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.

  • Pervaiz Elahi lifts ban on ad hoc appointments of doctors in Punjab

    Pervaiz Elahi lifts ban on ad hoc appointments of doctors in Punjab

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, has on Tuesday lifted a ban on ad-hoc appointments of doctors and nurses, reports The Nation.

    After the provincial Health Department forwarded a summary to the CM, the government allowed ad hoc appointment of doctors and paramedics to meet the severe shortage of health officials in public health facilities across Punjab.

    In a meeting chaired by Elahi, it was decided to extend the Health Card programme in an improved manner.

    According to the notification, both the health departments – Specialized Healthcare and Primary Health – are allowed to fill the vacant posts of doctors and paramedics on an impromptu basis.

    While the country continues to grapple with the ongoing devastation caused by floods, waterborne dengue infection has broken out in all four provinces, with panic and fear spreading among the public. According to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare secretary, 2,278 confirmed dengue cases and four deaths had so far been reported in the province this year.

  • PTI to take legal action against Maryam Nawaz for ‘accusing Khan of blasphemy’

    PTI to take legal action against Maryam Nawaz for ‘accusing Khan of blasphemy’

    Political temperatures in the country will continue to rise as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is all set to take legal action against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz for allegedly triggering a social media campaign accusing the former Premier of blasphemy which may endanger his life.

    Maryam Nawaz on Monday tweeted, “This man (Imran) is using religion for his politics and promoting his false narrative. Save your faith and the country from this satan.”

    Fawad Chaudhry on Monday in a press conference said, “The coalition government is probably the only government that is using blasphemy laws against political opponents blatantly. Using religion cards is the most blatant attempt to physically eliminate political opponents and Maryam Nawaz and Fazlur Rehnan are creating this web to physically eliminate Imran Khan.”

    Khan on September 8, addressed a rally in Chishtian and said, “Agar ap ne Nawaz Sharif ko vote diya toh matlab ap mujrim ko vote de rahy hai. Is ka matlab ap burai ke sath khary hai. Is ka matlab ke ap Allah ke farman ke khilaf ja rahy hai.” (People who vote for PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif will be siding with a convict and are on the wrong side. This also means that you will go against Allah’s orders.)

    Opponents have accused PTI and Imran Khan of using religion to further his cause. In their turn, PTI has previously also alleged that it has been the target of ‘religion card’.

  • Amreeki saazish ya kuch aur: PTI leaders meet American diplomats?

    Amreeki saazish ya kuch aur: PTI leaders meet American diplomats?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday reportedly had a meeting with former United States diplomat Robin Raphel at his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad.

    Raphel is a former diplomat, ambassador, CIA analyst, lobbyist, and expert on Pakistan affairs. In 2009, she served the State Department as a senior adviser for Pakistan. Until November of 2014, she served as coordinator for non-military assistance to Pakistan.

    Reports also emerged stating that PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry meet Ambassador Donald Bloom. According to the reports, Chaudhry met Bloom on Septembe

    Later, Chaudhry took to Twitter and said that the meeting between Khan and Raphel took place three years ago.ing between Khan and Raphel took place three years ago.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI chairman, since he has been ousted out of power has said that the Americans had hatched a conspiracy to get him out of power.

    Khan has blamed Donald Lu, an American diplomat based in Washington DC, of conspiring against his government. In his interviews and his political speeches, the former Prime Minister has repeatedly made the assertion that his government was removed via an American hatched conspiracy. The claims have been rubbished by both the government and the military’s PR wing.

  • Terrorism case: Imran Khan’s bail extended again

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad extended the interim pre-arrest bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan till September 20 in a terrorism case registered against him.

    The PTI chairman arrived in court on Monday amid tight security.

    The PTI chief was booked for terrorism under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act for making controversial remarks against Additional Sessional Judge Zeba Chaudhry and officials of the Islamabad Police during a rally in Islamabad on August 20.

    On Sunday, Khan, for the third time, refused to appear before the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the terrorism charge against him.

    ATC extends Imran Khan’s interim bail till Sept 12

    Earlier, ATC extended Imran Khan’s interim bail till September 12. At the time, the court directed the former prime minister to submit Rs100,000 as surety against the bail.

    Imran Khan’s counsel, Babar Awan, informed the ATC that the former premier’s life was at threat. Awan said that Islamabad police had issued a threat alert about a possible attack on Imran Khan.

