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.

  • ‘Seems like PM Khan was not assisted correctly over PECA Ordinance’: Justice Minallah

    During the hearing of a plea challenging the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) PECA Ordinance, 2022, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah reportedly issued a notice to the attorney-general of Pakistan and directed him to combine this petition with other petitions that are against PECA.

    Justice Minallah said that it seems like no one told the premier that there are laws for contempt other than PECA. He was referring to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s address yesterday. “It seems like PM Khan was not assisted correctly over PECA Ordinance,” said Justice Minallah, adding that the law is used against critics here.

    The plea was filed by former president of Lahore High Court (LHC) Bar Maqsood Buttar. In the petition, it was argued that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) doesn’t have the authority to deal with a matter between two private parties.

    Previously, the IHC chief called the amendment “draconian in nature”. He said it is even worse than the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law.

    Last month, President Arif Alvi passed an Ordinance amending PECA 2016, an attempt to make online “defamation” of authorities, including the military and judiciary, a criminal offence with harsh penalties.

    The high court adjourned the hearing till March 10.

  • Pakistan, India resume talks on water dispute again, this time in Islamabad

    Pakistan, India resume talks on water dispute again, this time in Islamabad

    Pakistan and India will resume talks on the water dispute again from March 1 till March 4. The talks will be held in Islamabad to resolve the issue between the two countries.

    The Indian delegation comprising of ten members will arrive at Wagah Border on Monday and the sessions will be held at the 117th session of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), reports The Express Tribune.

    The Indian delegation will be presided by the Indian Commissioner for Indus Water Pradeep Saxena. The Pakistan delegation will be headed by the Indus Water Commissioner Commissioner Mehr Ali Shah.

    While talking about the dispute, Shah mentioned that Pakistan objects to several projects of India which are in progress. The Pakistan delegation will raise the issue regarding projects on Occupied Kashmir, River Chenab, and River Indus.

    According to the Indus Water Treaty, which was signed in 1960, Pakistan and India have to hold discussions at least once a year.

    The talk was last held in March 2021 in New Delhi, India which concluded that frequent meetings will be held to resolve the water dispute.

    Pakistan had also requested India to share designs of the projects. India replied that data would be shared according to the requirements written in the treaty.

  • ‘PPP is no more a party of Benazir Bhutto’: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    ‘PPP is no more a party of Benazir Bhutto’: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in an address to media persons and supporters of the party’s ‘Huqooq-i-Sindh March’, said that the Zardari group had ruined Sindh in its 15-year-rule and it is time to get rid of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government from the province, reports Dawn.

    The minister said that [former Prime Minister] Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a man of character and his daughter [former PM] Benazir Bhutto was a fine lady, but now Zardari had firmed up his grip on their party.

    “PPP is no more a party of Benazir Bhutto, it has turned into a party of Zardari,” he remarked.

    Qureshi urged people to vote for PTI in the next general elections and claimed that their party successfully ran governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

    “We have come to your doorstep with a message from Imran Khan to support PTI in Sindh to bring about real change and brighten the destiny of the province,” he added.

    Qureshi said, “It is pathetic that a sensible minister of Sindh has used uncivilised language against Imran Khan who is a decent person.” He further said that how could a man like Khan be a fraud or corrupt who had developed a charity hospital [Shaukat Khanum] for people.

    Federal Minister Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi also addressed a large number of marchers at different places along the route. He said, “Sindh government had ruined farmers and growers by creating an artificial crisis of urea in the province.”

    Zaidi, taking a jibe at Zardari, said that he had made record corruption and even the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) admitted that they had recovered Rs10 billion and still Rs19bn was to be recovered.

  • Tonight at 6pm: PM Khan aap se dil ki baat khul kar kareinge

    Tonight at 6pm: PM Khan aap se dil ki baat khul kar kareinge

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will be making a “big announcement” in an address to the nation today (Monday), said Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    Qureshi said, “I think he is going to make a very big announcement,” further advising people to “be ready” since the prime minister will “open his heart and talk frankly”.

    The minister further shared that the PM will address the nation at 6pm today.

