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Tag: Imran Khan

  • PTI foreign funding case: ECP says PTI received prohibited funds

    PTI foreign funding case: ECP says PTI received prohibited funds

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in its verdict on Tuesday unanimously ruled that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did indeed receive prohibited funding and issued a show-cause notice to the party.

    A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar. Akbar filed the case on November 14, 2014. The verdict was reserved on June 21.

    The ECP said that the party, in violation of the Constitution, had received funds from 34 foreign entities. The party received funds from the United States, Australia, and the UAE. The ECP added that 13 unidentified accounts also surfaced during the probe in the PTI funding case.

    It says that PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I. The PTI chairman kept accounts hidden, which the ECP said is a violation of the Constitution, and the affidavit provided regarding party accounts was also false.

    The commission noted that “the party knowingly and willfully received funding from Wootton Cricket Limited, operated by business tycoon Arif Naqvi. The party was a willing recipient of prohibited money of $2,121,500”.

    ECP Verdict on PTI’s foreign funding case is attached below;

    ECP-VERDICTDownload

    The ECP said that the party knowingly and willfully also received donations from Bristol Engineering Services (a UAE-based company), E-Planet Trustees (a Cayman Island private registered company), SS Marketing Manchester (a UK-based private company), PTI USA LLC-6160, and PTI USA LLC-5975 which were hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws.

    The ECP went on to say that the party had only owned eight accounts before the commission and declared 13 accounts to be unknown. “The data obtained from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reveals that all the 13 accounts disowned by the PTI were opened and operated by senior PTI management and leadership at [a] central and provincial level.”

    The PTI chairman submitted Form-I for five years (between 2008-2013), which was found to be “grossly inaccurate on the basis of the financial statements obtained by this commission from SBP and other material available on record”.

    “Imran Khan for the five years under review has filed submissions that were grossly inaccurate and wrong. Even during the course of scrutiny and hearing by this commission, the PTI continued to conceal and withhold complete and full disclosure of [the] source of its funds.”

    The demand for an announcement of the verdict in this important case increased following an explosive story by the Financial Times, revealing the sources of funding of the PTI.

    Read more: PTI foreign funding case: New revelations in Financial Times spark another controversy

    Khan persistently has been demanding CEC Raja’s resignation, accusing him of being biased towards the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    Read more: What did Bushra Bibi and Khan do after losing the no-confidence motion? Imran reveals all

    Addressing his party members at PTI’s national council meeting in Islamabad on August 1, Khan called for a protest outside the ECP office in Islamabad on Thursday, August 4, to demand CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation.

    PTI foreign funding case: ECP to announce verdict tomorrow

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced that its verdict on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s foreign funding case will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday, August 2) at 10am.

    Earlier it was reported by Daily Jang that after eight years ECP might announce its verdict this week in the PTI foreign funding case.

    ECP officials revealed that the investigations into international money-laundering have been completed.

    “PTI is only harming itself by filing a judicial reference against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja,” said ECP officials. They said that during the hearing of this judicial reference, certain matters that were earlier “hidden from public view would be revealed”. They further claimed that the judicial reference against the Election Commission of Pakistan and the CEC “is an attempt to create a smoke screen ahead of the verdict” by “blackmailers” who are part of an international money-laundering ring.

    The officials further said that ECP will not bow to any “blackmailing and will not come under any pressure”, clarifying that the ECP has no bias toward any political party.

    The development has come forward after an investigative report published in Financial Times revealed new details about PTI’s foreign funding.

    After the FT report, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the coalition government, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), met ECP officials and urged them to release the verdict on the foreign funding case.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has also repeatedly urged the ECP to announce its verdict in the long-delayed case.

  • What did Bushra Bibi and Khan do after losing no-confidence motion? Imran reveals all

    What did Bushra Bibi and Khan do after losing no-confidence motion? Imran reveals all

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has revealed that a day after losing the no-confidence motion, he and Bushra Bibi decided to rest and watch a movie. “In the evening, we were watching a movie when I saw on my phone that the public is out on the roads”.

    Addressing his party members at PTI’s national council meeting in Islamabad, he said seeing the public made him happy. He further said that being PM was extremely difficult as every other day some new issue pops up and that he did not take a day off while he was in office.

    Protest on Aug 4

    Khan has called for a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Islamabad on Thursday (August 4) to demand Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation.

    The former prime minister said that he wanted electronic voting machines (EVMs) for free and fair elections, accusing “CEC Sikandar Raja of sabotaging them in every way possible.”

