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Tag: Pakistan

  • ‘Nawaz won’t come back, we will bring him back’: Fawad Chaudhry

    ‘Nawaz won’t come back, we will bring him back’: Fawad Chaudhry

    Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that Nawaz Sharif’s arrival to Pakistan has been hyped for no reason. It does not make any difference whether he comes or not.

    “We have prevented the mafia group from establishing a foothold in any city,” he said.

    “We will contest the next elections with full force under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” he added.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said that the government will bring Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif back after the finalisation of an agreement with the United Kingdom (UK) government and ruled out the possibility of Nawaz’s voluntary return to the country.

    “We will bring back the PML-N leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif because he himself will never return,” said Fawad.

    “We have been addressing the legal lacunas relating to the matter for the last two years. Rest assured, he will not return, but we will bring him back,” Fawad said emphatically.

    Fawad emphasised that the opposition was not capable of toppling the government, as it required leadership which they did not have.

    “They are only issuing statements to appease their workers. Everybody knows that Imran Khan gave them [the] toughest time while in [the] Opposition,” he noted.

  • MNAs only come to mark attendance, third parliament session adjourned

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the session on Monday due to lack of quorum in the lower house for the third consecutive day.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Sheikh Fayyazuddin mentioned the empty treasury benches and said that he is “ashamed”, reports Dawn.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers were not present in the assembly on Monday because of the 14th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto.

    For the quorum of the lower house, the presence of 86 members (one-fourth) out of the 342 members is necessary.

    On December 22nd and 24th, the sessions were adjourned because of the same reason.

    However, the assembly record shows that on Dec 22, a total of 219 members had marked their attendance. On Dec 24, 176 members had marked their attendance.

    Moreover, it shows that on the opening day of the NA session, 89 lawmakers belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and its allies were present. Similarly, a great number, i.e. 105 treasury members, were present when the session was called the second time.

  • ‘Backward thinking dangerous for Pakistan’: Fawad on Taliban’s restrictions on Afghan women

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, while talking about the recent Taliban’s restrictions on Afghan women, stated that the Taliban’s ‘retrogressive thinking’ is dangerous for Pakistan, reports Dawn.

    While addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, the minister said, “Saying that women can’t travel alone or go to schools and colleges — this kind of retrogressive thinking is a danger for Pakistan.”

    “You see that two extremist regimes have cropped up on right [India] and left [Afghanistan] of Pakistan. On one side there is Afghanistan where the Taliban have arrived. We want to fully help the Afghan people”, he added.

    Fawad said, “We have had failures and successes but till now Pakistan is that bright hope in this region which while remaining amid these extremes can emerge out from them.”

    Chaudhry’s statement has come after Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities’ announcement about women who seek to travel long distances should not be offered transport if they are not wearing hijab or not accompanied by a close male relative.

    Furthermore, he pointed out that extremists in the country and said, “Quaid-e-Azam never saw Pakistan as a religious country and all these people who today on his name are fooling the people that the meaning of an Islamic country was a religious country — this was entirely not the case.”

    While talking about the Sialkot lynching incident, Fawad said, “You saw the whole of Pakistan was united and condemned that incident. This is happening every day in India with Muslims and no one is bothered.”

    Chaudhry stressed that Pakistan’s purpose was “preserving minority rights and safeguarding them”.

  • ‘Will issue visa within 24 hours and pay for Nawaz Sharif’s ticket’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘Will issue visa within 24 hours and pay for Nawaz Sharif’s ticket’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Sunday said that if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif wants to return to Pakistan, he will issue a “visa” to him within 24 hours and will also “pay for his air ticket”.

    The interior minister said that Nawaz had left the country citing medical reasons but “never visited a doctor” once he reached England.

    Answering a question related to the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, Rasheed said: “Your threats will not affect us in any way; you should look at your own conduct. No one else has been as corrupt as you, so you cannot hold us accountable for anything.”

    Rasheed went on to say, ” Both the Sharif and Zardari families, are corrupt, so Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will continue to fight against their corruption till his last breath”.

    Reacting to Sheikh Rasheed’s statement, senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said that the mere mention of Nawaz Sharif’s possible return to Pakistan “has sent alarm bells ringing” for the government, adding that once the PML-N supremo returns, “Imran Niazi, Rasheed, and their hired spokespersons will find no place to hide.”

