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Tag: Nawaz Sharif

  • KYA BOLA? (Aug 27): ‘PML-N ko Pakistan bananay ki sazaa’ to ‘Nawaz Sharif ki siyasat mein wapsi’

    KYA BOLA? (Aug 27): ‘PML-N ko Pakistan bananay ki sazaa’ to ‘Nawaz Sharif ki siyasat mein wapsi’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on August 27, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘PML-N Ko Pakistan Bananay Ki Sazaa’

    It has been reported by Daily Jang that PML-N senior leader Ahsan Iqbal has said,“Muslim League Noon ko Pakistan bananay ki sazaa mil rahi hai… humein yaqeen hai Askari idaro ka hukoomat ki intaqami karwaiyo se koi taaluq nahi.” 

    ‘PPP K Sindh Mein 12 Saal’

    According to Daily Jang, MQM-P leader Khushbakht Shujaat has said, “Karachi ki abaadi aur raqba itna barra hai k isay alehda intazami unit banana hoga… Sindh hukoomat ne 12 saal se districts ko share nahi dia.

    ‘Nawaz Sharif Ki Siyasat Mein Wapsi’

    It was reported by Daily Dunya that former attorney general Irfan Qadir has said, “Nawaz Sharif pr NAB ki janib se dabaao barhta jaa rha hai. NAB mein Maryam Nawaz ki paishi se zahir hota tha k shayad Nawaz Sharif siyasat mein active honay jaa rahay hain.”

  • KYA BOLA? (Aug 26): ‘Trump ka aik crore naukriyo ka naara’, ‘wazire azam k sath dhoka’, ‘Usman Buzdar doosro se behtar’

    KYA BOLA? (Aug 26): ‘Trump ka aik crore naukriyo ka naara’, ‘wazire azam k sath dhoka’, ‘Usman Buzdar doosro se behtar’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on August 26, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Trump Ka Aik Crore Naukriyo Ka Naara’

    It has been reported by Daily Jang that Donald Trump has promised to provide one crore (10 million) jobs if he wins the presidential election scheduled for November 3. 

    ‘Wazire Azam K Sath Dhoka’

    According to Daily Jang, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said, “Mein zaati taur pr Nawaz Sharif ko bahar janay ki ijaazat denay ka haami tha… woh yahaan rahein yaa Bartania mein, iss se koi farq nahi parrta… yeh sarrkoon pay aanay wali jamaat nahi hai. Wazire azam ko Nawaz Sharif k bahar janay ka afsos hai aur unko andaaza hogya tha inn k sath dhoka hua hai… log deal k beghair bahar nahi jatay, kahin naa kahin mamla tay hota hai.”

    ‘Usman Buzdar Doosro Se Behtar’

    Prominent journalist Saleem Safi, in his column for Daily Jang, has said, “Karkardagi k lihaz se sab se zyada aitraz Usman Buzdar pr ho rha hai halaan k ap kisi bhi mayar pr parkhein tou KP aur Balochistan k wazire aala ki karkardagi Buzdar Sahib se kai guna kharaab hai. Buzdar Sahib ne kuch naya nahi kia tou pehle se bani cheezo ko tabah bhi nahi kia… KP mein pehle se qayim idaaro ko tabah kia gya jab k Balochistan tou har hawaly se tabah-haal hai… lekin siyasat aur media mein tabsara sirf Punjab aur Buzdar Sahib ka hota hai.”

  • ‘Imran govt took more loans in two years than Nawaz govt in three tenures’

    ‘Imran govt took more loans in two years than Nawaz govt in three tenures’

    The Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has borrowed more money in two years than all loans taken by former PM Nawaz Sharif’s governments over 25 years in all three tenures, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif has claimed.

    The statement came as senior leaders of the PML-N, at a press conference in Islamabad, took turns to criticise the government’s performance in different areas, while presenting a white paper titled “Destruction of National Power” on the PTI’s two-year rule.

    They accused the government of having ruined the country’s economy through its incompetence and pro-elite policies, saying the ruling party had promised a new Pakistan but the people today were yearning for “old Pakistan”.

    According to Dawn, the criticism began with PML-N president and opposition leader, Shehbaz Sharif, lashing out at the premier, saying it did not know the basics of governance and did not care about issues facing the masses.

    “When we talk about the tabdeeli sarkar [regime of change], we don’t find anything to acknowledge but sadness and pain in the past two years,” he said, adding that inflation caused due to the government’s policies had brought the common man “to the brink of destruction”.

