Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Imran se barra kaptaan nikla Shehbaz: Cabinet with 70 members

    Imran se barra kaptaan nikla Shehbaz: Cabinet with 70 members

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif this week appointed eight more special assistants for himself.

    With the eight new special assistants to the prime minister (SAPM), the cabinet now consists of 34 federal ministers, including one without a portfolio, seven ministers of state, four advisers to the PM and 25 SAPMs.

    According to the notification, the Premier was “pleased” to appoint MNA Iftikhar Ahmed Khan Babar, MNA Maahr Irshad Ahmad Khan, MNA Raza Rabani Khar, MNA Mahesh Kumar Malani, Faisal Karim Kundi, Sardar Saleem Haider, Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi and Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha on the post of SAPM.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan had a 52-member federal cabinet, including 25 federal ministers, four ministers of state, four advisers and 19 SAPMs.

    PTI’s Senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry criticized PM Shehbaz for adding eight more members to his cabinet.

    “People are drowning in the quagmire of inflation and the imported government is increasing the army of cabinet members. Eight new non-important members have been added unnecessarily to the cabinet and this is an expression of the priorities of the Shehbaz Sharif government,” said Fawad while talking to The Nation.

    Chaudhry claimed that the back of the country’s economy had been broken and the middle class was shedding tears on monthly expenses while, at the same time, the “imported government” was playing the flute, like Nero.

    “It is a necessary evil in parliamentary systems, especially, when governments are based on a coalition,” said the president of Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, while talking to The Express Tribune.

  • Deep condolences: US assures Pakistan of support

    Deep condolences: US assures Pakistan of support

    United States (US) State Department spokesperson Ned Price has extended his condolences to Pakistan and affirmed his country’s support for flood victims.

    In a briefing, Price said: “We are deeply saddened by the devastation and the loss of life throughout Pakistan that these historic floods have caused. We stand with the people of Pakistan at this difficult time.”

    He revealed that the US has provided more than $53 million in assistance to Pakistan and stated that more assistance will be provided.

    Giving details, the spokesperson said, “As of September 12th, earlier this week, a total of nine US Central Command flights delivered more than half of 630 metric tons of relief supplies from USAID’s Dubai warehouse for the response to the massive floods. In total, CENTCOM will airlift more than 41,000 kitchen sets, 1,500 rolls of plastic sheeting, tens of thousands of plastic tarps, and 8,700 shelter fixing kits – all in support of USAID’s flood relief.”

    Ned Price said that Pakistan’s F-16 program, is an important part of the broader US-Pakistan bilateral relationship, and this proposed sale will sustain Pakistan’s capability to meet current and future counterterrorism threats by maintaining the F-16 fleet.

    “This is a fleet that allows Pakistan to support counterterrorism operations, and we expect Pakistan will take sustained action against all terrorist groups,” he added.

    Last week, United Nations (UN) Chief Antonio Guterres visited flood-affected areas of Pakistan.

    He urged the international community to support disaster-hit Pakistan as the country needed substantial financial help to overcome post-flood crises.

    The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Commi­t­tee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that that the number of acutely hungry people in Pakistan is expected to rise substantially.

    Record monsoon rains and glacier melt in northern areas of the country have triggered unprecedented floods, sweeping away infrastructure and killing 1,481 people as yet.

  • Sharjeel Memon blasts PTI for allegedly spreading propaganda about flood donations

    Sharjeel Memon blasts PTI for allegedly spreading propaganda about flood donations

    Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon bashed Pakistan-Tehreek-Insaf (PTI) on Monday for reportedly orchestrating a social media campaign to allege misappropriation of relief commodities for flood victims in Sindh. He asked that the government take urgent action against those participating in the campaign.

    A picture of a flour bag with “UK Aid” printed on it was being shared on social media, and many Twitter users claimed that the bags were part of the aid Pakistan received from the UK and were being sold in the stores of Karachi.


    “A fake picture of selling relief goods is circulating on social media. What message are some elements sending to the world with such actions,” asked Sharjeel.
    “Tell me what is the fault of the flood victims that such campaigns are being run? The PTI should tell us what type of politics this is?” he added. “More than 600 people circulated the picture while tagging international agencies and the United Nations. I appeal to the interior minister to take action against those who were involved in this campaign,” Sharjeel Memon demanded.

