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.

  • Politicians extend Diwali wishes to Hindu community celebrating their festival of light

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan took to Twitter and extended his wishes to Pakistani Hindus on the eve of Diwali, the festival of lights.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter and wrote, “May the festival of lights be the source of peace, love, and joy around the world!”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto wished the Hindu community and tweeted, “Happy #Diwali to everyone celebrating.”

    Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “Wishing you all the happiness and prosperity. Diya jalaaye rakhna.” [Keep the lights burning].

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minister Fawad Chaudhry wished the community and tweeted, “Very Happy Diwali to those celebrating… #Diwali.”

    PTI leader Asad Umar tweeted, “Wishing all Hindus a very happy Diwali.”

    PPP Senator Sherry Rehman too wished those celebrating Diwali.

  • Nazim Jhokio murder: FIR registered against PPP MPA

    Nazim Jhokio murder: FIR registered against PPP MPA

    A man who recently posted a video of foreigners hunting Houbara bustard in Thatta district on social media was found dead in Karachi’s Malir district on Wednesday, reports The News.

    A few days back, Nazim Jhokio had stopped a car with a foreign registration number plate and asked the people sitting inside the vehicle why they had blocked the road and what were they doing there. Jhokio filmed the entire episode, in which a passenger sitting next to the driving seat is seen stepping out of the car and snatching his phone.

    In another video, Nazim said he had been tortured and threatened over the video he shot of the Arab guests of some influential persons.

    On Wednesday, the police recovered Nazim Jhokio’s dead body from Memon Goth in Malir and got his postmortem conducted at a hospital.

    The police have registered a murder case against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Jam Awais, Niaz Salar, and others.

    Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the murder and directed the authorities to provide justice to the victim’s family.

  • Pakistan to appoint new US envoy soon

    Pakistan to appoint new US envoy soon

    Pakistan may soon send a new envoy to the United States (US) as the country’s current ambassador, Asad Majeed Khan, will soon complete his tenure, reports Dawn.

    Former Azad Jammu Kashmir President Masood Khan tops the list of candidates.

    Masood was appointed as the 27th president of Azad Kashmir by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2016.

    Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden also nominated a new ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Armin Blome, an expert on Middle East affairs. He is currently the US ambassador to Tunisia.

  • PM Khan says if Sharif and Zardari bring half the money they looted, he will slash prices of all food items by half

    PM Khan says if Sharif and Zardari bring half the money they looted, he will slash prices of all food items by half

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan addressed the nation and announced the “biggest” relief package worth Rs120 billion for the masses.

    “This [poverty alleviation] package, which is worth Rs120 billion, will be offered to Pakistanis by the federal and provincial governments,” he said.

    The premier said oil prices had risen by 100 per cent in the last 3-4 months internationally, while they had increased 33 per cent in Pakistan.

    “When you say petrol is expensive, it is the cheapest in Pakistan, but we will have to increase the price because otherwise our deficit will increase and we will be further burdened by debt,” he added.

    “You will be able to buy flour, ghee, and pulses at 30pc lower prices,” he announced.

    “We are also launching the Kamyab Pakistan [programme] with a funding of Rs1,400 billion to give interest-free loans to 4 million families,” he said.

    The premier then addressed the Opposition, who he said had been protesting against inflation.

    “I ask the two big families to bring half of the money they looted and took outside [Pakistan]. Even if they bring half [the money], I promise you and the nation that I will slash the prices of all food items by half,” he said, in an apparent jibe at the families of Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari.

  • Govt to free more than 2,000 jailed TLP activists after agreement

    Govt to free more than 2,000 jailed TLP activists after agreement

    Pakistan is to free more than 2,000 jailed activists of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)  and the government has allowed the proscribed organsiation to contest elections, under a deal with the government struck to end weeks of violent clashes, reports Reuters.

    TLP has agreed to avoid violence and withdraw its longstanding demand to have France’s ambassador expelled over the publication of blasphemous caricatures by a French satirical magazine, negotiators from both sides told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government banned the TLP after its protests turned violent earlier this year, designated it a terrorist group, and arrested its chief Saad Hussain Rizvi.

    In addition, the government has agreed not to contest the release of the group’s jailed leader as well as nearly 2,300 activists and to remove their names from a terrorist watch list, the three negotiators told Reuters.

    Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat said nearly 1,000 of the activists had already been released.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry did not respond to Reuters‘ request for comment.

  • ‘Not a single part of my brother’s body was left unbroken by TLP’: Policeman’s brother speaks out

    ‘Not a single part of my brother’s body was left unbroken by TLP’: Policeman’s brother speaks out

    A brother of a police officer killed by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) spoke about his pain and blamed Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Usman Buzdar for the brutal death of his brother.

