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.

  • NAB arrests Speaker Sindh Assembly after Supreme Court rejects bail

    Speaker of Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani has been arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in front of the Supreme Court (SC) after his bail hearing, reports Geo Urdu.

    Durrani was arrested for allegedly accumulating assets worth Rs1.6 billion through illegal means.

    He approached the SC after Sindh High Court (SHC) rejected his bail in assets beyond means case.

    Earlier today, it was reported that the apex court ordered him to surrender before NAB.

    During Durrani’s hearing, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah observed that the SHC rejected Durrani’s bail plea on the basis of merit.

    “Supreme Court cannot conduct a hearing on this plea without the high court’s verdict,” he said.

    SC ordered Durrani to turn himself in, saying: “First comply with the SHC’s order and surrender before NAB and then the court will conduct a hearing on this case next week.”

    The apex court also rejected Durrani’s request to restrict NAB officials from arresting him from the courtroom.

    Justice Bandial, who was heading the hearing, directed Durrani to first surrender before NAB.

    “We had given you concession earlier as well. There is a high court order against you. We will not interfere in NAB’s matter,” the judge stated.

  • UK oath commissioner claims Rana Shamim’s affidavit authentic, ready to appear in Pak court

    United Kingdom (UK) oath commissioner Charles Guthrie, who authenticated the affidavit of former Chief Judge (CJ) Gilgit Baltistan Rana Mohammad Shamim, has claimed the affidavit’s authenticity, reports Murtaza Ali Shah for Geo News.

    In an exclusive interview, the commissioner revealed that when CJ Rana Shamim came to him for signature, he [Shamim] was in his senses and under no pressure. The commissioner also said he is ready to appear before at any legal forum, including the Islamabad High Court (IHC), for confirmation.

    While confirming the authenticity, Guthrie said that the affidavit published in The News with the redaction of a key name was genuine and it’s the same affidavit that carries the stamp of his firm London Notary Public and the name and signature of the London oath commissioner.

    Commenting on Shamim, Guthrie said, “The former CJ is a highly educated, intelligent man. I think he was one of the most senior judges in Pakistan in his time. He confirmed to me that yes he understood exactly what he was swearing by in his oath. I saw him alone at the time he made that oath with me”.

    Guthrie provides services to the Pakistan High Commission in London and verifies papers for the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Back in 2017, he attested all Panama related papers.

    Furthermore, Guthrie — while saying that he was aware of the controversy caused in Pakistan — stated: “I am independent and neutral. I am a non-political person. So, if the Pakistan High Commission asks me to certify true and genuine papers, I will certify them if they are true and genuine. I have done that in the past. If a person comes to me to make an oath or statement of truth, I will make him produce proper proof of identity and to see they have a proper capacity to make a statement of truth on oath.”

    “I know it’s high news in Pakistan. I will generally refuse to say anything about it other than to state what happened that the person making it was identified to me.”

    Talking with Murtaza, Guthrie also disclosed the standard procedure of signing the papers in England. “The person has to produce proof of identity. They have to produce, for example, either a passport or a national ID card or photo driving license and I will be satisfied they are genuinely the person they are. That’s exactly what happened here. The person [CJ Shamim] produced his passport and I believe it was a national identity card as well. He made the statement of oath independently, alone with me.”

    During this report, it was revealed that at least three people attempted to pay Charles Guthrie for verification of documents and then tried to obtain the story as if the affidavit was fake. However, it didn’t work as Guthrie stuck to his legal and factual position. According to the UK commissioner, he has received lots of inquiries since the affidavit of Justice Shamim was made public.

    This interview came after the former CJ appeared before IHC and said that the affidavit he had signed accusing former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar was leaked.

  • Pak embassy in Serbia tweets against PM Khan, say they have no other option

    Pak embassy in Serbia tweets against PM Khan, say they have no other option

    With inflation crushing the economy of the country, the Pakistan embassy in Serbia tweeted a clip of Saad Alavi’s song, “Aap ne ghabrana nahi hai”.

