Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Fawad Chaudhry condemned for saying Dawn is part of international conspiracy against Pak

    Fawad Chaudhry condemned for saying Dawn is part of international conspiracy against Pak

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry accused Dawn media group of being part of an international conspiracy against Pakistan.

    When anchorperson Absa Komal asked Fawad about media freedom in Pakistan and for an update on the investigation related to recent attacks on journalists in Islamabad, Fawad dodged the question and said, “Your institution [Dawn] is an active participant of an international conspiracy theory which works against Pakistan.” Fawad appeared on ‘News Eye with Absa Komal’ on Dawn News.

    “Your institution propagates an environment that works against the country, trying to take things out of context.”

    “Human Rights Watch (HRW) has written an entire article on PMDA and it says that there is five-year prosecution. When we inquired about it from HRW, they said it was entirely based on [Dawn’s] editorial,” said Fawad.

    Twitter reacted to the minister’s statement against Dawn.

    Journalist Benazir Shah tweeted, “The Info. Minister accuses Dawn of being part of an ‘international conspiracy’ to defame Pakistan, without presenting a shred of evidence to support his claim. On the other hand, there is enough evidence of increasing censorship against media.”

    Lawyer Aftab Alam questioned, “If govt is serious about media regulatory reforms, why is it keeping the process secret? Why not putting ‘Bill’ on the official page of @GovtofPakistan and sharing with stakeholders?”

    Another Twitter user wrote, “A journalist has a genuine concern? – Instead of addressing it just accuse them of being anti-state and dodge the question. This way you save yourself the embarrassment of giving a proper clarification which you clearly don’t have.”

  • Shireen Mazari calls for banning men in parks ‘to teach them a lesson’

    Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari, while presenting a report on the Minar-e-Pakistan incident to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, has said that there should be a specific time slot for women to visit parks and men should not be allowed in during that time.

    “Why are restrictions being imposed on women?” questioned Mazari.

    “It has been observed that most of the problems are caused by the youth. Curbs should be imposed on them to teach the youth a lesson,” she added.

    In an update on the case, three suspects have confessed to assaulting Ayesha Akram at Minar-e-Pakistan. In addition, a total of five suspects have been identified by Ayesha Akram, Geo News has reported.

    Read more- Suspect in Minar-e-Pakistan incident gets pre-arrest bail

    Ayesha Akram was attacked by 400 men on August 14 when she was trying to record a video with four friends to celebrate Independence Day.

  • India snatched Syed Ali Geelani’s body early morning ahead of his funeral

    India snatched Syed Ali Geelani’s body early morning ahead of his funeral

     Pakistan on Thursday condemned India’s act of snatching Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani’s body ahead of his funeral.

    According to Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Asim Iftikhar, “The Indian government is fearful of Syed Ali Geelani even after his demise.”

    “It is reflective of the rage, tyranny, and barbarianism of the Indian occupation forces,” he remarked.

    Iftikhar in a statement said that as the family was preparing for the last rites of Syed Geelani, a group of the occupation forces raided his residence in Srinagar, harassed family members, and snatched Syed Geelani’s body.

    “When the family members told the raiding party that Syed Geelani’s will was to be buried in the ‘Cemetery of Martyrs’ in Srinagar, they were reportedly told that India would not allow Syed Geelani’s burial at the place of his choosing,” he said.

    “India has been violating all civil and human rights norms in the occupied valley,” maintained Iftikhar.

    Indian media subsequently reported the burial of the Hurriyat leader. A curfew has been imposed in the valley and all internet services have been suspended.

    Syed Ali Geelani’s son told AP that the family had planned the burial at the main Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar as per his will but were disallowed by the police.

    “They snatched his body and forcibly buried him. Nobody from the family was present for his burial. We tried to resist but they overpowered us and even scuffled with women,” said his son Naseem Geelani.

    Geelani was the former head of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) but quit politics last year in June. Geelani passed away at his home in Srinagar after a prolonged illness.

