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.

  • FIA picks up 24 over social media campaign against Pak Army

    FIA picks up 24 over social media campaign against Pak Army

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested more 24 persons on charges of launching a smear campaign on social media against the Pakistan Army. According to officials, the arrests were made during raids conducted in 11 cities.

    According to the FIA officers, the arrested people have been accused of initiating a “hate trend” against Pakistan Army on Twitter. Until now, 19 people have been charged under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Pakistan Electronic Crime Prevention Act  (PECA) for unleashing a smear campaign against the Army on social media.

    On Monday, the FIA carried out raids in various cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad to arrest people who were behind targetting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and the Army.

    According to media reports, the cases will be heard by the authority concerned under the anti-terrorism laws. All cases have been shifted from the cyber crime wing to the anti-terrorism wing.

    The Counter-Terrorism Wing Director Humayun Sindhu is leading the investigation process under anti-terrorism laws.

    On April 12, FIA arrested six people under similar charges to propagate a propaganda campaign against COAS and Army across the social media.

  • Long-awaited 34 members federal cabinet takes oath

    Long-awaited 34 members federal cabinet takes oath

    The long-awaited 34-member cabinet of newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif finally took oath today (Tuesday) after the cabinet division issued a list of the first phase of ministers on Tuesday.

    According to ARY News, the list includes names of 30 federal ministers, four ministers of state and three advisers to the Prime Minister.

    Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath to the new federal cabinet of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after President Arif Alvi excused from administering oath to the lawmakers.

    The swearing-in ceremony of the federal cabinet was held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad where members belonging to PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, MQM-P and other allied parties took oath as ministers in the federal cabinet.

    The PPP members who took oath as ministers in first phase are: Naveed Qamar, Shazia Marri, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Syed Khursheed Shah, Qadir Patel and Hina Rabbani Khar.

    The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) also got two ministries in the new set-up.

    A list of the federal cabinet members:

    Khawaja Muhammad Asif, MNA

    Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, MNA

    Rana Sana Ullah Khan, MNA

    Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, MNA

    Rana Tanveer Hussain. MNA

    Khurrum Dastagir Khan, MNA

    Marriyum Aurangzeb, MNA

    Khawaja Saad Rafique, MNA

    Mian Javed Latif, MNA

    Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada. MNA

    Murtaza Javed Abbasi, MNA

    Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senator

    Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, MNA

    Syed Naveed Qamar, MNA

    Sherry Rehman, Senator

    Abdul Qadir Patel, MNA

    Shazia Marri, MNA

    Syed Murtaza Mahmud, MNA

    Sajid Hussain Turi, MNA

    Ehsan ur Rehman Mazari, MNA

    Abid Hussain Bhayo, MNA

    Asad Mahmood, MNA

    Abdul Wasay, MNA

    Mufti Abdul Shakoor, MNA

    Muhammad Talha Mahmood, Senator

    Syed Amin-ul-Haque, MNA

    Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, Senator

    Muhammad Israr Tareen, MNA

    Nawabzada Shazain Bugti, MNA

    Chaudhary Tariq Bashir Cheema, MNA

    Ministers of state

    Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, MNA

    Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju, MNA

    Hina Rabbani Khar, MNA

    Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Senator

    ADVISERS TO THE PM

    Miftah Ismail

    Amir Muqam

    Qamar Zaman Kaira

  • ‘We still want immediate elections,’ Maulana Fazl tells the new govt

    ‘We still want immediate elections,’ Maulana Fazl tells the new govt

     Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has demanded immediate elections.

    Addressing his party workers in Islamabad, Maulana said that the maximum time this new government would be in power for is a year.

    “In this new setup, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam has its own identity and we are telling them [new government] that we still want immediate elections.”

    READ MORE: Zardari, Nawaz, Maulana have all been ruined by one man: Saleem Safi

    Maulana said that continuing to stay in power unnecessarily is not his party’s stance. The new government, he added, can take some time for electoral reforms but Maulana said that Imran Khan was ousted so that the people of Pakistan could be given their mandate back.

    “Now it is our responsibility to give back the nation what we promised.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has also been demanding early elections. However, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that elections cannot be held before October as it needs four months to complete the process of delimitation of constituencies.

  • Disheartened: PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat might quit politics

    Disheartened: PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat might quit politics

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has been reportedly considering quitting politics after being shocked by the aggressiveness and hooliganism staged during the Punjab Assembly session on Saturday, reports Geo News’ sources.

