Current Final

Tag: PTI

  • Time for nation to stand against ‘digital terrorists’, says DG ISPR

    Time for nation to stand against ‘digital terrorists’, says DG ISPR

    Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) addressed a press conference today, stating that the entire nation needs to stand up against “digital terrorists.”

    “Digital terrorism is being carried out on social media. The army is standing up against terrorists and digital terrorists. The time has come for the entire nation to stand up against them,” he stated.

    He underscored that critical national issues were being politicized in the country, referring to Azm-e-Istehkam as an example.

    “Azm-e-Istehkam is a comprehensive and integrated counter-terrorism campaign, not a military operation per se as it is being presented,” the DG ISPR said during a press conference in Rawalpindi.

    He further said, “Azm-e-Istehkam is not a military operation. Why is Azm-e-Istehkam being made controversial? There’s a strong lobby which wants the objectives of Azm-e-Istehkam not to be fulfilled. It is being politicized.”

    Meanwhile, the military spokesman also dismissed rumours that the establishment had no role in the recent Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) protest: “There’s so much fake news that people keep saying whatever they want to. Since the protesters cleared the area peacefully, it was being claimed that there’s ‘someone’s hand’ behind it.”

  • Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s seven day physical remand approved in new Toshakhana case

    Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s seven day physical remand approved in new Toshakhana case

    An accountability court has approved a seven-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the newly filed Toshakhana reference.

    Previously, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had sought a fourteen-day remand; however, the court turned down this request while ordering NAB to produce them in court on July 29.

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been imprisoned for almost a year now in many cases, including the cipher, Toshakhana, and Iddat cases.

    However, a court suspended his sentence in the Toshakhana case, while other courts overturned his convictions in the cipher and iddat cases, respectively.

    Chances grew that Khan would be out of jail but all hopes dwindled when NAB charged him and his wife on fresh charges related to the sale of state gifts.

  • Ameer JI warns against new military operation

    Ameer JI warns against new military operation

    Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Hafiz Naeemur Rahman on Sunday warned the government against starting a new military operation, saying it would push the country towards a blind war.

    Rahman said that the establishment, rulers, and the bureaucracy should confess their failure and mend their ways.

    The JI Chief pointed out the historical reasons for prevalence of terrorism in Pakistan, saying, “The country has always suffered the consequences of its love for the US.”

    “The situation of peace in the country has worsened, and the country is passing through a paradox where nobody knows who stands with whom,” the JI chief remarked.
    He said the country’s sensitive air bases, logistic support, and intelligence network were handed over to the US.

    “General Musharraf had said that the country would get dollars in return for the war. They got the dollars, but nothing was given to the people,” he added.

    He said that the JI would stage a sit-in in Islamabad on July 26 for which all-out arrangements have been made.

  • Khawaja Asif says Fitch report has credibility; ‘People ready to join technocrat govt’

    Khawaja Asif says Fitch report has credibility; ‘People ready to join technocrat govt’

    Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has disclosed that there are rumours of suspending the elections in the country, and the government would defend such a situation if it arises.

    Speaking to Geo News, Asif stated, “There is an uncertain environment in the country, in which the politicians as well the judiciary are responsible.”

    He also stated that there is a danger of constitutional meltdown in the country and agreed with the recent Fitch report about the collapse of the current government in 18 months. He said, “People are ready to join the technocratic government now.”

    Interestingly, he also admitted that the ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was premature because consultation with allies is necessary.

    Previous

    BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, has forecast an unstable economic-political situation in Pakistan with its prediction that Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is unlikely to get out of prison soon.

    “We expect that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government will remain in power over the coming 18 months and will succeed in pushing through with International Monetary Fund (IMF) mandated fiscal reforms,” predicted BMI, in its Pakistan Country Risk Report for the fourth quarter of the calendar year 2024.

  • Four nails, kidney missing from Arshad Sharif’s body: Javeria Siddiqui

    Four nails, kidney missing from Arshad Sharif’s body: Javeria Siddiqui

    Javeria Siddique, the widow of slain journalist Arshad Sharif, recently appeared on a podcast of the Naya Pakistan channel, recounting the harrowing details of Arshad’s ordeal before and after he left Pakistan in 2022.

    She stated that Arshad had been threatened in Pakistan with a “gunshot to the head.”

    Arshad Sharif fled the country in August 2022 to avoid arrest after he was slapped with multiple cases, including sedition charges, over an interview with Shahbaz Gill – a close aide of former Prime Minister Imran Khan – during which Gill passed comments that were perceived as provocation to mutiny.

    He was killed by local police in Kenya two months later, with controversies surrounding his cause of death.

    Javeria described the condition of his body, saying, “There were 18-19 wounds, four of his nails and a kidney was absent, ribs were broken.”

    Journalist Husnain asked her whether his kidney was taken in Kenya, to which, she replied with sorrow, “Whether they [Kenyan authorities] or these [Pakistani] authorities did, how would I know?”

