Tag: Fawad Chaudhry

  • ‘Mother of all jalsas will be held in Islamabad’: Fawad

    ‘Mother of all jalsas will be held in Islamabad’: Fawad

    A meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) core committee was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in which ruling party members discussed the ongoing political situation in the country. The meeting took place in the wake of the no-confidence motion which is likely to happen next week.

    After the meeting, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said PTI rejected the Opposition’s “lotacracy” and their efforts to bribe its party lawmakers. He claimed that PTI MPAs are being offered millions of rupees and all party members have strongly condemned this unethical act.

    Fawad said that the “mother of all jalsas” will be held in Islamabad.

    Taking a jibe at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) “Awaami March”, he said that those who are bringing a limited number of supporters should now know that PTI is the only federal party and PM Khan is the only federal leader and this is the reason why their “kaanpein tang rahi hain.”

    “All party members, including the lawmakers, believe that only Khan can rule the country during these challenging times,” he said, adding that the recent public gatherings held at various locations in the last few days have once again proved that PTI is a “federal party and not a divisional party”.

  • Dosti kar letay hain? Fawad Chaudhry says let’s see what the Opposition gets if they drop no-trust motion

    Dosti kar letay hain? Fawad Chaudhry says let’s see what the Opposition gets if they drop no-trust motion

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry is trying to extend reconciliation offers to the Opposition.

    The minister said, “If the Opposition withdraws the no-confidence motion, let’s see what can be given to them in return.”

    Fawad said that the Opposition should withdraw the no-trust motion as it had caused bitterness in politics. He feared that the soaring political situation could harm the country.

    The minister said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) upcoming public gathering at Islamabad D-Chowk will turn out to be a “mini referendum” over the no-trust motion.

    He hoped that over one million people will attend the public meeting on the call of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

  • ‘Fighting isn’t difficult, reconciliation is,’ Fawad Chaudhry trying to bring down political temperature?

    ‘Fighting isn’t difficult, reconciliation is,’ Fawad Chaudhry trying to bring down political temperature?

    Amidst all political chaos and unrest, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, “The unintentional no-confidence motion presented by the Opposition has caused bitterness in politics.”

    “Democracy is not a system of extreme divisions, it is based on political consensus,” said Fawad, adding, “I don’t think there should be such extreme division that conversations become difficult.”

    The minister further wrote, “Fighting isn’t difficult, reconciliation is.”

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed’s recent comments on the no-confidence motion suggest mending ways with the Opposition.

    “I think we should go towards making peace with the Opposition,” said Rasheed.

    Fawad and Rasheed’s words come at a time when the political temperature is quite high.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took to Twitter yesterday and responded to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent criticism hurled at the Opposition.

    “Imran Khan’s abusive language is the biggest proof he knows he’s losing. Have you ever heard a winning captain abuse his opponents?”

    “His reference to the army in public jalsa while no confidence is pending is pathetic, desperate, and will not work,” tweeted Bilawal.

  • Maulana Parliament Lodges showdown: What happened in Islamabad last night?

    Maulana Parliament Lodges showdown: What happened in Islamabad last night?

    On Thursday (March 10), a heavy contingent of the police raided the Parliament Lodges to expel members of the Ansarul Islam — a volunteer force of the Jamat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) — who were invited to provide security to Opposition lawmakers.

    At least four legislators and more than a dozen Ansarul Islam volunteers were arrested during the operation. As per reports, MNA Maulana Jamaluddin, Salahuddin Ayubi, and spokesperson Mufti Abdullah were also arrested.

    After the release of JUI-F workers and lawmakers, Maulana Fazlur Rehman directed party workers to open the highways they had earlier blocked in protest against the police operation. He had set a deadline of 9am for the government to release arrested parliamentarians and party workers.

    In an audio message shared on Twitter, Maulana Fazl said there was “no need” to block the roads now since all parliamentarians and workers have been released.

    Addressing a press conference after the police action, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed had said the Opposition was bringing “mobs” into parliament, adding that “no one is allowed to keep private militia”.

    The federal minister had said the government conducted “five-hour long talks with the Opposition” as Pakistan was not a “banana state”.

    “I have directed all chief secretaries and inspector generals to take those into custody who attempt to take the law into their hands.”

    Rasheed warned that no one should take the law into their hands, otherwise action would be taken

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter and said, “The Jamiat goons apologised by holding their ears and left. They are part of a specific mafia group that is working for their own interests.”

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill said that Maulana Fazl had been “making calls all night and asking for forgiveness and for his workers to be released so he could have some honour left”.

    Opposition Leader and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said that raiding the residence of members of parliament was dictatorship and fascism.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that the attack on parliamentarians cannot be tolerated. “This police attack is proof that Imran Khan is panicking,” Bilawal said, “Imran Khan, enough is enough,” he warned.

    The incident happened just days after the Opposition filed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

  • Govt decides to call National Assembly session soon for no-confidence motion

    Govt decides to call National Assembly session soon for no-confidence motion

    The government has decided to convene the National Assembly (NA) session very soon after the Opposition submitted the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, reports Jang.

    According to media reports, only one member of the government will be allowed to sit in NA on the day, when NA members will cast votes on the no-confidence motion.

    The government will issue a notification in which government members will not be permitted to attend the meeting and cast a vote for the no-confidence motion on the basis of Article 63-A of the Constitution.

