Tag: Imran Khan

  • ‘Do not create controversies’: Khawaja Asif’s lashes out at judiciary on NA floor

    ‘Do not create controversies’: Khawaja Asif’s lashes out at judiciary on NA floor

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday demanded that the Supreme Court (SC) form a full court bench to hear the case pertaining to provincial elections and review past cases, starting with the Panama case in which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for life.

    In a fiery speech on the floor of the National Assembly (NA), Khawaja questioned why some judges were not criticised and raised concerns about judges intervening in parliament’s jurisdiction.

    The minister said he doesn’t want to cross the line in criticism and added that the election date suo motu case should be heard by the full court.

    “It has complained that parliamentarians criticise judges by naming them. I want to ask why some judges are not criticised?”

    Asif said that when judges intervene in the parliament’s jurisdiction, politicians will raise questions about it.

    “Why former justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Khosa are criticised and not Justice Nasir ul Mulk and Tassaduq Hussain Jillani’s name should be raised as well?” he asked.

    Taking a jibe at PTI’s Jail Bharo Tehreek, Khawaja said Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s son came to bail his father out one day after his arrest. 

    “No one came for us when we were arrested for several days. We were sent to 90 days remand. PM and his daughter served jail sentences for numerous days. No one got bail for this. On the other side, they [PTI] get instant bail,” said the minister. 

    “They carry out photo sessions in front of a police van and then leave for home. Jail Bharo Tehreek has flopped. Now it should be doob maro film (Drown in Shame),” said Asif.

    “Imran does not come out of his home, gets pre-arrest bail and then directs his party workers to offer their arrests. Imran’s medical record has not been done yet as he went to his own hospital,” said Asif. He added that the PTI chief considers the people of Pakistan fools. 

    Khawaja questioned how the treatment meted out to Nawaz Sharif justified.

    “Rewriting the Constitution is not the judiciary’s job. This is the outcome of the way Article 63 was rewritten. The way Nawaz Sharif’s government was removed was unfair.”

    Asif urged the judiciary to “prove its gracefulness”. 

    “I would say, correct the mistakes of the past which you have made so that the structure of the state could rely upon a strong foundation that no one can ever dare to challenge it. Do not generate controversies. Do not rewrite Article 63. If such would continue to happen God forbid, an unfortunate incident could take place,” warned Asif.

  • President Alvi approves mini-budget amidst concerns of pushing Pakistanis into deeper poverty

    President Alvi approves mini-budget amidst concerns of pushing Pakistanis into deeper poverty

    President Dr Arif Alvi has given his approval for the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023, also known as the mini-budget, under Article 75 of the Constitution, which requires the president to assent to a bill presented to him within 10 days.

    National Assembly had passed the Rs170 billion mini-budget with some modifications, which will have an annual impact of about Rs550 billion.

    The budget’s approval has brought Pakistan closer to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but at the cost of pushing people deeper into the poverty trap.

    The majority of the taxation measures were implemented, although the president had not given his assent when the National Assembly passed the bill.

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar admitted during his wind-up speech that inflation was unbearable for the people and blamed the maladministration of the previous government of former prime minister Imran Khan.

    Dar also admitted that the news stories about Rs675 billion to Rs700 billion taxes were not untrue and the IMF had demanded those measures, which the government did not accept. Dar added that almost all major issues with the IMF had been sorted out, and Pakistan is now very near to the staff-level agreement.

  • PTI’s ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ begins today

    PTI’s ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ begins today

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has announced that the party’s ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek (court arrest movement)’ is set to start today.

    Taking to Twitter, Khan shared two main reasons behind starting the Jail Bharo Tehreek.

    “One, it is a peaceful, non-violent protest against the attack on our constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights. We are facing sham FIRs and NAB cases, custodial torture, attacks on journalists and social media people,” wrote Khan.

    Khan went on to say that the second reason is the economic meltdown brought on by a “cabal of crooks who have money laundered billions in looted wealth and gotten NROs for themselves while crushing the people, especially, the poor and the middle class, under the burden of spiralling inflation and rising unemployment.” 

    The former prime minister also released a video message, urging his followers to “fill up prisons and shatter the idols of fear”.

    In the first phase of the movement, the party’s senior leaders — Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Asad Umar — will voluntarily surrender themselves to the authorities on Tuesday.

    It is unclear what offense party leaders and followers are expected to commit to initiate arrest proceedings.

