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.

  • Punjab sports minister meets criminal wanted by the US, invites him to Lahore

    Punjab sports minister meets criminal wanted by the US, invites him to Lahore

    Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Bhatti met Daniel Joseph in March. Joseph is a criminal wanted by the United States (US) Department of State with a reward being offered up to $500,000 for information about him.

    Daniel is said to be the member of a criminal gang allegedly involved in heinous crimes around the world, including murder, trafficking in firearms and narcotics.

    Taimoor Khan Bhatti shared a picture on his Twitter account last month in which Daniel Joseph can be seen sitting with him. He also said that he is looking forward to hosting Daniel Joseph in Lahore. In one of the pictures, he can be seen giving him some kind of shield.

    “Met @probellum on aligning vision on boxing for Punjab & how to make this sport bigger for our youth. Looking forward to hosting Daniel in Lahore to discuss Pakistan’s first International fight with foreign world-class boxers InshAllah. Will share more info in the upcoming weeks,” tweeted Bhatti.

  • Dissolve NAB, holds its employees accountable: Abbasi tells new govt

    Dissolve NAB, holds its employees accountable: Abbasi tells new govt

    PML-N senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday urged the new government to dissolve the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) whose chairman Javed Iqbal was “fully under the control” of former premier Imran Khan.

    “NAB’s employees looted and tortured people for years. It’s time they should be held accountable,” he said at a media talk in Islamabad Tuesday morning and talking with Geo News Anchor person Shahzeb Khanzada on Tuesday.

    The remarks by the PML-N leader came a day after the party president Shehbaz Sharif, took oath as the 23rd premier of Pakistan following the ouster of Imran through a joint opposition effort.

    Abbasi advised the government to end NAB and hold its officials accountable who allegedly tortured and looted people for years during the PTI regime. “The NAB chairman used to take instructions from the previous government,” he said, alleging a member of Imran’s cabinet used to direct the bureau chief to lodge fake cases against the opposition.

    “The weak NAB chairman will now go after Imran’s friends,” he claimed, adding that the accountability watchdog had failed to file a single reference over the alleged corruption in Imran’s government. The facts about NAB will be brought to light soon, he added.

    Abbasi said the government will move courts to seek the installation of cameras inside the accountability courts to expose the reality of NAB’s accountability drive.

    To a question about the protest move by Imran, Abbasi said the new government will complete its tenure whereas Imran will keep roaming the streets. He also criticised the former government for ruining the country.

    He claimed that there was a minister in Imran Khan’s office who used to issue orders to the NAB chief regarding lodging fake cases, arresting people and defaming them. “This is your NAB chairman … who stayed quiet on Imran Khan’s corruption,” the PML-N leader added.

    He also lamented that NAB couldn’t prove a single reference or inquiry against PML-N leaders in the last four years. “Why didn’t they investigate people who were involved in corruption worth billions [of rupees] and were sitting in the federal cabinet,” Abbasi demanded.

  • ‘Why we opened the court in the middle of the night’, Islamabad High Court issues clarification

    ‘Why we opened the court in the middle of the night’, Islamabad High Court issues clarification

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has clarified opening its doors late on the evening of April 9, 2022 when the process of a no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was going on in the National Assembly (NA).

    In a statement, the court said, “The filing of petitions late in the evening on April 9, 2022, has been misreported and queries have been raised whether petitions can be presented after the notified court timings.”

    On Saturday, there were rumours that a petition was filed in the IHC, asking the court to restrain Khan from de-notifying Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa from his post.

    IHC said the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President approached the court and requested the court to implement the Supreme Court’s April 7 order. The IHC statement then referred to the petitions, including a “pre-emptive” constitutional petition that sought to restrain the then prime minister from de-notifying the army chief.

    “As a constitutional court, the Islamabad High Court has ensured that cases relating to extreme urgency are presented at any time after the notified timings,” the high court said, adding: “The honourable chief justice, if satisfied that there exists extreme urgency, may order fixing of the case at any time.”

    “A petition regarding extreme urgency could be presented at any time after the notified court timings and it could also be fixed for hearing subject to the satisfaction of the chief justice that circumstances exist for doing so,” the court said further.

