Current Final

Tag: PTI

  • PTI finalises Hammad Azhar as its official candidate for Lahore mayorship

    PTI finalises Hammad Azhar as its official candidate for Lahore mayorship

    The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has finalised the name of current Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar as its official candidate for the slot of Lahore Mayor.

    A source told Business Recorder, “The party has short-listed his name that will be announced in due course of time; the party high-ups find him the fittest candidate to contest the Lahore Mayor elections. Azhar has shown willingness to give up his ministry and take part in the local bodies’ elections.”

    “Azhar has proven himself as a young energetic minister while heading important federal ministries. He is seen as a clean person full of energy,” the source added.

    Hammad has also served as the federal economic affairs minister and federal industries and production minister. He is the son of veteran politician and former Punjab Governor Mian Muhammad Azhar, thus has strong political roots in Lahore.

    Prior to this news, it was reported that the party had offered the candidacy to Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid.

  • SCBA president files petition against lifetime disqualification in SC

    SCBA president files petition against lifetime disqualification in SC

    President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Mohammad Ahsan Bhoon on Thursday filed a petition against the lifelong disqualification of lawmakers and said that such a law without the right to appeal is unjust.

    The petition asks the Supreme Court (SC) to rule that the declaration by a court of law under Article 62(1)(f) only applies to the election under question, and does not entail a perpetual or lifetime bar on contesting future elections, reports Dawn.

    The petition argues that the lack of clarity regarding the procedure for a declaration under Article 62(1)(f) continues to pose an obstacle to the constitutional protection of citizens under Article 17(2), which allows citizens to form or become a member of any political party.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the result of this petition can affect the outcome of SC verdicts disqualifying former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, as well as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) disgruntled leader Jahangir Tareen.

    The two were disqualified as lawmakers in judgements rendered in the Panama Papers case on July 28, 2017, and the Hanif Abbasi case on Dec 15, 2017, respectively.

    The contents of the petition said that the principle of lifetime disqualification should only be applied to electoral disputes. Under Article 184/3 of the Constitution, the SC cannot act as a trial court and there is no right to appeal against the decisions made by the apex court, which contradicts the principles of justice.

    The petition said that the lifelong disqualification without the right to appeal is unjust to the voters. 

  • Government ally PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shujaat advises govt to focus on inflation instead of Nawaz

    Government ally PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shujaat advises govt to focus on inflation instead of Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has advised the government to focus on national issues instead of Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan.

    Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that Nawaz will not come back. “It seems rather funny when PTI’s members make comments about his return.”

    He further stated that if the government keeps focusing on Sharif’s return, then Pakistan is in the hands of Allah. According to him, the government has spent a large amount of money on his [Nawaz] proceedings.

    While talking about the issues in the country, he also pointed out that no one gives any sort of solution to solve inflation because they [govt] are busy in the leg-pulling of others.

  • ‘The ones wearing long boots don’t know about the suffering of people’, PM Khan compares Shehbaz with Buzdar

    ‘The ones wearing long boots don’t know about the suffering of people’, PM Khan compares Shehbaz with Buzdar

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan launched Rs450 billion Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card on Wednesday and distributed them among residents of Islamabad with an annual medical cover of up to Rs1 million for each family.

    While addressing the ceremony, PM praised Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar. “He belongs to one of the most backward areas of the country and thus realises the suffering and problems confronting people.”

    He further said that some of the worst campaigns were launched against Buzdar but even then a survey declared him the top CM of the country. Last week, a survey found Punjab CM Usman Buzdar to be leading in satisfaction level for developmental works in comparison to other CMs.

    PM also took a jibe at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif. “A former CM of Punjab, who used to wear long boots and a hat and roam on the streets, flew abroad for his and his family’s medical treatment. They [Sharifs] do not know about the sufferings of the people.”

    CM Punjab Usman Buzdar said that the entire population of Punjab would receive medical insurance by March 31.

  • ‘It’s in the interest of the country that establishment and Khan be on same page’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘It’s in the interest of the country that establishment and Khan be on same page’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that there is no difference between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and the military leadership and it is in the interest of the country that the establishment and Imran Khan be on the same page.

    In an exclusive interview with BBC Urdu, Rasheed said that the military leadership had decided that it would stand by the elected government.

    Responding to a question about the differences between the government and the army, the minister said, “Small differences can happen. There may be differences of opinion between the civil government and the establishment, but they are on the same page.”

    Rasheed had recently stated that the hand of the establishment is on Imran Khan’s head and later said that he was asked to withdraw this statement.

    However, Rasheed said he was still standing by his statement and that he had been asked by a person in the civilian government, not the establishment, to withdraw his statement. “I did not name the establishment but I meant that the policies of the government and the institutions are on the same page,” he explained.

    Rasheed further said that the PM is adamant on the issue of corruption and accountability and that he fired many people from the party or positions who were accused or suspected of corruption. “Imran Khan can’t do more than that,” he said.

    Accountability was Imran Khan’s biggest slogan but we did not get the success we deserved, he added.

    Rasheed said that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was trying to repatriate those wanted by the courts and the government in Pakistan, but he also complained that despite many efforts, it is still not possible for Ishaq Dar to return.

