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.

  • Sharjeel Memon says big plan behind Imran Khan still being ‘laadla’

    Sharjeel Memon says big plan behind Imran Khan still being ‘laadla’

    Sindh Minister Sharjeel Memon recently stated during a press conference that the founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan is still a “laadla” (favourite) due to rapid speed of multiple case hearings.

    “I’m saying this very openly that there is a big plan behind the scenes,” said the PPP member.

    Memon also alleged that “Israel financially supported Khan in his election campaign and Israel is also campaigning about alleged human rights abuse in Pakistan.”

    The PPP member was of the view that in the past President Asif Ali Zardari’s cases did not get quick hearings as Khan’s do.

    He criticised the former Prime Minister for being a “small-minded person” and also stated that CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur should apologise for his wrong attitude with the Governor of KP.

  • NAB chairman apologises to victims for Bureau’s past wrongdoings

    NAB chairman apologises to victims for Bureau’s past wrongdoings

    In a welcome turn of events, present National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Lt Gen (R) Nazir Butt has started approarching those who were victimised by the watchdog to apologise for the past misdeeds of widely criticised anti-corruption institution of Pakistan.

    The NAB chairman decided to sooth the pain of the victims by meeting them personally to apologise for how the top anti-corruption body maltreated them in the past. Multiple politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen are on the list of NAB victims.

    Nazir Butt visited family members of the NAB victim who died a few years ago due to the torment of the institution’s officials.

    NAB’s new policy is completely different from what it was doing with multiple individuals a few years ago, The News reported on Friday.

    NAB is known for what is perceived as misuse of its power. The top anti-corruption body harassed multiple individuals, including politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen, by keeping them behind bars for several years without any solid evidence.

    Several individuals lost their lives under NAB’s harassment.

    A few years ago, a NAB victim, Brigadier Asad Munir was found dead in his home in Islamabad. A handwritten note was discovered near his body. The note read, “I request you, the honourable chief justice, to take notice of NAB’s officials conduct so that other government officials are not convicted for the crimes they have not committed.”

  • ‘Wife owns properties not only in Dubai but in UK as well,’ reveals Mohsin Naqvi

    ‘Wife owns properties not only in Dubai but in UK as well,’ reveals Mohsin Naqvi

    Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said on Thursday that he and his wife declared their properties a decade ago. Naqvi, a media baron who became Punjab’s caretaker Chief Minister and now also holds the coveted position of Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), stressed that there is nothing new in the “Dubai unlocked” project. 

    Naqvi revealed that his wife not only owns properties in Dubai but also in the United Kingdom (UK).

    He gave a detailed response to the Dubai leaks in a press conference in Lahore after the leaked property records named several prominent personalities in Pakistan, including government officials, politicians, military generals, and other individuals.

    He also said that it is necessary for the national media to report about major developments, but portraying that someone owned property with illegal means is wrong.
    The former caretaker chief minister of Punjab also stated that he was not in any official position 10 to 12 years ago, but he had properties at that time as well.

  • IHC bans entry of intelligence officials within court premises

    IHC bans entry of intelligence officials within court premises

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 16 prohibited the entry of spy agency officials within the court’s premises.

    Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri gave the ruling which was confirmed by a police official at the court.

    The development followed the release of an explosive letter penned to the Supreme Judicial Council by six judges if IHC on March 27, alleging the interference of intelligence agencies in judicial matters.

    The six judges of the IHC who wrote the letter were Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz.

  • Exclusive: ‘He avoided eye contact with me’: what happened when Shafaat copied Shehbaz?

    Exclusive: ‘He avoided eye contact with me’: what happened when Shafaat copied Shehbaz?

    A light-hearted moment occurred between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and comedian Shafaat Ali during a ceremony at Prime Minister House in Islamabad.

    The Prime Minister gave a cheerful invite to Shafaat by recounting an anecdote of his past interaction with the comedian. The PM said: “Mr Shafaat has been compassionate with us today because I had a past experience with his performance and said to myself, ‘Ye main kidhar phass gya hun?’”

    The audience thoroughly enjoyed the PM’s remarks about Shafaat.

    PM Shehbaz requested the comedian to mimic him in front of the people present, which surprised many present since a sitting PM has rarely done that.

    The Current talked with the talented Shafaat Ali to get the details of his fun interaction with the PM.

    “When I went on stage, he was initially so nervous that he avoided eye contact with me. Then I made a comment on Javed Latif and everyone just exploded with laughter,” Shafaat told The Current.

    We asked Shafaat if the PM expected him to do a mimicry of the Prime Minister. “What he [PM Shehbaz] did at the end of his speech was not expected. It’s probably the first time ever that a head of state has asked an artist to imitate him in front of a live audience.”

