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.

  • VIDEO: Qazi Faez Isa runs late for farewell because of ‘boy getting facial’ at barber

    VIDEO: Qazi Faez Isa runs late for farewell because of ‘boy getting facial’ at barber

    Chief Justice Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa apologised for reaching late at his farewell dinner ceremony on Thursday night, saying that he came late because “I went for a haircut.”

    “I usually have a habit of arriving early, but Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan suggested that I should get a haircut before attending the event. When I went to get the haircut, a young man was getting a facial, which resulted in a delay,” Qazi Faez Isa stated while addressing the farewell dinner.

    The farewell dinner was hosted by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Thursday night.

    Qazi Faez Isa further remarked that he had been working since 1982 and used to take leaves for months, but it had been a while since he had taken off.

    Meanwhile, during the full court reference to honour CJP Qazi Faez Isa today, the court witnessed his last laugh as the head of the Apex Court when Justice Yahya Afridi humorously narrated the expenses of the farewell lunch.

    “Now to my commitment, sir, this is the formal announcement that the farewell lunch today is not at government expense; he is being cruel and imposed the entire expenses on me; however, I requested my brother judges to share the brunt,” Yahya Afridi claimed, and court attendees burst into laughter.

    “He was adamant and stubborn and was in no mood to accept farewell lunch on government expenses; he agreed only when we committed the expenses,” Justice Yahya announced.

    Qazi Faez Isa is retiring today, and Justice Yahya Afridi, third on the seniority list, will take the oath of Chief Justice of Pakistan on Saturday (tomorrow).

  • Imran restarted cycle of political victimization, now he is facing the music: Bilawal Bhutto

    Imran restarted cycle of political victimization, now he is facing the music: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto appeared on BBC Urdu for an exclusive interview on October 24 in which he talked about the recent 26th Amendments and the controversies revolving around it.

    Journalist Farhat Javed asked the PPP Chairman about the government’s insistence on passing the amendments before October 25, to which he replied: “We did have a window because we’ve seen how other judges have moulded the constitution whether it’s Article 63A or the Reserved Seats’ case to serve their personal interests. And then, on the other hand, we had a Chief Justice [Qazi Faez Isa] who could withstand pressure from fellow judges that may try to instigate him… We had a window [before Oct 25] because this man wouldn’t try to undermine what we were doing. It wasn’t possible to do such a significant thing with the presence of any other Chief Justice.”

    The journalist asked Bilawal if Justice Mansoor had been the Chief Justice, then the amendments couldn’t have been passed. Bilawal replied: “This is our stated position that the Reserved Seats’ verdict was specifically orchestrated to undermine the strength of Parliament. The verdict on Article 63A was not based on the constitution but political motives.”

    Speaking about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) claims about the illegitimacy of the current government, Bilawal remarked, “Which Assembly has had legitimacy in the past? When we came in 2008, did we not protest that our mandate and 2/3rd majority had been stolen from us? Even then we made constitutional amendments. When Zia ul Haq made constitutional amendments, they were legitimised by the superior courts. PTI calls us Form 47, and we call them Selected.”

    Speaking on the allegations of the establishment’s pressure on PPP to pass the amendments, Bilawal stated: “These claims are lies. I have worked for the Charter of Democracy. I have done these amendments because of my mother.”

    Farhat Javed then asked the PPP Chairman what has he done to end the violence and victimization cycle in Pakistan’s politics. Bilawal sternly replied: “What have I not done to end this cycle? When my father’s neck and tongue were slit, when he was imprisoned for more than 11 years, did we do the same things to the opposition when we came into power? No, we did not. PPP, not anyone else, ended this cycle. This cycle ended in 2008 in Pakistan’s history. Who broke the cycle? Imran Khan Niazi. He used to call it ‘muk mukaa’ or ‘Jail is for punishment, not vacations’, and he is bearing the consequences for what he did. If the [violence] cycle needs to end, then he [Imran Khan] has to do it. And he is in no mood to end the cycle, so it will keep on going.”

    “Do you expect someone who has been involved in the incarceration of your father, the torture of your mother and the torture of three generations of your family? I vould have taken revenge for blood. But I say that democracy is the best revenge for them,” concluded Bilawal.

  • CJ Qazi Faez Isa had ‘head in sand’, says Justice Mansoor Ali Shah

    CJ Qazi Faez Isa had ‘head in sand’, says Justice Mansoor Ali Shah

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah refused to attend Friday’s full court reference in honor of the outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Qazi Faez Isa.

    The senior puisne judge Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, in a letter of refusal on the record of the reference proceedings, alleged that CJP Isa had not upheld the integrity of the judiciary during his tenure.

