Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Are Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar coming back to Pakistan?

    Are Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar coming back to Pakistan?

    The federal government has directed the Ministry of Interior for the renewal of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s passports, reports Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai for Geo News.

    The report came after Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as the premier following the ouster of former PM Imran Khan from power.

     Pakistani High Commission in London has also been directed to start work on the renewal of the passports of both Nawaz and Dar, suggests the news report.

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo was granted an eight-week bail on medical grounds in October 2019, and, he was allowed to travel to London for treatment for four weeks. However, Nawaz never returned and is still in London.

    In September last year, PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif claimed that Nawaz Sharif will come to Pakistan this year. He added that those who disqualified Nawaz also realised that there was no option except to have him back.

    Latif, while speaking during Geo News programme ‘Aapas Ki Baat’, said that Nawaz Sharif is expected to return to Pakistan after Eid.

    Latif further said that after coming to Pakistan, Nawaz will face the cases against him.

    “He [Nawaz Sharif] will face the courts and rule of law, but we expect neither should anyone should be treated as ladla [favourite] nor should anyone have to face brutality,” he added.

  • UK distances from Pak ‘political affairs’ after Khan’s ex-brother-in-law extends support

    UK distances from Pak ‘political affairs’ after Khan’s ex-brother-in-law extends support

    British Foreign Office minister Lord Zac Goldsmith has landed himself in trouble after he tweeted in support of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    On April 10, Zac Goldsmith — whose elder sister Jemima was once married to Khan — said that he was “sad” at the developments in Pakistan. Zac Goldsmith tweeted: “Imran Khan is a good and decent man, one of the least corruptible politicians on the world stage. I have no doubt he will be returned with a big majority in the upcoming elections.”

    British media reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office has slapped down Foreign Office minister Lord Goldsmith after he interfered in Pakistani politics over the ousting of Khan as Pakistan’s premier through a vote of no-trust.

    Downing Street was questioned if Lord Goldsmith, who is Foreign Office minister for the Pacific and the international environment, was speaking on behalf of the British government. A spokesperson responded: “With regard to Pakistan, we respect Pakistan’s democratic system and we would not get into its domestic political affairs. We have longstanding ties with Pakistan and are monitoring developments.”

    Zac and Jemima Goldsmith’s brother Ben Goldsmith also announced support for Imran Khan on Twitter following Khan’s ouster. He said: “My brother-in-law @ImranKhanPTI is a good and honourable man, motivated only by a strong desire to do good for his country.”

    His record as PM is exceptional, most of all on the biggest issue of our time: Pakistan under Imran is now a world leader on environmental restoration.”

    During Zac Goldsmith’s campaign against London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Imran Khan had supported Zac Goldsmith and urged his followers to support his election bid. Sadiq Khan had expressed his bewilderment over Imran Khan’s support for Zac Goldsmith.

  • PM Shehbaz announces Peshawar Morr-Airport metro bus service in 5 days

    PM Shehbaz announces Peshawar Morr-Airport metro bus service in 5 days

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif announced the start of Metro Bus service from Islamabad-Peshawar Morr to the airport in five days.

    According to ARY News, PM Shehbaz Sharif has directed completion of the requisite arrangements for running the metro bus, which will be a big relief to the people coming to Islamabad airport.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that arrangements should be made to run the Metro Bus service in 5 days. The premier issued instructions to the Capital Development Authority, Ministry of Interior Affairs and National Highway Authority in this context.

    The project was inaugurated way back in 2017 by the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif and was to be completed by August 2018, but the work on the project lingered on.

    Even today by the end of 2021 certain essential requirements like the Security Surveillance System, Command and control center, and ticketing system have not been finalized as yet.

    Once started the Peshawar Morr to New Airport route would benefit millions of people on daily basis.

  • Punjab sports minister meets criminal wanted by the US, invites him to Lahore

    Punjab sports minister meets criminal wanted by the US, invites him to Lahore

    Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Bhatti met Daniel Joseph in March. Joseph is a criminal wanted by the United States (US) Department of State with a reward being offered up to $500,000 for information about him.

    Daniel is said to be the member of a criminal gang allegedly involved in heinous crimes around the world, including murder, trafficking in firearms and narcotics.

    Taimoor Khan Bhatti shared a picture on his Twitter account last month in which Daniel Joseph can be seen sitting with him. He also said that he is looking forward to hosting Daniel Joseph in Lahore. In one of the pictures, he can be seen giving him some kind of shield.

