Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Chaudhry Shujaat to remain PML-Q’s president: ECP

    Chaudhry Shujaat to remain PML-Q’s president: ECP

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has said that former Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would remain the Pakistan Muslim League -Quaid’s (PML-Q) president and Tariq Bashir Cheema its secretary-general.

    A four-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja heard Chaudhry Shujaat’s plea. During today’s proceedings, CEC Raja said the ECP is issuing notices to the parties in the case — PML-Q leader and Shujaat’s cousin, Pervaiz Elahi, and Punjab Secretary-General Kamil Ali Agha and both — Shujaat and Cheema — would retain their positions till the next hearing. The CEC adjourned the proceedings till August 16.

    Read more: ‘Stop making a mockery of family’: Chaudhry Shujaat asks Pervaiz Elahi to return home

    PML-Q’s Central Working Committee (CWC) unanimously decided to remove Hussain and Cheema from their party positions in July. Talking about the removal of Shujaat as PML-Q chief, Kamil Ali Agha said, “It has become necessary to isolate Chaudhry Shujaat to save the party from destruction.” He also said that due to a conspiracy hatched by Salik Hussain and Cheema, a letter was used to ask PML-Q MPAs to vote for the PML-N, damaging the party’s reputation.

  • Army chief reaches out to Saudi, UAE authorities to discuss IMF programme

    Army chief reaches out to Saudi, UAE authorities to discuss IMF programme

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has spoken with the rulers of two Gulf countries — the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — to discuss the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

    According to media reports, the extended fund facility worth $1.2 billion with the IMF was discussed with the Gulf countries, including the upcoming executive board meeting of the IMF, which is expected to ratify the loan programmme.

    It is pertinent to mention that the loan programme reportedly came under discussion and a positive development is expected for Pakistan soon.

    The development has taken place a week after the COAS was reported to have reached out to US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman over resuming the programme with IMF. He appealed to the US to help Pakistan secure an early dispersal of $1.2 billion in funds.

  • ‘Largest prison in the world’: Politicians condemn atrocities in occupied Kashmir

    ‘Largest prison in the world’: Politicians condemn atrocities in occupied Kashmir

    Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir is being observed today in Pakistan to mark the day when Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi revoked the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK). In violation of the United Nations (UN) resolutions and international law, India scrapped Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution that granted special autonomous status to IIOJK and imposed a military siege on the territory on August 5, 2019.

    Pakistani politicians expressed solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that India’s actions are “aimed at altering the demographic structure of the occupied territory”.

    “The Jammu and Kashmir dispute has been a battle of hope against overwhelming odds, of courage against fear and of sacrifice against tyranny.”

    The premier also paid tribute to the martyrs of IIOJK for their sacrifices and courage.

    “Pakistan will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just struggle. We call upon international community to take practical steps to hold India accountable for its gross and widespread human rights violations in IIOJK and to facilitate a peaceful resolution of this long-standing dispute,” tweeted President Dr Arif Alvi.

    The president further added, “The resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people is the only way to ensure durable peace and stability in the region.”

    “More than 1.5 billion people in the region deserve to see the dawn of peace and prosperity, which has been held hostage by India in IIOJK.”

    Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that the Indian authorities assumed that their moves would crush the spirit of Kashmiri resistance “but the Kashmiris’ spirit of resistance became stronger and it continues to strengthen”.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari released a video message on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir.

    He said that the presence of the Indian troops has turned occupied Kashmir into the most militarised region in the world.

    “Over the past seven decades, three generations of Kashmiris have awaited for the world community and UN to honour their solemn commitment.”

    Former FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi called India a rogue state.

    “India continues to act as a rogue state with unrelenting violence in #IIOJK. Yet indigenous resistance movement for Kashmiri’s inalienable right to self-determination stands strong. Pakistan will always stand by ppl of Kashmir.”

    “Modi government has made IIJOK the largest prison in the world,” tweeted federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman.

  • Six Pakistani nationals convicted of violating sanctity of Masjid-e-Nabawi

    Six Pakistani nationals convicted of violating sanctity of Masjid-e-Nabawi

    At least six Pakistani nationals have been convicted of violating the sanctity of the Masjid-e-Nabawi (PBUH) in Madinah during Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia, reports Geo News.

    According to media reports, a court in Madinah gave three Pakistani nationals — Anas, Irshad, and Muhammad Saleem — 10 years of jail term, while the other three — Khawaja Luqman, Muhammad Afzal, and Ghulam Muhammad — have been given eight-year sentences.

    A fine of Saudi Riyal 20,000 each has been imposed on the convicts and their mobile phones have also been confiscated.

    In April, during PM Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia, a group of protesters chanted slogans of “chor, chor (thieves)” when they saw the premiere and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

    Responding to the incident in Saudi Arabia, Aurangzeb said that there was a specific group that chanted those slogans. She also said that she prayed for those people at Masjid-e-Nabawi.

    In videos that were widely shared on social media, the Pakistani delegation, including Marriyum Aurangzeb, was seen surrounded by people yelling “chor chor”.

