Current Final

Category: Politics

  • OMG we’re back again: IK to launch anti-govt movement from Saturday

    OMG we’re back again: IK to launch anti-govt movement from Saturday

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has announced the continuation of his Haqeeqi Azaadi Movement from Saturday (September 24).

    Addressing the All Pakistan Lawyers Convention in Lahore, Khan urged party workers and supporters to get ready for his call.

    The former prime minister’s announcement has come after the federal government tightened security around the Red Zone areas of Islamabad.

    Earlier in the day, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said a protest is a democratic right and it can be held at F-9 Park. However, he warned of dealing with protesters with an iron hand if they tried to move towards the D-Chowk.

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

    He directed party leaders to start preparations for a long march to Islamabad. He also asked party workers to wait for the Islamabad call.

    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.

  • PTI MNAs using govt residences despite resigning from NA

    PTI MNAs using govt residences despite resigning from NA

    After former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was ousted through a no-confidence motion, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Members of National Assembly (MNAs) tendered their resignations together.

    Months have passed but the party’s MNAs still have not evacuated the residences given to them by the government at the parliamentary lodges. It has been reported that not even one MNA has vacated the place.

    Including the lodges, 42 side rooms are also in use by the MNAs.

    When the magistrate was informed, he expressed disappointment and contacted the court in this matter.

    On July 29, National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf accepted 11 resignations of PTI MNAs members under Article 64(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan.

    Additionally, 29 PTI members were still enjoying privileges as Members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs) despite tendering their resignations, reported Dawn earlier in the month.

    According to the news outlet, salaries are being transferred to PTI members’ accounts as their resignations have not yet been formally accepted. Therefore, members are still enjoying the perks.

  • ‘Removing, transferring CCPO is upto me’: CM Punjab takes stand over CCPO’s transfer

    ‘Removing, transferring CCPO is upto me’: CM Punjab takes stand over CCPO’s transfer

    Punjab is once again caught up in a controversy over the filing of cases against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders as the Lahore police chief has refused to relinquish his charge, saying he will not do so unless directed by the provincial government, reports The News.

    The federal government, withdrawing the services of Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar, directed him to report to the Establishment Division for further order.

    However, Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, refusing to abide by the orders, said that the Centre had no power to order the transfer.

    “Removing or transferring the CCPO is my authority,” said Elahi in a tweet.

    Later, Elahi’s son, Moonis Elahi, took to Twitter and shared a video of a meeting between the CM and Dogar.

    In the video, the CM can be heard saying, “We will not let you go anywhere.”

    Speaking to Geo News, Ghulam Dogar said that he will not relinquish his charge until and unless asked by the Punjab government.

    Speaking to Geo News, Ghulam Dogar said that he will not relinquish his charge until and unless asked by the Punjab government.

    The development came after a case was filed against PML-N leaders Javed Latif and Marriyum Aurangzeb for allegedly “using religion to instil and spread hatred” against PTI chief and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

  • Imran Khan might be in trouble

    Imran Khan might be in trouble

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will be formally charged with contempt of court on Thursday, September 22, after he failed to submit an unconditional apology in contempt of court proceedings against him for passing controversial remarks against Additional District and Sessions Judge, Zeba Chaudhry.

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a circular 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.

    “[The] Islamabad administration and police will make security arrangements to maintain decorum in court,” it added.

    “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”.

    Expressing his disappointment in the response given by Khan to the court, which was the second of its kind, the court asked: “Even after the court’s input on the matter, this is the response submitted?”

    “It seems you want to fight this case […] and do not realise that the case against you is extremely seriously,” noted Justice Minallah.

    Declaring subordinate judiciary a ‘red line’, IHC CJ Minallah warned the PTI chairman that threatening a district judge is a more serious offence than threatsning a Supreme Court justice.

