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Tag: Nawaz Sharif

  • Permission to perform Umrah: LHC seeks NAB reply on Maryam Nawaz’s plea

    Permission to perform Umrah: LHC seeks NAB reply on Maryam Nawaz’s plea

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday sought reply from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday (tomorrow) on a plea from Maryam Nawaz, seeking permission to travel abroad for performing Umrah.

    According to ARY News, Justice Baqar Najafi, heading the LHC division bench, asked as to in which case name of Maryam Nawaz was added to no-fly list.

    To this, the NAB prosecutor said that her name was added to no-fly list after the LHC approved her bail plea. An appeal was filed against the bail plea, however, it has yet to be fixed for hearing, he said, adding NAB has filed petition to cancel bail of Maryam Nawaz.

    Marium on April 21, filed a plea before the Lahore High Court (LHC) so that she can travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah in Ramzan. She has also said that she wants to travel to London to visit her ailing father, Mian Nawaz Sharif.

    “I want to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah but cannot because my passport is surrendered at the LHC,” reads the plea.

    Maryam Nawaz said in her plea that she was arrested by NAB in 2019 in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case and later the LHC approved her bail plea and in return, she submitted her passport to the court.

    The division bench of the LHC comprising Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Anwar-ul-Haq rescued themselves from the proceedings of the plea hearing today and asked Chief Justice LHC to fix the hearing before the bench that previously heard the matter, reports ARY News.

    “The bench that granted bail to the petitioner should listen to the case,” the bench remarked after Advocate Ahsan Bhoon pleaded the case on behalf of Maryam Nawaz.

  • ‘Imran caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense’: Nawaz Sharif

    ‘Imran caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense’: Nawaz Sharif

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif met with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari who both lashed out at former PM Imran Khan and his policies, regretting that Imran Khan promoted the culture of hooliganism and immorality in politics. “The PTI chairman has caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense of the word.”

    Both PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari talked at length about political as well as coalition government affairs during the meeting that lasted for over three hours on Thursday in London.

    Later, both the leader addressed a press conference where they lashed out at former PM Imran Khan and his policies. Nawaz Sharif said: “Khan promoted the culture of hooliganism and immorality. He has caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense of the word.”

    About the US foreign conspiracy which was claimed by Khan, Nawaz Sharif posed several questions: “Were you involved in holding an atomic blast? Why will there be a foreign conspiracy against you?”

    Nawaz said that Khan had claimed that he would take his own life before approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial support. “But we did not see him taking his own life till now,” he added.

    “Imran Khan’s rule has been the darkest chapter in the history of Pakistan. We are saddened at the state of affairs in Pakistan and what it has been turned into. There are enormous challenges we are facing but we will repair the damage, through national consensus. All the stakeholders from all the provinces including PPP, PML-N, JUI-F and others political powers will play their due role”, he added.

    Similarly taking a jibe at Khan, Bilawal said: “There was no conspiracy against Khan at the White House. However, a conspiracy against him was hatched at the Bilawal House to throw out an illegal, selected and cruel government through the power of the vote [no-confidence motion].”

    Moreover, he said that using the experience and guidance of elders like Sharif and his father the new generation will strengthen Pakistan to face the challenges.

    About the meeting between Bilawal and Sharif, Geo News‘ sources revealed that the PPP chairman didn’t ask for the positions of Senate chairman, Governor Punjab or seat adjustments.

    As per the sources, Nawaz was told that Bilawal may bring up these matters. However, Bilawal told Nawaz he was calling him to discuss the possibility and the need for working together in the future for the greater cause of a strong and vibrant democracy.

    The three-hour-long meeting between the PML-N supremo and PPP chairman was held in two parts. In the first part, Bilawal and Nawaz held a one-on-one meeting, while in the second half, other senior leaders of both parties were also present in the meeting.

    Now, upon his return to the country, Bilawal will take an oath as foreign minister of Pakistan.

  • Had an excellent relationship with Nawaz Sharif: Former Afghan President hopes for good ties with Pakistan

    Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has expressed his hope for a cordial relationship with Pakistan under the administration of the newly-elected Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    In an interview with BBC, Karzai said, “I can tell you that when I was in the last year of my office, I had an excellent relationship with Mian Nawaz Sharif, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, who I found to be very willing to engage fruitfully with Afghanistan. I hope that Shehbaz Sharif [Nawaz’s brother] would follow the same path.”

    “Afghan people would respond to them very very positively. We do wish a good relationship with Pakistan.”

