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Category: Politics

  • ‘No one can dare undermine me,’ Fawad Chaudhry burns BBC HARDTalk

    ‘No one can dare undermine me,’ Fawad Chaudhry burns BBC HARDTalk

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry talked on the protection of journalists, the involvement of the establishment within the state, the economy of Pakistan, missing persons, popularity of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Covid stituation and many other issues in an interview given to BBC host Stephen John Sackur on BBC HARDtalk.

    Journalists Protection

    The host opened the interview by asking what is the government and Fawad Chaudhry being the Information Minister doing to protect the journalists of the country. Sackur mentioned the recent attack on journalist Asad Ali Toor, who was severely beaten up by unidentified assailants in his apartment. Sackur further mentioned how a senior journalist and former Chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (Pemra), Absar Alam, was shot in Islamabad. To which Fawad Chaudhry replied, “Individual incidents do happen. The situation is not only dangerous for journalists but it has been for all the citizens of Pakistan. We have faced the worst terrorism. When we were fighting our war against terrorism, we lost a lot of field journalists and many civilians.”

    “Benazir Bhutto too got killed due to terrorism. We have been dealing with tough times,” replied Fawad.

    Stephen Sackur asked what the state was doing about the involvement of state agencies in such incidents.

    “It’s a bit fashionable for the western media to accuse ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence)
    when such incidents happen. When you name any organisation or Pakistani intelligence agency, you are bound to produce evidence of their involvement as well,” replied the minister. “The two specific incidents which you have mentioned, the investigation is still under process, I still don’t know under what pretext have you concluded that the state must be involved in any of this.”

    Direct State Interference

    BBC host asked Chaudhry about freedom of speech in Pakistan. He said that media censorship has increased during Imran Khan’s tenure. Chaudhry replied, “We have about 112 private channels, 43 international channels, with this kind of mass media we have, how do you expect the state to intimidate the media? How can the state be accused of intimidating the media?”

    Censorship

    “I am the Information Minister of the world’s fifth-largest state. I am the Information Minister of one of the world’s seven nuclear states of the world. No one can dare to undermine me. I am here with full authority and I decide in Pakistan what will and what is happening,” answered Fawad when told by Sackur that Chaudhry has no real power or control.

    PTI government’s comparison with previous government’s

    The host compared the working of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with previous governments.

    “This may be a perception of some Indian-influenced think tanks, not ours. This is not the perception of the people in general. Imran Khan is the most popular prime minister,” said Fawad.

    “As said, don’t undermine the elected government of Pakistan. Imran Khan has received nearly 200 million votes. This is not a joke. He is the prime minister of a nuclear state. He takes the decisions, the cabinet takes the decisions,” added Fawad.

    Relation with establishment

    Fawad Chaudhry said that we have a very good relationship with the ‘so-called establishment’ “as you term it so often. They are part and parcel of our system. We have huge respect for them, but the decision-making rests with the prime minister and the cabinet.”

    Missing Persons

    The BBC host asked about missing persons the security establishments, and the deep state?

    “ISI and army respect human rights just as any other civilian government will do. They are the most civilised army of the world, they are the most responsible army of the world. People in Pakistan respect them for their role,” said Fawad.

    “Least number of missing persons were reported in Imran Khan’s government. We are the only government that has just passed a law against disappearance. We are the only ones who have made illegal confinement a criminal offense. And now the bill has been passed and will go to the parliament,” added Fawad

    Imran Khan’s pledge to deliver

    The show host said that PM Khan’s promises have not been delivered to the people of Pakistan.

    “Unfortunately, I do not agree with your conclusion. Right now Pakistan’s growth rate is 3.94 per cent, which is one of the highest in the whole world despite all the Covid crises,” said Fawad.

    Fawad added, “People who have voted for Prime Minister Imran Khan and PTI are still ardent fans. In the next elections, PM Imran Khan will be elected again.”

