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.

  • Was Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman’s abduction orchestrated by his own party?

    Was Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman’s abduction orchestrated by his own party?

    Veteran journalist Mohammad Malick has disclosed details of the disappearance of Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman prior to the passing of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

    After the sudden disappearance of Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman on October 16, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) social media team vehemently criticised him, alleging that the Senator was not kidnapped but in self-hiding, leading to some social media members calling him a “traitor.”

    However, contrary to PTI’s social media team,s narrative, Mohammad Malick has disclosed the other side of the story.

    In his talk show KHABAR, the journalist claimed that after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which concluded on October 16 in Islamabad, Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman was abducted not by security agencies but by a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) bigwig leader.

    One of the following four PTI leaders, including Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur, Opposition Leader of the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, former Speaker NA Asad Qaiser, and leader of opposition in Senate Shibli Faraz, was involved in the kidnapping of Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman, Malick has alleged.

    “Senator Rahman was in Islamabad; he was directed to reach Peshawar by one of the PTI leaders in a phone call. When Rehman was on his way to Peshawar, he got kidnapped before arriving at KP capital. One PTI leader was in constant contact with Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman and was repeatedly asking for his location.”

    “I have seen those messages, telephone calls, track records,” Muhammad Malick concluded.

    The ruling coalition had lacked the requisite numbers to pass the 26th Constitutional Amendment from parliament. However, it was speculated that Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman might vote in favour of the constitutional amendment against his party’s decision.

    Prominent journalist Azaz Syed, while speaking on the YouTube channel Talk SHOCK, had claimed that there is a possibility that Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman could vote for the constitutional amendment.

    However, after the Senate passed the constitutional amendment, the ruling coalition claimed that no opposition party senator had voted for the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

  • What are the terms of alleged ‘deal’ for Bushra Bibi’s release? Ansar Abbasi reveals details

    What are the terms of alleged ‘deal’ for Bushra Bibi’s release? Ansar Abbasi reveals details

    After Imran Khan’s spouse Bushra Bibi was released from Adiala Jail last week, social media is abuzz about an alleged deal between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the establishment, a claim that the party consistently denies.

    Journalist Ansar Abbasi, in his latest column, wrote that if the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur “is telling his colleagues and party leaders that he has played a role in getting Bushra Bibi released from jail,” then questions will naturally arise.

    Abbasi also stated that after speaking to Gandapur about the possibility of any alleged deal, the CM “avoided the topic.”

    However, KP government spokesperson Barrister Saif confirmed to Abbasi that Gandapur had indeed discussed his role in Bushra Bibi’s release.

    According to Ansar, PTI’s style and politics in the coming days will reveal whether the alleged deal was really struck for getting Khan’s spouse released.

    “Last week, I was told by the establishment that Bushra Bibi would not be re-arrested if the Islamabad High Court decided to release her on bail. A senior PTI leader also told me that Gandapur was told earlier that Bushra Bibi would not be re-arrested if she was granted bail by the courts,” revealed the senior journalist.

    According to Ansar, no concrete evidence exists of any deal; however, he also wrote about the nature of a possible deal, if any.

    “When I asked Gandapur Sahib yesterday whether Tehreek-e-Insaf will continue to target the army and the army chief, his answer was that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is neither against the institution nor against any individual,” wrote Abbasi.

    According to Abbasi’s analysis, “It could be that Tehreek-e-Insaaf will not directly criticize the Army Chief and the economy of Pakistan.”

    Ansar stated that this will be revealed in the coming days because if PTI doesn’t criticise the Army or the economy, then it would mean that the PTI “has made a fundamental change in its policy which aims to avoid a direct fight with the army.”

    If the party continues its policy of targeting the military or the COAS like the last two years, then it would mean there is no deal, according to Asar Abbasi.

    Ansar wrote, “It is a known fact that the economy is the government’s as well as Army Chief’s first priority, and that is why the condition of not politicizing the economy would be put for Bushra Bibi’s release.”

  • Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on claims of ‘scheme to oust PML-N govt’

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on claims of ‘scheme to oust PML-N govt’

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has responded to the allegations and conspiracies against him regarding the possible ouster of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had he been appointed as the next chief justice of Pakistan (CJP).

    Reports quoted a source close to Justice Shah as “categorically denying” any intentions or plans to remove the incumbent government if he had become the top judge.

    It may be noted that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was the senior-most judge in the Supreme Court (SC) and next in line to become the CJP after the retirement of then-CJP Qazi Faez Isa.

    However, with the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the scenario for the appointment of the senior-most judge as the CJP was scratched, paving the way for the nomination and subsequent appointment of the third senior-most judge, Yahya Afridi, as the top judge.

