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.

  • ‘Shareef admi ko laayein’: Zardari hints at Shehbaz Sharif becoming new prime minister

    ‘Shareef admi ko laayein’: Zardari hints at Shehbaz Sharif becoming new prime minister

    Former President Asif Ali Zardari, addressing the ‘Awami March’ said, “Now is the time to overthrow this unholy ruler,” alluding to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    “It is time we bring a Shareef admi to replace the prime minister,” added Zardari.

    It is being said that Zardari is hinting that Shehbaz Sharif will be the new prime minister, since he used the word “shareef” in his speech.

    Speaking with Geo News, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader, Naveed Qamar said that it is likely that Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif will become the new prime minister after the no-confidence motion is passed against the premier.

    The Opposition has submitted the no-confidence motion against PM Khan in the National Assembly Secretariat.

  • Pakistani women don’t get their rights as traditions adopted from India: PM Khan

    Pakistani women don’t get their rights as traditions adopted from India: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, at a ceremony in Rawalpindi’s Fatima Jinnah University to celebrate International Women’s Day, said that when the history of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will be written, the only party that shall be known to have empowered women will be PTI.

    PM Khan said that most Pakistani women don’t get their rights and that is because the country has adopted traditions from India, where women were considered men’s property.

    “Indian women used to be burned alive (Satti) with the body of her husband if he died,” said PM Khan, adding that Islam gives more rights to women.

    Praising his mother, PM Khan said, “I am what I am today because of my mother.”

    “My mother was educated, if she had not made me sit and do my homework, I would have never studied in the first place,” said the prime minister.

    “Education is also important along with the protection of their rights,” said PM Khan.

    The premier further said that rule of law is the biggest issue in Pakistan.

    PM Khan, criticising the former leader of Pakistan, said, “The powerful desires NRO and threaten to topple the government if they don’t get it but I will not give them that as long as I am alive.”

    “No matter what these robbers do, try as much as they can or plan any strategy, I am ready,” he said in reference to the Joint Opposition’s efforts to table a no-trust motion against the incumbent government.

  • ’Immoral’, Moscow to allow Ukrainian civilians to ‘escape’ and enter Russia

    ’Immoral’, Moscow to allow Ukrainian civilians to ‘escape’ and enter Russia

    After bombarding Ukraine, Russia said that their military will hold fire and six humanitarian corridors will be opened around Ukrainian cities to allow civilians to escape, reports Al Jazeera citing Russia’s Defence Ministry.

    Ukraine rejected the plan to give civilians in several key cities safe passage to Russia and Belarus as ‘immoral’.

    “This is a completely immoral story. People’s suffering is used to create the desired television picture,” the spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “These are citizens of Ukraine, they should have the right to evacuate to the territory of Ukraine”, he added.

    Kyiv also said that negotiations are taking place with Russia on establishing humanitarian corridors but warned that such escape routes are unlikely to be set up.

    Oleksiy Arestovich, an adviser to Zelensky’s chief of staff, said each Ukrainian should be allowed to decide where they want to go. He also advised Ukrainians against evacuating to Russia.

    China’s Foreign Minister (FM) said that the country’s Red Cross Society will provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

    As of yet, more than one million Ukrainians have fled to Poland since the start of the Russian invasion.

  • PM Khan’s old friend Aleem Khan joins forces against him

    PM Khan’s old friend Aleem Khan joins forces against him

    On Monday, Aleem Khan formally joined Jahangir Khan Tareen’s disgruntled group in the PTI. Aleem said the aim is to “save” the party after “loyalists who had been integral in PTI’s 10-year struggle were sidelined without any reason” from the ruling party.

    Aleem Khan reached Tareen’s residence on Monday evening and was all praises for the disgruntled PTI leader. He also criticised the way the Punjab government was being run.

    In a politically heavy weekend, and an even bigger Monday, all wheels seem to be set in motion for a major political change. The major updates that will affect the fate of the government and the Opposition are going to change the future of the current government.

