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.

  • ‘Mujrimon ki aiyashiaan hui vi hain, choron ki eid hui vi hai’: Imran Khan on Ishaq Dar’s possible return to Pakistan

    ‘Mujrimon ki aiyashiaan hui vi hain, choron ki eid hui vi hai’: Imran Khan on Ishaq Dar’s possible return to Pakistan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan while speaking on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Ishaq Dar’s possible return to Pakistan said that the criminals are having a great time and theives are enjoying Eid.

    “Mujrimon ki aiyashiaan hui vi hain, choron ki eid hui vi hai [Criminals are having a great time, and the thieves are enjoying Eid]. There corruption cases are slowly being forgiven,” said Khan while speaking to journalist Abbas Shabbir.

    “This is the reason these thieves [came into power], ” said Khan.

    When asked that there is news circulating that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif is returning to Pakistan, Khan said, “Nawaz Sharif ka bara acha istaqbal hoga [Nawaz Sharif will receive a rousing welcome.]

    An accountability court on Friday, September 23, suspended the arrest warrant issued against Dar and dismissed orders for arrest upon his arrival in Pakistan.

    Accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir issued the orders, stating that once Dar returns to Pakistan, the court will decide whether it should revoke his arrest orders permanently or not.

    “We will consider permanently suspending Dar’s arrest warrants once he appears before the court in person,” the judge added.

  • Unidentified men hurl grenade at PTI’s Shehryar Afridi’s home

    Unidentified men hurl grenade at PTI’s Shehryar Afridi’s home

    Unidentified men hurled hand grenade at the ancestral home of former minister of state and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shehryar Khan Afridi’s in Kohat on late Thursday, September 23.

    Taking to Twitter, PTI leader Senator Ejaz Chaudhry said that there was a cracker bomb attack at the house of Shahryar Afridi. May Allah protect him and destroy the enemies of Pakistan, he prayed.

    The police officials said four unidentified men riding on two motorbikes hurled a hand grenade at the residence of the former minister and managed to escape from the scene. The grenade exploded outside the residence.

    No loss of life was reported while the gate and wall have been partially damaged.

    Meanwhile, a first information report (FIR) has been registered against the unidentified men at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

    Kohat District Police Officer Shafiullah Gandapur visited the crime scene and said that the accused will be arrested soon with the help of CTD.

  • ‘PTI MNAs can return to Assembly if PM announces elections’: Asad Qaiser

    ‘PTI MNAs can return to Assembly if PM announces elections’: Asad Qaiser

    Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) can return to the House if Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif announces date for general elections.

    Speaking to Dawn News’ Adil Shahzeb on Thursday, the PTI leader said, “I am telling you about the party policy. But first, they need to decide on a date for elections and dissolving the assemblies.”

    “But the date of elections must not be too far away”, he added.

    It is pertinent to mention that PTI leaders had tendered their resignations together after former PM Imran Khan’s government was ousted through a no-confidence motion in April of this year. Since then, most of the resignations remain with the current Speaker, Raja Pervez Ashraf.

    Discussing another possibility, Asad Qaiser said the party can consider rejoining the NA if there is a need for legislating or passing amendments regarding election reforms, stressing that his party chairman Imran Khan is also of the same view.

    About the dissolution of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies, where PTI is in power, Qaiser revealed that the option is “still alive” and that discussions are taking place regarding this matter.

    Talking about PTI long march, he said whatever steps are taken would be within constitutional limits.

    Asad’s remarks came after Supreme Court (SC) suggested on Thursday that PTI should go back to the lower house as voters had elected them for five years.

    ‘Return to the National Assembly’: CJP Bandial says PTI should play its role in parliament

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial reminded PTI that public had elected their representatives for a term of five years.

    “People have elected [PTI lawmakers] for five years. The party should play its role in parliament. Playing a due role in parliament is the actual obligation,” said CJP Bandial.

    Initially, PTI had moved the IHC and challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) acceptance of the resignations of 11 MNAs and not accepting a “piece-meal” resignation of all 123 lawmakers.

    But the IHC dismissed the plea on September 6.

    During today’s hearing, the top court said that the IHC has given a clear ruling on the phase-wise acceptance of MNAs’ resignations.