    In contrast, he claimed, the PML-N during its tenure under Nawaz’s leadership carried out “historic development” and completed projects at a fast pace that resulted in prosperity.

    He said the incumbent government had “ridiculed” the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and levelled allegations against the PML-N. “But not a penny’s worth of corruption could be proven. Their plans backfired,” Shehbaz added.

    He said the PTI had failed to prove corruption in any of the projects started by Nawaz despite its “incessant propaganda”.

    Today, he said, sugar was being sold at above Rs100 per kilogramme and was being imported, even though previously the government had allowed its exports to benefit certain persons.

    He noted that it was the “first time in the country’s 72-year history” that there was a shortage of wheat even though the harvesting season had not yet ended, while a minister was wondering where the millions of tonnes of wheat collected by the government went. “Who is he asking? They should know where it went [and was] smuggled to,” Shehbaz said.

    He also said the government had given the public the “biggest shock” by raising petroleum prices even though international prices were very low, and it raised electricity prices to control circular debt but the prices were “touching the sky”, beyond the reach of the common man.

    “Enough electricity exists in the country but load-shedding is still ongoing due to this government’s worst incompetence,” the PML-N president alleged.

    Shehbaz also said the government had devalued the rupee by 40 per cent but in spite of this, no substantial rise in exports was seen. He further said it was the second time in Pakistan’s history that GDP growth had gone negative, to -0.4pc.

    Khawaja Asif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also criticised the government for its “failure” on the foreign policy front and over energy sector losses.

  • ‘Ask Agriculture Department’: Govt hints at deal between Nawaz and establishment for London departure

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s Adviser on Accountability and Interior Mirza Shahzad Akbar has told a reporter, who attempted to equate the decision to allow former premier Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad with an NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance], to ask the “Agriculture Department” instead, implying the involvement of a secret agency.

    NRO is a controversial ordinance issued by then president Pervez Musharraf in 2007 to grant amnesty to politicians facing corruption, money laundering and murder cases.

    Akbar’s response, an open secret in power circles, came during a press conference held Saturday to announce that the federal government had approached the United Kingdom (UK) government for Nawaz’s extradition.

    The government in November last year had allowed the former premier to travel abroad for medical treatment after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended his sentence in Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference for eight weeks. He has been residing in London ever since.

    “Ask the Agriculture Department,” Akbar said when asked about the former premier’s London departure.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Akbar, however, later clarified that his statement did not refer to any state institution, adding that he had referred to “adept” PML-N leadership that “fooled the entire nation into believing Nawaz’s forged medical reports”.

    Independent observers claim the decision to allow Nawaz to leave the country was a result of a silent agreement reached between the establishment and the PML-N as the alleged deal had come on the heal of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s vow to not give NRO to those facing corruption probes.

    ‘AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT’:

    The term “agriculture department” for secret agencies was coined in 2018 when a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for Punjab Assembly alleged that he was manhandled by the security personnel of a secret agency over his refusal to withdraw from the upcoming elections.

    In a statement to media, Rana Iqbal Siraj had said the personnel raided his godown and threatened to destroy his business in case of non-compliance.

    However, Siraj had later backtracked his statement, saying it was the officials of the agriculture department who raided his godown and not the security personnel.

  • KYA BOLA? (Aug 18): ‘Idaaron ko dhamkiyan’ to ‘Hukoomat aur corona ki beemari mein koi farq nahi’

    KYA BOLA? (Aug 18): ‘Idaaron ko dhamkiyan’ to ‘Hukoomat aur corona ki beemari mein koi farq nahi’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on August 18, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Idaaron Ko Dhamkiyan’

    Daily Jang has reported that Federal Minister for Communication Murad Saeed has accused PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari of threatening institutions. He said “Chori ka hisaab denay k liye bulaya jata hai tou karkuno ko dhaal banaa kr idaaron ko dhamkanay k liye aa jatay hain.”

    ‘Shikayat Ka Mauqa Nahi Milega’

    It has been reported by Daily Dunya that Nawaz Sharif has called Fazlur Rehman up. “Nawaz Sharif ne Maulana Fazlur Rehman ko bharpoor opposition ka kirdaar adaa krnay ki yakeen dahani krwatay huay kahaa hai k inhein ainda shikayat ka mauqa nahi milega.”

    ‘Hukoomat Aur Corona Ki Beemari Mein Koi Farq Nahi’

    Daily Dunya has quoted PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal as saying, “Wazire Azam Imran Khan Pakistan ko ujaarna, jab k Nawaz Sharif taraqqi dena jantay hain. PML-N taraqqi ki jamaat hai aur PTI tabahi ki jamaat. Hukoomat aur corona ki beemari mein koi farq nahi.”