    The Current talked with a medical doctor – who wishes to remain anonymous – currently working at CMH Lahore to inquire about the procedures involved in autopsies. He stated, “In criminal autopsies, it is not unusual to take some organs out of the body for further testing, but those organs are usually put back in. If, for some reason, the organ is kept for testing, then the authorities have to explicitly inform the family members of the deceased person.”

  • Sanam Javaid’s ‘inappropriate’ language shocks IHC judge

    Sanam Javaid’s ‘inappropriate’ language shocks IHC judge

    Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on Thursday emphasised the “inappropriate language” used by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) activist Sanam Javaid.

    “[I] saw [Sanam] Javaid using inappropriate language on the internet,” Justice Aurangzeb stated while hearing the PTI activist’s plea seeking her release.

    During the plea hearing against her arrest today, the PTI activist’s lawyer assured the court that his client would not indulge in improper use of language in future.

    The authorities had imprisoned Sanam Javaid in multiple cases related to May 9 violence – triggered by the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan last year.

    She currently faces twelve cases, out of which she’s been acquitted in four while successfully getting bail in the remaining eight cases, Geo News reported.

    On Monday, she secured significant relief after the high court ordered her release and prevented the police and other law enforcement agencies from arresting her till Thursday (today).

    The Court has disposed the plea and declared her recent arrest “illegal”.

  • Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza says if Imran Khan gets out, there would be no stability in the country

    Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza says if Imran Khan gets out, there would be no stability in the country

    Renowned Islamic scholar and YouTuber Muhammad Ali Mirza has stated that if former Prime Minister Imran Khan were to get out of prison, “there would be no stability in the country.”
    Talking on a podcast with Talha Ahad on his YouTube channel, Mirza said, “The army knows about this and wants a guarantee for his behaviour, but there is nobody to do that.”

    Mirza is known for lectures on his interpretation of the Quran, religious debates, and focus on sectarianism within Islam. He commands a wide following within the country.

    “For them [Army], they know things will be uncontrollable if he gets out of prison or goes abroad because he can create such instability sitting in the prison,” said Mirza.

  • Khan not getting out of prison soon, coalition govt may last only 18 months: Fitch report

    Khan not getting out of prison soon, coalition govt may last only 18 months: Fitch report

    Update

    The Defence Minister of Pakistan has stated that there is a danger of constitutional meltdown in the country and agreed with the recent Fitch report about the collapse of the current government in 18 months. He said, “People are ready to join the technocratic government now.”

    Previous

    BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, has forecast an unstable economic-political situation in Pakistan with its prediction that Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is unlikely to get out of prison soon.

    “We expect that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government will remain in power over the coming 18 months and will succeed in pushing through with International Monetary Fund (IMF) mandated fiscal reforms,” predicted BMI, in its Pakistan Country Risk Report for the fourth quarter of the calendar year 2024.

    Interestingly, the Fitch Solutions company also predicted that “in the unlikely event that the government is replaced, the most likely alternative is a technocratic administration rather than fresh elections.”

    Regarding the country’s economic situation, it stated that negative events or factors affecting future growth are more likely than positive ones.

    “Given that 40% of Pakistanis work in agriculture, another flood or drought would pose a significant risk to the economy. The country’s fragile political situation could also derail the recovery,” the risk evaluator said.

  • Shehbaz-led government finds little support from allies

    Shehbaz-led government finds little support from allies

    As the federal government announced yesterday to ban the main opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ruling government’s key ally, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), distanced itself from the unexpected and controversial decision.

    PPP’s Information Secretary Shazia Atta Marri has clarified the party’s position by saying that PPP wasn’t consulted on the decision to ban PTI. Her remarks came after the Shehbaz Sharif-led government decided to ban the PTI and start high treason references against their leaders, including Imran Khan.

    Elaborating on the PPP’s stance, Marri said the party would discuss the government’s decision to ban the PTI.

    Meanwhile, Sindh Planning & Development and Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said that the PPP “is not in favour of banning any political party”.

    PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman also confirmed Marri and Shah’s remarks about not being consulted and noted that the party had no idea that such a move by the Centre would be taken and that the party

  • Govt to ban PTI, initiate treason references against Khan & Alvi

    Govt to ban PTI, initiate treason references against Khan & Alvi

    The federal government of Pakistan has decided to go all in against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leadership as the Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar announced on Monday that the Shehbaz Sharif administration plans to ban the PTI as well as file treason cases against Imran Khan and former President Arif Alvi.

    “PTI and Pakistan cannot co-exist,” Tarar told a press conference in Islamabad, saying that the federal government will move the apex court to file a petition to ban the party.

    Tarar stated that the decision to take these actions was taken in view of PTI’s alleged involvement in the May 9 riots and its leaders’ attempts to sabotage IMF’s bailout package deal with Pakistan.

    Meanwhile, Shah Mahmood Qureshi was indicted in cases related to May 9 events today.