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.

  • Asad Qaiser summons NA session on March 25, Opposition calls for trial of Speaker under Article 6

    Asad Qaiser summons NA session on March 25, Opposition calls for trial of Speaker under Article 6

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser has summoned a session of the lower house of parliament on March 25. The NA session will be held at the Parliament House on Friday at 11am. The 14-day constitutional deadline to convene the NA session on the Opposition’s requisition will expire on March 21 (today).

    Sources told the media that the session will offer fateha for PTI MNA Haji Khayal Zaman who recently passed away, after which the Speaker has the “discretionary power” to continue or adjourn the session.

    Opposition parties on Sunday slammed Qaiser for not convening the assembly session within 14 days of its requisition, demanding that he should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed hope that the Supreme Court would take notice of the violation of the Constitution by the Speaker.

    “This coward captain [the PM] is running away from the vote of no confidence. He is escaping to the extent that he has made the speaker abrogate the Constitution,” said Bilawal.

    Article 6 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan states, “Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.”

    The second clause adds that any person aiding, abetting, or collaborating in the acts will also be considered guilty of high treason.

    Clause 2A says that an act of high treason cannot be validated by any court, including the Supreme Court (SC) and a High Court.”

  • Hopeful PM Khan: public pressure will force PTI members to come back

    Hopeful PM Khan: public pressure will force PTI members to come back

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project has said that ‘mark my words all the members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who have left will come back due to the party’.

    “And mark my words, as the no-confidence motion comes near, all those who are in talks with the Opposition will return as the people are angry at the lawmakers for venality,” the premier said.

    “The public would force the dissident PTI lawmakers — who are around a dozen — to come back to their party,” said PM Khan.

    “Times have changed […] and on March 27 — when PTI will stage a rally in Islamabad — everyone will witness a historic gathering.”

    Talking about the PTI workers who stormed the Sindh House in the capital where the disgruntled lawmakers were residing, he said what is the Opposition fearing and why so much security is being provided.

    PM Khan further said if the PPP is “buying” the loyalties of the PTI lawmakers, then it must be through the funds given to the Sindh government — “it is illegal as the people’s money cannot to used to lure in other party lawmakers”.

    The premier further said that “never in the history of Pakistan” has any provincial force been deployed “just to safeguard” the MNAs of other parties.

    “So why did they need Sindh police over there [Sindh House]? Because illegal activities were taking place there. People have now seen their reality,” the premier said.

    “They are so afraid of public pressure that no one [in the UK] can do the things that are happening at the Sindh House,” PM Imran Khan said but noted that no one was allowed to resort to violence.

  • Imran Khan’s horoscope is spot on today

    Imran Khan’s horoscope is spot on today

    The recent political episodes have put the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a tight position and it seems like stars aren’t really in favour of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    PM Khan has always done the unusual and it is no surprise that he has two birth dates. According to several websites, Khan was born on November 25, 1952, which makes him a Sagittarius. While some reports suggest that he was born on October 05, 1952, which makes Khan a Libra.

    According to The Current’s newsletter, all Libras should “take control now”. Point people in the right direction, and let them go, it states.

    Meanwhile, Sags have been warned of a struggle and distractions.

    Since the government is in trouble, the horoscopes fit exactly on PM Khan’s situation.

    But the question remains: What is Khan’s right birth date? Simply, one can never know for sure, but many say it’s the one in November.

  • PM refuses to accept ‘minus Imran Khan’ policy

    PM refuses to accept ‘minus Imran Khan’ policy

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Friday refused to accept the “minus Imran Khan” policy proposed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), reports Geo News.

    “This cannot happen in any scenario,” said the PM according to media reports.

    Chairing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) political committee, PM Khan said that the parties think this “minus one” formula will save the PTI-led government from falling. 

    “Fortunately, they are requesting […] this will boost our morale,” the premier was quoted.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad said that there was a rumour circulating that “everything is okay but Imran Khan. Everything can be saved if we go towards minus one.”