    Full court reference is a long-standing tradition in legal systems and a ceremonial acknowledgement of the outgoing Chief Justice’s contributions and services to the judiciary, leadership and dedication to upholding the judiciary integrity.

    “To stand a Reference and celebrate such a tenure would send a message that a Chief Justice can betray his institution, erode its strength, act petty and low and still be celebrated as an honorable servant of justice. I am sorry, I in good conscious, cannot stand at a reference for such a Chief Justice,” opined Mansoor Ali Shah in the letter.

    He also alleged that Qazi Faez Isa had compromised the very foundation of the rule of law during his tenure and betrayed the judiciary’s sacred role.

    Syed Mansoor Ali Shah added, “Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, like an ostrich, with his head in the sand, remained complacent and indifferent to external influences and pressure on the judiciary.”

    Recalling the previous full court reference in honour of the former CJP Mian Saqib Nisar, the judge said that he had not attended his reference, too, as Saqib Nisar overstepped the boundaries of his constitutional role and ventured into matters beyond his jurisdiction.

    “His tenure will be defined by pettiness, vindictiveness, and a lowly approach to administrative matters, having no grace or humility,” he said to Qazi Faez Isa while concluding in a letter.

    On Thursday night, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Shahid Waheed, along with Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, remained absent at the reception of Qazi Faez Isa.

  • US military magazine heaps praise on COAS Gen Asim Munir

    US military magazine heaps praise on COAS Gen Asim Munir

    The US Central Command (CENTCOM) magazine Unipath lauded the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir as a “forceful voice against violent extremists.”

    The magazine stated that the General will be remembered as a leader whose foremost commitment resides in the security, stability and prosperity of Pakistan.

    The article highlighted Gen Asim’s role in counterterrorism efforts, including his stance on fifth-generation warfare and capability to respond to foreign aggression, as well as socioeconomic measures.

    “Gen. Asim Munir has taken decisive action against Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP) within Pakistan, known as Fitna al Khawarij. Under his leadership, through July 2024, 22,409 intelligence-based operations have been conducted against terrorists and their facilitators. They eliminated 398 terrorists, including 31 high-value targets,” the article stated.

    It also quoted Gen Asim’s speech to a jirga in Peshawar on August 7, 2023, in which the Gen remarked: “There is no option for these terrorists except to submit to the writ of the state of Pakistan before they are decimated if they persist on their wrong path.”

    It also mentioned that the Pakistan Army, under Gen Asim’s leadership, is fully prepared to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the motherland.

    The Unipath magazine article highlighted how Pakistan’s “sovereignty was challenged on January 16, 2024, when Iran carried out a series of missile and drone strikes within Pakistan’s Balochistan province resulting in the deaths of two innocent children.”

    “To express its resolve and redeem its stature, on January 18, Pakistan conducted a meticulously planned and precisely targeted series of military strikes based on credible intelligence against terrorist hideouts in the Sistan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. This operation, codenamed Marg Bar Sarmachar, resulted in the elimination of several terrorists,” stated the magazine.

    It also applauded the Chief’s role in trying to improve the economic conditions of the country through the initiative of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Green Pakistan Initiative for job creation and economic development.

    Meanwhile, on Wednesday, over 60 democratic lawmakers of the United States House of Representatives called on US President Joe Biden in a letter to use Washington’s leverage with Pakistan to secure the release of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan.

    “We write today to urge you to use the United States’ substantial leverage with Pakistan’s government to secure the release of political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Khan, and curtail widespread human rights abuses,” the letter read.

    PTI leader Qasim Khan Suri has been actively campaigning to engage with US lawmakers as he took to X to post: “Thank you, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Congresswoman Cori Bush, for supporting human rights & democracy in Pakistan and calling for the release of political prisoners including former Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

  • Justice Mansoor Ali Shah among five judges skip Qazi Faez Isa’s farewell dinner

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah among five judges skip Qazi Faez Isa’s farewell dinner

    Five Supreme Court judges have skipped Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa’s farewell reception, including senior puisne Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah.

    The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) hosted the dinner on Thursday night on the eve of CJP Isa’s retirement on October 25.

    Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Shahid Waheed, along with Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, remain absent at the reception of Qazi Faez Isa.

    However, Justice Yahya Khan Afridi, Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Aqeel Abbasi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan attended the dinner.

    Chief Justice of Lahore High Court (LHC) and Islamabad High Court (IHC) were also among the attendees of Chief Justice Pakistan’s reception.

