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.

  • ‘Unconstitutional’: What else did the Supreme Court say?

    ‘Unconstitutional’: What else did the Supreme Court say?

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has declared the National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling on the dismissal of no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan as unconstitutional and illegal.

    The session chaired by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and the five-member bench has unanimously ruled that President Dr Arif Alvi’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly is “illegal” and restored Imran Khan as Prime Minister as well as his cabinet ministers. They will now face the no-confidence motion on Saturday April 9th 2022.

    “The deputy speaker gave a ruling on April 3. Leave was granted on the no-confidence motion on March 28. The ruling of the speaker is declared unconstitutional,” Justice Bandial declared.

    Chief Justice Bandial also said the verdict was announced with an unanimous agreement of 5-0 after the judges consulted each other.

    The apex court has also ordered a lower house session to vote on no-trust against PM Khan on April 9th, 2022 [Saturday] at 10 am, saying that the session cannot be adjourned without the conclusion of the no-trust motion and the government cannot interfere in the participation of any Member of National Assembly in the assembly session.

    Ahead of the verdict, SC summoned Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja. Prior to the verdict, PM Khan called a party meeting at Banigala.

    The short order by the SC is as follows:

  • What do the legal experts have to say about the expected SC verdict?

    What do the legal experts have to say about the expected SC verdict?

    All eyes are on the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) as the country waits for the verdict of the dismissal of the no-confidence motion tabled against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan by National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri. Pakistan is in a state of political chaos as the no-confidence motion against Khan was dismissed abruptly on Sunday, April 3.

    Supreme Court will announce its verdict on Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling at 7:30pm today.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday said that it was clear that the April 3 ruling of Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri was “incorrect”.

    Here is what legal experts have to say about the expected verdict.

    Ahsan Bhoon, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) said, “I am hopeful that the SCP will give its verdict in accordance with the constitution,” adding, “It is important to emphasise the need for an election order while maintaining the dissolution order of the Assembly.”

    SC lawyer Feisal Naqvi wrote in his op-ed in The News titled, ‘Destroying democracy from within‘: ” If today, the entire opposition can be disenfranchised on the basis of one man’s suspicions of treason, then tomorrow the entire opposition can be disenfranchised on the basis of different suspicions. No parliamentary system can work in such manner.”

    Lawyer Salaar Khan tweeted, “If the SC decides to return proceedings to the original position, the vote of no-confidence proceeds. If it fails, Imran Khan stays PM. If it succeeds, the next PM can be elected immediately thereafter. In either case, we have a stable government.”

    However, Salaar also wrote, “Mixed signals coming in from the SC. On the one hand, it has indicated that it believes the Speaker/Deputy Speaker’s ruling to be illegal. On the other, terms like ‘public interest’ and ‘stability’ suggest that we may be veering close to Necessity.”

    SC lawyer Salahuddin Ahmed tweeted, “Real mistake of SC was in not constituting a full court or larger bench of 5/7 senior-most judges. In a polarised political atmosphere; they will be lambasted whatever they decide.”

    PM Khan on March 27 claimed that the Opposition’s no-trust move is part of an alleged “foreign-funded conspiracy” hatched against his government. It is pertinent to mention here that the Opposition tabled the no-confidence motion against PM Khan on March 8. The government claims to have received the threatening communique on March 7.

    Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri on April 3 said that the no-confidence motion, presented on March 8, should be according to the law and the Constitution. “No foreign power shall be allowed to topple an elected government through a conspiracy,” he said, adding that the points raised by the minister were “valid”.

  • PML-N MPA refuses to accept Farah Khan as daughter-in-law

    PML-N MPA refuses to accept Farah Khan as daughter-in-law

    Muhammad Iqbal Gujjar, father-in-law of Farah Khan has refused to accept her as his daughter-in-law. Iqbal Gujjar is Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA from Gujranwala of the Punjab Assembly.

    As per Geo News, he also attended the symbolic assembly session of the Punjab Assembly in which Hamza Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

    The reporter asked him about the allegations against Farah Khan, to which he replied that he has no link with her adding that he has not accepted her as his daughter-in-law.

    Gujjar, while explaining the reason why he has not accepted her as a daughter-in-law, said that his son married her without his consent.

    The wealth of Farah Khan has grown exponentially during the three and a half years of rule of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Centre and in Punjab. Umar Cheema in his special report The News writes, “Farah’s penchant for luxury items is also evident from her bid to buy a luxury car, Porsche, which she got booked through Porsche’s Pakistani dealer and paid a part amount of it (Rs33 million) as advance. This she declared in the nomination papers she submitted for the Senate election in March 2021. Later, Farah pulled out from the Senate race.”