    He stated that he will file a petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC). “A hideous conspiracy was hatched to stop relief efforts for flood victims,” the provincial minister said.

    Shortly after the images were released on Twitter, the Sindh CM House and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) denied the claims, claiming that the photos were outdated.

  • IK rejects his own statement suggesting COAS extension

    IK rejects his own statement suggesting COAS extension

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan rejected his own statement on Tuesday suggesting the extension of the tenure of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa till the next elections.

    In a meeting with journalists, Khan said: “I never talked about the extension of the army chief’s tenure, I just proposed to defer the appointment of the army chief till the new elections.”

    “I did not say anything to elicit a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)”, Khan added.

    The PTI chief also decided to call on the nation to protest against the government in September.

    PTI ❤️ ARMY or PTI ARMY: PTI former ministers clash on Bajwa

    Shireen Mazari, senior leader of PTI, took a jibe at anchor Kamran Khan, accusing him and others of misquoting Imran Khan regarding his suggestion to extend the tenure of COAS.

    “What Khan actually said on army chief and what Kamran Khan and PMLN trolls deliberately tried to misquote. The problem here is when the anchor wants to assert his own view or agenda despite IK making his position clear on the same issue. Such anchors should do monologues instead”, she said.

    Fawad Chaudhry agrees with IK’s suggestion to extend COAS tenure

    On the contrary, another senior leader of PTI, Fawad Chaudhry, took to Twitter to give approval to his party chairman Imran Khan’s suggestion to extend the COAS tenure.

    “Yesterday, Imran Khan presented a practical formula for the country’s political future and the restoration of democracy. There is a need to move forward on this formula. The economic condition of the country will not be able to bear the burden of political instability. The status quo can be maintained for the elections.” he tweeted.

    Khan ko kya hua? IK says Gen Bajwa should be given an extension till the next elections

    In an interview with Kamran Khan on Dunya News aired on Monday evening, Imran Khan suggested that the COAS, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, be given an extension in his tenure of service.

    Talking about the possibility of appointing a new Army Chief, Khan said, “There can be a provision in relevance to the selection of the new COAS. When the next government comes, they can appoint a new COAS.”

    When Kamran Khan asked Imran Khan if he was suggesting that until a new government comes to power, Gen Bajwa should continue as army chief, Khan said the country is facing extraordinary circumstances because of floods. He was of the view that for now, the main focus should be on how to get the country out of the crisis.

    During the show, he reiterated that the appointment of a new army chief should be on merit.

    “Neither Asif Ali Zardari nor Nawaz Sharif is qualified for taking this decision on merit,” he said.

    It is pertinent to mention that COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa is due to retire in November this year.

    Speaking on general elections, Khan said, “Mai baat karnay ke liye tayyar hoon”, [I am ready to talk with the government].

    Khan confirmed meeting with former US ambassador

    Imran Khan confirmed that he met with former American ambassador and CIA analyst Robin Raphel. He said, “She is not associated with the government, but is working with a think tank”, adding that Pak-US relations should be good.

    However, earlier PTI had denied that the meeting took place. Fawad Chaudhry had categorically said that the meeting between Khan and Raphel took place three years ago.

    During the show, Khan also clarified that he is not anti-America.

    The PTI chief added that his party’s relationship with the US was not tense, but tensions arose after Khan visited Russia, right on the eve of when President Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine.

    “I didn’t know”, he stated, adding that the US was upset following its tensions with Russia.

    Since being voted out of power, Imran Khan has blamed America for the “regime change”, while also attacking the establishment in thinly veiled words for turning “neutral”.

  • Pervaiz Elahi lifts ban on ad hoc appointments of doctors in Punjab

    Pervaiz Elahi lifts ban on ad hoc appointments of doctors in Punjab

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, has on Tuesday lifted a ban on ad-hoc appointments of doctors and nurses, reports The Nation.

    After the provincial Health Department forwarded a summary to the CM, the government allowed ad hoc appointment of doctors and paramedics to meet the severe shortage of health officials in public health facilities across Punjab.

    In a meeting chaired by Elahi, it was decided to extend the Health Card programme in an improved manner.

    According to the notification, both the health departments – Specialized Healthcare and Primary Health – are allowed to fill the vacant posts of doctors and paramedics on an impromptu basis.

