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Category: Politics

  • Former CJ’s son throws father under the bus, makes shocking revelations

    Former CJ’s son throws father under the bus, makes shocking revelations

    Allegations against the Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar by Former Chief Justice (CJ) of Gilgit-Baltistan Justice (retd) Rana Shamim regarding Nisar’s direction to a high court judge not to release Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 general elections surfaced on November 15.

     Rana Mohammad Shamim’s son and Supreme Court advocate Ahmed Hassan Rana appeared in Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ last night to discuss the allegations as his father’s son and lawyer.

    In a truly bizarre interview, Advocate Rana refused to answer any questions on his father’s behalf saying that he himself was serving as the Punjab assistant advocate general at the time of Nawaz’s arrest in 2018 and also met the PML-N leader in jail.

    While describing his relation with his father, Rana said he has to go play snooker at 10 pm, and his wife will ask for permission on his behalf at 09:45 pm from his father. He also questioned the host, asking if Shahzeb has to take permission from his father if he has to go out late at night. To which the anchor said no, he does not ask for permission from his father.

    He continued by adding that “I expressed my anger to my father when he asked me how I would take a date for a hearing”. Shahzeb further asked Rana if he asked his father about the affidavit, to which he said, “Aap mujhe aur sharminda krne chahte hain?” [Do you want to embarrass me further?] adding that I will only speak on what has been told to me by father. He then called his father on live television, asking if his father wanted to comment, to which his father replied, “No comments”.

    Shahzeb asked Rana if he knows when his father last met Nawaz Sharif. To which Rana said he did not even know about the affidavit. However, he said that as per his knowledge, his father went to England before the Covid-19 pandemic began and thats when his father met Nawaz Sharif, adding that his father had direct contact with Nawaz.He also said that his father has served as a lawyer of the Former Prime Minister in the past. Rana, during the show, mentioned several times that his father and Nawaz Sharif were friends.

    Read more- Ex-CJ GB’s son asked for permission to play ‘video’ in Saqib Nisar case

    Shahzeb further asked why his father stayed quiet for four years and only spoke three days before the hearing of Maryam Nawaz Sharif and if it was because he wants Nawaz Sharif to get relief, considering his personal relationship with Nawaz. Rana did not give any clear answer to the question.

    Rana also read a text he received from his father during the show, which read, “According to my knowledge the affidavit statement was never handed over to any journalist, it may have leaked from notary public office.”

    He also added, that his father would appear before the IHC on November 26.

  • ‘Shouted slogans, threw stones, and set fire’: Muslim ex-FM home attacked in India

    ‘Shouted slogans, threw stones, and set fire’: Muslim ex-FM home attacked in India

    Hindu extremists have attacked and set fire to the home of a former Indian foreign minister (FM), police say, in the latest incident of religious violence. Critics say religious violence has increased under Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, reports Al-Jazeera.

    Salman Khurshid, a Muslim from the Opposition Congress party, published a book in which he compared the kind of Hindu nationalism that has grown under Modi to “extremist groups” such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS).

    A mob of about 20 people from an extremist local Hindu group massed outside Khurshid’s house near the northern city of Nainital on Monday.

    “They shouted slogans, threw stones, broke several windows, ransacked [the entry] and set fire [to a door],” said a local police chief Jagdish Chandra.

    Khurshid posted images of the aftermath of the attack on social media, and wrote, “Shame is too ineffective a word.”

    “I hoped to open these doors to my friends who have left this calling card. Am I still wrong to say this cannot be Hinduism?” he added.

    Activists say that religious minorities in Hindu-majority India have faced increased levels of discrimination and violence since Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014.

  • ‘Who was insulted?’: Opposition questions Asad Qaiser on postponing of joint Parliament session

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser has reportedly met with the United Opposition on Tuesday, reports Geo Urdu.

    Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz’s (PML-N) Rana Sanaullah, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) senior leaders Khursheed Shah and Sherry Rehman were present in the meeting with Speaker.

    The Opposition was invited to discuss and negotiate on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and other legislation.

    “Now the government is calling for a joint session,” questions the Opposition.

