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.

  • Parvez Elahi suffers bone injury after slipping in Adiala washroom

    Parvez Elahi suffers bone injury after slipping in Adiala washroom

    The former chief minister of Punjab and president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, suffered a bone injury after falling in the Adiala jail washroom on Monday.

    The deputy superintendent of Adiala Jail brought forward a medical report to an anti-corruption court during a hearing about illegal recruitments in the Punjab Assembly.

    The deputy superintendent informed the judge that the former chief minister fell in the washroom yesterday (March 17), resulting in a fracture.

    The court has postponed the hearing of the indictment against Elahi and others until April 4 due to his absence in court.

    Parvez Elahi has been detained in multiple cases for several months.

  • Hassan, Hussain Nawaz are free from all cases

    Hassan, Hussain Nawaz are free from all cases

    The Accountability Court in Islamabad has taken a significant step in the cases involving Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, sons of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    The court has acquitted them in the Flagship, Al-Azizia, and Avenfield cases, which are being handled by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

    Earlier, the court also suspended the perpetual arrest warrants after the voluntary appearance of the brothers before the court after reaching Lahore on March 13.

    They were received by their father, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, at his residence, Jati Umrah.

    In addition to suspending the arrest warrants, the court also granted bail to Hassan and Hussain Nawaz. As part of the bail conditions, each of them had to provide bail bonds worth Rs50,000.

    Both suspects made their appearances in court to mark their attendance. The court has summoned the NAB for the following day regarding the bail applications of the brothers. Furthermore, the court has approved their request to appoint a pleader, and they have chosen Rana Muhammad Irfan for the task.

    This decision from the accountability court comes after seven years, ever since the warrants for the brothers were issued, declaring them absconders.

  • Shahid Khaqan Abbasi hints at launching his new political party

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi hints at launching his new political party

    Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has hinted at launching a new political party soon, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

    “We are holding consultations and groundwork is in progress for a new political party,” he told the media while arriving for a NAB hearing. “The country needs a new political party,” he said.

    The senior politician requested that the president and prime minister abolish the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as it is necessary to save the country.

    “I don’t want withdrawal of cases against me but decision on all these cases,” he said.

    Abbasi also said on a question regarding his meet-up with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawab Sharif that “I am ready to meet him, when he will summon.”

  • Where is Nawaz Sharif traveling to very soon?

    Where is Nawaz Sharif traveling to very soon?

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is set to travel to abroad next month, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

    Reports indicate that Nawaz Sharif will go to Saudi Arabia to spend the last 10 days of Ramazan.

    After that, the former prime minister will travel to London for a routine medical checkup.

    However, he will return to Pakistan from London after a complete checkup.

    In October 2023, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif returned from London to Pakistan after self-imposed exile of almost four years.

  • Former ISI chief Faiz Hameed’s brother sent to Adiala jail

    Former ISI chief Faiz Hameed’s brother sent to Adiala jail

    Najaf Hameed, the brother of former ISI chief retired Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed has been sent to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi on a 14-day judicial remand in a corruption case on Monday by a local court in Rawalpindi.

    The development comes after the suspect went to Senior Civil Judge Waqar Hussain Gondal’s court to ask for pre-arrest bail because a special anti-corruption court rejected his request for bail after he was arrested.

    Najaf is accused of acquiring wealth beyond his source of income.

    In his order, the senior civil judge stated: “Investigation officer/case officer has requested to send the above accused to the judicial lockup.”

    “Record reflects that offences allegedly levelled against the accused are non-bailable in nature. Therefore, as per the request of I.O./C.O. accused person is sent to judicial lock up and be produced along with report [challan] under Section 173 Cr.P.C before the concerned court on April 1, 2024,” read the order.

    Earlier,  Najaf Hameed was arrested after a Rawalpindi court rejected his plea on Monday in a corruption case.

  • Mazay Khatam; No more 1st class for PM and five-star hotels for ministers 

    Mazay Khatam; No more 1st class for PM and five-star hotels for ministers 

    In a bid to curb expenses, the federal government has rolled out a stringent travel advisory affecting top-tier officials, including the president, prime minister, chief justice, services chiefs, and bureaucrats. 

