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.

  • Hafeez Sheikh in, Ishaq Dar out; Rana Sanaullah says interim PM names shortlisted

    Hafeez Sheikh in, Ishaq Dar out; Rana Sanaullah says interim PM names shortlisted

    Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said on Sunday that former finance minister Hafeez Shaikh has been shortlisted among the names being discussed for caretaker prime minister.

    Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the National Assembly would be dissolved three days before the completion of its tenure, on August 9.

    The assembly will complete its term on August 12, in which case the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would be responsible for holding the election in the next 60 days.

    Speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Naya Pakistan’, Sanaullah said that the name of a retired judge of Supreme Court is also among the shortlisted candidates for caretaker PM.

    “The interim prime minister will be finalised by Tuesday or Wednesday (August 8 or 9),” he added.

    He also mentioned that the names of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi are not among the shortlisted candidates.

  • Swords, knives, missiles and kangaroos; ECP awards symbols to parties

    Swords, knives, missiles and kangaroos; ECP awards symbols to parties

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has allotted symbols to political parties as general elections loom nearer. The list of symbols is eccentric, becoming the subject of much hilarity on social media.

    A four-member bench led by ECP Sindh Member Nisar Durrani, allotted election symbols to 23 political parties as these parties have fulfilled the criteria.

    According to the Election Act 2017, holding intra-party election is a prerequisite to get the election symbol.

    ECP has allotted ‘sword’ as election symbol to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), ‘knife’ to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaniyat, ‘missile’ to Pakistan Peace Movement, ‘pistol’ to the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Pakistan, ‘victory’ (sign) to Pakistan People’s Party Workers, ‘fist’ to Pakistan People’s Party Shaheed Bhutto, ‘book’ to the JUIF, ‘ring’ to Rabita Jamiat-e-Islam, ‘cup’ to the People’s Muslim League, ‘bucket’ to Kisan Ittehad, ‘leaf’ to the Pakistan Awami Democratic Alliance, ‘kangaroo’ to All Pakistan United League, ‘moon’ to Hazara Democratic Party, ‘hockey’ to Pakistan Awami League, ‘waistcoat’ to the Movement of Dervishes Pakistan. Likewise, the commission allotted ‘takhti’ to JUI Ideological, ‘helmet’ to Modern Awami Party and ‘telephone’ to Tehreek-e-Azam Pakistan and ‘jug’ to Allah o Akbar Movement.

  • Khaqan, Bhootani in running for caretaker PM post

    Khaqan, Bhootani in running for caretaker PM post

    The names of independent lawmaker from Balochistan Aslam Bhootani and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi are also in the running for the post of caretaker PM, Geo News has reported.

    According to the report, coalition partners are currently having a Zoom meeting to share their views about the upcoming caretaker setup, as the tenure of this government is coming to an end.

    According to media reports, aome other names that are being considered include Ishaq Dar, Gohar Ejaz, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Dr. Hafeez Pasha, and former Chief Justice Tassaduq Jilani.

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, and other senior leaders are in the Zoom meeting.

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders have had several meetings about the upcoming caretaker setup, but no final decision has been made.

    Earlier, at a dinner hosted for allies, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed that the National Assembly will be dissolved on August 9, three days before the end of its tenure.

  • It’s “undeclared martial law” in Pakistan: Imran Khan

    It’s “undeclared martial law” in Pakistan: Imran Khan

    Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has said while talking to BBC HARDtalk that there is “undeclared martial law” in Pakistan, adding that “fascists” are leading the country and taking it into “dark ages”.

    Imran was elected in 2018 and ruled the country for four years. He was removed from office with a parliamentary no-confidence vote last year.

    According to Imran Khan, a free and fair election is the only solution for political stability in Pakistan.

    Stephen Sackur, the presenter, asked Imran Khan if it was true that there was the involvement of the army in the 2018 election.

    In response, Imran Khan said that it’s not true, asking that if there was involvement of the army establishment, then how did Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) clean sweep in by-elections.

    “How come, despite the establishment openly going against us, trying to dismantle us, how come after we are out of government, we won 30 out of 37 by-elections?”

    He also said that the establishment thinks that my removal from the government can weaken my party, “Normally, it happens when you’re out of power for quite a while. But instead, what happened was that the party’s popularity kept growing”.

    He also stated that PTI workers were not involved in the violent protests of May 9 and that there should be a fair investigation into this matter.

    Imran Khan also said, “They have tried everything. They have put 10,000 people in jail, including women and peaceful protesters.”

    He repeated that “The only solution to Pakistan is free and fair elections. That’s the only way we will get out of this mess.”

  • PM Shehbaz has huge announcement for youth

    PM Shehbaz has huge announcement for youth

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Youth Hub Portal’ has been launched on Thursday.

    The portal unites all of the initiatives the government has initiated to support the youth’s development.

    At the ceremony, Sharif gave his word that the government will use all of its resources and try everything in its power to empower young people.

    He claimed that through the initiative, easy-to-repay loans are given to high-achieving girls and boys so that they may support themselves. To date, 30 billion rupees in loans have been given to deserving, talented youth.

    The Premier pointed out that the government is also providing laptops to deserving students as part of the scheme, while millions of rupees worth of computers have already been handed to young people so they can pursue higher education.

