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Tag: Khawaja Asif

  • ‘Miftah is facing immense criticism from within PML-N’: Khawaja Asif

    ‘Miftah is facing immense criticism from within PML-N’: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday tweeted in support of Finance Minister (FM) Miftah Ismail. He further revealed that Ismail was facing immense criticism from within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) because of the continuous increase in petrol prices.

    “FM Miftah is among the hardest working members of PM’s team, accessible to all stakeholders,” tweeted Khawaja Asif.

    “He is performing v. well under difficult circumstances, with immense criticism from vested interests – including, and unfortunately, from within PMLN. Time to show solidarity with Miftah.”

    Miftah Ismail had recently said that he was “not supposed” to appear on national television to announce an increase in the cost of petroleum products, but that he did so in response to a directive from Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    It is pertinent to mention here that PML-N’s supremo Nawaz Sharif’s close aide and former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed his return to Pakistan in July. He said that he is coming back on the directions of Nawaz and the decision was taken after the consent of PM Shehbaz.

    There was news circulating of Dar taking the charge of the finance ministry, to which he said he cannot decide this matter. “My party will decide.”

    Ismail is under pressure since the government announced multiple hikes in petroleum products and the delay in the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme.

  • Energy crisis: Sindh govt announces market closures by 9pm

    Energy crisis: Sindh govt announces market closures by 9pm

    The Sindh government announced that all markets, restaurants, marriage halls and hotels will be closed early in order to save electricity. The decision will remain in force from June 17 (today) to July 16.

    According to an official notification by the provincial Home Department, all markets, bazars, shops and malls will close by 9pm. Marriage and banquet halls will close by 10:30pm, while hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and cafes must shut by 11pm. However, the decision is not applicable to medical stores, pharmacies, hospitals, petrol pumps, CNG stations, bakeries and milk shops.

    The notification reads: “The urgent need to take the effective measures for the conservation of energy in Sindh through a two-pronged approach, i.e. to utilise the daylight hours for business activities and minimise the possible adverse impact of the business activities.”

    However, the All Pakistan Trade Union Association has rejected this decision of the provincial government, reports ARY News.

    Pakistan is facing a serious power crisis due to which the government has resorted to load-shedding all over the country.

    Last week, as part of the government’s ongoing measures to manage the energy crisis, the National Economic Council (NEC) agreed on the closure of markets by 8:30pm in all provinces.

    No power in commercial areas in the evening from 7-10pm

    The Power Division has decided to cut supply to commercial feeders from 7pm to 10pm daily across Pakistan, reports Geo News.

    In this regard, the Ministry of Energy has prepared a summary for the cabinet’s approval. According to the media outlet’s sources, the commercial feeders will not face load-shedding during the daytime, which would save approximately 5,000 MegaWatt (MW).

    Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that a huge amount of electricity can be saved if people start their businesses early in the morning and close by Maghrib prayers. He said that saving electricity means saving oil.

  • ‘Elections can be held before next appointment of COAS’: Khawaja Asif

    ‘Elections can be held before next appointment of COAS’: Khawaja Asif

    The newly-appointed Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who is currently in London, hinted at early elections by saying, “It is possible that we [government] hold elections before the [new] Chief of Army Staff (COAS)’s appointment [which is in November]”

    In an interview with BBC Urdu, the federal minister added, “It is also possible that the [current] caretaker government is gone by then and the new government is in power before November.”

    About the extension of the current COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Asif stated Bajwa had already clarified that he does not want his tenure to be extended. He said the government welcomed his announcement.

    It is pertinent to mention that Bajwa’s three-year tenure will come to an end on November 29 this year. He was given an extension by the former government in 2019.

    ‘If Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s name is on seniority list, can consider him for the post’: Khawaja Asif

    Upon asking whether Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) considers Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s name for the post of COAS, Asif disclosed if his [Faiz] name is on the seniority list, it will definitely be considered.

    “If the defence minister brings the names of five officers to the prime minister, and the army recommends Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s name as well, then I don’t think the defence ministry or the Prime Minister (PM) have the space left to say anything”, he said while adding that “all names on the list will be considered.”

    When asked about previous PML-N’s claims that Hameed, was behind former PM Nawaz Sharif’s ouster, Asif said it was unfortunate that the party’s politics were “dragged into this or red lines were mixed in our past experiences”.

    The army should not become a topic of discussion in the public domain, he said, adding that “they say names should not be taken at the party level.”

    Asif said he believed the process for appointing COAS should be “institutionalised” similar to the judiciary.

