Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ’Great honour, deep-rooted ties’: COAS Bajwa addresses the passing out parade at Sandhurst

    ’Great honour, deep-rooted ties’: COAS Bajwa addresses the passing out parade at Sandhurst

    Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa expressed the hope that relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom would reach “historic heights” in the future. He was addressing the passing-out parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on Friday (August 12). General Bajwa is the first Pakistani dignitary who was invited as the chief guest at the military academy.

    Pakistan’s army chief began his address by saying that it was a “great honour and privilege” for him to be present during today’s ceremony.

    He congratulated the cadets and their families on successfully completing their training at the academy.

    “You are part of the finest militaries in the world that has produced great military leaders.”

    “Two Pakistani cadets will also be graduating with you today and let me say that I am as proud of you as I am of them,” General Bajwa told the graduating officers and congratulated them and their families.

    COAS Bajwa has become the first Pakistani ever to be the representative of the Queen during the sovereign’s parade at the Military Academy Sandhurst.

    “Your alma matter is, without a doubt, one of the finest military institutions in the world which have produced some of the great military leaders that this world has seen,” he said, adding that graduating from Sandhurst is a great honour and pride.

    “My presence here is a testimony of the deep-rooted relationship that exists between Pakistan and the United Kingdom based on mutual respect and shared values which have been carefully nurtured by both the nations over many decades.”

    COAS Bajwa arrives in UK on official visit

    Chief of Army Staff arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) on an official visit on early Thursday, August 11.

    A day before leaving for the UK, COAS Bajwa had a meeting with Commander Iraqi Navy Lieutenant General Ahmed Jasim Maarij Abdullah Al Zayid on Wednesday, August 10.

    ISPR said that matters of mutual interest, regional security issues, and measures to further enhance bilateral defence collaboration were discussed during the meeting.

  • ‘Absolutely no truth,’ PTI denies Imran Khan had a video call with US envoy

    ‘Absolutely no truth,’ PTI denies Imran Khan had a video call with US envoy

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan allegedly contacted United States (US) Ambassador Donald Blome via a video call. The alleged video call took place on August 4 (Thursday) around 1:45 pm to 2:15 pm, reports Muhammad Saleh Zaafir for The News.

    However, Shireen Mazari denied these reports and said this is “part of vilification campaign” planned against Imran Khan.

    During the alleged conversation between the US envoy and PTI chief, Khan expressed reservations about the US policy against his then-government in the Centre, reports Khalid Azim Chaudhry for Samaa News. In response, the ambassador said that he has been in the office for only two months. However, he assured Khan that he would convey the message to the Biden administration.

    The video call allegedly took place after the meeting between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Mahmood Khan and Donald Blome last week in Peshawar. Blome visited the provincial capital to hand over ambulances to the government. Mahmood Khan reportedly arranged a call between his party chief and the US official.

    Absolutely no truth: Shireen Mazari

    Former federal minister and PTI leader Shireen Mazari denied that there has been any contact between Khan and Blome.

    “There is absolutely no truth in Imran Khan having had any conversation on cell/video link with US envoy Blome. It is part of a vilification campaign planned against IK by an Imported govt terrified of IK politically. We expect more such fake claims and evidence will follow,” tweeted Shireen Mazari.

    “We do not comment on what transpires during private diplomatic meetings like the one between Ambassador Blome and the KP chief minister,” said US Embassy spokesman Nick Hersh.

    Khan blamed the US for his ouster and accused the Biden administration for the success of the vote of no-confidence against him.

  • ‘I am a professor, not a criminal,’ Shahbaz Gill says he is being subjected to extreme torture

    ‘I am a professor, not a criminal,’ Shahbaz Gill says he is being subjected to extreme torture

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill told a court in Islamabad today (Friday, August 12) that he is being subjected to extreme torture in custody.

    “I am a professor, not a criminal.” Gill said that he is not permitted to sleep and not even allowed to meet his lawyers. He alleged that no medical examination was conducted as claimed by the authorities. The Islamabad Police had earlier claimed that Gill underwent medical examination at the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and the medical report revealed that he was not tortured.

    Shahbaz Gill was taken into custody on August 9 from Bani Gala Chowk for inciting the public against state institutions.

    A district and sessions court in Islamabad hearing a sedition case against Gill on Friday (August 12) rejected the prosecution’s request to extend Gill’s physical remand. Instead, the court sent him to jail on judicial remand.

