Qasim Suri resigned as deputy speaker of the National Assembly on Saturday, less than an hour before a session of the house where voting on a no-trust motion against him was to take place.
Sharing a copy of his resignation on Twitter, Suri said his move signified his association with the vision of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and democracy.
“We will never compromise on Pakistan’s sovereignty and integrity. We will fight for the country’s interests and independence. We will go to any length to protect Pakistan,” he tweeted.
قومی اسمبلی سے استعفیٰ میری پارٹی کے وژن، اس کی شاندار وراثت اور جمہوریت کے ساتھ اس کی وابستگی کی علامت ہے، پاکستان کی خودمختاری اور سالمیت پر کبھی سمجھوتہ نہیں کریں گے ملکی مفادات اور آزادی کے لیے لڑیں گے اور کے تحفظ کے لیے کسی بھی حد تک جائیں گے۔ #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظورpic.twitter.com/fIskL5pVLg
Suri, who had also been functioning as the acting speaker following the resignation of Asad Qaiser, faced severe criticism in recent days over a contentious April 3 ruling to dismiss a no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan and his decision to defer the session scheduled for the NA speaker’s election from April 16 to April 22.
Owing to the monthly Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA) for February, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on April 15 increased the price of electricity by Rs4.85 per unit.
It has also announced an increase in the price of power, stating that the power output in February was more expensive than the previously set fuel price.
According to the notice, the power distribution companies (DISCOs) will collect the amount from electricity consumers in the April bill. In addition, consumers will be hit with a charge of Rs37.7 billion, excluding general sales tax (GST). However, K-Electric and lifeline customers will be exempt from the hike.
On March 31, the NEPRA held a hearing to determine the FCA but did not make a decision. The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) requested that the cost per unit be increased to Rs4.94 by the NEPRA.
Following the monthly FCA, which only operates for one month, the administration had already hiked the power price to Rs5.95 per unit for the month of January.
As per NEPRA’s data, the most expensive energy production sources, including High-Speed Diesel (HSD) and Residual Fuel Oil (RFO), were used more than average in the prior months, raising the overall cost of production.
North Korea celebrated the 110th anniversary of the birth of late founder Kim Il Sung on Friday with fireworks, a procession, and an evening gala in Pyongyang’s main square, with thousands of people in colourful traditional dress singing and dancing.
Nuclear-armed Pyongyang usually uses the holiday – known as the Day of the Sun – to show off its latest weaponry.
But while this year’s event follows a flurry of weapons testing – three weeks ago the country carried out its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test since 2017 – there was no sign of the usual military parade.
Leader Kim Jong Un visited his grandfather’s mausoleum and attended a “national meeting and a public procession” in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square but gave no reported public remarks. A senior official spoke at the meeting, saying that North Korea would overcome all difficulties and always emerge victorious, state news agency KCNA reported.
State media aired live footage of an evening gala in the square after sunset on Friday, following concerts, art exhibitions, and ideological seminars.
There was also a light festival in the centre of Pyongyang, with dancing fountains and decorated boats on the Taedong River, KCNA said.
The festival “artistically depicted” Kim Il Sung’s native home and “the sacred mountain of revolution, Mt Paektu,” KCNA said. Residents could take photos in front of arches lit with phrases such as ‘Pyongyang Is Best’ and ‘We Are the Happiest in the World’.
“I came to see the lighting festival with my daughter. Looking at it today, it’s really cool. The most impressive thing in particular is this one that says ‘self-reliance’,” Ri Bom Chol, a 40-year-old doctor, told an AFP news agency reporter in Pyongyang.
‘Love is forever’
Analysts, along with South Korean and US officials, had widely expected North Korea to mark the occasion with new weaponry, or even a test of the country’s banned nuclear weapons.
Seoul-based specialist site NK News said analysis of satellite imagery suggested that training was taking place at the Mirim military parade training base, with a few thousand troops marching in formation. Images from Planet Labs had also shown an increasing number of tyre marks around a secure garage area for heavy weapons at the site, suggesting practice drives were taking place, it added.
Experts say April 25 – the anniversary of the founding of the North Korean army – is the next most likely date for the parade.
Claim: PM Shehbaz Sharif invited singer Farhan NTF to the PM House
Fact: Shehbaz Sharif met Farhan NTF at his private residence in November 2021, almost 5 months before becoming Prime Minister.
A video of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif meeting singer, composer and writer Farhan NTF went viral on Friday in which the singer can be seen sitting with Sharif and singing “Mian De Naray“, which is a political song.
