Tag: government

  • ‘If govt does not take their allies on board, we have no option but to make a decision’: Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui

    ‘If govt does not take their allies on board, we have no option but to make a decision’: Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said that his party’s confidence in the government had worn out because the MQM was not seeing the government heading in the right direction.

    Siddiqui said that the MQM could not share the responsibility of bad governance by the ruling party as the former had never been taken into confidence on important national issues.

    “We are not taken into confidence on important legislation and the documents are given to us at the eleventh hour. How can we support such legislation,” said Siddiqui.

    “If the government does not take their allies on board, we have no option but to make a decision,” he said.

    Hinting that the MQM could part ways with the government if it did not mend its ways, Siddiqui said, “We are now nervous about the situation. The government must acknowledge its incompetence. We may have to make a big decision.”

  • ‘Govt and TTP agree on complete ceasefire’: Fawad Chaudhry

    ‘Govt and TTP agree on complete ceasefire’: Fawad Chaudhry

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced on Monday that a complete ceasefire had been reached between the government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), according to state-run Pakistan Television (PTV).

    The minister said that talks between the government and the TTP were underway in line with the Constitution and that the ceasefire would be extended keeping in view the progress of the talks.

    “The state’s sovereignty, national security, peace in relevant areas, and social and economic stability will be considered during the talks,” said Fawad.

    Fawad added that the interim Afghan government had facilitated the negotiations and progress on the restoration of “complete peace” in these areas of the country was a positive development.

  • Direct, face-to-face talks between govt and TTP for temporary truce

    Direct, face-to-face talks between govt and TTP for temporary truce

    Pakistani officials have reached a temporary understanding with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to seek a broader peace agreement to end nearly two decades of militancy in the country, reports Dawn.

    The news report reveals that the “direct, face-to-face” talks between the two sides being held in Afghanistan’s south-western Khost province for nearly two weeks had resulted in a tentative understanding to declare a countrywide truce, conditional to the release of some TTP foot soldiers as part of confidence-building measures.

    It was not confirmed as to how many militants in Pakistan’s custody would be allowed to go free, but sources said the number was not more than two dozen people. “These are foot soldiers, not senior or mid-level commanders,” the sources said. “We are testing the ground. We are cautious,” they added.

    “The truce will come into effect once the prisoners are released,” these sources said.

    “The tentative month-long truce shall be extendable, depending on how these negotiations go forward,” a source said.

  • Govt to free more than 2,000 jailed TLP activists after agreement

    Govt to free more than 2,000 jailed TLP activists after agreement

    Pakistan is to free more than 2,000 jailed activists of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)  and the government has allowed the proscribed organsiation to contest elections, under a deal with the government struck to end weeks of violent clashes, reports Reuters.

    TLP has agreed to avoid violence and withdraw its longstanding demand to have France’s ambassador expelled over the publication of blasphemous caricatures by a French satirical magazine, negotiators from both sides told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government banned the TLP after its protests turned violent earlier this year, designated it a terrorist group, and arrested its chief Saad Hussain Rizvi.

    In addition, the government has agreed not to contest the release of the group’s jailed leader as well as nearly 2,300 activists and to remove their names from a terrorist watch list, the three negotiators told Reuters.

    Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat said nearly 1,000 of the activists had already been released.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry did not respond to Reuters‘ request for comment.

  • ‘We will not bow down and let TLP play havoc’: Punjab IGP

    ‘We will not bow down and let TLP play havoc’: Punjab IGP

    Inspector General of Punjab Police (IGP) Rao Sardar Ali on Wednesday called the situation alarming, saying it was a matter of serious concern that the violent protesters of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were armed with weapons and opened straight fire on police, reports Dawn.

    “We will not bow down and let the proscribed organisation play havoc,” said Sardar Rao.

    “A banned organisation is dictating the government to devise the country’s foreign policy as per its (TLP) wishes forgetting that it was the sole domain of state authorities,” the IGP said.

    “The TLP is a proscribed organisation and its armed men fired straight shots at police besides carrying out violent attacks,” he said.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday in a hard-hitting press conference on TLP’s ongoing protests, said, “No one has the guts to blackmail the state.”

    “TLP will be treated as a militant party and not a political party in Pakistan. Other institutions [in Pakistan] should also realise their role in this matter. It is the duty of all the institutions to fulfil their duty in this regard,” said Fawad.

