Category: Politics

News stories of Politics, for the topics that matter the most to young professionals and college students, political news reported with a different angle.

  • Mohsin Naqvi requests PTI to postpone protests

    Mohsin Naqvi requests PTI to postpone protests

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has requested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership to postpone the party’s protests scheduled for today at Islamabad D Chowk.

    Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Naqvi said, “We have requested PTI leadership yesterday that this is not the right time to protest; it is their right to protest but not the way they are doing.”

    On sealing the roads of Islamabad, he apologetically said, “We have to ensure the security of our guests who are coming from Peshawar. We have to make them realise that they are in a safe country.”

    The e incumbent government is requesting PTI to delay its protests because the Prime Minister (PM) Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim is in Pakistan, while top officials of Saudi Arabia and China are going to visit Pakistan soon.

    Meanwhile, PTI leader Zain Qureshi said that if the government delays tabling constitutional amendments till October 23, then their party would also delay the protests and rally, adding: “All issues will be resolved.”

  • Islamabad complete seal ho gya, Lahore ma Rangers pohanch gai

    Islamabad complete seal ho gya, Lahore ma Rangers pohanch gai

    As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prepares for what it has said will be peaceful protests in Islamabad, the federal capital has been entirely sealed off, including major roads.

    The local administration of Islamabad has imposed section 144 while mobile phone services have been suspended in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and all link roads have also been blocked. Security is on high alert, and double-layer containers have been put on the Faizabad bridge, Geo News reported.

    Barbed wires have been placed at D Chowk Islamabad, and additional police and rangers have also been deployed; Capital police have arrested three individuals from D Chowk till now.

    Precariously, the Islamabad expressway has been sealed in various locations. The metro bus in Rawalpindi has also been suspended till further notice. And Motorcycle pillion riding is also banned.

    Punjab Interior Ministry has also imposed section 144 in Rawalpindi, Attock and Sargodha. Rangers have been called in at Lahore, Rawalpindi and Attock.

    A notification issued by the Punjab Interior Ministry stated that three company services of Rangers have been requisitioned for October 5 in Lahore.

    Lahore’s entry points have also been halted with containers including Babu Sabu interchange, Thokar Niaz Baig, and Lahore Sialkot motorway.

  • Netizens react hilariously to Ali Muhammad Khan’s post on 63-A verdict

    Netizens react hilariously to Ali Muhammad Khan’s post on 63-A verdict

    Social media users criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senator Ali Muhammad Khan for a tweet he posted after the Supreme Court’s October 3 decision to withdraw the 2022 verdict on the interpretation of Article 63-A of the constitution.

    In a major relief to the government, the Supreme Court on Thursday accepted a review petition against its 2022 verdict regarding the defection clause under Article 63-A.

    In its 2022 verdict, the SC had ruled that votes of elected members of the parliament that are against the parliamentary party’s decision should not be counted in voting.

    The PTI senator took to X (formerly Twitter), to post, “Horse Trading ”.

    Social media was taken aback at the short post. “Ali Khan sb; I urge you to take action and lead protests instead of focusing on tweets only! You were once looked upto by so many; now your allegiance is being questioned?! Please stand up for the people before people eventually stand up against all!”

    Another PTI-affiliated account commented: “Taqreer ready rakhen janab.”

    One X user quoted his tweet, writing, “Qazi just reversed his decision after this tweet.”

    And one user wrote, “Is say ziada mehnat tu yeh baal straight krnay main lga deta hai.”

  • Ex-President Dr Arif Alvi’s clinic sealed in Karachi

    Ex-President Dr Arif Alvi’s clinic sealed in Karachi

    A dental clinic operated by former President of Pakistan and PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi was sealed by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) in Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society for running a“commercial operation in a residential building”.

    A notice posted on the entrance of the clinic states that “the premise of the subject plot is hereby sealed on account of unauthorized construction.”

    Dawn reports that the SBCA spokesman confirmed the notice calling it a “routine job” from the officials.

    A team led by one of the Sindh Building Control Authority’s assistant directors visited the clinic on Thursday evening, stopped the staff from performing their regular activities, sealed the clinic, and put a notice outside the premises.

    PTI Karachi spokesperson Fauzia Siddiqi termed the SBCA action a “vendetta” against the party from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and its ally in Sindh, the Pakistan Peoples Party.

