Author: badar.khalid

  • ‘Lies, deceit, God knows what other lies’ Khan blames one General alone for his fall from power

    ‘Lies, deceit, God knows what other lies’ Khan blames one General alone for his fall from power

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan gave an exclusive interview with renowned journalist Mehdi Hassan for his new platform Zeteo. Khan openly talked about his imprisonment experience, past regrets, and the country’s political situation.

    Mehdi Hassan clarified that he could only send a list of written questions and did not directly speak to him, nor could he ask a counter-question.

    Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala jail, spoke about his ordeal in prison saying, “They employ psychological tactics to break my spirit, but my heart, fortified by faith in Allah, remains strong.”

    Hassan asked Khan whom he blamed for everything that had happened to him since the 2022 fall of his government and he replied, “After 11 months in prison, I am certain that this ordeal was orchestrated solely by General Bajwa. I hold no one else responsible.”

    The founder of PTI used strong words for the former Chief of Army Staff saying, “He meticulously planned and executed this scheme, presenting himself as a deceitful figure, creating lies and false narratives to cause both national and international chaos – all to secure his extension.”

    Khan blamed ex-COAS Bajwa for “painting him as anti-American due to his insatiable thirst for power. God knows what other lies he disseminated to various countries.”

    “My only regret is trusting General Bajwa,” he commented.

    Interestingly, Khan did not mention current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir at all.

    Criticizing the ruling government he said, “This government lacks legitimacy. The PML-N barely won 17 seats in Parliament. The violence, torture, and pre-poll rigging were evident. After the elections, it took them nearly two days to alter the results.”

    Finally, Khan’s message was “There has been an attack on democracy and the right to self-determination of 250 million people”. He further called the February 8 general elections a sham which brought “more uncertainty and a greater trust deficit between the people and the ruling elite.”

  • Shah Mahmood Qureshi implicated in eight more cases related to May 9

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi implicated in eight more cases related to May 9

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was implicated in eight more cases related to the May 9 riots on Sunday.

    Qureshi is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail on multiple charges while also serving a 10-year sentence under the Official Secrets Act by a special court.

    May 9 riots took place when PTI founder Imran Khan was arrested from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC). Scores of PTI workers and senior leaders were imprisoned for involvement in violence and attacks on military installations in 2023.

    Meher Bano Qureshi, a PTI leader and the daughter of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, took to X to condemn the action taken by Lahore Police saying, “After 281 days in jail l, as a consequence of a sham trial, Lahore Police has arrested Shah Mahmood Qureshi in 8 cases related to 9th May incidents in Lahore. The arrest comes after he was interrogated by Lahore police yesterday. Incidentally, it’s a well-established and documented fact that my father was in Karachi on the 9th.”

  • PML-N’s Talal Chaudhry blames awaam for always abandoning political leaders

    PML-N’s Talal Chaudhry blames awaam for always abandoning political leaders

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senator Talal Chaudhry recently castigated the people of Pakistan for abandoning political leaders throughout history such as Zulifqar Ali Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and even Imran Khan.

    Chaudhry stated on Azaad Urdu’s podcast, “The people used to say that if something happened to Bhutto, the Himalayas would cry. The day Bhutto was hanged, the people went to work the next day.”

    He further said, “The people told Nawaz Sharif ‘Qadam Barhao, ham tumhare saath hain’ (Step up, we are with you) and when he [Nawaz Sharif] did – he became a hijacker [Sharif’s conviction in 2000 Musharraf’s Plane Hijacking case] but people went to work.”

    Similarly, he said “Then the same people claimed, ‘Imran Khan is our redline.’ He is now inside [prison] and the people are at work.”

    The PML-N senator then blamed the PTI government for their past behaviour of not engaging with political leaders and opposition when they [PML-N] wanted a charter of the economy.

    Social media reactions were mostly critical of senator’s views.

  • Islamic scholar Assim Al-Hakeem comes to Khan’s defense

    Islamic scholar Assim Al-Hakeem comes to Khan’s defense

    In an interesting Twitter clash, renowned Saudi cleric Assim Al-Hakeem clapped back at an X user when he posted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s picture showing him apparently prostrating at a shrine and asked the Islamic scholar whether the act was shirk in Islam.

