In an exclusive conversation with Geo News, senior journalist Ansar Abbasi revealed that the establishment is considering holding elections in October.
“A soft intervention by the establishment between the government and the Opposition has raised the prospect of early talks and general elections in the country in October,” said Abbasi.
دی نیوز کے ایڈیٹر انویسٹی گیشن انصار عباسی کی خصوصی خبر
In view of the current political and economic instability, the establishment is considering persuading the politicians for negotiations as in the past, but the final decision in this regard has to be taken by the politicians, said Abbasi on Geo News.
Abbasi further said that after the unconditional intervention of the establishment between the government and the Opposition, talks between the political parties are likely to begin soon and the prospect of general elections in October is starting to look clear.
DG ISPR has denied the news of an intervention: Kamran Khan
However, senior journalist Kamran Khan tweeted that Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar has denied the news of a ‘soft intervention’.
“In a conversation with me, DG ISPR General Babar Iftikhar has strongly denied the news regarding the military leadership’s interest in any political issues, including initiating a political dialogue. He has requested that the media should refrain from such rumour-mongering,” tweeted Kamran Khan.
DG ISPR جنرل بابر افتخار نے مجھ سے گفتگو میں ملٹری لیڈرشپ کی سیاسی معملات کسی قسم کے مذاکرات کا آغاز ابتد اور دلچسپی تمام خبروں کو پوری شدت سے مسترد کرتے ہوئے ایکبار پھر میڈیا سے شدت درخواست کے لئے ان معملات میں میں فوج کی ممکنہ ظاہری یا باطنی مداخلت کئ افواہوں سے گریز کریں pic.twitter.com/mdBiWPwqxj
Imran Khan ready for talks, likely to write a letter to President Alvi: Suhail Warraich
Senior journalist Suhail Warraich revealed that in a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan yesterday (July 22) along with senior journalist Mujib-ur-Rahman Shami, it was discussed that politicians should hold talks on three important issues.
“Number one, elections, including election reforms. Number two, the economic agenda, and number three, the army chief’s appointment. These are the three things that should be discussed before the next elections. Imran Khan is ready for talks. There is a likelihood that he may write a letter to the president, who can then invite all parties for discussions.”
Suhail Warraich further said that all stakeholders now feel that such discussions should be held between all political parties.
جنرل الیکشن کب ہونے جارہے ہیں؟ ایڈیٹر دی نیوز انصار عباسی کی بڑی خبر
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders lashed out at Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain for directing his Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) to vote for Hamza Shehbaz instead of his cousin and party leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in the run-off election for the Punjab chief minister.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Shujaat’s ability to make decisions is “limited due to his illness”, adding that his thumb impressions “were taken on a blank paper”.
Talking to journalists, Chaudhry also took a jibe at Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Dost Mazari, and said that Mazari stole the people’s mandate, adding that he violated the Constitution.
He said that now the PTI has approached Supreme Court (SC) in this regard.
About Zardari, Fawad said that Pakistan cannot bear the brunt of the “politics of Zardari”.
Apart from Fawad, other PTI leaders also lashed out following yesterday’s defeat.
Talking to Twitter, PTI leader Shafqat Mahmood termed Mazari’s ruling as “shameful denial of peoples verdict”.
What a farce! Deputy Speaker rules against the constitution. It Clearly says direction to be issued by parliamentary party. Even the candidate Pervaiz Elahie asked to vote against himself. Shameful denial of peoples verdict and the fundamental law of the land
Meanwhile, Hammad Azhar said that Chaudhry Shujaat is the most dislikable figure among the masses.
پاکستانیوں کی سب سے ناپسندیدہ شخصیت کافی عرصے سے زرداری رہا ہے۔ پچھلے تین ماہ میں رانا ثناء اور زرداری کا پہلی پوزیشن کے لئے مقابلہ سخت رہا۔ آج چوہدری شجاعت نے ایک ہی دن میں دونوں کو پیچھے چھوڑ دیا ہے۔ حاصل ان تینوں کو کچھ بھی نہیں ہونا اور آخر میں عوام ہی جیتے گی۔
Shah Mahmood Qureshi was of the view that yesterday’s incident is “equivalent to suppressing the voice of the people”.