    PTI’s official account reacted to the news by blaming it on the PPP government: “These fascist moves really show the ugly side of People’s Party’s politics, completely exposing their fake claims of standing for democracy and human rights.

    The former President’s son Awab Alvi took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their side of the story in which he claimed that first, a motorcyclist without a number plate surveyed the area and then a group of people arrived, claiming to be from Sindh Healthcare commission asking to be allowed inspection of the clinic but they left. Eventually, by night a team of “heavy handed thugs arrived” claiming to be from SBCA and sealed the clinic after a heated argument.

    As per Awab, the clinic has been operational since 1992, and if there had been a violation, they could have easily responded to a notice. He termed the decision to be a result of Dr Arif Alvi’s recent aggression in a press conference in Lahore against the “Supreme Court’s shameful judgment on 63-A” and meeting “incarcerated PTI leaders”.

  • PTI leadership fears seven lawmakers may change loyalties

    PTI leadership fears seven lawmakers may change loyalties

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has voiced concern that some of their Members of National Assembly (MNAs) might change their loyalties towards the ruling coalition government amidst constitutional amendments.

    In a background briefing on Thursday, PTI party officials claimed that they had “lost confidence” in seven of their lawmakers in the National Assembly and added that steps are being taken to ensure that they do not change their allegiance to the incumbent government, Dawn News reported.

    Responding to yesterday’s Supreme Court verdict over the 63A review case declaring that defected lawmaker vote would be counted, PTI officials said, “We have decided that our legislators will not attend any session of parliament until Oct 25.”

    PTI officials further disclosed that two coalition government MNA’s are in touch with the opposition party, who had given assurances that they would stay away from parliament when constitutional amendments were tabled.

    “PTI legislators cannot imagine changing their loyalty because of the pressure of the workers,” they concluded.

  • Imran Khan ki attendance na lagwane par Adiala jail authorities ko notice jari

    Imran Khan ki attendance na lagwane par Adiala jail authorities ko notice jari

    Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad has issued a show cause notice to Adiala Jail authorities over the absence of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, before the court via video link.

    On the hearing of vandalism in the Long March case, Islamabad ATC judge Tahir Abbas remarked that it has been said in the jail report that the internet is not available and online attendance can’t happen of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Lambasting the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi authorities, Abbas said there were similar reports yesterday and added that the court is now issuing the show cause notice to relevant authorities again.

    ATC court further said that they would write in the notice to present incarcerated Imran Khan physically in the court if the internet is not available.

    However, the hearing was adjourned until October 21.

  • Supreme Court overturns 2022 verdict on Article 63A

    Supreme Court overturns 2022 verdict on Article 63A

    A larger five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, has accepted the review petition of Article 63A filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

    The ruling given in May 2022 by a five-member larger bench headed by former CJ Umar Ata Bandial on Article 63A has been struck down by the apex court’s larger bench with a 5-0 majority.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa stated that Article 63A is redundant as the constitution already addresses the issue clearly, and added that judges can’t write the constitution.

    The five-member bench included Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhail, along with CJP Qazi Faez Isa.

    A recent top court five member bench verdict by 3-2 stated that parliament members who vote against their parliamentary leader will be considered deviant, and their vote will also be not counted.

    It should be mentioned here that the verdict of May 17, 2022 was authored by Justice Munib Akhtar.

    However, the detailed review case verdict of Article 63A will be issued soon.

    Article 63A noted that parliamentary members will lose their seats if they vote against the command of the party chief.

    However, it is not stated that parliamentary vote can’t be counted.

    During the hearing, Qazi Faez Isa stated that political parties are not subject to the authority of a judge or Chief Justice.

    Counsel of founder Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Barrister Ali Zafar, objected to the composition of the bench on behalf of his client. As a result, the Supreme Court appointed him as judicial assistant.

    Barrister Ali Zafar told the members of the larger bench that the parliamentary party directed the parliament members to vote in parliament and added that the Chief Parliamentary party could send ineligible references to parliamentary members if his order defied.

    In response, the Chief Justice declared the vote against the party “a suicide attack.”

