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Tag: PTI

  • PTI reappoints Fayazul Hasan Chohan as Punjab information minister

    PTI reappoints Fayazul Hasan Chohan as Punjab information minister

    After certain administrative alterations in Punjab amid much criticism from the opposition parties, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has reappointed Fayazul Hasan Chohan as the provincial information minister, Dunya News reported.

    According to the details, Chohan has been granted the additional charge besides that of provincial minister for colonies. The development comes after the previous information minister, Aslam Iqbal, excused himself from the additional charge.

    Fayaz was earlier removed as Punjab’s information minister amid intense criticism over his derogatory remarks against the Hindu community.

    Chohan, during a press conference had said, “You cow urine-drinking people, listen to me. We are Muslims and we have the flag of Hazrat Ali (RA) and Hazrat Umar (RA)’s bravery. You don’t have that flag.”

    He had further said that “idol-worshippers” shouldn’t operate under the delusion that “they are better than Pakistanis”.

  • Imran trying to save Buzdar by bringing back Shehbaz’s favourite bureaucrats: report

    Imran trying to save Buzdar by bringing back Shehbaz’s favourite bureaucrats: report

    Former Punjab chief minister (CM) Shehbaz Sharif’s rule is back in the province without him as the massive bureaucratic reshuffle, ordered directly by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, has brought back the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief’s team, contradicting the narrative of his own government against Shehbaz’s alleged corruption.

    According to The News, all key positions in the new set-up have been given to Shehbaz’s blue-eyed officers, who were responsible for development and governance during the now PML-N president’s ten-year rule in Punjab.

    Most of these officers were responsible for key projects, which are identified by PML-N and Shehbaz, suchas the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT), Multan Metro, underpasses and other mega projects of Lahore besides the Nandipur Power Project and others. More than a dozen officers, now brought back to deliver for CM Usman Buzdar’s government, were directly working with Shehbaz at the CM Secretariat.

    However, with their fingers, crossed many in the bureaucracy wonder if Buzdar would be able to lead this team of go-getters like Shehbaz successfully did in the past.

    The new bureaucratic team being marketed as panacea for all the ills of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Punjab, is led my Major (r) Azam Suleman — the new chief secretary who has been the secretary of the most lucrative provincial department, Communication and Works (C&W), for five years under Shehbaz.

    The former Punjab CM took so much interest in development that he never appointed a C&W minister and directly interacted with the secretary. Azam was instrumental in execution of mega projects in Punjab, especially Lahore, and is reputed to be a tough no-nonsense officer and Shehbaz’s blue-eyed.

    According to reports, Shehbaz had such great liking for Azam that even after his promotion to BS-22, he was retained as the additional chief secretary (ACS) (Home) for five years — longest tenure ever. Strangely, at that time, the PTI used to blame him for the 2014 Model Town massacre.

    Bureaucrats like Nabeel Awan, Abdullah Sumbal, Nadeem Mahboob, Javed Qazi and Sajid Dahl — all reputed ace officers of the administrative services, who served Shehbaz’s immediate team — have also been given key positions in the recent reshuffle.

    Nabeel has been posted as the health and livestock secretary, Sumbal as finance, Nadeem as housing, Qazi as local government, while Dahl has been appointed as the higher education secretary.

    Similarly, a number of former principal staff officers (PSOs) like Sumair Syed, Amara Khan, Ahsan Waheed and Naseem Sadiq, who were given key portfolios by Shehbaz, have now been brought back by the PTI government to mainstream administration.

    Sadiq has been appointed as Dera Ghazi (DG) Khan commissioner, Syed as the director general (DG) of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Khan as the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) DG and Waheed as Sahiwal commissioner.

    Captain (r) Mahmood, who was responsible for the Nandipur Power Project and Lahore horticulture — two of Shehbaz’s favorite subjects — is now the new Rawalpindi commissioner.

    Capt (r) Saif Anjum, whom Shehbaz trusted with the Irrigation Department for three years, has been made Lahore commissioner, Momin Agha, another blue-eyed of Shehbaz and who served as his information secretary as well as the Faisalabad commissioner, has been posted as ACS (Home).

    The ec-Punjab CM’s Finance Secretaries Shaukat Ali and Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh have been placed on most important positions of Punjab ACS and Planning and Development (P&D) chairman, respectively. Abdullah Sumbal, who was appointed as Lahore commissioner by Shehbaz, is the finance secretary.

    Capt (r) Asadullah, who executed the Multan Metro project, is the new C&W secretary while Babur Tarar, who was Sahiwal commissioner, health secretary and cooperatives secretary under Shehbaz, will be a senior member of the Board of Revenue (BoR) in the new setup.

