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.

  • ‘Set the record straight’: Jahangir Tareen responds to allegations of giving PM Khan pocket money

    ‘Set the record straight’: Jahangir Tareen responds to allegations of giving PM Khan pocket money

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) disgruntled leader Jahangir Tareen, clears the air on the allegations levelled towards him of bearing the expenses for Bani Gala, the residential place of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Jahangir took to Twitter and wrote, “Regardless of the current status of my relationship with Imran Khan, the truth must be told. I did whatever was in my capacity to help PTI in the quest to build a new Pakistan.”

    “I never gave a penny for the household expenses of Bani Gala. Just want to set the record straight,” tweeted Jahangir.

    Earlier, former PTI leader, Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed, claimed that PM Khan’s monthly household expenses were once catered by Tareen.

    Wajihuddin revealed that Tareen initially gave funds worth Rs3 million per month for Imran Khan’s household expenses, which was later increased to Rs5 million per month.

    Speaking further about the honesty of the premier, Wajihuddin said that the notion about Imran Khan being an honest man is “completely wrong”.

    “This belief is entirely false that Imran Khan is a [financially] honest man,” Wajihuddin said. “His condition is such that he hasn’t been running his household himself for years.”

  • Sri Lankan cricket legend Ranatunga thanks PM Khan for ensuring justice for Priyantha Kumara

    The former 1996 Cricket World Cup-winning Sri Lankan captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, thanked Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for his efforts to find all those involved in the lynching of Priyantha Kumara and his support for the deceased’s family.

    Sharing the letter he wrote to the premier, Arjuna tweeted, “Thank you for all your efforts in bringing justice for the crime committed against Priyantha Kumara, and for the continued support and commitment toward his family.”

    The letter reads, “You [Imran Khan] have always been unwavering in facing challenges whether it be on the cricket field or the political arena. Since you’ve become the prime minister of Pakistan, you have been carefully addressing some controversial issues in the country.”

    Earlier this month, 49-year-old Kumara, a manager at Rajco factory in Sialkot, was lynched by a mob. The mob tortured him to death and later burnt his body.

    Following the news, PM Khan condemned the incident and ensured the punishment of those who were involved.

    A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against 900 workers of Rajco Industries and several arrests have been made.

  • ‘PM Khan needed 30 lakhs and then 50 lakhs from PTI to run his home’, claims former PTI member, Fawad refutes

    ‘PM Khan needed 30 lakhs and then 50 lakhs from PTI to run his home’, claims former PTI member, Fawad refutes

    A former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member, Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed, recently claimed that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s monthly household expenses were once catered by PTI’s disgruntled leader Jahangir Tareen. He made the claim while speaking on Bol news’ programme ‘Tabdeeli’.

    Wajihuddin revealed that Tareen initially gave funds worth Rs3 million per month for Imran Khan’s household expenses, which was later increased to Rs5 million per month.

    Speaking further about the honesty of the premier, Wajihuddin said that the notion about Imran Khan being an honest man is “completely wrong”.

    “This belief is entirely false that Imran Khan is a [financially] honest man,” Ahmed said. “His condition is such that he hasn’t been running his household himself for years.”

    He further said certain people within the party would try to outdo each other in footing the bills for things like keeping Imran’s car fuel tank and “keeping his pocket full at all times”.

    Recalling the statement of another party member without revealing the name, Wajihuddin said, “The man who doesn’t even pay for his shoelaces, how can you call that man honest?”

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday, responding to the claims of retired Justice, called him a “buffoon”.

    “Such buffoons roam around trying to seek importance in media by making such allegations. These people are not even given respect in their own homes, therefore please do not give importance to them,” the minister told media persons.

    Special Assistant to PM for Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill rubbished Ahmed’s claim as “completely false and illogical”.

    “Whoever knows Imran Khan, knows his honesty and dignity. Wajih sahib often makes illogical remarks such as these in despair over being expelled from the party,” he tweeted.

  • Shehryar Afridi calling Pakistani community in Europe to physically attack a journalist is unacceptable, says RSF

    Shehryar Afridi calling Pakistani community in Europe to physically attack a journalist is unacceptable, says RSF

    Reporters Without Borders also known as Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) took to Twitter to condemn the attack on Younas Khan, a journalist who questioned the chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Khan Afridi in France during an event.

