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.

  • #AbhiNoneDoneAward: ‘Classic case of Indian fabrication and pure fantasy to hide embarrassment,’ says Pakistan

    #AbhiNoneDoneAward: ‘Classic case of Indian fabrication and pure fantasy to hide embarrassment,’ says Pakistan

    In a statement issued a day after Abhinandan Varthaman was given the Vir Chakra medal by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said this was a “classic case of Indian fabrications and pure fantasy to appease the domestic audience and hide embarrassment”.

    “Pakistan categorically rejects the entirely baseless Indian claims that a Pakistani F-16 aircraft was shot down by an Indian pilot before he was captured by Pakistan in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in February 2019,” said the FO in a statement.

    “India’s insistence on propagating a lie that has been thoroughly exposed is ludicrous and nonsensical. Granting military honours for imaginary feats of gallantry is contrary to every norm of military conduct. By giving such [an] award, also as an afterthought, India has only made a mockery of itself,” the FO statement added.

    “Indian Air Force was completely outplayed on the day. It is obvious that India’s farcical story has no credibility whatsoever before the international community.”

    “Pakistan stands as ready and resolute to thwart any hostile designs as it was in February 2019. India would do well to learn a lesson from its botched attempt to violate Pakistan’s sovereignty and refrain from any misadventure in [the] future,” the FO warned.

    Abhinandan was arrested on Feb 27, 2019, after his aircraft was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) upon violating Pakistani airspace.

    He was initially captured by locals in Azad Kashmir before being taken into custody by Pakistan Army personnel. 

  • Samaa News claims CJP Nisar’s leaked audio ‘pieced together’, US forensic firm asks permission to share details

    Samaa News claims CJP Nisar’s leaked audio ‘pieced together’, US forensic firm asks permission to share details

    Samaa TV, a private news channel ran a news story and claimed that the former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar’s clip appears to be pieced together from two separate speeches of former CJP.

    Claims of Samaa TV:

    The two speeches were made by former CJP Nisar on January 22, 2018, and February 22, 2018. The former speech was made in an address to a judicial conference, while the latter was made while addressing a ceremony of Islamabad High Court Bar, reports Samaa.

    “Some phrases in the audio clip are exact matches with parts of speeches the former CJP did on the two occasions,” claims Samaa.

    Fawad Chaudhry: “Unfortunately a specific group is always used in such situations. They are the ones who bring such kinds of leaks and affidavits to the limelight.”

    Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ said that the government never claimed that Nisar’s audio was “pieced together” but Samaa TV ran a “splendid investigative report and it is through their findings that we have found out that the alleged audio has been put together through different chunks of [Nisar’s] speech.”

    Fawad further added that the news channel contacted Garret Disco­very, the firm which checked the alleged audiotape of the CJP Nisar. “The company did not comment on the development and has refused to own it,” said Fawad.

    Anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada questioned the minister that the report put together by Samaa TV missed out on a few important points.

    Khanzada read out the missing points to Fawad and questioned him, “Does the report presented by Samaa TV also include the part where [Saqib Nisar could be allegedly heard saying] Mian Sahib [Nawaz Sharif] needs to be punished? Was it said that Khan Sahib [Imran Khan] has to be brought [into power]? It has to be done. Regardless of the merit, we will have to do it (sentence Nawaz Sharif), and even to his daughter. Did Samaa TV cater to these statements as well?”

    Fawad ignored the question and asked Khanzada to play the video prepared by Samaa on his programme and he will understand better.”

    “I have seen the video, were these three sentences in the video?” questioned Khanzada.

    Fawad again replied, “Play the video and you will understand better.”

    The minister went on to say that an environment is created every time a case of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz comes to the surface.

    “Unfortunately a specific group is always used in such situations. They are the ones who bring such kinds of leaks and affidavits to the limelight,” said Fawad.

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi: “It is not the work of news channels but that of the judges to reach a conclusion and find facts in this matter.”

    PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the party was not behind the audio and demanded an impartial inquiry into it.

    “It is not the work of news channels but that of the judges to reach a conclusion and find facts in this matter,” said Abbasi.

    “We are ready to face the consequences if the probe finds out that it is a conspiracy,” he said.

    “Whoever breaks the law [should be punished] even if it’s the chief justice of the country. The government should not be concerned with this,” said Khaqan.

