Tag: Attaullah Tarar

  • ‘X is banned amid security concerns,’ reveals Attaullah Tarar

    ‘X is banned amid security concerns,’ reveals Attaullah Tarar

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaulah Tarar reiterated on Friday that the ban on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has been imposed amid security concerns in Pakistan.

    Speaking to Voice of America in New York, he cleared that this particular step taken by the previous interim government should not be perceived as an attempt to curb freedom of expression.

    The Information Minister pointed out that X was being used by separatist and terrorist groups, which were propogating against the country.

    “Terrorists broadcast their terrorist activities on social media,” he said.

    Tarrar stressed on the need to establish a mechanism to regulate social media to avoid its misuse.

    “As Pakistanis, we can request the management of X to remove anti-state content uploaded by terrorists,” he added.

  • Kabhi haan, kabhi na; After Tarar says no extension of judges tenure, Sanaullah has different story

    Kabhi haan, kabhi na; After Tarar says no extension of judges tenure, Sanaullah has different story

    The Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said that an extension in the tenure of High Court judges and bureaucrats is under consideration.

    His statement comes days after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that an extension in the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s tenure is not on the table.

    Speaking at the talk show ‘Redline with Talat Hussain’, Sanaullah said that the retirement date of High Court judges should be extended and fixed to sixty-five years of age from sixty-two years, and there is nothing wrong with it.

    He clarified that extending a Judge’s tenure can only be achieved through a parliamentary constitution amendment, a process that the government currently lacks the numbers to execute.

    Commenting on the next Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) announcement, Sanaullah said, “The next CJP announcement will be appointed on time.”

    He added, “Lately, the Government made the mistake of announcing the name of CJP Qazi Faez Isa too early; this time, the incumbent government doesn’t want to repeat the mistake.”

  • PTI is a foreign-funded party: Attaullah Tarar

    PTI is a foreign-funded party: Attaullah Tarar

    Federal Minister for Broadcasting and Information Ataullah Tarar has said in a press conference that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Raouf Hassan’s conversation with an Indian journalist has revealed the party’s anti-state agenda.
    ‘’PTI is a foreign-funded party that compromises the country’s sovereignty and seeks help from its foreign masters,’’ Tarar stated

    He pointed out that, ‘’Cypher was a conspiracy which significantly undermined the integrity of our country’s foreign policy, posing a potential threat to national security.”

    While labelling PTI anti-state, the minister alleged that Raouf Hassan’s conversation with an anti-Pakistan Indian journalist was a true reflection of the party ideology.
    “Their clamor for a bloody revolution in the country proved that the PTI had received foreign funding from India for the purpose. This was also revealed by the investigation into the prohibited funding case.”

    Tarar also accused PTI of resettling terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).

  • PTI hired lobbyists to malign Pakistan, alleges Attaullah Tarar

    PTI hired lobbyists to malign Pakistan, alleges Attaullah Tarar

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday denounced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for allegedly masterminding the cipher conspiracy for his own gains. He said that the party hired a lobbying firm for the recent US Congress hearing involving Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State.

    Testifying before a Congressional panel yesterday, the top US diplomat said: “I wanna be very clear on this point [that] this conspiracy theory is a lie [and] it is a complete falsehood.”
    The federal information minister condemned PTI for its anti-state narrative, including recent protests that took place outside the headquarters of International Monetary Fund (IMF). He said the sole purpose of the protests were to derail the debt agreement talks currently being finalized.

    “The PTI hired lobbyists in the United States for a congress hearing on the so-called regime change conspiracy, but their leader could not evade divine justice,” he said citing a proverb “man proposes and God disposes”.

    He pointed out that historically Pakistan had rarely witnessed an instance where a person would jeopardize national interests for his own ego, pointing towards Imran Khan.

    PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Khan talked with the media outside the High Court and said that the protests outside the IMF’S headquarters in the US were organized by overseas Pakistanis and that the party did not send anyone from Pakistan to organize it.

