Tag: army

  • Khan says Pakistan ke teen hissay hongay, Shehbaz warns him not to cross limits

    Khan says Pakistan ke teen hissay hongay, Shehbaz warns him not to cross limits

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday, saying that his recent remarks on Pakistan make him “unfit for public office”.

    Khan in an interview with Sami Ibrahim for Bol News programme ‘Tajzia’ said that if Pakistan goes bankrupt, then the country will have to face denuclearisation, predicting that the country would then be divided into three parts.

    Do your politics but don’t dare to cross limits & talk about division of Pakistan

    PM Shehbaz tweeted: “While I am in Turkey inking agreements, Imran Niazi is making naked threats against the country. If at all any proof was needed that Niazi is unfit for public office, his latest interview suffices.”

    “Do your politics but don’t dare to cross limits and talk about [the] division of Pakistan,” he warned the PTI chairperson.

    Pakistan will have to face de-nuclearisation, the country would then be divided into three parts

    Imran Khan in an interview aired on Wednesday said that the establishment needs to make the right decisions and if they don’t, “the army will be destroyed”.

    Khan questioned what would happen if the country went bankrupt, saying the army will be the worst hit. And if Pakistan goes bankrupt, then according to Khan, Pakistan will have to face de-nuclearisation, predicting that the country would then be divided into three parts.

    Khan said that the current political situation was an equal problem for the establishment and the country.

    He said, “If the establishment doesn’t make the right decisions then I can assure you in writing that the army and they will be destroyed. Pakistan is going towards default. If right decisions aren’t made, then the country will be on a suicidal path.”

    Imran also added that as prime minister, he didn’t have absolute power. “Everyone knows where the real power lies.”

  • ‘Comments on Faiz Hameed made by politicians very inappropriate’: ISPR

    ‘Comments on Faiz Hameed made by politicians very inappropriate’: ISPR

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that the Peshawar Corps was an “illustrious formation” of the army and was spearheading the national war against terrorism for over two decades.

    “One of the most competent and professional officers is entrusted with the responsibility to lead this prestigious formation. Imprudent comments made by important senior politicians recently about [the] Peshawar Corps commander are very inappropriate,” the ISPR said.

    “It is expected that the senior political leadership of [the] country refrains from passing objectionable remarks against the institution, whose brave officers and men are constantly putting their lives on the line to guard the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan,” read the statement.

    ISPR Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar reiterated that “many statements” were made in the last few days by the country’s politicians and termed them “highly inappropriate”.

    “It must be clarified that there is no problem with fair criticism,” the military spokesperson said, lamenting that social media was being used to create propaganda instead of mere criticism.

    “We, as an institution, have nothing to do with the political situation of the country,” he said, adding that the institution was showing “tolerance and restraint and requesting that the army is not dragged into politics”.

    The appointment of the next army chief should not be made “controversial” by turning it into a topic of debate. He said the procedure for the appointment of the army chief had been outlined in the Constitution, adding that it would take place in accordance with the law.

    On Wednesday, Pakistan People’s Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari had been asked about Lt Gen Hameed at a press conference in Karachi and had replied with: “The helpless Faiz Hameed has been sidelined.”

    Maryam Nawaz on Thursday said that the army chief should be a person who had a “flawless reputation”, free from any criticism or doubts.

    Maryam made these remarks in a press conference outside the Islamabad High Court on Thursday while answering a question about Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s comments, wherein he had said that former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s name could be considered for the new army chief.

    She said that the Pakistan Army is a respected institution and added that “the whole nation looks at the armed forces for the stability and security of the country”.

    The PML-N leader reiterated that the army chief should be a person who has a “flawless reputation” and who is good for the people, country, and the institution.

  • Legal action to be taken against Imran’s anti-state speech, PM Shehbaz Sharif

    Legal action to be taken against Imran’s anti-state speech, PM Shehbaz Sharif

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has decided to take legal action against former PM Imran Khan’s speech during a rally in Abbottabad held on Sunday. PM Shehbaz termed Khan’s address a grand conspiracy against Pakistan.