    Garret Discovery: “We did perform work for FactFocus. We have no problem releasing details as long as our client signs an agreement allowing us to do so.”

    In a chat with a Garret Discovery representative, Dawn told the US firm that they are mentioned in a story about a former Pakistani chief justice and asked what their findings were.

    “We did perform work for FactFocus. As part of our standard agreement, we have a confidentiality clause that prohibits us from speaking about the scope of work or work we performed,” the representative responded.

    “We have no problem releasing details as long as our client signs an agreement allowing us to do so. Please contact FactFocus with any inquiries as to the work we performed and discuss with them any release of information. We will not comment anymore on this issue until that time.”

    ‘His daughter [Maryam Nawaz] doesn’t merit a sentence, still, we will have to do it’: Alleged audio tape of CJP Nisar

    November 21, leaked audio of conversation allegedly claims that Saqib Nisar was the person who passed on the directions of handing down conviction to Mian Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz only because the “institutions” wanted the former prime minister penalised in order to bring ahead Imran Khan, reported Ahmed Noorani for FactFocus.

  • ‘Tea is fantastic’ Abhinandan awarded India’s third-highest gallantry medal

    ‘Tea is fantastic’ Abhinandan awarded India’s third-highest gallantry medal

    Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan in 2019 after his MiG 21 Bison aircraft was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jet, and later returned to India — was awarded India’s third-highest gallantry medal on Monday, reports Asian News International (ANI).

    According to the report, the citation for the award stated: “Wing Commander Abhinandan showed conspicuous courage, demonstrated gallantry in the face of the enemy while disregarding personal safety and displayed [an] exceptional sense of duty.”

    Pakistani Twitterati reacted to the news of Pak-fame Abhinandan and yet again reminded the world of his famous dialogue,  ‘Tea is fantastic’.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Vice President Sherry Rehman tweeted, “Is this for real? Award for drinking tea in Pakistani custody ?”

    Journalist Abbas Nasir tweeted, “India edges past us in the race for being the most delusional country in the Subcon.”

    Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera tweeted, “Feel so sorry for the poor bloke!!!”

    Journalist Fereeha Idrees commented, “Bollywood fantasyland taken next level. Indian Air force is awarding their man for getting shot in air by Pakistani pilots and then landing in Pakistan while thinking he was in India.”

    Abdullah Saad tweeted, “Not the first time that an IAF officer was given Vir Chakra for a fictitious kill.”

    A Twitter user wrote, “Never ever feeling guilty or ashamed about receiving credit for work I didn’t do.”

    Abhinandan was arrested on Feb 27, 2019, after his aircraft was shot down by the PAF upon violating Pakistani airspace.

    He was initially captured by locals in Azad Kashmir before being taken into custody by Pakistan Army personnel. 

  • Taliban ban women from acting in dramas

    Taliban ban women from acting in dramas

    Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership has set new laws prohibiting women from acting in television shows, reports the BBC. Female journalists and presenters are likewise required to wear headscarves when on camera. However no guidelines have been issued regarding which type of covering to use.

    Eight new Taliban restrictions have been handed to Afghan television networks. The restrictions include the banning of films considered against the principles of Sharia – or Islamic – law and Afghan values, while footage of men exposing intimate parts of the body is also prohibited.

    Comedy and entertainment shows that insult religion or may be considered offensive to Afghans are banned under the new laws.

    Earlier in September, Taliban laid special conditions for women. “[Here are] some special conditions that exist only for women. One is that the colour of their dress should not be very attractive. So that it does not attract people’s attention,” said a member of the Taliban on Afghanistan’s TOLO News, as per the subtitles of a video that went viral on social media.

  • ‘Thay 64 nikly 50 votes’, PPP’s Mustafa Khokhar says it’s also Opposition’s fault

    ‘Thay 64 nikly 50 votes’, PPP’s Mustafa Khokhar says it’s also Opposition’s fault

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar appeared in Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ and questioned the role of Chairman of Senate of Pakistan Sadiq Sanjrani. Khokhar said that it was the Opposition’s fault too as their party’s members weren’t present at the time during the time of voting.

    The bills proposed by the PTI government were officially passed by the Upper House of Parliament (Senate) on Friday. While answering the question on the conflicts between the Joint Opposition, Khokhar maintained his stance and said that the Opposition should have maintained the number while voting in Senate.

    “Thy 64, nikly 50 votes” (They were supposed to be 64 votes but actual votes were 50) he added. While criticising the government, Khokhar stated: “We know which people had been called by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) in the joint session of parliament.”