    The minister declared that there is “no room for minus one” in the PTI, adding that if anyone had any misunderstanding, they should remove it.

    MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, during an interview in Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath“, said, in the light of current developments, he thinks there was no chance for PM Imran Khan to stay in the office any longer.

    “After today’s events, PTI government can survive but the prime minister’s survival is unlikely,” Siddiqui said.

    Speaking on the same show after Maqbool, PML-Q leader and Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema agreed with the MQM-P leader’s views.

    “Instead of opting for a new adventure, the prime minister should select a member from within the PTI who will be acceptable to all,” said the PML-Q leader — whose party is an ally in Punjab and the Centre.

    “He has time till the [National Assembly votes on the] no-confidence motion,” Cheema said.

  • JUI-F announces to place 10,000 Ansarul Islam volunteers in Islamabad for March 25 rally

    JUI-F announces to place 10,000 Ansarul Islam volunteers in Islamabad for March 25 rally

    The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has announced on Thursday that 10,000 members of Ansarul Islam will provide security to marchers coming to Islamabad on March 25, reports Dawn.

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and JUI-F Chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman ordered all party workers to reach Islamabad on March 25 for the long march.

    According to the JUI-F media cell, the provincial council of the party held a meeting with Maulana Attaur Rehman, brother of Maulana Fazl ur Rehman, in Peshawar on Thursday. They discussed a plan in detail for the Islamabad rally against the government on March 25.

    Ansarul Islam is a group of volunteers force of the JUI-F that provides security to leaders and party workers during rallies and major events.

    MNAs, MPAs, and other local body members from JUI-F will lead a rally for Islamabad long march that will reach the capital on March 25.

    On March 10, Ansarul Islam members entered the Parliament Lodges to provide security to the Opposition lawmakers. The police raided lodges and arrested dozens of its members, including some prominent parliamentarians. JUI-F party workers blocked the highways in protest but later opened them after police released all members from JUI-F and Ansarul Islam.

  • ‘Crass choice of words’: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemns Shahbaz Gill for giving gaalis on TV

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Dr Shahbaz Gill’s use of foul language towards his fellow party member of National Assembly (MNA) Ramesh Kumar.

    During Dunya News‘ programme “On the Front with Kamran Shahid” on Thursday, Gill verbally abused Kumar multiple times, paying no heed to the fact that he was speaking on national television.

    Earlier in the day, Kumar announced that he is “no longer associated with the party”.

    In a tweet, HRCP said it is “revolted by Shahbaz Gill’s crass choice of words for his colleague Kumar”.

    “What should have been a civilised debate on a politically critical issue crumbled into a litany of abuse.” HRCP also criticised anchor Kamran Shahid for ignoring such a serious matter.

    Another member of the ruling party MNA Aliya Hamza called Sindh House a “brothel” on Dawn News‘ programme “News Eye” hosted by anchorperson Absa Komal.

    Both Gill and Aliya’s words came after it was revealed that around 24 disgruntled members of the PTI were staying at the Sindh House who are likely to vote on no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan despite their party’s decision to “not vote”.

  • ‘Gen Bajwa wanted concessions from India,’ British High Commissioner to Pakistan tells New Delhi

    ‘Gen Bajwa wanted concessions from India,’ British High Commissioner to Pakistan tells New Delhi

    British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa was looking for concessions—among them, the restoration of the Article 35A of India’s Constitution, which gave the state of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir the right to designate “permanent residents” entitled to purchase land, writes Praveen Swami for The Print. The British High Commissioner was speaking at a gathering in New Delhi.

    The news report further states that the Pakistan army chief believes he has helped New Delhi by controlling jihadists and thus ensuring violence in Kashmir remains at historically low levels.

    “The General, in his telling of events to British interlocutors, has resisted pressure from hawks to escalate in Kashmir—among them, Prime Minister Imran Khan,” writes the news outlet.

