Tag: Imran Khan

  • ‘It’s in the interest of the country that establishment and Khan be on same page’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘It’s in the interest of the country that establishment and Khan be on same page’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that there is no difference between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and the military leadership and it is in the interest of the country that the establishment and Imran Khan be on the same page.

    In an exclusive interview with BBC Urdu, Rasheed said that the military leadership had decided that it would stand by the elected government.

    Responding to a question about the differences between the government and the army, the minister said, “Small differences can happen. There may be differences of opinion between the civil government and the establishment, but they are on the same page.”

    Rasheed had recently stated that the hand of the establishment is on Imran Khan’s head and later said that he was asked to withdraw this statement.

    However, Rasheed said he was still standing by his statement and that he had been asked by a person in the civilian government, not the establishment, to withdraw his statement. “I did not name the establishment but I meant that the policies of the government and the institutions are on the same page,” he explained.

    Rasheed further said that the PM is adamant on the issue of corruption and accountability and that he fired many people from the party or positions who were accused or suspected of corruption. “Imran Khan can’t do more than that,” he said.

    Accountability was Imran Khan’s biggest slogan but we did not get the success we deserved, he added.

    Rasheed said that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was trying to repatriate those wanted by the courts and the government in Pakistan, but he also complained that despite many efforts, it is still not possible for Ishaq Dar to return.

    Regarding the return of former PM Nawaz Sharif, he said that the government of Pakistan is trying to get him back. “We have been doing this for three and a half years. We sent him ourselves, it is our fault. He [Nawaz] managed to throw dust in everyone’s eyes and went out.”

    Rasheed said that the reason for the former adviser on accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar’s resignation and the Prime Minister’s displeasure with him was not only about bringing back Nawaz Sharif or Shehbaz Sharif but also because “we could not bring back the money”.

    Sheikh Rasheed says there is room for improvement everywhere in the accountability process. “We need to prepare cases well, be good lawyers. Imran Khan has no lack of intent, he says giving National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) would be treason.”

  • PTI announces appointments of its Central Organisation

    PTI announces appointments of its Central Organisation

    The ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has formed its Central Organisation and announced its appointments, reports The Express Tribune.

    The establishment of the organisation was approved by party chairman, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati, Member of National Assembly (MNA) Mir Khan Muhammad Jamali and Amir Bakhsh Bhutto have been appointed as Senior Vice Presidents (SVPs).

    While Atif Khan, Hamidul Haq, Naseebullah Murree and Nawabzada Sharif Jogezai, Ejaz Chaudhry, Ibrahim Khan, Aftab Siddiqui and Advocate Ataullah will act as VPs.

  • ‘Political humiliation awaits, don’t create any problem for law’: Rasheed warns Opposition

    ‘Political humiliation awaits, don’t create any problem for law’: Rasheed warns Opposition

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday said that the government will not create any hurdles for the Opposition but also warned that doing so would result in “political humiliation” for the Opposition alliance.

    Addressing a ceremony in Rawalpindi, Rasheed said, “If you want to anger them (representatives of OIC countries) for the sake of your personal politics then come on March 23 and don’t [change the date]. Come on [March] 23 and God willing, you will face a political defeat and be humiliated.”

    “We will create no problem for you if you don’t create any problem for the law.”

    “What is your agenda? Why are you marching towards Islamabad?” the interior minister asked the Opposition, as he reiterated that they would face no resistance from the government.

    “I kept telling them [to change their date] for a month. If they think they are very intelligent, if they were actually intelligent then maybe we might have faced a legal threat from them today … now come on March 23 and be humiliated,” Rasheed reiterated.

    “The only thing they have done is give irresponsible statements against Imran Khan. The public did not come out on the streets in the last 3.5 years, and they will not come out now,” he said.

    Rasheed said PM Imran Khan was “an honest man”, who had a good relationship with the “establishment”.

    He warned the Opposition that the prime minister would indeed be “very dangerous” if he were to take to the streets against it. “I say this with authority: Imran Khan has street power.”

    Earlier this week, Rasheed urged the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to defer its long march, warning the Opposition of a potential terror threat.

    “Both Prime Minister Imran Khan and I love this country as much you (Opposition) do, but remember there is a terrorism threat on March 23,” he added.

  • PM Khan launches Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card, says Pak only country to do so

    PM Khan launches Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card, says Pak only country to do so

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched the Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card scheme in Islamabad on Wednesday, Radio Pakistan has reported.

    Under the scheme, all families of Islamabad, Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Tharparkar will be provided free medical treatment at government and private hospitals.

    The card will enable every family to avail healthcare facilities up to one million rupees in a year.

    PM while addressing the inauguration ceremony said that Pakistan is the only country in the world to introduce such a unique ambitious program for providing free health facility to its citizens.       

    “Pakistan was built for a purpose — to become an exemplary Islamic welfare state. And health cards are a defining moment for us,” the premier added.

    The PM said that when people own their country, only then the country achieves the ideal of national security but when people are deprived of their basic needs how would they think of the nation and national interest.      

    People using the card will also be able to use it in private hospitals.

  • Opposition leaders say Naya Pakistan is corrupt, attack PM Khan for new corruption report

    Opposition leaders say Naya Pakistan is corrupt, attack PM Khan for new corruption report

    As the government defends Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2021 report, Opposition leaders criticise Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for saying that the TI report supports PM’s claims and accuse his government of breaking all records of corruption.