Political analyst Raheeq Abbasi tweeted the video and wrote: “These days, PM House looks like a circus. If in doubt, watch this video.” His tweet was retweeted more than 12,000 times and had almost three thousand quote-tweets.
Former federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry quoted Raheeq Abbasi and tweeted: “Pakistan’s dummy prime minister in an important meeting discussing people’s issues in PM House.”
پاکستان کے ڈمی وزیر اعظم، وزیر اعظم ہاؤس میں اہم عوامی مسائل پر میٹنگز لیتے ہوئے۔۔۔۔ https://t.co/j0tLAu77U7
However, the video is not recent. Farhan tweeted about meeting Shehbaz Sharif on November 3, 2021. At that time, Imran Khan was the prime minister of Pakistan and the video was not shot inside the Prime Minister House.
In a YouTube video, Farhan explains how hurt he was that his old video went viral and is being misused by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He clarifies that he met PM Shehbaz last year in November at Sharif’s private residence. He said that it seems that the video is being used as if PM Shehbaz is listening to a political song that was written for him instead of working.
“I am a singer. I don’t have any political affiliations. I have sung songs for PTI also but my song ‘Mian De Naray’ became very popular. Did Khan not meet Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar and Shaan Shahid when he was prime minister? Why can Shehbaz Sharif not meet any artist? I hope that people do not misuse our videos for their political interests.”
Former prime minister and Pakistan People’s Party leader Raja Pervez Ashraf was elected Speaker of the National Assembly unopposed on Friday following the en masse resignations by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members from the lower house of the parliament after the success of a no-confidence vote against former prime minister Imran Khan.
It is to be noted that the seat of the National Assembly speaker fell vacant after Asad Qaiser resigned in accordance with the PTI’s decision minutes before voting on the no-confidence motion against then-Prime Minister Imran Khan on April 9.
Who is Raja Pervaiz Ashraf?
On Saturday, a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri is set to be introduced in the House. On Saturday, the National Assembly was scheduled to assemble to pick a new speaker. Suri, on the other hand, has adjourned the house on April 22.
Former Pakistan captain and bowling ace Wasim Akram on Saturday shared two pictures with the caption: “Almost 30 years apart.”
In the throwback picture, Akram can be seen wearing a brown jacket and shades while he is casually walking. In the latest picture, Akram is seen standing in front of a window with a blue jacket.
Netizens reacted to Wasim Akram’s tweet in awe. One user wrote:
“Thora sa Shehzad Roy aap mein bhi hai. Not aging at all.”
Thora sa Shehzad Roy aap mein bhi hai. Not aging at all
OGRA had proposed an increase in the price of diesel by Rs51.32 per liter (35.7%), petrol Rs21.30 per liter (14.2%), kerosene oil Rs36.03 per liter (28.7%) and light diesel oil (LDO) Rs38.89 per liter (39.9%).
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz shared the news report of PM rejecting the summary and wrote: “Well Done Shehbaz Shairf.
PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while talking to media said that petroleum prices will remain unchanged. He added that the previous PTI-led government made a mistake by subsidising petroleum goods, which he claimed will harm the country’s economy.
عالمی ادارے جن سے ہم ٹیکس لیتے ہیں IMF اور ہمارا ٹیکس کا نظام جس میں ہمارا سیلز ٹیکس ہوتا ہےجو پیٹرول کی قیمت بتائی ہےاس میں یہ ٹیکس شامل نہیں ہے اگر یہ ٹیکس شامل کریں تو اوگرا کے مطابق پیٹرول 235 روپےاور ڈیزل 264 کا ہونا چاہیے.شوکت ترین نے IMFسےجو وعدےکیےتھے یہ رقم اسکے مطابق ہے pic.twitter.com/YPzHZhRcHX
On the other hand. social media users — including journalists and PTI leaders — are saying this is due to the policies of the pervious government, and are thanking Imran Khan.
In addition, some are concerned about the decision of not increasing the fuel prices.
The strangest argument for not increasing petrol prices.Accused IK govt.for not increasing petrol prices & let Pakistan suffer. Now they have also not increased the prices.Who is suffering now? Sincere advice. Do not to play with these outdated remarks & actions. Be truthful.
