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.

  • Journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat ‘arrested’ by FIA

    Journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat ‘arrested’ by FIA

    Senior journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat went missing on Saturday morning from Lahore.

    Hamid took to Twitter and confirmed the news. “Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore kidnapped journalist Amir Mir in Lahore this morning.”

    “We came to know about his location after 5 hours. FIA snatched his [Amir Mir’s] phone and laptop,” read the tweet. Amir Mir is Hamid Mir’s brother.

    Hamid Mir also wrote about the disappearance of Imran Shafqat, stating that FIA arrested him as well.

    Meanwhile, Imran Shafqat was arrested from his house by use of force. As per reports, around10 people, both men, and women barged into his residence, raided his place, and took him away.

    Talking to BBC, Imran Shafqat’s sister Anum Noor said, “The bell rang at our house in Mughalpura area of Lahore at 12:30pm today. My brother Imran Shafqat opened the door after which 10 people entered our house.”

    Anum Noor said eight of the 10 people were without uniforms and two were wearing “white uniforms”.

    “They said we came from the FIA. Didn’t say more than that. Neither did they show an arrest warrant,” added Noor.

    “They dragged my brother out of the house,” said Noor Anum.

    Journalist Shahid Aslam confirmed that both Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat are in the custody of FIA.

    Director FIA Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore, DIG Babar Bakht is supervising the investigation, as per Shahid Aslam.

    Reportedly Imran Shafqat is accused of doing a Vlog against the “First Lady” whereas the reasons to arrest Amir Mir are still unknown.

    Some say Amir Mir has been arrested for a news story that ran on his YouTube channel, Googly News.

    Twitter reacted to the alleged abduction of both Imran Shafqat and Amir Mir.

    Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tweeted, “We demand safe return and an immediate inquiry into the circumstances of his disappearance.”

     Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto strongly condemned the arrest of journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat and demanded their release.

    Journalist Raza Rumi tweeted, “I have spent about 18 summers of my life in England. I have seen the British media, they are very open and free. But the Pakistan media, in my opinion, is freer than the British media: PM Imran Khan.”

    Journalist Asma Shirazi questions, “When will the disappearance of journalists stop?”

    Journalist Zebunnia Burki tweeted, ” I’d say unbelievable, but it’s really not.”

  • Corona Relief Funds: Auditors find fictitious purchases of items worth Rs881 million by KP govt

    Corona Relief Funds: Auditors find fictitious purchases of items worth Rs881 million by KP govt

    Investigative reporter Zahid Gishkori has revealed that the country’s top auditors have pointed out fictitious purchases, huge irregularities, wasteful expenditures, and losses to public funds of more than Rs3 billion by the health department of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). According to a report published in The News, a special audit team of the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) found “fictitious purchases of items worth Rs881 million by the KP government”.

    “The auditors scrutinised the allocation of Rs8.8 billion made for the fiscal year 2019-20, including Rs7.8 billion released by the finance department KP government. Furthermore, auditors also audited an amount of Rs1.7 billion allocated by the finance department to the health department, home & TA department, and the Pandemic Response Effectiveness in Pakistan (PREP), KP, for fighting the Covid-19 pandemic,” read the report.

    “The auditors pointed to doubtful purchases of equipment worth Rs14.358 million, which included stockpiling and logistics, noticing irregularities in an amount of Rs1 billion, which was allocated for provision of death compensation under the relief package for frontline workers dealing with Covid-19.”

    The report also features irregularities in funds of Rs140 million, which were released to the Home and Tribal Affairs Department for screening of prisoners.

    “The audit team also pointed out that the management of PDMA incurred an expenditure of Rs62 million on the purchase of PPEs without any market survey. The audit team pointed to losses of Rs117 million public funds in the purchase of some specification cardiac monitors recommending a high-level inquiry for fixing responsibility and making good the loss sustained by the government,” stated the report.

    “The AGP also questioned non-supply of ICU ventilators despite payment of Rs43.425 million and non-supply of medical equipment worth Rs150 million. Auditors also recommended a doubtful award of contract and payment of Rs11 million to M/s Dawazai & Company, pointing out a supply of 400,000 substandard masks by M/s Protech Solutions to the PDMA accordingly.”

    Meanwhile, Finance & Health Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Taimur Khan Jhagra tweeted, “[The report is] confusing, misleading & irresponsible; this article is based on an on-going audit process in the province.”

    However, as per The News, the complete audit report has been sent to President Arif Alvi.

  • Imran’s close friend Awn Chaudhry resigns after refusing to leave Tareen group

    Imran’s close friend Awn Chaudhry resigns after refusing to leave Tareen group

    Awn Chaudhry has resigned as Special Coordinator to Chief Minister (CM) Punjab on Political Affairs. In his resignation, Awn wrote that he was summoned to the CM House where he was asked to disassociate from Tareen group or resign. “My conscience does not allow me to abandon my association with the most loyal member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who served selflessly,” says Awn.

