Current Final

Tag: Khawaja Asif

  • Record of Toshakhana gifts will be posted online soon, promises Khawaja Asif

    Record of Toshakhana gifts will be posted online soon, promises Khawaja Asif

    The federal cabinet under the supervision of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has decided to make the details of state gifts received over the past two decades available to the public soon.

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced the development on his Twitter account where he revealed that the declassification of Toshakhana records has been allowed by the cabinet, adding that the record would be posted soon on the website of the cabinet division.

    Last year in June, PM Shehbaz Sharif constituted a ministerial committee to redesign Toshakhana policy.

    Toshakhana has been at the center of a political storm since 2021 when former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was accused of hiding details of the gifts he received during his tenure. A case and an investigation pertaining to the same are currently going on.

    However, responding to the controversy Khan said that the gifts were given to him, therefore it was his choice to keep them or not.

    Last year, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also disqualified the PTI chief as Member of the National Assembly (MNA) in the Toshkhana case.

    Recently, non-bailable arrest warrants were issued for Khan in the Toshkahana case because of his continued absences from Toshakhana court hearings. Last week, Islamabad Police reached Zaman Park to arrest the PTI chief, however, he managed to evade it.

    Later, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the arrest warrant but directed Khan to appear before the trial court by March 13 or face the proceedings of declaring him a proclaimed offender.

  • Who was the bureaucrat who collected Rs72 crore salami on his daughter’s wedding? Rauf Klasra has an idea

    Who was the bureaucrat who collected Rs72 crore salami on his daughter’s wedding? Rauf Klasra has an idea

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday revealed that former Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi told that him that a bureaucrat had collected Rs72 crores as salami [gift money] on his daughter’s wedding.

    Without revealing the name, Khawaja said, “Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi told me himself that he went to a bureaucrat’s daughter’s wedding where a man of his [Elahi’s] constituency was collecting salami. Elahi asked him how much salami had been collected so far. The person told Elahi that around Rs72 crore had been collected while more salami was pouring in.”

    “The same bureaucrat on his elder daughter’s wedding collected Rs1billion 20 crores,” narrated Khawaja. However, he did not reveal the name of the bureaucrat.

    https://twitter.com/daribaalam/status/1629329142457020418?s=20

    Journalist Rauf Klasra has now revealed the name of the bureaucrat on his Vlog.

    “Tahir Khurshid aka TK, Principal Secretary to former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, was the one whom Pervaiz Elahi was talking about. He had collected Rs72 crore as salami on his daughter’s wedding.”

    “One should ask Imran Khan and Usman Buzdar who was TK?” said Klasra.

    https://twitter.com/daribaalam/status/1629336511635234817?s=20

  • ‘Do not create controversies’: Khawaja Asif’s lashes out at judiciary on NA floor

    ‘Do not create controversies’: Khawaja Asif’s lashes out at judiciary on NA floor

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday demanded that the Supreme Court (SC) form a full court bench to hear the case pertaining to provincial elections and review past cases, starting with the Panama case in which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for life.

    In a fiery speech on the floor of the National Assembly (NA), Khawaja questioned why some judges were not criticised and raised concerns about judges intervening in parliament’s jurisdiction.

    The minister said he doesn’t want to cross the line in criticism and added that the election date suo motu case should be heard by the full court.

    “It has complained that parliamentarians criticise judges by naming them. I want to ask why some judges are not criticised?”

    Asif said that when judges intervene in the parliament’s jurisdiction, politicians will raise questions about it.

    “Why former justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Khosa are criticised and not Justice Nasir ul Mulk and Tassaduq Hussain Jillani’s name should be raised as well?” he asked.

    Taking a jibe at PTI’s Jail Bharo Tehreek, Khawaja said Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s son came to bail his father out one day after his arrest. 

    “No one came for us when we were arrested for several days. We were sent to 90 days remand. PM and his daughter served jail sentences for numerous days. No one got bail for this. On the other side, they [PTI] get instant bail,” said the minister. 

    “They carry out photo sessions in front of a police van and then leave for home. Jail Bharo Tehreek has flopped. Now it should be doob maro film (Drown in Shame),” said Asif.

    “Imran does not come out of his home, gets pre-arrest bail and then directs his party workers to offer their arrests. Imran’s medical record has not been done yet as he went to his own hospital,” said Asif. He added that the PTI chief considers the people of Pakistan fools. 

    Khawaja questioned how the treatment meted out to Nawaz Sharif justified.

    “Rewriting the Constitution is not the judiciary’s job. This is the outcome of the way Article 63 was rewritten. The way Nawaz Sharif’s government was removed was unfair.”

    Asif urged the judiciary to “prove its gracefulness”. 

    “I would say, correct the mistakes of the past which you have made so that the structure of the state could rely upon a strong foundation that no one can ever dare to challenge it. Do not generate controversies. Do not rewrite Article 63. If such would continue to happen God forbid, an unfortunate incident could take place,” warned Asif.

  • Will summon Faiz Hameed in Parliament, says Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that he will demand in the parliament that former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director-General (DG) Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed should be summoned to the floor.

    Speaking on Mohammad Malick’s show “Breaking News” on 92 News, he alleged that Hameed brought Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) back to the country. Referencing to Hameed’s visit to Kabul in 2022 asked why Hameed gave out assurances that everything would be okay.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the former spy chief went to Kabul following the withdrawal of United States (US) troops from Afghanistan.

    He was expected to discuss border management and the overall security issue — to ensure that spoilers and terrorist organisations do not take advantage of the situation — with the Taliban.

    Further lashing out at Hameed, the federal minister said that hundreds of thousands of Afghanis are still in Pakistan and put the blame for the recent extreme episodes of terrorism on the former spy chief’s head.

