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.

  • PM Khan slams SCBA for ‘supporting criminals, fugitives’

    PM Khan slams SCBA for ‘supporting criminals, fugitives’

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Tuesday slammed the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) over its decision to file a petition against lifelong disqualification.

    PM Khan said that one of the leading lawyers’ bodies in the country has gone to court for a “thief” who ran to London by “lying”.

    PM Khan, without taking the name of former PM Nawaz Sharif, said, “If this is how things are, then what is wrong with stealing?”

    “They [SCBA] are asking the court to give him [Nawaz Sharif] one more chance. SCBA’s next petition should be to open [the doors] of all the jails,” said PM Khan while addressing the launch ceremony of the Sehat Insaf Card in Bahawalpur.

    Referring to the criminals who were behind bars, the premier said: “If you don’t see the evil in it, then why are these poor souls behind bars? First, let them out… The next petition should be to open all jails and free all those people who have been imprisoned for theft.”

    PM Khan further said that only the powerful get away unpunished. “They can do whatever they want. Both his sons are… living in London in properties worth billions of rupees. London is the most expensive city in Europe and their properties are located in the most expensive parts of the city.”

    “Till a nation does not unite to fight [against wrongdoing], the rule of law will not prevail. Our struggle is against bandits,” said PM Imran.

    When asked about PM Khan’s comments about the petition, President SCBA Mohammad Ahsan Bhoon responded by narrating an incident about humans.

    Last week, the SCBA filed a petition against the lifelong disqualification of lawmakers and said that such a law without the right to appeal is unjust.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the result of this petition can affect the outcome of SC verdicts disqualifying Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, as well as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) disgruntled leader Jahangir Tareen.

  • New Zealand allows pregnant journalist to return home

    New Zealand allows pregnant journalist to return home

    The New Zealand government has allowed pregnant journalist, Charlotte Bellis to return back to her home country after her application was rejected due to strict Covid protocols.

    While giving a press briefing related to Covid, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister, Grant Robertson said, “There is a place in managed isolation and quarantine for Ms Bellis and I urge her to take it up.”

    He also denied that she was being allowed entry after the outrage caused by the media reporting. He said the staff had to daily with deal with emergency applications.

    He continued, “They always try to make contact with people and try to make arrangements work.”

    Read More: New Zealand denies re-entry of pregnant national, Taliban offers refuge

    Bellis was reporting for Al Jazeera in Afghanistan and came to know about her pregnancy on her return to Doha, Qatar. She left her job in October after she found out because a pregnancy out of wedlock is illegal in Qatar. She went to Belgium, the home country of her partner, Jim Huylebroek. As Bellis is not a resident of the country, she could not stay there for a longer period.

    The Taliban offered her refuge when she had no option except to travel back to Afghanistan with her partner as both had visas.

  • Taliban to be blamed for missing journalist, says rights group

    Taliban to be blamed for missing journalist, says rights group

    A journalists’ rights groups in Afghanistan said that the Taliban have arrested two Afghan journalists working for a local news channel, weeks after two female activists went missing.

    The rights group known as the Afghan Media Association, without naming anyone said that reporters Waris Hasrat and Aslam Hijab were picked up by masked gunmen in front of the channel’s office. They went out for lunch on Monday “and taken to an unknown location”.

    They said Taliban officials are investigating the matter and have given them insurance. However, a spokesperson told AFP he had no information on the missing journalists.

    Moreover, rights group Amnesty International demanded on Twitter that the Taliban “unconditionally and immediately release” the two.

    Two weeks earlier, two female activists went missing after taking part in a demonstration in Kabul for women’s rights.

    Previously, in September several Afghan journalists were beaten while covering rallies.

  • Nawaz Sharif majorly stressed out after wife’s death, can get worse

    Nawaz Sharif majorly stressed out after wife’s death, can get worse

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s latest medical report was submitted in the Lahore High Court today (February 1). According to the submitted report, Nawaz’s doctor has stopped him from travelling.

    Nawaz Sharif’s medical report has been prepared by Dr Fayaz Shawl, Director Interventional Cardiology, and has been submitted to the court through Amjad Pervez Advocate. The medical report further said that Nawaz Sharif should continue his medication and take a walk in the open air. He has also been advised to take precautionary measures against corona while walking. In view of the current global coronavirus epidemic in the world, Nawaz Sharif should refrain from any kind of travel and public places such as airports, stated his medical report.

