Current Final

Category: Politics

  • FBR data 2019: CM Buzdar paid Rs2,000 tax, PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gillani paid zero tax

    FBR data 2019: CM Buzdar paid Rs2,000 tax, PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gillani paid zero tax

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) released its 2019 tax directory for parliamentarians. According to the document, the directory complied tax returns filed manually and electronically till January 3, reports Dawn.

    Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said that special efforts were made by FBR to make the directory more informative “which will help not only in educating taxpayers but also in encouraging compliance with tax laws as a national duty.”

    According to the data, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan paid Rs98 lakh. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif paid Rs82 lakh while Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari paid Rs5 lakhs 30 thousand.

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari paid Rs22 lakhs. Finance minister, Shaukat Tarin paid Rs2 crore 66 lakhs while former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi paid Rs49 lakhs.

    Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah paid Rs11 lakhs while Punjab CM Usman Buzdar paid a minimal Rs2,000.

    Current Balochistan CM Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo Rs11 lakhs and his predecessor Jam Kamal Khan paid Rs11 lakhs 80,000. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Mahmood Khan paid Rs66,258.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi paid Rs9 lakhs while Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar paid Rs43 lakhs. Energy Minister Hammad Azhar paid Rs 1 crore 80 lakhs.

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Senator Faisal Subzwari, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas, and Punjab Prisons Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan were among several lawmakers that paid Rs2,000.

    Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Yousuf Raza Gillani and PML-N’s Azma Zahid Bokhari did not pay anything in taxes.

  • World powers unanimously declare nuclear war unwinnable

    World powers unanimously declare nuclear war unwinnable

    The countries widely considered world powers (China, Russia, Britain, the United States, and France) have unanimously agreed to refrain from a nuclear arms race, according to a joint statement by the five nuclear powers published by the Kremlin on Monday.

    These five countries being members of the United Nations Security Council shoulder the responsibility to keep away from war.

    “We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” the English-language version of the statement read.

    “As nuclear use would have far-reaching consequences, we also affirm that nuclear weapons — for as long as they continue to exist — should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war.”

    The statement from the so-called P5 group comes as bilateral relations between the United States and Moscow have fallen to their lowest since the end of the Cold War, while relations between Washington and China are also at a low over a range of disagreements.

    The western countries have shown consternation on massive build-up at Ukraine’s border by Russia.

    As Russian forces build at the Ukraine border, last Thursday US President Joe Biden told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that a possible move on Ukraine will draw sanctions and an increased US presence in Europe.

  • Missing persons bill gone ‘missing’, admits Minister Shireen Mazari

    Missing persons bill gone ‘missing’, admits Minister Shireen Mazari

    Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari revealed that a bill about enforced disappearances in the country, which was recently passed by the National Assembly (NA), had gone “missing”.

    Speaking at a press conference Mazari said: “We had prepared the bill regarding missing persons and it was passed by the [relevant] standing committee and the National Assembly. But it went missing after it was sent to the Senate.”

    The minister said there were reports, however, that the bill was now at the Senate Secretariat.

    The bill, Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021, was passed by the NA on November 8, 2021, and is aimed at making amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure.

    It was introduced in the National Assembly by the interior minister in June 2021.

  • Modi can attend SAARC summit virtually if he doesn’t want to come to Islamabad: Pak Foreign Minister

    Modi can attend SAARC summit virtually if he doesn’t want to come to Islamabad: Pak Foreign Minister

     

    Pakistan has extended India a virtual invitation to attend the summit for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) virtually if Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi does not want to attend the summit in Islamabad. It was revealed by Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a news conference on Monday.

    He said, “Pakistan considers SAARC as an important forum. We are willing to host the 19th SAARC summit and if India has any issue in attending the summit in person then it can attend virtually.”

    The Secretary-General of SAARC recently visited Islamabad and Pakistan has shown eagerness to host the summit.