    “Inspector General Police (IG) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations will be responsible if something happens to my client,” warned Babar, while pleading for an interim bail for Khan.

    During the hearing, the court was informed that four new sections had been added to the First Information Report against Khan. These include 186 (offence of obstructing public servant in the execution of public duty), 504 (criminal intimidation), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).

    Read more: New FIR filed against Khan for violating Section 144

    While talking to the media Khan said, “Mai har roz ziada khatarnak ho raha hoon,” said PTI Chairman Imran Khan. [Translation: I am becoming more dangerous every day.]

    Journalist Azaz Syed questioned PTI Chairman Imran Khan whether his wife Bushra Bibi received a diamond necklace from business tycoon Malik Riaz or not.

    “Heeray sastay hotay hain, mehngi cheezon ki baat kiya karo,” said PTI Chairman.

    [Translation: Diamonds are cheap, talk about something expensive.]

    Last week, Khan was given pre-arrest bail in the terrorism case filed against him for threatening judge Zeba and senior police officers at a public rally held.

    The ATC had accepted the former premier’s bail plea against a surety of Rs100,000, stopping the police from arresting Khan till September 1.

    Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on August 31, directed Khan to resubmit his response in the contempt of court case within the next seven days.

    Read more: Disappointed by IK, High Court directs Khan to submit his response again

    The IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that he was “disappointed” by the written response submitted by Khan in the contempt of court case. He asked the former premier to review his response and submit it once.

  • Indian PM Modi to attend regional summit along with PM Shehbaz

    Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Pakistani Premier Shehbaz Sharif will take part in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit which is due to take place on September 15 and 16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

    New Delhi has not yet specified whether Modi would hold bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Russian President Vladimir Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    Earlier, in the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting, all of the ministers reiterated that the heads of SCO states would attend the summit.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto, who had attended the meeting in Tashkent, said that a bilateral meeting between the Pakistani and Indian leaders is not scheduled.

    “There are no plans of any meetings between Indian and Pakistani prime ministers in September”, Bilawal revealed, adding that both India and Pakistan are part of the SCO and the two countries are only engaged in the context of the broad-based activities of the organisation.

    The foreign minister had said: “India is our neighbouring country. While one can decide on a lot of things, one cannot choose its neighbours, therefore, we should get used to living with them.”

    Other than this, it has been reported that Russian Putin and Chinese Xi would meet at the summit. China has refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and has ramped up purchases of Russian oil.

  • Exclusive: Apple user or Samsung loyalist? What phone does PM Shehbaz use?

    Exclusive: Apple user or Samsung loyalist? What phone does PM Shehbaz use?

    Android or iOS—which one is better? We have heard this never-ending debate many times. Now, the debate has turned towards the power corridors of Islamabad. The question being asked on social media is, what phone does our Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif use?

    Earlier in the day, PM’s Focal Person on Digital Media, Muhammad Abubakar Umer, shared a video of the Premier who was sitting with United Nations (UN) Chief Antonio Guterres. They both visited the flood-affected areas of Sindh.

    In the video, PM Shehbaz pulled out his phone which appears to be an iPhone 7.

    Abubakar has also mentioned the model of the phone in the caption. He said, “PM Shehbaz doesn’t normally carry/use his mobile phone in public. This is probably the first time he pulled out his phone during a meeting—to show a flood-related video to UN Secretary-General— and guess what? It’s not iPhone 14, not even X or 9. It looks more like iPhone 7.”

    Upon asking the reason behind PM not upgrading his phone, Abubakar told The Current, “He [PM Shehbaz] uses the phone only for necessary functions and not for entertainment or luxury. He would use the phone as long it serves the basic purpose of call or text and sometimes video message or call.”

    The focal person also revealed that when he met PM Shehbaz back in 2011 he [PM] was carrying a phone that “looked like Nokia 3310”. He said that it was a very “basic” phone.

    “PM has all the resources to afford a new phone but he is doing great even without keeping up with the latest phone models”, he added.

  • Imran Khan’s plane escapes an accident

    Imran Khan’s plane escapes an accident

    A plane carrying Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan escaped an accident. Khan was en route to Gujranwala for his jalsa from Chaklala.

    Khan was set to travel on a private plane when some technical problem was detected.

    According to media reports, the former prime minister couldn’t travel because of the weather situation as well.

    After the incident, Khan had to travel by road for his jalsa.

    The news was confirmed by PTI’s Salman Ahmad. He said that a technical fault was discovered in time.

