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Tag: Nawaz Sharif

  • Nawaz Sharif meets Awn Chaudhry and Aleem Khan at London residence

    Nawaz Sharif meets Awn Chaudhry and Aleem Khan at London residence

    Aleem Khan and Awn Chaudhry met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif separately at his London residence.

    Aleem Khan didn’t talk to the media and left right after the meeting. Refusing to give details about the meeting, Aleem Khan said, “I will avoid talking about politics.”

    “Let’s talk about the weather. The weather in London will not have any impact on the politics in Pakistan,” he said smilingly to reporters.

    Chaudhry, who is also the PM’s advisor on sports and tourism, said that Pakistan needs Nawaz Sharif at this critical juncture, adding that the nation would hear good news very soon.

    “Don’t ask me anything today. We pray that Nawaz Sharif comes to Pakistan soon,” he told the media. The Punjab government will crumble under its own weight, he predicted in reply to a question.

    PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was present in the meeting with Nawaz Sharif.

  • ‘Inshallah,’ says Nawaz Sharif when asked about becoming PM for the fourth time

    ‘Inshallah,’ says Nawaz Sharif when asked about becoming PM for the fourth time

    Former Prime Minister (PM) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif’s pre-recorded press conference with his daughter PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was released on Sunday.

    During the interview, when Sharif was asked about the possibility of becoming PM of Pakistan for the fourth time, he smilingly said, “Inshallah” (Hopefully).

    The former premier began the interview by narrating the whole incident of his wife’s [Kalsoom Nawaz] illness and then her death. He said that he and Maryam were both in jail when they got to know about his wife’s death in London.

    He said when his wife was on her deathbed, people made fun of it. He said that one time when he was in court, he was informed that his wife’s health had worsened.

    “I went back to the jail and asked the jail superintendent to give me the phone so I can contact my family but he didn’t allow it.”

    He revealed that after three hours, he was informed about his wife’s death. He then said the bearers of the news were on their way to inform his daughter [who was also in Kot Lakhpat]. “At that point, I said no, I will do it and when I told her, she was in shock,” Nawaz said.

    He added that such events “are never forgotten and this loss can never be repaired or forgotten”.

    ‘We were the ones to say absolutely not’: Nawaz Sharif

    Addressing Imran’s stance of “absolutely not” to US airbases, Nawaz said, “We were the ones to say absolutely not. They offered us $5 billion but we said absolutely not. We don’t want it,” he was referring to the nuclear tests conducted during his tenure.

    According to Nawaz, when he was in power, his government had brought economic prosperity, finished loadshedding, increased employment, and eliminated terrorism but Imran Khan ruined it all. He said that now there is inflation everywhere.

    “He [Imran Khan] has taken a U-turn with regard to everything. He claimed that he would prefer dying by suicide instead of striking a deal with the IMF,” Nawaz said.

    Taking a jibe at Khan, Nawaz said that during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) tenure foreign relations had also been affected.

    ‘Revenge, not a court’s decision’: Nawaz Sharif

    Moreover, he alleged that he was punished and disqualified for life by the Supreme Court (SC) but now lifetime disqualification is being criticised as “draconian” by SC judges.

    Nawaz questioned whether there was a “valid reason” for the decision. “Disqualified for life and removed from the PML-N presidency. This is revenge, not a court’s decision,” he added.

    Regarding the recent alleged audio leaks of Khan, Nawaz said that “the one who plotted has turned out to be the biggest conspirer”.

  • ‘Fight your political battle outside court’: IHC tells PTI to go back to parliament

    ‘Fight your political battle outside court’: IHC tells PTI to go back to parliament

    Athar Minallah, Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), on Thursday has told legislators belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to go back to the National Assembly.

    The court was hearing a petition filed by PTI Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) pertaining to the matter of the acceptance of 11 of their resignations.

    On Wednesday, PTI filed the petition, stating that the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Raja Pervez Ashraf, “unlawfully” declared the members as having resigned because he “Accepted the resignation of 12 MNAs’ without calling them to ascertain the true picture and by not following the due process of law, committed an unconstitutional act.” The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) then notified them of de-seating.

    The party was of the view that the Speaker was under obligation to accept the resignations of all 123 MNAs however he only accepted 11 resignations.

    During the hearing, Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah remarked, “You must hold a dialogue with other political parties to resolve such disputes.”

    The IHC chief justice observed that members whose resignations hadn’t been accepted must rejoin parliament.

    “Go and fight your political battle outside the court,” Justice Minallah told the PTI counsel. He added that this plea couldn’t be admitted until respect for the parliament was expressed by the petitioners. “Go back to parliament tomorrow, this court will accept your plea,” he told the PTI counsel.

