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.

  • Exclusive: You will not believe how many languages PM Shehbaz Sharif can speak

    Exclusive: You will not believe how many languages PM Shehbaz Sharif can speak

    Prime Minister (PM) Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday during a two-day official visit. During the meeting, he had an informal conversation with the president in Russian language, which left many shocked.

    Earlier, when the Premier’s videos of conversing in other languages went viral, The Current reached out to Prime Minister (PM) Focal Person on Digital Media, Muhammad Abubakar Umer, to confirm exactly how many languages the premier can speak.

    He said that the premier is fluent in German, Arabic and English along with Punjabi and Urdu. According to him, PM Shehbaz can speak basic level Turkish, Chinese, Russian, Pashtu and Sindhi.

    The focal person revealed that PM Shehbaz learned Arabic formally while in exile during former President General Pervez Musharraf’s era. To our surprise, we also got to know that the premier holds a diploma in Arabic.

    According to Abubakar, PM Shehbaz knows a total of ten languages.

    “He learned Chinese and Turkish during his tenure as Chief Minister (CM) Punjab from 2013 to 2018 as at the time he had to engage with Chinese and Turkish officials for China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” said Abubakar.

    He learned German and Russian during the 1970s and 80s for his business dealings. “At the time, he was not in government”, said Abubakar.
    Abubakar also revealed that before going to any foreign country, PM Shehbaz hires an instructor who informs him about the cultural aspects of the country, how people greet each other and what social norms are appreciated there.

  • Firdous Ashiq Awan made Central Secretary Information of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party

    Firdous Ashiq Awan made Central Secretary Information of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party

    Jahangir Khan Tareen has confirmed in a tweet that former federal minister Fridous Ashiq Awan will be the Central Secretary Information of his newly launched Istehkam-e-Pakistan party.

    Tareen has already tweeted about the designations of other party members including Auwn Chaudhary, Aleem Khan and Amir Mahmood Kiyani, all three considered close aides of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. Tareen himself was once considered one of the key figures in PTI, largely credited for getting independent candidates to join the party in 2018, paving the way for the formation of a coalition government.

    Firdous Ashiq Awan has previously held information portfolios in various governments.
    In 2019, she was appointed as special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan for information and broadcasting. On November 2, 2020, she got appointed as Special Assistant for information to Chief Minister Punjab, Usman Buzdar.

  • ‘How can I provide evidence when I could not register an FIR against Gen Faisal’: Imran Khan

    ‘How can I provide evidence when I could not register an FIR against Gen Faisal’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has addressed news reports about his appearance in front of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on Monday. Taking to Twitter, the former Prime Minister asked how could provide evidence against Major General Faisal Naseer when he was unable to register an FIR against him. Khan added, if the investigation were independent, he would prove that Naseer has been involved in crimes against citizens of Pakistan.

    “Firstly, I own everything what I said in the videos. Question is, how can I provide evidence when I could not register an FIR against Gen Faisal Naseer who I know was not only behind the plot to assassinate me (along with Rana Sanaullah and Shehbaz Sharif) but also in the cover up that followed where he sabotaged the JIT report which had concluded that three shooters were involved,” he wrote.
    He went on to add, “However, were there to be an independent investigation, I would prove that he has been involved in the worst crimes against our citizens.”

    Imran reportedly told the (JIT) that he has no proof that DGC Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Maj Gen Faisal Naseer threatened him and had no evidence to support his allegations against the military man.
    In the past, Imran asserted that Naseer had orchestrated an attempted assassination in November 2022, when Khan was shot at in Wazirabad, sustaining injuries to his leg. Khan also claimed that Faisal Naseer had a hand in the murder of known journalist Arshad Sharif.
    The former Prime Minister has used the term “Dirty Harry” many times in his speeches, referring to Naseer.

