Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘Chance at a normal life’: Fawad supports TTP integration

    ‘Chance at a normal life’: Fawad supports TTP integration

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry is supporting ‘a normal life’ for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), those of whom wish to pledged loyalty to the state, reports Geo.

    Fawad said, “The people who could not fulfill their pledge of allegiance to Pakistan want to return to fulfill this pledge.”

    According to the minister, those people who wish to follow the constitution should be given a chance, adding that the government seeks to move forward with the conditions laid down by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Earlier, PM Khan called for the disarmament of the TTP by saying, “We can forgive them and they can become normal citizens.”

    The information minister added that in Balochistan more than 3000 people have come back to a normal life, the ones who had ‘fallen prey to India’s conspiracies.’

    The TTP said that their leaders are engaged in “secret talks” and have asked all fighters to observe a ceasefire till October 20.

  • US official calls for Pakistan action against militants ‘without distinction’

    US official calls for Pakistan action against militants ‘without distinction’

    US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will meet with Pakistani officials during her October 7-8 visit.

    Ahead of her visit, Sherman told reporters, “We seek a strong partnership with Pakistan on counterterrorism and we expect sustained action against all militant and terrorist groups without distinction.”

    “Both of our countries have suffered terribly from the scourge of terrorism and we look forward to cooperative efforts to eliminate all regional and global terrorist threats,” she said.

    In an important development prior to her visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan told Turkey’s TRT World television, “Some of the Pakistani Taliban groups actually want to talk to our government for some peace, for some reconciliation.”

    “If the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) lay down their arms, we can forgive them and they can become normal citizens,” said PM Khan.

    “I repeat I do not believe in military solutions. I am anti-military solutions, so I always believe that being a politician, political dialogue is the way ahead, which I always believed was the case in Afghanistan,” added the premier.

  • PPP questions PM Khan for not taking parliament into confidence over talks with TTP

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman tweeted that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan again wants to give amnesty to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). She questioned whether PM Khan had asked parliament “what we think about that”. She also questioned whether the premier had heard the TTP response to the government’s offer of reconciliation.

     PPP’s Nayyar Bokhari pointed out that the parliament had been “bypassed” and called on the government to clarify the terms on which these talks were being held.

    In a separate statement, PPP information secretary Shazia Marri said: “On what basis and under what conditions are talks being held with the TTP? Why was the parliament not taken into confidence? Why did the government feel the need to hold secret talks with the TTP in this way?”

    These statements came after Prime Minister Imran Khan said that if the TTP lay down their arms, “we can forgive them and they can become normal citizens”. 

  • Ehsanullah Ehsan joins Twitter space, says he is not ashamed of attacking Malala

    Ehsanullah Ehsan joins Twitter space, says he is not ashamed of attacking Malala

    Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan participated in a Twitter space hosted by journalist Azaz Syed on Friday. In a video clip widely shared by social media users, Ehsan can be heard saying that he does not feel ashamed about taking the responsibility of the attack on Malala Yousafzai. He added that the attack on Malala was justified.

    Ehsanullah is also a prime accused in the 2014 attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar.

    In a separate development, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that if theTTP lay down their arms, “we can forgive them and they can become normal citizens”. PM Khan said this in an interview with journalist Ali Mustafa, which will air on TRT World Now.

  • ‘If TTP lay down arms, we can forgive them and they become normal citizens’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that if the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) lay down their arms, “we can forgive them and they can become normal citizens”. PM Khan said this in an interview with journalist Ali Mustafa, which will air on TRT World Now.

    “Pakistani Taliban groups actually want to talk to our government for some peace, for some reconciliation and we are in talks with some of those groups,” added PM Khan.

    “Is the Afghan Taliban helping you in this process?” questioned Ali Mustafa.

    “In a sense that the talks are taking place in Afghanistan so yes, you can say it in this sense.”

    Mustafa asked if Pakistan was expecting some sort of an agreement or a deal to come out from the Taliban.

    “Yes, I repeat I do not believe in military solutions. I’m anti-military solutions, so I always believe that being a politician, political dialogue is the way ahead, which I always believed was the case in Afghanistan,” added the premier.

    Last month, President Dr Arif Alvi had said that if anyone wants to leave the ideology of the banned TTP and work as per the Constitution of Pakistan, the government may consider a general amnesty.

    President Alvi said, “The TTP is a threat to us. We have been told that they will stay with them [Afghan Taliban] but do nothing against Pakistan.”

    “It’s one step, Pakistan will consider general amnesty, if anyone surrenders,” further added Alvi.

    A few days after the president’s statement, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in an interview with The Independent also said that the government would be “open to giving” a pardon to members of the banned TTP if they promise not to get involved in terrorism and follow the Constitution of Pakistan.

    Qureshi added, “If [the TTP] are willing to mend fences and not take the law into their hands and not get involved in terrorist activities and they submit and surrender to the writ of the government and the Constitution of Pakistan, we are even open to giving them a pardon.”

    “But as long as they do not come and start undertaking terrorist activities [in Pakistan]. That is our concern,” the foreign minister stressed.

  • Accountability court indicts Shehbaz Sharif’s wife in money laundering case

    Accountability court indicts Shehbaz Sharif’s wife in money laundering case

    An accountability court in Lahore indicated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif’s wife Nusrat Shehbaz in money laundering case reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), reports Dawn.

    During the hearing, Judge Naseem Virk indicted Sharif’s wife who is currently residing in London. NAB prosecutor Usman Rashid Cheema was also present there.

    Shehbaz Sharif’s plea for exemption from appearance got accepted as he has been advised complete rest by doctors after he slipped from the stairs.

