Tag: Fawad Chaudhry

  • Fawad lashes out at Sanjay Dutt’s ‘Panipat’ for ‘trying to rewrite history under RSS influence’

    Fawad lashes out at Sanjay Dutt’s ‘Panipat’ for ‘trying to rewrite history under RSS influence’

    Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry doesn’t mince words when it comes to expressing his thoughts.

    Recently, while responding to a tweet about the upcoming Bollywood historical saga Panipat, Fawad wrote on Twitter, “When idiots try to rewrite history under RSS influence this is minimum one should expect, agay agay dekheiye hota hai kiya…”

    Panipat which features Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon in the lead is directed by ace filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker (Lagaan, Swades, Jodha Akbar). The film reportedly depicts the story behind the Third Battle of Panipat, which was fought between the Maratha Empire and the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1761.

    While Arjun will be playing Maratha warrior Sadashiv Rao Bhau, Dutt will essay the role of the Afghan ruler Abdali.

    Read more: ‘Another anti-Pakistan project’: Mehwish Hayat lashes out as SRK’s ‘Bard of Blood’ stirs controversy

    The film has not only irked Pakistanis for misrepresentation of Muslim rulers but according to The Print, the Embassy of Afghanistan has also expressed concerns to New Delhi and sought a meeting with the Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar to discuss the film.

    The Afghans are critical of the way the former Afghan emperor Ahmad Shah Abdali has been portrayed in the period drama. Abdali is a revered figure in Afghanistan and is regarded as the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan.

    The Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi also wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the matter, while the ex-Afghan ambassador to India tweeted directly to Dutt over the portrayal.

    Panipat is scheduled to hit the screens on December 6. The demolition of the Babri Masjid in the city of Ayodhya, in Uttar Pradesh, took place on the same date in 1992.

    Previously Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of Alauddin Khilji in last year’s Padmaavat left many historians aghast and irked the Muslims who felt that the great emperor was turned into a vile villain.

    Read more: Arts vs Politics: A contentious debate engulfing India

    Watch trailer here:

  • Fawad Chaudhry offers to help India handle smog

    Fawad Chaudhry offers to help India handle smog

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has offered to help India combat the smog problem engulfing both countries.

    Taking to Twitter, the minister suggested using a scientific solution to handle the smog.

    Fawad in his tweet said that the burning of crops in the Indian city of Jalandhar was causing chaos on both sides of the border adding to the toxicity in the air making it difficult to breathe in.

    He then offered a machine-based solution to turn the crop residue into a source of energy rather than burning it.

    A thick layer of smog has descended again on Punjab, especially hitting Lahore.

    According to the Air Visual, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore is hazardous. The toxic smog in Lahore also forced the government and private schools to remain closed on Thursday.

    Meanwhile, experts in India argue that current levels of air pollution represent a public health emergency requiring full emergency mode response from local and national authorities.

  • ‘You won’t find a place to hide,’ Fawad warns Opp against underestimating govt

    ‘You won’t find a place to hide,’ Fawad warns Opp against underestimating govt

    Federal Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chaudhry has warned Azadi March protesters against underestimating the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, saying that it is “exercising self-restraint only on Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s call”.

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) is currently holding a sit-in in Islamabad against the “illegitimate” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government that they say “stole people’s mandate”.

    Protesters belonging to the JUI-F as well as other opposition parties on Friday reached Islamabad as Fazl gave the premier a two-day deadline for his resignation following fiery speeches by Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

    With government members stepping up to support PM Imran, Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday tweeted to warn the opposition members.

    “Don’t dare to underestimate #PTIGovernment we are exercising self-restraint because @ImranKhanPTI has desired so, if he makes a call these bunch of opportunists ll not find a place to hide in Pakistan,” he wrote.

    Opposition parties are yet to react to the federal minister’s statement.

  • ‘Ministers criticised Pemra’s order like they were in opp,’ complains Firdous to PM Imran

    ‘Ministers criticised Pemra’s order like they were in opp,’ complains Firdous to PM Imran

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan has complained to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan that ministers criticised Pemra’s [Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority] order like they were in the opposition.

    During the federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday headed by PM Imran, the minister said that it is humiliating if the government’s own ministers criticise the orders themselves.

    On Firdous’s complaint the Federal Minister for Science and Technology said that, “humiliation happens when the government issues an order and takes it back within a few hours”.

    Fawad Ch also said that, “Decisions are made without anyone having knowledge of it”, adding that you should take everyone into confidence before passing such orders.

    Pemra on Monday had barred television anchors from giving their “opinions” during talk shows and limited their role to “moderator”.

    The authority after receiving massive criticism later backtracked on its decision and issued a statement clarifiying that there is no ban on TV anchors from appearing on talk shows. Pemra said it didn’t mean to restrict freedom of expression as ‘being projected by few’.

  • Fawad Chaudhry tells nation not to look towards government for jobs

    Fawad Chaudhry tells nation not to look towards government for jobs

    Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry created a stir once again when he said that the nation should not look towards the government for jobs.

    Addressing a conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, the minister said that the government is, in fact, going to disband 400 departments.

    “If you start looking towards the government for jobs, our economy will collapse,” he stated.

    Chaudhry explained that his statement was taken out of context and was being misinterpreted. In a tweet, he explained that jobs are provided by the private sector while the government’s responsibility is to create an environment where jobs are created. But the government cannot accommodate everyone in government departments.

    Meanwhile, PTI’s manifesto states otherwise:

    Create 10 million jobs and strengthen the labour market

    PTI will strengthen the labour market and create 10 million jobs over 5 years in key sectors: SME, housing, ICT, health, education, green economy and tourism.