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has gone for Umrah along with his family on Wednesday. He was all ready to become the next Chief Justice of Pakistan before the passing of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

    A Special Parliamentary Committee nominated the third senior most judge in the Supreme Court, Yahya Afridi, as the next CJP, and he will take the oath on October 26 (tomorrow).

    As per Dawn News, the next Chief Justice, Yahya Afridi, at his expense, will hold the luncheon in honour of Qazi Faez Isa today (Friday), as CJP Isa had declined the farewell meal at government expense.

  • 60 American lawmakers ask Biden to push for Imran Khan’s release

    60 American lawmakers ask Biden to push for Imran Khan’s release

    Over 60 democratic lawmakers of the United States House of Representatives called on US President Joe Biden in a letter to use Washington’s leverage with Pakistan to secure the release of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan.

    The lawmakers, on Wednesday, wrote a letter to Joe Biden, noting: “We write today to urge you to use the United States’ substantial leverage with Pakistan’s government to secure the release of political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Khan, and curtail widespread human rights abuses.”

    Pakistan government denied any such unfair treatment toward the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.

    Meanwhile, the State Council today, while appearing before Islamabad High Court, stated that the Punjab government imposed a ban on meeting lawyers with Imran Khan in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi amidst security concerns, following that meeting between Khan and lawyers could not be possible.

    Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan responded to the State Council, saying: “Is there a ban on lawyers meeting him? If the Punjab government has prohibited the meeting of the lawyers, it would have committed contempt of court; whoever issued this notification has also committed contempt of court.”

    However, later in the day, it was reported that Adiala Jail authorities had arranged for a meeting between Imran Khan and lawyers Salman Akram Raja, Faisal Fareed Chaudhary and Shoaib Shaheen.

  • Islamabad Court orders Adiala authorities to present Imran Khan in court today

    Islamabad Court orders Adiala authorities to present Imran Khan in court today

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi authorities to present the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, before the court at 3 PM today.

    “Bring the PTI founder; he will have a meeting with his lawyers,” IHC stated during the hearing of a contempt of court case against the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi Superindentent for not allowing lawyers to meet Khan in jail.

    Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan directed the superintendent to record reasons for every time he failed to ensure Imran Khan’s presence before the court.

    “The court does not accept the security threats […] the lawyers were not allowed to meet. This is contempt of the court,” Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq remarked.

    Citing the imposition of a ban on lawyers meeting with Khan, the State Council informed the court that the Punjab government had imposed the ban on meeting in Adiala jail amidst security concerns.

    “Is there a ban on lawyers meeting him? If the Punjab government has prohibited the meeting of the lawyers, it would have committed contempt of court; whoever issued this notification has also committed contempt of court,” the court responded to the state council’s argument on security concerns, and directed the authorities to present the PTI founder in court.

    However, later in the day, it was reported that Adiala Jail authorities had arranged for a meeting between Imran Khan and lawyers Salman Akram Raja, Faisal Fareed Chaudhary and Shoaib Shaheen.

    Security concerns were cited by jail authorities for being unable to present the PTI founder in court instead. Imran’s lawyers have also been informed about the development, reports said.

  • Will Justice Yahya Afridi accept his nomination as chief justice?

    Will Justice Yahya Afridi accept his nomination as chief justice?

    With Justice Yahya Afridi’s name being finalized as the next chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), opposition leader and netizens are speculating whether Justice Afridi will be accepting the post or not.

    President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday appointed Justice Yahya Afridi as the next CJP, who will take over the reins from incumbent CJP Qazi Faez Isa later this week. Justice Afridi has been appointed for a fixed three-year term starting on October 26, said a statement from Aiwan-e-Sadr.

    Soon after Justice Afridi’s nomination by a special parliamentary committee, formed under the 26th Amendment, PTI leader Hamid Khan, in conversation with a private media outlet on Tuesday night, expressed hope that Justice Afridi “would decline the position”.

    The statement left the internet divided, with people speculating whether Justice Afridi will be accepting the position of the country’s 30th CJP.

    Some social media users went on to suggest that Justice Afridi should not accept the position owing to the changes in process of appointment of the country’s top judge under the 26th Amendment.

    “Justice Yahya Afridi, show some grace and reject this offer. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah should be made the Chief Justice of Pakistan, as this Constitutional Amendment was illegitimate,” wrote one user, calling out the ruling coalition.

    Showing concern over the appointment of the third senior-most judge instead of senior-most Justice Mansoor Ali Shah after CJP Qazi Faez Isa, another user wrote, “This is Pakistan’s most senior judge, Mansoor Ali Shah, but his seniority is being ignored, and the third-ranked judge, Yahya Afridi, is going to be made Chief Justice of Pakistan.”