    The scholar criticised the intent behind posting the picture and stated, “When one sees such a photo which is about 8 years old, one knows that the motive behind such a question is political and not religious.”

    Al-Hakeem further wrote, “You should fear Allah and when you hate someone, fight like a man and not use such dirty cheap tactics, trying to use Islam and religious rulings to support your party when you yourself most likely don’t even know the basics of Islam nor care about Islam or even the county!”

    The user later shared on X that the scholar had blocked him.

  • Past military leadership considered surrendering Kashmir and missile Program, mulled recognizing Israel: Mushahid Hussain

    Past military leadership considered surrendering Kashmir and missile Program, mulled recognizing Israel: Mushahid Hussain

    Mushahid Hussain Syed, a veteran politician and serving senator from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), recently appeared on a talk show at 92 News channel and alleged that past military high command “was willing to compromise on Pakistan’s missile program, give up Kashmir along with recognition of Israel.”

    When he was asked by the journalist Irshad Ahmad Arif whether relations between Pakistan and China are well, the senator said, “No, because Pakistan’s previous military establishment sent mixed signals despite Chinese support at every international forum, it was playing a double game with China and the US.”

    Hussain stated that the US had clearly given out a statement in its national security strategy in 2022 that India was its strategic partner in this region and China was its enemy.

    According to the senator, “If they [US] consider the Chinese their enemy then how could we play a double game with China despite their consistent support throughout our history?”

    The PML-N leader said that the Chinese are not “children” and they know what Pakistan did to them.

  • London plan included Imran Khan, Tahir-ul-Qadri and others in 2014, says journalist Murtaza Shah

    London plan included Imran Khan, Tahir-ul-Qadri and others in 2014, says journalist Murtaza Shah

    Geo News journalist Murtaza Ali Shah on Monday spoke on the channel’s ‘Report Card’ about the “London Plan” in 2014 which included the collusion of founder Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri and Imran Khan.

    Shah recounted that a friend had invited him to his house for dinner and when he went, “Imran Khan, Tahir-ul-Qadri, journalist Mubasher Lucman, some members of Chaudhary family [PML-Q] and two officials were present in that room.”

    Shah stated that the situation got awkward for all because they were afraid “I might break this story.”

    “I received a call from a mutual friend present there 20 minutes after I left that place and he told me that I mustn’t do a story because I already know the precarious condition of Geo News channel due to severe restrictions put on it after Hamid Mir was shot,” said Murtaza.

    Murtaza said that he was warned that there would be more severe consequences for Geo News if he broke the story.

    Murtaza said it is true that “Mubashar Lucman played the key role between Qadri and Khan because at that point there was no common ground between them.”

  • Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani says either rule of law or rule of agencies can take place

    Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani says either rule of law or rule of agencies can take place

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) senior judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Monday strongly criticised intelligence agencies due to their alleged role in forced abductions.

    “The country will either be run as per the law or the whims of agencies,” Justice Kayani said.

    The Court held a hearing regarding the recovery of Kashmiri poet Ahmed Farhad Shah, abducted from his home last week. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had called on authorities for his immediate release.

    A petition was filed by Shah’s wife in the IHC last Wednesday, requesting that he be found and produced before the court and to identify, investigate and prosecute those responsible for his disappearance.

    In a notable development, the petitioner filed a separate plea on Saturday to withdraw the main petition after officials from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) contacted Shah’s wife and assured her that the poet would be released on Saturday night.

    Petitioner’s legal representation include Advocates Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha. Mazari said that she received a Whatsapp call from Shah’s number on May 17 asking them to withdraw their petition but since he did not return back, “So we are not withdrawing the application.”

    “I want the man (Shah) from the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). You should inform the DG (director general) ISI [Nadeem Anjum] that the man should be produced at any cost. Remove the label from yourself that you abduct [people],” said the judge to SSP Zafar.

