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 Out: Hamza Shehbaz elected as CM again

    Pervaiz Out: Hamza Shehbaz elected as CM again

    Hamza Shehbaz elected Chief Minister (CM) Punjab again after Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari rejected 10 Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) votes.

    10 PML-Q votes will not be counted: Dost Mazari

    Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Dost Mazari says 10 PML-Q votes will not be counted because of Chaudhry Shujaat’s letter.

    According to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Raas, Hamza received 179 votes whereas Elahi got 186 votes. After Mazari rejected 10 PML-Q votes, Elahi was left with 176 votes, which turned the tables in Hamza’s favour.

    While announcing the result, Mazari read Shujaat’s letter out loud. “As party head of Pakistan Muslim League, I have issued directions to all my provincial members to cast their votes in favour of Muhammad Hamza Shehbaz Sharif,” Mazari quoted Hussain as saying.

    His ruling was countered by PTI MPA Raja Basharat, who said that the law states that the parliamentary party could issue instructions to party members.

    “The head of the parliamentary party is Pervaiz Elahi,” he contended.

    However, Mazari said that the matter had been clarified by the Supreme Court, subsequently proroguing the session.

    Will not support the PTI candidate for the CM slot., confirms Moonis Elahi to Hamid Mir

    Moonis Elahi has confirmed to senior journalist Hamid Mir that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has indeed written a letter to the Deputy Speaker. He has said that he will not support the PTI candidate for the CM slot.

    Senior journalist Hamid Mir originally broke the story about Chaudhry Shujaat’s letter, which was later confirmed by Moonis Elahi to him as well.

    Asif Ali Zardari to meet Chaudhry Shujaat, again: Hamid Mir

    Senior journalist Hamid Mir says that Asif Zardari is about to meet PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

    Reports suggest that Moonis Elahi has also left the Punjab Assembly.

    ‘Now the rules of the game will be the same for everyone, else PML-N knows how to play it better’: Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has tweeted that the PML-N has not forgotten the treatment meted out to them. “Now the rules of the game will be the same for everyone, else PMLN knows how to play it better. Insha’Allah.”

    PTI to file contempt of court petition against Dost Mazari: Fawad Chaudhry

    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry has tweeted that the unnecessary delay in starting the Punjab Assembly session is a violation of the Supreme Court’s orders. He said that the party has directed its lawyers to file a contempt of court petition against Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari.

    ‘Allah ko manzoor huva tau jeeteinge’: Hamza Shehbaz

    Hamza Shehbaz has reached the Punjab Assembly. Talking to the media, Hamza seemed quite happy and hoped for a victory.

    ‘Hammad Azhar will be the new PTI Punjab President’: Imran Khan

    According to media reports, Chairman PTI Imran Khan said that Hammad Azhar will be the new PTI Punjab President.

    Last month, Shafqat Mahmood stepped down from this post. Hammad Azhar was made PTI Central Punjab General Secretary.

    However, Azhar took to Twitter and said that “No changes are being in punjab chapter’s organisation.”

    ‘I was there’: Buzdar denies he was absent from PTI jalsas in Punjab

    Former CM Punjab Usman Buzdar was asked about his absence from the PTI jalsas being held in Punjab.

    He responded by saying, “I was present at every jalsa.”

    ‘Sari raat saaray duaein kartay rahay hain’: Pervaiz Elahi

    The PTI candidate for the CM slot, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, is currently in the House. Talking to the media, he seemed really hopeful of a win.

    Today, the Punjab Assembly will vote in the runoff election and decide who gets to be the next chief minister of the province: Hamza Shehbaz or Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. The Punjab Assembly session started at 4pm today as per the Supreme Court’s orders.

    Hamza Shehbaz is the incumbent chief minister and CM candidate of the PML-N and its coalition partners, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The total number game of the PML-N-led ruling coalition is179.

    Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the PML-Q is the CM candidate of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). PTI and PML-Q have a total of 187 members on their side.

    Pakistan will become another Sri Lanka if Elahi not allowed to become CM Punjab: Imran Khan

    Yesterday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said yesterday that if Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is not allowed to become CM Punjab, Pakistan will become another Sri Lanka.

    “I will never forget what happened to us on May 25. We will never forget,” added Khan.