    “This process should 100 per cent be based on merit. This is a big and very important issue”, he was quoted saying by BBC.

    There are several reports that suggest that former PM Imran Khan wanted Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to take over the post of COAS.

    ‘Imran Khan wanted to bring an army chief of his choice’: Khawaja Asif

    During the interview, the minister claimed that former PM Imran Khan wanted to bring an army chief of his choice from the list of names recommended to him by the army.

    About Imran Khan’s anti-establishment statements, he termed them “shameful”, called Khan “paranoid” and said: “He wants to stay in power and for institutions to provide him with crutches.”

    Moreover, Asif alleged that the establishment had brought Imran as an alternative to traditional politicians. “The establishment thought he [Imran Khan] is new to politics and will bring “freshness” to the politics of Pakistan,” he said.

    ‘Imran Khan didn’t interfere in army’s internal matter’: Fawad Chaudhry

    While reacting to Asif’s recent interview, former Information Minister and PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry clarified that from day one former PM Imran Khan didn’t interfere in the army’s matters.

    “We have also hoped that the sector [army] remains strong”, he said while adding that Khan and Bajwa always shared a respectful relationship and both of them agreed to each other’s suggestions.

    About Khan’s preference for COAS, Chaudhry said, “If Asif thinks that way, it is his personal opinion.”

    Moreover, the PTI leader hailed the revelations made by Asif. Chaudhry said that there are some people in PML-N who wants early elections and understand this government can’t continue like this.

  • Court allows PML-N’s Khawaja Asif to cross-examine PM Khan

    Court allows PML-N’s Khawaja Asif to cross-examine PM Khan

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has allowed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Khawaja Asif to cross-examine Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan with reference to the premier’s defamation case against him.

    During the hearing, headed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, the civil court directed to conclude the proceedings within two months, states Dawn.

    Barrister Haider Rasool, the counsel for Asif argued that since 2012 his client had sought adjournment 28 times while the court adjourned the proceedings on PM’s request on nearly 50 occasions.

    The court observed that it was the defendant’s [Khawaja] right to cross-examine the PM.

    Earlier this year, the high court had sought a reply from the premier.

    Back in 2012, the premier had filed the defamation suit against Asif for recovery of Rs10 billion as the latter at a press conference levelled allegations about misappropriation of funds and money laundering through the Shaukat Khanam funds.

  • 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.

  • High Court seeks answer from PM Khan in defamation case against Khawaja Asif

    High Court seeks answer from PM Khan in defamation case against Khawaja Asif

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a notice to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan seeking his response in a defamation case against Khawaja Asif over the PML-N leader’s allegations about misappropriation of funds of Shaukat Khanam Memorial Trust, reports Dawn.

    In the hearing, Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah inquired for how long this case of defamation was lingering in the court? The Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Mohammad Adnan confessed that the delay was from both sides [PM Khan and Asif].

    Back in 2012, the premier had filed the defamation suit against Asif for recovery of Rs10 billion as the latter at a press conference levelled allegations about misappropriation of and money laundering through the Shaukat Khanam funds.

    Earlier, Imran Khan said he was the biggest individual donor of the Shaukat Khanam Hospital from 1991 to 2009. He said baseless allegations were made to undermine people’s confidence in the trust hospital.

    PML-N leader challenged the legality of the statement of Prime Minister Imran Khan recorded through a video link in a defamation suit

    The hearing was adjourned to January 12.

  • ‘If Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, so can Saqib Nisar’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    ‘If Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, so can Saqib Nisar’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    “If Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, so can Saqib Nisar,” said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at a press conference in Islamabad.

    Abbasi was addressing the media along with Khawaja Asif after the claims of former Chief Judge (CJ) of the apex court of Gilgit Baltistan Rana M Shamim came to light. Justice Shamim, in a signed affidavit, wrote that he is a witness to the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar’s direction to a high court judge not to release Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 general elections.

    “I pray that Nisar is not involved in this act. Getting involved in the country’s affairs is unconstitutional […] Nisar had visited hospitals and tried to build dams, thus we have to believe Rana Shamim’s statement,” said Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

    “Three people, including Rana Shamin and Saqib Nisar, are aware of the facts, but the people of Pakistan should also know the truth. If someone meddles with elections, so don’t we hold the right to question them?” he said.

    Khawaja Asif said that the PML-N would raise Shamim’s allegations in parliament, as he had recorded his statement “without any pressure”.

    Meanwhile, Saqib Nisar said he didn’t want to respond to the “white lies” of the ex-GB chief justice.

