Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘Puppet rulers’ afraid of Bilawal’s visit to US: PPP

    ‘Puppet rulers’ afraid of Bilawal’s visit to US: PPP

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has alleged that “puppet rulers” are afraid of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s upcoming visit to the United States (US) and as a result, were spreading unnecessary rumours.

    The party’s statement comes in response to remarks from the prime minister’s adviser, Dr Shahbaz Gill, who had said that PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will be taking his curriculum vitae (CV) along with him to Washington.

    “He [Bilawal Bhutto] will say we are ready to do anything to come into power,” said Gill at a press conference in Karachi.

    PPP’s Shazia Marri said on Sunday that Fawad Chaudhry, Shahbaz Gill, and Farrukh Habib are also worried that their leader Imran Khan cannot go to the US without diplomatic immunity because of pending cases in US courts.

    Marri said Bhutto has hope in the strength of the people of Pakistan and it has been proved how General Elections 2018 were stolen from the PPP by creating hurdles in the party’s path.  She said fake accountability had been the main instrument used by dictators and their puppets to target opponents in the past. 

    “They have been playing the drama of accountability to hide their incompetence,” she said. 

  • PM Imran Khan to inaugurate important projects in Gwadar today

    PM Imran Khan to inaugurate important projects in Gwadar today

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will be on a day-long visit to Gwadar today, accompanied by his federal ministers.

    As per reports, PM Khan will inaugurate Gwadar Free Zone, the Expo Centre, Agricultural Industrial Park as well as three factories to boost economic activity in the region.

    Focal Person to the Chief Minister of Punjab on Digital Media, Azhar Mashwani, tweeted that PM is also expected to lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects in the city, which includes water supply projects and a desalination plant. that would solve the problems of Gwadar residents related to water and electricity.

    PM will interact with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) workforce.

    Through video link, major expressions of investment by the Chinese investors and the ambassadors of Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Kenya, and Qatar are also expected, according to sources.

    PM’s last visit to Balochistan was in April.

  • RAW behind Lahore blast, says Moeed Yusuf

    Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security Moeed Yusuf on Sunday said that the mastermind of the attack, which killed three people and left 24 others injured, “is an Indian citizen and [Indian intelligence agency] RAW is in touch with hum”.

    Yusuf was addressing a press conference alongside the Punjab police chief and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.

    Yusuf added that the IG has said we have the intelligence that a foreign intelligence agency was involved. “Today without a doubt I want to say, [the circumstances] of this entire attack lead to Indian-sponsored terrorism.”

    “I want to make sure that our message is heard very clearly, that this particular incident on June 23 in Lahore…we have concrete evidence and intelligence, including financial and telephone records that point to direct Indian sponsorship of these terrorists,” Moeed Yusuf added.

    “Through forensic analysis, electronic equipment that has been recovered from these terrorists, we have identified the main mastermind and the handlers of this terrorist attack and we have absolutely no doubt or reservation in informing you that the main mastermind belongs to RAW, the Indian intelligence agency, is an Indian national, and is based in India,” he said.

    The National Security adviser also talked about the attempts of cyberattacks against Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, adding, “We have no doubt that the Johar Town and cyber attacks are linked. And the number in which [the cyber attacks] were done, there is no doubt that there was state involvement of our neighbour.”

    On June 23, a powerful blast near the residence of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed killed three people and injured 24 others, including a police constable.

  • Video: Ocean on fire

    Video: Ocean on fire

    A fire on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico erupted after a gas leak from an underwater pipeline sparked ablaze, according to Mexico’s state-owned Pemex petrol company.

    Footage of the fire – appearing to boil the ocean’s surface with bright orange flames – went viral on July 2 before the fire was extinguished roughly 150 yards from a drilling platform in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, the company reported.

    The company said that “no injuries or evacuations are reported”.

    In a statement, Greenpeace Mexico’s Gustavo Ampugnani said: “These are the risks we face on a daily basis and which call for a change in the energy model, as we have demanded.”

  • Man acquitted of blasphemy charges killed by a policeman

    Man acquitted of blasphemy charges killed by a policeman

    A policeman in Sadiqabad killed a man with an axe who was acquitted of blasphemy charges after spending almost three years in prison, BBC Urdu reported.

    According to the police, the accused had recently joined the police and was under training to become a constable. Rana Mohammad Ashraf, SHO of Sadiqabad Saddar Police Station, told the BBC that the policeman had turned himself in to the police after killing a man named Mohammad Waqas.

    “He told the police that he had been planning to kill Muhammad Waqas since 2016 but at that time he had gone to jail.”

    In 2016, a man named Muhammad Waqas was arrested on allegations of sharing blasphemous content on social media. A court had sentenced him to imprisonment in 2017. But the High Court had recently absolved him of the charges while hearing his plea against the lower court’s decision.

  • ‘Bilawal to take his CV to Washington’: Shahbaz Gill

    ‘Bilawal to take his CV to Washington’: Shahbaz Gill

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Dr Shahbaz Gill, said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will be taking his curriculum vitae (CV) along with him to Washington.

    “He [Bilawal Bhutto] will say we are ready to do anything to come into power,” said Gill at a press conference in Karachi.

    “We will not allow such a deal and will not let Bilawal go the United States with any petitions.”

    Gill also tweeted: “Is Bilawal going to Washington like his father to take the next turn of power?”

    




    He further added, “Is this an appeal that if you bring us in power, then even if you demand financial stations or attempt a drone attack, we wouldn’t ask you about it, but in exchange, we want Washington’s blessings.”
    