    Iftikhar Saho — another well-reputed officer — who was P&D secretary under Shahbaz for almost five years and was responsible for all development across the project, has been appointed as the principal secretary to CM Buzdar.

    A senior retired bureaucrat said that by bringing back the entire team back, the PTI government had contradicted its own mantra of corruption under Shehbaz.

    Another feature of the latest reshuffle is that many officers considered close to Buzdar or the Chaudhrys of Gujrat, have been sidelined.

  • Law ministry refuses to share details of lawyers, fee paid for Musharraf trial

    The law ministry has rejected an application seeking details of the legal team hired to prosecute former army ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on treason charges, and the fees paid to them by saying that its a classified matter, thus can’t be held answerable by common citizens Geo News reported.

    According to the details, Mukhtar Ahmed Ali, the applicant, had sought the details under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, commonly known as RTI law. Mukhtar wanted to know how judiciously the money contributed by public through their taxes is being used by the ministry.

    Mukhtar Ali said, the ministry declared him ineligible to post such inquiries. The ministry in its reply referred to a Cabinet Division notification’s issued in 1993, but it did not explain or share the contents of the notification. The reply also stated that the ministry has claimed exemption by saying it has been declared “classified, therefore, your request is hereby declined on this aspect”.

    Ali had earlier sought answers to four questions, asking for the list of the members of the prosecution team, and relevant law firms engaged for Pervaiz Musharraf’s trial under Article 6 of the Constitution and the fees paid to them.

    He further sought details of out-of-pocket expenses (e.g. travel, lodging, meal) reimbursed to them and asked for the fee break-up paid to each member of the legal team.

    After the ministry’s refusal, Mukhtar has approached Pakistan Information Commission (PIC), an appellant body set up under the RTI law for dealing with the complaints lodged by the applicants against the government.

    In a rejoinder sent to the law ministry, Mukhtar said his application has been rejected without being given due consideration as the authorities “has not even bothered to consider Article 19A and the (Right of Access to Information) Act in the course of deciding my application.”

  • ‘Army chief is our nation’s father,’ says Shehryar Afridi

    Minister for Narcotics Control Shehryar Khan Afridi has said that army chief is considered as nation’s both mother and father.

    While talking during a talk show on ARY News channel the minister said that in tough situations a nation always takes bold steps to maintain peace in the region.

    Replying to a question about why Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf (PTI) government thinks that a single man can avert tough situations in the country, Shehryar said, “Every house has a father and a mother and both have their own roles, at this stage when the country is in critical situation and facing threats from all sides, all nations has to take bold steps”.

    To this journalist Waseem Badami said that “this seems like an inappropritate example, as you cannot change your father after three or six years”.

    To this the minister said that “the head of state and the head of institution [Army Chief] can be considered as both, a father and a mother”.

    Watch Video:

    Army Chief extension case

    The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday allowed the federal government to grant a six-month extension to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    In its short order, the SC directed the government to bring necessary legislation within six months’ time.

    The order, read out by Chief Justice (CJ) Asif Saeed Khosa, ordered the parliament to introduce legislation for appointment of Gen Bajwa under Article 243.

    The order stated regarding the Article 243: “Article 243 of the Constitution clearly mandates that the Federal Government shall have control and command of the Armed Forces and the supreme command of the Armed Forces shall vest in the President.”

    CJ Khosa remarked that the court is observing judicial restraint and leaving the matter to the parliament, adding that “We have reviewed several laws including Army Act 1952 and Rule 1954”.

    The court had earlier reserved its verdict in this high-profile case and directed the federal government to furnish a fresh summary of the army chief’s extension of services.

  • ‘Increase in dollar rate benefits us as we only pay in rupees,’ says PTI minister

    ‘Increase in dollar rate benefits us as we only pay in rupees,’ says PTI minister

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai has said that the increase in dollar benefits Pakistan greatly as we only have to pay in rupees, not in dollars.

    While addressing the media on Wednesday, the KP minister said that the 3 billion rupees increase in Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project due to rupee devaluation has not affected the national treasury, as we have paid that amount from our savings.

    “The increase in dollar value has increased the cost of BRT by Rs3 billion and at the same time helped us save over Rs3 billion because we only have to pay that amount in rupees, not in dollars”, the minister said.

    Shaukat also said that all those saying that the rupee devaluation is going to increase the amout have no idea what they are talking about.

    Watch Video:

    Meanwhile, Peshawar metro bus project misses its 6th deadline

    The Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf (PTI) led KP government has missed its sixth deadline despite announcements by the KP information minister that the project would be completed in time.

    Shaukat Yousafzai had earlier claimed that the project would be completed in 2020 and people would start getting its benefits from next year.

    He also claimed that 87% work on the mega project has been completed, adding that 30 stations had been finalised, while work on the remaining 10 stations was underway.

