to inquire after the PTI chairman.

  • All eyes on the COAS appointment as Gen Bajwa and President Alvi arrive in Lahore

    All eyes on the COAS appointment as Gen Bajwa and President Alvi arrive in Lahore

    President Dr Arif Alvi and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa were in Lahore on Friday night as speculations ran rife on who will be appointed the new army chief. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman is also in Lahore, recuperating from surgeries at his home in Zaman Park.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will soon return from London after consulting his elder brother and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif on the political quagmire in the country and the appointment of a new army chief.

    According to news reports, President Alvi has emerged as the leading figure in the army’s ongoing “backchannel talks” with PTI. He has already facilitated at least one direct meeting between Gen Bajwa and Khan at the Presidency.

    In an interview on Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira — whose party also holds an important position in the ruling alliance — said merit would determine who becomes the next army chief.

    “The [government] will appoint the next army chief from among the top-five senior generals,” Kaira said and mentioned that PM Shehbaz would return to Pakistan and deliberate over the matter with members of the government and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

    Lashing out at Khan, Kaira said the person against whom Khan had reservations was the same man with whom he spent four years in power.

    Earlier this week, PM Shehbaz and Nawaz Sharif agreed not to succumb to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) pressure, especially on Khan’s key demand for early elections.

    The Premier had a meeting that lasted for over three hours with his elder brother. Reportedly, Nawaz told Shehbaz to “continue doing his best to take Pakistan out of the economic crisis” and “not succumb to any kind of pressure”.

    Meanwhile, Khan has also reiterated his stance on appointing the army chief on “merit” and criticised PM Shehbaz for consulting Nawaz on this all-important appointment.

    During an address to participants of his party’s long march in Gujrat via video link, Khan said: “Whoever fits the merit, should be appointed the army chief.”

    “Nawaz Sharif always brings up the man who is beneficial for him,” Khan said referring to the appointment’s decision. The statement was in stark contrast to Khan’s stance of just a day earlier, as reported by Dawn, when he told journalists that, “They [government] can appoint whoever they want.”

  • ‘I am absolutely fine’: Rana Sanaullah sends message from hospital

    ‘I am absolutely fine’: Rana Sanaullah sends message from hospital

    Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that he is on the road to recovery after undergoing a couple of minor checkups and medical procedures.

    “To all those well-wishers who are concerned about my health after viewing my picture at the hospital, I am absolutely fine,” the minister said in an audio message on Friday. Earlier in the night, a picture of the federal minister lying on a hospital bed, hooked up to oxygen, had been widely shared on social media.

    “I had heart surgery almost 20 years ago in 2004. For patients like me, some minor procedures and a general checkup are essential every two to three years,” Rana Sanaullah clarified.

    “All my friends are welcome to see me when I am back home on Sunday,” he added.

    The minister was admitted to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, also known as the National Institute of Heart Diseases (NIHD) in Rawalpindi, for routine procedures and health checks, according to the interior ministry.

  • ‘Waqar and Khurram killed Arshad Sharif’: Rana Sanaullah

    ‘Waqar and Khurram killed Arshad Sharif’: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Khurram and his brother Waqar, who were hosting slain journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya, conspired with local police to kill the newsman.

    “This is a joint conspiracy of Waqar, Khurram and five Kenyan police officers,” said the federal minister on Geo News programme “Geo Pakistan” adding that the murder was a “target killing”.

    The interior minister said that Sharif went to Kenya from Dubai on Waqar’s sponsorship and he was staying in his flat. He also said that Waqar helped Sharif in getting an online visa.

    It is pertinent to mention that when Sharif was shot, Khurram was with him, driving the car, however, he was not injured by police gunfire and remained unharmed.

    “We have the record of everything including why Sharif went to Waqar’s house and stayed as a guest,” claimed the minister. He also revealed that Waqar is not being named in the case because the commission has yet to go and look into these matters.

    During the interview, Sanaullah said that Sharif didn’t want to leave the country.

    The interior minister said that he would request Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to talk to the Kenyan president again because the Kenyan police are “not cooperating”.

    Earlier in the week, “On the Front” host Kamran Shahid unearthed details of the murder on his show, stating, “At eight o clock on the night of October 23, Arshad Sharif was shot while sitting in the car with Khurram, who drove him [Arshad Sharif] via a long route instead of the usual one on the day the anchorperson was martyred.”