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Former spymaster Faiz Hameed’s brother Najaf Hameed was arrested after a Rawalpindi court rejected his plea on Monday in a bribery case.
The anti-corruption authorities arrested Najaf Hameed and went to Chakwal as instructed by the court.
It is pertinent to mention that Hameed secured protective bail from the court after he was booked in a bribery case.
In April 2023, the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) initiated an investigation against Najaf Hameed for assets beyond means and out-of-turn promotion.
The anti-graft body sent a letter to the deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi and the DC of Chakwal, asking them to provide the land ownership records of Najaf Hameed.
On February 13, he was suspended from the post of Naib Tehsildar in Chakwal over alleged misconduct.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has expressed willingness to let former federal minister Faisal Vawda join the party before the Senate elections take place on April 2.
“We had invited Vawda to join [MQM-P] in the past […] I pray that he joins the party’s ranks,” MQM-P leader Rauf Siddiqui said while speaking with journalists in Karachi.
MQM-P head Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who is also a candidate for senate polls, said that the party has fielded a total of eight candidates for the upper house.
However, Faisal Vawda has confirmed that he is still an “independent” political leader.
“I’m still independent,” Vawda said during a press conference in Karachi, adding that he would consider joining a political party when it’s in “season,” as independent candidates are currently trending.
Vawda expressed doubt about the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) securing power in Islamabad.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat made startling admissions regarding corruption within his party’s previous government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Known for his outspoken demeanor and controversial statements, Marwat recently alleged on an X (former Twitter) space that corruption had reached unprecedented levels during the previous PTI government in KP, with individuals amassing not billions, but trillions through illicit means.
Responding to a question, the PTI leader said that the narrative of keeping former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail instead of his residence in Bani Gala was not floated by him. “Former KP chief minister Mahmood Khan earns Rs2.5 million daily from one of his mines now,” he added.
Marwat’s remarks have once again thrust him into the limelight for his blunt and provocative statements. Just last week, he openly criticized his party’s decisions on alliances, attributing their electoral setbacks to two major mistakes.
He said the first major mistake was committed when party founder Imran Khan gave instructions for a political alliance with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Sherani and the second major mistake was the announcement of the inclusion into the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, adding that some people gave sectarian colour to the issue and gave threatening messages to the PTI leadership. However, Marwat’s comments have drawn ire from within his party, as well as from political allies.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), issued a stern warning to leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), cautioning them against airing internal grievances publicly. The revelations made by Marwat have reignited discussions surrounding corruption allegations within the PTI and have raised concerns about the party’s internal cohesion.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has filed her nomination papers on Sunday to contest by-elections on the National Assembly (NA) seat vacated by her father. Aseefa Bhutto will take part in the polls from NA-207 as the PPP’s co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, left his seat after being elected president of Pakistan.
The returning officer also confirmed that Assefa Bhutto submitted her nomination papers, stating that by-polls in Shaheed Benazirabad-1 will be held on April 21.
On her X (previously Twitter) account, the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto shared pictures of herself filing nomination papers.
She was accompanied by her aunt, Azra Fazal Pechuho. Party workers showered rose petals on her when she stepped out of the RO’s office.
Asif Ali Zardari was elected on March 10 as the 14th president of Pakistan.
The population of the constituency stands at 959,756 with 496,037 registered voters — of which 268,522 are male and 227,515 female voters.
Earlier, in the February 8 general elections, Zardari secured victory in NA-207 Shaheed Benazirabad-I constituency as he defeated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed (PTI) Sardar Sher Muhammad Rind by a huge margin.
The newly-elected Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, broke her fast on Sunday with prisoners of the central jail in Lahore in Kot Lakhpath. She visited the prisoners in jail, after having been imprisoned there herself in the past.
Videos released by her party showed her taking iftar with prisoners, giving them gifts and clothes, and providing Rs 15,000 in monetary assistance.
People on X (previously Twitter) appreciated that Maryam Nawaz extended her support to prisoners in jail. However, some people are also criticising the iftar as a publicity venture, stating that putting up banners of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in jail is wrong.
A video shared by Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb showed the CM Maryam visiting different sections of the jail and planting a tree in the garden on the occasion. Besides meeting the prison officials, Maryam also spoke to the prisoners and asked about their issues and problems.
Biryani, samosas, pakoras, fruits, and other savoury items were included in Iftar’s menu.
Earlier, Maryam Nawaz inaugurated a 20-bed hospital for drug addicts inside the prison.
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz on Sunday visited Central Jail Lahore in Kot Lakhpat and broke her fast with women prisoners.
Instead of mixing up with the guests, the Punjab chief minister extended her support to the prisoners by eating with them at Iftar and presenting… pic.twitter.com/JvYZZ4siCs
Habib Orakzai, the Secretary General of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTIP), disclosed the reasons behind the breakdown of negotiations with PTI.
While talking to Geo News, Orakzai revealed that the secretary general of the Insaf Lawyer’s forum, Moazzam Butt contacted him.
“It was discussed in the meeting that it would be great if PTI and PTIP make a coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.
According to Orakzai, two rounds of negotiations took place at the wish of PTI representatives Ali Amin Gandapur and Assad Qaiser, where PTI presented two conditions. He also revealed that both talked to him over a phone call.
Orakzai revealed that the first condition was the resignation of Pervez Khattak, which was agreed upon, and subsequently, Khattak tendered his resignation.
In round two of the discussions, the president of the Insaf Lawyer’s Forum, Shadab Jaffri, discussed everything in detail with Hamid Khan and then came for discussion with Orakzai.
