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Category: Politics

  • Wires cut to stop Nawaz Sharif’s speech, claim conference organisers

    Wires cut to stop Nawaz Sharif’s speech, claim conference organisers

    The organisers of the Asma Jahangir Conference 2021 condemned the alleged “muzzling” of former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s speech on Sunday, reports Dawn.

    Soon after Sharif’s video link address began, internet services at the venue [Avari Hotel Lahore] were reportedly suspended.

    “Lines kaat dee gai hain [lines were cut],” the organisers claimed while pointing out the government’s role in muzzling the speech of Nawaz.

    Munizae Jahangir, Asma’s daughter, confirmed that broadband internet services and mobile internet had been suspended soon after Nawaz began speaking.

    The official statement released by the organisers said: “The organisers of the Asma Jahangir Conference regret the state’s highhandedness after it blocked the three-time elected former PM’s speech at the AJCONF2021 closing ceremony on Nov 21, 2021.”

    “The organisers of Asma Jahangir Conference 2021, which include the Supreme Court Bar Association, Pakistan Bar Council, and the AGHS, strongly condemn this act and consider it an onslaught on the freedom of expression,” they added.

    After the video call was cut off, the organisers arranged for a telephonic address by Nawaz.

    The President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Ahsan Bhoon appeared in Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan with Shahzad Iqbal’ and said that there was no need to tell judges [present at the conference] about Sharif’s closing ceremony speech.

    While replying to the question if judges know about the former PM’s address and did they have any objection over it, Bhoon said, “Why would there be any objection? Neither were they [judges] co-hosting nor did they have to converse with him.”

    However, government officials reacted to Nawaz speaking at the conference.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said he had been invited to the event, but he had been informed that “the conference will be closed with the speech of an absconding convict; this is obviously tantamount to ridiculing the country and the Constitution, which is why I declined to participate in the conference.”

    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar tweeted: “Think positive; Perhaps the idea was to focus on [the] human rights of absconders..”

    Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar, meanwhile, said, “Having an absconder and convict speak at a conference where the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and senior judges of the superior judiciary and members of Bar have spoken creates serious doubts on [the] impartiality of organisers but also makes it clear that honourable judges should remain clear of such politicised gatherings.”

  • IMF, Pakistan reach staff-level agreement on policies and reforms

    IMF, Pakistan reach staff-level agreement on policies and reforms

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan reached a staff-level agreement on policies and reforms needed to complete the sixth review under the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), which has been ‘in recess’ since April, the Fund announced in a statement on Monday.

    The agreement is subject to approval by the Executive Board, following the implementation of prior actions, notably on fiscal and institutional reforms. The approval of the agreement will make available 750 million in Special Drawing Rights (SDR), equivalent to $1,059m, read the statement.

    The Fund acknowledged Pakistan’s progress in improving its anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. However, additional time was needed to strengthen its effectiveness, according to the statement.

    “Available data suggest that a strong economic recovery has gained hold, benefiting from the authorities’ multifaceted policy response to the Covid-19 pandemic that has helped contain its human and macroeconomic ramifications,” the IMF said.

    “At the same time, external pressures have started to emerge: a widening of the current account deficit and depreciation pressures on the exchange rate — mainly reflecting the compound effects of the stronger economic activity, an expansionary macroeconomic policy mix, and higher international commodity prices.”

    The IMF emphasised that the monetary policy needs to remain focused on curbing inflation, preserving exchange rate flexibility, and strengthening international reserves.

    The introduction of the Finance Bill in the National Assembly to increase taxes and approval of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill are pre-conditions for the revival of the IMF loan programme, Finance Adviser Shaukat Tarin said last week.

    The IMF said that despite a difficult environment, progress continues to be made in the implementation of the EFF-supported programme.

    “All quantitative performance criteria (PCs) for end-June were met with wide margins, except for that on the primary budget deficit”, said the IMF.

