Tag: Bani Gala

  • ‘Bajwa helped Imran get NRO for Bani Gala house’: PML-N’s Malik Ahmad Khan

    ‘Bajwa helped Imran get NRO for Bani Gala house’: PML-N’s Malik Ahmad Khan

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Malik Ahmad Khan has alleged that the former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had helped to give a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to save him from disqualification in the Bani Gala case.

    According to Malik, the-then Chief Justice Saqib Nisar was influenced by Gen Bajwa to decide a case about Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence case in his favour. Later, Khan was declared Sadiq and Ameen by the court.

    The News contacted the former chief justice who denied the story, he said that it’s all “rubbish, total bullshit and completely baseless.” Justice (retd) Nisar insisted that he was never influenced while dispensing his judicial duties directly or indirectly by the-then Army Chief. Nisar said that the entire locality of Bani Gala was illegally built. His verdict was about the regularisation of all properties in the locality as they could not be razed to the ground.

    Malik said that the PTI Chairman should come forward and say under oath that he had not been given a NRO in the Bani Gala residence case when it was being heard by the court of the-then CJP Justice (retd) Nisar.

    The SAPM while speaking on Channel 92 political talk show, ‘Breaking Views with Malick’, said that he had all the evidence about how and when it happened, who were the characters involved, and who sent messages to whom. When asked by the anchor if Malik Ahmad Khan was saying that the then army chief had influenced the-then Chief Justice of Pakistan to decide IK’s Banigala house case, Malik Khan said, “I stand by it, I have all the evidence.” He further said that the collateral victim of this case was Jehangir Khan Tareen.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Malik Ahmad Khan was among those Leaguers who had been close to the retired army chief. Malik Ahmed Khan had also been occasionally meeting the-then army chief.

  • Court grants bail PTI’s Shahbaz Gill

    Court grants bail PTI’s Shahbaz Gill

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) has granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill in the sedition case filed against him.

    IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah directed the authorities to release Gill on bail after hearing arguments from all of the parties in the case. The court also directed Gill to submit Rs500,000 as surety against his bail.

    Last week, Gill approached the high court after his failure to get bail from a trial court despite continuous efforts.

    Following his bail, Gill tweeted on his official handle.

    It is pertinent to mention that Shahbaz Gill was taken into custody on August 9 from Bani Gala Chowk for inciting the public against state institutions.

    Shahbaz Gill behind bars: Islamabad court approves two-day physical remand, again

    An Islamabad district and sessions court on Wednesday (August 17) approved a two-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill in police custody. The court was hearing a review plea seeking Gill’s remand in a sedition case.

    Last Friday (August 12), a district and sessions court in Islamabad hearing a sedition case against Shahbaz Gill rejected the prosecution’s request to extend Gill’s physical remand. Instead, the court had sent him to jail on judicial remand. A plea was then filed by Islamabad Advocate General Jahangir Khan Jadoon in the Islamabad High Court on August 13 challenging the order.

    Shahbaz Gill told the court on August 12 that he was being subjected to extreme torture in custody.

    “I am a professor, not a criminal,” said Gill, adding that he was not permitted to sleep and not even allowed to meet his lawyers.

    ‘He was stripped naked’: Imran Khan

    PTI Chairman Imran Khan recently revealed that his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill was stripped naked and beaten up in custody.

    This is political victimisation: Shahbaz Gill

    Gill was presented in a court earlier today after the completion of two-day physical remand.

    He said that his arrest was political victimisation.

    “No honourable Pakistani will ever say anything against the Pakistan Army,” added Gill.

    Gill denied reports that he admitted his guilt or that he made the statement on Imran Khan’s instructions.

    “No. Not at all. I did not say any such thing.”

    Two-day physical remand

    A court in Islamabad on Wednesday (August 10) approved a two-day physical remand of Gill in a sedition case. The police had been directed to produce Gill before the court on August 12 (Friday), while the investigating officer was told to get the PTI leader medically examined.

    Gill, who is PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s chief of staff, was taken into custody on August 9 from Bani Gala Chowk for inciting the public against state institutions.

    ‘Not ashamed’ says Gill

    While talking to the media, Gill said he was not “ashamed” of the statement that he made on the private television channel.

