Tag: Imran Khan

  • ‘Nawaz Sharif satisfied with script’: Is Nawaz Sharif coming back to Pakistan in 2022?

    ‘Nawaz Sharif satisfied with script’: Is Nawaz Sharif coming back to Pakistan in 2022?

    Speculations are rife that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is returning to Pakistan.

    Senior journalist Saleem Safi took to Twitter and hinted at Nawaz Sharif’s return from London. Safi tweeted, “Mian Nawaz Sharif is planning to come back to Pakistan in January. According to the plan, he will go to jail on his return. Then he will appeal the courts for relief and removal of previous sentences.”

    “The transfer of DG NAB Lahore is linked to this chain of events while Nawaz Sharif is satisfied with the script,” tweeted Safi.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, without taking any names, took a jibe at the return of Nawaz.

    The minister tweeted, “Those who wait for deals to return home will always be dwarfs in politics.”

    “The PML-N should get ready to polish the boots, but the only difference is no one is putting the foot forward to get the boots polished,” tweeted Fawad.

    Fawad further said, “You are a reminder of the dark age of Pakistan. The direction of the winds is not on your side anymore. When there is light, the darkness disappears and this is what happened in Pakistan.”

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Shahbaz Gill tweeted, “Nawaz Sharif’s visa extension in the United Kingdom (UK) has been rejected – currently on appeal but he knows visa will be rejected and he will be deported. This is being presented as a political decision – cowards are never brave.”

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan during a meeting of the party spokespersons held in Islamabad on Friday questioned how a plan could be hatched to bring PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif back to the country.

    Talking about the Opposition parties, the premier said there have been rumours of ending former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sentence. “How can the sentence of a convicted person be overturned?”

    The premier recalled that the court had disqualified Nawaz in the Panama Leaks case, and to date, he was unable to provide a money trail for his assets.

  • PM Khan lashes out at plan to make a ‘convicted person’ prime minister

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan during a meeting of the party spokespersons held in Islamabad, questioned how a plan could be hatched to bring Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif back to the country.

    Talking about the Opposition parties, the premier said there have been rumours of ending former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sentence. “How can the sentence of a convicted person be overturned?”

    The premier recalled that the court had disqualified Nawaz in the Panama Leaks case, and to date, he was unable to provide a money trail for his assets.

    “How can a convicted person become the prime minister after having his sentence revoked?” he questioned, according to sources privy to the matter.

    The PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a conference with party workers and leaders, yet again hinted at coming back to Pakistan and said, “Thank you all very much, see you soon in Pakistan.”

    Senior PML-N party leaders have also hinted at the same stance as that of their leader Nawaz Sharif.

    The PML-N supremo, who was diagnosed with an immune system disorder, left Pakistan for London in November 2019.

  • No difference between us and them’: PM Khan dissolves all PTI organisations

    No difference between us and them’: PM Khan dissolves all PTI organisations

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Friday announced that after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) suffered a huge setback in the first phase of the recently held local government (LG) elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the party has decided to dissolve its organisational structure.

    During the meeting of the party spokespersons, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was dissatisfied with the party’s performance in KP local body polls.

    “But the way tickets were awarded […] PTI does not believe in dynastic politics. PM Imran has never let his personal relations affect his mission,” informed Fawad, while addressing the media.

    Criticising how tickets were distributed, PM Khan said that candidates should be awarded party tickets on merit, which is the opposite of what happened in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

    “If that culture seeps into the PTI, there will be no difference between us and them,” said the premier.

    The prime minister — after consulting with the party leadership — has decided to dissolve all organisations from the centre to the tehsils, Fawad said. “Chief organisers and all office bearers have been removed from their positions,” he said.

    “It has also been decided that the local leadership will not award party tickets when it comes to their relatives. A special committee will be formed where the case will be forwarded and it will decide whether or not to award the ticket.”

    Earlier, PM Imran Khan directed the Punjab government and PTI leadership to begin homework for the upcoming local government elections in the province, adding that he would personally oversee the preparations.

    “The government and party leadership should strictly select candidates on merit and avoid dynastic politics, which was exposed after causing damage to the party in KP,” said PM Khan.

    “The mistakes made in KP must not be repeated in Punjab,” he stressed. With candidates selected on merit, PM Khan said, the PTI would give a tough time to its opponents in the local government elections in Punjab.

  • President, PM extend their wishes to the Christian community on Christmas

    President, PM extend their wishes to the Christian community on Christmas

    President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have greeted the christian community on the occasion of Christmas.

