Reham Khan, former wife of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, has once again managed to make headlines by saying that she would not have “let herself and Imran be a puppet had the two still been together”.
Reham’s statement came as a reply to a follower’s tweet that said, “Had Reham been here, the government wouldn’t have seen such days.”
PM’s former wife is rather infamous for her statements hitting out at PM Imran and his ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Twitter as well as her personal Youtube channel.
Just last week, Reham had accused the premier of being involved in illegal transactions of foreign funds and “moral corruption for hiding accounts from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)”.
Prime Minister Youth Affairs Program (PMYAP) has planned to establish 500 skilled laboratories in Madrassas to mobilize these institutions across the country with modern technology tools, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)reported.
A PMYAP official has said that most of the madrassas were undergoing informal education programmes to impart basic education to the students along with religious schools.
However, the authorities were planning to collaborate with different madrassas in the country to have modern technology equipped laboratories for their students.
“These skilled laboratories would help provide acquaintance to new methodologies applied through information technology tools and software applications. It would also contain technical training equipment as well that is going to enable madrasa students get technical skills for better employment opportunities,” PMYAP official added.
He also said that this programme would primarily focus to get the madrassa students at par with those acquiring formal education in schools for better employment.
Ahead of his long march to the federal capital against the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman has asked the media fraternity “to unite against bars on its freedom”.
“You the journalists should plead your case against censorship being imposed by undemocratic forces,” Fazl said while addressing a press conference at the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).
The JUI-F chief’s statement came days after a private media outlet took off the air his media-talk, alleging a ban imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA).
Geo news accepts on air that PEMRA is ordering the censorship of opposition leaders. Where is the selected PM who used to claim media in Pakistan is more free than in UK? pic.twitter.com/VrKXyS1qYe
The incident was followed by veteran journalist and analyst Hamid Mir’s tweet stating that the media watchdog has “forced TV channels not to show” Fazl’s presser.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority forced TV channels not to show the press conference of opposition politician Maulana Fazalur Rehman we can differ with Maulana but Govt is showing weakness by imposing unannounced censorship in Pakistan @RSF_inter@pressfreedom
He said that the government was showing weakness by “imposing unannounced censorship” in Pakistan.
Speaking to journalists Friday, Fazl said that media had a key role to play in the current situation. He claimed that it was the media that was giving his efforts a name of its choice and said, “For the JUI-F, it is an attempt to secure respect for popular vote and warn those who are trying to steal it every time.”
Flanked by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Pervaiz Rasheed and JUI-F leader Abdul Ghaffoor Haideri, the religio-political party chief said that if any individual wanted to attain absolute power in the negation of the democratic norms, it could not be accepted in a free and sovereign state.
“Mutiny can take place any time against tyranny,” he warned, adding that the constitution clearly demarcated the area of jurisdiction for all organs of the state, and all must respect it.
“The trouble arises when one institution tries to hog the domain of others and creeping influence destabilises other state organs by breeding frustration among them. Once that frustration hits a boiling point, the entire process implodes. This cycle is being repeated with regularity for the last seven decades. The current JUI-F effort is aimed at breaking the cycle: demolishing illegal results of the last manipulation, ensuring fresh and legal mandate and securing commitment on part of the stakeholders to respect the constitution,” Fazl explained.
He said the public mandate had been hijacked in the last general elections, adding that the nation should once again be given the right to chose and change should come through ballot to put an end to the prevailing sense of uncertainty among people.
“Only two persons, including the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the chairman of FBR [Federal Board of Revenue], have got employment in the country so far,” he said and added that the entire nation and opposition parties were on the same page against the government.
Earlier, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam urged political parties to extend support to Fazl and sign a charter of democracy-like agreement to reject and discourage any anti-democratic regime in the country.
A “civil society declaration” on civil, political, social and human rights of the oppressed people, women and minorities was also presented to the JUI-F chief with a demand that an all parties conference must make a commitment to the people of Pakistan to make them sovereign.
GOVT READY FOR ACTION?
The capital will likely be sealed from Oct 31 onwards by either the police or the JUI-F as preparations on both sides for the Azadi March gain momentum, Dawn reported.
According to police officers, the Islamabad police have demanded more than 550 shipping containers to intercept the march before it enters the city. The demand was made by zonal superintendents of police City, Saddar, Industrial Area and Rural to the police’s logistics division, they said.
The police have decided to block each of the Expressway’s connecting roads from both sides from Faizabad to the Koral flyover, they said, as this area becomes ‘Waterloo’ for them during protests and law and order problems.
All the connecting roads of Rawalpindi to I.J. Principal Road will also likely be sealed, the officers said, and steps will be taken to intercept people trying to join the march or gather in the capital.
The police have more than 1,000 gas masks, 200 teargas launchers and 13,000 shells available in the logistics division armoury, they said, along with enough batons, plastic helmets, riot jackets, riot shields, shin guards and arms, if needed.
More riot gear was demanded to cope with a deteriorating situation, if it arises.
The police have also threatened local traders with legal action if they do business with the organisers or participants of the Azadi March, the officers said.
