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Tag: Pakistan

  • No relief for Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi

    No relief for Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi

    A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team, comprising of four members, conducted a thorough investigation at Adiala Jail, where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is currently detained in connection with a £190 million scandal, as per Geo News.

    The team, which included Mian Umer Nadim, Asim Munir, and Prosecutors Rooh ul Amin, and Haroon Baloch, spent over two hours scrutinizing the jail premises.

    After approximately one and a half hours of investigation, the team concluded its inspection and left the jail premises.

    The team will interrogate Khan for three days.

    Bail Rejected

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has recently rejected the post-arrest bail petition of former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case, directing the trial court to conclude proceedings within four weeks.

    The case accuses him, along with Imran Khan, of “unauthorisedly” communicating the contents of a classified document received from Washington, with unauthorised people i.e. the public at large.

    It is also alleged that Qureshi and Khan had a meeting on March 28, 2022 at Banigala, Islamabad, where a conspiracy was hatched to divulge the contents of the cipher for political advantage.

    The Chief Justice observed that the charges against Qureshi are punishable by death, and if proven, bail relief is typically avoided in such grave cases.

    Qureshi’s counsel argued that there was no evidence proving that Qureshi divulged classified information to the public. The trial of Qureshi and Imran Khan is currently taking place in Central Jail Adiala, Rawalpindi, as notified on October 3.

    However, the counsel argued that the notification did not mention Qureshi’s name.

    The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) special prosecutor countered by stating that Qureshi had aided, abetted, and incited Imran Khan, making him liable under Section 9 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

    The prosecution emphasized that charges had been framed, and three witnesses had already given their evidence.

    Justice Farooq observed that under Section 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, liability of the person, who abets the commission of offence, is that of a principal offender.

    The court order stated, “Undoubtedly, bail ought not to be held as punishment but where sentence involved is death or life imprisonment, the court has to proceed with caution; in this regard, the balance is to be maintained that liberty of a person ought not be compromised but gravity of charge or allegation is also to be kept in view.”

    Subsequently, the court dismissed the bail petition, but directed the Special Court (Official Secrets Act) “to conclude the trial within four weeks from the date of receipt of this order”.

    Toshakhana Case

    In a related development, an IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri restored Imran Khan’s petition seeking bail in the Toshakhana case.

    Khan’s bail petition was dismissed by the accountability court for non-prosecution.

    The court revived the bail petition with a direction to hear Mr Khan’s arguments and decide it on merit.

    The bench, however, dismissed Mr Khan’s identical petition seeking bail in the 190 million pounds corruption case for being infructuous as NAB has already arrested the ex-premier in this case.

    The cases

    The former prime minister is currently being held in Adiala Jail after his arrest from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on August 5.

    He was moved to the prison on September 26 from Attock Jail where he was initially kept after his arrest.

    Khan was first convicted by a lower court in the Toshakhana case in August and sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The IHC suspended his sentence the same month.

    The Islamabad accountability court issued arrest warrants for PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana and 190 million Al-Qadir Trust cases on Tuesday.

    Khan was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9 for the first time.

    The 190 million (approximately Rs60 billion) settlement case pertains to the money of property tycoon, Malik Riaz, being laundered and caught by the UK authorities during Imran’s government in 2019.

    The UK government had informed the Pakistani authorities regarding the money being caught.

    The former premier is already in prison as he was subsequently booked in the ‘cipher’ case.

    In the cipher case, Khan, along with his close aide and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has been accused of leaking state secrets.

  • Saturdays off and artificial rains for Lahoris: Punjab Government

    Saturdays off and artificial rains for Lahoris: Punjab Government

    Lahore once again topped global charts in air pollution on Wednesday while the caretaker chief minister of Punjab called an important meeting to deal with the smog situation.

    Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi discussed the closure of schools, colleges and universities in Punjab on Saturdays and fixed working hours for businesses that remain operational on Saturdays.