  • Political use of ‘diplomatic cable’ to haunt Pakistan’s Foreign Office for many years: report

    Political use of ‘diplomatic cable’ to haunt Pakistan’s Foreign Office for many years: report

    The ‘diplomatic cable’ which has plunged Pakistan into a constitutional crisis, also attracted fair resentment from the Foreign Office (FO) against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for using the communique for gaining ‘political mileage’.

    Kamran Yousaf in his report for The Express Tribune writes, “Two Foreign Office officials, spoke to The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the issue, revealed that the diplomats were not happy with the controversy.”

    One diplomatic on condition of anonymity told Yousaf that the repercussions of the way the government used “secret and classified communication” to achieve its “political objectives and its negative impact” would be felt in the FO for “many years” to come.

    “Diplomats are eyes and ears of Pakistan who give frank and honest feedback from the countries where they serve,” the official added.

    “Such honest and candid assessments are meant for policymakers to devise a strategy accordingly,” the official explained.

    “But if governments start using such secret communications for their political gains, then the diplomats would be reluctant to write honest assessments,” the official cautioned.

    “If the Foreign Office start making public diplomatic cables, people would be blown away,” the official said, insisting such candid discussions between diplomats are common.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on April 3, named Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu as the United States (US) representative who had a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador in the US, which led to the “threatening diplomatic cable”.

    PM Khan on March 27 claimed that the Opposition’s no-trust move is part of an alleged “foreign-funded conspiracy” hatched against his government. It is pertinent to mention here that the Opposition tabled the no-confidence motion against PM Khan on March 8. The government claims to have received the threatening communique on March 7.

  • Farah Khan: the new ‘Richie Rich’, report

    Farah Khan: the new ‘Richie Rich’, report

    The wealth of Farah Khan has grown exponentially during the three and a half years of rule of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Centre and in Punjab.

    Farah Khan is a close friend of the first lady of Pakistan, Bushra Bibi. Her wealth grew four times from Rs231 million in 2017 to Rs971 million in 2021. Her filing for the tax year 2018 was nil, reports Fakhar Durrani for The News.

    The News investigations reveal that Farah Khan’s fortune increased ever since the premier appointed Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister Punjab. 

    “Farah, as per the documents, also availed the whitening of black money scheme (Tax Amnesty Scheme) in 2019 during Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s government and declared assets worth Rs328 million under the Tax Amnesty Scheme 2019.”

    “The total assets of Farah Khan reached Rs699,137,839 inside Pakistan, Rs15,749, 479 outside Pakistan in the form of a flat in the UAE. Hence the total assets inside and outside Pakistan were recorded at Rs714,887,318. The net assets were reported as Rs697,502,318.”

    Umar Cheema in his special report for The News writes, “Farah’s penchant for luxury items is also evident from her bid to buy a luxury car, Porsche, which she got booked through Porsche’s Pakistani dealer and paid a part amount of it (Rs33 million) as advance. This she declared in the nomination papers she submitted for the Senate election in March 2021. Later, Farah pulled out from the Senate race.”

    “Her Birkin bag whose price is stated to be around $90,000 has been in the news. Her picture of holding the bag while sitting in a chartered plane is in circulation. The purse made by the French luxury brand Hermès is prepared on order. One can’t just get it by visiting a store. The order has to be placed months in advance,” writes Cheema.

  • India blocks four Pakistani YouTube channels

    India blocks four Pakistani YouTube channels

    The Indian government on Tuesday claimed to have blocked 22 YouTube channels, including four of Pakistani origin, for spreading disinformation about national security and public order, marking the country’s latest governmental crackdown.

    The prohibited YouTube channels had a total of 2.6 billion visitors, according to the country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

    “Multiple YouTube channels were used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces,” a statement issued by the Indian government read.

    The Indian government has started enforcing new IT rules enacted in 2021, which were targeted primarily at controlling huge social media companies and giving the government additional authority to remove content.

  • Joe Biden to host granddaughter’s wedding reception at White House

    Joe Biden to host granddaughter’s wedding reception at White House

    United States (US) President, Joe Biden and first lady, Jill Biden will host their eldest granddaughter, Naomi Biden’s wedding reception at the White House. The ceremony will take place this November 19, reports CNN.

    Naomi Biden, 28, was engaged to Peter Neal,24, in September 2021. The fiancé proposed to Ms Biden near his childhood house as the White House official reported. The couple has been in a relationship for about four years. They both met for the first time through a mutual friend.

    Naomi Biden is currently working as a lawyer in Washington, DC whereas Peter Neal is in the final semester of law school at the University of Pennsylvania.

    This is not the first time that a wedding reception is being held at the White House. There is a long history of conducting marriage ceremonies at the White House. The first wedding ceremony was held at the White House in 1812 when the sister of the first lady Dolley Madison, was wed to Thomas Todd. Dolley Madison was the wife of 4th US President James Madison

    The last wedding reception which took place at the White House was for the daughter of George W Bush in 2008. She celebrated a month after she tied a knot in Texas.