These traders include catering services, tent services, hotels, motels, guest-houses and inns, generators, workshops, hardware stores, welding workshops, sound system services, excavator owners and crane owners.
Rawalpindi police, on the other hand, have requested 6,000 shells of tear gas, 1,600 rubber bullets, batons, masks and shields. Anti-riot exercises have begun in Police Lines Headquarters and special squads have been formed to be deployed at sensitive locations.
Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Usman Dar has copied Maryam Nawaz’s old speech in his address during Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf’s (PTI) “Kamyab Jawan Program” launch.
Usman Dar was praising PM Imran for launching this program to provide loans to the students and he copied the exact same words, Maryam Nawaz had used for praising former PM Nawaz Sharif after winning elections.
Maryam in her speech had said, “During elections campaign, your PM Nawaz Sharif had made some promises, and despite having a severe economic crisis, your PM has fulfilled this promise”.
While Usman during his address said, “During elections, PTI had promised that they would make the youth of Pakistan independent, and despite having severe economic crisis your PM has fulfilled this promise in the shape of Kamyab Jawan Program”.
Journalist Arshad Sharif during his talk show played both speeches from Usman and Maryam, side by side and asked from the special adviser whether he and Maryam have the same speechwriter.
Replying to this question Usman replied, “You wrote this speech, If he knew Arshad Sharif had written Maryam’s speech also, he wouldn’t have asked him to write his speech”.
Making a comeback to Usman’s answer Arshad said, “No, I am not such a cheap speechwriter”.
Focal Person to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for Polio Eradication and former polio adviser Babar Atta to the United Nations (UN) on Friday resigned from office with immediate effect.
“When I look back, I am proud to say that I made all possible efforts to create that enabling environment where polio eradication is a top priority,” Babar tweeted and added that he had asked the premier to relieve him of his duties due to “some personal reasons”.
1: After a stint of over a year as the Prime Ministers Focal Person for Polio, I have asked the PM to relieve me of my duties because of some personal reasons pertaining to my family. During this time I got a chance to work with the best minds in the world 1/4
Atta said that that a call centre will soon be inaugurated to cater to complaints of people and answer their questions related to immunisation drive. The country’s first-ever perception management initiative will be rolled out by the end of October, he added.
“A 24/7 call centre will soon be inaugurated to address all concerns of people who have questions related to the vaccine.”
“I am leaving at a time when the low transmission season is about to commence. Pakistan is in a position that will finally eradicate polio once and for all. The opportunity should be capitalised and should not be lost from here. I forever remain indebted to the love and respect all of you have offered,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources informed The Current that Atta has resigned from office since he is the only male child in his family and his ailing father needs him. “He doesn’t want to regret not being there for his parents.”
With Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) facing defeat in Thursday’s Larkana by-election, Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wazir has trolled the rival party with a jibe at its late founder, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
By-poll in the PS-11 constituency — considered a stronghold of Sindh’s ruling PPP — had been announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after the Supreme Court had de-seated Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) candidate Moazzam Ali Abbasi in August.
With an apex court bench declaring the election tribunal’s decision void and ordering re-election in the constituency, voters on Thursday polled to elect Abbasi, unofficial results revealed.
As per preliminary results from 138 polling stations that were set up for the by-election, Abbasi bagged 31,557 votes, while his rival Jamil Soomro of the PPP obtained 26,021 votes.
Reacting to the results, PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari vowed to challenge what he believes was “rigging” in the by-election.
Our candidate wasn’t even allowed inside polling stations. We kept asking ECP to intervene but its malafide intent was apparent in its silence.
Despite all this political engineering PPP has reduced the GDA/JUIF/PTI+ lead by 5,000 votes in less than a year. 4/5 #PS11
In a series of posts shared on Twitter, the PPP leader said he was proud of party workers for “fighting an honourable election,” which he claimed they did “despite immense pressure from the establishment”.
Im proud of PPP workers for fighting an honorable election. Despite immense pressure form the establishment.
From pre-poll with NAB arresting & sending notices to PPP workers & their families. 1/5 #PS11
While many joined Wazir in her attempt to poke fun at the opposition party, others argued that the statement was in bad taste for speaking ill of the deceased.
Pakistan’s immigration authorities have barred entry of Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) Asia Programme Coordinator Steven Butler, saying that his name had been placed on a “stop list”.
“Last night [Wednesday], Pakistani immigration authorities denied entry to CPJ Asia Programme Coordinator Steven Butler, citing a blacklist managed by the Ministry of Interior,” the CPJ said in a statement issued Thursday as journalists across the country accuse the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of placing bars on media.
“A border officer at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore told Butler that his journalist visa was valid, but it was voided because his name was ‘on a stop list of the Interior Ministry’,” it quoted Butler as saying.
According to the statement, Butler’s passport was “confiscated” by airport authorities and he was forced to board a flight bound for Doha. When he arrived in Doha, authorities there placed him on a flight to Washington, the statement read further.
