Tag: Imran Khan

  • We will not compromise on hosting Asia Cup 2023 at any cost; Najam Sethi lauds Pakistan’s stance over India controversy

    We will not compromise on hosting Asia Cup 2023 at any cost; Najam Sethi lauds Pakistan’s stance over India controversy

    Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled to be played in Pakistan, however, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has continuously pressurised Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to pick a neutral venue for the tournament, stating that they will not send their team to the neighbouring country.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has lauded Pakistan’s stance in a recent interview on Geo TV. Talking to Yahya Hussaini, Sethi said that Pakistan will never compromise on hosting over any controversy.

    “We will hold a dialogue and if conditions are not in our favour, we will withdraw from the tournament,” the head of the PCB said.

    Revealing that four to five meetings have already been held with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and BCCI, Sethi said that PCB is ready to provide solutions:

    “We asked them that don’t you see the international teams coming to Pakistan. Its clear that there is no security concern, perhaps you are concerned about your security. We will provide fool proof security to your team.

    Even if you are not ready to come then tell us the main reason. We will consider your opinion and provide solutions. But they are not ready to talk and are just saying we will not travel to Pakistan, our government will not allow us.”

    Najam Sethi further elaborated that Pakistan had asked if there is any letter from the Indian government. “Show that in the meeting or to media, then both countries will solve the issue diplomatically but they are not showing any letter,” he stressed.

    He said that a hybrid model has been proposed for Asia Cup.

    “We proposed that if India will not want to play in Pakistan that they can play in another country but we are the host and we will decide which country they will play in. We consider their opinions and suggestions but the decision is all ours.

    We have done all the work and logistics. We are just waiting for their call. If they signal a green light to hybrid model that we will play; if they create more hurdles, then we will definitely show the red card,” he warned.

  • PTI issues ‘white paper’ on Shehbaz led govt’s one year performance

    PTI issues ‘white paper’ on Shehbaz led govt’s one year performance

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday issued a “white paper” on the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government’s “one-year dark period”.

    The 51-page “white paper” has been divided into six sections. PTI highlighted the incumbent government’s “poor governance, economy, rising inflation, constitution, democracy, the rule of law, political exploitation of state institutions, attack on the judiciary, chained foreign policy, and law and order.

    The party has dedicated the white paper to PTI Chairman Imran Khan, party workers, and the people of Pakistan, who are “fighting and facing torture for real independence” and democracy.

    Khan — in a video address marking one year since his ouster — threatened to take to the streets if the elections are not held in the country.

    “There is no other way except the elections,” he said.

    Khan accused former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Genereal Qamar Javed Bajwa of hatching a conspiracy alongside Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to topple his government with the help of former envoy Hussain Haqqani.

    Khan asked, “Would anyone question the man (Bajwa) who ravaged the country’s all indicators for his extension which was promised by present PM Shehbaz Sharif.”

    The PTI Chairman admitted that the conspiracy to overthrow his government was not hatched in the US. It was actually Gen Bajwa who had orchestrated the conspiracy with the help of Shehbaz Sharif and then hired Hussain Haqqani to launch propaganda that “Gen Bajwa was pro-America and Imran Khan was anti-America”. “The cipher made entry came only after the conspiracy had taken its roots,” the former premier acknowledged.

    Giving a message to the “all-powerful” and Nawaz Sharif for making a ‘London Plan’, the PTI chief said political parties could not be crushed by violence, torture, and harassment tactics. 

    It is pertinent to mention here that Khan’s government was toppled on April 9 last year through a vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly.

  • Govt demands resignation from Chief Justice Bandial

    Govt demands resignation from Chief Justice Bandial

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, in a press conference on Friday, demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial’s resignation after Justice Athar Minallah’s hard-hitting note that said that the suo motu case of the delay in holding polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab was dismissed by 4-3.

    Calling the CJP “controversial”, Aurangzeb stated that when the court’s proceedings become controversial with judges of the top court refusing to accept the judgement, how will the people accept the verdict.

    “Justice Minallah’s note is a question mark,” she said.

    Without naming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, the minister said that it is not acceptable for the government that a breacher of the constitution is facilitated by the judiciary.

    She added that parliament will decide about elections, not Imran Khan.

    It is pertinent to mention that CJP Bandial is set to retire by September this year, after which Justice Qazi Faez Isa will become the new chief justice.

