Category: Uncategorized

  • ‘Elections can be held before next appointment of COAS’: Khawaja Asif

    ‘Elections can be held before next appointment of COAS’: Khawaja Asif

    The newly-appointed Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who is currently in London, hinted at early elections by saying, “It is possible that we [government] hold elections before the [new] Chief of Army Staff (COAS)’s appointment [which is in November]”

    In an interview with BBC Urdu, the federal minister added, “It is also possible that the [current] caretaker government is gone by then and the new government is in power before November.”

    About the extension of the current COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Asif stated Bajwa had already clarified that he does not want his tenure to be extended. He said the government welcomed his announcement.

    It is pertinent to mention that Bajwa’s three-year tenure will come to an end on November 29 this year. He was given an extension by the former government in 2019.

    ‘If Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s name is on seniority list, can consider him for the post’: Khawaja Asif

    Upon asking whether Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) considers Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s name for the post of COAS, Asif disclosed if his [Faiz] name is on the seniority list, it will definitely be considered.

    “If the defence minister brings the names of five officers to the prime minister, and the army recommends Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s name as well, then I don’t think the defence ministry or the Prime Minister (PM) have the space left to say anything”, he said while adding that “all names on the list will be considered.”

    When asked about previous PML-N’s claims that Hameed, was behind former PM Nawaz Sharif’s ouster, Asif said it was unfortunate that the party’s politics were “dragged into this or red lines were mixed in our past experiences”.

    The army should not become a topic of discussion in the public domain, he said, adding that “they say names should not be taken at the party level.”

    Asif said he believed the process for appointing COAS should be “institutionalised” similar to the judiciary.

    “This process should 100 per cent be based on merit. This is a big and very important issue”, he was quoted saying by BBC.

    There are several reports that suggest that former PM Imran Khan wanted Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to take over the post of COAS.

    ‘Imran Khan wanted to bring an army chief of his choice’: Khawaja Asif

    During the interview, the minister claimed that former PM Imran Khan wanted to bring an army chief of his choice from the list of names recommended to him by the army.

    About Imran Khan’s anti-establishment statements, he termed them “shameful”, called Khan “paranoid” and said: “He wants to stay in power and for institutions to provide him with crutches.”

    Moreover, Asif alleged that the establishment had brought Imran as an alternative to traditional politicians. “The establishment thought he [Imran Khan] is new to politics and will bring “freshness” to the politics of Pakistan,” he said.

    ‘Imran Khan didn’t interfere in army’s internal matter’: Fawad Chaudhry

    While reacting to Asif’s recent interview, former Information Minister and PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry clarified that from day one former PM Imran Khan didn’t interfere in the army’s matters.

    “We have also hoped that the sector [army] remains strong”, he said while adding that Khan and Bajwa always shared a respectful relationship and both of them agreed to each other’s suggestions.

    About Khan’s preference for COAS, Chaudhry said, “If Asif thinks that way, it is his personal opinion.”

    Moreover, the PTI leader hailed the revelations made by Asif. Chaudhry said that there are some people in PML-N who wants early elections and understand this government can’t continue like this.

  • Pakistani rupee reaches a new all-time low of Rs190 against the US dollar

    Pakistani rupee reaches a new all-time low of Rs190 against the US dollar

    In the interbank market on May 11, the US dollar soared to an all-time high against the Pakistani rupee (PKR), reaching Rs190.10.

    In the morning. the local currency was trading at Rs189.89 to Rs190.04, with deals reported at Rs190.

    The dollar gained Rs1.44, surpassing the prior day’s finish of Rs188.66. The greenback touched an all-time high on May 11, when it surpassed the Rs189 level.

    It had gone down in the immediate aftermath of the April 11 change of government, but the adjustment soon ran out of steam, and the greenback is now flying again, hitting a new all-time high.

    Read more: CNG prices pushed to Rs140 per kg for sales tax collection

    Experts say the rupee is under pressure because of increased oil import bills and speculation about the Saudi package. Foreign reserves were also under strain due to delays in talks with the International Monetary Fund.

  • ECP says PTI MNAs who ditched PTI can’t be disqualified

    ECP says PTI MNAs who ditched PTI can’t be disqualified

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday dismissed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) references seeking the disqualification of its dissident members of the National Assembly (NA).

    A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja reserved its decision after hearing arguments from all sides — the PTI and the lawyers of the dissident MNAs.

    The ECP stated that the declarations by the PTI against its lawmakers were not found to be in accordance with the Constitution.

    PTI’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry requested the court to provide a copy of the reserved verdict, saying that he will appeal against it.

    While presenting his arguments, Noor Alam Khan’s lawyer Gohar Khan maintained that Article 63(A)1 does not apply to Noor.

    “The show-cause notice issued by the PTI secretary-general doesn’t have legal status. Therefore, Noor is still a PTI member,” Gohar argued, adding that the show-cause notice issued by the secretary-general was nothing more than a piece of paper as per the law. He maintained that as per the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling, ECP’s full-court bench can give its verdict in the disqualification reference.