While on the flight, Butler told the CPJ that the flight crew had seized his passport and boarding pass and that he was in “a kind of restrictive custody”.
“Pakistani authorities’ move to block Steven Butler from entering the country is baffling and is a slap in the face to those concerned about press freedom in the country,” the statement quoted CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon as saying.
“Pakistani authorities should give a full explanation of their decision to bar Butler from entering and correct this error. If the government is interested in demonstrating its commitment to a free press, it should conduct a swift and transparent investigation into this case.”
Butler had landed in Lahore to participate in the Asma Jahangir Conference — Roadmap for Human Rights in Pakistan, said the statement.
BARS ON MEDIA:
The development came two days after Geo News, one of Pakistan’s major news channels, took off the air a press conference of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman with its anchor explaining it was because the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) has banned a live telecast of the event.
Geo news accepts on air that PEMRA is ordering the censorship of opposition leaders. Where is the selected PM who used to claim media in Pakistan is more free than in UK? pic.twitter.com/VrKXyS1qYe
Veteran journalist and analyst Hamid Mir also tweeted on October 12 that PEMRA has “forced TV channels not to show” Fazl’s press conference. He said that the government was showing weakness by “imposing unannounced censorship” in Pakistan.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority forced TV channels not to show the press conference of opposition politician Maulana Fazalur Rehman we can differ with Maulana but Govt is showing weakness by imposing unannounced censorship in Pakistan @RSF_inter@pressfreedom
The incident is not the first of its kind as channels have been barred from airing press conferences or interviews of opposition leaders especially ever since the Imran Khan-led PTI government rose to power.
Asif Zardari, former Pakistani president, and Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of jailed former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, have faced similar restrictions.
“The current wave of censorship is not very current,” journalist Munizae Jahangir was quoted as saying by SAMAA.
“Unfortunately, this has been going on for a while,” Jahangir said. “I would even say that during the time of Nawaz Sharif it started even then.”
When asked if the government was behind it, Jahangir said, “If the government is not behind this current wave of censorship, then why is it still happening? It should stop.”
She pointed a finger at “undemocratic forces” for censorship in the media and added, “If you do have undemocratic forces influencing democracy, then you will see censorship in the media.”
Reham Khan, former wife of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, has once again stepped forth to level allegations against the premier; this time of receiving illegal funds from a foreign company.
“Two companies registered in the United States (US) under the signatures of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for illegal funding from the US. One company registered in Australia with the title: Insaf Australia Inc.,” Reham Khan tweeted.
She said that any funds received from internationally incorporated companies were prohibited under the law.
Continuing her tirade against the PTI leadership, Reham accused them of being involved in illegal transaction of money to Pakistan and being subjected to “moral corruption for hiding accounts from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)”.
She asserted that the PTI had declared only eight accounts in the ECP against 23, the rest of which “are hidden”, adding that that the discovered fake accounts of the Imran-led ruling party showed foreign currency worth billions of money deposited in them.
Reham, however, did not quote the amount of the money allegedly hoarded in these accounts.
WATCH VIDEO:
Illegal Funding From UK
At least two UK based accounts functional in the name of PTI identified at the Lloyds Bank used to transmit millions of UK Pounds not disclosed with ECP
She further said that Akbar S Babar has also alleged that besides a registered account of PTI United Kingdom (UK), there are two hidden functional accounts of the party at Lloyds Bank London, which are used for transmitting millions of money in Pakistan to the PTI leadership.
Akbar S Babar is the person who has moved the petitions against PTI in its foreign funding case.
Justice Gulzar Ahmad on Thursday has said that the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) is a burden on the country and trillions of rupees from national exchequer are sacrificed every year, Capital TV reported.
According to the details, Justice Gulzar while hearing an appeal filed by an employee of the bureau concerning service matters said, “Put an end to FBR […] and you will see how much money is collected”.
“Trillions of rupees are lost every year […] what kind of recovery FBR’s army of 22,000 people can make,” he remarked, adding that out that 80% of the [total] tax collected was through indirect means.
Justice Gulzar also said that for recovering 20% of tax the bureau has hired 22,000 people.
Egyptian Ambassador Ahmed Fadel Yacoub has said that Egypt is keen to invest $1 billion in Pakistan over the next one year in different sectors including energy, infrastructure, halal food and tourism, The Express Tribune reported.
According to the details, the envoy, while speaking at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) said that bilateral trade had been on an uptrend and it currently stood at $260 million per annum compared to $200 million last year.
The envoy told the meeting that Egypt would be declared Hepatitis-free country by 2020 and urged Pakistan businessmen to establish joint ventures in pharmaceutical and health sectors, stressing that Egypt could help Pakistan completely get rid of Hepatitis C.
“Both countries are enjoying good relations and there is a need to further increase exchange of delegations and information,” the ambassador added.
Ministry of Commerce Joint Secretary Maria Kazi has said that special incentives would be provided to Pakistani companies for participating in trade fairs in Africa under the ‘Look Africa’ initiative.
She also urged the private sector to focus on exporting a higher volume of merchandise to Africa.
