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.

  • May 9 riots: National Commission for Human Rights releases fact-sheet on the condition of prisoners

    National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has complied a fact sheet on the allegations of torture and sexual abuse of prisoners who were arrested in connection with May 9 riots. The report has been compiled in collaboration with Justice Project Pakistan and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

    The fact-sheet read that one third of male prisoners complained about the use of force during arrest. The brief report further added that most prisoners were not told about the grounds of the arrest.

    However, contrary to the allegations made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, no female prisoner complained about torture or sexual abuse.

    As per the report, most jails were overcrowded, housing prisoners beyond their official capacity, while most prisoners were unaware of their rights.

  • Bilawal reminds Imran of the similar US-India statement issued during his time as PM

    Bilawal reminds Imran of the similar US-India statement issued during his time as PM

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday, took to twitter to blame the present government for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States (US) President Joe Biden’s joint statement that asked Pakistan to stop supporting terrorism.

    “Gen Bajwa along with his PDM cronies claimed that I had isolated Pakistan internationally. The question we want to ask him and PDM is that after a year in government and countless trips of Pakistan’s FM to the US, the joint India/US statement reduces Pakistan to a promoter of cross-border terrorism in India and nothing more. No balancing statement about the gross human rights abuse in Kashmir or the appalling treatment of minorities (esp Muslims) in India. So now the imported govt experiment has not just made Pakistan irrelevant internationally but our democracy, rule of law and the entire economic and institutional structure is also collapsing right in front of our eyes,” wrote Imran while sharing the screenshot of the statement.

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in response to Imran Khan’s tweet, shared a screenshot of a US-India joint statement released after the Modi-Trump meeting of 2020, during Imran Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister. The statement issued during Imran Khan’s government and the statement issued this week have identical wording.

    Bilawal added a playful emoji in his tweet.

  • Lal Masjid’s Maulana Abdul Aziz booked for firing at police

    Lal Masjid’s Maulana Abdul Aziz booked for firing at police

    Lal Masjid’s Maulana Abdul Aziz has been booked on terror charges along with four others, for opening fire on police officials on Wednesday.

    The case was registered at a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station. The first information report (FIR) invokes six sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including 324 (attempt to commit murder), as well as sections 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) and 11E (measure to be taken against a proscribed organization) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

    On Wednesday, a CTD team went to the Lal Masjid area to ask him to present himself for answering queries. However, a “suspicious” vehicle opened fire on the police.

    According to the FIR, Aziz’s name is listed in the ATA’s fourth category, which states that anyone suspected of supporting terrorism must be kept under watch.

    The FIR further said Aziz and other people in the car opened fire on the cops with the intention of killing them.

  • PTI issues notice to Khattak over ‘inciting’ members to leave the party

    PTI issues notice to Khattak over ‘inciting’ members to leave the party

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has issued a notice to former Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Pervaiz Khattak over allegedly asking party members to leave the party.
    Omar Ayub Khan, newly appointed General Secretary of PTI, issued a notice to Khattak to explain his position in writing within seven days.

    The show-cause notice reads, “It has come to the notice of the party leadership that you are contacting party members and inciting them to leave the party. In view of these reported activities, you are hereby called to explain yourself in writing within seven days of this notice.”

    It is also mentioned in the notice that if Khattak’s reply is found unsatisfactory or he doesn’t respond, further action will be taken according to party policy.

    Earlier, Asad Umar, former secretary-general of PTI, stirred a hornet’s nest by stating in an interview with ARY’s Kashif Abbasi that he does not agree with party Chairman Imran Khan’s strategies.

  • HumSabKiBenazir: Twitter remembers Benazir Bhutto Shaheed on her 70th Birthday

    HumSabKiBenazir: Twitter remembers Benazir Bhutto Shaheed on her 70th Birthday

    Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is being remembered today on her 70th birth anniversary.
    She was born on June 21, 1953 and passed away on December 27, 2007, at the age of 54.

    Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the daughter of Benzair Bhutto, wrote in a tweet, “Shaheed Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto led Pakistan through its darkest hours, and her legacy can guide us out of darkness today.”

    PPP leaders, members and Twitter users are remembering the trailblazer on her on her 70th Birthday:

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  • Here are all the perks that past, present and future chairman Senate might be getting soon

    Here are all the perks that past, present and future chairman Senate might be getting soon

    On last Friday, the Senate unanimously passed a private member bill that gives many privileges to present and retired Chairmen of the Upper House, The News has reported.

    According to sources, the National Assembly has also approved the bill and it will now be sent to the President for his approval.

    When the bill will be enforced, current chairman and ex-chairman Senate will be possibly getting the following perks and privileges:

    -Every chairman of the Senate after completing his tenure (post-retirement) will 12 employees for life, along with six permanent guards and VVIP security wherever he goes.
    -He can request an airplane for himself and his family for domestic and international travel.

    -He will get additional benefits, not mentioned in the bill, or whatever he desires from the finance committee, which he handpicks.

    -Every person who has held the office of Chairman for a full term of three years, shall be entitled for life to full security detail, that is to say, six sentries at the declared residence, four personnel of police, anti-terrorism force, rangers, frontier corps or frontier constabulary in one squad vehicle, for which the federal government in Islamabad, or a provincial government in the respective province, shall make the required arrangements.

    -The Finance Committee of the Senate may grant the chairman and the person who has held such office for a full term of three years, such additional privileges as it may deem fit

    -The chairman of the Senate will be entitled to the protocol of deputy head of state or vice president. For his foreign travel, he shall also be entitled to requisition at the cost of government an airplane belonging to the federal, provincial government, armed forces, any flying club or any chartered air service provider.

    -The chairman shall be allowed to take with him one member of his family when travelling by a commercial airplane or four members of his family when travelling by a requisitioned airplane.

    -Free telephone facility at residence, official residence, free furnishing at the cost of public money, free official vehicles for self and family, free petrol, sumptuary allowance, allowance on taking up and laying down the office, equipment allowance, TA/DA are in addition to the salary of the chairman.

  • ‘Wanted to go to Italy for better earning opportunities’: Family members of Greece boat tragedy tells how their loved ones reached the deadly boat

    ‘Wanted to go to Italy for better earning opportunities’: Family members of Greece boat tragedy tells how their loved ones reached the deadly boat

    Family members of two victims of the migrant boat tragedy appeared in Geo news’s programme Naya Pakistan and disclosed how their loved ones made it to the ill-fated boat.

    Syed Shahid, the uncle of two boys aged around 15 and 16, said that they do not know about the whereabouts of the nephews, adding that no officials have contacted them yet.

    He added that the agent who sent his nephews abroad belongs to Kotli Nowshera, Sialkot. He further said that the agent came to them a day before the incident and lied to them that his nephews had reached safely. He said that we later found out on Monday that the ship had sunk, after which we went to the agent’s home but there was no one there.

    “The agent told them he would take my nephews to Libya by air, and then their journey would be completed on a cargo ship,” he said. Shahid further revealed that they gave 47 lacs to the agent for his two nephews. He continued by adding that they both took 15 lacs with them in dollars.

    He told the anchor that his nephews left Pakistan on May 19 and boarded the boat on June 9. In their last message, his nephews informed them that they were not placed on the promised ship, instead, they were seated on fishing vessels.

    He said that they wanted to go to Italy for better earning opportunities.

    Luqman Yaqab, whose brother and cousin were on the ship, said that he is in contact with the agent, who has informed them that there is a possibility that his brother and cousin were on a different ship.

    He further said that his brother was 17 years of age and his cousin was around 29 to 30 years, adding that they both left Pakistan in January for Dubai, then they went to Egypt, from Egypt then they went to Libya.

    Luqman said that they were unaware of the fact that his brother and cousin are taking an illegal route.

    The prime minister has constituted a four-member high-level committee to investigate the tragic incident.

  • ‘I made anthems for Imran Khan, but now I’m ashamed’: Attaullah EsaKhailvi.

