Tag: Chairman

  • Anti-corruption victory: NAB recovers Rs2.3 trillion, saves $10 billion

    Anti-corruption victory: NAB recovers Rs2.3 trillion, saves $10 billion

    National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed announced a significant achievement, revealing that the bureau has successfully recovered an impressive amount of Rs2.3 trillion and saved over $10 billion in savings for the national exchequer. 

    Speaking at an event, he highlighted the necessity of collective efforts in combating corruption, emphasising that every instance of corruption should face consequences.

    Chairman Nazir Ahmed underscored the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders, stating that the eradication of corruption is a shared responsibility that no single institution can accomplish alone. 

    He reiterated NAB’s commitment to fulfilling obligations outlined in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), emphasising that documenting the economy is a crucial step in reducing corruption.

    Prominent economist Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan and UNODC Pakistan’s Country Representative, Jermey Milsom, attended the event as guest speakers. 

    Dr Khan, in his keynote speech, emphasised the citizen’s responsibility to register in the taxation system for access to state welfare benefits.

    He highlighted the plight of individuals in the informal/unregistered economy facing poverty due to limited access to banking incentives, proposing a restructuring of the tax system to provide incentives rather than relying solely on punitive measures.

  • PAC orders investigation into data leak of military officials

    PAC orders investigation into data leak of military officials

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has on Thursday expressed apprehensions over the data leak of citizens and of military officials from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

    PAC ordered the Ministry of Interior to conduct a joint investigation into the data leak. Pakistan Tele-communication Authority (PTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Military Intelligence (MI) should be included in the investigation team, PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan said.

    Noor Alam Khan also asked PTA to block the data online, stating, “Everyone’s personal data is available on the internet. Data of military authorities has also been leaked. How was it leaked from NADRA?”

  • Javed Latif demands punishment for those who launched ‘Chairman PTI’

    Federal Minister and senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Javed Latif, has demanded punishment for the individuals who launched project “PTI Chairman”, Express Urdu has reported.

    While talking to media personnel in Lahore, Javed Latif said that an institution initiating self-accountability sends a positive message, and other institutions should also follow the line.

    He further added that if the individuals who have launched this project [PTI] are not arrested and punished, a similar incident like May 9 could happen again.

    If the serving members can face a court-martial, then the retired officers should also held accountable, he opined.

    Latif further said that both the facilitators and masterminds of May 9 events, no matter how powerful they may be, should face punishment.

  • May 9 riots: NA passes resolution to take action against the party involved and its chairman

    May 9 riots: NA passes resolution to take action against the party involved and its chairman

    The National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding action against May 9 rioters under the Army Act.

    The resolution was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

    The resolution demanded that all individuals  involved in May 9 riots must immediately face legal repercussions, adding that members of the same party and its leaders were separating themselves from May 9 events.

    “Across the world, the right of inquiry against people involved in incidents such as attacks on military installations lie with the army. In Pakistan too, laws and constitutional protection against such elements exist,” it added.

    “Therefore, an inquiry should be initiated without any delay against all the people involved in these incidents and they should be punished under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952,” the resolution read.

  • Lahore High Court extends halt on Zaman Park police operation till tomorrow

    Lahore High Court extends halt on Zaman Park police operation till tomorrow

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has extended the injunction on the police operation to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Zaman Park till tomorrow.

    Yesterday, the court had ordered the police to stop the operation to arrest Imran Khan till 10 am today.

    At the hearing of the petition against the police operation at LHC today, the court said that on Thursday all parties should sit together and find a solution. Stating that we are being dishonored as a nation, the judge said, “Move your rally; for God’s sake, let people live their routine lives.”

    LHC also stopped PTI from holding a rally this Sunday at Iqbal Park (Minar-e-Pakistan) and asked the party to let citizens live their routine lives.

    The party was planning to hold a “historic” public rally at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan on March 19 and PTI Chairman Imran Khan was set to lead it — despite “security threats”.

    PTI workers clashed for nearly 24 hours with the law enforcers trying to get through the party supporters and arrest Khan.
  • PTI’s ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ begins today

    PTI’s ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ begins today

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has announced that the party’s ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek (court arrest movement)’ is set to start today.

    Taking to Twitter, Khan shared two main reasons behind starting the Jail Bharo Tehreek.

    “One, it is a peaceful, non-violent protest against the attack on our constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights. We are facing sham FIRs and NAB cases, custodial torture, attacks on journalists and social media people,” wrote Khan.

    Khan went on to say that the second reason is the economic meltdown brought on by a “cabal of crooks who have money laundered billions in looted wealth and gotten NROs for themselves while crushing the people, especially, the poor and the middle class, under the burden of spiralling inflation and rising unemployment.” 

    The former prime minister also released a video message, urging his followers to “fill up prisons and shatter the idols of fear”.

    In the first phase of the movement, the party’s senior leaders — Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Asad Umar — will voluntarily surrender themselves to the authorities on Tuesday.

    It is unclear what offense party leaders and followers are expected to commit to initiate arrest proceedings.

  • ‘Gen Bajwa ke kehnay pe Farah Khan mulk se bahir gayi hain’: Faisal Vawda

    Former Pakistan Thereek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda has revealed that former First Lady, Bushra Bibi’s closest friend, Farah Khan was sent out of Pakistan to please former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    “Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa had knowledge [of the departure] and it was due to his orders that Farah Khan was sent out of Pakistan,” said Vawda while speaking on Hum News programme, ‘Breaking Views with Malick’.