    Covid situation

    Sackur asked why only one per cent of Pakistan’s population has been vaccinated.

    “As far as Covid is concerned Pakistan is a great success story. The partial lockdown story that Prime Minister Imran Khan implemented in Pakistan was a great success story,” replied Chaudhry.

  • Shehbaz to quit politics, Shahzeb Khanzada reveals details

    Who will lead the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and whose narrative will prevail in the future is being discussed within the party as per latest reports. Senior anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada revealed in his show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ on Thursday that there are serious concerns that the PML-N may face a split in the future due to the differences in political narrative between Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif’s camps.

    Maryam camp believes in taking forward Nawaz Sharif’s narrative while Shehbaz Sharif camp believes in reconciliation and not taking any institution head-on as well as focus on winning the 2023 general elections. As Nawaz Sharif is not in the country, he needs to decide which narrative should be taken forward by his party officially, otherwise, the PML-N may face a split. Senior leadership of the PML-N want Nawaz to take a categorical decision in this regard.

    Khanzada said they talked to senior PML-N leaders as well as those close to Shehbaz Sharif. Khanzada added that they asked Maryam Nawaz for her point of view.

    According to Shehbaz Sharif’s close aides, they want a free hand to be given to Shehbaz, target Imran Khan’s government, no confrontation with institutions and dialogue with institutions is needed in order to forge a roadmap where they stay within their constitutional limits. Shehbaz also wants Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) back in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and was unhappy with Maryam Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s strongly worded statements against the PPP. He is against the show cause notice being served to the PPP and that the PPP should not be forced to resign from assemblies against its will.

    Sources say that Shehbaz Sharif wanted to go to London in order to talk to Nawaz Sharif face-to-face about all these issues. He wants Nawaz to decide who will be the next prime minister from PML-N, who will lead the party and whose narrative should be the official party position. He wants Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz to take a backseat from political activities and stay quiet. He does not want them to give anti-establishment statements anymore. The focus should only be on the 2023 general elections. If Nawaz agrees to give full control to Shehbaz, then he will take all Opposition parties on board. He will then also hold a dialogue with the establishment. If Nawaz does not agree, Shehbaz will quit politics. He will not take part in any political activities after that.

    PML-N leaders believe that while Maryam Nawaz is indeed a crowd puller, it is better to let Shehbaz resolve all issues before the elections. Maryam Nawaz does not agree to these conditions.

    After he was released from jail on bail, Shehbaz Sharif made it clear that all party meetings or jalsas will only take place with his permission. Maryam Nawaz did take a backseat since his release. Hamza and Shehbaz understand election campaigns and electoral politics while Maryam Nawaz does not, as per sources close to Shehbaz Sharif.

    When contacted by Khanzada’s team, Maryam Nawaz said there are no two camps within the party; only a difference of opinion exists. She said that it is not my narrative, it is Nawaz Sharif’s narrative. If they make her go quiet, Nawaz’s narrative will still go on. Maryam said it is wrong to say that the majority in the party believes in reconciliation. Things have improved not because of a soft stance but because of Nawaz Sharif’s narrative. PML-N won by-elections because of Nawaz.

    If reconciliation was an answer, then Hamza and Shehbaz Sharif would not have gone to jail in the first place. Shehbaz Sharif has his own views and this has been his view for decades but he will never go against his brother. When asked about the differences between Shehbaz and Maryam, she said she has no differences with Shehbaz. She said she does what Nawaz tells her to do. She is not in favour of any confrontation with institutions nor any deal.

  • ‘I fed aaloo chanay to birds in jail’: Shehbaz Sharif talks about Nawaz, black magic & close friends

    ‘I fed aaloo chanay to birds in jail’: Shehbaz Sharif talks about Nawaz, black magic & close friends

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, on Thursday talked about how he spent his days in jail, his niece Maryam Nawaz’s political future, Nawaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and many other issues in an interview given to Kamran Khan on Dunya News.