    “There was nothing in my statement that I am ashamed of [….] my statement was of a person who loves his armed forces,” said Gill.

    The PTI leader said he did not attempt to provoke anyone and that he was only pointing toward bureaucrats who were involved in “wrongdoings”.

    Shahbaz Gill arrested for ‘inciting members of state institutions’

    Dr Shahbaz Gill was arrested for inciting the public against the state institutions, a spokesperson of the Islamabad Police clarified.

    “Shahbaz Gill has been arrested for making statements against the state institutions and inciting the people to rebellion,” said a police spokesperson.

    A case has been registered against Gill at the Bani Gala Police Station, said the spokesperson. Besides other charges, clauses relating to inciting people against the state institutions and their heads were added to the First Information Report (FIR).

    Gill served in Imran Khan’s cabinet as a Special Assistant to the Prime Minister till April 10, 2022

    ’Abduction not an arrest’: Imran Khan

    PTI Chairman Imran Khan termed the arrest as an abduction.

    “This is an abduction not an arrest. Can such shameful acts take place in any democracy? Political workers treated as enemies. And all to make us accept a foreign backed government of crooks,” tweeted PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

    Khan shared a video in which Shahbaz Gill’s assistant said, “I wasn’t unlocking the car so after moving it to the side, they also subjected me to violence — look at my neck — and after that, he [Gill] was also handcuffed and they broke the car windows with Kalashnikovs,” adding that Gill was “dragged around as well and there were around eight to 10 cars”.

    CCTV footage of arrest

    The CCTV footage of Gill’s arrest has surfaced and it contradicts the claims made by PTI leadership after Gill’s arrest.

    Claims of Gill’s driver

    In a video, Gill’s driver claimed that they were manhandled by those who came to arrest Shahbaz Gill.

    “Around 15 to 20 cars with black mirrors were there. They did not show us any warrant or any paper. They broke the car windows with Kalashnikovs as if there was a terrorist sitting in the car. I sat silently, they kicked him [Shahbaz Gill] and then handcuffed him. They treated us like we had murdered someone. Then they stopped me and hit my neck with the Kalashnikov. They asked me to give his [Gill’s] phone, they were asking about the data. There was no number plate on the cars. All were in private cars.”

    In another video shared by PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the driver also showed his wounds.

    What does the CCTV footage reveal?

    The CCTV footage shows that the security personnel gather around Gill’s car and signal him to come out of the car.

    It can be seen that Gill doesn’t comply with the order. Later, a security official breaks the window of the car with his gun.

    Gill comes out of the car and is seen walking up to the police vehicle himself and sitting in the car.

    After Gill is taken away, his driver can be seen parking the vehicle by the roadside.

    PTI leaders react to Gill’s arrest

    Fawad Chaudhry, in a tweet, stated that Gill was picked up from Bani Gala Chowk by unidentified personnel in cars with missing number plates.

    Earlier, Murad Saeed said that Shahbaz Gill has been taken into custody from Islamabad.

    “The imported government is in panic,” Murad Saeed said in a statement on social media.

    PTI’s official Twitter account shared a video of Gill’s vehicle showing broken glasses.

    On Twitter, PTI further demanded the immediate release of Gill. The statement said: “After the ban on ARY yesterday, they’ve today arrested Gill. Pakistan is living under a fascist imported government, that doesn’t care about the human rights of the people of Pakistan. We strongly demand the immediate release of Dr Gill.”

    Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari said Gill’s abduction and ARY being taken off air was part of the “grand design of US regime change conspiracy and its abettors”.

    A day ago, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had issued a show-cause notice to ARY News for airing comments by Gill and said they were “highly hateful and seditious” remarks tantamount to “incite armed forces towards revolt”.

    The notice went on to say that Gill was invited via a telephonic call for his comments and during which he alleged that the government was trying to provoke the lower and middle tier of the army against the PTI.

    Gill had said that the government leaders, including PML-N leader Javed Latif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and former National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, had lambasted the army in the past “and they were at the government positions now”.

  • Amreeki saazish ya kuch aur: PTI leaders meet American diplomats?

    Amreeki saazish ya kuch aur: PTI leaders meet American diplomats?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday reportedly had a meeting with former United States diplomat Robin Raphel at his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad.

