Current Final

Tag: PTI

  • ‘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.”

  • 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

  • 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.

  • ‘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.

  • ‘Govt and establishment would be comfortable with Qazi Faez Isa’s extension,’ says Ansar Abbasi

    ‘Govt and establishment would be comfortable with Qazi Faez Isa’s extension,’ says Ansar Abbasi

    Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has cleared that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah would replace Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa as the country’s apex judge.

    Speaking to ARY News, the former Foreign Minister said, “On October 26, Justice Mansoor will become the next chief justice — no doubt.”

    Responding to the formation of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), Chairman PPP said that the Supreme Court’s workload is so much that it affects the judiciary’s performance.

    He added, “We waited almost 50 years for justice in Shaheed [Zulfiqar Ali] Bhutto’s murder case.”

    Expecting a constructive role from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the twenty-sixth amendments, Bhutto said, “It is difficult for [the government] to discuss constitutional amendments with PTI along with its input.”

    On the same day, appearing in the Geo News programme Capital Talk, Bhutto clarified that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) was crafting its amendments draft.

    “PPP will prepare its draft regarding the formation of the constitutional court and will share it with Maulana Fazlur Rehman,” he concluded.

  • Government clarifies no military trial for Imran Khan

    Government clarifies no military trial for Imran Khan

    The federal government clarified to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the possibility of a military trial for founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, is not under consideration.

    Additional Attorney General (AAG) Barrister Munawar Iqbal Duggal remarked before the IHC that the defence ministry has not yet provided any information regarding former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s military trial.

    However, the AAG Duggal cleared to the IHC bench headed by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb that Khan’s military trial would be per the law if the military court tried him.

    Law official for Ministry of Defence, Brigadier Falak Naz remarked that civilian trials by the military court are possible for certain offences under Section 2(1) (d) of the Pakistan Army Act.

    Earlier, ex-PM Khan filed a petition against his possible military trial in connection with the May 9 violent protest cases, upon which IHC directed the incumbent government to submit its answer by September 24.

  • ‘DIG operations pointed a gun at me,’ says Sher Afzal Marwat

    ‘DIG operations pointed a gun at me,’ says Sher Afzal Marwat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers who were released after their arrests following the September 8 rally have shared their ordeal with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

    Leader PTI Sher Afzal Khan Marwat has revealed that the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) operations threatened him with dire consequences while pointing his 9mm gun at him.

    Marwat alleged that the same treatment had been given to the country’s bigwigs, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Advisor Prime Minister for Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, and Saad Rafiq.

    Opposition Leader NA Omer Ayub Khan said that parliament was humiliated on Tuesday following the arrest of Members of the National Assembly (MNA) from parliament premises.

    Responding to a First Information Report (FIR) lodged against lawmakers on the pretext of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) violation in the Sagjani rally, he clarified that PTI’s rally was delayed due to roads blockage.

  • PPP scores big win in by-election against PTI

    PPP scores big win in by-election against PTI

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Makhdoom Tahir Rashiduddin has won a by-election in Rahim Yar Khan with a huge margin, securing one lac sixteen thousand four hundred twenty-nine votes.

    The by-election, held on Thursday in NA-171, saw the PPP candidate defeat the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Hasan Mustafa, who could only secure fifty-eight thousand two hundred fifty-one.

    In a well-hyped campaign, the polling process continued without a break from 8 AM to 5 PM.

    The by-election took place after the death of PTI Member National Assembly (MNA) Mumtaz Mustafa in the NA-171 constituency, which has 5 lac twenty-six thousand nine hundred seventy-three (526,973) votes.

    Under section 73 of the Election Act, a by-election occurs when an elected official dies, is disqualified, resigns or is unable to continue serving as a lawmaker.

  • PTI calls off Friday rallies to gather strength for Lahore jalsa

    PTI calls off Friday rallies to gather strength for Lahore jalsa

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has cancelled its protests today across the country, to save its strength for the upcoming September 22 Lahore power show.

    The protests were scheduled against the arrests of PTI leaders after the September 8 rally.

    PTI leaders said that the Friday protests were called off at the instructions of founder PTI Imran Khan. The party wanted to gather its strength and mobilise its leaders and workers from across the country.

    Hammad Azhar also tweeted yesterday that the Friday protest has been “postponed” per Khan’s directions, and all focus should be on the Lahore rally.

    PTI spokesman in Punjab, Shaukat Basra, spoke with Dawn News, saying, “Since every peaceful PTI activity has resulted in party leaders and workers’ arrests and registration of FIRs, the party has decided to save its strength and attend the Lahore jalsa with full force and enthusiasm.”

    “The PTI is determined to hold its meeting in Lahore on Sept 22, come what may,” said Basra regarding the issuance of NOC (no objection certificate) by the Lahore administration.