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.

  • Imran Khan hurt Pakistani sports, says Mansoor Ali Khan

    Imran Khan hurt Pakistani sports, says Mansoor Ali Khan

    Journalist Mansoor Ali Khan has taken exception towards political parties, particularly Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on his podcast, criticising them for trying to take credit for Arshad Nadeem’s big win at Olympics 2024.

    “Imran Khan closed down all the departments. Go and take a look to find out how many athletes left sports in Khan’s era,” exclaimed Mansoor when he recalled that PTI supporters were crediting Imran Khan for supporting Arshad.

    Mansoor stated that Khan hurt Pakistan’s sports industry at unprecedented levels. Meanwhile, the journalist also lashed out at the ruling PML-N for doing the same.

    He recalled the poor facilities of professional swimming sports in Punjab, underscoring that the government had done nothing to support the athletes.

  • Omar Ayub calls on institutions to stay within constitutional limits

    Omar Ayub calls on institutions to stay within constitutional limits

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Omar Ayub lashed out at military and spy agencies on Saturday, calling on the state institutions to “stay within limits.”

    “Politicians are also bound to do their politics within the constitutional parameters,” said the PTI leader while talking to media in Lahore.

    He also clarified that no deal has been struck between Imran Khan and the establishment, blaming the ruling coalition for trying to create rifts between the army and the nation.

    Meanwhile, another top PTI leader, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said in a conversation with reporters at Kot Lakh Pat jail that he has been in politics for 41 years. However, not a single case had been registered against him. But after 9 May, he faced several cases.

    “A dozen cases were lodged against me in a year. Whether anyone likes it or not, Imran Khan is a reality. There will be no stability if they do not accept this reality.”

    Commenting on cooling political heat, the former foreign minister said national leaders should bar themselves from calling their rivals ‘’traitors’’.

    He further stated, ‘’We have been distributing traitors certificates for 75 years.”

  • Social media angry at The Economist magazine for alleged removal of Palestine flag

    Social media angry at The Economist magazine for alleged removal of Palestine flag

    The Economist, a British weekly news magazine, published this week’s issue with a picture of the Bangladesh students’ protest on the front page of its magazine, alongside the headline, “Bangladesh Begins Again.”

    However, social media users pointed out a significant difference between the pictures used by the magazine and the same pictures available on the internet. The picture that wasn’t used by The Economist had protestors raising a Palestine flag along with the Bangladesh flag.

    Earlier this week, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, resigned and fled the country as massive protests gripped the nation. The protests, which initially started as student protests against civil service job quotas, spiralled into demands for Hasina to quit after more than 200 people were killed in the violence.

    Social media was abuzz with footage of Bangladeshi youth tearing down the statues of their country’s founding father, Sheikh Mujeeb ur Rehman, marking the end of Hasina’s almost 15 years of rule.

  • PMLN Sindh President to replace Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori

    PMLN Sindh President to replace Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori

    Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and its coalition government ally, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), have agreed to change the Governor of Sindh, Kamran Khan Tesori.

    According to a Geo News source, the incumbent Sindh governor could be replaced by PML-N Sindh president and former head of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Bashir Memon.

    While responding to the report, MQM denied that the Governor will be changed.

    A spokesperson of MQM said, ‘’The Centre has not contacted us yet in this regard’.”

    PPP Sindh General Secretary Waqar Mehdi said, ‘’Kamran Tessori better go on leave until the PMLN chooses the new Governor of Sindh’’.

    In April this year, sources made similar claims that former Sindh caretaker chief minister Justice (retired) Maqbool Baqar could be appointed governor of Sindh.

  • Racial discrimination increases in Pakistan; suggests ICERD report

    A Pakistan delegation led by the Secretary of Human Rights, Senator Mumtaz Zehri, and Senator Khalil on Thrusday will submit reports drafted by the National Commission on Human Rights (NHCR) on the implementation of all forms of racial discrimination at Geneva.

    The report highlights the fact that the country lacks an understanding of racial discrimination as it is not defined under any domestic statute.

    Over the last three and half years, NHCR indicates an “exponential rise in the numbers imprisoned for blasphemy in Pakistan, from nine cases in 2021 to 750 cases in 2023.”

    During 2023, in Sindh, allegedly, “136 forced conversion cases occurred, the majority of whom were Hindu women and girls,” the report stated
    Quoting civil society, the report mentions, ‘‘Terrorism cases against minority communities in Punjab were 142 and 47 in Sindh, which is higher than the previous year’’.

    Chairperson (NCHR) Rabiya Javeri Agha said, ‘’Pakistan is a home to the rich tapestry of ethnic groups and religious minorities; while the diversity is a source of cultural richness, it also presents significant challenges related to ethnic and racial discrimination’’.

