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.

  • After conspiracy allegations, PPP says no hand in dictatorship-style defamation law

    After conspiracy allegations, PPP says no hand in dictatorship-style defamation law

    A day after the highly controversial Punjab defamation bill became law, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Governor Saleem Haider tried to dissociate the party from the legislation, saying the PPP is against the defamation law.

    “I tried to stop the [passage] of the defamation bill as Governor,” he stated while speaking to media in Dubai.

    Interim Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan signed the bill into law in the absence of Haider while journalists called the move deceiving.

    The Governor, who is currently on leave also added, “I did not sign the bill. However, it will become law automatically after the passing of 15 days.”

    The bill has invited strong criticism from journalists, human rights organisations, and the opposition calling it a “black law.”

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed grave concern over the defamation bill.

  • PPP’s Syed Khursheed Shah raises concerns over federal budget

    PPP’s Syed Khursheed Shah raises concerns over federal budget

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Syed Khursheed Shah has raised concerns on Sunday over the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) strategy for preparing the federal budget.

    Shah voiced concern that PML-N didn’t invite PPP for engagement and dialogue on the budget.
    “What kind of proposals? What kind of budget? The government did not say anything, nor did they take PPP into confidence,” said the senior politician.
    Shah was also unaware of the allocation of resources to the provinces, and demanded transparency in the privatization process.

    “I don’t know which province is getting what share in giving relief to the people,” he said.

    The former opposition leader stressed that, “PPP has shared the entire burden of the government and was also worried about the accountability the party will face due to the federal budget.

    “The public will ask us what has been done, what we will answer,” Khursheed Shah questioned.

  • Chief Justice Faez Isa wants judges to ride bicycles

    Chief Justice Faez Isa wants judges to ride bicycles

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa addressed a climate change conference hosted by the Supreme Court on June 8, calling for adopting environment-friendly measures and a healthy lifestyle to cope with climate change.

    “[Justice] Mansoor Ali Shah talked about hybrid vehicles here, but we must walk. Bicycles can be provided to all judges if they want,” said the CJP.

    Justice Isa pointed out the lack of a solid mechanism to dispose of plastic products worldwide.

    “We failed to understand nature and we need to rebuild the values for environmental protection from our homes. The natural environment can be saved from further destruction by avoiding wastage of resources,” said CJP Isa.

  • PPP’s Manzoor Wassan predicts PM Shehbaz will dissolve NA within next three months

    PPP’s Manzoor Wassan predicts PM Shehbaz will dissolve NA within next three months

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Manzoor Wassan predicted on Sunday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will dissolve the National Assembly (NA) within the next three months, Geo News reported.

    The PPP leader stated that the next “trimester is extremely crucial” as far as the political situation in the country goes.  “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif may dissolve the National Assembly within the next three months.”

    Wassan also dismissed the claim that President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif will become the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

    The former member of the Sindh Assembly further stated that the political environment is not favorable for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), adding that “Reliefs are given and taken back, so Imran Khan shouldn’t be living in his imaginary world.”

    Wassan’s statement came about after it was rumoured that PPP has not been consulted on the upcoming federal budget for the year 2024-2025.

  • Seven security officials martyred in Lakki Marwat

    Seven security officials martyred in Lakki Marwat

    Seven army officials including a captain embraced martyrdom after an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted their vehicle in Shahab Khel area of district Lakki Marwat on Sunday.

    A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) read, “An improvised explosive device exploded on the vehicle of security forces in Lakki Marwat District.”

    Officials said the vehicle was on its way to the Kaichi Kamar area when it came under attack near Sultankhel village, an area bordering Punjab’s Mianwali district.

    ISPR’s statement revealed that 26-year-old Captain Muhammad Faraz Ilyas, a resident of Kasur, along with 50-year-old Subedar Major Muhammad Nazir from Skardu, 34-year-old Lance Naik Muhammad Anwar from Ghanchi, 36-year-old Lance Naik Hussain Ali from Ghizer, 33-year-old Sepoy Asadullah from Multan, 27-year-old Sepoy Manzoor Hussain from Gilgit, and 31-year-old Sepoy Rashid Mehmood from district Rawalpindi embraced martyrdom.

    Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur strongly condemned the cowardly attack on security officials.

  • No political slogans allowed during Hajj, warns Saudi Arabia

    No political slogans allowed during Hajj, warns Saudi Arabia

    Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiyyah, on June 6, warned pilgrims that political slogans are not allowed during Hajj.

    Saudi Minister of Hajj Tawfiq al-Rabiyyah told reporters in Riyadh that, “Hajj is for worship and not for any political slogans, so no one will be allowed to raise political slogans during Hajj,” Geo News reported.

    The Saudi Minister for Hajj said that Hajj is a form of worship, and the Saudi government wants to ensure that Hajj remains the highest manifestation of humility, peace and spirituality.

    Moreover, the official page of news publication ‘Inside The Haramain’ posted the minister’s press conference with the caption, “Hajj is for worship only, not for political slogans.”

    The post further added, “Making Dua for Palestinians especially our brothers in Gaza is not banned, this is completely false. What is banned is raising political slogans, be it from any country or region. ONLY the Dhikr of Allah can be raised in the Two Holy Mosques and Mosques.”

  • Unidentified militants attack girls’ school in KP’s Kurram district

    Unidentified militants attack girls’ school in KP’s Kurram district

    Unidentified militants blew up a girls’ school in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Express News reported on Saturday.

    The local authorities confirmed that militants used hand grenades to destroy the Aisha Siddiqa Girls’ School, located in Central Kurram district. The powerful explosion destroyed the school building.

    No causalities have been reported.

    Relevant authorities, including intelligence agencies and police officials, are investigating the incident to arrest the terrorists responsible for the attack.
    Multiple girls’ schools had been attacked in North Waziristan. One of the locals has revealed to news outlets that the Taliban are demanding a significant amount of money from the schools’ funds.

  • Acting Punjab governor signs controversial defamation bill into law

    Acting Punjab governor signs controversial defamation bill into law

    On June 8, acting Governor Punjab Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan signed the highly controversial Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024 into law, Geo News reports.

    The bill has invited strong criticism from journalists, human rights organisations, and the opposition calling it a “black law.” However, it was passed into a law today disregarding all concerns and opposition.

    Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari slammed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) deceptive attitude, stating that the party deceived journalists.

    “The bill was signed by the acting governor by sending the Punjab governor on leave under a plan,” said Ansari.

    He also said that the PPP was apparently showing support to journalists and even assured that it wouldn’t be passed into law but in reality, it was in cahoots with the provincial government.

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed grave concern over the defamation bill.

  • Three judges recommended for promotion to Supreme Court

    Three judges recommended for promotion to Supreme Court

    The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has sent the names of three high court judges on Friday to a parliamentary committee for approval for promotion to the Supreme Court (SC), Geo has reported.

    During the JCP meeting, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) recommended the names of three judges: Lahore High Court Chief (LHC) Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad, Sindh High Court Chief (SHC) Justice Aqeel Abbasi, and LHC Justice Shahid Bilal.

    JCP was established under the 18th Constitutional Amendment to select judges for top courts.

    Nine JCP members, including Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahaya Afridi, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice (retd) Manzoor Ahmed Malik, Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazir Tarar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, and Pakistan Bar Council representative advocate Akhtar Hussain, attended the meeting.

    The total strength of judges in the SC is 17, but currently, only 14 judges are working, and three seats need to be filled.

  • UK court orders Adil Raja to pay even more fine

    UK court orders Adil Raja to pay even more fine

    A UK court has dismissed PTI-affiliated controversial YouTuber Major (retd) Adil Raja’s appeal to waive a £10,000 fine along with imposing an additional fine of 3,000 pounds.

    Raja was originally fined for defamation by the UK court following a complaint by Brigadier (retd) Rashid Nasir. Raja had appealed for the waiving of the fine on April 16, 2024, just a day before the original deadline for payment.

    Moreover, Adil Raja has also started a fundraiser for himself at GoFundMe with the title “Fight Against Fascism” which has already collected over £45,000.

    In the past, Raja has claimed financial troubles to cover his fines and legal fees however the court’s ruling indicates that the plea did not convince the judges.

    Brigadier Nasir’s legal action was initiated on August 11, 2022, following a campaign against him by Raja that began on June 14, 2022.