    President and Prime Minister in separate messages, have assured that the government will continue to safeguard rights and privileges of all minorities living in the country, Radio Pakistan has reported.

    They also commended sincere and invaluable services rendered by the Christian community in the fields of defence, education, health as well as economic development of the country.

    They said that the government will empower the minorities to use their abilities for national development

  • PM Imran Khan forms committee to devise strategy for local government elections

    After a major setback for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the first phase of the 2021 local government (LG) elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has directed the Punjab government and PTI leadership to begin homework for the upcoming local government elections in the province, adding that he would personally oversee the preparations.

    “The government and party leadership should strictly select candidates on merit and avoid dynastic politics, which was exposed after causing damage to the party in KP,” said PM Khan, reports Dawn.

    “The mistakes made in KP must not be repeated in Punjab,” he stressed. With candidates selected on merit, PM Khan said, the PTI would give a tough time to its opponents in the local government elections in Punjab.

    The premier advised that the Punjab leadership should consult with senior leaders to devise a plan of action to perform better in the Punjab LG elections.

    He was presiding over a meeting of PTI members and senior leadership to hold consultations on local body elections in Punjab.

    PM Imran Khan said that he has always respected the views of senior workers and leaders of the party.

  • CM Buzdar cancels overseas convention over differences with Governor Punjab

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar has reportedly ordered to cancel the first ‘Overseas Global Convention’ of nearly 1,000 overseas Pakistanis living around the world, reports Murtaza Ali Shah for Geo News.

    The media outlet report states that CM Punjab has said that affairs related to the event were being used for the projection of a “few groups” and that many who had travelled to Pakistan were considered close to Governor Punjab Muhammad Sarwar.

    “The Punjab Chief Minister gets intelligence reports from various sources. Evidence was shown to him that many people who were invited as main guests of the event defamed Buzdar in WhatsApp groups and social media,” revealed the source.

    “They belong to a particular group which doesn’t align ideologically with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and criticises Usman Buzdar’s policies, who has the full trust of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. The governor’s remarks in London about the International Monetary Fund (IMF) taking over Pakistan have not gone down well with the power circles.”

    However, according to the organisers, the convention which has cost tens of thousands of dollars was cancelled due to “security reasons”. On the contrary, a source close to Governor Punjab has rejected the allegations that the event is not an initiative of the Governor House and said, “The Governor House is one of the most secure places in the country, we have no idea what the security issue was. A dinner event at the Governor House will be organised for those who have travelled to Pakistan from overseas as the convention has been cancelled.”

    PM Khan’s involvement:

    According to the details in the report, PM Khan had accepted the invitation by the Overseas Pakistani Commission Punjab Vice Chairman Syed Makhdoom Tariq Ul Hassan. The premier was also expected to address the convention.

    Upon asking, whether PM Khan was aware or not that the convention had been cancelled at the last minute, the Punjab government source said that the CM takes decisions on his own and later takes the premier into confidence when needed.

  • PM grills KP CM, loss due to candidate selection based on favouritism

    PM grills KP CM, loss due to candidate selection based on favouritism

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Wednesday received a brief report on the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) defeat in the recent local government (LG) polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), indicating ‘wrong’ selection of candidates based on ‘favouritism’.

    A source in the Prime Minister Office (PMO) told Dawn that the performance report was presented by KP Chief Minister Mehmood Khan who was also grilled by PM Khan for not fielding ‘deserving’ and ‘poll-winning’ candidates.

    The premier during his visit to Lahore (Thursday) in Punjab will select the best possible candidates and prepare well for the local government polls, which are expected to be held in the province in March or April next year.

    On Wednesday, PM Khan said amidst all the noise over the election result, nobody appreciated the fact that the government had empowered the LG system for the first time in 74-year history of Pakistan.

    The premier took to Twitter and wrote, “Directly elected Tehsil nazims will improve governance & create [a] future leader. Ist time in our 74-yr history we have an empowered LG system.”

    “No one realises these elections are [the] start of modern, devolved LG system as exists in successful democracies,” tweeted PM Khan.

  • ‘I am requesting Khan Saab to see how his ministers are making money’: PTI MNA

    ‘I am requesting Khan Saab to see how his ministers are making money’: PTI MNA

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Noor Alam Khan heavily criticised his government while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’. Alam said, “I have to raise the voice for the people of Pakistan. I don’t care about the political seats, they are temporary.”

