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.

  • Shehbaz Sharif, son were focus of UK’s money-laundering investigation

    Shehbaz Sharif, son were focus of UK’s money-laundering investigation

    The United Kingdom’s (UK) anti-corruption force National Crime Agency (NCA) told the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 19, 2019, that it needed Assets Freezing Orders (AFO’s) to initiate a high-profile investigation into former Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Suleman Sharif to “prove or disprove” their alleged involvement in money-laundering, fraud, corrupt practices and misuse of public office for the purposes of money-laundering, reports Murtaza Ali Shah for The News.

    It was reported in November last year that the NCA has ended a major money-laundering investigation into Shehbaz Sharif and his son Suleman without any further action and unfreezing of the assets after finding no evidence of criminal conduct, money-laundering and abuse of public office. It was then claimed by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s adviser on accountability Shehzad Akbar that Shehbaz Sharif was not part of the investigation because his name was not part of the Order that set aside the AFO’s.

    The NCA told the court: “This application is in respect of funds held in the name of or associated to, Suleman Shahbaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif (officer note: frequently referred to as Shehbaz Sharif/Shahbaz Sharif).”

    The NCA said it suspected that the money that was transferred to Carter Ruck’s account was “in fact deemed to be associated to Suleman Sharif”. After the court granted AFO’s to NCA, further steps were taken to seek access to Shehbaz Sharif’s accounts at Barclays Bank and Habib Bank’s London branch as part of the “Frozen Funds” investigation.

    The NCA officer told the court it suspected that “the funds which are intended to be frozen are derived from this criminal conduct in Pakistan, namely accrued from the Sharif Group or by Shehbaz Sharif during his time as Chief Minister of Punjab. I suspect that this represents an active attempt by Shehbaz Sharif and Suleman Sharif to launder the proceeds of their criminality into the UK”.

    In introducing to the court who Shehbaz Sharif and Suleman Sharif were and why it intended to investigate them for the alleged criminal conduct of money-laundering, the NCA explained to the judge that Shehbaz Sharif is a “Politically Exposed Person (PEP) and has held a series of political appointments in Pakistan from the early 90s onwards, including president of the PML-N, Chief Minister of Punjab, and leader of the opposition provincial assembly of the Punjab”.

    It’s pertinent to mention that the NCA relied heavily on Daily Mail’s article by David Rose dated July 14, 2019, which he had published after visiting Pakistan for several days where he was given access to detainees who allegedly did money-laundering for the Sharifs.

    David Rose had claimed: “Britain’s National Crime Agency is working closely with Pakistani investigators and Home Secretary Sajid Javid is discussing the possible extradition of members of Shahbaz’s family who have taken refuge in London.”

    Shehzad Akbar had confirmed to David Rose in the same article: “We are working closely with the National Crime Agency and the Home Office. We are grateful for this assistance and we hope it will ensure that theft and money-laundering of this magnitude will never happen again.” The NCA told the court: “The Assets Recovery Unit  (ARU) was created by PM Imran Khan to assist in the recovery of criminal assets to the state of Pakistan. This letter has confirmed that Shehbaz Sharif is currently under investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s autonomous federal and anti-corruption agency, and was granted bail by the Accountability Court on February 14, 2019.”

    The NCA informing the court why it’s working with the ARU on these cases, said: “The ARU was created by PM Imran Khan under the leadership of his accountability advisor, a barrier and member of the Pakistan cabinet. The ARU was created to break down inter-agency barriers, combine in one pace the discrete powers of the federal agencies; and, prioritise asset recovery in the interests of the govt of Pakistan. The unit is formed of representatives from the NAB, FIA, FBR, and the State Bank of Pakistan.”

    The NCA investigation continued into Shehbaz Sharif for almost two years as the NCA went back nearly 15 years to investigate Shehbaz Sharif’s accounts and financial affairs and found no evidence of criminal conduct or fraud. The investigation was shut down in November 2021 after the NCA failed to establish that Shehbaz Sharif and his family were involved in any kind of wrongdoing, effectively giving Shehbaz Sharif a clean chit.

