Tag: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

  • ‘Our democracy is poorer without her’: Twitter remembers Benazir Bhutto on her 69th birth anniversary

    ‘Our democracy is poorer without her’: Twitter remembers Benazir Bhutto on her 69th birth anniversary

    The 69th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is being celebrated in a befitting manner on June 21. It is pertinent to mention that Benazir Bhutto was not only the first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan but also the first woman Prime Minister in the Muslim World.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari tweeted, “In life she was Benazir, in death she is Benazir. To her assassins we say; Tum zinda ho kr murda ho, wo mar kr phir bhi zinda hai.”

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif tweeted, “Our democracy is poorer without her & the void left by her martyrdom will never be filled. She fearlessly & staunchly advocated the causes she believed in. May Allah rest her soul in peace.”

    Federal Minister Sherry Rehman tweeted, “Our journey together is still unfinished. Your redemptive light still guides many of us on a path you trod with infinite grace and courage. May you shine on forever.”

    Mushaal Hussein Mullick wished Benazir tweeted, “Beauty Brains and Bravery Personified.”

    Here is a look at the pictures from the time when Benazir Bhutto was alive.

  • Richest politicians in Pakistan: ECP releases data

    Richest politicians in Pakistan: ECP releases data

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday released the data on the assets owned by Pakistani politicians and their spouses.

    Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s assets for the year 2021 have witnessed an increase of Rs60 million as compared to the year 2020.

    Khan owns assets worth Rs142.1 million while he has inherited houses in Zaman Park and Mianwali and three in Bhakkar. He has a bank balance of more than Rs63 million and he has $329,000 in his two other accounts. The PTI chief has also declared four goats worth Rs200,000 in his assets.

    Bushra Bibi

    Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi’s net worth is Rs142.11million. Bushra Bibi owns 52 kanals of land in Pakpattan while she also has 379 kanals of land in Pir Ghani and 267 kanals of land in Okara. She is also the owner of a three-kanal house in Bani Gala.

    Asif Ali Zardari

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s wealth increased by around Rs40 million to Rs714.23 million in 2019-20 compared to the previous year. He owns thousands of acres of agricultural land, 20 horses, hundreds of camels, cows, and buffaloes as well as other valuables. The arms he possesses are worth Rs16.6 million.

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

    PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is a declared billionaire, having a total wealth worth of Rs1.6 billion. However, the bulk of his wealth remains outside the country.

    Bilawal has more assets in the UAE than in Pakistan and his 25 properties and other assets in Dubai are worth Rs1.44 billion, whereas in the country he has 19 agriculture and non-agriculture properties, around Rs122.14 million cash in hand or banks and arms valued at Rs3 million.

    Shehbaz Sharif

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif owns assets worth more than Rs245 million, and he also owes Rs140 million. The prime minister has Rs2 million in his bank account.

    “PM Shehbaz has borrowed Rs63.9 million from his son Suleman Shehbaz, however, his bank account in London is empty,” stated the document, adding that he is indebted with Rs140 million.

    Shehbaz Sharif also declared the assets of his wives.

    Nusrat Shehbaz

    Nusrat Shehbaz has wealth worth Rs230.29 million and owns nine agricultural properties and one house each in Lahore and Hazara divisions.

    Tehmina Durrani

    Shehbaz’s second spouse Tehmina Durrani has Rs5.6 million.

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    Former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and his wife own two houses in Islamabad and 40 tolas of gold. He gifted his shares in Air Blue airline worth Rs60 million to his son.

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi 

    Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi turned out to be the owner of assets worth Rs219.6 million – even more that those of his party chief, Imran Khan.

    Raja Pervez Ashraf 

    National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf declared the value of his assets as Rs23.6 million while his wife owned 100 tolas of gold.

    Hammad Azhar 

    Hammad Azhar owns assets worth Rs402 million.

  • Coalition govt shows ‘full confidence’ in PM Shehbaz, as Zardari hosts dinner ahead of budget

    Coalition govt shows ‘full confidence’ in PM Shehbaz, as Zardari hosts dinner ahead of budget

    Former President Asif Ali Zardari hosted a dinner for leaders and members of the coalition government, on June 9 ahead of the fiscal budget 2022-23 announcement in Islamabad.

    The fiscal budget that is to be released on June 10, 2022, (today) was the centre of discussion at the dinner. The meeting also discussed the overall political state of the country and expressed full confidence in Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    Zardari was also lauded by the coalition leaders and members for his efforts to unite the parties together. PM Shehbaz also received advice from members and leaders present at the dinner.