    “The speaker has the legal right to accept the resignations of MNAs. Prima facie, if the speaker’s rights are infringed upon, it will attract Article 69,” the court said.

    “Convince the court that the high court’s decision had some drawbacks,” it said, telling PTI’s counsel Faisal Chaudhry that the people elected his clients for a term of five years and the party should play its role in parliament.

    “Your [PTI] real responsibility is to play your role in parliament. Millions of people have been affected by floods,” the CJP told the counsel, drawing light on the country’s grim situation.

    “You will also have to look at the country’s economic situation. Does the PTI have any idea how much it will cost to hold by-elections on 123 seats?” he asked.

    The CJP said one should conduct themselves in a dignified manner and exercise “tolerance in matters of the state”.

    “We are giving you another chance to think. Take instructions from the party,” he told the PTI’s counsel.

    The CJP asked, “Why do you want the court to issue a stay order on by-polls on the 11 National Assembly seats?”

    The PTI’s counsel replied that elections cannot be held in selected constituencies.

    “Have you ever asked the speaker why is he not confirming the resignations?” inquired the CJP.

    The chief justice observed that they cannot interfere in the jurisdiction of the speaker.

    “Every institution has its own limitation,” the CJP remarked.

    Turnout in by-elections is low, CJP Bandial said, adding that expenses for by-elections in 123 constituencies at a time will be very high.

    According to the Constitution, the first duty of elected members is to join the assembly, observed the CJP.

    “It is possible that you will gain political advantage from the elections, but prima facie, the procedure adopted by the speaker is not wrong,” remarked the CJP.

    Meanwhile, the court adjourned the case for an indefinite period.

  • ‘Today’s India is changed’: Bilawal on getting no flood aid from India

    ‘Today’s India is changed’: Bilawal on getting no flood aid from India

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, in an interview with France 24, said that Pakistan is grateful for the global assistance it has received however the country does not want aid, it wants justice.

    He said, “Our message is that we don’t want to beg, we don’t want aid, we want justice. This is a global catastrophe as a result of global action and it requires a global situation.”

    When asked if India had offered any help and whether Pakistan had asked for any, the minister termed Pakistan-India relations as “complicated”.

    “We have a long and complicated history. unfortunately, India today is a changed India and is no longer the secular country promised by its founding fathers for all its citizens,” he said.

    He, further added that the country “is increasingly becoming a Hindu-supremacist India at the expense of its Christian and Muslim minorities not only within India but unfortunately in the disputed region of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).”

    He said Pakistan is seeing multiple challenges in the future such as health catastrophe, disease epidemics, crop shortage, livestock loss, food security, and more. However, he expressed hope saying, “Every crisis creates an opportunity and in this crisis, the opportunity is that we must build back in a more resilient way and greener way.”

    On Afghanistan and its tough rules and regulations on women, Bilawal said Pakistan had still not officially recognised the Afghan government.

    He said it would be in the Afghan government’s favour to fulfil its promises to the international community and its nation to gain legitimacy and a path to international recognition.

    When asked about the recent protest happening in Iran over a young woman’s death allegedly because of the morality police, Bilawal said he had seen the Iranian foreign minister’s response on the issue and said he trusted the neighbour to “keep to their word” for an incident inquiry despite “living in extremely difficult circumstances”.

  • ‘Mai maafi maangta hoon agar meri taraf se koyi line cross huvi hai’: Imran Khan

    ‘Mai maafi maangta hoon agar meri taraf se koyi line cross huvi hai’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that he apologizes if he crossed any line.

    Speaking to the court, Khan said, “Mai khaatoon judge se zaati taur pe maafi maangta hoon,” (I personally apologize to the female judge).

    “I assure the court that I will not do something like this in the future,” he added.

    Khan was attending proceedings of a contempt of court case today (Thursday), for his controversial remarks about Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a rally in Islamabad on August 20. The former Prime Minister said that he will personally apologise to the the female judge.

    The IHC was expected to formally indict him today.

    Following this, the IHC CJ remarked that it would not be appropriate to conduct contempt proceedings. The court decided to not indict the PTI chief after he agreed to apologise to Judge Chaudhry and the hearing was subsequently adjourned.

    The court also directed the PTI chief to submit an affidavit.