    In a report published in Dawn on April 25, 2021, it was revealed that India appro­ached Pakistan in December 2020 with an offer to reduce tension and offered backchannel talks on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, and Pakistan reciprocated favourably.

  • Indian cricket board official makes false accusation, says PM Khan involved in match-fixing, deletes tweet later

    Indian cricket board official makes false accusation, says PM Khan involved in match-fixing, deletes tweet later

    Vice-President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Rajeev Shukla yesterday responded to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s tweet about the current political situation of Pakistan.

    Congratulating Pakistan Captain Baber Azam for his performance in the second Test match against Australia, PM Khan hinted at horse-trading by the Opposition parties in his tweet. “Unfortunately I could not watch this match as I am fighting on another front against match fixing where huge amounts of money are being used to lure my players!”

    However, Rajeev Shukla misunderstood Imran Khan’s tweet and wrote, “ICC anti-corruption should take cognisance of this statement and coming from a prime minister who was also a legend cricketer.”

    Shukla also tagged International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the tweet.

    Rajeev, after receiving many comments pointing out that PM Khan’s tweet was about the current political situation in Pakistan, deleted his tweet and said that he was “being sarcastic”.

    “I was also being sarcastic on Imran Khan tweet of political match-fixing on the eve of Holi which is known for humour and colours. Bura na mano holi hai,” wrote Shukla.

    However, Twitter users are not buying Shukla’s explanation.

  • ‘PM Khan will de-seat PTI turncoats before vote on no-trust motion’: Fawad Chaudhry

    ‘PM Khan will de-seat PTI turncoats before vote on no-trust motion’: Fawad Chaudhry

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that the decision to summon a National Assembly (NA) session would be taken by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser and not Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    The minister while speaking with Dawn News said that the possible action against what he termed ‘Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) turncoats’, would be that, “PM Khan has decided to de-seat them before voting on the no-trust motion.”

    The minister’s comments came after around 24 members of the PTI were reportedly found to be staying at the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) run Sindh House.

    After the news became public on Thursday, PM Khan called a meeting attended by Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan and the NA Speaker.

    The premier directed Qaiser to commence the sitting of the lower house on March 21 and take action against “PTI’s possible turncoats”.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that it is empowered to take action only after receiving a declaration from the NA speaker about the members voting against party policy or crossing the floor.

    In a joint press conference with the information minister and Energy Minister Hammad Azhar, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar said that PM Khan could also throw money at Opposition lawmakers, but would not do so because he does not stand for the “politics of blackmailing and bribery”.

    “Imran Khan is in politics not for himself, but for the nation,” he added. He also claimed some opposition MNAs were also in close contact with the government.

    “We want to make it clear that we will not do any deals and will not disburse ministries to stay in power. We will remain engaged with our allies but there will be no wheeling and dealing,” said Azhar.

  • PPP says PTI is planning to attack Sindh House in Islamabad

    Several Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) members of the National Assembly (MNA) including Abdul Qadir Mandokhel, in a joint statement, said, “[Prime Minister] Imran Khan’s government is [hell]bent on [carrying out] terrorism” and planning to attack Sindh House.

    The members claimed they have information that Islamabad police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Tiger Force are planning the “assault”. The parliamentarians, further said that if any harm comes to Sindh House’s facilities or to their members then the government would be responsible for it.

    While referring to Parliament Lodges’ operation by capital police last week, the lawmakers said they had asked the Sindh police for protection because the capital police had “illegally raided and endangered the lives of people”.

    However, the government claimed the Opposition had detained some of their lawmakers at Sindh House ahead of the vote on the no-confidence resolution against PM Khan.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that no one is taking any action against anyone right now. “The time is far away”, he said.

    “There are some people in Sindh House. They have called in 300-400 policemen. No problem. There are many days left,” the interior minister added.

    Earlier this week, PM Khan had said that Opposition leaders are sitting in Sindh House with “heaps of money” to purchase loyalties of their lawmakers.