Current Final

Tag: PML-N

  • Miftah Ismail steps down as PML-N Sindh General Secretary, blames ‘badmash tola’

    Miftah Ismail steps down as PML-N Sindh General Secretary, blames ‘badmash tola’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Sindh General Secretary Miftah Ismail has resigned from his party post arguing that politics became difficult in the presence of ‘badmash tola’ (mafia) in Karachi. According to details, Miftah resigned after no action was taken over vandalism by party workers at PML-N House in Karsaz.

    Dunya News reported that a few weeks ago, enraged workers of the PML-N in Karachi stormed into their own provincial party office and vandalised the facility, smashed windows, and tore posters of the party’s provincial leadership, in protest over “unjustified” distribution of party tickets for the upcoming local government elections in cantonment boards in the metropolis. 

    Reportedly, Miftah Ismail has tendered his resignation to the top leadership of the party due to the presence of “a gang of goons” who were making politics difficult for the former finance minister. He also contested the by-election in NA-249 in Karachi recently and lost a close contest to Qadir Mandokhel of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

  • ‘No Pakistani was declared anti-state in the DMW analytical report,’ clarifies Fawad Chaudhry

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has clarified that no Pakistani was declared anti-state in the Digital Media Wing’s (DMW) analytical report.

    Fawad on Friday said that unfortunately, the political parties did not have political research wings, who could help their leadership to understand an issue in depth. Chaudhry advised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership to hire the services of an expert to learn about the contents of the DMW report.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1426198737152524294

    Fawad maintained the fact that “the analysis of Rana Sanaullah, Khurram Dastagir and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reflected that they were computer-illiterate individuals who were not well aware of the latest technology and lack of enough knowledge in this regard.”

    The minister further added, “India did use bot technology to promote anti-Pakistan tweets.” Fawad said the report did not comment on the people living in Pakistan, clarifying, “If someone will be taking part in #SanctionPakistan trending right now on social media and opposing it – then it does not mean that they indulged in an anti-state activity.”

    Commenting on the media wing of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), Fawad said that PTM had participated in spreading and posting anti-state trends on social media. The data on PTM’s role in supporting the anti-state narrative was included in the DMW report, which could be analysed by people themselves.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1426199486536331270

    Fawad further added that the ones unfamiliar with technology could also contact the ministry’s Digital Media Wing that has been set up to guide individuals.

    Earlier, the PML-N slammed the report saying it had equated Pakistan’s Opposition, politicians, and journalists with India and Israel without any proof.

  • PML-N changes stance, no longer opposes the Anti-Rape Ordinance

    PML-N changes stance, no longer opposes the Anti-Rape Ordinance

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) moved a resolution in the National Assembly today for the disapproval of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance, 2020. According to an official document by the National Assembly Secretariat, members from the Opposition party were to move against the Anti-Rape Ordinance.

    However, the PML-N has withdrawn its resolution against the Anti-Rape Ordinance.

    PML-N’s Secretary Parliamentary Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja told The Current that there were several Ordinances that were passed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The PML-N has a considered stance to oppose any legislation that is brought through Ordinances, which is why the PML-N prepared resolutions for dissolution for all of them because they were not going through proper legislative procedures. “This became one of them by mistake,” says Shaza. The PML-N has now withdrawn its resolution for disapproval of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance, 2020.

    Shaza added that the PML-N would like the government to bring this legislation to parliament as concerns were also raised by the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) and the Women’s Lawyers’ Association (WLA) about the Anti-Rape Ordinance.

    “PML-N stands for women’s rights and would want a pro-women law that can also be implemented without any bureaucratic or other hurdles.” Shahza Khawaja said that despite strong opposition from PTI and other parties, the PML-N has been able to pass progressive and pro-women legislation, including the Anti-Rape Laws 2016, Anti-Honour Killing Bill, as well as Protection of Women against Violence Bill in Punjab.

    In response to a tweet, Shaza Khawaja tweeted that the PML-N unequivocally stands with women’s rights in every sense of the word.

    Twitterati reacted to PML-N’s withdrawing the resolution.

    Farieha Aziz tweeted, “Bills will be detrimental, not beneficial if passed in their current form. Must not be passed as they are.”

    Lawyer Reema Omer tweeted, “It was bizarre – even if well-intentioned – to make such radical reform in criminal law through ordinances anyway. The focus now must be on the anti-rape bills, which have some serious problems.”