    While the country continues to grapple with the ongoing devastation caused by floods, waterborne dengue infection has broken out in all four provinces, with panic and fear spreading among the public. According to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare secretary, 2,278 confirmed dengue cases and four deaths had so far been reported in the province this year.

  • PTI to take legal action against Maryam Nawaz for ‘accusing Khan of blasphemy’

    PTI to take legal action against Maryam Nawaz for ‘accusing Khan of blasphemy’

    Political temperatures in the country will continue to rise as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is all set to take legal action against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz for allegedly triggering a social media campaign accusing the former Premier of blasphemy which may endanger his life.

    Maryam Nawaz on Monday tweeted, “This man (Imran) is using religion for his politics and promoting his false narrative. Save your faith and the country from this satan.”

    Fawad Chaudhry on Monday in a press conference said, “The coalition government is probably the only government that is using blasphemy laws against political opponents blatantly. Using religion cards is the most blatant attempt to physically eliminate political opponents and Maryam Nawaz and Fazlur Rehnan are creating this web to physically eliminate Imran Khan.”

    Khan on September 8, addressed a rally in Chishtian and said, “Agar ap ne Nawaz Sharif ko vote diya toh matlab ap mujrim ko vote de rahy hai. Is ka matlab ap burai ke sath khary hai. Is ka matlab ke ap Allah ke farman ke khilaf ja rahy hai.” (People who vote for PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif will be siding with a convict and are on the wrong side. This also means that you will go against Allah’s orders.)

    Opponents have accused PTI and Imran Khan of using religion to further his cause. In their turn, PTI has previously also alleged that it has been the target of ‘religion card’.

  • ‘Six months’: Murad Ali Shah gives estimate on when flood waters will drain

    Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah said that the government is working on rehabilitating people and the province’s drainage, irrigation network. According to him, it will take “three to six months” to drain the water from flood-affected areas of the province as in “some areas, there is at least eight to 10 feet of water”.

    While speaking to the media in Karachi, the chief minister talked about the damages and loss of assets. He said that “12.5 million people are affected by the disaster and around 350 billion rupees’ losses to the farmers are being reported in the province.”

    He revealed that even in places where the floodwater is receding, “the situation is not such that people can return”, highlighting that Pakistan had received unprecedented rainfall this year.

    It is pertinent to mention that Sindh is the worst-hit province so far after biblical floods wreaked havoc across the country. Sindh had the most deaths and injuries. Out of the 1,396 fatalities countrywide, 578 people have died in Sindh province alone.

    Moreover, CM Shah said that the province is facing a shortage of tents and medicines and he had raised the issue with the United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres during his recent visit to Sindh.

    “The whole world has to come together to combat climate change,” he said, adding that Guterres had also called on the world to “pitch in” to help Pakistan navigate the crisis.

    Earlier, the UN chief on his visit to Pakistan’s flood-affected areas said that he has “never seen climate carnage on this scale”.

    At a press conference in Karachi on Saturday after witnessing the worst of the damage in southern Pakistan, he said, “I have seen many humanitarian disasters in the world, but I have never seen climate carnage on this scale.”

    Guterres also strongly urged international creditors to introduce a new mechanism ‘Debt Swap’ for flood-devastated Pakistan.

  • Amreeki saazish ya kuch aur: PTI leaders meet American diplomats?

    Amreeki saazish ya kuch aur: PTI leaders meet American diplomats?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday reportedly had a meeting with former United States diplomat Robin Raphel at his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad.

    Raphel is a former diplomat, ambassador, CIA analyst, lobbyist, and expert on Pakistan affairs. In 2009, she served the State Department as a senior adviser for Pakistan. Until November of 2014, she served as coordinator for non-military assistance to Pakistan.

    Reports also emerged stating that PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry meet Ambassador Donald Bloom. According to the reports, Chaudhry met Bloom on Septembe

    Later, Chaudhry took to Twitter and said that the meeting between Khan and Raphel took place three years ago.ing between Khan and Raphel took place three years ago.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI chairman, since he has been ousted out of power has said that the Americans had hatched a conspiracy to get him out of power.

