Current Final

Tag: Washington

  • US visit: PM talks about bringing Dr Aafia Siddiqui back to country

    US visit: PM talks about bringing Dr Aafia Siddiqui back to country

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has hinted at a possible prisoner swap of Dr Shakil Afridi and Dr Aafia Siddiqui with the United States (US).

    Afridi, a Pakistani physician, is in authority’s custody for helping the US in running a fake hepatitis vaccine programme in Abbottabad to confirm Osama bin Laden’s presence by obtaining DNA samples.

    Aafia, on the other hand, is a Pakistani neuroscientist convicted of multiple felonies and is locked up in a US prison.

    When asked about jailed Afridi during an interview with Fox News on Monday, the premier said that in Pakistan, he is considered a spy and it is a very emotive issue. “The way it [Osama bin Laden operation] was conducted, it really embarrassed Pakistan at a time when we were an ally of the US in its war on terror.”

    Osama bin Laden, founder and first leader of Al-Qaeda, was killed in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011, by US Navy SEALs in an operation Pakistani authorities “were unaware of”.

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    “You are the prime minister, you can make a decision can’t you,” Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked.

    “There are some decisions in a democracy that even a premier finds difficult to make, because we do have an opposition,” PM Imran said, adding that it, however, was something that could be negotiated.

    “We also have someone in a US prison, a frail woman called Aafia Siddiqui and we could negotiate a swap.” “The talks have not started yet, but we know that US wants Afridi and we can negotiate,” he added.

  • VIDEO: Trump says he’s ‘honoured to be with one of greatest athletes, very popular PM Imran’

    VIDEO: Trump says he’s ‘honoured to be with one of greatest athletes, very popular PM Imran’

    United States (US) President Donald Trump has described Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan as “one of the greatest athlete and a very popular PM”, and jokingly said that he would help him get re-elected.

    “It’s my great honour to have the very popular and, by the way, great athlete — one of the greatest — but very popular prime minister of Pakistan,” Trump said while welcoming PM Imran to the Oval Office for the two leaders’ maiden meeting.

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    PM Imran is currently on a three-day official visit to the US on Trump’s invitation. This is his first visit to the country since coming to power last year.

    During the more than 40 minutes meeting, the two leaders spent time with the media — responding to a volley of questions. The mood and atmosphere in the Oval Office was quite comfortable.

    PM Imran appeared to be at ease and confidently answering questions. During the unusually lengthy question and answer session with the media, wherein they gave almost all the Pakistani journalists present an opportunity to ask questions — the two leaders appeared to have forged good chemistry instantly, laughing and joking several times.

    “We should be doing tremendous business together. So, I look forward to it,” Trump said as he concluded his welcome remarks for PM Imran. “InshaAllah,” Khan said, adding that he has been looking forward to this meeting since he assumed office of the country’s chief executive.

    Trump described it as a “very important meeting”. “I think the potential with Pakistan and likewise, the opposite way, I think we have not even come close to meeting it. There is tremendous potential between our country and Pakistan.”

    In fact, in response to a question, Trump said that he would love to visit Pakistan, but he has not received an invitation yet. “Well, I can’t say that yet because, so far, he has not extended me an invitation,” he said.

    In response to another question, Trump said he would help PM Imran in his re-election. “I’m going to campaign for you. I’m going to help him win his campaign,” said the US president.

  • ‘Won’t let Nawaz enjoy AC, TV in jail’: Imran at ‘largest’ gathering of Pakistani-Americans

    Claiming that former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif eats homemade food in his air-conditioned jail cell with television, PM Imran Khan has said that he will ensure the “criminal” does not receive such treatment.

    The premier, who is currently in the United States (US) on a three-day official trip, said this while addressing around 30,000 Pakistani-Americans at Washington DC’s Capital One Arena.

    The gathering was termed as the “largest” in the community’s history by those present at the jampacked venue with 20,000 official seating capacity.

    “Nawaz Sharif wants food from home in jail, he wants air conditioning in jail. But in a country where half the population has no air conditioning or TV, what kind of punishment would this be?”, the premier questioned.

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    “When I return, I’ll make sure there is no air conditioning or TV for Nawaz Sharif who is a criminal. I know Maryam [Nawaz] Bibi will make some noise, but I say to her, return the money. It’s as simple as that,” he added.

    Continuing his tirade against Nawaz, PM Imran alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo was “propped up” by a military dictator.

    “Nawaz was propped up by military dictator. Shehbaz Sharif was propped up because he was his brother. Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal became leaders on the basis of some piece of paper that left the party behind to them. Similar stories with other parties,” he said.

    Targeting his political rivals, the premier reiterated that the government had started seizing their undeclared properties because they had “looted the country when they were in power”.