    Previously, according to journalists on Twitter, it was possible that PTI’s Aleem Khan, who is also PM Khan’s close friend, might be joining the Opposition. He had been reportedly contacted by the PML-N and was set to meet the Jahangir Tareen Group today at Tareen’s residence. Tareen, who is currently in London, was reported to address the meeting through a video link. According to reports, Aleem Khan has met 40 members of the provincial assembly this week, out of which ten are provincial ministers.

    PML-N, PPP stop their MNAs from leaving the country

    In a tough battle in Parliament over the no-confidence motion against PM Khan, which will remove him from power, the PPP and PML-N are making sure their MNAs are present for the motion.

    “Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has directed all MNAs of the party to remain in Islamabad,” PPP Information Secretary Shahzia Atta Marri said on Sunday, which means no official delegations and allegedly no vacations for the MNAs until the motion is carried through.

    According to a report published in The News, PML-N Information Secretary Marriyam Aurangzeb said that her party’s members would not be part of any foreign tour nominated by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser. All members of the party had been instructed to stay in the country. “PML-N MNAs have been barred from travelling abroad at expenses from the national exchequer. We hope sensible members of the PTI will also refuse to be part of the tours,” she added.

    ‘Beware,’ PM Khan warns Opposition

    On Sunday, PM Imran said that he will continue his fight against looters and dacoits till the last drop of his blood. He also warned the Opposition of grave consequences if the no-confidence motion against him fails.

    “Are you ready for what I will do to you once your no-confidence motion fails insha’Allah?”

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1500458502942334978
    PM Khan attacked all Opposition leaders.
    Nawaz Sharif

    PM Khan said that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif is ‘Mujrim Number 1′ (Criminal number 1) who acted like a Bollywood actor so that he could leave the country. He also called Nawaz a ‘bhagora’ (someone who runs away).

    Shehbaz Sharif

    PM Khan said that the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly starts polishing boots whenever he finds one.

    Asif Zardari

    PM Khan called PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari a “beemaari” (disease).

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    PM Khan referred to Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman as ‘Fazlu’ and said he does not want to address him as a ‘maulana’ because “the title is for people who are respected”.

    PM Khan also reminded Fazlur Rehman that their ages are the same and in this age, they should be more worried about their aakhirat (life after death). He said Fazlur Rehman’s weight is also more than his.

    Maryam Nawaz reacts to PM Khan’s attack:

    PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “Why falling apart & sounding hysterical ImranKhan PTI? The game has only just begun, dude & you have already lost it! Show some sportsman spirit man!”

  • ‘Kya hum aap ke ghulaam hain?’ PM Khan slams EU ambassadors based in Pakistan

    ‘Kya hum aap ke ghulaam hain?’ PM Khan slams EU ambassadors based in Pakistan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Sunday hit back at European Union (EU) envoys in Pakistan for their letter asking Islamabad to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    “Are we your slaves that you think we will do whatever you ask us to do?” PM Khan also asked if the EU envoys also wrote a similar letter to India.

    PM Khan asked what Pakistan got out of supporting the West apart from losing 80,000 of its citizens, displacement of 3.5 million people, and losing over $100 billion.

    “I ask EU ambassadors: did you thank us? Did you say we helped you in your war? Did you appreciate us?”

    PM Khan said that instead of thanking us, some people in the West started blaming Pakistan for their loss in Afghanistan.

    “When India broke international law in Kashmir and abrogated Kashmir’s autonomous status, did any one of you break ties with India, ended trade with India or criticised them?”

    EU letter:

    “As heads of mission to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, we urge Pakistan to join us in condemning Russia’s actions,” said a letter signed by envoys from 22 countries, including EU member states.

    Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) had earlier reacted to the letter and a spokesperson for the FO said, “This attitude is unacceptable and Pakistan has conveyed its concern to the embassies.”

  • UN Security Council condemns ‘heinous and cowardly’ terrorist attack in Peshawar

    The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned the “heinous and cowardly” terrorist attack in Peshawar at a mosque on Friday (March 4). The attack was claimed by the Islamic State-Khurasan (IS-K).

    The statement on Sunday said that the UNSC members expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and the Pakistani government.