فروری2022میں عمران خان نے پٹرولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں میں نمایاں کمی اور اگلے 4ماہ تک قیمت میں کوئی اضافہ نہ کرنے کا اعلان کیا تھا آج قیمتوں میں اضافے کی سمری مسترد کرکے امپورٹڈ حکومت نے کوئی نیا ریلیف نہیں دیا انہوں نے تو پٹرول65روپے لٹر کا اعلان کرنا تھا#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور
اگر تو واقعی پیٹرول اور ڈیزل کی قیمتیں نہ بڑھانے کا فیصلہ کیا گیا ہے تو خوش آئند ہے، عمران خان کا یکم اگست تک عوام کو دیا گیا ریلیف برقرار رہنا چاہیے.#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور
Pakistan’s new Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday dismissed the proposal from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to raise the price of petroleum products for the fortnight. The recent decision is aimed at providing relief to the public affected by inflation.
It is worth noting that the present government’s choice to maintain the same prices will oblige it to provide another substantial subsidy till the end of April 2022.
اوگرا کی سمری مسترد، وزیر اعظم کا پیٹرولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں میں اضافہ نہ کرنے کا فیصلہ
Earlier, OGRA suggested to the Finance Division that the price of petrol be increased by Rs21.50 and that of diesel be hiked by Rs51.30 in view of the current petroleum levy and general sales tax (GST).
The authority also proposed a hike of Rs83.50 per liter of petrol and Rs119.88 per liter of diesel considering the federal government’s recommended petroleum levy of Rs30 and 17 per cent GST, as per the official statement.
Nearly 100 Palestinians suffered injuries when the Israeli security forces raided the Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Friday, according to Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera reported that the Islamic endowment that runs the site said Israeli Police entered in force before dawn on Friday, as thousands of worshippers were gathered at the mosque for early morning prayers.
“90 injured were transferred to Jerusalem hospitals and dozens of other injuries were treated in the field,” a Palestinian Red Crescent official told a French news agency, adding that they were due to rubber bullets, sound grenades, or assault.
Israeli occupation forces have raided Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem using tear gas and stun grenades ⤵️
The Israeli raid is likely to incite violence as a large number of worshipers are expected today for Friday prayers with “videos circulating online showed Palestinians throwing rocks and police firing tear gas and stun grenades”.
Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith shared a poster by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Abid Sher Ali, for calling a protest outside her home in London on Sunday, April 17.
“Protests outside my house, targeting my children, antisemitic abuse on social media. It’s almost like I’m back in 90s Lahore,” tweeted Jemima.
Protests outside my house, targeting my children, antisemitic abuse on social media…. It’s almost like I’m back in 90s Lahore. #PuranaPakistanpic.twitter.com/0R2YOPcQrJ
Reacting to the protest, Journalist Hamid Mir said, “PTI must stop protesting outside the house of Nawaz Sharif in London and PML-N should not do the same outside the house of Jemima Khan those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.”
PTI must stop protesting outside the house of @NawazSharifMNS in London and PML-N should not do the same outside the house of @Jemima_Khan those who live in glass houses should not throw stones on others https://t.co/Mce7mge9Xj
Jemima replied: “The difference is that I have got nothing to do with Pakistani politics and neither have my children. They are low-key private individuals who are not even on social media.”
The difference is that I have got nothing to do with Pakistani politics and neither have my children. They are low- key private individuals who are not even on social media.
As per reports, PML-N has decided to protest outside the home of the Goldsmiths in London on Sunday. Party representatives in the United Kingdom (UK) say that since Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters protest outside the home of Nawaz Sharif, they will also protest outside the home of Jemima where Khan’s sons and daughter live.
BREAKING: PMLN will stage a huge protest outside the residence of Jemima Goldsmith and her three children in London after Imran Khan asked his followers to target @NawazSharifMNS current residence in London where violence took place on weekend.
Abid Sher Ali dropped an unwarranted tweet: “There will be a protest outside the house of Imran Niazi’s ex-wife in London on Sunday. So that his children also know how mean their father is.”
اتوار کو لندن میں عمران نیازی کی سابقہ اہلیہ کے گھر کے باہر احتجاج ہوگا۔ تا کہ اس کے بچوں کو بھی پتا چلے ان کا باپ کتنا کمینہ ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/9GL6QqPOhR
He also replied to Goldsmith’s reaction, saying: “There is only one person responsible for this: Imran Khan. He has ordered attacks and protests outside homes of his political opponents, he incites hate, homophobia and terrorism on daily basis. Our protest will be peaceful and non-violent. Condemn Imran Khan.”
There is only one person responsible for this: Imran Khan. He has ordered attacks and protests outside homes of his political opponents, he incites hate, homophobia and terrorism on daily basis. Our protest will be peaceful and non-violent. Condemn Imran Khan. https://t.co/RHQyPaPlUh