    “We are extraordinarily lucky that Imran Khan plane’s technical fault was discovered in time before it took off,” he tweeted.

    A day earlier, Khan announced that he would share the “next critical phase” of his party’s “Haqiqi Azadi movement” during his Gujranwala rally on Saturday.

  • King Charles officially proclaimed as Britain’s new monarch

    King Charles officially proclaimed as Britain’s new monarch

    King Charles was officially proclaimed as Britain’s new monarch on Saturday at a ceremony in St. James’s Palace. The former Prince of Wales ‘Has become lawfully and rightfully Lord of Britain and Commonwealth’ on September 10.

    Charles, 73, succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, immediately after her death on Thursday but an Accession Council met on Saturday to proclaim his succession, with his son and heir William, wife Camilla, and Britain’s new prime minister, Liz Truss, among those to sign the proclamation.

    Making his personal declaration, Charles said: “My Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen. It is my most sorrowful duty to announce to you the death of my beloved Mother, The Queen,” said Charles.

    “I know how deeply you, the entire Nation – and I think I may say the whole world – sympathise with me in the irreparable loss we have all suffered.”

    “In carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life, I pray for the guidance and help of Almighty God.”

    “In taking up these responsibilities, I shall strive to follow the inspiring example I have been set in upholding constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony, and prosperity of the peoples of these Islands and of the Commonwealth Realms and Territories throughout the world.”

    “In this purpose, I know that I shall be upheld by the affection and loyalty of the peoples whose Sovereign I have been called upon to be and that in the discharge of these duties I will be guided by the counsel of their elected parliaments.”

    In his address, he bestowed upon Prince William and Kate Middleton the titles of the Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales.

    Charles is now the King and head of state of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.

  • ‘Tomorrow jalsa will be last of our present phase of Haqiqi Azadi Movement’: Imran Khan

    ‘Tomorrow jalsa will be last of our present phase of Haqiqi Azadi Movement’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced on Friday that he will share the “next critical phase” of his party’s “haqiqi azadi movement” (movement for real freedom) during his Gujranwala rally tomorrow.

    “Tomorrow our Gujranwala jalsa will be last of our present phase of Haqiqi Azadi Movement. I will announce the next critical phase at the jalsa,” tweeted Khan.

    Khan claimed that the incumbent government and “its handlers” are “petrified that nation is standing firmly behind PTI” which is why they are moving on a “minus 1 formula”.

    Prior to Khan’s tweet, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in a press conference said, “There are attempts being made to knock out Imran Khan politically. FIRs are being registered against him at a time when there are floods in the country,” said Fawad, claiming that the incumbent government does not have a “public mandate”.

    Chaudhry said that the government wants to push Imran Khan out of the “political arena”.

    “This government is a dummy and real decisions are being made somewhere else. There is only one political party that is in the opposition,” said Fawad, adding that the ECP delayed the elections when there were no floods.

  • Bushra Bibi’s closest friend’s case dropped by Anti Corruption Establishment Punjab

    Bushra Bibi’s closest friend’s case dropped by Anti Corruption Establishment Punjab

    The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Punjab, has dropped a corruption case against Farah Khan, a close friend of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, reports Geo News.

    Farah was accused of getting a 10-acre plot allotted in the Faisalabad Special Economic Zone for only Rs83 million when its actual worth was Rs600 million. A prerequisite was in place for any company interested in buying the plot to have a minimum valuation of Rs. 2 billion.

    The Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department issued the order to dismiss the case after former Director-General of ACE l, Rai Manzoor Nasir, declared Farah innocent in the investigation.

    In May, Imran Khan said that the cases against Farah were “totally wrong.”

    “She [Farah] has been in the real estate business for 20 years,” said Imran Khan.

    “It was implied that Farah’s riches grew exponentially during three years […] real estate business has generated a lot of money during the last three years,” he explained.

    “They say that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is independent. First of all, I ask NAB, can a case even be built against Farah Khan or not?” Imran questioned.

    He said that the term “wealth beyond known sources of income” applies to public office holders only.

    In June it was reported that Farah Khan and her husband Ahsan Jameel Gujjar were treated as residents of Imran Khan’s house in Bani Gala, which was declared the official PM House during his tenure.

    The records for 44 months showed that Farah alias Gogi and Gujjar’s visits to Bani Gala were not recorded in the registers maintained by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Special Branch. The Special Branch of Islamabad Police controls the entry and exit points of PM House as part of the security provided to the PM.