  • ’We have no link with Farah Khan’: Bushra Bibi’s son

    ’We have no link with Farah Khan’: Bushra Bibi’s son

    Musa Maneka, son of first Lady Bushra Bibi, has categorically said that his mother’s close friend Farah Khan’s “corruption” has nothing to do with the Maneka family.

    “Farah Khan has settled in Dubai and our family has no link with the alleged deals done by Farah Khan,” said Musa while speaking to Geo News.

    The first lady’s son Musa told Geo News that Farah Khan has “nothing to do” with the Maneka family. And what she did with his mother and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was “not right”.

    “Farah Khan set off for Dubai on April 3 and reached there through a foreign flight EK623 from Lahore. She used a Pakistani passport and attended an iftar dinner in Abu Dhabi yesterday. According to family sources, Farah was invited to the iftar dinner by Maryam Riaz, sister of Bushra Bibi,” reports The News.

    Geo News’ Lahore Bureau Chief Raees Ansari visited Farah Khan’s village near Sheikhupura. He said that Farah Khan has built a hospital, school, and roads in a very short time in this village, which looks more developed than all the villages of Punjab.

    Farah Khan become controversial after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dissident Abdul Aleem Khan levelled a number of allegations against former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, on April 4, saying that he was involved in bribery over transfers and postings in Punjab. He also accused Farah Khan, of being complicit in these transfers.

    Aleem Khan accused Farah Khan of corruption with the connivance of her “contacts in the power corridors”. Later, rumours started making rounds suggesting that Farah Khan left for Dubai on Sunday in the wake of the no-confidence motion.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Farah joined PTI four years ago. She was also present during the wedding ceremony of PM Khan and Bushra Bibi.

  • 64% Pakistanis believe there is no US conspiracy to overthrow PTI government

    64 per cent Pakistanis believe that there is no US conspiracy to overthrow the PTI government, Gallup survey has revealed. The survey was conducted between April 3 and 4, according to which 64 per cent Pakistanis cited inflation as the main reason behind the fall of the PTI government.

    Those who participated in the survey said that the main reason behind the Opposition’s efforts to remove the government is inflation and lack of relief for the people.

    Only 36 per cent of the participants said that the US was behind the fall of the government.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has named Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu as the United States (US) representative who had a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador in the US, which led to the ‘threatening’ diplomatic cable.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan is in a state of political chaos as the no-confidence motion against Khan was dismissed abruptly on Sunday. The move came after Suri termed it “unconstitutional”, saying that it was backed by “foreign powers”.

  • ‘Punish disobedient Imran Khan’: Russia lashes out at US for ‘plotting against Pakistan’

    ‘Punish disobedient Imran Khan’: Russia lashes out at US for ‘plotting against Pakistan’

    Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday declared that Russia is well aware of the events that led to the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA) in Pakistan.

    In a statement, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, “Immediately after the announcement of the upcoming working visit of Imran Khan to Moscow on February 23-24 this year. The Americans and their Western associates began to exert rude pressure on the Prime Minister, demanding an ultimatum to cancel the trip.”

    “When he nevertheless came to us, United States (US) Deputy Secretary of State for South Asia D Liu [Donald Lu] called the Pakistani ambassador in Washington and demanded that the visit be immediately interrupted, which was also rejected.”

    “According to the Pakistani media, on March 7 this year. in a conversation with Pakistani Ambassador Asad Majeed, a high-ranking American official (presumably the same D Liu) sharply condemned the balanced reaction of the Pakistani leadership to the events in Ukraine and made it clear that partnerships with the United States are possible only if Imran Khan is removed from power.”

    Zakharova further added, “The situation leaves no doubt that the United States decided to punish the ‘disobedient’ Imran Khan: a group of deputies of the same party of the prime minister ‘suddenly’ went over to the Opposition and the question of a no-confidence motion against the head of the incumbent government (Prime Minister) was immediately tabled in the parliament, the vote on which was scheduled for April 3rd.”

    “There is another attempt of shameless US interference in the internal affairs of an independent state for its own selfish purposes. The above facts eloquently testify to this. The Pakistani Prime Minister himself has repeatedly stated that the conspiracy against him was inspired and financed from abroad.”

    “We hope that Pakistani voters will be informed about these circumstances when they come to the elections, which should be held within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly,” read the statement.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan is in a state of political chaos as the no-confidence motion against Khan was dismissed abruptly on Sunday. Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri said that the no-confidence motion, presented on March 8, should be according to the law and the Constitution. “No foreign power shall be allowed to topple an elected government through a conspiracy,” he said, adding that the points raised by the minister were “valid”.