    Earlier, the minister had said the project would be finished by December this year, but reports claimed that the flagship project of the PTI government was unlikely to be completed in December, citing completion of only 16 stations out of over 40.

    Moreover, three bus depots made for Peshawar BRT were reportedly also under construction.

    “Even 10 per cent work has not been done on the Haytabad bus depot. No work has been done on the route from Hayatabad to Karkhano Market,” claim reports.

  • Musharraf treason case: Special court refuses to obey IHC’s order to halt verdict

    Musharraf treason case: Special court refuses to obey IHC’s order to halt verdict

    The special court overseeing former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf’s high treason case has refused to accept Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) order to halt the verdict due Thursday, a private media outlet reported Thursday.

    According to reports, the special court has said that they “are not bound to accept IHC’s order” that on Wednesday had stopped it from issuing a ruling in the case filed against Musharraf by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government for the imposition of an extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007.

    The special court was set to announce the ruling in the treason case Thursday, however, the IHC, which was hearing petitions filed by former president Musharraf and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to postpone it, had told the court to not announce the verdict just yet.

    It had also directed the special court to admit the arguments of all parties in the case before announcing the ruling and ensure a fair trial.

    MUSHARRAF TREASON CASE:

    The PML-N government had in 2013 filed the treason case against Musharraf over the president’s imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007.

    Earlier this year, head of the prosecution, Mohammad Akram Sheikh, tendered his resignation. In his resignation letter sent to the interior secretary, Sheikh expressed his inability to proceed with the case after the imminent change of government at the centre.

    Akram was appointed as the head of the prosecution in the case in November 2013, by the then ruling PML-N.

    Musharraf was indicted in the case in March 2014 after he appeared before the court and rejected all charges.

    On March 18, 2016, the former president left the country for Dubai for medical treatment after his name was removed from the exit control list (ECL) on the orders of the Supreme Court (SC).

    A few months later, the special court had declared him a proclaimed offender and ordered the confiscation of his property owing to his continuous inability to appear.

    Later, his passport and identity card were also cancelled on orders of the apex court.

  • PTI’s ally criticises govt over ‘messed up priorities’

    PTI’s ally criticises govt over ‘messed up priorities’

    Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) – a coalition partner of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Centre and Punjab – has criticised the ruling party for bringing the matter of former military ruler General Musharraf’s high treason case to fore again, Express Tribune reported.

    According to the details, Shujaat said that the common man would not benefit from the case even if it continues for five more years in the courts.

    “This [case] will also not help in controlling inflation, unemployment and other crises,” PML-Q leader said.

    He also said that his party was deliberating upon the option of moving the Supreme Court (SC) to identify those responsible for the rising inflation in the country.

    “It is important to identify the real culprit behind prevailing inflation, unemployment and other issues that have led the country to the current situation,” Shujaat said while addressing the media in Lahore on Tuesday.

    Shujaat asked, “Are previous governments responsible for these crises or is it the current one?”.

    The PML-Q chief said that all politicians who are betraying the general public by giving them false hope must be unmasked, adding that “We are consulting our legal advisers for moving the apex court so that those responsible for the current mess are identified”.

    On Monday, the government [prosecution in this case] petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to set aside the November 19 order of a special court trying Pervaiz Musharraf for “subverting the Constitution” in 2007.

    The move came on a day when a Lahore High Court (LHC) bench took up a similar plea filed by Musharraf, asking his attorney to argue on the maintainability of his client’s petition on Tuesday. It is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a former army chief has faced prosecution for high treason.

    Shujaat advised his coalition partners avoid fresh conundrums, asking that “Will they be able to control soaring tomato price even in next five years with such performance”.

  • Lawyer, ‘who moved court against Gen Bajwa’s extension’, found

    Lawyer, ‘who moved court against Gen Bajwa’s extension’, found

    The lawyer, Riaz Hanif Rahi who challenged the extension of Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS) tenure has been found. He earlier failed to appear in court on Tuesday nor anybody else had appeared on his behalf.

    In a recent video posted by journalist Baqir Sajjad on his Twitter account shows the petitioner appearing in court for hearing of the army chief’s extension case. Replying to the question about why he filed an application to withdraw his original petition against Gen Bajwa, he replied, “I have no personal grudge with anyone and highlighted the point as law demanded it”.

    https://twitter.com/baqirsajjad/status/1199554944099061765?s=21

    Riaz Rahi, however, refused to answer when asked: “If someone is pressurizing him to withdraw his original petition against COAS extension?”.

    The Jurist Foundation had earlier challenged Gen Bajwa’s reappointment through its counsel Riaz Hanif Rahi, requesting the apex court to declare it null and void, and illegal.