پنجاب اسمبلی میں جو آج ہوا سراسر مضحکہ خیز ہے لیکن اس کرپٹ حکومت سے اور کیا امید کی جا سکتی ہے جو اقتدار کے لئے کسی بھی حد تک جاسکتی ھے چاہے اس کا مطلب عوام کو نقصان ہی کیوں نہ ہو۔ یہ فیصلہ خلافِ آئین اور عوام کی آواز کو دبانے کے مترادف ہے۔ ہم انصاف کے لیے سپریم کورٹ جا رہے ہیں
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) July 22, 2022
It is pertinent to mention that Elahi had the support of 10 PML-Q MPAs apart from PTI. However, a day before the CM Punjab election, a meeting took place between Shujaat and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, which turned the tables in Hamza’s favour. On the day of the election, Shujaat directed his MPAs to vote in favour of Hamza.
However, the lawmakers cast votes in favour of Elahi but Mazari dismissed their votes.
Federal Minister Shazia Atta Marri in a press conference lashed out at former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and said that the abusive culture that Khan has nurtured in Pakistan does not represent our values.
Commenting on the criticism at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari by Khan and his party leaders for visiting Lahore before the chief minister Punjab election, Marri said, “Tumhare baap ka nahi hai Lahore. Woh [Asif Ali Zardari] Pakistan kay kisi bhi hissay mein jaa saakte hain.” [Lahore is not owned by your father. He can visit any place in Pakistan.]
“Will Asif Ali Zardari ask a person like Imran Khan whether he should visit Lahore or not to meet his political coalition partners?” questioned Marri.
“This is a ridiculous reaction that we are witnessing. There is a way to talk. Imran Khan has made the public blind with his abusive narrative of disrespecting his opponents,” said Marri.
“Imran Khan, apni hudood mein raho”: Maulana Fazl
Jamat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman warned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan that he needs to stay within his limits.
“Imran Khan, apni hudood main raho, Jamiat walay zinda hain.” [Imran Khan, stay in your limits, the people of JUI-F are alive.]
یہ وقت کس کی رعونت پہ خاک ڈال گیا یہ کون بول رہا تھا خدا کے لہجے میں اس طرح کے لوگ پاکستان کی سیاست پر سیاہ دھبہ ہیں،ا نکی وجہ سے نوجوان خصوصی طور پر خواتین سیاست میں آنے سے گھبراتی ہیں، مگراب نہیں کیونکہ اب #فیصلہ_صرف_عوام_کا اور حکومت بھی صرف عوامی pic.twitter.com/xBne4P8ScX
— Syeda Arooba komal (@SyedaAroobaKoml) July 21, 2022
“We will make it very difficult for the PTI supporters to come out and support you,” said Maulana.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari met Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain last night (Thursday).
The two leaders held a meeting for hours but it is not known what they discussed. However, it is being speculated that Zardari met Shujaat to convince him to be on Hamza Shehbaz’s side for the election of Chief Minister (CM) Punjab today (Friday). Shujaat had already announced his support for Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi who is Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate for the CM seat.
The Punjab Assembly (PA) session for the CM election is scheduled to take place at 4pm today.
Zardari and Shujaat’s meeting spread like fire on social media and this is what Twitter had to say about the duo.
Zardari insisting he won't leave Shujaat's house without meeting Pervaiz and Moonis King👑 pic.twitter.com/QCd6pVmc68
Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, the daughter of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, hit back at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for levelling allegations against her father.
Bakhtawar took to Twitter and warned Khan: “Why don’t you take your obsession with proof to the court, otherwise you will be hearing from our lawyers for defamation and lies.”
