Tag: Fawad Chaudhry

  • Fawad sees ‘woman version of Altaf Hussain’ in Maryam Nawaz

    Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that he sees a woman version of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain in Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz after she warned the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to “get ready for people’s wrath”.

    “NAB is targeting PML-N leader Amir Muqam and his family. Time is not far when people will take revenge from NAB for its excesses,” she said while addressing a rally in Nowshera on Wednesday. “They should just get ready.”

    Reacting to Maryam’s statement, Fawad said the remarks were unfortunate.

    “The way Maryam said she will seek revenge from NAB, it reminds me of Altaf Hussain and co. The way she has threatened… I see a woman version of Altaf Hussain in her,” he said, adding that he couldn’t help recalling the threats against law enforcement by the MQM founder back when he was in the crosshairs.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1362085006672334850

    MARYAM IN NOWSHERA:

    Earlier, Maryam also said that time had come to send Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan packing.

    She said during the PML-N’s tenure, flour, sugar, pulses and eggs were cheap. “The growth rate under Nawaz Sharif was 5.8%, which has sunk to negative now.”.

    Maryam also said that under the PML-N, the price of flour was Rs35/kg but now it was Rs80/kg. “The price of roti was Rs5 and now it has gone up to Rs20,” she lamented.

    The PML-N vice president said that wherever the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members would contest the elections, they will be defeated.

    “I want to tell the people that when PTI members come to ask for votes, show them the electricity and gas bills and medicine slips and tell them with what grace they have come to ask for votes,” she said, adding that she has more sympathy for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as compared to Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan because the province has been enduring other issues including incompetence, theft and robbery for last eight years.

  • PML-N’s Zubair says Fawad cost him Senate ticket

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Zubair said his party refused to nominate him for a Senate seat because of the criticism levelled by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry.

    Zubair, who appeared on Kashif Abbasi’s show on ARY News alongside Fawad, said that the minister is very fond of giving lectures on morality to the opposition that became the reason for his party’s refusal to award him a ticket. “I hope Fawad will also pay heed when it’s the opposition turn to give such lectures,” he added.

    Zubair, who is also the spokesperson of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, said he wanted a Senate ticket from Punjab even though he is a representative of Sindh being its resident and the governor, but the PML-N decided against it because it wanted to set standards for the award of Senate tickets. And Fawad also talked about setting standards, especially in my case, Zubair said.

    According to Zubair, Fawad had opposed his potential nomination for Senate, saying Zubair entry into Senate would damage the “quality” of the upper house.

    However, when the host asked Fawad, he said Zubair probably didn’t get the Senate ticket because the party wanted to nominate party leaders Nehal Hashmi and Mushahidullah for the coveted seats.

    Zubair, however, defended the award of the Senate ticket to the deceased PML-N lawmaker, saying Mushahidullah had been living in Punjab – Islamabad – for over a decade now and his nomination from Punjab was justified.

    The ailing PML-N lawmaker, Mushahidullah, passed away in the wee hours of Thursday hours after the show was broadcasted.

  • ‘Indian media is run by jokers’: Fawad reacts to absurd claims

    ‘Indian media is run by jokers’: Fawad reacts to absurd claims

    In the wake of months-long protests by the farmers, the Indian media has accused Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry of running an international disinformation campaign against India along with Khalistani leader Bhajan Singh Bhinder (also know as Iqbal Chaudhry) and journalist Pieter Friedrich.

    Friedrich became part of the investigation after his name was mentioned in the toolkit that Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg tweeted on February 4.

    The ‘toolkit’, which had the detailed plan of action for amplifying farmers’ protests and listed a number of social media handles to be followed, is now being probed by Delhi Police in connection with the tractor rally violence on Republic Day. The police had also announced to book Thunberg for conspiring against India.

    But now, the Indian police think that Fawad is the mastermind of this campaign while Friedrich, a critic of the Indian government, is the face of the campaign.

    According to News18, Bhajan Singh Bhinder is the “uncle of Fawad” and the mastermind of the slander campaign against India. It alleged that Fawad is helping the Sikh activists to run a campaign against India.

    The PTI minister, however, tweeted the news clip on his social media account, calling the claims “absurd”.

    Fawad said India doesn’t need foreign actors to sabotage its image, as its prime minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are enough to destroy India’s global standing.

    On Sunday, Delhi police arrested a young climate activist arrested over a farmers’ protest “toolkit” also shared by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Delhi police confirmed the arrest of Disha Ravi, who is in her early 20s, in a tweet on Sunday that accused her of being a “key conspirator in (the) document’s formulation & dissemination.”

  • Kaira leaves TV show after host calls Maryam, Bilawal ‘immature’

    Kaira leaves TV show after host calls Maryam, Bilawal ‘immature’

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Qamaruz Zaman Kaira walked out of a TV show after a minor argument with the show host Ehtesham Amiruddin and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry over their criticism of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

    During the show, Fawad termed the politics of Maryam and Bilawal “immature” and called them “kids” who were playing politics. “They have no idea of the Pakistani politics,” he said, adding both political parties have no future in the country.

