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Tag: Khawaja Asif

  • Who does Shehbaz Sharif want to be in cabinet?

    Who does Shehbaz Sharif want to be in cabinet?

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has recommended 19 names to President Asif Ali Zardari to be inducted into the federal cabinet, according to a summary forwarded to the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.

    As per Geo news, the federal cabinet is expected to take oath today at 3 pm at the President House.

    The list of recommendations for federal ministries includes several prominent names from the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), such as Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Ishaq Dar, and others. Additionally, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM-P and Abdul Aleem Khan from Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party are also among those recommended.

    Furthermore, Senators Ishaq Dar and Musadik Malik have been recommended for appointment as federal ministers under clause 9 of Article 91 of the Constitution, as their Senate term is set to end on March 12.

    The clause permits the prime minister to appoint individuals outside of parliament to the federal cabinet for a period of six months.

    Three additional names recommended for induction as federal ministers under clause 9 of Article 91 are Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, and Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi.

    Shaza Fatima is the sole woman recommended for inclusion in the federal cabinet. She is slated to take oath as a state minister under clause 1 of Article 92 of the Constitution, according to the summary.

    Sources indicate that while the Prime Minister initially plans to keep the cabinet small, more ministers will likely be inducted in the second phase.

    The swearing-in of the federal cabinet follows Prime Minister Shehbaz’s oath-taking as the 24th premier of the country a week ago, and President Zardari’s inauguration as the head of state a day earlier, attended by all dignitaries.

  • Khawaja Asif sends Rs1 billion defamation notice to Usman Dar, his mother

    Khawaja Asif sends Rs1 billion defamation notice to Usman Dar, his mother

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Khawaja Asif has sent a defamation notice of Rs 1 billion to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar and his mother.

    According to the notice, Dar and his mother, Rehana Dar, made false allegations to defame the PML-N leader, asking them to pay Rs 1 billion within 14 days.

    Both the leaders belong to Sialkot and have contested elections against each other from the National Assembly’s NA-73 constituency. Khawaja Asif has defeated Dar in the match up.

    After a police raid on Dar’s house earlier this month, Rehana Dar alleged that the former federal minister was behind the operation, stating in a video statement that cops forcefully entered into her residence, physically tortured her, and pulled her hair.

    “When they heard that I was submitting my nomination papers, they [Asif] sent 20 people to my house,” she claimed.

    The PML-N leader also said while speaking on Geo News’ programme “Capital Talk” on December 20 that Usman Dar wants to restore his reputation after quitting politics.

  • Kya Malik Riaz ka interview Imran Khan ko muskhkil mein daal sakta hai?

    Kya Malik Riaz ka interview Imran Khan ko muskhkil mein daal sakta hai?

    Pakistan is watching a wave of interviews and the latest twist in this unfolding drama has been disclosed by senior journalist Javed Chaudhry in a recent vlog, hinting that Malik Riaz, a property tycoon, is poised to unravel a series of explosive revelations in the days to come.

    Javed Chaudhry’s vlog, providing a sneak peek into an upcoming interview with Malik Riaz, outlined three key points that are expected to rock the political landscape.

    First and foremost, the interview is anticipated to shed light on the staggering Rs460 billion penalty imposed on Bahria Town by the Supreme Court. Riaz is expected to reveal what Saqib Nisar got in return for favors. He will also delve into the details of the 460 billion rupees fiasco.

    Furthermore, the property tycoon is predicted to make startling claims regarding the 2014 protest, alleging that influential figures orchestrated the demonstration to unseat then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    The revelations will also cover how the sit-in was sponsored and from where and how food was provided.

    Riaz will also talk about why he advised Nawaz Sharif to leave the country for three months after his resignation.

    Riaz is also anticipated to discuss his role in preventing a collaborative effort between Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif against Imran Khan, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that shaped Pakistan’s political landscape.

    Riaz will also openly talk about who played what role during Imran Khan’s government and how they all benefited from it.

    While specific details of the upcoming interview were not disclosed by Chaudhry, he expressed confidence that Malik Riaz’s revelations would be nothing short of bombshells, suggesting a turbulent period ahead for Pakistani politics.