    When the court assembled on Tuesday, a hand-written application from the petitioner Riaz was submitted before the bench, seeking withdrawal of his petition. The chief justice (CJ) Asif Saeed Khosa remarked that the application was not accompanied by any affidavit and it was not known if the withdrawal of the petition was voluntarily.

    CJ Khosa later rejected the application against Gen Bajwa’s extension and took up the petition under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution as it involved a question of “public importance”.

  • Farrogh Naseem can go to jail for representing Gen Bajwa with a suspended licence: Pakistan Bar Council

    Farrogh Naseem can go to jail for representing Gen Bajwa with a suspended licence: Pakistan Bar Council

    Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Vice Chairman Amjad Shah has said that Law Minister Farogh Naseem, who on Tuesday resigned from office to fight for an extension to the army chief in the Supreme Court (SC), cannot legally represent General Qamar Javed Bajwa because the minister’s practice licence was suspended by the council a few months ago.

    In a video tweeted by senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir, Shah said that if Farogh appeared in court to represent chief of the army staff (COAS) with his suspended licence, they would raise objections and anyone practising law with a suspended licence could face up to one-year imprisonment.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    According to the PBC, Naseem, having joined the federal cabinet as the law minister, was required to get his licence suspended under Rule 108-O of the Pakistan Legal Practitioners & Bar Councils Rules, 1976, but failed to do so.

    Moreover, another reason for the suspension of his licence was filing a reference against an honest top judge, Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

    The attorney general (AG) had subsequently quashed the PBC ruling. However, the council had said it was not AG’s jurisdiction to nullify the ruling. The former law minister will have to approach the council for renewal of his licence.

    Naseem’s resignation Tuesday came soon after a meeting of the federal cabinet. The meeting was summoned to discuss the petition filed by the Jurist Foundation against Gen Bajwa’s extension.

    The cabinet said it was a unanimous decision to give General Bajwa the extension for another three years. The participants of the meeting were of the view that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, being the chief executive of the country, had the authority to extend the army chief’s tenure.

    Earlier in the day, the SC had suspended the official notification extending the tenure of the army chief. The apex court said the AG was asked under which law an army chief’s tenure could be extended or he could be re-appointed. But the country’s top lawyer failed to explain it, the court added.

    WEDNESDAY’S HEARING:

    On Wednesday, a three-member bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and comprising Justice Mazhar Alam and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, resumed hearing the petition challenging the extension of the COAS.

    Naseem submitted his power of attorney as the CJP Khosa asked AG Anwar Mansoor Khan if they had accepted the points raised by the court Tuesday.

    To this, the AG replied that they have not accepted the mistakes. “This is not a suo motu case, media did not understand it correctly,” CJP Khosa remarked. “We are hearing the case on the petition filed by Raiz Riahi.”

    He then asked the AG to present the summary approved by the federal cabinet in its meeting on Tuesday. “I informed the court yesterday as well that we are waiting for some ministers to respond on the extension notification,” the AG said.

    “If there is no answer, so we assume the answer is yes?” the CJP inquired.

    To this, the AG replied that according to the law, that is correct.

    The top judge then said that this course of action was only acceptable when the answer has to be given in a certain time period. “If this was an open mandate we would have let it go. The cabinet has accepted the mistakes that we pointed out,” he added.

    The attorney general then submitted the documents pertaining to Tuesday’s decisions by the federal cabinet to the court and the hearing was adjorned till 1 pm.

  • Nov 27: News you need to know before heading to work

    Nov 27: News you need to know before heading to work

    Law Minister Farogh Naseem resigns

    • Law Minister Farogh Naseem has resigned and will fight Chief Of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s case tomorrow (Wednesday), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ministers confirmed after an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet concluded on Tuesday. 
    • In a press conference today, federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed that Naseem had tendered his resignation during the cabinet meeting.  “Prime Minister Imran Khan has accepted Naseem’s resignation,” he said. 

    Cabinet approves new summary seeking Gen. Bajwa’s extension

    • The prime minister had called an emergency meeting of the cabinet for the second time during the day. 
    • The cabinet’s approval was sought for giving an extension to army chief General Bajwa after the Supreme Court had earlier suspended a notification over the same matter. 
    • An amendment in the Defence Act was approved by the cabinet. Reports claim that the new summary was sent to President Alvi for approval. 

    Opposition leaders reiterate demand for ‘transparent’ elections post APC meeting

    • In his address, Fazl said that the government should take up the holy quran-burning incident with the government of Norway.
    • Maulana Fazlur Rehman led all parties conference (APC) was held in Islamabad. The opposition parties are deliberating on the next course of action in their anti-government campaign.
    • Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F Chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz leader Ahsan Iqbal addressed the media after the session.