    As he made his way inside the court along with party leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and Shibli Faraz, Imran was surrounded by reporters asking questions. However, he chose to stay silent when asked whether or not he would tender an unconditional apology, answering only with a smile.

    On a lighter note, he remarked that he would become an “expert” due to the sheer number of cases registered against him.

    The IHC in a circular had stated that the proceedings of the case will start at 2:30pm, during which a larger bench of the IHC will frame the charges against Khan.

    “A 15-member legal team of Imran Khan, 15 law officers from the office of the attorney-general and advocate-general will be allowed to enter the courtroom,” read the circular.

    “Imran Khan’s response was unsatisfactory,” said IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, in the last hearing.

    Justice Minal­lah observed that Khan’s replies to the court’s show-cause notice appeared to be “Justifying contempt of the judiciary” and showed “No remorse or regret”.

  • ‘Khan has created hatred among people because of his chor, daku narrative’: Ahsan Iqbal

    ‘Khan has created hatred among people because of his chor, daku narrative’: Ahsan Iqbal

    Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has built up a narrative of chor and daku (thieves and bandits) which has created hatred among the people.

    Talking to Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath” on Wednesday, the minister said that Khan has multiple times raised slogans and accusations of bandits and robbers against him. He said that his reputation was destroyed however after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled in his favour, he is now free of all charges.

    On the show, Iqbal also recalled an incident where PTI supporters harassed him and hurled accusations of ‘chor chor’ (thief) at him. The minister said: “They did it because of Khan’s narrative against me.”

    High Court gives a clean shit to Iqbal

    IHC acquitted Ahsan Iqbal in a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), accusing Iqbal of misusing authority by funding a provincial government project Narowal Sports City.

    During the hearing on Wednesday, NAB’s Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzeb Khan Bharwana was absent. The court asked the NAB investigator to outline where the alleged corruption had taken place, to which the official said that Bharwana was to present his arguments but he was not present in the court.

    When NAB asked for an adjournment, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah denied the request.

    It came to light that NAB started the proceedings based on a report published in a newspaper. Justice Minallah then inquired about the newspaper on the basis of which the case was registered. NAB officials identified the paper as Metrowatch.

    The judge further inquired about the details of the newspaper, and what its report stated, and instructed the official to read it out loud.

    “Did the NAB chairman check the accuracy of the facts? A case of corruption related to a public welfare project was started on this basis?” the chief justice questioned incredulously.

    Justice Minallah said that if the case was initiated on the basis of a Metrowatch report then why was the person responsible for restarting the project in 2009 not arrested? He noted that Iqbal was not even a public officeholder at the time.

    Subsequently, the court dismissed the case against Iqbal.

    In 2019, Iqbal was arrested by NAB and remained in custody for two months.

    In April, Iqbal filed a petition in the high court, alleging that NAB had filed the reference against him as part of the then-ruling PTI’s campaign to victimise political opponents.

  • OMG we’re back again: IK to launch anti-govt movement from Saturday

    OMG we’re back again: IK to launch anti-govt movement from Saturday

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has announced the continuation of his Haqeeqi Azaadi Movement from Saturday (September 24).

    Addressing the All Pakistan Lawyers Convention in Lahore, Khan urged party workers and supporters to get ready for his call.

    The former prime minister’s announcement has come after the federal government tightened security around the Red Zone areas of Islamabad.

    Earlier in the day, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said a protest is a democratic right and it can be held at F-9 Park. However, he warned of dealing with protesters with an iron hand if they tried to move towards the D-Chowk.

    Earlier, the PTI chairman Imran Khan warned the government to stop the “persecution” of his party workers otherwise he would again march on Islamabad.

    He directed party leaders to start preparations for a long march to Islamabad. He also asked party workers to wait for the Islamabad call.

    In May, PTI leaders and thousands of supporters reached Islamabad where a six-day deadline was given to the government for announcing elections and dissolving assemblies. That long march ended a day after it started.

  • Adnan Syed released, conviction tossed after 22 years

    Adnan Syed released, conviction tossed after 22 years

    A Baltimore judge on Monday ordered the release of Adnan Syed after overturning his conviction for the 1999 murder of high school student Hae Min Lee.

    Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn ordered that Syed’s conviction be vacated as she approved the release of the now-41-year-old who has spent more than two decades behind bars.