    In attendance were Yousaf Raza Gillani, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Sherry Rehman, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Raja Pervez Ashraf, and Rana Sanaullah among others.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilalwal Bhutto-Zardari was not in attendance at the dinner because he is currently in quarantine.

  • ‘World should severely reprimand India’: Muslim countries condemn BJP’s derogatory remarks about Holy Prophet (PBUH)

    ‘World should severely reprimand India’: Muslim countries condemn BJP’s derogatory remarks about Holy Prophet (PBUH)

    After hashtags calling for the boycott of Indian products began trending on Twitter in Arab countries over derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, India’s ruling party suspended Sharma and expelled Jindal. The two also issued public apologies after the reaction from the Arab world. Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran have summoned Indian envoys while Saudi Arabia and  Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have issued statements against the two BJP spokespersons.

    World should take note and severely reprimand India: Shehbaz Sharif

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the derogatory remarks recently made by two leaders of India’s BJP against the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

    PM Sharif wrote: “Have said it repeatedly India under Modi is trampling religious freedoms and persecuting Muslims. The world should take note & severely reprimand India.”

    He added that Muslims’ love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is supreme and that all Muslims can sacrifice their lives for the love and respect of their Prophet (PBUH). 

    Pakistan Armed Forces strongly condemn blasphemous remarks by Indian officials

    The official media wing of the Pakistan army condemned the derogatory remarks of the BJP leaders. “The outrageous act is deeply hurtful and clearly indicates extreme level of hate against Muslims and other religions in India.”

    Indian chargé d’affaires summoned by Pakistan

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took to Twitter and said, “Indian Cd’A summoned to convey Pakistan’s rejection and strong condemnation of the derogatory remarks by BJP officials against Prophet Muhammad PBUH. BJP leadership and GOI must condemn the sacrilegious comments and hold those responsible to account.”

    Pakistan condemns India

    Pakistan has strongly condemned the disrespectful remarks recently made by two senior officials of India’s ruling party BJP, disrespecting the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). 

    “These totally unacceptable remarks have not only deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan but of billions of Muslims around the world,” read the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    “BJP’s attempted clarification and belated and perfunctory disciplinary action against these individuals cannot assuage the pain and anguish they have caused to the Muslim world. Muslims residing in India are equally outraged by the completely repugnant comments by the two BJP officials. The ensuing communal violence in Kanpur and in other parts of India bears testimony to this fact.”

    Pakistan urged India to ensure that decisive and demonstrable action is taken against those responsible for making derogatory remarks and attacking the dignity of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). India must also take immediate steps to protect its minorities from human rights violations, ensure their safety, security, and well-being and allow them to profess and practice their faiths in peace.

    “Pakistan once again calls on the international community to take immediate cognisance of the grievously aggravating situation of Islamophobia in India. India must be held accountable for stifling the rights of the minorities, especially Muslims, to practice their faith and religious beliefs,” said the Foreign Office spokesperson.

    Arab world’s condemnation over derogatory remarks

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar summoned the Indian Ambassador and handed over an official note on Qatar’s total rejection and condemnation of the remarks of Sharma and Kumar.

    The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Indian ambassador and handed him an official protest note expressing the State of Kuwait’s rejection and denunciation of the controversial remarks made by an official in the ruling party in India against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Islam, and Muslims.

    Saudi Arabia described the spokesperson’s comments as “insulting” and called for “respect for beliefs and religions”, according to a foreign ministry statement.

    The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned the remarks, saying they came in a “context of intensifying hatred and abuse towards Islam in India and systematic practices against Muslims”.

  • ‘Nani, diesel, cherry blossom, baby’: Khan has a name for all his political rivals

    ‘Nani, diesel, cherry blossom, baby’: Khan has a name for all his political rivals

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan quite frequently comes up with names for his fellow politicians. From names like cherry blossom, kukri, diesel, and nani, Khan has repetitively used these names to demean his political rivals.

    Cherry blossom:

    Khan has started addressing Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Shairf as ‘cherry blossom’ and often calls him “boot polishiya” [someone who polishes boots].

    In the same public address, Khan also called Shehbaz as “chooha” [mouse/rat].

    Geedar- Nawaz Sharif

    The PTI chairman called Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif a “geedar” [jackal] and said, “Geedar (jackal) cannot be a leader.”

