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.

  • Indian army helicopter with Defence General Bipin Rawat on board crashes

    An Indian Army helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and other senior Indian defence officials on board crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor on Wednesday.

    “An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu,” confirmed the Indian Air Force official Twitter account.

    Indian news agency ANI tweeted about the crash, saying that 14 people in total were on board the chopper, including the Indian defence assistant, IAF pilots and security commandos. 

    The latest visuals shared from the place of the crash clearly show the amount of damage done to the crash.

  • ‘Nice to see them singing, this is normal Pakistan’: Fawad on Maryam Nawaz, Hamza singing

    ‘Nice to see them singing, this is normal Pakistan’: Fawad on Maryam Nawaz, Hamza singing

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, while addressing the media, praised the signing skills of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz and Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, Hamza Shehbaz.

    Fawad’s comments come in connection to the viral video of both Hamza and Maryam where they were singing at an event for Maryam’s son Junaid Safdar’s wedding.

    Maryam Nawaz sang ‘Chura Liya‘ in a melodious voice and Hamza too sang at the same event.

    Fawad, praising the singing skills of the Sharif family, said, “I really appreciate Hamza Shehbaz and Maryam Nawaz [for their singing skills].”

    “In our personal gatherings, we sing songs and we celebrate. It was nice to see them singing,” said Fawad.

    “It was nice to see this because normal Pakistan is exactly like this,” added Fawad.

    Fawad further said, “We have political differences with them, not personal ones.”

  • ‘Will not spare anyone who uses religion for committing inhuman act’: PM Khan

    ‘Will not spare anyone who uses religion for committing inhuman act’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that from now on, no one will be spared who resorts to violence in the name of religion.

    PM Khan made these comments during an event that was being held in solidarity with Kumara’s family and the Sri Lankan nation and government.

    PM Imran had taken notice of Malik Adnan — Kumara’s colleague who had tried to save his life — and lauded Adnan for his “moral courage and bravery” on Sunday. He had also announced that Adnan would be honoured with the Tamgha-i-Shujaat.

    The ceremony was held to honour Adnan.

    Appreciating the efforts of Adnan, PM Khan said, “Role models are important in the country because people follow them,” adding that “moral power is greater than physical power”.

    “I am sure our youth will remember the way Malik Adnan stood up against those beasts.”

    The prime minister said that he established the Rehmatul-lil-Alameen Authority so that the entire nation could follow in the footsteps of Holy Prophet (PBUH).

    “But we are heading in a different direction,” he said as he called on the nation to read up on the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

    “Our country is the only one that was built in the name of Islam. But this incident has brought us embarrassment,” he said, adding that he received many messages from those living abroad.

    “People who are based overseas do not know what Islam is, and they distance themselves from the religion after seeing such incidents take place.”

  • PM Khan shares Javed Ghamidi video on Instagram, public appreciates

    PM Khan shares Javed Ghamidi video on Instagram, public appreciates

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on his official Instagram account shared a video interview of Islamic scholar Javed Ghamidi.

    Javed Ghamidi is a Pakistani Muslim theologian, Quran scholar, Islamic modernist, and educationist.

    The premier shared an interview of Ghamidi where he is discussing the Sialkot incident at length.

    The general public appreciated the premier sharing the point of view of the moderate scholar.

  • NA-133 by-election: PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz defeats PPP’s Aslam Gill

    NA-133 by-election: PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz defeats PPP’s Aslam Gill

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Shaista Pervaiz Malik, wife of late Malik Pervaiz won the National Assembly (NA)-133 constituency on Sunday against Pakistan People Party’s (PPP) opponent Aslam Gill.

    The PML-N won the seat for the fourth time since 2008, although by a smaller margin this time.

    The results showed Gill was defeated by a margin of 14,498 votes. Shaista Malik secured 46,811 votes while Gill’s votes were 32,313.

    In 2018 elections, Pervaiz Malik secured 89,699 votes, which means PML-N got 42,888 fewer votes this time. However, PPP’s Gill got 26,728 more votes now as compared to the 2018 polls when he obtained only 5,585.

    President Of the Pakistan Institute Of Legislative Development And Transparency (PILDAT) Ahmed Bilal Mehboob shared the turnout of the constituency’s elections in a tweet.

    Meanwhile, despite PPP’s defeat in the election, the party’s Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari congratulated his party and he tweeted, “Congratulations to PPP Punjab for a fantastic performance in Lahore by-election. PPP went from 5,000 votes to 32,000+. While Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lost more than 50% of its votes”, adding that they hope to form the government in Punjab and centre in the general election.

    PML-N president and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif dedicated this victory to Late Pervaiz Malik and said, “We bow our heads before Allah in all humility for this election win today.”

  • ‘Local government elections can’t be held with EVMs, says Shibli Faraz

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz has said that electronic voting machines (EVMs) are not designed for the type of local government elections we have in Pakistan.