    The joint Opposition of the parliament is expected to meet today (Saturday) to decide how and when it will challenge the passed laws by the government in the parliament (which were passed in Opposition’s absence) in court, reports Dawn.

    “The meeting discussed the issue of bulldozing the government’s legislation in the joint sitting of the parliament and decided that the united opposition would challenge the government’s fascism and unconstitutionality inside and outside parliament,” said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb.

    Speaking in the meeting, the Leader of the Opposition and President of PML-N Shehbaz Sharif said the constitution did not recognise the government’s legislation as legal and termed the laws “decrees” of Imran Niazi” (Prime Minister Imran Khan).

    He was quoted as saying: “The government, which has been bombing the people with inflation, carried out a suicide attack on the parliament. After being disgraced by the people, the PTI government is now attacking the constitution.”

    While voting in the Parliament on Thursday, the Opposition walked out of the National Assembly (NA) and gave the government a chance to pass the laws on their own.

  • PTI senator presents bouquet to TLP chief Saad Rizvi after bail

    PTI senator presents bouquet to TLP chief Saad Rizvi after bail

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) senator and President of Central Punjab Ejaz Chaudhry met with previously banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Hussain Rizvi and presented him a bouquet.

    https://twitter.com/FGMallick/status/1462030632092155907?s=20

    Earlier this month, Chaudhry had claimed that the government would consider giving seats to TLP which was banned at the time. He also said that he would meet Rizvi once he is released.

    Saad was released on Thursday. He was taken into custody in April shortly after the federal government declared the TLP a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism laws and launched a broad crackdown against it.

  • ‘We absolutely do not agree to work under someone’s pressure’: CJP Gulzar rubbishes allegations

    ‘We absolutely do not agree to work under someone’s pressure’: CJP Gulzar rubbishes allegations

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed on Saturday denied that the judiciary was being influenced by or taking dictation from other institutions.

    The CJP was responding to comments made by former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Ali Ahmad Kurd, earlier during the Asma Jahangir Conference in Lahore.

    “One general is dominating a country of 220 million people. This same general has sent the judiciary down to number 126 [in rankings],” said Kurd.

    Kurd, in his speech, said that there was a “clear and observable division” within the judiciary, adding that the “country’s intellectual class was finished and because there is no intellectual class, people of small stature are sitting at the top.”

    “I have not taken the pressure of any institution or listened to any institution. No one tells me or guides me on how to write my verdict. I have never made any decision that I did so on someone else’s saying, nor has anyone had the courage to say anything to me,” responded CJP Gulzar to Kurd’s statement.

    “I have never listened, seen, understood, or felt anyone’s dictation to me,” he added.

    “My court gives justice to the people. Come to the court, Ali Ahmad Kurd, and see what is happening. Read the court’s decision and see what is happening. My judges write judgments every day […] see how our court is working with freedom and following the law and implementing the Constitution.”

    Justice Gulzar said the courts were free to decide whatever they wanted to do and did so routinely. “Tell me which case was decided on whose dictation till today,” he said as he advised Kurd to “not tell wrong things to people, create discord and lift the people’s trust from the institutions.”

  • Chemical castration removed from criminal law amendment, announces PTI’s Maleeka Bokhari

    Chemical castration removed from criminal law amendment, announces PTI’s Maleeka Bokhari

    In a press conference on Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary secretary on law Maleeka Bokhari announced that the bill passed on the chemical castration of rapists has been revoked.

    “We have amended the criminal law and decided that the chemical castration clause will be taken out,” said Bokhari.

    She said the decision was taken after the Islamic Ideology Council, a state-run body that interprets laws from an Islamic perspective, found chemical castration un-Islamic.

    While talking about the Anti-Rape Bill 2021, Bokhari announced the abolishment of the “two-finger virginity test”. Moreover, according to her Pakistan’s rape conviction rate is less than 1- 2 per cent that’s why the government has introduced the setting up of Special Courts to avoid delays in the proceedings of rape cases.

    Furthermore, under the new bill, she announced that National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) would register sex offenders so the government would have a record of such people.

    “In an effort not to disclose the victim’s identity instead of open trial, video trials would take place under the new Anti-Rape Bill”, she added.

