Category: Uncategorized

  • Record of Toshakhana gifts will be posted online soon, promises Khawaja Asif

    Record of Toshakhana gifts will be posted online soon, promises Khawaja Asif

    The federal cabinet under the supervision of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has decided to make the details of state gifts received over the past two decades available to the public soon.

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced the development on his Twitter account where he revealed that the declassification of Toshakhana records has been allowed by the cabinet, adding that the record would be posted soon on the website of the cabinet division.

    Last year in June, PM Shehbaz Sharif constituted a ministerial committee to redesign Toshakhana policy.

    Toshakhana has been at the center of a political storm since 2021 when former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was accused of hiding details of the gifts he received during his tenure. A case and an investigation pertaining to the same are currently going on.

    However, responding to the controversy Khan said that the gifts were given to him, therefore it was his choice to keep them or not.

    Last year, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also disqualified the PTI chief as Member of the National Assembly (MNA) in the Toshkhana case.

    Recently, non-bailable arrest warrants were issued for Khan in the Toshkahana case because of his continued absences from Toshakhana court hearings. Last week, Islamabad Police reached Zaman Park to arrest the PTI chief, however, he managed to evade it.

    Later, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the arrest warrant but directed Khan to appear before the trial court by March 13 or face the proceedings of declaring him a proclaimed offender.

  • ‘As a woman, it is insulting that I have to take Imran Khan’s name’: Maryam Nawaz

    ‘As a woman, it is insulting that I have to take Imran Khan’s name’: Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said that she, too, has faced harassment even though she hails from a privileged background and has a powerful father.

    Addressing a PML-N women workers convention in Lahore on International Woman’s Day, Maryam said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his party has always targeted her with “personal attacks” when she says something political.

    “They talk about my marriage. My wedding was done with alot of love and festivities by my parents and grandparents. And I am still married to the same person. I don’t want to attack anyone personally,” said Maryam.

    “As a woman, it is insulting that I have to take Imran Khan’s name. Due to the current situation in the country, I have to take his name. Being a woman, I have said this many times, I would never let a person like Imran Khan inside my house,” said Maryam, adding that when Imran is asked about politics, he never gives a political answer. Instead, he, in his jalsa says, “Maryam Nawaz, you say my name so many times, be careful; your husband might get angry with you.”

    Khan in May last year made misogynistic remarks about Maryam Nawaz.

    “In that speech, she took my name with such passion that I would like to tell her: Maryam, please be careful, your husband may get upset because you were constantly repeating my name,” said IK during the speech.

    “I am like a daughter to him [Imran Khan], and now because of the fear of arrest, he has become old and is 72 years old, but when it comes to slurs and personally attacking me, where does his old age go?” questioned Maryam.

  • Establishment ki zaroorat nahi, jiskay sath awam ho usay besaakhion ki zaroorat nahi’: Khan

    Establishment ki zaroorat nahi, jiskay sath awam ho usay besaakhion ki zaroorat nahi’: Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman (PTI) Imran Khan has said that he only wants free and fair elections for which he is ready to talk to anyone, however, he does not require “crutches”.

    Talking to BBC, Khan said that he was asked if the establishment was ready for talks, will he do so. He responded by saying that he is a political worker and is ready to work, however, he will not to talk to thieves.

    The question popped up after multiple sources disclosed that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir told a group of businessmen that Imran Khan had wanted to meet him but had refused. Imran said that he did not need the establishment.

    He further added that the people of Pakistan are with PTI so he doesn’t require crutches to seek help or support.

    Talking about the new establishment, Khan said that he hoped the changed establishment would do things differently, but nothing changed, infact, matters had become more difficult and serious.

    Talking about elections, Khan said that the caretaker government’s job is to hold elections. If elections are to be held, he asked, how can they take place without campaigns and rallies?

  • Cannot air anything related to the conduct of serving judges, says PEMRA

    Cannot air anything related to the conduct of serving judges, says PEMRA

    Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has prohibited electronic media to broadcast anything which is related to the conduct of serving judges of High Courts and Supreme Court (SC).