    The News also quoted the source as saying that a federal minister’s recent claims regarding the possible ouster of the government and Justice Shah bringing Imran Khan back to power was a “pack of lies”.

    “Justice Mansoor Ali Shah wants everyone to understand that he is totally apolitical. His interest is in promoting the constitution, rule of law and democracy, and nothing comes in the way of him in achieving this.”

    They also said that Justice Shah was not responsible for the actions of previous chief justices and he did not approve of their conduct.

    “He has even written against them. It’s unfair to generalise all judges this way. His judgments stand as his record. Read them,” the source added in response to Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan’s recent remarks on “judicial monarchy”.

    According to the report, the source skipped a question regarding Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s stern letter to former CJP Qazi Faez Isa during the latter’s farewell reference. “Let’s discuss that another time,” they said.

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on October 25 had refused to attend Friday’s full court reference in honor of the outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa.

    “To stand a Reference and celebrate such a tenure would send a message that a Chief Justice can betray his institution, erode its strength, act petty and low and still be celebrated as an honorable servant of justice. I am sorry, I in good conscious, cannot stand at a reference for such a Chief Justice,” opined Puisne judge Mansoor Ali Shah in a in a letter of refusal on the record of the reference proceedings,

  • Khawaja Asif hints at possibility of deal after Bushra Bibi’s release

    Khawaja Asif hints at possibility of deal after Bushra Bibi’s release

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested on Tuesday that Imran Khan’s wife’s recent release from prison and departure to Peshawar were not usual developments, hinting at a “behind the scene story.”

    Asif also posted a message on his social media account saying that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, had “tricks” to make tall claims, threaten, appear and suddenly disappear from his party rallies.

    “Perhaps the entire PTI are in the process of making a fool of themselves. There is an indication of a behind-the-scene story in saying goodbye to Punjab by Begum Sahiba and her camping in the annexe of the Peshawar Chief Minister House. These two personalities give news of a fixed wrestling and some sort of an apology. And this is not happening without the will of the PTI founder,” the Federal Minister wrote.

    He also stated that all of them are fooling party workers. Furthermore, while talking to a reporter outside the Parliament, Khawaja Asif said, “We need to observe why she [Bushra Bibi] went to the frontier [KP]? Even though their own supporters say that their CM KP has his software updated, why did she go there?”

    The PML-N leader clarified that he was not speculating but only observing the current circumstances. “She has a house here in Islamabad, and another in Lahore, but why did she decide to go to Peshawar,” the minister asked.

    On October 24, Bushra Bibi was released from Adiala Jail a day after being granted bail in the new Toshakhana case, ending nearly nine months of detention.

    The former first lady was taken into custody on January 31 after an Islamabad accountability court sentenced her and Khan to 14 years in jail in the Toshakhana reference.

    Bushra had been incarcerated in Adiala Jail, and in the most recent case, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has accused the couple of retaining an expensive Bvlgari jewellery set gifted by a foreign leader — including a necklace, earrings, bracelets, and rings — at a low price, saying it caused significant loss to the exchequer.

    Later in the day, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Saif said she safely reached Peshawar, where she would stay for some time.

    Speaking outside Adiala Jail, PTI Chairman Gohar Khan highlighted that the former first lady had “endured jail for nine months in extreme conditions with a lot of courage”.

    Earlier this week, Gohar also clarified that Bushra’s release is on merit and has nothing to do with any alleged deal. Similarly, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram defended Khan’s spouse, saying that Bushra Bibi is a housewife and can live wherever she likes to.

  • Maryam Nawaz hints at starting smog diplomacy with India

    Maryam Nawaz hints at starting smog diplomacy with India

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Maryam Nawaz spoke at a Diwali ceremony earlier today, during which she hinted at writing a letter to the Chief Minister of Indian Punjab on the issue of smog.

    “We need to have diplomacy with India regarding the issue of smog in Lahore. I’m thinking of writing a letter to the Punjab Chief Minister [Bhagwant Mann] in India that this is not just a political issue, this is a humanitarian issue,” CM said while addressing the ceremony in Lahore, adding that if Pakistan makes this move, India should reciprocate.

    On a lighter note, she pointed out, “The winds don’t know there’s a border in the middle.”

    “Until both Punjabs come together, we won’t be able to tackle the issue of smog,” she asserted.

    CM Maryam Nawaz also congratulated the Hindu community on the festival of Diwali and paid tribute to the services of the minorities in the country.

    She pledged that she would “stand by the minorities if someone tried to hurt them.

    “Minorities are the crown of our head; their protection and respect is the responsibility of the government. We are all Pakistanis without any discrimination,” she said.