    Shibli said that the EVMs could be used only for direct elections of nazims of tehsils and districts for which there is only one panel of contestants.

    Faraz said that in our local government elections there are multiple panels for different types of seats.

    On the other hand, the Election Commission demanded that it wanted to see the new draft Local Government Amendment Act by the Punjab government to hold the coming LG polls under Electronic Voting Machines. 

    Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Punjab President Rana Sanaullah said that if the government tries to hold the upcoming elections using EVMs he will burn them.

  • ‘PTI’s Ejaz Chaudhry meeting Saad Rizvi was absurd,’says Fawad

    ‘PTI’s Ejaz Chaudhry meeting Saad Rizvi was absurd,’says Fawad

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry termed the meeting of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ejaz Chaudhry with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Husain Rizvi as ‘absurd’.

    While speaking on Aaj News’ political news programme ‘Rubaroo with Shaukat Paracha’, Chaudhry questioned: “I think the manner in which Ejaz Chaudhry Sahib [met] the TLP [leadership] was an absurd act. Why didn’t [he] visit the homes of the policemen who were martyred.”

    “Till the time the state doesn’t stand with its martyrs who else will be their [support],” added Fawad.

    “How can there be consensus? People will only fear for [their lives here],” said Fawad.

    Senator Ejaz had met TLP chief Rizvi last month as a “gesture of goodwill” and to congratulate him on his release from jail. Pictures of Senator Ejaz hugging and presenting a bouquet to Mr Rizvi were widely shared on social media.

  • ‘Women are not property,’ Taliban ban forced marriages

    The Taliban issued a decree that bans forced marriages in Afghanistan on Friday, saying women should not be considered “property” and must consent to marriage, reports Al Jazeera.

    It was annouced by Taliban Chief Hibatullah Akhunzada. The international community, which has frozen billions of dollars in funds for Afghanistan, has made women’s and human rights a key element of any future engagement with Afghanistan.

    The decree said, “Both women and men should be equal. No one can force women to marry by coercion or pressure.”

    However, it didn’t mention a minimum age for marriage, which previously was set at 16-years-old.

    The Taliban also allowed a window to re-marry after 17 weeks of her husband’s death. Moreover, the Taliban leadership has ordered Afghan courts to treat women fairly, especially widows seeking inheritance as next of kin.

    The development was hailed on social media by some social media users while most of them shared their concerns.

    https://twitter.com/Nedahalim/status/1466926067323523073?s=20

    During the Taliban’s previous rule from 1996 to 2001, it banned women from leaving the house without a male relative, full face and head covering and girls were made compulsory and restricted from getting education.

    However, now they claim that they have changed but many women, advocates and officials remain skeptical.

  • Sindh lowers passing score to 50 per cent for medical admissions due to doctor shortage

    Sindh lowers passing score to 50 per cent for medical admissions due to doctor shortage

    The Sindh Cabinet has decided to lower the passing percentage in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) from 65 per cent to 50 per cent for the session of 2021-2022.

    Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah confirmed the news and said, “This decision would not only provide an opportunity to the provincial candidates to seek admission in medical and dental colleges/universities of Sindh but the seats which were going to be unfulfilled/vacant would be utilised.”

    It was reported, that last year with a passing percentage of 60 per cent, 8,287 students passed in Sindh out of which 2,900 took admissions in the public sector. Of the remaining 5,387 students, only 800 took admissions in private medical and dental colleges as the remaining 4,587 were not able to get admission mainly because they could not afford it.

    With this drop in admissions, Sindh will reportedly face a severe shortage of about 10,000 doctors in the next five years. CM said that World Health Organsiation (WHO) recommended one doctor for 850 people but Sindh has one doctor for 3,200 people. “Hence this gap of doctors will worsen if the situation persists,” he added.

    According to Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) conducted a computerised MDCAT in October 2021. She said, “The test from the federal curriculum puts Sindh students at a disadvantage and resulted in a low pass percentage.”

    The reduction of percentage will not affect the merit as it would remain the same as prescribed under the PMC Act.

  • AGP asks Rana Shamim to arrange delivery of his ‘original affidavit’ to Pak High Commission in London

    AGP asks Rana Shamim to arrange delivery of his ‘original affidavit’ to Pak High Commission in London

    Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan asked Rana Shamim, the former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan, to arrange the delivery of his ‘original affidavit’ to the Pakistan High Commission in London, reports Dawn.

    The AGP asked Shamim to arrange the delivery of his affidavit “at the earliest” so that it could be forwarded to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) registrar through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    The High Court had observed that in case the original affidavit was not produced on the due date, it would raise an assumption of its non-existence.

    The AGP forwarded a copy of his letter to Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary and the country’s High Commissioner in London.

    Meanwhile, United Kingdom (UK) oath commissioner Charles Guthrie, who authenticated the affidavit of Shamim, has claimed the affidavit’s authenticity, and also said that he was ready to appear before at any legal forum, including the IHC, for confirmation.