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.

  • US embassy issues warning to American staff based in Pakistan of a possible attack

    The embassy of the United States of America (USA) has warned its Islamabad-based staff of a possible attack on the Marriott Hotel and “prohibited” them from visiting the hotel during the Christmas holidays.

    On Sunday, the embassy issued a security alert stating: “The US government is aware of information that unknown individuals are possibly plotting to attack Americans at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad sometime during the holidays. Effective immediately, the embassy in Islamabad is prohibiting all American staff from visiting the hotel.”

    The US also urged its staff to refrain from non-essential travel in Islamabad during the holiday season.

    Meanwhile, the Islamabad police raised security levels to high alert in the capital. The police said that checking was increased at all entry and exit points, requesting residents to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

    The capital administration has also put a ban on all types of gatherings for two weeks and declared a high alert in the city for 48 hours.

    The American embassy directive followed a suicide bombing in I-8, a residential area of Islamabad on Friday, which killed a police officer and wounded 10 people.

    Pakistan is facing a resurgence of terrorism since the militant Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) called off its ceasefire with the government in late November.

    Seven separate blasts ripped through Balochistan on December 25 killing six soldiers and injuring dozens of others.

    Last week, TTP militants seized control of the Counter-Terrorism Department’s (CTD) compound in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and held hostages inside the compound for almost two days.

  • US gives out $200m for gender equality, democracy in Pakistan

    US gives out $200m for gender equality, democracy in Pakistan

    Senators in the United States of America (USA) approved a sweeping annual spending package of $1.7 trillion, allocating $200 million for gender equality and strengthening democracy in Pakistan.

    Ukraine has got the lion’s share, with $45 billion approved in a aid and reforms to election law.

    It is to be noted that Pakistan’s allocation is under the US fund for gender equality, which is a 20-fold increase from the funds reserved in 2020.

    In 2020, the US congress cleared $10m for addressing gender disparity and $15m for strengthening democracy in Pakistan. In 2000, Pakistan received $25 million for the same purpose.

    The sweeping annual spending package was rubber-stamped by the House of Representatives.

    House Majority Leader Steny Hoye said: “This bill is a critically important piece of legislation not only to keep our government funded, keep our people being served but also to show that the United States of America’s government works.”

  • Won’t let provincial assemblies fall prey to Imran Khan’s ego, says Rana Sanaullah

    Won’t let provincial assemblies fall prey to Imran Khan’s ego, says Rana Sanaullah

    On Saturday, Railways and Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and Food Security Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema held a press conference in Lahore, calling on the apex court to take suo motu notice of the ongoing political turmoil in Punjab.

    Sanaullah said that the Governor has the constitutional right to ask the CM to attain a vote of confidence if he plans to dissolve the provincial assembly to satisfy someone’s ego.

    He added that they would not let two provincial assemblies fall prey to [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman] Imran Khan’s arrogance.

    “Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is trying to ensure that all the assemblies complete their tenure,” he said.
    He added that they do not intend to avoid elections; in fact, they are preparing their candidates for general polls.

    Rana added that the LHC provided ultimate relief to Parvez Elahi. He said that he has heard PTI is offering Rs20 million each to their estranged MPAs.
    “Imran wants the establishment to indulge in politics and help him attain power once again,” said Rafique.

  • ‘Ineffective after removal as CM’: PML-N, PPP withdraw no-trust motion against Elahi

    ‘Ineffective after removal as CM’: PML-N, PPP withdraw no-trust motion against Elahi

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Friday withdrew the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, terming it unnecessary and ineffective after his de-notification as Chief Minister by the Governor of Punjab.

    PML-N leader Khalil Tahir Sandhu said , “The no-trust move became ineffective as the governor has denotified the CM.” He added that PML-N had withdrawn only the motion against the chief minister, and the ones against Speaker Sibtain Khan and the deputy speaker are still pending.

    On the other hand, Elahi and other MPAs of the PML-N and PML-Q started arriving at the Punjab Assembly on Friday afternoon.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial assembly’s ongoing session will be held today following the speaker’s disposal on Tuesday of the governor’s order for Elahi to obtain a vote of confidence from the house, terming it “against the Constitution and Rules of Procedure”.

    Elahi on Friday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging Governor Balighur Rehman’s de-notification from the chief minister’s office.

    Governor Rehman de-notified Elahi in the late hours of Friday, citing a failure to take the vote of confidence from the provincial assembly as political turmoil in Pakistan’s largest province reached breaking point.

