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.

  • ‘Militants will be dealt with an iron hand,’ DG ISPR

    ‘Militants will be dealt with an iron hand,’ DG ISPR

    Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry has said that militants will be dealt with an iron hand.

    During a press conference at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the DG said, “There is no area where terrorists are active,” ruling out the presence of a no-go area in the country.

    He further said that factions that attempts to create a rift between Pakistan and Afghanistan, two brotherly nations, are “living in an imaginary world.”

    Commenting on former spymaster General Faiz Hameed’s military trial, Chaudhry remarked that if an individual from the Pakistan Army “works for personal gain or promotes a specific agenda,” the law will take its course.

    He clarified that no one is exempt from the law, and action will be taken against anyone who does not abide law.

    “Pakistan Army is neither against nor in favour of any political party,” he added.

    Speaking about security operations nationwide, Chaudhry claimed that security forces and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) carried out 32,173 Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) against terrorists in the first eight months of the ongoing year.

  • Lt Gen Satti becomes head of FPSC

    Lt Gen Satti becomes head of FPSC

    President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has approved the appointment of Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz Satti as Chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC).

    Satti will take charge of the post after he retires from the army. The post has been vacant since August 22, The News reported.

    According to the FPSC website, the Commission comprises a Chairman and Members. The Chairman is appointed by the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, at his discretion, under Article 242 (IA) of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973.

    Moreover, the President appointed members on the advice of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Secretary assists the Commission and provides a link between the Commission, its Secretariat, and the government agencies.

  • Nawaz Sharif seeks unconditional dialogue with PTI, says Rana Sanaullah

    Nawaz Sharif seeks unconditional dialogue with PTI, says Rana Sanaullah

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Advisor on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif wants unconditional dialogue with all parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had denied reports of receiving direction from former PM Nawaz Sharif to initiate talks with all parties, along with PTI.

    According to Associated Press Pakistan (APP), Sanaullah stated on a local news channel, “We have also maintained the same stance before the PTI lawmakers in the National Assembly.”

    Emphasizing that Shehbaz shook hands with everyone two weeks ago, offering unconditional talks, Sanaullah advised the PTI to reverse its “stubborn attitude” to make talks productive.

    Responding to Chief Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s negotiation offer, Sanaullah said that PML-N believes in democracy and negotiation to curb political issues.

  • Senate Committee approves bill mandating three-year imprisonment for unapproved protests in Islamabad

    Senate Committee approves bill mandating three-year imprisonment for unapproved protests in Islamabad

    The Senate Standing Committee of Interior, presided by Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman, has approved a bill pertaining to rallies in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

    The bill reads that protests will occur in the Islamabad-connected area of Sangjani or other specified areas where the government referred. Without permission, protest organisers and participants will be punished with three years of imprisonment.

    Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui debated the bill, saying it is intended to legalise protests in Islamabad and will be implemented only in the capital territory.

    He further said that containers are still on Islamabad roads, creating trouble for people. He emphasised that the government needed to allocate a designated place for protests.

    Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri clarified that the bill’s purpose is not to target any political party.

    Senator Saifullah Abro said that according to the Pakistan constitution, every citizen has the right to peaceful protest.

  • IHC registrar objects to Imran Khan’s petition against potential military trial

    IHC registrar objects to Imran Khan’s petition against potential military trial

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) registrar office has objected to former Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s petition to bar his potential military trial in connection with the May 9 riots cases.

    The IHC registrar objected to the petition, stating that the petitioner could only seek relief while referring to a specific First Information Report (FIR). The court also highlighted the absence of any document and an order that should be attached to the petition.

    The IHC registrar further objected to how a petition could be filed with a high court while the matter of military trials is sub judice in the Supreme Court; registering cases in Punjab is impossible for a federal court to hear.

    Earlier, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) filed a plea under Article 199 of the constitution.

    Imran Khan’s counsel, Intezar Panjutha, questioned, “How can the leader of a popular political party be taken to a military court?”

  • Motion to expel illegal immigrants from Sindh passes unanimously

    Motion to expel illegal immigrants from Sindh passes unanimously

    The Sindh Provincial Assembly on Tuesday passed the “substantive motion” unanimously demanding that authorities expel illegal immigrants of other countries from the province.

    The motion tabled by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Heer Soho read, “This Assembly is of the opinion that illegal immigrants residing in the Province Of Sindh belonging to other countries be extradited to their original countries.”