    Responding to the airstrikes [allegedly made by Pakistan] in bordering Khost province, the former president condemned the airstrikes and termed it clear violations of Afghan sovereignty.

    He called the recent attacks on Afghan education institutions as an “attack against Afghanistan’s efforts for educating its young, its peace and movement towards stability and progress.” Hamid Karzai emphasised the need for allowing girls above sixth grade to return to school.

    Hamid Karzai has served as the President of Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. He still lives in the country under the the rule of Taliban who gained power in August 2021.

  • Bilawal going to meet Nawaz to make Zardari president: report

    Pakistan People’s Pakistan (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is expected to meet Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in London, reports Geo News.

    As per the news outlet’s sources, Bilawal will discuss the inclusion of Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Moshin Dawar in the federal cabinet with Nawaz Sharif during his visit to the UK. PPP Secretary-General Farhatullah Babar told The News, “The main purpose of meeting Nawaz Sharif is to congratulate him on the coalition government and discuss the current political situation.”

    However, according to Journalist Saleem Safi, “Bilawal is giving a false impression that he is going to London for the sake of allies. He is going to beg for the governorship of Punjab, more ministries and to make Zardari President.”

    As per the media outlet’s sources, there is no deadlock between PPP and PML-N on the issue of the Foreign Ministry. There is an understanding between the PPP and the PML-N that Bilawal would take over as the Foreign Minister (FM). There are speculations that there are some issues in the coalition government that’s why Bilawal did not take oath as FM despite attending the cabinet oath-taking ceremony on Tuesday.

    Earlier, it was reported that Asif Ali Zardari and other PPP leaders are not in favour of Bilawal joining the cabinet.

    Recently, PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar has excused from taking oath as minister of state for personal reasons and said he wants to focus on the upcoming general elections.

  • Unavailability of head judge: LHC puts off plea seeking removal of Nawaz’s name from ECL

    Unavailability of head judge: LHC puts off plea seeking removal of Nawaz’s name from ECL

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday adjourned a petition seeking removal of Nawaz Sharif’s name from the exit control list (ECL) due to the absence of head judge of the divisional bench.

    According to ARY News, the division bench hearing the petition seeking removal of the name of Nawaz Sharif from ECL was disbanded after absence of Justice Shahbaz Ali. The LHC registrar office cancelled the cause list due unavailability of the head judge of the bench.

    It is to be recalled that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as a proclaimed offender in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references in December 2020.

    The IHC divisional bench declared the PML-N supremo as a fugitive over his failure to appear in the court despite being summoned repeatedly. The court issued show-cause notices to the guarantors of the former premier.

    It is to be mentioned here that the PML-N supreme leader has been declared a proclaimed offender in two other cases, including the Toshakhana reference and illegal land allotment case.

  • IHC rejects plea against issuance of diplomatic passport to Nawaz Sharif

    IHC rejects plea against issuance of diplomatic passport to Nawaz Sharif

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a plea against issuance of a diplomatic passport to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif by the incumbent government.

    According to ARY News, the IHC reserved its verdict on the petition earlier in the day and said that it could not decide on the matters without having any evidence of it. The court said that the petitioner could not provide any notification to prove his point.

    The court rejected the plea and also imposed a fine of Rs5,000 against the petitioner. “It is mandatory for an absconding convict to surrender himself to jail authorities,” the court said in its verdict.

    On April 15, a petition was filed in the IHC by Naeem Haider who asked the court to ensure arrest of Nawaz Sharif upon his return to Pakistan. “Nawaz Sharif is an absconding convict and therefore authorities should be barred from issuing diplomatic passport to him,” it said.

    The petitioner while making Nawaz Sharif, secretary interior and foreign affairs’ secretary as respondents in the case asked the Islamabad High Court to take up the matter today and issue arrest warrants for the PML-N supremo.

    The registrar IHC admitted the petition and formed a bench for the hearing to be headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the interior ministry to issue a diplomatic passport to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

    However, the diplomatic staff said only Nawaz Sharif can be issued a diplomatic passport, not Ishaq Dar, on which PM Shehbaz Sharif directed to issue a normal Pakistani passport to Dar.

  • ‘Bibi channel apne naam karwana hai?’: Muneeb Butt lashes out at Gharida Farooqi for controversial tweet on Imran Khan

    ‘Bibi channel apne naam karwana hai?’: Muneeb Butt lashes out at Gharida Farooqi for controversial tweet on Imran Khan

    Actor Muneeb Butt has taken a jibe at senior journalist Gharida Farooqi, for stating her stance on Imran Khan’s Karachi Jalsa (gathering).