  • ‘No action can be taken against any CM over speaker’s actions’: Elahi challenges governor’s denotification order in LHC

    ‘No action can be taken against any CM over speaker’s actions’: Elahi challenges governor’s denotification order in LHC

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervaiz Elahi on Friday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging Governor Balighur Rehman’s de-notification from chief minister’s office.

    In the petition, Elahi has appealed to the court to declare the governor’s move illegal.

    “No action can be taken against any chief minister over speaker’s actions,” maintains the petition.

    Governor Rehman denotified Elahi in the late hours of Friday, citing a failure to take the vote of confidence from the provincial assembly as political turmoil in Pakistan’s largest province reached breaking point.

    “Since the CM has refrained from obtaining the vote of confidence at the appointed day and time, he ceases to hold office. Orders issued this evening,” Governor Rehman stated.

    Following the governor’s instruction, Chief Secretary of Punjab Abdullah Khan Sumbal, also notified the dissolution of the provincial cabinet. “Mr Pervaiz Elahi has ceased to hold office of the Chief Minister Punjab with immediate effect,” reads the notification. 

  • ‘Suicide blast’ in Islamabad’s I-10: One policeman martyred, several injured

    ‘Suicide blast’ in Islamabad’s I-10: One policeman martyred, several injured

    A suicide blast in a vehicle left a policeman martyred and at least six people injured in Islamabad’s I-10/4 sector on Friday, the federal capital’s police said in a statement.

    Shortly afterwards, the Islamabad Police declared a “red alert” in the city.

    According to Deputy Inspector General of Police Sohail Zafar Chattha, the police spotted a “suspicious vehicle” with a man and a woman aboard at 10:15am in the area.

    “When the police stopped the vehicle, the couple came out of the car. The long-haired man, while being checked by the officers, went inside the vehicle on some pretext and then detonated himself,” he said in a media briefing at the crime scene alongside Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon.

    Police officials said that cops had stopped a “suspicious” taxi for snap checking when the explosion occurred.

    In a tweet, the Islamabad police said police officers were conducting snap-checking when they signalled to the suspicious vehicle to stop.

    “A suicide bomber aboard the vehicle detonated a bomb soon after the car stopped near the officers,” it said.

    Injured cops were moved to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

    All the hospitals in Islamabad have been put on high alert, a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services said. The ministry said to ensure the attendance of all the medical and paramedical staff.

    The Ministry of Health said that all federal hospitals should be kept on high alert keeping in view the current situation.

    Soon after the blast, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif summoned a report of the suicide blast and also condemned the terror incident.

    The PM also paid tribute to the martyred policemen, adding that the nation pays tribute to its martyrs. He added that the whole nation will fight against terrorism. 

    “The plan to shed innocent blood has failed due to the action of the law enforcement agencies,” said the PM. He also announced a martyr package for the family of Head Constable Adeel Hussain.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed that “two terrorists” were killed in the blast.

    “The vehicle used in the blast was registered in Chakwal. The car entered Islamabad from Rawalpindi […] it was packed with explosives and headed for a high-value target in the capital,” he said.

    Sanaullah added that had the car reached its target, it would have caused heavy losses.

    The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released on Friday.

  • Fact Check: Bilawal Bhutto arrested in New York?

    Fact Check: Bilawal Bhutto arrested in New York?

    Claim: Unverified reports have claimed that Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had been arrested in New York during his visit to the United States (US), which lasted for almost a week— from December 14 to 21.

    Rumors were spread across social media platforms.

    Fact: Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch dismissed the authenticity of all such reports.

    Responding to a question by a journalist in a briefing, the spokesperson cleared the air, rejecting the news as fake. She termed the report a “lie” and “contrary to facts”.

    She termed Bilawal’s visit “very productive” and said that he had a busy schedule.

    Calling the visit, “another important step towards further strengthening Pakistan’s broad-based bilateral ties” with the US, she clarified that the FM had engagements with the Biden Administration and members of the US Congress, interacted with Pakistani-American community leaders and Washington DC-based think-tank community as well as had interviews with leading media outlets.

    Verdict: FALSE

  • Pervaiz Elahi no longer Punjab CM after skipping confidence vote says Rana Sanaullah

    Pervaiz Elahi no longer Punjab CM after skipping confidence vote says Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that constitutionally Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervaiz Elahi is no longer the Chief Minister of Punjab.