    The PTI filed references against 20 MNAs seeking their disqualification under Article 63-A of the Constitution ahead of the no-trust vote against then-premier Imran Khan.

  • ‘Enjoying free ride on tax money’: PM Shehbaz’s London visit receives criticism

    ‘Enjoying free ride on tax money’: PM Shehbaz’s London visit receives criticism

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and the senior leadership of the main government party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), have gone to London where they are due to meet with party supremo Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday.

     PM Shehbaz Sharif departed for London via a British Airways flight shortly after midnight. It is expected that he will remain in London for two to three days.

    The 10-member delegation consisting of PM Sharif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Power Minister Khurram Dastagir, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Attaullah Tarar, among others have gone to London.

    Their visit has received a lot of backlash from PML-N’s opponents to the general public. The timing of the PM and his top leadership’s visit to London is being questioned, with observers asking why such a trip is necessary when the country is in dire straits.

    Former PM Imran Khan said in a jalsa in Jehlum on Tuesday that the entire cabinet was going to meet a ‘corrupt and convicted’ person, that too on taxpayers’ money.

    “This entire cabinet is going to London on your [tax] money — they won’t spend their own money.”

    Later Twitter reacted to the news when Deputy Secretary-General PML-N Attaullah Tarar shared a picture of the delegation visiting London.

  • Aijaz Aslam makes revelations about Urwa Hocane

    Aijaz Aslam makes revelations about Urwa Hocane

    Senior actor Aijaz Aslam recently appeared with his wife Sabeen on The Couple Show hosted by Aagha Ali and Hina Altaf.

    The Couple Show | Season 2 | Aijaz Aslam & Sabeen Aijazz | Aagha Ali & Hina Altaf | Episode 8 - YouTube

    On being asked about a leading lady who has attitude problems, unprofessional and needs to work on her behaviour, the Nand star gave a shocking answer.

    Aijaz named Urwa Hocane and stated, “Although I haven’t worked with her but I have heard (from friends and colleagues) that it is Urwa, she gets very angry on the sets, quickly loses her temper and even instructs the director on creative aspects.”

    The hosting duo kept nodding while Aslam was talking, however Aagha mentioned later that he recently met the Tich Button diva at an event and felt that she was grounded.

    Last year the Udaari star revealed that she regrets leaving Meray Paas Tum Ho after shooting a schedule of it.

    Appearing on Vasay Chaudhry’s show Ghabrana Mana Hai, Urwa said: “It is one of my biggest regrets and yes I was offered the role of Miss Hania in Meray Paas Tum Ho.”

    The actor further revealed that she had even shot a few scenes for the drama. During the show, Chaudhry also played a clip from the drama serial that featured Urwa and Humayun Saeed.

    Urwa further shared: “After wrapping up my initial shoot, I started working on the production of my upcoming film Tich Button when Nadeem Baig called me and said that Mohammad Ahmed Sahab, who was playing the role of my father, has to leave for Canada so I had to spare a week to shoot my scenes with him.”

    “At that point, it was impossible for me as I was so caught up in production work. So I had to leave the project because of the date clash and I regret my decision,” said the actor further.

    Hira Mani was later roped in to play Miss Hania and the actor received a lot of applause for her performance. Meray Paas Tum Ho was a blockbuster hit breaking all records and the finale was even screened in cinemas with sold-out shows.

    Meanwhile, Hocane also talked about her first venture as a producer Tich Button which features Farhan Saeed, Iman Aly, Sonya Hussayn and Feroze Khan.

    “The film will be release, once the cinemas are fully operational again,” said Hocane.

  • ‘Wasn’t the right time to go for Umrah’: Imran Khan

    ‘Wasn’t the right time to go for Umrah’: Imran Khan

    Addressing a gathering of party leaders in Islamabad, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said it was not the right time to go for Umrah.

    Khan while apparently taking a jibe at Shehbaz Sharif, also calls out his own party members for going on Umrah in the month of Ramzan, Khan said, “It was not the right time to go to Madina. Your every hour counts.”

    Khan questioned, “I am here, Don’t I want to go?”

    https://twitter.com/zafru1313/status/1523756087488311297?s=20&t=tAeicB_eEm8GzZNOA1Kc2w

    On a separate occasion, the former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said, “You will be answerable to Allah on the Day of Judgment. He will ask you did you support justice? Did you fight against oppression? Did you jihad against injustices? Did you protest against the imported government?”

    “You can’t say that you are neutral. He [Allah] has not allowed you that,” he stated while adding that only animals can be neutral.

  • If Khan is arrested, protests will be held across the country: PTI

    If Khan is arrested, protests will be held across the country: PTI

    Speaker National Assembly (NA) Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday said that former Prime Minister Imran Khan is still a member of the National Assembly, adding that he is yet to resign, reports Geo News.

    The speaker has sent letters to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members in order to confirm their resignations.

    It was further reported that PTI has decided not to appear before the Speaker National Assembly to confirm their resignations. It is also being reported that the PTI fears that more than two dozen members may refuse to confirm in front of the speaker.

