Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘Mujrimon ki aiyashiaan hui vi hain, choron ki eid hui vi hai’: Imran Khan on Ishaq Dar’s possible return to Pakistan

    ‘Mujrimon ki aiyashiaan hui vi hain, choron ki eid hui vi hai’: Imran Khan on Ishaq Dar’s possible return to Pakistan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan while speaking on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Ishaq Dar’s possible return to Pakistan said that the criminals are having a great time and theives are enjoying Eid.

    “Mujrimon ki aiyashiaan hui vi hain, choron ki eid hui vi hai [Criminals are having a great time, and the thieves are enjoying Eid]. There corruption cases are slowly being forgiven,” said Khan while speaking to journalist Abbas Shabbir.

    “This is the reason these thieves [came into power], ” said Khan.

    When asked that there is news circulating that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif is returning to Pakistan, Khan said, “Nawaz Sharif ka bara acha istaqbal hoga [Nawaz Sharif will receive a rousing welcome.]

    An accountability court on Friday, September 23, suspended the arrest warrant issued against Dar and dismissed orders for arrest upon his arrival in Pakistan.

    Accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir issued the orders, stating that once Dar returns to Pakistan, the court will decide whether it should revoke his arrest orders permanently or not.

    “We will consider permanently suspending Dar’s arrest warrants once he appears before the court in person,” the judge added.

  • Unidentified men hurl grenade at PTI’s Shehryar Afridi’s home

    Unidentified men hurl grenade at PTI’s Shehryar Afridi’s home

    Unidentified men hurled hand grenade at the ancestral home of former minister of state and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shehryar Khan Afridi’s in Kohat on late Thursday, September 23.

    Taking to Twitter, PTI leader Senator Ejaz Chaudhry said that there was a cracker bomb attack at the house of Shahryar Afridi. May Allah protect him and destroy the enemies of Pakistan, he prayed.

    The police officials said four unidentified men riding on two motorbikes hurled a hand grenade at the residence of the former minister and managed to escape from the scene. The grenade exploded outside the residence.

    No loss of life was reported while the gate and wall have been partially damaged.

    Meanwhile, a first information report (FIR) has been registered against the unidentified men at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

    Kohat District Police Officer Shafiullah Gandapur visited the crime scene and said that the accused will be arrested soon with the help of CTD.

  • ‘PTI MNAs can return to Assembly if PM announces elections’: Asad Qaiser

    ‘PTI MNAs can return to Assembly if PM announces elections’: Asad Qaiser

    Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) can return to the House if Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif announces date for general elections.

    Speaking to Dawn News’ Adil Shahzeb on Thursday, the PTI leader said, “I am telling you about the party policy. But first, they need to decide on a date for elections and dissolving the assemblies.”

    “But the date of elections must not be too far away”, he added.

    It is pertinent to mention that PTI leaders had tendered their resignations together after former PM Imran Khan’s government was ousted through a no-confidence motion in April of this year. Since then, most of the resignations remain with the current Speaker, Raja Pervez Ashraf.

    Discussing another possibility, Asad Qaiser said the party can consider rejoining the NA if there is a need for legislating or passing amendments regarding election reforms, stressing that his party chairman Imran Khan is also of the same view.

    About the dissolution of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies, where PTI is in power, Qaiser revealed that the option is “still alive” and that discussions are taking place regarding this matter.

    Talking about PTI long march, he said whatever steps are taken would be within constitutional limits.

    Asad’s remarks came after Supreme Court (SC) suggested on Thursday that PTI should go back to the lower house as voters had elected them for five years.

    ‘Return to the National Assembly’: CJP Bandial says PTI should play its role in parliament

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial reminded PTI that public had elected their representatives for a term of five years.

    “People have elected [PTI lawmakers] for five years. The party should play its role in parliament. Playing a due role in parliament is the actual obligation,” said CJP Bandial.

    Initially, PTI had moved the IHC and challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) acceptance of the resignations of 11 MNAs and not accepting a “piece-meal” resignation of all 123 lawmakers.

    But the IHC dismissed the plea on September 6.

    During today’s hearing, the top court said that the IHC has given a clear ruling on the phase-wise acceptance of MNAs’ resignations.

    “The speaker has the legal right to accept the resignations of MNAs. Prima facie, if the speaker’s rights are infringed upon, it will attract Article 69,” the court said.

