Tag: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

  • ‘Largest prison in the world’: Politicians condemn atrocities in occupied Kashmir

    ‘Largest prison in the world’: Politicians condemn atrocities in occupied Kashmir

    Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir is being observed today in Pakistan to mark the day when Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi revoked the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK). In violation of the United Nations (UN) resolutions and international law, India scrapped Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution that granted special autonomous status to IIOJK and imposed a military siege on the territory on August 5, 2019.

    Pakistani politicians expressed solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that India’s actions are “aimed at altering the demographic structure of the occupied territory”.

    “The Jammu and Kashmir dispute has been a battle of hope against overwhelming odds, of courage against fear and of sacrifice against tyranny.”

    The premier also paid tribute to the martyrs of IIOJK for their sacrifices and courage.

    “Pakistan will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just struggle. We call upon international community to take practical steps to hold India accountable for its gross and widespread human rights violations in IIOJK and to facilitate a peaceful resolution of this long-standing dispute,” tweeted President Dr Arif Alvi.

    The president further added, “The resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people is the only way to ensure durable peace and stability in the region.”

    “More than 1.5 billion people in the region deserve to see the dawn of peace and prosperity, which has been held hostage by India in IIOJK.”

    Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that the Indian authorities assumed that their moves would crush the spirit of Kashmiri resistance “but the Kashmiris’ spirit of resistance became stronger and it continues to strengthen”.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari released a video message on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir.

    He said that the presence of the Indian troops has turned occupied Kashmir into the most militarised region in the world.

    “Over the past seven decades, three generations of Kashmiris have awaited for the world community and UN to honour their solemn commitment.”

    Former FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi called India a rogue state.

    “India continues to act as a rogue state with unrelenting violence in #IIOJK. Yet indigenous resistance movement for Kashmiri’s inalienable right to self-determination stands strong. Pakistan will always stand by ppl of Kashmir.”

    “Modi government has made IIJOK the largest prison in the world,” tweeted federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman.

  • Video: Uzbek singer sings Pakistani Mili Naghma

    Video: Uzbek singer sings Pakistani Mili Naghma

    An Uzbek singer sang Pakistani Mili Naghma during an official lunch at the Shanghai Coopera­tion Org­anisation’s (SCO) Council of For­eign Ministers’ meeting. The video was shared by the Foreign Office of Pakistan.

    “Warm hospitality on display by the hosts, during the recently concluded SCO Council of Foreign Minister,” tweeted Pakistan’s Foreign Office.

    The video was re-shared by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on his Instagram account.

    Bilawal Bhutto Zardari led Pakistan’s delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers in Tashkent from July 28-29, 2022. During his stay, he held various interactions with his counterparts.

  • ‘Bench-fixing a crime like match-fixing’: Coalition govt demands full court bench

    ‘Bench-fixing a crime like match-fixing’: Coalition govt demands full court bench

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz said on Monday that “bench-fixing” is a crime similar to “match-fixing” and suo motu notice should be taken over it as a “specific” anti-PML-N bench being constituted for one-sided decisions.

    “One or two judges, who have always been anti-PML-N and anti-government, are repeatedly included in the bench. Bench-fixing is a crime just like match-fixing,” said Maryam.

    In a joint press conference alongside the coalition government leaders, including Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz said, “Institutions are insulted from within, not outside. One wrong decision blows up an entire case. Criticism isn’t needed where the right decisions are taken.”

    Referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition against the chief minister’s July 22 election, Maryam said that the Supreme Court’s (SC) doors were opened late at night and the registrar gave “sufficient time” to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to draft its appeal.

    “This is not what happens in our justice system. PTI was given ample time to draft its petition by the registrar, while the common man is given months for the date of hearing.”

    ‘Have you ever heard of a trustee chief minister?‘

    Maryam gave several examples of the PML-N’s legal woes, claiming that the party’s leaders were being discriminated against.

    “Have you ever heard of a trustee chief minister?”

    She said that since Hamza was elected chief minister of Punjab, he was not being allowed to work. “He goes from parliament to court, and back and forth. What justice is this?”

    ‘Did any court take suo motu notice against Khan? Are the suo motus only for the PML-N and its allies?’

    Maryam also alleged that court decisions were favouring the PTI even though they were mocking the judicial system. She questioned the state of the judicial system and where the country was headed if decisions were given in favour of those who “abuse and bully institutions”.

    Maryam said that during former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tenure, the country witnessed a downfall in all sectors and the courts played “an important” role in that. The PML-N leader asked which crime had Khan not committed — he was involved in inciting violence, attacking property, and in the attack on parliament and PTV.

    “Did any court take suo motu notice against Khan? Are the suo motus only for the PML-N and its allies?” she asked.

    Criticising the judges for the recent remarks during the “Azadi March” hearing, Maryam said that despite PTI blatantly violating the court’s orders, the party was still given leverage.

    “After he blatantly violated the orders, the judge said that maybe he didn’t receive the order; they also said maybe they burnt the green belt to save themselves from tear gas.”

    ’Three people cannot decide country’s fate’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari asserted that the country’s democratic parties had only one demand: the formation of a full court bench.