    Joining the chorus of blames, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif said, “Corruption rampant in ‘Naya’ Pakistan of anti-corruption Mujahid, PTI govt has broken all records of corruption in the last 20 years.”

    He further tweeted that under his brother and Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif’s rule, corruption had decreased despite massive development projects being undertaken. Shehbaz further wrote that it went down due to “transparency, good governance, and legal reforms”.

    PML-N’s Vice President Maryam Nawaz said, “Imran Mafia, who emptied the pockets of the people, bravely wiped his hands on Pakistan.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA Shazia Marri said that Imran Khan’s past claims that he would root out corruption from the country were lies.

    Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Siraj-ul-Haq said that PM Khan had proven, quite literally, that he was dangerous for the country. He claimed that the blunder committed by this government over three years was unmatched in the country’s 74-year history.

  • PM Khan says Pak corruption getting better but corruption index says Pak is getting more corrupt

    PM Khan says Pak corruption getting better but corruption index says Pak is getting more corrupt

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has taken the most steps against corruption in the country’s history.

    The premier, while chairing a session of the federal cabinet on Tuesday, discussed the report released by Transparency International according to which Pakistan has been ranked 140 out of 180 countries, slipping further down to 16 spots over the last year, on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2021.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, commenting on Pakistan’s low ranking on Transparency International’s CPI, said that it was because of the absence of rule of law in the country and state capture as opposed to financial corruption.

    State capture is a type of systemic political corruption in which private interests significantly influence a state’s decision-making processes to their own advantage.

    The minister said all the international institutions that helped determine country rankings had Pakistan maintaining its previous ranking — except the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which dropped the country’s ranking.

    “If you ascertain that who is heading the Economist in Pakistan, you will find that why Pakistan’s ranking was dropped,” he added.

  • VIDEO: PM Imran Khan has a message for all PSL teams

    VIDEO: PM Imran Khan has a message for all PSL teams

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has a special message for all the teams of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as the seventh edition of the league is set to begin in two days.

    In a video, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja and PM Khan can be seen launching the tournament together.

    “Together [with Ramiz], I am opening the PSL,” Imran Khan said. “I hope that every team will fight till the end and entertain the public,” he added.

    It must be noted that PSL 7 is starting from January 27 in Karachi. Defending champions Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings will play the opening match at the National Stadium.

    Karachi-leg will conclude on February 7. The Lahore-leg will start from Febraury 10 at Gaddafi Stadium, including the Final.

  • ‘Imran Khan is nothing without you’: Jemima Goldsmith reacts to Twitter follower’s comment

    ‘Imran Khan is nothing without you’: Jemima Goldsmith reacts to Twitter follower’s comment

    Twitterati never spares a single chance to remind the former wife of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Jemima Goldsmith, about her marriage with Khan or how he is doing without Jemima.

    Jemima took to Twitter to share her score in Wordle [a web-based puzzle that requires players to guess a valid five-letter word in six tries or less].

    A Twitter user commented under her score, “Please Return Imran Khan is nothing without you, being fooled by his friends.”

    Reacting to the comment, Jemima wrote, “Every tweet. For the rest of my life [laughing emojis].”

  • ‘Got a message from Pakistan PM to include Navjot Sidhu in Punjab cabinet’: Capt Amarinder Singh

    ‘Got a message from Pakistan PM to include Navjot Sidhu in Punjab cabinet’: Capt Amarinder Singh

    India’s former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh during a press conference said that during his tenure as CM, he received a message from Pakistan asking him to reinstate Navjot Singh Sidhu in the Punjab cabinet.

    Soon after dropping Sidhu from his cabinet, he had received a call from a mutual acquaintance from Pakistan, Amarinder told reporters.

    “I got a message that Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan has sent a request that if you can take Sidhu in your cabinet,” said Amarinder without taking names. “I will be grateful. He is an old friend of mine. If he does not work, you can remove him.”

    Navjot Singh Sidhu arrived in Pakistan to attend the oath-taking ceremony of PM Imran Khan in August 2018.

    Sidhu at the time said that he had come to Pakistan as a goodwill messenger and “with a message of love” to become a part of Khan’s happiness.

     Navjot Singh Sidhu again returned to Pakistan to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor in Nankana Sahib, in November 2018.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Amarinder was also present during the inauguration of the Karatpur Corridor.

  • PM’s hawk adviser Shahzad Akbar resigns, Fawad Chaudhry says ‘more important work awaits’

    PM’s hawk adviser Shahzad Akbar resigns, Fawad Chaudhry says ‘more important work awaits’

    Adviser to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar said on Monday that he had resigned from his post.

    Taking to Twitter, Akbar said that he had tendered his resignation today to PM Khan.

    “I sincerely hope the process of accountability continues under the leadership of PM IK as per the PTI’s manifesto. I will remain associated with the party and keep contributing as a member of the legal fraternity,” he added.

    Reacting to the news, federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said, “It was never easy to take on Mafias but way you worked and handled cases is admirable.”

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Mohammad Zubair tweeted, “Jumping the ship at the right moment, Shahzad Akbar has proven to be a smart person.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Anny Marri said, “Sinking ship – meet the first of the rats. More to come….”

    In July 2020, Akbar was appointed as an adviser to the premier.

    Akbar — former deputy prosecutor for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) — was appointed as a special assistant to the prime minister on accountability in August 2018.