  • Faisal Subzwari reveals MQM-P was forced to rejoin Khan’s govt in 2020

    Faisal Subzwari reveals MQM-P was forced to rejoin Khan’s govt in 2020

    Senator Faisal Subzwari of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) revealed on Thursday that his party was forced to rejoin the cabinet of the then prime minister Imran Khan in March 2020.

    Speaking on the Geo News programme ‘Capital Talk’, Subzwari revealed how his party was coerced to take a U-turn on their decision and rejoin the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) cabinet despite reservations and unfulfilled promises.

    “In December 2019, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui resigned in protest from Khan’s cabinet after which negotiations continued between the PTI and the MQM-P from January till the following March. Then MQM-P suddenly got an order to rejoin the cabinet,” said Sabzwari.

    He added that after MQM-P refused to comply with the order, seven of their workers were detained and tortured, which forced the party to rejoin Khan’s cabinet.

    “In September 2020, I told Imran Khan in Governor House that this is what we went through and now I am sitting with you merely because of helplessness and not by choice,” said Sabzwari.

  • Pervaiz Elahi facing arrest for irregular hiring of 200 Punjab Assembly employees

    Pervaiz Elahi facing arrest for irregular hiring of 200 Punjab Assembly employees

    Former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is likely to be arrested for irregular recruitments in the Punjab Assembly without following rules and regulations.

    Reportedly, the anti-corruption department is keeping an eye on the case while the government has completed an inquiry against him.

    The former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader is alleged to have recruited 200 people in the assembly when he was the speaker of the House and when he became CM.

    On January 12, Elahi, as CM Punjab, signed a summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly on the directives of PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Later, he and his son Moonis Elahi joined Khan’s party following a fallout with his cousin and PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

  • People will take to streets if SC ruling blocked, warns Khan

    People will take to streets if SC ruling blocked, warns Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has warned that people would take to the streets if the government attempts to block the implementation of the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling that directed polls in Punjab to be held on May 14.

    The former Prime Minister talked to his supporters via video link as the party marked ‘Youm-e-Tashakkur’ or ‘thanks giving’ to celebrate the top courts verdict. The speech was broadcasted from his Zaman Park residence through a satellite link on mega screens installed at 75 locations across the country, including in 13 cities of Punjab.

    Addressing his supporters, the former prime minister said, “The nation should wait for my call to ensure that the incumbent rulers should not run away from holding elections; otherwise, neither history nor future generations will pardon this generation for not waging jihad against the forces undermining the rule of law.”

    Talking about elections, Khan said, “I will complete interviews and selection of candidates in 10 days,” adding that the nation will not let the incumbent rulers run away from elections.

    Talking about his rivals, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, Khan said ‘absconder’ Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari were sitting in London and Dubai, respectively, and taking decisions about the fate of Pakistan. 

    The PTI chairman further lamented that the incumbent rulers were also trying to divide the Supreme Court while also working to create a rift between the PTI and the establishment, which “might repeat events of 1971”.

  • PTI to celebrate Youm-i-Tashakur in over 75 cities across all provinces today

    PTI to celebrate Youm-i-Tashakur in over 75 cities across all provinces today

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce that his party and supporters will celebrate Youm-i-Tashakur in over 75 cities across Pakistan after Isha prayers today.

    Khan’s announcement comes after Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday declared Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision on delay in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) polls null and void. 

    Khan said, “SC has stood with Constitution & put an end to Doctrine of Necessity, which is used in the absence of Rule of Law. This is also a huge step forward towards Haqeeqi Azadi.”

    The PTI chairman said that he will address and warn his people of the real danger that, despite the SC order, the ruling mafia will still not hold elections because they are petrified of losing.

    “We must be prepared to come out on the streets for peaceful protest in support & protection of SC, which is upholding Constitution,” tweeted Khan.

    The Supreme Court, in its verdict, declared the electoral body’s decision to hold polls on October 8 as “unconstitutional”.

    A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, announced that Punjab polls should be conducted on May 14.

    Regarding the elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the three-member bench said during the course of the hearing nobody represented the provincial governor therefore the issue, only till this extent, will remain under debate.

  • Anti-corruption force starts investigation against ex-DG ISI Faiz Hameed’s brother

    Anti-corruption force starts investigation against ex-DG ISI Faiz Hameed’s brother

    The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab has initiated an investigation against Najaf Hameed, the brother of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed.

    According to ACE, Najaf had “superseded several seniors for promotion to the Girdawar post and “accumulated assets beyond his own means”.

    The department has also reached out to Rawalpindi and Chakwal deputy commissioners for Najaf’s records.