    Gharida took to her twitter handle and shared the video of PTI’s Karachi jalsa, See for yourself Jinnah Garden is completely empty. There is more crowd around the stage. In a city of more than 20 million, 20,000 to 25,000 people attended the rally. Agency reports have arrived. Video of Imran Khan present in the hall. The closer you get to the stage, the better the impression.”

    You can get exclusive details in our new show, Maslay Aur Masala:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAZabelu5Jw&t=141s

    Earlier the Daldal star took to his social media handles to condemn PML-N and its leaders who are the front runners to form a government after Imran Khan’s ouster.

    The Baandi hero stated that imported government is unacceptable to him adding the hashtag of, #BeggarsCantBeLeaders.

    After the Supreme Court verdict, the Daldal actor stated that now even the public’s legs are shivering, whereas his wife Aiman termed Imran as the true leader.

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is WhatsApp-Image-2022-04-10-at-9.22.41-PM-1.jpeg
    Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif. Photo: AFP

    When the Opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif clarified his statement “Beggars can not be choosers”, which he gave in an interview with a private TV channel on Friday. He said that true freedom can never be achieved without financial independence.

    He added that unfortunately, Pakistan is not economically independent, our country is surviving on loans from foreign agencies.

    The Baddua star who is PTI supporter took to his Instagram handle to slam Shahbaz Sharif with the hashtag of #BeggarsCantBeChoosers.

    Recently Butt lashed out on Reham Khan for her latest tweet about actors supporting Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Writer and former journalist, Reham took a dig at celebrities who are supporting Imran Khan amidst the No-motion battle. The Baddua star was quick to hit back at her by saying that when she produced the Hania Aamir starrer Janaan, she took advantage of being Imran’s wife.

  • PML-N protests outside my home remind me of being ‘back in 90s Lahore’: Jemima

    PML-N protests outside my home remind me of being ‘back in 90s Lahore’: Jemima

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith shared a poster by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Abid Sher Ali, for calling a protest outside her home in London on Sunday, April 17.

    “Protests outside my house, targeting my children, antisemitic abuse on social media. It’s almost like I’m back in 90s Lahore,” tweeted Jemima.

    Reacting to the protest, Journalist Hamid Mir said, “PTI must stop protesting outside the house of Nawaz Sharif in London and PML-N should not do the same outside the house of Jemima Khan those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.”

    Jemima replied: “The difference is that I have got nothing to do with Pakistani politics and neither have my children. They are low-key private individuals who are not even on social media.”

    As per reports, PML-N has decided to protest outside the home of the Goldsmiths in London on Sunday. Party representatives in the United Kingdom (UK) say that since Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters protest outside the home of Nawaz Sharif, they will also protest outside the home of Jemima where Khan’s sons and daughter live.

    Abid Sher Ali dropped an unwarranted tweet: “There will be a protest outside the house of Imran Niazi’s ex-wife in London on Sunday. So that his children also know how mean their father is.”

    He also replied to Goldsmith’s reaction, saying: “There is only one person responsible for this: Imran Khan. He has ordered attacks and protests outside homes of his political opponents, he incites hate, homophobia and terrorism on daily basis. Our protest will be peaceful and non-violent. Condemn Imran Khan.”

    Goldsmith and Khan parted ways in 2004.

  • Are Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar coming back to Pakistan?

    Are Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar coming back to Pakistan?

    The federal government has directed the Ministry of Interior for the renewal of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s passports, reports Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai for Geo News.

    The report came after Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as the premier following the ouster of former PM Imran Khan from power.

     Pakistani High Commission in London has also been directed to start work on the renewal of the passports of both Nawaz and Dar, suggests the news report.

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo was granted an eight-week bail on medical grounds in October 2019, and, he was allowed to travel to London for treatment for four weeks. However, Nawaz never returned and is still in London.

    In September last year, PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif claimed that Nawaz Sharif will come to Pakistan this year. He added that those who disqualified Nawaz also realised that there was no option except to have him back.

    Latif, while speaking during Geo News programme ‘Aapas Ki Baat’, said that Nawaz Sharif is expected to return to Pakistan after Eid.

    Latif further said that after coming to Pakistan, Nawaz will face the cases against him.

    “He [Nawaz Sharif] will face the courts and rule of law, but we expect neither should anyone should be treated as ladla [favourite] nor should anyone have to face brutality,” he added.

