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.

  • CM Sindh orders arrest of policemen involved in escape of accused in Dua Mangi kidnapping

    CM Sindh orders arrest of policemen involved in escape of accused in Dua Mangi kidnapping

    Chief Minister (CM) Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered the arrest of policemen involved in the escape of a convicted criminal who was also accused of kidnapping Dua Mangi.

    The accused, Zohaib Ali, fled from police custody. After learning about the incident, CM Shah has directed the inspector-general (IG) of police to arrest the accused.

    The chief minister was told that Zohaib, along with four others accused, was brought before the court of Judicial Magistrate VII East on January 27, 2022. The accused had received the next date of hearing and was escorted back to the jail by the head constable, Naveed, and constable Zafar Habib, reports Geo News.

    The report said that in involvement with Naveed, the accused used a private car to buy shoes from Tariq road and escaped from there due to the negligence of the head constable.

    It may be noted that accused Zohaib is convicted in Dua Mangi case and has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of three years with a fine of Rs20,000.

    Dua Mangi was kidnapped on November 30, 2019. The Karachi-based teenager, who was kidnapped from outside a restaurant in Karachi’s DHA was kidnapped for ransom. She has returned home a week later.

  • Petrol, diesel prices set to increase again by Rs10 in February

    Petrol, diesel prices set to increase again by Rs10 in February

    The government is likely to increase the prices of petroleum products by Rs10 for the next month in line with the rising rates in the international market, according to Geo News’ sources.

    The price of petrol will move up by Rs7 per litre while the rate of diesel will increase by Rs10 per litre. The existing price of petrol is Rs147.83 and diesel costs around Rs144.

    However, the official announcement is yet to be made but as per the news outlet, the final decision will be made on January 30.

    Previously, an increase of Rs3 in petroleum products was implemented on January 16.

    Despite growing inflation in the country, for the ease of public, the government has planned to launch Ehsaas Petrol Cards for motorcyclists to enable them to buy petrol at a subsidised rate.

  • After PM’s Khan’s appeal for increase in workers’ salaries, ARY announces pay raise

    After PM’s Khan’s appeal for increase in workers’ salaries, ARY announces pay raise

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on January 24, while answering callers’ questions, during the telecast of the fifth ‘Aap Ka Wazir Azam Aap Ke Sath’, a town-hall-style broadcast where the premier takes questions from the public, said that the corporate sector has made a profit of Rs980 billion.

    “I would call them and ask them to increase the salaries of their staff because you have never made such a profit before today,” said PM Khan.

    Following PM Khan’s appeal to the corporate sector to increase the salaries of their staff, President and CEO ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal on Friday announced a pay raise for lower-level employees.

    Salman Iqbal said the staff receiving a monthly salary of up to Rs20,000 will be given a raise of 80 per cent. “We have reached this stage with the blessing of Allah Almighty and countless efforts of the team,” he said.

    Federal Minister for Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar took to Twitter to congratulate Iqbal and said, “Well done @Salman_ARY for increasing salaries of ARY employees substantially. Big business houses have made exceptional profits in the last couple of years. Hope others will also follow and share the increased profitability with their workers by increasing their salaries.”

    Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry praising Salman Iqbal said, “Our salaried class has been affected by inflation and such steps will help this section of society navigate inflation.”

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said, “@salman_ARY took the initiative to share part of [the] profit with his employees. Others should also pass on benefit to their employees.”

  • Jamaat-e-Islami calls off sit-in protest in Karachi

    Jamaat-e-Islami calls off sit-in protest in Karachi

    Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has called off its sit-in protest in Karachi after the Sindh government agreed to the revisions in the Sindh Local Government Act of 2013 after negotiations successfully concluded between them.

    Both parties have signed the written agreement according to which the health and education institutions will be again transferred to the local bodies, said Sindh Minister for Local Government, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah.

    While addressing the sit-in protestors, Nasir Shah announced that the provincial government will bring amendments to the Local Government law. The notification will be issued in one to two weeks by the Sindh government.

    Both parties also agreed to establish the Provincial Finance Commission, with the mayor and town chairman as members of the commission. It will be awarded once the representatives of the Local Government take power to the authority.

    The mayor and chairman will be responsible for the Building Control Authority and other development authorities.

    The educational institute, Medical and Dental College will be given back to the Karachi Municipality.