    PTI lawyer Senator Ali Zafar said the party has yet to take a decision on this matter. He said the decision to return to parliament or not was a political one and the court should stay “far away” from it.

    “No political party is above parliament. This mindset needs to be changed”, the IHC chief justice pointed out.

    Zafar asked him if the court wanted an assurance from the petitioners about representing their constituencies to which the judge said: “Not just an assurance, prove by your actions that parliament is supreme.”

    Zafar said the party should be given time for consultations on the affidavits.

    The hearing was adjourned indefinitely.

    PTI reaches court, says acceptance of its MNA’s resignations was ‘unconstitutional act’

    A petition, filed by 10 out of the 11 PTI lawmakers whose resignations have been accepted, states that the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Raja Pervez Ashraf, “unlawfully” declared the members as having resigned because he “Accepted the resignation of 12 MNAs’ without calling them to ascertain the true picture and by not following the due process of law, committed an unconstitutional act.” The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) then notified them of de-seating.

    The party was of the view that the speaker was under obligation to accept the resignations of all 123 MNAs however he only accepted 11 resignations.

    The party appealed to the court to declare the speaker and ECP’s orders “illegal, issued without lawful authority and of no legal effect.” They also stated that the orders were in violation of the Constitution.

    In July, Raja Pervez Ashraf accepted 11 resignations of PTI MNAs under Article 64(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan.

    The petitioners maintained that the PTI MNAs tendered their resignations as per party policy on political grounds with the objective of reaching an agreement with the then “Opposition parties for holding fresh elections so that a new government may be formed with a real mandate.”

    The petitioners requested the court to direct the NA speaker to summon 112 MNAs and petitioners for an inquiry on whether the resignations were “Voluntary and genuine”, and fulfilled the criteria laid out under Article 64 of the constitution.

    The PTI also requested the high court to hold an immediate hearing of their case. However, the request was turned down and the court decided to hold a hearing tomorrow (October 6). IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah will hear the plea.

    Moreover, the petitioners submitted the records and transcripts of the audio leaks in which Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and members of his cabinet can be heard seeking approval for accepting the resignations from PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

  • Former DG FIA Bashir Memon was locked in PM House’s washroom on Khan’s order

    Former DG FIA Bashir Memon was locked in PM House’s washroom on Khan’s order

    Former Director-General (DG) Federal Investigations Agency (FIA), Bashir Memon, has confirmed the claims made by a hacker that he was locked in a washroom on then-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s orders.

    The hacker, in a series of tweets which have now been deleted, shared details of the meeting between Memon and Khan on Monday. The hacker tweeted that Memon was locked in the washroom on Khan’s orders.

    Memon, responding to the claims, confirmed the details on Channel 24, saying the former premier used abusive language, and insulted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz which made him angry and he responded harshly.

    At this, Memon added, the then-Principle Secretary to the PM, Azam Khan, grabbed his hand, took him out of the room and locked him in the washroom.

    “Azam Khan then scolded me over my conduct with the prime minister” said Memon.


  • Chief Justice calls lifetime disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) a ‘draconian law’

    Chief Justice of Pakistan, (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, has termed the lifetime disqualification of politicians under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution a “Draconian law”.

    “Article 62 (1)(f) is a draconian law and we will hear this case with caution and in detail,” the CJP remarked while hearing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda’s appeal against his disqualification for life under the article.

    According to Article 62(1)(f), a person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) “unless — he is sagacious, righteous, non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law”.

    The Article was previously used to disqualify Nawaz Sharif, the three-time former Prime Minister whose party is now holding power in the federal capital. Former PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen was also disqualified for life under the same article.

    Vawda had appealed to the top court to set aside the order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in which he was handed out a lifetime disqualification.

    In February, ECP disqualified Vawda for hiding his United States (US) citizenship. Later, he approached Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking the revocation of his lifetime disqualification, however, the court dismissed Vawda’s plea.

    Vawda has pleaded to Supreme Court that the ECP had cited no reason for invoking Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution to disqualify him for life. The commission appears to be under the impression that any person disqualified under Article 63(1)(c) — for having dual nationality — could automatically be penalised under Article 62(1)(f), he said.

    During the hearing on Tuesday (today), the CJP said, “The election commission has the right to investigate a false affidavit.”

    “Even if we set aside the ECP’s verdict, the facts will remain the same,” he added.

    “The question is whether or not the ECP can order disqualification for life,” Justice Bandial said.

    The hearing was later adjourned till October 6 (Thursday).

