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Category: Politics

  • PML-N blames PM Imran of being responsible for ruckus in the National Assembly

    PML-N blames PM Imran of being responsible for ruckus in the National Assembly

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) accused Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan of being responible for yesterday’s ruckus in the National Assembly (NA). Khaqan alleged that after the PM was called ‘Donkey King’, he tasked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians to heckle the Opposition. Khaqan revealed on Express News‘ talk show, ‘Kal Tak with Javed Chaudhry’ that a PTI member told him this. Khaqan termed the ruckus as an attack on the parliamentary system.

    Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Khaqan asked for Speaker Asad Qaiser’s resignation. He said that ministers were using filthy language in front of the Speaker but he couldn’t do anything. “If the Speaker had any respect he should have resigned in protest if he can’t do anything.”

    “The NA Speaker has failed to deliver. He had already lost our trust and now has lost his government’s as well.”

    Khaqan further said the Speaker himself has said he cannot do anything as he is “under pressure”.

    https://youtu.be/Hub–QYT7-w
    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Express News

    PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal also accused the PM of conspiring against the Opposition. “[Asad] Qaiser was asked by the Prime Minister that when our [government] ministers were heckling the Opposition, why did he adjourn the session.”

  • Seven lawmakers banned from entering National Assembly

    Seven lawmakers banned from entering National Assembly

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser has banned the entry of seven lawmakers into the Parliament House over the use of foul language during the budget speech of Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif.

    The order released by Asad Qaiser stated that, on June 14 and 15, 2021 during the speech of Shehbaz on Budget 2021-22, “the conduct of seven lawmakers was grossly disorderly as they violated the rules despite repeated direction of the Chair, they interrupted proceedings of the House.”

    The seven lawmakers are Ali Gohar Khan Baloch (PML-N), Chaudhry Hamid Hameed (PML-N), Sheikh Rohale Asghar (PML-N), Faheem Khan (PTI), Abdul Majeed Khan (PTI), Ali Nawaz Awan (PTI), and Syed Agha Rafiullah (PPP).

    “These members are required not to enter into the precincts of the Parliament House till further orders,” said the notification.

    Asad Qaiser also said that the “non-parliamentary attitude adopted by members from the government and the Opposition benches and objectionable language used by them is condemnable and disappointing”.

  • PTI’s Maleeka Bokhari gets injured during a scuffle in NA

    PTI’s Maleeka Bokhari gets injured during a scuffle in NA

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Maleeka Bokhari was injured when the National Assembly (NA) turned into complete mayhem as Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif addressed the lower house.

    In a press conference on Wednesday, Maleeka said, ” The people have elected us. We are equally part of the democracy as you are.”

    “Accept this position and do not consider throwing shoes from the other side of the aisle. Do not use abusive language for the members of parliament,” added Maleeka, criticising the Opposition.

    “You [ Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] do not differentiate between a man and a woman. All you see is he/she is a member of PTI, and you attack them,” said Maleeka.

    In a video shared by State Minister for Information Farrukh Habib on Tuesday, the PTI lawmaker Bokhari can be seen getting treatment for her injured eye.

    The NA proceedings witnessed violent scenes when parliamentarians were seen creating a ruckus, using filthy language, whistling, and attacking each other with budget books during and after the speech of Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif.

    One of the members from the treasury benches threw a book towards Shehbaz, which fell on the dais in front of him. PTI and PML-N members then came close to a physical brawl in front of the NA Speaker’s chair, but he could do anything requesting parliamentarians to behave and later adjourning the house.

  • Israeli airstrikes target Gaza again since ceasefire

    Israeli airstrikes target Gaza again since ceasefire

    Israeli aircraft struck Gaza on Wednesday in the first such attacks since the end of 11 days of cross-border fighting last month.

    The overnight air strikes gave way to calm by morning, and there were no reports of casualties on either side, reports Aljazeera.

    On Tuesday, hundreds of Israeli ultranationalists, some chanting “Death to Arabs”, paraded in East Jerusalem in a show of force that threatened to spark renewed violence, reported Dawn.

    The raids early on Wednesday come less than a month after Israel’s 11-day bombardment of Gaza in May.

    https://twitter.com/wwallxc/status/1404928255568846849

    The Israeli raids come two days after a new coalition government, headed by right-wing nationalist Naftali Bennet, took power on Sunday, ending Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year run as prime minister.

  • VIDEO: Govt, Opposition hurl abuses at each other

    VIDEO: Govt, Opposition hurl abuses at each other

    The National Assembly on Tuesday was complete mayhem as Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif addressed the lower house.

    Moments after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president started speaking, he was greeted with loud slogans and whistles from the treasury benches.

    Shehbaz continued his speech and questioned, “Imran Khan Niazi promised 10 million jobs. Where are those jobs?”

    “Where are the $300bn that was supposed to be brought back to the country from abroad?”

