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Tag: Nawaz Sharif

  • ‘No Comments’ by PM Kakar on ‘extraordinary protocol’ for Nawaz Sharif

    ‘No Comments’ by PM Kakar on ‘extraordinary protocol’ for Nawaz Sharif

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar didn’t comment on the extraordinary protocol given to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif on his return to Pakistan. 

    He was addressing a news conference three days after returning from China, where he attended the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) conference on the 10th anniversary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

    The Pakistani high commissioner in the UK was at the airport to see Nawaz Sharif off, however, Mr Kakar didn’t comment on that either.

    When asked why the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) had to take a biometrics machine to the Islamabad airport to scan Mr Sharif’s fingerprints, the PM said being a citizen of the country, Mr Sharif has a right to undergo biometrics at the airport.

    He then added: “If someone thinks that an atmosphere of level playing field should be created for a particular party, which many want, this I can’t do. If Mian Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani citizen, which I think he is, then he has a right to have biometric scans.” 

    “So what extra steps the government has taken in this regard. If NADRA facilitated him, has he gained any political advantage through this process? A normal database procedure was portrayed in a way that level playing field is not available. Do you remember what level playing field was given in 2018?” he asked. 

    PM Kakar also said that he did not believe in giving government ads to print media.

    At one point, Mr Kakar lamented that ghee manufacturers and real estate dealers had opened media houses and thus they did not follow the norms of journalism.

  • ‘Save the country, but do not become anyone’s tool’, Khursheed Shah advises Nawaz Sharif

    ‘Save the country, but do not become anyone’s tool’, Khursheed Shah advises Nawaz Sharif

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader Kursheed Shah has said on Tuesday that former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has returned to the country via a backdoor deal, stressing that he should not come to “save Pakistan” in this manner.

    The former opposition leader of the National Assembly, Khursheed Shah, has advised Nawaz Sharif to “save the country but not become anyone’s tool.”

    “I will appeal to Nawaz Sharif to save Pakistan but not come to [power] with anyone’s help,” said Shah, while talking to media in Sukkur.

    He also stated that PPP was very clear that general elections were not being held in 90 days to facilitate the PML-N leader.

    “Nawaz Sharif should clearly announce that he is back, and elections should now be held. If Nawaz Sharif comes via the wrong path, he will also be remembered in history as [selected],” said Shah.

  • Punjab caretakers suspend Nawaz’s sentence in Al-Azizia reference

    Punjab caretakers suspend Nawaz’s sentence in Al-Azizia reference

    In a surprise move, the Punjab caretaker government has suspended the sentence of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference.

    According to Asim Naseer of Samaa TV, the Punjab caretaker government has used its power under Section 401 of the Criminal Procedure Code to suspend the sentence.

    Nawaz Sharif’s sentence was also suspended before travelling to London in 2019, when Usman Buzdar was the Chief Minister.

    Caretaker Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir confirmed to Samaa that the government has suspended the sentence of former prime minister by using its constitutional authority.

    He also clarified that the caretaker government can only suspend the sentence, not end it completely.

    An accountability court sentenced the former prime minister to seven years imprisonment in 2018 in the Al-Azizia steel mills corruption case.

    The senior politician is also ready to appear in the Toshakhana case before Judge Muhammad Bashir at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC).

    According to the court, the permanent arrest warrant of Nawaz Sharif has been suspended, but if he doesn’t appear before the court, the warrants will be restored.

  • 51 per cent people think that Nawaz’s return will help PML-N win next election

    51 per cent people think that Nawaz’s return will help PML-N win next election

    The political fortunes of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) got uplifted after the return of three-time former prime minister and party head Nawaz Sharif, revealed a snap poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan.


    As per a report in The News, a sample of 1000 men and women were selected scientifically from 100 different district across the country.
    The survey included total eight key findings.


    According to the survey, 75 per cent adults of the country said that they have heard about Nawaz Sharif’s return.


    One in three adults said that they have heard the speech of the PML-N supremo, accounting for an audience of 40 million people across Pakistan.