  • Syed Ali Geelani laid to rest in Srinagar amid tight security

    Veteran Kashmiri leader and freedom fighter Syed Ali Shah Geelani was laid to rest amid high security at Hyderpora in Srinagar early Thursday morning around 4:30am local time, Radio Pakistan reported. The funeral prayers were attended by close friends and family.

    Syed Ali Geelani’s son told AP that the family had planned the burial at the main Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar as per his will but were disallowed by the police.

    “They snatched his body and forcibly buried him. Nobody from the family was present for his burial. We tried to resist but they overpowered us and even scuffled with women,” said Naseem Geelani.

    AP also reported that the Indian authorities have imposed a near-total communications blackout in Indian-Occupied Kashmir.

    Geelani was the former head of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) but quit politics last year in June. Geelani passed away at his home in Srinagar after a prolonged illness. He had been under house arrest for the last 12 years after leading several anti-India protests. Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that Pakistan flag will fly at half mast and “we will observe a day of official mourning”.

  • Mohsin Dawar launches political party with members of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement

    Member National Assembly (MNA) Mohsin Dawar on Wednesday launched a new political party called the National Democratic Movement (NDM). The new party includes some members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM).

    NDM’s central organising committee was announced at its first formal meeting in Peshawar. Mohsin Dawar will be the central organiser, Muzamil Shah general secretary and Jamila Gilani information secretary. Abdullah Nangyal, Ibrahim Khan, Haroon Bazai, Anwar Sulemankhel, Aijaz Aslam and Tariq Wazir Khan are also part of the central organising committee.

    NDM’s first press conference was attended by former senator Afrasiab Khattak, former MNA Bushra Gohar and several others. The manifesto of the new political party was also unveiled at the launch. It says that the party’s basic principle is the promotion of a secular federal democratic parliamentary system, among other things. It also states that the NDM believes in upholding civilian constitutional supremacy.

    Talking to The Current, Mohsin Dawar said the NDM will speak for the oppressed and the marginalised from every part of Pakistan. “We believe in supremacy of parliament and we believe in providing space to the youth to lead this movement. We want to steer the country towards equality and progress and will also resist growing militarisation, which is dominating every sphere.”

  • Pakistan to observe day of mourning for Kashmiri freedom fighter Syed Ali Geelani

    Veteran Kashmiri leader and freedom fighter Syed Ali Shah Geelani passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. He was the former head of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) but quit politics last year in June. Geelani passed away at his home in Srinagar after a prolonged illness. He had been under house arrest for the last 12 years after leading several anti-India protests.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted that he was “saddened to learn of the passing of Kashmiri freedom fighter Syed Ali Geelani”. PM Khan said that we in Pakistan salute his courageous struggle and remember his words: “Hum Pakistani hain aur Pakistan Humara hai.” He announced that the Pakistan flag will fly at half mast and “we will observe a day of official mourning”.

    DG ISPR tweeted a condolence message from Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, which said that Geelani’s “lifelong sacrifices & ceaseless struggle symbolises indomitable resolve of Kashmiris against Indian occupation. His dream & his mission will live on until People of IIOJ&K win their right of self determination.”

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari and several other Pakistani leaders expressed their grief and paid tributes to Geelani.

  • Government’s priorities revolve around how to tease the Opposition: Maryam

    Government’s priorities revolve around how to tease the Opposition: Maryam

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, while speaking to the media on Wednesday said that “The sitting government is not concerned about lawlessness, inflation, or increasing crimes.”

    ” Its [Government’s] priorities revolve around how to tease the Opposition, silence the media, and how to plan the next rigging,” said Maryam.

    Lashing out at the performance of the Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) government, Maryam said that the parameters of performance are measured in good or bad.

    She described the incumbent government’s past three-year performance as “nothing short of destruction”. 

    In her opinion, the PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif was talking about a national consensus not a formation of a national government.

    “The country is in dire need of national reconciliation barring this government. All others parts must unite and think how the government should be ousted,” added Maryam.

    She commented on the Media Regulatory Authority, saying that the government is creating hurdles for the media, adding that the bill was a continuation of the draconian government’s incumbent policies aimed at censoring the media. 