    However, the Sindh Assembly atmosphere heated up after Soho’s discriminatory comments on the Bihari community, terming them alien.

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leadership strongly condemned Soho’s remarks, which were ultimately expunged from the proceeding at the request of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia Lanjar.

    A member of MQM-P from Orangi town responded to Soho’s speech by stating that the Bihari community migrated twice to their homeland, Pakistan.

    “I am proud of being Bihari, and we cannot be termed illegal immigrants,” he concluded.

  • Bill tabled in Senate to increase number of Supreme Court judges to 21

    Bill tabled in Senate to increase number of Supreme Court judges to 21

    Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir has introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill in the Senate, proposing to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 21.

    Lawmaker Qadir explained that the purpose of the amendment is to ensure quicker justice and to address the fifty-three thousand pending cases in the apex court. He emphasized that the amendment would significantly improve the judicial system’s efficiency.

    He also noted that billions of rupees in cases have remained unresolved due to the shortage of judges in the superior court and the lack of available time.

    The opposition, however, expressed concerns over the proposed amendment, arguing that it would favour the incumbent government and called it a “judiciary coup.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary leader Barrister Ali Zafar advised the government to focus on reforming the lower judiciary rather than increasing the number of judges in the apex court.

    Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said, “Massive reforms are being introduced in the criminal procedure code, from registration of FIR to manner of arrest and discharge, and timelines in the material and sessions trial to the use of the modern device in the law of evidence,”

  • Sardar Akhtar Mengal resigns from National Assembly

    Sardar Akhtar Mengal resigns from National Assembly

    Chief of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) Sardar Akhtar Mengal has announced that he is resigning from the National Assembly (NA).

    Talking to media outside parliament alongside Chairman Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Mengal said, “I am announcing my resignation in this press conference, and I haven’t told anyone yet.”

    The head of BNP-M remarked that he will return to his constituency and tell the Baloch people, “If I was unable to do anything for your people, I didn’t sit along with those who were doing nothing for Balochistan.”

    “I’m disappointed by the system. The state is not ready to listen to Balochistan’s grievances, and I have lost confidence in the state, the President, and the Prime Minister.”

    “Even if you want to encounter or kill me outside Parliament, go ahead, but at least listen. We have no one, and no one listens to us,” he concluded.

  • Netherland court to try TLP’s Saad Hussain Rizvi on fatwa against Geert Wilders

    Netherland court to try TLP’s Saad Hussain Rizvi on fatwa against Geert Wilders

    A Netherlands high-security court has started a trial against the head of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Saad Hussain Rizvi, along with religious leader Muhammad Ashraf Jalali, for issuing a murder fatwa against far-right Islamophobic political leader, Geert Wilders.

    The Dutch prosecutor has demanded that the two religious leaders be sentenced to 14 years for promising his followers that they would be “rewarded in the afterlife” if they killed Geert Wilders.

    Wilders said, “This case has had a huge impact on me and my family. I’m asking this court (a high-security court) to send a strong signal that calling a fatwa in this country is unacceptable.”

    In 2018, a massive protest erupted in Pakistan after Wilders announced arranging a sketch competition of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

    After record protests in Muslim countries, he announced, “Due to violence, I decided that there will be no more sketching competition.”

  • Charges filed against Lal Masjid female students, cleric’s wife

    Charges filed against Lal Masjid female students, cleric’s wife

    Former Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Aziz’s wife Umme Hassan was booked on multiple charges, including Anti-Terrorism Act, along with 40 female students on Monday.

    According to the police, Jamia Hafsa’s students, led by the cleric’s wife, along with armed individuals, arrived at Bahria Town Phase 4 and blocked the road from the roundabout side.

    Furthermore, they forcibly shut down the shops and commercial centres in the area, threatening traders with severe consequences.

    The group alleged that immoral activities were going on in the area, accusing police and district administration of being involved in the alleged activities.

    When the police arrived at the scene, they informed the group that Section 144 of the CrPC had been imposed, banning all types of gatherings, including protests.

    However, female students and armed individuals attacked the police with batons and sticks.

    Earlier, Umme Hassan, in a video message, claimed that their religious seminary in Bahria Town was surrounded by obscenity and nudity. She said that families couldn’t come there after sunset.