    Khan has blamed Donald Lu, an American diplomat based in Washington DC, of conspiring against his government. In his interviews and his political speeches, the former Prime Minister has repeatedly made the assertion that his government was removed via an American hatched conspiracy. The claims have been rubbished by both the government and the military’s PR wing.

  • What does King Charles think about Islam?

    What does King Charles think about Islam?

    King Charles has officially proclaimed Great Britain’s new monarch on Saturday at a ceremony in St. James’s Palace in London. The former Prince of Wales ‘Has become lawfully and rightfully Lord of Britain and Commonwealth’ on September 10.


    Charles, 73, succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, immediately after her death on Thursday but an Accession Council met on Saturday to formally proclaim his succession, with his son and heir Prince William, his wife Queen Consort Camilla, and Britain’s new prime minister, Liz Truss, among those who signed the proclamation.

    What are Charles’s views about Islam?

    The new King of Britain on various occasions has expressed his admiration for Islam.


    “These are not arbitrary limits, they are the limits imposed by God and, as such, if my understanding of the Quran is correct, Muslims are commanded not to transgress them,” said Charles during a speech at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in 2010.

    “We share this planet with the rest of creation for a very good reason – and that is, we cannot exist on our own without the intricately balanced web of life around us. Islam has always taught this and to ignore that lesson is to default on our contract with Creation,” he added in the same speech.
    He also criticised the publishing of Danish cartoons and urged everyone to respect others’ beliefs.


    “The true mark of a civilised society is the respect it pays to minorities and to strangers … The recent ghastly strife and anger over the Danish cartoons show the danger that comes from our failure to listen and to respect what is precious and sacred to others,” he stated.

    Charles has occasionally addressed “misunderstanding” about Islam in the West. “If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilisation owe to the Islamic world. It is a failure which stems, I think, from the straightjacket of history which we have inherited.”

    Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Thursday after becoming increasingly frail over the past year. In her last year of life, the longest serving monarch in United Kingdom’s history missed many official engagements,many for the first time. In her stead, the then Prince of Wales, Charles, took over many of her duties.

  • Terrorism case: Imran Khan’s bail extended again

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad extended the interim pre-arrest bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan till September 20 in a terrorism case registered against him.

    The PTI chairman arrived in court on Monday amid tight security.

    The PTI chief was booked for terrorism under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act for making controversial remarks against Additional Sessional Judge Zeba Chaudhry and officials of the Islamabad Police during a rally in Islamabad on August 20.

    On Sunday, Khan, for the third time, refused to appear before the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the terrorism charge against him.

    ATC extends Imran Khan’s interim bail till Sept 12

    Earlier, ATC extended Imran Khan’s interim bail till September 12. At the time, the court directed the former prime minister to submit Rs100,000 as surety against the bail.

    Imran Khan’s counsel, Babar Awan, informed the ATC that the former premier’s life was at threat. Awan said that Islamabad police had issued a threat alert about a possible attack on Imran Khan.

    “Inspector General Police (IG) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations will be responsible if something happens to my client,” warned Babar, while pleading for an interim bail for Khan.

    During the hearing, the court was informed that four new sections had been added to the First Information Report against Khan. These include 186 (offence of obstructing public servant in the execution of public duty), 504 (criminal intimidation), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).

    Read more: New FIR filed against Khan for violating Section 144

    While talking to the media Khan said, “Mai har roz ziada khatarnak ho raha hoon,” said PTI Chairman Imran Khan. [Translation: I am becoming more dangerous every day.]

    Journalist Azaz Syed questioned PTI Chairman Imran Khan whether his wife Bushra Bibi received a diamond necklace from business tycoon Malik Riaz or not.

    “Heeray sastay hotay hain, mehngi cheezon ki baat kiya karo,” said PTI Chairman.

    [Translation: Diamonds are cheap, talk about something expensive.]

    Last week, Khan was given pre-arrest bail in the terrorism case filed against him for threatening judge Zeba and senior police officers at a public rally held.

    The ATC had accepted the former premier’s bail plea against a surety of Rs100,000, stopping the police from arresting Khan till September 1.

    Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on August 31, directed Khan to resubmit his response in the contempt of court case within the next seven days.

    Read more: Disappointed by IK, High Court directs Khan to submit his response again

    The IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that he was “disappointed” by the written response submitted by Khan in the contempt of court case. He asked the former premier to review his response and submit it once.