Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Monsoon in Pakistan: What is the situation now?

    Monsoon in Pakistan: What is the situation now?

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned Sindh of another monsoon spell this week from Thursday (July 14) till Monday (July 18). It is also said that sea conditions will also remain “rough to very rough” during this timeframe.

    The Met department also said that torrential rains may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities. It has also advised that travellers and tourists remain cautious during the forecast period.

    Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman shared a rain update on her Twitter, saying: “Sindh and Balochistan still under heavy monsoon pressure for the last 13 days. Sindh is 625 per cent above the 30-year average while Balochistan is 501.”

    Action taken by the authorities:

    Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has claimed that rainwater from 90 per cent of the city has been drained out and roads have been cleared.

    Meanwhile, K-Electric spokesperson Imran Rana tweeted, “Wherever possible power has been restored, however, few parts of DHA remain severely water logged like Bukhari Commercial seen below (as of 10:00 PM 12th July). Power in inundated areas expected to be restored once water recedes to safe operating levels.”

    On Sunday, the Sindh government imposed a rain emergency in Karachi after severe rain. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa took an aerial view of Karachi on Tuesday to oversee the catastrophic situation.

    The Pakistan Navy is also taking part in the relief and rescue operations.

    Destruction

    According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Sindh Police, 49 people have died in the province, 31 in Karachi alone, in the monsoon spell from July 4 to July 12.

    In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), at least six people were killed in Swabi, Mardan, South Waziristan and Bajaur districts. The rains also damaged the crops and infrastructure. Swabi, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Nowshera and Malakand were the worst affected.

    https://twitter.com/AlySyyed/status/1546142995099095040?s=20&t=QoYYOLOXER70LfjJXTHi5A

    Six people died and dozens of houses collapsed throughout over Eid across Balochistan. Many areas across Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) were cut off from each other after roads, bridges, electricity supply and properties were damaged due to the melting glaciers.

  • Zardari wishes to ‘see Bilawal as prime minister’

    Zardari wishes to ‘see Bilawal as prime minister’

    Former President and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has expressed his wish to see his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as prime minister of Pakistan in his lifetime.

    Zardari said that when his son became foreign minister, his old friends told him that Bilawal would brighten the country’s name.

    “Islamabad says you have weakened us but I say I have strengthened the provinces,” added Zardari. He said that when he was the president, he transferred power to the prime minister and the provinces through constitutional amendments. He said that the PPP had always raised its voice against political and social injustices and it would continue to fight against poverty and ignorance.

    “We are fighting for a society where every citizen has economic and social justice and the state is a paradise for them.”

  • ‘A reminder of sacrifices’: Pakistan observes Kashmir Martyrs’ Day

    ‘A reminder of sacrifices’: Pakistan observes Kashmir Martyrs’ Day

    On the occasion of Kashmir Martyrs’ Day today (Wednesday), Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has said it is a reminder of the sacrifices that Kashmiris have rendered for their inalienable and UN-sanctioned right to self-determination.

    In a tweet, he further said, “The flame of freedom from the Indian yoke has been kept alive by the generations of Kashmiris in the face of Indian tyranny and oppression.”

    In a statement, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the government and Pakistanis are solemnly observing the 91st Kashmir Martyrs’ Day.

    Moreover, Ahmad said Kashmiris are still struggling against India’s illegal occupation. He urged India to immediately halt its state-terrorism in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), cease all human rights violations, release all political prisoners, lift the in-human military siege, stop its attempts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory, and let the Kashmiri people exercise their legitimate right to self-determination.

    Ambassador of Pakistan to Germany Dr Mohammad Faisal paid homage to the Kashmiri martyrs. He said, “We observe 91st Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir (Kashmir Martyrs’ Day) paying homage to 22 Kashmiri martyrs, who rendered the ultimate sacrifice, braving the indiscriminate force unleashed on them in 1931 by the Dogra forces. We stand with our Kashmiri brethren.”

    People all over the world are observing Kashmir Martyrs’ Day to pay homage to the martyrs of July 13, 1931 and all other Kashmiri martyrs.

    According to Radio Pakistan, IIOJK is in complete shutdown today. The Indian authorities did not allow people to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard to pay their tributes.

  • Passports, CNICs of PTI supporters to be blocked if involved in heckling, warns Rana Sanaullah

    Passports, CNICs of PTI supporters to be blocked if involved in heckling, warns Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah tweeted on Tuesday that a “so-called political party” and its leader “who suffers from insanity” have started a campaign based on hate and malice. Rana advised everyone, especially Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters, that if any supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) heckle them, they should make their videos from their mobile phones instead of responding to them.