    The Solid Waste Management Board will be in control of Mayor Karachi.

    Later on, JI Karachi Chief, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman announced that there would be no sit-in protests in different areas of the city.

    He said, “With the implementation of this agreement with the Sindh government, we have to get some issues resolved by the federation.”

    JI party has been staging sit-in protests for the past 29 days in Karachi. On January 23, Karachi Chief of JI, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman warned that the party will block five entrance points to Karachi if their demands were not met.

    Both parties reached an agreement after several protesters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) got injured from tear gas shelling and police mishandling including the death of one worker on Wednesday. The MQM was attempting to reach the CM House for a sit-in against the Local Government Act.

    The police, however, baton-charged the crowd and used teargas shells in an attempt to dissuade them from entering the red zone.

  • Govt plans to launch Ehsaas petrol cards for motorcyclists

    Govt plans to launch Ehsaas petrol cards for motorcyclists

    The federal government has planned to launch Ehsaas Petrol Cards for motorcyclists to enable them to buy petrol at a subsidised rate.

    Earlier this week, Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card was distributed by the government, which will provide free medical treatment to all citizens at government and private hospitals.

    In a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin, several other proposals were also considered such as subsidised fuel, tax reliefs, rise in income/minimum wages, internships, record tax collection and removal of bureaucratic hurdles.

    The government also intends to raise the pay of public sector employees in the upcoming fiscal year 2022-23 budget. Moreover, it has been reported that no consideration was made regarding monetising of bureaucratic perks and privileges.

    A meeting was also held to discuss the Kamyab Pakistan Programme progress. It was informed that the first phase of the programme is going successfully and that the loans are being disbursed after fulfillment of requirements to the deserving applicants.

  • PTI finalises Hammad Azhar as its official candidate for Lahore mayorship

    PTI finalises Hammad Azhar as its official candidate for Lahore mayorship

    The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has finalised the name of current Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar as its official candidate for the slot of Lahore Mayor.

    A source told Business Recorder, “The party has short-listed his name that will be announced in due course of time; the party high-ups find him the fittest candidate to contest the Lahore Mayor elections. Azhar has shown willingness to give up his ministry and take part in the local bodies’ elections.”

    “Azhar has proven himself as a young energetic minister while heading important federal ministries. He is seen as a clean person full of energy,” the source added.

    Hammad has also served as the federal economic affairs minister and federal industries and production minister. He is the son of veteran politician and former Punjab Governor Mian Muhammad Azhar, thus has strong political roots in Lahore.

    Prior to this news, it was reported that the party had offered the candidacy to Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid.

  • SCBA president files petition against lifetime disqualification in SC

    SCBA president files petition against lifetime disqualification in SC

    President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Mohammad Ahsan Bhoon on Thursday filed a petition against the lifelong disqualification of lawmakers and said that such a law without the right to appeal is unjust.

    The petition asks the Supreme Court (SC) to rule that the declaration by a court of law under Article 62(1)(f) only applies to the election under question, and does not entail a perpetual or lifetime bar on contesting future elections, reports Dawn.

    The petition argues that the lack of clarity regarding the procedure for a declaration under Article 62(1)(f) continues to pose an obstacle to the constitutional protection of citizens under Article 17(2), which allows citizens to form or become a member of any political party.

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

    The two were disqualified as lawmakers in judgements rendered in the Panama Papers case on July 28, 2017, and the Hanif Abbasi case on Dec 15, 2017, respectively.

    The contents of the petition said that the principle of lifetime disqualification should only be applied to electoral disputes. Under Article 184/3 of the Constitution, the SC cannot act as a trial court and there is no right to appeal against the decisions made by the apex court, which contradicts the principles of justice.

    The petition said that the lifelong disqualification without the right to appeal is unjust to the voters. 

  • ‘For the first time, govt making changes in law made during British rule’: PM Khan

    ‘For the first time, govt making changes in law made during British rule’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, while addressing an event regarding Criminal Law and Justice Reforms in Islamabad, said that massive amendments in law would help bring a revolution in the criminal justice system and simplify the procedure for the common man living in Pakistan.

    The prime minister said for the first time, the government was making changes in the laws introduced during the British rule to bring improvement to the way justice was dispensed.

    PM Khan said that none of the previous governments ever thought about reforming the century-old laws in order to maintain the status quo and accommodate the elite.