    A typical day in jail

    When asked what is a typical day in jail and how he spent those eight months, Shehbaz said: “I used to pray for Pakistan in jail. It is not easy to remain in jail as it takes a lot of patience to remain in jail. Allah gives one hope there. I would get up for Fajr prayers, I continued my morning walk. After exercise, I would have my breakfast and then recite the Quran. I would read books like Bob Woodward’s Rage. I read Islamic books and read tafseer (explanation) of Quran as I had a lot of time on my hands in solitary confinement. I would feed birds when I was there. I once fed aaloo chanay to birds. I saw that a crow washed the potato with water as it was spicy, which I found very fascinating as they say that crows are wise so I would observe the birds keenly.”

    Corruption cases

    Kamran Khan asked Shehbaz about the allegations against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Sharif said since this is a sub judice matter, NAB invited him for the Saaf Paani case and arrested him in Ashiana scandal. During his arrest, they again arrested him in Ramzan Sugar Mills, and then assets beyond means case was opened against him. “I was given bail on merit in February 2019 in Ashiana and Ramzan Sugar Mills case.” He denied all charges of corruption. Shehbaz Sharif said that there is a NAB-Niazi collusion to target the Sharif family. “What else have they [the government] done in three years? They have no other priority other than how to destroy Sharifs’ businesses and our reputation. All they are interested in is to target my elder brother Nawaz Sharif and our family members.” He asked have they proved a penny of corruption against us. 

    Medical treatment in Britain

    Shehbaz Sharif said he is a cancer survivor. He has been getting an annual check up in Britain since 2003. When asked how he would have entered Britain since Pakistan is on a Red List, Shehbaz said he took a chance to go via Doha and if that wasn’t allowed, he would have gone via Istanbul as Turkey was not on Britain’s Red List at that time. “I wasn’t going to Britain to play a cricket match or to learn jaadu tona (black magic). I was going there for my medical treatment and also to see my family.”

    Pakistan Democratic Movement 

    Kamran Khan asked him about the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) while he was in jail and if he was involved directly or indirectly with PDM’s decisions. “As luck would have it, PDM was formed when I went to jail. PDM faced divisions within the alliance when I was in jail. I do not impose my views on anyone. I wasn’t allowed to meet my lawyers or family regularly either. I would give my advice when someone sought it. I didn’t know much about it [PDM]. Now I will be there in the next PDM meeting….Such alliances were formed in the past too like MRD, etc.” Shehbaz said differences do take place in such alliances. “No party alone can take a decision unilaterally. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the head of PDM, so such decisions are taken with consensus. Even if PDM isn’t there in its original form, I am the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and it is my duty to talk to all Opposition parties on issues like budget, Covid, foreign policy, Kashmir, Palestine or CPEC. Even if there are divisions in PDM, we have this forum in parliament.” 

    Roadmap for the future

    Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is facing a lot of problems. “India is a member of G20. We came into being together; we should have been leading in the comity of global nations. Bangladesh, which was part of Pakistan, now has a GDP growth rate higher than ours. How unfortunate that today, Afghanistan’s currency is stronger than Pakistan’s.”

    Sharif lamented that this is a selected government. “They came into power after massive rigging.” General Bajwa said in front of me that Mian Nawaz Sharif has given me a lot of respect and never said no to anything related to defence. “Confrontation is not our path; it has to be consultation. This country cannot move forward without this. We need a consultative process between all institutions within the limits set by the Constitution. No one institution can take us out of this quagmire alone. It has to be through collective wisdom and efforts can we make Pakistan as a going country among comity of nations.” Kamran Khan said this is music to everyone’s ears. 

    Nawaz Sharif

    Asked if Nawaz Sharif would agree to these suggestions, Shehbaz Sharif said: “He [Nawaz] is a statesman. I guarantee you he will be more than willing to contribute towards nation building efforts if there is a new social order which guarantees free and fair elections, all institutions work within their constitutional boundaries, judiciary is independent and free, and every government is allowed to work independently. Reconciliation is still possible; it’s never too late. Nawaz Sharif would be more than willing to do this, I guarantee you.” 

