Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Political use of ‘diplomatic cable’ to haunt Pakistan’s Foreign Office for many years: report

    Political use of ‘diplomatic cable’ to haunt Pakistan’s Foreign Office for many years: report

    The ‘diplomatic cable’ which has plunged Pakistan into a constitutional crisis, also attracted fair resentment from the Foreign Office (FO) against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for using the communique for gaining ‘political mileage’.

    Kamran Yousaf in his report for The Express Tribune writes, “Two Foreign Office officials, spoke to The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the issue, revealed that the diplomats were not happy with the controversy.”

    One diplomatic on condition of anonymity told Yousaf that the repercussions of the way the government used “secret and classified communication” to achieve its “political objectives and its negative impact” would be felt in the FO for “many years” to come.

    “Diplomats are eyes and ears of Pakistan who give frank and honest feedback from the countries where they serve,” the official added.

    “Such honest and candid assessments are meant for policymakers to devise a strategy accordingly,” the official explained.

    “But if governments start using such secret communications for their political gains, then the diplomats would be reluctant to write honest assessments,” the official cautioned.

    “If the Foreign Office start making public diplomatic cables, people would be blown away,” the official said, insisting such candid discussions between diplomats are common.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on April 3, named Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu as the United States (US) representative who had a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador in the US, which led to the “threatening diplomatic cable”.

    PM Khan on March 27 claimed that the Opposition’s no-trust move is part of an alleged “foreign-funded conspiracy” hatched against his government. It is pertinent to mention here that the Opposition tabled the no-confidence motion against PM Khan on March 8. The government claims to have received the threatening communique on March 7.

  • Farah Khan: the new ‘Richie Rich’, report

    Farah Khan: the new ‘Richie Rich’, report

    The wealth of Farah Khan has grown exponentially during the three and a half years of rule of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Centre and in Punjab.

    Farah Khan is a close friend of the first lady of Pakistan, Bushra Bibi. Her wealth grew four times from Rs231 million in 2017 to Rs971 million in 2021. Her filing for the tax year 2018 was nil, reports Fakhar Durrani for The News.

    The News investigations reveal that Farah Khan’s fortune increased ever since the premier appointed Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister Punjab. 

    “Farah, as per the documents, also availed the whitening of black money scheme (Tax Amnesty Scheme) in 2019 during Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s government and declared assets worth Rs328 million under the Tax Amnesty Scheme 2019.”

    “The total assets of Farah Khan reached Rs699,137,839 inside Pakistan, Rs15,749, 479 outside Pakistan in the form of a flat in the UAE. Hence the total assets inside and outside Pakistan were recorded at Rs714,887,318. The net assets were reported as Rs697,502,318.”

    Umar Cheema in his special report for The News writes, “Farah’s penchant for luxury items is also evident from her bid to buy a luxury car, Porsche, which she got booked through Porsche’s Pakistani dealer and paid a part amount of it (Rs33 million) as advance. This she declared in the nomination papers she submitted for the Senate election in March 2021. Later, Farah pulled out from the Senate race.”

    “Her Birkin bag whose price is stated to be around $90,000 has been in the news. Her picture of holding the bag while sitting in a chartered plane is in circulation. The purse made by the French luxury brand Hermès is prepared on order. One can’t just get it by visiting a store. The order has to be placed months in advance,” writes Cheema.

  • PTI ready for elections in three months, ECP makes arrangements

    PTI ready for elections in three months, ECP makes arrangements

    Interim Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has directed his party members and workers to start preparations for the next elections, expressing his hope that the poll will be held in the country in the next three months.

    Addressing a function at Governor’s House in Lahore, he criticised the opposition, saying that they should be given “exemplary punishment for betraying the country”, [for tabling the no-confidence motion in NA against him]. “The PTI will also approach the Supreme Court (SC) against them [Opposition]. “

    Not only this, the interim PM urged the nation to come to the F-9 Park Islamabad to protest peacefully against the Opposition and its conspiracy. He asked the nation to protest on a daily basis to send a message to the United States (US), which he claims, is behind the foreign conspiracy. “Everyone knows who has aided and abetted the Pakistani Opposition in tabling the no-confidence motion.”

    According to The News, after Khan asked the nation to prepare for the next general election in three months, the understaffed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started finding a way to make the polls possible during the stipulated time.

    Sources within the commission said that Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has become active and making arrangements requisite for timely conduct of elections.

    Earlier, a news report published in Dawn quoted an ECP official as saying that it is not possible to hold general elections within three months due to a variety of legal and procedural issues.

    However, the commission denied issuing any statement regarding the time frame for the next general elections on Tuesday.

    According to Fawad Chaudhry, “The [interim] prime minister has decided to give party tickets to those former 135 MNAs who remained loyal and stuck to the party till the end.”

