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Tag: Punjab

  • Terror attacks: January 2023 deadliest month since July 2018

    Terror attacks: January 2023 deadliest month since July 2018

    January 2023 has become the deadliest month with the maximum number of terror attacks since July 2018, with 134 people losing their lives in at least 44 militant attacks across Pakistan, data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) has shown.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) residents remain in the eye of the storm after two suicide bombings were rocked the province — one in Peshawar and the other one in the tribal district.

    Although the number of terrorist attacks declined slightly in January, fatalities increased by 139 per cent, attributed mostly to the Peshawar Police Lines suicide blast on Monday which resulted in the death of over 100 people.

    The data mentions that KP Police was the primary target of the militants operating in the province bordering Afghanistan.

    Militant attacks declined in Balochistan during January, however, Punjab saw four incidents in which three security forces personnel were killed while two low-profile attacks were reported in Sindh in which one person died.

  • ‘Why were there two black Vigos?’: Elahi family slams govt after raid on Gujrat house

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) and former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi has condemned the raid on his family house ‘Kunjah Gujrat’ and held the incumbent government responsible.

    In a tweet, he claimed that the staff at their house was harassed in the middle of the night. The former CM also threatened the caretaker government with legal action and said that the matter will go to court.

    Addressing Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and caretaker CM Punjab Mohsin Naqvi directly in another tweet, Elahi urged Shehbaz to “respect the sanctity of the home” and warned him that “people would protest outside his own home”. To Naqvi, he said that his job is to ensure fair and transparent elections

    He also regretted that “the rulers have directed police and administration to engage in vengeful actions” while the country is dealing with terrorism.

    Earlier in the day, his son and former federal minister Moonis Elahi claimed that his family home in Gujrat was raided by the police in the early hours of Wednesday “without having a warrant, nor a case”.

    Implying that intelligence agencies were involved in the raid, he said “I can wrap my head around the 25 police vehicles, but why were there two black Vigos?”.

    Moonis then asked if the police were looking for Indian agents.

    The raid has taken place after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday declared that PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would remain the president of the party months weeks after he was ousted following rifts with his cousin Pervaiz Elahi.

    Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) accused the caretaker Punjab government of ‘political persecution’.

  • ECP declares Shujaat PML-Q president

    ECP declares Shujaat PML-Q president

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has restored Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as the President of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) setting aside his removal as the head of the party by his cousin, former Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

    The commission also stated that the PML-Q’s Central Working Committee’s (CWC) decision to remove Shujaat as party chief was illegal, declaring it null and void.

    On January 16, PML-Q’s CWC removed Shujaat as the party chief. His brother, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain was given the command of the PML-Q.

    The step was taken by the committee after Shujaat had suspended the basic membership of the-then CM Elahi — for his statement about a possible merger with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    After the ouster of PTI’s chief Imran Khan from power, rifts within PML-Q widened as the party got divided into two camps over the issue of joining hands with the PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)

    Elahi, his son Moonis Elahi and the majority of party leaders sided with the PTI while Chaudhry Shujaat, Salik Hussain and Tariq Bashir Cheema supported the PML-N.

  • ECP asks finance ministry for additional Rs14 billion for elections

    ECP asks finance ministry for additional Rs14 billion for elections

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has requested the Ministry of Finance for more money for elections on vacant seats in National Assembly (NA), and by-elections in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    According to the electoral body, the expenses of general elections have increased from Rs 47 billion to Rs 61 billion, incurring the need for an additional amount of Rs 14 billion.

    ECP has also proposed April 9 to 13 for the elections in Punjab and April 15 to 17 for elections in KP and asked the Governors of both provinces to select a date within the given timeline.

    The KP Assembly was dissolved on January 18 while the Punjab Assembly was dissolved on January 14 on the directives of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan whose party was in majority in both provinces.

    In Punjab, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi was sworn in as the caretaker Chief Minister (CM) on January 22, while Mohammad Azam Khan has taken oath as the KP chief executive on January 21.

  • Mad man, Gen Bajwa, Gen Faiz responsible for Pakistan’s current crisis: Nawaz Sharif

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif blamed former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and former ISI Chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed for the current mess in the country.

    The former Prime Minister also blamed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, calling him a “mad man”.

    Nawaz Sharif said that a cruel joke had been played on Pakistan for the sake of personal gains.

    “In my Gujranwala jalsa, I stated who was responsible, and everything was out in the open. It is my responsibility to tell the nation about the wrongs committed against the people, and it is my responsibility to make things right,” he stated.

    Turning his guns on another former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif minced no words. “This mad man [Imran Khan, I am calling him a mad man today. I want everyone to compare my time with his, and people will see how happy everyone was during my time and how unstable everything became during his tenure,” said Nawaz.

    As Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa elections approach, PML-N is said to be ready to adopt an aggressive narrative against five individuals as it prepares for the polls.