    He said that during the recently-held Punjab by-polls, his party’s biggest concern was rigging but “despite multiple attempts, it emerged victorious”.

    The PTI chairman also claimed that the government has lost its credibility both nationally and internationally. “It has fallen to an extent that the army chief has to now request for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. Can you imagine?”

    He was referring to the reports of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa reaching out to US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman last week for help in securing an early loan dispersal from IMF.

  • ‘Stop making a mockery of family’: Chaudhry Shujaat asks Pervaiz Elahi to return home

    ‘Stop making a mockery of family’: Chaudhry Shujaat asks Pervaiz Elahi to return home

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday asked Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to return home.

    “At our residence, my room is on one side, while the other side belongs to Pervaiz Elahi,” the former premier said during a press conference on Monday.

    They are trying to divide the family

    “They are trying to divide our family,” he said while speaking about the ongoing conflict within the party. Shujaat advised Elahi to “stop making a mockery of our family”.

    Regarding his sons and their involvement in political matters, the PML-Q leader — who was recently removed from his party position following the letter controversy during the CM’s election — said: “Attempts are being made to defame my sons, they have taken all decisions after consulting me and I am proud of them.”

    He further added that those who levelled allegations against him and his sons have no standing.

    Shujaat blamed the politicians after Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa intervened in the economic matters of the country by contacting United States officials and requesting an early dispersal of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) funds.

    “Why was there a need for the army chief to interfere?” Shujaat questioned.

    It is impossible to remove Shujaat from his party head position

    Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema said that he will only leave his position when Shujaat asks him to do so.

    “It is impossible to remove Shujaat from his party head position,” Cheema said, referring to the unanimous decision taken by the PML-Q central working committee to remove Shujaat and Cheema from their party positions.

    “Shujaat is the founder of the party and provincial offices have no authority to remove him,” he maintained, adding that this is not how parties work.

  • Imran Khan’s Instagram account was hacked, now recovered

    Imran Khan’s Instagram account was hacked, now recovered

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s Instagram account was hacked earlier today. However, the account has now been recovered.

    After Imran Khan’s Instagram account was hacked, a new link was put in his Instagram bio. The link apparently led to a cryptocurrency website.

    The Current reached out to Khan’s Focal Person on Digital Media Dr Arslan Khalid when the PTI chairman’s account was hacked. Dr Arslan Khan confirmed that it had indeed been hacked and was “being recovered”.

    “Thanks to the Meta team, which gave a prompt response and helped us recover it in no time”, said Khalid.

    Khan is not the only PTI member whose account was hacked this year.

    Read more — Asad Umar’s Twitter account hacked

    Last month, Asad Umar’s Twitter account was hacked.

    In May, former federal minister Hammad Azhar’s e-mail, Twitter, and Apple accounts were also hacked.

  • ‘Announcement in six to eight weeks’: Imran directs Punjab MPAs to prepare for general elections

    ‘Announcement in six to eight weeks’: Imran directs Punjab MPAs to prepare for general elections

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday directed party leaders and parliamentarians in Punjab to prepare for the next general elections as they could be announced in six to eight weeks.

    The direction came during separate meetings held at Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi’s office on Sunday.

    Khan congratulated Elahi on the ouster of an ‘unconstitutional and unlawful’ government from Punjab.

    Steps to provide relief to the people of the province were also discussed during the meeting.

    Khan held separate meetings with various party leaders, including provincial chief of the party Dr Yasmin Rashid, former chief Shafqat Mahmood, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, as well as with MPAs from six Punjab divisions.

    Khan has given Dr Yasmin Rashid a two-week ultimatum to reorganise the party in the province.

    Earlier, former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that an “agreement” has been reached and the general elections will be held in October.

    “Instead of by-elections, matters on new elections have been settled. The nation will soon hear about the date for the elections in October, the formation of a new election commission and a caretaker government,” said Rasheed.

    PTI challenges approval of 11 resignations in court

    PTI General Secretary Asad Umar on Monday (August 1) reached the Islamabad High Court where he challenged the approval of the 11 resignations of PTI MNAs.

    “A petition has been submitted in the Islamabad High Court against the election commission accepting the resignations of 11 members of the assembly of their choice,” the PTI leader said on Twitter.

    Umar said that they have approached the court against the acceptance of the 11 resignations. 