  • US monitoring rising HR abuses in India: Blinken

    US monitoring rising HR abuses in India: Blinken

    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States was monitoring what he described as a rise in human rights abuses in India by some officials, in a rare direct rebuke by Washington of the Asian nation’s rights record.

    “We regularly engage with our Indian partners on these shared values (of human rights) and to that end, we are monitoring some recent concerning developments in India including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police and prison officials,” Blinken said on Monday in a joint press briefing with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

    Blinken did not elaborate. Singh and Jaishankar, who spoke after Blinken at the briefing, did not comment on the human rights issue.

    Blinken’s remarks came days after US Representative Ilhan Omar questioned the alleged reluctance of the US government to criticise Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on human rights.

    “What does Modi need to do to India’s Muslim population before we will stop considering them a partner in peace?” Omar, who belongs to President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, said last week.

    Modi’s critics say his Hindu nationalist ruling party has fostered religious polarisation since coming to power in 2014.

    Since Modi came to power, right-wing Hindu groups have launched attacks on minorities claiming they are trying to prevent religious conversions.

    Several Indian states have passed or are considering anti-conversion laws that challenge the constitutionally protected right to freedom of belief.

    In 2019, the government passed a citizenship law that critics said undermined India’s secular constitution by excluding Muslim migrants from neighbouring countries.

  • Zardari ‘smiled’ when PML-Q asked for his help to make Pervaiz Elahi Chief Minister: Chaudhry Shujaat’s son

    Zardari ‘smiled’ when PML-Q asked for his help to make Pervaiz Elahi Chief Minister: Chaudhry Shujaat’s son

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has once again approached former President Asif Ali Zardari for the Punjab chief ministership, reports Geo News.

    PML-Q leader Tariq Bashir Cheema and Chaudhry Shujaat’s son Chaudhry Salik Hussain met Asif Ali Zardari and conveyed Chaudhry Shujaat’s message to the former president. Both Cheema and Salik requested Zardari to support Pervez Elahi for the post of Chief Minister Punjab.

    Zardari, after hearing this request, smiled and did not respond.

    Meanwhile, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz have been advised by the Lahore High Court (LHC) to decide a date for the chief minister’s election peacefully instead of “creating a scene”, reports Geo News.

    LHC Chief Justice Ameer Bhatti while hearing the case against the delay in the CM election asked the lawyers of all the parties of the case to gather at the Punjab advocate-general’s office and settle the date for the CM election. It has been advised that the parties reach the date through mutual consultation and understanding.

    “Don’t create a scene. Remember we are all residents of this country. Solve the problem at home, together,” the LHC CJ remarked.

    Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti informed the court that the lawmakers belonging to the PML-N had allegedly ransacked the furniture of the House during the session on April 3. The furniture is now being replaced.

    “As a result of the ruckus, the session was adjourned until April 16,” he said.

    Earlier, through an official notification, Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari himself postponed on Tuesday the session of the Punjab Assembly till April 16. It has also been reproted that Mazari’s powers have been restored by the LHC.

  • Democratic Pakistan critical to US interests, says White House

    A democratic Pakistan is critical to the interests of the United States, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday, hours after Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the prime minister.

    Ex-prime minister Imran Khan repeatedly blamed the US for backing the no-confidence motion — that lead to his ouster early Sunday — and has refused to accept the newly-elected premier, saying “there can’t be any bigger insult to this country” — but the Joe Biden administration denied any role.

    In a press briefing at the White House, Psaki said: “We support the peaceful upholding of constitutional democratic principles, we don’t support one political party over another.”

    The White House press secretary said the United States “certainly” supports the principles of rule of law and equal justice under the law.

    Psaki added that the US values its long-standing cooperation with Pakistan and has always viewed a prosperous and democratic Pakistan as critical to US interests — that remains unchanged regardless of who the leadership is.

    In response to a question about whether Biden would call Shehbaz, Psaki said: “In terms of future calls, I don’t have anything to predict at this point and time, obviously, we stay in close touch with them at a range of levels.”

    Since Biden assumed the US president’s office in 2021, Imran Khan and Biden did not hold a telephonic conversation.