    The case gained national attention when the popular podcast “Serial” raised doubts about his guilt.

    The podcast said that Syed should be released from prison, where he has spent two decades, while prosecutors complete the investigation and decide whether to seek a new trial.

    “All right Mr. Syed, you’re free to join your family,” Phinn said as the hearing ended.

    Minutes later, Syed emerged from the courthouse and flashed a smile as he was shepherded to a waiting SUV through a sea of cameras and a cheering crowd of supporters.

    Syed did not speak during the hearing, nor did he address reporters outside the courtroom afterward. But after the hearing, his lawyer Erica Suter described his reaction to the decision, saying: “He said he couldn’t believe it’s real.”

  • Fawad Chaudhry wants civil-military dosti, says let’s agree on rules of game

    Fawad Chaudhry wants civil-military dosti, says let’s agree on rules of game

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to extend a hand of friendship between the civil and military forces.

    Chaudhry suggested that “Power should be transferred to the people of Pakistan.”

    “I call upon political parties and establishment let’s rewrite political framework Let’s agree on rules of game. Present system has failed Pak, we need to look up for fair rules,” tweeted Chaudhry.

    Chaudhry’s tweet comes after PTI Chairman Imran Khan instigated the public to revolt against ones who are making “threatening calls.”

    “Those who call you from unknown numbers and threaten you, you threaten them back. Who ever tries to scare you, scare them back,” said Khan.

    “I am asking Pakistanis to break the fear of idols, those threatening you by calling from unknown numbers and frightening you, threat and scare them in return,” said Khan.

    He claimed that since ‘Mr X and Mr Y’ have been issuing threats to people, they should be on the receiving end of their own medicine.

    “Frighten people by calling them from unknown numbers, and threaten them with inflicting harm,” he stated.

    Although the former Prime Minister has stopped short of naming the individuals he alleges are behind removing his government and threatening people, it is widely believed that he is talking about the security establishment of the country. At various times in his interviews and speeches, Imran Khan has referred to “neutrals”, “Mir Jaffar”, “Mir Sadiq”, “Mr. X” and “Mr. Y”.

  • High court accepts former judge’s apology for accusing Saqib Nisar of favouring Imran Khan

    High court accepts former judge’s apology for accusing Saqib Nisar of favouring Imran Khan

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday accepted the unconditional apology of former Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Justice (CJ) Rana Muhammad Shamim.

    Earlier, Shamim submitted an apology to the high court because of his own controversial affidavit that incriminates former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar of favouring Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah expressed satisfaction over the apology by Rana Shamim.

    Justice Minallah remarked that the effect of Shamim’s affidavit has died down with the unconditional apology . He said that, “there is no case against him unless he backtracks from what he has stated in the apology”.

    The court also exempted the former judge from personally appearing at the next hearing on September 29.

    Former judge Rana Shamim apologises to court for accusing Saqib Nisar of favouring Imran Khan

    Last week, Rana Muhammad Shamim submitted an unconditional apology to IHC and completely disowned a controversial affidavit associated with him.

    The first unconditional apology was submitted to the Court on September 12, 2022. However, at the time he stood by his allegations against former CJP Saqib Nisar. Then again on Friday (September 16), he submitted an unconditional apology, disowning his own ‘controversial’ affidavit and withdrew from its contents.

    The affidavit contained allegations that Saqib Nisar had attempted to influence a case against former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, in an attempt to bring Imran Khan into power.

    In the apology submitted on Friday, the former CJ said, “I tender an unconditional apology for an affidavit which was neither correct nor required.”

    Expressing his regret over the “grave mistake”, the judge said it should never have happened.

    “I place myself at the mercy of this honourable court,” he added.

    He, further said that the affidavit was due to his “glaring misunderstanding and unintentional mistake”.

    “Hence, I withdraw from the contents of the said affidavit. I profusely apologise for the wrong and unnecessary affidavit”, he added.

    “I, while suffering through the extreme stress of loss of my close family members in such quick succession, realised the importance of writing down the incident in my knowledge as soon as possible, as per my beloved late wife’s will; therefore, I chose to do so during my transit stay in London,” he wrote.

    Earlier, this month the high court fixed a contempt case against Shamim, on September 5.