    “The Governor of Punjab had asked the Chief Minister to take a vote of confidence by yesterday, but he did not take it, so according to the constitution, Pervaiz Elahi is no longer the chief minister,” said Sanaullah.

    Governor Punjab Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman directed Chief Minister Elahi to obtain a vote of confidence from the house on December 21.

    Sanaullah said that Governor Rehman is using his powers under the Constitution, adding that whenever he issues the orders [of de-notifying Elahi as chief minister], they will be implemented.

    “The governor’s order de-notifying Elahi as the chief minister is now just a formality,” he said. “I think it will be issued today.”

    The minister also said that Elahi cannot advise dissolving the assembly now, terming it “illegal and unconstitutional” and against the rules of the assembly.

    “If this constitutional decision is resisted and its implementation is stopped, the governor can write to the federal government,” Sanaullah said. “After the cabinet’s approval, the federal government can send his advice to the president to approve the imposition of governor’s rule in the province.”

    The interior minister asserted that the president is bound to follow the advice of the prime minister.

    “The second option we have is that parliament can pass a resolution and then governor’s rule will be imposed for two months,” he added. “After two months, another resolution can be passed and the governor’s rule can be extended for six months.”

  • How many chiefs of police changed in Punjab during IK’s government?

    How many chiefs of police changed in Punjab during IK’s government?

    Inspector-General (IG) of Punjab police, Faisal Shahkar, has relinquished his charge after less than six months in the office.

    Faisal Shahkar was appointed as the IG by the Punjab government in July, replacing Rao Sardar Ali Khan who was the police chief during Hamza Shehbaz’s tenure as Chief Minster.

    Prior to this, Sardar Ali Khan served as the IGP for almost a year. Following is the timeline of the officers who served as the IGP while Imran Khan was the Prime Minister (PM).

    Dr Syed Kaleem Imam (June 2018-September 2018)

    Dr Imran was appointed in June 2018 and left office in September of that year. He was removed from the post one month after Khan appointed Usman Buzdar as CM of Punjab.

    Muhammad Tahir (September 2018-October 2018)

    After Kaleem Imam, Muhammad Tahir remained in the office for a month.

    Amjad Javed Saleemi (October 2018-April 2019)

    Saleemi served for six months as the police chief of the province.

    Capt. (R) Arif Nawaz Khan (April 2019- November 2019)

    Captain Khan left the office after seven months of being in charge.

    Shoaib Dastgir (November 2019-September 2020)

    Dastgir remained IGP for almost ten months.

    Inam Ghani (September 2020- September 2021)

    During the PTI’s government, Ghani held the IGP post for a year.

    Sardar Ali Khan (Septmeber 2021-July 2022)

    Sardar Ali was replaced by Shahkar.

    This information has been taken from the Punjab police website.

  • ‘Confidence motion against CM’: Kya hoga 4 bajay ke baad Pervaiz Elahi ke sath?

    ‘Confidence motion against CM’: Kya hoga 4 bajay ke baad Pervaiz Elahi ke sath?

    Governor Punjab Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman directed Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi to obtain a vote of confidence from the house today (December 21).

    According to a notification issued by the Punjab Governor’s Secretariat, “The governor Punjab is pleased to sign order summoning the provincial assembly of Punjab at 1600 hours (4pm) on Wednesday (December 21) and requiring the chief minister of Punjab to obtain a vote of confidence in terms of Article 130(7) of the Constitution.”

    However, Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan has said that the governor cannot call a meeting during the ongoing session of the provincial assembly as per the rules.

    Following his meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan at his Zaman Park residence, the speaker said that the PDM was running away from elections.

    “When the governor asks for a vote of confidence, the CM is required to take a vote of confidence. The constitution is very clear,” tweeted Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned that if Elahi did not obtain a vote of confidence today, he would cease to be the province’s chief executive.

    “The Punjab Assembly speaker’s stance that the assembly is in session, so the CM cannot be asked to obtain a vote of confidence is wrong. If Elahi fails to do so, he will cease to be the CM,” he maintained.

    Sanaullah said the governor would issue an order barring the chief minister from holding the office in case he did not get a vote of confidence by Wednesday afternoon.

    He has also said that Governor Punjab will give a new notification at 4pm today (Wednesday, December 21). According to the new declaration, Pervaiz Elahi will no longer be the chief minister.