    Raphel is a former diplomat, ambassador, CIA analyst, lobbyist, and expert on Pakistan affairs. In 2009, she served the State Department as a senior adviser for Pakistan. Until November of 2014, she served as coordinator for non-military assistance to Pakistan.

    Reports also emerged stating that PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry meet Ambassador Donald Bloom. According to the reports, Chaudhry met Bloom on Septembe

    Later, Chaudhry took to Twitter and said that the meeting between Khan and Raphel took place three years ago.ing between Khan and Raphel took place three years ago.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI chairman, since he has been ousted out of power has said that the Americans had hatched a conspiracy to get him out of power.

    Khan has blamed Donald Lu, an American diplomat based in Washington DC, of conspiring against his government. In his interviews and his political speeches, the former Prime Minister has repeatedly made the assertion that his government was removed via an American hatched conspiracy. The claims have been rubbished by both the government and the military’s PR wing.

  • ‘Imran Khan hamaari Red Line’: PTI

    ‘Imran Khan hamaari Red Line’: PTI

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan filed a pre-arrest bail application in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday (August 22) to avoid arrest in a terror case filed against him last night.

    However, Khan has been granted a three day transit bail till August 25.

     PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry and Babar Awan filed the plea on Khan’s behalf, who maintained in the plea that the former prime minister is ready to appear before the court whenever summoned.

    “There is no chance of fleeing or damaging evidence presented by the prosecution. Imran Khan is also ready to submit money as surety against his bail,” the plea stated.

    A first information report (FIR) was filed against Khan under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for threatening a judge and two top police officials during his speech on August 20. 

    “Imran Khan hamaari Red Line”

    “Imran Khan hamaari Red Line” [Imran Khan is our red line] started trending on Twitter after reports of Khan’s likely arrest surfaced on Sunday.

    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that he was at Bani Gala with a number of workers at Khan’s residence.

    Ali Amin Gandapur threatened taking over Islamabad, warning the police not to be a “part of this political war anymore”.

    “If Imran Khan is arrested by the imported government we will take over Islamabad,” he warned. “And my message to the police is that don’t be part of this political war anymore, otherwise we will deal [with] you as PDM workers. Let PTI and PDM leadership and workers fight and decide once and for all.”

    Interior Ministry seeks permission for arrest from PM Shehbaz

    According to The News, the interior ministry has sought written permission from PM Office for the arrest of the PTI chairman. Khan will be arrested with the consensus of all parties in the ruling alliance.

    However, Pakistan People’s Party leader and former president Asif Ali Zardari has opposed the arrest of Imran Khan. He believes that the arrest will be politically damaging for the government.

    Read more: PEMRA imposes ban on live telecast of Imran Khan’s speeches

    Earlier, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) imposed a ban on the live telecast of speeches of PTI Chairman Imran Khan after he threatened the police, bureaucracy, and Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zeba Chaudhry.

  • ‘Pervaiz Elahi and Punjab government being controlled through remote control from Bani Gala’: Tarar

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Attaullah Tarar warned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Punjab government that “all of you” will be arrested if a single PML-N worker is sent behind bars.

    Tarar, who was speaking to the media, warned Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi’s government that they “will face the consequences of the trend of revenge they had set”.

    “Pervaiz Elahi sahib, you and your son (Moonis Elahi) will face the consequences of this new trend that you have set,” warned Tarar, claiming that Moonis had been issuing instructions for action against PML-N leaders despite not having any official authority.

    “Pervaiz Elahi and his Punjab government are being controlled through remote control from Bani Gala. This is his old habit. For God’s sake, stop this, the country has already borne much loss.”

    He also linked the action against his party’s members to the “promotion of an anti-state narrative”, alluding to PTI leader Dr Shahbaz Gill’s remarks against institutions.

    Tarar alleged that CM Elahi had “fully facilitated [former Prime Minister] Imran Khan in promoting this anti-state narrative”, adding that Elahi was “at the forefront of exacting revenge from us”.

    He went on to claim that Elahi and Moonis had directed jail officials not to hand over Gill to Islamabad police even when the court had approved his remand in police custody.

