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Tag: PTI

  • Imran Khan’s message to the nation from Adiala Jail

    Imran Khan’s message to the nation from Adiala Jail

    In a message to the nation released from Adiala Jail, the Founder Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, talked passionately about the upcoming general elections, highlighting the significance of February 8 as a day that symbolizes the dichotomy between freedom and slavery.

    Expressing confidence in the resilience of the nation, Khan stated, “I believe that my people stand united with the cause of freedom. Through their votes, they will safeguard Pakistan’s liberty.”

    Drawing attention to electoral manipulation on February 8, the Chairman voiced concern that a faction seeks to shackle the nation in chains of slavery.

    He pointed out that under what he calls the London Plan, a certified criminal was brought back to the country unjustly, wreaking havoc on the judicial system and trampling on the principles of justice and the constitution.

    Khan emphasized that efforts to manipulate the electoral process and undermine the rule of law have jeopardized the nation’s democratic foundations.

    Khan lamented that despite snatching the ‘bat’ from PTI to accommodate rivals, worst rigging is happening.

    Acknowledging the resilience and courage displayed by mothers, sisters, daughters, and party workers in facing injustice, the Chairman pledged to defeat all criminals within the bounds of the law and constitution, with the support of Allah and the nation.

    From his jail cell, the Chairman asserted that, with the blessings of Allah and the support of the people, all these criminals would be defeated, maintaining the integrity of the legal system.

    He urged citizens to exercise their right to vote on February 8, endorsing the movement for governance by law, supremacy of the constitution, and the restoration of democracy.

    The former Premier cautioned against unconstitutional forces attempting to subjugate the nation, warning that if these anti-constitutional powers succeed on February 8, they will establish a regime of theft and plunge the country further into turmoil.

    He called upon the people to exercise their voting power on February 8, making a decisive choice between freedom and slavery.

    “I want every individual in the nation to prepare, cast their votes, and ensure the protection of their votes, securing Pakistan’s path to constitutional governance on February 8,” Khan said.

  • PTI starting election campaign on January 20

    PTI starting election campaign on January 20

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, confirmed that the party is going to start its election campaign on January 20 (Saturday).

    Other major political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), have already started their countrywide election campaigns.

    PTI came into power and formed a federal government in 2018 but was ousted in April 2022 via a no-confidence move.

    The founder of PTI, Imran Khan, was imprisoned in May last year, and he is currently in Adiala jail. PTI’s electoral symbol of a cricket bat was taken away this month, a big setback for the party.

    “The PTI will begin its full-fledged election campaign on Saturday. […] workers should bear hardships till then and await victory on February 8. You are advised to focus on the election campaign,” Gohar said on Thursday while engaging with reporters in Rawalpindi.

    Barrister Gohar Khan also said that PTI has not decided on all candidates for the National Assembly (NA). He confirmed that all candidates will be finalised by Friday night, and the party will issue the list of all candidates tomorrow.

  • ‘Anybody but Dar’; Bilawal on next finance minister

    ‘Anybody but Dar’; Bilawal on next finance minister

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told in Absa Komal of Dawn News in an interview, “I think the whole nation has a unanimous consensus that anybody but (Ishaq) Dar (should be the finance minister).”

    The former Foreign Minister also criticised his political rivals and said that the Sharifs are vengeful and not capable of dealing with the economic crisis.

    “They [PML-N leaders] aren’t the one to forgive. They harbour animosity, seek revenge, and balance scores at the right time. They only know the politics of revenge. This is their history.” He singled out Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif for changing the then finance minister Miftah Ismail during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government.

    The PPP chairman predicted that independent candidates will play a vital role in the upcoming polls set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    “A huge number of independent candidates are contesting elections this year. Not only PTI leaders, but even those who are electable and have a political history, or those who failed to get tickets from PTI or PML-N, are contesting.”

  • PTV Sports shuts broadcast as fan shows Imran Khan poster during Pak-New Zealand match

    PTV Sports shuts broadcast as fan shows Imran Khan poster during Pak-New Zealand match

    PTV Sports shut down their broadcast for a few seconds when a fan showed a poster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the stadium during the match between Pakistan and New Zealand.

    Pakistani media regulators have banned speeches and press conferences of Imran Khan, accusing him of attacking national institutes.

    Here are the reactions of social media users:

  • Former Principal Secretary to Imran Khan testifies in court

    Former Principal Secretary to Imran Khan testifies in court

    Azam Khan, the former principal secretary to ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, has testified that the diplomatic cipher provided by the foreign ministry to the ex-Premier had not been returned to the ministry by the time he left the office after a Vote of No Confidence.

    He told the court on Thursday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder kept a copy of the contentious cipher and later said it had gone missing.

    Five witnesses named Anis-ur-Rehman, Javed Iqbal, Hadayat Ullah Muhammad Ashfaq, and Azam testified before the court in the cipher case in Adiala Jail. The court adjourned the hearing till January 22.