    As per Geo News, Awn Chaudhry was accused of lobbying for the Tareen group and recruiting new members of the Assembly into the Tareen group.

    Earlier this week, Punjab MPA Nazir Chohan, a Tareen loyalist, quit Tareen’s PTI faction, saying, “Jahangir Tareen used me.”

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
    Hindu temple attack: CJP reprimands authorities over no arrests
    
			
    Hindu temple attack: CJP reprimands authorities over no arrests
    
			
    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed rebuked the Punjab Police chief for failing to take action to protect the Hindu temple from a mob in Rahim Yar Khan. The CJP directed him to arrest all culprits involved in the incident.
    

    Justice Gulzar had shown concern over the tragic incident and summoned Chief Secretary Punjab and IG Punjab to appear at the apex court and submit a report on the incident.
    

    During the hearing today, the CJP expressed anger over the incident and criticised the officials. “Three days have passed, but no one has been arrested.”
    

    He said the police acted as a silent spectator while the mob vandalised the temple. “What were the police and administration doing?” the CJP questioned.
    

     IGP Inam Ghani informed the court that terrorism clauses have been added in the First Information Report (FIR) lodged against the mob. 
    

    CJP added, “If the deputy commissioner and the DPO cannot perform their duties, they should be fired.”
    

    Justice Amin said police have failed to perform their duty.
    

    “Had there been professional officers in the force, the issue would have been solved by now.” 
    

    “Think, how would Muslims have reacted if a mosque was attacked,” CJP Gulzar remarked, adding that one should think about how the incident would impact Pakistani Hindus.
    

    The Supreme Court ordered the officials to submit a report on the next hearing on August 13.
    

    On Wednesday, hundreds of people reportedly vandalised a Hindu temple in Bhong town and blocked the Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5) after a nine-year-old Hindu boy, who allegedly urinated in a local seminary.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
    British authorities turn down Nawaz Sharif’s request for extension of visit visa
    
			
    British authorities turn down Nawaz Sharif’s request for extension of visit visa
    
			
    Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo, Nawaz Sharif’s request for an extension in his visit visa has been turned down by British authorities, reported Geo News.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Nawaz’s six-month visit visa has expired, after which he had put in a request with the United Kingdom (UK) Home Office to grant him an extension on health grounds.
    

    The request, however, was denied by the immigration department. 
    

    PML-N leader has two ways to go about this recent development in relevance to his stay: to appeal the decision with the department, and in the event, it is turned down, he can approach British courts.
    

    Meanwhile, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed said, “Nawaz cannot travel anywhere with his expired Pakistani passport.”
    

    Rasheed further added that Nawaz’s visa had expired on February 16 and that he is “no longer a citizen of Pakistan”.
    

    PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb took to Twitter and tweeted that the British home department in their response has stated that Nawaz can appeal the decision with an immigration tribunal.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    She said Nawaz’s lawyers had therefore filed an appeal with the tribunal, his medical records will be included in it as well.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    “Nawaz Sharif can legally reside in Britain until the decision,” she said.
    

    The PML-N spokesperson while talking to Geo News said that Nawaz “has not and will never seek political asylum”.
    

    “These people [government] have nothing better than to do than to speak lies about Nawaz Sharif every day,” she said.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
    ‘Not a software update, a special chip has been inserted’: Faisal Vawda on Tareen group’s split
    
			
    ‘Not a software update, a special chip has been inserted’: Faisal Vawda on Tareen group’s split
    
			
    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda, while taking at a jibe at the recent split in the Pro-Tareen group, took to Twitter and tweeted, “This is not a software update, but a special chip has been created and inserted to a specific section.”
    

    

    
https://twitter.com/FaisalVawdaPTI/status/1423224794116509698

    

    

    Faisal also hit upon PTI MNA Raja Riaz, who is also a member of the PTI faction saying, “Another such chip is ready for Raja Ji [Raja Riaz] as well. It just needs to be installed.”
    

    Faisal’s comment’s come as a reply to PTI’s MNA Amir Dogar, who while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Capital Talk’ said that there has been a “group-wide software update” and that Nazir Chohan has “found his way back”.
    

    Yesterday, Punjab MPA Nazir Chohan, a loyalist of PTI stalwart Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT), quit Tareen’s PTI faction, saying “Jahangir Tareen used him.”
    

    Earlier in May,  Faisal Vawda downplayed the significance of the leaders who supported JKT, saying they can be handled by a station house officer (SHO) alone.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Faisal Vawda criticised Jahangir Tareen on a talk show on ARY News, ‘Off The Record’, saying, “There is no doubt that Jahangir Khan Tareen is an intelligent and successful person. But he is not Imran Khan, for sure.”
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
    Public sector and military hospitals should be open to general public: Justice Qazi Faez Isa
    
			
    Public sector and military hospitals should be open to general public: Justice Qazi Faez Isa
    
			
    Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa has suggested that public sector and military hospitals should be open to the general public, reported Dawn.
    

