Tag: Imran Khan

  • What next for the PML-N? Experts weigh in

    What next for the PML-N? Experts weigh in

    On July 17, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) suffered a heavy loss in the by-elections as it only managed to win four seats out of 20 while its rival party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 75 per cent (15 seats) of the Punjab constituencies.

    Despite the PML-N’s disastrous performance in Punjab, the federal government has decided to complete its constitutional tenure till August 2023. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday (July 19). The coalition partners also agreed that they will give a tough time to Imran Khan.

    The Current reached out to experts to ask their opinion on what the PML-N should do next and what will be PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s next move.

    Here is what they have to say.

    PML-N is no longer popular among the masses: Shafqat Mahmood

    “PML-N is no longer popular among the masses. The people of Pakistan have realised that these people are “bhayaanak” [horrible]. It is because of their history of corruption and bad governance during the last three months that they have been badly defeated,” said PTI leader and former Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood.

    Talking about Khan and his future plans after winning the Punjab by-polls Mahmood said, “PTI only wants fair and free elections. On July 22, PTI will be in power in Punjab once again.”

    PML-N needs to go to the drawing board: Mansoor Ali Khan

    Senior journalist Mansoor Ali Khan said that the PML-N needs to go to the drawing board to fix its problems and start the process all over again.

    “They have to go back to the drawing board and start the process again. The most important thing in the present situation for the PML-N to think about is when can Nawaz Sharif come back to Pakistan. His absence has already caused a lot of damage. The party really needs to take a look at all the mistakes committed by them, which led to its defeat in the Punjab by-polls.”

    “I think this is Imran Khan’s winning moment and he will only want early elections. Khan will keep putting pressure on the government and will only want elections. Since the last two months, we have already witnessed him doing this and the Punjab by-polls result is evidence enough that Khan’s plan is working.”

    Federal capital without Punjab is nothing: Kashif Abbasi

    Senior journalist Kashif Abbasi said that the federal capital without Punjab is nothing.

    “The PML-N should talk to the PTI and find a way to work towards early elections. There is no point in running the federal capital without Punjab.”

    Abbasi said that Khan has all the cards at the moment while the PML-N is in trouble.

    “Early elections will possibly favour the PTI as well. So at present, early elections are the solution both for the PTI and PML-N.”

    Early elections should be called: Absa Komal

    Journalist Absa Komal said that the PTI secured a clear mandate in Punjab by sweeping the by-polls in PML-N’s home ground.

    “Ideally, sanity should prevail within the PML-N and early elections should be called.”

    “Khan sahib will keep on resisting, especially if the government creates problems in making Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi chief minister. Meanwhile, he will continue to build a narrative about the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Khan will continue to use his victory in Punjab for building his future narrative,” said Komal.

    PML-N reaction

    Meanwhile, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said that these by-elections cannot measure the popularity or unpopularity of the PML-N. 

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail stated in an interview that the government would keep making difficult choices in an effort to save the economy and keep the nation from going bankrupt.

    The finance minister also noted that it was crucial for the government to take unpopular measures, which also resulted in political setbacks. “But if need be, we will take more tough decisions,” he said.

  • PML-N decides not to hold early elections

    PML-N decides not to hold early elections

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided not to hold early general elections in the country and to complete its constitutional term, reports Geo News.

    In a meeting on Monday under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, the PML-N’s defeat in Punjab by-polls and other political matters were discussed.

    On July 17, the ruling party suffered a heavy loss as it only managed to win four seats out of 20 while its rival party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 75 per cent (15 seats) of the Punjab constituencies.

    The decision regarding elections has been taken by the PML-N. The party is yet to discuss the matter with its coalition partners and for that, a meeting is scheduled for today (Tuesday).

    A day earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan addressed the nation after his party’s landslide victory in Punjab. He highlighted that the only way out of the current political crisis is free and fair elections.

  • ‘Voice-recorder found in my bedroom,’ Shireen Mazari

    ‘Voice-recorder found in my bedroom,’ Shireen Mazari

    Former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari claimed that the staff at her Islamabad residence had discovered a “voice-recorder” in her bedroom a day earlier.

    “I was at Bani Gala yesterday when I received a call from my domestic staff that a device was found attached underneath a coffee table in my bedroom,” said Mazari.

    “The question that arises is: who installed it? That too in my bedroom. Which agency [installed this device]? We have our doubts regarding who is behind it. But I want to highlight that this is a violation of the Constitution.”

    Mazari said she initially thought the device in question was a USB. But upon further investigation, it was discovered that it was a “voice-recorder”.

    “What are they trying to find out?”

    “What more do you want to achieve? Fake cases have been lodged against us. Our mobile phones have been tapped. The law and the Constitution have been turned into a joke.”

    “But I will stand up against this and file a constitutional petition in the Islamabad High Court. They have infringed on my right to privacy and protection,” said Mazari.