    Credit goes to Zardari for first destroying the PPP and now the PML-N: Fawad Chaudhry

    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that the Maryam Nawaz group’s gesture by accepting the results of the Punjab by-polls was good but the Shehbaz Sharif group is most probably working under the influence of Asif Ali Zardari. He alleged that Shehbaz Sharif is consulting Zardari these days for major decisions.

    “Credit goes to Zardari for destroying two parties, first the PPP and now the PML-N,” added Fawad Chaudhry.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1550107633423720448

    Read more: What next for the PML-N? Experts weigh in

    Asif Zardari meets Chaudhry Shujaat, again

    PPP co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari met PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain once again last night. Zardari had already held two meetings with Chaudhry Shujaat earlier in an effort to get his support for Hamza Shehbaz.

    The former president had sent a message for a meeting with Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi. However, they both refused to meet him according to The News.

    Moonis Elahi said that it’s “game over” for the government.

    “They can do whatever they want, they have lost the game,” said Moonis Elahi.

    50 PTI MPAs can vote for Hamza Shehbaz: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has claimed that 50 PTI MPAs can vote for Hamza Shehbaz in the CM Punjab election today.

    “Not five, but 50 PTI MPAs can either use their right to vote or abstain from casting their votes,” said Rana Sanaullah.

  • VIDEO: Former MPA Iftikhar Ahmed Baloch attacked, Hamza Shehbaz orders arrest of attackers

    VIDEO: Former MPA Iftikhar Ahmed Baloch attacked, Hamza Shehbaz orders arrest of attackers

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Hamza Shehbaz on Wednesday sought a report from Inspector-General (IG) Punjab after former MPA Iftikhar Ahmed Khan Baloch was attacked in Jhang.

    A video that surfaced on social media showed that he was beaten, his clothes were torn and abuses were being hurled at him.

    After the video went viral, Hamza directed the IG Punjab to arrest those involved in the incident.

    The police said that under the direction of the chief minister, a team has been formed to arrest those people who attacked the former MPA.

  • Imran Khan gets bail extension in 10 vandalism cases, to appear before court on July 30

    Imran Khan gets bail extension in 10 vandalism cases, to appear before court on July 30

    A district and sessions court in Islamabad extended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s interim bail till July 30.  He got bail extension in 10 cases related to vandalism during his party’s Azadi March in the federal capital held on May 25.

    During today’s hearing, District and Sessions Court Judge Kamran Basharat Mufti approved an application filed by Khan seeking exemption from personal appearance and extended his interim bail.

    Read more: Khan in court, granted pre-arrest bail in 10 cases against him

    When Khan’s junior counsel Rai Tajamul pleaded with the court to grant his client interim bail in a case registered in Kohsar police station, the judge remarked that “Khan’s personal appearance is necessary” since he is seeking a fresh bail.

    He informed the court that the PTI chief is in Lahore, while his lawyer Babar Awan is abroad. However, Khan’s counsel assured the judge that his client would appear at the next hearing, which is on July 30.

    On July 19, Judge Mufti extended the interim bail of the PTI Chairman till July 21 in these cases.

  • PTI rejects ECP decision to defer Sindh local body elections, plans to challenge it

    PTI rejects ECP decision to defer Sindh local body elections, plans to challenge it

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone the Sindh local body elections and plans to challenge it in court.

    PTI leader Ali Zaidi said the party condemns ECP’s decision, adding that the electoral body was already controversial. “The ECP decision will be challenged in the Sindh High Court,” he said.

    The ECP announced the postponement of polls owing to Muharram and rainy weather.

    PTI leadership decides to stick around in Lahore till the election of Punjab CM

    Later, PTI Chairman Imran Khan postponed his Karachi visit ahead of Punjab’s chief minister election tomorrow, July 22.

    “Before the postponement of polls in Sindh, a PTI spokesman insisted that it was the party’s consensus decision that Khan should focus more on Punjab, and because of this he couldn’t spare two days — July 21 and 22 — for Karachi and Hyderabad,” reports Dawn.

    Lahore seeing a repetition of Sindh House horse-trading: Imran Khan

    On July 20, Khan claimed that horse-trading was happening in Lahore with MPAs being offered Rs500 million to switch their loyalty.