  • Adnan Syed released, conviction tossed after 22 years

    Adnan Syed released, conviction tossed after 22 years

    A Baltimore judge on Monday ordered the release of Adnan Syed after overturning his conviction for the 1999 murder of high school student Hae Min Lee.

    Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn ordered that Syed’s conviction be vacated as she approved the release of the now-41-year-old who has spent more than two decades behind bars.

    The case gained national attention when the popular podcast “Serial” raised doubts about his guilt.

    The podcast said that Syed should be released from prison, where he has spent two decades, while prosecutors complete the investigation and decide whether to seek a new trial.

    “All right Mr. Syed, you’re free to join your family,” Phinn said as the hearing ended.

    Minutes later, Syed emerged from the courthouse and flashed a smile as he was shepherded to a waiting SUV through a sea of cameras and a cheering crowd of supporters.

    Syed did not speak during the hearing, nor did he address reporters outside the courtroom afterward. But after the hearing, his lawyer Erica Suter described his reaction to the decision, saying: “He said he couldn’t believe it’s real.”

  • ‘Here to tell Pakistan’s story to world’: PM Shehbaz arrives in New York

    ‘Here to tell Pakistan’s story to world’: PM Shehbaz arrives in New York

    After attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in London on Monday, Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif arrived in the United States (US) on Tuesday ahead of his address to the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which is to be held on September 23 in New York.

    Talking about his trip, the premier said that he is in America to “tell Pakistan’s story to the world, a story of deep anguish and pain arising out of a massive human tragedy caused by floods”.

    “In my address at UNGA and at bilateral meetings, I will present Pakistan’s case on issues that call for the world’s immediate attention,” he said.

    PM Shehbaz is also scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and will attend the reception of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today.

    On Wednesday, the prime minister will meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank (WB) President David Mills.

    Other engagements of the premier include meetings with Malaysian PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob, UNGA President Csaba Korosi, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the UN Secretary-General as well as Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.

    During this visit, he reportedly may have a meeting with US President Joe Biden, however, as yet there is no confirmation of the meeting. Both PM Shehbaz and Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will attend the dinner reception hosted by President Biden for heads of state and governments of countries attending the General Assembly.

    The head of government will be in the US for five days from September 19- 24.

  • Fawad Chaudhry wants civil-military dosti, says let’s agree on rules of game

    Fawad Chaudhry wants civil-military dosti, says let’s agree on rules of game

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to extend a hand of friendship between the civil and military forces.

    Chaudhry suggested that “Power should be transferred to the people of Pakistan.”

    “I call upon political parties and establishment let’s rewrite political framework Let’s agree on rules of game. Present system has failed Pak, we need to look up for fair rules,” tweeted Chaudhry.

    Chaudhry’s tweet comes after PTI Chairman Imran Khan instigated the public to revolt against ones who are making “threatening calls.”

    “Those who call you from unknown numbers and threaten you, you threaten them back. Who ever tries to scare you, scare them back,” said Khan.

    “I am asking Pakistanis to break the fear of idols, those threatening you by calling from unknown numbers and frightening you, threat and scare them in return,” said Khan.

    He claimed that since ‘Mr X and Mr Y’ have been issuing threats to people, they should be on the receiving end of their own medicine.

    “Frighten people by calling them from unknown numbers, and threaten them with inflicting harm,” he stated.

    Although the former Prime Minister has stopped short of naming the individuals he alleges are behind removing his government and threatening people, it is widely believed that he is talking about the security establishment of the country. At various times in his interviews and speeches, Imran Khan has referred to “neutrals”, “Mir Jaffar”, “Mir Sadiq”, “Mr. X” and “Mr. Y”.

  • High court accepts former judge’s apology for accusing Saqib Nisar of favouring Imran Khan

    High court accepts former judge’s apology for accusing Saqib Nisar of favouring Imran Khan

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday accepted the unconditional apology of former Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Justice (CJ) Rana Muhammad Shamim.

