Category: Others

The Current is Pakistan’s first digital news-lifestyle platform and others that simplifies news for Pakistani millennials.

  • VIDEO: Teenage Shah speaks of dedicating five-wicket haul to late mother

    VIDEO: Teenage Shah speaks of dedicating five-wicket haul to late mother

    Fast bowler Naseem Shah who took a five-wicket haul in the last Test match against Sri Lanka, got emotional during a press conference while telling about how he wanted to dedicate this achievement to his mother but since she has recently passed away, he will now be dedicating it to his father.

    Naseem Shah has become the youngest fast bowler to claim five wickets in a Test match. He picked up the wickets of Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embduldeniya and Vishwa Fernando to finish with 5/31 in 12.5 overs.

    Pacer Shah — aged 16 year and 311 days — has also surpassed his countryman Mohammad Amir who had in 2009 claimed five wickets against Australia at the age of 17 years 257 days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

    Pacer Naseem’s mother had passed away in November while he was in Australia awaiting his Test debut. Shah later decided not to fly back home and stayed in Australia after consulting with his family members who advised him not to come back.

    Pakistan on Monday had claimed an historic 263-run victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Karachi and it took the team only three overs and just 15 minutes to wrap up the game.

    It was Pakistan’s first Test victory on home soil in over 13 years; their last victory in Pakistan also came in Karachi, against West Indies in November 2006.

  • The Current Quiz: Which chief justice of Pakistan are you?

    The Current Quiz: Which chief justice of Pakistan are you?

    With Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khan Khosa retiring and Justice Gulzar Ahmed being sworn in as the new top judge, The Current brings for you a personality quiz to find out which of the most popular CJPs are you.

    Edit quiz
  • BJP offers Indian citizenship to Musharraf after death sentence

    BJP offers Indian citizenship to Musharraf after death sentence

    Amid the ongoing protests across India against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has tweeted on granting “fast track” citizenship to former Pakistan president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, who has been sentenced to death for treason.

    “We can give Musharraf fast track citizenship since he is from Daryaganj and suffering persecution. All self-acknowledged descendants of Hindus are qualified in a new CAA to come,” Subramanian Swamy tweeted Thursday.

    On Tuesday, a special court in Pakistan had sentenced the former military ruler to death in the long-drawn high treason case against him.

    Meanwhile, for the past one week, widespread protests are taking place across India over the newly enacted CAA that provides citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who face religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan and arrived before December 31, 2014.

    The new law has been deemed anti-Muslim for being discriminatory.

  • ‘We’re patient’: Military reacts to detailed verdict in ex-chief’s treason case

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor on Thursday blasted the detailed judgement in the high treason case against former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, stating that the fears of the armed forces had proven true.

    “We direct the Law Enforcement Agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict [Musharraf] and to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk, Islamabad and hanged for three days,” one of the judges, Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), had stated in the verdict issued earlier in the day.

    Reacting to the verdict, the military spokesperson said that the words used in the written order “transgressed humanity, religion, culture and any other values”.

    “Pakistan Army is a responsible institution and its soldiers have taken an oath to protect the country. For the armed forces, the country comes first, and institutions later,” Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said as he addressed a short press conference hours after the detailed verdict was issued by the special court trying the ex-army chief for treason.

    “We will not let this stability be reversed under any circumstances,” he said, adding that the military knew how to defend the institution’s integrity, and would foil any attempts by external or internal enemies to destabilise the country.

    “We have been fighting conventional wars, then sub-conventional wars and now, we are facing a hybrid war,” he said. “We know the nature of this war and how to fight it.”

    The DG ISPR said that efforts were being made to weaken Pakistan externally. He said that some elements were trying to destabilise the country by making people fight with one another. “Some people are dreaming that they can defeat Pakistan. This will not happen. If we know about the threat, then our response is also in place.”

    He said that the prime minister (PM) and army chief had spoken in detail over the verdict, and the government would soon inform the nation about the decisions taken by the two.

    “The armed forces are not an institution, but are like a family,” Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said.