    Noor Alam Khan further said that he made certain promises to the people of Pakistan. He reiterated the party manifesto of providing sufficient gas, combating load shedding, and said that people voted for the party for the promises it had made in the past.

    Talking about competence, Noor Khan said, “You have to deliver, people will reject you if you don’t perform. The people who vote for us require good performance and if we don’t deliver, we are the ones to blame. I am sorry if it’s our incompetence, then we will blame Noor Alam, Shahzeb, or some institution for the shortcomings but not ourselves.”

    “The fault and blame will always be directed towards the government, we are the ones who make the policy. [Government] is the provider. Do not pat the ones who curse others and say you did well, pat the ones who serve your people,” said Noor Khan.

    “[PM] Imran Khan should look at the people on his right and left to know about their assets and how they grew their assets,” said the PTI MNA.

    “If he closes his eyes [and condones what is happening around him], it will not set the affairs in order. He will have to solve the problems of inflation, power outages, and gas shortage.”

    “The people around PM Khan report ‘all is good’ to him. But, all is not well today,” he stressed, urging the PM to shove away those who are corrupt.

    “Who says there is no corruption in the country at present? You can deceive [the] masses once or twice. However, when it is the third time, people will reject you,” said Noor Khan.

    “If I vote and forget the people, will I blame others? No one in the party speaks clearly. Everyone is scared.”

    “I am requesting Khan Saab to look around and see how his ministers are making money and assets. How did a person shift from car to land cruiser to later a helicopter? How did one person make additional houses and sugar mills?” questioned Noor Alam.

    Replying to a query about the party tickets, Noor Alam said the PTI did not take anyone on board for tickets and doled them out to the members of the family. “So, what happened [in the LG elections] was an evident outcome,” he said.

    Commenting on a way out for the PTI from its absolute defeat in the LG elections, the PTI leader said the PTI-led government will have to push down the prices of commodities and utilities.

  • KP LG polls: Ruling PTI loses mayors to Fazlur Rehman’s JUI-F

    KP LG polls: Ruling PTI loses mayors to Fazlur Rehman’s JUI-F

    The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)  faced a major upset on multiple seats in the first phase of local government (LG) elections held in Khyber Pakhtun­khwa (KP) at the hands of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

    Mayor seat elections:

    Peshawar:

    JUI-F’s Zubair Ali won the race with 62,388 votes while PTI’s Rizwan Bangash was second with 50,659 votes.

    JUI-F’s Zubair Ali
    Mardan:

    In Mardan, Awami National Party’s (ANP) Himayatullah Mayar won the seat with 56,458 votes while JUI-F’s Amanat Shah Haqqani was in second place with 49,938 votes.

    ANP’s Himayatullah Mayar
    Kohat:

    Sher Zaman of JUI-F won the mayor seat with 34,434 votes and independent candidate Shafiullah Jan was in second place with 25,793 votes.

    Sher Zaman of JUI-F
    Bannu:

    JUI-F’s Irfanullah Durrani has been declared the winner with 59,844 votes and PTI’s Iqbal Jadoon Khan was second with 47,398 votes.

    JUI-F’s Irfanullah Durrani

    JUI-F emerges victorious in 16 tehsil council seats, PTI wins 14, as per unofficial results, reports Geo News.

  • ‘Will personally oversee PTI’s LG election strategy’: PM Khan blames loss on wrong candidate selection in KP

    ‘Will personally oversee PTI’s LG election strategy’: PM Khan blames loss on wrong candidate selection in KP

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Tuesday said his party “made mistakes” as he pinned the blame of the poor performance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on “wrong candidate selection” for the first phase of local government (LG) elections held in Khyber Pakhtun­khwa (KP).

    PM Khan tweeted, “PTI made mistakes in 1st phase of KP LG elections & paid the price. Wrong candidate selection was a major cause.”

    Making sure that the same mistake is not repeated, the premier added, “From now on I will personally be overseeing PTI’s LG election strategy in 2nd phase of KP LG elections & LG elections across Pak.”

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif said that the people residing in the KP districts have rejected the ruling party.

    “The ruling party’s defeat is an expression of people’s anger over the back-breaking inflation, crushing price hike & the meltdown of governance,” said Shehbaz Sharif in a tweet.

    “It is the beginning of the end of an experiment that has cost the nation dearly.”

    PM’s remarks come after the Opposition parties have had a combined lead over the ruling PTI in the local body elections.