    Thirdly, 80 per cent of the people who heard the speech said that they liked it. On the other hand, 12 per cent said that they didn’t like the speech and eight per cent have mix feelings.


    A total of 50 per cent respondents believed that Nawaz’s comeback to Pakistan would be beneficial for the nation and its people. In contrast, 14 per cent expressed concerns that his return would have a negative impact on Pakistan. Additionally, 18 per cent remained neutral, stating that his return would not affect the lives of the ordinary citizens.


    A key figure of 51 per cent people think that the former prime minister’s return to Pakistan will be helpful for PML-N to win the upcoming general election. On the other hand, 26 per cent people said that Nawaz Sharif’s return will harm PML-N.


    A total of 70 per cent people agreed that Nawaz Sharif should work with other political parties as well, including arch rivals PTI.
    Almost four in 10 respondents believed that Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan was part of a certain deal.


    Lastly, 30 per cent people think that Nawaz Sharif has the ability to take the country out of its current economic situation. Meanwhile, 22 per cent were of the opinion that Imran Khan possessed the capability to alleviate the ongoing crisis in the country.

  • Aurat-March lambasts Nawaz Sharif over sexist remarks

    The Karachi chapter of women’s rights movement Aurat March has taken to X (former Twitter) to criticize former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif over his remarks delivered in a speech in Minar e Pakistan’s procession on Saturday.

    The tweet started with a sardonic tone, “Bohat Khoob”. It further criticised Nawaz Sharif for jibing at women’s politics. “He has not learnt up till now that categorising women as “good” or “bad” is a thing of ancient times.” The tweet said that raising questions over a woman’s character on the basis of dance is a “ghatiya harqat” [an extremely bad action].

    The tweets came in response to Nawaz praising the women at his rally for not dancing with the beat of drum, a thinly veiled swipe at arch rivals Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He asked the crowd to clap for him if they understood what he implied.

    Aurat March suggested to the PML-N leader to let go of misogyny.

  • PML-N competent enough to solve country’s problems, says Nawaz Sharif

    PML-N competent enough to solve country’s problems, says Nawaz Sharif

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has stated that he is returning back to Pakistan after “vindication”, expressing confidence in his party’s ability to navigate the country through its current challenges.


    “I am returning to Pakistan after being vindicated with the grace of Almighty Allah,” he said on Saturday while speaking to the journalists at Dubai airport ahead of Pakistan departure.


    The three time former prime minister is coming back to Pakistan after voluntarily living in self-imposed exile in London for four years. He aims to stage a political comeback in the forthcoming general elections, which are expected to take place in the last week of January next year.
    The ex-Prime Minister expressed confidence that his party can address the concerns of the public if they are elected into power. When asked about the upcoming general elections, Nawaz offered support to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).


    “Only the Election Commission can make a better decision regarding the elections. What the Election Commission thinks is right is my preference on the elections,” said Nawaz when he was asked about the January polls.

  • How can a convicted man address a jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan, asks Faisal Karim Kundi

    How can a convicted man address a jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan, asks Faisal Karim Kundi

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Faisal Karim Kundi appeared on Shahzeb Khanzada’s show on Geo News on Thursday night. The PPP leader criticised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, stating that Imran Khan was ‘selected’, but now PML-N is giving the impression that they are also going to be selected, stressing that Pakistani youth will not accept this.

    The PPP leader also asked how a convicted man can address a Jalsa in Minar-e-Pakistan after his return on October 21. PPP is not sure that general elections are going to be held in January next year, he said.

    On the other hand, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Wednesday that general elections have been put on hold because of just one person [Nawaz Sharif].

    PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah criticised Bilawal Bhutto’s statement while speaking on Khanzada’s show on Thursday that Nawaz Sharif is the only hope for nation and elections have been delayed due to delimitation process.

  • Nawaz Sharif reaches Dubai to return to Pakistan

    Nawaz Sharif reaches Dubai to return to Pakistan

    Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif has arrived in Dubai on Thursday ahead of his much-anticipated return to Pakistan.

