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Tag: Fawad Chaudhry

  • 10 soldiers martyred in terrorist attack on checkpost in Balochistan’s Kech

    10 soldiers martyred in terrorist attack on checkpost in Balochistan’s Kech

    Ten soldiers were martyred after terrorists attacked a security forces’ check-post in Balochistan’s Kech district, informed Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

    According to the statement issued by ISPR, the “fire raid” by terrorists occurred on the night of January 25-26.

    “During intense exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed and several injured. While repulsing terrorists’ fire raid, 10 soldiers embraced martyrdom,” read the statement.

    “The armed forces are determined to eliminate terrorists from our soil no matter what the cost,” the ISPR statement said.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan paid tribute to the martyred soldiers. “I salute the 10 martyred soldiers who repulsed a terrorist fire raid on checkpost in Kech Balochistan. We are resolute in our commitment to rid Pakistan of all forms of terrorism.”

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, “The graveyards of Jhelum smell of the blood of these martyrs.”

  • PTI announces appointments of its Central Organisation

    PTI announces appointments of its Central Organisation

    The ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has formed its Central Organisation and announced its appointments, reports The Express Tribune.

    The establishment of the organisation was approved by party chairman, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati, Member of National Assembly (MNA) Mir Khan Muhammad Jamali and Amir Bakhsh Bhutto have been appointed as Senior Vice Presidents (SVPs).

    While Atif Khan, Hamidul Haq, Naseebullah Murree and Nawabzada Sharif Jogezai, Ejaz Chaudhry, Ibrahim Khan, Aftab Siddiqui and Advocate Ataullah will act as VPs.

  • PM Khan says Pak corruption getting better but corruption index says Pak is getting more corrupt

    PM Khan says Pak corruption getting better but corruption index says Pak is getting more corrupt

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has taken the most steps against corruption in the country’s history.

    The premier, while chairing a session of the federal cabinet on Tuesday, discussed the report released by Transparency International according to which Pakistan has been ranked 140 out of 180 countries, slipping further down to 16 spots over the last year, on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2021.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, commenting on Pakistan’s low ranking on Transparency International’s CPI, said that it was because of the absence of rule of law in the country and state capture as opposed to financial corruption.

    State capture is a type of systemic political corruption in which private interests significantly influence a state’s decision-making processes to their own advantage.

    The minister said all the international institutions that helped determine country rankings had Pakistan maintaining its previous ranking — except the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which dropped the country’s ranking.

    “If you ascertain that who is heading the Economist in Pakistan, you will find that why Pakistan’s ranking was dropped,” he added.

  • PM’s hawk adviser Shahzad Akbar resigns, Fawad Chaudhry says ‘more important work awaits’

    PM’s hawk adviser Shahzad Akbar resigns, Fawad Chaudhry says ‘more important work awaits’

    Adviser to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar said on Monday that he had resigned from his post.

    Taking to Twitter, Akbar said that he had tendered his resignation today to PM Khan.

    “I sincerely hope the process of accountability continues under the leadership of PM IK as per the PTI’s manifesto. I will remain associated with the party and keep contributing as a member of the legal fraternity,” he added.

    Reacting to the news, federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said, “It was never easy to take on Mafias but way you worked and handled cases is admirable.”

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Mohammad Zubair tweeted, “Jumping the ship at the right moment, Shahzad Akbar has proven to be a smart person.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Anny Marri said, “Sinking ship – meet the first of the rats. More to come….”

    In July 2020, Akbar was appointed as an adviser to the premier.

    Akbar — former deputy prosecutor for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) — was appointed as a special assistant to the prime minister on accountability in August 2018.

  • ‘Nation stands with PM Khan, Opposition can’t harm him’, claims Asad Umar

    ‘Nation stands with PM Khan, Opposition can’t harm him’, claims Asad Umar

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar dismissed the news of factionalism within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and said no one could be Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s substitute within the party.

    While talking to Geo News’  programme “Naya Pakistan”, Umar stated that 99 per cent of the PTI’s vote bank belongs to PM Khan.