    PM Shehbaz said those concocting a narrative against national institutions were the real Mir Jaffars and Mir Sadiqs. He said the state of Pakistan, the Constitution of Pakistan, and the respected institutions of Pakistan were challenged by Imran Khan in Abbottabad on Sunday.

    Shehbaz said what Khan was doing could only be categorised as a conspiracy, not politics and this conspiracy was not against any political rivals but against the country.

    “Pakistan cannot be surrendered and compromised over one person’s ego, arrogance, and blatant lies. Imran first conspired to destroy the economy of the country and is now planning to trigger a civil war in Pakistan”, said the premier.

    PM Shehbaz pledged that these nefarious designs of Imran Khan would be crushed. “Imran is this era’s Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq who wants Pakistan to face the same fate as Libya and Iraq,” added Shehbaz.

    The premier went on to say that Imran Khan was digging holes in the very boat he is riding and biting the hand that feeds him.

    “The people of Pakistan, the Constitution, and the institutions of Pakistan are not slaves of Imran Niazi, nor can he hold them hostage.” He slammed Imran’s speech and said he would not be allowed to become the Hitler of Pakistan.

    ‘Extremely damaging’, army condemns practice of defamatory remarks about them

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a press release on Sunday, noted that “intensified and deliberate attempts have recently been made to drag Pakistan Armed Forces and their leadership by some political leaders, journalists and analysts into the ongoing political discourse in the country”.

    The military’s media wing termed this practice as “extremely damaging”.

    “This practice of unsubstantiated, defamatory and provocative statements/remarks is extremely damaging,” the ISPR condemned while adding that army takes “strong exception to such unlawful and unethical practices”.

    “These attempts are manifest through direct, insinuated, or nuanced references to the armed forces as well as their senior leadership, made by some political leaders, a few journalists and analysts on public forums and various communication platforms, including social media”, the statement reads.

    Moreover, it said that the army “expects all to abide by the law and keep the armed forces out of political discourse in the best interest of the country”.

    Since the episode of the removal of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, on several occasions, the establishment has urged the public not to drag them into political matters and clearly said that there is no involvement from their side in politics.

    The statement came hours after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s statement about the concept of neutrality, saying that God hadn’t permitted human beings to remain neutral when the time comes to stand up for justice and support the good.

    This is not the first time that Khan has made such comments. He once claimed that only animals can stay neutral and that humans either side with good or evil.

  • ‘Jungkook cried a lot’: BTS member Jimin opens up on dramatic fight with Jungkook

    ‘Jungkook cried a lot’: BTS member Jimin opens up on dramatic fight with Jungkook

    South Korean band BTS has garnered a huge fan following across the world in the last eight years and their every new release sets a new record in the global music market. Apart from their hit songs, the band members also indulge in fun activities, clips of which can be found on several video streaming platforms.

    During a recent interview, member Jimin and Jungkook had opened up about getting into a fight, years back, only to reconcile within the next few hours in the most dramatic way possible.

    When BTS’ Jimin Revealed How He Had A Dramatic Fight With Jungkook

    A few weeks back, their managing company announced that the band will be performing at the capital of their home country, South Korea. Most reports also suggest that they are currently working on their next album which will most probably drop before the end of 2022.

    During an interaction on BTS Festa, BTS members Jimin and Jungkook had revealed how they got into a fight in one of the studios. “We had a fight in the practice studio on a rainy day. After the fight, I got so angry. I told him, ‘do whatever you want’ and left the room. I walked to our house; it was a 20-minute walk from the studio. Then I got a call from Jungkook saying, ‘Jimin, I am so sorry,’ to which I stated, ‘I said don’t call me!’”

    BTS: When Jimin-Jungkook had a nasty fight and patched things up in K-drama style in the rain!