  • Shehbaz Sharif – the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan

    Shehbaz Sharif – the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan

    The Joint Opposition’s candidate Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, after the former Prime Minister Imran Khan was voted out of office through a no-confidence motion on Saturday, April 9.

    Shehbaz bagged a total of 174 votes as opposed to PTI’s candidate Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Qureshi received no votes after his party decided to boycott the polling process.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Ayaz Sadiq presided over the session after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri said his conscience did not allow him to conduct the session.

    Born in Lahore in 1950, Shehbaz is the younger brother of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Shehbaz has served three times as Punjab’s chief minister.

    Taking the floor, the newly-elected prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said that it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that a prime minister was ousted through the no-confidence motion.

    April 11 historic day

    Terming April 11 a “historic day”, he mentioned that the happiness of the people can be seen through the economic indicators. Shehbaz mentioned that the rupee regained its value — which was trading at Rs190 per dollar and closed at Rs182 per dollar today.

    ‘Will probe threat letter’

    The newly-elected prime minister said the Opposition was discussing the no-confidence motion days before Imran Khan’s “concocted threat letter controversy”.

    “They say that this letter came to them on March 7, but our decisions were made way before that, so, if [what the previous government claimed] is a lie, then the matter should be disclosed transparently before the public,” he said.

    PM Shehbaz Sharif announced that the parliament’s security committee would be given a briefing on the “threat letter” to the members of the committee in presence of the armed forces personnel and bureaucrats — the director-general Inter-Services Intelligence, foreign secretary, and the ambassador who wrote it, who has now been transferred to Brussels.

    “If there’s an iota of evidence that we were backed by foreign conspirators […] then with you Mr speaker and God as my witness, I will not think for another second and resign from the office of the prime minister,” PM Shehbaz Sharif said, vowing to hold an in-camera session of the security committee at the earliest.

    Economy

     Shehbaz Sharif said that hard work was required for Pakistan’s progress as if only statements could move the country forward, then during PTI’s tenure, we would have been among the leading nations.

    “We will need to wash out the effects of the previous government by working together, otherwise, we will fail […] our economy is in a bad situation right now,” the prime minister said.

    “We will need to wash out the effects of the previous government by working together, otherwise, we will fail […] our economy is in a bad situation right now,” said PM Shehbaz.

    “The minimum wage will be jacked up to Rs25,000 (from April 1). 10 per cent increase in pensions of retired civil, and military officials (from April 1). Cheap wheat to be introduced at utility stores.”

    “Laptop and technical education for youth. Reintroduction of Benazir Card. Appeal to industrialists to increase salaries of employees who earn up to Rs100,000 by 10 per cent.”

    Shehbaz’s take on foreign policy

    Shehbaz said China has been Pakistan’s partner through thick and thin. “No one can snatch Pakistan and China’s friendship from us,” he said, calling it a “long-lasting relation.”

    “But this friendship is for forever and … I assure that we will make progress on the CPEC,” he added, thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    Speaking about India, the newly-elected prime minister lamented that despite them wanting peaceful ties with India, they know that until the Kashmir issue is resolved, relations between the two cannot be strengthened.

    Urging Indian premier Narendra Modi to understand the issues of the people living on both sides, he questioned there is poverty, unemployment, medical issues, etc. then “why are we harming ourselves and the generations to come?”

    “Why do we want our coming generations to suffer. Come, let’s resolve the Kashmir issue in line with United Nation resolutions and Kashmiris’ expectations, so that we are able to end poverty on both sides of the border.”

    Underlining the significance of having good ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, European Union nations, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, and Iran, he said that ties needed to be strengthened with the US on the basis of equality and “we need to raise our voice for Afghanistan” where the situation was dire.

    “We want peace in Afghanistan.”

    The session was subsequently adjourned till 4pm on April 16.

    Sanjrani administers the oath to Shehbaz in President Alvi’s absence

    Prior to the ceremony, President Dr Arif Alvi had complained of discomfort and was advised to rest for a few days, according to an update posted on his Twitter account.

    In the president’s absence, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath to PM Shehbaz.