  • ‘I am 60 years old, not one PM visited us’: KP flood victim breaks down meeting PM Shehbaz

    ‘I am 60 years old, not one PM visited us’: KP flood victim breaks down meeting PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif visited the flood-affected areas of district Tank in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) today (August 4).

    The prime minister took a round of the shelter camps housing the flood-affected people where he interacted with the flood affectees.

    A 60-year-old man told PM Shehbaz how thankful and grateful he was to see him in their hours of distress.

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who accompanied the PM during his visit, translated what the man said.

    “I am 60 years old. In my entire life, I haven’t seen any prime minister visiting us. You are the first Prime Minister who has come to share our grief. We are very grateful to you.”

    Read more: PM Shehbaz visits flood-hit Balochistan, orders immediate compensation

    Earlier this week, PM Shehbaz Sharif reached Quetta on a day-long visit on Monday, August 1, to oversee the relief operations in the flood-affected areas of Balochistan and ordered immediate compensation to the flood affectees.

  • ECP ‘cowering in fear’: Khan calls supporters to join protest against chief election commissioner

    ECP ‘cowering in fear’: Khan calls supporters to join protest against chief election commissioner

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has urged his supporters to come out for a “peaceful” protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which is set to take place in Islamabad today (Thursday).

    “Today I am calling all our people to come out in peaceful public protest against CEC and ECP in F9 Park at 6 pm. I will be addressing the gathering between 7:00 – 7:30 pm.”

    “CEC & ECP in cahoots with Imported govt conspired to try a technical knockout against PTI after PMLN got routed in Punjab by-elections despite the support of entire state machinery & ECP shenanigans. Now they are cowering in fear abt same happening to entire PDM in General Elections,” tweeted former prime minister Imran Khan.

    PTI withdraws reference to remove ECP chief

    PTI has withdrawn its reference against CEC Raja minutes after it was submitted in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

    According to media reports, the reference was withdrawn to highlight further legal aspects. The party will also include the demand for reconsideration of the ECP verdict in the prohibited funding case.

    The reference was taken back from the registrar’s office.

    The reference sought to remove CEC Raja from his post on account of the “commission of continuous and deliberate misconduct”.

    Earlier in the day, the party filed a reference in which the former ruling party alleged that Raja was pressurised to announce the verdict on PTI’s foreign funding case.

    The party alleged that after a meeting between the CEC and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders, the ECP announced its foreign funding verdict.

    Speaking to the media after the reference was taken back, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry warned the government that if they pull any stunt in the federal capital, then the PTI-led governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab will fill their prisons with PDM leaders and its allies, reports Samaa News.

    Red Zone sealed

    Ahead of the PTI protest today, Islamabad’s district administration has sealed the Red Zone and placed containers at the entry points of the city.

    Entry into the Red Zone is banned for protesters and all unconcerned people. Personnel of law enforcement agencies including Anti-Riot Force, Rangers, FC and police have been deployed around the Red Zone. Entrance will be allowed only through the Margalla Road.

    Read more – After Punjab, KPK assembly also approves motion against ECP chief

    Earlier this week, PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced a “peaceful” protest outside the ECP. The party has repeatedly demanded the resignation of ECP Chief Sikandar Sultan Raja.

    ‘If someone tries to enter the Red Zone area, they shouldn’t complain about the consequences’: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned PTI of strict action against those who try to enter the Red Zone.

    He said that the PTI can attack the election commission; however, they should remember that the Islamabad High Court has imposed restrictions on staging protests in the Red Zone.

    “Protests are strictly prohibited in the Red Zone and if someone tries to enter the area, they shouldn’t complain about the consequences of their actions later,” he said.

    Rana Sanaullah added that there are some selected venues where the PTI can stage a “peaceful protest as it was everybody’s right in the democratic era”.


  • ‘Imran Khan ko ibrat ki alaamat bana dena chaahiye’: Maulana Fazl

    ‘Imran Khan ko ibrat ki alaamat bana dena chaahiye’: Maulana Fazl

    “Imran Khan should be made an example of,” demanded Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday.

    “A reference should be filed against Imran Khan as he is no more Sadiq and Amin,” the PDM leader said.

    “Whether it is Imran Khan or Dr Arif Alvi, [they] should immediately resign from the party because they have proven to be criminals,” said Maulana Fazl, adding that “all the political parties had decided to initiate action” against Imran Khan and his party as they were now “proven criminals”.

    “Whether it is Imran Khan or Dr Arif Alvi, [they] should immediately resign from the party because they have proven to be criminals,” said Maulana Fazl, adding that “all the political parties had decided to initiate action” against Imran Khan and his party as they were now “proven criminals”.

    “But today, we have reached the stage where it is now clear that he was backed by a foreign agenda and tried to harm Pakistan,” said the PDM chief.

    “Imran was a foreign puppet who was brought into politics as [part of] a foreign agenda. He took help from Israel and India […] today all these facts have been unearthed. His fundraisers had links to Israel, India, Denmark, Canada, Finland, and many other countries,” alleged Maulana Fazl.

