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.

  • PM Imran Khan to inaugurate important projects in Gwadar today

    PM Imran Khan to inaugurate important projects in Gwadar today

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will be on a day-long visit to Gwadar today, accompanied by his federal ministers.

    As per reports, PM Khan will inaugurate Gwadar Free Zone, the Expo Centre, Agricultural Industrial Park as well as three factories to boost economic activity in the region.

    Focal Person to the Chief Minister of Punjab on Digital Media, Azhar Mashwani, tweeted that PM is also expected to lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects in the city, which includes water supply projects and a desalination plant. that would solve the problems of Gwadar residents related to water and electricity.

    PM will interact with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) workforce.

    Through video link, major expressions of investment by the Chinese investors and the ambassadors of Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Kenya, and Qatar are also expected, according to sources.

    PM’s last visit to Balochistan was in April.

  • RAW behind Lahore blast, says Moeed Yusuf

    Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security Moeed Yusuf on Sunday said that the mastermind of the attack, which killed three people and left 24 others injured, “is an Indian citizen and [Indian intelligence agency] RAW is in touch with hum”.

    Yusuf was addressing a press conference alongside the Punjab police chief and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.

    Yusuf added that the IG has said we have the intelligence that a foreign intelligence agency was involved. “Today without a doubt I want to say, [the circumstances] of this entire attack lead to Indian-sponsored terrorism.”

    “I want to make sure that our message is heard very clearly, that this particular incident on June 23 in Lahore…we have concrete evidence and intelligence, including financial and telephone records that point to direct Indian sponsorship of these terrorists,” Moeed Yusuf added.

    “Through forensic analysis, electronic equipment that has been recovered from these terrorists, we have identified the main mastermind and the handlers of this terrorist attack and we have absolutely no doubt or reservation in informing you that the main mastermind belongs to RAW, the Indian intelligence agency, is an Indian national, and is based in India,” he said.

    The National Security adviser also talked about the attempts of cyberattacks against Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, adding, “We have no doubt that the Johar Town and cyber attacks are linked. And the number in which [the cyber attacks] were done, there is no doubt that there was state involvement of our neighbour.”

    On June 23, a powerful blast near the residence of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed killed three people and injured 24 others, including a police constable.

  • Video: Ocean on fire

    Video: Ocean on fire

    A fire on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico erupted after a gas leak from an underwater pipeline sparked ablaze, according to Mexico’s state-owned Pemex petrol company.

    Footage of the fire – appearing to boil the ocean’s surface with bright orange flames – went viral on July 2 before the fire was extinguished roughly 150 yards from a drilling platform in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, the company reported.

    The company said that “no injuries or evacuations are reported”.

    In a statement, Greenpeace Mexico’s Gustavo Ampugnani said: “These are the risks we face on a daily basis and which call for a change in the energy model, as we have demanded.”

  • Man acquitted of blasphemy charges killed by a policeman

    Man acquitted of blasphemy charges killed by a policeman

    A policeman in Sadiqabad killed a man with an axe who was acquitted of blasphemy charges after spending almost three years in prison, BBC Urdu reported.

    According to the police, the accused had recently joined the police and was under training to become a constable. Rana Mohammad Ashraf, SHO of Sadiqabad Saddar Police Station, told the BBC that the policeman had turned himself in to the police after killing a man named Mohammad Waqas.

    “He told the police that he had been planning to kill Muhammad Waqas since 2016 but at that time he had gone to jail.”

    In 2016, a man named Muhammad Waqas was arrested on allegations of sharing blasphemous content on social media. A court had sentenced him to imprisonment in 2017. But the High Court had recently absolved him of the charges while hearing his plea against the lower court’s decision.

  • ‘Bilawal to take his CV to Washington’: Shahbaz Gill

    ‘Bilawal to take his CV to Washington’: Shahbaz Gill

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Dr Shahbaz Gill, said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will be taking his curriculum vitae (CV) along with him to Washington.

    “He [Bilawal Bhutto] will say we are ready to do anything to come into power,” said Gill at a press conference in Karachi.

    “We will not allow such a deal and will not let Bilawal go the United States with any petitions.”

    Gill also tweeted: “Is Bilawal going to Washington like his father to take the next turn of power?”

    

    He further added, “Is this an appeal that if you bring us in power, then even if you demand financial stations or attempt a drone attack, we wouldn’t ask you about it, but in exchange, we want Washington’s blessings.”
    

    “Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari might not know that time, the world and Pakistan have changed now,” added Gill.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Pakistan will not give airbases to US’: General Bajwa
    
			
    ‘Pakistan will not give airbases to US’: General Bajwa
    
			
    Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday said Pakistan will not give airbases to the United States (US) if the government has decided against it.
    

    According to an official statement issued after the security briefing held on Thursday, the session was informed that Pakistan played a highly positive and responsible role in the Afghan peace process.
    

    “Pakistan’s efforts paved the way for dialogue between Afghan factions and warring groups,” the meeting was told, while it was also noted that due to Islamabad’s efforts, meaningful talks have begun between the US and the Taliban.
    