    According to the news outlet, Jamaat-e-Islami Central Vice-Chief Liaquat Baloch visited the residence of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to enquire about his well-being where he also met Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

    During the conversation, Baloch urged Ch Shujaat to suggest effective steps for the elimination of aggressiveness and extremism from politics. The PML-Q chief, however, in a dispirited tone expressed that he was now considering whether or not to stay in politics.

    Baloch also suggested to Ch Shujaat to tell people that aggression and violence is in nobody’s interest and will benefit no one in any form. The report quoting sources said that Ch Shujaat told Baloch that he will speak to him about his future line of action after making up his mind.

    Chaudhry Shujaat’s cousin Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, who was a candidate for the slot of CM Punjab, was injured during a fight in Punjab Assembly.

  • IHC rejects plea against issuance of diplomatic passport to Nawaz Sharif

    IHC rejects plea against issuance of diplomatic passport to Nawaz Sharif

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a plea against issuance of a diplomatic passport to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif by the incumbent government.

    According to ARY News, the IHC reserved its verdict on the petition earlier in the day and said that it could not decide on the matters without having any evidence of it. The court said that the petitioner could not provide any notification to prove his point.

    The court rejected the plea and also imposed a fine of Rs5,000 against the petitioner. “It is mandatory for an absconding convict to surrender himself to jail authorities,” the court said in its verdict.

    On April 15, a petition was filed in the IHC by Naeem Haider who asked the court to ensure arrest of Nawaz Sharif upon his return to Pakistan. “Nawaz Sharif is an absconding convict and therefore authorities should be barred from issuing diplomatic passport to him,” it said.

    The petitioner while making Nawaz Sharif, secretary interior and foreign affairs’ secretary as respondents in the case asked the Islamabad High Court to take up the matter today and issue arrest warrants for the PML-N supremo.

    The registrar IHC admitted the petition and formed a bench for the hearing to be headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the interior ministry to issue a diplomatic passport to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

    However, the diplomatic staff said only Nawaz Sharif can be issued a diplomatic passport, not Ishaq Dar, on which PM Shehbaz Sharif directed to issue a normal Pakistani passport to Dar.

  • PTI rejects PM Shehbaz letter of regional peace, security to Modi

    PTI rejects PM Shehbaz letter of regional peace, security to Modi

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has written a letter in response to Indian PM Narendra Modi’s letter. In his letter, Modi had expressed his desire for developing constructive relations with Pakistan.

    “Reciprocating your sentiments, I wish to convey that Pakistan remains committed to the maintenance of regional peace and security. Our sacrifices and contributions in fighting and eliminating terrorism are well known and globally acknowledged,” wrote PM Shehbaz.

    PM Shehbaz added that peaceful and cooperative ties between Pakistan and India are “imperative for the progress and socio-economic uplift of the people of the two countries as well as for the region”.

    “This can be best achieved through meaningful engagement and peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, including the core issue of Jammu & Kashmir,” wrote PM Shehbaz. “Let’s secure peace and work for the progress and prosperity of our people.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry criticised Shehbaz Sharif’s letter to Modi.

    “We reject this letter. We will not let imported government to bargain away Kashmir. Until and unless Modi restores Kashmir’s status, any offer to talk will tantamount to betraying the people of Kashmir.”

  • Pakistan extends time for transportation of Indian wheat, medicines to Afghanistan

    Pakistan extends time for transportation of Indian wheat, medicines to Afghanistan

    The Pakistani government extended by two months the time for transportation of Indian wheat and lifesaving medicines to Afghanistan on a humanitarian basis through Attari-Wagah border crossing.

    According to Dawn News, in a statement the Foreign Office spokesperson said that the extension manifests Islamabad’s sincere efforts towards addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

    The Indian government recently sought an extension in the time period to complete the transportation process.

    In November 2021, the Pakistani government had allowed transportation of 50,000 MTs of wheat and life-saving medicines as humanitarian assistance from India to Afghanistan via Wagah border on exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes.

    The time period granted for transportation of the humanitarian assistance expired on March 21.

    All the modalities will remain the same as earlier communicated to the Indian side. The Indian High Commission in Islamabad has been informed of the decision in this regard.