    Gill was presented in a court earlier today after the completion of two-day physical remand. On August 10, a court approved a two-day physical remand of Dr Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case.

    Read more – Islamabad court sends Gill to jail on judicial remand

    Strongly condemn the torture being inflicted on Shahbaz Gill: Imran Khan

    PTI Chairman Imran Khan said he strongly condemns the torture being inflicted on Shahbaz Gill.

    “Under what law & under who’s orders is this being done? If he broke any law then he shd be given a fair hearing.”

    Imran Khan added: “A climate of fear is being spread to make ppl kowtow before cabal of crooks.”

  • ‘Even Army Chief receives gifts’: Imran Khan demands investigation of Toshakhana gifts

    ‘Even Army Chief receives gifts’: Imran Khan demands investigation of Toshakhana gifts

    Addressing his supporters via video link, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan talked about the Toshakhana controversy. Khan said that all those who were appointed to higher ranks in government offices receive gifts and even the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) receives them.

    “Even the army chief gets gifts. Asif Zardari took three expensive cars from the Toshakhana. I also received one car while Nawaz Sharif took one car,” he added while demanding that all of them should be investigated.

    Khan said that the government is trying to malign his reputation. He also revealed that PTI leaders are receiving threats from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    Foreign funding case

    Talking about the party’s foreign funding case, Khan said that it is “baseless”.

    The PTI chief said that the party had provided the names of 40,000 donors, who are now being termed “foreigners” by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    “Despite a court order to investigate other parties’ cases, it was only the PTI that was put under a trial,” added the PTI chairman.

    Imran Khan said that the only way to take the country out of the current crisis was through “free and fair elections”.

    ‘Gill should be given a chance to clarify’: Imran Khan

    Talking about his aide Shahbaz Gill’s arrest, Khan said he should be given a chance to clarify in court.

    “Gill should be charged if he has said anything that goes against the law,” said Khan, defending his party member by saying that his driver was attacked and his vehicle’s glass was smashed.

    ‘Govt conspired to cause rifts between PTI, army’: Imran Khan

    Khan said that the coalition government has hatched a plan to create a rift between the PTI and the Pakistan Army. Khan added that the incumbent government has “conspired against the biggest party in Pakistan”.

    “They [government] had issues with the fact that the army and the PTI were on the same page. Even India used to acknowledge that,” said Khan.

    The PTI leader went on to say that his party exposed the disinformation campaigns against the country.

    “Today, it’s being said that we are against the army and now they’ve [the government people] become the patriots who are calling us traitors,” he said, adding that he cares about Pakistan, and those who care about the country want their army to be strong.

  • PM Shehbaz likely to meet Narendra Modi at SCO summit

    PM Shehbaz likely to meet Narendra Modi at SCO summit

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is expected to have a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, reports The News.

    The summit is scheduled to be held on September 15 and 16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

    PM Shehbaz is likely to meet the country heads of China, Russia and Iran as well.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari attended  a meeting of the SCO FMs on July 28.

  • ’Aqal hai tumhaaray mein,’ CM Punjab Pervaiz Elahi to Shahbaz Gill

    ’Aqal hai tumhaaray mein,’ CM Punjab Pervaiz Elahi to Shahbaz Gill

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi commented on the recent arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s chief of staff Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case.

    Talking on Geo News’ programme ‘Geo Pakistan’, Elahi said, “I have given a statement against him [Shahbaz],” adding that these are honourable institutions.

    “The Pakistan army protects the border of our country, Aqal hai tumhaaray mein (Are you in your senses?).”

    When asked if PTI should distance itself from Shahbaz Gill’s statement, Elahi said, “Definitely yes.”

    He further said Khan himself says that “a person who speaks against the army is not a Pakistani”.

    PTI leaders reactions

    Commenting on Gill’s arrest, Imran Khan termed it an ‘abduction’. He said, “Shahbaz Gill was arrested without any arrest warrant. His driver was tortured and his vehicle was damaged. He should have been given a chance to defend himself.”

    About the rumours about his arrest, Khan said that his arrest is a small thing, he can “sacrifice” his life for haqeeqi azadi.

    “If someone breaks the law, then there must be an action. Has any show-cause notice been issued to ARY News or given any reason for its suspension? The channel’s transmission was suspended without giving any chance to give a clarification. This is not acceptable in a democratic society. Democracy does not allow someone to take a decision solely and close the channel.”

