Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has taken a u-turn and told the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, didn’t plan his assassination. The News reported on Tuesday.
The PTI leader was summoned by the agency for questioning about a tweet on X, in which Marwat accused Maryam Nawaz of plotting his assassination.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Barrister Aqeel Malik had filed a complaint against Marwat.
Marwat told the FIA: “I didn’t name Maryam Nawaz as mastermind of the assassination plot but MNA Naseem Ali, who has concrete evidences about the plot, informed me.”
He also asked the FIA to summon MNA Naseem Ali for further investigation.
On March 9, Marwat on X wrote: “It is imperative to publicly acknowledge that ‘Maryam Nawaz Sharif’ poses a threat to my life, as she has orchestrated an ‘assassination attempt against me,’ which can take place at any time.”
He added: “An amount of $100,000 has been allocated by Maryam Nawaz Sharif to these assassins for the “execution of my murder.”
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif criticised the increase in rates of electricity and gas prices after directives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to do so.
The former prime minister raised concerns regarding the increase in rates of gas and power during a meeting with the Punjab government. The Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, was also present in the meeting.
The leader of the PML-N commented on high inflation, questioning how much more the nation could endure. He urged authorities to solve the issue of costly electricity for small farmers by giving them solar panels.
Senior provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Information Minister Azma Bukhari, Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, MPA Sania Ashiq, provincial chief secretary, Planning and Development Board chairman, Transport secretary, and other officials concerned were also present at the meeting.
The PML-N supremo also said that small farmers should be rewarded for their hard work and should be saved from the exploitation of big farmers.
Famous American rapper and producer Lil Jon has recently embraced Islam during the holy month of Ramazan.
According to international media reports, American rapper and producer Lil Jon accepted Islam in the King Fahd Mosque in Los Angeles, California, on March 15, just before the Friday prayers.
A video of the American singer reciting the kalma is going viral on social media, where he can be seen reciting in both Arabic and English under the guidance of the mosque’s Imam.Lil Jon has been receiving congratulations from Muslims on social media for becoming a Muslim. He expressed his gratitude in a special post on Instagram, saying, “Alhamdulillah, I am thankful to all my brothers and sisters who sent me positive messages and expressed selfless love.”
Born in June 1972 in Atlanta, Georgia, the singer’s real name is Jonathan H. Smith. He became famous in the early 2000s for his significant role in creating new genres of hip-hop music.
After American author and social activist Sean King, Lil Jon is the second American celebrity to convert to Islam during the first week of Ramadan.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has expressed willingness to let former federal minister Faisal Vawda join the party before the Senate elections take place on April 2.
“We had invited Vawda to join [MQM-P] in the past […] I pray that he joins the party’s ranks,” MQM-P leader Rauf Siddiqui said while speaking with journalists in Karachi.
MQM-P head Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who is also a candidate for senate polls, said that the party has fielded a total of eight candidates for the upper house.
However, Faisal Vawda has confirmed that he is still an “independent” political leader.
“I’m still independent,” Vawda said during a press conference in Karachi, adding that he would consider joining a political party when it’s in “season,” as independent candidates are currently trending.
Vawda expressed doubt about the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) securing power in Islamabad.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat made startling admissions regarding corruption within his party’s previous government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Known for his outspoken demeanor and controversial statements, Marwat recently alleged on an X (former Twitter) space that corruption had reached unprecedented levels during the previous PTI government in KP, with individuals amassing not billions, but trillions through illicit means.
Responding to a question, the PTI leader said that the narrative of keeping former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail instead of his residence in Bani Gala was not floated by him. “Former KP chief minister Mahmood Khan earns Rs2.5 million daily from one of his mines now,” he added.
Marwat’s remarks have once again thrust him into the limelight for his blunt and provocative statements. Just last week, he openly criticized his party’s decisions on alliances, attributing their electoral setbacks to two major mistakes.
He said the first major mistake was committed when party founder Imran Khan gave instructions for a political alliance with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Sherani and the second major mistake was the announcement of the inclusion into the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, adding that some people gave sectarian colour to the issue and gave threatening messages to the PTI leadership. However, Marwat’s comments have drawn ire from within his party, as well as from political allies.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), issued a stern warning to leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), cautioning them against airing internal grievances publicly. The revelations made by Marwat have reignited discussions surrounding corruption allegations within the PTI and have raised concerns about the party’s internal cohesion.
Habib Orakzai, the Secretary General of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTIP), disclosed the reasons behind the breakdown of negotiations with PTI.
While talking to Geo News, Orakzai revealed that the secretary general of the Insaf Lawyer’s forum, Moazzam Butt contacted him.
“It was discussed in the meeting that it would be great if PTI and PTIP make a coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.
According to Orakzai, two rounds of negotiations took place at the wish of PTI representatives Ali Amin Gandapur and Assad Qaiser, where PTI presented two conditions. He also revealed that both talked to him over a phone call.
Orakzai revealed that the first condition was the resignation of Pervez Khattak, which was agreed upon, and subsequently, Khattak tendered his resignation.