    The Opposition raised the question to Qaiser that, “Who was insulted”? [Referring to the postponing of the joint Parliament session]. Upon this, the speaker replied, “I will call the ministers right now, “adding that things would have been better if the legislation had been passed by consensus.

    Last week, Qaiser wrote to the PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and invited the Opposition for talks after the government got seven bills passed in the absence of Opposition members from the lower house of parliament due to which the government was heavily criticised.

  • ‘Those who brought Khan now admit they made a mistake’: Asif Ali Zardari

    ‘Those who brought Khan now admit they made a mistake’: Asif Ali Zardari

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday while speaking to reporters during his appearance at an accountability court said, “Those who brought Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan are now admitting that they committed a mistake,” adding that they are now figuring out how to undo that mistake.

    “Only Allah knows best how they can fix this mistake,” said Zardari.

    When asked a question relating to Maryam Nawaz’s petition which was similar to that of former PM Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said he would not talk about it as “Maryam Nawaz is like a daughter to me. What comment should I make on my daughter?”

    Replying to a question about ex-chief justice Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim’s affidavit, the former president said: “We have already seen this. Justice Qayyum had a tape with Saif-ur-Rehman and some friends as well.”

    A division bench of the Islamabad High Court comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amir Farooq heard the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) appeal against Zardari’s gold reference and Ursus tractors deal.

  • ‘I am the spokesperson of the cabinet, words are not my own’: Fawad Chaudhry apologises to ECP

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has apologised to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for his disrespectful remarks against the institution, reports Geo News.

    The minister arrived at the ECP today for the hearing before a two-member bench comprising ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Mohammad Jatoi. During today’s hearing, the minister told members that he is a lawyer himself and does “not want to get caught up in show-cause notices”.

    The show-cause notices were sent in October to Fawad over calling ECP an “Opposition’s mouthpiece” and Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati for accusing ECP of always “rigging polls” and his statement that “such institutions should be set on fire”.

    However, according to Swati’s co-counsel, he could not appear for the hearing as he was busy with the Senate proceedings and asked for more time, adding that a reply would be filed by tomorrow.

    Chaudhry, after the hearing, said, “I am sorry, I apologise for my words.”

    “I am the spokesperson of the cabinet. At times, I say things but the words are not my own,” he added while saying that he personally respects the CEC and did not abuse anyone.

    The members of the election commission directed Chaudhry to submit his apology in writing and warned that charges would be framed on the next hearing whether a reply was submitted or not and adjourned it to December 3.

    Before the show-cause notices, the election commission had issued notices to the two ministers on September 14, asking them to provide evidence about the allegations made by them against ECP and the CEC.

    Later, on September 23, Chaudhry had sou­ght six weeks to submit a reply but was given three weeks, which ended on October 19. However, Swati chose not to respond at all to the ECP notice. The ECP had then issued a notice to Chaudhry asking him to appear before it on October 27 but neither of them had turned up for the October 27 hearing, prompting the ECP to issue a show-cause notice for November 16 (today).

  • Ex-CJ GB’s son asked for permission to play ‘video’ in Saqib Nisar case

    Ex-CJ GB’s son asked for permission to play ‘video’ in Saqib Nisar case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued show-cause notices during a hearing of the case relating to the allegations against ex-Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar by former Chief Judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Justice (retd) Rana Shamim.

    During the hearing, apologising for his father’s absence, Justice Shamim’s son asked the court staff for permission to play a ‘video’ in the courtroom.

    The video was in relevance to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Vawda’s comments where he said that Rana Shamim, should be beaten up in public.

    However, the court refused to include it in the case and told Shamim’s lawyer to file a separate appeal.

    Senator Vawda, while speaking on ARY News’ programme, Off the Record’, said: “These retired and retarded judges who are maligning courts and judiciary should be beaten up in public. They are paving the way for chaos in society. They are maligning the noble and honest judges and dragging Pakistan towards anarchy. That is why it is important to punish them.”

    “It is questionable why their conscience woke up after three years,” said Vawda and asked as to why they did not react at the time when it happened.