  • Shehbaz, Dar should return to Pakistan immediately, says Khawaja Asif

    Shehbaz, Dar should return to Pakistan immediately, says Khawaja Asif

    Khawaja Asif, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), has said that despite the fact that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s return is not possible until October, party president Shehbaz Sharif and senior leader Ishaq Dar should come back to Pakistan immediately as the public is angry about the economic crisis and inflation in the country.

    “There is no doubt there are countless [causes of unrest] for the people, and there is only one solution to this. We must constantly… constantly stay in touch with the people, so they can see us,” Asif stressed, adding that keeping distance from the public is not a solution.

    The former defence minister said this while talking on Geo News’ programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’.

    Khawja Asif said that Shehbaz Sharif and the former finance minister should come back and tackle the criticism the party has been facing.

    He also mentioned that the PML-N Vice President is constantly in touch with the public.

    “All of us MNAs are sitting in our constituencies,” he added.

    The former defence minister stated that the PML-N was part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), so one party could not be held responsible for the economic crisis in the country.

  • Upto 2-years imprisonment, fines for defaming the Army; Senate approves Army Act amendments

    Upto 2-years imprisonment, fines for defaming the Army; Senate approves Army Act amendments

    The Army Act Amendment Bill has sailed through the Senate on Thursday after Defence Minister Khwaja Asif presented it in the Upper House. The Senate session was chaired by the Chairman of the Senate, Sadiq Sanjrani.

    According to the bill, the disclosure of official information obtained in national interest will be punished by up to 5 years in jail, while anyone who discloses information against the interests of Pakistan or the Pakistan Army will be dealt with under the Secrets Act or Army Act.

    According to the bill, a person on sensitive duty will not become involved in any political activity. Violation of the rule can be sentenced by up to 2 years of imprisonment.

    Any person involved in electronic crimes whose aim is to defame the Army will be prosecuted under Electronic Crimes. It is further stated in the bill that a person involved in defaming the Army or spreading hatred against it will also be sentenced with to up to 2 years imprisonment and fines.

    While this was happening, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) staged a walkout from the Senate, calling the passage of several bills in one day “blind legislation.”

  • PPP’s Sherry didn’t stop Khawaja Asif’s sexist remarks in Parliament and Twitter is refusing to accept her explanation

    PPP’s Sherry didn’t stop Khawaja Asif’s sexist remarks in Parliament and Twitter is refusing to accept her explanation

    Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif once again went on a misogynistic rant in the National Assembly earlier this week. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader passed degrading and sexist comments about women from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), calling the party’s senators Sania Nishtar, Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, Falak Naz Chitrali and Fawzia Arshad “leftover garbage” and implying that they are depraved women.

    Twitter rightfully criticised the 73-year-old for using sexist and gross jokes to put down women, but they also noticed that when this happened, female politicians from PML-N and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), were present, including Climate Minister Sherry Rehman.

    Rehman has on Thursday posted a tweet explaining her silence over Khawaja Asif’s sexist speech, but despite her best efforts, you can’t ever ‘woman-splain’ overlooking misogyny.

    “Honestly, I’m sorry,” she wrote. “I was sharing some points on the passage of our National Adaptation Plan with a colleague in the National Assembly yesterday instead of listening to the noise outside House business in Parliament. I would have intervened to stop women Parliamentarians from being insulted. I did hear a tail end, but thought it was the usual political match against each other, not specific to women at all. Of COURSE I was not smiling at the remarks. That was about how pleased I was at the consensus I got in cabinet for the climate plan, which took many nights to get done. Had I heard the remarks of course I would have intervened. My bad.”

    For many Twitter users, this apology was incredibly late and did not send solidarity to the women subjected to Khawaja Asif’s disgusting remarks, which they pointed out to the PPP minister.