  • KFC, Pizza Hut, Hyundai under fire in India for pro-Kashmir posts

    KFC, Pizza Hut, Hyundai under fire in India for pro-Kashmir posts

    Major Indian brands are facing calls for ban and boycott by Indian nationalists after the social media handles linked with the brands in Pakistan posted messages of solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

    Some of the major brands that are facing backlash include KFC, Pizza Hut and Hyundai.

    Have a look at the posts that resulted in a backlash:

    A screenshot of a 2021 post from KFC Pakistan expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir went viral on Indian social media.

    A screenshot of an Instagram post of Pizza Hut is also being widely shared. However, it is not clear if the post is from 2022.

    Similarly, a post by Hyundai Pakistan is also being shared by Indian nationalists calling for a ban on the company.

    After the backlash, and calls for boycott, Hyundai India, KFC India and Pizza Hut have issued statements.

    Pizza Hut also issued a statement saying “it does not condone, support or agree with the contents of a post circulating in social media”. 

  • Faisal Vawda no more a Senator, ECP disqualifies in Dual Nationality Case

    Faisal Vawda no more a Senator, ECP disqualifies in Dual Nationality Case

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday disqualified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Vawda as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) over his dual nationality at the time of contesting the NA election on a Karachi seat in the 2018 general elections.

    The commission said Vawda had submitted a “false affidavit” when submitting nomination papers.

    The ECP also declared him ineligible for holding the seat of a senator and ordered to withdraw the notification appointing him as senator.

    However, Vawda can approach the Supreme Court (SC) against the verdict, said the ECP.

    ECP had reserved the verdict on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA Qadir Khan Mandokhel’s plea seeking Vawda’s disqualification on December 23, 2021.

    During the last hearing, Mandokhel and Vawda had appeared before an ECP bench. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja had asked Mandokhel whether he wanted to present more documents or give additional arguments.

    Mandokhel had said it was the 30th hearing of the case but he could not get the answers to his questions. The PPP leader had said, “ECP has been issuing warnings for the last one-and-a-half years.”

    Mandokhel was of the view that Faisal Vawda had held United States (US) nationality at the time of filing his election nomination papers. He said that the concerned residing officer (RO) was not punished as he had rejected his papers instead of disqualifying Vawda.

    The PPP leader said that Vawda had falsely declared in an oath to the ECP that he did not hold any foreign nationality. The PTI leader had concealed his dual nationality during the scrutiny of his nomination papers, said Mandokhel.

    Vawda’s counsel rejected the allegations, saying that his client had never applied for another country’s nationality. He said Vawda was born in the US and that his client had cancelled his American passport.

    After hearing the arguments of both sides, the ECP reserved its verdict in Vawda’s disqualification case.

    The News reported in January 2020 that Vawda was a dual national at the time of filing his nomination papers to the ECP to contest the 2018 general elections. Vawda submitted his nomination papers on June 11, 2018, which were approved by the election body a week later on June 18, the report said.

    However, the Vawda applied for the renunciation of his nationality with the US consulate at Karachi four days after his nomination papers were approved act on June 22, 2018, the report revealed.

  • Big win for women: Senate passes child custody bill, after mother, ‘nani’ will get custody

    Big win for women: Senate passes child custody bill, after mother, ‘nani’ will get custody

    The Senate passed three bills on Monday, including the Guardians and Wards (Amendment) Bill 2020. The bill gives mothers the right of custody of minors in case of separation between parents. The ‘real’ mother’s right to custody of her children is addressed in section 19-A, which has been added alongside sections 19-B through 19-G.

    PPP Senator Farooq H Naek introduced the bill in the upper house of Parliament. Despite the government’s reservations over the non-inclusion of the Council of Islamic Ideology’s recommendations in the proposed legislation, it was passed by a majority vote.

    Naek said the proposed amendment bill would ensure custody of male and female children to divorcee/widow mothers, up to the age of seven and 16 years respectively.

