Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘We want freedom’: Protests in Kashmir after elderly man’s killing in front of 3yo grandson

    ‘We want freedom’: Protests in Kashmir after elderly man’s killing in front of 3yo grandson

    Hundreds of people in occupied Kashmir staged protests on Wednesday, accusing government forces of killing an elderly man in front of his minor grandson during a gun battle with Kashmiri fighters, which also left a trooper dead.

    The Kashmiri fighters opened fire from a mosque attic in the northern town of Sopore, setting off a battle with security forces, paramilitary police spokesperson Junaid Khan told AFP.

    The family of Bashir Ahmed Khan alleged that he was dragged out of his car after the showdown and shot dead by paramilitary troopers.

    His three-year-old grandson, who was travelling with him, was later pictured sitting on his chest.

    “Locals said that he [Khan] was brought out of his car and shot dead by the forces,” Farooq Ahmed, a nephew of the deceased man told AFP.

    “They told us that someone in uniform then put the child on his chest as he lay dead on the road and took photographs,” Farooq Ahmed said.

    The photo of the child sat on the body of his dead grandfather was widely shared on social media.

    Paramilitary spokesman Khan said the allegation was “baseless”. Police also denied the claims, saying legal action would be taken for “false reports and rumours”.

    “There was no retaliation from the security forces,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar told reporters.

    Hundreds assembled at the man’s funeral near the main city of Srinagar shouting, “We want freedom”.

    Government forces have intensified counterinsurgency operations against Kashmiri fighters since a coronavirus lockdown was imposed in March.

    Since January, at least 229 people have been killed during over 100 military operations across occupied Kashmir, including 32 civilians, 54 government forces and 143 fighters, according to the Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a rights group.

  • ‘Jab baarish aata hai tou paani aata hai’: Twitter calls Imran out for mimicking Bilawal in NA

    ‘Jab baarish aata hai tou paani aata hai’: Twitter calls Imran out for mimicking Bilawal in NA

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has been called out by Twitterati for once again mimicking Pakistan People’ Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, this time on the floor of the National Assembly (NA).

    “When you’re made the chairperson of a political party without struggle, you say things like ‘jab baarish aata hai tou paani aata hai (more water comes when it rains more)’,” the leader of the house said during another rare appearance in the NA.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    The remarks weren’t very well received by Twitterati…

    This, however, was not the first time that PM Imran made fun of Bilawal’s “rain theory”.

    Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Havelian-Thakot motorway under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in November last year, he had mimicked Bilawal and said that his theory had startled scientists across the globe.

    “Bilwal has startled scientists worldwide by saying ‘jab barish hoti hai to pani ata hai’ (water pours when it rains). But Einstein rolled over in his grave when he [Bilawal] went on to say ‘Jab ziada barish hota hai to ziada pani ata hai’ (more water comes when it rains more),” the premier had quipped.

    Bilawal had made the statement while trying to explain urban flooding in Karachi amid heavy rains.

  • Punjab spends Rs8,600,000 on Buzdar’s helicopter trips

    Punjab spends Rs8,600,000 on Buzdar’s helicopter trips

    The Punjab government has spent Rs8.6 million in 16 months — from August 2018 till November 2019 — on the helicopter flights of Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar, including 14 flights to his hometown and constituency, Punjab Information Commission has revealed.

    According to data released by the commission, CM Buzdar made his first visit to Mian Channu and Pakpattan from Lahore on August 28, 2018, on his official helicopter soon after assuming the office.

    In September 2018, the helicopter was used twice for local flying in Lahore. Interestingly, the helicopter was used five times in October out of which Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan used it thrice to visit Punjab Governor’s House during his visits to the provincial capital.

    In November 2018, the official helicopter was used 14 times — thrice to Dera Ghazi Khan, which is also the constituency of the Punjab CM. The official chopper was used to visit Taunsa Sharif, the hometown of the provincial chief executive, during the same month.

    In February 2019, Buzdar paid a visit to Multan, Rajanpur and DG Khan while in the same month he also went to Taunsa via helicopter.

    In April 2019, the Punjab CM made 28 trips on his official helicopter of which five were made to Taunsa. In May 2019, he made 27 visits, eight in July, 13 in August, 10 in September, 14 in October, and 11 in November, of which two trips were to DG Khan.

    He also made several visits to Pakpattan on board his official helicopter during this period.

    The Punjab government helicopter made a total of 164 flights and remained air borne for 119 hours and 30 minutes during this period.

  • IHC to decide on petition seeking removal of aviation minister

    IHC to decide on petition seeking removal of aviation minister

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved its verdict on the maintainability of a petition seeking the removal of Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan from office for bringing the issue of pilots’ dubious licences out in the open.

    The petition, filed by one Advocate Tariq Asad, submitted that the remarks tarnished the image of the country in the international community.

    The petition was filed a day after the European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) has suspended the authorisation for the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate in Europe for six months. In another related development, the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Agency suspended PIA flight operations from three airports — Birmingham, London Heathrow and Manchester.

    Recalling the EASA decision, the petitioner said if a pilot possessed a fake/dubious licence, the minister should have taken action against them instead of bringing the matter in the knowledge of the National Assembly from where the national and international picked it up.