    Explaining how the dramatic reunion happened, Jimin further said, “I asked, ‘where are you?’ Then, he said, ‘I don’t know.’ So, I said, ‘Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you.’” Jungkook explained how he decided to take a taxi home that day and almost got jumped on by Jimin making him cry inconsolably.

    “Yes. So, I was waiting for him in the rain. When Jungkook arrived. I hugged him tightly like in Slam Dunk calling, ‘Jungkook!’ Jungkook cried a lot that day.”, Jimin added.

  • 50 per cent refund for army officers in electricity bills

    50 per cent refund for army officers in electricity bills

    General Headquarters (GHQ) has approached National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for a 50 per cent rebate to commissioned officers on electricity bills, sources told Bussiness Recorder.

    Director Works and Chief Engineer (DG&CE) said, “Military Engineering Services (MES) is giving 50 per cent refund but on the basis of energy charges instead of variable unit charges. This has curtailed the electricity bills rebate to around 3.5 per cent instead of 50 per cent to Army officers.”

    Previously, a percentage of 50 per cent refund was set for the officers on electricity units consumed. Later, an amendment was made and the bills started to come in the name of the variable and other charges, i.e., variable charges, sale rates of electricity per Kwh, which covers the unit price.

    Last year, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had drafted a summary for the Cabinet seeking a 50 per cent rebate to commissioned officers on electricity bills and sent it to the Finance Ministry for comments. The ministry of finance then asked MoD to approach NEPRA.

    Electricity prices have been increased about 60 per cent by the government. Another increase of Rs0.95 per unit for consumers is yet to be effective from February 1.

  • Islamabad’s Monal restaurant to be sealed today after court order

    Islamabad’s Monal restaurant to be sealed today after court order

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) today has ordered Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner to seal the Monal Restaurant in Margalla Hills National Park and Navy Golf Course after hearing a case against encroachments.

    “It is your responsibility to ensure the orders are implemented and you will oversee them yourself,” said Justice Athar Minallah while referring to Islamabad chief commissioner, Samaa has reported. In response the Commissioner said that he will seal the restaurant himself today.

    “Do you people know what you’re doing with the upcoming generations? All this is very shocking,” the judge said. “Everywhere we see in Islamabad, there’s lawlessness.”

    During the hearing the director-general of the Environmental Protection Authority told the court that the restaurant was sealed twice in the past.

    Earlier in November, IHC banned all kinds of construction in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). Monal Restaurant was built in 2005.

  • ‘Imran Khan trying to turn army, ISI into his Tiger Force’: Bilawal Bhutto

    ‘Imran Khan trying to turn army, ISI into his Tiger Force’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, while addressing a PPP rally at Karachi’s Bagh-i-Jinnah, accused Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan of turning the army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency into Tiger Force, saying that the current state of the country shows that this is not ‘tabdeeli but destruction’.

    “He (PM Imran) is trying to turn the army and ISI into his Tiger Force,” said Bilawal.

    “Whatever task Imran Khan undertook saw destruction instead of the promised tabdeeli (change),” he said. 

    “Imran Khan is also trying to turn all institutions of the country into his Tiger Force. He attacked the parliament, Senate, judiciary, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Punjab Police, and Punjab bureaucracy as he changed the Punjab Police chief and chief secretary many times. No institution is left as he is even trying to make the media his Tiger Force,” Bilawal alleged.

    “PPP jiyalas will not spare him. Whenever he speaks, he makes a mistake. Now we are warning Khan that his days are numbered,” said Bilawal.

    Bilawal’s comments come as the speculation continues about the appointment of the head of ISI, following the unusual delay in the issuance of official notification of Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Nadeem Ahmed Anjum’s appointment as the new spymaster.

  • PM Khan, CM Buzdar, Babar Azam and others extend prayers after powerful quake jolts Balochistan

    PM Khan, CM Buzdar, Babar Azam and others extend prayers after powerful quake jolts Balochistan

    Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, captain of Pakistan cricket team Babar Azam along with other cricketers and politicians have extended their prayers after a powerful earthquake of 5.9-magnitude hit several cities of Balochistan early Thursday morning.