    “I reiterate that the nation stands with Imran Khan and this is the only reason that the Opposition has been unable to harm him,” he said while referring to Opposition claims that allied parties are not with the government.

    The federal minister also seconded his party fellow Fawad Chaudhry’s statement about Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members being “hell-bent on removing Nawaz Sharif from their party”.

    Despite inflation and new taxes that have been imposed, Asad Umar claimed that the country’s economy is progressing.

  • PML-N’s Khaqan Abbasi knows 22 NA members who want to leave PTI govt

    PML-N’s Khaqan Abbasi knows 22 NA members who want to leave PTI govt

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khandaza Kay Sath’, said, “I know 22 members of the National Assembly who don’t want to remain part of the incumbent government anymore.”

    Abbasi said that if those 22 people step aside, the government will lose its majority in the House.

    Responding to Fawad Chaudhry’s claim that four PML-N leaders are “hell-bent on removing Nawaz Sharif from the party,” Abbasi said: “I am unable to understand Fawad’s statements as he is just trying to seek attention.”

    He said that “no one desires the throne in PML-N”, adding that party leaders “just want the implementation of the Constitution in the country”.

    “I never had the desire to become the prime minister,” Abbasi added.

    The former premier said that the “government itself is walking with the help of crutches and can’t stand without it even for a single day”.

    On being asked why did the four names turn up, Abbasi said the government is lying.

    On the other hand, responding to Abbasi’s comments during the show, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz said that “without taking any names, we had just hinted at four senior leaders of PML-N, and now people can guess themselves who we were referring to.”

    “PML-N is an incompetent party with an incomplete narrative and its leadership lacks democratic thoughts,” added Faraz.

  • ‘We want to engage’: Fawad Chaudhry offers conditional friendship to the Opposition

    ‘We want to engage’: Fawad Chaudhry offers conditional friendship to the Opposition

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership on Tuesday appeared to want to befriend the Opposition and want to reconcile amidst tensions.

    Informa­tion and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry, while addressing a press conference after the federal cabinet meeting, said, “We want to engage the opposition on important national issues like electoral and judicial reforms and the appointment of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman.”

    Accompanied with Energy Minister Hammad Azhar, Chaudhry said that the National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaisar and the Prime Minister (PM) himself had invited the Opposition to negotiate on these three issues.

    However, Fawad said that despite constant efforts to engage the Opposition on the government’s reform agenda, they were only interested in formulating conspiracies and trying to topple the government.

    It is pertinent to state here that the Opposition has shown interest in talks with the government, provided the premier himself participated in the talks.

    Fawad categorically said that PM Khan would not sit with any Opposition leader, including Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

  • ‘[PTI leaders] spent winter nights in heated bedrooms,’ Maryam blasts govt, says no rift in party

    ‘[PTI leaders] spent winter nights in heated bedrooms,’ Maryam blasts govt, says no rift in party

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday rejected the claims of the government of having a forward bloc within the party and said that the government was fabricating such stories to divert attention from its incompetence.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday claimed that four PML-N leaders were “hell-bent on removing the party supremo Nawaz Sharif from the party.”

    Addressing a gathering in Lahore, Fawad said that there is a “rat race going on among senior PML-N members as to who would lead the party next,” adding that, “four top-most party leaders want to remove PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in a bid to take over the party’s leadership.”

    When asked about the reported attempt by her party leaders to replace the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Maryam said that Fawad’s statement was a way to hide from the questions of media about rising inflation and the government’s inabilities that led to the recent Murree tragedy.

    She said that after the death of tourists, instead of providing a balm to the wounds of the bereaved families, the inconsiderate ministers and government machinery started victim-blaming.

    Criticising the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leadership who used to make fun of PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam said, “Instead of following his example and borrowing the boots from him, they [PTI leaders] spent winter nights in the heated bedrooms of their official residences, maintained on public expense while tourists were dying in the snow.”

  • Forward bloc in PML-N: Will Nawaz Sharif be replaced by another party member?

    Forward bloc in PML-N: Will Nawaz Sharif be replaced by another party member?

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has claimed that four Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders were “hell-bent on removing the party supremo Nawaz Sharif from the party.”