  • India blocks four Pakistani YouTube channels

    India blocks four Pakistani YouTube channels

    The Indian government on Tuesday claimed to have blocked 22 YouTube channels, including four of Pakistani origin, for spreading disinformation about national security and public order, marking the country’s latest governmental crackdown.

    The prohibited YouTube channels had a total of 2.6 billion visitors, according to the country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

    “Multiple YouTube channels were used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces,” a statement issued by the Indian government read.

    The Indian government has started enforcing new IT rules enacted in 2021, which were targeted primarily at controlling huge social media companies and giving the government additional authority to remove content.

  • Joe Biden to host granddaughter’s wedding reception at White House

    Joe Biden to host granddaughter’s wedding reception at White House

    United States (US) President, Joe Biden and first lady, Jill Biden will host their eldest granddaughter, Naomi Biden’s wedding reception at the White House. The ceremony will take place this November 19, reports CNN.

    Naomi Biden, 28, was engaged to Peter Neal,24, in September 2021. The fiancé proposed to Ms Biden near his childhood house as the White House official reported. The couple has been in a relationship for about four years. They both met for the first time through a mutual friend.

    Naomi Biden is currently working as a lawyer in Washington, DC whereas Peter Neal is in the final semester of law school at the University of Pennsylvania.

    This is not the first time that a wedding reception is being held at the White House. There is a long history of conducting marriage ceremonies at the White House. The first wedding ceremony was held at the White House in 1812 when the sister of the first lady Dolley Madison, was wed to Thomas Todd. Dolley Madison was the wife of 4th US President James Madison

    The last wedding reception which took place at the White House was for the daughter of George W Bush in 2008. She celebrated a month after she tied a knot in Texas.

  • ’We have no link with Farah Khan’: Bushra Bibi’s son

    ’We have no link with Farah Khan’: Bushra Bibi’s son

    Musa Maneka, son of first Lady Bushra Bibi, has categorically said that his mother’s close friend Farah Khan’s “corruption” has nothing to do with the Maneka family.

    “Farah Khan has settled in Dubai and our family has no link with the alleged deals done by Farah Khan,” said Musa while speaking to Geo News.

    The first lady’s son Musa told Geo News that Farah Khan has “nothing to do” with the Maneka family. And what she did with his mother and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was “not right”.

    “Farah Khan set off for Dubai on April 3 and reached there through a foreign flight EK623 from Lahore. She used a Pakistani passport and attended an iftar dinner in Abu Dhabi yesterday. According to family sources, Farah was invited to the iftar dinner by Maryam Riaz, sister of Bushra Bibi,” reports The News.

    Geo News’ Lahore Bureau Chief Raees Ansari visited Farah Khan’s village near Sheikhupura. He said that Farah Khan has built a hospital, school, and roads in a very short time in this village, which looks more developed than all the villages of Punjab.

    Farah Khan become controversial after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dissident Abdul Aleem Khan levelled a number of allegations against former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, on April 4, saying that he was involved in bribery over transfers and postings in Punjab. He also accused Farah Khan, of being complicit in these transfers.

    Aleem Khan accused Farah Khan of corruption with the connivance of her “contacts in the power corridors”. Later, rumours started making rounds suggesting that Farah Khan left for Dubai on Sunday in the wake of the no-confidence motion.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Farah joined PTI four years ago. She was also present during the wedding ceremony of PM Khan and Bushra Bibi.

  • ‘Dissolution of Assembly deprives Pakistanis of right to choose govt’: Human Rights Watch

    ‘Dissolution of Assembly deprives Pakistanis of right to choose govt’: Human Rights Watch

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) denounced Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s action of dissolving the National Assembly and escaping from facing the no-confidence motion tabled against him. “This move of the premier has infringed on the rights of Pakistani citizens to choose their government.”

    “To dissolve parliament rather than face a no-confidence vote that could remove him from power effectively deprives Pakistani citizens of their right to choose their government,” said HRW in a statement.

    The watchdog for advocating human rights said, “Move has plunged Pakistan into a constitutional crisis. Under Pakistan’s constitution, the prime minister ceases to hold office if a majority of the National Assembly votes for a motion of no confidence – Imran Khan’s party appeared to have lost its majority by April 3. The action allows Khan to continue as prime minister until a caretaker government takes over, with neither a national assembly nor a federal cabinet.”

    “Government officials threatened to blow up the Opposition in a suicide attack and called on supporters to go out and take traitors to the task,” said HRW.

    “One member of parliament from Khan’s party tweeted that all Opposition members should be shot – a tweet he subsequently deleted. Senior members of Khan’s party have called for Opposition members to be arrested for treason,” added Human Rights Watch.