  • Taliban ban women from acting in dramas

    Taliban ban women from acting in dramas

    Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership has set new laws prohibiting women from acting in television shows, reports the BBC. Female journalists and presenters are likewise required to wear headscarves when on camera. However no guidelines have been issued regarding which type of covering to use.

    Eight new Taliban restrictions have been handed to Afghan television networks. The restrictions include the banning of films considered against the principles of Sharia – or Islamic – law and Afghan values, while footage of men exposing intimate parts of the body is also prohibited.

    Comedy and entertainment shows that insult religion or may be considered offensive to Afghans are banned under the new laws.

    Earlier in September, Taliban laid special conditions for women. “[Here are] some special conditions that exist only for women. One is that the colour of their dress should not be very attractive. So that it does not attract people’s attention,” said a member of the Taliban on Afghanistan’s TOLO News, as per the subtitles of a video that went viral on social media.

  • ‘His daughter [Maryam Nawaz] doesn’t merit a sentence, still we will have to do it’: Alleged audio tape of CJP Nisar

    ‘His daughter [Maryam Nawaz] doesn’t merit a sentence, still we will have to do it’: Alleged audio tape of CJP Nisar

    Leaked audio of conversation allegedly claims that former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar was the person who passed on the directions of handing down conviction to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Mian Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz only because the “institutions” wanted the former prime minister penalised in order to bring ahead Imran Khan, reports Ahmed Noorani for Fact Focus.

    As per the leaked audio, Chief Justice Nisar instructed that Mian Sahib (Nawaz Sharif) and his daughter (Maryam Nawaz) must be sentenced even though it is unfair.

    “Whether it is fair or not, it has to be done,” he conveyed to the person on the other end.

    “Regardless of the merit, we will have to do it (sentence Nawaz Sharif), and even to his daughter,” said Justice Nisar.

    When the person he was conversing with objected that a sentence cannot be passed against the daughter, Chief Justice Nisar replied, “You are absolutely correct. I did talk to ‘friends’ that something be done about this but they did not agree.”

    He went on to say, “there will remain no independence of the judiciary, so let it be”.

    While speaking to Fact Focus, Justice Saqib Nisar said that he never contacted any judge of accountability court to order him to pass any verdict against Nawaz Sharif or his daughter. “Why I would do that,” Saqib Nisar questioned adding, “I have no grudges against Mian Nawaz Sharif.” He said that no one from the Pakistan Army or the ISI ever contacted him or pressured him on this count.

    Reacting to the development, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif tweeted, “Time has come to right the wrongs inflicted on them. The nation looks forward to [the] justice system.”

    Maryam Nawaz tweeted: “Allah u Akbar [God is great].”

    Fact Focus obtained this audio some two months ago and had it examined by a leading American firm specialising in multimedia forensics. Garret Discovery has a team of leading experts who have a long experience of analysing and presenting evidence and testifying before courts in the United States (US). The firm’s analysis report certifies the integrity of the audio file and states that “this audio has not been edited in any way”.

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar was earlier accused by former Chief Judge (CJ) of the apex court of Gilgit Baltistan Rana M Shamim in a signed affidavit wrote that he is a witness to CJP Nisar’s direction to a high court judge, to not release Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 general elections.

  • ‘Thay 64 nikly 50 votes’, PPP’s Mustafa Khokhar says it’s also Opposition’s fault

    ‘Thay 64 nikly 50 votes’, PPP’s Mustafa Khokhar says it’s also Opposition’s fault

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar appeared in Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ and questioned the role of Chairman of Senate of Pakistan Sadiq Sanjrani. Khokhar said that it was the Opposition’s fault too as their party’s members weren’t present at the time during the time of voting.

    The bills proposed by the PTI government were officially passed by the Upper House of Parliament (Senate) on Friday. While answering the question on the conflicts between the Joint Opposition, Khokhar maintained his stance and said that the Opposition should have maintained the number while voting in Senate.