    “Met @probellum on aligning vision on boxing for Punjab & how to make this sport bigger for our youth. Looking forward to hosting Daniel in Lahore to discuss Pakistan’s first International fight with foreign world-class boxers InshAllah. Will share more info in the upcoming weeks,” tweeted Bhatti.

  • Case of the 18 crore necklace: Could Khan and Zulfi be in trouble?

    Case of the 18 crore necklace: Could Khan and Zulfi be in trouble?

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has started investigation into the sale of an expensive state gift “necklace” the former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan received during his tenure.

    According to a report by 24 News, the necklace was gifted to Imran Khan during a visit to Saudi Arabia, but it was never sent to Tosha-khana (state gift repository). Rather, it was given to former special assistant Zulfi Bukhari, who sold it to a jeweller in Lahore for Rs180 million (Rs18 crore) ,” the report claimed.

    Reacting to the news, Bukhari denied the allegation and termed them lies. In a tweet, he said, “No necklace given or ever sold by me. Low blow attempt to discredit PM by a B grade media house. Surely you can do better than that 24 News.”

    The report, however, claimed that a small amount of money “few lac rupees” were submitted in the Tosha-khana record by the then government merely as an eye-wash.

    It is pertinent to mention that as per the law, state officials are required to submit the gifts they receive from dignitaries during official visit and submit these gifts in the state gift repository. The law makes the submission of officials gift or at least half of the amount of the gift worth mandatory.

    Last year, the Khan-led government denied giving out information about the exchange of gifts between Khan and other heads of state. The government said that some countries do not like disclosing their gifts so they are marked ‘classified’.

  • Dissolve NAB, holds its employees accountable: Abbasi tells new govt

    Dissolve NAB, holds its employees accountable: Abbasi tells new govt

    PML-N senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday urged the new government to dissolve the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) whose chairman Javed Iqbal was “fully under the control” of former premier Imran Khan.

    “NAB’s employees looted and tortured people for years. It’s time they should be held accountable,” he said at a media talk in Islamabad Tuesday morning and talking with Geo News Anchor person Shahzeb Khanzada on Tuesday.

    The remarks by the PML-N leader came a day after the party president Shehbaz Sharif, took oath as the 23rd premier of Pakistan following the ouster of Imran through a joint opposition effort.

    Abbasi advised the government to end NAB and hold its officials accountable who allegedly tortured and looted people for years during the PTI regime. “The NAB chairman used to take instructions from the previous government,” he said, alleging a member of Imran’s cabinet used to direct the bureau chief to lodge fake cases against the opposition.

    “The weak NAB chairman will now go after Imran’s friends,” he claimed, adding that the accountability watchdog had failed to file a single reference over the alleged corruption in Imran’s government. The facts about NAB will be brought to light soon, he added.

    Abbasi said the government will move courts to seek the installation of cameras inside the accountability courts to expose the reality of NAB’s accountability drive.

    To a question about the protest move by Imran, Abbasi said the new government will complete its tenure whereas Imran will keep roaming the streets. He also criticised the former government for ruining the country.

    He claimed that there was a minister in Imran Khan’s office who used to issue orders to the NAB chief regarding lodging fake cases, arresting people and defaming them. “This is your NAB chairman … who stayed quiet on Imran Khan’s corruption,” the PML-N leader added.

    He also lamented that NAB couldn’t prove a single reference or inquiry against PML-N leaders in the last four years. “Why didn’t they investigate people who were involved in corruption worth billions [of rupees] and were sitting in the federal cabinet,” Abbasi demanded.

  • ‘Why we opened the court in the middle of the night’, Islamabad High Court issues clarification

    ‘Why we opened the court in the middle of the night’, Islamabad High Court issues clarification

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has clarified opening its doors late on the evening of April 9, 2022 when the process of a no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was going on in the National Assembly (NA).

    In a statement, the court said, “The filing of petitions late in the evening on April 9, 2022, has been misreported and queries have been raised whether petitions can be presented after the notified court timings.”

    On Saturday, there were rumours that a petition was filed in the IHC, asking the court to restrain Khan from de-notifying Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa from his post.

