Tag: home-politics

  • ‘Judge who convicted Nawaz to be removed from post’

    ‘Judge who convicted Nawaz to be removed from post’

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has decided to sack Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik, who convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia corruption reference, a private media outlet reported Friday. 

    Earlier, the judge had written a letter to the IHC, refuting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz’s allegations and the leaked tapes that purportedly showed him admitting to sentencing Nawaz after being blackmailed.

    PML-N leadership last Saturday had released the tapes that allegedly showed Malik confessing in front of a party worker named Nasir Butt.

    In the tapes, the judge was heard claiming he was coerced to hand down the prison sentence against the former PM despite there being no proof of corruption against him.

    In a subsequent press release, Malik had denied the contents of the video and termed them as edited, fabricated and aimed to defame him. He, however, had admitted knowing the PML-N worker and his brother.

    Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has demanded that Nawaz’s sentence be nullified and the former premier be immediately released.

  • Caretaker information, law minister joins PTI

    Caretaker information, law minister joins PTI

    Former caretaker minister for information, broadcasting and law Barrister Syed Ali Zafar on Thursday announced to join the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Radio Pakistan reported.

    According to reports, Zafar made the formal announcement during his meeting with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in Islamabad, following which the premier welcomed him on-board.

    Punjab Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) and former senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan was also present on the occasion.

    Barrister Zafar is a renowned law expert and has also served as the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). He was the information, broadcasting and law minister in Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk’s caretaker setup ahead of last year’s general election.

  • 2800cc luxury car worth Rs8 million imported for KP minister

    2800cc luxury car worth Rs8 million imported for KP minister

    Amid the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s claims of continuing its austerity drive to save taxpayers’ money, a luxury car worth Rs8 million (Rs8,000,000) has been imported for a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) minister.

    According to Dunya News, the 2800cc luxury car has been imported for KP Information Minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, who is only entitled to an 1800cc vehicle.

    It was decided that a double cabin worth around Rs5.5 million would be imported, however, the minister insisted on getting the luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV), reports said.

    The move comes despite Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan pushing for austerity measures to reduce the burden on the national exchequer ever since he assumed office last year.

    The austerity drive has faced multiple setbacks over the past 10 months owing to the apparent reluctance of the lawmakers in cutting down expenses.

  • Gandapur mistakes GTA V video for real-life footage, praises pilot for ‘narrow escape’

    Gandapur mistakes GTA V video for real-life footage, praises pilot for ‘narrow escape’

    Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur has shared the video of a simulation from popular video game Grand Theft Auto (GTA) V, assuming it to be real.

    Tweeting the video which showed a plane miraculously avoiding colliding with an oil tanker as it descended on the runway, Gandapur wrote, “Narrow escape of an aircraft which could have ended in a great disaster. Miraculous save by the pilot’s presence of mind.”

    The clip had originally been shared to Youtube on June 20 by The UiGamer, who has amassed millions of views with clearly labelled videos of plane stunts on GTA V.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://twitter.com/securepakistan/status/1147489515071836166

    While Khurram mistook the animated video for a real-life clip, Twitterati did not and most of them were quick to troll anyone who thought it was actually a “miraculous save”.

    “As if our politicians are super intelligent,” one said while suggesting in a joke the United States (US) might sell virtual fighter jets to Pakistan instead of F-16s. “These innocuous mistakes are what we live for,” another wrote.

  • Resolution in Punjab Assembly seeks ‘Medal of Democracy’ for Gen Bajwa

    Resolution in Punjab Assembly seeks ‘Medal of Democracy’ for Gen Bajwa

    A resolution seeking ‘Medal of Democracy’ for Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, has been tabled in the Punjab Assembly, a private media outlet reported.

    According to reports, ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Haroon Gill submitted the resolution wherein he stated that the provincial house acknowledged Gen Bajwa’s unbiased role in promoting democracy in the country.

    “The [Punjab] assembly sees with respect the role army chief has played in establishing peace,” the resolution said further.

    It also demanded that the government awards ‘Medal of Democracy’ to the army chief for promoting, stabilising and protecting Pakistan’s democratic institutions.

    “I got this idea because the 2018 general election was free and fair,” Gill said when approached by a private media outlet. He added that all political parties were independent and the military was playing a crucial role in these testing times.

  • Army helicopter reaches Golain Glaciers to rescue PM Imran’s sister

    Army helicopter reaches Golain Glaciers to rescue PM Imran’s sister

    A helicopter of the Pakistan Army on Monday reached the Golain Glaciers to rescue Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, who had been trapped there following a ‘burst’.

    A massive flood hit several villages in the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as a glacier melted near the Golen Gol area on Sunday. Roads, electric poles and farms were partially damaged around the forest area, police said.

