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.

  • Several people killed in Yemen capital by a Saudi Arabia led airstrike

    Several people killed in Yemen capital by a Saudi Arabia led airstrike

    Saudi Arabia launched an airstrike in the capital city of Yemen, Sanaa which killed about 14 people in a residential building in a response to an attack on Abu Dhabi on Monday.

    Saudi Arabia state media said that the coalition has begun airstrikes against strongholds and camps in the capital city belonging to the Houthi rebel group.

    The strike targeted the home of a former military official which killed him, his wife and son, other family members, and some unknown casualties.

    On the other side, the deputy minister for the Houthi administration tweeted that the coalition strikes killed a total of 20 people.

    According to the Houthi media channel, the airstrike attack damaged the building, killed at least a dozen people, and several people were wounded as well.

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is backing Saudi Arabia in a war with Yemen that has been going on for the last seven years.

    On Monday, three petrol tanks blew up near a storage facility of an oil giant company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in Abu Dhabi. A fire also erupted in a construction area at the Abu Dhabi airport.

    These attacks have been claimed by the Iran-backed rebel group, Houthi in Yemen.

    Pakistan also condemned the attacks on the UAE by saying, “violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the UAE and pose a grave threat to the regional peace and security”.

    The statement issued on Monday by the Foreign Office called for an immediate end to these attacks. It also offered condolences to the families of the victims of the attack including one Pakistani.

  • ‘Islamabad on alert’ as interior minister warns of more terror incidents

    ‘Islamabad on alert’ as interior minister warns of more terror incidents

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has warned of more terrorism-related incidents in Islamabad and said that the capital’s police and other forces are on alert.

    The warning has come forward after a gun battle, in which militants [who were shot dead] opened fire on a police check-point in the vicinity of the Karachi Company police station, G 9 Markaz Islamabad. The incident resulted in a policeman’s death and two injuries.

    The martyred police official has been identified as Head Constable Munawwar.

    “This was not an incident of dacoity or theft. Terrorists opened fire on police officials. This is a signal for us that terror incidents have started taking place in Islamabad,” the minister added.

    However, Rasheed revealed the authorities had tracked down the “sleeper cell” of the terrorists.

  • ECP releases list of 150 lawmakers for not filing asset details

    ECP releases list of 150 lawmakers for not filing asset details

    The membership of 150 lawmakers from across the country, including some cabinet members, has been suspended by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for not filing their statements of assets.

    The ECP on Monday released a list of MNAs, senators, and MPAs of the four provincial assemblies who failed to file their statements of assets and liabilities, as well as those of their spouses and dependents, for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2021. These statements have to be filed every year by Dec 31.

    In the 100-member Senate, the membership of three lawmakers has been suspended, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Dr Musadik Malik, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Dr Sikandar Mandhro, and Balochistan Awami Party’s (BAP) Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai.

    Among the MNAs who have been suspended as members of the lower house are cabinet members Farrukh Habib, Noor ul Haq Qadri, Hammad Azhar, Shafqat Mahmood, and Dr Fehmida Mirza.

    The prominent MNAs who failed to fulfill their constitutional obligation are former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain, Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, Rana Mohammad Qasim Noon and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

  • PM Khan writes about spirit of Riyasat-e-Madina, Twitter thinks govt selling ‘religious card’

    PM Khan writes about spirit of Riyasat-e-Madina, Twitter thinks govt selling ‘religious card’

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan considers his government’s initiative [Ehsaas programme, health card scheme and establishment of the National  Rahmat-tulil-Aalameen Authority (NRA)] as their biggest initiative to transform Pakistan into a true Madina-like state.

    PM Khan in an article: “Spirit of Riyasat-i-Madina: Transforming Pakistan” which he had written for various newspapers. He said, “We have embarked on the road to the welfare state with some great initiatives. Despite tight financial means, we allocated an unprecedented amount of money to our initiatives such as the Ehsaas Programme which was a social safety and poverty alleviation programme necessary for the vulnerable groups in society.”

    While talking about the Ehsaas scholarship program he said that the initiative would ensure that unprivileged, talented students would get a chance to pursue an education.

    Moreover, in this piece, PM Khan wrote that the most urgent of all challenges facing the country was the struggle to establish the rule of law. “Over the last 75 years of Pakistan’s history. The country had suffered from elite capture, where the powerful and crooked politicians, cartels and mafias had become accustomed to being above the law in order to protect their privileges gained through a corrupt system.”

