Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘I am currently in talks to return to Afghanistan’: Ashraf Ghani

    ‘I am currently in talks to return to Afghanistan’: Ashraf Ghani

    Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani has taken refuge in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    Ghani left Afghanistan as the Taliban advanced on the capital city, Kabul, over the weekend.

    The UAE’s foreign ministry said the country has welcomed Ghani and his family on humanitarian grounds.

    In a video address later on Wednesday, Ghani denied fleeing and said he had left to prevent what he described as a “huge disaster”, reported the BBC.

    “For now, I am in the Emirates so that bloodshed and chaos is stopped,” he said, “I am currently in talks to return to Afghanistan.”

    Ghani also said rumours that he had travelled to the UAE with a large amount of money were “completely baseless” and “lies”.

    The Russian embassy in Kabul alleged on Monday that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had fled the country with four cars and a helicopter full of cash and had to leave some money behind as not all of it would fit in, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

    Meanwhile, United States (US) President Joe Biden blamed the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan on Afghan political leaders who fled the country and the unwillingness of the US-trained Afghan army to fight the militant group.

    In his speech, Biden said that the US troops could not defend a nation whose leaders “gave up and fled”, as did Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

  • PM’s aide, judges allotted plots in Islamabad

    PM’s aide, judges allotted plots in Islamabad

    Two special assistants to the prime minister (SAPM), judges of the superior judiciary, and top bureaucrats are among those who have been allocated residential plots in Islamabad’s F-14 and F-15 sectors, reported Dawn.

    Federal Housing Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema chaired the proceedings. Over 4,500 applicants were declared successful.

    A list was posted by the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) on its website after the ballot on Tuesday.

    According to the list posted on the website, Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed has been allotted a plot in Sector F-15/3.

    Dr Waqar Masood Khan, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Finance (SAPM), was given a plot in F-15/4, while Dr Shahzad Arbab, the SAPM on Establishment, got a plot in Sector F-14/2.

    Judges of the superior judiciary, as well as those of the subordinate judiciary, and a few journalists have been placed in Category I — plots measuring one Kanal.

    Eight incumbent judges of the apex court are featured in the list. Seven retired judges of the Supreme Court were declared successful. Two former director-generals of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) — a former inspector general of Islamabad, the Secretary to Cabinet Division, and a number of other federal secretaries and bureaucrats working in BS-22 and 21 have been allotted plots.

    While the judges of all the provincial high courts have been allotted plots in F-14 and F-15, not a single judge from the Islamabad High Court was among the applicants.

  • Blast outside Bahawalnagar Imambargah kills 3, injures 35

    At least three people have been killed in a blast that occurred outside an Imambargah in Bahawalnagar on Thursday, Pakistan Television (PTV) News has reported.

    According to reports, 35 people have been injured in the blast. The injured have been moved to a nearby hospital and police has sealed the area. One suspect has been arrested from the location.

    A Shiite leader, Khawar Shafqat, while talking to AP News confirmed the bombing. As per Shafqat, the explosion took place when a procession of Shiite Muslims was passing through a congested neighbourhood of Muhajir Colony.

  • PM Khan, President Alvi and others share messages to mark Ashura

    Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi have shared messages to mark Ashura.

    PM Khan urged the nation not to desist from sacrificing their lives for the supremacy of the principles of truth and justice for what Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) sacrificed his life, Radio Pakistan has reported.

    He further urged people to pay tribute to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) by supporting truth and justice, besides thwarting every falsehood.

    President Dr Arif Alvi urged the nation to rise above hatred, malice and sectarianism in line with the teachings of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).

    He said the nation should prepare for all kinds of sacrifices as a metaphor for determination.

    Other politicians including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, ministers Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar shared messages on the day of Ashura.

  • #NotAllMen trends after 400 men publicly assault a woman

    Hashtag ‘Not All men’ is trending on Twitter, a day after FIR was filed against 400 men for assaulting a woman at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore. The hashtag has at least 5,300 tweets, till the time of filling the story. This was the second top trend on Pakistani Twitter after the hashtag #lahoreincident.

    People are calling out those who are using the hashtag #NotAllMen:

    https://twitter.com/iamtbkhayat/status/1427720052187488257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1427720052187488257%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcurrentold.perceptiond.net%2F%3Fp%3D124957

    People are showing their outrage on social media after a video went viral that shows a woman being sexually assaulted by a large group of men at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on 14 August, Pakistan’s independence day. The incident has been confirmed after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered.

    Politicians including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Shehbaz Sharif have condemned the incident.

  • Women’s Action Forum condemns ‘reprehensible’ attack at Minar-e-Pakistan

    Women’s Action Forum (WAF) has condemned the “reprehensible attack” at Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore. The statement of condemnation came a day after FIR was registered against 400 unidentified men for assaulting a woman.

    “This is yet another painful reminder that women and girls are not safe in Pakistan, and that public spaces are increasingly becoming breeding grounds for harassment, violence, and abuse inflicted upon women. We are horrified by the inhumane behaviour the men at Minar-e-Pakistan displayed and that too on Independence day, which reflects the free reign men in this country possess to behave violently without facing any form of accountability,” the press release shared by the forum stated.

    The statement also shed light on the irresponsible reporting of the incident by the local media. “Interviews given by the survivor on digital media has clearly shown how trauma is also being used to create sensationalism and it is important to remember that clips of her being mass groped may continue to haunt her in years to come.”

    The forum called on Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar, IGP Punjab Inam Ghani and DC Mudassir Riaz Malik “for their blatant neglect towards women’s safety in public spaces, and for failing to provide the adequate measures that should have been in place to prevent such a dreadful incident from occurring.”

    WAF is a non-partisan, non-hierarchical and non-funded women’s rights group.

  • Ashraf Ghani and family in UAE

    Ashraf Ghani and family in UAE

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday said that it had welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and his family into the country on humanitarian grounds.

    It still remains unclear whether Ghani flew directly to the UAE or was at another location since he left Kabul on Sunday.

    Ashraf left a note for his countrymen on social media, stating, “The Taliban have made it to remove me, they are here to attack all Kabul and the people of Kabul. In order to avoid the bleeding flood, I thought it was best to get out.”

    “Taliban have won the judgement of swords and guns and now they are responsible for protecting the countrymen’s honour, wealth, and self-esteem. Didn’t they win the legitimacy of hearts,” wrote Ashraf Ghani.

    Initially, he did not say where he had travelled to, but leading Afghan media group Tolo News suggested he had gone to Tajikistan.

    The Russian embassy in Kabul alleged on Monday that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had fled the country with four cars and a helicopter full of cash and had to leave some money behind as it would not all fit in, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

  • ‘It was her fault, Poor 400 men’: Female stars and politicians express anger on the ‘Minar-e-Pakistan’ incident

    Notable female personalities took to their social media handles to express their disappointment and anger over the tragic ‘Minar-e-Pakistan’ incident where a girl was harassed by a mob of 400 men.

    A viral video shows a woman being sexually assaulted by a large group of men at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on 14 August, Pakistan’s independence day. The incident has been confirmed after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered.

    Read more- #NotAllMen trends after 400 men publicly assault a woman

    Aseefa Bhutto Zardari wrote: “All those trying to justify, defend or downplay the horrific incident at #MinareEPakistan will be blocked. No time for paid trolls trying to project an image of safety when women are being raped from motorways to historical sights to graveyards.”

    Federal Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari has said that the Ministry of Human Rights is in touch with Punjab authorities to ensure strict action.

  • PM Imran discusses Afghanistan with Germany and UK

    PM Imran discusses Afghanistan with Germany and UK

    Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday held discussions with German, Danish, and United Kingdom (UK) leaders regarding the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.

    Prime Minister Khan received telephone calls from his British counterpart Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

    PM Khan stressed that safety and security, as well as protection of the rights of all Afghans, were critically important. PM Khan underlined that an inclusive political settlement was the best way forward.

    Pakistan is reaching out to all Afghan leaders. The international community must also stay engaged, particularly to support the people of Afghanistan economically, added the premier.

    PM Khan highlighted the positive role that Pakistan played in facilitating the evacuation of diplomatic personnel and staff of international organisations and others from Afghanistan.

    He also highlighted the extensive measures taken by Pakistan to contain the Covid-19, noted that the relevant data had been shared with the UK side, and called for the removal of Pakistan from the Red List.

    In conversation with Merkel, the prime minister expressed satisfaction at regular high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Germany. He said Pakistan looked forward to enhancing collaboration with Germany in all areas of mutual interest.

  • ‘Ashamed of being a man today’: Male celebrities, politicians react to ‘horrible’ Minar-e-Pakistan incident

    Pakistani male celebrities and politicians have come forward to condemn the tragic assault of a woman by a mob at Minar-e-Pakistan. The unfortunate incident has disturbed the influential men of the country who took to their social media handles to condemn the act and seek justice for the girl.

    A viral video shows a woman being sexually assaulted by a large group of men at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on 14 August, Pakistan’s independence day. The incident has been confirmed after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered.

    Have a look at the tweets by influential men:

    Read more– Woman assaulted by hundreds of unidentified men at Minar-e-Pakistan

    https://twitter.com/ImranAbbas/status/1427878815422898179