    “Thy 64, nikly 50 votes” (They were supposed to be 64 votes but actual votes were 50) he added. While criticising the government, Khokhar stated: “We know which people had been called by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) in the joint session of parliament.”

    The joint Opposition of the parliament is expected to meet today (Saturday) to decide how and when it will challenge the passed laws by the government in the parliament (which were passed in Opposition’s absence) in court, reports Dawn.

    “The meeting discussed the issue of bulldozing the government’s legislation in the joint sitting of the parliament and decided that the united opposition would challenge the government’s fascism and unconstitutionality inside and outside parliament,” said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb.

    Speaking in the meeting, the Leader of the Opposition and President of PML-N Shehbaz Sharif said the constitution did not recognise the government’s legislation as legal and termed the laws “decrees” of Imran Niazi” (Prime Minister Imran Khan).

    He was quoted as saying: “The government, which has been bombing the people with inflation, carried out a suicide attack on the parliament. After being disgraced by the people, the PTI government is now attacking the constitution.”

    While voting in the Parliament on Thursday, the Opposition walked out of the National Assembly (NA) and gave the government a chance to pass the laws on their own.

  • PTI senator presents bouquet to TLP chief Saad Rizvi after bail

    PTI senator presents bouquet to TLP chief Saad Rizvi after bail

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) senator and President of Central Punjab Ejaz Chaudhry met with previously banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Hussain Rizvi and presented him a bouquet.

    https://twitter.com/FGMallick/status/1462030632092155907?s=20

    Earlier this month, Chaudhry had claimed that the government would consider giving seats to TLP which was banned at the time. He also said that he would meet Rizvi once he is released.

    Saad was released on Thursday. He was taken into custody in April shortly after the federal government declared the TLP a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism laws and launched a broad crackdown against it.

  • ‘We absolutely do not agree to work under someone’s pressure’: CJP Gulzar rubbishes allegations

    ‘We absolutely do not agree to work under someone’s pressure’: CJP Gulzar rubbishes allegations

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed on Saturday denied that the judiciary was being influenced by or taking dictation from other institutions.

    The CJP was responding to comments made by former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Ali Ahmad Kurd, earlier during the Asma Jahangir Conference in Lahore.

    “One general is dominating a country of 220 million people. This same general has sent the judiciary down to number 126 [in rankings],” said Kurd.

    Kurd, in his speech, said that there was a “clear and observable division” within the judiciary, adding that the “country’s intellectual class was finished and because there is no intellectual class, people of small stature are sitting at the top.”

    “I have not taken the pressure of any institution or listened to any institution. No one tells me or guides me on how to write my verdict. I have never made any decision that I did so on someone else’s saying, nor has anyone had the courage to say anything to me,” responded CJP Gulzar to Kurd’s statement.

    “I have never listened, seen, understood, or felt anyone’s dictation to me,” he added.

    “My court gives justice to the people. Come to the court, Ali Ahmad Kurd, and see what is happening. Read the court’s decision and see what is happening. My judges write judgments every day […] see how our court is working with freedom and following the law and implementing the Constitution.”

    Justice Gulzar said the courts were free to decide whatever they wanted to do and did so routinely. “Tell me which case was decided on whose dictation till today,” he said as he advised Kurd to “not tell wrong things to people, create discord and lift the people’s trust from the institutions.”

  • ‘I do not agree state does not have capability to deal [with TLP]’: Moeed Yusuf disagrees with Fawad’s statement

    ‘I do not agree state does not have capability to deal [with TLP]’: Moeed Yusuf disagrees with Fawad’s statement

    National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf, while speaking to anchorperson Saleem Safi during Geo News programme ‘Jirga’, was asked to comment on Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s statement on the government’s talks with the Tehreek-I-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). Chaudhry had said that neither the state nor the government is ready to fight extremism.

    “I do not agree at all that the state does not have the capability to deal [with TLP],” stated Yusuf.