    According to the bill, “In absence of the real mother, or if she renounces her right or her right is legally held to have lapsed, the custody of her son less than seven years of age and of her daughter who has not attained the age of puberty or 16 years shall vest successively in the female relatives in the following order: maternal grandmother however so high in degree, paternal grandmother however so high in degree, full sister, uterine sister, consanguine sister, full sister’s daughter, uterine sister’s daughter, consanguine sister’s daughter, mother’s sister and father’s sister.”

    “When none of the women, eligible for custody under sections 19A and 19B, are available or willing to accept it or such a woman is disentitled to Hizanat, the male relatives shall then become eligible for the custody of the child in the following order: father, maternal grandfather however so high in degree, paternal grandfather however so high in degree, full brother, uterine brother, consanguine brother, full brother’s son, uterine brother’s son and consanguine brother’s son.”

    The bill from the Senate, will now go to the National Assembly for a vote to be passed into law.

  • ‘India should stop harassing journalists’: Human Rights Watch

    ‘India should stop harassing journalists’: Human Rights Watch

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released its report to address the unlawful arrest of journalists in Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IoK). According to the report, so far at least 35 journalists in IoK have faced police interrogation, raids, threats, physical assault, or fabricated criminal cases for their reporting.

    The recent arrest of Fahad Shah, an editor-in-chief of a leading Kashmir-based news site The Kashmir Walla, has led to condemnation from several journalism organisations including United States (US)-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

    South Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, “Instead of ensuring justice for security force violations in Kashmir, the [Indian] government is more interested in silencing those who bring these abuses to light.”

    Ganguly also demanded Indian authorities in Kashmir to release Shah and all journalists, activists, and critics jailed on “politically motivated charges” and stop harassing them with draconian laws.

    Furthermore, HRW has stated a number of journalist names who are behind bars on baseless grounds. Last month, the police arrested another journalist at the Kashmir Walla.

    In September, the police raided the homes of four Kashmiri journalists and confiscated their phones and laptops. Not only this, the Indian authorities give threats to journalists with jail if their work criticises them and pressured them to self-censor, says the HRW report.

    It states that India has placed over 40 people, including 22 journalists, on lists to stop them from travelling abroad.

  • PM Khan, army chief reach Balochistan’s Naushki to spend a day with troops

    PM Khan, army chief reach Balochistan’s Naushki to spend a day with troops

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived in Balochistan on Tuesday to pay tribute to the martyrs in Panjgur and Naushki.

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the army chief will spend the day with troops and also meet those who repulsed the attack on February 2.

    “COAS will be given [a] detailed update on [the] security situation in the area and operational preparedness of the formation to counter terrorist activities,” it said, adding that the army chief will also “meet troops who participated in repulsing [a] terrorist attack on Feb 2.”

    It was reported that PM Khan will visit Naushki where he will be briefed about the operation against terrorists. The PM will meet Balochistan chief minister and the governor in Quetta and will preside over a meeting on security issues.

    On Saturday, the security forces had completed the clearance operations, which were launched after terrorists attacked their camps in Panjgur and Nushki districts on Wednesday evening.

    At least 20 terrorists were killed during the operations while nine security personnel embraced martyrdom, the military’s media wing had added.

    In Naushki, the ISPR had said, nine terrorists were killed while four security forces personnel, including an officer, embraced shahadat during the “shootout with terrorists while repulsing the attack”. In Panjgur, the security forces had repulsed the terrorist attack after an intense exchange of fire during which some terrorists fled the area, it had added.

  • PM Khan says people have no better option than PTI, party set to launch election campaign

    PM Khan says people have no better option than PTI, party set to launch election campaign

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday said the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will contest Punjab’s local bodies elections.

    While chairing the Central Executive Committee’s (CEC) meeting, the premier decided to speed up and mobilise people at the grassroots level.

    The premier has decided to hold public gatherings in different parts of the country to mobilise workers and voters of the ruling PTI for the upcoming local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [second phase] and in Punjab, expected to be held in May.

