Tag: Asif Zardari

  • JUI-F claims that Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be the president of Pakistan

    JUI-F claims that Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be the president of Pakistan

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) claimed on Sunday that party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will become the president of Pakistan whether the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) or Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) win the upcoming elections on February 8 next year.

    Currently, Dr. Arif Alvi is the head of the state under Article 44 of the Constitution, which allows the president to work in the absence of provincial and national assemblies, which were dissolved early this year in January and August, respectively.

    Alvi is the fourth head of state to complete his full term. The previous three presidents who completed their five-year terms were the fifth president Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry (1973–1988), the 11th president Asif Ali Zardari (2008–2013), and the 12th president Mamnoon Hussain (2013–2018).

    In an interview, JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah said that if Fazlur Rehman can be the head of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), then he can also be the president of the country as well.

    Hafiz Hamdullah also criticised PML-N and PPP for “keeping an eye” on Balochistan.  

    “Father-son and father-daughter duos keep an eye on Balochistan’s [politics], let’s see what results it bears [in future],” he said.

  • PPP and PMLN want timely elections

    PPP and PMLN want timely elections

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the importance of conducting the scheduled general elections on February 8 next year.

    Speaking to reporters after his appearance before an accountability court in Lahore regarding the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Shehbaz said, “[Holding the elections on time] is the requirement of law and democracy.”

    The NAB reference alleges that Shehbaz, the former chief minister of Punjab, misused his authority by utilizing public funds to construct a bridge to benefit mills owned by his sons.

    Despite the legal challenges, Shehbaz expressed confidence in the PML-N’s upcoming election campaign, announcing that party leader Nawaz Sharif will unveil the manifesto during the electoral activities.

    Addressing concerns raised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) regarding equal opportunities in the polls, Shehbaz cited, “I went to court today and this is called the level-playing field and Nawaz Sharif will also produce himself in an Islamabad court today.”

    Shehbaz also delved into recent events, including the May 9 incidents and the subsequent arrest of Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case. “A conspiracy to overthrow the army was hatched on May 9 and any democratic government will not tolerate treason,” he stressed.

    During the court hearing, Shehbaz clarified the charges against him, referring to his summoning in the clean water case and subsequent arrest in the Ashiana reference

    “I will not discuss the merits of the case, my lawyer will do it,” he told the court, adding that the court gave him justice in the Ashiana case.

    “After that, NAB arrested me in the sewer case. I was told that I had issued a directive for the construction of a drain which was built by an MPA,” he said.

    The PML-N president told the court that they have installed thousands of clean water projects during his tenure.

    Shehbaz said that he transferred their inherited sugar mill to his son and the government did not give subsidies to sugar mills in his tenure.

    PPP hopeful about timely elections

    Meanwhile, PPP expressed optimism that Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa would ensure the timely holding of the next general elections on February 8.

    “We are hopeful that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa will not let the elections be delayed,” PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi told in a press conference.

    Echoing concerns about a level playing field previously voiced by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Kundi asserted that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is poised to become the next prime minister.

    Mr Kundi claimed that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will be the next prime minister of the country and he would announce the party’s future line of action about the next elections at a public meeting in Quetta on Nov 30 on the occasion of the 56th foundation day of the PPP.

    “Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari will both address the public meeting,” he said, adding that Bilawal’s sister Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari would conduct the election campaign of his brother.

    Additionally, PPP leader Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari was appointed as the secretary general of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP).

    Before Mr Bukhari’s appointment, seasoned party leader Farhatullah Babar was serving as the secretary general of the party’s parliamentary chapter.

  • Bilawal Bhutto wants ‘old politicians’ to go home

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Thursday that the country needs new political leadership, adding that “old politicians will have to be sent home.”

    While addressing a worker’s convention in Abbotabad, Bilawal Bhutto said that other political parties are doing old politics, but the PPP has its “doctrine and manifesto”.

    Criticising  Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Bilawal Bhutto said that new politics and new leadership are now much needed to bring the country out of crisis.

    “Such a leadership which is not stuck in the past, which thinks about the future, doesn’t get caught up in politics and division,” Bilawal said.

    The PPP chairman also said that Pakistan will not progress unless “the vote is not given respect”

    “If you give me a chance, I promise I will never disappoint you,” Bilawal added.