    While Speaking on ARY News, PTI leader Asad Umar said Gill’s words have been misinterpreted.

    He further claimed that personally, he has “never heard Gill giving anti-army statements”.

    Meanwhile, PTI leader Murad Saeed lashed out at the government after the arrest of his fellow party member. He claimed that this is all the government’s propaganda against PTI as they themselves talk against the army and then link it to PTI.

    He further said that the government registers fake FIRs.

    The PTI leader said that “handlers and facilitators” can’t compete with the public as they come out on roads whenever Khan asked them to.

    “Imran Khan is our redline, don’t cross it, or else you will suffer the consequences.”

    ‘Script was prepared under the supervision of Imran Khan’: Rana Sanuallah

    Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, August 9, Interior Minister Rana Snaullah said, “The comments were according to the script prepared under the supervision of PTI Chairman Imran Khan which was carried forward by Fawad Chaudhry and Shahbaz Gill.”

    Sanaullah went on to say that “hateful and seditious” remarks made by Gill were in line with the conspiracy in which a private news channel was also involved.

    “Inquiry will be held regarding who are the people behind Gill and the private channel as no further investigation is needed on Gill’s statement,” he added.

    The interior minister further alleged that the incident proves that the PTI was responsible for running a negative social media campaign on the tragic incident of an army helicopter crash in Balochistan.

  • ARY News taken off air, CEO, journalists booked, head of news arrested

    ARY News taken off air, CEO, journalists booked, head of news arrested

    Karachi police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against ARY Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Iqbal in connection with the controversial remarks made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill during a news transmission.

    The police have also arrested Ammad Yousuf, the head of news and Senior Executive Vice President of ARY News.

    The FIR said that a clip of a news bulletin, aired on August 8 by ARY News, had gone viral on social media, in which Gill had made “hateful remarks” against the Pakistan Army. Producer Adeel Raja, Yousaf, and anchorpersons Arshad Sharif and Khawar Ghumman have also been nominated in the case registered on August 8.

    Meanwhile, ARY News reported that Yousaf was arrested in Karachi late on Tuesday night (August 9). Yousaf was arrested without a warrant from his residence located in Karachi’s DHA.

    “Police officers along with plain-clothed persons forcibly entered the house of Ammad Yousaf. The raiding team diverted the CCTV cameras of Yousaf’s house, and jumped into the house from the top of the main entrance,” reported ARY News.

    Arshad Sharif flies to Dubai

    After Yousaf got arrested, anchorperson Arshad Sharif left the country after his name was nominated in the FIR.

    ARY News distances itself from Shahbaz Gill’s statement about army

    ARY News and Salman Iqbal distanced themselves from Gill’s statement.

    In a statement read out by ARY’s senior anchorperson Kashif Abbasi on his show, ‘Off the Record’, said that Salman Iqbal and the management condemns Shahbaz Gill’s statement.

    Pemra issues show-cause notice to ARY News for airing ‘hateful, seditious’ content against govt

    The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to ARY News for airing what it called “false, hateful and seditious” content based on “absolute disinformation with a clear and present threat to national security by instigating rebellion within the armed forces”.

    Prior to the issuance of the notice, ARY News went off air in many parts of the country on Monday (August 8).

  • Muslim killings in US: Police arrest Muslim immigrant

    Police in New Mexico, United States (US), have arrested a Muslim Afghan immigrant named Muhammad Syed, 51, in connection with the deaths of Muslim men in Albuquerque city. The police have charged Syed with two murders.

    A total of four murders took place. All victims were of Afghan or Pakistani descent. One was killed in November, and the other three in the last two weeks.

    It was speculated that Shia and Sunni tensions may have led to Syed’s actions. However, the police said that while they are aware of the sectarian narrative, the motive is still being “explored” by investigators. 

    Albuquerque police deputy commander Kyle Hartsock stated: “We have heard those things, but we’re not sure if that’s the only motivation”, reports CNN.

    In a statement, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) said, “As their detectives prepared to search Syed’s home in Southeast Albuquerque on Monday, he drove from the residence in the Volkswagen Jetta that detectives believe was used in at least one of the murders.”

    “Detectives discovered evidence that showed the suspect knew the victims to some extent and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings,” the police statement added.