    Effective immediately, the advisory mandates specific classes for air travel, categorizing officials based on their positions.

    Cabinet Division said the president and the CJP will travel in ‘class-1’, whereas the PM, Senate chairman, National Assembly speaker, ministers, services chiefs, MNAs, federal secretaries, grade-22 officers, and ambassadors will travel in business class.

    Other officers of the federal government, attached departments, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, and other institutions under the administrative control of various ministries/divisions will travel in economy class.

    Obligatory Visits Only

    According to the advisory, foreign travel of officers shall be allowed only in cases of obligatory visits and that too in the economy class.

    This move comes as part of a new foreign travel policy aiming to rationalize overseas visits, instill austerity measures, and enforce accountability.

    Key provisions of the policy include obtaining permission from an austerity committee for non-essential visits, providing comprehensive travel details to the Foreign Ministry, and a ban on simultaneous foreign trips by ministers and secretaries unless under unavoidable circumstances approved by the prime minister.

    No Five Star Hotels

    Additionally, the policy discourages stays in five-star hotels, prohibits support staff from accompanying government officers, and encourages teleconferencing as a viable alternative. Ministers, ministers of state, advisers, and assistants are limited to three foreign visits per year, with exceptions granted in special cases.

    Furthermore, ministers are prohibited from traveling during National Assembly or Senate sessions, and all foreign visit details must be submitted to the Foreign Ministry within 15 days.

    The guidelines also address diplomatic relations, mandating adherence to the ‘One China Policy’ for interactions with Taiwan and requiring special permission for contacts with Korea. Visiting India necessitates permission from the interior and foreign ministries.

    Lastly, hosting foreign companies is discouraged, and visits by experts and consultants are permitted only during bilateral discussions.

  • Resurfaced Indian clip about Imran Khan goes viral; people divided

    Resurfaced Indian clip about Imran Khan goes viral; people divided

    An old clip from an ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sushant Sareen, whose X (Former Twitter) bio says “Senior Fellow, ORF; obsessive Pakistan watcher and hence Afghanistan, Kashmir, Terrorism, Islamism; history buff but studied economics” and Tilak Devasher, whose bio says “Author of ‘Pakistan: Courting the Abyss’, ‘Pakistan: At the Helm’ and ‘Pakistan: The Balochistan Conundrum. Member National Security Advisory Board” has gone viral.

    X user Hamza Azhar Aslam who according to his profile bio is a journalist and Founder & Editor of ThePakDaily posted a clip on March 17 where Smita, Sushant, and Devasher were discussing Imran Khan.

    The clip was captioned as “Indian intelligentsia discusses the cult of Imran Khan.”

    The clip states that Imran Khan’s followers are a cult and they believe in whatever Imran says.

    X users are divided after this discussion. User @CherieDamour_ said, “Even the Indians get what youthias are blind to.”

    @awaissaleem77 wrote, “Does this “intelligentsia” ever discuss Modi cult with such enthusiasm as well?”

    @mariaa_awd said, “Wowww this one really thinks Smita is Indian intelligentsia , bhai mana we are Vishwagurus but Smita aunty is not our intelligentsia by any stretch, gossip aunty at best ‍♀️

    Her kisi se impress hona band Kare … we need some confidence building workshops for sarhad paar libbus”

    @ajmalkhankakar wrote, “The Indian folks in this clip perfectly characterize and provide the most accurate description of IK’s persona and his followers.”

    @samiyanoureen6 wrote, “Are there no journalists in Pakistan with the courage to speak bluntly and honestly like this?”

    @CHSandhu886 wrote, “I love how intricate these Indian analysts are about the phenomenon of Imran Khan’s popularity, truly admire how they’ve picked up on details. Don’t think any Pakistani analyst can explain this in such detail.”

  • Nawaz Sharif criticises increase in gas, power rates under IMF pressure

    Nawaz Sharif criticises increase in gas, power rates under IMF pressure

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif criticised the increase in rates of electricity and gas prices after directives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to do so.