  • Understanding GSP+ status: What it means for Pakistan’s trade relations

    Understanding GSP+ status: What it means for Pakistan’s trade relations

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has vehemently dismissed accusations levelled by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, labelling them as unfounded and baseless.

    In a statement issued today, the PTI refuted claims made by Tarar, asserting that they are nothing but a concoction of falsehoods and rhetoric aimed at maligning the party’s reputation.

    Earlier, Tarar had accused the PTI of plotting to undermine Pakistan’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status.

    He alleged that the party’s spokespersons were actively engaged in activities detrimental to the country’s interests under the directives issued from confinement.

    Understanding GSP+ and its significance for Pakistan’s economy

    The GSP+ status, a cornerstone of Pakistan’s trade relations with the European Union (EU), holds significant importance for the nation’s economy.

    Under this scheme, selected developing countries, including Pakistan, receive extensive trade concessions aimed at fostering sustainable development and good governance practices.

    The European Union’s GSP+ Scheme is founded on the effective implementation of 27 United Nations conventions covering various aspects such as human rights, labour rights, climate change, narcotics control, and corruption.

    Once granted GSP+ status, beneficiary countries are subject to rigorous monitoring to ensure compliance with the stipulated conventions and reporting requirements.

    The dialogue on GSP+ compliance involves various stakeholders, including international monitoring bodies, civil society, trade unions, and businesses.

    Regular monitoring visits are conducted by the EU to assess the progress of beneficiary countries in addressing the outlined issues.

    The significance of GSP+ for Pakistan’s economy cannot be overstated, particularly for its textile industry and workforce.

    Over the past decade, Pakistan has witnessed a notable increase in exports to the EU, accompanied by a surge in EU imports, owing to the preferential treatment offered under the GSP+ scheme.

  • PML-N’s Attaullah Tarar raises questions over judge in Elahi’s alleged audio leak

    PML-N’s Attaullah Tarar raises questions over judge in Elahi’s alleged audio leak

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Interior Attaullah Tarar has raised questions over the alleged audio leak of former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi and lashed out at Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar.

    Tarar started off by saying that CCPO Dogar as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operation was found guilty of land grabbing when Shehbaz Sharif was CM of Punjab. He said that at the time, Shehbaz removed him from his position and it was mentioned in the inquiry report that Dogar should never be appointed to a high-rank position in the future.

    Switching to Elahi’s alleged audio leak, the special assistant demanded action and asked why there is no inquiry against the judge.

    The audio conversations came to the surface on Thursday, released on the internet in three parts. In the first and second audio clips, a man believed to be Elahi can be heard saying that a specific judge of the Supreme Court should be appointed to hear the case of Elahi’s close aide, Muhammad Khan Bhatti. In the third clip, he can allegedly be heard talking to the same judge.

    On Friday the Supreme Court suspended the transfer order of Dogar as CCPO and forwarded the matter to another bench of the apex court

  • Video: Shoe thrown at Rana Sanaullah’s car

    Video: Shoe thrown at Rana Sanaullah’s car

    A shoe was tossed at the windscreen of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s vehicle outside the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday.

    The minister was sitting in the front passenger seat while his driver drove the car, passing by a group of journalists. An unknown person threw the shoe.

    The shoe flew towards his vehicle as the minister left the Punjab Assembly’s premises.

    Earlier in the day, Sanaullah along with Special Assistant to Prime Minister Attaullah Tarar and other party leaders were barred by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) controlled Punjab government.

    As per the details, the police and the assembly staff stopped Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers and leaders from entering the premises of the Punjab Assembly; however, some of the members forced their way into it.

  • From ‘Pinky Peerni’ to ‘Hum qabrain khodain ge agar hamaray gharon tak gaye’: PTI, PML-N’s heated debate on talk show

    From ‘Pinky Peerni’ to ‘Hum qabrain khodain ge agar hamaray gharon tak gaye’: PTI, PML-N’s heated debate on talk show

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Attaullah Tarar got into a heated debate during Dunya News programme, ‘On the Front with Kamran Shahid’.