    Taking to Twitter, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that the premier will take the nation into confidence over Pakistan’s economy and the global challenges the country faces amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak on Sunday said, “The prime minister will address the nation and announce Rs10 reduction in petroleum prices, and a Rs5 cut per unit in the electricity rates, along with several other measures.”

  • PM Khan’s former wife’s ‘dirty propaganda’, Murad Saeed serves legal notice to Reham

    PM Khan’s former wife’s ‘dirty propaganda’, Murad Saeed serves legal notice to Reham

    Federal Minister for Com­munications Murad Saeed on Sunday served a legal notice to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s former wife, Reham Khan.

    Saeed has said that Reham has hurled false allegations against him and done dirty propaganda in her book, “Reham Khan (memoir)“.

    Saeed asked for an unconditional apology from Reham within 14 days; otherwise, a defamation suit of Rs1 billion will be filed against her, reports Dawn.

    “Tender apology within 14 days from this notice otherwise the court will be requested for her stern punishment and Rs1 billion damages,” said the official announcement.

    The news outlet also reports that the minister did not mention the name of Reham Khan while addressing her in the press release.

    “Your book was used as a reference for launching malicious propaganda and false allegations,” read the press release.

    Last week, Murad Saeed, during a meeting held in the presence of the premier, said that he would file a lawsuit against Reham in London for writing “offensive content” against the prime minister. “Posting false content should be stopped,” he added.

    However, PM Khan advised Saeed “not to worry about such matters and focus on his performance as the Opposition is worried these days.”

  • Pakistan embassy warns stranded nationals in Poland not to go anywhere else

    Pakistan embassy warns stranded nationals in Poland not to go anywhere else

    The Pakistan embassy has given a serious warning to stranded Pakistani nationals who were transported to Poland from Ukraine. This warning was given after 15 Pakistanis were arrested while trying to flee to Germany on Saturday, reports Samaa News.

    The embassy said that they would stop evacuation if Pakistanis did not follow said rules and regulations. Poland has given 15 days visas on a humanitarian basis to all Pakistanis who were evacuated from Ukraine.

    They have to return back to Pakistan after their visa expiration. They are also strictly not allowed to leave Poland during this duration.

    The embassy said that whoever tries to enter another country from Poland would face serious consequences.

    Pakistan Embassy has updated the evacuation details on their Twitter. Until now, 411 Pakistanis have been evacuated from Ukraine. Some people are on their way to Lviv from Kharkiv, Poltava, and Kyiv.

    The evacuation process has been delayed due to a rush of people wanting to escape the country.

    The embassy has requested all nationals to stay in contact with the authorities “for smooth evacuation as soon as possible.” 

  • ‘I am here’: Ukrainian President Zelensky tells citizens during Russian invasion

    ‘I am here’: Ukrainian President Zelensky tells citizens during Russian invasion

    Street fighting has reportedly broken out in Kyiv, as the Russian troops have reached the capital after less than three days of fighting, reports Al Jazeera.

    Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that Ukrainian forces have been able to mount a strong defence against the Russians.

    In the early hours of Saturday, Zelensky released a video outside his office in the capital city. He said, “I am here. We will not lay down the weapons. We will defend our state. This is our land our country, our children and we will defend all of that.”

    The Ukrainian president has turned down an offer by the United States (US) government to evacuate the country. “I need ammunition, not a ride,” he remarked.

    Ukrainians have been advised to take shelter. Around100,000 people are believed to have left their homes.

    US officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overthrow Ukraine’s government and replace it with a regime of his own. The Biden administration has also imposed sanctions on Russia.

    On February 23, Putin allowed Russian forces to invade Ukraine.

    Zelensky, in a tweet, called for Ukraine to be granted European Union (EU) membership. He said he had discussed “further effective assistance” as well as “the heroic struggle of Ukrainians for their free future” with European Council President Charles Michel.

  • Pakistan Army promotes two Hindu officers to Lieutenant Colonel

    Pakistan Army promotes two Hindu officers to Lieutenant Colonel

    The Pakistan Army has promoted two Hindu officers, Kelash Kumar and Aneel Kumar, to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel for the first time in the history of Pakistan.