    Last month, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill said that a Bani Gala staffer was caught installing a spy device in PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s bedroom.

  • PM Shehbaz urges ECP to announce ruling on PTI foreign funding case

    PM Shehbaz urges ECP to announce ruling on PTI foreign funding case

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the “long-delayed judgment” in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) foreign funding case.

    The premier took to Twitter today, urging the ECP to give the verdict in PTI’s foreign funding case, which was reserved on June 21.

    “I urge the Election Commission of Pakistan to announce the long-delayed judgment on PTI foreign funding case,” said the PM.

    The prime minister said that for long, Imran Khan has been given a free pass despite his “repeated & shameless attacks on state institutions”.

    “Impunity given to him has hurt the country,” added PM Shehbaz.

    The ECP reserved the verdict in the case nearly a month ago on June 21, following a hearing by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.

    On Monday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan criticised the ECP for being biased and demanded CEC Sultan Raja’s resignation over his alleged favouring of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    “We have no confidence in this Chief Election Commissioner, he should resign. He conducted the Senate election, the Supreme Court allowed him to verify the Senate vote, the Election Commission and all political parties know that money runs in the secret Senate polls but this Election Commissioner did not follow it,” said Khan.

    “The biggest regret I have in the Punjab by-elections is on the Chief Election Commissioner as he has done dishonesty, there is no merit in him, it was found that typing mistake took place and four million people were shown dead. Had this happened elsewhere in the world, he would have resigned. We had eight cases with which we went to the Election Commission and it rejected them while the courts gave verdicts against it, which means the ECP deliberately gave decisions against us,” claimed Khan.

  • Kaptaan smashes Noon at Shehbaz Speed

    Kaptaan smashes Noon at Shehbaz Speed

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the Punjab by-elections held on July 17 by bagging a total of 15 out of 20 Punjab Asse­mbly seats while the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) only managed to win four seats. An independent candidate won one seat. The unexpected and sweeping victory of PTI in the all-important Punjab by-polls is set to influence the political as well as economic future of the country. The outcome of the by-elections has not just sealed the fate of Hamza Shehbaz’s government in Punjab but also sent alarm bells ringing for Shehbaz Sharif’s federal government.

    The million dollar question is, what happened in Punjab that the kaptaan was able to pull this off in the heart of PML-N? PTI Chairman Imran Khan led a vigorous campaign against those who had ditched the party during the first poll for the chief minister on April 16 and voted for Hamza. Even the PML-N’s voters did not vote for the ‘lotas’ or turncoats. Khan continuously targeted the ‘neutrals’ for not siding with him in foiling the so-called ‘conspiracy’ the PML-N, PPP, and other parties had allegedly hatched “with the help of the United States” to oust him from power. That his foreign conspiracy mantra sold like hot cakes shows that Pakistanis love conspiracy theories.

    The Punjab by-elections have brought to the limelight further questions: what is next for the PML-N? The ruling PML-N really needs to ‘introspect’ its shortcomings and need to go back to the drawing board and check every possible situation that led the party to its failure in Punjab. Was the vote of no-confidence the right move? Was the PML-N really thinking that a father-son duo as prime minister and the chief minister can turn out to be successful? At present, the most important question is, when is Nawaz Sharif coming back? The party has faced a lot of damage in his absence. Within the PML-N, a lot of people are of the view that Hamza should accept defeat and immediately resign as chief minister, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should call the next general elections as soon as possible. What the PML-N will do next can shape the future of Pakistan. Will Shehbaz Sharif announce the general elections or stick to power? Will a caretaker government be formed that can also take care of the economy for three months given how crucial the IMF deal is?

    Whatever happens, Pakistan is in need of massive reforms. With the pertaining economic crisis and inflation, major political, as well as economic stability, is required. The country needs stability more than ever.

  • ‘Coalition government lost support of the people’: Politicians react to PTI’s win in Punjab by-polls

    ‘Coalition government lost support of the people’: Politicians react to PTI’s win in Punjab by-polls

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that the by-elections have made it clear that the coalition government has lost the support of the people.

    Khokhar was of the opinion that instead of forming the government, elections should have been held immediately. He also said that the deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should have been done by a government with a fresh mandate.

    “Difficult decisions should be made by a government that has a mandate of five years, it is not possible that we have sky-rocketing inflation and people shower us with flowers,” said Khokhar.

    “Political parties are still stuck in the 90s, the by-elections made it clear that the coalition government has lost the support of the people, political stability will be further eroded, and governance will become difficult. The country and economy need stabilisation, which is possible only through general elections,” said Khokhar.

    If they have won seats through people’s mandate, CM should step down: Malik Ahmad

    “In all fairness, if they have won seats through the people’s mandate, then the CM [Hamza Shehbaz] should step down and let them form a government,” said Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan to The News.

