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.

  • No legal, moral justification to restrict Zartaj Gul from travelling: IHC

    No legal, moral justification to restrict Zartaj Gul from travelling: IHC

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday ordered a hearing on the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Zartaj Gul to remove her name from the Exit Control List (ECL) to allow her to go for Hajj.

    There is no legal or moral justification to restrict Gul from travelling, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri remarked in his order.

    The court, in its order, stated that the Interior Secretary should appoint a senior officer who knows about the law to assist the court, and the authorised officer should be aware of the facts of the case in the next hearing along with the relevant records.

    The state lawyer said during the hearing that the petitioner secured bail in multiple protest cases and was not absconding.

    On April 18, an anti-terrorism court granted Zartaj interim bail in the May 9 case. After the lawyers presented their arguments, the judge granted interim bail to the PTI leader until May 10.

  • Faisal Karim Kundi warns Gandapur against taking over Governor House

    Faisal Karim Kundi warns Gandapur against taking over Governor House

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) newly appointed Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday warned chief minister KP, Ali Amin Gandapur, against taking over Governor House, promising to take strong action, even resorting to dragging them through the streets if needed.

    Kundi of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) promised to work tirelessly for the development of the KP and avoid engaging in political retribution.

    On Wednesday, Ali Amin Gandapur threatened to take over Governor House. In response, Kundi urged KP’s chief minister to work for the people with honesty.

    Kundi stressed how working together and including everyone is key to making the province better. He brushed off rumours about Governor Raj, saying they’re coming from people who feel threatened politically. The newly appointed governor challenged these people to come forward and try to prove their power, but warned them that they won’t get any backing from the province.

  • PTI issues show-cause notice to Marwat

    PTI issues show-cause notice to Marwat

    Internal differences with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reached a head on Saturday when the party issued a show cause notice to its crowd-favourite leader, Sher Afzal Marwat.

    PTI’s Secretary General Omar Ayub issued the notice to Marwat for going against the party’s discipline and making irresponsible statements, emphasising that his words had damaged the party’s reputation.
    Marwat now has three days to submit his answer.
    “If your reply is unsatisfactory or you do not respond, further action will be taken as per party policy and rules,” said the notice.

    Marwat, known for his blunt and controversial remarks, has clashed with several party leaders, including Taimur Khan Jhagra, Omar Ayub, and Shibli Faraz, keeping him in the limelight since Imran Khan’s incarceration.
    On May 9, Omar Ayub said PTI removed Sher Afzal Marwat from the core and political committees of the party under the directions of Imran Khan.
    “The PTI founder said Marwat tried to damage his personal relations with the kingdom [of Saudi Arabia] as he has excellent ties with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman,” Ayub said.

  • MBS much-anticipated visit to Pakistan delayed

    MBS much-anticipated visit to Pakistan delayed

    The highly anticipated visit of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) to Pakistan has been delayed, The News has reported.

    Official sources had earlier indicated that the crown prince would be in Islamabad on May 19, for two days.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman is likely to visit Pakistan soon. Dar confirmed that the date of the Saudi Prince’s visit will be finalised this month.

    “InshaAllah, the visit is due [and] I believe we may receive final dates [of the visit from Saudi Arabia] anytime in May,” Dar said while addressing media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Tuesday.

    Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch, when asked to comment on the development, made it clear on Friday that as soon the schedule was worked out between the two capitals, it would be made public.

    The FO spokesperson was hopeful that the visit would take place soon.

  • Tax chor tyar hojaen; FBR, telecos agree to start blocking SIMs

    Tax chor tyar hojaen; FBR, telecos agree to start blocking SIMs

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and telecom operators have agreed on blocking SIMs of tax non-filers as part of the government’s strategy to punish tax evasion, The News reported on Saturday.

    In a statement, the FBR announced that telecom companies have agreed to start the manual blocking process of SIMs in small batches until their systems are fully equipped to automate it.

    The FBR said that the first batch comprising 5,000 non-filers has been communicated to telecom operators and further batches would be sent to telecom companies on a daily basis.

    Meanwhile, the operators have also commenced sending messages to non-filers regarding the blocking of their SIMs for intimation purposes.

    Earlier, a deadlock had been created when telecom operators refused to implement FBR’s decision to block 500,000 SIMs of tax evaders.

  • Sardar Saleem Hiader takes oath as new governor of Punjab

    Sardar Saleem Hiader takes oath as new governor of Punjab

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sardar Saleem Haider has taken oath as the new Governor of Punjab on Friday at the Governor’s House.

    Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC), administered the oath to newly appointed Governor.

    Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi attended the swearing-in ceremony.

    Last week, president Asif Ali Zardari gave approval for the appointment of Saleem Haider, Faisal Karim Kundi, and Jaffar Khan Mandokhail as governors of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan, respectively.

  • Pakistani researcher killed in Portugal

    Pakistani researcher killed in Portugal

     A young researcher from Lahore has been killed in Porto, Portugal, when he resisted a robbery attempt, Geo reported on Friday.

    Family members of the victim, Anthony Shoukat, said he went to Portugal for a research project of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital.

    They appealed the government to help them bring the victim’s body at the earliest and bring the culprits to justice.

    The victim’s family said Anthony had done his masters from Sweden and his PhD from Germany.

    In March, Fahimuddin, a Pakistani-German, was murdered and his family attacked with a knife in Germany. Fahimuddin had moved from Karachi’s Azizabad neighbourhood to Germany and made it his permanent home.

  • Laptop scheme phir shoroo?

    Laptop scheme phir shoroo?

    Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz on Friday gave the green signal to restart her party’s laptop scheme for students after a gap of seven years.

    Punjab government announced that laptops will be given to students, it was decided in a meeting presided by Maryam about higher education sector reforms, wherein a detailed briefing was also given on promotion of laptop and transport facility for students.

    Punjab has almost 0.65 million students, 44 per cent of whom are boys and 56 per cent are girls.

    Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, the chief secretary, secretary higher education and other officials also attended the meeting.

  • Governor rule will not be tolerated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, says Gandapur

    Governor rule will not be tolerated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, says Gandapur

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur said on Thursday that the KP government will resist any efforts to impose governor rule in the province.

    He condemned the May 9 incidents and said that those who are responsible for violent protests should be held accountable.

    Gandapur emphasised that, despite facing eight FIRs in eight different districts, none of the allegations have been proven to be true.

    Gandapur also warned undemocratic forces who want to undermine the democratic process.

    “I will not remain silent for the chief minister’s seat, and if governor rule is imposed, we will take over the governor’s house,” Gandapur said.

  • Imran Khan gives Arif Alvi important task

    Imran Khan gives Arif Alvi important task

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder chairman Imran Khan took a major step in his recent meeting with former president Dr Arif Alvi at Adiala jail by assigning an important responsibility to him.

    PTI secretary general and opposition leader in parliament, Omar Ayub Khan, confirmed to journalists that Alvi is working actively to bridge the gap between PTI and the establishment.

    The decision to assign the responsibility to Dr Arif Alvi came a day after the PTI founder refused to apologise for May 9 riots.

    However, Dr Arif Alvi said, while talking to the media, that Imran Khan is still ready to make sacrifices for the nation and the country. He also stated that some PTI workers were involved in the May 9 incidents, but wiping out the entire party was wrong.

    The May 9 violence was triggered across the country after deposed Prime Minister Khan’s arrest in the £190 million settlement case last year.