Tag: London

Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz responded to widespread criticism on Wednesday about why she went abroad for her surgery instead of having it done in Pakistan.

Nawaz, speaking to party workers in London, clarified that she had to undergo parathyroid surgery, which cannot be done in Pakistan, noting that “only Switzerland and America have the technology for this particular surgery.”

Responding to rumours about her health, she denied having throat “cancer”.

She stated, while addressing Punjab’s smog crisis, that the smog had developed over the past seven to eight years, and its effects can not be mitigated overnight, noting, “The Punjab government is using AI technology to trace smoke-emitting vehicles.”

Maryam Nawaz’s remarks came after she was strongly criticised by politicians and activists, who pointed out that her province was grappling with a severe smog crisis while she was enjoying fresh air in Switzerland.

Lahore is consistently ranked as the worst city in the world in terms of air quality index, according to the Swiss air quality monitor IQAir.

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) revealed that a value of 50 or below indicates good air quality, while a value above 300 signals hazardous air quality.

The air quality index in Punjab’s capital has exceeded 1000 a number of times this year alone.

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has come under fire on social media for wearing what appears to be a luxurious fur coat in London while addressing Punjab’s smog crisis on November 12.

The optics for the Punjab’s Chief Minister aren’t good as the citizens of the province, and in particular Lahore, go through one of the worst climate catastrophes in history. 

A dark haze has engulfed Punjab’s major cities, including Lahore and Multan, with poor visibility. Furthermore, traffic on the motorway is also suspended due to the smog crisis. 

Nasa’s satellite images show both Lahore and New Delhi shrouded in thick smog with no green cover.

Netizens criticised the timing of Mayam’s visit overseas as her province is experiencing a crisis. CM Punjab, while talking to reporters, stated, “We are taking action against smog and will eliminate this smog in a few years. I am so sorry for the fact that this problem has been pushed to such an extent because they [previous government] had no concern for such a serious issue.”

Netizens on X (formerly Twitter) couldn’t help but notice the fur coat Maryam Nawaz had adorned with one user writing, “Inflation is ending in Punjab – Maryam Nawaz. The fur coat is currently worth 24,000 dollars to 71,000 dollars, the price of glasses is 1,140 dollars, Hermes Birkini bags are 60,000 dollars, making fun of Pakistanis.”

Another social media user criticised Maryam’s presence abroad, writing, “Smog will be fixed in a few years, says Maryam Nawaz while cosplaying as Sicilian Mafia donned with “fox fur” breathing fresh air in london as Form-47 CM of Punjab where Millions suffer with persistent Respiratory diseases, flu, cough, headache etc.”

One user wrote, “Maryam Nawaz’s most recent public appearance shows that the govt is not taking this issue seriously. So many ppl in this country could fix this issue and advise our politicians on optics. From jokes being made to moving to Karachi, to fur lapels and blaming old cars. We’re doomed.”

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took to X to post a screenshot of Air Quality Indexes of different cities with Karachi having a relatively better score. Bhutto wrote, “Dear Pakistan, move to Karachi. ”

Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time Maryam Nawaz has come under criticism from the public for wearing expensive items. In 2022, when Pakistan was hit with devastating floods, Maryam Nawaz was seen wearing a fur coat (Ermanno Scervino) worth $4,648 (Rs1,029,789.5 including duties & handling fees included), according to News 360.

The Pakistani passports of 23 persons allegedly involved in the attack on former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa have been blocked. 

Appearing on Geo, journalist Asif Bashir Chaudhry claimed that 23 Pakistanis had been traced through the help of CCTV footage, including former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Maleeka Ali Bokhari, who was involved in the alleged attack on ex-CJP Qazi Faiz Isa.

The passports were blocked following strong reactions from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi last month, who had vowed to take stern action against the assaulters in London.

Shayan Ali, a famous Tik Toker known for spearheading PTI protests in London and often seen outside the residence of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, has also been nominated in the Passport Control List (PCL).

Sadia Faheem, Faheem Gulzar, Maheen Faisal, Sadra Tariq, Habba Tariq, Waqas Chohan, Mohsin Haider, Zameer Akram, Sardar Taimoor, Mohammad Pervez Ali, Rukhsana Kausar, Sheikh Mohammad Jameel, Mehran Habib, Zaheer Ahmad, Rehman Anwar, Mohammad Sadiq Khan, Khadija Kashif, Mohammad Naveed Afzal, Shehzad Qureshi, Suleman Ali Shah, and Bilal Anwar, are among those whose passports have also been revoked.

Asif Bashir Chaudhry further revealed: “The 23 names involved in the attack on ex-CJP Qazi Faez Isa are not dual nationals except two.”

Citing Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime case no 3,906/2024 against 23 Pakistanis, Chaudhry stated: “As soon as these suspects land in Pakistan legally, they will be arrested instantly.”

FIA included 153 other names on the list, which reportedly are dual nationals, a journalist said.

In October, dozens of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf followers and party leaders, including Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, Sahibzada Jahangir and former MNA Maleeka Bokhari, had protested against former CJP Qazi Faez Isa on his arrival for dinner at Middle Temple in London.⁠

⁠
Outside the entrance gate of London’s Middle Temple, PTI followers had chanted, “Go Qazi, Go Qazi.”⁠

Interior Minister on October 30 condemned the attack and ordered the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to block the ID card of those involved in the attack on the Pakistani ambassador in which former CJP Qazi Faez Isa was present.

⁠
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Interior Ministry wrote, “We cannot remain silent on this incident,” and questioned why there was no security given to the Qazi Faez Isa amid threats.⁠