    “Once the people have spoken, they are the sovereign and if they have spoken in favour of Imran’s narrative for general elections, then they have spoken. Then let there be a fresh mandate. Otherwise, every day there will be a new crisis,” added Malik Ahmad.

    Imran Khan to decide when Shehbaz Sharif will be removed: Fawad Chaudhry

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Imran Khan would decide when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be removed.

    Speaking to Geo News, Fawad Chaudhry said that all the political parties need to end the ongoing political crisis and show maturity.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the Punjab by-elections by bagging a total of 15 out of 20 Punjab Asse­mbly seats while the ruling PML-N only managed to win four seats. An independent candidate won one seat.

  • ‘Defeat should be accepted with an open heart’: PTI sweeps Punjab by-polls

    ‘Defeat should be accepted with an open heart’: PTI sweeps Punjab by-polls

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the Punjab by-elections by bagging a total of 15 out of 20 Punjab Asse­mbly seats while the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) only managed to win four seats. An independent candidate won one seat.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Monday thanked the PML-N workers for their tireless efforts and said that Maryam Nawaz ran a great election campaign. “I would like to thank Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz for conducting peaceful elections in Punjab.”

    Congratulating PTI for the big win, Chairman Imran Khan thanked his party workers and supporters of Punjab for what he called not just defeating the PML-N but the entire state machinery.

    “The only way forward from here is to hold free and fair polls under a credible Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The PTI chairman said that now decisions would be taken by masses not in closed rooms,” said Khan.

    PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, on the other hand, called for introspection following the defeat of the ruling PML-N in its political heartland.

    Maryam took to Twitter and said that the “defeat should be accepted with an open heart”.

    “The PML-N should accept the results of the by-polls with an open heart as it is the decision of the masses,” Maryam Nawaz tweeted. She added that winning and losing were part of politics; therefore, the party should now focus on its weaknesses, identify them, and then overcome them. “God willing, everything will be fine,” said Maryam.

    PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif blamed the “difficult decisions” taken by the Centre for its failure, according to a Daily Jang report.

    PTI’s Secretary General Asad Umar termed PTI victory in the high-voltage Punjab by-elections as a milestone in Pakistan’s political history. 

    Asad Umar also stated that PTI’s core committee meeting would be held today (Monday) with Imran Khan in the chair, where the PTI would take a future course of action.

    Asad Umar also said that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi would be elected as chief minister of Punjab on July 22, adding that Shehbaz Sharif is now only the “Prime Minister of Islamabad”. 

    Speaker Punjab Assembly and leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that if Imran Khan asks him to dissolve the Punjab Assembly, then he will dissolve the assembly in two seconds without thinking.

    Elahi further said that Imran Khan worked the hardest, and he [Elahi] had won many by-elections, but the strategy Khan made was perfect and he [Khan] used his energy to the fullest.

  • Khan wanted a secret meeting with Chief Election Commissioner

    Khan wanted a secret meeting with Chief Election Commissioner

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan made a request to Pakistan’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for a secret meeting. However, Raja refused to meet Imran Khan secretly, reports Umar Cheema for The News.

    Khan had asked Raja to hold a secret meeting by sending many messengers to him. A constitutional official also made a special trip from Islamabad and held a meeting with Raja and asked him to meet the former PM.

    According to a person with knowledge of the meeting between Raja and the official, Raja was willing to meet any politician in his office, even the prime minister. But he stressed that he would not meet in secret or in the PM’s Office. The constitutional office-holder also offered Raja a prized position if he left his post as CEC.

    Imran Khan recently accused Raja of holding a “secret meeting” in Lahore with Maryam Nawaz and Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shehbaz. A source close to the CEC has denied the allegations.

    Fawas Chaudhry and Azam Swati accused the CEC of accepting a bribe and serving as a spokesman for the then-opposition. Both of them privately approached Raja to ask for forgiveness, according to a source of The News.

  • ‘Judges and generals can’t take decisions behind closed doors’: Fawad Chaudhry

    ‘Judges and generals can’t take decisions behind closed doors’: Fawad Chaudhry

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry criticised the Supreme Court’s detailed judgement given yesterday in a suo motu case on the ruling by former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri under Article 5 of the Constitution. 

    “The people should be given the right to make decisions. Judges and generals can’t change their policies every day. They can’t take decisions behind closed doors.”

    Fawad said that Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial has the sealed cipher in his office. “Senior judges should ask the CJP why it was not shown to them,” said Fawad. 

    He further claimed that a letter from President Alvi is also with the Supreme Court suggesting the formation of a commission to investigate the matter. However, the court had not responded to Alvi’s letter.

    “Rather than forming a commission to properly investigate the matter, the Supreme Court has given its verdict without even reading the material that was given to it. Moreover, the timing of the ruling is self-explanatory.” 