In round two of the discussions, the president of the Insaf Lawyer’s Forum, Shadab Jaffri, discussed everything in detail with Hamid Khan and then came for discussion with Orakzai.
The second condition was the resignation of women from reserve seats, which was also accepted, leading to their resignations being submitted to the Election Commission.
It was then communicated that there was a meeting with Imran Khan, founding chairman of PTI, in Aidala Jail the following day.
Orakzai stated that a press conference was held with the Sunni Ittehad Council at 5 minutes past 4 the next day.
The revelation sheds light on the intricacies of the negotiation process within PTI and hints at underlying tensions within the party’s leadership.
Special Judge Central Humayun Dilawar granted bail to vlogger Asad Toor on Saturday in a case pertaining to allegations of running a malicious campaign against the judiciary.
Ishtiaq Hussain Shah, the special prosecutor for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), went to court and said the agency doesn’t oppose giving bail to the vlogger.
The bail was granted against surety bonds worth Rs5,000.
Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also declared call-up notices issued to Toor by the FIA against the law.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued a seven-page written order regarding the vlogger’s plea against the FIA notices. He stated that the FIR was filed because notices were wrongly issued.
The judge maintained that the relevant forum can be approached once the FIR is registered, adding that the court cannot order Toor’s release due to the bar on taking suo motu action.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) has decided to field its jailed activist Sanam Javed for the women’s seat in the upcoming senate polls while incarcerated leader Dr Yasmin Rashid will contest the election for the technocrat seat in the Upper House.
Party leader Mian Aslam Iqbal announced that Hamid Khan and Zulfi Bukhari are candidates for general seats in Punjab while Umar Sarfaraz Cheema and Col (retd) Ijaz Minhas will serve as covering candidates for the general seats.
Meanwhile, today is the last date for submitting nomination papers for the Senate elections on general seats. The returning officers will be accepting the nominations till 5pm. The scrutiny of the nomination papers would be completed by March 19, while by March 21, appeals can be filed against the acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers.
Furthermore, authorities will issue decisions on the appeals by March 25. Polling will take place in both the provincial and national assemblies on April 2 from 9 am to 4 pm.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), issued a stern warning to leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), cautioning them against airing internal grievances publicly.
Raza’s remarks came in response to PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat’s statement, where he criticized the decision to ally with the SIC, attributing it to the loss of 80 seats.
Marwat said the first major mistake was committed when party founder Imran Khan gave instructions for a political alliance with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Sherani and the second major mistake was the announcement of the inclusion into the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, adding that some people gave a sectarian colour to the issue and gave threatening messages to the PTI leadership.
Expressing strong disapproval of Marwat’s comments, Raza advised PTI to resolve its internal issues internally, underscoring that the decision to collaborate with the SIC was endorsed by PTI founder Imran Khan.
Raza wrote on X (former Twitter), ” It is better that PTI friends resolve the matters internally and Imran Khan made the decision of Sunni Ittehad Council, I didn’t make any request. From electoral symbol to reserve seats I have so much to tell that if I say something in a talk show then these people won’t be able to show their faces.”
In a statement made during the Geo News talk show ‘Naya Pakistan with Shahzad Iqbal Kay Sath,’ PTI leader Senator Barrister Ali Zafar shed light on the decision-making process regarding alliances for reserved seats.
Zafar revealed that initially, the plan was to merge with Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), but it was later altered in favor of the SIC following discussions with Imran Khan.
Expressing his astonishment on the development, Zafar said: “When I asked Imran Khan about this, he said he had not changed the decision.”
Ali Zafar, however, emphasised: “The decision will have to be revised no matter how it was taken; it was our mistake; as to where and how this miscommunication was committed.”
He conceded that Sher Afzal Marwat was right.
“At first, a decision was made to join the MWM. Prior to that, a decision was also made to unite with Maulana Sheerani’s party as Sheerani’s group also participated in the election and had also given a list of reserved seats.”
Zafar emphasized the need for clarity in decision-making, noting discrepancies in interpreting constitutional provisions and the Elections Act.
He indicated that the matter may need adjudication by the Supreme Court to resolve conflicting opinions.
The Supreme Court has to decide whether our interpretation is correct or the verdict of the ECP or the Peshawar High Court.
“We also referred to the Election Commission’s decision to give specific seats to the BAP party in the court. To which, the ECP said that they do not know why they gave reserved seats to the BAP, so this decision cannot be used as an example here,” he said.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Sirajul Haq has warned against the privatisation of state institutions on Friday, as per SAMMA.
Sirajul Huq criticised the newly-elected government by saying that “the government is holding talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on more slavery rather than securing the next tranche.”
“The privatisation of state institutions is unfair to the masses. The country’s economy cannot afford the privatisation,” Haq said.
He also called on the global community to play a role in the Gaza ceasefire. “No strategy has been formulated in the assembly for the protection of the people of Gaza.”
“I was of the view that Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif would do something to save the people of Gaza.”