    Geo News further reports that if Khan is arrested, protests would be held across the country and important highways would be blocked.

  • Explainer: What is happening with the United States abortion laws?

    Explainer: What is happening with the United States abortion laws?

    People in the United States are protesting against the possibility of a ban on abortions. A leaked document suggests that abortion will be banned in the country. People are protesting against it, and many pro-abortion, pro-choice rallies and demonstrations have taken place in the past few weeks.

    So what happened?

    A 98 page leaked US Supreme court draft was published by the news site Politico. The leaked document shows that majority of judges have voted to strike down the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling, that has guaranteed the right to abortion in the United States for decades. But, according to the draft, there are plans to overturn the 1973 ruling.

    The leaked document is an unofficial judgment of Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organisation. The case that will determine whether pregnant people have a constitutional right to choose abortion in the US.

    What is the Dobbs vs Jackson case?

    The US Supreme Court is debating Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case involving a Mississippi legislation prohibiting abortion beyond 15 weeks. The conservative litigants specifically request that the Supreme Court overturn Roe, and the justices have indicated that they are willing to do so. In 2018, Mississippi passed the Gestational Age Act (“HB 1510”), which prohibits abortions after 15 weeks, except in cases of a medical emergency or severe fetal abnormality.

    In the same year, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a clinic and abortion facility in Mississippi, challenged the constitutionality of the “Gestational Age Act” in federal court.

    What is the 1973 judgement Roe v. Wade?

    The landmark 1973 ruling protects the constitutional right to have an abortion.

    Roe v. Wade was a historic legal decision delivered by the United States Supreme Court on January 22, 1973, in which the court overturned a Texas law prohibiting abortion, essentially legalising the operation throughout the United States.

    “The court held that a woman’s right to an abortion was implicit in the right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Prior to Roe v. Wade, abortion had been illegal throughout much of the country since the late 19th century. Since the 1973 ruling, many states have imposed restrictions on abortion rights.”

    What are US politicians saying?

    US president Joe Biden called it “really quite a radical decision” that reflects a “fundamental shift in American jurisprudence”.

    US vice-president Kamala Harris told a conference on Tuesday: “Women’s rights in America are under attack. Today, we know our purpose. We also know what we are up against. Let us fight with everything we’ve got”.

    What would happen if the 1973 judgment is overturned?
    Before 1973, abortion regulations varied greatly across the country. Some states outlawed all abortions, while others allowed them under limited conditions. Roe v. Wade provided a legal framework for abortion laws at the federal level by ruling that a Texas abortion statute was unconstitutional. As a result, if Roe is overturned, states will once again be free to restrict abortion.

    Thirteen states have “trigger laws” that would prohibit abortion if the Supreme Court overturns the decision.

  • US to pressure Taliban if they don’t remove restrictions on women

    US to pressure Taliban if they don’t remove restrictions on women

    The United States (US) has said that it will put pressure on Afghanistan’s Taliban government if the group does not reverse some of its recent restrictions on Afghan women, reports Reuters.

    US State Department spokesperson Ned Price reported saying on Monday: “We have addressed it directly with the Taliban. We have a number of tools that, if we feel these won’t be reversed, these won’t be undone, that we are prepared to move forward with.”

    Last week, the hardline group ordered women to cover themselves from head to toe in public, expanding a series of oppressive restrictions on women that dictate nearly every aspect of public life.

    Recently, the Taliban has reportedly stopped issuing driving licenses to women. However, there has been no official confirmation. Local media reports, cited by news agencies, said verbal orders have been issued to stop giving driving licenses to women, according to the Independent UK.

    Despite the fact that the international community, has on multiple occasions, made the education of girls a key demand for any future recognition of the Taliban administration, the group has barred Afghan girls from going to school beyond the seventh grade. Moreover, they have restricted women and girls from working and have limited their travel unless accompanied by a close male relative.

  • Pakistani rupee nearing an all-time low

    Pakistani rupee nearing an all-time low

    On Monday, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) fell for the third consecutive session as depleted foreign exchange reserves and uncertainty over the renewal of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme weighed on the local currency.

    The PKR lost 0.48 per cent of its value against the US dollar in the interbank market.

    The rupee ended the day at Rs187.53, down 90 paisas, or 0.48 percent, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). After a 0.5 per cent decline, the rupee finished at Rs186.63 on Friday.

    Considering the latest decline, the local currency is only 65 paisas away from reaching an all-time low of Rs188.18 on April 7, 2022.

    Oil prices fell on Monday alongside equities, driven down by a strong dollar and demand fears stemming from China’s continued coronavirus lockdowns.

    Read more: Bitcoin falls to lowest since January after stock market

    The key cause driving the rupee’s decline against the greenback, according to Arif Habib Limited Head of Research Tahir Abbas, is uncertainty on the IMF front.

    Uncertainty about the programme led to a surge in selling pressure in Pakistani stocks, which fell throughout the day.