    The interrogation was done against the First Information Report (FIR )no 255/23 registered in Ramna Police Station. The JIT session was held at the office of Islamabad Police DIG (operations). The JIT explained the major points of the FIR while officials showed Imran Khan video clips in which he was accusing the DGC of abuse and planning his assassination.
    The following questions were asked from Imran:
    JIT: Do (you) own these clips?
    Imran: Yes.
    JIT: Do u have any proof of your allegations that you can present?
    Imran: No.
    JIT: Did Gen Faisal directly threaten you?
    Imran: No.
    JIT: Then why did (you) level allegations?
    Imran: Someone told me.
    JIT: Any proof or evidence?
    Imran: No.
    JIT: Why did you name DGI?
    Imran: He did a press conference.
    JIT: Have you met Gen Faisal?
    Imran: No.
    JIT: Who do you refer to as Dirty Harry?
    Imran: Gen Faisal.

  • ‘Security forces raiding our houses in the middle of the night’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has criticised the government for grave human rights violations in the country, which according to Khan, we only used to hear in Indian occupied Kashmir.

    “Whenever our Holy Prophet (PBUH) would go for battle, there were strict instructions that women, children and elders were not to be harmed. Today, our own security forces are raiding our houses in the middle of the night, breaking doors, vandalising the house and robbing it,” wrote the former pm in a tweet.

    “Women are abused, harassed and threatened and if the person is not there then their boys, fathers and even servants are picked up and jailed. My sisters driver and cook Rahim were picked up when the police couldn’t find her son. Both were jailed where they were packed like sardines.”

    Rahim suffered breathing problems and since his release he has been on the ventilator fighting for his life. Clearly those who are responsible for this reign of terror feel they are above law. We used to hear about such grave violations of human rights in Indian occupied Kashmir but never imagined this would be happening here. While this policy might have temporarily spread fear amongst the people, it’s only a matter of time before this seething hatred comes out in the open.

    Earlier, in an interview with a local media news publication, Imran said, “A semi-martial law is already in place in the country” and “everything is happening on the wishes of those in power”. He passed the remarks while talking about the use of the Army Act against civilians.

  • ‘3 billion allocated to finance films, health insurance for artists’: Marriyum Aurangzeb

    ‘3 billion allocated to finance films, health insurance for artists’: Marriyum Aurangzeb

    The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, announced in a tweet two days ago that for the first time ever, the federal government has allocated at least Rs3 billion for the Film Finance Fund while Rs1 billion will be used to provide health insurance for artists.

    The minister highlighted the necessity of the move in playing a major role in the growth of the film industry, and in providing security for performing artists.

    Here is the complete tweet:

    “I am equally delighted to announce that funds have been allocated both for the Film Finance Fund and for Artists’ Health Insurance for the first time ever. Rs 2 bn have been allocated for the Film Finance Fund and Rs 1 bn for the Artists’ Health Insurance. I am certain that, jointly, these measures will play a major role in the growth of our film industry and improvement in the welfare of our nation’s Artists. This will play a key role in the promotion of Pakistan’s narrative, heritage and culture through films, as well as the growth of screen tourism in Pakistan.”

    In May, Aurangzeb had inaugrated PTV’s National Film Production Institute in Islamabad. At the ceremony, Aurangzeb revealed that the project will help in promoting Pakistan’s narrative worldwide, through screen tourism via the National Film, Culture Policy 2018, which states that cinema houses in the country will also be restored.

  • ‘Dead on Arrival’ or ‘The End’? Aleem Khan responds to SMQ’s comments about JKT’s party

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi has termed the launch of the newly established political party of Jahangir Khan Tareen, Istehkam-e-Pakistan, as “dead on arrival”.

    He made the comments while speaking with journalists outside an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Saturday.

    “I would only say this much about it. When you take a patient, after an incident, to a hospital’s emergency. For instance, the Services Hospital is close by. You take them to an emergency.”

    “The doctors conduct their examination, after which they declare them dead. So I will only say this is a launch which is dead on arrival,” he said.

    Abdul Aleem Khan, who has also joined Tareen’s party, responded to Qureshi’s comment saying that people know which party’s launch is dead on arrival, and which party is ending.