    REFERENCE AGAINST SETH:

    Meanwhile, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Anwar Mansoor Khan has strongly condemned the detailed verdict of the special court and said that the government would take action against the judge who proposed public hanging.

    Terming the judgement as “illegal, unconstitutional and immoral”, he said that an action would be taken against the judges concerned under Article 209 of the constitution.

    “I will take steps for declaring the verdict null and void after returning from Istanbul. This matter will be sent to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) of Pakistan for holding an inquiry against the judge,” the AGP said while talking to ARY News.

    He added that the verdict was seemingly given on the basis of personal enmity and a legal plea would be filed to nullify the verdict in accordance with the law. “It [the verdict] has damaged the reputation of the armed forces as it is an apparent attack against the institution.”

    “A person must not be allowed to continue to perform their duties as a judge when they are mentally ill. This position is not for a person who gives verdicts against the constitution, law and the religion,” he maintained.

    READ DETAILED VERDICT:

  • Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ reminds Shoaib Akhtar of himself

    Tom Cruise’s superhit Top Gun is getting a sequel after 34 years and trailer of the film has set the hearts of fans racing. Among those who were excited about the film was Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar.

    The legendary cricketer took to Twitter to express his anticipation for the film, adding that the character reminded him of himself.

    Meanwhile, the action-packed trailer shows Cruise returning as a flight school instructor after 30 years of service.

    In the follow-up, Maverick shows a new class of fighter pilots how to duck, dip and dive in the sky. Scenic views, fancy jets, bomber jacks and aviator sunglasses are generously featured in the film.

    The original film was a huge commercial success, grossing $356 million worldwide from a $15 million budget.

    Top Gun: Maverick is expected to hit theaters on June 26, 2020.

    Watch the trailer here:

  • ‘CJP Khosa’s statements about Musharraf’s case are fake,’ clarifies SC

    ‘CJP Khosa’s statements about Musharraf’s case are fake,’ clarifies SC

    The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has said that the statements of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa being aired and published by differnent news channels regarding former army cheif Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf’s high treason case are baseless and concocted.

    In a press release, the top court clarified that the fake news items have created an impression that CJP Khosa was personally involved in the progress of the case and he was giving directions to other judges.

    “Different benches of the supreme court of Pakistan had been hearing different aspects of the case of Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf and had passed various orders for the early disposition of the said case”

    “The Hon’ble Chief Justice had not issued any direction of any sort to the Special Court other than the judicial directions issued by the relevant benches of the Supreme Court in the above mentioned case,” the statement said.

    A few news channels and newspaper had earlier published statements of CJP Khosa saying that the treason case was clear and that Mushrraf was given many chances to present his views.

    On Tuesday, a special court awarded death sentence to former military dictator Musharraf in absentia for suspending the constitution on November 3, 2007.

  • VIDEO: Pakistani-origin British MP Afzal Khan takes oath in Urdu

    VIDEO: Pakistani-origin British MP Afzal Khan takes oath in Urdu

    Pakistan-origin British MP Afzal Khan who recently won in the general elections honoured his Pakistani roots by taking his oath in Urdu.

    Taking to Twitter, Afzal expressed his feelings on his win and shared the video of his oath-taking.

    “Thrilled to be back in Parliament as an MP for Manchester. I am proud to represent a city where over 200 languages are spoken,” Afzal wrote.

    At least 15 British citizens of Pakistani origin won seats in the United Kingdom’s (UK) General Elections.

    According to the results, most British-Pakistanis won their electoral contests from the Labour Party followed by the Conservative Party. UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson belongs to the Conservative Party.

    More than 70 candidates of Pakistani origin had been given tickets by Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrats parties for the first time, whereas, many contested the UK general election as independent candidates.

  • ‘Who’s trying to save their dad?’ Bilawal asks PM Imran

    A day after the government announced to review the death sentence awarded to former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has taken a dig at Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan by asking him that “who was trying to save their father”.

