Current Final

Category: Politics

  • PML-N questions extension debate of army chief tenure by PM Khan

    PML-N questions extension debate of army chief tenure by PM Khan

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal slammed Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan over talking about the extension of the Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s extension, arguing that it is an “unconstitutional and political tactic”.

    Abbasi said that the Constitution of Pakistan was clear on the army chief’s appointment, saying: “The Constitution that we’ve read says the army chief gets appointed for three years. There has never been a debate on the extension of the army chief’s tenure.”

    Last week, PM Khan, in a programme said he had so far not thought about the extension of COAS as November [the appointment month of COAS] is far away.

    Similarly, PML-N Secretary-General Ahsan Iqbal condemned the act and said that the government is “trying to play a dangerous political card on the matter of the army chief’s appointment.”

    “A new military chief is appointed during the last three months of the incumbent’s tenure, therefore, talking about the extension before time is just a political tactic,” he added.

    General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure was extended for three years by PM in August 2019, just three months before he was set to retire.

  • ‘Real and present threat to peace’: PM calls on international community to take action against Modi

    ‘Real and present threat to peace’: PM calls on international community to take action against Modi

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday slammed the Narendra Modi-led Indian government for its continued silence on the “hate speech” conclave, which called for the genocide of Muslims in India.

    Last month, leaders from several far-right groups in India had issued calls for the ethnic cleansing of minorities in the country, especially targeting its 200 million-strong Muslim population.

    Prime minister in a series of tweets on Twitter said, “The continuing silence of Modi govt on the call at an extremist Hindutva summit in December for the genocide of minorities in India, especially the 200 million Muslim community.”

    He said the “extremist ideology” of the ruling BJP government was behind the provocations against India’s minorities.

    “The extremist agenda of the Modi govt is a real and present threat to peace in our region,” tweeted PM Khan.

    He urged the international community to take notice of the calls and act against them.

    As the premier tweeted, the Supreme Court of India decided to take up a case related to the hate speeches, including open calls for genocide made at the conclave, NDTV reported.

    “We will take up the matter,” Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said, as quoted by the media outlet.

    According to Time of India, as many as 200,000 Muslims gathered in the Bareilly city last week and offered themselves what they called “mass sacrifice” in protest against the hate speeches.

  • ‘Theatrics of Usman Buzdar’: CM Punjab gets trolled for helicopter survey of Murree

    ‘Theatrics of Usman Buzdar’: CM Punjab gets trolled for helicopter survey of Murree

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar on Sunday arrived in Murree to review the rescue operation in the area after at least 22 people died in their snow-trapped cars.

    The CM’s visit received a lot of criticism as he did an ‘aerial survey’ of Murree. CM Buzdar arrived in his helicopter and overlooked the snow-covered area.

    Journalist Sumaira Khan took to Twitter and shared a video where CM Buzdar can be seen travelling in the helicopter and overlooking Murree.

    Twitter reacted to the shared video.

  • ‘Pakistan is still under influence of the US’: Moeed Yusuf

    ‘Pakistan is still under influence of the US’: Moeed Yusuf

    National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf has made a statement that Pakistan’s foreign policy is still not free from the influence of the United States (US).

    In Geo News programme “Jirga”, the advisor said, “It [Pakistan] is still not [free from US influence] and I doubt that there is any country which is free from it.” He added that Pakistan does not have financial and economic independence as it does not have enough assets to meet the requirements of the increase in population.

    “When we cannot fulfill the demands, we seek foreign loans. When you procure loans, your economic sovereignty is compromised,” the national security adviser said.

    Moreover, he said that this affects a country’s foreign policy and when foreign policy is affected, you cannot run the affairs of the country properly.

    Responding to a query about Pakistan-India relations, he said that Islamabad wants to improve ties with New Delhi, but had to halt diplomatic contacts due to India’s on-seriousness and extremist attitude.

  • ‘Whole human disappears in 10 feet’: Twitter schools PTI’s Shahbaz Gill for ludicrous statement

    ‘Whole human disappears in 10 feet’: Twitter schools PTI’s Shahbaz Gill for ludicrous statement

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication, Dr Shahbaz Gill took to Twitter to comment on why the Governor House in Murree was not opened for the people stuck in Murree since many started providing assistance to the ones stuck in the snow-covered area, where at least 22 people were killed.

    Gill tweeted, “Some people are criticising that there is a Governor House in Murree, why it has not been opened?”

    “I have just returned from a failed attempt to enter the Governor House,” tweeted Gill, adding, “there is 10 feet snow and there is no way to get inside. When I tried to walk, my whole leg sank in the snow.”

    Gill’s statement of his leg sinking into ten feet of snow caught the attention of netizens. Twitterati schooled Gill that it was impossible for a human to walk through ten feet of snow, as the entire body sinks in that much snow.

    https://twitter.com/Raza1512/status/1480347122813734913
  • Woman in Sialkot dragged in public, brutally tortured over land dispute

    Woman in Sialkot dragged in public, brutally tortured over land dispute

    An aged woman was dragged and beaten up openly on a road in Sialkot. The unfortunate incident which was captured on camera occurred due to a land dispute.