    Dr Kelash Kumar belongs to the Tharparkar district in Sindh province and Dr Aneel Kumar belongs to the Badin district.

    They are the first officers from the Hindu community who received a promotion from Major to Lieutenant Colonel.

    They both are serving in the Medical Corps of the Pakistan Army.

    Prior to the year 2000, Hindu officers were not appointed to senior positions in the Pakistan Army. However, a former dictator, General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf had issued orders under a decree appointing Hindus to senior positions in the Army. Since then, six Hindu officers have risen to the rank of Major, of which Kelash Kumar and Aneel Kumar have now become the first officers to reach the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

    Dr Kelash was honored with a ‘Medal of Defense’, on his courage as he performed a 36- day duty at the Saddle Checkpost in Baltoro Sector near K2 at an altitude of 22,000 feet, which is a record in itself.

    Major Dr Kelash got a commission in Pakistan Army in 2007. He joined a hospital in North Sudan as a senior doctor in 2012. He later took part in Operation Al-Mizan in Orakzai Agency of Waziristan and Operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat.

    Major Dr Aneel Kumar got a commission in Pakistan Army in 2008.

    Until now, six Hindu Army officers have been appointed in Pakistan Army.

    Hindu activist, Kapil Dev took to Twitter to celebrate the inclusivity of the Hindu community in the Armed Forces.

    He said, “History in Making Kelash Kumar becomes the first #Hindu officer to have been promoted as Lieutenant Colonel in #PakArmy. Congratulations, Kelash!!!.”

  • PML-Q demands Punjab Chief Minister seat from the Opposition

    PML-Q demands Punjab Chief Minister seat from the Opposition

    

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the top leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) had a meeting, in which the Chaudhry brothers presented the Charter of Demands to former President Asif Ali Zardari, reports Geo Urdu.
    

    The PML-Q has asked the Opposition for the Chief Ministership in Punjab and stated that no compromise will be made on anything less than that.
    

    In case of getting Chief Ministership, the PML-Q has assured the success of in-house transformation in Punjab and Center. The PML-Q has said that it will fully support the Opposition at the center.
    

    However, the PML-Q, while opposing the immediate new elections in the country, has said that the National Assembly elections should be held if necessary but the term of the Provincial Assemblies should complete their duration.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘No to War’: Thousands of Russian citizens protest against their government for the Ukraine invasion
    
			
    ‘No to War’: Thousands of Russian citizens protest against their government for the Ukraine invasion
    
			
    Protests are taking place across Russia in different cities against the invasion of Ukraine by the Russians on Thursday. 
    

    Most of the people were seen chanting “No to War” and raising slogans against the invasion. Thousands of Russians gathered on Thursday night to show a strong reaction against their own government.
    

    

    The protestor is holding a placard that says, “No To War”. This man is standing at Pushkinskaya Square on Thursday night in Moscow
    

    

    

    

    

    While talking with Al-Jazeera, one of the young protestors said, “I have no words, it’s just disgusting,” she added,  “What is there to say? We feel powerlessness, anguish.”
    

    Several journalists, reporters, media figures, and independent media outlets, including the BBC, have signed a petition against the Russian military operation. 
    

    Government workers of the municipal department from different cities of Russia signed a letter to the citizens of Russia, urging the citizens not to participate in the operation or stay silent. 
    

    “We, the deputies elected by the people, unreservedly condemn the attack of the Russian army on Ukraine,” read the letter.
    

     The letter further added that the military operation is an atrocity that cannot be justified at any cost.
    

    Protestors raised slogans against their President, Putin. 
    

    “Putin is a killer! Putin is the shame of Russia!” they shouted. “Ukraine! Ukraine!”, reports Al-Jazeera. 
    

    Some were chanting and clapping in support of Ukraine as well in the protest.
    

    “Ukraine is not our enemy!”
    

    Police have arrested thousands of protestors who were taking part in the demonstrations against the invasion. 
    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    After months of tensions with Ukraine, and its western allies, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale military operation by sea, land, and air on Thursday.