    ‘I made anthems for Imran Khan, but now I’m ashamed’: Attaullah EsaKhailvi.

    According to a news report, famous singer Attaullah Esakhailvi has said that he made party anthems and supported Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), but now he’s ashamed of doing so.

    Attaullah Esakhailvi also said that he strongly condemns the events of May 9 and will always support Pak Army. He added that Pakistan’s existence is due to the military.

    The well-known Saraiki singer has stated that the culprits of May 9 should be punished according to the law.

    The incident of May 9 has deeply saddened the whole nation, he added.

    In the past, Attaullah Esakahilvi made several political anthems for PTI and was a diehard supporter of Imran Khan.

  • Imran Khan’s former principal secretary goes missing

    Imran Khan’s former principal secretary goes missing

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said in a tweet that his former principal secretary Azam Khan has gone missing.
    “Azam Khan, who was my Principal Secretary, has gone missing since last evening. Anyone who was perceived to be close to me is targeted,” he wrote.

    In his tweet, Khan also condemned the attack on the residence of the former Governor of Punjab, Latif Khosa.

    “Also I strongly condemn the attack on ex governor Latif Khosa’s house last night just because he has been critical of the fascism unleashed on our nation,” he added.

    On Thursday night, unidentified persons attacked the residence of Latif Khosa, in the Defense area of Lahore.
    Latif’ Khosa’s driver got injured while he remained safe.
    The attacker managed to run away from the spot after firing.

  • Senator Talha Mahmood’s dedication shines through in Hajj 2023 preparations

    Senator Talha Mahmood’s dedication shines through in Hajj 2023 preparations

    Good news for this year’s pilgrims, as Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Senator Mr Muhammad Talha Mahmood has announced that after his tremendous hard work the Arrangement for Hajj 2023 has been successfully completed and pilgrims who participated in the government scheme will not incur additional costs for their sacrifices. Senator faced alot of obstacles to achieve this but with a clear vision and dedication he made it happen. With the constant efforts by the Senator, Pilgrims who had previously paid extra costs under the government scheme have been refunded successfully.

    Mr. Muhammad Talha Mahmood ensured all arrangements and facilities for the pilgrims under his supervision by working day and night. After countless meetings, committee hearings, and several interactions, the Senator made it happen. Furthermore, Hajj assistants will be responsible for offering food, accommodation, transportation and medical facilities to the Pakistani pilgrims. They will depart to Saudia Arabia in different groups along with the pilgrims.If it wasn’t for Mr.

    Muhammad Talha Mahmood, these productive changes in the arrangements of the Hajj wouldn’t be possible.

    The Senator emphasized the crucial role of Hajj assistants, who will accompany pilgrims in different batches to Saudi Arabia. These assistants have been entrusted with the responsibility of providing essential services such as food, accommodation, transportation, and medical facilities to the Pakistani pilgrims. Their presence and expertise will help alleviate any concerns pilgrims may have, allowing them to focus solely on their spiritual journey.

    Pakistan has been granted a quota of 179,000 pilgrims for this year’s Hajj. Among them, 85,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj in the public sector, while 89,000 will do so in the private sector. This allocation signifies the significance Pakistan holds in the global Muslim community, as well as the Senator’s commitment to ensuring that a broad spectrum of pilgrims can benefit from the government’s initiatives.

    Another initiative was taken by the Senator for the convenience of the Hajj pilgrims. Pilgrims leaving from Pakistan will be able to do the immigration at their respective airports. This will allow the official Hajj pilgrims to save time after arriving in the kingdom as they would be fulfilling all the immigration requirements at the airport of origin.

    Furthermore, the Senator has launched a complaint portal for all the participants where they can easily file complaints or make any suggestions. This new initiative was funded by the Senator personally, to efficiently solve, manage and receive the complaints. More than 10,000 complaints by Pilgrims were registered on the portal already and they were solved efficiently by

    the Senator. The senator emphasized that any negligence done by the pilgrim’s assistants would not be tolerated.