    The former prime minister raised concerns regarding the increase in rates of gas and power during a meeting with the Punjab government. The Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, was also present in the meeting.

    The leader of the PML-N commented on high inflation, questioning how much more the nation could endure. He urged authorities to solve the issue of costly electricity for small farmers by giving them solar panels.

    Senior provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Information Minister Azma Bukhari, Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, MPA Sania Ashiq, provincial chief secretary, Planning and Development Board chairman, Transport secretary, and other officials concerned were also present at the meeting.

    The PML-N supremo also said that small farmers should be rewarded for their hard work and should be saved from the exploitation of big farmers.

  • Tayyaba Raja angry at PTI for senate seat for Sanam Javed

    Tayyaba Raja angry at PTI for senate seat for Sanam Javed

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker Tayyaba Raja criticised her party for nominating Sanam Javed as a candidate for a seat in the Senate.

    Tayyaba Raja wrote on her X (previously Twitter) account that it is unfair to highlight one person’s achievements and ignoring the sacrifices of others.

    Tayyaba also asked how an anti-terrorism court granted bail to Sanam Javed, writing that she arrested eight times and received bail on seven occasions.

    The PTI leader pointed out that Aliya Hamza and Khadija Shah were granted bail by the Lahore High Court after nine months following the reformation of the bench 15 times.

    “How can the ATC repeatedly grant bail to an individual? This is a major question.”

    “All of us are silent only till the return of [PTI founding chairman] Imran Khan,” she said.

    She urged every woman worker to remain patient and wait for the best time to speak up.

  • Khawaja Sira community members attacked by mob in Karachi; No action taken yet

    Khawaja Sira community members attacked by mob in Karachi; No action taken yet

    The first-ever elected transgender member of the Karachi Municipal Council and transgender rights activist Shahzadi Rai took to X (former Twitter) and described an incidence of violence against her community members.

    Shahzadi wrote, “A mob attack occurred at Johar Mor. These individuals first beat members of my community, then threatened to kill us openly. Please help and kindly tag the police. @sindhpolicedmc8 @BBhuttoZardari @PPP_Org @AuratMarchKHI @TMItalks.”

    In the video she highlighted how police arrived quite late while she was constantly being threatened with being killed. In another video, she was trying to calm the mob, but nothing worked at that point. She has appealed to the Sindh police to take legal action against the hate crime and violence.

    Member of Awami Workers Party, Ammar Rashid, wrote, “Horrifying to see. There is a direct line from the anti-trans hate being spread by rightwing activists, youtubers & parties to such mobs. Your ‘gender activism’ hobby & moral panic clickbait leads to situations of life & death for others. And no surprise Sindh police is MIA.”

    Transgender Rights Activist Aradhiya Khan demanded strict action, “ Urgent Alert: Another mob attack at Johar Mor! Once again, our community is being targeted and hunted down. We’re facing threats of violence and need immediate intervention.
    @sindhpolicedmc8 , please step in to stop this cycle of terror. Lives are at stake! #StopViolence”

    Human Rights Activist Gulalai Ismail highlighted the consequences of online campaigns against transgender community, “This is terrifying and highly condemnable. The recent trans-hate politics of JI and likes of Maria B has intensified the existing threats to the lives of Pakistani khwajasira community. These hate mongers should be held accountable & brought to justice.”

    Aurat March Karachi also reacted to the situation and said, “This is outrageous and horrifying. Till when will the khawaja sira community and trans people be forced to live in fear of such gruesome violence? Why do these fanatical cis men feel emboldened enough to issue threats like these, that too so openly? We stand in solidarity with the trans community and reiterate our demand to immediately end the hate campaign & mob violence targeting them.”

    Lawyer Muneeb Qadir said, “’Taang pe taang rakh ke cheer doon ga’ was what Qaiser Raja had said about transgenders & while specifically naming Shahzadi Rai in that speech. Hate speech can have dangerous consequences as you can see from what happened in Johar Mor last night. Maria B, Mishi, this one’s on u”