    The premier while giving examples of China, Japan and South Korea said if one looked at the world, one could easily witness that the most successful states also had the most robust application of the rule of law.

    “In Pakistan, not adhering to the rule of law has led to siphoning off of billions of US dollars which has imposed collective poverty on our public”, PM added.

    The article has come at a time when the government is already facing severe criticism due to unprecedented inflation. After the article, Twitter is flooded with mixed reactions. Some say the government is trying to sell religious cards while others are showing support.

    https://twitter.com/FaryalFKhan/status/1482999447084998657?s=20

  • ‘We are not against education’, Taliban to open separate schools for girls

    ‘We are not against education’, Taliban to open separate schools for girls

    The Taliban has said that they hope to open all schools for girls and women across the country after March 21.

    Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson and deputy Culture and Information Minister of Afghanistan said girls and boys must be completely segregated in schools. According to him, the biggest obstacle so far has been finding enough space where girls could stay while going to school. In heavily populated areas, there is not enough space to have separate classrooms for boys and girls.

    “We are not against education,” Mujahid stressed while talking to Associated Press (AP). He also said women are working in the health and education sector and at Kabul International Airport in customs and passport control. But didn’t comment that whether women would be allowed to return to work in government ministries.

    Since August, girls in most of Afghanistan have not been allowed back to school beyond grade 7. However, private universities in the capital Kabul are still operating.

    Earlier this month, the United Nations (UN) launched a $5 billion appeal for the war-torn country.

  • 4 crore 91 lakh to be spent on Usman Buzdar’s office

    4 crore 91 lakh to be spent on Usman Buzdar’s office

    A hefty amount is to be spent on the renovation of Chief Minister Pubjab (CM) Usman Buzdar’s office, reports Dunya. A total of 4 crore and 91 lakh will be spent on Chief Minister’s office. In addition the offices of the staff appointed to him will also be renovated.

    CM’s office will have new air-conditioners and new carpets. In addition, the funds will also be spent to buy historic paintings for the office.

    As per the Punjab Revenue Department, The Communication and Construction Department has made an estimate and requested the release of funds from the Revenue Department. A summary has been sent to the Standing Cabinet Committee on Finance for the release of the supplementary grant. The funds will be issued after the approval of Cabinet.

    The additional grant required to meet the required expenditure of the government is called a supplementary grant.

    In January 2020, the Chief Minister’s office shared comparative details of expenditure claiming that Usman Buzdar had set an example of austerity by curtailing spending under different heads.

    Read more- Punjab Govt to buy 46 new cars for ministers

    Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in a statement said that the austerity policy was being strictly followed by the Punjab government. “Unnecessary expenditures are against public interest and a new tradition has been set by curtailing expenditures.”

    Earlier, this month Punjab government issued a formal order for the purchase of 46 new cars for provincial ministers and will make an advance payment to a car manufacturer in this regard. The Cabinet Committee has approved payment for purchasing news cars.

  • Board to examine Nawaz’s medical conditions, report in five days

    Board to examine Nawaz’s medical conditions, report in five days

    In line with the federal cabinet’s decision, the Punjab government on Friday has formed a medical board to examine Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif’s health reports submitted in Lahore High Court (LHC).

    Punjab government spokesperson Hassan Khawar confirmed that a notification has been issued in this regard, according to which the medical board comprises of Dr Mohammad Arif Nadeem, Dr Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab, Dr Saqib Saeed, Dr Shahid Hameed, Dr Bilal S Mohi-ud-din, Dr Ambreen Hamid, Dr Shafiq-ur-Rehman, Dr Moona Aziz, and Dr Khadija Irfan.

    The board has been directed to submit its report/expert medical opinion to the specialised healthcare secretary within five days.

    Earlier this week the attorney general’s office asked the Punjab government to consider establishing a medical board or a committee that could determine the current status of Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    In a two-page letter, addressed to Punjab Home Secretary Zafar Nasrullah Khan, the attorney general’s office wrote: “In order to initiate the process of verification in the light of the Nov 16, 2019, Lahore High Court order, the government of Punjab is requested to constitute a medical board/committee to examine the documents submitted as medical reports on behalf of the petitioner and Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif so that expert medical opinion regarding the physical condition of Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and his ability to travel back to Pakistan is made available.”