  • British authorities turn down Nawaz Sharif’s request for extension of visit visa

    British authorities turn down Nawaz Sharif’s request for extension of visit visa

    Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo, Nawaz Sharif’s request for an extension in his visit visa has been turned down by British authorities, reported Geo News.

    Nawaz’s six-month visit visa has expired, after which he had put in a request with the United Kingdom (UK) Home Office to grant him an extension on health grounds.

    The request, however, was denied by the immigration department.

    PML-N leader has two ways to go about this recent development in relevance to his stay: to appeal the decision with the department, and in the event, it is turned down, he can approach British courts.

    Meanwhile, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed said, “Nawaz cannot travel anywhere with his expired Pakistani passport.”

    Rasheed further added that Nawaz’s visa had expired on February 16 and that he is “no longer a citizen of Pakistan”.

    PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb took to Twitter and tweeted that the British home department in their response has stated that Nawaz can appeal the decision with an immigration tribunal.

    She said Nawaz’s lawyers had therefore filed an appeal with the tribunal, his medical records will be included in it as well.

    “Nawaz Sharif can legally reside in Britain until the decision,” she said.

    The PML-N spokesperson while talking to Geo News said that Nawaz “has not and will never seek political asylum”.

    “These people [government] have nothing better than to do than to speak lies about Nawaz Sharif every day,” she said.

  • ‘Nawaz Sharif was more interested in cricket and by chance became PM’: Imran Khan

    ‘Nawaz Sharif was more interested in cricket and by chance became PM’: Imran Khan

    Prime Minister Imran Khan, while addressing the launching ceremony of Defence Analyst Ikram Sehgal’s book, said, “I was friends with both former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif. Sharif was more interested in cricket and by chance, he became prime minister.”

    Speaking about his early days in politics a little over two decades ago, PM Khan said, “I knew them [Benazir and Nawaz] personally and they both offered me party tickets again and again, but I was opposed to their corruption and challenged them,” the premier recalled. 

    The premier said he had studied politics in university and therefore understood international politics, but every country has its own culture of politics. “I had no knowledge of Pakistani politics and that is how I began my career in it,” he said.

    Taking a jibe at the opposition, PM Khan said that the leaders of Pakistan’s political parties spent their summers abroad and never thought about the country. 

  • Nawaz would have been PM in 2018 if PML-N had a different strategy: Shehbaz Sharif

    Nawaz would have been PM in 2018 if PML-N had a different strategy: Shehbaz Sharif

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif says Nawaz Sharif would have been elected prime minister for a fourth time if the PML-N leaders had made a strategy based on consensus in the pre-2018 election period.

    Shehbaz was responding to a question by Saleem Safi on Geo News programme, ‘Jirga’, about whether or not he was offered prime ministership before the 2018 elections on the condition that he would abandon his brother Nawaz Sharif and niece Maryam Nawaz. 

    When asked why was he failing to convince Nawaz Sharif and Maryam of the need for reconciliation, Shehbaz Sharif said he believed in “natural reconciliation”. Shehbaz said he wanted everyone to set aside their personal egos and join hands to eradicate poverty from the country. He further added that every matter in the party is decided with consultation, and his viewpoint is known to everyone. 

    The former Punjab chief minister said he was offered the prime ministership twice over the last couple of decades, adding that one of these offers was made by former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan and later, by General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. 

    He said no single individual or a single institution was responsible for a weak democracy in the country, and “everyone is a culprit” [Is hamam me sab nangay hain].

    Shehbaz Sharif said that Imran Khan had failed to deliver despite being provided all-out support by the establishment. 

    Shehbaz Sharif rejected the notion that he was about to resign from the party’s presidency, describing it as “fake news”. 

    A report in Daily Jang published last week stated that Shehbaz was angry after his strategy for the Azad Kashmir elections was ignored, resulting in the party’s loss. Thus, he threatened to quit party leadership. “When I was finally allowed to speak during the budget session, after four days of chaos [in parliament], I said the budget is a fake one since the people’s pockets are empty. Similarly, just like the budget, this news report is also fake.”

    Shehbaz said that PML-N is his home and that Nawaz Sharif, every party leader, worker, and women [leaders] over the past 40 years have played their role in building the party. He also rejected the accusation that he helped his brother flee the country, saying that it was propaganda.