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had previously booked Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi under the OSA, 1923, last August on charges stemming from the alleged misuse of a diplomatic cipher at the end of the PTI’s rule in March 2022.

    Imran Khan and Qureshi, currently detained in Adiala Jail, were present in the courtroom as Khan appeared to give his deposition.

    Both PTI leaders insisted that Khan swear on the Holy Quran before providing his testimony.

    Azam Khan took a solemn oath on the Holy Quran during the hearing.

    During his statement, Azam Khan revealed that, as Imran’s principal secretary, he was informed by the foreign secretary about a cipher telegram.

    His office provided him with a copy, which he later shared with the then-Prime Minister. Imran, in turn, informed Khan that Qureshi had discussed the content of the telegram with him.

    The cipher telegram pertained to meetings between the Pakistan ambassador to the US and American officials.

    “The former PM stated that American authorities had interfered in Pakistan’s internal affairs. He said it seems the message was intended for internal actors to change the elected government through a vote of no confidence.

    “The former premier retained the copy of the cipher with him and instructed the military secretary, DC, and other staff to look into the matter. He also emphasized taking the public into confidence on the matter,” he said.

    Azam Khan recommended a formal meeting with the foreign ministry and suggested having the foreign secretary read the message from the master cipher. The federal cabinet, after discussing the matter, decided to present it before the National Security Committee (NSC), which then issued a demarche on foreign interference.

    According to Khan, it is customary to return the copy of a cipher to the foreign ministry, but this did not happen in this case.

    “I informed the PM, the PM Office, and staff multiple times that the cipher copy should be returned, but it was not returned until I left my charge,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Interior Secretary on the petitions against the prison trial of Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case and the £190 million NAB references.

  • Murad Saeed is not contesting elections this year

    Murad Saeed is not contesting elections this year

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed withdrew from the general elections 2024 on Thursday.

    During the hearing of the petition filed against his nomination papers in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Murad Saeed’s lawyer told the court that he had returned the ticket and he was not participating in the elections.

    The Peshawar High Court bench, comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Aijaz Anwar, and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah, entertained a plea regarding the rejection of Murad Saeed’s nomination papers and subsequently rendered its decision.

    However, it was revealed during the proceedings that the petitioner had withdrawn the application, informing the court that the ticket had been voluntarily returned.

    On Wednesday, the bench reserved its decision on the petition against the rejection of the PTI leader’s nomination papers.

    Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim remarked in yesterday’s hearing regarding what the law says when a person is declared a fugitive and does not surrender before the law.

    When a person does not appear in front of the law, how can the papers be approved, he will be elected again and legislate, he asked.

    The Advocate General said in his arguments that when a person becomes a fugitive, he loses some basic rights and he has no right to vote or contest election.

    The court stated in its remarks that, “It will then be used as a weapon to prevent anyone from the election”.

    While reserving the decision on Murad Saeed’s appeal, the court declared the documents of Shehram Tarkai and Atif Khan to be correct in this regard.

    A three-member bench of PHC upheld the decision of the Election Tribunal and rejected the petitions against the approval of Shahram Tarkai and Atif Khan’s papers.

  • Fawad Chaudhry sent to Adiala jail on judicial remand

    Fawad Chaudhry sent to Adiala jail on judicial remand

    An accountability court on Thursday sent former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry to Adiala jail on judicial remand in a case related to corruption in construction projects, Geo has reported.

    Islamabad Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Basheer heard the case. During the hearing, Chaudhry asked Judge Muhammad Basheer about his health.

    In response to Fawad’s question, the judge said that “I am completely fine.”

    Fawad’s council requested the court to keep the former federal minister in the B-class category in jail.

    Meanwhile, a bail application was also filed on behalf of Fawad Chaudhry.

  • We have plan C for February 8 elections, says Imran Khan

    We have plan C for February 8 elections, says Imran Khan

    The founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has said that a plan C has been prepared for the upcoming general elections, set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    While talking to the media in Adiala Jail, the former Prime Minister said that democracy is being trampled under the “London Plan”, pointing out that people affiliated with PTI are being picked up despite the start of the election campaign, stressing that women and children were imprisoned for the May 9 incidents.   

    The former prime minister said, “Our plan C is prepared. They will be shocked on February 8.”

    On the question regarding PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, Imran Khan called the lawyer emotional, but added that he is playing from the front.

    “I told [former army chief Gen (r) Qamar Javed] Bajwa that free and fair election is the only solution,” he claimed.

    He demanded that the jail trial in cipher case be shown live, saying, “I want the nation to know what is happening.”

  • What is going on in PTI as leaders clash publicly?

    What is going on in PTI as leaders clash publicly?

    In a surprising turn of events within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), party founding chief Imran Khan has reportedly instructed senior vice chairman Sher Afzal Marwat to suspend all political activities in Sindh.

    Disagreements between Marwat and other party leaders, including Raoof Hasan and Barrister Hamid Khan, have escalated, leading to a temporary halt in political engagements.