    “Who is running a ‘Save the Dad’ (abbu bachao) campaign?” the chairman of the country’s second-largest opposition party said in a tweet that apparently came in response to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ministers and the premier himself repeatedly calling out Bilawal and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz for launching “Save the Dad” campaigns.

    On Tuesday, a special court awarded death sentence to former military dictator Musharraf in absentia for suspending the constitution on November 3, 2007.

    While the counsel for the convict and the armed forces’ media wing in separate statements strongly criticised the decision that they said was taken “in haste”, opposition parties maintained that “justice had prevailed”.

    Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that the government will “review in detail” the ruling.

    “We will review in detail, today’s verdict as well as yesterday’s,” Dawn quoted her saying on Tuesday. She further said that legal experts would analyse all legal and political aspects as well as the impact on national interests, after which a government statement would be presented to the media.

    In response to a question about whether the government will bring Musharraf back to Pakistan, Awan said the government would assess the matter with its legal team. “The premier himself will look at the relevant ground realities and legal framework, following which a final decision will be taken.”

  • Death Penalty: Timeline of Musharraf’s high treason case

    Death Penalty: Timeline of Musharraf’s high treason case

    The special court on Tuesday handed over the death sentence to the former military dictator General (r) Pervez Musharraf after analysing the complaints, records, arguments and facts in the case for three months.

    The court ruled that it found Musharraf guilty of high treason according to Article 6 of the constitution.

    The special bench hearing the high treason comprised of Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Waqar Ahmad Seth Akbar and Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court (LHC). The bench was formed on the orders of the Supreme Court (SC).

    EXPLAINED: MUSHARRAF’S CRIMES, PUNISHMENT

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had in 2013 filed the treason case against Musharraf over the president’s imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007.