    Bilawal also said that poverty, unemployment, and inflation are his party’s opponents.

    “We have a plan for ending inflation, give relief to the nation,” he said.

  • PMLN, PPP ki dosti? MQMP k sath PMLN elections mein? What is happening?

    PMLN, PPP ki dosti? MQMP k sath PMLN elections mein? What is happening?

    Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari have agreed to collaborate for the betterment of the country during a recent telephonic conversation, Geo news has revealed.

    The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) expressed their commitment to jointly tackle crucial issues affecting the nation.

    Zardari reportedly extended congratulations to Sharif on his return to Pakistan on October 21 after spending four years in self-imposed exile in London.

    Both leaders underscored the significance of the participation of all stakeholders in the collective effort to steer the country towards stability and progress, according to reliable sources.

    Acknowledging the pressing concern of inflation, the leaders also discussed plans to alleviate the burden on the public. In light of their discussion, it is anticipated that a high-level meeting will soon be convened to deliberate on crucial matters.

    The timing of their conversation coincided with the directive given to their respective party workers to gear up for the forthcoming general elections scheduled for February 8.

    Notably, the PPP and the PML-N were previously coalition partners in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government, which came into power following the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    However, while the news of the conversation has been making rounds, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari downplayed its significance, emphasizing that the PPP remains open to collaborating with all political parties.

    Contradicting earlier reports, PPP Central Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi denied any direct communication between Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, urging the public to verify the authenticity of such claims before spreading them.

    He took to X (former Twitter) and said, “I would like to clarify that the news of Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif contacting President Asif Ali Zardari is false and holds no truth. We urge everyone to verify information before spreading it.”

    In related developments, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) on Tuesday announced that they would be jointly contesting the upcoming general elections scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024.

    The development comes following a meeting of an MQM-P delegation led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar, and Syed Mustafa Kamal with the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in Lahore at the party’s Model Town secretariat.

    Later, speaking to the media, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique said, “It has been decided that both parties will contest February 8 polls jointly”.

    Amidst escalating political activities, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and President Arif Alvi have reached an agreement to hold the general elections on February 8, adhering to the Supreme Court’s directives following a case regarding the delay of elections.

    Following the electoral alliance between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has said that he welcomes his opponent’s intention to stand in elections.

    “We will stand against our opponents that are coming in elections and we welcome them,” Zardari said while addressing party works in Ghotki’s Khangarh. 

    The former president was of the view that when people who oppose each other contest elections then the competition among them delivers the “best results”. 

  • Zardari Accountability Court mein hazir hon

    Zardari Accountability Court mein hazir hon

    Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has been summoned by an accountability court in Islamabad in connection with the Thatta water supply case.

    The court, headed by Judge Mohammad Bashir, has also summoned several other individuals, including Ijaz Ahmed Khan, former secretary to the Sindh government, Hassan Ally Memon, former head of the committee responsible for procurements related to the water supply scheme, Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed, CEO Omni Group, Menahel Majeed, spouse of Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed and others to appear on December 15.

    The case revolves around allegations of illegal contract awards to private contractors.

    Earlier this year, proceedings in the case had been halted due to changes in the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).

    The case was among dozens of references transferred from accountability courts because of the amendments made in the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) by the PDM coalition government headed by then-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.

    These amendments were struck down by the Supreme Court on September 15.

    This development comes as the latest in a series of legal battles for Zardari, who was indicted in the water supply reference back in October 2020, as part of the broader fake bank accounts case.

    The reference specifically focuses on the alleged award of a contract by the special initiative department for the Thatta water supply scheme to a private contractor.

    The accountability court has directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to ensure the reference is properly presented before the appropriate forum.

  • PPP ready to form alliance with PTI in Punjab

    PPP ready to form alliance with PTI in Punjab

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab chapter has expressed its willingness to form an alliance with any political party, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), against Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), in the upcoming general elections in Punjab, Geo reported on Wednesday.

    “PPP opponents are making alliances, and the party is also ready to devise its strategy for the upcoming elections,” said PPP Punjab acting president Rana Farooq Saeed at a press conference after a meeting.