    For now, he announced that schools and offices will be closed this Saturday, November 18.

    During the meeting, it was decided that business centres, theatres and cinemas across Punjab will also be able to open after 3 pm on Saturday.

    Caretaker CM Naqvi also talked about the installation of smog air filter ioniser units at 12 places in Lahore. He additionally said that LWMC and WASA were spraying water on an area of 400 km daily and that consultations are also going on about artificial rain.

    It was also decided that a special meteorological laboratory will be established in Punjab.

    Previously, Lahore High Court ordered the closure of private and government schools and colleges on Saturday to control smog, adding that government and private offices should adopt a policy of working from home two days a week.

    During the hearing of petitions for the prevention of smog, the court remarked that smog is no longer the problem of just Lahore, it has become the problem of all of the Punjab.

  • Iqra Aziz wants new moms to remember it’s okay to prioritise themselves

    Iqra Aziz wants new moms to remember it’s okay to prioritise themselves

    Actress Iqra Aziz is back on our screens, starring as the main lead in the rom-com ‘Mannat Murad’, ending the break she took from work after the birth of her and Yasir Hussain’s son, Kabir. During an interview with BBC Urdu, Iqra shared an important message about the pressure new moms face in balancing their home life and their careers.

    The actress recalled the time when an actor visited her house, and was aghast with how she was sitting at home while her husband was the one who was working and finding new projects. Reflecting on this encounter, Iqra said she was working on social media, if not on the field as an actress, and was enjoying her time home while taking care of her son.

    “I can’t pressurise myself to break out of a relaxing phase because of ambition. It was my personal choice to sit back and take some time to reflect on myself. I began working from a really young age, and I have been working every day. Before meeting Yasir, I was even working on Sundays. It’s my choice that after working so much, I have reached a phase where I would like to relax and enjoy my life. This was my first son and I wanted to make every moment memorable.”

    We will completely endorse this message and applaud the actress for stressing on this incredibly important factor because so many new moms suffer from mental health problems because of the pressure to juggle their social commitments, while also learning to be there for their newborns. We’re so happy Iqra isn’t letting others dictate her choices. Giving birth isn’t easy and every mom should do what suits her mental health.

  • Supreme Court bans the use of ‘Sahib’ for government servants

    Supreme Court bans the use of ‘Sahib’ for government servants

    Supreme Court of Pakistan has banned the use of the word ‘Sahib’ with the titles of government officials, The News reported on Thursday.

    This ruling came about when Additional Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa presented the case of the murder of a nine-year-old child.

    During the hearing, the apex court expressed its disappointment with the quality of the investigation by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa reproached the public prosecutor for calling a deputy superintendent of police “sir”, adding that the titles have addled minds. The official was only a DSP and that too ineligible, he added to that effect.

    Justice Isa remarked, “Supreme Court has been made a court of magistrate. Is it some joke? Should there be no arguments and we go on merely looking at the faces of lawyers. Was one file so heavy that two officers brought it from KP to Islamabad? Petrol and TA, DA free. While getting print from WhatsApp is costly.”

    The court granted bail to the accused.

  • Shehbaz asks ‘younger brother’ Bilawal to be politically mature

    Shehbaz asks ‘younger brother’ Bilawal to be politically mature

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and former prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has described Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as a “younger brother”, a day after Bilawal advised PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to “focus on Lahore”.

    While mentioning the coalition government of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Shehbaz said that “Bilawal Bhutto is like a younger brother. [We have] worked together for 16 months.”

    Shehbaz Sharif’s comment came during a press conference in Quetta where the other PML-N leaders, including Nawaz Sharif, were gathered.

    The PML-N president’s statement was a response to Bilawal’s advice to Nawaz Sharif to “focus on Lahore”.

    “We should move towards mature politics. Crying and blaming will do nothing,” the PML-N president said.