  • Ishaq Dar, Khwaja Asif in the committee formed by PM to hold consultations for caretaker setup

    Ishaq Dar, Khwaja Asif in the committee formed by PM to hold consultations for caretaker setup

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a five-member committee of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to hold consultations with allies on the upcoming caretaker setup in the country, Geo News has reported

    The provincial assemblies of Sindh and Baluchistan will also be dissolved next month, in August, along with the National Assembly.

    Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Muhammad Asif are members of the committee tasked with consulting with allies on the upcoming caretaker setup.

    According to sources in PML-N, the panel will start its work right away. PM Shehbaz has also advised other parties to form such panels, as it will be helpful in the matter of caretaker setup.

    According to multiple sources, one of the major parties in the ruling alliance wants the caretaker PM of its choice.

    Interestingly, the government is not consulting political forces outside the parliament.

    Earlier, the vice president (VC) of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Shah Mehmood Qureshi, had complained that PTI has not been kept in the loop in the matter of the caretaker setup.

  • Afghan Taliban’s Doha deal statement ‘disturbing’ for Pakistani leaders

    Afghan Taliban’s Doha deal statement ‘disturbing’ for Pakistani leaders

    A statement made by Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, stating that the Afghan rulers signed the Doha deal with USA and not Pakistan, has proved worrisome for Islamabad.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Farhatullah Baba expressed concern, while
    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, a stalwart of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), also agreed with the concerns of the PPP leader.
    In an interview with BBC Pashto, the Taliban spokesperson had stressed that they didn’t sign a peace accord with Islamabad. However, he also mentioned that Afghan soil was not being used for terrorism in Pakistan, as the nation was “a Muslim and brother country”.
    “Taliban signed the Doha agreement with the US, not with Pakistan and its policy towards Pakistan is different.”


    Last week, in an unusual statement, Pakistan Army said that it is also very concerned that militants of the banned terrorist organisation Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have found safe havens in Afghanistan. “It is expected that in­terim Afghan Govern­ment would not allow the use of its soil to per­petrate terror against any country, in the real sense and in line with commitments made in Doha Agreement,” the statement said.
    Pakistan Army also said that terrorist attacks in Pakistan are intolerable and the country’s security forces have the ability to give effective response to these attacks.

    Farhatullah Babar raised the question that, “Does it mean the Doha agreement binds the Taliban to rein in only some militants, not all?”
    Khawaja Asif meanwhile said that irrespective of Afghanistan stance, Pakistan will wipe out terrorism from the country.

  • We cannot even take Malik Riaz’s name on TV: Khawaja Asif

    We cannot even take Malik Riaz’s name on TV: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif talked about tax evasion in the country on Wednesday and said that 500 billion tax evasion is taking place in the real estate sector.

    While giving a speech in the National Assembly, Asif said that from the real estate sector, people like Malik Riaz cannot even be named on television.

    He went on to say that Riaz is also involved in the £190 million case but we can not take his name.

    Former Prime (PM) minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are being questioned by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for aiding Malik Riaz in the settlement of £190 million seized by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency.
    Imran and Bushra Bibi are accused of receiving benefits from Malik Riaz by granting him the settlement of £190 million.

  • Khawaja Asif says government is considering banning PTI

    Khawaja Asif says government is considering banning PTI

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said on Wednesday that the federal government is considering putting a ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    While talking to members of the press in Islamabad, the federal minister said, “It is under consideration to ban the PTI,” citing what he called an attack on the very basis of the state by PTI.


    “The PTI has attacked the very basis of the state, that never happened before. It can’t be tolerated”.


    “The May 9 events were way different than those political movements which took place in the 1970s and 80s. They never targeted our defense institutions, they didn’t challenge the writ of the state, although they had political difference with the sitting government.”


    He further accused PTI chairman Imran Khan of coordinating attacks on military installations. “There is a lot of evidence and their people are telling themselves that they were briefed about this beforehand,” he said.


    “I feel that his struggle of a year … all his plans failed and this was his last move against the armed forces,” he added.


    On May 09, supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took to the streets after Imran Khan was arrested from Islamabad High Court. In the ensuing riots, many military and government installations sustained damage, most notably, Jinnah House, the residence of Corp Commander Lahore.