    As per media reports, if any member of the government attends the meeting or casts a vote, PM Imran Khan — who is also chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — will write a letter regarding a reference against that member. The letter will be addressed to the NA Speaker.

    In a press conference yesterday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the Speaker of the National Assembly should call the session for the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan.

    He said that the no-confidence motion should not be delayed as the country cannot afford such situations for a longer period of time.

  • Pak vs Aus: Fawad Chaudhry hits out at PCB for ‘choosing a dead wicket’ in historic Test match

    Pak vs Aus: Fawad Chaudhry hits out at PCB for ‘choosing a dead wicket’ in historic Test match

    Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for “choosing a dead wicket” in the historic Test Match between Australia and Pakistan.

    “Test match after 24 years and look at the pitch,” Fawad tweeted. He said that the Pakistani pace attack did not need such dead pitches and hoped that the PCB will “give positive cricket a chance in next matches”.

    Australian leg-spinner and batter Steve Smith described the Rawalpindi wicket as “dead” and “benign”. He said it offered little to the seamers.

    Earlier, The Australian’s chief cricket writer, Peter Lalor, also remarked that the Rawalpindi pitch is “as dry as the local hotels”.

    Team Australia arrived in Pakistan for their first tour since 1998. and will play three Tests, three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and a T20I.

    The first Test match played in Rawalpindi between the two sides ended in a draw. The next Test match will begin in Karachi on Saturday (March 12).

  • ‘Come play in Pakistan,’ Fawad Chaudhry invites Indian cricket team

    ‘Come play in Pakistan,’ Fawad Chaudhry invites Indian cricket team

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said today (March 4) that the Indian cricket team should visit Pakistan and play cricket here.

    “Indians are still reeling from their loss to Pakistan in Dubai, they have not recovered yet,” said Fawad.

    Last year, Pakistan defeated India for the first time in a World Cup fixture by 10 wickets on October 24 at the ICC Cricket T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai.

    “The Indian cricket team should come to Pakistan and play cricket here. Instead of indulging in efforts to undermine and stop international cricket in Pakistan, India and Pakistan should support cricket in each other’s countries. I think we should leave aside our issues and instead sports should be prioritised,” said Fawad.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1499639038776688640

    Fawad Chaudhry said that he wants cooperation between India and Pakistan in cricket, music and films.

    “Some 65 per cent people did not vote for Modi. Why should they suffer due to Modi’s policies? We want more people-to-people contact between the two countries. I am sure there are voices in India that will denounce Modi’s extremism,” added Fawad Chaudhry.

    Last month, Adviser to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Commerce, Textile, Industry, and Production, and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said that trade with India is the need of the hour and beneficial to both countries.

  • ‘Government ready to withdraw media Ordinance under one condition’: Fawad

    ‘Government ready to withdraw media Ordinance under one condition’: Fawad

    Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that the government is ready to withdraw the controversial Pakistan Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (PECA).

    “The government has handed over the mandate to Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. If the media Joint Action Committee (JAC) could get its proposal approved, the government would also accept the recommendations,” said Fawad on HUM News programme, ‘Breaking Point with Malick’.

    “If the Joint Action Committee brings the draft in 90 days, they will amend the PECA Ordinance,” said Fawad.

    On Tuesday, JAC members had called on Elahi at the assembly chambers to discuss their reservations regarding the PECA law. 

    Fully supporting the demands of the JAC, Elahi had demanded immediate withdrawal of the amendment to the PECA Ordinance, The News reported. 

    He said the PECA Ordinance is the government’s “selective treatment of the journalist community and the people of Pakistan”.

    In February, PECA Ordinance was promulgated by President Arif Alvi. Talking exclusively to The Current, Fawad said, “A person who forwards fake news over WhatsApp can be fined and go to jail under the new law.”

    Civil society, political collectives, journalists, and rights activists condemned the new PECA Ordinance.

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that it seems like no one told the premier that there are laws for contempt other than PECA. “It seems like PM Khan was not assisted correctly over PECA Ordinance,” said Justice Minallah, adding that the law is used against critics here.

  • Bilawal, watch old videos of Benazir and learn how long marches happen: Fawad Chaudhry

    Bilawal, watch old videos of Benazir and learn how long marches happen: Fawad Chaudhry

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry advised Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to watch previous videos of his late mother, Benazir Bhutto, to learn how to conduct a long march.

    “Bilawal must go through the videos of previous long marches held by (late) Benazir Bhutto to learn how such rallies are conducted.”

     “We first want them [Opposition] to get tired by holding this march, then we will make our next move,” said Fawad.

    Rejecting the claims of the Opposition, Fawad said that the relief package announced by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan a day earlier was not an attempt to woo voters ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    “We just made adjustments to our existing budget to facilitate our middle class. Previously, we had given targeted subsidies to extremely poor segment.”

  • Tonight at 6pm: PM Khan aap se dil ki baat khul kar kareinge

    Tonight at 6pm: PM Khan aap se dil ki baat khul kar kareinge

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will be making a “big announcement” in an address to the nation today (Monday), said Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    Qureshi said, “I think he is going to make a very big announcement,” further advising people to “be ready” since the prime minister will “open his heart and talk frankly”.

    The minister further shared that the PM will address the nation at 6pm today.

    Taking to Twitter, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that the premier will take the nation into confidence over Pakistan’s economy and the global challenges the country faces amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak on Sunday said, “The prime minister will address the nation and announce Rs10 reduction in petroleum prices, and a Rs5 cut per unit in the electricity rates, along with several other measures.”