    Article 38 of the constitution states that the “state shall provide for all citizens, within the available resources of the country, facilities for work and adequate livelihood”. Approximately two million additional youth enter the labour force each year, which totals to 10 million over the next 5 years. We believe Pakistan’s youth can become its biggest asset. However, if we do not take action, the youth dividend can also become our biggest challenge and lead to drastic economic and social consequences.

    Meanwhile, Minister for Water and Resources, Faisal Vawda, in early April had said that there will be a burst of jobs in Pakistan in the coming weeks.

    Six months later we have seen no burst. Is the PTI going back on its promises?

  • VIDEO: Fawad Chaudhry wants to be Deputy Prime Minister?

    VIDEO: Fawad Chaudhry wants to be Deputy Prime Minister?

    Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry says that he told PM Khan that in countries like Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, the ministers for science and technology are as powerful as a Deputy Prime Minister. (hint hint)

    When we asked Fawad whether he was joking or being serious, he said he meant it as a joke.

    Fawad’s counterparts in the countries he mentioned are:

    The Minister of Science and Tech in Korea is Dr Yanghee Choi since 2014 but doesn’t have an active Wikipedia page. He was previously the Chairman of Samsung Science and Tech Foundation.  

    Minister of Science and Tech in Singapore doesn’t exist. Science and Tech comes under the Ministry of Trade and Industry whose minister is Chan Chun Sing who is a former major general and also served as Singapore’s Chief of Army (Infantry).

    Yeo Bee Yin currently is the Minister of Energy, Science and Tech, Environment and Climate change in Malaysia. A member of parliament, one of her first initiatives was to ban on the import of plastic waste.

    Indonesia’s Science and Tech minister is professor. Mohamad Nasir was also the Dean of the Accounting program at a university and was involved in a major controversy in 2016 when he wanted to ban the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community on campus.

    Indonesia’s Science and Tech minister is professor. Mohamad Nasir was also the Dean of the Accounting program at a university and was involved in a major controversy in 2016 when he wanted to ban the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community on campus.

  • PM Imran likely to appoint Fawad Chaudhry as his spokesperson

    PM Imran likely to appoint Fawad Chaudhry as his spokesperson

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has reportedly decided to appoint Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry as his spokesperson in Nadeem Afzal Chan’s place.

    According to reports, the minister will serve as the premier’s spokesperson in addition to managing his science and technology portfolio.

    The current spokesperson, Chan, who is also the PM Imran’s special assistant on parliamentary coordination, wants to step down citing his “inability to carry on holding the post”.

    The premier has requested Fawad, a media affairs expert, to replace Chan, The Express Tribune reported, adding that the PM’s Office will issue a formal notification within a few days.

  • Fawad Chaudhry raises voice for Kashmir in Oslo

    Fawad Chaudhry raises voice for Kashmir in Oslo

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yXkewVsGHI
  • Fawad shuts up Indian major who pointed out PTI-PML-N clash

    Fawad shuts up Indian major who pointed out PTI-PML-N clash

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has shut up an Indian army veteran who attempted to highlight the divide between ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    A war of words had erupted between Fawad and PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan as the joint session of the parliament continued for the second day on Wednesday.

    The ruckus in the parliament had started after the PML-N leader condemned the government for having failed to take Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi head-on.

    It was at this juncture when Fawad began to disrupt his speech, prompting Mushahid to ask the speaker to “put a leash on Fawad”.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Even though Speaker Sadiq Sanjrani urged them both to not indulge in cross-talk, the PML-N senator continued addressing the minister, “I had left you tied at home… I had put a leash around your neck before coming to parliament.”

    The two leaders then traded “shut up” barbs with each other.

    Pointing out the clash, an ex-officer of the Indian army, Major (r) Gaurav Arya, took to Twitter and wrote:

    Responding to the Indian major’s tweet, Fawad wrote:

    The tweets come amid tensions rising on either side of the border over the Kashmir dispute. Indian government on Monday had snatched away the Muslim-majority region’s autonomy by revoking Article 370 of the constitution.

    The move has attracted a strong reaction from Pakistan as Kashmiris fear that it could pave way for Muslim genocide in the troubled valley.

  • VIDEO: Fawad Ch breaks into tears, urges parliamentarians to save Kashmir

    VIDEO: Fawad Ch breaks into tears, urges parliamentarians to save Kashmir

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday broke into tears as he urged parliamentarians to save Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).

    Fear is gripping the Muslim-majority disputed valley ever since the Indian government abrogated Article 370 of the constitution to pave way for what is being termed as a Muslim genocide.

    With the emergency joint parliament session continuing for the second day, members of the National Assembly and Senate met to discuss Pakistan’s future course of action in light of Indian misadventures.

    “I urge the parliament to not let Kashmir become Palestine. We cannot stand this. We cannot live with this humiliation. If it comes to a fight, we will fight,” Fawad said as he moved to tears while addressing the lawmakers.

    “The message from this parliament should be that we fought for Kashmir before and we will fight for Kashmir again.”

    He also urged the government to cut diplomatic ties with neighbouring India.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    President Dr Arif Alvi, upon opposition parties demand, had on Monday called the joint parliament session to discuss the deteriorating situation in held Kashmir.

    The article, revoked by the Indian government, gave certain autonomy to the occupied valley, under which the administration in Kashmir could formulate its own laws — other than those at play in rest of the country.

    Kashmiris fear the development can lead to non-Kashmiris settling in the valley, resulting in a massive demographic shift as the area transforms from majority-Muslim to majority-Hindu.