    “Mian sahib has been advised to go to other provinces. I suggest he should stay in Lahore,” said the former foreign minister while addressing a presser in Mithi.

    Bilawal also said that Nawaz Sharif should focus on Punjab and address issues within the party.

  • ‘Special day copied blatantly’: Saboor Aly isn’t okay with Mannat Murad allegedly copying her wedding look

    Pakistani drama ‘Mannat Murad’ came under scrutiny when a viral episode, featuring main characters getting married, led to accusations of plagiarism.

    Viewers pointed out that Iqra Aziz’s look appeared similar to Saboor Aly. Viral tweets pointed out Iqra’s wedding look for the episode was exactly the same as Saboor Aly wedding look.

    Actress Saboor Aly has responded to the comments, to share she was disheartened her special day being copied. In her Instagram stories, the actress wrote:

    “And how am I suppose to feel about this? My moment, my memories, my sentiments. My vision and my look for the most special day of my life. My heart was put into every little details of my entire look. However, there is a difference between being inspired and copying special day copied blatantly.”

    “

  • Security forces kill seven terrorists in Tank Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    Security forces kill seven terrorists in Tank Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    On Wednesday, the military’s public relations branch announced that seven terrorists were killed by security forces in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted in the Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.


    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that on the night between November 14-15, security forces conducted an IBO in the Kiri Machan Khel area of the district on the reported presence of terrorists.


    “During conduct of the operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists, as a result of which seven terrorists were sent to hell,” it added.
    ISPR stated that weapons and ammunition were seized from the eliminated militants.
    As per the ISPR, the militants have been consistently participating in various terrorist activities, notably the recent incidents of targeting and killing police in Tank and its neighboring regions.
    “Locals of the area appreciated the operation and extended their full support to the security forces in elimination of menace of terrorism,” the statement added.
    Security forces kill seven terrorists in Tank Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

  • IMF and Pakistan seal agreement on $3 billion SBA, await board approval

    IMF and Pakistan seal agreement on $3 billion SBA, await board approval

    In a significant development, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declared on Wednesday that its team and Pakistani authorities have successfully concluded the initial review of the $3 billion, nine-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).

    This staff-level agreement awaits the approval of the IMF Executive Board.

    Upon endorsement, approximately US$700 million (SDR 528 million) will be accessible, contributing to a cumulative disbursement of nearly US$1.9 billion under the programme.

    A delegation from the IMF, led by Nathan Porter, conducted discussions in Islamabad from November 2–15, 2023, focusing on the inaugural review of Pakistan’s economic programme supported by the IMF SBA.

    The nascent recovery, supported by international partners and enhanced confidence indicators, is attributed to the stabilizing policies outlined in the SBA.

    The disciplined implementation of the FY24 budget, ongoing adjustments in energy prices, and increased inflows into the foreign exchange (FX) market have alleviated fiscal and external pressures.

    The IMF anticipates a decline in inflation in the upcoming months, driven by diminishing supply constraints and modest demand.

    Nevertheless, Pakistan remains exposed to significant external risks, including heightened geopolitical tensions, escalating commodity prices, and potential tightening in global financial conditions.


    It is imperative to persist in efforts to enhance resilience in the face of these challenges, according to the international lender

  • ‘Allegations on Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, if true, would undermine reputation of federal government, armed forces, ISI and Pakistan Rangers’: Supreme Court

    ‘Allegations on Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, if true, would undermine reputation of federal government, armed forces, ISI and Pakistan Rangers’: Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a written order addressing the allegations made by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Top City-1 Housing Society against the former Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed.

    The Supreme Court observed that allegations leveled by the private housing society CEO against the former spy chief are of an “extremely serious nature” and would tarnish the reputation of the federal government if proven true.

    The observations come as the top court issued a written order for the November 8 hearing of the petition filed by Moeez Ahmed Khan against the former general.

    The three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa, alongside Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aminuddin Khan, had disposed of the constitutional petition last week.