    Jahangir Khan Tareen, formally established the political party on Thursday in Lahore. Former PTI leaders Imran Ismail, Aleem Khan and Ali Zaidi were also present at the press conference to announce the launch.
    The party comprises more than 100 former National Assembly members and leaders of PTI.

  • ‘Apologise to the nation for record-high 38% inflation’: PTI wants Dar to resign

    ‘Apologise to the nation for record-high 38% inflation’: PTI wants Dar to resign

    A spokesperson for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a statement on Friday said that they want Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to resign and apologise to citizens for taking the country to the brink of default and unleashing 38 percent inflation.

    The PTI spokesperson further said that the Economic Survey FY2023 “paints a truly dismal picture of the economy”.

    “The epic failure of the PDM government has led to a ‘never-seen-before’ crisis with eight million workers becoming unemployed in FY2023, the unemployment rate rising to 10%, and causing nearly 18 million households to fall below the poverty line.”

    “The epic failure of his ‘Dar peg’ policy has showcased again why we believe he is unfit for this job, with a complete lack of basic understanding of markets and economic policy. This policy has brought the economy to the brink of a default, with SBP reserves now standing at only $3.9bn, not even enough to finance one month of imports. They were $10.5 billion at the time of the VONC,” the statement added.

    Amidst the economic crisis, the coalition government presented an expansionary budget for fiscal year 2023-24 on Friday.

  • May 9 riots: Pakistan to ask relevant foreign governments to hand over culprits

    Foreign nationals involved in “instigation, glorification and support (physical, moral and financial)” of the incidents of May 9 will be investigated, the government has decided on Thursday, Geo news has reported.

    As per Geo’s sources, the government has collected relevant data of more than 500 Pakistanis. “Their call records, social media activity, travel history, financial transactions, immigration status and other relevant data has been analysed.”

    Reportedly, the expats are mostly from the UK, Europe and the US.

    The people involved will be investigated upon arriving in Pakistan. “Moreover, the government shall initiate criminal proceedings against all those involved, and the relevant foreign governments will be contacted for handing over the culprits.”

    Their legal status in host countries, mode of entry and pending dual nationality applications shall also be made part of the proceedings.

  • Arshad Sharif’s mother wants Imran Khan to be included in murder investigation

    Slain journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder case took a surprising twist on Thursday when the anchor’s mother filed a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to include Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the investigation into her son’s murder.

    Other than the former Prime Minister, Arshad Sharif’s mother has requested that Faisal Vawda, Murad Saeed, Salman Iqbal and Imran Riaz Khan be made part of the investigation into Sharif’s killing.

    A five-member bench headed by the Chief Justice will hear the case. The Attorney General, Ministry of External Affairs, and special JIT have received notifications from the Supreme Court.

    Arshad Sharif was shot dead by Kenyan police on Oct 23, 2022, in what was described as a case of mistaken identity.

  • Jahangir Tareen to announce new political party in next 72 hours: report

    Jahangir Tareen to announce new political party in next 72 hours: report

    According to media reports, disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen is likely to announce the formation of a new political party in 72 hours.

    On Monday, Tareen visited Abdul Aleem Khan at his residence, where prominent politicians, including Ishaq Khakwani, former SAPM Aun Chaudhry, Shoaib Siddiqui and Saeed Akbar Nawan were also present.

    As per details, Tareen is expected to do a news conference in 72 hours with former PTI leaders. In addition, Tareen is expected to submit an application for the registration of the new party to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
    PTI members who have left the party are now joining new alliances while some are joining other parties.

    Democrats Group:
    This group is formed by Hashim Dogar and Murad Raas
    There are reports that this group has 35 former MPAs and MNAs

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Haqiqi:
    PTI haqiqi has been formed by Rao Yasir, who previously served as PTI Multan district Youth Wing president.
    What parties and already established groups are these members joining?

    Jahangir Khan Tareen group:

    There are reports of dissident PTI members joining Jahangir Khan Tareen group. Tareen used to be a close aide of PTI chief Imran Khan.

    PML-Q Group
    Many including Ayesha Gulalai have decided to join the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q).