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Tag: Pakistan

  • Baba jee stuck in time; Azma Bokhari addresses disinformation

    Baba jee stuck in time; Azma Bokhari addresses disinformation

    Minister of Information and Culture in Punjab, Azma Zahid Bokhari, has pointed out the false information posted by YouTuber Imran Riaz’s fan page.

    In 2022, a video was posted on Imran Riaz’s official account showing an old man urging the public to attend a PTI rally for the country’s future. However, in 2024, the same video was posted on the Imran Riaz fan page account, claiming that the old man was urging citizens to attend the rally to be held today in Lahore.

    In her tweet, Ms Bokhari wrote, “Baba G aik hi libaas main 2 saal pehly B wohi baatien kr rhy thy or aaj bhii wohi keh rahy hain.” She then jokingly advised the PTI, “Baba badal lain ya unhain bitha dain.”

    “Chor chori se jayee magar Hairaa pherii se Na Jayee,” she added

    Tweep Rab Nawaz Baloch, claimed, “The elderly man who was chanting ‘neutral’ slogan was seen leaving Youtuber Imran Riaz’s house in 2022 wearing the same costume.”

    Another netizen said, “Baba G abhii Naya Pakistan k raasty main hain.”

  • ‘Rejected amendments over concerns about military expansion,’ Maulana Fazlur Rehman clarifies

    ‘Rejected amendments over concerns about military expansion,’ Maulana Fazlur Rehman clarifies

    Chief Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while criticising the twenty-sixth constitutional amendments draft, said he rejected the controversial constitutional amendments due to fears of expansion of military rule.

    Speaking to the media in Multan on Friday, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the proposed amendment provides exemptions to the military and limits the scope of basic rights.

    Showing concerns over the secrecy of the constitutional amendments draft, the Chief of JUI-F remarked, “Eventually, they (incumbent government) gave us a copy, but I cannot say for sure whether both copies are identical. We do not know if there have been additions or subtractions in the new version.”

    He added, “We told the government that this is merely a headline; show us the actual draft first, and then we will discuss.”

    Lambasting the incumbent government, Maulana alleged that modifications in the constitution were introduced to protect the coalition government, predicting, “This government is unlikely to complete its tenure.”

    Meanwhile, appearing on the Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the government will continue to pursue Maulana Fazlur Rehman over constitutional amendments.

    The Defence Minister advised JUI-F “Not to doubt the [ruling parties]’s intentions.”

  • Speeches against the army and judiciary will not be allowed: Speaker Ayaz Sadiq

    Speeches against the army and judiciary will not be allowed: Speaker Ayaz Sadiq

    Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq said on Friday, “Pakistan’s constitution declares that there can be no talk against the armed forces and the judiciary; therefore, speeches against the army and the judiciary will be stopped.”

    In the past and the present, both the opposition and the government benches have discussed diverse topics, including the country’s institutions.

    Ayaz Sadiq said in an informal conversation with the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) yesterday: ‘I am not talking about retired judiciary members. I am talking about the present service that we cannot talk by taking their name in this way. Speeches against the judiciary and the army will not be aired; we will cut them. We give maximum time to the opposition on our website but will cut such speeches.”

    On the topic of the recent failed attempt by the coalition government to pass the constitutional amendments, the speaker expressed ignorance over the details of the draft.

    He also stated that law enforcement agencies have no role in postponing the sessions of parliament even though, in the past, that was true.

    “In the past, we were told that the NAB Chairman could not be called into the parliament, and the session of NA used to be cancelled,” revealed Sadiq.

  • National Assembly Secretariat declares PTI lawmakers as Sunni Ittehad Council members

    National Assembly Secretariat declares PTI lawmakers as Sunni Ittehad Council members

    The National Assembly Secretariat has issued a new list of party positions in the National Assembly (NA) and declared all Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers as Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members.

    According to the new list, seats in the coalition government of political parties is two hundred thirteen as Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), hold one hundred ten seats; Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has sixty-nine seats, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has twenty-two seats.

    Meanwhile, on the opposition benches, SIC has eighty seats, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) has eight seats, and PTI independent supporters have eight members.

    Secretariat officials did not mention twenty-three reserved seats and declared them disputed.

    Earlier, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had penned a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on September 19 stating that after the Elections Act Amendments, 2024, has been passed by the parliament, the Supreme Court’s reserved seats verdict of July 12 can no longer be implemented

  • No rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, Punjab govt notifies PTI

    No rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, Punjab govt notifies PTI

    The Punjab government has decided to allow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold a rally in Lahore but not at the Greater Iqbal Park at Minar-e-Pakistan.

    In a high-level district intelligence committee meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lahore, various suggestions were floated whether to allow PTI to hold a rally in Lahore or not, Geo News reported.

    DC Lahore also sought a security report from Punjab police.

    The Lahore High Court, while rejecting an appeal for the suspension of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally scheduled on September 21 in Lahore, directed the DC on Friday to decide the venue for the rally by 5 PM today.

    Justice Tariq Nadeem lamented, “All the bureaucracy has left their work to be in the court today; the world has progressed so much. What message are we giving to the world?”