  • ECP to consult with AGP on Alvi’s election date

    ECP to consult with AGP on Alvi’s election date

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday held a meeting to review the situation evolving after President Arif Alvi’s unilateral announcement of a date for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    ECP decided to consult Attorney General for Pakistan and other legal experts in this regard.

    The meeting was called to after the president announced April 9 as the date for the polls of provincial assemblies.

    On Monday, Alvi exercising his power under Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, 2017, announced the election date and further asked the ECP to issue an election programme in accordance with Section 57 (2) of the Act.

    Alvi’s move was rejected by federal ministers who were of the view that the president had abrogated the Constitution and he had no right to announce the date.

    The ECP stated that “the commission has been and will continue to make decisions without any pressure according to the Constitution and law”.

    It added that the electoral watchdog is always ready to conduct an election within 90 days as per the Constitution and law, but nowhere in the Constitution, it is written that the commission will give the date for the election.

  • Military, civilian leadership has put full stop on Khan’s appeasement policy on terrorists: Bilawal

    Military, civilian leadership has put full stop on Khan’s appeasement policy on terrorists: Bilawal

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that negotiating with those people who don’t accept Pakistan and its constitution is not in favour of the country or it’s people.

    In an interview with German broadcaster DW Urdu, the foreign minister said that the previous government was asking the interim Afghan government to facilitate reconciliation with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and had plans to resettle the militants in Pakistan.

    “Every Pakistani was saying that terrorists who were involved in heinous attacks such as the Army Public School massacre could never be our friends”, said Bilawal.

    Earlier in an interview with CNBC, Bilawal said, “Unfortunately, following the fall of Kabul, the government that preceded ours started negotiating with these very same terrorist groups and without preconditions such as disarming.”

    The foreign minister said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government and military leadership have “put a full stop to the policy of appeasement”.

    Citing the porous border with Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister said that the new government doesn’t have the capacity to man it.

    “We are confident that we’ll be able to take on the terrorist groups that are functioning within Pakistan,” he said.

    Discussing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Bilawal said that if he strives to pursue a democratic path and commits to play a constitutional role, he can have a future, adding that Khan’s ouster through a vote of no-confidence motion was the first time parliament removed a prime minister in a democratic way.

    However, since his ouster, Khan has been asking the army for help in getting back to power, the foreign minister alleged.

     “If the military says it wants to change its controversial conduct constitutionally, it should be welcomed.”

    While responding to a question regarding the statement about Pakistan’s bankruptcy made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Bilawal said: “He was talking in a political context at a political gathering and he was referring to the harsh economic times rather than speaking technically. He was talking in the overall context of the country.”

  • Court grants protective bail to Imran Khan

    Court grants protective bail to Imran Khan

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has finally approved protective bail till March 3 for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    Earlier in the evening, amid tight security, Khan made his way to the courtroom from his house in Zaman Park. He appeared before the judges after being called in numerous times.

    ‘Impossible’ for Khan to step out of car to reach courtroom

    Khan was present within the premises of the LHC, however, leaders of his party said that it would be difficult for him to go towards the courtroom itself.

    Senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi claimed there are “thousands” of people present inside the compound while alleging that security arrangements are almost “non-existent”. He said it is “impossible” for Imran to step out of his car and reach the courtroom.

    Court gives IK a last chance to appear by 5pm today

    Earlier today, the high court gave a last chance to Khan to appear before the court by 5pm today as he faces the possibility of arrest ahead of his appearance.

    The court had disposed the former Prime Minister’s appeal for exemption from appearance for protective bail, citing doctors’ advice about the leg injury he suffered after being shot in November 2022 in Wazirabad.

    According to multiple media reports, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has constituted a four-member team to arrest the PTI head in a separate case related to foreign funding received by his party. Media reports suggest that Khan might be arrested by a Lahore FIA team before his appearance at LHC, and then will be handed over to an Islamabad FIA team.

    The FIA team has reportedly also held consultations with lawyer bodies so that the arrest is not disrupted.

  • President Alvi sets April 9 as election day for Punjab and KP

    President Alvi sets April 9 as election day for Punjab and KP

    President Dr Arif Alvi has announced that elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will be held on April 9.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Section 57(1) of the Elections Act, 2017 says that the president is entrusted to announce the election date after consulting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

    Earlier today, ECP said no to meeting President Alvi when he invited the commission to consult with him, citing that the matter of elections is sub judice.

    ECP says no to meeting with President Alvi

    On Monday, ECP, in a letter addressed to Alvi, has stated that the matter of deciding a date for elections is subjudice, hence, it cannot participate in a meeting on this issue with the president.