    Taking to Twitter, the embassy’s official Twitter account tweeted, “With inflation breaking all previous records, how long do you expect @ImranKhanPTI that we government official will remain silent & keep working for you without been paid for past 3 months.”

    “Our children been forced out of school due to non-payment of fees Is this #NayaPakistan?” read the tweet.

    https://twitter.com/PakinSerbia/status/1466647603395928064

    Further stating their grievances with how the people are being treated, the embassy handle tweeted, “I am sorry @ImranKhanPTI, am not left with another option.”

    https://twitter.com/PakinSerbia/status/1466649039785668612

    However, Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad for Foreign Affairs said that the “social media platforms have been hacked.”

  • Fawad shares numbers of Pakistanis working abroad

    Fawad shares numbers of Pakistanis working abroad

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has shared a list of numbers of Pakistanis working abroad on his official Twitter account.

    In a tweet, Fawad said, “Despite Covid-19, 1.1 million Pakistanis have got jobs abroad in three years. In the next two years, the government hopes that two million people will go abroad.”

    The list shows that most of the Pakistanis work in the Middle East and the United Kingdom (UK).

    A day earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that all overseas Pakistanis will be voting for the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He claimed that 40 of Punjab’s and 80 constituencies of the country will be decided by overseas voters.

  • PML-N will protest like TLP if govt forces electronic voting

    PML-N will protest like TLP if govt forces electronic voting

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Punjab President Rana Sanaullah said that if the government tries to force the elections through Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), the party would be left with no option but to follow the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) way of protesting.

    Sanaullah, in a Geo News Programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ stated that the other way to protest is in and outside of Parliament.

    He said, “The current government does not even have an idea of the dynamics of the polling stations and if EVMs were used, the 2023 elections would turn controversial even before they are held.”

    Shahzeb asked Rana that the Opposition can go to court over the EVM issue. To which he replied, “We will go to court. But if nothing happens, we won’t let this election happen at any cost.”

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said it is vital for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold all upcoming by-elections using EVMs. In case the ECP fails to do so, the government will not be able to release funds under the law.

  • ‘Universities should research disastrous effects that western culture has on family life’: PM Khan

    ‘Universities should research disastrous effects that western culture has on family life’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday, during the inauguration ceremony of Al-Qadir University’s academic blocks, said that Pakistan’s youth was confused about itself in today’s world.

    He said young Pakistanis studied the western culture and were misled by it.

    The premier urged universities to research the disastrous effects that western culture was having on family life, and spoke out against how pornographic material was widely available on smartphones these days.

    He said universities were important as they can help people make “informed choices”, which will help people make smarter and better choices.

    PM Khan’s statement from his speech earlier this week caught the attention of the Twitterati and the premier was heavily criticised for his remarks.

    Writer and Vlogger, Saadia Ahmed wrote, “The most harmful effects on Pakistan’s family system come from Pakistan’s family system itself.”

    A Twitter user tweeted, “Wish it was a country where harmful effects of family system on a person’s health was researched.”

    https://twitter.com/009barca/status/1466330905937690627

    Criticising the words of the premier a Twitter user wrote, “He’s trying his best to not get voted next year good for him.”

    https://twitter.com/sheilasjawani/status/1466358126400221185

    A Twitter user tweeted, “I wouldn’t be surprised if this guy creates a new discipline to study Pakistan’s Family System.”

  • ‘Jhoot bola hai’: Punjab Governor says PTI did not ask him to step down

    ‘Jhoot bola hai’: Punjab Governor says PTI did not ask him to step down

    Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar refuted reports that he was told by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to step down from the Governor Punjab post, terming it a “lie”.

    Sarwar, speaking to journalists in London, said, “The impression of being sidelined [by the party] is also not correct.”