    In a notification, issued on Thursday, PEMRA said that it has been observed that despite repeated directives, satellite TV channels are “persistently discussing the conduct of honourable judges of superior courts and orchestrating vilification campaign through airing slanderous allegations.”

    It also added that the broadcast of such a thing is a clear violation of the PEMRA Ordinance, hence they have issued the orders.

    PEMRA has also warned that if the orders are not implemented, the license of the respective TV channel will be suspended.

    The development has taken place when the credibility of judges is being discussed after alleged audio leaks of a Supreme Court judge came to light.

    In the audio conversation that was leaked online last month, allegedly featured former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi talking to and about a sitting SC judge.

    Later, in a YouTube show “Talk Shock”, veteran journalists Azaz Syed and Umar Cheema claimed that more audio leaks related to judges might surface soon.

  • Royal family skips invitation to Harry, Meghan’s daughter’s christening

    Royal family skips invitation to Harry, Meghan’s daughter’s christening

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter Lilibet has been christened last Friday in an intimate gathering of around 20 to 30 guests. However, none of Harry’s royal family were present, despite being invited.

    A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed that Lilibet Diana was christened last week on Friday by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, Reverend John Taylor.

    Among the attendees were Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, Lilibet’s godfather, Tyler Perry, and another unnamed godmother.

    Since the release of Prince Harry’s controversial biography ‘Spare’, there have been extensive reports of the divide between the younger son of King Charles and royal family members, who had also recently asked Harry and Meghan to leave Frogmore Cottage, where the family had stayed during their trips to Britain.

    British media has reported that the King will offer them an apartment at Buckingham Palace instead.

    When contacted by media outlets, the Palace did not comment on “personal invitations” as is routine.

    Harry and Meghan were officially invited to King Charles’ coronation, scheduled to take place in May. The Duke and Duchess are yet to confirm if they will attend what is perhaps the most important day in Charles life.

  • Faiz Hameed is being investigated for alleged corruption, reveals Sanaullah

    Faiz Hameed is being investigated for alleged corruption, reveals Sanaullah

    Former spymaster retired Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed is being investigated for alleged corruption, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah revealed.

    In a press conference on Wednesday, the interior minister said that an investigation was underway against the ex-Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief and his brother over alleged corruption and accumulating assets beyond means.

    “Only the institution can conduct Faiz’s court martial,” Sanaullah said, adding that the General Headquarters (GHQ) can hold military trial, not the interior ministry.

    On the other hand, Senior Vice-President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz wants former Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General (retd) Faiz Hameed to be court martialed. In an interview with a web channel, Maryam Nawaz accused the former spymaster of plotting to overthrow PML-N’s government for two years.

    “I had spoken against Gen Hamid in court when he was the sitting ISI chief for his alleged involvement in getting me and Nawaz Sharif punished. I had evidence against him,” she said, referring to former Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui’s claims that the spy agency tried to prevail on him to issue a verdict of their liking.

  • Khan’s rally in Lahore creates hurdles for Aurat March participants

    Khan’s rally in Lahore creates hurdles for Aurat March participants

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced the start of his party’s election campaign in Lahore on Tuesday. He said that the campaign will start with a rally from March 8 which is celebrated as International Women’s Day. In honour of the day, many women and marginalised people participate in Aurat March.

    Despite the announcement of the rally, people came out in huge numbers to participate in Aurat March. However, many of them were stuck in traffic for hours, especially on Mall road, Lahore where police were deployed for Khan’s rally.

    https://twitter.com/ravenclueless/status/1633408523475271680?s=20

    Later in the evening on Wednesday, Khan called off the party’s rally in Lahore in the wake of the Punjab government’s crackdown on participants following the imposition of Section 144 in the provincial capital.

    Now, the Punjab Home Department has also banned “all kinds of protests, demonstrations and sit-ins” in Lahore for seven days, citing the “overall security situation” in the wake of recent “wave of terrorism and threat alerts”.