  • PM Shehbaz kicks off New Islamabad International Airport Metro Bus Service

    PM Shehbaz kicks off New Islamabad International Airport Metro Bus Service

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has inaugurated Metro Bus Service from Peshawar Morr to New Islamabad International Airport today [Monday]. Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mustafa Yurdakul, Chinese Chargé d’affaires Pang Chunxue, and a number of Parliamentarians attended the inauguration ceremony.

    Speaking at the inauguration, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the metro bus project as a gift from PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif for the residents of the federal capital, adding that the project was started in 2017 and was made functional in a record time one year in 2018.

    “But after the government changed, like other projects, this project was also delayed,” said the prime minister while addressing the ceremony. The thing that was not present was the government’s will to work and serve the masses,” he added.

    After assuming the office of Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif had directed for resumption of work on the project and its completion on a war footing.

    The bus service will provide international standard travel facilities to thousands of passengers on a daily basis. Later, the Metro Bus Service route will be extended to Rawat.

  • PPP to get 11 ministries, PML-N 14 in federal cabinet: Rana Sanaullah

    PPP to get 11 ministries, PML-N 14 in federal cabinet: Rana Sanaullah

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will get 14 ministries, while Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will get 11 ministries. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is all set to become the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. Hina Rabbani Khar will most likely be the Minister of State in the Foreign Ministry.

    PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah told Geo News‘ anchorperson Shahzad Iqbal on “Naya Pakistan” that the Finance Ministry, Interior Ministry, Defence Ministry, Planning Ministry, Ministry of Energy and Information Ministry will remain with PML-N. Commerce Ministry and Communications Ministry will go to PPP and PML-N while MQM and PPP will get Maritime Ministry and Overseas Ministry. Marriyum Aurangzeb will most likely get Information Ministry as per media reports. Rana Sana said that these decisions have been taken after a joint committee of all allied parties finalised the formation of the new cabinet.

    According to The News, Asif Zardari advised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to give cabinet posts to all coalition partners in the first phase and the PPP would join the cabinet in the second phase. It is expected that the first phase of the cabinet will take oath today (Monday) or tomorrow (Tuesday). In the first phase, 10 to 12 ministers will take the oath.

    Last week, PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari had hinted that the PPP may not join the federal cabinet.

    “I don’t think we are taking any ministries. We want to first accommodate our friends,” said Zardari, talking about government’s other coalition partners.

    On Friday, PPP’s Raja Pervez Ashraf was elected Speaker of the National Assembly unopposed.

  • Tofay hi tofay: What did Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi keep from the state gift list?

    Tofay hi tofay: What did Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi keep from the state gift list?

    An investigation by news organisation Fact Focus reveals that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi kept all 112 presents worth Rs142.02 million from the Tosha Khana of Pakistan.

    The former PM and his wife Bushra Bibi have retained everything that was gifted to them by different states. The gifts include luxurious Rolex watches, gold and diamond jewellery, cufflinks worth millions, expensive dinner sets and perfumes. Not only that, they also kept a book worth Rs. 500, a tablemat, a samsonite bag and even a tasbih.

    The most expensive gift was a Graff watch worth Rs 85 million (Eight crore and fifty lac rupees), gifted to PM Khan by Saudi crown prince Muhammad Bin Salman when he visited Saudi Arabia on September 18, 2018. Instead of giving it the Tosha Khana, which is what every prime minister and his family is bound to do, Khan sold the watch in Dubai, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khan also declared tax returns on the watch when filing his taxes in 2020-21. He apparently paid Rs. 20 million (2 crore), which was 20 percent of the estimated value, according to his tax returns.

    List of some of the gifts:

    • One pair of cufflinks worth Rs. 5,670,000.
    • Five Rolex watches
    • A table mat of Rs. 30,000
    • Wall hanging worth Rs. 15,000
    • One locket with chain (Gold+Diamond) worth Rs. 269,350
    • Carpet worth Rs. 22,000

    In his returns for the financial years 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21, Imran Khan did not mention any of the Tosha Khana presents that were kept. Bushra Bibi, Khan’s wife, did not file a tax return at this time. Bushra Bibi, in reality, has never submitted a tax return in her life and was just registered with the Pakistani tax authorities in July 2021.

    A few days ago, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry that, Kya jurm huva agar gharri baich di’, admitting that Khan had sold the gifts.

    DISCLAIMER: The pictures used are for pictorial representation only and do not represent what the actual items might have been.

    Other gifts include: