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A convoy led by Siraj-ul-Haq, the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), was attacked by a suicide bomber on Friday in Zhob, Balochistan.
The Secretary General of the party, Ameer ul Azeem, has confirmed that an explosion took place near the convoy. He further said that the attacker has been killed.
Siraj-ul-Haq and all members of his convoy are safe.
The JI chief was on his way to address a rally in Zhob when the attack took place.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has expressed concern on recent crackdowns by law-enforcement authorities on party members.
In a tweet, Khan said that such episodes didn’t even take place during General Ziaul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf’s regimes.
He added that despite all of this his party will not bow down.
The Punjab government has claimed that terrorists who were involved in the attack on military installations on May 9, are hiding at Khan’s Zaman Park residence. The authorities have asked the former Prime Minister to hand them over. On May 18, an operation was expected to take place at Imran Khan’s home, however, it didn’t happen.
Now, it is being reported that Punjab police have obtained warrants from the court to carry out a search operation in Zaman Park.
According to details, an officer of the rank superintendent of police will lead the party which will also include female personnel. Commissioner Lahore Division will accompany the search team.
President Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan should openly condemn the May 9 violent protests that broke out across the country.
In an interview with Hamid Mir aired on Geo News, the president called for a probe into the violence.
“The people involved should be punished in line with the law,” he said, emphasizing that taking action should not mean that the suspects are tortured.
Alvi, referring to the human rights violations taking place in the country, said that we need to be careful, else it will set a very bad precedent.
In a major setback to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party’s former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Aamir Kayani has announced that he is quitting the party after the attacks of May 9 on the security forces as he has to “rethink” his politics.
Addressing a presser in Islamabad, he expressed regret over the May 9 violent protests by PTI leaders, workers and supporters.
“I made my decision two months ago, but will formally announce it today,” he said.
“My entire family, including my grandfather and everyone, we belong to an army family,” the MNA said.
“Our domain is politics, and we should stay in it,” he added.
Kiani has not only decided to quit PTI but also announced to end his political career. He emphasised that he will not join any political party.
On Tuesday, the party faced another major blow when Karachi’s Mahmood Baqi Moulvi quit the party.
In a statement, Moulvi had said he was leaving the party due to “differences with the leadership”.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Ali Zaidi held a press conference on Wednesday to clear the air about rumours of him resigning from the party.
Stating clearly that he is not leaving the party, Zaidi said that it is unfortunate that the speculations are coming from within PTI.
“Agar PTI churrwaana chaahtay ho toh mujhe mathy par goli maar do” (If you want me to leave PTI, shoot me in the head) he said, adding that “no one can force me to take this step.”
Getting emotional and teary-eyed, he said that he served the party for 23 years and that PTI is his party. “I will leave PTI when Imran does,” he said of his party chairman.
Talking about May 9, Zaidi said that he also comes from an army background hence the episode that took place after Imran Khan’s arrest was condemnable.
The PTI leader said that he will never allow violence.
Zaidi is under house arrest by the Sindh government.
It was being speculated that special treatment is being given to Zaidi in comparison to his party fellows.
Senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Waleed Iqbal, who is also the grandson of 20th-century poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal, has said that he saw PTI workers inside Lahore’s Jinnah House at the time of the attack on the building on May 09. He however, said that these were iindividual acts of party workers and they should be charged according to the Army Act or any other applicable law.
He made the comments on Waseem Badami’s programme on ARY on Tuesday evening.
He continued by saying that the party had not made announcement in this regard nor had a policy of violence.
A Special Corps Commander Conference held on Monday at the General Headquarters (GHQ), presided by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, decided that the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of the attacks on military installations and buildings during the protests led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters will be tried under relevant Pakistani laws, including the Army Act and Official Secret Act.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), with the moot being attended by federal ministers, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, the three services chiefs, heads of security institutions and senior officers.
The meeting endorsed the decision to book violent protesters of May 9, under the constitution and relevant laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act.
The PM, while addressing the meeting said, “Those who planned, executed and abetted the vandalism on May 9 certainly committed an act of terrorism.”
It was also decided in the meeting that May 09 will be celebrated as Black Day. “Whatever happened on May 9 will be remembered as Black Day in the history of Pakistan,” the PM added.
A Special Corps Commander Conference held on Monday at the General Headquarters (GHQ), presided by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, decided that the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of the attacks on military installations and buildings during the protests led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters will be tried under relevant Pakistani laws, including the Army Act and Official Secret Act.
In a historical move, yesterday the National Assembly passed the ‘Maternity and Paternity Leave Bill’ 2020, which has granted mothers the right to take up to six months paid maternity leave from their workplaces at their first birth, as well as leaves for three to four months during the birth of their second and third child as the bill states:
“Maternity leave shall in the prescribed manner be granted on full pay outside the leave account to a female employee on her option to the extent of one hundred and eighty days on first birth, one hundred and twenty days on second birth, ninety days on third birth.”
The bill also granted paternity leave for fathers, allowing men to take one month paid leaves from their work places on the birth of their child:
“A male employee expecting his wife to give birth to a child shall , at his option, be granted paternity leave on full pay not exceeding thirty days.”
The bill has been passed in federal territory, which means it will be made a legal priority for Islamabad workplaces to include paid paternity and maternity leave in their policies. But hopefully, this progressive step will soon encourage other cities to take note and follow to make inclusive policies that do not push women out of the workplace after their marriage.
The bill was presented at the National Assembly by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Quratulain Marri, who praised her colleagues support to prioritise social issues, which helped in making this landmark legislation possible.
Social media users have celebrated the legislation as a progressive step that will stop women from being forced to chose between motherhood and their jobs, and applauded Senator Marri for helping ensure this will happen.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has clarified that he uses the phrase “good to see you” to greet everyone.
During a hearing of another case, the CJP had an interaction with lawyer Asghar Sabzwari on Tuesday afternoon. He initiated the exchange by saying, “I am pleased to see you as you have appeared in my court after a considerable period.”
The remark came after the judge was heavily criticised by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), analysts and commentators for saying “good to see you” to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan when he appeared before the court after being arrested.
Bandial then said that he says “good to see you” to everyone, not just to Imran Khan. He said that he had faced a lot of criticism for using the phrase. Justice Bandial said he holds a deep respect for everyone, adding that “etiquette and manners” are necessary for everyone.
PML-N Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, however, remained unimpressed with the Chief Justice’s explanation. Addressing Justice Bandial in a tweet, she asked if he says ‘good to see you’ to everyone who has stolen billions.
She went on to ask, “Do you send everyone to rest houses,” adding another question about whether the Chief Justice allows every suspect to meet friends in the guest house as he did for Imran Khan.
Last week, when Imran Khan appeared before Supreme Court to get relief against his arrest, the CJP said “good to see you”. His comment became a point of controversy with many arguing that special treatment was given to Khan.
The National Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a motion seeking the formation of a special committee to file a reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for “misconduct and deviating from oath”.
During a fiery session, lawmakers strongly condemned attacks on military installations and state buildings across the country.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the time had come for the Parliament to play its constitutional role in the prevailing political crisis.
“The time has come for the Parliament to send a reference of misconduct to the Supreme Judicial Council, under the authority and law given to it by the Constitution,” Asif stated unequivocally.
He stressed that recently a section of the judiciary had started supporting a political party.
The reference motion was moved by Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Dr Shazia Sobia.
The parliamentarians also demanded that PTI Chairman Imran Khan be tried under the Army Act.
Last week, Khan’s arrest from Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday, prompted his supporters to come out on roads in support of their leader. They have been alleged to have not just damaged properties but also use inappropriate language for top military officials.