    It may be noted that neither Justice Afridi himself, any Supreme Court (SC) judges nor other relevant authorities have so far hinted at the possibility of Justice Afridi refusing to take charge as the country’s top judge. Instead, media reports on Wednesday afternoon claimed that the incumbent chief judge among other members of the judicial community had already congratulated Justice Afridi.

    On late Sunday night, the Parliament passed the 26th Amendment, ruling out the scenario of the senior-most SC judge’s appointment as the CJP. Under the changes, the appointment of the CJP shall now be made from among the three senior-most judges of the apex court on the recommendation of a special parliamentary committee.

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Yahya Afridi were in the race for the slot of the country’s top judge till a special parliamentary committee nominated Justice Yahya Afridi.

  • Who Will Be New Chief Justice? Is Mansoor Ali Shah a Strong Competitor?

    Who Will Be New Chief Justice? Is Mansoor Ali Shah a Strong Competitor?

    A special parliamentary committee has been established to elect the next Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mansoor Ali Shah after legal changes were made through the 26th constitutional amendment. The secretariat of the national assembly has also confirmed the committee’s formation through notification.

    The elected Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, will provide three nominations of the seniormost judges by the end of Tuesday to appoint a new CJP.

    The report mentions three senior judges under consideration: Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, and Justice Yahya Afridi. Their profiles are as follows:

    Mansoor Ali Shah

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was born in Peshawar on November 28, 1962. He was educated in Lahore at Aitchison College. After completing his law degree from Punjab University, he became a law college instructor. This career move was fruitful as I rose the ranks to eventually become an additional judge of the Lahore High Court in the year 20 as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court between 2016 and 2018. 

    He became a Supreme Court judge on February 7, 2018, after a brief period during which he could rise in charge levels. This same period was also fruitful for Justice Shah as he could participate in and manage many important cases, including the majority decision regarding reserved seats. He also became known for his 27 dispersed pages written regarding changes in NAB laws. His time has also been marked by his attempts to help construct arbitration forums and help foster judicial change in Pakistan.

    Justice Yahya Afridi

    Justice Yahya Afridi was born in Dera Ghazi Khan on January 23, 1965. Most of his early education was obtained at Aitchison College, Lahore. After that, he graduated from Government College, Lahore. Legal studies were continued with an LLM from Jesus College, Cambridge University. Legal practice commenced in 1990, and entry into the Supreme Court bar was achieved in 2004. 

    He has been involved in larger benches deciding significant issues, including the case of reserved seats and the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto presidential reference. He has also contributed dissenting notes in various significant judgments.

    Read also: Here’s how Justice Mansoor Ali Shah reacted to Yahya Afridi’s appointment as CJP

    Justice Munib Akhtar

    Justice Munib Akhtar was born on 14 December 1963. He received most of his early education at Govt College in Lahore. He then relocated to the United States and continued his studies at Princeton University. Justice Munib Akhtar entered the judiciary when he was appointed as an additional judge of the Sindh High Court in 2009. In 2011, he also got the substantive post.

    Further, in 2018, he was promoted to Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The judge’s other critical duties included authoring articles that detailed Article 63-A of the Constitution of Pakistan.

  • Will India support Pakistan’s bid to join BRICS?

    Will India support Pakistan’s bid to join BRICS?

    India is likely to support Pakistan’s bid to join the BRICS bloc, an alliance that challenges the economic monopoly of the West, Indian media has reported.

    Indian media has speculated that following Russia’s influence on India, News Delhi may vote in favour of Pakistan joining the BRICS.

    “One of the key takeaways of the summit is likely to be India’s green signal to Pakistan’s long-pending bid for membership in the bloc,” ABP Live reported.

    Pakistan applied for membership in BRICS in August 2023; following this, other countries, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia, also formally applied to become members of the bloc.

    It should be mentioned here that a new member of BRICS was added only after the consensus of the bloc members, and India has remained defiant in giving assent to Pakistan joining the BRICS bloc over the past years.

    The chances only brightened after Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei gave public support to Pakistan’s membership in BRICS during his visit to Islamabad in September, Dawn News observed.

    What is BRICS?

    BRICS stands for countries’ names: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

    The group started in 2006, and Brazil, Russia, India and China convened for the first BRIC summit in 2009. However, South Africa joined on 24 December 2010.

    BRICS in 2023 extended the invitation to Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates after these countries applied for membership.

    Two dozen world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, attended the opening of the BRICS summit on Tuesday.

    Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin hosted the BRICS summit, which is in progress in Russia’s third largest city, the southwestern city of Kazan and will end on October 24.