    “Today, Lahore is seeing a repetition of the Sindh House horse-trading episode that happened in Islamabad, with up to Rs500 million being offered to buy MPAs,” tweeted the PTI chairman. He alleged that PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was the “main architect” behind this, adding that the former president has secured an “NRO for his corruption and purchases people with looted wealth”.

    “This is not only an attack on our democracy but also on the moral fabric of our society. Had Supreme Court taken action and debarred these turncoats for life, it would have acted as a deterrent,” claimed the PTI chairman.

    Khan further claimed that after his government was “toppled with stolen money from Sindh and NRO 2 achieved, certified criminal Asif Zardari in cahoots with Sharif mafia now seeking to steal Punjab people’s mandate by trying to purchase MPAs”.

    “Want to ask the Honourable Supreme Court: are they not cogniscant of the damage being wreaked? Isn’t destruction of our democracy, Constitution and nation’s morality a fit case for Suo Moto action? Are the ‘neutrals’ not realising how our beloved country is literally being destroyed on all fronts by the Imported government brought in through US regime change conspiracy?”

    PTI to move Supreme Court against horse-trading: Fawad Chaudhry

    On the other hand, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that the party will move the Supreme Court against horse-trading.

    “We want Rana Sanaullah, Zardari, and Ataullah Tarar to get arrested and the court to conduct an immediate inquiry into the matter,” he added.

  • Palmist told Khan that a big rock fell on Shehbaz instead of him

    Palmist told Khan that a big rock fell on Shehbaz instead of him

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Monday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has been told by a palmist that there was a big rock that was going to fall on Khan but it fell on Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif instead.

    He made these revelations on ARY News in Waseem Badami’s programme 11th Hour.

    Rasheed said that everyone is with Imran Khan so it would be a waste for anyone who stands against him in the elections.

    Talking about his audio leak, Rasheed said since childhood, his [Sheikh] messages and tapes have been going viral.

    He said that after the PTI swept Punjab by-polls, he received messages from top bureaucrats for the first time addressing him as ‘respected sir’.

    During the show, he further revealed that Imran Khan has planned to do a tour of Sindh, especially the interior side of the province.

    Rasheed again stressed that he is of the view that they should be friends with the establishment. He said that Imran Khan has said that we will not talk against the establishment anymore and have to focus on the elections.

    Appearing on the same programme on Tuesday, former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry agreed with Rasheed’s statement and said that they will not talk against the establishment. “We will try to normalise things in the future”, he added.

    Moreover, he said that PM Shehbaz Sharif should dissolve the National Assembly. According to him, election date will be announced within 45 days and the elections are likely to be held in October.

  • ‘Kisi aur ka gandd hum kyun saaf karein,’ asks SAPM Hafiz Karim

    ‘Kisi aur ka gandd hum kyun saaf karein,’ asks SAPM Hafiz Karim

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Shehbaz Sharif with the status of Federal Minister, Senator Hafiz Abdul Karim said that it is better to leave the government.

    “It is better to leave the government. We should not have taken the government,” said Karim.

    “Kisi aur ka gandd hum kyun saaf karein? Jo gandd laaye hain, wohi saaf karein.” [Why should we clean up someone else’s mess? They should clean up the mess that they created.]

    “If you want to govern, do not impose conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that burden the people. Believe me, if there is no relief, leave the government and do politics,” said SAPM Karim while speaking with journalist Naeem Ashraf.

    On the other hand, despite the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) disastrous performance in Punjab, the federal government has decided to complete its constitutional tenure till August 2023.

  • PML-N decides not to hold early elections

    PML-N decides not to hold early elections

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided not to hold early general elections in the country and to complete its constitutional term, reports Geo News.

    In a meeting on Monday under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, the PML-N’s defeat in Punjab by-polls and other political matters were discussed.

    On July 17, the ruling party suffered a heavy loss as it only managed to win four seats out of 20 while its rival party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 75 per cent (15 seats) of the Punjab constituencies.

    The decision regarding elections has been taken by the PML-N. The party is yet to discuss the matter with its coalition partners and for that, a meeting is scheduled for today (Tuesday).

    A day earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan addressed the nation after his party’s landslide victory in Punjab. He highlighted that the only way out of the current political crisis is free and fair elections.