    IHC said the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President approached the court and requested the court to implement the Supreme Court’s April 7 order. The IHC statement then referred to the petitions, including a “pre-emptive” constitutional petition that sought to restrain the then prime minister from de-notifying the army chief.

    “As a constitutional court, the Islamabad High Court has ensured that cases relating to extreme urgency are presented at any time after the notified timings,” the high court said, adding: “The honourable chief justice, if satisfied that there exists extreme urgency, may order fixing of the case at any time.”

    “A petition regarding extreme urgency could be presented at any time after the notified court timings and it could also be fixed for hearing subject to the satisfaction of the chief justice that circumstances exist for doing so,” the court said further.

  • Shehbaz reaches office at 7am, announces only one holiday a week, on his first day as PM

    Shehbaz reaches office at 7am, announces only one holiday a week, on his first day as PM

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif arrived at the PM Office at 7am on Tuesday, created fear among the staff present at the PM House.

    PM Sharif has also abolished two weekly offs for government officers, reports Geo News. The government offices will be open six days a week under the new schedule, with only one official weekly holiday on Sunday. As per the new timings, the work at the government offices will start at 8am.

    The joint Opposition’s candidate Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was voted out of office through a no-confidence motion on Saturday, April 9.

    Read more- Shehbaz Sharif – the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan

    Shehbaz bagged a total of 174 votes as opposed to PTI’s candidate Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Qureshi received no votes after his party decided to boycott the polling process.

  • US monitoring rising HR abuses in India: Blinken

    US monitoring rising HR abuses in India: Blinken

    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States was monitoring what he described as a rise in human rights abuses in India by some officials, in a rare direct rebuke by Washington of the Asian nation’s rights record.

    “We regularly engage with our Indian partners on these shared values (of human rights) and to that end, we are monitoring some recent concerning developments in India including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police and prison officials,” Blinken said on Monday in a joint press briefing with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

    Blinken did not elaborate. Singh and Jaishankar, who spoke after Blinken at the briefing, did not comment on the human rights issue.

    Blinken’s remarks came days after US Representative Ilhan Omar questioned the alleged reluctance of the US government to criticise Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on human rights.

    “What does Modi need to do to India’s Muslim population before we will stop considering them a partner in peace?” Omar, who belongs to President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, said last week.

    Modi’s critics say his Hindu nationalist ruling party has fostered religious polarisation since coming to power in 2014.

    Since Modi came to power, right-wing Hindu groups have launched attacks on minorities claiming they are trying to prevent religious conversions.

    Several Indian states have passed or are considering anti-conversion laws that challenge the constitutionally protected right to freedom of belief.

    In 2019, the government passed a citizenship law that critics said undermined India’s secular constitution by excluding Muslim migrants from neighbouring countries.

  • Zardari ‘smiled’ when PML-Q asked for his help to make Pervaiz Elahi Chief Minister: Chaudhry Shujaat’s son

    Zardari ‘smiled’ when PML-Q asked for his help to make Pervaiz Elahi Chief Minister: Chaudhry Shujaat’s son


    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has once again approached former President Asif Ali Zardari for the Punjab chief ministership, reports Geo News.

    PML-Q leader Tariq Bashir Cheema and Chaudhry Shujaat’s son Chaudhry Salik Hussain met Asif Ali Zardari and conveyed Chaudhry Shujaat’s message to the former president. Both Cheema and Salik requested Zardari to support Pervez Elahi for the post of Chief Minister Punjab.

    Zardari, after hearing this request, smiled and did not respond.

    Meanwhile, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz have been advised by the Lahore High Court (LHC) to decide a date for the chief minister’s election peacefully instead of “creating a scene”, reports Geo News.

    LHC Chief Justice Ameer Bhatti while hearing the case against the delay in the CM election asked the lawyers of all the parties of the case to gather at the Punjab advocate-general’s office and settle the date for the CM election. It has been advised that the parties reach the date through mutual consultation and understanding.

    “Don’t create a scene. Remember we are all residents of this country. Solve the problem at home, together,” the LHC CJ remarked.

    Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti informed the court that the lawmakers belonging to the PML-N had allegedly ransacked the furniture of the House during the session on April 3. The furniture is now being replaced.

    “As a result of the ruckus, the session was adjourned until April 16,” he said.

    Earlier, through an official notification, Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari himself postponed on Tuesday the session of the Punjab Assembly till April 16. It has also been reproted that Mazari’s powers have been restored by the LHC.