    As the discussion veered towards corruption, Usman Dar said that he does not have prove the corruption allegations against his leader, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, as he is an honest man unlike Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N’s supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    The debate then turned quite heated when Tarar called the former First Lady, Bushra Bibi, “Pinky Peerni”. Dar called out Tarar for referring to the former First Lady as Pinky Peerni.

    “Have some shame, my brother, have some shame. Don’t act like this and [call her pinky peerni]. If I start taking on homes/families, I will not spare any person from PML-N. Don’t go to my leaders family. Don’t commit this mistake,” said Dar.

    Kamran Shahid, the host of the programme interjected and with a smile on his face, said, “He has blackmailed you [Tarar].”

    “I cannot tell you the background of Maryam Nawaz on the talk show, come and meet me privately, I will tell you everything. Are you listening to me,” asked Dar, continuing in the same vein.

    Kamran Shahid interjected yet again and said that the past and present of Maryam Nawaz is not relevant, however, the question here is on corruption. “Neither of you should say such things,” he admonished.

    Dar kept speaking while Shahid was talking and said, “I will beat you in your own house. Never even think about any of this. That woman does not do politics; she observes pardah [veil]. You guys don’t have any argument; that’s why you enter people’s homes.”

    Tarar reiterated that he took Bushra Bibi’s name because her name was present in the documents presented by the Prime Minister’s Office.

    In response, Dar said, “Bring the lists which have the name of late Kalsoom Nawaz [wife of Nawaz Shairf].”

    Tarar said someone observing or not observing pardahh shouldn’t be part of the debate.

    “If you guys go into our houses, we will start digging graves in this country,” replied Usman Dar, adding that Tarar should have addressed Bushra Bibi as First Lady.

  • Exclusive: Ata Tarrar and Fawad Chaudhry take digs at each other over these dogs

    Exclusive: Ata Tarrar and Fawad Chaudhry take digs at each other over these dogs

    Fawad Chaudhry, former Information Minister and leader of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI), has shared a picture of his pet dogs, a Pomeranian and a Pug, on Twitter with the caption that they make Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ata Tarrar “jealous”.

    If that tweet leaves you confused, let us give you the background.

    Ata Tarrar held a press conference on _ in which among other things, he criticized Fawad Chaudhry for not vacating his government residence in the Minister’s Enclave. He said that the PTI leader should leave the house before asking for “Haqeeqi Azadi”.

    And then he mentioned Fawad Chaudhry’s dogs, stating that the former Minister takes them for walks every day.

    PML-N leader Attaullah Tarrar while taking a dig at said that Fawad Chaudhry is living in Minister’s enclave Islamabad and he should leave the government’s residence before asking for “Haqiqi Azadi”. He also mentioned Fawad’s pets in the presser.

    The Current reached out to Fawad Chaudhry to know more about his pet dogs. While talking exclusively to The Current, Fawad revealed that his pet dogs are named Rockie and Iglooo.

    He also added that his wife feeds stray dogs so lots of cats and dogs come to the back of their apartment building at a specific time, looking for food

  • Punjab govt withdraws Sharif family’s security

    Punjab govt withdraws Sharif family’s security

    The Punjab police have withdrawn the security of the Sharif family except for Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif after the directives issued by the province’s Home Minister Colonel (retd) Muhammad Hashim.

    Muhammad Hashim said that PM Shehbaz will continue to get police security at the houses declared by him.

    “More than 500 policemen were deployed for the security of the Sharif family,” the police said, adding that security has also been withdrawn from Attaullah Tarar and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.

    Previously, security was deployed outside the Jati Umrah and Model Town residences of the Sharif family.

    Earlier, the Punjab Police raided Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Attaullah Tarar’s old residence in Lahore. However, he was not present at his home and no one was arrested.