Still not over the AbsolutelyNot phone call? Why don’t you take your obsession with proof to court – otherwise you will be hearing from our lawyers for defamation & lies. PS: pity you never read the constitution cuz nothing is going to save you for committing treason. https://t.co/dFFUbRitzo
“Still not over the absolutely no phone call? Why don’t you take your obsession with proof to the court,” wrote Bakhtawar, adding that she pities Khan as he has never read the Constitution and that nothing can save the PTI chairman “for committing treason”.
On July 20, Khan alleged that Asif Ali Zardari was the “main architect” behind horse-trading in Lahore, adding that the former president has secured an “NRO for his corruption and purchases people with looted wealth”.
Khan further claimed that after his government was toppled with stolen money from Sindh and NRO 2 achieved, “certified criminal Asif Zardari in cahoots with the Sharif mafia was now seeking to steal people’s mandate in Punjab by trying to purchase MPAs”.
Hamza Shehbaz elected Chief Minister (CM) Punjab again after Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari rejected 10 Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) votes.
10 PML-Q votes will not be counted: Dost Mazari
Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Dost Mazari says 10 PML-Q votes will not be counted because of Chaudhry Shujaat’s letter.
According to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Raas, Hamza received 179 votes whereas Elahi got 186 votes. After Mazari rejected 10 PML-Q votes, Elahi was left with 176 votes, which turned the tables in Hamza’s favour.
While announcing the result, Mazari read Shujaat’s letter out loud. “As party head of Pakistan Muslim League, I have issued directions to all my provincial members to cast their votes in favour of Muhammad Hamza Shehbaz Sharif,” Mazari quoted Hussain as saying.
His ruling was countered by PTI MPA Raja Basharat, who said that the law states that the parliamentary party could issue instructions to party members.
“The head of the parliamentary party is Pervaiz Elahi,” he contended.
However, Mazari said that the matter had been clarified by the Supreme Court, subsequently proroguing the session.
Will not support the PTI candidate for the CM slot., confirms Moonis Elahi to Hamid Mir
Moonis Elahi has confirmed to senior journalist Hamid Mir that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has indeed written a letter to the Deputy Speaker. He has said that he will not support the PTI candidate for the CM slot.
Senior journalist Hamid Mir originally broke the story about Chaudhry Shujaat’s letter, which was later confirmed by Moonis Elahi to him as well.
Asif Ali Zardari to meet Chaudhry Shujaat, again: Hamid Mir
Senior journalist Hamid Mir says that Asif Zardari is about to meet PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
Reports suggest that Moonis Elahi has also left the Punjab Assembly.
‘Now the rules of the game will be the same for everyone, else PML-N knows how to play it better’: Maryam Nawaz
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has tweeted that the PML-N has not forgotten the treatment meted out to them. “Now the rules of the game will be the same for everyone, else PMLN knows how to play it better. Insha’Allah.”
PMLN has NOT forgotten the treatment meted out to them. Now the rules of the game will be the same for everyone, else PMLN knows how to play it better. Insha’Allah.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 22, 2022
PTI to file contempt of court petition against Dost Mazari: Fawad Chaudhry
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry has tweeted that the unnecessary delay in starting the Punjab Assembly session is a violation of the Supreme Court’s orders. He said that the party has directed its lawyers to file a contempt of court petition against Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari.
صوبائی اسمبلی کے اجلاس میں غیر ضروری تاخیر سپریم کورٹ کے واضع احکامات کی خلاف ورزی ہے، وکلاء کو توہین عدالت کی کاروائ کے لئے کہ دیا ہے، اب سے کچھ دیر بعد ڈپٹی اسپیکر کیخلاف توہین عدالت کی درخواست سپریم کورٹ میں دائر کی جارہی ہے۔
Today, the Punjab Assembly will vote in the runoff election and decide who gets to be the next chief minister of the province: Hamza Shehbaz or Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. The Punjab Assembly session started at 4pm today as per the Supreme Court’s orders.
Hamza Shehbaz is the incumbent chief minister and CM candidate of the PML-N and its coalition partners, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The total number game of the PML-N-led ruling coalition is179.
