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.

  • Marwat kicked out of PTI committees on Khan’s directions

    Marwat kicked out of PTI committees on Khan’s directions

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has been kicked out of the party’s core and political committees on the direction of founder PTI Imran Khan, confirmed party Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan on Thursday.

    The development occurred a day after Marwat criticised PTI leaders and told journalists that he will not work under the new leadership of the party.

    “I refuse to work with Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub […] they didn’t allow me to meet Imran Khan [in prison],” Marwat said while speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

    On the other hand, on Thursday, opposition leader and PTI’s Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan said while talking to the media that Imran Khan authorised the issuance of show-cause notice to Sher Afzal Marwat as he tried to “spoil” ties with Saudi Arabia.

    “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.

  • Want PTI to apologise? Give us an independent May 9 commission and we will: Omar Ayub

    Want PTI to apologise? Give us an independent May 9 commission and we will: Omar Ayub

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan, while talking to Independent Urdu, said that May 9 was a conspiracy against PTI. In response to a question regarding apologising to the military, the PTI leader said, “Yes, we will apologise if an independent commission is made.”

    On the other hand, Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aain (TTA) alliance leaders demanded a judicial investigation into the May 9 violent protests last year.

    TTA chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, while speaking at the event in Islamabad, warned that his party workers will protest on the streets across the country if martial law was imposed in the country, and the constitution was destabilised.

    Similarly, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said sarcastically while addressing the same event that DG ISPR, in his recent press release, gave ‘facts like Form 47’.

  • Alvi wants people from both sides of country to forgive each other

    Alvi wants people from both sides of country to forgive each other

    Former president and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Dr Arif Alvi said on Wednesday that people from both sides of the political spectrum should forgive each other. This can be seen as an indirect message to the ‘poweful circles’ regarding the violent protests that occurred last on May 9.

    He gave this statement while talking to journalists after visiting an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, where he met multiple PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, and Ejaz Chaudhary.

    On May 9 last year, law enforcement agencies arrested PTI founding chairman Imran Khan for the first time in connection with a corruption case, triggering violent riots across the country in which several installations of the security establishment were attacked.

    Arif Alvi assured PTI leaders during the meeting that they don’t need to worry about the cases as the people of Pakistan are with them.

    PTI senior woman leader Dr Yasmeen Rashid told Alvi to convey her message to PTI founder Imran Khan that she is happy despite facing multiple challenges in jail.

  • Security forces kill six terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    Security forces have killed at least six terrorists in separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in an issued statement.

    According to the military’s media wing, security officials conducted an intelligence-based operation on the presence of terrorists in the Dera Ismail Khan (DI) Khan district of KP.

    “During the conduct of the operation, five terrorists were successfully neutralised by the security forces and sent to hell,” the ISPR said in a brief statement.

    On the other hand, the security officials gunned down a militant named Inam Ullah in North Waziristan District.

    The military’s media wingj said that weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered from the slain terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as innocent civilians.

  • ‘I don’t owe apology to anyone’, Khan responds to DG ISPR

    ‘I don’t owe apology to anyone’, Khan responds to DG ISPR

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, who is currently in Adiala jail, turned down the military’s demand to apologise for May 9 riots. He also said that his party had no connection with the violent protests that occurred last year.

    “Why should I tender apology, it should be sought from me,” the imprisoned former prime minister said while talking to journalists in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Wednesday.

    The PTI founder was responding to a question related to Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Tuesday’s press conference, wherein he demanded “those involved in the May 9 violent protests to apologise” and shun politics of “anarchy” before holding any dialogue.

    Earlier last year, when Imran Khan was arrested after the May 9 protests, he told the court that people will react again to my arrest. 

    During a long press conference, the military spokesperson stated that they will not dialogue with those who attacked military installations and disrespected the nation’s martyrs.

  • Seven Punjabi barbers killed in Gwadar

    Seven Punjabi barbers killed in Gwadar

    Seven people belonging to Punjab have been killed and one injured in an attack by unknown armed men in the Gwadar district of Balochistan.

    Police said that the unfortunate incident took place in the Sarbandar area of Gwadar. The dead and injured were barbers and belonged to Khanewal district of Punjab.