    The woman is shown being seized by her hair, dragged, kicked, and even attacked with sticks in the footage.

    After the video went viral, Sialkot police took action, registering a case in opposition to 15 suspects, and arresting nine, together with four women.

    The elderly woman stated the incident arose because of a “land dispute” that she has had for the last 13 years.

    The culprits “banged my house door, forced their way in and dragged me through the streets to the public square where they tortured me”, the woman said.
    “I seek justice and the arrest of these people,” she pleaded.

    Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar sought a report from the Inspector General of Police over the incident and ordered immediate action against the suspects.

    He said that justice must be provided to the elderly woman and those involved in this crime “do not deserve any concessions”.

  • CM Buzdar forms committee to investigate Murree tragedy

    CM Buzdar forms committee to investigate Murree tragedy

    Punjab Chief (CM) Minister Usman Buzdar on Sunday formed a five-member committee to investigate the causes and lapses that led to the death of at least 22 tourists who were stranded in Murree due to heavy snowfall.

    Buzdar vowed an “impartial action” against all those found negligent in their duties. According to these terms, the committee will ascertain which government departments were responsible for the crisis situation that unfolded in Murree.

    The committee will look into what precautionary measures were taken by institutions in light of the weather advisory issued by the Met Office. It will determine whether a warning was run on media to prevent people from travelling to the tourist destination.

    Buzdar said that in seven days, a probe committee supervised by the additional chief secretary for the Punjab home department, will submit a report, and “indiscriminate action” will be taken against those found negligent in their duties.

    The chief minister also announced Rs one crore 76 lakh in financial assistance for the families of the deceased, while noting that monetary assistance is “no substitute for human life”.

    It also quoted Buzdar as saying that the entry of vehicles and tourists in Murree would be controlled from now on.

    “Vehicles and tourists exceeding the specified limit would not be allowed to enter Murree,” Buzdar was quoted as saying.

    The chief minister also directed the authorities concerned to take strict action against hotels involved in overcharging rent, terming it “absolutely intolerable”.

  • ‘If five thousand guests come to someone’s house without telling him what he can do’: Fawad on Murree

    ‘If five thousand guests come to someone’s house without telling him what he can do’: Fawad on Murree

    Federal Minister for information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry addressed the tragic Murree incident and said when tens of thousand vehicles enter an area simultaneously there would be chaos.

    According to him, all the vehicles entered Murree within 24 hours despite several warnings from the administration.

    In a press conference along with the Federal Minister of Education Shafqat Mahmood, Fawad said, “If five thousand guests come to someone’s house without telling him what he can do.”

    Referring to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s statement, “We are looking into the situation. We should learn from such incidents.”

    The federal minister also defended his previous statement that the common man traveling to Murree shows they’re getting rich by saying that the economy is getting “stronger”.

    He urged the media to advise people, not to go to northern areas as they are already full. Moreover, he updated that Express Highway is cleared and the evacuation process is underway.

    Talking about the Opposition’s criticism, he said they just did politics and pointed out Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

    As of now, 22 deaths have been reported in Murree. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said the authorities would evacuate 1,000 vehicles by today evening, while the roads would remain closed to Murree till tomorrow 9pm.

  • Murree: PM Khan says extreme snowfall, people not checking weather left administration unprepared

    Murree: PM Khan says extreme snowfall, people not checking weather left administration unprepared

    After several hours to the tragic deaths in Murree, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan took to Twitter to express his thoughts.

    “Shocked and upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree. Unprecedented snowfall and rush of people proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district admin unprepared. Have ordered an inquiry and putting in place strong regulations to ensure the prevention of such tragedies,” he tweeted.

    His statement came after Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid blamed people for coming to Murree.

    “Nothing went wrong. People came in large numbers. We need to construct two or three Murree’s, three or four Nathia Gali’s. We need to understand that Murree alone cannot bear the weight of tourism,” said Rashid.

    Currently, an emergency has been declared in Murree by Punjab Government and 21 deaths have been reported so far.

    Twitter is disappointed with PM Khan’s statement with many saying that the PM is blaming the victims.

    https://twitter.com/qaisarwali/status/1479763592488513538?s=20
  • Interior Minister blames tourists, says nothing would have happened if help arrived earlier, busy taking selfies

    Interior Minister blames tourists, says nothing would have happened if help arrived earlier, busy taking selfies

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid while speaking with Geo News said that people still want to go to Murree but we will not let them.

    “Nothing went wrong. People came in large numbers. We need to construct two or three Murree’s, three or four Nathia Gali’s. We need to understand that Murree alone cannot bear the weight of tourism,” said Rashid.

    “Murree is not under me, it comes under Punjab, yet I sealed it yesterday around 5pm,” said the minister.

    Sheikh Rashid, when asked if the government had taken necessary precautions and cautioned citizens would the situation have been better, responded negatively and said, “Nothing would have happened if they [government] were there.”

    “People want to sleep in their cars. They are fighting with us right now, [to be removed]. We took them out with such difficulty. They should see the conditions, and yet they have taken small children with them,” said Rashid, adding, ” they are busy taking selfies.”