    “Convince the court that the high court’s decision had some drawbacks,” it said, telling PTI’s counsel Faisal Chaudhry that the people elected his clients for a term of five years and the party should play its role in parliament.

    “Your [PTI] real responsibility is to play your role in parliament. Millions of people have been affected by floods,” the CJP told the counsel, drawing light on the country’s grim situation.

    “You will also have to look at the country’s economic situation. Does the PTI have any idea how much it will cost to hold by-elections on 123 seats?” he asked.

    The CJP said one should conduct themselves in a dignified manner and exercise “tolerance in matters of the state”.

    “We are giving you another chance to think. Take instructions from the party,” he told the PTI’s counsel.

    The CJP asked, “Why do you want the court to issue a stay order on by-polls on the 11 National Assembly seats?”

    The PTI’s counsel replied that elections cannot be held in selected constituencies.

    “Have you ever asked the speaker why is he not confirming the resignations?” inquired the CJP.

    The chief justice observed that they cannot interfere in the jurisdiction of the speaker.

    “Every institution has its own limitation,” the CJP remarked.

    Turnout in by-elections is low, CJP Bandial said, adding that expenses for by-elections in 123 constituencies at a time will be very high.

    According to the Constitution, the first duty of elected members is to join the assembly, observed the CJP.

    “It is possible that you will gain political advantage from the elections, but prima facie, the procedure adopted by the speaker is not wrong,” remarked the CJP.

    Meanwhile, the court adjourned the case for an indefinite period.

  • ‘Imran Khan insists that armed forces should bring him back into power’: Bilawal

    ‘Imran Khan insists that armed forces should bring him back into power’: Bilawal

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that former Prime Minister Imran Khan insists that the armed forces should bring him back to power.

    “He [Imran Khan] doesn’t say how dare you remove me through a democratic means. He insists that the army, armed forces and intelligence agency should intervene to bring him back into power,” said Bilawal while speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

    “If they do not, they are in the wrong. For anyone who understands the history of Pakistan and watched our turbulent history, and our struggle for democracy, they will understand how dangerous it is for us,” said the foreign minister.

    https://twitter.com/tayyabbalochpk/status/1573032882272374784?s=20&t=dyU7fSBcsBBikBNy7aH7rg

    It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan’s parliament voted out Imran Khan in a no-confidence motion on April 9, capping a month-long political crisis that gripped the nation of 220 million.

    It is the first time a Pakistani prime minister has ever been ousted by a no-confidence motion put forward by the Opposition.

    Since then, Imran Khan and his party have become more popular but have criticized the security establishment in thinly veiled words, critiquing their “neutrality”.

  • ‘Use of teargas shells, rubber bullets will be considered’: Rana Sanaullah ahead of PTI’s long march

    ‘Use of teargas shells, rubber bullets will be considered’: Rana Sanaullah ahead of PTI’s long march

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah talked about the long march call given by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    The minister said that “it is not possible to talk to a person like Imran Khan, Khan has to prepare but we are fully prepared”, reports Geo Urdu.

    On the question about controlling the participants of the possible PTI sit-in, Sanaullah said that modern methods would be adopted to fire teargas shells and rubber bullets on the protesters and the use of drones would also be considered.

    When asked what if the provincial governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) where PTI is in power refused to provide police forces when Islamabad police asked for it. Sanaullah said that the government would take action against them in line with the Constitution.

    Rana also said that the red zone was sealed as a precaution, but warned that when PTI approach Islamabad, the red zone would be sealed again.

    However, Imran Khan warned the minister said that “he should be worried” because the PTI will be marching towards Islamabad with “full preparation” this time.

    “We promise you that you will not be able to hide in Islamabad,” Khan told Sanaullah, adding that he will make a decision on Saturday about giving a call to the public to take to the streets.

    Islamabad asks for more police forces to deal with a possible PTI protest

    Islamabad’s red zone has been sealed with containers and Section 144 has been imposed ahead of a possible Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in the federal capital.

    The city administration reportedly plans to dig trenches and place hundreds of containers at the entrances of Islamabad to prevent PTI supporters from entering the city.

    Moreover, Islamabad police have asked for 30,000 personnel of police, paratroopers, and the Frontier Corps (FC) force from the provinces — 20,000 from Punjab, 4,000 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and 6,000 personnel of the Rangers and the FC force.

