Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘Three sugar mills in Sindh were shut down, leading to an increase in the price of sugar to Rs140 per kg’: PM Khan

    ‘Three sugar mills in Sindh were shut down, leading to an increase in the price of sugar to Rs140 per kg’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan during an address at a ceremony in Attock on Friday said that Sindh shut down three operational sugar mills, which contributed to an increase in the price of sugar.

    “The price of sugar in Pakistan has hit Rs140 per kg. I inquired why this was so. I learned that three sugar mills in Sindh, which were operational, were shut down,” the prime minister said.

    The prime minister went on to say that he subsequently learnt that due to the reduced supply, the sugar mills in Punjab began to hoard the commodity.

    “I told the chief secretary that our law forbids hoarding and so if the sugar mills are doing so, we must retrieve the stock and bring it out to the market so the price drops.”

    “We found out that since July, the sugar mills have obtained a stay order against the rule. And so our government was unable to do anything,” PM Imran Khan said.

    “This is a gross injustice that the sugar mafia earns billions after having broken the backs of our people. And when the government moves to do something, they obtain stay orders,” he remarked.

    PM Khan claimed that there was uproar in India as well over high petrol prices and Pakistan still had the cheapest petrol prices in the region.

    “In India today, there is uproar as well [over petrol prices] and the petrol price per litre is Rs150 while it is Rs200 in Bangladesh. [On the other hand] it is the lowest in Pakistan at Rs146,” the premier said.

    “The biggest [impact] of what happened was that the oil price first decreased and now in the last three months it has doubled […] when oil becomes expensive, then everything becomes expensive.”

    “When there was inflation in the whole world then obviously Pakistan is in this same world and not in the heavens so we also had to be affected. As a result, we fully tried and are still trying to protect our people from this inflation.”

    The prime minister’s comments come the same day as the government increased petroleum prices by up to Rs8.14 per litre with immediate effect to ensure the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

  • Watch: Firdous Ashiq Awan’s reply on whether PM is a thief if petrol prices increase

    Watch: Firdous Ashiq Awan’s reply on whether PM is a thief if petrol prices increase

    Anchorperson Waseem Badami, while speaking with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Firdous Ashiq Awan on ARY News programme, ‘Hur Lamha Por Josh’, asked Awan that if the prices of petrol increase, does it mean that the prime minister (PM) is a thief.

    “This is a difficult thing,” replied Awan laughingly.

    “My innocent prime minister [Imran Khan] is saying this that innocent prime minister cannot be a thief.”

    Badami said that since this is a generic question, should he take Awan’s answer as a yes or a no.

    “Take the anwser for this in the middle,” replied Awan.

  • ‘Govt is only giving takleef’, Opposition slams price hike

    The Opposition slammed Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s government for increasing petroleum prices once again and setting a new record in the country’s history.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said, “Government officers are being changed because of incompetence but Imran Khan is still sitting on his seat after the biggest incompetence and corruption,” adding that it had been proved that the incumbent government could “only give takleef (trouble) to people instead of relief”.

    “[PM] Imran Niazi has become a killer of people’s joy,” tweeted Shehbaz.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took to Twitter and wrote, “Govt increase petrol in the dead of night by Rs8. Increase of almost 20rs in less than a month.”

    PPP leader Sherry Rehman also slammed the government and tweeted, “Days after announcing a ‘relief package’, PTI govt drops another petrol bomb by hiking petrol prices by a whopping Rs8.14/L. Petrol prices now stand at a record Rs145.8/L. First time in Pakistan’s history that prices of all petroleum products are above Rs110/L.”

    PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb demanded the resignation of PM Khan. “Increasing the price of petrol and sugar under the relief package is only increasing the hardships of the people and making life easier for the mafia and filling their pockets.”

    Earlier today, the Opposition protested against the ‘petrol bomb’ by walking out during Senate proceedings.

    Meanwhile, PPP Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi chose to protest the increase in petrol prices by cycling to Parliament House from Parliament Lodges.

  • Direct, face-to-face talks between govt and TTP for temporary truce

    Direct, face-to-face talks between govt and TTP for temporary truce

    Pakistani officials have reached a temporary understanding with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to seek a broader peace agreement to end nearly two decades of militancy in the country, reports Dawn.

    The news report reveals that the “direct, face-to-face” talks between the two sides being held in Afghanistan’s south-western Khost province for nearly two weeks had resulted in a tentative understanding to declare a countrywide truce, conditional to the release of some TTP foot soldiers as part of confidence-building measures.

    It was not confirmed as to how many militants in Pakistan’s custody would be allowed to go free, but sources said the number was not more than two dozen people. “These are foot soldiers, not senior or mid-level commanders,” the sources said. “We are testing the ground. We are cautious,” they added.

    “The truce will come into effect once the prisoners are released,” these sources said.

    “The tentative month-long truce shall be extendable, depending on how these negotiations go forward,” a source said.

  • Petroleum prices increased by up to Rs8.14 per litre

    Petroleum prices increased by up to Rs8.14 per litre

    The government increased the petroleum prices again by up to Rs 8.14 per litre early in the morning on Friday.

    For the first time in the country’s history, the prices of all the petroleum products are above Rs110 per litre, reported Dawn.

    The announcement was made by the Ministry of Finance on Friday with immediate effect to ensure the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

    The government increased the price of petrol and high speed diesel by Rs 8.03 and Rs 8.14 per litre, respectively. Similarly, the prices of kerosene and light diesel oil were increased by Rs 6.27 and Rs 5.72 per litre, respectively.