    “I have never spoken to anybody or any high court judge in connection to any matter related to Mian sahab,” he said.

    Nisar said that Shamim had asked him for an extension but he didn’t accept his request, adding that the ex-GB CJ had also complained to him about the same.

  • Hamid Mir says Khawaja Asif’s arrest proves ‘someone is really scared’

    Hamid Mir says Khawaja Asif’s arrest proves ‘someone is really scared’

    Senior journalist Hamid Mir has said that the arrest if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif showed that someone was “really scared”.

    In a tweet, Mir said Asif presented himself for the arrest “with a smile and he will come back from the jail with a smile on his face”. “His arrest only proves that someone is really scared and worried,” he said, without taking any names.

    On Tuesday, Asif was taken into custody in the backdrop of an ongoing investigation into allegations of him possessing assets beyond known sources of income to the tune of whopping Rs260 million. PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said he was arrested from near PML-N general secretary Ahsan Iqbal’s house.

    Mir had also commented on the arrest yesterday. He had said that the former foreign minister knew he would be arrested and had even made preparations beforehand for what he considered an “eventuality”. “He had prepared a bag as well and would say that the NAB would arrest him soon,” said Mir.

    In Oct this year, Asif had alleged that Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted to harm him and his wife by using his political opponents.

    Speaking on a TV show, the PML-N leader had claimed the prime minister wanted his rivals to hold a protest outside his residence, target him in a road accident, and harass his wife by forcing her out of the vehicle.

    Asif had alleged that the PM desired to get him beaten up or implicate in a narcotics case in order to teach him a lesson. He had said that he wanted to raise these issues in the National Assembly, but he was not allowed by the NA speaker to talk.

  • Khawaja Asif arrested; ‘had a bag packed already’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former foreign minister Khawaja Asif was on Tuesday arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from Islamabad, a spokesperson for the bureau and PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed.

    As per the details, Asif was taken into custody in the backdrop of an ongoing investigation into allegations of him possessing assets beyond known sources of income to the tune of whopping Rs260 million.

    Aurangzeb said he was arrested from near PML-N general secretary Ahsan Iqbal’s house.

    He has been taken to the NAB Rawalpindi office, Geo News reported citing sources. Reports said that a consultative session of the party is currently underway to debate whether PML-N will take part in senate elections.

    Asif left the meeting and was moments later arrested near Iqbal’s residence. Aurangzeb said Asif will be presented before an accountability court tomorrow for remand.

    While PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz among other party leaders are lauding Asif for his “undeterred support for Nawaz Sharif”, senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir on his show Capital Talk said that the former foreign minister knew he would be arrested and had even made preparations beforehand for what he considered an “eventuality”.

    “He had prepared a bag as well and would say that the NAB would arrest him soon,” said Mir.

    When prompted by the anchor to comment whether Asif’s arrest was a “reactionary move” to Maryam Nawaz’s speech in Larkana on Sunday, Muhammad Zubair, who had also left the meeting to appear on the show, said, “Of course. When the popularity and impact [of the PDM] is on the rise, we knew that they would react in some way. And today, we have seen that reaction.”

  • Khawaja Asif claims PM Imran wants to harm him, wife

    Khawaja Asif claims PM Imran wants to harm him, wife

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Khawaja Asif has alleged that Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted to harm him and his wife by using his political opponents.

    Speaking on a TV show, the PML-N leader claimed the prime minister wanted his rivals to hold a protest outside his residence, target him in a road accident, and harass his wife by forcing her out of the vehicle.

    Asif further alleged that the PM desired to get him beaten up or implicate in a narcotics case in order to teach him a lesson. He said that he wanted to raise these issues in the National Assembly, but he was not allowed by the NA speaker to talk. The lawmaker, however, said he has spent a lifetime on the opposition benches and will not cower down by such tactics.

    On Monday, the PM mocked Asif over his claim that he had called army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa over reports of rigging on the election night. Imran claimed that Asif called Gen Bajwa on election night in 2018, crying while fearing defeat, and seeking his help to win from the NA-73 constituency of Sialkot.

    “There’s a prominent rangbaaz [charlatan] from Sialkot who thinks highly of himself… makes tall claims… but it was revealed that on election night he called Gen Bajwa at 8 pm, weeping and seeking his help to win the election,” the premier said during an animated address to a Tiger Force convention in Islamabad.

    Calling him “Rangbaaz Khawaja”, PM Imran quoted Asif as appealing to the army chief that he would be destroyed if Gen Bajwa didn’t help him win the election against Usman Dar of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).