Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Govt tables controversial NAB & Election ordinances before NA

    Govt tables controversial NAB & Election ordinances before NA

    The federal government tabled the Election (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 and National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 on Thursday through a supplementary agenda with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) calling the move “politically motivated.”

    The amendments in the NAB law would increase the remand period from 14 days to 40 days; whereas amendments in the election law would allow the government to appoint retired judges to the election tribunals – a move already challenged in Islamabad and Lahore high courts.

    PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council Chief Whip Aamir Dogar strongly criticised the proposed ordinances saying that the government was tabling them because it was afraid of Imran Khan.

    Interestingly, Dogar pointed out that in April 2023 the PDM government reduced the period of physical remand from 90 days to 14 days but now it is trying to change its own previous amendments.

  • Khan tells Supreme Court that country under unannounced martial law

    Khan tells Supreme Court that country under unannounced martial law

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on June 6 told Supreme Court judges that the country was facing an “unannounced martial law” during the hearing of the NAB amendments case hearing.

    Khan also talked about the “victimisation” he had to face since his ouster from power in April 2022.

    The jailed PTI founder appeared before the Supreme Court’s five-member bench via video link from Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where has been incarcerated since his conviction in the Toshakhana case last year.

    The SC bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Aminuddin, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi heard the case.

    Interestingly, Khan quoted India’s example during his argument that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was released on bail ahead of the Indian elections to run his campaign.

    Furthermore, Khan expressed dissatisfaction with the top court’s judgement rejecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s government plea requesting the live streaming of the case saying to CJP Isa, “You wrote [in the judgment] that I did political point scoring during the last hearing. I did not get it, what political scoring did I resort to?”

    CJP replied that a judge does not owe an explanation to anyone and that he can “file a review petition.”

    Criticising alleged political victimisation, the PTI chairman suggested that the Supreme Court should appoint a NAB chairman.

    “When opposition and government fail to evolve consensus on the name of NAB chairman appointment then a ‘third umpire’ makes the decision,” he said, adding that the NAB is working under the “third umpire”.

    “Solve the problems by sitting in parliament. This country needs to move forward,” the CJP said to Khan.

  • Justice Minallah says live streaming of Khan’s appearance in court not against law

    Justice Minallah says live streaming of Khan’s appearance in court not against law

    Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah on June 5 issued a dissenting note on the majority verdict against the petition seeking live streaming of the hearing of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendment case, stating that there was “no substantive reason” to deny the public the right to have access to court proceedings.

    In a 13-page long document, the judge asserted that “Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi is the founder and undisputed leader of a major political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI).” Therefore live streaming his court appearances wasn’t against the law.

    The development came after the Supreme Court released a detailed verdict on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s petition last week, stating that broadcasting the court proceedings of cases involving politicians can be used for political “point-scoring”.

  • Sindh tourism minister wants Kartarpur-like religious corridors in province

    Sindh tourism minister wants Kartarpur-like religious corridors in province

    Sindh Tourism Minister Zulfiqar Ali Shah has proposed on Thursday that religious corridors like those in Kartarpur in Punjab be established in the province to facilitate the people of Hindu and Jain faiths.  

    During an event in Dubai, the minister shared his vision of promoting tourism in Sindh, proposing that the corridor could be established in Umarkot and Nagarparkar, both cities with a rich historical heritage and multiple Jain temples, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the profound history of these places.

    He stressed that many Hindus and Jains from India are interested in visiting Sindh.  

    The provincial minister also suggested that the Sindh government could start a weekly flight from India to Sukkhur or Larkana for religious tourists.  

    The minister added that Shri Shiv Mandir is one of the old Hindu temples located in Umarkot. He further explained that some people believe it is almost 2000 years old.

  • Imran Khan will not leave country at any cost, claims Arif Alvi

    Imran Khan will not leave country at any cost, claims Arif Alvi

    Former president and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Arif Alvi has claimed that incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan is being offered to “strike a deal and leave the country,” Geo reported on Wednesday.

    During a press conference in Faisalabad, Alvi revealed that Imran Khan, in a display of unwavering commitment, turned down the offer and vowed to stay in the country at all costs.

    The former president also said that those who conspired to sentence Imran Khan will face complete failure.