    His medical report says that Nawaz Sharif is under more pressure after the death of his wife, Kulsoom Nawaz. Nawaz should continue his activities without stress. He is currently under severe mental stress and depression can worsen Nawaz Sharif’s illness.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, while commenting on Nawaz’s health, said, “You are making fun of the rule of law in the country by submitting such reports.”

    “Nawaz should return the money of the people and continue living in London. This report is full of lies. The report should also have mentioned that Nawaz Sharif should only be allowed to walk in Hyde Park, otherwise his stress will increase,” said Fawad.

    Fawad further said, “I hope the courts will take notice of how Nawaz left Pakistan and his fake medical reports.”

  • TLP chief Saad Rizvi to get married this week

    TLP chief Saad Rizvi to get married this week

    Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Hussain Rizvi is set to get married this week, reports Roznama 92.

    Many important personalities are expected to attend Rizvi’s wedding. Allama Abdul Sattar Saeedi is expected to officiate the nikkah.

    Rizvi’s valima (wedding reception) will be held on February 6 in Lahore.

    On November 18, Saad Rizvi was released from jail before the death anniversary of his father, i.e. Khadim Hussain Rizvi. On November 7, the government had revoked the ban on TLP.

  • Masood Khan’s appointment as Pakistan envoy being delayed by the US

    Masood Khan’s appointment as Pakistan envoy being delayed by the US

    Former Azad Jammu Kashmir President Masood Khan’s appointment as Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to the United States (US) is being delayed.

    Khan was nominated as ambassador to the US in November. He had previously served as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva and New York and as ambassador to China.

    Khan was to replace the outgoing ambassador of Pakistan in Washington Asad Majeed Khan.

    A former foreign secretary, while speaking to Dawn, said that the State Department took four to six weeks to issue agrément for Pakistani ambassadors in the past.

    Another diplomat told the news outlet, “This time they are taking unusually long.”

    US President Joe Biden in October 2020 also nominated a new ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Armin Blome, who is said to be an expert on Middle East affairs.

  • 50 per cent Pakistanis think Maryam Nawaz is the next PM: Miftah Ismail

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail said that half of the people in the country think that Maryam Nawaz should be the next prime minister (PM) instead of Shehbaz Sharif.

    Miftah, while speaking on a Geo News programme “Jashan-e-Cricket”, said that Nawaz Sharif should not return to the country. He also claimed that PM Imran Khan is not going to complete his tenure because the establishment and the government are not on the same page.

    During the show, the former finance minister revealed that nowadays Mohammad Rizwan is his favourite cricketer and that he will support every team Rizwan plays for.

    Miftah was asked about the number of ‘Cocomos’ (chocolate-filled round biscuits) in one packet, as his family owns Ismail Industries Limited. The PML-N leader said if they were in power today, the number of Cocomos would have been 5 in one packet (which is currently 4).

    Shahzad Iqbal asked Miftah: “Would there be 7 Cocomos if people vote for you in the next elections?”

    “Then don’t vote for us,” quipped Miftah.

    Miftah Ismail also revealed that former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is a miser. “Even more than me,” said Miftah.

    Talking about Hammad Azhar, Miftah said that Hammad is not corrupt.

  • Zardari, Nawaz, Maulana have all been ruined by one man: Saleem Safi

    Zardari, Nawaz, Maulana have all been ruined by one man: Saleem Safi

    Senior journalist Saleem Khan Safi, while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said that there was one man who had ruined the politics for many in Pakistan. Safi was giving his analysis on the recent Senate fiasco after the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill 2021 was passed on January 28.

    “Zaradri, Nawaz Sharif aur Maulana sub ki siyasat ko aik banday nay fail kar diya hai [One man has led to the failure of Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, and Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman’s politics],” Safi said alluding to Chairman of Senate Sadiq Sanjrani.

    Safi went on to say that what happened in Senate on January 28 was a collective failure. “This is the failure of the Opposition that they could not devise a joint strategy against the government. This Opposition does not carry the traits of the Opposition. This entire matter was part of the script. It started with Yusuf Raza Gilani becoming the Leader of the Opposition, to the passing of various bills. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was the mastermind behind it all and he was the one who devised this script.”

    “Sanjrani is our friend and a respected man. There was a time when he was in charge of the complaint cell in Gilani’s government. Giani played a role in the script prepared by Bilawal and former president Asif Ali Zardari. I will consider Gilani’s resignation as part of the script as well,” added Safi.

    Senior journalist Fahd Husain, who also was part of the panel on the show, said, “This is very obvious that the Opposition was given a clear message that they will not block the [SBP Amendment] bill.”