    The premier said the civil law reforms were a step towards ensuring rule of law in the country, that too in line with Islam’s first socio-welfare state of Madinah.

    He quoted a hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), emphasising that many earlier nations were destroyed because there were separate laws for the powerful and the weak.

    Prime Minister Imran said the lack of supremacy of the law was the “biggest obstacle” preventing Pakistan from progressing. Talking about overseas Pakistanis, he said they were the country’s biggest asset and their income was equal to that of 220 million Pakistanis.

    Federal Law Minister Barrister Farogh Naseem, speaking at the occasion, said the Code of Criminal Procedure needed changes and mentioned that the newly-introduced 700 amendments had completely overhauled the existing legal system.

    Explaining those amendments, he said that the formation of a statute of an independent prosecution service, forensic laboratory, and prison rules were significant reforms.

    Parliamentary Secretary for Law Maleeka Bokhari said over 700 amendments made in the criminal procedure code were a milestone of the PTI government and will ensure prompt delivery of justice.

  • Rahul Gandhi asks Twitter why his followers seem to be restricted, Twitter denies claim

    Rahul Gandhi asks Twitter why his followers seem to be restricted, Twitter denies claim

    Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Twitter CEO Parag Aggarwal in December to inquire about the decrease of his followers and if it was due to the influence of the Indian government, reports Wall Street Journal.

    “I want to bring your attention to what I believe is Twitter’s unwitting complicity in curbing free and fair speech in India… I have been reliably, albeit discreetly, informed by people at Twitter India that they are under immense pressure by the government to silence my voice,” wrote Gandhi.

    “Since August, the average number of my new monthly Twitter followers has fallen to nearly zero. There is an inflection point after which my Twitter account seems to have been paralysed.”

    Co-founder of AltNews, Mohammed Zubair, analysed the Twitter account of Rahul Gandhi and compared it with the Twitter accounts of Indian Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah and Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. It revealed that followers of Gandhi dropped drastically whereas Shah and Modi gained more followers since September 2021.

    Twitter also responded to Rahul Gandhi’s claims of restricting his followers, “Follower counts are a visible feature, and we want everyone to have confidence that the numbers are meaningful and accurate. Twitter has a zero-tolerance approach to platform manipulation and spam. We fight spam and malicious automation strategically and at scale with machine learning tools, and as part of those consistent and ongoing efforts to ensure a healthy service and credible accounts, follower counts can and do fluctuate.”

    Twitter also highlighted that they do remove accounts that violate its community policies.

    “We remove millions of accounts each week for violating our policies on platform manipulation and spam. You can take a look at our latest Twitter Transparency Center update for more context. While some accounts notice a minor difference, in certain cases the number could be higher,” Twitter said in response to Gandhi.

    Last year, Twitter temporarily suspended the account of Rahul Gandhi on August 8, 2021, when he uploaded a photograph with the family of a nine-year-old Dalit rape victim, which was taken down by Twitter later.

  • ‘Regrettable’: CM Sindh expresses sorrow at the mishandled MQM-P protest

    ‘Regrettable’: CM Sindh expresses sorrow at the mishandled MQM-P protest

    Chief Minister (CM) Sindh Murad Ali Shah expressed sorrow on how the provincial government handled Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan‘s (MQM-P) workers and leaders’ protest against the controversial Sindh local government bill in Karachi.

    Taking to Twitter, CM Shah said, “Yesterday’s incident outside CM House is regrettable and as a political party, we believe it’s everyone’s right to protest peacefully.”

    Expressing his sorrow over the incident, Shah said that he talked to MQM-P’s MNA Amin Ul Haq and MPA Sadaqat Ali. During their conversation, they discussed and agreed that they needed to find a peaceful solution through dialogue.

    “Explained that we were always willing to hold a meaningful dialogue. Expressed sorrow over [the] death of their colleague and ensured thorough inquiry into the matter,” tweeted Shah.

    Shah further said, “Have instructed the Home Secretary to submit a report regarding yesterday’s events within 3 days. There was an agreement between Police and protesters to use a certain route which was violated, and this is also being investigated.”

    MQM-P protesters attempted to reach the CM House for a sit-in on Wednesday.

    The police, however, baton-charged the crowd and used teargas shells in an attempt to dissuade it from entering the red zone.

    A worker of the MQM-P was killed and several others, including women, were injured when police fired tear gas and resorted to baton-charge on their sit-in outside CM House.