    Earlier, Shamim submitted an apology to the high court because of his own controversial affidavit that incriminates former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar of favouring Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah expressed satisfaction over the apology by Rana Shamim.

    Justice Minallah remarked that the effect of Shamim’s affidavit has died down with the unconditional apology . He said that, “there is no case against him unless he backtracks from what he has stated in the apology”.

    The court also exempted the former judge from personally appearing at the next hearing on September 29.

    Former judge Rana Shamim apologises to court for accusing Saqib Nisar of favouring Imran Khan

    Last week, Rana Muhammad Shamim submitted an unconditional apology to IHC and completely disowned a controversial affidavit associated with him.

    The first unconditional apology was submitted to the Court on September 12, 2022. However, at the time he stood by his allegations against former CJP Saqib Nisar. Then again on Friday (September 16), he submitted an unconditional apology, disowning his own ‘controversial’ affidavit and withdrew from its contents.

    The affidavit contained allegations that Saqib Nisar had attempted to influence a case against former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, in an attempt to bring Imran Khan into power.

    In the apology submitted on Friday, the former CJ said, “I tender an unconditional apology for an affidavit which was neither correct nor required.”

    Expressing his regret over the “grave mistake”, the judge said it should never have happened.

    “I place myself at the mercy of this honourable court,” he added.

    He, further said that the affidavit was due to his “glaring misunderstanding and unintentional mistake”.

    “Hence, I withdraw from the contents of the said affidavit. I profusely apologise for the wrong and unnecessary affidavit”, he added.

    “I, while suffering through the extreme stress of loss of my close family members in such quick succession, realised the importance of writing down the incident in my knowledge as soon as possible, as per my beloved late wife’s will; therefore, I chose to do so during my transit stay in London,” he wrote.

    Earlier, this month the high court fixed a contempt case against Shamim, on September 5.

  • IN PICTURES: Queen’s funeral

    IN PICTURES: Queen’s funeral

    On Monday, the United Kingdom celebrated the life of Queen Elizabeth II with a state funeral steeped in tradition.

    The site of the funeral service was Westminster Abbey in London. The Queen was crowned here 69 years ago and it was also where she married Prince Philip 75 years ago.

    Leaders from around the world attended the state funeral of Britain’s longest serving monarch. Kings and Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, celebrities and friends from across the globe were among the 2,000 guests at the Queen’s funeral service

    The Queen’s coffin was then taken to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor where after a committal ceremony, she was to be laid to rest with her parents, her sister and her late husband.

    Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, breathed her last on September 8 in Balmoral Castle, United Kingdom (UK) at the age of 96.

  • Swap deal: Taliban leader Noorzai released in exchange for US hostage

    Swap deal: Taliban leader Noorzai released in exchange for US hostage

    Haji Bashir Noorzai, a senior Taliban figure, has been released after decades of detention by the United States (US) and arrived in Kabul on Monday, a Taliban spokesperson said.

    “Honorable Haji Bashir was released after two decades of imprisonment and arrived in Kabul today,” said Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesperson.

    An American navy veteran detained in Afghanistan since 2020 was released by the Taliban on Monday in exchange for an ally, Noorzai, who spent 17 years in a US jail for heroin smuggling, Afghanistan’s foreign minister said.

    After long negotiations, US citizen Mark Frerichs was handed over to an American delegation which then handed over (Bashar Noorzai) to us today at Kabul airport,” Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said at a press conference.

    “We are happy that at Kabul International Airport, in the capital of Afghanistan, we witnessed the wonderful ceremony of one of our compatriots returning home,” he said.

    “My release in exchange for an American will be a source of peace between Afghanistan and Americans.”

    “We have been persistent in our efforts to free [Noorzai], and now he is with us in his own country,” Muttaqi continued. He said the two men were swapped at Kabul’s international airport.

    Noorzai is the second Afghan inmate released by the United States in recent months. In June, Assadullah Haroon was released after 15 years of detention in the United States’ notorious Guantanamo Bay prison.