    The hearing was adjourned till October 18.

    Following the decision by British National Crime Agency (NCA) about unfreezing of Sharif and his family’s bank accounts, NAB sources had claimed that the money laundering case is very different from it.

    Last year in August, NAB had filed before an accountability court a Rs8 billion reference of money laundering against Shehbaz, his wife, his two sons and other family members.

    Some sources had claimed that NAB Lahore investigated the assets of Sharif’s family through money laundering and fake foreign telegraphic transfers. 

  • Summary being prepared for NAB chief extension

    Summary being prepared for NAB chief extension

    The Ministry of Law and Justice has reportedly been preparing a summary to send to the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan regarding the extension of sitting Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice (redtd) Javed Iqbal, reported Malik Asad for Dawn.

    The four-year term of Justice Iqbal as NAB chairman will expire this month. A senior official of the ministry has confirmed that they will send the proposal to the PM soon.

    However, the government hasn’t taken a final decision yet. According to an official, in the proposal, the declaration of an ordinance for giving extension has been suggested.

    “In case the PM decides to grant an extension to the chairman, the law ministry will draft an ordinance to amend the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) and forward it to the president,” the sources said.

    If PM agrees, an amendment will be made in sub-section b of Section 6, which states, “There shall be a Chairman NAB to be appointed by the President in consultation with the [Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly] for a [non-extendable] period of [four] years on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the President and shall not be removed except on the grounds of removal of Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan.”

    Earlier, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said, “The government has decided not to consult Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif for the appointment of NAB chairman since he (Sharif) is accused in several corruption references filed by the bureau.”

    Later, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted that PPP will forcefully oppose the illegal extension in the tenure of chairman NAB.

  • ‘Petroleum products prices in Pak are still lower than other countries’: Shaukat Tarin

    ‘Petroleum products prices in Pak are still lower than other countries’: Shaukat Tarin

    Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on Friday said the rates of petroleum products in Pakistan are still lower when compared to several regional countries.

    Tarin said Pakistan ranks 17th in the region when it comes to petrol prices.

    “There are only 16 other countries that have lower petrol prices than ours. They are oil producers and have their own oil,” said Tarin.

    “Prices in the international market have increased recently forcing the government to hike local prices,” he said after petrol prices were increased by Rs4 per litre and that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs2 per litre.

    Shaukat Tarin said Prime Minister Imran Khan stopped the ministry from increasing the levy as he wanted to lessen the burden on the masses. “This is the reason we want to give direct subsidy to the lower-income group.”

    “We are not even charging [petroleum] levy even though we have kept a target of Rs600 billion for it in the budget. But we and the prime minister didn’t care for it.”

    Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman has criticised the government for dropping a “petrol bomb” on the masses in times of extreme inflation.

  • VIDEO: Heated argument between PTI’s Shahbaz Gill and anchor Kamran Shahid

    VIDEO: Heated argument between PTI’s Shahbaz Gill and anchor Kamran Shahid

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM), Dr Shahbaz Gill, alleged that anchorperson Kamran Shahid was asked to spread fake news and misquote facts about the United Kingdom’s (UK) court order to unfreeze Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his family’s bank accounts for lack of evidence of corruption and money laundering. A heated exchange took place between the two on Dunya News‘ programme, ‘On the Front with Kamran Shahid’.

    Gill started off by reading a few statements by Kamran Shahid and gave details of the statements, which as per him were fake news and were factually incorrect.

    Gill’s comments led to a heated exchange of words between Gill and Kamran.

    “Sir, no one can make me misquote statements, not the prime minister or Azhar Javed [UK-based journalist working for Dunya News],” replied Kamran Shahid.

    “You cannot say that I misquote my facts. I have been in journalism for the past 15 years. I am not indulging in any personal attacks against you and neither should you. No one can make me say things that are factually incorrect, not PM Imran Khan, not Shehbaz Sharif, no one,” added Shahid.

    “You are wrong here, no one has the courage to make me misquote my statements or facts. Refrain from doing this.”

    “Let the masses decide about your statements, seems like you are running for an election,” said Gill in response to Shahid’s answer.

    “I have the right to judge the prime minister, he is my PM as well. I supported him long before your [Shahbaz Gill] career as a politician started in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI),” said Shahid.

    “You have a fascist regime, your party is monitoring everything, you all do one-sided reporting on Pakistan Television Network (PTV), there is no mention of the Opposition in their reporting. If you so highly support journalism why haven’t you made media independent from the information ministry,” said Shahid.

    Shahid added, “PM promised in my show that he will raise the standard of PTV like that of the BBC, now should I say the PM lied?”

  • Israeli officers kill Palestinian woman after alleged stabbing, open fire on medical help

    Israeli officers kill Palestinian woman after alleged stabbing, open fire on medical help

    Israeli officers fatally shot a Palestinian woman who allegedly tried to stab the officers in one of the streets leading to Al Aqsa mosque, which is considered Islam’s third holiest site.

    An Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist heard the gunshots and found her body on the ground.

    The alleged attempted attack did not result in any casualties. Later, police opened fire at medical forces who arrived at the scene of her death.

    The police claimed that the 30-year-old deceased woman was leaving the Al Aqsa compound when she approached them [officers].

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces also killed a man by opening fire on him during an operation conducted by Israeli troops and border police. No Israeli forces were wounded in this incident.

    “During the operation, an armed [male] fired at the forces who were operating in the village during a riot,” police said.

    “Border police forces responded with gunfire and neutralised him,” they said, confirming his death to AFP.

    A total of five Palestinians were killed on Sunday after an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank which sparked gunbattles with Hamas fighters.