Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘We have battled before and will do again’: Fawad Chaudhry warns TTP

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry warned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and said that the government will only talk to those who respect the Constitution and law of Pakistan. Otherwise, the government has battled before and will do again, reports Dawn.

    The information minister said that the Taliban government had once again pressed the TTP to abide by the ceasefire agreement. “And I think their advice is sane,” he added.

    Chaudhry’s remarks came after TTP’s announcement of ending a month-long ceasefire with Pakistan and the death of a policeman in an alleged armed attack on a polio vaccination team by TTP in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    The banned organisation TTP said the government had not only failed to implement the decisions reached between the two sides but also raids had been conducted by Pakistan in Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Bajaur, Swabi, and North Waziristan where they killed and detained militants.

    Prior to this, both sides [Pakistan and TTP] had reached a month-long ceasefire from November 1 to November 30, 2021. According to which the Pakistani government promised to release 102 imprisoned mujahideen.


  • ‘You people did not miss the chance to demean me,’ says Shehryar Afridi in leaked audio

    ‘You people did not miss the chance to demean me,’ says Shehryar Afridi in leaked audio

    Chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar Khan Afridi’s leaked audio during his visit to France in October reveals Afridi was not happy with the organisers of an event where he was asked by journalist Younas Khan whether he had any interactions with parliamentarians or Tink Tank when he was touring France.

    Afridi’s leaked audio reveals that he was unhappy and can be heard talking to the organisers that he came to the event at their request. “If I did not answer the questions there, people would have said that I was scared and ran away,” said Afridi.

    “When the journalist was asking me questions, why did you [organisers] stay silent, why didn’t you ask him why this news was published?” Afridi questioned using explicit language.

    Trigger warning: The video contains explicit language

    Shehryar Afridi told the organisers of the ceremony that you did not miss the chance to demean me, adding, “As far as I am concerned, it would have been good, but it is a matter of Pakistan’s honour.”

    “If you do not ask this journalist about the news, I will not spare you,” warned Afridi.

    Earlier in October, reporter Younas Khan shared the clip on Twitter. “You are the chairman of the Kashmir Committee. Your job is to play a role in diplomacy on the Kashmir issues all over the world.”

    “You are in France. Which Think Tank did you meet here? Have you talked to any parliamentarian on Kashmir?” questioned Younas.

    “The culture is different here, you have to take appointments a month prior from parliamentarians and think tanks here. There is a proper channel here,” said Afridi.

    He added that he is reaching out to the Pakistani and Kashmiri communities during his stay in France and Italy. He also mentioned that he met stakeholders during his United States (US) visit. Afridi said that his next visit to Canada, Brussels, and Britain will include interactions with parliamentarians and Think Tanks.

  • ‘Shaan-e-Pakistan’, Justice Rana Shamim’s son announces the formation of own political party

    ‘Shaan-e-Pakistan’, Justice Rana Shamim’s son announces the formation of own political party

    Advocate Ahmed Hasan Rana, son of former chief judge Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim, has announced the formation of his own political party.

    In a video shared by journalist Murtaza Ali Shah, Ahmed can be seen saying, “This [party] is only on WhatsApp right now, we have not officially registered it. Like-minded people, my friends from my school, college, and the university have got together to form this [political] party.”

    “Its name is Shaan-e-Pakistan, but there is some time required to launch it. We need funds. We are trying to establish it on our own, and trying our best to generate funds on our own. [We don’t want that we get stuck] like Imran Khan sahib,” said Ahmed.

    Talking about his strategy in running his political party, Ahmed said that he idolises the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said he will not bring a different political manifesto than the prime minister.

    “There should be a Madina ki riyasat, education should be free, there should be ease of doing business. One really needs to do things and not just talk,” said Ahmed.

    “Imran Khan has been trying but could not deliver from the past three years. All he says is ghabrana nahi hai [don’t worry]. He has failed to make a single policy,” added Ahmed.

    When asked how differently will Ahmed perform than the premier he said, ” I am a lawyer and we are told to make a policy first, implementation comes second.”