    The PTI leader, in a clear demonstration of the party’s open-mindedness, confirmed their readiness to engage in dialogue with ‘stakeholders but not with the non-stakeholders’. He urged all politicians to let go of their animosity and approach matters compassionately.

    He stated that Khan’s release will be the supremacy of law in the country, adding that the people in power shouldn’t be afraid of the former Prime Minister’s release.

  • Khan to face new cases in future: Sanaullah

    Khan to face new cases in future: Sanaullah

    Advisor to Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah stated on Geo News program ‘Capital Talk’ that new cases would be filed against former Prime Minister Imran Khan after he recently got major relief in the cypher case from Islamabad High Court on June 3.

    “Doubts can be created in a simple matter…at one time, we saw back-to-back sentences without the creation of doubts. It is likely to see doubts in the iddat case as well just like we saw in the cypher case,” said the former Interior Minister.

    Sanaullah opined that the iddat case was being termed a “personal affair” of a public personality which is not true.

    He said that Khan was nominated in cases in which he confessed his crimes and admitted that new cases would be filed in the days to come.

    Sanaullah hinted at Khan’s controversial X post that a case might be filed regarding that.

  • Gohar confirms PTI’s socials’ handled by Jibran Ilyas, Azhar Mashwani

    Gohar confirms PTI’s socials’ handled by Jibran Ilyas, Azhar Mashwani

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Gohar Khan has revealed during an investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that Jibran Ilyas and Azhar Mashwani manage the party’s social media accounts from abroad, Express Tribune has reported.

    FIA has initiated a probe regarding the controversial video released from Imran Khan’s social media account about the 1971 Fall of Dhaka.

    During the inquiry, Barrister Gohar emphasised that he did not agree with the decision to upload the controversial video. He confirmed that Ilyas and Mashwani are primarily responsible for content creation and video production.

    During the FIA’s cybercrime inquiry into the contentious video, Barrister Gohar was interrogated for two hours, while the party’s Information Secretary, Raoof Hasan, was questioned for four hours.

    Meanwhile, Azhar Mashwani today posted on X, “My two elder brothers Prof. Mazhar and Prof. Zahoor Mashwani were picked up from our house in Township Lahore at 2:50 pm today by dozens of CTD uniformed and plain clothed people.”

  • Gandapur once again has meltdown about Governor Kundi

    Gandapur once again has meltdown about Governor Kundi

    Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur once again used ugly words while lashing out at Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi during talks with journalists saying, “You [Kundi] yourself are a thief, so is your leader. To hell with your alliance.”

    “He [Kundi] has crossed the limits many times and uses my name often so I call out his name and he gets some views on TikTok,” exclaimed the CM KP.

    Gandapur used uncouth language during the tirade against the PPP leader and stated, “You’re worth nothing, I can kick you out of the Governor House today.”

  • No ban on reporting, court assures journalists

    No ban on reporting, court assures journalists

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) has clarified that court reporting is not banned and assured journalists that they can do it but must avoid “irresponsible reporting.”

    The IHC, in a significant move, announced its stance during a hearing of a case challenging the petition of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) ban on broadcasting court proceedings on news channels.

    IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said in a statement that media organizations are free to cover court proceedings but should avoid irresponsible reporting.

    Pemra submitted its reply during the hearing.

    Meanwhile, the court asked additional attorney general about the potential involvement of federal government in the matter. “This is Pemra’s matter, not the federal government’s,” he responded.

    Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani, one of the petitioner’s counsel, stated that Pemra’s law does not restrict reporting on pending cases.


    After that, IHC adjourned the hearing till June 11.

  • FIA arrests social activist Sarim Burney from Karachi

    FIA arrests social activist Sarim Burney from Karachi

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested social activist Sarim Burney from Karachi on charges of human trafficking, Geo News reported on Wednesday.

    Authorities apprehended him when he landed in Karachi from a tour to the United States (US) of America. A source in FIA revealed that authorities arrested Burney on a complaint by the US government.

    Sarim Burney allegedly adopted 25 children and illegally smuggled them to the US, the FIA source added.
    The source claimed that the FIA has started an investigation into the matter.


    The activist runs the Sarim Burney Welfare Trust International, a non-profit trust “representing the oppressed and less privileged population”, according to the organisation’s website.

    As per the website, the trust provides “legal services for child abuse, harassment, sexual assault, human trafficking, domestic violence, violation of human rights, workers compensation rights and other serious crimes.”