    “I had also said this publicly that a red line has to be drawn because the policemen martyred [during clashes with TLP] were also the state’s responsibility.”

    He cited the example of the infamous Lal Masjid episode, saying that the media at the time had called upon the state to use force as its writ was being challenged right in the heart of the capital.

    “And when the state used force, all of you [the media] stood against the government,” he added.

    Fawad Chaudhry had said the state and government are “not fully prepared” to deal with extremism, adding that they had to “take a step back” while dealing with the TLP.

    “Religious extremism was seen more in regions that are in India now. Areas over here (Pakistan) never had religious extremism to the extent [seen today],” he said, regretting that “Pakistan faces a grave danger today.”

    “We don’t have any potential threat from India. We have the sixth largest army in the world, we are an atomic power, and India cannot compete with us,” he continued. “We face no danger from America. We face no danger from Europe. The biggest danger we face [today] is from within [Pakistan].”

  • Chemical castration removed from criminal law amendment, announces PTI’s Maleeka Bokhari

    Chemical castration removed from criminal law amendment, announces PTI’s Maleeka Bokhari

    In a press conference on Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary secretary on law Maleeka Bokhari announced that the bill passed on the chemical castration of rapists has been revoked.

    “We have amended the criminal law and decided that the chemical castration clause will be taken out,” said Bokhari.

    She said the decision was taken after the Islamic Ideology Council, a state-run body that interprets laws from an Islamic perspective, found chemical castration un-Islamic.

    While talking about the Anti-Rape Bill 2021, Bokhari announced the abolishment of the “two-finger virginity test”. Moreover, according to her Pakistan’s rape conviction rate is less than 1- 2 per cent that’s why the government has introduced the setting up of Special Courts to avoid delays in the proceedings of rape cases.

    Furthermore, under the new bill, she announced that National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) would register sex offenders so the government would have a record of such people.

    “In an effort not to disclose the victim’s identity instead of open trial, video trials would take place under the new Anti-Rape Bill”, she added.

    The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trail) Bill 2021 also includes:

    1- Creation of anti-rape crisis cells in public hospitals to ensure prompt registration of the FIR, medico-legal examination

    2- Use of modern devices during investigation and trial.

    3- The accused is barred from the cross-examination of a rape survivor.

    4- Evidence pertaining to the ‘immoral character’ of the victim is inadmissible in court.

    5- Setting up a public reporting mechanism.

  • Sitara-i-Imtiaz holder Zia Chishti steps down from multi-million dollar company after sexual abuse allegations

    Sitara-i-Imtiaz holder Zia Chishti steps down from multi-million dollar company after sexual abuse allegations

    Sitara-i-Imtiaz (third-highest honour and civilian award in Pakistan) holder and founder of a software company “Afiniti” Zia Chishti has been dismissed by his own software company following the allegations of sexual assault by a 23-year-old against him.

    The statement on the company’s website reads, “The Board of Directors of Afiniti announces that Mr. Zia Chishti has stepped down from his role as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Afiniti, effective immediately. The Board will make additional organisational announcements in the coming days.”

    Tatiana Spottiswoode, a former Afiniti employee and Zia’s friend’s daughter testified before a US (United States) congressional committee and accused Chishti of sexually abusing her.

    In her testimony, she said that she joined Afiniti on Chishti’s insistence in 2016 and told the committee her contract included an arbitration agreement with a “strong confidentiality clause” that had prevented her from speaking out about the alleged assaults.

    Spottiswoode said her body was “covered with scratches, cuts, and contusions”.

    “I had bruises around my neck that looked like I had been strangled, a large bump on my head, and a black eye. A nurse at the hospital said I had the symptoms of a concussion,” she added.

    However, the software company said it had “investigated Spottiswoode’s claims with independent counsel and concluded that the arbitral decision she references was erroneous”.

    The news also affected the Pakistan Stock Market on Thursday as Chishti is also the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of TRG (The Resource Group) Pakistan Limited, reports Dawn.