    The current administration has allotted 80 billion rupees for youth development throughout the course of the current fiscal year.

    Shehbaz Sharif stated that young people can register on the Digital Youth Hub Portal to receive financial aid and benefit from government initiatives aimed at improving their well-being.

    Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, said that the portal
    will integrate all the steps and programmes launched across the country for youth development.

  • Central leader Iftikhar Durrani ‘abducted’, PTI claims

    Central leader Iftikhar Durrani ‘abducted’, PTI claims

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has said that a central leader of the party, Iftikhar Durrani, went “missing” from Islamabad on Thursday.
    PTI said in a statement that the core member of the party was “kidnapped” from the capital city of the country.

    Iftikhar Durrani, a former special assistant on media to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, was considered a close aide of the PTI chairman.

    Despite the passage of multiple hours, as yet there is still no information about the PTI leader’s whereabouts.

    PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari strongly condemned the “abduction” of Iftikhar Durrani.

  • Trump indicted for third time for trying to overturn 2020 US election

    Trump indicted for third time for trying to overturn 2020 US election

    Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted for the third time in a case pertaining to attempts at overturning the results of the 2020 election which Joe Biden won. Since he began his 2024 Republican primary campaign, he has been the first former US president to face three felony indictments in history. No other president, living or dead, has ever faced criminal charges.

    In a previous post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated his expectations clearly and said that special counsel Jack Smith intended to bring forth another “Fake Indictment” against him.

    “I hear that Deranged Jack Smith, in order to interfere with the Presidential Election of 2024, will be putting out yet another Fake Indictment of your favourite President, me, at 5:00 P.M. Why didn’t they do this 2.5 years ago? Why did they wait so long? Because they wanted to put it right in the middle of my campaign. Prosecutorial Misconduct!”

    The allegations are part of a larger probe into what Trump did as president and afterwards. The investigation, which also includes claims of improper handling of top-secret government records while Trump was in office, is being overseen by special counsel Jack Smith.
    In connection with alleged attempts to hide these documents from the government, Trump was slammed with 37 counts earlier this year. Last week, he was also charged with additional counts for allegedly attempting to remove surveillance footage from his Mar-a-Lago resort.

  • Constable’s rampage on Jaipur-Mumbai train leaves officer and three Muslim passengers dead

    Constable’s rampage on Jaipur-Mumbai train leaves officer and three Muslim passengers dead

    In a shocking incident onboard the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express, an RPF constable allegedly fired shots resulting in the demise of his superior officer and three other passengers. The incident took place on Monday morning and the accused has since surrendered to the police.

    The alleged perpetrator, identified as Chetan Singh, is reported to have triggered the train’s alarm chain and disembarked at Borivali station in a bid to evade capture. The victims of the shooting spree have been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Tikaram Meena, Abdul Qadir(48), Akhtar Abbas Ali(48), and Sadar Mohammed Hussain.

    Sources from Western Railway suggest that the altercation leading to the shootings had escalated from an argument that assumed a communal dimension. P C Sinha, Inspector General cum Principal Chief Security Commissioner of Western Railway, attributed Singh’s actions to his mental health issues. “Constable Chetan Singh had just returned from leave and shot his superior first and then those who were in his path,” stated Sinha.

    After shooting a Muslim man Singh said “If you wish to stay in India, then just Modi and Yogi”.

    Authorities have apprehended Singh and handed him over to the railway police for further investigations. The motive behind the tragic incident is still being investigated. This unsettling incident has shaken the railway community and raised questions about mental health checks and firearm access for railway personnel.

  • SC reserves verdict on new plea for full court on civilians in military courts case

    SC reserves verdict on new plea for full court on civilians in military courts case

    A six-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a new plea seeking formation of a full bench to decide the fate of the case pertaining to military trials of civilians.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha A. Malik were part of the bench.

    Senior Counsel Faisal Siddiqi had submitted the fresh plea on Monday at the behest of civil society members, asking that “all judges willing and available” be included in the bench.

    The Supreme Court reserved its verdict after discussing the matter during the hearing with other petitioners.

    During the hearing, Justice Naqvi said the law did not give permission to “pick and choose”, asking why the inquiry against civilians was not brought on record. Justice Bandial asked if Faisal Siddiqi was “hiding”, upon which he was told that the lawyer had stepped outside for some work and would be back soon.

    The apex court has already once disposed of the government’s plea to formulate a full bench.

    The reserved verdict will most likely be announced tomorrow.

  • Bajaur bombing death toll climbs to 54

    Bajaur bombing death toll climbs to 54

    The number of deaths in the suicide bombing that ripped through a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl ( JUI-F) workers conventions on Sunday had climbed up to 54, Samaa has reported.

    Officials have told the news channel that more than 200 people are wounded while dozens are still receiving treatment in various hospitals.

    While 38 bodies have been handed over for burial to families after identification, eight bodies are still in morgues as they are not identifiable. Doctors fear that the number of dead may rise even more.

    As relatives search for loved ones in different hospitals, the district grapples with brief as funerals take place.

    Meanwhile, the Counter Terrorism Department and police investigative units continue their investigation of the suicide bombing.