    Subsequently, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah reserved his verdict on the matter which he said to announce later.

  • Cop martyred in Pakistan Stock Exchange attack was to retire two days later

    Cop martyred in Pakistan Stock Exchange attack was to retire two days later

    One of the martyred security personnel who thwarted the attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in Karachi on Monday, was due to retire from service two days later, SAMAA reported.

    Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Muhammad Shahid of Lyari recruited 33 years ago in 1987, was due to retire on July 1.

    Senior police officials have paid tribute to the martyred officer. They say the city owes its peace to such valiant police personnel.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa among others have also paid tribute to the brave cops and security guards who laid down their lives to foil the attack by killing all four gunmen affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) before they could enter the compound.

    Constable Muhammad Rafiq Soomro and Constable Khalil Jatoyi are also being praised for their valour and the critical role they played in thwarting the attack within eight minutes of its launch.

    Earlier, panic and fear swept across Karachi after four terrorists tried to storm the PSX building on I I Chundrigar Road Monday. The assailants came in a car and tried to enter the building, according to the police.

    They were intercepted by security guards after which the militants threw a hand grenade at them and opened gunfire. All four attackers were killed after a brief encounter with commandos of the Sindh Police’s Rapid Response Force.

  • VIDEO: Khawaja Asif, Fawad Chaudhry trade barbs in National Assembly

    VIDEO: Khawaja Asif, Fawad Chaudhry trade barbs in National Assembly

    The National Assembly (NA) on Monday approved the federal budget for the fiscal year 2020-21. The session, however, was yet again marred by an altercation, this time between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif and Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry.

    “Sir, bass vee kar deo [sir, please stop]” Fawad was heard as saying as Asif addressed the Lower House of the parliament.

    To this, Asif replied, “Tuvaaday mutalak mai aisiyaan aisiyaan gallaan karaanga, Khuda di qasam tavanu jagaah nayi labnni ais hall ich [I will say such things about you that you will not find a place in this hall].”

    Asif went on to say that for the past few days, Fawad had been “involved in some activities”, to which the federal minister said the PML-N leader would not “find any space in Sialkot — Asif’s hometown — either” and asked him to apologise for his remarks.

    NA Speaker Asad Qaiser kept on asking both the lawmakers to stop.

    “No cross talk please… sit down please. Please, Fawad Sahib. Take a seat. Khawaja Sahib, continue please.”

    “No, how can you let this happen? How can one person say anything and not apologise? How dare he? He must apologise!” Fawad said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Speaking to The Current, Fawad said he was discussing something with Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri.

    “Khawaja Asif got upset because we were not paying attention to his speech. Then he made up some lies about me, for which I asked him to apologise.”

  • Every day I’m told it’s my last in power… I am the only choice: PM

    Every day I’m told it’s my last in power… I am the only choice: PM

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that every day he is told by someone that it, or the day after, is his last in power, but he knows he can “easily complete his five-year tenure”.

    Addressing a dinner reception hosted at the PM House to muster support of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers as well as coalition partners for the passage of budget 2020-21 in the face of its rejection by the joint opposition, the premier asserted that his government would definitely complete its five-year term because he was determined to face every challenge.

    “I am the only choice,” he said, adding that all rumours regarding his government’s uncertain fate and the challenges facing his administration would cease to exist “if he strikes a deal with people”.

    He was of the opinion that opposition leaders had a bigger stake than the ruling PTI.

    According to Dawn, a participant of the event quoted PM Imran as saying that the members of opposition parties had a bigger stake because if PTI leaders lose the election they would only lose their seats while “if opposition leaders lose them, they would go to jail”.

    Responding to the allegation that the government was being run by a team of non-elected people, the premier said, “If we have included some non-elected members in the cabinet, they [opposition parties] had filled the slots with their relatives.”

    He reportedly also asked PTI leaders and all government allies to get the budget passed on Monday with a significant majority and spoke about the recent hike in petroleum prices, corruption as well as coronavirus in the country.

    The function concluded after the PM’s address, as no one spoke after him on the occasion.

    As many as 14 MNAs belonging to the Imran-led PTI, Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) Baloch­istan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Pakistan Awami Muslim League (PAML) did not attend the dinner, reports said.

    It merits a mention that a day later, the National Assembly has approved the federal budget for the fiscal year 2020-21, despite the opposition’s vow to not let it sail through the house.

  • Audit unearths Rs270,000,000,000 corruption, irregularities under PTI govt in one year

    Audit unearths Rs270,000,000,000 corruption, irregularities under PTI govt in one year

    The first audit report of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has unveiled irregularities and corruption to the tune of Rs270 billion in 40 departments and ministries.

    According to Dawn, the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has unearthed misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds to the tune of over Rs12 billion, with irregularities of government funds amounting to Rs258bn.

    The AGP’s report covers the fiscal year 2018-19 — the first year of the PTI government — and recommends strict action, including references, to investigation agencies against those responsible. The AGP has finalised its report on audit year 2019-20 and it would be submitted to parliament and the president in a couple of days.

    The report also disclosed that record for a number of entities and accounts was not given to audit teams in violation of rules.