    “We all want full court bench. Whatever you decide then will be according to the law and Constitution and we will trust it.”

    “It cannot happen that only three people decide this country’s fate. That only they decide whether this country is run through a democratic system, an elected system or a selected system.”

    Bilawal said that all the parties in the coalition government wanted a democratic system. “It cannot be possible that three people change Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution with just the stroke of a pen,” said Bilawal.

    “And it has been three months and some powers, people, political parties and conspirators are unable to tolerate […] a campaign is being run in the country to keep Imran Khan at the forefront,” said Bhutto.

    “We did not let any conspiracy succeed in the past and we will not let it happen now. We want institutions to remain uncontroversial. If only three judges give a decision, then we will not be able to control the political situation that will develop in this country.”

    “Institutions meddle in political affairs to protect the state but do they ever think that the state is weakened due to their interference?” Maulana Fazl

    “Institutions meddle in political affairs to protect the state but do they ever think that the state is weakened due to their interference?”

    “You are sitting behind a wall. You may decide whatever you want […] and make politicians the culprit in the eyes of the public and defame them. But hold yourself accountable,” added Maulana Fazl.

    He went on to say that the government supported what Maryam said earlier, saying that this was their “united stance”.

    “Don’t take this nation to a point where people rebel against institutions,” he said.

    The JUI-F chief said that it was very easy to “create difficulties”.

    “If you expect us to not create any difficulties for you, then it is also your obligation to not create difficulties for us […] if there’s support for parliament, institutions and the government, the country will stabilise.”

  • Zardari wishes to ‘see Bilawal as prime minister’

    Zardari wishes to ‘see Bilawal as prime minister’

    Former President and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has expressed his wish to see his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as prime minister of Pakistan in his lifetime.

    Zardari said that when his son became foreign minister, his old friends told him that Bilawal would brighten the country’s name.

    “Islamabad says you have weakened us but I say I have strengthened the provinces,” added Zardari. He said that when he was the president, he transferred power to the prime minister and the provinces through constitutional amendments. He said that the PPP had always raised its voice against political and social injustices and it would continue to fight against poverty and ignorance.

    “We are fighting for a society where every citizen has economic and social justice and the state is a paradise for them.”

  • ‘Where are all the funds going? 34 billion was allotted for drainage in Karachi’: Ahsan Mohsin grills government

    ‘Where are all the funds going? 34 billion was allotted for drainage in Karachi’: Ahsan Mohsin grills government

    Actor Ahsan Mohsin Ikram took to his Instagram stories to grill the government for its negligence over the drainage system of Karachi despite there being a hefty budget allotted for the concerning situation.

    The Pyar Ke Sadqay star also posted a video showcasing the condition post heavy rainfall in the largest city of Pakistan.

    Recently Ahsan shared his stance on the ongoing political scenario in the country.

    The Thora Jee Le hero took to his Twitter handle to state that former politician Asif Ali Zardari has played a masterstroke by letting PML-N come in power so that they get all the negative publicity.

    Ahsan also took a dig at Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto.

    His sister in law Aiman Khan was quick to repost his stance on her Instagram stories.

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is WhatsApp-Image-2022-05-26-at-12.10.51-AM.jpeg

    He also wanted PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah to be behind the bars.

  • How did Imran, Shehbaz, Bilawal, and Alvi celebrate Eid?

    How did Imran, Shehbaz, Bilawal, and Alvi celebrate Eid?

    Pakistan celebrates Eid-ul-Azha under tough circumstances with Covid on the rise yet again. With the country’s crucial economic conditions, political leaders urged the nation to revive the spirit of sacrifice and help the poor.

    President Dr Arif Alvi offered Eid prayers in his Karachi hometown at the Tooba Masjid.

    “I pray to Allah Almighty to accept the Ibadah, Haj and sacrifices of the Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah. Amen!”

    “Eidul Azha reminds us of the submission and obedience of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS) before the command of Allah Almighty,” said President Alvi.

    “Sacrifice is not merely an act of animal slaughter, but its real goal is to sacrifice personal desires for accomplishing a higher purpose. This spirit of sacrifice grants such an ability to human beings that they keep following the righteous path despite the most trying circumstances,” he added.

    Alvi said: “As our dear country faces economic challenges, there is a dire need to effectively utilise this spirit of sacrifice.”

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, along with his son and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, offered Eid prayers at his family residence at Jati Umra in Lahore.

    Shehbaz said: “Allah Almighty made sacrifice an extraordinary ritual to show immense admiration for the obedience of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS). The real meaning of sacrifice is obedience and submission to Allah. Allah sees the intention of His obedient men and on that basis gives the reward.”

    According to the government’s official Twitter account, the prime minister telephoned the president and congratulated him on Eid-ul-Azha. Alvi also congratulated Shehbaz and “the two leaders expressed goodwill towards each other”.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan offered Eid prayers at Bani Gala.

    “As we celebrate and thank Allah for his blessings this Eid that commemorates sacrifice, let us remember and pray for those who are without their loved ones & for the people of IIOJK and Palestine suffering oppression under brutal occupation,” said Khan.