    Here is the timeline of the high treason case

    • July 22, 2009: The Supreme Court (SC) in an unprecedented move, calls Gen (r) Musharraf to defend his actions on November 3, 2007, following the president’s resignation after a nine-year rule on the country.
    • July 31, 2009: The SC rules that Musharraf’s decision to impose an emergency on November 3, 2007, as well as his PCO [Provisional Constitutional Order] were illegal and unconstitutional. The court gives him seven days to respond.
    • August 6, 2009: Musharraf refuses to answer the charges against him and leaves Pakistan for the United Kingdom (UK).
    • March 22, 2013: Musharraf plans to return to Pakistan after exile and gets a protective bail for 10 days in three high-profile cases against him.
    • March 27, 2013: Senior counsel A.K. Dogar, during a hearing pertaining to strict adherence to articles 62 and 63 during elections, refers to SC’s ruling on Musharraf’s actions on November 3, 2007. A.K Dogar argues that in overthrowing the constitution, Musharraf had committed the offence of high treason.
    • March 29, 2013: Sindh High Court (HC) grants an extension in bail for Musharraf, but rules that he cannot leave Pakistan without permission.
    • April 5, 2013: SC agrees to hear a petition seeking to prosecute the former military dictator under sections 2 and 3 of the High Treason (Punishment) Act 1973.
    • April 7, 2013: Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry withdraws himself from the three-member bench formed to hear the treason case against Musharraf.
    • April 8, 2013: Supreme Court summons Musharraf in the treason case against him. The court also instructs the interior ministry to add his name to the Exit Control List (ECL).
    • April 18, 2013: Musharraf after the cancellation of his bail application flees from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
    • April 19, 2013: The former president surrenders in a magistrate’s court in the judges’ detention case and his farmhouse residence at Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, is declared a sub-jail.
    • April 30, 2013: Peshawar High Court (PHC) bars Musharraf from ever contesting elections for either the National Assembly (NA) or the Senate.
    • June 5, 2013: IHC judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui recuses himself from hearing former president’s post-arrest bail plea in the judges’ detention case.
    • June 14, 2013: Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid distances himself from the 2007 emergency. Zahid says there was no question of him having allegedly abetted Musharraf as the proclamation of emergency came from the former dictator’s person. The minister also denies having had any contact with Musharraf.
    • June 24, 2013: Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif tells the NA that his government will request the SC to try Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution.
    • November 18, 2013: SC, headed by CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry, agrees to set up a special board to try Musharraf for high treason.
    • November 19, 2013: The PML-N government submits five charges of high treason against the former military ruler in a special court. A three-member bench to hear the treason case is also formed.
    • December 12, 2013: Special bench summons Musharraf to face treason charges.
    • December 20, 2013: Musharraf, in an interview, seeks “forgiveness” for any wrongs he may have committed during his rule on the country for nine-years.
    • January 2, 2014: Musharraf is shifted to hospital after suffering a “heart problem” while on his way to a special court hearing of the treason case. His arrest warrant is not issued on medical grounds.
    • January 7, 2014: The Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) submits former army chief’s medical report to special court, detailing that Musharraf is suffering from “triple-vessel coronary artery disease and eight other diseases”.
    • January 16, 2014: Special court orders AFIC to constitute a medical board to assess Musharraf’s health and to submit a detailed report. The medical board subsequently declares Musharraf to be in a “critical state” and recommends his treatment at a place of his choice.
    • January 28, 2014: Prosecution expresses lack of confidence in former army chief’s medical report and requests court to summon the AFIC head for cross-examination.
    • February 7, 2014: Special court once again orders Musharraf to appear in the treason case.
    • February 18, 2014: Musharraf after avoiding 22 consecutive hearings, finally appears in special court, but no charges are framed against him as the defence argues that the case should be heard in a military court.
    • February 21, 2014: Special court rules that Musharraf is not to be tried in a military court.
    • March 30, 2014: The former army chief is indicted for treason and pleads not guilty to all charges.
    • April 1, 2014: The PML-N government offers to fly former president’s ailing mother to Pakistan from Sharjah.
    • April 2, 2014: The PML-N government rejects Musharraf’s petition seeking the removal of his name from the no-fly list.
    • April 3, 2014: Musharraf petitions SC for the removal of his name from the ECL so he may travel abroad to visit his ailing mother.
    • May 14, 2014: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) declares it has “irrefutable proof” that former army chief illegally imposed emergency in 2007.
    • June 12, 2014: SHC strikes down the government’s order barring Musharraf from overseas travel, ruling that “not a single ground was mentioned in the memorandum placing the former president’s name on the ECL”.
    • June 13, 2014: Special court rejects former president’s plea for details of “abettors” who had suggested, endorsed or implemented the 2007 emergency.
    • June 14, 2014: The government moves SC against the SHC ruling allowing Musharraf to travel abroad.
    • June 23, 2014: The apex court suspends the SHC judgment allowing former military ruler to travel abroad until it decides the pending appeal.
    • September 8, 2014: Musharraf’s legal team gets hold of crucial evidence pointing towards then prime minister (PM) Shaukat Aziz’s role in the imposition of the November 3 emergency.
    • October 15, 2014: Musharraf’s defence team asks the special court for a collective trial of all his accomplices.