    The development comes days after Alvi wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, inviting him for an “urgent meeting” to discuss and consult on the election date in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The meeting was set to take place today (Monday, February 20).

    Two federal ministers, Rana Sanaullah and Marriyum Aurangzeb, have defended the ECP.

    In a statement issued on Monday, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Presidency has become “Awan-e-Sazish” [centre of conspiracy], adding that the government will not allow it to become “Imran Khan’s Tiger Force”. She also advised Alvi against becoming a puppet of the former Prime Minister.

    Meanwhile, in a tweet, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah lambasted Alvi, stating that, “ECP is not your slave,” and adding that “Imran is now using the head of state [Alvi] for conspiracy”.

    President Alvi asks ECP for urgent meeting to consult on Punjab, KP’s election dates

    Earlier, in a letter to ECP, the president expressed displeasure over the “apathy and inaction” of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on not responding to his earlier letter as yet. The first letter was sent on February 8.

    The president stated that he had waited anxiously that the ECP would realise its constitutional duties to proceed and act accordingly, but was extremely dismayed by the commission’s “approach on this important matter”.

    The meeting will take place on February 20 (Monday).

    The president’s official Twitter account said that the two will discuss Section 57(1) of Elections Act, 2017 which details that the president is entrusted to announce the election date after consulting the ECP.

    Punjab and KP assemblies were dissolved in January to pave way for fresh elections.

    It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been asking for the elections since the ouster of their chairman Imran Khan as Prime Minister.

  • Imran is still being facilitated by traces that Faiz Hameed left: Maryam Nawaz

    Imran is still being facilitated by traces that Faiz Hameed left: Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior Vice President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, while talking exclusively to Geo News’ programme “Jirga with Saleem Safi” shed light on the ongoing political crisis and emerging differences between her and the party’s senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

    Claiming that the new setup in the establishment is neutral, Maryam Nawaz said that there are elements associated with Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed that are helping Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan because their interests are interlinked.

    She said that due to this support, Khan doesn’t appear before the court despite being called numerous times.

    Maryam deemed the content of the alleged audio leaks of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as “bench fixing”.

    “I said long ago that bench fixing is happening. Elahi’s leaked audio is its evidence,” she stated.

    All set for elections, says Maryam Nawaz

    Reflecting upon the provincial elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab, which is the core demand of PTI, Maryam said that she and her party are all set for elections.

    When asked if the party was avoiding polls, Maryam stated: “Who said [we are] running away from elections? I am in front of the public and preparing for the polls.”

    She added that all the places that she has visited recently are a part of the election campaign. “We are preparing for the polls. Everyone wants a ticket from PML-N,” she claimed.

    The party’s chief organiser said that there is a list of people who wants PML-N’s tickets from all four provinces.

    Shahid Khaqan’s departure from PML-N would be an insult to me: Maryam Nawaz

    Addressing the rumours of a rift between her and former PML-N senior vice-president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Maryam said that she had a detailed conversation with him for two and a half hours about his resignation.

    Maryam said that Abbasi’s departure from the party will be an “insult to me, not to him”; however, Khaqan told her that she is like a sister to him. “He wanted to give me some space. I will not let Abbasi go, nor is he going anywhere,” she maintained.

    Don’t believe in revenge: Maryam Nawaz

    When asked that there are apprehensions that Maryam might take revenge when she comes to power, the PML-N senior vice president said, “I don’t have to do anything, they already are suffering because of their own deeds.”

    She said that she doesn’t believe in revenge and won’t do what Khan’s government did in the past to her party. Moreover, she said that now both the establishment and Khan are busy exposing each other.

    Maryam assures Nawaz’s return

    Maryam again assured party followers that her father, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, will come back. She said: “This is Nawaz Sharif’s homeland and he will return to the country.”

    “Fake cases were lodged against him and he not only appeared before the law [judiciary] but also accepted the victimisation with dignity in the larger interest of the country,” she said.

  • Police conduct search operation outside IK’s Zaman Park residence

    Police conduct search operation outside IK’s Zaman Park residence

    The Punjab police have conducted a search operation outside Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park, Lahore on suspicion of possible security threat and to locate any suspicious item.

    The police also used a metal detector in the search operation.

    The police also carried out a search operation in the camps outside Khan’s residence.

    In the late hours of Friday night, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters gathered in large numbers at Khan’s residence to thwart any attempt of arrest.

    Since the ouster of Imran Khan from power, his party has said that Khan’s life is in danger.