  • Power plants installed during PML-N’s tenure helped end power crisis, says Razak Dawood

    Abdul Razaq Dawood, advisor to Prime Minister (PM) for Commerce, Textile, Industry, Production and Investment gave credit to former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif for ending power crisis in the country.

    He said that the power plants that had been set up during PML-N’s previous tenure under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have reduced power shortage.

    The adviser said that work on CPEC is going on in full swing adding that CPEC remains one of the top priorities of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    He said that the next phase of CPEC will focus on the development of industries and agriculture in the country.

    “The IPPs which were set up under the 2002 Power Policy has now agreed to alter their existing contractual agreements and to ink new power purchase agreements,” says media reports.

    Earlier on Friday, to bring down the cost of electricity production and reduce circular debt, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has signed a new agreement with the independent power producers (IPPs). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) containing 13 points was signed between the two parties.

    “I congratulate the nation because we are fixing the damaged structure we inherited in our power sector.”
    said Dawood.

    The prime minister promised that he would soon introduce a package that will focus on improving the distribution system by tackling line losses and theft.

    According to the MoU, the two parties have, in the larger national interest, voluntarily agreed to provide concessions.

    It was agreed that all projects will convert their contracts to a take-and-pay basis and until then, the existing take-or-pay will continue.

  • LHC sacks controversial judge who convicted Nawaz Sharif

    LHC sacks controversial judge who convicted Nawaz Sharif

    Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Muhammad Qasim Khan on Friday dismissed controversial judge Arshad Malik from his post, Geo reported.

    According to reports, the decision was taken by the administration committee of the LHC, which was chaired by LHC CJ and attended by seven other senior judges, including justices Ameer Bhatti, Malik Shahzad Khan, Ayesha Malik, Shahid Waheed and Ali Baqar Najafi.

    The career of the accountability court judge, who had sentenced former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif to seven years in prison in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference, went down the hill after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in 2019 released a video clip purportedly showing him admitting to a lack of evidence against the ousted former premier in the same case.

    READ: ‘Judge who convicted Nawaz to be removed from post’

    PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz had showed the video and read out its transcript at a press conference lasting more than an hour.

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and other senior party leaders had accompanied Maryam at the press conference at the time.

    The video purportedly showed the accountability court judge speaking to a PML-N worker named Nasir Butt and claiming that he was coerced to hand down the prison sentence against Nawaz despite there being no proof of corruption against the deposed premier.

    READ: ‘Maryam distances herself from NAB judge’s scandalous video’

    PML-N leadership has since been demanding that Nawaz’s sentence be nullified. The convicted ex-PM is already out of prison to seek medical treatment in London.

  • Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Maryam Nawaz celebrate Father’s Day

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Vice President Pakistan Muslim League (N) Maryam Nawaz celebrated Father’s Day by honouring their fathers.

    Bilawal shared an image of a video call with his father, former President Asif Ali Zardari, and his siblings Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari on Father’s Day and commented: “#COVID Virtual Father’ s Day.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CBtR-i6Jb7S/

    Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz shared an old letter from her father Nawaz Sharif, head of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and some pictures on her Twitter and Instagram accounts.

    The letter dated October 11, 2019, said that the National Accountability Beaurea (NAB) is taking Nawaz Sharif away in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. Sharif tells his daughter to be strong and not lose hope in the letter addressed to his daughter.

    Read more – Maryam Nawaz shares the name of the book she read while in jail

    In an Instagram post, Maryam wrote: “I am at a loss for words for a befitting tribute but as they say ‘A dad is a daughter’s first love’… Yes, and the last …. And the only one …. because he becomes the standard she would judge everyone against and no one would measure up ….. I love and miss you Abu, every minute, every second. May you live long.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CBs6y4HF-Fc/
  • Tareen meets Nawaz in London while not on talking terms with Imran?

    Tareen meets Nawaz in London while not on talking terms with Imran?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Jahangir Khan Tareen on Thursday said he has neither met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif nor did he wish to and that the media cell of the former premier’s party was spreading fake news.

    In an audio statement, Tareen — whose relationship with the PTI seems to have fallen apart — said “our struggle has been against them”, referring to the PML-N.

    “I have neither met Nawaz Sharif nor do I wish to [meet him],” he said.