    In another video shared on Khan’s Instagram handle, he can be seen distributing bags to people.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, meanwhile, offered Eid namaz in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

    Bilawal said: “Eidul Azha reminds us that determination and sacrifice for the greater good pave the way for success.”

  • Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Zardari to be new neighbours?

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Zardari to be new neighbours?

    Former President Asif Ali Zardari has reportedly bought two bungalows of 14 kanal in one of the elitist areas of Gulberg in Lahore, reports The News.

    According to media reports, discussions to purchase another bungalow of 6 kanal for residential purposes in Lahore are ongoing. This bungalow is situated in front of PPP’s rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s house near Gaddafi Stadium.

    If the deal finalises, Zardari and Qureshi would become neighbours. It is pertinent to mention that Qureshi left PPP in 2011 after almost two decades of serving under the leadership of Benazir Bhutto. Since then, he is on bitter terms with PPP.

    Zardari and his son Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s current residence in Baharia Town in Lahore will be converted into a farmhouse.

    Earlier, the former president hinted at buying a residence in Gulberg so that he can hold more meetings with people, as it gets difficult for people to come to his residence in Bahira Town.

    Stronghold in Punjab

    According to Geo Urdu, Zardari is currently in Islamabad. However, he will later visit Lahore and hold meetings to discuss the political crisis in Punjab.

    Prior to this, the PPP co-chairman claimed that his party will form the next government in the Centre after winning the next general elections.

    “The next government (in the Centre) will be the PPP’s. I promise if I get a chance to return to power, I will turn around Pakistan 110 degrees. The PPP has the capability to help the country negotiate all the challenges,” said Zardari.

    Talking about politics in Punjab, Zardari said, “The PPP has to sacrifice its politics to save Pakistan. I will myself look into the party affairs in Punjab and ensure its revival here.”

    “We will strengthen our party in Punjab and ensure we get our fair share in the province,” he said.

    Criticising former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Zardari said that the policies of the “anokha laadla” (favourite) had caused price hike and inflation in the country.

    The PPP is currently ruling Sindh, where it is in power for the third time in a row, while it is also a major stakeholder in the incumbent federal government.

  • ‘Khan is complaining about institutions being neutral since he cannot win otherwise’: Bilawal

    ‘Khan is complaining about institutions being neutral since he cannot win otherwise’: Bilawal

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and said that he is complaining about the institutions being neutral since undemocratic parties like his cannot win otherwise. Bilawal’s comments were in response to the allegations made by PTI after the first phase of local body elections held in Sindh.

    “The beneficiaries of rigging are complaining before you. They cannot win. Imran Khan is complaining about our institutions being neutral since undemocratic parties like his cannot win otherwise. This is why today they are running a movement for our institutions to play a controversial role instead of a neutral and constitutional one,” said Bilawal addressing the National Assembly (NA) today (June 29).

    “Like Imran Khan, there are a few parties, politicians, and puppets in Sindh who are helped and made to come forward in a dictatorial rule. They were hoping, like Khan, for our institutions to not be neutral but controversial,” said the foreign minister.

    “When our institutions started becoming neutral, be it the Election Commission, the courts, or other institutions who used to take interest in elections, these people started panicking,” said Bilawal.

  • Bilawal urges UN to create task force to tackle disinformation

    Bilawal urges UN to create task force to tackle disinformation

    Bilawal urges UN to create task force to tackle disinformation

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in his virtual address to the Group of Friends on Countering Disinformation urged that a United Nations (UN) backed task force be set up to counter disinformation.

    “We should agree on an international plan to counter disinformation online and offline, in the public and private domain,” said Bilawal.

    He urged that the UN department of information set an international standard of guidelines that countries can follow to tackle disinformation.

    FM Bhutto put forth some of his own suggestions on how disinformation can be dealt with ranging from creating public awareness campaigns about disinformation to increasing the capacity of governments to filter and limit hate speech.

    “Misinformation is the biggest problem of this era,” Bilawal said. “An effective strategy has to be formulated to tackle the issue of disinformation.”

  • ‘Shehbaz Sharif should be allowed at least one year to serve the nation’: Bilawal Bhutto

    ‘Shehbaz Sharif should be allowed at least one year to serve the nation’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif should be allowed at least one year to “serve the nation”. Bilawal was speaking at a gathering commemorating his late mother and former premier Benazir Bhutto’s 69th birthday in Larkana.

    “Give this government some time to carry out economic and electoral reforms. We will then hopefully come out of the mess left behind by the selected government,” said Bilawal, adding that the previous government had been in power for four years.

    The foreign minister was of the view that the current economic crisis was due to Imran Khan.

    “Imran Khan had inked a wrong deal with the IMF.”

    Bilawal added that it was necessary to send the “selected government” back home because it became a threat to the economy and democracy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team saved the country from default, he said.

     “Our slogan is ‘trade not aid’ and we are ready for economic engagement with other countries,” said Bilawal.

    The foreign minister was hopeful for more good news from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and said, “Pakistan will be out of the grey list of the FATF by October.”