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.

  • Sher dargya? PML-N lawmakers pass bill trying to bypass SC reserved seats’ verdict

    Sher dargya? PML-N lawmakers pass bill trying to bypass SC reserved seats’ verdict

    The Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the National Assembly on Wednesday approved a bill proposing amendments to the Election Act 2017 seemingly barring elected assembly members from changing their party affiliation.

    The amendments to the bill propose that those individuals who contested elections as independent members cannot change their “affidavit” later to change their party affiliation, apparently bypassing the recent Supreme Court verdict in the case of the reserved seats.

    It also proposed that if political parties fail to submit their candidates’ list for reserved seats in the stipulated time by the Election Commission of Pakistan, then it won’t be eligible for those seats.

    The bill was passed by the panel with eight votes in favour while four opposed it.

    Meanwhile, federal law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that the issue of “reserved seats” and independent members joining any political party is obvious.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Ali Muhammad Khan said that this is a private member’s bill and the law minister shouldn’t advocate for it.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Bilal Azhar Kiyani tabled the bill on Tuesday. The amendments were proposed to Section 66 and Section 104 of the Election Act, 2017.

  • PTI MNA escapes custody as unknown people attacked anti-corruption team

    PTI MNA escapes custody as unknown people attacked anti-corruption team

    In a dramatic development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Imtiaz Chaudhry escaped from the custody of an anti-corruption team in Gujrat on July 31.

    According to Circle Officer Anti-Corruption Aftab Haider, unknown people riding in a car opened fire on the vehicle in which Chaudhry was being taken, after which the perpetrators fled with the MNA.

    The MNA was on physical remand and was scheduled to be produced in court today.

    Imtiaz Chaudhry was arrested on July 25 from his home due to allegations of receiving kickbacks in development schemes.

  • PTI’s Hasan Raoof sent on 14-day judicial remand

    PTI’s Hasan Raoof sent on 14-day judicial remand

    A District & Sessions Court in Islamabad has sent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secretary information Raoof Hasan on a 14-day judicial remand in the anti-state propaganda case.

    The court also rejected the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) request for an extended five-day physical remand.

    Last week, Raoof and 11 other PTI members were arrested for handling the party’s media cell, allegedly responsible for spreading malicious propaganda against the state.

    In today’s court hearing, the FIA prosecutor stated, “We need a further five-day remand to investigate a technical report,” which showed that all PTI’s digital media cell members were in contact with one another.

    Meanwhile, Hasan’s legal counsel argued that his health was deteriorating because he’d been in physical remand for seven days.

  • Unlike Fawad Chaudhry, I will not beg to be taken back into PTI: Sher Afzal Marwat

    Unlike Fawad Chaudhry, I will not beg to be taken back into PTI: Sher Afzal Marwat

    Disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat, whose party membership has been suspended, recently talking with Azad Urdu channel about his status in the party. He stated, “If PTI kicks me out, then I won’t beg them like Fawad Chaudhry to take me back.”

    “I am with Khan and for his cause. After May 9, whatever jalsas and conventions I did, it was for the right cause, I have never benefitted personally from PTI,” stated Marwat.

    Marwat recalled that he came to the forefront only with his own consent for the people’s “haqeeqi azadi” and Khan’s mission.

    He stated, “When misunderstandings increased to such an extent that my party membership was suspended, and they decide to kick me out of the party, I will leave.”

    Marwat said he still wants to work with party founder Imran Khan; however, he won’t beg to be taken back.

  • TLP’s Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah arrested for inciting violence against CJP Isa

    TLP’s Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah arrested for inciting violence against CJP Isa

    Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Vice Emir Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah was arrested on Monday for inciting violence against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Geo News reported.

    His arrest came after a case was filed against him for an inflammatory speech targeting the CJP outside the Lahore Press Club during a protest against the SC verdict in the Mubarak Sani case.

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

    TLP, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S), Mili Yakjehti Council Pakistan (MYC) and Wafaqul Madaris-ul-Arabiya (WMA) voiced severe opposition to the court’s verdict in this case.

    Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah had gone in hiding in Okara but he was arrested, while his FIR includes provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act amongst others.

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated, “The state will not allow anyone to issue a fatwa calling for someone’s murder.”

    “There has been malicious propaganda about the chief justice and he has been targeted for a long time,” said the federal minister.

  • More than a dozen people injured in firing in Balochistan

    More than a dozen people injured in firing in Balochistan

    More than a dozen protestors were injured on Sunday in violence in Mastung when a group headed to a planned protest in Gawadar came under fire.

    Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) had scheduled a protest in Gawadar against alleged human rights abuses in the province.

    The BYC has accused the security forces of opening fire at their supporters, while the administration emphasised that the participants attacked a Levies checkpoint near Mastung.

    “At least 14 people were injured in the firing,” said a BYC leader, Bebarg Baloch, alleging that law enforcement agencies opened fire at their supporters.

    Meanwhile, the area’s internet, mobile phones, and broadband services have been shut down.

    Amnesty International, a global human rights watchdog, said, “Amnesty is alarmed at the use of unlawful and unnecessary force against the participants of the Baloch National Gathering by security forces yesterday.”

  • The curious case of the abduction and return of Cola Next owner Zulfiqar Ahmed

    The curious case of the abduction and return of Cola Next owner Zulfiqar Ahmed

    Zulfiqar Ahmed, the owner of Paracha textiles, Meezan Oil and Cola Next, who was kidnapped from Karachi a few days ago, has returned home in Lahore under equally mysterious circumstances.

    Geo News reported that the business magnate has contacted his family and will be with them soon.

    Interestingly, there is no information about his abductors or the whereabouts of where he was during the past few days.

    On July 23, Ahmed was abducted from the Mauripur Road in Karachi as armed men took him and his friend, Qaiser, away in a double-cabin vehicle. His friend was let go shortly after.

    However, two of his company’s senior employees were also allegedly abducted in Lahore recently. They have not yet returned.

  • Ameer JI Naeem ur Rehman says its ‘suspicious’ that PTI candidates want re-elections

    Ameer JI Naeem ur Rehman says its ‘suspicious’ that PTI candidates want re-elections

    Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has hit out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for demanding re-elections in the country, saying, “Form 45s are available, and if you avoid that and want a re-election then that means something is suspicious.”

    Naeem ur Rehman addressed a large gathering of JI supporters at the party’s sit-in in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh.

    According to the Chief JI, most PTI candidates have a legitimate case on Form 45s, so asking for re-election would mean “they want a deal as well.”

    He also said, “There are those parties that complain about rigged elections, but in reality, they don’t have a problem with that; they’re complaining because they didn’t get the piece of the pie.”

    Naeem Ur Rehman said that those wanting re-election in the country are “in collusion with them” because it is very straightforward that a legal document (Form 45) is available; it should be utilised.

  • PTI’s Neeli Pari sent on judicial remand for assaulting PML-N worker

    PTI’s Neeli Pari sent on judicial remand for assaulting PML-N worker

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker Aneela Riaz, aka Neeli Pari, has been sent to jail on judicial remand by a local court in Lahore for assaulting comedian and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) worker, Tahir Anjum, on Thursday.

    The arrest comes after a day police registered a case against Aneela and sought her physical remand following the complaint by the victim.

    However, the court rejected the police’s request for physical remand.

    Videos emerged on social media in which Neeli Pari was seen assaulting Anjum by stopping his car and even tearing his clothes outside the Punjab Assembly.

  • Khan urges General Asim Munir to stay ‘neutral’

    Khan urges General Asim Munir to stay ‘neutral’

    Founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, recently talked with journalists saying that she has a message for the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir from Imran Khan.

    “The two parties (PPP and PML-N) have completely lost in every aspect; therefore, they want to bring the people of Pakistan up against the army,” said Aleema, delivering Khan’s message to the Chief of Army.

    According to Aleema, Khan stated, “Army is the backbone of our country and we must honor our army because it protects our country.”

    She said that Khan condemned the lack of rule of law in the country and the degradation of democracy, blaming it for causing “brain drain and loss of confidence in businesses in Pakistan.”

    She finally stated that Khan had asked General Asim Munir to stay “neutral” for the sake of the country.