Current Final

Category: Politics

  • 60% of Pakistanis don’t agree with PTI’s long march: survey

    In a public survey by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR), 60 per cent of Pakistanis do not like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s idea to lead a long march towards Islamabad.

    According to 60 per cent of responders, Khan should run his campaign from the assemblies. On the other hand, only 23 per cent of Pakistanis support the idea of PTI’s long march.

    It has also been revealed that 48 per cent of PTI’s own supporters think that leading a long march is right, while 44 per cent are in favour of a struggle against the government in the assemblies rather than a long march.

    In the survey, more than 2,000 people from across the country participated.

    Meanwhile, 54 per cent of Pakistanis support the idea of holding fresh elections in the country, although 35 per cent of people suggest the assemblies should complete their constitutional term.

    A big majority of 86 per cent of PTI voters backed the idea of early elections, while 57 per cent of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) voters and 31 per cent of PML-N supporters said they favoured early elections.

  • Twitter reacts to Khan appointing nephew as PTI’s focal legal affairs person

    Twitter reacts to Khan appointing nephew as PTI’s focal legal affairs person

    Barrister Hassaan Khan Niazi has been appointed as the focal person for legal affairs to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), reporting directly to party Chairman Imran Khan. His appointment was made official on Sunday (June 5).

    The newly appointed focal person announced the news on Twitter. Twitterati reacting to the news, had both good wishes and skepticism for Hassaan as he is the former premier’s nephew.

    Journalist Alina Shigri lauded Hassaan for earning the position through “sheer hard work” and “not through nepotism!”

    Meanwhile, netizens questioned Hassaan’s appointment.

    A Twitter user said, “Is this Hassaan Niazi the same person who attacked a hospital in Lahore along with other lawyers in which some patients died, or is he some one other?”

    https://twitter.com/ArifManzoorKha6/status/1534075867772637186

    Another user questioned the appointment and wanted to know if it was through nepotism or morosi siyasaat? [dynastic politics]

    A
  • ‘Tum apnay janazay ka bandobast karo’: Retired general gives life threats to journalist for asking a question

    ‘Tum apnay janazay ka bandobast karo’: Retired general gives life threats to journalist for asking a question

    Veterans of Pakistan, an organisation of former military officers, held a press conference in Islamabad yesterday (June 6). A video from the conference went viral where retired Lieutenant General Asif Yasin Malik threatened journalist Azaz Syed for asking a question.

    Azaz asked, “General Saab, do you think that generals should give back the land given to them because of the present economic conditions of the country?”

    “Tum apnay janazay ka bandobast karo,” said General Malik to Azaz Syed. [Translation: You should prepare for your funeral].

    “Stop it,” General Malik shouted.

    Azaz interjected and said, ” Sir I am asking you a question, this is a matter of the country, you just did a press conference.”

    It is being reported that during the press conference, Brig (R) Mian Mehmood claimed that when the situation in Pakistan started to deteriorate, their team led by General Ali Quli went to meet the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    “General Bajwa very clearly promised that he would hold elections in 90 days to make the situation in Pakistan better. Today we ask Gen Bajwa: where did his promises go?”

    A denial has been issued by military sources to BBC Urdu that no such promise [polls in 90 days] was made by the army chief. The military sources also told BBC Urdu that nobody can use the army for politics by using the name of ‘veterans’.

  • ‘PhD in cringeonomics,’ Twitter reacts to Maryam’s tears

    ‘PhD in cringeonomics,’ Twitter reacts to Maryam’s tears

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif addressed the PML-N Instagram team in Lahore. When Yeh Watan Tumhara Hai‘, was played, Maryam could be seen wiping her tears while listening to the milli-naghma.

    Maryam Nawaz re-shared the tweet and wrote: “I am in love with Pakistan.”

    Social media users were quick to give all kinds of comments on Maryam’s video. Have a look at the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/passingthedays_/status/1534106417762025472
    https://twitter.com/_amnahtweets/status/1534067890386763776
    https://twitter.com/Imrankazmi555/status/1533973874668457985
  • PM Shehbaz’s Arabic Twitter account ‘back online’ after suspension

    PM Shehbaz’s Arabic Twitter account ‘back online’ after suspension

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official Arabic language Twitter account, which was created yesterday (June 6), was suspended soon after its launch by the micro-blogging website.

    The Current reached out to Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Digital Media Abubakar Umer to ask about the suspension of the account.