    Sharif said that PM Imran Khan’s claims of eliminating corruption from Pakistan were hollow.

    He criticised the budget, saying that it had failed to provide relief to the masses amid spiraling unemployment and inflation.

    Speaker Asad Qaiser kept interjecting, requesting lawmakers on the treasury benches to refrain from shouting while the Leader of the Opposition spoke.

    Amidst the chaos, members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government were seen hurling books at the Opposition and vice versa.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Ali Nawaz Awan can be seen in one video clip responding to abusive language by a PML-N lawmaker with expletives.

    A woman lawmaker tried to pull the PTI MNA away from the group of legislators who were shoving each other. He can be seen in the video throwing a booklet at the PML-N leader and shouting angrily at him.

    Twitterati condemned the chaos in parliament.

  • SC orders to demolish Aladin Shopping Mall and Pavilion End Club in Karachi within two days

    SC orders to demolish Aladin Shopping Mall and Pavilion End Club in Karachi within two days

    The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the authorities to demolish Aladin Shopping Mall and Pavilion End Club in Karachi within two days, reports Samaa. An anti-encroachment drive ordered by the SC has been underway in various parts of the city.

    Demonstrators gathered on Tuesday to protest against shops being demolished. Shopkeepers protested on the road when the operation began. They were baton-charged by the police. Protesters threw stones at the law enforcement personnel.

    Director Anti-Encroachment Bashir Siddiqui, who was leading the operation, said there is stiff resistance from the shopkeepers.

    In a hearing on Monday, the SC declared the buildings illegal.“The land was unlawfully converted into a commercial area,” Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed said.

    Justice Gulzar instructed the police and Rangers to begin the operation immediately. “Permission for commercial activity on land allotted to parks won’t be given at any cost,” the chief justice added.

    However, Aladin Amusement Park and Pavilion End Club managements have asked the Supreme Court to review its decision.

    Pavilion End Club employs more than 600 people, who dedicate their services to uplift the mood and experience of the visiting public and whose livelihood will be lost by the SC’s sudden decision, it said in a statement.

    Demolishing them at such short notice will cause “distress to thousands of families who depend on it for their livelihood and those that depend on it for safe recreation staffed by a large group of security guards who maintain law and order and security to keep the facility safe and secure.”

  • FIA summons Shehbaz Sharif in sugar scam inquiry

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday summoned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif for questioning in connection with its ongoing probe into the sugar scam.

    Shehbaz Sharif has been asked to turn up at the FIA Lahore office on June 22, reports ARY News.

    The subpoena served to Shehbaz warned him of legal action, including his possible arrest, in case he fails to show up before the FIA. He is required to bring all the relevant documents along with him besides his replies to four questions the probe team has asked him.

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Shehbaz Sharif from outside the Lahore High Court (LHC) in a money-laundering case last year in September. He was recently granted bail on April 22, 2021.

  • Expats protest, demand Pfizer vaccines ‘only’

    Expats protest, demand Pfizer vaccines ‘only’

    Several overseas Pakistanis protested outside the Mass Vaccination Centre at F-9 Park in Islamabad, on Monday. The expats demanded that they should only be administered the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer, reports The Express Tribune.

    The staff present at the vaccination centre stated that they could only administer the vaccine provided by the government which was not what the expats were demanding.

    As a result of this, expats protested by holding placards and demanded that the prime minister should ensure the availability of Pfizer vaccine for them.

    They maintained that Overseas Pakistanis are a source of billions of dollars coming into the country yet they are being humiliated over a vaccine. They demanded a date be announced for them so that they could get vaccinated.

    Earlier, it had issued guidelines that only a limited amount of Pfizer vaccine was available in Pakistan, therefore, only Haj pilgrims and student and work visa holders for foreign countries would be immunised with it.

  • TLP barred from contesting AJK polls

    TLP barred from contesting AJK polls

    Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has been placed in the list of proscribed organisations, under the 1st schedule of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ &K) Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 2014.

    TLP was involved in political activities and carrying out its election campaigns in AJK for the upcoming polls that are scheduled for July 25. Under ATA, banned organisations are not allowed to engage in any political activities. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are the main contenders in the electoral contest.

    However, despite the ban, TLP participated in the NA-249 by-elections in Karachi on April 28. TLP came third in the Karachi by-elections.

    TLP was formed on August 1, 2015, by Khadim Hussain Rizvi and banned by the Government of Pakistan on April 15, 2021.

  • Pakistan reports less than 1,000 cases for the first time since February 2021

     For the first time since February 15, Pakistan has reported less than 1,000 cases in the last 24 hours, data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed. 

    In the last 24 hours, a total of 35,039 tests were conducted across the country out of which 838 people tested positive for the virus, thus putting the coronavirus positivity ratio at 2.39 per cent. 

    Meanwhile, 59 people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, the NCOC stated, adding that a total of 2,611 coronavirus patients from across the country are in critical condition.