    “Just like we dealt with all terrorist organisations, TLP shall be dealt in the same manner,” said the minister.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said on Wednesday that the Rangers were being called in Punjab for 60 days to maintain law and order in the province.

  • ‘Govt can’t expel the French ambassador as demanded by TLP’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘Govt can’t expel the French ambassador as demanded by TLP’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, while speaking at a press conference about the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP), said: “We cannot expel the French ambassador as demanded by the TLP.”

    “We accept all other conditions of the banned TLP. They promised us that they will open all blocked roads but we are waiting for them to open the routes,” said Rasheed, adding that the only issue between the government and TLP is the French ambassador matter. “Otherwise we don’t have any reservations with their conditions.”

    “TLP’s demand of expelling the French Ambassy and Ambassador has a lot of complications attached to it. We are the largest nuclear force in the Islamic world. The world is conspiring to sanction us,” said Rasheed.

    “Our economic conditions are in front of you. France leads Europe and all European countries are standing with France,” added the minister.

    He said the government is “waiting for them to stick to their word”.

  • Lahore police on high alert as TLP demand the release of Saad Rizvi

    Lahore police on high alert as TLP demand the release of Saad Rizvi

    Lahore police were put on high alert on Wednesday after the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) resumed protest activities by staging a massive sit-in on Multan Road near its headquarters at Masjid Rehmatul-lil-Aalemeen, for the release of TLP chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi, son of late Khadim Rizvi.

    Rizvi is detained by the Punjab government since April 12 for “maintenance of public order (MPO)”. He was initially detained for three months and then again under the Anti-Terrorist Act on July 10. A federal review board is scheduled to take up the government’s reference against him on October 23, reports Dawn.

    A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) is yet to be constituted to hear an appeal of the government against a decision of a single bench that had set aside the detention of the TLP leader.

    Earlier, the TLP took out a massive rally on 12th of Rabiul Awal (Tuesday), where its senior leaders delivered fiery speeches, accusing the government of using delay tactics in releasing Saad Rizvi.

  • ‘I am ashamed’: Shireen Mazari responds to daughter’s tweet on PTI govt

    ‘I am ashamed’: Shireen Mazari responds to daughter’s tweet on PTI govt

    Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari’s daughter, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in a tweet earlier today.

    “If the country was to be run by magic, then why is the money of this nation being wasted on such a large cabinet,” Imaan tweeted.

    “The country is being ridiculed due to witchcraft and you don’t want people to talk about those who practice magic. This will not happen,” she added.

    Shireen Mazari responded to her daughter’s tweet for criticising the government without any proof. “I am ashamed you would resort to such low personalised unsubstantiated attacks esp since as a lawyer u shd know without any proof hurling such accusations is defamation. When all substantive issue-based criticism fails this level of a base personal attack is plain shameful,” the minister tweeted.

    Last week, Maryam Nawaz had also mentioned the use of “magic”.

    “If your magic is so successful, then why don’t you use it for the good of the people?”

  • Govt to reduce taxes on food items: reports

    The government has reportedly decided to reduce taxes on the prices of food items, Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai reported for Geo News.

    According to sources, a meeting was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to review the rising inflation and the overall economic situation in the country. The impact of the rising prices of petroleum products was also discussed in the meeting. 

    During the meeting, PM Khan issued orders to the federal ministers to take steps for the implementation of Price Control Committees.

    The premier also directed the ministers to keep an eye on the artificial price hike in their constituencies and to take strict measures against hoarders 

    Commodity prices have gone up in recent weeks.

    Addressing a news conference on Monday, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said the government had decided to reduce GST rate and customs duty by half to 8.5 per cent and would abolish 2 per cent additional customs duty to cut cooking oil prices by Rs45 per kilo.

    He said that the decision would be implemented on the return of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin.

  • PM Khan summons emergency PTI parliamentary meeting

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned an emergency meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary group at Parliament House today, reports Geo News.

    According to details, PM Khan will take his party members into confidence on important national issues. According to sources, several party members protested on being called for the meeting by the chief whip of the PTI, Malik Aamir Dogar.

    Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said that a summary for the joint session had been sent to the president by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

    All party Members of the National Assembly (MNA) and senators are directed to attend the meeting.

    It is likely that the government’s bill of electoral reforms, including the introduction of electronic voting machines and I-voting facility for overseas Pakistanis, and an ordinance concerning the powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will be tabled today in parliament, as per Geo News.