    The APD said Syed was being charged with two of the homicides, the July 26 murder of Aftab Hussein and the August 1 murder of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain.

    “Detectives connected those homicides using bullet casings found at the scenes. The gun used in these shootings was discovered during the overnight search of [Syed’s] home,” the police said.

    The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a statement about the arrest in which the organisation “strongly condemned the anti-Shia hatred that may have motivated the killings”.

    ‘Strongly stand with Muslim community’: US President Biden condemns killing of Muslim men in New Mexico

    Earlier, US President Joe Biden condemned the killing of four Muslims — two of them Pakistanis, in Albuquerque, a city in the southern state of New Mexico. The local authorities are describing the killings as targeted attacks.

    “I am angered and saddened by the horrific killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque. While we await a full investigation, my prayers are with the victims’ families, and my administration stands strongly with the Muslim community,” tweeted US President Biden.

    “These hateful attacks have no place in America,” he added.

    Four Muslim men killed in New Mexico

    The latest victim was gunned down on Friday night. The police said he was in his mid-20s, Muslim, and a native from South Asia.

    The local Islamic leaders said that the horrific incident occurred shortly after he had attended funeral services for two others slain during the past couple of weeks.

    Before this killing, two of the previous victims were Muslim and Pakistani men. A 27-year-old’s body was found on August 1 and a 41-year-old’s body was discovered on July 26.

    According to Tahir Gauba, spokesperson for the Islamic Centre of New Mexico, the three latest victims belonged to the same mosque.

    Detectives are now investigating whether these murders are connected to the death of a Muslim man from Afghanistan who was killed on November 7, 2021.

    Mayor Tim Keller said state authorities were working to provide an “extra police presence at mosques during times of prayer”.

  • TTP leader Omar Khalid Khorasani killed in Afghanistan

    TTP leader Omar Khalid Khorasani killed in Afghanistan

    Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) senior commander Omar Khalid Khorasani has been killed in the Paktika province of Afghanistan.

    “A vehicle reportedly carrying TTP Mohmand chief Omar Khalid Khorasani, aka Abdul Wali Mohmand, Mufti Hassan, and Hafiz Dawlat Khan, was targeted in Sharki village, near Margha, in Bermal district of Paktika province,” one Afghan official told The Express Tribune.

    Omar’s real name was Abdul Wali Mohmand and he previously headed the TTP in the Mohmand Agency bordering Afghanistan.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Omar was a member of the TTP team involved in negotiations with Pakistani officials, Pashtun jirgas, and recently with religious scholars over the past few weeks.

    According to Dawn, in July 2017, one of the UN Security Council’s sanctions committees, upon Pakistan’s request, approved the addition of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar to the list of entities and individuals subject to the assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.

    The United States added Omar’s name to the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice wanted list in March 2018. The US had announced a reward of up to $3 million for information on him.

  • What’s the confusion around Imran Khan posting a picture of his relatives at the Round Table Conference in 1930?

    What’s the confusion around Imran Khan posting a picture of his relatives at the Round Table Conference in 1930?

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan is being called out by netizens for misrepresenting the truth after he shared a photograph with two of his relatives present at the 1930 Round Table Conference.

    Khan posted a photograph on social media on August 8, and wrote: “The historic Round Table Conference London 1930 with both Quaid i Azam & Allama Iqbal present.”

    “The picture is pride of my family because my grandfather’s brother Mohammad Zaman Khan (after whom Zaman Park was named) and my khaloo Jahangir Khan were also present (second and third from left).”

    Netizens were quick to point out that neither of the two relatives mentioned by Khan was ever present at the Round Table Conference and that Khan had mixed up the relations.

    https://twitter.com/RizviAAli/status/1556585771842555905?s=20&t=iz-yO5EU-YdZDYpda_7-tQ
    https://twitter.com/GuruKithayHai/status/1556532471780737026?s=20&t=iz-yO5EU-YdZDYpda_7-tQ
    https://twitter.com/FJavedAbbasi/status/1556436832803487745?s=20&t=iz-yO5EU-YdZDYpda_7-tQ

    However, after much debate, it has also been assumed that the picture in question could have been from another event and not the Round Table Conference itself. There were three Round Table Conferences from 1930 to 1932. The picture shared by Khan was from sometime between 1930 and 1934 in London and happened to be from a dinner that also had Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in attendance.