    Maryam Nani

    Imran Khan called PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz “nani” [Grandmother].

    Later addressing Maryam as “bachi” [child], Khan said she does not have a political standing.

    ‘Baby Bilawal- Bilawal Sahiba’

    Khan during his jalsa in 2015 addressed Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as “beta [son] and baby”. The former premier said, “Bilawal beta this is not how politics is done. Politics is not done by putting pictures of your grandfather and mother in the back ground. We are going to make a Naya Pakistan baby Bilawal.”

    In 2019, Khan addressed Bilawal as “sahiba” [Madam]. He said, “Bilawal Bhutto sahiba ki tarhan mein koi kagazh ki parchi pay nahi aya tha.” [I did not come into politics on a piece of paper like Madam Bilawal Bhutto.]

    Later in 2020, he referred to Bilawal as a child and criticised him for not having done an actual job in his life.

    Diesel- Maulana Fazl

    Khan said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major-General Qamar Javed Bajwa asked him not to call Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman “diesel”.

    “I was just talking to Gen Bajwa and he told me not to refer to Fazl as diesel. But I am not the one who is saying that. The people have named him diesel,” said Khan.

    Hamza Kukri

    The PTI chairman has often called Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz “kukri” [ chicken].

    Three stooges

    Khan called Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Shehbaz Sharif, and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari the “three stooges”, referring to a classic American programme. This address was before Khan was ousted from power. He told his party members that the no-confidence motion was a “blessing” as it had “lifted” Khan’s party.

  • Fact Check: Bilawal Bhutto was not rejected as speaker by NYU, Columbia University

    Fact Check: Bilawal Bhutto was not rejected as speaker by NYU, Columbia University

    Claim: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto reached out to Pakistani students in Columbia University and NYU, both rejected to being his audience for a talk

    Fact: Bilawal Bhutto never contacted Pakistani students in NYU or Columbia University and so was never rejected by him

    On May 27, Shandana Gulzar Khan, a former PTI MNA made a tweet claiming that she has been told by “a person in a sensitive post”, that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reached out to Pakistani students at Columbia University and New York University, requesting them to arrange a talk with him but both organizations refused. The thread continues onwards and claims that after these two disappointments, Bhutto asked Pakistani students at Cornell to arrange a talk with him, which they first accepted and then at the insistence of the general student body, eventually rejected as well.

    This thread gathered 1,622 Likes, RTs and replies and has been shared to at least 562,647 followers on Twitter.

    Shandana Gulzar Khan’s tweet which refers to Bilawal Bhutto’s rejected request.

    The following day, on May 28, the Pakistani Students Association at NYU and the Organization of Pakistani Students at Columbia University both made announcements on Facebook clarifying that Bilawal Bhutto never contacted them so naturally they never rejected his proposal.

    To confirm with the final university, we reached out to the Pakistani students’ organization at Cornell on their Facebook page ‘Cornell University Pakistani Students Association’. They directed us to an Instagram post which clarified the same as the other two organizations.

  • Bilawal Bhutto defends ex-PM Imran Khan’s visit to Russia

    Bilawal Bhutto defends ex-PM Imran Khan’s visit to Russia

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday strongly defended Imran Khan’s Moscow visit, saying there was no way for the former prime minister to know that Russia would invade Ukraine on the day he landed in the Russian capital.

    “As far the former prime minister’s trip to Russia, I would absolutely defend the former prime minister of Pakistan. He conducted that trip as part of his foreign policy and without knowing that — no one is psychic, no one has a sixth sense — there’s no way we could have possibly known that that would be the time [when] the current conflict will start,” Bilawal said.

    https://twitter.com/MediaCellPPP/status/1527401668916256770?s=20&t=KZ4uVQyjDUUPrLQdo_hRgA

    “And I believe it is very unfair to punish Pakistan for such an innocent action.”

    Pakistan, he said, was absolutely clear that it has to stand by the principles of the United Nations, including that of non-use of force, on this issue.

    “We are not part of any conflict. We do not wish to be part of any conflict. In fact, we would continue to emphasise the importance of peace,” he said.

    “We would continue to emphasise the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve this conflict as soon as possible. And we will certainly not take any side or take the side of any aggressor within this context.”

    Twitterati praised FM Bilawal Bhutto for the way he defended not only the formal premier but Pakistan as well. Netizens did not spare this chance to compare Bilawal with Khan.