    RSF’s condemnation comes in relevance to Afridi’s leaked audio, where he was not happy with the organisers of the event during which Younas Khan questioned him whether he had any interactions with parliamentarians or Tink Tank when he was touring France.

    RSF tweeted, “Pakistan: #RSF strongly supports Paris-based Pakistani journalist @younaskhan1977, who is now the target of death threats after he was thrashed and insulted by a famous Pakistani politician, @ShehryarAfridi1, recently visiting #France.”

    “@younaskhan1977’s only wrongdoing was to ask a question that displeased @ShehryarAfridi1. In a leaked audio clip, the politician can be heard calling members of the Pakistani community in Europe to physically attack the journalist. These threats are unacceptable,” added RSF.

    Afridi’s leaked audio revealed that he was unhappy and could be heard talking to the organisers that he came to the event at their request. “If I did not answer the questions there, people would have said that I was scared and ran away,” said Afridi.

    “When the journalist was asking me questions, why did you [organisers] stay silent, why didn’t you ask him why this news was published?” Afridi questioned using explicit language.

    Shehryar Afridi told the organisers of the ceremony that they did not miss the chance to demean him, adding, “As far as I am concerned, it would have been good, but it is a matter of Pakistan’s honour.”

    “If you do not ask this journalist about the news, I will not spare you,” warned Afridi.

  • Pakistanis in trouble again as more tax hikes planned by the government

    With rising inflation, and an increase in taxes, the poor and working middle-class are being adversely affected.

    At the moment the government is planning on tightening the budget of tax hikes and spending cuts if the country is to get the $1 billion it needs from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    “I never thought it would become so difficult to survive,” said Sibte Hasan, a 43-year-old construction supervisor from Pakistan’s second-biggest city Lahore.

    The Pakistani rupee has also fallen to around 14% since May, which is a historic low.

    Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin is still hopeful things will be better but little to no relief is being given by the government as the country faces an inflation and gas crisis and rising taxes.

  • ‘You people did not miss the chance to demean me,’ says Shehryar Afridi in leaked audio

    ‘You people did not miss the chance to demean me,’ says Shehryar Afridi in leaked audio

    Chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar Khan Afridi’s leaked audio during his visit to France in October reveals Afridi was not happy with the organisers of an event where he was asked by journalist Younas Khan whether he had any interactions with parliamentarians or Tink Tank when he was touring France.

    Afridi’s leaked audio reveals that he was unhappy and can be heard talking to the organisers that he came to the event at their request. “If I did not answer the questions there, people would have said that I was scared and ran away,” said Afridi.

    “When the journalist was asking me questions, why did you [organisers] stay silent, why didn’t you ask him why this news was published?” Afridi questioned using explicit language.

    Trigger warning: The video contains explicit language

    Shehryar Afridi told the organisers of the ceremony that you did not miss the chance to demean me, adding, “As far as I am concerned, it would have been good, but it is a matter of Pakistan’s honour.”

    “If you do not ask this journalist about the news, I will not spare you,” warned Afridi.

    Earlier in October, reporter Younas Khan shared the clip on Twitter. “You are the chairman of the Kashmir Committee. Your job is to play a role in diplomacy on the Kashmir issues all over the world.”

    “You are in France. Which Think Tank did you meet here? Have you talked to any parliamentarian on Kashmir?” questioned Younas.

    “The culture is different here, you have to take appointments a month prior from parliamentarians and think tanks here. There is a proper channel here,” said Afridi.

    He added that he is reaching out to the Pakistani and Kashmiri communities during his stay in France and Italy. He also mentioned that he met stakeholders during his United States (US) visit. Afridi said that his next visit to Canada, Brussels, and Britain will include interactions with parliamentarians and Think Tanks.

  • ‘Shaan-e-Pakistan’, Justice Rana Shamim’s son announces the formation of own political party

    ‘Shaan-e-Pakistan’, Justice Rana Shamim’s son announces the formation of own political party

    Advocate Ahmed Hasan Rana, son of former chief judge Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim, has announced the formation of his own political party.

    In a video shared by journalist Murtaza Ali Shah, Ahmed can be seen saying, “This [party] is only on WhatsApp right now, we have not officially registered it. Like-minded people, my friends from my school, college, and the university have got together to form this [political] party.”

    “Its name is Shaan-e-Pakistan, but there is some time required to launch it. We need funds. We are trying to establish it on our own, and trying our best to generate funds on our own. [We don’t want that we get stuck] like Imran Khan sahib,” said Ahmed.