    “The account is back online. It was temporarily suspended because Twitter wanted to verify the identity. The account has claimed that it is the official prime minister’s account. So Twitter just wanted to make sure that PM’s office is running the account. We have provided the photo id and they have restored it,” Abubakar Umer told The Current.

    PM’s Arabic Twitter account was created on Monday to strengthen our bond and engagement with the brotherly people of Arab countries.

  • Phadda between PML-Q’s Moonis Elahi, PTI’s Ejaz Chaudhry, exchange heated tweets

    Phadda between PML-Q’s Moonis Elahi, PTI’s Ejaz Chaudhry, exchange heated tweets

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader and former Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi exchanged some heated tweets when Chaudhry took a jibe at PML-Q’s Salik Hussain and Shafay Hussain, both of whom are Moonis’ cousins.

    According to a report by ARY News both Salik and Shafay met the incumbent Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Hamza Shehbaz and promised to support him. Chaudhry taunted them of being two-faced on Twitter.

    Moonis called out Chaudhry and said, “Just like during the Azadi March when some leaders went to the police station and presented themselves for arrests”.

    To this, Chaudhry clarified that he was not talking about Moonis as [Moonis] knows the difference between right and wrong. He further clarified that Moonis misinterpreted his tweet.

    Taking to Twitter, Moonis said, “Let’s not swing at each other. Our combined opponent is PML-N. Let’s stay focused.” He further apologised to the PTI leader.

    It is pertinent to mention that PTI and PML-Q have a real test ahead, in which they will have to fight the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for vacant seats of the Punjab Assembly (PA).

  • ‘Refrain from commenting on Pakistan’s nuclear programme’: Gen Nadeem Raza responds to Khan’s comment

    ‘Refrain from commenting on Pakistan’s nuclear programme’: Gen Nadeem Raza responds to Khan’s comment

    Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza on Monday asked people to refrain from commenting on Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

    “In nuclear countries, only the National Command Authority has the right to comment on strategic programmes,” said General Nadeem Raza.

    The military’s response comes a week after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in an interview said that if Pakistan goes bankrupt, then the country will have to face denuclearisation, predicting that the country would then be divided into three parts.

    Khan during the interview said that the establishment needs to make the right decisions and if they don’t, “the army will be destroyed”.

    Read more: Khan says Pakistan ke teen hissay hongay, Shehbaz warns him not to cross limits

    General Nadeem Raza Monday stressed that people should avoid making baseless and unnecessary comments about Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

    “Pakistan is a responsible and confident nuclear country,” the deputy chairman of the National Command Authority said during a seminar at the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST).

    Read more: ’Threat to national security’, PEMRA bans Bol show after Khan’s interview

    “Pakistan will not compromise on its nuclear programme. Pakistan’s nuclear capability guarantees the defence of the homeland as well as its integrity; it also has the complete support of the political parties and the masses,” said Gen Raza.

  • ‘Car servicing needed, please look into this’ Twitter asks Miftah to get things done after Maryam’s tweets

    ‘Car servicing needed, please look into this’ Twitter asks Miftah to get things done after Maryam’s tweets

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has asked Finance Minister Miftah Ismail to look into the matter of pet food import ban, tagging him in a tweet by journalist Gharidah Farooqi.

    Gharidah tweeted: “It’s been more than two weeks that Pet Food import remains banned in Pakistan. Request to PM Shehbaz Sharif. Kindly lift this ban. Pl listen to the please of voiceless creatures waiting for you to show mercy. Almost NIL impact on import bill. Why not then?”

    Maryam Nawaz tagged Miftah Ismail and wrote, “Please look into this.”

    Last month, when the import ban was imposed and some customs officials confiscated people’s private shopping at airports, Maryam Nawaz had asked Miftah Ismail to look into it. He had responded: “Ji I will.”

    Maryam Nawaz’s tweets for Miftah Ismail has sparked a meme fest on Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/basmati_reus/status/1533839608877916167?s=21&t=547ayI6mMNTIMDzA04VGdQ

  • ‘World should severely reprimand India’: Muslim countries condemn BJP’s derogatory remarks about Holy Prophet (PBUH)

    ‘World should severely reprimand India’: Muslim countries condemn BJP’s derogatory remarks about Holy Prophet (PBUH)

    After hashtags calling for the boycott of Indian products began trending on Twitter in Arab countries over derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, India’s ruling party suspended Sharma and expelled Jindal. The two also issued public apologies after the reaction from the Arab world. Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran have summoned Indian envoys while Saudi Arabia and  Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have issued statements against the two BJP spokespersons.