  • Pakistan wants to ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan wants to ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan: Bilawal Bhutto

     Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that Pakistan wants to ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan.

     The foreign minister in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour said, “I see women’s rights or women’s rights to education as rights granted to us in Islam. We’ll be emphasising that the Taliban keep their international commitments and ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan because these are rights guaranteed to women in Islam,” Bilawal said when he was asked if Islamabad had engaged with the Afghan Taliban on how Muslim countries can give rights to women.

    The minister said it wasn’t an issue of the West. He also said that the first word in Quran is ‘Iqra’, which means to read. “Nowhere is it written that only men should read. We are all meant to pursue our path to education.”

    FM Bilawal said that Islamabad is looking to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to play its role in discouraging the increase in terrorist activity on Pakistan’s side of the border.

    “We continue to not only monitor this situation but work on our side to ensure that we can try to tackle the threat of terrorism and hope that the regime in Afghanistan lives up to their international commitment to not allow their soil to be used for terrorism.”

    “We must prioritise, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, ensure there’s no economic collapse and hold the Taliban regime to the international commitments. It was not Pakistan, but the United States who had direct communication with the Taliban regime before their takeover of Kabul. Pakistan and the international community believe it will not serve any of our interests if we abandon the people of Afghanistan once again,” said Bilawal.

    “We all believe, Pakistan believes and the international community believes, they will not serve any of our interests if we abandon the people of Afghanistan, once again,” said Bilawal.

  • ‘Yeh darmiyana hamara Foreign Minister ban gaya hai: KP CM Mahmood Khan

    ‘Yeh darmiyana hamara Foreign Minister ban gaya hai: KP CM Mahmood Khan

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership is underfire for passing sexist and derogatory comments toward Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

    “This darmiyana man has become our FM. May God bless him, how will he move Pakistan forward,” said Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan.

    “I said it earlier, if he is coming, we will move to Afghanistan, at least we will be able to live there,” added CM Khan.

    Former Education Minister of Punjab Murad Raas passed derogatory comments about Bilawal, Maryam, and another PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar.

    Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly (NA) Qasim Suri tweeted a picture of a PTI supporter holding a placard with an insensitive comment on Bilawal and shared it with the caption “lethal”.

    Netizens called out the three PTI leaders for their comments. Twitter reactions are as follows:

  • PM Shehbaz directs Interior Ministry to provide tight security to Imran

    PM Shehbaz directs Interior Ministry to provide tight security to Imran

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Interior Ministry to provide water-tight security to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan at his home in Islamabad and during political rallies.

    A statement given by a spokesperson of the Interior Ministry said that the police and other law enforcement agencies have been directed to ensure the complete deployment of security personnel assigned to the former PM.

    94 security personnel of police and FC have been deployed for the security of Khan’s Bani Gala House. In addition, 36 personnel of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and six personnel of Gilgit-Baltistan Police have also been deployed by their governments for Khan’s security.

    35 personnel of two security companies are also deployed for the security of Bani Gala House.

    During the movement of Imran Khan outside Islamabad, four vehicles and 23 personnel of Islamabad Police while one vehicle and five personnel of FC always accompany him.

    Under the supervision of the Interior Ministry, the threat assessment company is constantly reviewing matters pertaining to the security of Imran Khan.

    ‘I will tell you about poison added to food that causes heart attack’: Khan

    Imran Khan on Sunday said that if anything happened to him, the Pakistani nation will seek justice on his behalf. 

    Addressing a jalsa in Faisalabad, Khan said that the Supreme Court (SC) must take suo motu on the heart attack of Dr Rizwan, former director of the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA), who died of a heart attack. Dr Rizwan was an investigating officer in PM Shehbaz’s money laundering case.

    “I want the SC to take suo motu on the heart attack of Dr Rizwan. I will also tell you about the poison that causes a heart attack when mixed with food.”

     Khan claimed that he had recorded a video of the characters behind the “conspiracy” against his government, and if something happens to him, it will be released. 

    “If anything happens to me, the Pakistani nation will seek justice on my behalf,” said Khan.

    Criticising Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Khan said that since he is now going to meet United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he will “beg him for money” so that “Imran Khan could not come back into power,” adding that the US never helps any country without seeing its own interest.

    “The US will tell Pakistan to stop talking about Palestine,” he said, adding that the US cannot dare to dictate India because it is a free country. 

    “The US has made Pakistan a slave without having to invade it,” Khan said. “The people of Pakistan will never accept this imported government.”