    The premier’s sister, Aleema, who was in Golain for a tourist trip was stranded along with hundreds of other tourists and residents. According to Dunya News, an army helicopter was sent to rescue her; however, she refused to leave until other tourists and residents were evacuated.

    While Chitral’s deputy commissioner has confirmed the suspension of ground connection, the army has reportedly been reached out and a rescue operation will soon be conducted.

  • Ex-PPP leader Jamshed Dasti goes bald in protest against PM Imran’s ‘broken promises’

    Ex-PPP leader Jamshed Dasti goes bald in protest against PM Imran’s ‘broken promises’

    Awami Raj Party (ARP) chief and former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Jamshed Dasti has gone bald to protest the “broken promises” of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and the rise in inflation under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rule.

    Speaking of his peaceful protest in a video message, Dasti, along with his shaved-head companions, said that inflation had spelled misery for the people.

    “PM Imran had made several promises to the people before elections, but even snatched from them the opportunity to earn bread after coming to power,” he said, requesting the people to shave their heads and join the peaceful protest campaign.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Elected to the National Assembly on a PPP ticket in 2008, Dasti resigned as an MNA in 2010 for possessing a fake Bachelors degree. He was re-elected to the lower house of the parliament in a 2010 by-election.

    In 2012, he quit PPP to join the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N); however, he was elected as an independent candidate in 2013. Starting his own party ahead of last year’s general election, he lost to a PPP candidate in the NA-182 constituency of Muzaffargarh.

  • US trip: PM Imran wants to stay at ambassador’s home instead of expensive hotels

    US trip: PM Imran wants to stay at ambassador’s home instead of expensive hotels

    Unlike his predecessors, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, during his maiden visit to the United States (US), is planning to stay at the residence of the Pakistani ambassador instead of some lavish hotel, a private media outlet reported.

    According to reports, the Pakistani Embassy in the US has been informed about the premier’s intentions; however, his stay at the ambassador’s residence might not be possible due to his planned meetings with top US officials.

    The residence is located in the heart of Washington’s diplomatic enclave, just off one of the city’s main arteries, Massachusetts Avenue, with at least a dozen embassies.

    If the premier stays at the ambassador’s residence, he will not be able to meet US officials there due to a shortage of staff, Dawn News reported, adding that such meetings can, however, be arranged at the Pakistani Embassy.

    While PM Imran’s plan to avoid a five or seven-star hotel in Washington, which comes amid his government’s aim to cut expenses and lighten the burden on the national exchequer, might not be achieved owing to security and logistical reasons, a final decision would be made soon.

    The premier can also choose to stay with one of the rich Pakistani-Americans in the suburbs of Washington.

    During his trip to Washington starting July 20, PM Imran is poised to discuss with US President Donald Trump the Afghan peace process along with regional issues.

    “At the invitation of US President Donald Trump, PM Imran Khan will visit Washington and hold a meeting on July 22, 2019,” Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal announced last week.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other officials will accompany the premier on the trip.

  • ‘Jang/Geo journalists forced to deactivate Twitter accounts’

    ‘Jang/Geo journalists forced to deactivate Twitter accounts’

    At least three journalists affiliated with the Jang/Geo Media Group have allegedly been forced to deactivate their Twitter accounts, Urdu News reporter Waseem Abbasi has claimed.

    According to Abbasi, Wajih Sani, Umar Cheema and Azaz Syed “suddenly and suspiciously” deactivated their accounts “amid concerns about increasing censorship in the country”.

    In a subsequent tweet, the journalist claimed that all three were safe and had “only been asked to deactivate their Twitter accounts”. He, however, did not disclose who exactly had “asked” the three journalists to deactivate the accounts.

    With the claim taking over the micro-blogging website by storm, Wajih Sani returned to tweet, “Thank you for all your love. I am perfectly fine.”

    Twitter handles of both Azaz Syed and Umar Cheema, on the other hand, remain deactivated. Meanwhile, it is being speculated that the journalists have been forced to deactivate the accounts by their employer.

    None of the journalists have confirmed or denied it.

  • Murad Saeed promises to take action against Maryam Nawaz for refusing to pay toll tax

    Federal Minister for Postal Services and Communications Murad Saeed has vowed to take action against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz for not paying the Motorway toll tax.

    According to reports, Maryam Nawaz, who was en route Mandi Bahauddin from Lahore, for her rally refused to pay the toll tax on the motorway. As a result, a scuffle broke out between PML-N workers and motorway officials.

    Motorway police claimed that almost 80 vehicles, which were part of Maryam’s entourage, also passed the toll without paying the tax. They added that they let them go because they did not want to create unnecessary chaos. However, the search for those involved has been started.

    Maryam’s attitude angered Murad Saeed, who vowed that he will take stern action against her. He said that Maryam will now have to pay the tax with a fine. The minister asserted that every citizen is equal before the law and discrimination will not be done between the poor and rich.