    FM Qureshi further added, “If India cannot attend the summit in Islamabad at least it should not stop other members,” while giving an invitation to other SAARC members for the next summit.

    While talking about bilateral relations with India, Qureshi said that durable peace, sustainability and economic development in the region have been halted by the ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) whose political ideology is based on anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim sentiments.

    He added, “India’s unilateral and illegal actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) since August 5, 2019, aimed at undermining the status of the disputed territory, perpetuating its illegal occupation and altering its demographic structure, and the unabated widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and state-terrorism perpetrated against the innocent Kashmiris have further vitiated the environment and threatened international peace and security.”

    He further expressed that Pakistan wants friendly relations with every neighbouring country, however, it depends on India to take necessary steps towards dialogue and resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

    The Foreign Minister also highlighted the worsening situation of Kashmiri leaders and the persecution of the locals.

    In November 2016, India refused to attend the SAARC summit which was scheduled in Islamabad due to the high tensions between both countries.

  • ‘Legal action will be taken against you if Nawaz doesn’t return’: Fawad warns Shehbaz

    ‘Legal action will be taken against you if Nawaz doesn’t return’: Fawad warns Shehbaz

    The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that either Shehbaz Sharif asks Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan or legal action will be taken against him [Shehbaz] for providing a fake affidavit.

    In a press conference, the minister said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has directed the Attorney-General of Pakistan (AGP) to ensure Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is brought back to Pakistan.

    Following Fawad’s statement claimed that the PML-N secretary-general Ahsan Iqbal Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI)-led government is suffering from “Nawaz phobia.”

    “The government holds cabinet meetings only to discuss Nawaz Sharif, which shows that it is suffering from Nawaz Sharif phobia,” he said.

    Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that “Nawaz Sharif had gone abroad for treatment after seeking permission from the country’s judiciary.”

    “Issuing statement against Nawaz and Shahbaz on a daily basis shows how panicked the government is,” Marriyum said.

    She went on to say that instead of telling the attorney general to ensure Nawaz’s return to Pakistan, the government should direct him to take action against those who steal wheat, sugar, electricity, gas, and medicines.

  • Underworld don of Lahore allegedly involved in attack on MPA

    Underworld don of Lahore allegedly involved in attack on MPA

    The police have reportedly gotten clues of the involvement of an underworld don of Lahore in the armed attack on Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Bilal Yasin, reports Dawn.

    According to the media outlet, the man is living in Dubai and suspected that Yasin was involved in the Lahore police’s massive action against his illegal businesses in the city.

    This was unveiled when the police arrested a local weapon dealer and a suspect who was given the pistol that was later used in the attack.

    A police official said that the police are planning to bring back the prime suspect.

    The MPA was shot at and injured on Friday near his home in Lahore and is currently under treatment.

  • ‘Those who mention democracy should be shot’, says Hassan Nisar, Twitter reacts

    ‘Those who mention democracy should be shot’, says Hassan Nisar, Twitter reacts

    Senior journalist and analyst Hassan Nisar has received backlash over his ‘anti-democracy’ and ‘dangerous’ comments wherein he said that Pakistan must have 15 years of fascism and those seeking democracy should be shot.

    During an interview with Samaa Tv’s political talk show ‘News Beat’, Nisar said, “Pakistan needs uninterrupted 15 years of authoritarian rule to fix everything from primary education to population control.”

    “Anyone mentioning democracy should be dealt by a firing squad and his family should pay for the bullets fired on him. It’s our moral job to try and give Imran Khan five years uninterrupted,” said Nisar.

    Lamenting the state of primary education in the country, Nisar also asked, “Are these children going to take over the country?”

    Twitter reminded Nisar that Pakistan was founded as a constitutional democracy, and calls dictatorship to go against the authority of the state.