    The bodies have been sent for autopsy while the injured person has been shifted to Gwadar Hospital for medical assistance, the police told BBC.

    Sarbandar is a fishing village which is located approximately 25 kilometers east of Gwadar city towards Karachi. Gwadar district bordering Iran is a coastal district of Balochistan and since the deterioration of the situation in Balochistan, incidents of this kind of unrest have been happening in Gwadar as well.

    No one has yet accepted responsibility for this incident and SHO Mohsin Baloch informed BBC that an investigation is going on into various aspects of the incident.

    Earlier on April 13, 11 people, including nine people from Punjab, were killed and five were injured when Balochistan Liberation Army militants fired on a bus in the Nushki district of Balochistan.

    In the past, like other areas of Balochistan, Gwadar also witnessed attacks on workers and security forces and other incidents of unrest. In March this year, a major attack was carried out on the Gwadar Port Authority complex in Gwadar. The Majeed Brigade of the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack.

    Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Longo have condemned the killings in Gwadar and said that the killing of innocent labourers in Gwadar is terrorism.

  • Court halts proceedings against Zardari over constitutional immunity

    Court halts proceedings against Zardari over constitutional immunity

    The Islamabad Accountability Courtvhas halted criminal proceedings against President Asif Ali Zardari in the Toshakhana vehicle reference. As per article 248, Zardari has presidential immunity from facing criminal charges.

    Prominent lawyer Farooq H. Naek, representing Asif Ali Zardari, filed an application in court for the constitutional immunity of the president.

    The Accountability Court judge said that the court will not hear the Toshakhana vehicle reference until Asif Ali Zardari is president.

  • Hollywood team visits Pakistan to shoot film on country’s culture

    Hollywood team visits Pakistan to shoot film on country’s culture

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that the production of a Hollywood film on Pakistan’s culture will give people around the world an opportunity to know more about the country and highlight its soft and positive image.
    During a meeting with the members of the Hollywood production team visiting Pakistan to shoot an international film on Pakistani culture, the minister remarked that the film, produced by the Hollywood production team, would represent a significant milestone for the Pakistani film industry.

    Discussions were held regarding the great cultural heritage and history of the country. The minister also apprised the production team about the progress in the film industry in the country.
    Attaullah Tarar thanked the Hollywood production team, stating, “It is a big honour for our culture and people.”

    “Our history, literature, music, and art are unique and appreciated worldwide,”
    The minister said, “I believed that this film would give the world a new opportunity to see the beauty and diversity of Pakistan.
    He clarified the government’s efforts to revive the film industry while claiming that it was the only one in Pakistan to receive tax amnesty.

    Attaullah Tarar also said, “The film policy was reinstated during the previous term of the government led by Shehbaz Sharif.”

    . He said, “A film finance fund of rupees one billion was established in the 2022-23 budget, which has greatly benefited the film industry and its related sectors.”

    Additionally, the govt introduced medical insurance for artists and tax incentives for filmmakers, which has further boosted the industry. In the 2022-23 budget, the govt also granted a five-year tax exemption to filmmakers and a five-year income tax exemption on the establishment of new film-related businesses.

  • Don’t use force against protesting lawyers in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz directs IG Punjab

    Don’t use force against protesting lawyers in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz directs IG Punjab

    The police clashed with lawyers on Wednesday at Lahore’s GPO Chowk, as the black coats organised a protest rally and tried to enter the Lahore High Court (LHC).

    The lawyers are protesting against the division of civil courts and terrorism cases against their colleagues.

    Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz said that she directed Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman to avoid using force against protesting lawyers.

    “Lawyers must also resolve their matters with LHC amicably. For the safety of the citizens of Lahore, confrontation should be avoided,” she said in a post on X.

    However, Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) president Asad Butt said while talking to Dawn News that the lawyers will continue to protest until their demands are met.

  • The Crown is coming to Pakistan, Dar confirms

    The Crown is coming to Pakistan, Dar confirms

    The 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 the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Tuesday.

    The Saudi crown prince, also known as MBS, will visit Pakistan for the first time in five years. His last visit to the country was in February 2019, when Imran Khan was prime minister.

    The deputy prime minister mentioned that during a recent meeting in Makkah, Pakistan’s delegation met with the Saudi crown prince. He assured Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that he will visit Pakistan soon.