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.

  • PPP prepared for fresh elections if PM dissolves Assembly

    PPP prepared for fresh elections if PM dissolves Assembly

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led federal government was given a veiled threat by its ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), that the party is prepared to go into fresh elections if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chooses to dissolve assemblies.

    PPP Secretary General Nayyer Hussain Bukhari said on Neo, ‘’If the government is in danger, then the Prime Minister should dissolve parliament and go for new elections.’

    Furthermore, he questioned the ruling party’s leadership for not ‘‘sharing details with PPP if it is facing any danger.”

    He also alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan is an ‘’untrustworthy man who takes U-turns in politics as a matter of pride.’’
    Bukhari says that President Asif Ali Zardari had offered to mediate and help negotiate political disputes, but ’’someone should express willingness to sit and talk.’’

    Though not part of the ruling coalition, PPP is a key ally of the governing

  • Boxer Amir Khan wants to resolve issues between Imran Khan and establishment

    Boxer Amir Khan wants to resolve issues between Imran Khan and establishment

    British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan has stated that if given the opportunity by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, he is eager to have a “one-on-one meeting with Imran Khan” to find common grounds for resolving issues, journalist Murtaza Ali Shah reported.

    “I have known Imran Khan for a long time, and he is a dear friend whom I deeply respect. I am willing to act as a mediator and help resolve any disputes between both parties,” said Khan, wanting to play the role of arbitrator between the establishment and Imran Khan.

    He also stated that he has “great respect for the COAS, and his incredible work for Pakistan,” adding that he firmly believes that a personal conversation with the former prime minister could lead to a breakthrough.

    The former professional boxer stated that he was ready to travel to Pakistan to resolve the issues between the two parties and ensure the prosperity of Pakistan.

  • Khan says it would be ‘foolish’ not to have excellent relations with army

    Khan says it would be ‘foolish’ not to have excellent relations with army

    Founder of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan said in an interview with Reuters that it would be “foolish” not to have excellent relations with the Pakistan Army while also clarifying that he held no grudges against the United States, whom he previously blamed for conspiring against his government in 2022.

    “Given Pakistan’s geographical position and the military’s significant role in the private sector, it would be foolish not to foster such a relationship,” said Khan.

    He also clarified that he criticises certain “individuals” in the army but not the institution, saying, “The miscalculations of the military leadership shouldn’t be held against the institution as a whole.”

    Today, August 5, marks a whole year since Khan was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, ranging from selling state gifts to leaking state secrets.

    Last week, Khan offered “conditional negotiations” with the military establishment if “clean and transparent” elections were held and the “bogus” cases against his supporters were dropped.

    Khan also reiterated that talking with the government was futile since, according to him, the government has no public support.

  • SCBA asks top court to reconsider allowing Ahmadis worship even within private places

    SCBA asks top court to reconsider allowing Ahmadis worship even within private places

    The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has called on the Supreme Court of Pakistan to reconsider its ruling regarding Ahmadis’ right to worship within their own worship places in the infamous Mubarak Sani case.

    In February 2024 the Supreme Court ruled that Ahmadis, while declared non-Muslims, retain the right to profess and proliferate their religion.

    The SCBA lauded the top court for declaring the minority non-Muslims but asserted that they shouldn’t even be allowed to pray privately as well because it “contradicts Islamic principles, the Quran, and Sunnah.”

    Journalist Hasnaat Malik posted about this development on X, highlighting the recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the SCBA and DHA for developing the Park Road Housing Project.

    The majority of social media reactions condemned the stance taken by the bar association.

  • ‘Drunk hai, issey nikalo’: KP speaker on MPA Iqbal Wazir

    ‘Drunk hai, issey nikalo’: KP speaker on MPA Iqbal Wazir

    In footage that went viral on social media platform X, MPA Iqbal Wazir of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) can be seen giving a slurred speech in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly while speaker Babar Saleem Swabi calls him “drunk.”

    “Iqbal Wazir’s behaviour is not appropriate,” exclaimed the speaker, before calling the sergeant-at-arms to kick him out of the premises. Meanwhile, a verbal spat continued between Wazir and other members of the KP Assembly.