    Modi, Turkey’s Erdogan congratulate Shehbaz on becoming PM

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Monday congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on becoming the 23rd premier of Pakistan.

    Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation with Shehbaz, Turkish President Erdogan told the newly-elected prime minister that he was “extremely happy” about him being elected as the premier.

    Guard of honour

    Earlier this morning, the premier was given a Guard of Honour at Prime Minister’s House.

  • PTI supporters win hearts during peaceful demonstrations

    A massive peaceful protest was launched in favour of Former Prime Minister Imran Khan after he was dismissed in the no-confidence motion on Sunday. The demonstrations were held across the country and overseas as well. Elderly people also joined in the peaceful protest.

    In Swat, people made a way for an ambulance to move forward which has won the hearts of social media users.

    A protest was held by overseas Pakistanis in London Hyde Park to show their support for Imran Khan.

    Emotional scenes were seen abroad at the PTI protest where elderly women were crying about the injustice meted out to Imran Khan.

    Actor, Haroon Shahid also shared his proud moment on Twitter, when his mother went to protest around midnight to show solidarity with Imran Khan.

    Another user shared a clip in which an elderly woman was crying and she revealed herself in a video that she came from the United States (US).

    https://twitter.com/pEEruBalOcH/status/1513284770670821394

    Former Prime Minister, Imran Khan thanked his supporters in a tweet prior to midnight.

    “Thank you to all Pakistanis for their amazing outpouring of support and emotions to protest against US-backed regime change abetted by local Mir Jafars to bring into power a coterie of pliable crooks all out on bail,” he tweeted.

    “[It] shows Pakistanis at home and abroad have emphatically rejected this,” he further added.

  • Court extends bail of MNA Jam Abdul Karim in Jokhio murder case

    Court extends bail of MNA Jam Abdul Karim in Jokhio murder case

    The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday extended interim bail of MNA Jam Abdul Karim until April 14 in the Nazim Jokhio murder case.

    The counsel for MNA Jam Abdul Karim submitted an application in the court, seeking his client’s exemption from the hearing. “Mr Abdul Karim will appear in the court on next hearing after casting vote in the election for new prime minister,” the lawyer informed the court. During hearing, Justice Umar Sial questioned how the court could exempt him from the hearing. “Why the challan has not been submitted in the Anti-Terrorism Court,” the court questioned the lawyer. To which, the investigation officer informed the court that challan of the case was finalized and subsequently submitted to the office of the Public Prosecutor General. However, it was stopped due to objections raised by the office .

    The bench extended bail of Jam Abdul Karim and other accused till April 14.

    It is to be recalled that the accused MNA reached Pakistan last month after the Sindh High Court granted him protective bail against a surety bond of Rs100,000.

    On November 3, last year, Nazim’s tortured body was found in PPP MPA Jam Awais’ farmhouse in Karachi’s Malir area, a day after he filmed a group of foreigners hunting the endangered houbara bustard in his Achar Salaar village in Thatta. According to Nazim Jokhio’s brother, Nazim had broadcast a live stream on social media of a hunting expedition involving foreign guests of PPP MPA Jam Awais, after which Jam Awais called Nazim to the house where he was allegedly murdered.

  • FIA places six key aides of former PM Khan on ‘stop list’

    FIA places six key aides of former PM Khan on ‘stop list’

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sunday placed the names of six closed aides of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on ‘stop list,’ barring them from travelling abroad without permission.

    According to official list: they Khan principal secretary Azam Khan, former special assistant to PM on political communication Dr Shahbaz Gill, ex-adviser to PM on interior and accountability Shahzad Akbar, Director-General (DG) Punjab Corruption Establishment Gohar Nafees, and DG Federal Investigation Agency Punjab Zone Mohammad Rizwan’s names have been added to the ‘stop list’. As per reports, the name of Pakistan Tehreek-Insaaf’s (PTI) head of social media Dr Arsalan Khalid is also among the list.

    The FIA introduced a system of ‘stop list’ in 2003 to stop unwanted people from trying to leave the country in the shortest possible time as placing someone’s name on Exit Control List (ECL) takes a long time.

    The development came after, the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan succeeded on Sunday, with 174 members voted in favour of the motion.