    “Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari might not know that time, the world and Pakistan have changed now,” added Gill.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    National security briefing: key takeaways
    
			
    National security briefing: key takeaways
    
			
    

    A meeting of the National Security Committee was held on Thursday.
    




    Speaker National Assembly (NA) Asad Qaiser had summoned a session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security on July 1 for an in-camera briefing on the latest regional situation in light of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed briefed the lawmakers. The army chief was also present at the briefing, which went on for about eight hours.
    




    According to senior journalist Fahd Husain, the major takeaway from the meeting was how the military and intelligence leadership emphasised that while ties with China were well built and thriving and could not be foregone, a strong relationship with the United States (US) would have to be maintained.
    




    A senior parliamentarian told Dawn that although there were clear indications of an impending “strategic reorientation” of the foreign policy because of the geo-political developments, it was also obvious that there was no desire for being seen “overtly pro-China”.
    




    Prime Minister Imran Khan’s absence too was a matter of varied significance. One member of the Opposition questioned the PM’s absence from the crucial juncture gathered, to which the army chief reportedly said that the Opposition did not want the PM to attend this briefing, hence his absence. Speaker Asad Qaiser said that his office had received a message that if PM came to the briefing, the Opposition would review its presence and involvement in the briefing. However, this claim was unequivocally denied by the Oppositon. 
    




    Senior Journalist Saleem Safi, tweeted about the major higlights of the briefing stating that the Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are one from within due to their ideological connection. 
    




    


    




    Around 6,500 TTP fighters, currently based in Afghanistan, may reconnect with the Afghan Taliban in the event of the fall of Kabul. This concern is said to be based on the Afghan Taliban’s past track record of not taking on the TTP.
    




    According to reports, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and later Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto raised the issue of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) lawmaker Ali Wazir’s release. They were told that any criticism against the army will not be tolerated and Ali Wazir will have to apologise.
    




    When lawmaker Mohsin Dawar was stopped from talking by Speaker Asad Qaiser, army chief asked him to speak openly.
    




    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto also spoke at the briefing, apart from a few other participants.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Pakistan will not give airbases to US’: General Bajwa
    
			
    ‘Pakistan will not give airbases to US’: General Bajwa
    
			
    

    Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday said Pakistan will not give airbases to the United States (US) if the government has decided against it.
    




    According to an official statement issued after the security briefing held on Thursday, the session was informed that Pakistan played a highly positive and responsible role in the Afghan peace process.
    




    “Pakistan’s efforts paved the way for dialogue between Afghan factions and warring groups,” the meeting was told, while it was also noted that due to Islamabad’s efforts, meaningful talks have begun between the US and the Taliban.
    




    “Sustained peace and stability in Afghanistan will lead to stability in South Asia,” the meeting was informed.
    




    The participants were further told that Pakistan would welcome a government that was truly representative of the Afghan people and that it would continue its responsible role for peace in Afghanistan.
    




    “Pakistan’s territory is not being used in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan […] and we hope that Afghanistan’s land is not used against Pakistan,” the DG ISI had reportedly said during the session.
    




    A meeting of the National Security Committee was held on Thursday. Army chief and heads of security institutions participated in the meeting. A briefing on Kashmir, Afghanistan, and internal security challenges was under discussion.
    




    It should be recalled that the government had turned down a US request for setting up drone bases in Pakistan for future counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan had in his speech that Pakistan could be partner with the United States in peace, but not in conflict.
    




    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Asif Ali Zardari unwell, admitted to hospital
    
			
    Asif Ali Zardari unwell, admitted to hospital
    
			
    

    Former President Asif Ali Zardari was admitted to a hospital earlier today (Friday) after his health deteriorated, reported Geo News.
    




    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has arrived in Karachi from Islamabad while Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari and her husband have also returned from Dubai to attend to her father.
    




    Bilawal had recently said that Asif Zardari attended the Budget session despite being unwell.
    




    The former president was admitted to a hospital due to low sugar level in October last year.
    




    


    




    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Shehbaz said if PM was at security briefing, he would not attend’: Fawad Chaudhry
    
			
    

    Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry during an appearance on Geo News’ morning show ‘Geo Pakistan’ revealed that the prime minister’s absence from the military and intelligence leadership’s briefing on national security, Afghanistan, and Kashmir to parliamentary leaders was to accommodate the Leader of Opposition, Shehbaz Sharif.
    




    “The prime minister was scheduled to attend the national security huddle, but the Opposition leader [Shehbaz Sharif] had conveyed to the Speaker [National Assembly] that if [PM Imran Khan] came to the briefing, he would not attend,” said Fawad.
    




    Fawad added that the government hopes and prays that there is a peaceful transfer of power in Afghanistan.
    




    “We are pushing for negotiations in Afghanistan,” he said.
    




    “There are three million Afghan nationals in Pakistan. If another three million are pushed in, it will put a lot of pressure on our economy,” he said.
    




    “It won’t be so easy for the Taliban to take over the government,” Chaudhry said on the prospects for peace in the war-torn neighbour. “We want that the Afghan Taliban and the Ghani government negotiate [a way out].”
    




    “We are only concerned when India uses Afghan territories against us,” he added. “[Meanwhile], we will continue to try and mediate between the Afghan Taliban and the Ghani government.”
    




    However, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Shehbaz Sharif did not send any message to anyone.
    




    “Fawad Chaudhry is a propaganda machine, the meeting was called by the Speaker. How could Shehba Sharif stop him [from inviting someone]? Shehbaz Sharif did not send him any message,” tweeted Marriyum Aurangzeb.
    




    


    




    PML-N spokesperson further said that if there is any official correspondence of Shehbaz Sharif or his office regarding this matter, it should be made public.