    “Make a video so that the hecklers can be identified and send it to Director FIA Cybercrime Wing through mail, or WhatsApp or tag FIA on social media after posting the video. Proper action will be taken against them, including blockage of passports and/or identity cards so that people’s right to freedom of movement under Article 15 is protected.”

    Rana further added that if the hecklers start physical fights, the law permits self-defence.

    In response to Rana Sana’s series of tweets, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Rana Sanaullah is a “scarecrow” who is being used by someone else.

    Chaudhry said that Rana “has the support of someone else”, which is why he is using this type of language.

    Rana Sana justified his tweets and stated: “Let me make it clear that as public representatives, politicians are accountable to people and there is absolutely no restriction on asking questions. But action will be taken if any politician is harassed in the name of freedom of speech.”

    Read more- ‘Remorse and embarrassment’: Ahsan Iqbal says family who harassed him apologised

    PTI Chairman Imran Khan addressed a rally in Lodhran on Tuesday where he justified the heckling of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.

    “You must have seen on social media that Ahsan Iqbal went to eat at McDonalds. He claims that Imran Khan has taught people to misbehave. O Ahsan Iqbal, you lying Aristotle. This is not misbehaviour, this is the truth: you’re a thief.”

    Last week, a pro-PTI family hurled ‘chor chor’ at Iqbal at a restaurant on the Motorway. The family later apologised to Iqbal for their misbehaviour and visited him at his residence in Narowal.

  • Journalist slaps boy during live coverage, later justifies

    Journalist slaps boy during live coverage, later justifies

    Journalist Maira Hashmi went viral on social media after her video created a buzz where she can be seen slapping a boy during live coverage.

    Responding to queries, Hashmi took to her Twitter and clarified why she slapped the boy.

    In her tweet, Hashmi wrote that while she was conducting an interview on the streets for her show, the boy in question was constantly bothering a family standing there.

    “This boy was bothering a family during the interview, which made the family upset. I first tried to nicely tell him that his behaviour was not good, but it fell on deaf ears and he resorted to bothering the family even more. I, therefore, decided that the boy’s behaviour should no longer be tolerated,” she said.

  • Sri Lankan president to step down after massive protests

    Sri Lankan president to step down after massive protests

    Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided to step down amid the ongoing protests against the economic crisis the country is facing. His resignation has been sent to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

    “Rajapaksa has officially informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will be resigning as previously announced,” read a statement from the prime minister’s office.

    However, the whereabouts of the president are unknown.

    His resignation came after a large-scale demonstration that took place on Saturday, during which hundreds of thousands of people poured into Colombo and occupied the president’s residence and office, and prime minister’s residence.

    Protesters sang and lit fireworks in the streets to welcome the announcement.

  • ‘Remorse and embarrassment’: Ahsan Iqbal says family who harassed him apologised

    ‘Remorse and embarrassment’: Ahsan Iqbal says family who harassed him apologised

    Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Sunday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, who harassed and chanted slogans at him at a restaurant earlier this week, had come to meet him and apologised for their actions.

    Taking to Twitter, Iqbal said, “The family involved in the incident came to Narowal and apologised for their actions in the meeting, expressed remorse and embarrassment.”

    “We are all Pakistanis and have a right to disagree with each other but that should not turn into hatred and one must maintain mutual respect,” said Iqbal.

    A day earlier, Iqbal said that the incident highlighted the culture PTI Chairman Imran Khan was teaching his followers.

    The planning minister said the “disease of extremism and hatred” in society was affecting Pakistan like “cancer”.

    Read More: Video: Ahsan Iqbal harassed by PTI supporters in restaurant

    Addressing PTI supporters, he urged them to carefully consider if their leader was as sincere to them as they were to him. “Imran has a track record of using people and throwing them away like tissue paper,” he claimed.

    “Since over a decade, Khan has been running his ‘chor’ campaign, however, he could not even prove a single allegation during the four years he was in power,” he said, adding that it is the responsibility of a politician to train their workers; however, Khan has failed to do so.

    “I think Khan needs a psychologist,” he asserted.

  • How did Imran, Shehbaz, Bilawal, and Alvi celebrate Eid?

    How did Imran, Shehbaz, Bilawal, and Alvi celebrate Eid?

    Pakistan celebrates Eid-ul-Azha under tough circumstances with Covid on the rise yet again. With the country’s crucial economic conditions, political leaders urged the nation to revive the spirit of sacrifice and help the poor.

    President Dr Arif Alvi offered Eid prayers in his Karachi hometown at the Tooba Masjid.