    He said that when he goes to London, he will meet Nawaz. “He is my leader, he is like my father. There is no compromise on national interest. I am sure he will promote national interest if there is a level-playing field. Even if I have to hold his feet for national interest, I will do so because it is my national duty. I am a Pakistani first and then anything else.”

    Maryam Nawaz

    Kamran Khan asked Shehbaz about Maryam Nawaz’s active political role in the last few months. “Maryam has a right to be in politics; she is now a politician. Time is on her side. The awaam (people) will decide. I am telling you whether it is Hamza who spent 21 months in jail or someone else from other parties, they all have a right to enter politics and then the people will decide.

    “Time is on Maryam’s side, time is on Hamza’s side. They need grooming. Maryam’s father, who is a statesman, will groom her. I will groom her as her uncle from my experience. We need to alleviate poverty, eliminate unemployment. This is our agenda. If we cannot follow this agenda, then politics means nothing.”

    Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan

    “Chaudhry Nisar was not my friend; he was Nawaz Sharif’s friend. Whether you like it or not, I have always inherited his [Nawaz’s] legacy. Whether it’s Chaudhry Nisar or Khawaja Asif or Khawaja Hamid or anyone else. Chaudhry Nisar was initially against me, then he became a close friend of mine. Unfortunately, this 30-year-old friendship ended on a bad note. I won’t go into the details. When my mother passed away, I met him when he came for her fateha (prayers). Taking oath is Chaudhry Nisar’s own decision; he did not consult me. He did not directly consult me on this.”

    Electoral reforms

    Shehbaz Sharif said that without electoral reforms, no one can take a step forward. However, he said this does not mean that electronic voting machines are the answer. “Who are they trying to befool? We all want to give the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis. But in the garb of providing them the right to vote through electronic voting machines, we cannot have an RTS again.”

    Summary of the interview 

    Shehbaz Sharif said that unity and a consultative process is needed and Parliament is the forum where this can be done. “We need a middle way for national reconciliation, consultative process with all institutions. Unfortunately, Parliament has been locked by Imran Khan Niazi. We need meaningful, substantial consultation in parliament. He [PM Khan] hates me so much that he did not even mention my name or title in the letters addressed to me by the Prime Minister. I addressed him by his title and name but he responded without mentioning my name again. If he is only interested in what his pir (spiritual guide) will tell him on how to destroy the Opposition, if this is his only priority, then what can I say?”

    Complete interview:

  • Punjab govt to give monthly stipend to transgender persons

    Punjab govt to give monthly stipend to transgender persons

    The Punjab government has decided to pay a monthly stipend to transgender persons under a new programme by its social protection authority.

    As per reports, this was announced by Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Information Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan while talking to the media with Punjab Social Protection Authority Vice Chairperson Jamal Nasir Cheema in Lahore.

    Transgender people are a part of society and will be given a monthly stipend, she said.

    Dr Firdous said that the ‘Ehsaas Punjab Masawaat Programme’ was a unique programme under which transgender people were being facilitated.

    Read More: Pakistan’s first transgender-only madrasa breaking barriers

    She told that under this programme, disabled transgender persons between the age of 18 and 40 were giving Rs2,000 per month, while transgender persons above 40 years were paid with Rs3,000 per month.

    She said that the government is prioritising the less privileged section of society in all its projects.

    She said that CM Usman Buzdar announced a package of Rs9 billion in Bhakkar and brought the people of Bhakkar in the mainstream of development.

  • ‘Didn’t meet Tareen,’ Shahzad Akbar and Ali Zafar deny allegations

    ‘Didn’t meet Tareen,’ Shahzad Akbar and Ali Zafar deny allegations

    Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Advisor on Accountability Shahzad Akbar on Wednesday denied reports that he had met disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT).