  • Constitutional court necessary if citizens unsatisfied with existing judicial system: Bilawal Bhutto

    Constitutional court necessary if citizens unsatisfied with existing judicial system: Bilawal Bhutto

    Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Thursday that he supported the coalition government’s proposed formation of constitutional courts in the since-postponed constitutional amendment legislation.

    “At least 50 percent of the cases in Supreme Court are constitutional — which consumed 90 percent of the time,” claimed the PPP leader, asking why a separate court should not be established for better dispensation of justice.

    Bhutto also emphasised that if citizens are not satisfied with the current judicial system, then a constitutional court must be established.

    Interestingly, the former foreign minister also stated that the proposed legislation by the government was “inadequate” because constitutional courts should be established at the provincial level as well.

    He also stressed that there is a need to revise the judicial appointment system, saying, “Parliament has decided that people will decide who will become the judge.”

    Bilawal alleged, “In Pakistan, there is a tradition that if you’re someone’s relative, you can become a judge,” adding that it has severely damaged the judicial system in Pakistan.

  • President approves Practice and Procedure Amendments Ordinance

    President approves Practice and Procedure Amendments Ordinance

    President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Practice and Procedure Amendment Ordinance after the federal cabinet approved the bill.

    According to the ordinance, in the absence of a committee member, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) will be able to nominate a judge as a committee member, The News has reported.

    The ordinance reads, “Each case and appeal will be recorded, and its transcript will be prepared, which will be available to the public, and each case will be heard on its turn; otherwise, reason will be given if the court hears case out of turn.”

    The ordinance also says that court benches will look into cases in light of fundamental human rights and public importance.

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had passed the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act 2023 in a bid to ensure transparent proceedings within the apex court and to safeguard the right to appeal.

    However, Supreme Court’s eight member bench, which was chaired by the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, stayed the bill due to several petitions challenging it.

  • ‘World has progressed, where are we?’: Lahore High Court orders administration to allow PTI rally in Lahore

    ‘World has progressed, where are we?’: Lahore High Court orders administration to allow PTI rally in Lahore

    The Lahore High Court today has rejected appeals asking for suspension of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in Lahore tomorrow.

    A three-judge bench heard the petitions filed in the LHC regarding permission for PTI’s rally in Lahore.

    Justice Tariq Nadeem, while talking to the Chief Secretary, stated, “Those who are ruling today were in opposition in the past, and when they were in opposition, they expressed their concerns. You [Chief Secretary] were in service then and now as well. We need to do good for our country; you should allocate a place for the rally in Punjab. And also allocate two or three places for the party rally in Lahore so people do not face difficulties.”

    Justice Tariq Nadeem lamented, “All the bureaucracy has left their work to be in the court today; the world has progressed so much. What message are we giving to the world?”

    Meanwhile, Justice Farooq Haider asked IG Punjab Police Dr Usman, “Is the police harassing the political workers of a party?”

    The IG replied that nothing of the sort was being done, and no such instructions had been issued to the police.

    The LHC rejected appeals to stop the rally and directed the Lahore Deputy Commissioner to decide the venue for the party’s rally by 5 PM today.

  • ‘September 21 rally is do-or-die for PTI,’ declares Imran Khan

    ‘September 21 rally is do-or-die for PTI,’ declares Imran Khan

    Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Thursday declared the party’s pre scheduled rally to be held in Lahore on September 21 a do-or-die event.

    Speaking to journalists at Adiala jail Rawalpindi, the former Prime Minister said, “The Constitution gives us the right to assemble,” he said, warning that jails will be filled if PTI gets barred from holding the Lahore rally.

    He stated, “I ask the nation to come out for their future on September 21 in Lahore.”

    Citing the judiciary’s role in society, Khan remarked, “The Supreme Court (SC) is the last institution from which people have expectations. If the SC is also destroyed, Pakistan will become a banana republic.”

    Responding to the government’s proposed constitutional amendments, he stated, “To destroy the Supreme Court is to destroy democracy, and to destroy democracy is to destroy freedom. When freedom is destroyed, people become slaves.”

    Lambasting President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Khan said that both will flee again and stressed that everyone is aware of their money which is lying abroad.

  • Speaker directs election commission to dismiss Supreme Court’s ruling on reserved seats

    Speaker directs election commission to dismiss Supreme Court’s ruling on reserved seats

    Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, has penned a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on September 19 stating that after the Elections Act Amendments, 2024, passed by the parliament, the Supreme Court’s reserved seats verdict of July 12 can no longer be implemented.

    On July 12, in a significant political and symbolic win for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a thirteen-member bench of the Supreme Court ruled that PTI had the legal and constitutional right to reserved seats.

    However, on September 14, an eight-judge bench of the Supreme Court sternly criticised the ECP for delaying its ruling on the reserved seats case and warned of serious consequences.

    “After the Judgement of SC, the Parliament has been pleased to pass the Elections Act, 2024 which received the assent of the President on 7th August 2024 and was published in the Gazette of Pakistan on 9th August 2024,” stated the letter by Speaker NA.

    The senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member Ayaz Sadiq further wrote, “In view of this backdrop, it is stated that independent returned candidates who have already given a joining to a political party can’t be allowed to now switch parties in terms of the Amended Election Act.”

    The speaker clarified that the amended act “shall prevail and supersede” the Supreme Court’s July 12 verdict.