    “I pray to Allah Almighty to accept the Ibadah, Haj and sacrifices of the Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah. Amen!”

    “Eidul Azha reminds us of the submission and obedience of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS) before the command of Allah Almighty,” said President Alvi.

    “Sacrifice is not merely an act of animal slaughter, but its real goal is to sacrifice personal desires for accomplishing a higher purpose. This spirit of sacrifice grants such an ability to human beings that they keep following the righteous path despite the most trying circumstances,” he added.

    Alvi said: “As our dear country faces economic challenges, there is a dire need to effectively utilise this spirit of sacrifice.”

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, along with his son and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, offered Eid prayers at his family residence at Jati Umra in Lahore.

    Shehbaz said: “Allah Almighty made sacrifice an extraordinary ritual to show immense admiration for the obedience of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS). The real meaning of sacrifice is obedience and submission to Allah. Allah sees the intention of His obedient men and on that basis gives the reward.”

    According to the government’s official Twitter account, the prime minister telephoned the president and congratulated him on Eid-ul-Azha. Alvi also congratulated Shehbaz and “the two leaders expressed goodwill towards each other”.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan offered Eid prayers at Bani Gala.

    “As we celebrate and thank Allah for his blessings this Eid that commemorates sacrifice, let us remember and pray for those who are without their loved ones & for the people of IIOJK and Palestine suffering oppression under brutal occupation,” said Khan.

    In another video shared on Khan’s Instagram handle, he can be seen distributing bags to people.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, meanwhile, offered Eid namaz in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

    Bilawal said: “Eidul Azha reminds us that determination and sacrifice for the greater good pave the way for success.”

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif was about to resign on May 27: report

    PM Shehbaz Sharif was about to resign on May 27: report

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif decided to resign from his position on May 27 due to the tough conditions set up by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), reports Noor Aftab for The News.

    “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was not ready to fulfill conditions of the IMF that was mounting pressure on the government to increase prices of the petroleum products to an unprecedented level.”

    It has been reported that at the time PM Shehbaz and the former finance minister Ishaq Dar were supporting the proposal to dissolve the National Assembly and hold fresh elections instead of accepting IMF’s demands.

    However, later Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) realised that if PM Shehbaz resigned, it would be a loss for the PML-N. The party then decided that the coalition government would continue to work and they also needed a finance minister to deal with the economic issues.

    Shahid Khaqan says Dar isn’t coming back

    Former PM and PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that Dar is not coming back to Pakistan “in the near future”.

    “I don’t think former finance minister Ishaq Dar will return to Pakistan in near future. All decisions are taken by the party leadership in consultation with the senior party members”, said Shahid Khaqan, adding that Finance Minister Miftah Ismail would continue his work in the future as he has been doing exceptional work to restore Pakistan’s fractured economy.

    The debate about Miftah’s replacement escalated soon after speculations about Dar’s return and him confirming the same to BBC Urdu.

    Now, the development has sparked a debate that whether PML-N leaders are divided into two groups over the selection of a finance minister.

    Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique showed his support to Dar while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Abbasi are in favour of Miftah Ismail.

    Meanwhile, according to The Express Tribune, Miftah said that though he has support from the federal cabinet and the PML-N, there are a few party members who are criticising and opposing him.

  • Video: Ahsan Iqbal harassed by PTI supporters in restaurant

    Video: Ahsan Iqbal harassed by PTI supporters in restaurant

    Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal was harassed by a group of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters on Friday when he went to a restaurant.

    Video of the incident took social media by storm where a pro-PTI family could be seen hurling ‘chor chor’ at Iqbal.

    https://twitter.com/waqasakhter077/status/1545479722112524289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1545479722112524289%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F426815-ahsan-iqbal-heckled-in-restaurant-by-pti-supporters

    Taking to Twitter, Iqbal wrote: “Today, a family — who apparently considered themselves elites and supported PTI — clashed with me.”

    “Instead of holding a dialogue with me they started chanting slogans,” he wrote, adding that other people present at the restaurant also started chanting slogans against the PTI.

    Criticising the PTI Chairman Imran Khan for instilling hatred, Iqbal wrote: “Just like their ignorant leader, his supporters are following suit.”

    Responding to the video, PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry negated Iqbal’s claims that other people present at the restaurant chanted slogans against the PTI.

    “Sir, in this video, only your disrespect could be seen. Stop lying,” he wrote on Twitter, advising Iqbal to “go in public wearing a burqa”.

    Twitterati reacted to the incident and called out the pro-PTI family’s behaviour.