    “Khan sahib is doing the same as his predecessors Benazir and Nawaz, he is asking for another chance. I can do better than Khan sahib, I am certain of it,” said Ahmed.

    Ahmed was still drinking his famous “juice” while conversing about his future political plans.

  • Twitter reacts to PM Modi’s hacked account news

    Twitter reacts to PM Modi’s hacked account news

    Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s Twitter account was hacked late Saturday.

    A deleted tweet from Modi’s official handle declared India had adopted Bitcoin as legal tender and was distributing the cryptocurrency to citizens.

    Later, the Indian Prime Minister Office clarified that “The Twitter handle of PM was very briefly compromised. The matter was escalated to Twitter and the account has been immediately secured. In the brief period that the account was compromised, any Tweet shared must be ignored.”

    Soon the hashtag #ModiAccountHacked started making rounds on Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/Phdcapital2020/status/1469971836234461184?s=20
  • ‘Namaz in open spaces will not be tolerated’: CM of Indian state Haryana

    ‘Namaz in open spaces will not be tolerated’: CM of Indian state Haryana

    The Chief Minister (CM) of the Indian state Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar said that namaz should not be offered in the open, adding that an earlier decision where some sites had been reserved for the purpose had been withdrawn, reports The Indian Express.

    Khattar said the government had informed the police and the deputy commissioner that the issue needed to be resolved. “To resolve it, everyone offers prayers at their own place. Such practices should not take place in the open. This practice of offering namaz prayers here in the open will not be tolerated,” he stated.

    “They (Muslims) have said that they have several places where they should be given permission to pray. Some of their properties or those under Waqf board are encroached up, how they can be made available to them is being discussed. Or they can offer prayers in their homes. Offering namaz in the open and this confrontation, we will not allow this confrontation to continue,” Khattar said.

    The announcement came after tension in Gurgaon city, where Hindu groups in several episodes disrupted Muslim Friday prayers and put pressure on authorities to stop Muslims from offering the prayers in open spaces.

    Talking about the withdrawal of the agreement, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Khattar said, “A decision had been taken earlier after consultation, but that decision too where some spots had been reserved, we have withdrawn it. Now, talks will be conducted with a fresh approach again. Everyone should get the facility. No one’s rights should be infringed, but no one will be forced.”

    Authorities there had reached an agreement in 2018 in which Muslims were allowed to offer prayers at designated areas in the city.

    While the CM meeting was on, some local residents and members of pro-Hindutva groups occupied the area outside the Sector 37 police station, which had been reserved for namaz prayers.

    It is reported that the group conducted a “condolence meet” to mourn the demise of Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces (CDS) Bipin Rawat and other defence personnel who were killed in a helicopter crash.

    The group also chanted slogans of “Jai Shree Ram” (Hail Lord Ram) and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” (Hail Mother India) at the site.


  • Video: PPP’s Saeed Ghani opening water bottle for Bilawal

    Video: PPP’s Saeed Ghani opening water bottle for Bilawal

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari handed over a water bottle to his party fellow Information minister Sindh Saeed Ghani to open.

    In a video, the chairman can be seen sitting alongside Ghani and Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah while addressing a press conference in Karachi.

    The moment went viral when Bilawal picks up a bottle of water and for a moment attempts to open the plastic seal on the cap. Ghani is seen reaching out to assist him and Bilawal gave the bottle to him. Ghani opens it and instantly handed it over to Bilawal.

  • ‘My government will never reconcile or give NRO to those who did corruption’: PM Khan

    ‘My government will never reconcile or give NRO to those who did corruption’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Saturday said, “My government will never reconcile or give NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) to those who did corruption.”

    His remarks came during a public procession in Mianwali.

    “We are ready to talk to everyone who has a different ideology or whom we call right or left,” said the prime minister.

    “We are ready to resolve our issues with them peacefully, be they in Balochistan or erstwhile tribal areas of Waziristan. The only ones whom we will never have any reconciliation with are those who looted and laundered Pakistani people’s money,” said the premier.