    He also pointed out that terrorism incidents in the country did not increase just within six to eight months.

    Since government talks with the TTP broke down in November, the militant group has intensified its attacks across Pakistan including attacks on the police.

    According to statistics released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), January 2023 remained one of the deadliest months since July 2018.

    In January, more than 100 people lost their lives in a suicide attack at a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines. The TTP initially claimed responsibility for the attack, however, it later backtracked and claimed that it did not perpetrate the bombing.

    TTP is also responsible for the recent attack on Karachi police chief’s office which took place on February 17.

  • ‘Pakistan default ho chuka hai’: Khawaja Asif

    ‘Pakistan default ho chuka hai’: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Pakistan has already defaulted, and that we’re all citizens of a bankrupt country.

    “You all have heard that Pakistan is going to default. That has already happened. Pakistan has defaulted and we’re all living in a bankrupt country,” the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader said on Saturday while addressing a public gathering.

    “If we sell two golf clubs we will be able to pay off two third of our debt. These golf clubs are constructed on 1500 kanal of land in Pakistan. Have seen leaders begging for 230 million dollars.” said Khawaja.

    The minister also said that houses of the poor are demolished so that the real estate mafia can make money.

    “A cheetah killed a man in Islamabad, no one had the guts to register the FIR on the right person. The FIR was registered against an ‘unknown’ person,” said Khawaja while addressing the crowd.

    He also said that terrorism came to Pakistan because of our leaders.

  • No plan to arrest Imran Khan, says Khawaja Asif

    No plan to arrest Imran Khan, says Khawaja Asif

    Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has denied that there is any plan to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, rejecting allegations that the government wants to arrest him.

    Speaking on the Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath” on Wednesday, Asif said that Imran Khan is attempting to exert pressure on the judiciary and other institutions.

    He also said that PTI uses abusive language towards the country’s institutions.

    Talking about PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry’s arrest, Asif said that if the judiciary grants bail to Chaudhry, the government would have no problem with that.

    The defence minister also stressed that the government will not abuse the law as Khan did during his time in power.

    On Thursday, President Dr Arif Alvi said that if Imran Khan will be arrested, it would lead to a severe public reaction.

    It is reported on Thursday that PTI workers and supporters spent the second consecutive night outside Khan’s Zaman Park residence to stop the police from arresting the PTI chief.

  • Lashkar-e-Khorasan claims responsibility for killing two intelligence officers

    Lashkar-e-Khorasan claims responsibility for killing two intelligence officers

    Lashkar-e-Khorasan, a relatively unknown terrorist group allied with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has claimed responsibility for killing two intelligence officers who were martyred on Tuesday in Khanewal, journalists have reported.


    The two officers, who were part of the counter-terrorism department of the intelligence service, were known for arresting members of the TTP and other militant organisations. They also had a formidable reputation for solving complicated terrorism cases including bombings.

    Both officers were shot as they were parking their vehicle outside a roadside restaurant in Pirowal where they reportedly planned to have tea.


    Terrorist incidents across the country are on the rise after a ceasefire pact with the government ended in November.


    Defense Minister Khwaja Asif had said on Monday that the recent spate of attacks were being staged by Pakistani Taliban hiding in Afghanistan. He asked the Taliban administration in the neighboring country to stop the attacks emanating from their soil.

  • ‘Aap ki kitni efficiency hai, marketain aik baje band hoti hain, bachay phir bhi zaida paida kartay hain’: Khawaja Asif

    ‘Aap ki kitni efficiency hai, marketain aik baje band hoti hain, bachay phir bhi zaida paida kartay hain’: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, in a bizarre reference to the increasing population in Pakistan, said that there is no unforeseen increase in population in the countries where markets close at 8PM.

    The minister then said, “Your country’s performance is so efficient, despite closing markets at 1AM, they find time to produce more children.”

    The minister’s comments came while addressing a presser on government’s decision on its energy saving plan, applicable across the country. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that markets in all the province’s and federal areas will be shut down at 8 pm. Furthermore, wedding halls will close at 10 pm across the country.

    Asif said that if these timings are implemented then the country will save Rs 62 billion.

  • Markets to close at 08:30pm across the country: Khawaja Asif

    The federal government on Tuesday announced its energy saving plan, applicable across the country. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that markets in all the province’sr and federal areas will be shut down at 8pm. Furthermore, wedding halls will close at 10pm across the country.


    Asif said that if these timings are implemented then the country will save Rs 62 billion.


    Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman, and Federal Minister for Housing and Works Abdul Wasay were also present at the media briefing.


    The minister further elaborated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed all federal government entities to reduce their energy usage by 30% and to stop using unneeded lighting and other appliances.


    He said that a strategy to save energy provided by the power division had been approved for implementation by the federal cabinet.

  • Govt announces shut down of markets, restaurants at 8pm to save energy

    Govt announces shut down of markets, restaurants at 8pm to save energy

    The federal government on Tuesday announced a plan to save energy. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that all the markets and restaurants across the country will be shut down at 8pm. 

    Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira were also present at the media briefing.

    “If 20% of the workers are sent for work from home on a rotational basis, this will save Rs56 billion,” said the minister.

    Pharmacies have been exempted from these restrictions.

    “The government is also introducing e-bikes, which will phase out the bikes that use petrol. The government is negotiating with companies to phase out the bikes that use petrol and modify the existing bikes,” said Asif.

    A definitive strategy on that, however, is anticipated to be announced on Thursday when the federal government finalises its consultations with all provincial governments.

    “Pakistan’s cabinet decides to take energy conservation measures that will save billions of rupees and burn less fossil fuels. Energy is a huge carbon emitter. Committee will take pathways to the provinces and report back in two days,” tweeted Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman.