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Tag: PTI

  • Ishaq Dar denies reports of financial emergency amidst economic turmoil

    Ishaq Dar denies reports of financial emergency amidst economic turmoil

    On Friday, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Ishaq Dar denied reports suggesting Pakistan should impose a financial emergency, amidst constant criticism over the current economic turmoil. He berated Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for spreading “fake news” about Pakistan heading towards default. Dar blamed the previous PTI government for pushing the nation of 220 million people on the brink of default, claiming that it was the coalition government that saved the country by prioritising the state over politics.

    Dar recalled that when the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) ousted Khan through a no-confidence motion, the leaders of the coalition government had decided to keep aside all political interests in the wider interest of the state. He stated that the PTI leaders have been calling him out since the rupee plunged to a historic low of Rs285.09 a day earlier while February’s inflation hit nearly a 50-year high of 31.5 per cent.

    Expressing his surprise and concerns over Khan’s continuous criticism of the coalition government, he said: “I am unable to understate whether he (Khan) has a problem in his leg or brain.” Instead of protecting the national interest, PTI’s leadership tried to sabotage the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal, Dar said. “Khan’s attitude is selfish.”

    According to Geo, Dar reiterated that Pakistan has neither defaulted in the past nor will it default in the future. Referring to Khan’s remarks about default, the finance minister said that the PTI chairman’s statements adversely affect the country’s financial markets. He, however, admitted that the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) reserves fell below $3 billion. It should be noted that the liquid foreign reserves held by the country stand at around $9 billion as of February 24 while the net reserves held by commercial banks stand at around $5.5 billion.

    The finance minister revealed that China has renewed a facility under which Pakistan expected an additional inflow of $500 million in the “next few days”. He highlighted the PDM-led government’s economic achievements, stating that the foreign exchange reserves held by the SBP climbed to $3.8 billion from $2.8 billion recorded last month. He maintained that the government returned $6.5 billion of foreign debt during the current fiscal year.

    Dar drew a comparison between the economic performance of nearly four years of PTI and almost 11 months of PDM-led government. He shared numeric data to prove that Khan and Co. did everything to “destroy the country,” but the numbers show who is sincere with the country. Dar argued that the opposition — the PTI — has not really improved Pakistan’s standing. However, Pakistan will escape the economic quagmire, he said, adding that the country is making repayments to bilateral and multilateral lenders and has made payments beyond its capacity.

  • ‘Sit down!’: Maryam and Khan continue Twitter phaddah

    ‘Sit down!’: Maryam and Khan continue Twitter phaddah

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan continued their Twitter spat over the depreciation of the rupee against the dollar on Thursday.

    Calling out the Pakistan Democratic Movemnet (PDM)-led government for slaughtering the rupee and blaming the “regime change conspiracy” narrative imposed on Pakistanis by former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, Khan tweeted, “Rupee slaughtered — lost over 62% or 110/$ in 11 months of PDM. This has increased public debt alone Rs 14.3 trn [trillion] & historic 75 yr high inflation 31.5%.”

    He added that Pakistanis are “paying [a] heavy price of regime change conspiracy where a bunch of criminals have been foisted upon nation by ex COAS”.

    Responding to Khan’s statement, Maryam snapped back at him dismissing his party for its three-year-long “incompetence”.

    “Mighty audacious of u to criticize those who’re undoing yr mess created through yr ruthless plunder, incompetence, misplaced priorities, cruel deal that you struck with IMF & then its breach that plunged the country into economic turmoil,” Maryam tweeted.

    Maryam then told Khan “So sit down!” in her tweet.

    “And let’s not forget to thank all those for this mayhem who handpicked and fed you for four years, as well as the remnants of their influence in the judiciary that you are now banking on,” the PML-N leader tweeted adding that it won’t be allowed again.

    “Won’t let that happen Insha’Allah,” Maryam added.

    The two indulged in a Twitter spat after the rupee plunged by nearly Rs19 against the US dollar today ahead of the central bank’s monetary policy review and amid concerns over a stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal.

    Lat week, Maryam hit back at Khan on Twitter after he called her a spoilt brat in a tweet.

    “Shameless & calculated attacks on SC judges by PDM & spoilt brat Maryam, nurtured on corruption money, have one purpose only – to run away from elections even by violating Constitution,” tweeted Khan.

    Responding to Khan’s accusations, Maryam tweeted, “Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Your squeals are not amiss as you have been the king of conspiracies,thriving & surviving on them with the help of your Godfather Faiz & his vestiges.”

  • PTI’s Jail Bharo Tehreek ends; election campaign begins from March 4

    PTI’s Jail Bharo Tehreek ends; election campaign begins from March 4

    After Supreme Court (SC) passed its verdict in the suo Moto case of election dates in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday announced that his party would end its “Jail Bharo Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement)” and launch its election campaign on March 4 (Saturday).

    About the top court’s decision that elections will be held within 90 days, Khan praised the judiciary and said the nation stood with the court.

    However, he expressed fears that elections may not be held in 90 days, claiming that Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar tried to divide the judiciary.

    Slamming the federal minister’s views on the verdict, the PTI chief said: “His views on the Supreme Court verdict are shameful.”

    Khan added that since his government’s removal in April 2022, his party has won 30 by-polls out of 37.

    It is pertinent to mention that the elections in both provinces have been the core demand of PTI and the apex court’s verdict has been welcomed by the former ruling party.

  • ‘Feel embarassed’: Khan reacts to Amjad Shoaib’s photo in lock up

    ‘Feel embarassed’: Khan reacts to Amjad Shoaib’s photo in lock up

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that he felt “embarrassed as a Pakistani to witness the depths” the country has “sunk to” due to the “imported regime of a cabal of crooks and their handlers”.

    His comments came in reference to a photograph of defence analyst Lieutenant General (retd) Amjad Shoaib in a police cell, which went viral on social media platforms.

    “In desperation to cling to power and muzzle all dissenting voices, they have jailed a respected, patriotic Pakistani on sedition charges,” tweeted the PTI chief. 

    Shoaib was arrested by Islamabad police after a first information report (FIR) was registered against him on February 25 at Islamabad’s Ramna Police Station.

    According to the FIR, filed on the complaint of Islamabad Magistrate Owais Khan, the former army officer incited people to revolt against institutions and attempted to provoke disharmony and anarchy and create a law and order situation in the country through controversial statements he made on a TV show.

    In the complaint, Magistrate Khan said that the retired general — in an interview on BOL TV’s show ‘Imran Khan Bol Kay Saath’ aired on Saturday — passed statements that “incited government officials and Opposition from performing their government and legal duties”.

  • PTI welcomes supreme court’s verdict while govt says it doesn’t require review

    PTI welcomes supreme court’s verdict while govt says it doesn’t require review

    Political parties from across the spectrum are reacting to Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) elections suo moto case.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry welcomed the verdict, saying, “It’s a victory for the Constitution”.

    The Supreme Court, the PTI leader added, has bound the federation to provide all sorts of support with security and provision of funds for carrying out polls.

    When asked whether elections will happen on April 9, as earlier suggested by President Arif Alvi, he responded by saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) proposed in court that the commission can make the elections possible on April 25.

    He also said that if the government doesn’t agree to the SC’s verdict, the top court will send the government home under Article 187.

    He also added that all five judges endorsed the principle of the election within 90 days. During a media talk, the PTI leader stressed that “Election is the foundation of the state.”

    On the other hand, Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid congratulated the nation on the verdict and asked the country to “prepare for the elections”.

    He hoped that PTI is going to form governments in KP and Punjab

    From the government side, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that there is no need to review the decision of the Supreme Court’s verdict, nor is it a matter that requires interpretation.

    He said that petitions are still being heard in High Courts, and the interpretation of the decision can also be seen there.

    He also stressed that the verdict is quite clear. However, the law minister took a jibe at President Alvi, saying that he breached the constitution by giving a date for the elections in both provinces.

    Earlier today (Wednesday), the top court directed all relevant authorities to hold elections within 90 days.

    The decision was passed three-two in favour of the verdict by the five-member bench, with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail giving dissenting notes.

  • Imran Khan suspends Jail Bharo Tehreek, decides to prepare for elections

    Imran Khan suspends Jail Bharo Tehreek, decides to prepare for elections

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has announced to suspend his party’s Jail Bharo Tehreek (Voluntary Arrest Movement).

    Taking to Twitter, Khan said, “We welcome the Supreme Court (SC) judgement. It was responsibility of SC to uphold Constitution & they have valiantly done that through their judgement today. It is an assertion of Rule of Law in Pak.”

    “We are suspending our Jail Bharo movement & moving forward with election campaigns in KP & Punjab,” tweeted Khan.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the announcement comes right after Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed all relevant authorities to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) within 90 days.

    Reading out the verdict reserved on Tuesday evening, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should suggest a date for polls to President Arif Alvi.

    “Elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assembly,” the verdict says, emphasizing that it was the constitutional responsibility of the Governor to announce an election date.

  • ‘Inka leader toh ghar baitha huva hai’: Justice Nasira Iqbal slams Jail Bharro Tehreek

    Justice (R) Nasira Iqbal has criticised the ongoing Jail Bharro Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement) initiated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying that she is unable to understand the purpose behind it.

    Justice Nasir, mother to incarcerated PTI leader Waleed Iqbal, was asked by Voice.pk whether she will file bail for her son, said: “Did I ask him to go? I told him that this act is not appropriate”.

    Not mincing her words when it came to PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Justice Nasira said, “Jo leader in ka bana huva hai, woh toh ghar betha huva hai bail before arrest li huvi ha” (Their leader is sitting at home and has obtained bail before arrest).

    She quoted Gandhi as an example, stating that he was an actual leader who gave his arrest first. She said that while Imran himself is at home, he has asked others to present themselves for arrest.

    The judge was of the view that instead of the movement, they all should be focusing on campaigning for elections. She predicted that elections are going to take place in the next 40 days.