  • Shehbaz Sharif – the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan

    Shehbaz Sharif – the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan

    The Joint Opposition’s candidate Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, after the former Prime Minister Imran Khan was voted out of office through a no-confidence motion on Saturday, April 9.

    Shehbaz bagged a total of 174 votes as opposed to PTI’s candidate Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Qureshi received no votes after his party decided to boycott the polling process.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Ayaz Sadiq presided over the session after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri said his conscience did not allow him to conduct the session.

    Born in Lahore in 1950, Shehbaz is the younger brother of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Shehbaz has served three times as Punjab’s chief minister.

    Taking the floor, the newly-elected prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said that it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that a prime minister was ousted through the no-confidence motion.

    April 11 historic day

    Terming April 11 a “historic day”, he mentioned that the happiness of the people can be seen through the economic indicators. Shehbaz mentioned that the rupee regained its value — which was trading at Rs190 per dollar and closed at Rs182 per dollar today.

    ‘Will probe threat letter’

    The newly-elected prime minister said the Opposition was discussing the no-confidence motion days before Imran Khan’s “concocted threat letter controversy”.

    “They say that this letter came to them on March 7, but our decisions were made way before that, so, if [what the previous government claimed] is a lie, then the matter should be disclosed transparently before the public,” he said.

    PM Shehbaz Sharif announced that the parliament’s security committee would be given a briefing on the “threat letter” to the members of the committee in presence of the armed forces personnel and bureaucrats — the director-general Inter-Services Intelligence, foreign secretary, and the ambassador who wrote it, who has now been transferred to Brussels.

    “If there’s an iota of evidence that we were backed by foreign conspirators […] then with you Mr speaker and God as my witness, I will not think for another second and resign from the office of the prime minister,” PM Shehbaz Sharif said, vowing to hold an in-camera session of the security committee at the earliest.

    Economy

     Shehbaz Sharif said that hard work was required for Pakistan’s progress as if only statements could move the country forward, then during PTI’s tenure, we would have been among the leading nations.

    “We will need to wash out the effects of the previous government by working together, otherwise, we will fail […] our economy is in a bad situation right now,” the prime minister said.

    “We will need to wash out the effects of the previous government by working together, otherwise, we will fail […] our economy is in a bad situation right now,” said PM Shehbaz.

    “The minimum wage will be jacked up to Rs25,000 (from April 1). 10 per cent increase in pensions of retired civil, and military officials (from April 1). Cheap wheat to be introduced at utility stores.”

    “Laptop and technical education for youth. Reintroduction of Benazir Card. Appeal to industrialists to increase salaries of employees who earn up to Rs100,000 by 10 per cent.”

    Shehbaz’s take on foreign policy

    Shehbaz said China has been Pakistan’s partner through thick and thin. “No one can snatch Pakistan and China’s friendship from us,” he said, calling it a “long-lasting relation.”

    “But this friendship is for forever and … I assure that we will make progress on the CPEC,” he added, thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    Speaking about India, the newly-elected prime minister lamented that despite them wanting peaceful ties with India, they know that until the Kashmir issue is resolved, relations between the two cannot be strengthened.

    Urging Indian premier Narendra Modi to understand the issues of the people living on both sides, he questioned there is poverty, unemployment, medical issues, etc. then “why are we harming ourselves and the generations to come?”

    “Why do we want our coming generations to suffer. Come, let’s resolve the Kashmir issue in line with United Nation resolutions and Kashmiris’ expectations, so that we are able to end poverty on both sides of the border.”

    Underlining the significance of having good ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, European Union nations, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, and Iran, he said that ties needed to be strengthened with the US on the basis of equality and “we need to raise our voice for Afghanistan” where the situation was dire.

    “We want peace in Afghanistan.”

    The session was subsequently adjourned till 4pm on April 16.

    Sanjrani administers the oath to Shehbaz in President Alvi’s absence

    Prior to the ceremony, President Dr Arif Alvi had complained of discomfort and was advised to rest for a few days, according to an update posted on his Twitter account.

    In the president’s absence, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath to PM Shehbaz.

    Modi, Turkey’s Erdogan congratulate Shehbaz on becoming PM

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Monday congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on becoming the 23rd premier of Pakistan.

    Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation with Shehbaz, Turkish President Erdogan told the newly-elected prime minister that he was “extremely happy” about him being elected as the premier.

    Guard of honour

    Earlier this morning, the premier was given a Guard of Honour at Prime Minister’s House.