    The PTI leader asked if the Supreme Court could issue the detailed judgement after three months, why did it not delay it a bit longer. He alleged that it was purposefully done in the wake of the upcoming by-elections in Punjab.

    Moreover, the PTI leader claimed that people are aware of why the SC “did not want to investigate the cipher”. Chaudhry was of the view that the top court “should read the cipher before penning the judgment”.

    He challenged the decision saying that when PTI comes back into power, it will quash the order through Parliament.

    Commenting on Mazhar Alam Miankhel’s additional note which said “if we begin to pursue cases under article 6, we will find there are more people to hang than there are nooses”.

    If I get permission, will get Imran Khan arrested: Rana Sanuallah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that President Dr Arif Alvi should resign and that if he gets permission from the cabinet to file a case against Imran Khan, he [Khan] will be arrested.

    Rana Sanaullah said that the matter of reference against former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, President Alvi, former Deputy Speaker Suri will be considered in the cabinet tomorrow. Sanaullah said that Khan “can go to any level for his personal interests”.

    He claimed that PTI is still receiving salaries from the National Assembly and they are still using government vehicles. He urged that they should be de-seated and disqualified.

    Replying to a question, Rana Sanaullah said that Sheikh Rasheed was supposed to be arrested during the long march but he could not be found as he was in hiding.

    PM Shehbaz’s reaction

    Following the judgement, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif said that everyone should read the judgement. In a tweet, the preimer said, “Honourable Supreme Court’s detailed judgement on Vote of No Confidence exposes the lies and propaganda indulged in by Imran Khan and Co. utterly shameful how IK tried to undermine the Constitution and manufactured the lie of regime change.”

    PTI failed to produce any evidence to support claim of foreign conspiracy: Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court issued a detailed judgement on Wednesday (July 13) in a suo motu case on the ruling by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly under Article 5 of the Constitution.

    The court has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) failed to “produce any evidence” before the court to support their claim of interference by a foreign force in the ousting of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion.

    In the judgement, the apex court revealed that the cipher was not even shown to it although its contents “were partially disclosed in the detailed reasons issued in support of the deputy speaker’s ruling”.

    On April 7, a five-member bench of the Supreme Court had declared Qasim Suri’s ruling on the dismissal of no-confidence motion against Imran Khan as unconstitutional and illegal. The bench unanimously ruled that President Dr Arif Alvi’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly is “illegal” and restored Imran Khan as Prime Minister as well as his cabinet ministers to face the no-confidence motion on April 9.

    No evidence

    The Supreme Court said that it rejected PTI’s plea to take suo motu action over the ‘breach of sovereignty’ allegation, citing “no precedence, absence of evidence and lack of jurisdiction”.

     Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that the action by the deputy speaker triggered a chain of events.

    Moreover, the SC noted that neither the Constitution nor the NA procedure rules have given the power to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to dismiss a no-trust resolution “for being inadmissible or non-maintainable”.

    The judgement said, “It was a unilateral decision taken by the Deputy Speaker at the behest of the Law Minister.”

    High treason for President Alvi, Khan and others?

    Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel stressed in his additional note that there must be consequences for President Alvi, ex-PM Imran, former Speaker Asad Qaiser, former Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri and former Law Minister Fawad Chaudhry because they prevented the elected representatives of the people “from voting on the resolution” and therefore it was a “blatant transgression of the Constitution”.

    “Whether the stated acts attract Article 6 of the Constitution is also left open to be determined by the Parliamentarians as to whether they leave open the doors for such unconstitutional acts or take suitable measures to stop such like mess in future,” Justice Miankhel suggested.

    Article 6 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan states, “Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.”

    Suri was biased

    Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel observed in his additional note that the action of the Deputy Speaker was biased. He said that if at the time it was permitted to hold fresh elections, it would amount to giving license to an authority to misuse the extraordinary power of the doctrine of necessity.

  • Yasir Hussain keen to play Asif Ali Zardari in his biopic

    Yasir Hussain keen to play Asif Ali Zardari in his biopic

    Actor Yasir Hussain has expressed his desire of doing politician and former President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari’s biopic.

    The actor was invited on a Eid Special show with his wife Iqra Aziz and revealed that there is a big politician of the country whom he wants to play in a movie. The politician is none other than Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

    Yasir said that he finds Zardari’s personality very interesting and he feels he can do justice to his role if offered in a film.

    Earlier in June 2022 he took to his Instagram stories to slam the ruling government and asked them to leave the nation this August. The Koel director stated, “August mai aazadi bhi de den hum ko. Jaan choren, Noon ne toh laam laga diye. (Leave us in August, give us independence. PML-N has screwed us.).

    Hussain wrote this caption while sharing a news story about an alleged increase in the fuel prices and electricity crises in the country. His story also featured Miftah Ismail’s picture apart from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.