    Taking to Twitter, PM Khan directed all federal departments to fully assist the Balochistan government in provision of relief to the earthquake victims.

    Prime Minister said the federal government will extend all possible assistance to Balochistan government in this difficult hour.

    CM Buzdar said that he is saddened by the loss of life and property caused by the earthquake in Balochistan.

    “In this hour of sorrow, we stand with our brothers and are ready to assist the Balochistan government in every possible way in rescue activities,” he said in a tweet.

    “Terrible to wake up to this sad news. Prayers with the lovely and brave people of Balochistan. I hope and pray that the situation remains under control with immediate rescue efforts. Stay safe and strong, Balochistan,” said Babar while extending his prayers on Twitter.

    Other cricketers also extended their prayers and wishes on Twitter.

    President Dr Arif Alvi expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in Harnai, Balochistan.

    In a tweet, he condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls.

    A strong earthquake in different parts of Balochistan killed at least 20 people and injured more than 300 others.

    According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), most of the deceased are children.

    The quake affected Quetta, Sibi, Harnai, Pishin, Qila Saifullah, Chaman, Ziarat and Zhob in Balochistan. The magnitude of the quake was measured at 5.9 on the Richter scale.

    Meanwhile, Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan shared a helpline number on Twitter for complaints and assistance.

    He also shared the pictures of the rescue mission by the government departments and Pakistan Army.

  • PM Imran ‘shocked’ over Ghotki train accident, orders thorough investigation

    PM Imran ‘shocked’ over Ghotki train accident, orders thorough investigation

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said he was ‘shocked’ over the Ghotki train accident that resulted in the loss of lives of many passengers.

    As per reports, at least 50 passengers have lost their lives and 100 people were injured Monday morning when two passenger trains collided at Ghotki between the Raiti and Obaro railway stations.

    PM Khan has directed Railways Minister Azam Swati to arrive at the site and provide the affectees with medical assistance and support for families of the dead.

    “Shocked by the horrific train accident at Ghotki early this morning leaving 30 passengers dead. Have asked Railway Minister to reach the site and ensure medical assistance to the injured and support for families of the dead. Ordering a comprehensive investigation into railway safety fault lines,” PM Imran wrote in a Tweet.

    Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari also took to Twitter stating that the “the entire railway system in terms of safety and maintenance needs an overhaul”.

    Also Read: PM Imran drives in without protocol, interacts with street vendors in Islamabad

    Army officers and Rangers workers have arrived at the site in Ghotki to help people with the relief and rescue operations, said the ISPR. Military doctors and paramedics have also reached the crash site. 

    This is a developing story.

  • ‘Those who call themselves democratic are demanding the military to topple the government’: PM Khan

    ‘Those who call themselves democratic are demanding the military to topple the government’: PM Khan

    Addressing a ceremony to lay the foundation for the upgradation of the Multan-Lodhran section of the N-5 Motorway, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, “Those who call themselves democratic are demanding the military to topple the government.”

    “From day one, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government faced criticism from the Opposition, which was poised to topple the government unless their leaders were given an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance),” said Khan.

    “These mafias are bent upon doing anything to safeguard their interests as billions of dollars stashed by them abroad through money looted in the country are being probed,” he said. PM added that rule of law changes society and ensures that there are no sugar and land mafias.

    “Change is not possible without a struggle,” Khan said adding that the Opposition raised a hue and cry regarding a change a week after they [PTI] took power.

    “My own people had to face a tough time. The media also gave an impression that Naya Pakistan can emerge by switching a button on,” he said.

    PM Khan said the country registered a growth of 4 per cent this financial year despite the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said we not only saved our people from the pandemic, but also the economy.

    The government is focusing on uplifting the agriculture sector, industries, IT, housing and tourism sectors, he said, adding that a package is being introduced for the farmers to bring a green revolution in the country.