    She also talked about the other PTI leaders who are being kept in different jails. She said that at first, they all were in Kot Lakhpat Jail, however, later they were transferred because of space constraints.

  • Shaukat Yousafzai, father of 13 children from two wives, forgot name of youngest son on live TV

    Shaukat Yousafzai, father of 13 children from two wives, forgot name of youngest son on live TV

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’S (PTI) provincial spokesperson Shaukat Yousafzai revealed in a morning show that he has fathered 13 children in total.

    During an appearance on HUM News, Yousafzai revealed that he has two wives and 13 children, including 10 daughters and three sons.

    The hosts asked Yousafzai if he could say the names of all his children in one go. Yousafzai smiled and started naming his children. However, Yousafzai could only name 12 as he forgot the name of his youngest son.

  • Non-bailable warrants issued for Imran Khan Toshakhana case; bail granted in prohibited funding, terrorism cases

    Non-bailable warrants issued for Imran Khan Toshakhana case; bail granted in prohibited funding, terrorism cases

    An Islamabad court has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.

    The district and sessions court heard the Toshakhana case where Khan’s lawyer Ali Bukhari and Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) lawyer Saad Hasan were present in court. The hearing of the case was conducted by judge Zafar Iqbal.

    Khan’s lawyer informed the court that PTI chief will not be able to appear in the court today. Bukhari requested the court to adjourn the hearing for five days. The court had repeatedly asked Khan to appear at the hearing. However, Khan failed to do so, citing his injured leg and security reasons.

    The Election Comission of Pakistan’s (ECP) counsel opposed the request, saying the PTI chief did not want to appear before the court. “It is not the court’s concern how far the party head is travelling from to reach the court.”

    He pointed out that Imran could also appear before that court if he was coming to the judicial complex.

    The PTI lawyer said his client could come to the court when he was free of the other two cases within the judicial operational timings.

    “He should also come here as indictment is pending. Once indicted, he can head to the other courts,” the judge responded.

    Khan arrived at Islamabad’s judicial complex on Tuesday afternoon to attend two separate hearings of prohibited funding and terrorism cases filed against him.

    Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Raja Jawad Abbas approved Khan’s interim bail until March 9 in the terrorism case, while banking court Judge Rakhshinda Shaheen confirmed bail for the PTI chief in the prohibited funding case.

    Khan was required to appear in person in four different cases in Islamabad courts today. The foreign funding case is in a banking court and the terrorism case is in an anti-terrorism court located inside the judicial complex, while Toshakhana and attempted murder cases will be heard at a sessions’ court in F-8 Kacheri.

    A large number of PTI workers entered the judicial complex with Khan’s entourage, knocking down its gate and creating chaos as the former Prime Minister’s car arrived at the Complex.

    Security arrangements at Sector G-11 of the Judicial Complex were disrupted as PTI workers removed all barriers. Meanwhile, security has also been tightened at the F-8 kachehri.

    Islamabad Police also took to Twitter and said, “A suspicious person was identified in the crowd. The man was wearing a camouflage jacket and a black cap and was near Imran Khan’s car. People are requested not to form a crowd. Otherwise tear gas can be used.”

    The banking court postponed the proceedings scheduled for all the cases against Khan, citing security concerns. 

    The court had summoned the PTI chief to appear before it today in the prohibited funding case.

    An anti-terrorism court granted interim bail to the PTI chair in the terrorism case filed against him after countrywide protests following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.

    ATC judge Raja Jawad heard the case and granted bail till March 9.

  • Justice first, then elections; Maryam Nawaz wants ‘balanced scale’ before polls

    Justice first, then elections; Maryam Nawaz wants ‘balanced scale’ before polls

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Monday once again criticised the judiciary, stating that there justice has to be delivered first, and then elections will be held.

    Addressing a workers’ convention in Sahiwal, Maryam Nawaz demanded redressal of “injustice” against the party’s supremo, Nawaz Sharif. She said that first the accusations of “Sicilian mafia” and “Godfather” will have to be withdrawn and then elections will be held.

     “The scales of justice must be balanced,” she said, before unleashing a furious verbal attack on former Chief Justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Saeed Khosa. She emphasised that polls would be conducted in the country when the vote is given respect.

    Talking about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Maryam said, “Elections will be held after Imran Khan will be measured on the same standards of justice set for Nawaz Sharif.”

    The PML-N senior vice president said Khan has been kept around to damage Pakistan, adding that he must be brought to justice.

    Maryam claimed Khan was running away from courts, making excuses about his plastered leg every time he was summoned.

    Khan is still being saved by the “remnants” of former spy chief Lieutenant General (retired) Faiz Hameed in the judiciary, she alleged.

    She then sought answers from the judges on the “Panama bench”, pointing the finger for its creation at ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed.

    “Why was Pakistan’s development put at stake?” she asked.

    She also blamed the “Panama bench” and its creators for inflation, and the country’s dependence on the IMF. She remarked that former prime minister Imran Khan’s alleged facilitators knew he was incompetent, incapable and damaging for the country. “They imposed him and destroyed Pakistan in Nawaz Sharif’s hatred,” she told the crowd.