    The senator further said that there were many like them in all the departments who wake up to the call of their conscience after retirement and labelled them “shameless, and disgraceful”.

    Describing Rana Shamim as a ‘bhagora’ [absconder], Vawda said, “He is an absconder, for filing an affidavit in London after retirement,” adding, “there are places where a layman goes for justice, honest judges are present there who have a career ahead of them, and then you malign them.”

    “You pit one institution against the other, you malign the military, certain elements are acting on behalf of hostile countries were maligning the institutions and pitting them against the other,” said Vawda.

    Vawda asked whether there was a video or it was money that stirred his [Rana Shamim’s] conscience, adding, “He was appointed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2015 and benefitted throughout. His son was also made the advocate general. If a common thief is disgraced and criticised, then a judge who scandalises the judiciary and honest judges cannot be awarded for it. He is acting like a pimp.”

    Anchorperson Kashif Abbasi interjected and said, “I am saying this again to kindly mind your words. These are judges we are talking about, this is not how it works. Don’t do that, don’t do that.”

    “These retired and retarded judges who are maligning courts and judiciary should be beaten up in public,” asserted Vawda.

  • ‘What can you say, you have already caused the harm you had to cause’: Athar Minallah grills Ansar Abbasi on Saqib Nisar affidavit

    ‘What can you say, you have already caused the harm you had to cause’: Athar Minallah grills Ansar Abbasi on Saqib Nisar affidavit

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued show-cause notices during a hearing of the case related to the allegations against ex-Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar by former chief justice (CJ) of Gilgit-Baltistan Justice (retd) Rana Shamim, reports Geo Urdu.

    Shamim’s lawyer appeared before the court on his behalf and informed that Justice Shamim wasn’t feeling. He said Shamim’s brother had passed away.

    IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah called Mir Shakil- ur-Rahman, editor-in-chief Jang, to the rostrum.

    “I have summoned you with a heavy heart,” Athar Minallah said, adding that there is a difference between social media and newspapers and that a newspaper has an editorial policy and editorial control.

    “The judges of this court are accountable and face criticism,” Justice Minallah said, adding that if the people do not trust the judiciary, there will be chaos in society.

    Justice Minallah said: “Please hold us [judges] accountable, but don’t create controversies.”

    IHC chief justice directed journalist Ansar Abbasi to read out the headline of his story published in The News.

    “Do you think the judges of our court take instructions from anyone?” Justice Minallah questioned, saying that this affidavit is not part of any judicial record.

    At this, Abbasi asked if he could say something.

    “What can you say, you have already caused the harm you had to cause,” the IHC CJ responded.

    After being allowed to speak in court, Abbasi said he respects the IHC chief justice and the story was his and so if the court wants to take any action, it should be against him.

    “The editor and editor-in-chief are not to be blamed in this matter,” said Abbasi, adding that this was not his statement and that it belonged to the former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Gilgit-Baltistan.

    “I am a journalist, my job is to convey the message. I also confirmed this from Justice Shamim,” he added.

    Abbasi further added that he did not even mention the name of the high court judge in his story.

    However, Justice Minallah said that this charge has been levelled against the court, it has been alleged that [the] High Court takes directions from others. “We will not compromise on the dignity of this court.”

    “We had no such intention as you think,” Justice Minallah told Abbasi, adding that it is constantly being reported that it was said that do not release them [Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz] before the election.

    He also asked Abbasi whether he had checked who was part of the bench hearing the cases against the PML-N leaders, adding that he and Justice Aamer Farooq were abroad when the appeal was filed and the case was fixed for hearing.

    “Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Miangul Hassan were present in the country at the time. Did you inquire about this from the high court registrar?”

    He observed that noted lawyers were part of the case against the PML-N leaders. “Did you ask them if they had requested a date before the general elections?”

    He said that Khawaja Haris was the petitioner at the time. “Did you check with him about the bench hearing the case?”

    “If another judge spoke like this in front of me I would get in touch with the Supreme Judicial Council,” he said.