    The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trail) Bill 2021 also includes:

    1- Creation of anti-rape crisis cells in public hospitals to ensure prompt registration of the FIR, medico-legal examination

    2- Use of modern devices during investigation and trial.

    3- The accused is barred from the cross-examination of a rape survivor.

    4- Evidence pertaining to the ‘immoral character’ of the victim is inadmissible in court.

    5- Setting up a public reporting mechanism.

  • Sitara-i-Imtiaz holder Zia Chishti steps down from multi-million dollar company after sexual abuse allegations

    Sitara-i-Imtiaz holder Zia Chishti steps down from multi-million dollar company after sexual abuse allegations

    Sitara-i-Imtiaz (third-highest honour and civilian award in Pakistan) holder and founder of a software company “Afiniti” Zia Chishti has been dismissed by his own software company following the allegations of sexual assault by a 23-year-old against him.

    The statement on the company’s website reads, “The Board of Directors of Afiniti announces that Mr. Zia Chishti has stepped down from his role as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Afiniti, effective immediately. The Board will make additional organisational announcements in the coming days.”

    Tatiana Spottiswoode, a former Afiniti employee and Zia’s friend’s daughter testified before a US (United States) congressional committee and accused Chishti of sexually abusing her.

    In her testimony, she said that she joined Afiniti on Chishti’s insistence in 2016 and told the committee her contract included an arbitration agreement with a “strong confidentiality clause” that had prevented her from speaking out about the alleged assaults.

    Spottiswoode said her body was “covered with scratches, cuts, and contusions”.

    “I had bruises around my neck that looked like I had been strangled, a large bump on my head, and a black eye. A nurse at the hospital said I had the symptoms of a concussion,” she added.

    However, the software company said it had “investigated Spottiswoode’s claims with independent counsel and concluded that the arbitral decision she references was erroneous”.

    The news also affected the Pakistan Stock Market on Thursday as Chishti is also the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of TRG (The Resource Group) Pakistan Limited, reports Dawn.

  • Twitter reacts to PTI’s Hammad Azhar’s challenge to journalist Shahzeb Khanzada

    Twitter reacts to PTI’s Hammad Azhar’s challenge to journalist Shahzeb Khanzada

    Energy Minister of Pakistan, Hammad Azhar took to Twitter to challenge journalist Shahzeb Khanzada to a debate on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and gas.

    Pakistan at present is facing a gas crisis throughout the country. Journalist Shahzab Khanzada, a year ago, had warned that the gas crisis was impending, kept reiterating that the crisis needs immense attention, otherwise the consequences shall be huge.

    Khanzada called the minister on his political news programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ five times but each time the minister declined despite promising to appear on the show.

    On Friday, Azhar took to Twitter and proposed a challenge.

    “I would like to challenge Shahzeb Khanzada to debate LNG and Gas issues with me moderated by a neutral anchor and with Independent experts. Let the ppl [people] see the facts without persistent interrupting, volume controls, teleprompters etc,” tweeted Azhar.

    His words, “a neutral anchor” and “let the ppl see the facts without persistent interrupting, volume controls, teleprompters” caught a lot of criticism and sparked reactions from the Twitterati.

    Senior Journalist Abbas Nasir wrote, “People are suffering acute gas shortages and this man wants to debate and not accept his abject failures.”

    Adil Shahzeb wrote, “Use of [a] teleprompter is a common practice globally for news shows (for OCs/monologues) to ensure accuracy and manage time (read rate).”

    Anchorperson Muhammad Junaid wrote, “Like PTI’s Favourite Stephen Sackur of BBC was made to sit in a debate moderated by a Neutral Anchor? There is no gas in thousands and thousands of households FIX THAT FIRST MR MINISTER!”

    Journalist Khurram Husain tweeted, “And how will this help plug our winter gas deficit?”

    Aimun, a Twitter user wrote, “Why? Are facts displayed on teleprompters not facts?”

    A Twitter user wrote, “Rather than apologising for causing huge loss to the exchequer n discomfort to the public, this man wants a debate to address the issue.”

    Another Twitter user wrote, “My man’s out here trying to get air time rather than fixing the crisis.”

    Another person tweeted, “The big ‘tu mujhe bahar mil [meet me outside]’ energy.”

    https://twitter.com/chasinggcars/status/1461671639230423045?s=21

    Last week, the government decided to provide gas to the residential sector only three times a day for cooking purposes throughout December to March to minimise gas shortages in Pakistan.