    Agreeing with Safi, Husain said that how the events unfolded themselves makes it very obvious that everything that happened was pre-planned. “The way all this happened and the way the people went missing, they did not turn up, I will say that this was done in a rather crude manner. The Opposition should have taken advantage of this scenario and should have said that the government got the bill passed in an illegitimate manner, they [Opposition] have now got all this on themselves.”

    Husain further said that what happened in the Senate cannot be fully put on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). He said that the mistrust built between Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP over Yusuf Raza Gilani becoming the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate is still there and we are witnessing history repeating itself.

    Anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada asked Safi if the Opposition was a threat to the government. Safi said that the entire fuss of the Opposition was mainly to prove that they actually are the Opposition. Just like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), all this suits the PPP. If early elections take place, the PPP is of the view that they might not get to rule Sindh as well. “All these marches are just tactics to prove themselves as the Opposition,” said Safi.

    “They [Oppostion] have not devised a concrete methodology towards their policies. We are ignoring the role of Sadiq Sanjrani in all this. If Zardari wants to rule completely, he should make Sanjrani chairman instead of Bilawal. If PDM wants success, they should make Sanjrani their leader,” said Safi.

  • Bilawal declines Gilani’s resignation as Leader of Opposition Senate

    Bilawal declines Gilani’s resignation as Leader of Opposition Senate

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has refused to accept his party leader Yusuf Raza Gilani’s resignation as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.

    The party chairman said that Gilani has given exemplary services for democracy in the country. Bilawal Bhutto also backed the PPP leader’s statements and expressed his regret over the role of Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani in the passing of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill, 2021 by calling the act “in connivance with the government”, reports Geo News.

    Moreover, Bilawal said that the PPP is the only political party in which the elected representatives present themselves for accountability.

    Yesterday, Gilani said that he had handed over his resignation to his party after he received criticism for being absent from a key Senate session.

    Gilani took the mic in the Upper House on Monday and condemned the biasness shown by the chairman Senate. He said, “In the history of Pakistan Senate, it was the first time the Chairman Senate had to give a vote. As a neutral person, you should have not done this. As the custodian of the House, you should have protected the rights of both sides of the House.”

    On January 28, the Leader of the Opposition was absent when the government passed the SBP amendment bill in the Senate. He said that he had received the agenda of the House only a few hours before the session and it was not possible for him to travel in such a short period of time.

  • 84 per cent Pakistanis consider inflation biggest problem: survey

    84 per cent Pakistanis consider inflation biggest problem: survey

    Quarterly Performance Evaluation Survey (QPES), a Pulse Consultant’s indigenous tracking tool of public perceptions and opinions about the government’s performance and current political situation, states that 84 per cent of Pakistanis consider inflation as the biggest problem of the country.

    Almost every Pakistani has been hit by inflation and 99 per cent are reporting that ‘Inflation increased in past three months’, reveals the survey.

    According to the survey, 65 per cent of Pakistanis blame the current sitting government for the country’s poor economic conditions, while 29 per cent blame previous governments.

    18 per cent of the country is satisfied by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s performance — 56 per cent believe PM Khan’s claim that Pakistan is out of the economic crisis. Just 15 per cent think that inflation will be reduced in the next three months.

    About the problems in the country, 80 per cent of the people think that unemployment is the biggest problem of the country while 37 per cent of the people have of opinion that corruption is the main problem of Pakistan.

    Similarly, 70 per cent Pakistanis believe that the economic situation of the country is going downhill as well.

    Read More- 59% traders consider Pakistan is not ‘moving in right direction’: Gallup Survey

    Furthermore, 69 per cent of Pakistanis believe that the country is going in the wrong direction.

    Respondents of the survey did not buy the government’s narrative where all blame was hurled at the previous regime that the current economic crises are due to previous governments’ loans. The majority of the respondents — 65 per cent — believe that it’s all due to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) wrong economic policies.

    When it comes to the provincial province’s performance, 55 per cent of Pakistanis in Punjab are dissatisfied and just 9 per cent are satisfied – 34 per cent are in between. Talking about Sindh, 42 per cent are dissatisfied and just 18 per cent are happy; the remaining 39 per cent are in-between.

    In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 55 per cent are dissatisfied and just 24 per cent are satisfied –20 per cent are in-between. Whereas in Balochistan, 55 per cent are dissatisfied and just 10 per cent are satisfied – 35 per cent are in-between.