    Shafaat remarked that he was “genuinely impressed with the PM’s cool,” given that it was a spontaneous interaction with Sharif at the end of the ceremony.

    Social media reacted positively to this event.

  • Pakistan’s total debt skyrockets to Rs 81 trillion

    Pakistan’s total debt skyrockets to Rs 81 trillion

    Bad news for Pakistanis as the country’s total debt and liabilities increased to a record of nearly Rs 81 trillion in the past year.

    Pakistan is currently going through a severe and difficult economic crisis as it tries to increase revenue generation and reduce all its debts, however, no silver lining yet.

    The collective debt and liabilities are approximately 15 percent of the nation’s GDP, higher than the statutory limit defined in the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act.

    The reason for such a stark increase in the debt is due to a lack of major foreign investment in the country even though Pakistan secured yet another IMF bailout package.

    Austerity measures have so far remained theoretical as the government has failed to cut off unnecessary expenses of the bloated government. For instance, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier approved grants to provide awards to officers of the Prime Minister’s Office and Defence Production.

    Meanwhile, additional funds have also been allocated for the renovation of the PM’s Office and for providing subsidies to Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

  • Who leaked Khan’s image from Supreme Court?

    Who leaked Khan’s image from Supreme Court?

    The Supreme Court (SC) has started an investigation after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) released an image of former Prime Minister Imran Khan from today’s hearing in the National Accountability Bruea (NAB) amendments case.

    The picture appears to have been snapped during today’s hearing when the former Prime Minister appeared before SC via video link in the case related to changes in NAB laws.

    The bench comprises Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi.

    Imran Khan is currently in Adiala jail on multiple sentences.

    The photo is the first image taken after Imran’s arrest from Zaman Park in Toshakhana reference last year.

    The image released by PTI showed that Imran Khan is sitting on the chair wearing a blue shirt with the sleeves folded.

  • ‘I will become prime minister or president if people vote for me’, says Fazlur Rehman

    Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman refused the allegations that he was offered the seat of the Prime Minister of the country. He stated that he will become PM only with the votes of people.

    “I will become the prime minister or president if the people vote for me,” Fazl said while speaking to journalists in Multan, adding that he was never presented with such an offer.

    He was surprised by the fact that someone will offer him the top position.

    The senior politician who was the head of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) formed against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, said that Pakistan will continuously move towards “slavery” if citizens don’t safeguard their votes.

    He also said that the current government is fragile, as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is part of the government but not  part of Shehbaz’s cabinet.

  • Imran Khan appears in court via video link

    Imran Khan appears in court via video link

    The Supreme Court (SC) has started proceedings in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendments case as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan appeared before the bench via video link to present his arguments, Geo reported today. 

    Earlier in the day, arrangements were completed at Adiala jail on the order of the SC for the appearance of the PTI founder via video link.

    The Adiala jail administration informed the former prime minister about his appearance via video link in today’s hearing. The staff of the SC and jail authorities tested the video link before Khan’s appearance.

    A day earlier, Khan’s lawyers, Khawaja Haris and Intezar Panjutha, met him shortly in Adiala jail after the top court’s order to the federal and Punjab governments to give video link facility to incarcerated politician.

    “The PTI founder can present his arguments in the upcoming hearing via video link if he wishes to do so […] arrangements should be made for the presentation of arguments via video link,” Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa had said Tuesday.

  • Faisal Vawda demands ‘evidence’ of interference in judicial matters

    Faisal Vawda demands ‘evidence’ of interference in judicial matters

    Independent Senator Faisal Vawda has criticised judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for their letter accusing spy agencies of interfering in judicial matters, saying we should stop targeting institutions.

    “Stop targeting the institutions, enough is enough. If there is any interference by institutions, then provide evidence, and we will stand together [against it],” said the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader during a press conference. 

    Vawda’s remarks came after he filed an application to ask the IHC registrar about revealing the exchange of a letter between former IHC chief justice Athar Minallah and IHC’s Justice Babar Sattar regarding Justice Sattar’s green card.

    The senator wrote a letter, mentioning the social media campaigns against Justice Babar Sattar, accusing him of holding dual nationality and business interests in a private school in the country.

    “A press release was issued that said Justice Sattar is Pakistani, but I didn’t get a reply. CJP Qazi Faez Isa, under Article 19, ordered that every Pakistani can get an answer,” he said.

    The former PTI leader stated that judges should be transparent and away from accusations.

    Vawda stressed that the accusations made by the IHC judges kept mentioning the names of agencies repeatedly. “Give evidence, and we will stand beside you,” he added.