    Talking about his strategy in running his political party, Ahmed said that he idolises the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said he will not bring a different political manifesto than the prime minister.

    “There should be a Madina ki riyasat, education should be free, there should be ease of doing business. One really needs to do things and not just talk,” said Ahmed.

    “Imran Khan has been trying but could not deliver from the past three years. All he says is ghabrana nahi hai [don’t worry]. He has failed to make a single policy,” added Ahmed.

    When asked how differently will Ahmed perform than the premier he said, ” I am a lawyer and we are told to make a policy first, implementation comes second.”

    “Khan sahib is doing the same as his predecessors Benazir and Nawaz, he is asking for another chance. I can do better than Khan sahib, I am certain of it,” said Ahmed.

    Ahmed was still drinking his famous “juice” while conversing about his future political plans.

  • ‘Namaz in open spaces will not be tolerated’: CM of Indian state Haryana

    ‘Namaz in open spaces will not be tolerated’: CM of Indian state Haryana

    The Chief Minister (CM) of the Indian state Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar said that namaz should not be offered in the open, adding that an earlier decision where some sites had been reserved for the purpose had been withdrawn, reports The Indian Express.

    Khattar said the government had informed the police and the deputy commissioner that the issue needed to be resolved. “To resolve it, everyone offers prayers at their own place. Such practices should not take place in the open. This practice of offering namaz prayers here in the open will not be tolerated,” he stated.

    “They (Muslims) have said that they have several places where they should be given permission to pray. Some of their properties or those under Waqf board are encroached up, how they can be made available to them is being discussed. Or they can offer prayers in their homes. Offering namaz in the open and this confrontation, we will not allow this confrontation to continue,” Khattar said.

    The announcement came after tension in Gurgaon city, where Hindu groups in several episodes disrupted Muslim Friday prayers and put pressure on authorities to stop Muslims from offering the prayers in open spaces.

    Talking about the withdrawal of the agreement, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Khattar said, “A decision had been taken earlier after consultation, but that decision too where some spots had been reserved, we have withdrawn it. Now, talks will be conducted with a fresh approach again. Everyone should get the facility. No one’s rights should be infringed, but no one will be forced.”

    Authorities there had reached an agreement in 2018 in which Muslims were allowed to offer prayers at designated areas in the city.

    While the CM meeting was on, some local residents and members of pro-Hindutva groups occupied the area outside the Sector 37 police station, which had been reserved for namaz prayers.

    It is reported that the group conducted a “condolence meet” to mourn the demise of Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces (CDS) Bipin Rawat and other defence personnel who were killed in a helicopter crash.

    The group also chanted slogans of “Jai Shree Ram” (Hail Lord Ram) and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” (Hail Mother India) at the site.

  • ‘My government will never reconcile or give NRO to those who did corruption’: PM Khan

    ‘My government will never reconcile or give NRO to those who did corruption’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Saturday said, “My government will never reconcile or give NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) to those who did corruption.”

    His remarks came during a public procession in Mianwali.

    “We are ready to talk to everyone who has a different ideology or whom we call right or left,” said the prime minister.

    “We are ready to resolve our issues with them peacefully, be they in Balochistan or erstwhile tribal areas of Waziristan. The only ones whom we will never have any reconciliation with are those who looted and laundered Pakistani people’s money,” said the premier.

    “Every respectable society puts its thieves in jails and doesn’t strike deals with them. The prosperous countries have [one] rule of law, while those that are poor have different laws for the powerful and the weak are in jails,” said PM Khan.

  • Killing over unsubstantiated blasphemy accusations is not permissible: Ulema

    Killing over unsubstantiated blasphemy accusations is not permissible: Ulema

    Pakistani ulema in their Friday sermons strongly condemned the recent lynching of a Sri Lankan national in Sialkot and said the killing of any person over unsubstantiated blasphemy accusations is not permissible.

    The ‘day of condemnation’ was observed in mosques across the country on Friday.

    According to the ulema, the courts have the authority to punish the perpetrator of blasphemy. Taking the law into one’s hands is not allowed according to Shariah and law of the land.

    Special Representative of the Prime Minister on Reli­gious Harmony Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi said the lynching of the Sri Lankan national had embarrassed the entire nation. Elements involved in making blasphemy allegations for their vested objectives would also be punished under the blasphemy law, he added.