    “He is not in his senses,” the speaker can be heard saying in the small clip.

  • PTI confused on Sher Afzal Marwat expulsion

    PTI confused on Sher Afzal Marwat expulsion

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) official page on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, announced the cancellation of the basic party membership of maverick leader Sher Afzal Marwat for a “gross violation/ breach” of discipline.

    In an interesting development, however, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has termed the notification “fake” even though the post still hasn’t been removed from the party’s social media platforms.

    “The notification regarding cancellation of Sher Afzal Marwat’s membership is fake. It’s not possible,” stated Gohar, clearly signalling rifts within the party leadership over Marwat’s future.

    In the notification, it was said that Marwat was on notice and was asked to “restrict himself, and his statements to within the limitation as outlined in the letter. A committee was setup to monitor his statements, media appearances and tweets.”

    It further stated that if Marwat was an honourable person he would resign from the NA seat because he won as a nominated PTI candidate and seek re-election.

    Meanwhile, Marwat has accepted the party notification on X, saying, “I respect the party’s decision, but let me make one thing clear: I was Khan’s soldier.”

    He also stated that Khan had been misguided about him and that he would clarify his position in front of Imran Khan.

  • Mohisn Naqvi finds drunkards sleeping in Islamabad police station

    Mohisn Naqvi finds drunkards sleeping in Islamabad police station

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid a surprise visit to Kahna police station in Islamabad, where he found drunkards sleeping in one of the rooms.

    Geo News reported that Naqvi reached Kahna police station without informing police officials. There, he found investigating officers absent from the room where petitioners were seated. Upon inquiring about why the officers were absent, the sub-inspector could not answer any of his questions.

    The interior Minister visited the front desk and lockup cell and asked questions about the cases of arrested people. He also expressed disgust over the smell of cigarette smoke in the front desk room.

    In one of the rooms, he found two sleeping drunkards, and the interior minister tried to wake them up but couldn’t.

    Mohsin Naqvi was angry upon seeing the condition of the police station and also suggested that there is no justification for parking so many motorcycles there; most should be returned to the owners.

    The Interior Minister ordered the release of the four people arrested on charges of parking their cart in the wrong place after completing the necessary legal process.

    Naqvi asked to address the requests of all the petitioners instead of making them wait that long.

  • TLP’s Pir Zaheerul Hassan Shah still at large as police continues hunt

    TLP’s Pir Zaheerul Hassan Shah still at large as police continues hunt

    The News has said that previous media reports of arrests of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) vice emir Pir Zaheerul Hassan Shah turned out to be not true as the police are struggling to arrest him.

    Reportedly, Shah has fled to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since late Monday when the government tightened the noose around TLP leaders for targeting the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.

    “We have zeroed in on the cleric. We are not far from getting a hand on him,” said an official to The News.

    Previously, the culprit had announced a head-money of Rs10 million on Qazi Faez Isa in reaction to a decision of a three-member bench in the Mubarak Sani case.

    Meanwhile, FIRs have been filed against more than 1500 TLP members across the Punjab province after the government took a firm stance against the right wing religious party.

  • Slam dunk Maryam: 92 News to shut down in the UK after Maryam Nawaz defamation case

    Slam dunk Maryam: 92 News to shut down in the UK after Maryam Nawaz defamation case

    Urdu language TV channel 92 News has shut down operations and transmission in the United Kingdom after Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched a defamation case in the UK High Court over a programme aired in the UK by the channel. The program allegedly made false accusations against Maryam of taking Toshakhana gifts in an alleged violation of rule, and in conspiracy with bureaucrats.

    92 News/Glaxy has previously apologised to Senator Ishaq Dar in the UK in a defamation case and also lost a defamation case to PMLN UK vice president Nasir Mahmood.

    Sources in 92 News (also known as 92 News HD Plus) in the UK and Pakistan confirm that the channel terminated its services from 31st July 2024 in the UK after being advised by its British lawyers. Lawyers allegedly told them that they would lose the defamation case at the trial level in the UK High Court later in the year, with potential costs of over £250,000 in legal fees and damages, likely to be rewarded to Maryam Nawaz.