  • ‘Riasat-e-Madina is one where you demolish Hindu temples’: JUI-F’s Secretary General Abdul Ghafoor

    ‘Riasat-e-Madina is one where you demolish Hindu temples’: JUI-F’s Secretary General Abdul Ghafoor

    Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam’s (JUI-F) secretary-general Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, during a press briefing, incited people to demolish Hindu temples.

    Ghafoor was explaining his interpretation of what Riasat-e-Madina looks like and said, “The main idea of Riasat-e-Madina is one where you demolish Hindu temples, destroy idols and build mosques.”

    “These people are making temples and idols,” said Ghafoor, adding, “When Babri Masjid was unlawfully desecrated, a lot of criticism was lamented on India. Protests took place against the attack. The ones who did this are kafir [non-believers].”

    “Today in Pakistan, one respected judge, whom I feel ashamed calling chief justice, he too should feel ashamed. On whose directives did he pass the order?” remarked Ghafoor.

    “For 40 years the court and chief justice were blind. Karachi is his city as well. He is an extremist,” added Ghafoor.

    “I would like to take names, the government minister Fawad Chaudhry when he won the election gave a statement that JUI-F is an extremist party. I [Ghafoor] want to put a mirror in front of him [Fawad], I want to tell him, his leadership and [prime minister] Imran Khan when you staged a dharna in Islamabad, you addressed the parliament from D-chowk and cursed the people sitting in the parliament, you cursed the parliament and army, and you didn’t stop here,” lamented the JUI-F leader.

    Ghafoor further criticising the government said, “Sheikh Rasheed who fits into every boot is the interior minister and this is such cruelty. We too came out from Karachi and held a march no one complained about us, their protest was a drama, we had a million people, and no one complained about us. My tehreek [movement] is in front of the country and so is their’s. My extremism and equality are in front of the people and your character is in front of the country as well.”

    “The country has to decide who is a terrorist the [government] or myself,” said Ghafoor.

  • Transgenders to get Rs. 3000 per month financial assistance from Punjab government

    Transgenders to get Rs. 3000 per month financial assistance from Punjab government

    A Punjab government has officially launched a monthly financial aid programme called ‘Masawaat Programme’ for the welfare of the transgender community across the province under the support of the Punjab Social Protection Authority.

    In this programme, transgenders who are over 40 years old will receive financial aid of Rs 3,000 per month from the government whereas transgenders who are aged between 18 and 40 with special needs will receive Rs 2,000 monthly.

    The government also asked the transgender community to get themselves registered with NADRA under the category of ‘transgender’ to avail financial assistance. Those with ‘special needs’ are asked to produce the authentic certificate of disability for registration purposes.

    The Punjab Social Protection Authority emphasised to need to immediately register to avail benefits from the programme as the last date of registration is January 31. Financial assistance will be received on registered mobile numbers of the beneficiaries of the Masawaat Programme.

    The authority further added that they would assist transgender persons in finding employment.

  • America forced IMF to impose strict conditions on Pakistan: Shaukat Tarin

    America forced IMF to impose strict conditions on Pakistan: Shaukat Tarin

    Federal Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin termed the geo-political situation of the region as a reason for the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) to impose strict conditions on Pakistan.

    The finance minister spoke about a number of issues, including the Supplementary Finance Bill 2021, inflation, State Bank Amendment Bill, prior actions demanded by IMF, and other core issues related to finance on Geo News‘ programme ‘Naya Pakistan’.

    The minister, terming the geo-political situation of the region as a reason for the IMF being forceful, said that the talks with the lender aiming to restore the United States (US) $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) were not a piece of cake after the US pullout of Afghanistan.

    Tarin admitted that America was behind IMF to impose strict conditions on Pakistan.

    The finance minister said that the petroleum levy in fuel prices has been increased as per the IMF’s demand.

    “We had cut down the sales tax on petroleum products to zero but were compelled to apply the petroleum levy due to IMF’s strict behaviour,” said Tarin, adding that the IMF had lent the country some money back in March 2021 on account of an increase in the petroleum levy.