    “On April 11, 125 of our people resigned on the floor of the assembly, and on April 13, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri accepted their resignations,” Umar said.

    Asad Umar said that PTI MNAs resigned en masse but the election commission’s decision to accept the resignation of 11 members and not 125 is illegal.

    Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified 11 PTI MNAs following the approval of their resignations by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf.

    According to the ECP, Ali Muhammad Khan, Fazal Muhammad Khan, Shaukat Ali, Fakhar Zaman Khan, Farrukh Habib, Ijaz Ahmad Shah, Jamil Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Akram Cheema, Abdul Shakoor Shad, Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari, Shandana Gulzar Khan have been de-notified. 

    PTI to file judicial reference against Chief Election Commissioner

    PTI Information Secretary Farrukh Habib issued a statement on July 30 and said the party had prepared to file a disqualification reference in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against the CEC Sikander Sultan Raja. He said the CEC met PDM leaders after reserving a judgment in the prohibited funding case.

    “By doing so, the chief election commissioner violated his oath, the code of conduct as well as his constitutional duty,” he added.

    According to media reports, PTI decided to file a judicial reference against CEC Sultan Raja. The decision came during a high-level PTI meeting chaired by Imran Khan, where the party leaders reviewed the coalition government’s recent meeting with the CEC and other ECP members.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNfG3ESe4YQ&ab_channel=TheCurrent
  • The real story behind Imran Khan sitting on CM Punjab seat

    The real story behind Imran Khan sitting on CM Punjab seat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan met Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and former federal minister Moonis Elahi at the Chief Minister’s Office on Sunday in Lahore and discussed matters of mutual interest, the political situation, the administrative affairs of Punjab, and the law and order situation.

    A picture of their meeting was shared by Moonis Elahi on social media where Khan can be seen sitting on the CM’s seat while the chief minister sat opposite him. The picture went viral and was widely criticised by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.

    “No self-respecting, dignified man would sit on someone else’s official seat/chair but this man is hungry for power,” tweeted Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

    “

    “Rude Tosha Fitna Khan sits on the chair of Chief Minister of Punjab,” tweeted PML-N leader Saad Rafique.

    The real story

    However, senior journalist Hamid Mir explained the real reason why Khan was sitting on the CM seat.

    Hamid Mir said that when Khan reached Elahi’s office to congratulate him, Pervaiz Elahi asked the PTI chairman to sit on the CM seat but Khan replied that it is Elahi’s seat.

    Moonis Elahi said to the PTI chairman that they got this seat because of him, so he should sit on it. After Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi’s insistence, finally Imran Khan sat on the chair of the Punjab Chief Minister.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    After Punjab, KPK assembly also approves motion against ECP chief
    
			
    After Punjab, KPK assembly also approves motion against ECP chief
    
			
    

    A day after Punjab Assembly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly on Monday also approved a motion expressing no-trust in Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
    




    The development was shared by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) official Twitter handle.
    




    


    




    The resolution demanded immediate general elections in the country and called for the ECP members and CEC to step down.
    




    Punjab Assembly approves motion for ECP chief’s resignation
    




    On Sunday, the Punjab Assembly (PA) approved a motion today on Sunday calling for CEC Sikandar’s resignation.
    




    This development came after PTI candidate Sibtain Khan was elected the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly.
    




    The session of the provincial assembly began with newly-elected PA Speaker Khan administering the oath to his deputy, Wasiq Qayyum.
    




    Later, PTI Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Syed Abbas Shah presented the motion against Sultan. After the motion was approved, the Assembly was adjourned till August 15.
    




    PTI Information Secretary Farrukh Habib issued a statement on Saturday and said the party had prepared to file a disqualification reference in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against the CEC. He said the CEC met PDM leaders after reserving a judgment in the prohibited funding case.
    




    “By doing so, the chief election commissioner violated his oath, the code of conduct as well as his constitutional duty,” he added.
    




    In an address to his supporters, PTI Chairman Imran Khan expressed his complete lack of trust in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and CEC Raja. Khan accused the ECP of supporting former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Hamza Shehbaz.
    




    




    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Shehbaz Sharif, Bill Gates discuss anti-polio campaign
    
			
    Shehbaz Sharif, Bill Gates discuss anti-polio campaign
    
			
    

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Bill Gates held talks on the phone and discussed the anti-polio campaign in Pakistan.
    




    In a telephonic conversation, the premier appreciated the valuable support of the BMGF to Pakistan in polio eradication and improving immunisation, nutrition, and financial inclusion in the country.
    