    The report calls for introducing programmes to curb extremism and hate speech, establishing special police units, emphasising tolerance, reforming Madrassa education, and promoting human rights responsibilities.

  • PML-N, Buzdar scramble to take credit for Arshad Nadeem’s big win

    PML-N, Buzdar scramble to take credit for Arshad Nadeem’s big win

    Right after Pakistani champ Arshad Nadeem won the gold medal in the javelin competition in the Olympics 2024 after years of sweat, toil, and struggle – politicians and political parties scrambled to congratulate him and take credit for the star athlete’s fantastic feat.

    Former Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar posted an old picture of himself and Arshad with the caption, “This is a memorable picture from five years ago when I saw Arshad Nadeem’s talent, invited him to the Chief Minister’s office, and assured him of all support from the Punjab government.”

    Meanwhile, netizens were outraged at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Mashood, congratulating Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for “his vision” right after Arshad won the gold medal with his record-smashing throw.

    Moreover, an X user tweeted about the comparison of Pakistan’s win in the 1992 Cricket World Cup and Arshad Nadeem’s 92.9-metre-long javelin throw that made him the champion, to which the official handle of PML-N quoted, “Both the time it’s PML-N government!”

    Social media reacted angrily to politicians trying to take away the champ’s spotlight. At the same time, one user posted a picture of Nadeem with his parents with the caption, “The only support that deserves the credit for Arshad Nadeem’s success.”

  • PPP MNA raises questions about party’s Punjab chapter

    PPP MNA raises questions about party’s Punjab chapter

    Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman, a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) affiliated Member of the National Assembly (MNA) has expressed disappointment over his party’s performance in Punjab.

    ‘’Bilawal Bhutto Zardari cannot become Prime Minister (PM) with Sindh votes only,” he said at the ceremony at a local hotel on his father’s 85th birth anniversary.

    ‘’Punjab PPP leaders have been holding essential party positions yet failing to help Bilawal. Therefore, they must step down or be removed,’’ he stated.
    Jamiluzzaman, the son of the late PPP stalwart Amin Fahim observed that the same people vote for Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Marium Nawaz and former Prime Minister Imran Khan—but not for Bilawal Bhutto. He questioned his party ‘’Why do these votes not go to Bilawal? Why is the Punjab PPP sleeping? Why are Punjab people holding important positions?”

    He also hinted at leading a delegation to meet party leadership to reactivate PPP in Punjab.

  • ‘Aap ka vision hai’; Rana Mashood lauds Shehbaz Sharif for Arshad Nadeem’s gold medal

    ‘Aap ka vision hai’; Rana Mashood lauds Shehbaz Sharif for Arshad Nadeem’s gold medal

    In a small clip that went viral on social media, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Mashood sings praises of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while he watches Pakistani champ Arshad Nadeem win the Olympics gold medal in the javelin throw.

    In the clip, Mashood congratulates Sharif while the Prime Minister jumps up from his seat in excitement as Arshad takes the gold medal. “This is your vision, sir. You gave him [Arshad Nadeem] a chance,” says Mashood while shaking Shehbaz Sharif’s hand.

    Mashood also posted on X to let the people know about the Prime Minister’s views: “It is a matter of pride for me that Allah Almighty made me a resource to discover a talented young man like Arshad Nadeem.”

    According to Rana’s official X account, the Prime Minister also recalled, “The harvest that was sown by the previous Punjab government’s Youth Festival, its wonderful fruits are raising the status of Pakistan.”

  • It is law: President approves bill restricting ‘lawmakers’ from changing parties

    It is law: President approves bill restricting ‘lawmakers’ from changing parties

    President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the Election Act Amendment Bill 2024, which aims to restrict independent lawmakers from changing parties.

    According to Geo News, the bill has been sent to the Senate Secretariat for official notification today.
    The approval comes when the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have approached the Apex Court regarding the decision on reserved seats.
    The bill proposes that if a candidate does not submit a declaration of his affiliation with a political party to the returning officer (RO) before seeking allotment of the election symbol, they shall be “considered as an independent candidate and not a candidate of any political party.’’

    It further states that if a political party fails to submit its list for reserved seats within a prescribed time, it will not be eligible for reserved seats.
    Lawmakers also cannot change to another party after joining one within three days of winning the election.

  • PTI’s Aliya Hamza released from prison

    PTI’s Aliya Hamza released from prison

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Aliya Hamza has been released from prison on bail after over one year behind the bars when she was arrested in cases related to May 9 riots.

    A district and sessions judge in Gujranwala approved Hamza’s bail and release orders on July 31.

    Meanwhile, Geo News reported that Lahore High Court’s Justice Ali Baqar Najafi restrained law enforcement agencies from arresting her in new cases until August 29.

    The former MNA is facing charges of involvement in arson and anarchy during the May 9 riots last year.