    Chief Minister also announced a gift of 15 thousand rupees to 1400 Hindu families on Diwali and that the funds for minorities have been doubled.

    She further announced the launch of the Minority Card by December 20, according to which the minorities will get ten and a half thousand rupees in three months.

    “All minority members across Punjab, especially poverty-stricken minorities who don’t have a lot of resources, will receive Rs10,500 through the Minority Card,” she said.

    CM Maryam Nawaz also addressed the incidents of extremism in the country, stating, “In the recent past, there have been incidents with minorities that have made my head hang in shame, and it has caused me great pain to see trivial misunderstandings become full-blown fights.

    “Because there are few minorities, it is our responsibility to provide a safe Pakistan, a safe Punjab for them so that they can stay in their houses safely, without any fear of danger, and that they feel that this is their country and they have every right to be here,” she stressed.

    Lahore and Delhi are again in tight competition to lead the list of most polluted cities in the world this year. Lahore reached as high as 708 points on the Air Quality Index.

    Today, IQAir recorded Delhi holding a top rank with 196 points, while Lahore lagged six points behind it.

  • Sher Afzal Marwat thinks Imran can be released from jail if Nawaz agrees to it

    Sher Afzal Marwat thinks Imran can be released from jail if Nawaz agrees to it

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has stated that party founder Imran Khan’s release from jail is linked to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s assent.

    Appearing on Samaa’s programme Nadeem Malik Live, Marwat stated, “Imran Khan’s release from jail is not possible until Nawaz Sharif agrees to it.”

    Commenting on former first lady Bushra Bibi’s arrival in Peshawar, Marwat clarified that she went to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital to avoid harassment and illegal arrest.

    “Bushra Bibi ka ghar yaha hai laikin chaddar or Chaar diwaari ka taqaddus hai hi nahi yaha and Qanoon ki pamali roz ka mamool hai,” Marwat further added.

    He also declared Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Barrister Gohar Ali Khan the most loyal companion of ex-premier Imran Khan.

    Imran Khan has been sentenced to 14 years and three years in two separate cases of illegally selling state-owned gifts for personal gain. A High Court suspended his sentence; however, since then, multiple new cases have been filed against Imran Khan and other party leaders after a protest at D Chowk in Islamabad on October 4.

    The gift included seven watches and diamond jewellery; six of them were Rolex watches.

    Imran Khan had been given ten years imprisonment for leaking a state secret cable to the public. The Islamabad High Court also overturned the sentence in June of this year.

    Khan was of the view that cable was evidence of a conspiracy by the Pakistani establishment and the United States (US) government to topple his government in 2022 following his visit to Moscow.

    A day after Khan’s landed in Moscow, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine in 2022.

    Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi, wife of founder PTI Imran Khan, was granted bail in the ToshaKhana case on Thursday, ending a nine-month long imprisonment.

    Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of Islamabad High Court, while hearing her plea, she stated, “The instant petition is accepted, and the petitioner is admitted to post-arrest bail subject to her furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs10,00,000/—with two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned trial Court.”

    Bushra Bibi, along with her husband, Imran Khan, was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on allegations of selling a Bulgari jewellery set received from Saudi Arabia and failing to submit the set in Toshakhana.

    According to FIA, the items are worth Rs 71.5 million, but the accused got it valued at Rs 5.8 million from a private firm, Business Recorder reported.

  • Khan’s sisters are respectable, but party policy will be made by our committee: Shandana Gulzar

    Khan’s sisters are respectable, but party policy will be made by our committee: Shandana Gulzar

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shandana Gulzar, while talking to a reporter, has stated that despite what Imran Khan’s sisters say, party policy “will be made by the parliamentary or political core committee.”

    In recent times, controversy and infighting have surrounded the PTI as its founder, Imran Khan, has been in jail for more than a year while reportedly jail conditions become tougher for him. Party supporters are generally disappointed with the current leadership for their failure to get Khan out of jail or stop the recent 26th Amendment.

    One controversy is that Khan’s sisters, especially Aleema Khan, have taken a significant role in delivering Khan’s message to the people.

    Aleema Khan, the most politically active member of his family, and Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, have also clashed multiple times since Khan’s arrest and subsequent incarceration.

    In August this year, many journalists talking to Imran inside Adiala Jail reportedly said that they heard Aleema and Bushra shouting at each other in a tiff over a female lawyer.

    Around the same time, a message allegedly sent by Aleema Khan to Raoof Hasan asking him not to spread a “foolish” message that Bushra Bibi had sent was leaked to the public. However, the two have never publicly criticized each other.