    Both Shahzad Akbar and Barrister Ali Zafar denied having a joint meeting with Tareen in Islamabad, which was claimed by Raja Riaz, a member of the JKT group.

    Akbar took to Twitter to categorically deny he met Tareen.

    “Contrary to reports/statements on media, there has been no meeting with JKT. Barrister Ali Zafar has already denied any report being associated with him on the issue of pending FIA investigations,” tweeted Akbar.

    “PM Imran Khan’s commitment with the process of accountability and justice remains unshakable,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Senator Ali Zafar said he had meetings with Tareen but did not see him in the presence of Akbar on Tuesday.

    Raja Riaz also claimed that the one-man committee constituted by PM has given a clean chit to Jahangir Tareen.

    “Barrister Zafar had briefed advisor to the prime minister on accountability Shahzad Akbar and Jahangir Tareen in a meeting on Tuesday in Islamabad on his findings of the sugar scam probe. Zafar told them that Tareen had not been found guilty of the charges framed by the FIA Lahore,” said Riaz.

    Barrister Ali Zafar denied this news as well.

    “Some persons/media are busy guessing on what my findings in JKT (Jahangir Khan Tareen) turn out to be. Let me make it clear that there is no report submitted by me,” tweeted Zafar.

    “Any findings, not necessarily in writing, shall be purely internal to the PTI and have no legal value or status nor can the same have any relevance to or affect pending inquiries/investigations against the sugar barons or Tareen,” Zafar said in a series of tweets on Wednesday.

    “I have been tasked to see into complaints of JKT and will be making my recommendations directly and only to the PM once I conclude,” tweeted Zafar.

    The FIA had registered two FIRs against Jahangir Tareen and his son Ali Tareen under Rs5 billion money laundering and fraud charges in the sugar ‘scam’. Both are on interim bail till May 31.

    Last month, PM Khan had formed a one-man committee comprising Barrister Ali Zafar to ascertain whether there was any truth to the concerns that some people holding key positions in the government and the PTI were politically victimising Tareen.

  • Bill to make marriage of 18-year-olds mandatory will be ‘bulldozed’ by PPP, says Bakhtawar

    Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari has said that the Sindh compulsory marriage act, 2021 will be bulldozed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and that the bill has nothing to do with the Sindh Government.

    “[The bill has] nothing to do with Sindh Government but will be bulldozed by PPP,” wrote Bakhtawar in a tweet.

    In a sperate tweet, Bakhtawar clarified that the bill has been proposed by an MPA from Jamat-e-Islami (JI).

    The proposed bill seeks to make it mandatory for parents to marry off their children as soon as they turn 18. The proposed bill also states that parents who do not have any justified reason for the delay in the marriage of an adult will be fined.

    However, the bill is unlikely to be passed but the proposed bill got a massive reaction from social media with most people criticising it.

  • ‘I still can’t believe my sister is gone,’ says Mayra’s brother

    ‘I still can’t believe my sister is gone,’ says Mayra’s brother

    In a recent interview given to BBC, the family of Mayra Zulfiqar, a young woman from London, murdered in Pakistan, appeals for justice.

    “I still can’t believe that my sister is gone. It seems like a nightmare, that I am going to wake up and hug her,” says Moiz Muhammad, brother of Mayra.

    https://twitter.com/SecKermani/status/1395068432220045314

    “Everyday I wake up and I just can’t believe my sister is gone,” says Moiz, sobbing.

    Her brother added that Mayra had dreams and she wanted to help the poor. “She was a caring person,” he said.

    Muhammad Zulfiqar, Mayra’s father with tears in his eyes questioned, ” What have these terrible people done to her? Why have they behaved so awfully? What wrong did she ever do ?”

    With eyes filled with pain and tears rolling down his cheeks, Zulfiqar appeals from the premier’s of both Pakistan and London to help him bring justice to his daughter. “I’m running between different offices. The police aren’t listening to me properly,” says Zulfiqar.

