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Category: Politics

  • Video: Biden calls Vice President Kamala Harris ‘first lady’

    United States (US) President Joe Biden accidentally called the US Vice President Kamala Harris the ‘First Lady’, which left the audience in laughter.

    In a video, while addressing the Equal Pay Day event organised by the White House for Women’s History Month, Biden was informing the audience why Harris could not attend the event.

    “There’s been a little change in the arrangement of who is on the stage because of the First Lady’s husband contracting Covid,” Biden said.

    He later corrected himself, sparking laughter, after someone in the audience pointed out his gaffe.

    Previously, Biden referred to Douglas Emhoff, Harris’ husband, as the “first gentleman.” Emhoff is the second gentleman of the US.

  • PPP says PTI is planning to attack Sindh House in Islamabad

    Several Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) members of the National Assembly (MNA) including Abdul Qadir Mandokhel, in a joint statement, said, “[Prime Minister] Imran Khan’s government is [hell]bent on [carrying out] terrorism” and planning to attack Sindh House.

    The members claimed they have information that Islamabad police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Tiger Force are planning the “assault”. The parliamentarians, further said that if any harm comes to Sindh House’s facilities or to their members then the government would be responsible for it.

    While referring to Parliament Lodges’ operation by capital police last week, the lawmakers said they had asked the Sindh police for protection because the capital police had “illegally raided and endangered the lives of people”.

    However, the government claimed the Opposition had detained some of their lawmakers at Sindh House ahead of the vote on the no-confidence resolution against PM Khan.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that no one is taking any action against anyone right now. “The time is far away”, he said.

    “There are some people in Sindh House. They have called in 300-400 policemen. No problem. There are many days left,” the interior minister added.

    Earlier this week, PM Khan had said that Opposition leaders are sitting in Sindh House with “heaps of money” to purchase loyalties of their lawmakers.

  • Did Gen Pervez Musharraf meet Indian actor Sanjay Dutt?

    Did Gen Pervez Musharraf meet Indian actor Sanjay Dutt?

    Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf met Bollywood icon, Sanjay Dutt.

    In a picture doing the rounds on social media, many suggested that the meeting took place at a gym in a Gulf state, but it could not be verified independently.

    In the picture, the former president, who lives in Dubai, is seen in a wheelchair while Dutt is pointing towards something.

    General (retd) Pervez Musharraf flew to Dubai for medical treatment after a three-year travel ban was lifted in 2016.

  • ‘If horse-trading takes place, then I will be responsible for it’: Shehbaz Sharif

    Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif rubbished claims of horse-trading in the build-up to the no-confidence motion session and said when politicians were “being loaded on to a private aircraft, then what was that all about”.

    Shehbaz said that if the allegations of horse-trading turned out to be true, then he would apologise to the nation and step down from office. “If horse-trading takes place, then I will be responsible for it.”

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan took to Twitter and also hinted at horse-trading. Congratulating Pakistan Captain Baber Azam, the premier tweeted, “Unfortunately I could not watch this match as I am fighting on another front against match fixing where huge amounts of money are being used to lure my players!”

    Shehbaz’s comments came during an interview on Geo News’ programme “Capital Talk”. Speaking about the PTI’s plan to hold a rally before the no-confidence motion, the Opposition leader said that the government was “warning” lawmakers against voting in favour of the no-confidence motion.

    “They (government) are warning them of violence, but we do not plan on resorting to violence. They want to clash with the constitution and the law,” he said.

    “The national government minus PTI should be formed for the next five years,” said Shehbaz to anchorperson Hamid Mir.

    Mentioning that it was his personal idea of forming such a government, Shehbaz said that the new leadership that comes into power should work with all the dedication to uplift Pakistan.

    Both the government and the Opposition are set to hold massive rallies in Islamabad — with the government’s gathering scheduled for March 27, while the Opposition’s long march will take place after March 25.