    However, the provincial governments of Punjab and KP have not yet decided how to respond to the Islamabad request, reports Geo News.

    According to the Islamabad police, “Some people from Punjab have set out for the federal capital to get their political demands”.

    Entry to D-Chowk has been restricted and barbed wires and shipping containers are placed in the area.

    Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan warned the government to stop the “persecution” of his party workers otherwise he would again march on Islamabad.

    He had directed the party leaders to start preparations for a long march to Islamabad. He also asked party workers to wait for the Islamabad call. The final date is yet to be announced.

    In May, PTI leaders and thousands of supporters reached Islamabad where a six-day deadline was given to the government for announcing elections and dissolving assemblies. That long march ended a day after it started.

  • ‘Today’s India is changed’: Bilawal on getting no flood aid from India

    ‘Today’s India is changed’: Bilawal on getting no flood aid from India

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, in an interview with France 24, said that Pakistan is grateful for the global assistance it has received however the country does not want aid, it wants justice.

    He said, “Our message is that we don’t want to beg, we don’t want aid, we want justice. This is a global catastrophe as a result of global action and it requires a global situation.”

    When asked if India had offered any help and whether Pakistan had asked for any, the minister termed Pakistan-India relations as “complicated”.

    “We have a long and complicated history. unfortunately, India today is a changed India and is no longer the secular country promised by its founding fathers for all its citizens,” he said.

    He, further added that the country “is increasingly becoming a Hindu-supremacist India at the expense of its Christian and Muslim minorities not only within India but unfortunately in the disputed region of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).”

    He said Pakistan is seeing multiple challenges in the future such as health catastrophe, disease epidemics, crop shortage, livestock loss, food security, and more. However, he expressed hope saying, “Every crisis creates an opportunity and in this crisis, the opportunity is that we must build back in a more resilient way and greener way.”

    On Afghanistan and its tough rules and regulations on women, Bilawal said Pakistan had still not officially recognised the Afghan government.

    He said it would be in the Afghan government’s favour to fulfil its promises to the international community and its nation to gain legitimacy and a path to international recognition.

    When asked about the recent protest happening in Iran over a young woman’s death allegedly because of the morality police, Bilawal said he had seen the Iranian foreign minister’s response on the issue and said he trusted the neighbour to “keep to their word” for an incident inquiry despite “living in extremely difficult circumstances”.

  • ‘Mai maafi maangta hoon agar meri taraf se koyi line cross huvi hai’: Imran Khan

    ‘Mai maafi maangta hoon agar meri taraf se koyi line cross huvi hai’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that he apologizes if he crossed any line.

    Speaking to the court, Khan said, “Mai khaatoon judge se zaati taur pe maafi maangta hoon,” (I personally apologize to the female judge).

    “I assure the court that I will not do something like this in the future,” he added.

    Khan was attending proceedings of a contempt of court case today (Thursday), for his controversial remarks about Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a rally in Islamabad on August 20. The former Prime Minister said that he will personally apologise to the the female judge.

    The IHC was expected to formally indict him today.

    Following this, the IHC CJ remarked that it would not be appropriate to conduct contempt proceedings. The court decided to not indict the PTI chief after he agreed to apologise to Judge Chaudhry and the hearing was subsequently adjourned.

    The court also directed the PTI chief to submit an affidavit.

    As he made his way inside the court along with party leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and Shibli Faraz, Imran was surrounded by reporters asking questions. However, he chose to stay silent when asked whether or not he would tender an unconditional apology, answering only with a smile.

    On a lighter note, he remarked that he would become an “expert” due to the sheer number of cases registered against him.

    The IHC in a circular had stated that the proceedings of the case will start at 2:30pm, during which a larger bench of the IHC will frame the charges against Khan.

    “A 15-member legal team of Imran Khan, 15 law officers from the office of the attorney-general and advocate-general will be allowed to enter the courtroom,” read the circular.

    “Imran Khan’s response was unsatisfactory,” said IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, in the last hearing.

    Justice Minal­lah observed that Khan’s replies to the court’s show-cause notice appeared to be “Justifying contempt of the judiciary” and showed “No remorse or regret”.