  • Female politicians demand public hanging of rapists and murderers

    Female politicians demand public hanging of rapists and murderers

    Almost all the women lawmakers of the National Assembly, both from treasury and opposition benches, on Friday unanimously demanded the public hanging of all rapists, reported Dawn.

    The demand was made in the National Assembly by women members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

    Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari said the government had recently passed a law against rape cases, but laws will not work alone. There is a need to change the mindset of our society about women.

    She said that the government has to protect all women as women will no more accept their humiliation and suffering.

    Mehnaz Akbar Aziz of PML-N said the killer of Noor Muqaddam must be hanged in public so that such incidents do not take place in the future.

    “If Pakistan has to be run, then rapists and killers must be hanged in public. We will not let the country be run in the way it is being run,” said PTI lawmaker Asma Qadeer who broke into tears while speaking on the floor of the house.

    Asma Qadeer talked about the rising cases of rape of women and children and the recent beheading of Noor Mukadam.

    PPP’s Shamim Ara Panhwar said that in the light of increasing incidents of child abuse and rape of women, there was no other option but to hang rapists and killers in public.

  • ‘Will seek India’s help’: PML-N’s Ismail Gujjar served show-cause notice over remarks

    ‘Will seek India’s help’: PML-N’s Ismail Gujjar served show-cause notice over remarks

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Secretary-General Ahsan Iqbal has served a show-cause notice to Ismail Gujjar for his controversial statement a day ago during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir election wherein he threatened to “call India for help” if attempts were made [by the government] to rig the polls.

    Talking to the media, Chaudhry Ismail Gujjar said, “If you try to commit such an act [rig elections], I will call India for help … I warn you this is the election of Azad Kashmir and its people, let it be peaceful.”

    Reacting to the statement, Ahsan Iqbal issued a show-cause notice to Gujjar.

    “A statement given by you appeared on the electronic media in which you have irresponsibly stated that you will seek help from India for your election,” the notice reads, asking Gujjar to give an explanation within seven days.

    Issuing a clarification on to Geo News, Ismail had said his statement was directed towards the administration. “India kills Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir and over here, these people are taking down our camps,” he had added.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, while appreciating the PML-N for issuing a show-cause notice to a “political orphan” [Gujjar], said it would have been better had the party served a notice to Nawaz Sharif for meeting Pakistan’s enemy. Fawad was referring to Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with Afghan National Security Adviser (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib in London.

    Fawad also commented on the Afghan NSA’s meeting with Sharif on Geo News‘ programme, ‘Jirga’.

  • PTI wins AJK elections with vast majority, PPP, PML-N reject results

    PTI wins AJK elections with vast majority, PPP, PML-N reject results

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has won the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections by clinching the most seats. The PTI won in 25 constituencies, followed by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in 11 constituencies and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in six constituencies, according to unofficial results.

    The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Party and the (JKPP) and the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJK-MC) managed to bag one seat each according to the unofficial results.

    Turnout in AJK elections was recorded at around 62 per cent. More than 700 candidates from 32 political and religious parties contested for the 45 general seats.

    The official Twitter account of PTI celebrated the victory and called Prime Minister Imran Khan the ‘Ambassador of Kashmir’.

    PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz claimed that the PTI won the Kashmir polls through rigging and rejected the results of the elections held on Sunday.

    Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “I have not accepted the results and neither will I.”

    Maryam praised her party workers for “putting up a good fight” despite rigging by PTI.

    Taking to Twitter, Bilawal Bhutto claimed the election commission had failed to take action against the PTI for violating electoral rules.

     

  • Government blames Nawaz Sharif for PM Khan’s phone hacking

    Government blames Nawaz Sharif for PM Khan’s phone hacking

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Farrukh Habib, said that when Prime Minister Imran Khan’s phone was being hacked through Pegasus spyware, it was Nawaz Sharif’s government.

    Farrukh made this statement after The Guardian reported that the Indian government targeted Prime Minister Imran Khan’s phone for surveillance.

    Farrukh further added that while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was busy hacking the phones of his Opposition, who knows, Nawaz Sharif might have sought Modi’s help for some other purposes as well.

    “We will not allow them [Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi] to remain silent on these issues,” added Farrukh.

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Shahbaz Gill tweeted, “Maryam Safdar kept speaking against Imran Khan. Today, the international media has once again exposed the nexus between her [Maryam Nawaz’s] father and Israel.”

    “He [Nawaz Sharif] was working with Israel to hack the phones of Imran Khan and other government officials,” added Gill.