    A video was shared on social media by journalist Zarrar Khuhro, in which the officer’s brother said, “There was not a single part of my brother’s body which was left unbroken by the TLP.”

    “All this is the fault of the government. They [policemen] did not have any weapons, they were provided with sticks just to die,” said the grieving brother.

    “Imran Khan sahib and Usman Buzdar are the ones responsible for all this. They made unarmed citizens go through this ordeal,” he said.

    “They did not spare a single part of my brother’s body, he was completely crushed. The cruelty done by TLP is unmatched,” said the brother.

    “My brother was on duty continuously for four days, he took a break and they caught him. [Two fellow officers were with him] One ran away and they smashed the head of the other and eventually killed my brother,” he added.

    The grieving brother said, “He was completely blue after being beaten up brutally. I want justice from this government. They took away all the weapons from the officers a month before and replaced them with sticks just to get killed in the end.”

    The TLP protest turned violent, killing seven police officers and hundreds more wounded during clashes with TLP demonstrators marching up towards the capital.

  • Govt releases more than 800 TLP supporters arrested across Punjab after agreement

    Govt releases more than 800 TLP supporters arrested across Punjab after agreement

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has started to implement a secretive agreement signed with the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), with reports suggesting that it has released more than 800 supporters of the party arrested across Punjab under the deal, reports Geo News.

    The government had signed an accord with the proscribed outfit last Sunday, under which workers of the organisation who are not facing any formal criminal charges were to be released. The amnesty will also extend to the party’s top leader, Saad Rizvi.

    According to the Punjab Home Department, 860 persons who were not facing any formal charges have been released across Punjab.

    It was also decided to withdraw the government’s appeal filed against the release of TLP leader Saad Rizvi. The government had earlier challenged the order of a Lahore High Court (LHC) bench regarding Rizvi’s release.

  • In pictures: UN chief gets uncomfortable as maskless Modi gives a big hug during #Cop26

    In pictures: UN chief gets uncomfortable as maskless Modi gives a big hug during #Cop26

    Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was once again seen getting too close and hugging United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the opening day of Cop26 — a climate conference — in Glasgow.

    Antonio Guterres was seen visibly uncomfortable and awkward as PM Modi tried to embrace him after he greeted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the start of the Glasgow climate conference.

    Guterres placed an arm on Modi to try and keep him at a safer distance but could do little to stop bear-hugger Modi.

    Modi has been pictured getting close and cosy with PM of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.

    Modi was seen carelessly meeting the world leaders in an atmosphere where Covid-19 SOPs, including wearing face masks, were strongly advised to be followed.

  • Watch: Joe Biden falls asleep during #COP26 speeches

    Watch: Joe Biden falls asleep during #COP26 speeches

    World leaders have gathered in Glasgow for the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (#COP26) 2021.

    During the conference, United States (US) President Joe Biden can be seen “apparently sleeping” during the #COP26 opening speeches.

    https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1455195062405632007?s=21

    President Biden was not the only one who seemed sleepy. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson while sitting with Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, and British natural historian David Attenborough, without wearing a mask seemed pretty sleepy as well.

  • ‘Agreement will be signed this week with IMF’ : Shaukat Tarin

    ‘Agreement will be signed this week with IMF’ : Shaukat Tarin

    Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin has stated that all issues have been settled with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and an agreement will be signed this week.

    While addressing the launch ceremony of the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) Tarin said, “We are giving targeted subsidies to control inflation. It is a global problem and prices in the international market are out of my control,” assuring that there will be no delay in the salaries of government employees.

    He said that the world economy is recovering and business activities would not only resume but also grow at a much faster pace.

    “The worst seems to be over and as economies begin to recover globally, we expect business activity to resume and in fact grow at a much faster pace. Pakistan and Pakistani businesses have to be ready to take advantage of new opportunities,” he added.

    According to the advisor, PSW would help accelerate the digital transformation of the public sector agencies connected to international trade.

    Moreover, he said that it is a priority of the government to facilitate businesses, including small and medium-sized ones, by providing a suitable enabling environment for growth and innovation.

    Talking about the recent cyberattack on the National Bank server, he said that the enemy is ‘sitting in our neighbourhood’.

    Earlier, it was reported that an official said the government was considering an increase of petroleum levy by Rs4 per litre. This would depend on its engagements with the IMF for the revival of its programme.

    Last month, Saudi Arabia agreed to revive its financial support to Pakistan which includes about three billion dollars in safe deposits.

    Tarin was in Washington last month to lead the Pakistani delegation in talks with the IMF for the revival of the 6 billion dollars Extended Fund Facility (EFF).