    In report published by Samaa, Zahid Jadoon, a resident of Lahore, has confessed to murdering a British-Pakistani woman on May 3.

    Mayra Zulfiqar, 24, was found in a pool of blood in a flat in Lahore.

    The law graduate from London had been threatened by two men who both wanted to marry her but she had rejected both of them.

  • Pakistan to host World Environment Day on June 5: PM Khan

    Pakistan to host World Environment Day on June 5: PM Khan

    Addressing a ceremony in Haripur in connection with the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan will be hosting World Environment Day on June 5.

    “This is a great honour and acknowledgment of the fact that Pakistan is among a handful of countries trying to reduce the impact of climate change and global warming,” said PM Khan.

    PM Khan said that his government had taken steps to protect the environment, adding that it was a worrying sign that Pakistan was included in the list of 10 countries that are worse affected from climate change.

    Earlier this month, Pakistan was chosen to host the World Environment Day 2021 in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on June 5.

    This will be the first time in history that the country will be officially hosting the day.

    The day will be celebrated across the world through various events and activities under Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    The theme for the day this year will be ecosystem restoration, with a special focus on creating a good relationship with nature.

  • ‘Not answerable to Maryam or Nawaz’: Bilawal

    ‘Not answerable to Maryam or Nawaz’: Bilawal

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Wednesday that the PPP was not answerable to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz or PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and that his perspective remained unchanged.

    Addressing a press conference in Badin, the PPP chairman acknowledged that he had torn the show-cause notice and there was no change in his point of view on the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

    “We are not answerable to Maryam or Mian Sahab. We are answerable to the PPP and the PPP’s workers and we think the real joy will be in doing politics together with the PPP’s workers,” says Bilawal.

    Bilawal said that Shehbaz Sharif was the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and the PML-N president, thus the PPP would consider his opinion and statements to be official PML-N policy and conduct its politics according to that.

    “Instead of opposing the PPP, our friends in the opposition should target the government,” added Bilawal.

    In response to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s concerns about the worsening law and order situation in Sindh, Bilawal said that the law and order situation in Sindh has improved, a move that has been made possible with the help of police.

    “Sindh police have the full potential to restore peace in the province,” Bilawal said. “The interior minister [Sheikh Rasheed] is ready to give a lecture about another province but is not ready to protect journalists in Islamabad.”

    Bilawal also condemned the attack on Islamabad-based journalist Asad Toor a day ago and said that journalists in Sindh are also being targeted for speaking the truth.

    “We demand the highest level of investigation into the attack on journalists,” said Bilawal. 

  • Israeli Iron Dome shoots down own drones during intense fighting

    Israeli Iron Dome shoots down own drones during intense fighting

    Israel’s Iron Dome accidentally shot down an Israeli military drone during Hamas missile interceptions in the Gaza strip, Israel Defence Force (IDF) told local media.

    “As part of the round of fighting in Gaza and as part of the defence of the country’s skies, an IDF skylark drone was shot down by Iron Dome,” said an IDF spokesperson, adding that the incident is under investigation.

    Skylark drones are unmanned aerial vehicles that IDF use for intelligence, surveillance and examination missions. The report also stated that IDF is now worried and questioning whether the defence system is capable for long-term fighting without harming their resources.

    Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets fired from Hamas and managed to take down drones from the enemy. Designed in 2011 to prevent rockets, artillery and mortar rockets, the Iron Dome was made by a company called Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Aerospace Industries with US support.

    The Israel Ministry of Defence, earlier this year, announced that they upgraded the Iron Dome, which will let the country fight and defend in skirmishes in future. The upgrades were tested against a huge number of rockets, missiles and unmanned weapons.

    The system defended almost 90% of the rockets fired by the Qaseem brigade of Hamas, which significantly reduced human loss in Israel. In retaliation, IDF launched 1,500 airstrikes that killed 243 people in Palestinian.