  • ‘Judges ko chaahiye Imran Khan ko izzat dein’: Fawad Chaudhry

    ‘Judges ko chaahiye Imran Khan ko izzat dein’: Fawad Chaudhry

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry has said that party Chairman Imran Khan is the most popular and respected leader of Pakistan and should be treated with respect.

    While talking about the possible outcomes of the contempt of court proceedings against Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry said that the on-going case is between the contemnor and the court and they are not letting Khan speak.

    On being asked if Khan will “unconditionally apologise” today, Chaudhry said, “He can, there is no harm in it.”

    He further said that Khan’s lawyer, Hamid Khan, doesn’t know anything as he is “Ghuggu ghorra” [a person who doesn’t speak]. “I have told Khan saab many times that you yourself should speak [in the court]. Hamid Khan doesn’t know anything,” said Chaudhry.

    “If Allah Almighty gives respect to someone, it becomes obligatory on people to give that person respect as well. Imran Khan is the leader of millions of Pakistanis, so judges must also give him respect,” said Chaudhry.

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) is scheduled to formally indict Khan in a contempt of court case today (Thursday), for his controversial remarks about Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a rally in Islamabad on August 20.

  • US President says Pakistan ‘underwater’, other countries should help

    US President says Pakistan ‘underwater’, other countries should help


    President of the United States, Joe Biden, on Wednesday asked the world to step forward and stop the effects of climate change. While addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the American President said that Pakistan must be helped as the country remains under water after devastating floods hit the country.

    In his address to the 193 member strong UNGA, the US President announced another $2.9 billion for a fund aimed at helping to resolve global food insecurity.


    “Pakistan is still under water, needs help,” he said during the speech.

    “Families are facing impossible choices, choosing which child to feed and wondering whether they’ll survive,” he said. “This is the human cost of climate change. And it’s growing, not lessening.”

    Devastating floods in Pakistan have wreaked havoc across the country, leaving a path of destruction and loss in their wake. More than 1,599 people have lost their lives, one-third of whom are children.

    Record monsoon rains and melting glaciers triggered the disaster. The United Nations (UN) and Pakistan have linked the extreme weather to climate change; some 600,000 people have fled their homes.


    As many as 33 million people of the 220 million South Asian nation have been affected in some way by the floods that swept away houses, roads, railways and bridges and submerged around 4 million acres of farmland.

  • ‘Khan has created hatred among people because of his chor, daku narrative’: Ahsan Iqbal

    ‘Khan has created hatred among people because of his chor, daku narrative’: Ahsan Iqbal

    Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has built up a narrative of chor and daku (thieves and bandits) which has created hatred among the people.

    Talking to Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath” on Wednesday, the minister said that Khan has multiple times raised slogans and accusations of bandits and robbers against him. He said that his reputation was destroyed however after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled in his favour, he is now free of all charges.

    On the show, Iqbal also recalled an incident where PTI supporters harassed him and hurled accusations of ‘chor chor’ (thief) at him. The minister said: “They did it because of Khan’s narrative against me.”

    High Court gives a clean shit to Iqbal

    IHC acquitted Ahsan Iqbal in a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), accusing Iqbal of misusing authority by funding a provincial government project Narowal Sports City.

    During the hearing on Wednesday, NAB’s Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzeb Khan Bharwana was absent. The court asked the NAB investigator to outline where the alleged corruption had taken place, to which the official said that Bharwana was to present his arguments but he was not present in the court.

    When NAB asked for an adjournment, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah denied the request.

    It came to light that NAB started the proceedings based on a report published in a newspaper. Justice Minallah then inquired about the newspaper on the basis of which the case was registered. NAB officials identified the paper as Metrowatch.

    The judge further inquired about the details of the newspaper, and what its report stated, and instructed the official to read it out loud.

    “Did the NAB chairman check the accuracy of the facts? A case of corruption related to a public welfare project was started on this basis?” the chief justice questioned incredulously.

    Justice Minallah said that if the case was initiated on the basis of a Metrowatch report then why was the person responsible for restarting the project in 2009 not arrested? He noted that Iqbal was not even a public officeholder at the time.

    Subsequently, the court dismissed the case against Iqbal.

    In 2019, Iqbal was arrested by NAB and remained in custody for two months.

    In April, Iqbal filed a petition in the high court, alleging that NAB had filed the reference against him as part of the then-ruling PTI’s campaign to victimise political opponents.