    Court issues arrest warrants for Ata Tarar, 11 other PML-N leaders

    A judicial magistrate Friday, August 19, issued the arrest warrants for a dozen PML-N leaders, including prime minister’s special assistant Atta Tarar, in relation to a ruckus created at the Punjab Assembly.

    A case was registered against the PML-N leaders over the ruckus which took place in April during the chief minister’s election — when Hamza Shehbaz was elected to the top office.

  • ‘Ghalat keeya Afridi ne’: Fawad Chaudhry says case against Rana Sanaullah was baseless

    ‘Ghalat keeya Afridi ne’: Fawad Chaudhry says case against Rana Sanaullah was baseless

    Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday that the drug case against sitting Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was baseless and neither the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nor Bani Gala had any role in lodging the cases against him.

    Speaking on Express News‘ programme, Chaudhry said that Shehryar Afridi ‘ne ghalat keeya’ [had done wrong] when he stated on oath that 15kg of heroin was recovered from Rana Sana’s car.

    “I said it when the case was brought to the cabinet by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) officer that it was baseless,” said Fawad.

    It is to be noted that Rana Sana was arrested in July 2019 under the previous government by the ANF that claimed to have recovered 15kg of heroin from his vehicle.

  • Man caught installing spy device in Khan’s bedroom

    Man caught installing spy device in Khan’s bedroom

    Staff at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence on Saturday night caught a man red-handed while installing a spy device in his bedroom.

    ARY News reported that an employee of Bani Gala was paid to install a device in the former prime minister’s bedroom. However, the spying attempt was foiled after another employee informed the security team about the installation of the device.

    PTI leader and the chief of staff of the former premier, Dr Shahbaz Gill, handed over the suspect, an employee of Bani Gala, to the police.

    Shahbaz Gill claimed, “An employee – who cleans the former premier’s room – was paid to install a spy device,” terming the act ‘ heinous and unfortunate’.

    “Our people are being threatened to get information. Such shameful acts should be avoided,” he added. The PTI leader further said that the ‘arrested’ employee has made several revelations – which he refused to share at the moment.

    Many from PTI have been asserting that Imran Khan’s life is in danger. “In this regard, we have informed all relevant agencies, including the government,” Gill said.

    However, Islamabad police said that a media person had handed over the alleged spy to the police but the suspect was not able to speak properly.

    “The suspect could not be identified as he cannot speak properly. It has been decided that a medical test will be conducted on him to ascertain his physical and mental condition. The suspect was kept in Bani Gala house for a day. The person who handed over the suspect to the police has not provided any evidence or proof of spying. Police are investigating the matter and will soon reach the conclusion,” said the police.

  • Farah Gogi, husband were residents of PM House in Bani Gala

    Farah Gogi, husband were residents of PM House in Bani Gala

    Farah Khan and her husband Ahsan Jameel Gujjar were treated as residents of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s house in Bani Gala, which was declared the official PM House during his tenure, reports The News.

    The records for 44 months showed that Farah alias Gogi and Gujjar’s visits to Bani Gala were not recorded in the registers maintained by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Special Branch. The Special Branch of Islamabad Police controls the entry and exit points of PM House as part of the security provided to the PM.

    According to The News, the Special Branch officers revealed that Farah Khan and Ahsan Jameel Gujjar were among the most frequent visitors to Bani Gala.

    However, the entry of Gogi and Gujjar was never recorded as the Special Branch had been instructed to treat the couple as “residents of the PM House since they were part of the family”.

    A record of all visitors to PM House is maintained by the PM’s secretarial staff. This record is kept in a register and includes the names and vehicle numbers of all visitors. This policy applies to all visiting ministers, members of parliament, politicians, government officials, and private persons.

    Farah Khan and her husband were known as close family friends of former PM Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Khan. In April, former Punjab senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan alleged that Farah Khan was involved in massive corruption. Gogi is also accused of having great influence on the official matters in Islamabad and the Punjab government.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz dubbed Farah Khan the “mother of all scandals” and also accused her of receiving huge amounts of money for transfers and postings. “I dare to name Farah, a friend of Bushra Bibi who is involved in receiving millions of rupees in transfers and postings and these are directly connected to Banigala,” said Maryam Nawaz.