    “I condemn the horrific attack on a mosque in Pesh­awar during Friday prayers. My condolences to those who lost loved ones, and my solidarity with the people of Pakistan,” UN Secretary Gene­ral António Guterres tweeted on Friday.

  • British government calls off Pakistan’s visit to the UK over stance on Russia

    British government calls off Pakistan’s visit to the UK over stance on Russia

    The British government called off National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf’s United Kingdom (UK) visit on Friday without giving a reason, reports The News.

    According to a report, the visit was called off because of Pakistan’s policy towards the Russia and Ukraine war.

    Previously, the European Union (EU) ambassadors in Islamabad issued their reply to Pakistan’s neutral response after United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, saying that Pakistan should condemn Russia. In response, the spokesman for the Foreign Office (FO) Asim Iftikhar said, “We expressed concern over the statement because as I said that is not the way diplomacy should be practised, and I think they have realised.”

    While replying to a query that the NSA visit cancellation was linked to the expression of its reservations about the rejoinder to the EU envoys, Iftikhar termed it “baseless”.

    In the UNGA emergency session on Wednesday, Pakistan abstained from voting to censure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

  • Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani makes first public appearance

    Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani makes first public appearance

    Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who also heads the feared Haqqani Network, was photographed openly for the first time Saturday at a passing-out parade for new Afghan police recruits.

    “For your satisfaction and for building your trust… I am appearing in the media in a public meeting with you,” he said in a speech at the parade.

    Before the Taliban’s return, Haqqani was the most senior of the three deputies to leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

    Haqqani heads a powerful subset of the Taliban blamed for some of the worst violence of the past 20 years.

    The Haqqani Network, founded in the 1970s by Jalaluddin Haqqani, was heavily supported by the CIA during the Mujahideen war against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

    Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is believed to be in his 40s, is his son and succeeded him following his death in 2018.

    Sirajuddin was blamed for the deadly 2008 attack on Kabul’s Serena Hotel that killed six people, as well as at least one assassination attempt against former Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

    He is reported to have been the target of several US drone strikes — in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and in the rugged terrain between them that is the heartland of the Haqqani Network.

    He was also credited as the author of a New York Times opinion piece in 2020 titled “What We, the Taliban, Want”, sparking controversy that the newspaper had given “terrorists” a public platform.

  • Pakistan finds EU diplomats’ letter to condemn Russia ‘unacceptable’

    Pakistan finds EU diplomats’ letter to condemn Russia ‘unacceptable’

    The Pakistan Foreign Office has taken a strong exception to a statement by European Union (EU) envoys on Pakistan’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine War in a weekly press briefing.

    A few days earlier, envoys of 22 countries — including EU member states — to Pakistan had jointly asked Pakistan to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the resolution which was brought in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) emergency session.

    “As heads of mission to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, we urge Pakistan to join us in condemning Russia’s actions,” said a joint statement signed by envoys from 22 countries.

    However, Pakistan abstained from voting to censure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

    A spokesperson of the Foreign Office, Asim Iftikhar, said that this showed an “unacceptable attitude” by EU diplomats.

    He said, “This attitude is unacceptable and Pakistan has conveyed its concern to the embassies.”

    He clarified that Pakistan pursued a clear-minded foreign policy and that the country wants balanced and broad-based relations with all countries, including the United States and Europe.

    He also stated that the Pakistan embassy in Ukraine is working to facilitate Pakistani nationals, including students, to evacuate them to secure places.

  • ‘I forgive you’ Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari hugs Samaa drone operator who accidentally injured Aseefa

    ‘I forgive you’ Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari hugs Samaa drone operator who accidentally injured Aseefa

    A drone camera hit PPP’s Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari in the face when she was standing on a container during PPP’s jalsa in Khanewal. The drone was being piloted by news channel Samaa TV’s crew.

     After the police arresting the crew, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto released the staff from police custody and called the operator and said ‘I forgive you’ and hugged him.

    SAMAA TV reported that TV drones are operated by remote controllers, but in the PPP march, the signal disconnected from the drone and the operator’s remote controller, which was left with a blank screen. The crew did not have control over the drone at that time.

    Bilawal confirmed that his sister was wounded after being hit by the drone.