    Addressing a gathering in Lahore, Fawad said that there is a “rat race going on among senior PML-N members as to who would lead the party next,” adding that, “four top-most party leaders want to remove PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in a bid to take over the party’s leadership.”

    The federal minister even claimed that the four members he was referring to “even went out to meet someone and confessed that since Nawaz had treated the country in a bad manner, they should instead be given a chance to lead the party.”

    When asked for names Fawad said that their names will soon be out and that the four of them sit in the front row.

    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar took to Twitter and asked the PML-N leadership to show courage and come forward with their ambitions.

    “It is a good thing that there are four members in the Noon League who have the courage to consider themselves more qualified and entitled to lead than the Sharif family,” said Hammad.

    “However, they should express this commitment openly, not behind closed doors. Will you spend your whole life in fear?” tweeted Hammad.

    Confirming what Fawad had said, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s Special Assistant on Capital Development Authority (CDA), Ali Nawaz Awan, while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Captial Talk’ said, “The entire city is talking about [replacement of Nawaz Sharif.]”

    I will name two members [out of the four hinted by Fawad] Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khawaja Asif,” said Awan.

    Prior to this, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed had hinted on a minus Sharif leadership and said, “They [Opposition] want that the hand [protecting] Imran Khan should be on their head as well,” adding, ” this hand can be on their [Opposition] neck but never on their head.” Rasheed’s words hint towards the establishment.

    “I would like to say a historical sentence that all four Sharif’s are minus from the politics of Pakistan,” said Rasheed.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda, while speaking on ARY News programme, ‘Off the Record’ was questioned about the four names who wanted to replace Nawaz Sharif.
    “Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, and Miftah Ismail are the names who wish to replace Nawaz,” said Vawda.

    Anchorperson Kashif Abbasi asked Vawda as to where did the above-mentioned people go and whom did they meet? Vawda said, “Any door can be knocked, one can go and meet anyone.

  • ‘Never been hospitalised, activities uninterrupted’: Attorney General wants committee on Nawaz’s health

    ‘Never been hospitalised, activities uninterrupted’: Attorney General wants committee on Nawaz’s health

    The attorney general’s office on Wednesday asked the Punjab government to consider establishing a medical board or a committee that could determine the current status of Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, reports Dawn.

    In November 2019,  Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s supreme leader was granted one-time permission by a bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

    In a two-page letter, addressed to Punjab Home Secretary Zafar Nasrullah Khan, the attorney general’s office wrote: “In order to initiate the process of verification in the light of the Nov 16, 2019, Lahore High Court order, the government of Punjab is requested to constitute a medical board/committee to examine the documents submitted as medical reports on behalf of the petitioner and Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif so that expert medical opinion regarding the physical condition of Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and his ability to travel back to Pakistan is made available.”

    The letter was written in line with the federal cabinet’s instructions to the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan to initiate proceedings against the Sharif family.

    The letter pointed out that Nawaz Sharif’s “apparent present physical condition was available in the media”.

    “Given the fact that he had left the country claiming to be in extreme critical condition which prima facie improved significantly after his arrival in London and the fact that he has apparently never been hospitalised and his political, social and other recreational activities have continued uninterrupted… indicate that severe ailment, if any, that may have existed in [the] past is no longer evident or [constrains] his activities,” the letter said.

    “This is further reinforced by the public statements made and reported in the media by his close family members including Shehbaz Sharif and other political associates, who recently met Nawaz Sharif in London,” the letter recalled.

    Earlier this week, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, while addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting, said that Nawaz Sharif was not seeking medical treatment for the past 17 months.

    “Shehbaz Sharif was the guarantor of Nawaz Sharif,” said the minister.

    “The drama of Nawaz Sharif’s health was created here,” said Fawad, adding that Nawaz went out of Pakistan through fraud.

    “[PML-N President] Shehbaz Sharif is involved in this fraud. According to his statement, Shehbaz Sharif should take steps to bring Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan,” said Fawad.

    “The Federal Cabinet has decided to approach the High Court on the false affidavit of Shehbaz Sharif,” said the minister.