  • Human Rights Watch calls on govt, Opposition to refrain from violence

    Human Rights Watch calls on govt, Opposition to refrain from violence

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Wednesday that the Pakistani government has a responsibility to uphold the constitution and allow for voting without threats or violence on the no-confidence motion.

    HRW Associate Asia Director Patricia Gossman, in a statement, said both the government and Opposition should send a “strong message” to their supporters not to subvert the democratic process or sway the vote through intimidation or other criminal acts.

    The voting on the no-trust motion in the National Assembly is expected to take place on March 28.

  • ‘The person who was blamed of being part of the Jewish lobby was the one to get resolution against Islamophobia passed in UN’: PM Khan

    ‘The person who was blamed of being part of the Jewish lobby was the one to get resolution against Islamophobia passed in UN’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Wednesday said that the Opposition fears that if he stays in office for another year, their leaders will be thrown in jail.

    Jewish Lobby

    Addressing a public gathering at Swat, PM Khan lashed out at Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, said he alleged that Khan was part of the “Jewish lobby”.

    “But the person who was blamed to be part of the Jewish lobby turned out to be the one to get a resolution against Islamophobia passed in the United Nations.”

    “I want to ask you Fazlur Rehman: In the last 30 years, you were part of every government. Did you ever persuade any Western leader to speak against Islamophobia? Did you even speak to them?”

    “Terrorism has no religion, and despite Islam having no links with terrorism, a perception was created that terrorism is being spread across the world,” the prime minister said.

    In a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) three years back, the prime minister said he had raised the issue of Islamophobia, and after that, he raised it again at the UN.

    “Before that, no Pakistani leader had raised the issue at the UN. Earlier, Pakistanis would come out on the streets and vandalised their own property whenever Islam was insulted in Western countries. At that time, I told them: don’t do this, I will raise this issue internationally,” he said.

    Reach Islamabad to show you stand with the truth

    The premier urged the nation to reach Islamabad on March 27 to tell the world that Pakistanis “stand with the truth and are against corruption”

    “People’s conscience is being auctioned […] it is the duty of people now to stand against evil,” said PM Khan.

    “All the thieves have gathered on the same page and they have given me a chance to bowl out three wickets in a single ball,” added the premier.

     I will hunt them down

    The prime minister urged the nation that they have to struggle against three “mice” — Zardari, Fazl, and Shehbaz Sharif — for the future of the country.

    “But I also promise you that I will hunt them down,” he vowed as he called on the people to support him in the cause.

    PM Imran Khan claimed that the Opposition has started horse-trading to make their no-confidence motion against the prime minister successful.

    “They want to oust me because they know that if I am in power for another year, all of them will be in jails […] and the first thing they plan on doing after coming into power is to dismantle NAB,” he said.

    ‘Kanpien taangain gi’

    Taking a jibe at former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the premier said, “But the slaves, who worship money, their kanpien tangain gi (legs will tremble) before the American president,” the prime minister said, lashing out at PML-N supremo Nawaz.

    PM Imran Khan said he “looks eye-to-eye” with the president of the United States or any other country, as for him, “no one but Allah is God”.

  • PTI’s Pervez Khattak says we cannot make Pervaiz Elahi CM, later issues clarification

    PTI’s Pervez Khattak says we cannot make Pervaiz Elahi CM, later issues clarification

    “We cannot make him [Pervaiz Elahi] Chief Minister (CM), however, PML-N can do so if it wants to. Demanding the post with five seats is blackmailing,” said Defence Minister Pervez Khattak as per Dunya News.

    Minister for Water Resources and Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi took the news report to Twitter and demanded a clarification from Khattak, saying “I am in contact with Pervaiz Khattak sahib on a regular basis, he should give a clarification for his remarks.”

    Following this, Khattak denied the news and said he did not issue any such statement to the media. In a tweet, he said he is in contact with all government allies.

    Moonis then re-tweeted Khattak’s clarification and said “Thank you!”