    Surprisingly, it has been reported that the home department sent a letter to PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid that public gatherings are not advisable as women march is also going to take place. But clearly, they didn’t care.

    Chairman Khan went ahead as always, leaving us wondering that didn’t PTI female leaders tell Khan about Aurat March.

  • Maryam Nawaz wants court martial for former spymaster Faiz Hameed

    Maryam Nawaz wants court martial for former spymaster Faiz Hameed

    Senior Vice-President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz wants former Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General (retd) Faiz Hameed to be court martialed.

    In an interview with a web channel, Maryam Nawaz accused the former spymaster of plotting to overthrow PML-N’s government for two years.

    “The biggest punishment for those who brought the ‘hybrid system’ was the public awareness campaign in the form of ‘Respect Vote’,” Maryam Nawaz said, asking that Faiz Hameed be made an example for playing an unconstitutional role.

    However, she said that she was against no institution and only wanted them to hold their own people accountable for their actions, adding that doing so would lead to an increase in their respect and honour.

    Journalist Kamran Khan tweeted on Wednesday that General (retd) Hameed had sent him messages, responding to Maryam Nawaz’s accusations. He wrote: “In response to Maryam Nawaz’s allegations, former ISI head Lt Gen Faiz reminded that 1. He was a Major General in 2017-18. Can a lone Major General remove a government given army’s discipline? 2. The only decision maker in the army is the Chief. 3. All decisions were made by courts.”

    Maryam Nawaz also slammed former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, calling him the biggest criminal in the country’s history, accusing him of taking instructions from a colonel and a brigadier.

  • Pakistan has averted default, Army Chief assures businessmen of economic prosperity

    Pakistan has averted default, Army Chief assures businessmen of economic prosperity

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Asim Munir, held a meeting on Monday night with the top businessmen in the country, in the presence of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. While no official statement has been issued about the meeting, sources suggest that the army chief expressed optimism and confidence that the current economic difficulties would be overcome. He assured the businessmen that Pakistan has overcome the possibility of default, and urged them to remain firm and confident.

    The businessmen raised concerns about political polarization and chaos, and urged the military to ensure that this did not deepen further. They asked the army chief why politicians were not being brought together to meet the country’s challenges.

    The army chief emphasized that difficult times are a natural part of a nation’s progress, and reassured the businessmen that the worst is behind them. He referred to Islamic teachings to reinforce his message of resilience and strength.

    One participant, who requested anonymity, said that the businessmen had requested the meeting with the army chief. The meeting was deemed successful by the participants, and it was revealed that all prior conditions of the IMF had been met.

    The businessmen were told that agreements with friendly countries to provide dollars for the country’s foreign exchange reserves should be documented, and commitments had been secured for investments in agriculture, mining, and IT, with advanced equity expected from these countries.

    Sources further said the business community also expressed hope that army won’t allow unrest in the country. 

  • PTI rally, Aurat March in limbo after Section 144 imposed in Lahore

    PTI rally, Aurat March in limbo after Section 144 imposed in Lahore

    Ahead of a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally and the Aurat March scheduled to take place on Wednesday, the caretaker government of Punjab has imposed Section 144 in Lahore.

    In a notice released by the Home Department, it was said that rallies and protests are taking place on a daily basis in the provincial capital, disrupting traffic and posing security threats.

    The notice, issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Shakeel Ahmed, also said that terrorist activities in such gatherings have led to the martyrdom of civilians and policemen alike.

    “Hence, in the context of the prevailing overall security situation in the wake of the recent wave of terrorism and latest threat alerts, it has been necessary to impose Section 144 of Cr.P.C, 1898 on holding of all kinds of assemblies, gatherings, sits-in, rallies, processions, demonstrations, jalsas, dharnas, protests and such like other activities across the district Lahore to avert any untoward incident,” the notification read.

    PTI was scheduled to begin it’s election campaign with a rally led by Imran Khan passing through various spots in the city before culminating at Data Darbar.

    Meanwhile, Aurat March was scheduled to begin from NADRA office near Shimla Pahari.