    PM Khan during the CEC meeting said that the people of Pakistan have “no better option than the PTI”. It is being reported that during the meeting, the distribution of tickets during the elections and considered recommendations for mayors in major cities was also discussed

    During the meeting, the PM said that the organisational structure of the party would be formed. “Our workers are a valuable asset to the party and the tickets will be distributed on the basis of merit.”

    It is pertinent to mention here that the two Opposition parties — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — have united towards achieving their common goal of sending the government packing.

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif hosted PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari at his Lahore residence on Saturday, January 5, to discuss the present political situation.

    Speaking after the lunch, Shehbaz said, “Broken hearts can be united again. Both PPP and PML-N are united to take Prime Minister (PM), Imran Khan, out.”

  • Indian state bans religious clothes over hijab and saffron scarves controversy

    Indian state bans religious clothes over hijab and saffron scarves controversy

    The Indian state, Karnataka, banned religious clothes in government schools and colleges on Saturday amid a controversy over the hijab and saffron scarves.

    The situation escalated when a group of Hindu students marched wearing saffron scarves and chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ while going to college, which made the state government ban such clothing.

    Another group of Hindu female students wearing saffron scarves marched in the market while chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on their way to college.

    The government order stated, “Invoking 133 (2) of the Karnataka Education Act-1983, which says a uniform style of clothes has to be worn compulsorily. The private school administration can choose a uniform of their choice.”

    The dress code has to be followed by every student given by the educational institutes’ authorities.

    The order also included, “In the event of the administrative committee not selecting a uniform, clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public law and order should not be worn.”

    The tension arose last month when a section of the Hindu right-wing group appeared wearing saffron scarves and threatened their Muslim female class fellows not to wear the hijab during classes, which made state government college in Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, ban the hijab and saffron scarves over fears of rising tension.

    On February 3, the principal of the government college in Kundapura closed the gate for students wearing hijab. This incident happened after some Hindu students in saffron scarves were stopped at the gate as well. They were raising slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

    While a group of Dalit students came in support of hijab-clad students at another government college, IDSG in Karnataka.

  • ‘Nano on Sunday duty’: Maryam Nawaz shares adorable pictures with grandchildren

    ‘Nano on Sunday duty’: Maryam Nawaz shares adorable pictures with grandchildren

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz shared pictures with her grandchildren on Instagram.

    “Nano on Sunday duty with Nina & Mohammad at a birthday party,” she wrote in the caption.

    Maryam can be seen wearing a white and blue dress, supported with an embroidered blue shawl.

    In the past, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan referred to Maryam as a ‘nani’ (maternal grandmother).

    Later, Maryam Nawaz responded by saying that she is grateful to God for being a nani to two grandchildren.

  • Bilawal says PPP entered battlefield, Fawad Chaudhry offers to provide ‘camels and horses’ to PPP

    Bilawal says PPP entered battlefield, Fawad Chaudhry offers to provide ‘camels and horses’ to PPP

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday said that it was “time for Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to start panicking”.

    “The time has come for the PTI government to be accountable before the masses,” he said, adding that since people have lost their confidence in the premier, parliament must also follow suit.

    He added he had sent a message to “the puppet” to inform him that the PPP had “entered the battlefield” to oust the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    “The kaptaan has snatched roti, kapra, aur makaan from the masses,” Bilawal said. “Khan sahib has robbed the citizens of their economic rights and their right to vote. We can’t stand it any longer, so we have declared war against this government.”

    The PPP chairman further said: “We know how to snatch our rights, but we will opt for a democratic and constitutional way to take revenge from the government in the National Assembly.”

    Taking a jibe at the PPP for not having enough supporters for its anti-government campaign, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday offered to provide “camels and horses” for the Opposition party’s long march.

    Commenting on the recent meeting of Opposition parties, he said that “it was a meeting to cover up thefts and they have now turned into regional parties”.

    Fawad said that “criminals” showed solidarity with each other on Kashmir Solidarity Day.

    He said that ever since the issue of bank accounts came up, “love has been growing in the Opposition parties”.