    It is pertinent to mention that in 2018 the Supreme Court declared that the disqualification under 62(1)(f) would be for life.

    Under this same article, both Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan’s former close aide Tareen are currently disqualified for life.

  • ‘Biggest liar on earth’: PM Shehbaz calls out his rival Imran Khan

    ‘Biggest liar on earth’: PM Shehbaz calls out his rival Imran Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has called Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan the “Biggest liar on earth”.

    In an interview with The Guardian, Shehbaz Sharif stated that Khan was responsible for injecting poison into society to “Dangerously polarise the electorate” after he was ousted from office earlier this year.

    Shehbaz termed Khan “A liar and a cheat” whose policies had left the economy in ruins. “Khan ran on an anti-corruption manifesto, of conducting the country’s affairs to suit his own personal agenda in a manner which can be only described as the most inexperienced, self-centred, egotistical, immature politician in the history of this country,” said the premier.

    Mincing no words while talking about the recent leaked audios, the Prime Minister said that they were “An irrefutable endorsement that he [Khan] is the biggest liar on the face of the earth. I’m not saying this with a sense of glee but a sense of embarrassment and concern. My country’s image has been been damaged hugely by these lies told out of mean personal interest.”

    Shehbaz said Khan had to be held accountable for these “conscious criminal acts”.

    The prime minister highlighted the significant challenges he has to deal with alongside Khan mobilising on the streets, building a narrative against the government.

    “Never before was I concerned about our country’s future,” stressed the PM, blaming Imran Khan for injecting “Ifinite amount of poison in this society and made it hugely polarised as never before … he is distorting facts and creating hate.”

    Discussing his brother Nawaz Sharif’s, involvement in government, Shehbaz Sharif was diplomatic. “Of course I consult Nawaz, he is my leader and my older brother,” he said. “But he has given me completely free rein to make decisions,”‘ he insisted.

    Commenting on Khan’s criticism of dynastic politics in Pakistan, the premier said, “It’s about competence: it’s about public support, it’s about people’s trust,” he said. “It’s not about dynasty.”

    Prime Minister Shehbaz also highlighted how several world leaders, who he [Shehbaz] refused to name, had personally raised questions on Khan’s conduct. “Some leaders told me in person about his personality,” said the PM. “They told me he was rude, he told lies and he is a ‘narcissist’, quote unquote.”

  • ‘Jhoot mein bolna nahi chahta, sach mein bol nahi sakta’: Imran Khan avoids confirming his meeting with COAS Bajwa

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan responded to speculation about his meeting with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, as was reported by some journalists recently.

    On ARY News’ programme “Sawal Yeh Hai” with Maria Memon, when asked about the meeting, he said, “Jhoot mein bolna nahi chahta, sach mei bol nahi sakta”, (I don’t want to lie and I can’t tell the truth). However, he was of the view that negotiations should be held.

    Earlier, there was speculation that Khan had a meeting with COAS last month. The meeting was arranged by President Arif Alvi and was held at the President’s House in Islamabad. Reportedly, Khan and the COAS could not reach an agreement, but Khan toned down his rhetoric pertaining to the establishment after the meeting.

    About his recent audio leaks, Khan revealed that the first audio leak between him and his then-principle secretary Azam Khan was a telephonic conversation. According to him, he hasn’t listened to the second audio leak. “I can’t comment on it”, he responded.

    However, when asked that in this second audio leak he [Khan] insisted his party members use the word “letter” instead of “cipher”, the PTI Chairman said that there is nothing wrong with it as the general public wouldn’t have been able to understand the word cipher.

    About the controversial cipher, Khan said he had not made the cipher public at once because at the time, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting was in progress in the capital and it would have been inappropriate to share the cipher then.

    He said that these leaks are a security breach as the secure line Prime Minister’s (PM) Office got leaked.

    During the interview, Khan said that he is always ready to be arrested. “These people don’t have democracy and morality in them”, he added.

    According to the former PM, when he gets disqualified, the government will hold elections.

    He termed his Toshkhana case as “open and shut”. He said he did nothing wrong in the case which is pending against him in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP.)

    It is pertinent to mention here that Khan is accused of selling state gifts and failing to disclose their value in his annual tax returns.

    Speaking about the upcoming long march, Khan said the date would be announced within a week. He said Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi is an ally of the PTI and he would support the party in its march.

    About the departure of for­­mer premier Nawaz Sha­rif to London during the PTI government on medical grounds, Imran Khan commented that when Nawaz Sharif went out of the country, he came to realise that “Everything is possible” in Pakistan.