    “Every respectable society puts its thieves in jails and doesn’t strike deals with them. The prosperous countries have [one] rule of law, while those that are poor have different laws for the powerful and the weak are in jails,” said PM Khan.

  • Killing over unsubstantiated blasphemy accusations is not permissible: Ulema

    Killing over unsubstantiated blasphemy accusations is not permissible: Ulema

    Pakistani ulema in their Friday sermons strongly condemned the recent lynching of a Sri Lankan national in Sialkot and said the killing of any person over unsubstantiated blasphemy accusations is not permissible.

    The ‘day of condemnation’ was observed in mosques across the country on Friday.

    According to the ulema, the courts have the authority to punish the perpetrator of blasphemy. Taking the law into one’s hands is not allowed according to Shariah and law of the land.

    Special Representative of the Prime Minister on Reli­gious Harmony Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi said the lynching of the Sri Lankan national had embarrassed the entire nation. Elements involved in making blasphemy allegations for their vested objectives would also be punished under the blasphemy law, he added.

  • ECP slaps Rs50,000 fine on Gandapur for violating election code of conduct

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has fined Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur for violating the code of conduct of the upcoming local government elections in the country, reports Geo News.

    Following complaints about the minister, Dera Ismail Khan Regional Election Commissioner Ijaz Ahmad, who is also the district monitoring officer for the local government polls, had summoned Gandapur earlier this week.

    The regional election commissioner said that this matter could lead to disqualification if the minister was found involved in any violation of the ECP rules for the second time. The order issued by Ahmed stated: “The respondent was heard where his arguments could not satisfy the undersigned. He also accepted the violation of the code of conduct. The undersigned orders imposition of Rs50,000 fine on the respondent that is to be deposited in the exchequer by December 10.”

    According to Dawn, Gandapur, while addressing a rally during the election campaign of his brother Umar Amin Gandapur, had threatened the Opposition with serious consequences.

    The local government elections are set to take place on December 19 in 17 districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

  • PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal baton-charged at symbolic opening of Karachi bus project

    PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal baton-charged at symbolic opening of Karachi bus project

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal and other party members came face to face with the Rangers on Thursday when the paramilitary troops prevented the members of the PML-N from performing ‘symbolic opening’ of the Green Line bus service in Karachi.

    The confrontation led to a brawl and scuffle between the two sides. It all began when a number of workers of the PML-N Karachi chapter, in line with the plan to hold a symbolic opening of the project, started to gather at one of the bus stations in North Nazimabad. The protestors were later joined by senior leaders, including former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal, former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair, and former federal finance minister Miftah Ismail.

    The PML-N workers faced resistance from the Rangers who were carrying sticks. The situation turned tense when Iqbal came forward and started arguing and insisted on exercising his democratic and legal rights.

    In the process, the PML-N claimed, Rangers also resorted to baton-charge that left Iqbal and a female worker injured.

    “But we don’t know under which law we were stopped by the Rangers. It didn’t end here. When we questioned their move, they restored to the worst state of terrorism. I hope that military leadership would take notice of the Ranger’s action,” said Iqbal.

    Showing bruises over his left hand due to the baton charge, Iqbal called it political vendetta of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, which had ordered the paramilitary force to attack PML-N workers and media.

    Twitterati condemned the act and reminded that no one deserves this treatment.

    Journalist Raza Rumi tweeted, “Shameful reminder of this terrible episode and tactic employed to undermine an elected representative and a member of the cabinet where all executive power (theoretically) resides.”

    Senior journalist Fahd Husain tweeted, “This photo is wrong for so many reasons: symbolically, optically, figuratively, and literally. No elected representative, regardless of political affiliation, should be treated like this, let alone someone as senior & respected as @betterpakistan Ahsan Iqbal.”

    Journalist Hasan Zaidi tweeted, “Meanwhile, why were the Rangers so invested in stopping a symbolic ceremony? Are they a political force?”