    Last month, the channel sent out a notification to the UK govt’s TV regulator and Sky management that it was winding up the company (Glaxy Broadcasting Network Limited) that owns 92 News in UK and will stop broadcasting in the UK after 31st July 2024.

    The Programme on Maryam

    Maryam initiated legal proceedings against 92 News/Glaxy after anchors Amir Mateen and Sarwat Valim in the programme ’Muqabil’, on November 17, 2022, accused her of taking Toshakhana gifts. The anchors alleged that Maryam Nawaz took a watch from the Toshakhana worth a million for only PKR 45,000 with help from the bureaucracy in a ‘corrupt scheme’. The allegation was false as Maryam had not received any such gift, and her lawyers argued as much in the claim, seeking an apology and damages. Her lawyers stated, in court papers at UK High Court, that Maryam had suffered serious harm to her reputation by the imputations in the broadcast and therefore the channel should apologise.

    The channel accepted during the communications that it had no defence of the allegations but argued on technicalities that the anchors were fed news by social media after the Toshakhana scandals broke out.

    The case at UK High Court was registered for trial hearings later this year and before the trial could begin in just a few months, the channel decided to shut down its operations and move into liquidation to avoid paying heavy damages and costs. Maryam Nawaz was represented in the case by Stone White Solicitors.

    The show aired on 92 News in the UK and Pakistan after the federal government made the list of state officials who received Toshakhana gifts since 2002 public in accordance with the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) directives.

    The record stated that by putting just Rs20.17 million in Toshakhana, former premier Imran Khan was able to keep a watch (A Graff watch, No. AU750) set in 18-karat gold and diamonds valued at about Rs. 85 million, a pair of cufflinks worth over Rs. 5.6 million, a pen worth Rs. 1.5 million rupees, and an engagement ring worth Rs. 8.7 million.

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari also kept a number of items after depositing a total of about Rs. 16.1 million, including a BMW 760 Li with an estimated value of Rs. 57,828,705 and a Toyota Lexus LX 470 with an estimated value of Rs. 50,000,000.

    The record said by depositing Rs. 0.243 million in Toshakhana in 2013, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was able to keep one Rolex Watch Oyster Perpetual N Series 0835D018, one pair of cufflinks with a pen (worth Rs. 0.025 million), and four commemorative coins from the Central Bank of Kuwait (worth Rs. 0.015 million). Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of Nawaz Sharif, kept a bracelet worth Rs. 12.7 million and a pair of earrings worth Rs. 41.6 million by depositing Rs. 10.8 million in 2016.

    A PMLN spokesman in Lahore said Maryam Nawaz never benefitted from the Toshakhana and the allegation was false. “Maryam Nawaz launched a case in the UK against 92 News to clear her name and she stands vindicated as 92 News made it clear during proceedings it had no evidence. The channel confirmed the allegation was false and knew it would be heavily punished for running a fake news. Therefore it has decided to liquidate and end business in UK.”

  • British-American journalist deported from Pakistan after attempted interview with Imran Khan

    British-American journalist deported from Pakistan after attempted interview with Imran Khan

    Law enforcement agencies in Pakistan deported a British-American journalist after he tried to interview the incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Charles Glass, a 73-year-old author, journalist, broadcaster, and publisher known for his work focusing on the Middle East and World War II, has worked with renowned news platforms such as Newsweek, ABC TV, and The Telegraph. Currently, he works as a freelance journalist.

    Glass was reportedly seen outside Adiala jail with Imran Khan’s sister Aleema. Later, police forces arrived at the home of senior journalist Zahid Hussain, where Glass was present.

    On Wednesday afternoon, an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) led a team and informed Glass that his visa had been cancelled. This led to an hour-long contention, after which the ASP instructed Glass to leave the country by 5 pm.

    According to sources quoted by Dawn, the ASP had a clear order to deport the journalist.

    Glass was taken to his hotel to collect his luggage and was escorted to the earliest available flight to Abu Dhabi at 4 pm that afternoon.