    Expressing grave concern about the recent increase in the number of confirmed poliovirus cases in Pakistan in 2022, Shehbaz stressed that his government remained committed to ending all forms of polio in the country.
    




    Gates reiterated the Foundation’s continued support to Pakistan for ensuring that no child is at risk of paralysis due to poliovirus.
    




    One wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bringing the number of 2022 WPV1 cases to 13. In 2021, the number of WVP1 cases was one and the number of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV2) cases was eight.
    




    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Matters have been decided, elections in October’: Sheikh Rasheed
    
			
    ‘Matters have been decided, elections in October’: Sheikh Rasheed
    
			
    

    Former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed said that an “agreement” has been reached, and the general elections will be held in October.
    




    “Instead of by-elections, matters on new elections have been settled. The nation will soon hear about the date for the elections in October, the formation of a new election commission and a caretaker government,” said Rasheed.
    




    “Even those in quarantine have agreed to elections,” said Rasheed taking a jibe at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.
    




    


    




    Sheikh added that only JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is left.
    




    Criticising the coalition government, Rasheed said that their political credibility had come to an end and they cannot flee, cannot go to the people, and neither can they bring their people back to the country. Rasheed was alluding to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.
    




    


    




    “Now, the people will decide. They [government] have made a mockery of the assembly and democracy. The crisis is now shifting from Sri Lanka to Pakistan,” he added.
    




    Rasheed’s statement came after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan ruled out the possibility of holding talks with the coalition government.
    




    “I can talk to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the separatists of Balochistan and Sindh, but not with thieves. Will you speak to someone who robs your home?”
    




    




    
https://youtu.be/rz5_Kv0j07E

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Can talk to TTP, not with thieves’: Imran Khan rules out possibility of talks with the govt
    
			
    ‘Can talk to TTP, not with thieves’: Imran Khan rules out possibility of talks with the govt
    
			
    

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan addressed his supporters on Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court verdict declared Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the new chief minister of Punjab. He demanded immediate elections that should be free and fair. Khan ruled out any possibility of holding talks with the coalition government.
    




    ‘Can talk to the TTP and separatists but not with thieves’
    




    “I can talk to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the separatists of Balochistan and Sindh, but not with thieves,” said Khan while ruling out the possibility of holding talks with the coalition government.
    




    “Will you speak to someone who robs your home?” 
    




    


    




    ‘A new Election Commission should be formed’
    




    Once again, Khan expressed his complete lack of trust in the incumbent Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja. Khan accused the ECP of supporting former CM Punjab Hamza Shehbaz.
    




    “The Election Commission was involved and tried to defeat us in the by-polls.” 
    




    Terming his party’s win in the Punjab by-elections a “miracle”, he said that despite the government’s attempts, his party managed to win because of the people.
    




    “First of all, Hamza was illegally imposed on us, and even when he was ordered by the top court to refrain from using any state machinery and administration for personal gains, he used all of the aforementioned to rig the elections.”
    




    He demanded that a new Election Commission should be formed.
    




    “Such an Election Commission should be formed that no political party should have an issue with it.”
    




    


    




    ‘Yeh jo bikay hain hamaray log, yeh bhi aik shirk hai’
    




    Khan said that those who defected from his party committed shirk.
    




     “Jab yeh apni naukri ko bachanay ke liye ghalat kaam kartay hain,  gunnah kartay hain, yeh bhi aik shirk hai. Aap apnay zameer ko bechtay hain, laalach de kar jo aap ko khareedta hai, yeh jo bikay hain hamaray log bhairr baqriyon ki tarah, yeh bhi aik shirq hai kyun ke Allah Al-Haqq hai.” 
    




    (Those who do wrong things to save their jobs commit sin, it is shirk [idolatry]. Those who sell their self-respect and themselves, it is also counted as shirk because Allah is Al-Haqq). 
    




    


    




    Azadi March and Haqeeqi Azadi
    




    Khan recalled that when his party announced its “Azadi March” on May 25, the coalition government attacked the women, children, and families who came out to support PTI. 
    




    “They tried to silence us.”
    




    “Today, I want to thank the Almighty that despite all the impediments, people came out to show support rather than staying at home out of fear,” adding that he is glad that the people of Pakistan have started becoming a nation now.
    




    


    




    ‘Free and fair elections should be held immediately‘
    




    Khan stressed that there is only one way forward and that is through immediately holding free and fair elections.