    • November 21, 2014: Special court directs the federal government to resubmit its complaint in the high treason case, this time including the names of former PM Shaukat Aziz, former law minister Zahid Hamid and former CJ Abdul Hameed Dogar to the charge-sheet.
    • December 22, 2015: The former president says he invoked emergency after consulting Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani among other civilian and military leaders.
    • March 14, 2016: Musharraf seeks one-time permission to go abroad on medical grounds.
    • March 16, 2016: SC orders the fovernemnt to remove Musharraf’s name from the no-fly list, allowing him to travel abroad on medical grounds.
    • March 18, 2016: The former president leaves for Dubai to seek medical treatment, promising to come back to his “beloved homeland” in a few weeks.
    • May 11, 2016: Special bench declares former army chief an absconder in the treason case.
    • March 29, 2018: Special court dissolves after Justice Yahya Afridi recuses himself from hearing the high treason case against Musharraf.
    • April 7, 2018: CJ Mian Saqib Nisar reconstitutes special bench hearing Musharraf high treason case.
    • May 31, 2018: Interior ministry, complying with the special court’s orders, asks the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports to suspend former army chief’s national identity card and passport.
    • June 7, 2018: SC allows Musharraf to run for polls on the condition that he appear in person before the court.
    • June 20, 2018: Former president says he was set to return to the country but SC’s orders barring authorities from arresting him made him change his mind.
    • July 30, 2018: Prosecution head in the high treason case against Musharraf quits.
    • August 3, 2018: Special court decides to resume the trial which was delayed due to Musharraf’s departure from Pakistan — beginning August 20.
    • August 20, 2018: Musharraf citing threats to his life, seeks presidential security to appear before the special court in the high treason case.
    • August 29, 2018: Special court is told that Interpol refuses to issue red warrants for former army chief’s repatriation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he has been living since 2016.
    • October 2, 2018: CJ Saqib Nisar grills Musharraf’s councel on the “brave commando’s” overdue return to the country.
    • October 24, 2018: APML discloses that former president is suffering from amyloidosis and has difficulty standing and walking.
    • November 19, 2018: Court tells Musharraf’s lawyer to convince former president to return and provide his itinerary so the high treason case could proceed.
    • March 31, 2019: Supreme Court orders Musharraf to appear before the special court in the treason case on May 2 or lose his right of defence.
    • April 1, 2019: SC, under CJ Asif Saeed Khosa, issues a decree telling the special bench to proceed in the high treason case without Musharraf’s statement if he fails to appear the following month.
    • June 11, 2019: SC orders NADRA to unblock former dictators’s CNIC and passport.
    • July 30, 2019: Prosecution head in high treason case against Musharraf quits.
    • October 8, 2019: Special court decides to hear the high treason trial on a daily basis from October 24.
    • October 24, 2019: The Pakistan Terhreeke Insaf (PTI) government sacks the prosecution team in the high treason case.
    • November 19, 2019: The special court concludes its proceedings in the treason case against Musharraf, saying that a verdict will be pronounced on November 28.
    • November 23, 2019: Former army chief petitions the Lahore High Court (LHC) to challenge the reservation of the judgment in the treason case.
    • November 25, 2019: The case takes a new turn as interior ministry files a petition in the IHC requesting it to set aside the special court’s decision to reserve a judgement in the case without hearing from the prosecution.
    • November 26, 2019: LHC accepts for hearing former president’s petition challenging the special court’s decision.
    • November 27, 2019: IHC stops special court from announcing verdict in Musharraf high treason case.
    • December 2019: Special court says it will announce the verdict in the case on Dec 17. Former army chief moves the LHC to stay the trial at the special court until his earlier petition pending adjudication by the high court is decided.
    • December 17, 2019: Special court hands Musharraf death sentence in the long-drawn high treason case against him.

  • Explainer: Musharraf’s crime, punishment as per law

    Former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday was sentenced to death by a special court hearing the high treason case against him.

    The case was reigstered against the ex-dictator for imposing a state of emergency on November 3, 2007, by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in 2013 under Article 6 of the counstitution.

    Here is what Article 6 says:

    “Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.”

    The second clause of the article maintains that any person aiding, abetting or collaborating in the acts will also be considered guilty of high treason; while clause 2A states that an act of high treason cannot be validated by any court, including the Supreme Court (SC) and a high court.

    The last clause directs the parliament to provide for the punishment of persons found guilty of high treason, and according to the High Treason (Punishment) Act, 1973, the punishment is death or lifetime imprisonment.

    STATE OF EMERGENCY:

    On November 3, 2007, the then president and chief of army staff (COAS) Musharraf issued a proclamation of emergency, which held the constitution in a state of temporary suspension.

    While he later resigned as army chief 25 days into the emergency on November 28, the state of emergency and its responses are generally attributed to the controversies surrounding his re-election during the presidential election on October 6, 2007, including his holding of both offices of president and COAS at the time.

    Coming to power six years later, Nawaz Sharif had announced putting the former military ruler on trial for treason, saying the former president had committed treason by abrogating the constitution and should be tried under the law.