    “I am not an opportunistic politician to go to them [Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N] just because I have developed differences with Imran Khan,” he said of the premier.

    “I am a principled politician, I tried my best with the PTI,” he added, noting that if there were any problems, it was not his fault. “I am just sitting separately; whatever is acceptable to God will happen.”

    Meanwhile, reports quoted senior leaders of the PML-N as confirming that there had been no meeting between Nawaz and Tareen, that they had neither approached Tareen for such a meeting nor do they plan to do so.

    ‘NOT ON TALKING TERMS WITH IMRAN’:

    The claims rebutted by Tareen had come amid reports that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his former friend and leading PTI stalwart Tareen were no longer on talking terms as the latter ponders his political future from his Newbury farmhouse just outside of London.

    According to The News, PM Imran has not spoken to Tareen, the former secretary general of PTI and its main sponsor and patron, in several weeks and their relationship of warmth and trust at this point of time is non-existent.

    Tareen jetted off to London two weeks ago in a chartered plane and said he was travelling for medical treatment. He didn’t respond to requests for interview and has stayed quiet but sources close to him have shared details of Tareen’s state of mind and his stance.

    Tareen is not happy with how his colleagues have treated him and believes that he was shed off like dead weight by the very people who used to fawn upon him.

    Another source close to Tareen said that people around Imran and some bureaucrats had become insecure of him as he advised Imran to reduce the role of bureaucracy to improve governance. The source said that Tareen has made more contributions for the growth of PTI than all others put together but none of this was counted when it came to his alleged involvement in the sugar crisis.

    The former powerhouse of PTI is of the view, according to the source, that the premier didn’t come to his aide as he has been surrounded by a coterie of bureaucrats who have been feeding him false information.

    The sources in government said that PM Imran is neutral viz a viz Sugar Commission Inquiry and will not interfere to save or persecute anyone. They added that the PM will not give favours to anyone.

    As Tareen left Pakistan, speculations emerged that he had left to save himself before the start of government’s punitive action on the findings of the report of Sugar Inquiry Commission that implicated PTI leader and other leading political figures and businessmen in sugar scam.

    Tareen has denied all speculations but it has been claimed, including in the National Assembly, that Tareen thought it was best to be out of Pakistan for sometime and that the PTI govt provided him a passage to fly out while keeping accused opposition figures on the Exit Control List (ECL).

    Tareen, however, says that he will return to Pakistan once his treatment is completed but has not given any timeframe and many believe that he is in important discussions about the events that will unfold when he is back in Pakistan.

  • 1997: When Tariq Aziz defeated Imran Khan by a margin of over 45,000 votes

    1997: When Tariq Aziz defeated Imran Khan by a margin of over 45,000 votes

    Veteran actor and television host Tariq Aziz passed away in Lahore on Wednesday.

    He was 84 years old and was admitted to a private hospital last night after he fell critically ill. The cause of his death, however, has not yet been ascertained.

    Born in 1936 in British India, Aziz received his early education in Jalandhar (now in India) before starting his career at Radio Pakistan in Lahore. When state-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) started its broadcast in 1964 from Lahore, he became the first male news announcer of the country.

    In 1974, Aziz started the first-of-its-type game show, Neelam Ghar, from PTV. The show went on to register unprecedented heights. It was later rebranded as Tariq Aziz Show in 1996 before finally renamed Bazm-e-Tariq Aziz in 2006.

    Aziz also tried his luck in movies. He starred in Insaniyat (1967) alongside Waheed Murad and Zeba, following which he played a leading role in Haar Gaya Insaan.

    He received the Pride of Performance award in 1992 for his services.

    TARIQ AZIZ VS IMRAN KHAN:

    Unprecedented fame as a radio and television personality was, however, not it for Aziz who also went on to contest general elections in the 90s.

    He was active in student politics during his college days and had joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in 1970. In those days, Aziz was called a “firebrand socialist” known for charging up crowds with revolutionary slogans at Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s rallies. However, later he parted his ways and went back to the entertainment world. In 1996, he joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and was later elected member of the National Assembly from Lahore.

    Imran Khan, after founding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 1996 fielded himself from multiple seats in the 1997 general elections.

    Only from Lahore, Imran contested from NA-94 and NA-95 seats where he suffered defeats at the hands of Tariq Aziz and then PML-N president Nawaz Sharif, respectively.

    He received 4,595 votes against Aziz’s 50,227, paving way for Aziz’s election to the Lower House.

    Aziz was also one of the political activists who were charged with attacking the Supreme Court of Pakistan building in 1997.