    The audit revealed corruption and fake receipts in ministries and departments to the tune of Rs12.56 billion. It stated that recovery cases of Rs79.59 billion in federal ministries were reported and a record of Rs17.96 billion was not provided to the auditor general by government departments.

    The report further said that Rs8.89 billion in corruption cases had been recorded owing to weak internal controls and cases worth Rs152.20 billion were reported due to poor financial management.

    The AGP recommended that government institutions not be allowed to undertake expenditures unless approved from the parliament and similarly, to not allow supplementary grants to these institutions without the parliament’s approval.

    He recommended that corruption cases be handed over to investigative agencies.

    A government minister while commenting on the audit report said that such irregularities during the period of past governments used to involve up to Rs1,000 billion. Geo quoted Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar as saying the graph had come down by 80 per cent but added that the PTI government needed to improve it further.

  • [GRAPHIC VIDEO] All terrorists, who attacked Pakistan Stock Exchange, killed

    [GRAPHIC VIDEO] All terrorists, who attacked Pakistan Stock Exchange, killed

    Police killed all four assailants who attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) compound in Karachi on Monday morning, police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon confirmed to media.

    Citing Memon, Reuters reported that the gunmen had attacked the compound on I I Chundrigar Road with grenades and guns. “Four attackers have been killed, they had come in a Corolla car,” Nabi said.

    Initial reports said that four attackers entered the building around 10 am and opened fire. A grenade attack was carried out at the entrance.

    At least two civilians were killed in the attack and multiple were injured.

    Police surgeon Dr Qarar Ahmed Abbasi said that five bodies and seven injured including policemen were brought to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital in Karachi.

    Other reports said that four guards and a policeman were also martyred.

    [GRAPHIC WARNING]

    Police and Rangers’ officials arrived at the scene soon after the attack and killed all four attackers, Sindh Rangers said.

    A clearance operation is underway in the vicinity. Weapons and hand grenades have been recovered from the attackers.

    “An unfortunate incident took place at the Pakistan Stock Exchange,” said PSX director Abid Ali Habib. “They made their way from our parking area and opened fire on everyone.”

    He said that the militants had stormed the Railway Ground parking area and fired outside the PSX ground. They made their way to the main gate of the building and stormed it after trading fire with security guards. 

    Habib said that the firing by militants caused panic among the people in the building.

    The PSX building and surrounding areas were sealed by law enforcement agencies. People inside the PSX building were evacuated from the back door.

    Police said the militants conducted the assault with sophisticated weapons and were carrying a bag filled with explosives. 

    Counter Terrorism Department’s (CTD) Raja Omar Khattab said that police would try to find out details about the car used by the attackers. “CCTV cameras are being monitored by law enforcement agencies to obtain clues.”

    An earlier statement by the PSX said that its compound had been attacked by militants and that the “situation is still unfolding”.

    “There was an attack on the PSX compound earlier today. The situation is still unfolding and management, with the help of security forces, is managing the security and controlling the situation,” tweeted the PSX.

    “We will issue a more detailed statement in due course once the situation is under control and more details are known,” it said in a subsequent tweet.

    For now firing has stopped and reinforcement are in place, it added.

    Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail condemned the attack.

    “Strongly condemn the attack on PSX aimed at tarnishing our relentless war on terror,” he said, vowing to protect Sindh at all costs.

    The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which was declared a global terrorist group by the United States (US) last year, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

  • VIDEO: Zulfi Bukhari’s speech disrupted after disgruntled Tiger Force volunteers turn guns on him

    VIDEO: Zulfi Bukhari’s speech disrupted after disgruntled Tiger Force volunteers turn guns on him

    A protest led by members of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s Tiger Force on Saturday disrupted Special Assistant to the PM (PM) for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari’s speech as disgruntled workers raised slogans against him as well as the ruling party’s leadership, reportedly forcing Bukhari to leave the rostrum.

    The premier’s Corona Relief Tiger Force is part of an ambitious multi-pronged strategy by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to impose movement restrictions and shut down industries while also ensuring that Pakistan’s poorest citizens — many of whom rely on daily wages to survive — continue to receive adequate supplies of food and other essentials.

    Hundreds of thousands of volunteers from across the country, who signed up for the force, are reportedly discharging their duties as the country continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

    While Saturday’s event organised in Attock seemed to be in violation of social distancing among other government guidelines to curb the spread of the virus, things took an uglier turn as soon as Bukhari took the floor to address the gathering.

    According to reports, the volunteers raised slogans against Bukhari as well as other leaders of the ruling PTI in protest against the force’s focal person, namely Qadri Ahmed, “not being invited to the ceremony despite working hard for over a month”.

    The volunteers were then seen leaving the venue, raising slogans in Ahmed’s favour.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    A member of Bukhari’s staff, however, denied media reports and said that no one left the stage as it was “only a two to four-minute issue between [Adviser to PM on Climate Change] Malik Amin Aslam and the local president.

    “Bukhari ended up completing his speech,” they said.

    PTI Punjab lawmaker Syed Yawer Abbas Bukhari among other local leaders were also present on the occasion.