    The petitioner, Moeez Ahmed Khan, had alleged abduction by retired army officers, including Gen Faiz.

    The written order said: “The allegations are of an extremely serious nature, and if true, undoubtedly would undermine the reputation of the federal government, the armed forces, ISI and Pakistan Rangers, therefore, they cannot be left unattended.”

    The court noted that Moeez may have reservations that a complaint filed in the Ministry of Defence would not be entertained because the accused held senior positions in the armed forces.

    “However, the learned AAG (Additional Attorney General) has assured us that the complaint/grievance will be given due consideration, and we have no reason to doubt this statement made on behalf of the government of Pakistan,” the court noted in its order, adding that the apprehension of the applicant is “misplaced.”

    “Accordingly, if the applicant (Moeez Ahmed Khan) submits a complaint/grievance to the Ministry of Defence of the government of Pakistan, it shall be dealt with in accordance with law,” Chief Justice Isa observed as he disposed of the matter.

    Additionally, the order granted the applicant the liberty to explore other legal remedies as per the established legal procedures.

    The Petition

    As per the petition, on May 12, 2017, the Pakistan Rangers and officials of the ISI raided the office of Top City and Moeez’s residence and took away valuables, including gold and diamond ornaments and money, in connection with a purported terrorism case.

    “On May 12, 2017, my house and office were raided on the orders of General (Rtd) Faiz Hamid. During the raid, valuables and records of our private housing society were stolen,” the petitioner had claimed.

    The petition further stated that Gen Hameed’s brother Sardar Najaf mediated and tried to resolve the issue. After his acquittal, the petition claimed, Gen Hameed contacted Moeez through the latter’s cousin — a brigadier in the army — to arrange a meeting.

    The petition claimed that during the meeting, Gen Hameed told the petitioner that he would return some of the items taken away during the raid except for 400 tola gold and cash.

    The petition claimed that retired brigadier Naeem Fakhar and retired brigadier Ghaffar of the ISI allegedly “forced” the petitioner to “pay 4 crores in cash” and “sponsor a private AAP TV network for a few months”.

    As per the petition, former ISI officials Irtaza Haroon, Sardar Najaf, Wasim Tabish, Zahid Mehmood Malik, and Mohammad Munir were also “involved in the illegal takeover of the housing society”.

  • Bushra Bibi wants solitary meeting with Imran Khan

    Bushra Bibi wants solitary meeting with Imran Khan

    In a notable development, Bushra Bibi, former First Lady, and the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, has submitted a request to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking permission for a solitary meeting with her husband, reported Geo News.

    The request filed by Bushra Bibi in the IHC emphasises the legal constraints that hinder private interactions on domestic matters.

    The application states that the court has granted permission for meetings with Chairman PTI every Tuesday.

    It further states that discussions on personal matters are challenging in the presence of prison officials. 

    Bushra Bibi, in her plea, implores the court to issue specific instructions to the Superintendent of Adiala Jail, ensuring that solitary meetings are facilitated in accordance with legal provisions.

    The former prime minister is currently being held in Adiala Jail after his arrest from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on August 5.

    He was moved to the prison on September 26 from Attock Jail where he was initially kept after his arrest.

    Khan was first convicted by a lower court in the Toshakhana case in August and sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The IHC suspended his sentence the same month.

    The Islamabad accountability court issued arrest warrants for PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana and £ 190 million Al-Qadir Trust cases on Tuesday.

    Khan was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9 for the first time.

    The £ 190 million (approximately Rs60 billion) settlement case pertains to the money of property tycoon, Malik Riaz, being laundered and caught by the UK authorities during Imran’s government in 2019. 

    The UK government had informed the Pakistani authorities regarding the money being caught.

    The former premier is already in prison as he was subsequently booked in the ‘cipher’ case.

    In the cipher case, Khan, along with his close aide and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has been accused of leaking state secrets.