    The letter was written in line with the federal cabinet’s instructions to the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan to initiate proceedings against the Sharif family.

    The letter pointed out that Nawaz Sharif’s “apparent present physical condition was available in the media”.

    “Given the fact that he had left the country claiming to be in extreme critical condition which prima facie improved significantly after his arrival in London and the fact that he has apparently never been hospitalised and his political, social and other recreational activities have continued uninterrupted… indicate that severe ailment, if any, that may have existed in [the] past is no longer evident or [constrains] his activities,” the letter said.

    Nawaz Sharif had left for the United Kingdom (UK) in November 2019 after the Lahore High Court granted him a four-week bail for his treatment.

  • Court wants forensic audit firms to analyse CJ Saqib Nisar’s alleged audio leak

    Court wants forensic audit firms to analyse CJ Saqib Nisar’s alleged audio leak

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reportedly directed the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) to submit the names of credible forensic audit firms for a forensic analysis of the alleged audio of former Chief Justice (CJ) of Pakistan Saqib Nasir, reports Dawn.

    Justice Athar Minallah headed the hearing of a petition filed by the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) Sindh High Court Bar Association. The association argued that it was not known who Nisar was allegedly talking to and whether the other person was even a judge or not and requested the court to set up an inquiry commission.

    They further argued that Journalist Ahmad Noorani’s story on Saqib Nisar’s audio clip has not been edited as per the forensic report of the audio clip. To this, the justice said that the source is not reliable.

    Justice Minallah asked who would bear the cost of this audio clip forensic audit?

    The President of SHCBA replied that the Ministry of Law can bear the cost, to which the IHC CJ inquired why the taxpayers’ money should be spent on it.

    “Suggest the name of any authoritative forensic agency to do a forensic audit of this audio clip,” Justice said.

    The court adjourned the hearing till January 28.

  • Hand protecting Imran Khan can be on Opposition’s neck but never in their support, says Sheikh Rasheed

    Hand protecting Imran Khan can be on Opposition’s neck but never in their support, says Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed during a press conference, while taking a jibe at the Opposition, said, “They [Opposition] want that the hand [protecting] Imran Khan should be on their head as well,” adding, ” this hand can be on their [Opposition] neck but never on their head.” Rasheed’s words hint towards the establishment.

    Talking to the journalists, Rasheed said, “If the Opposition goes to International Monetary Fund (IMF) its halal but if Imran Khan does the same its considered haram.”

    “These people went 23 times to the IMF. This time around, the conditions of IMF were pretty tough, hence we were not left with any option but to go to IMF,” said Rasheed.

    Addressing the Opposition, Rasheed said that the Opposition is planning two different long marches toward the capital. He said that the government will provide them the way to continue their march but the Opposition should keep in mind the importance of March 23 and the respect one gives to the country on [the Resolution Day of Pakistan].

    “Important personalities from Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are coming to Pakistan on March 23 and all eyes from India will be directed towards Pakistan as well,” said Rasheed.

    Accusing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders of corruption, Raseed said, ” Shehbaz Sharif is more corrupt than Nawaz Sharif,” adding, “I am saying this based on my own knowledge.”

    “I would like to say a historical sentence that all four Sharif’s are minus from the politics of Pakistan,” said Rasheed.

  • PM Khan launches first-ever National Security Policy, original document remains classified

    PM Khan launches first-ever National Security Policy, original document remains classified

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan launched the public version of the country’s first-ever National Security Policy (NSP) which aimed at addressing the external imbalance, socio-economic inequalities, and geographic disparities, reports Radio Pakistan.

    It is reported that the original version of the policy will remain classified.

    According to PM Khan, the nation is now headed in the right direction and added that national security was defined “in the right manner” in the new policy.

    Speaking about the International Monetary Fund (IMF), PM said, “We approach IMF under duress as in the end, only IMF is ready to help us and provide the cheapest loans. We have to abide by their conditions, and as a result, impose a burden on the people.”

    National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf also addressed the launching ceremony.

    He said, “We are not seeking hostility with India for the next 100 years. The new policy seeks peace with immediate neighbours.”

    The NSP will mainly secure Pakistan’s interest and position globally. Moreover, the document would provide for pursuing youth-focused policies, guaranteeing food security, improving preventive healthcare, and mainstreaming climate adaptation.