    “Sustained peace and stability in Afghanistan will lead to stability in South Asia,” the meeting was informed.
    

    The participants were further told that Pakistan would welcome a government that was truly representative of the Afghan people and that it would continue its responsible role for peace in Afghanistan.
    

    “Pakistan’s territory is not being used in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan […] and we hope that Afghanistan’s land is not used against Pakistan,” the DG ISI had reportedly said during the session.
    

    A meeting of the National Security Committee was held on Thursday. Army chief and heads of security institutions participated in the meeting. A briefing on Kashmir, Afghanistan, and internal security challenges was under discussion.
    

    It should be recalled that the government had turned down a US request for setting up drone bases in Pakistan for future counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan had in his speech that Pakistan could be partner with the United States in peace, but not in conflict.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Asif Ali Zardari unwell, admitted to hospital
    
			
    Asif Ali Zardari unwell, admitted to hospital
    
			
    Former President Asif Ali Zardari was admitted to a hospital earlier today (Friday) after his health deteriorated, reported Geo News.
    

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has arrived in Karachi from Islamabad while Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari and her husband have also returned from Dubai to attend to her father.
    

    Bilawal had recently said that Asif Zardari attended the Budget session despite being unwell.
    

    The former president was admitted to a hospital due to low sugar level in October last year.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Shehbaz said if PM was at security briefing, he would not attend’: Fawad Chaudhry
    
			
    Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry during an appearance on Geo News’ morning show ‘Geo Pakistan’ revealed that the prime minister’s absence from the military and intelligence leadership’s briefing on national security, Afghanistan, and Kashmir to parliamentary leaders was to accommodate the Leader of Opposition, Shehbaz Sharif.
    

    “The prime minister was scheduled to attend the national security huddle, but the Opposition leader [Shehbaz Sharif] had conveyed to the Speaker [National Assembly] that if [PM Imran Khan] came to the briefing, he would not attend,” said Fawad.
    

    Fawad added that the government hopes and prays that there is a peaceful transfer of power in Afghanistan.
    

    “We are pushing for negotiations in Afghanistan,” he said.
    

    “There are three million Afghan nationals in Pakistan. If another three million are pushed in, it will put a lot of pressure on our economy,” he said.
    

    “It won’t be so easy for the Taliban to take over the government,” Chaudhry said on the prospects for peace in the war-torn neighbour. “We want that the Afghan Taliban and the Ghani government negotiate [a way out].”
    

    “We are only concerned when India uses Afghan territories against us,” he added. “[Meanwhile], we will continue to try and mediate between the Afghan Taliban and the Ghani government.”
    

    However, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Shehbaz Sharif did not send any message to anyone.
    

    “Fawad Chaudhry is a propaganda machine, the meeting was called by the Speaker. How could Shehba Sharif stop him [from inviting someone]? Shehbaz Sharif did not send him any message,” tweeted Marriyum Aurangzeb.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    PML-N spokesperson further said that if there is any official correspondence of Shehbaz Sharif or his office regarding this matter, it should be made public.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Guard sentenced to death for killing bank manager on blasphemy allegations
    
			
    Guard sentenced to death for killing bank manager on blasphemy allegations
    
			
    An anti-terrorism court in Sargodha has sentenced a security guard involved in the murder of bank manager Imran Hanif to death on blasphemy allegations.
    

    The court also sentenced the convict to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs1.15 million.
    

    Last year in November, security guards killed a bank manager on charges of alleged blasphemy.
    

    A seven-member ulema committee was formed in connection with the incident in Quaidabad area of Khushab district of Punjab. They declared that the bank manager had not committed blasphemy and this was a false accusation against him. The ulema committee declared the dead bank manager innocent.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Zulfi Bukhari to send defamation notice to Bilawal Bhutto
    
			
    Zulfi Bukhari to send defamation notice to Bilawal Bhutto
    
			
    Former Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Zulfi Bukhari says he has decided to move ahead with defamation proceedings against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari after consulting with his legal team.
    

    

    


    

    

    

     Bhukari tweeted, “His [Bilawal Bhutto’s] poor understanding about most things again made him blurt out things fed to him, provoking issues he knows nothing about.”
    

    Bilawal Bhutto had recently called on the government to bring “all the facts” about Bukhari’s alleged visit to Israel before the public. 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Speaking to reporters in the parliament,  Bilawal Bhutto said it would be “very easy” for the government to make public the flight manifest and flight path of the airplane that allegedly carried Bukhari to Israel during those dates.
    

    “If the [airplane] did not pick up Zulfi Bukhari, then who was taken on board” he asked, adding that he felt “something is fishy.”
    

    After Bilawal Bhutto’s statement, Zulfi Bukhari shared a clip of Bilawal’s speech and asked: “Someone who called Jews ‘brothers’ is now asking me to answer rumours.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Earlier this week, an Israeli publication alleged that Bukhari paid a secret visit to Tel Aviv as a messenger of Pakistani leader, a claim that was instantly denied by the government and personally by Bukhari.