    At this, Kaira, who had joined the show via telephone, clapped back at Fawad, saying he’s calling Maryam a “kid” when she is older than him. At this, Fawad said he meant that Maryam was not an experienced politician.

    Kaira responded that she might have more experience in politics than Fawad Chaudhry. Kaira also criticised the PTI for being a party of trolls. He said they resort to trolling in response to criticism against their party or to damage the stature of the opposition leaders.

    Fawad rebutted Maryam and Bilawal have no political standing and it was unfortunate that people like Kaira have to defend them. “Don’t worry, they are very good politicians,” Kaira responded.

    At this, the TV host tried to clarify, saying that what Fawad wanted to say was that both the PPP chairman and PML-N vice president were “politically immature”.

    Irked by the interjection, Kaira told the host that he didn’t need him to speak for Fawad as he knew very well what the PTI leader meant. “I understood what he meant… more than you,” Kaira told the host.

    The host then went on to say that he too agrees with Fawad that statements by Maryam and Bilawal that criticise the army were a sing of “political immaturity”.

    Kaira responded that the anchorpersons are supposed to moderate the shows, not give their “judgements”. At this, the host said it was not fair that his opinion was being considered as judgement, while Kaira can give his opinion without any problem.

    However, the things continue to go south and Kaira eventually left the show by disconnecting the telephone call.

  • Fawad Chaudhry’s wife launches fashion label

    Fawad Chaudhry’s wife launches fashion label

    Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry’s wife Hiba Fawad has debuted her fashion label Nisa Hussain at the 10th Hum Bridal Couture Week.

    Nisa Hussain closed Show 1 at the last day of the Hum Bridal Couture Week with a gorgeous collection of bridal and wedding outfits. Set in rich, luxurious materials and embellishments, the 16-piece collection had a diverse colour palette ranging from neutrals to red. Resham and Hareem Farooq were the showstoppers while Arif Lohar brought in some drama and energy to the ramp.

    In a statement, the brand said that “the collection reflects the brand’s take on traditional subcontinental bridalwear, infused with the designer’s signature silhouettes and embellishments. Set in rich, luxurious materials such as velvet, tissue, organza, cotton net, jamawar and shamoise, the collection features artisanal gold, copper, pearl, tilla and tabkakora embroideries with a diverse colour palette ranging from neutrals to red and everything in between.”

    Speaking about her debut, Nisa Hussain’s Creative Director Hiba said: “Pakistan’s fashion industry has gained remarkable ground all over the world, where our bridal wear is considered among the world’s finest couture. With my debut bridal collection at BCW, this marks a significant milestone for my young and emerging brand.”

    Read more – Farah Talib Aziz calls out Haris Shakeel for plagiarism

    Meanwhile, speaking at the event, Fawad said that his favourite collection from the day was the “one named after his daughter [Nisa Hussain]”. The minister also added that he was very happy to see designers showcase their creativity and talent at the event and that these outfits can prove to be a great export for Pakistan.

    When asked when he is launching at menswear line, Fawad said that his field is politics so we should not expect one anytime soon.

  • Shibli, Fawad meet Shaan to condole Neelo Begum’s demise

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz and Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry met Shaan Shahid on Saturday to condole over his mother, Neelo Begum’s demise.

    The ministers offered condolences on the death of actress and offered prayers for her.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1357995312766410752?s=19

    Taking to Twitter, Shaan thanked Faraz and Chaudhry for visiting him and offering their prayers.

    “Thank you for being a part of us,” wrote Shaan on Twitter. “The connection of the people and their representatives grows stronger when we share each other’s sorrows and joy.”

    The actor also tagged Prime Minister Imran Khan, referring to him as a “true leader”, implying that PM Khan had also sent his condolences via the ministers. Earlier, PM Imran had expressed his condolences on social media.

    Neelo Begum passed away at the age of 80 on January 31. She was suffering from cancer.

    Meanwhile, earlier Shaan also penned a heartfelt note for his late mother and wished that his mother has reunited with his father Riaz Shahid in heaven.

  • Kangana Ranaut has a meltdown after Rihanna tweets about Indian farmers

    Just as expected, Kangana Ranaut had a meltdown after Rihanna extended her support for the ongoing farmers’ protest in India. Sharing an article which reported on the internet shut down in several districts of Haryana amid violent clashes between police and farmers over the weekend, the multi-Grammy award-winning singer said: “Why aren’t we talking about this?”

    Soon after Rihanna’s tweet, Kangana, who has been actively slamming those participating in the protests, reacted to the singer’s tweet calling her a “fool” and referring to the farmers as “terrorists”.

    “No one is talking about it because they are not farmers they are terrorists who are trying to divide India so that China can take over our vulnerable broken nation and make it a Chinese colony much like the USA,” wrote an agitated Kangana.