    However, the PTI leader Shandana Gulzar has stated: “Khan saab’s sisters are respectable but PTI follows parliamentary leaders, policy will be made by parliamentary party as Salman Akram Raja has clearly explained.”

    Furthermore, in the short clip getting traction on X (formerly Twitter), the PTI leader also stated, “They [Khan’s sisters] have been very useful for the party. They gave us that information from Khan SB in difficult times when no one else could have. As for our party, Khan has always hated family or dynastic politics, but we’ll wait for Khan’s further orders.”

  • ‘Malaysian PM requested to meet Imran Khan in jail’

    ‘Malaysian PM requested to meet Imran Khan in jail’

    Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has claimed that Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim recently requested to meet the incarcerated former premier in jail.

    In an interview to Zeteo’s Mehdi Hasan, Bukhari claimed that PM Ibrahim had requested to visit Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan has been locked up for better part of a year, but the Malaysian PM’s request was declined.

    “Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim requested to meet Imran Khan in prison, but they declined it,” maintained Bukhari, who also served as a special assistant to Khan during his premiership.

    “We also arranged for him [Malaysian PM] to see PTI’s top leadership after the ambassador reached out to parliamentary leader Omar Ayub Khan. But that could also not work due to logistical issues,” he added.

    Commenting on the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment, Bukhari said that the ruling coalition’s controversial amendment was an attack on the independence of the judiciary in the country.

    Last week, the coalition government passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

    The key development in constitutional amendments is the method of appointing the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).

    Eight members of the National Assembly and four members of the Senate, among the 12 members of the special parliamentary committee, will be responsible for sending the names of the top three Supreme Court judges to the Prime Minister.

  • Punjab education minister hints at schools closure due to smog

    Punjab education minister hints at schools closure due to smog

    Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, in the wake of smog in Lahore, has indicated that schools will be closed while asserting that the situation of pollution is getting worse.

    ARY News reports that the smog has intensified in Punjab, and the provincial capital has become the most polluted city in the world, with the air quality index exceeding extremely hazardous levels and crossing 500 points in a number of areas.

    Punjab’s Education Minister, Rana Sikandar Hayat, stated that currently, the school hours of the children have been changed to counter the situation, but if the health of the children worsens, the school will be closed.

    “The situation of pollution is getting worse, and for the elimination of smog, the government as well as the people will have to play their role,” he said.

    Lahore has been number one on the list of cities with the worst air quality as a result of increased smog.

    Earlier, Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb announced new working hours, stating the change was following the high air quality index and the increasing number of respiratory diseases in the provincial capital.

    School timings were changed in Lahore.

    All schools in the city have been notified to open at 8:45 am, and this new timing will apply to both public and private schools.

    The new working hours will be applied from October 28 to January 31, according to the official announcement.

    Read more: School timings changed in Lahore amid smog concerns

  • Chiriyaa, Kabootar sab uraa lain, Imran Khan release nahi hu saktay: Governor KP

    Chiriyaa, Kabootar sab uraa lain, Imran Khan release nahi hu saktay: Governor KP

    Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Faisal Karim Kundi on Tuesday ruled out any scenario of the possible acquittal of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan.

    “Chiriya, Kabootar sab uraa lain, Imran Khan release nahi hu saktay,” Kundi claimed in an interview with Samaa.

    Speaking about the former first lady Bushra Bibi’s involvement in politics after her acquittal, Faisal Karim Kundi added: “PTI leaders say that Bushra Bibi is a non-political woman, however, if she is non-political why she did go to Peshawar? Obviously, she is not visiting Peshawar for the sake of shopping.”

    “There is no need to hide it: Bushra Bibi is active in politics and has been involved in it before as well through Farah Gogi (Farhat Shahzadi),” Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa maintained.

    Addressing PTI’s recent complaint over Imran being mistreated in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, Kundi advised the party to watch Khan’s suggestions from past rallies to see how prisoners in Pakistan should be treated.”

    “Seven-star hotels, refrigerators for medicine, TV, chicken meals should not be served to prisoners in jail, and only jailer’s food menu should be served to the prisoner,” Faisal Karim Kundi reminded PTI’s leadership while recalling Imran Khan’s past remarks on jail facilities.

    Recently, Aleema Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, talked to journalists and claimed that her brother is facing a lack of facilities in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.

    Aleema Khan also alleged that Imran Khan vomited after consuming unhygienic food in jail, and the power in her brother’s cell was disconnected since October 3.

    Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, on Monday, in a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter), warned to shut down the whole country with protests if complaints regarding mistreatment from founder PTI Imran Khan continued.

    “We have to get rid of this government by shutting down the whole of Pakistan and take the stolen mandate back,” Gandapur stated.