    “The fear of Nawaz Sharif’s return is not letting him [Imran Khan] sleep,” he said. “Those responsible for causing a tsunami of inflation, incompetence, and corruption are screaming [out of fear now]. They can do whatever they want, but they will eventually have to leave.”

    “We have only one message for Imran Niazi and that is ‘bas aap ne ghabrana naheen hai’ (you must not worry),” said Sanaullah.

  • Equal citizens

    Recently, we heard about two bakeries in Karachi that refused to write ‘Merry Christmas’ on cakes. Both Delizia and Aunty Munaver turned away customers who wanted cakes with Christmas greetings. It is deeply disturbing to see such acts of bigotry in a country whose founder and others who fought for its freedom believed in rights for all and equality regardless of caste, creed, and faith. Yet we see how non-Muslims in Pakistan continue to face discrimination on a regular basis.

    Today, when we celebrate Christmas with our Christian brethren and wish them a day full of joy, we hope that our society will change for the better. Today is also the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who taught us the meaning of tolerance and who believed in pluralism and inclusiveness.


    We often repeat and quote Jinnah’s August 11 speech but it is important to reiterate what he said again and again: “We are starting in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state.”

    This is what Pakistan stands for as this is what our founder taught us. It was good to see many people raising their voices against those bakeries that refused to write Merry Christmas on their cakes. It was social media outcry that led to Delizia bakery management on the backfoot and saying that it was an individual act. Whether it was an individual act or not can be ascertained as this isn’t the first time that such an incident took place. This year, we saw the horrible lynching of a Sri Lankan national. The government took strong exception to the incident and promised to take action against all those responsible. But the incident also showed how intolerance has seeped into our society. It is this bigotry and intolerance that has to end. On the birth anniversary of Jinnah, we should pledge to make this Jinnah’s Pakistan and not a Pakistan where extremism prospers. Once again, Merry Christmas to all those celebrating. 

  • ‘Nawaz Sharif satisfied with script’: Is Nawaz Sharif coming back to Pakistan in 2022?

    ‘Nawaz Sharif satisfied with script’: Is Nawaz Sharif coming back to Pakistan in 2022?

    Speculations are rife that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is returning to Pakistan.

    Senior journalist Saleem Safi took to Twitter and hinted at Nawaz Sharif’s return from London. Safi tweeted, “Mian Nawaz Sharif is planning to come back to Pakistan in January. According to the plan, he will go to jail on his return. Then he will appeal the courts for relief and removal of previous sentences.”

    “The transfer of DG NAB Lahore is linked to this chain of events while Nawaz Sharif is satisfied with the script,” tweeted Safi.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, without taking any names, took a jibe at the return of Nawaz.

    The minister tweeted, “Those who wait for deals to return home will always be dwarfs in politics.”

    “The PML-N should get ready to polish the boots, but the only difference is no one is putting the foot forward to get the boots polished,” tweeted Fawad.

    Fawad further said, “You are a reminder of the dark age of Pakistan. The direction of the winds is not on your side anymore. When there is light, the darkness disappears and this is what happened in Pakistan.”

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Shahbaz Gill tweeted, “Nawaz Sharif’s visa extension in the United Kingdom (UK) has been rejected – currently on appeal but he knows visa will be rejected and he will be deported. This is being presented as a political decision – cowards are never brave.”

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan during a meeting of the party spokespersons held in Islamabad on Friday questioned how a plan could be hatched to bring PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif back to the country.

    Talking about the Opposition parties, the premier said there have been rumours of ending former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sentence. “How can the sentence of a convicted person be overturned?”

    The premier recalled that the court had disqualified Nawaz in the Panama Leaks case, and to date, he was unable to provide a money trail for his assets.

  • Babar Azam, Pakistani cricketers celebrate Quaid’s 146th birthday

    Babar Azam, Pakistani cricketers celebrate Quaid’s 146th birthday

    The nation is celebrating 146th birthday of Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah today (Saturday). Skipper of the national cricket team Babar Azam and other Pakistani cricketers also took to their social media accounts to pen heartfelt notes.

    “Visionary leader, ambassador of humanity, equality and tolerance. May all of us try to fulfill our obligations for our courageous country. Happy Birthday to our Quaid,” wrote Babar on Twitter.