    “Sit down you fool, we are not selling our nation like you dummies,” she added.

    https://twitter.com/KanganaTeam/status/1356640083546406913

    When Twitter user brought up an old tweet of Kangana’s in which she had said: “Alexa play Diamonds by Rihanna”, the actor lashed out saying: “I took over my account in August last year. Before that, it was a team fan page.”

    “Mujhe na pop music samajh aata hai, na hee main English gaane zyaada sunti hoon,” she added.

    Kangana then launched into a full blown attack against Rihanna, calling her a porn star and saying that there is nothing special about her.

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has appreciated Rihanna’s gesture of support for the farmers.

    “You have earned the respect of every farmer of the world and particularly of Punjabis all around the world,” said Chaudhry in a tweet. “You have shown your heart is in the right place.”

    “Loads of respect,” he added.

    Farmer’s Protest

    Thousands of farmers have gathered at Delhi’s gateways to demand a repeal of the Centre’s three new farm laws. The protesting farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana as well as Uttar Pradesh, are worried the new laws will eliminate the safety cushion of a Minimum Support Price and procurement system while rendering ineffective the mandi system that ensures earnings for various stakeholders in the farm sector.

  • Fawad Ch disqualification case: IHC chief justice wants people to be the judge

    Fawad Ch disqualification case: IHC chief justice wants people to be the judge

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah has said that the judiciary has faith in decisions made by the people, who are responsible even if they elect to power the wrong representatives.

    “If eligibility or disqualification are to be decided, do so outside courtrooms,” the top Islamabad judge said while hearing a petition seeking the science and technology minister’s disqualification for allegedly hiding his assets.

    Justice Minallah was due to hear the plea on February 1 (today). The court had already issued notices to Fawad and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the hearing.

    The petitioner has claimed that the minister did not disclose details of the land he owns in Jhelum in his nomination papers for the 2018 general elections. “He is no longer ‘sadiq and ameen’ and should be disqualified,” the petitioner had argued.

    During the course of proceedings on Monday, the IHC ruled that it will hear the disqualification petitions against all MNAs and MPAs together and give a combined ruling on it.

    The combined cases will be heard on March 9. The cases will be wrapped up together so that the court can listen to other petitioners, the court remarked.

    The court has a clear stance on hearing cases against the representatives of the government. Courts should not be used for political motives, said Justice Minallah. “Why should we hear cases that will eventually lead to the criticism of the courts?”

    The petitioner said that the court has to make a decision if the law is violated anywhere, the petitioner said, adding that former PM Nawaz Sharif was also disqualified by the courts.

    Former CJ of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa had said that Parliament should amend Article 62 (1)(f). If it remains the same, then all of us could be disqualified under it, the court added.

    Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution is a provision requiring elected officials to be ‘sadiq and ameen’ or honest and righteous. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and PTI leader Jahangir Tareen were disqualified under this clause.

    Fawad, who attended the hearing, said that whatever has been presented in court is nothing but a classic example of blackmailing. “Courts are supposed to protect us from being blackmailed.”

    Responding to Fawad, Justice Minallah said that the politicians should play their role in changing the blackmail culture. “People hurl abuses at judges on social media,” he remarked, adding that MPAs and MNAs should try to change this culture too.

  • Larry King passes away at 87

    Larry King passes away at 87

    Iconic TV and radio broadcaster Larry King, who interviewed anyone worth interviewing over a career spanning six decades, passed away on Saturday at the age of 87.

    The company he co-founded, Ora Media, did not state a cause of death but media reports said King had been battling COVID-19 for weeks and had suffered several health problems in recent years.

    King, with his trademark suspenders and black rim glasses, was best known for a 25-year run as a talk show host on CNN’s Larry King Live. He retired in 2010 after recording more than 6,000 episodes of the show. He also conducted an estimated 50,000 interviews in his six-decade career.

    “For 63 years and across the platforms of radio, television and digital media, Larry’s many thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster,” Ora Media said in a statement posted on Twitter.

    King is survived by three sons. Last year, two of his adult children died within weeks of each other: Andy King, 65, suffered a heart attack and daughter Chaia King, 52, died after being diagnosed with lung cancer. King is survived by three sons.

    Meanwhile, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry expressed his grief and condolences over King’s death.

  • ‘Pakistan to recognise E-sports as an official sport’

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has announced that Pakistan will soon recognise e-sports as an official sport after an MOU (Memorandum of understanding) was signed between the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF).

    “An MOU has been signed between Pakistan Sports Board and Pakistan Science Foundation after which e-sports will get the status of an official sport,” said Chaudhry in a tweet.

    He added: “If you are interested in video games then get ready for new opportunities.”

    In December 2020, during an interview with Waqar Zaka, Chaudhry had hinted towards Pakistan’s first-ever e-sports tournament. The minister had said that the tournament will be held in March with the help of private sponsorships.