The second condition was the resignation of women from reserve seats, which was also accepted, leading to their resignations being submitted to the Election Commission.
It was then communicated that there was a meeting with Imran Khan, founding chairman of PTI, in Aidala Jail the following day.
Orakzai stated that a press conference was held with the Sunni Ittehad Council at 5 minutes past 4 the next day.
The revelation sheds light on the intricacies of the negotiation process within PTI and hints at underlying tensions within the party’s leadership.
Fatima Bhutto, author and the granddaughter of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, announced the birth of her baby boy on Saturday. She has named her son Mir Murtaza Byra, after her father Mir Murtaza Bhutto.
The writer shared the good news via her account on X and wrote, “Graham and I are so happy to share the news of the birth of our baby boy.”
The internationally acclaimed writer also shared an elaborate social media post, revealing the name she picked for her son and explaining her reasons behind the choice.
“We wanted to give our son a name that would bestow him with courage and kindness as he makes his way through the world. I wanted a name that would act as an inspiration to him in his life but also one that would cloak him in love and strength, a name that he could wear with the knowledge that it was given to him from deep within his mother’s heart and soul to protect him throughout his life, to give him in equal measure both grace and fearlessness, a sense of his homeland and of joy,” she wrote.
Sharing her feelings regarding the naming her child, Fatima stated: “Every time I thought of what name might do that, I always came back to my beloved father’s name.”
She also asked her fans and followers to pray for her family during this happy time.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) has decided to field its jailed activist Sanam Javed for the women’s seat in the upcoming senate polls while incarcerated leader Dr Yasmin Rashid will contest the election for the technocrat seat in the Upper House.
Party leader Mian Aslam Iqbal announced that Hamid Khan and Zulfi Bukhari are candidates for general seats in Punjab while Umar Sarfaraz Cheema and Col (retd) Ijaz Minhas will serve as covering candidates for the general seats.
Meanwhile, today is the last date for submitting nomination papers for the Senate elections on general seats. The returning officers will be accepting the nominations till 5pm. The scrutiny of the nomination papers would be completed by March 19, while by March 21, appeals can be filed against the acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers.
Furthermore, authorities will issue decisions on the appeals by March 25. Polling will take place in both the provincial and national assemblies on April 2 from 9 am to 4 pm.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), issued a stern warning to leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), cautioning them against airing internal grievances publicly.
Raza’s remarks came in response to PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat’s statement, where he criticized the decision to ally with the SIC, attributing it to the loss of 80 seats.
Marwat said the first major mistake was committed when party founder Imran Khan gave instructions for a political alliance with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Sherani and the second major mistake was the announcement of the inclusion into the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, adding that some people gave a sectarian colour to the issue and gave threatening messages to the PTI leadership.
Expressing strong disapproval of Marwat’s comments, Raza advised PTI to resolve its internal issues internally, underscoring that the decision to collaborate with the SIC was endorsed by PTI founder Imran Khan.
Raza wrote on X (former Twitter), ” It is better that PTI friends resolve the matters internally and Imran Khan made the decision of Sunni Ittehad Council, I didn’t make any request. From electoral symbol to reserve seats I have so much to tell that if I say something in a talk show then these people won’t be able to show their faces.”
In a statement made during the Geo News talk show ‘Naya Pakistan with Shahzad Iqbal Kay Sath,’ PTI leader Senator Barrister Ali Zafar shed light on the decision-making process regarding alliances for reserved seats.
Zafar revealed that initially, the plan was to merge with Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), but it was later altered in favor of the SIC following discussions with Imran Khan.
Expressing his astonishment on the development, Zafar said: “When I asked Imran Khan about this, he said he had not changed the decision.”
Ali Zafar, however, emphasised: “The decision will have to be revised no matter how it was taken; it was our mistake; as to where and how this miscommunication was committed.”
He conceded that Sher Afzal Marwat was right.
“At first, a decision was made to join the MWM. Prior to that, a decision was also made to unite with Maulana Sheerani’s party as Sheerani’s group also participated in the election and had also given a list of reserved seats.”
Zafar emphasized the need for clarity in decision-making, noting discrepancies in interpreting constitutional provisions and the Elections Act.
He indicated that the matter may need adjudication by the Supreme Court to resolve conflicting opinions.
The Supreme Court has to decide whether our interpretation is correct or the verdict of the ECP or the Peshawar High Court.
“We also referred to the Election Commission’s decision to give specific seats to the BAP party in the court. To which, the ECP said that they do not know why they gave reserved seats to the BAP, so this decision cannot be used as an example here,” he said.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s steadfast support for Pakistan during a congratulatory phone call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who assumed office earlier this month.
The crown prince congratulated the prime minister on his re-election, a PM Office press release said. Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked the Saudi crown prince for the telephone call as well as the warm message of greetings he had sent immediately after he had assumed office. The prime minister also conveyed his sincerest wishes and prayers for the health and well-being of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Highlighting the historic and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, PM Shehbaz praised the Saudi government’s unwavering commitment and support for Pakistan. He also extended blessings for the month of Ramadan to the Saudi leadership and people, praying for peace and prosperity for Muslims worldwide.
Furthermore, PM Shehbaz extended an official invitation to the crown prince to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience, expressing the anticipation of a warm welcome from the people of Pakistan.
The invitation was well received by MBS, who acknowledged the “kind sentiments” and the eagerness of the Pakistani people.