    Earlier this week, Sarwar made many heads turn when he spoke against his party.

    “I never asked for the governor’s position but had been asked by the party’s leadership to accept it,” he said.

    “When you are in a party, you have to accept the party’s decision and you cannot rebel. This was our party’s unanimous decision,” Sarwar added.

    When asked by a reporter whether this was done to sideline him, the Punjab governor agreed, saying that he came to that realisation later.

    Sarwar said he could have delivered much more for the country if he was given another role, adding that he was doing his best to fulfill his duty in areas where he could exercise his domain.

    The Punjab Governor said, “so far we have failed to bring judicial and police reforms”.

  • Ex-CJ GB Rana Shamim’s salary shocks Twitter, didn’t even show up for the job

    Ex-CJ GB Rana Shamim’s salary shocks Twitter, didn’t even show up for the job

    Former Chief Judge of Gilgit Baltistan is yet again making headlines as the most expensive vice-chancellor of a university.

    The Sindh government appointed the Islamabad-based Rana Shamim, reports Samaa News, and got him at a shocking salary. After his appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University (SZABU) when it came to fixing salaries and benefits, the Sindh government broke all records and set a monthly salary and benefits of Rs three million to Rana Shamim.

    No other vice-chancellor has been given this much salary in Sindh before, according to the report.

    It is being reported that Rana Shamim did not appear in the university for a year and a half and despite his absence was being given a pay cheque for Rs 30 lakhs.

    Chief Minister (CM) Sindh Murad Ali Shah, contradicting the news said, that it was incorrect that the judge had not visited SZABU for a year and a half.

    However, SZABU member syndicate and Sindh Assembly member, Liaqat Askani said that Rana Shamim last came to the syndicate meeting nine months ago.

    “I tried contacting him [Rana Shamim] once or twice after the syndicate meeting but I was informed that he is in Islamabad,” said Liaqat.

    Sindh Minister for Universities and Boards of Education Ismail Rahu said that the vice-chancellor should come to the university.

    On being questioned if Ismail had met the vice-chancellor, he responded that he had not met him even once.

  • PTI MNA says women smoking cigarettes cause divorce

    PTI MNA says women smoking cigarettes cause divorce

    PTI Member of National Assembly (MNA) and Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Nausheen Hamid, while addressing an audience, said that, “girls are very involved in cigarette smoking.”

    Read More – Is Mahira Khan glorifying abusive relationships in Pakistani dramas?

    She went on to say that, “I personally know of homes where smoking became a habit for girls and when they got married, they were unable to quit. [The smoking] created social issues with their in-laws and eventually led to divorce.”

    Twitter hit her hard with criticism about her comments.

    https://twitter.com/ManiacKumar/status/1466017986838507529
    https://twitter.com/sarmadrafi7/status/1466005946547773447
    https://twitter.com/TheMichi7/status/1466004275797110789

    In a recent survey, 58% of Pakistanis believe that divorce rates in Pakistan have increased in the country. 2 out of  every 5 Pakistanis believe that the in-laws are responsible for most of these cases, revealed the survey.

  • ‘All overseas Pakistanis votes shall go to PTI’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘All overseas Pakistanis votes shall go to PTI’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday, while talking to the media, said that all overseas Pakistanis shall be voting for the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and as a result, the Opposition will have a problem with this.

    “40 of Punjab’s and 80 constituencies of the country will be decided by overseas voters,” said Rasheed.

    “Go to court or do whatever you want, the law has been made and elections will be conducted through the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM),” said the minister.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb commenting on EVMs said, “Elections shall not happen through EVM. Elections and electoral reforms can not be carried out in an undemocratic and authoritarian manner.”

    “They [government] could not get biometrics done for the Corona Fund, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and Health Card, now they are talking about elections on EVM?” added Aurangzeb.

    Aurangzeb further criticising the government said, “Parliament gives funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Funds for national resources and institutions are not Imran Khan’s personal estate.”