  • ‘Voice-recorder found in my bedroom,’ Shireen Mazari

    ‘Voice-recorder found in my bedroom,’ Shireen Mazari

    Former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari claimed that the staff at her Islamabad residence had discovered a “voice-recorder” in her bedroom a day earlier.

    “I was at Bani Gala yesterday when I received a call from my domestic staff that a device was found attached underneath a coffee table in my bedroom,” said Mazari.

    “The question that arises is: who installed it? That too in my bedroom. Which agency [installed this device]? We have our doubts regarding who is behind it. But I want to highlight that this is a violation of the Constitution.”

    Mazari said she initially thought the device in question was a USB. But upon further investigation, it was discovered that it was a “voice-recorder”.

    “What are they trying to find out?”

    “What more do you want to achieve? Fake cases have been lodged against us. Our mobile phones have been tapped. The law and the Constitution have been turned into a joke.”

    “But I will stand up against this and file a constitutional petition in the Islamabad High Court. They have infringed on my right to privacy and protection,” said Mazari.

    Last month, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill said that a Bani Gala staffer was caught installing a spy device in PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s bedroom.

  • Numbers: Does Hamza have a chance to be CM Punjab?

    Numbers: Does Hamza have a chance to be CM Punjab?

    The result of the Punjab by-elections has come as a shock for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its supporters while it has proved to be a ray of light for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) future in upcoming elections.

    According to the results (as of now), PML-N managed to win only four seats in its popular province. PTI swept the by-elections by bagging almost 75 per cent of Punjab constituencies (15 seats) and one independent candidate won the seat.

    It is pertinent to mention that before the by-polls, PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) jointly had the strength of 173 members. Now, with 15 additional seats, the parties have achieved 188 seats in Punjab Assembly (PA) whereas they only needed 186. One independent MPA who has won is likely to be a part of the new ruling coalition.

    On the contrary, the current ruling coalition (PML-N, PPP and others) has 179 members.

    Two MPAs of PML-N including Mian Jaleel Sharaqpuri and Faisal Niazi had resigned so their seats are vacant. MPA Chaudhry Nisar is unlikely to vote for any of the candidates

    Great voter turnout

    In this election, a great voter turnout has been noted.

    In Sahiwal, the voter turnout was almost 56 per cent. While in Khushab, the turnout was 47.84 per cent.

    In the constituency of Multan, the turnout remained at 42 per cent where former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s son Zain Hussain Qureshi won.

    In the largest city of Punjab, the lowest turnout was recorded while the highest turnout was in Bakkhar where PTI’s Irfan Ullah Niazi won.

  • ‘Coalition government lost support of the people’: Politicians react to PTI’s win in Punjab by-polls

    ‘Coalition government lost support of the people’: Politicians react to PTI’s win in Punjab by-polls

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that the by-elections have made it clear that the coalition government has lost the support of the people.

    Khokhar was of the opinion that instead of forming the government, elections should have been held immediately. He also said that the deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should have been done by a government with a fresh mandate.

    “Difficult decisions should be made by a government that has a mandate of five years, it is not possible that we have sky-rocketing inflation and people shower us with flowers,” said Khokhar.

    “Political parties are still stuck in the 90s, the by-elections made it clear that the coalition government has lost the support of the people, political stability will be further eroded, and governance will become difficult. The country and economy need stabilisation, which is possible only through general elections,” said Khokhar.

    If they have won seats through people’s mandate, CM should step down: Malik Ahmad

    “In all fairness, if they have won seats through the people’s mandate, then the CM [Hamza Shehbaz] should step down and let them form a government,” said Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan to The News.

    “Once the people have spoken, they are the sovereign and if they have spoken in favour of Imran’s narrative for general elections, then they have spoken. Then let there be a fresh mandate. Otherwise, every day there will be a new crisis,” added Malik Ahmad.

    Imran Khan to decide when Shehbaz Sharif will be removed: Fawad Chaudhry

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Imran Khan would decide when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be removed.

    Speaking to Geo News, Fawad Chaudhry said that all the political parties need to end the ongoing political crisis and show maturity.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the Punjab by-elections by bagging a total of 15 out of 20 Punjab Asse­mbly seats while the ruling PML-N only managed to win four seats. An independent candidate won one seat.