  • Imran Khan makes party decisions based on Bushra Bibi’s dreams: Awn Chaudhry

    Imran Khan makes party decisions based on Bushra Bibi’s dreams: Awn Chaudhry

    Former adviser and very close friend to ousted Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Awn Chaudhry revealed the reason for not attending the oath ceremony of the former premier, saying that he was stopped from attending Khan’s oath-taking after ‘somebody dreamt about it’ at Bani Gala.

    “When I was informed about it by Imran Khan himself through a message before the night of the oath-taking, that someone has seen a dream and I cannot attend the oath-taking ceremony, I was hurt badly and thought was this the reward for my hard work? He sent the message at 2am and I have saved it on my phone. It is strange that decisions were made in the party on the basis of dreams,” Awn said.

    Aun opened up about the issue while talking to Geo News programme ‘Jirga’s’ host Saleem Safi. Chaudhry said that he had Khan’s message saved and can show it anytime he asks for it.

    Safi asked if the person whom Awn is mentioning in relevance to dreams was the first lady, Bushra Bibi. To this Awn said, “Everyone knows who is associated with such dreams and the implementation of work done because of these dreams.”

    Anchorperson Safi reminded Chaudhry that Chaudhry was the one who made Khan meet Bushra Bibi and that Khan got married six months before becoming prime minister. So the question is why was not Awn Chaudhry distanced from Khan earlier? To which Chaudhry responded, “I cannot say what the plan was but now it’s pretty clear. Had I committed something wrong, I am sure Khan Saab would have said it to everyone within three seconds. My wrong was my loyalty to Khan Saab. Had my loyalties been somewhere else I would still be there.”

    “I am grateful to the Almighty that he showed me the mirror. These people are not the ones to show loyalty to. I was the hindrance between a lot of things. A gang has come in front of Pakistan. The ones who called the shots and did the work in the country. This is the very gang that used to run Punjab. The gang includes the first lady’s friend Farah, Farah Gogi, Ahsan Jameel Gujjar, and then there was another gift which they presented in the face of Usman Buzdar. This was a planned conspiracy,” said Chaudhry.

    “I came to Khan Saab and said that you have committed a blunder. I complained that you have given Punjab to such an incompetent man [Usman Buzdar]. The reward i got saying this was, I was taken out of the Punjab cabinet within a week,” revealed Chaudhry.

    He said FIRs were lodged against Jahangir Tareen and his children while Tareen helped Imran Khan form governments in the Centre and Punjab. “Tareen allowed Imran Khan to use his plane and bore expenses of party meetings and offices, including Imran Khan’s sit-in at Islamabad. Imran Khan also leveled false allegations against Aleem Khan over his housing society. If he was so notorious, why had you accepted him to your party?” he asked.

    Chaudhry said Shehzad Akbar had set up private cells to investigate Tareen after a commission was set up to investigate the sugar crisis. “Tareen also supported Principal Secretary to PM Azam Khan but he asked Imran Khan to form a commission against Tareen,” he added.

    Awn Chaudhry alleged that Prime Imran Khan had phoned for closing NAB cases against many people close to him. “The truth will come forth if an inquiry is held,” he added.

    Chaudhry said that the PTI chairman had not appointed Pervez Khattak as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister for the second time because he thought he did not obey him as he desired. He said Mehmood Khan had been appointed KP CM because he was a weak person. “Khattak has a political vision and he would have benefited the party better but he was criticised in party meetings,” he added.

  • Police conduct search operation around IK’s residence

    Police conduct search operation around IK’s residence

    Islamabad Police conducted a search operation around former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s residence in Bani Gala on Saturday after death threats to him.

    According to Geo News, a heavy force of police, including the bomb disposal squad, conducted the operation. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers staying around Bani Gala came out of their tents and started shouting slogans against the current government.

    In Karachi, the police raided PTI Member of National Assembly (MNA) Alamgir Khan’s house in his absence on Saturday. Following this episode, PTI leaders reached Gulshan-e-Iqbal police station and submitted an application against it.

    Former federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi said that the Sindh police has become a “military wing of PPP”. He added that the police should besiege the Chief Minister’s House if they wanted to arrest the culprits.