    “Imran Khan would mind this and take this personally,” further said Vawda.

    It has been alleged by the current federal government that Farah Khan, a close friend of Bushra Bibi, to be involved in multiple irregularities that took place during the tenure of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    Most recently, Farah Khan was alleged to have sold the Toshakhana watches that were gifted to Imran Khan by foreign dignitaries. In an interview with Geo’s Shahzeb Khanzada, a Dubai based businessman, Umar Farooq Zahoor alleged that Farah Khan sold him a Graff watch set for for $2 million in cash, worth approximately Rs280m at the time of sale in 2019.

  • ‘Meri gharri hai, mai bechoon ya jo marzi karoon’: Imran Khan

    ‘Meri gharri hai, mai bechoon ya jo marzi karoon’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has accused the media of looking the other way on important matters and instead focusing on what he implied were trivial issues, such as the Toshakhana watch scandal.

    “The channels that used to bash the PTI government for inflation, those channels are quiet now and are instead focused on a watch,” he said in a press conference in Lahore.

    “It’s my watch. I can sell it, or do whatever I want. No one is talking about the economic murder being committed right now.”

    Referring to his opponents, Imran Khan said the “gang of thieves” has properties in foreign countries worth billions of dollars, hence they do not care about the economic collapse of the country.

    He added that the US dollar will further shoot up and there would be no foreign investment “if Pakistan defaults”.

    “A group of thieves has been imposed on us,” the deposed premier said, adding that the gang has been stealing national wealth for the past 30 years. He also said they were laundering the looted money abroad via illegal means including hundi and hawala.

    He again criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan and the establishment of supporting the ruling alliance led by the PML-N during the recent by-polls in the country.

    “Maryam Nawaz reached [homeland] first, then Ishq Dar was dry cleaned and now Suleman Shehbaz will be dry cleaned,” Imran Khan said.

    “We all knew who gave them NRO-II,” the former Prime Minister said and asked if the Constitution has room for NRO-II.

    The PTI chairman feared that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will not move towards elections.

    Addressing the new military leadership in the presser, the former premier said: “The new regime which has recently taken over should think about the country for God’s sake. National security institutions should see what is happening with the country.”

    He also stressed that the nation and army go hand in hand, not separately.

  • PM appoints Dr Ejaz Akram as Rehmatulil Aalmeen Authority chairman, Twitter criticises appointment

    PM appoints Dr Ejaz Akram as Rehmatulil Aalmeen Authority chairman, Twitter criticises appointment

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Tuesday appointed Dr Ejaz Akram as chairman of the high-powered National Rehmatulil Aalmeen Authority (NRA), aimed at countering narratives against Islam and the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

    Dr Akram, a prominent Islamic scholar who has teaching experience in a number of international universities, received a lot of backlash from social media for his controversial views on democracy, his belief in conspiracy theories apart from being accused of a sexual harasser.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail shared excerpts from Dr Ijaz’s article which he wrote in 2020, “Many researchers have argued that 9/11 was the fifteenth false flag operation in the history of the United States similar to the Gulf of Tonkin invasion in Vietnam and the sinking of the Lusitania during WWI… “

    “Similarly, coronavirus exists but the global politics of coronavirus is fraudulent. Since its kill rate is less than the ordinary flu, closing down the world economy cannot be justified, yet global powers are all set to do that… The only hope this country has now is if the whole principle and structure of governance is completely dismantled, but preferably peacefully without the loss of life and property,” tweeted Miftah.

    Activist and lawyer, Jibran Nasir tweeted, “A man who publicly despises democracy considering its the worst form of govt, demands the military to take over lost “turf” from “enemies”(civilians) & believes that power should remain amongst a hand-picked elite is appointed head of Rehmatul Lil Alameen (SAW) Authority by @ImranKhanPTI.”

    Fahad Deshmuk, a journalist, took to Twitter and shared a video of Dr Ejaz and wrote, “Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), Siraiki movement, and Jeay Sindh are funded by the enemies of Pakistan.”

    Assistant Professor Erum Haider tweeted, “The new NRA chairman is a known sexual predator and has a history of engaging in harassment.”

    Mariam Durrani, a professor wrote, “While I taught at LUMS, Ejaz Akram was a known predator that the then-admin was unable to address due to lack of testimony bc of the fear of retribution by many women students/faculty.”

    Ifrah Hassan replying to Durrani’s tweet said, “Thank you for naming him. I never could. Even when I wanted to because I was worried that it’s his word over mine.”

    Feminist and academic Nida Kirmani tweeted, “I remember going to a workshop with him once and him hitting on one of the young grad students there. It was gross. Then when I came to LUMS, it was like an open secret, but no one was ever willing to come forward officially.”

  • Authority to remove NAB chairman taken back from SJC, given to president

    Authority to remove NAB chairman taken back from SJC, given to president

    The power to remove the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman from office has been withdrawn from the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and given to the president, as per the National Accountability (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, which has been approved by President Arif Alvi, reports Geo News.

    The NAB chairman’s tenure, as per the new ordinance, will be of four years. The criteria for the removal of a NAB chairman will be the same as the one for the removal of a Supreme Court judge, according to the new Ordinance.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif criticised the new Ordinance and said that the government had spared no efforts to push the Opposition to the wall. He claimed that the government had introduced a new NAB ordinance to give itself National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).