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the PML-Q is the CM candidate of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). PTI and PML-Q have a total of 187 members on their side.
Pakistan will become another Sri Lanka if Elahi not allowed to become CM Punjab: Imran Khan
Yesterday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said yesterday that if Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is not allowed to become CM Punjab, Pakistan will become another Sri Lanka.
“I will never forget what happened to us on May 25. We will never forget,” added Khan.
#Pakistan Punjab Assembly session to elect CM will be held today. If people’s mandate is stolen in the Assembly during the CM election,then I am warning that the country would head towards a condition like Sri Lanka & after that,it would not be my responsibility,Say's Imran Khan pic.twitter.com/O3v1pMDVTX
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) July 21, 2022
Credit goes to Zardari for first destroying the PPP and now the PML-N: Fawad Chaudhry
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that the Maryam Nawaz group’s gesture by accepting the results of the Punjab by-polls was good but the Shehbaz Sharif group is most probably working under the influence of Asif Ali Zardari. He alleged that Shehbaz Sharif is consulting Zardari these days for major decisions.
“Credit goes to Zardari for destroying two parties, first the PPP and now the PML-N,” added Fawad Chaudhry.
PPP co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari met PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain once again last night. Zardari had already held two meetings with Chaudhry Shujaat earlier in an effort to get his support for Hamza Shehbaz.
The former president had sent a message for a meeting with Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi. However, they both refused to meet him according to The News.
Moonis Elahi said that it’s “game over” for the government.
“They can do whatever they want, they have lost the game,” said Moonis Elahi.
50 PTI MPAs can vote for Hamza Shehbaz: Rana Sanaullah
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has claimed that 50 PTI MPAs can vote for Hamza Shehbaz in the CM Punjab election today.
“Not five, but 50 PTI MPAs can either use their right to vote or abstain from casting their votes,” said Rana Sanaullah.
A 24-year-old Pakistani man was detained near the India-Pakistan international border in Rajasthan.
As per media reports, he was allegedly planning to kill Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman Nupur Sharma who made derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in June.
According to Indian media reports, the man is influenced by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
The accused, identified as Rizwan Ashraf, son of Mohammad Ashraf is a resident of Mandi Bahauddin. He had sneaked into India from Hindumalkot international border. He was arrested on the intervening night of July 16-17.
“In the preliminary interrogation, he revealed his plan to kill BJP leader Nupur Sharma. He seems to be religiously motivated. He was produced before a court from where he was sent into police custody for five days,” said Superintendent of Police (SP), Anand Sharm.
His connections, according to the SP, are also being questioned.
Rizwan is the same man who in August 2021 vandalised Ranjit Singh’s statue, reports Roohan Ahmed for Urdu News. He was later released on bail.
As per Rizwan’s father, his son left home before Eid-ul-Azha. His father said that he told his mother that he is going somewhere but did not tell his family where he is going.
Indian authorities have not contacted Pakistani authorities in this regard.
According to a TLP leader, Rizwan is only a worker of the party.
Police in India’s Rajasthan have arrested a Pakistani national Rizwan Ashraf Rizvi, an activist of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, for plotting to kill former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. He was arrested last year in Lahore for vandalising Ranjit Singh’s statue but later got bail. pic.twitter.com/rJW9Hvyfdj
I spoke with the father of Pakistani national Rizwan, who was arrested in India’s a few days for plotting to kill BJP’s Nupur Sharma, & he confirmed his son was a worker of TLP. Ashraf told me his son left home on a Thursday before Eid & didn’t come backhttps://t.co/4ySTgeLNqc
Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Hamza Shehbaz on Wednesday sought a report from Inspector-General (IG) Punjab after former MPA Iftikhar Ahmed Khan Baloch was attacked in Jhang.
A video that surfaced on social media showed that he was beaten, his clothes were torn and abuses were being hurled at him.