    In response to a question on Nawaz Sharif’s return, she said: “There is no precedent for what the PML-N has endured. Nawaz Sharif has taken far more than was required.”

    “I would like to say again today that this is an illegitimate and incompetently imposed government. And what they are is not accountability but revenge,” reiterated Maryam.

    “Circumstances have changed a lot. Very soon, you will see a lot of things change. Nawaz Sharif will return to the country when it is necessary for him to do so,” said Maryam.

  • Thinking of retiring from politics if no one bothers me: Sheikh Rasheed

    Thinking of retiring from politics if no one bothers me: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that he is thinking of retiring from politics.

    While speaking to journalist Waseem Abbasi, Sheikh Rasheed said Interior Ministry is a challenging ministry and mentally he is thinking of retiring now.

    “Every day there is an incident in this ministry. It is a sensitive ministry. Security is involved. The Railways Ministry was a normal ministry. But here the work pressure extends to 18 hours a day,” said Sheikh.

    When asked will he be contesting in the next general elections, Sheikh Rasheed responded, “If no one bothers me, I will not be contesting in the next general elections. Two years are left [for the elections] to happen, so I am of the view that I should retire.”

    According to Rasheed, he was not going to contest the 2018 elections, but when Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif said that “I (Sheikh Rasheed) will not be in the next assembly, I just had to contest.”

    




    




    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Shehbaz’s remarks about a national govt are his personal views: PML-N
    
			
    Shehbaz’s remarks about a national govt are his personal views: PML-N
    
			
    

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks about the formation of a national government have stirred up a political debate in the country, reported Dawn.
    




    PML-N termed the party president’s views as passing remarks based on his personal opinion about a post-election scenario.
    




    “PML-N president and National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif made a passing remark that if the people of Pakistan by the grace of God Almighty gave the PML-N the responsibility to govern again after the next elections, in his personal view he would not mind inviting other political parties, excluding the PTI, to contribute towards solving the massive crisis created by the Imran Khan government over their disastrous tenure in government,” said Marriyum Aurangzeb in a brief statement.
    




    “Any news item carried by any news media stating otherwise is a misrepresentation of what the PML-N president said,” she added.
    




    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) described the statement as clear proof that the Pakistan Democratic Move­ment (PDM) no more exists. The PPP believed it was an effort by the PML-N leader to keep himself “politically alive”.
    




    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that Sharif’s proposal of a national government was “a bid to save his own skin”.
    




    Sharif, while speaking to journalists in Karachi said, “Frankly, I am telling you that sometimes when I look at these huge problems and challenges, I feel convinced that it’s not possible for one party alone [to fix them],” he had said, adding: “It needs collective wisdom. It requires collective efforts. That’s why I think we should have a national government in place to sort out these huge tasks. I don’t know what the exact shape of this idea would be and the right time may make things clearer but for me it’s crucial. Even if we [PML-N] win a majority, we can’t fix it alone.”
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Taliban secretly escorted Americans to Kabul Airport in deal with US
    
			
    Taliban secretly escorted Americans to Kabul Airport in deal with US
    
			
    

    The US military negotiated a secret arrangement with the Taliban that resulted in members of the militant group escorting clusters of Americans to the gates of the Kabul airport as they sought to escape Afghanistan, two defence officials told CNN.
    





    One of the officials also revealed that US special operations forces set up a “secret gate” at the airport and established “call centres” to guide Americans through the evacuation process. One of the military officials said the arrangement with the Taliban “worked beautifully”.
    




    Americans involved in an unofficial network dedicated to helping Americans and vulnerable Afghans said there were problems — particularly in the beginning — as the Taliban turned away US citizens and legal permanent residents the militant group was supposed to allow through.
    




    The two US defence officials said Americans were notified to gather at pre-set “muster points” close to the airport where the Taliban would check their credentials and take them a short distance to a gate manned by American forces who were standing by to let them inside amid huge crowds of Afghans seeking to flee. The US troops were able to see the Americans approach with their Taliban escorts as they progressed through the crowds, presumably ready to intervene in case anything happened.