    Justice Isa had recently contracted Covid-19 despite being vaccinated. His statement comes in relevance to the grave situation with the surging cases of Covid-19 in Pakistan.
    

    In a statement, Justice Isa said: “Since we are in a situation no less grave than a war, all public sector hospitals, including combined military hospitals and other armed forces hospitals, should be opened immediately to serve the people.”
    

    “Otherwise, class and social divides will further be exacerbated and people continue to suffer and die because of an unequal system,” said Justice Isa.
    

     “My wife and I were one of the initial lucky few in the country who were fully vaccinated as both of us were above 60; courtesy of the Chinese government. We took every precaution, including always wearing masks in public places, yet contracted the highly infectious Delta variant of the disease,” read the statement.
    

    “Even with the vaccination, I still had to be hospitalised. I am receiving excellent treatment from very competent doctors and attendants at the Quaid-i-Azam International Hospital. Such treatment is not within the reach of most [people],” added Justice Isa. 
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
    Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir: Pakistan highlights Indian oppression in IOK
    
			
    Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir: Pakistan highlights Indian oppression in IOK
    
			
    Pakistan is observing Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir today to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, as August 5 marks two years of Indian Occupied Kashmir’s (IOK) military siege by the Modi regime in India.
    

    Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a series of tweets, said: “Today marks two years since India’s unilateral and illegal actions of 5 Aug 2019 in IIOJK. In these two years, the world has witnessed unprecedented oppression in IIOJK (Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir) by Indian Occupation forces. It is also witnessing Indian efforts to force demographic change and destroy Kashmiri identity.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    PM Khan further said that the government and the people of Pakistan salute their Kashmiri brothers and sisters for their “sacrifices in their determined & legitimate struggle” for their inalienable rights.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR), the military’s media wing, quoted Cheif of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa as saying that the “continuation of an inhuman military siege, machinations to bring demographic changes and gross violations of human rights and international laws are perpetuating humanitarian and security crises in IIOJ&K” that imperil regional security.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Speaking to a rally arranged to salute the bravery and courage of Kashmiri brothers and sisters in Islamabad, President Arif Alvi said no Pakistani will rest until occupied Kashmir, under Indian military siege is liberated. 
    

    “Pakistan will liberate occupied Kashmir,” he said. “Let me warn India that Pakistan is a strong nation.”
    

    President Arif Alvi addressing a rally in Islamabad. -Radio Pakistan
    

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan will continue to support oppressed Kashmiris. 
    

    Events have been arranged in order to call out India’s unilateral, illegal actions against the Kashmiri people. Solidarity walks of one mile have been planned in all the main cities, including the federal capital. 
    

     A one-minute silence was observed across the country while traffic was also halted for a minute, and sirens were sounded.
    

    

    Two years ago, on August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi government revoked the special status of the people of Kasmir. The Indian government rushed through a presidential decree and abolished Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which gave a measure of autonomy to the Muslim-majority Occupied Kashmir.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
    ‘Tareen is not the kind who can maintain friendships,’ Nazir Chohan quits Tareen group
    
			
    ‘Tareen is not the kind who can maintain friendships,’ Nazir Chohan quits Tareen group
    
			
    Punjab MPA Nazir Chohan, a loyalist of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stalwart Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT),  has quit Tareen’s PTI faction.
    

    Addressing a media briefing in Lahore, alongside Punjab Minister for Prisons Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan, Nazir said, “Jahangir Tareen used me.”
    

    “Jahangir Tareen is a big name, he only used me to his benefit and later abandoned me,” said Nazir.
    

    Nazir further added, “Tareen should be ashamed of himself, he never inquired about my health while I was in the hospital.” “When he was in difficulty I stood by him. I used to be a part of all his hearings in the ongoing sugar scam against him [JKT],” said Nazir.
    

    Nazir said that he was “never once called” by Tareen in his hour of need, nor did Tareen ask my children about my health.
    

    MPA Nazir Chohan was brought to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) after he developed heart problems while he was in FIA custody.
    

    “Tareen is not the kind who can maintain friendships,” added Nazir.
    

    On Tuesday, adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar forgave Punjab MPA Nazir Chohan. PM’s aide had earlier asserted that Chohan ran a “fake campaign” against him, “putting his life, as well as those of his family at risk”. 
    

    Nazir was arrested as a consequence of the allegations against Akbar. 
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
			
    Case registered against couple for photo shoot in front of Quaid’s portrait
    
			
    Islamabad Police registered a case against a couple for a photo shoot in front of Quaid-e-Azam’s portrait in Islamabad under Section 294 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), reported ARY News.
    

    The case has been registered on the complaint of Rashid Malik. In the complaint, Rashid Malik says that the pictures have been taken in revealing dresses in front of the portrait of the country’s founder Quaid-e-Azam, which has hurt  our sentiments, and requested authorities to take action against the involved people. Koral Police station registered the case and started an inquiry.
    

    Earlier, senior journalist Ansar Abbasi took to Twitter and requested Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqat to arrest the models who posed in front of Quaid’s portrait.