نون لیگ کے سابق ایم پی اے افتخار بلوچ پر تشدد کی یہ ویڈیو شئیر نہیں کرنا چاہتا تھا لیکن پاکستانی سیاست میں فاشزم کے اثرات اسے دکھائے بغیر بتانا ممکن نہیں اور یہ پورے معاشرے تک پھیلیں گے، تب تک بہت دیر ہو چکی ہو گی pic.twitter.com/TZU6kA9jby
A district and sessions court in Islamabad extended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s interim bail till July 30. He got bail extension in 10 cases related to vandalism during his party’s Azadi March in the federal capital held on May 25.
During today’s hearing, District and Sessions Court Judge Kamran Basharat Mufti approved an application filed by Khan seeking exemption from personal appearance and extended his interim bail.
When Khan’s junior counsel Rai Tajamul pleaded with the court to grant his client interim bail in a case registered in Kohsar police station, the judge remarked that “Khan’s personal appearance is necessary” since he is seeking a fresh bail.
He informed the court that the PTI chief is in Lahore, while his lawyer Babar Awan is abroad. However, Khan’s counsel assured the judge that his client would appear at the next hearing, which is on July 30.
On July 19, Judge Mufti extended the interim bail of the PTI Chairman till July 21 in these cases.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone the Sindh local body elections and plans to challenge it in court.
PTI leader Ali Zaidi said the party condemns ECP’s decision, adding that the electoral body was already controversial. “The ECP decision will be challenged in the Sindh High Court,” he said.
The ECP announced the postponement of polls owing to Muharram and rainy weather.
PTI leadership decides to stick around in Lahore till the election of Punjab CM
Later, PTI Chairman Imran Khan postponed his Karachi visit ahead of Punjab’s chief minister election tomorrow, July 22.
“Before the postponement of polls in Sindh, a PTI spokesman insisted that it was the party’s consensus decision that Khan should focus more on Punjab, and because of this he couldn’t spare two days — July 21 and 22 — for Karachi and Hyderabad,” reports Dawn.
Lahore seeing a repetition of Sindh House horse-trading: Imran Khan
On July 20, Khan claimed that horse-trading was happening in Lahore with MPAs being offered Rs500 million to switch their loyalty.
“Today, Lahore is seeing a repetition of the Sindh House horse-trading episode that happened in Islamabad, with up to Rs500 million being offered to buy MPAs,” tweeted the PTI chairman. He alleged that PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was the “main architect” behind this, adding that the former president has secured an “NRO for his corruption and purchases people with looted wealth”.
This is not only an attack on our democracy but also on moral fabric of our society. Had SC taken action & debarred these turncoats for life it would have acted as deterrent. Don't Handlers of US regime change conspiracy's Imported govt realise severe damage being done to nation?
“This is not only an attack on our democracy but also on the moral fabric of our society. Had Supreme Court taken action and debarred these turncoats for life, it would have acted as a deterrent,” claimed the PTI chairman.
Khan further claimed that after his government was “toppled with stolen money from Sindh and NRO 2 achieved, certified criminal Asif Zardari in cahoots with Sharif mafia now seeking to steal Punjab people’s mandate by trying to purchase MPAs”.
After Fed govt toppled with stolen money from Sindh & NRO2 achieved, Certified Criminal Asif Zardari in cahoots with Sharif mafia now seeking to steal Punjab ppl's mandate by trying to purchase MPAs. Want to ask Honourable SC are they not cogniscant of the damage being wreaked?
“Want to ask the Honourable Supreme Court: are they not cogniscant of the damage being wreaked? Isn’t destruction of our democracy, Constitution and nation’s morality a fit case for Suo Moto action? Are the ‘neutrals’ not realising how our beloved country is literally being destroyed on all fronts by the Imported government brought in through US regime change conspiracy?”
PTI to move Supreme Court against horse-trading: Fawad Chaudhry
On the other hand, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that the party will move the Supreme Court against horse-trading.
“We want Rana Sanaullah, Zardari, and Ataullah Tarar to get arrested and the court to conduct an immediate inquiry into the matter,” he added.