    Former state minister Tasneem Qureshi, Secretary Information PPP Punjab Shahzad Saeed Cheema, Mian Azhar Hassan Dar, Ali Sanwal, Azhar Awan, Haji Azizur Rehman Chan, and others attended the huddle.

    Shahzad Saeed Cheema criticised PML-N for depending on deals, stating that PML-N could not sustain a competitive stance without a deal in its favour. He further said that the party led by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ensures a “level playing field” only for itself in the elections.

    The PPP constantly emphasised the importance of a “level playing field” for all political parties taking part in the upcoming general elections, which are scheduled for January 2024.

  • Bilawal demands general elections as soon as possible

    Bilawal demands general elections as soon as possible

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has demanded again that general elections be conducted as soon as possible, stating that delaying polls is to deny them.

    “Elections delayed are election denied,” Bilawal said while addressing the celebration of the golden jubilee of the Constitution of Pakistan in an event organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Monday.

    The former foreign minister again demanded an election schedule and a “level playing field” for all the political parties.

    While talking about the lawyer’s movement in 2009, Bilawal said that it was an important event for the restoration of judiciary and had a far-reaching impact on dynamics between the judiciary and parliament.

    The PPP chairman stressed that general elections in 2013 and 2018 were not free and fair.

    “It is hoped, that this time it will be different,” he added.

  • Bilalwal asks ECP to announce poll dates

    Bilalwal asks ECP to announce poll dates

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has stated that he will only be able to remark on making “alliances” with other political parties when the election date has been made public.

    While addressing a press conference in Okara, the former foreign minister once more urged that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the election date so that the party could plan and launch its election campaign.

    “It is our request to the ECP to announce the election schedule,” the PPP chief said, emphasising that the matter of alliances can only be addressed once the election timetable is established.

    When asked about the expected return of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal stated: “Mian Sahib’s return has been a long-standing demand of the PPP.”

    “The PPP is not being pushed to the wall, we didn’t even back out from the 2007-2008 elections,” the party chairman stated in response to a question.

  • ‘We have full confidence in Election Commission and all its members’, says Asif Zardari

    ‘We have full confidence in Election Commission and all its members’, says Asif Zardari

    Asif Ali Zardari, former president and co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), defended the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday, saying that since the new census was announced, a new delimitation is now required.

    The PPP’s leader expressed complete trust in Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and other ECP members in a statement posted on the party’s social media platforms. The statement further stated that the commission will conduct elections in accordance with the Constitution.
    After several PPP leaders, including party chairman Bilawal Bhutto, urged the ECP to declare an election date within 90 days in accordance with the Constitution, Zardari came to the defence of the constitutional body.

    “The stance we adopted today is that the PPP wants the ECP to announce a new election date and the schedule for it. There is restlessness in the nation, and it is very important that a new election date and schedule is announced,” PPP’s Nayyar Bukhari said after the meeting on August 29.
    Asif Zardari urged the caretaker administration to complete the projects started under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), an apex body set up by the previous administration to draw in foreign investment.

    “The country should be put on the path of development by completing these projects,” he added.

  • Bilawal expresses dissatisfaction with Nawaz and Zardari’s political stance

    Bilawal expresses dissatisfaction with Nawaz and Zardari’s political stance

    In a rare public display of divergence within the ruling coalition, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his unhappiness with the political stance of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz head Nawaz Sharif and his father, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

    While addressing the National Assembly (NA) on Monday, Bilawal Bhutto categorically stated that, “Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari should make decisions that make it easier for me [Bilawal] and Maryam Nawaz to pursue politics in the future”.

    In an important statement, Bilawal Bhutto said that his government had failed to keep institutions within their constitutional limits.

    He regretted that, despite his previous assertions that institutions should operate within their legal restrictions, the objective had not been met.
    He urged all political parties to think about how they can tackle the issue as elections approach.

    Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, the Foreign Minister said that it is a success of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to remove the ‘Selected Prime Minister’ through a no confidence motion.

    However, Bilawal Bhutto also mentioned that it’s the responsibility of the opposition to criticise the wrong policies of the government. He pointed out that PDM has an opposition party that has no concern for democracy and doesn’t even believe in parliament.

    This opposition party crossed the “red line,” and it happened for the first time in history, he added.

    Regarding the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the foreign minister said, “I have seen politicians either in jail or in politics in Pakistan.”