    Hamid Khan endorsed the statements of Raoof Hasan.

    https://twitter.com/BrHamidKhan/status/1747182074191360492?s=20

    The directive from Imran Khan came a day after Marwat initially announced the suspension of the election campaign in Sindh, citing an alleged “attack” by party leaders Raoof Hasan and Hamid Khan.

    “Keeping in view the statements against me by sick-minded people like Hamid Khan and Rauf Hassan, I am calling off my campaign in Sindh,” said Marwat.

    However, conflicting statements emerged later after Marwat declared his intention to continue the polls campaign.

    “Workers are right and I will continue campaigning for PTI in Sindh. I will not be distracted,” wrote Marwat.

    In a social media post, he expressed his determination to continue campaigning for PTI in Sindh, urging party activists to confront what he referred to as “satanic forces” independently.

    The internal strife unfolded after Marwat launched the PTI’s election drive in Sindh but later called it off due to statements against him by party leaders.

    The controversy intensified as Marwat accused President Arif Alvi of being a “wrong number” and alleged a conspiracy against the party.

    In response, Hasan and Hamid disowned Marwat’s statements, asserting that he did not represent the party’s position and had no official post within PTI.

    Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of PTI, addressed the media, emphasizing the party’s commitment to democratic values and calling for unity among party members. Despite internal disagreements, he expressed confidence in Marwat’s candidacy for the upcoming elections from Lakki Marwat.

    The ongoing disputes raise questions about Marwat’s purported meetings with Imran Khan in jail, with conflicting statements from PTI leaders.

    While Hasan claimed no political leader was allowed to meet Imran, Gohar Ali Khan affirmed Marwat’s continued affiliation with the party.

    As PTI works towards finalizing its candidate list for the February 8 elections, the internal conflicts underscore the challenges inherent in the democratic process. PTI members are urged to set aside personal differences for the party’s success in the upcoming polls.

  • No Bat for PTI ka matlab kya, jo bhi? PTI candidate election campaigns that scream creativity

    No Bat for PTI ka matlab kya, jo bhi? PTI candidate election campaigns that scream creativity

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has always remained ahead of others when it comes to the use of social media in Pakistan’s political landscape.


    Data shared in a report from Digital Pakistan 2023 states that the number of internet users in Pakistan swelled to a record 87.35 million in January last year, showing a 4.4 million increase between 2022 and 2023.


    The number of social media users also increased to a record 71.70 million in 2023, including 37.30 million users of Facebook, 71.70 million users of YouTube, 12.95 million on Instagram, and 16.51 million on TikTok.


    Similarly, about 11.95 million people are using Facebook Messenger, 9.30 million Linkedin, 25.70 million Snapchat, and 4.65 million users of X — formerly Twitter — in the wake of an increase in mobile connections to 191.8 million in January 2023 in Pakistan.


    The importance of social media is made very clear by the fact that there is news circulating that the internet might be shut down two days prior to the election. Young Pakistanis will be turning to social media for the truth on election day and if the election is to be seen as free and fair, social media will be the judge and the jury, senior producer and journalist Marium Chaudhary said while talking to TheCurrent.


    The results show the importance of social media in the election arena. Its power was fully exhibited when a huge number of supporters turned up online using VPNs when the internet was down during PTI’s virtual jalsa.


    Senior Journalist Benazir Shah recently tweeted that according to a google search, PTI has emerged as the most searched political party in the last fortnight.
    As the elections are approaching in less than a month, the party is in a crisis because they have been stripped from their preferred election symbol of a cricketing bat.


    The candidates however have been issued varying symbols from a human eye to an eggplant.


    PTI’s candidate Zain Pervaiz from PS-99 has been given the symbol of human eye and he used a creative way to propagate it. He made a rip-off of the famous Tahir Shah’s song Eye to Eye.


    In another video, a clip from a cartoon film is extracted to publicise the symbol of eye.


    The same candidate, Zain Parvez, came up with a clip from a Pakistani Drama where the heroine is seen saying that she will only what Zain wants her to do.


    As a candidate was allotted the symbol of a desi bed (charpayi), he got a charpayi painted in colours of the PTI flag. Along with that they were seen chanting the slogan, “Aye Aye Charpayi”.

    The same candidate got a charpayi made adorned with fairy lights and released a song titled, “Charpayi da nishan, Rakho yad meri jan”.


    The candidate alloted the sign of brinjal has taken a huge leap of creativity by releasing a “baingan song”. This symbol of is given to the candidate of PTI from NA 46.


    The meme brigade were tickled enough to promote the different election symbols including a wheelchair where the punch line was give vote to wheelchair to be able to get the system back on foot.


    The meme for the symbol tap, that is “Nalka” shows a clip from an Indian movie.


    Summing up the whole confusion folk singer Malko released a song with lyrics implying, whatever the symbol is, vote will be cast to Khan.


    Apart from the hilarious campaigns by PTI, the party is also seriously pursuing the upcoming elections by using social media. The party has launched an online portal containing detailed information of candidate names & symbols to avoid disinformation.