    Recently, Speaker Punjab Assembly Pervaiz Elahi said that we [PML-Q] are allies but are a separate party. He further said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is honest and his intentions are also good.

    He clarified that neither PML-Q has joined the Opposition nor left the government coalition while adding that the party has supported the government since day one.

    Appearing on a political talk show, Elahi said that all that the government has done is ruin its relations with everyone. Without taking the PM’s name, the PML-Q leader said, “He has spoiled his relations with his own people as well. It is because of his own people that they are so worried. Tongue is one thing that can make or break things forever.”

    Elahi warned the government by saying that the Opposition alliance has the support of “more than required” lawmakers to pass the no-confidence motion against PM Khan in the National Assembly (NA), adding there are “plenty of surprises in store”.

  • COAS Bajwa orders tight security for OIC meeting, PDM changes long march dates

    COAS Bajwa orders tight security for OIC meeting, PDM changes long march dates

    In a Corps Commanders’ Conference held at General Headquarters (GHQ) on Monday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa ordered that the security in the federal capital must be increased and comprehensive security measures should be taken for the safe conduct of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) foreign ministers’ meeting (March 22-23) and the March 23 Pakistan Day parade in the capital.

    For the OIC meeting in Pakistan, 48 countries have confirmed their participation.

    Due to the high-profile events taking place next week, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman reviewed their march dates. While talking to reporters, he announced that the participants would now enter Islamabad on March 25 instead of March 23.

    “OIC’s foreign ministers are our guests and it is our duty to respect them as they will remain in Islamabad till March 24,” Fazl added.

    PDM chief denied that the Opposition was copying the ruling party by holding the long march. He reminded everyone that they had given the call for the long march some three months ago.

    At the Corps Commanders’ Conference, the recent incident of India’s missile firing at Pakistan was also discussed. It was emphasised that despite Indian acknowledgment of the mistake, relevant international forums must take a serious view.

    Gen Bajwa also lauded the ongoing counter-terrorism operations, which is a major concern especially because of recent incidents.

  • ‘Arresting Moonis Elahi is out of the question’: NAB denies Pervaiz Elahi’s allegations

    ‘Arresting Moonis Elahi is out of the question’: NAB denies Pervaiz Elahi’s allegations

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday denied allegations of receiving orders to arrest Moonis Elahi, Minister for Water Resources, and son of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

    NAB has said that all speculations about a rumoured inquiry against the politician are baseless.

    “Arresting PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi is out of the question,” said NAB in a statement.

    Elahi, while speaking on HUM News programme “Hum Meher Bokhari Kay Sath”, alleged that they were still receiving threats and being blackmailed. “A week ago they said to NAB to arrest Moonis.”

    Elahi further said, “The government 100 per cent lacks wisdom and understanding. The prime minister has a great desire for revenge, which is evident from the fact that he puts everyone in NAB and FIA. This is not how you govern.”

  • ‘Maulana, you are acting like Maula Jutt. You will have to pay the price,’ warns Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘Maulana, you are acting like Maula Jutt. You will have to pay the price,’ warns Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday warned Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman that he would have to “pay the price” if the joint Opposition’s move to overthrow Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan pushes the country into anarchy.

    “[The] Opposition should fear lest this no-confidence motion pushes the country towards destabilisation,” Rasheed said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

    “We will not touch you, but if you disturb the law and order, then we will not spare you,” warned Rasheed.

    The minister said that it’s the first time Maulana Fazl has become furious and is playing the role of Maula Jutt.

    “It’s a shame. You have huge respect as a religious leader but the language you are using is not highlighting the principles of Islam.”

    “If it causes civil war and anarchy in the country, you’ll have to pay for it.”

    Rasheed said that PM Imran Khan will be benefitting even if he loses or wins in the vote of no-confidence against him as his popularity among the masses has increased massively during the last three weeks.

     Rasheed said that all members of parliament will be protected ahead of the voting on the no-confidence motion.