    Under the notification, the new price of petrol is Rs145.82 per litre The price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) is now Rs142.62 per litre.

    The price of kerosene is set at Rs116.53 per litre. Likewise, the rate of light diesel oil (LDO) has increased to Rs114.07.

    The news came forward after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s announcement of the “biggest” relief package worth Rs120 billion. However, he cautioned that there will be an increase in fuel prices in the coming days.

  • Punjab govt initiates process to unban TLP

    The Punjab government has initiated the process to unban Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

    Punjab Home Department sent a summary for the revocation of the TLP ban to Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar and his cabinet.

    https://twitter.com/arshdchaudhary/status/1456206675728347137?s=21

    The notification by the Home Department requested the provincial government to respond in three days.

    After the likely approval from CM Buzdar and the provincial cabinet, the federal government will be moved to do away with TLP’s banned status, said the Home Department.

    Earlier today, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that the chief of TLP, Saad Hussain Rizvi, had insisted on the closure of the French embassy in the country and asked that this issue is brought in the National Assembly, reports Dawn.

    Moreover, the minister said, “I have made signatures on the previous agreement and I am steadfast on this. As for the rest of the problems, two ministers have been appointed and they will answer your queries.”

    The Punjab government also decided to release 100 more activists of the proscribed organisation from different jails in the province. Previously 2,000 jailed activists of the banned organisation were released.

    Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan hinted at the release of Saad Rizvi and said that the state cannot afford to ban a party that has a 2.5 million vote bank in Punjab.


  • Deadly US drone strike in Kabul did not break law, says Pentagon

    Deadly US drone strike in Kabul did not break law, says Pentagon

    Following an investigation, a Pentagon inspector general said that a United States (US) airstrike that killed 10 civilians in Afghanistan was a mistake but did not violate any laws and doesn’t recommend any disciplinary action, reported Al Jazeera.

    US Air Force Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Sami Said stated: “They all have a genuine belief based on the information they had and the interpretation, that was a threat to US forces, an imminent threat to US forces. That’s a mistake. It’s a regrettable mistake. It’s an honest mistake. I understand the consequences, but it’s not criminal conduct, random conduct, negligence.”

    Lt Gen Said admitted that there had been execution errors and communication breakdowns among the US forces at the time that led to civilian casualties.

    Said was asked to investigate the August 29 drone strike on a white Toyota Corolla Sedan, which killed nine family members, including seven children and a man who worked for a US aid group.

    According to the US air force general, the forces believed that the car they were following was an imminent threat as the US military had intelligence that Daesh militants were planning a fresh attack on the evacuation operations but they followed the wrong car.

    He revealed, “We actually never ended up tracking the actual Toyota Corolla.”

    He also admitted that the people involved in conducting the operation thought the house at the site of the target was empty.

    “They were convinced that the compound didn’t have children in it. It turns out to be wrong,” he said. None of the individuals conducting the operation noticed a child entering the target area just two minutes before the attack was launched.

    According to Dawn, Washington is working to pay financial reparations to the victims’ families but nothing has been finalised.

  • Politicians extend Diwali wishes to Hindu community celebrating their festival of light

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan took to Twitter and extended his wishes to Pakistani Hindus on the eve of Diwali, the festival of lights.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter and wrote, “May the festival of lights be the source of peace, love, and joy around the world!”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto wished the Hindu community and tweeted, “Happy #Diwali to everyone celebrating.”

    Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “Wishing you all the happiness and prosperity. Diya jalaaye rakhna.” [Keep the lights burning].

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minister Fawad Chaudhry wished the community and tweeted, “Very Happy Diwali to those celebrating… #Diwali.”

    PTI leader Asad Umar tweeted, “Wishing all Hindus a very happy Diwali.”

    PPP Senator Sherry Rehman too wished those celebrating Diwali.

  • Nazim Jhokio murder: FIR registered against PPP MPA

    Nazim Jhokio murder: FIR registered against PPP MPA

    A man who recently posted a video of foreigners hunting Houbara bustard in Thatta district on social media was found dead in Karachi’s Malir district on Wednesday, reports The News.

    A few days back, Nazim Jhokio had stopped a car with a foreign registration number plate and asked the people sitting inside the vehicle why they had blocked the road and what were they doing there. Jhokio filmed the entire episode, in which a passenger sitting next to the driving seat is seen stepping out of the car and snatching his phone.

    In another video, Nazim said he had been tortured and threatened over the video he shot of the Arab guests of some influential persons.

    On Wednesday, the police recovered Nazim Jhokio’s dead body from Memon Goth in Malir and got his postmortem conducted at a hospital.

    The police have registered a murder case against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Jam Awais, Niaz Salar, and others.

    Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the murder and directed the authorities to provide justice to the victim’s family.

  • Pakistan to appoint new US envoy soon

    Pakistan to appoint new US envoy soon

    Pakistan may soon send a new envoy to the United States (US) as the country’s current ambassador, Asad Majeed Khan, will soon complete his tenure, reports Dawn.

    Former Azad Jammu Kashmir President Masood Khan tops the list of candidates.

    Masood was appointed as the 27th president of Azad Kashmir by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2016.

    Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden also nominated a new ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Armin Blome, an expert on Middle East affairs. He is currently the US ambassador to Tunisia.