    After four years of self-exile in London, the former three-time prime minister is scheduled to come back to Pakistan on Saturday, October 21, even though he has been sentenced to prison.

    He arrived a few hours late due to an important meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as reported by Geo News. Upon his arrival at the Dubai airport, he received “special protocol”.

    Nawaz is scheduled to have meetings with a specific set of individuals while staying in Dubai for two days. He will for Pakistan on Saturday morning, initially heading to Islamabad and then continuing on to Lahore.

    Nawaz is set to return to Pakistan on a chartered plane, with approximately 150 individuals, including journalists, politicians, and activists, who have booked tickets to accompany him on his journey.

    The three-time premier went to London on November 19, 2019, when he fell critically ill in prison.

  • ‘Election and democracy halted for one person’s return’: Bilawal takes swipe at Nawaz

    ‘Election and democracy halted for one person’s return’: Bilawal takes swipe at Nawaz

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made thinly veiled references to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif while addressing a public gathering held in connection with the 16th anniversary of the Karsaz tragedy, outside Bilawal House in Karachi.

    He said on Wednesday that the country’s constitution, election, and democracy were halted for “one person’s return.”

    Despite being partners in the last government and demanding the former three-time prime minister’s return, the PPP has kept raising concerns that Nawaz might get “special relief”.

    Nawaz will return to Pakistan on Saturday (October 21) and has been granted protective bail till October 24 in Avenfield and Al-Azizia case. Arrest warrants in Toshakhana case have also been suspended till October 24.

    “Our previous allies will have to acknowledge that delaying elections will not ‘give respect to vote’, rather disrespect it,” Bilawal said during a public rally in Karachi, hitting out at the PML-N, whose slogan has been “vote ko izzt do (give respect to the sanctity of vote)”.

    The PPP chairman also said that he wants to end the politics of divide and abuse, adding that if politicos keep fighting amongst themselves, the country will not progress.

    “We can swallow the ‘bitter pill’ [of holding elections] in more than 90 days only when the election commission announces a date for the polls,” he said.

    He called for holding elections, saying only people had the right to choose their leaders and make decisions for their future.

    “We have to leave politics of abuses and divide behind. We need new leadership… a leadership that is not stuck in the past but thinks about the future. We don’t want 90s’ Pakistan or 2017’s Pakistan. We want today’s Pakistan… Pakistan of 2023… a modern Pakistan,” he added.

    “The tenure of [coalition] government of the last 16 months taught us that Pakistan cannot be run from London,” he said.

    In view of the skyrocketing inflation and depleting economic reserves, the PPP leader demanded that relief should be given to the common man instead of the elite.

  • Nawaz Sharif gets green signals from courts; three bails granted

    Nawaz Sharif gets green signals from courts; three bails granted

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) approved the request of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif on Thursday, providing him with bail in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases until October 24.


    In July 2018, Nawaz Sharif, who had been removed from office, received a 10-year prison sentence in the Avenfield properties corruption case, for assets that exceeded his known income, and an additional one-year sentence for failing to cooperate with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).


    In the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, he was handed a seven-year prison term and subsequently taken to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

    On the other hand, an accountability court has deferred the arrest warrant of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana case, as the NAB raised no objections.


    The court announced the decision after reserving a verdict on Nawaz’s petition seeking postponement.

    A day earlier, the former prime minister filed a petition in an accountability court to restrict authorities from arresting him on his return to the country on October 21.


    During today’s hearing, Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer, Qazi Misbah, requested the court to suspend the arrest warrant as he is coming back to Pakistan and wants to appear before the court himself.


    The legal team of PML-N supremo has also filed a bail petition in Islamabad High Court (IHC) to prevent officials from arresting him on October 21.
    During the hearing, Qazi Misbah argued that Nawaz Sharif wanted to appear before the court on October 24, telling the judge that his client was not well, which is why he didn’t appear before the court.