    “Unfortu­na­tely our justice system is weak due to which these people are benefitting,” he said in a comment on the cases agai­nst his political opponents.

  • ‘No one has done forgery like Khan’: Khawaja Asif reacts to audio leak no. 2

    ‘No one has done forgery like Khan’: Khawaja Asif reacts to audio leak no. 2

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reacted to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s second audio leak in which the leader can be heard directing his party members not to name the United States (US) in the cipher matter.

    The minister, who is currently in London, told the media that it is an “Ideal case” of Article 6 of the Constitution, which deals with high treason.

    “He [Imran Khan] should listen to the clips himself and feel shame on how he has put Pakistan’s integrity at stake in his lust for power,” Asif said, lashing out at Imran.

    “In Pakistan’s 75-year history, no politician has put Pakistan’s security at risk,” said Asif. He admitted that politicians and army officials have done things against each other and made mistakes but no one has done a “forgery” like the PTI leader.

    “In the audio, he is saying do not take America’s name but at the same time is talking against it. I cannot even imagine that a politician can be this shameful,” added the minister.

    Referring to Khan’s alleged insistence in the audio leak on using the word “letter” instead of cipher because “people wouldn’t have understood the word transcript”, Asif said the “PTI chief had underestimated the nation’s collective wisdom and will pay the price.”

    Audio leak:

    In the second audio leak, Imran Khan when he was Prime Minister (PM) is directing his close aides not to take America’s name while talking about the US cipher in public.

    “We don’t have to name the Americans. Under no circumstances do we have to take the name. So, on this issue please, the name of the country should not come out of anyone.”

    In turn, the voice, supposedly belonging to Asad Umar, raised a question: “Are you saying letter deliberately? This is not a letter, it is the meeting’s transcript.”

    On this, Imran Khan says that both the letter and the transcript are “the same thing”. He added that “People wouldn’t have understood the word transcript if you say things like this in your jalsa.”

    In the first audio leak that surfaced a couple of days ago, the PTI chief directed his then-principal secretary Azam Khan that, “We have to play with it [cipher]”.

    On the same day, when the first audio leak came out Khan broke his silence on it and said that he has not played on the cipher yet.

  • ‘Our state institutions have carried out an exercise to secure PMO’: Tarar

    ‘Our state institutions have carried out an exercise to secure PMO’: Tarar

    Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that state institutions have taken steps to secure the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and changed some standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    “Our state institutions have carried out an exercise to secure the PMO and ensure [security],” he stated.

    “Some SOPs have been changed which I think is a government responsibility as oftentimes many sensitive matters are discussed in such places and there should be an environment where you are 100 per cent satisfied that you’re making national decisions in a secure environment,” he told reporters.

    He explained that basic SOPs were already in place for “sensitive buildings”, adding that further orders have been issued to make security measures effective and
    “It will be an effort to introduce a culture and environment, not just in the PMO, but in all departments where you can ensure that sensitive information will not be leaked.”

    These steps were taken after several audio leaks surfaced of PM Shehbaz and former PM Imran Khan.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa had informed Imran Khan multiple times that the PM House is unsafe for important conversations.

    “The army chief told Imran Khan that the points that what we discuss here is recorded and leaked later on,” he said, adding that, “General Bajwa had said Nawaz Sharif stepped out of PM House when he wanted to talk to him about some vital issue.”

    The PTI leader said that it is unacceptable for PM Office to be hacked, regardless of who is premier — whether Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif or Imran Khan.

  • ‘A dark day’: PTI reacts to Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal

    ‘A dark day’: PTI reacts to Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal

    Following the verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday (today), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have said that today is, “Another dark day in the history of Pakistan”.

    PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to say that “The country’s institutions have lost the trust of the public”.

    “Beyond any doubt, it is another dark day in the history of Pakistan”, he added.

    Another PTI leader and former Energy Minister Hammad Azhar claimed that “PML-N itself seems to be a bit embarrassed after today’s ruling”.

    In a tweet, PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar made a claim that “Imran Khan’s government was removed so that imported government leaders could get their cases dismissed”.

    The former ruling party leader Babar Awan said, “Jitna bara daku, itni bari kursi“. (The bigger the thief, the bigger the chair). He added, “The jail department would teach lessons about the Sharif family to prisoners so that they can get NRO II as well.”

    The verdict:

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference, nullifying the conviction handed to them in 2018 by an accountability court.

    After the victory, Maryam said that she was thankful to Allah for making Nawaz and herself proud today. She also took a jibe at PTI Chairman Imran Khan, telling him that he is a “helpless” person now and whether or not he decides to answer for his deeds, history will ensure that he answers for it.