    Pakistan is in a state of political chaos as the no-confidence motion against Khan was dismissed abruptly on Sunday, April 3. Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri said that the no-confidence motion, presented on March 8, should be according to the law and the Constitution. “No foreign power shall be allowed to topple an elected government through a conspiracy,” he said, adding that the points raised by the minister were “valid”.

  • No-Trust Twist: Deputy Speaker calls Punjab Assembly session, PML-Q brings no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker

    No-Trust Twist: Deputy Speaker calls Punjab Assembly session, PML-Q brings no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker

    Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari summoned a crucial session to vote on Chief Minister (CM) Punjab at 7:30pm on Wednesday (today).

    Following this, it has been reported that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has submitted no-confidence motion to remove the deputy speaker. While reacting to the news, Mazari said that he can still preside over the session.

    However, journalist Hamid Mir said that the gates of the Punjab Assembly have been sealed.

    According to local media channels, the deputy speaker issued a written order for convening session of the assembly on Tuesday. The order reads: “Deputy speaker orders that instead of the earlier announced date of April 16th, the next sitting of 40th session of Punjab Assembly will now be held on Wednesday at 7:30pm.”

    Talking to Geo News, Mazari clarified that today’s session agenda includes vote on the election of a new CM Punjab. He said, “I have released the order of the day in the light of Supreme Court directions.”

    “We are answerable to the apex court. We will not postpone the voting and will try our best to complete the process today”, he added. While talking about the confusion regarding the session dates, Mazari claimed that Punjab Assembly staff have not been cooperating with him and Assembly staff is responsible for the confusion.

    When asked about the legal status of his order, Mazari said that it is just an order that needs the Assembly secretariat’s signature, without which the session cannot be held. He added that the Assembly staff and Secretariat Assembly should issue a gazette notification on his order but they are not following the legal procedures

    On the contrary, PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi told Dawn that the notice circulating on the media is ‘fake’ as it does not have a diary number and is written on a plain piece of paper. He asserted that the session would be held on April 16.

    In a tweet, journalist Ahmad Waleed claimed that spokesperson of the Punjab Assembly has also said that the session will be convened on April 16, adding that “no notification” was issued for today’s meeting.

    Earlier, through an official notification, Mazari himself postponed on Tuesday the session of the Punjab Assembly till April 16.

  • VIDEO: ‘Kiraye pay aatay hain’, Fawad Chaudhry’s heated phadda with journalist

    VIDEO: ‘Kiraye pay aatay hain’, Fawad Chaudhry’s heated phadda with journalist

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry, while speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday, lost his cool and called journalist Matiullah Jan “kiraye ka aadmi [ a hired man]. The statement of the former minister came as he was questioned about First Lady Bushra Bibi’s friend Farah Khan.

    Here is what happened.

    Fawad Chaudhry: “I will take questions later … Commando Saab one minute …. Statement of facts has been submitted by Prime Minister…”

    Matiullah can be heard speaking in the background, “Where did Farah Khan go? Why did she run away from the country?”

    READ MORE: Who’s Farah Khan, why is she the talk of the net?

    Fawad Chaudhry: “Yaar let me talk. Let me talk.” the journalist says let me ask one question, Fawad says, “This will not happen.”

    Matiullah Jan: “Where did Farah go?”

    Fawad Chaudhry: “I will talk first, and then you will speak.”

    Matiullah kept asking his questions and that’s when Fawad called him out and said, “Kiraye pay aatay hain is tarha kay loug, [People like him are hired].”

    Matiullah got angry at being called ” a hired man” and then said that it was actually Fawad who is a ‘kiraye ka tattu,” [a hired fool] and that’s when the heated argument geared up.

    https://youtu.be/hxraSNPtJJw
    Fawad and Matiullah abusing each other

    Though other journalists tried to settle the matter, both Fawad and Matiullah hurled continuous derogatory remarks and abusive words at each other.

    Fawad was asked to apologise but refused. His refusal to offer an apology ended up with journalists announcing that they are boycotting media talks of all PTI leaders.

  • 64% Pakistanis believe there is no US conspiracy to overthrow PTI government

    64 per cent Pakistanis believe that there is no US conspiracy to overthrow the PTI government, Gallup survey has revealed. The survey was conducted between April 3 and 4, according to which 64 per cent Pakistanis cited inflation as the main reason behind the fall of the PTI government.

    Those who participated in the survey said that the main reason behind the Opposition’s efforts to remove the government is inflation and lack of relief for the people.

    Only 36 per cent of the participants said that the US was behind the fall of the government.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has named Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu as the United States (US) representative who had a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador in the US, which led to the ‘threatening’ diplomatic cable.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan is in a state of political chaos as the no-confidence motion against Khan was dismissed abruptly on Sunday. The move came after Suri termed it “unconstitutional”, saying that it was backed by “foreign powers”.