    World should take note and severely reprimand India: Shehbaz Sharif

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the derogatory remarks recently made by two leaders of India’s BJP against the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

    PM Sharif wrote: “Have said it repeatedly India under Modi is trampling religious freedoms and persecuting Muslims. The world should take note & severely reprimand India.”

    He added that Muslims’ love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is supreme and that all Muslims can sacrifice their lives for the love and respect of their Prophet (PBUH). 

    Pakistan Armed Forces strongly condemn blasphemous remarks by Indian officials

    The official media wing of the Pakistan army condemned the derogatory remarks of the BJP leaders. “The outrageous act is deeply hurtful and clearly indicates extreme level of hate against Muslims and other religions in India.”

    Indian chargé d’affaires summoned by Pakistan

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took to Twitter and said, “Indian Cd’A summoned to convey Pakistan’s rejection and strong condemnation of the derogatory remarks by BJP officials against Prophet Muhammad PBUH. BJP leadership and GOI must condemn the sacrilegious comments and hold those responsible to account.”

    Pakistan condemns India

    Pakistan has strongly condemned the disrespectful remarks recently made by two senior officials of India’s ruling party BJP, disrespecting the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). 

    “These totally unacceptable remarks have not only deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan but of billions of Muslims around the world,” read the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    “BJP’s attempted clarification and belated and perfunctory disciplinary action against these individuals cannot assuage the pain and anguish they have caused to the Muslim world. Muslims residing in India are equally outraged by the completely repugnant comments by the two BJP officials. The ensuing communal violence in Kanpur and in other parts of India bears testimony to this fact.”

    Pakistan urged India to ensure that decisive and demonstrable action is taken against those responsible for making derogatory remarks and attacking the dignity of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). India must also take immediate steps to protect its minorities from human rights violations, ensure their safety, security, and well-being and allow them to profess and practice their faiths in peace.

    “Pakistan once again calls on the international community to take immediate cognisance of the grievously aggravating situation of Islamophobia in India. India must be held accountable for stifling the rights of the minorities, especially Muslims, to practice their faith and religious beliefs,” said the Foreign Office spokesperson.

    Arab world’s condemnation over derogatory remarks

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar summoned the Indian Ambassador and handed over an official note on Qatar’s total rejection and condemnation of the remarks of Sharma and Kumar.

    The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Indian ambassador and handed him an official protest note expressing the State of Kuwait’s rejection and denunciation of the controversial remarks made by an official in the ruling party in India against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Islam, and Muslims.

    Saudi Arabia described the spokesperson’s comments as “insulting” and called for “respect for beliefs and religions”, according to a foreign ministry statement.

    The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned the remarks, saying they came in a “context of intensifying hatred and abuse towards Islam in India and systematic practices against Muslims”.

  • Alleged audio leak: 5-carat diamond ring for Bushra Bibi from Malik Riaz

    Alleged audio leak: 5-carat diamond ring for Bushra Bibi from Malik Riaz

    Two alleged phone calls between business tycoon Malik Riaz and his daughter Amber have been leaked in which the two can be heard talking about gifting a diamond ring to former First Lady Bushra Bibi in return for a favour that Khan is doing for them.

    Initially, the conversation revolves around Amber talking to her father about Bushra Bibi’s friend Farah Khan — who allegedly acted as a bridge between Amber and Bibi. Amber tells her father that Farah has demanded a five-carat diamond ring for Bibi.

    As per the alleged audio leak, Amber says to her father that she inquired from Farah about a letter and asked, “When will the locks be opened”?

    https://youtu.be/CZ0PyDYcmbY

    In the alleged audio leak, it is revealed that Bushra Bibi did not like the ring. According to Farah Khan, the ring is quite ordinary for a First Lady and asked that it be returned and a new one be given.

    When Amber told her father, Malik can be heard saying, “Buy whatever she wants.” Farah also promised Amber that Khan has said that the letter would be given to them tomorrow.

    https://youtu.be/NEsCw5nmKUs

    The conversation is believed to have taken place when Imran Khan was still the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Moreover, the ring is reportedly from Harry Winston.

    Here are some of pictures of Harry Winston rings along with their prices.

    Note: these pictures and prices are for reference only. It is not known what ring was given at what price, only that it was allegedly a Harry Winston ring.

    However, the business tycoon has rejected the claims.