    ‘Biggest theft in history’: Nawaz Sharif calls out Khan after ECP verdict

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif said that the biggest theft in the country’s history has been committed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Imran Khan.

    Sharif made these comments in London after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced its verdict in the PTI foreign funding case on August 2.

    ECP said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I. The PTI chairman kept accounts hidden, which the ECP said is a violation of the Constitution, and the affidavit provided regarding party accounts was also false.

    The commission noted that “the party knowingly and willfully received funding from Wootton Cricket Limited, operated by business tycoon Arif Naqvi. The party was a willing recipient of prohibited money of $2,121,500”.

    “Khan claims he is an honest leader but the ECP verdict has exposed his lies,” said Nawaz.

    Nawaz urged the coalition government to “take immediate legal action” against PTI and eliminate the ‘fitna’ of Imran Khan forever. He added that Imran Khan should be punished as soon as possible.

    “Khan knew that he had committed the biggest money laundering [in the country’s history]. This is the reason he kept demanding the chief election commissioner’s resignation,” said Nawaz.

    Read more – British journalist Simon Clark says he has evidence to back his claims on PTI foreign funding

    Sharif claimed that Khan was working on a foreign agenda.

    Former CJP Mian Saqib Nisar should be punished

    Talking about the former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, who conferred the titles of Sadiq and Ameen upon Imran Khan, Nawaz said that the judge should also be punished. It is pertinent to mention that Saqib Nisar disqualified Nawaz Sharif from holding public office for life.

    “A time will come when Nisar will have to answer these questions,” said Nawaz.

    He also demanded an answer from former CJP Asif Saeed Khosa and alleged that he invited Khan to present his grievances before the court rather than protesting on the streets.

  • Flyover or Dam: PM Shehbaz gets candid with a Twitter follower

    Flyover or Dam: PM Shehbaz gets candid with a Twitter follower

    Pakistani weightlifter Nooh Dastagir Butt has bagged a maiden gold medal in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022. In the 109+kg category, Butt lifted 173kg in snatch and set a new record. In clean and jerk, he lifted 232kg to set another record. In total, he lifted 405kg to claim a gold medal for Pakistan.

    “This wasn’t possible without the support and prayers of my friends and family members,” said Butt while talking to Geo News. “I dedicate this gold medal to my father, who worked for 12 years and helped me reach this stage.”

    “Winning a medal for your country is always a proud moment, and gold is something special.”

    “I have done my duty. Now it’s up to the government of Pakistan to do their job,” he added.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Nooh on winning a gold medal for Pakistan.

    “Prime Minister sahb Well done say BAAT nahe chalni, Butt Sahab Kay name ka flyover hona chahiye,” Twitter user Faizan Khan commented on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s congratulatory tweet after Nooh Butt won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games last night.

    “Or a dam,” was PM Shehbaz’s candid response.

    Social media users are expressing their joy over the achievement of the weightlifter from Gujranwala.

    Have a look at some of the tweets:

    https://twitter.com/hamzabutt61/status/1555010742625124352

    Butt won a bronze medal in the 105+kg division at the 2018 CWG. Pakistan won a gold medal in the CWG’s weightlifting event in 2006 when Shujauddin Malik won gold in the 85kg division.

  • Former DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor appointed Commander XII Corps Quetta

    Former DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor appointed Commander XII Corps Quetta

    Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Asif Ghafoor has been appointed as the Commander XII Corps (Quetta). Ghafoor replaced Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali, who was martyred in a helicopter crash in Balochistan earlier this week.

    Lt Gen Ghafoor was currently serving as the General Officer Commanding Okara. He previously served as the Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) from 2016 to 2020.

    The military’s media affairs wing, ISPR, said in a statement: “In his new role, he is replacing Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali, who embraced shahadat (martyrdom) in a helicopter crash due to bad weather during flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan, on 1 August 2022 (Monday).”

    A Pakistan Army aviation helicopter on a flood relief operation in Lasbela, Balochistan, went missing on Monday (August 1) at 5:30pm when it lost contact with air traffic control (ATC). On August 2, a Pakistan Army aviation helicopter that went missing in Balochistan was found and all six Pakistan Army personnel on board embraced martyrdom.

    Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali was supervising the flood relief operations in Balochistan when the helicopter crashed.

     

  • Justice Javed Iqbal challenges formation of inquiry commission in harassment case

    Former National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal on Tuesday challenged the formation of an inquiry commission to probe the Tayyaba Gul harassment case in the Lahore High Court (LHC), reports Dawn.

    Gul had lodged a harassment case with an accountability court in Lahore. She also put the issue before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

    Advocate Safdar Shaheen representing Iqbal had filed a petition with the court and made the federal government party to it.

    The federal government could not form an inquiry committee because the matter was sub judice, pleaded the petitioner before the court.

    Shaheen said it violated Article 10-A of the Constitution and no one could start an investigation into a case that was sub judice.

    Last month, Gul said that Justice (retd) Iqbal threatened to destroy her life. She made this revelation before the PAC.

    “Javed Iqbal would tell me that he will destroy my life within a minute,” said Gul.