    Justice Kayani went on to say “The sector commander [ISI] is not living on the moon, what is his status?”

    Judge asked the defence ministry official whether any of his relatives were ever abducted to which he said no, to which the judge said: “That’s why you don’t understand. Ask the feelings of those whose [relatives] are abducted.”

    When AAG Duggal requested an extension of the hearing because “the ISI has said they do not have him,” the judge replied, “They send messages on one hand and now they are saying we don’t have him.”

  • Maryam Nawaz’s govt stabbed our back after holding negotiations over bill, say journalist leaders

    Maryam Nawaz’s govt stabbed our back after holding negotiations over bill, say journalist leaders

    The Punjab Assembly on Monday approved the highly controversial Defamation Bill 2024 amidst immense opposition from journalists, human rights organisations and political opponents.

    The government considers the bill, aimed at stopping ‘fake news’, necessary while journalist leaders and opposition leaders labelled it “draconian” and a “black law”.

    Earlier in the day, representatives of media bodies met Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari and requested her to defer the controversial bill for a few days.

    However, the government decided to bulldoze the bill through Punjab Assembly despite strong opposition.

    Journalist leaders were of the view that the government stabbed them in the back after holding negotiations over the bill.

    Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has also expressed grave concern over the defamation bill, saying that it aims to uphold “parallel judicial structures” for defamation cases which goes against the very spirit of the Constitution.

    HRCP remarked that implementation of this bill would be a huge blow to freedom of speech and dissent in our society because there would be no due process or fair trials.

    “This is not a democratic bill. There is no compromise on press freedom,” stated Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari.

    He slammed the PML-N-led provincial government for passing the controversial bill and remarked, “You have cheated us. You have trapped us.”

  • Justice Asif Saeed Khosa made fake case against Nawaz to help PTI, Suhail Warraich

    Justice Asif Saeed Khosa made fake case against Nawaz to help PTI, Suhail Warraich

    Senior analyst and journalist Suhail Warraich recently revealed on Geo’s Report Card that ex-Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa, “created a false case against Nawaz Sharif.”

    Warraich stated, “Marriyum Aurangzeb was one hundred percent correct about Justice Khosa that he made a frivolous case which was already dismissed by the previous CJP, gave the case legal cover and then guided Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on how to proceed with the case.”

    He stated that a “PTI member himself told me this at that time that they [PTI] didn’t know how to deal with the case and it was Justice Khosa that told them how to deal with it.”

    “Maybe Justice Khosa had some personal problem with them [Nawaz Sharif] and Justice Azmat Saeed was also involved. These two were the main characters and another current serving Supreme Court judge was also involved in this,” said Warraich.

  • Exclusive: ‘He avoided eye contact with me’: what happened when Shafaat copied Shehbaz?

    Exclusive: ‘He avoided eye contact with me’: what happened when Shafaat copied Shehbaz?

    A light-hearted moment occurred between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and comedian Shafaat Ali during a ceremony at Prime Minister House in Islamabad.

    The Prime Minister gave a cheerful invite to Shafaat by recounting an anecdote of his past interaction with the comedian. The PM said: “Mr Shafaat has been compassionate with us today because I had a past experience with his performance and said to myself, ‘Ye main kidhar phass gya hun?’”

    The audience thoroughly enjoyed the PM’s remarks about Shafaat.

    PM Shehbaz requested the comedian to mimic him in front of the people present, which surprised many present since a sitting PM has rarely done that.

    The Current talked with the talented Shafaat Ali to get the details of his fun interaction with the PM.

    “When I went on stage, he was initially so nervous that he avoided eye contact with me. Then I made a comment on Javed Latif and everyone just exploded with laughter,” Shafaat told The Current.

    We asked Shafaat if the PM expected him to do a mimicry of the Prime Minister. “What he [PM Shehbaz] did at the end of his speech was not expected. It’s probably the first time ever that a head of state has asked an artist to imitate him in front of a live audience.”

    Shafaat remarked that he was “genuinely impressed with the PM’s cool,” given that it was a spontaneous interaction with Sharif at the end of the ceremony.

    Social media reacted positively to this event.