    Najaf had been suspended from the post of deputy tehsil dar on February 16 over alleged misconduct. 

    Faiz Hameed has been criticised by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for interfering in political matters and exceeding his constitutional limits. The party’s Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz often lashes out at Faiz Hameed in her rallies, accusing him of playing a role in destabilising the country by supporting Imran Khan’s government.

  • Khan talks about his plan to return to power to TIME magazine

    Khan talks about his plan to return to power to TIME magazine

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has made it to the cover page of the American magazine TIME.

    The former prime minister in an exclusive interview with Charlie Campbell spoke extensively about his plan to return to power.

    Writing about the crackdown of the government against his party, the police raids and the assassination attempt of November 2022, the magazine wrote: “The state appears to flirt with the idea. Police raids on Khan’s home in the Punjab province capital of Lahore in early March left him choking on tear gas, he says, as supporters brandishing sticks battled police in riot gear before makeshift barricades of sandbags and iron rods. This sort of crackdown has never taken place in Pakistan, says Khan.”

    Imran Khan tells Campbell that political stability in Pakistan comes through elections. But, the magazine adds, from the U.S. perspective, he may be far from the ideal choice to helm an “impoverished, insurgency-racked Islamic state”. But is he the only person that can hold the country together, the magazine asks.

    “Never has one man scared the establishment … as much as right now. They worry about how to keep me out; the people how to get me back in,” Khan tells Campbell.

    Talking about Khan’s relentless taunting of the United States, Campbell wrote, “To journalists and supporters, he[Khan] has accused the U.S. of imposing a ‘master-slave’ relationship on Pakistan and of using it like ’tissue paper.’ To TIME, he insists that ‘criticizing U.S. foreign policy does not make you anti-American.’ Still, by 2022, the generals no longer had his back. The common perception among Pakistan watchers is that Khan’s fleeting political success was owed to a Faustian pact with the nation’s military and extremist groups that shepherded his election victory and he is now reaping the whirlwind.”

    Khan presented a step-by-step plan to get Pakistan back on track, which Campbell pointed out was thin on details. After the elections, Khan says that a “completely new social contract” is required to enshrine power in political institutions rather than the military. If the army chief “didn’t think corruption was that big a deal, then nothing happened,” Khan complained while talking with TIME. “I was helpless.”

    However, the path to this utopia remains murky, the news outlet pointed out. Asked how he plans to turn his much trumpeted Islamic Welfare State ideal into a reality, Khan talks about Medina under the Prophet and the social conscience of Northern Europeans. “Scandinavia is probably far closer to the Islamic ideal than any of the Muslim countries.”

    Campbell further wrote that Khan still claims that the crisis in Pakistan can be solved by elections, despite his broken relationship with the military. “The same people who tried to kill me are still sitting in power,” Khan says. “And they are petrified that if I got back [in] they would be held accountable. So they’re more dangerous.”

  • Elections to be held in Punjab on May 14: Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday declared Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision on delay in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) election null and void. 

    The Supreme Court, in its verdict, declared the electoral body’s decision to hold polls on October 8 as “unconstitutional”.

    A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, announced that Punjab polls should be conducted on May 14.

    Regarding the elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the three-member bench said during the course of the hearing nobody represented the provincial governor therefore the issue, only till this extent, will remain under debate.

    The court maintained that 13 days were wasted because of the ECP’s unlawful decision, directing the caretaker government in Punjab to assist the commission and instructed the ECP to inform the court if the government refused to do so.

    The last date for submitting appeals against the decision of the Returning Officers will be April 10. The Election Tribunal will decide on the appeals on April 17.

    It added that the federal government should provide Rs21 billion in funds by April 10 to the ECP and directed the body to present a report on the issue by April 11.

    The verdict also said that the Supreme Court will issue instructions to the authorities concerned in case the funds are not provided.

    “Punjab government should give a security plan to the Election Commission,” said the top court’s verdict. It added that Punjab’s interim cabinet and chief secretary should report to the ECP regarding the electoral staff by April 10.

    The ECP had earlier set the date for elections in Punjab on April 30, but later it was postponed to October 8 — in Punjab and KP as well — prompting the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to file a plea in the top court.

    The apex court — which initiated proceedings on PTI’s petition on March 27 — reserved the verdict a day earlier, saying it would announce it the next day, April 4.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the coalition government had raised reservations on the three member supreme court bench and demanded a full to hear the case.  In a National Assembly meeting yesterday, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif categorically said the ruling coalition had no-confidence in the three-member SC bench.