    Regarding the return of former PM Nawaz Sharif, he said that the government of Pakistan is trying to get him back. “We have been doing this for three and a half years. We sent him ourselves, it is our fault. He [Nawaz] managed to throw dust in everyone’s eyes and went out.”

    Rasheed said that the reason for the former adviser on accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar’s resignation and the Prime Minister’s displeasure with him was not only about bringing back Nawaz Sharif or Shehbaz Sharif but also because “we could not bring back the money”.

    Sheikh Rasheed says there is room for improvement everywhere in the accountability process. “We need to prepare cases well, be good lawyers. Imran Khan has no lack of intent, he says giving National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) would be treason.”

  • PTI announces appointments of its Central Organisation

    PTI announces appointments of its Central Organisation

    The ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has formed its Central Organisation and announced its appointments, reports The Express Tribune.

    The establishment of the organisation was approved by party chairman, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati, Member of National Assembly (MNA) Mir Khan Muhammad Jamali and Amir Bakhsh Bhutto have been appointed as Senior Vice Presidents (SVPs).

    While Atif Khan, Hamidul Haq, Naseebullah Murree and Nawabzada Sharif Jogezai, Ejaz Chaudhry, Ibrahim Khan, Aftab Siddiqui and Advocate Ataullah will act as VPs.

  • PM Khan launches Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card, says Pak only country to do so

    PM Khan launches Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card, says Pak only country to do so

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched the Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card scheme in Islamabad on Wednesday, Radio Pakistan has reported.

    Under the scheme, all families of Islamabad, Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Tharparkar will be provided free medical treatment at government and private hospitals.

    The card will enable every family to avail healthcare facilities up to one million rupees in a year.

    PM while addressing the inauguration ceremony said that Pakistan is the only country in the world to introduce such a unique ambitious program for providing free health facility to its citizens.       

    “Pakistan was built for a purpose — to become an exemplary Islamic welfare state. And health cards are a defining moment for us,” the premier added.

    The PM said that when people own their country, only then the country achieves the ideal of national security but when people are deprived of their basic needs how would they think of the nation and national interest.      

    People using the card will also be able to use it in private hospitals.

  • ‘Imran Khan is nothing without you’: Jemima Goldsmith reacts to Twitter follower’s comment

    ‘Imran Khan is nothing without you’: Jemima Goldsmith reacts to Twitter follower’s comment

    Twitterati never spares a single chance to remind the former wife of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Jemima Goldsmith, about her marriage with Khan or how he is doing without Jemima.

    Jemima took to Twitter to share her score in Wordle [a web-based puzzle that requires players to guess a valid five-letter word in six tries or less].

    A Twitter user commented under her score, “Please Return Imran Khan is nothing without you, being fooled by his friends.”

    Reacting to the comment, Jemima wrote, “Every tweet. For the rest of my life [laughing emojis].”

  • PM’s hawk adviser Shahzad Akbar resigns, Fawad Chaudhry says ‘more important work awaits’

    PM’s hawk adviser Shahzad Akbar resigns, Fawad Chaudhry says ‘more important work awaits’

    Adviser to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar said on Monday that he had resigned from his post.

    Taking to Twitter, Akbar said that he had tendered his resignation today to PM Khan.

    “I sincerely hope the process of accountability continues under the leadership of PM IK as per the PTI’s manifesto. I will remain associated with the party and keep contributing as a member of the legal fraternity,” he added.

    Reacting to the news, federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said, “It was never easy to take on Mafias but way you worked and handled cases is admirable.”

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Mohammad Zubair tweeted, “Jumping the ship at the right moment, Shahzad Akbar has proven to be a smart person.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Anny Marri said, “Sinking ship – meet the first of the rats. More to come….”

    In July 2020, Akbar was appointed as an adviser to the premier.

    Akbar — former deputy prosecutor for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) — was appointed as a special assistant to the prime minister on accountability in August 2018.

  • Overseas Pakistanis used like ATM in PTI, says former information secretary

    Overseas Pakistanis used like ATM in PTI, says former information secretary

    Former central information secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Ahmad Jawad on Sunday announced that he will file a lawsuit against the party for terminating his membership.

    The ruling PTI had expelled Jawad from the party for “violating the party’s constitution” on social media and “slandering” senior leadership.

    Talking to Geo News, Jawad said that his termination from the party’s membership is “illegal”, adding that, “PTI voters and workers have seen the true colours of Imran Khan now.”

    The ex-PTI member said that in the last 74 years, “No one ha deceived the nation like PTI did, while overseas Pakistanis were used like Automated Teller Machines (ATM).”

    Taking to his Twitter, Ahmad said, “Imran Niazi Sahib your assumption will be proved wrong. The nation will not be fooled again, your container role will never be successful again in this country.”

    According to a statement issued by the PTI’s Standing Committee on Accountability and Discipline (SCAD) on January 12, a show-cause notice was served to Ahmad Jawad, asking him to explain his position within seven days of the receipt of the notice but the disgruntled leader did not respond to the notice.

    ” A House of garbage which started as an ideology of Change A deception which wasted two decades of this nation You can walk on toughest path with open eyes, but you will fall on a flat path with closed eyes,” tweeted Ahmad to the accusations written in the show-cause notice.