    “A person witnesses the CJP asking someone to commit a crime. The person stays silent for three years and an affidavit concerning the incident surfaces. How can a newspaper publish such a document?” he asked.

    Earlier it was reported that on directions of the ex-CJP Saqib Nisar, a high court judge did not release Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 general elections. A news report was published in The News, based on a signed affidavit of the ex-CJ Gilgit Baltistan.

    “Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif must remain in jail until the general elections are over. On assurances from the other side, he (Saqib Nisar) became calm and happily demanded another cup of tea,” said the affidavit.

    The affidavit contains the signature of the ex-CJ of Gilgit Baltistan as well as an image of his CNIC. The notary public stamped the affidavit and recorded that it was “sworn under oath before me” on November 10, 2021.

  • Govt summons joint session of parliament on Nov 17

    The government has decided to convene the joint session of parliament on Wednesday, November 17, as it continues its efforts to persuade its allies — the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) — to rein in their support.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry insisted that the government allies had expressed confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and assured him of voting in favour of the bills.

    “Reservations of the coalition partners have been removed and the government had unanimously decided to convene a joint session of the parliament on Wednesday,” said Fawad.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said, “The allies have assured the prime minister that they will support all eight or 10 bills to be tabled in the joint sitting of the parliament.”

    Earlier, PML-Q on Sunday decided that it was parting ways with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and launching its campaign for the next general elections.

    The party’s parliamentarians noted that people were facing a hard time in making ends meet because of the government’s “negligence”.

  • ‘If Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, so can Saqib Nisar’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    ‘If Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, so can Saqib Nisar’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    “If Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, so can Saqib Nisar,” said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at a press conference in Islamabad.

    Abbasi was addressing the media along with Khawaja Asif after the claims of former Chief Judge (CJ) of the apex court of Gilgit Baltistan Rana M Shamim came to light. Justice Shamim, in a signed affidavit, wrote that he is a witness to the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar’s direction to a high court judge not to release Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 general elections.

    “I pray that Nisar is not involved in this act. Getting involved in the country’s affairs is unconstitutional […] Nisar had visited hospitals and tried to build dams, thus we have to believe Rana Shamim’s statement,” said Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

    “Three people, including Rana Shamin and Saqib Nisar, are aware of the facts, but the people of Pakistan should also know the truth. If someone meddles with elections, so don’t we hold the right to question them?” he said.

    Khawaja Asif said that the PML-N would raise Shamim’s allegations in parliament, as he had recorded his statement “without any pressure”.

    Meanwhile, Saqib Nisar said he didn’t want to respond to the “white lies” of the ex-GB chief justice.

    “I have never spoken to anybody or any high court judge in connection to any matter related to Mian sahab,” he said.

    Nisar said that Shamim had asked him for an extension but he didn’t accept his request, adding that the ex-GB CJ had also complained to him about the same.

  • Islamabad High Court takes notice of the allegations against former CJP Saqib Nisar

    Islamabad High Court takes notice of the allegations against former CJP Saqib Nisar

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday took notice of the claims of former Chief Judge (CJ) of the apex court of Gilgit Baltistan Rana M Shamim, who in a signed affidavit wrote that he is a witness to the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar’s direction to a high court judge not to release Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 general elections.

    Meanwhile, Saqib Nisar said he didn’t want to respond to the “white lies” of the ex-GB chief justice.

    “I have never spoken to anybody or any high court judge in connection to any matter related to Mian sahab,” he said, reports Dawn.

    Nisar said that Shamim had asked him for an extension but he didn’t accept his request, adding that the ex-GB CJ had also complained to him about the same.

    When asked why he had not issued a public statement on the matter, he replied: “Why should I? […] I don’t want to stoop to his level.”

    Reacting to the story, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, “Jokes in the name of news are being circulated in the country to prove that Nawaz Sharif is a victim.”

    PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted, “This affidavit of the former Chief Justice of Gilgit-Baltistan is a testimony against this heinous crime.”

    On the other hand, IHC has issued a contempt notice to Jang/ Geo CEO Mir Shakil and senior journalist Ansar Abbasi, for publishing the news report against the former Chief Justice of Pakistan.