  • Four Adiala jail officials dismissed over prisoner murder inquiry

    Four Adiala jail officials dismissed over prisoner murder inquiry

    The Punjab government has terminated four officials from Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, including Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Akram and Assistant Superintendent Riaz Khan.

    A notification issued by the Punjab government read that officials were dismissed after being found guilty in an inquiry into the murder of a prisoner in Adiala jail.

    It further read that the inquiry was initiated on February 29 following the death of a prisoner in the cells. The inquiry declared seven officials guilty, including Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Akram, and four of them were recommended by the Punjab government to be dismissed from employment.

    It should be mentioned here that Deputy Superintendent of Adiala jail Rawalpindi Muhammad Akram, along with other officials, were also apprehended over the allegation of the facilitation of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan in Rawalpindi Adiala jail.

  • Fiery exchange in Supreme Court: PTI worker threatens larger bench

    Fiery exchange in Supreme Court: PTI worker threatens larger bench

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker Mustafeen Kazmi has threatened the five members of a larger bench of the Supreme Court amidst the review hearing of Article 63A case.

    During the hearing on Wednesday at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Mustafeen Kazmi came to the rostrum and declared the larger five-member bench unconstitutional, threatening, “We have 500 workers outside; will see how you give a verdict against them,” Geo News has reported.

    Responding to the misbehaving of PTI worker Kazmi, CJP Qazi Faez Isa directed him to sit down, but he refused. Then, Isa politely directed the police to evacuate this gentleman from the courtroom.

    “What else you can do,” Kazmi responded.

    Addressing PTI lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar, the Chief Justice questioned what is happening in the courtroom: “Ali Zafar Sahab aap ayyein or hamain bay izzat karain, yeh hum hargiz bardasht nahi karaingy, judges sey badtameezi ka yeh tareeqa ab aam hu gaya hai (Ali Zafar, you came here and disrespected us {judges}, we won’t tolerate it, and now it has become the norm to misbehaved with judges).”

    Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail clearly told Zafar that any sympathy they had for him had faded away following his behaviour.

    Ali Zafar responded by stating that the members of the bench forming committee are part of the bench and questioned how they can declare the formation of the bench legal. In response, the Chief Justice remarked that if they consider this point, then members of the committee judges won’t be part of any bench.

    Later, the apex court adjourned the hearing till tomorrow at 11:30 AM.

  • Is the milk supply contract in Punjab granted to Fauji Foundation?

    Is the milk supply contract in Punjab granted to Fauji Foundation?

    A recent Geo Fact Check story reveals that the Punjab government has awarded the contract for its nutrition program to a private company instead of the Fauji Foundation, which will provide free milk to school children. The project is worth Rs 27 billion.

    Initially, it was claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s newly launched school nutrition programme, under which milk cartons will be provided free to children in primary government schools, was given to Fauji Foods Limited.

    Online claims also stated that Fauji Foods Limited will get a profit of Rs 7.1 billion through the deal.

    However, the reality is that the contract for the nutrition project has gone to Metro Pakistan Private Limited and not Fauji Foods Limited, a Punjab government official and a Metro employee confirmed to Geo Fact Check.

    A focal person for the Punjab Education Minister, Fahad Nisar, told Geo Fact Check in a written reply that only Metro Pakistan has been awarded the contract to supply milk packets to children in three districts of the province, including Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffar. Garh and Rajanpur.

    Additionally, he said that the agreement with Metro is valid till May 30, 2025.

    An advertisement for the project was published in May this year, after which four companies were qualified for the bidding process, but only two (Engro Pakistan and Metro Pakistan) submitted their bids.

    Fauji Foods did not even apply for the project.

    The focal person revealed that among the submitted bids, Metro’s was the lowest.

    “The price of Ultra High Temperature (UHT) full cream milk in Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh, including fortnightly delivery, is Rs 64 per 175 ml and Rs 63.75 for Rajanpur,” the official told Geo FactCheck.

    Metro Pakistan also confirmed that there is an active agreement between Metro Pakistan and District Education Authorities in Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh.

    It also denied that the contract was a joint venture with any other company. The total value of the contract, including taxes, is five billion rupees.

    Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz announced a Rs. 27 billion plan to provide free milk to young children in the province to combat stunting.

    The project was initially launched in Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, and Rajanpur, where malnutrition and stunting rates are highest.