    According to a news report, the five individuals against whom the PML-N will turn its guns with full ferocity are General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, former Chief Justices of Pakistan Saqib Nisar and Asif Saeed Khosa along with former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

  • PML-Q wants seats from PTI to merge into the party

    PML-Q wants seats from PTI to merge into the party

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi has put forward a set of conditions to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) if they want a merger with his party, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

    The chief minister has asked for seat adjustments in Gujrat, Chakwal, and Gujranwala divisions from PTI in the next general elections which are likely to take place within the year.

    Samaa has reported that Elahi has even asked for a written agreement of the deal from PTI chief Imran Khan.

    Elahi has categorically stated that without any significant political benefit, the PML-Q will not unite with the PTI.

    However, senior leaders of PTI have opposed Elahi’s demands for half of the seats in the aforementioned divisions.

    Earlier, Khan had proposed that PML-Q should merge with it as the Elahis showed immense support to him in the Punjab Assembly dissolution process.

    After this, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain suspended Elahi’s party membership, making it difficult for Elahi to merge his party with PTI.

    Subsequently, Elahi clarified that no final decision has been taken yet on a merger, saying that consultations are still underway.

  • ‘Naye army chief ke saath koyi relationship nahin hai’: Imran Khan

    ‘Naye army chief ke saath koyi relationship nahin hai’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Wednesday that his party currently has no relationship with the new military leadership.

    The reporter from BBC asked that there is a general opinion that the government cannot take any economic decision due to political instability. Some observers claim that Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s campaign is adding to this instability.

    Imran Khan’s responded by saying, “Someone should ask him why he overthrew our government by plotting.” He claimed that his government had the best economic performance in the past 17 years. “What mistake were we making that they brought down (our) government together with an army chief? After that, it was not handled by them.”

    Imran Khan revealed that he and Shaukat Tarin, the then finance minister, together told General Bajwa that if you create political instability, to succeed in this conspiracy, no one will be able to manage the economy. “And that’s what happened,” Imran said.

    “It was not handled by them. The market quickly lost faith in him. They were taking their NRO-2. Chaos began to arise in the country. So just ask (any) business personality today. Is it because of us? As soon as they arrived, they realised that they did not have a road map. What General Bajwa has done together with them, even an enemy would not have done to Pakistan.”

    The former Prime Minister alleged that rhe current government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had come into power through horse-trading. He remarked that coalition rulers have kept themselves above the law and ended corruption cases that they were booked in years back. “Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, and Maryam Nawaz — all of their cases have been forgiven.”

    He said that in a bid to move towards free and fair elections, his party “sacrificed” two assemblies — Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KP) and Punjab. “Now this government will be forced into holding elections in April,” he predicted.

  • KP CM to forward Assembly dissolution advice today

    KP CM to forward Assembly dissolution advice today

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Mahmood Khan has said on Tuesday that he will sign the summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly by tonight.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has asked the CM to send the summary for the assembly’s dissolution to the KP governor, Haji Ghulam Ali.

    “The last four years were very pleasant, and I thank all the members, government and Opposition members and bureaucracy,” said the KP chief minister.

    Mahmood said that his party will form the government by winning two-thirds of the majority in the general elections.

    He blamed the incumbent government for instability in the country, saying that getting rid of the “corrupt group” has become necessary.

    Last week, Punjab CM Pervaiz Elahi had sent the summary to the governor, Baligh Ur Rehman, for the Punjab Assembly’s dissolution. However, Rehman refused to sign it, and the legislative was automatically dissolved after 48 hours.

  • Hamza contacts Elahi over appointment of caretaker CM in Punjab

    Hamza contacts Elahi over appointment of caretaker CM in Punjab

    Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Hamza Shehbaz, has instructed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Malik Ahmed Khan to consult and contact Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi over the appointment of a caretaker setup in Punjab.

    Governor Punjab Baligh Ur Rehman while forwarding the names sent by Pervez Elahi to Hamza Shehbaz tweeted, “I have received three names from Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, which are being forwarded to Opposition Leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif. I would like to see both of the leaders jointly agree on any name within the stipulated period.”

    One of Elahi’s nominees, former civil servant Nasir Mehmood Khosa, when contacted by the PML-N, excused himself from accepting the post of caretaker CM.

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif took to Twitter and confirmed that Nasir Khosa excused himself from the offer and declined to take the chair.

    It is pertinent to mention that if both Elahi and Hamza CM fail to reach a consensus, then the Punjab Assembly speaker would constitute a parliamentary committee, finalising the name within three days.

    If the committee also fails to reach an accord then the Election Commission will decide the name for the interim CM from the names forwarded by the government and Opposition.

  • Elahi gives names for caretaker Punjab CM

    Elahi gives names for caretaker Punjab CM

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Sunday said that three names for the caretaker CM have been agreed upon after the consultation with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    Elahi revealed the three names – Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, Naseer Ahmed Khan and Nasir Saeed Khosa- and said that one of the three would be finalised.

    “We are sending these names to the [Punjab] governor and if the opposition thinks broadly, the agreement upon the suggested names seems likely,” tweeted Elahi.

    Punjab Assembly got dissolved after 48 hours after the governor didn’t sign the summary sent by the former.

    Elahi will remain serving as the Punjab CM until the name for the caretaker CM is finalised.