    Taking to Twitter, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi thanked Quaid for this nation saying: “Let’s celebrate our founding Father by taking an oath to make Pakistan great, happy & prosperous by ensuring the well being of the masses & the poor. Join me by doing your part in actualizing Quaid’s vision of unity & equality.”

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1474601970287665152?t=zDsR3IyEVUPe8MYEyfxP1Q&s=19

    Similarly, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Imam-ul-Haq, Ahmad Shahzad and Wahab Riaz took to their respective social media accounts to write a few words to thank the Father of the Nation.

    Pakistani woman cricketer Sidra Amin also shared Quaid’s quote.

    Former cricketer and current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja also thanked Quaid for this beautiful country.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan in his message on the occasion of birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has emphasised upon the youth to adopt Quaid’s attributes of honesty, hard work, perseverance and dedication.

    He said we as a nation need to adopt these attributes to realize Quaid’s vision of a developed, progressive and tolerant Pakistan.

    The Prime Minister said Muhammad Ali Jinnah realised the importance of a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent where all citizens could enjoy freedom of faith, occupation and equal opportunities.

  • PM Khan lashes out at plan to make a ‘convicted person’ prime minister

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan during a meeting of the party spokespersons held in Islamabad, questioned how a plan could be hatched to bring Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif back to the country.

    Talking about the Opposition parties, the premier said there have been rumours of ending former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sentence. “How can the sentence of a convicted person be overturned?”

    The premier recalled that the court had disqualified Nawaz in the Panama Leaks case, and to date, he was unable to provide a money trail for his assets.

    “How can a convicted person become the prime minister after having his sentence revoked?” he questioned, according to sources privy to the matter.

    The PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a conference with party workers and leaders, yet again hinted at coming back to Pakistan and said, “Thank you all very much, see you soon in Pakistan.”

    Senior PML-N party leaders have also hinted at the same stance as that of their leader Nawaz Sharif.

    The PML-N supremo, who was diagnosed with an immune system disorder, left Pakistan for London in November 2019.

  • President, PM extend their wishes to the Christian community on Christmas

    President, PM extend their wishes to the Christian community on Christmas

    President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have greeted the christian community on the occasion of Christmas.

    President and Prime Minister in separate messages, have assured that the government will continue to safeguard rights and privileges of all minorities living in the country, Radio Pakistan has reported.

    They also commended sincere and invaluable services rendered by the Christian community in the fields of defence, education, health as well as economic development of the country.

    They said that the government will empower the minorities to use their abilities for national development

  • Kashmiri students await justice, arrested for alleged celebrations of India’s loss to Pak in cricket

    Three Kashmiri students are still awaiting justice after they were arrested by the police for allegedly celebrating Pakistan’s win against India in the T20 Worldcup in October this year. The police charged them with sedition, reports by The Wire.

    The students whose names are Arsheed Yusuf, Inayat Altaf Sheikh, and Showkat Ahmed Ganai were admitted to Raja Balwant Singh Engineering College in Agra. They also got expelled from the university as well. Police arrested them on October 27 after they uploaded some statuses on WhatsApp. Currently, they are in Agra jail for over 50 days.

    After the rejection of their bail petitions in lower courts, their applications are now proceeding to Allahabad High Court.

    Their families appealed bail orders for their sons but the Allahabad High Court in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) could not hear their applications for bail because of some procedural delays.

    Prior to this, lawyers refused to aid the jailed students in Agra as they were labelled “anti-nationalists.” Some volunteers and student unions arranged legal aid in the city of UP, Mathura. Another application was also filed to move the case from Agra to Mathura alongside the bail plea but it is still pending in court.

    The lawyer who represented the students, Madhuvan Dutt said, ”Justice Suneet Kumar was hearing the petitions today [Thursday] after lunch. Applications were heard until article number 43 however, our article number was 76. So our application was not disposed of. It is likely to come up only around the 6th or the 7th of January.”

    Dutt added, “All litigants in UP are suffering with these delays. Three of our appeals for the transfer application could not be heard because there was no sitting judge. This delay is causing injustice for all litigants.”

    According to a friend and mentor to the students, Manzoor Wani, other Kashmiri students faced harassment and threats after the arrest.

    The hopes of the student’s families are fading due to delays in the hearing.