Tag: Imran Khan

  • ‘Who pressured you to sentence Nawaz Sharif and said that Khan needs to be in power?’: Maryam asks ex-CJP Nisar

    ‘Who pressured you to sentence Nawaz Sharif and said that Khan needs to be in power?’: Maryam asks ex-CJP Nisar

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, in a heated press conference in Islamabad, called upon former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar and asked him to come forth and tell the nation the truth.

    “Come forth, tell the nation who pressurised you?” Maryam Nawaz

    “Whether today or tomorrow, you will have to tell the nation the truth. There is still time. Come forth, tell the nation who pressured you to sentence Nawaz Sharif if it was unwarranted? Who pressured you to sentence Maryam Nawaz, if it was without merit. And who told you that [Prime Minister (PM)] Imran Khan needs to be brought to power?”

    “If Nawaz didn’t deserve the punishment, then why did you play with the justice system? You were sitting in the highest forum and why could you not refuse orders to convict Nawaz Sharif?”

    Maryam also asked Nisar why he allowed himself to be “forced to take an unconstitutional and illegal [step]”.

    “You will have to answer all this,” said Maryam.

    “After the TV channel said that [Nisar’s] audio had been pieced together to create the clip, Nisar too stepped forth to agree. So the TV channel deserves thanks,” Maryam Nawaz

    Addressing the media coverage regarding the leaked audio, without naming the channel, Maryam said that earlier Nisar denied any connection with the clip and said that it is not him who can be heard in the audio.

    “After the TV channel said that his [Nisar’s] audio had been pieced together from two of his previous speeches to create the alleged audio, he [Nisar] too stepped forth to agree,” said Maryam, adding, “So the TV channel that led to his [Nisar’s] admission of his voice being part of the clip deserves some thanks.”

    Addressing the TV channel directly, Maryam questioned the choice of the channel to omit specific bits from the audio clip that are the “real crux of the matter”.

    She also added that those words are the “charge sheet against Saqib Nisar” and demanded to know which speech those bits are from then.

    “So the bits that you like are his voice and the parts that you do not, are not his voice?” she asked.

    “Audio clips and videos may be material, but Justice Siddiqui is very much alive, he must be inquired about his allegations,” Maryam Nawaz

    “Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui also made a startling statement, while [former accountability judge] Arshad Malik was punished for speaking the truth,” Maryam said, adding that although the two judges had been punished, “nobody dared to come forward to provide justice to Nawaz Sharif.”

    She demanded that the parties involved in the Justice Siddiqui scandal be summoned in court, made to stand in the witness box and a sworn testimony be taken from them.

    Maryam said that audio clips and videos may be material that one can be skeptical about “but Justice Siddiqui is very much alive and he must be inquired about his allegations”.

    “Fifth testimony in favour of Nawaz Sharif”: Maryam Nawaz

    “You (Nisar) will have to give its answer to the people. Leave the audio, leave [the former top] Gilgit-Baltistan judge’s affidavit, and the statements of former judges and FIA’s Bashir Memon. This is the fifth testimony in favour of Nawaz Sharif. Will the nation forget these testimonies? Can you deny that an elected prime minister (Nawaz Sharif) was removed from power unjustly?”

    She continued: “There is no proof against me and I was [sentenced to prison] for seven years. Now National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has no evidence to furnish in the IHC (Islamabad High Court).”

    She said it was “ridiculous” that Nisar was not saying anything in his defence, while government ministers were defending the ex-CJP “haphazardly”.

    “Imran Khan never called a meeting to discuss inflation, but after the audio leak he called a meeting,” Maryam Nawaz

    “[PM] Imran Khan never called a meeting to discuss inflation, but after the audio leak he called a meeting asking his party men to discuss the PML-N tenure in public,” she alleged, saying the ministers and the premier were actually saving themselves “because they know they will suffer badly once Saqib Nisar is proved guilty”.

    “Saqib Nisar get a forensic audit conducted, face the law and build a dam from the money he gets after winning the case,” Maryam Nawaz

    “I want Saqib Nisar to get a forensic audit conducted, face the law and build a dam from the money he gets after winning the case,” she said, calling upon the judiciary “not to bear the burden of someone whose truth is now out”.

    Stressing politicians’ responsibility to protect the prestige of the judiciary, the PML-N leader stated: “Judiciary is bigger than these individuals. We don’t want to take matters beyond a certain point [and] the judiciary should clear its name itself.”

    She then quoted former chief justice Asif Saeed Khosa as writing in the Panama Papers case judgment that “Behind every great fortune, there is a crime,” and said: “The crime and conspiracy that took place before the 2018 elections are also exposed before everyone now.”

  • ‘Highlight previous history of PML-N as to how the party attacked judiciary’: PM Khan directs party spokespersons

    ‘Highlight previous history of PML-N as to how the party attacked judiciary’: PM Khan directs party spokespersons

    During a meeting with his spokespersons, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday said the alleged audio leak of former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar was devised by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He instructed his spokespersons to highlight the previous history of the PML-N as to how the party had attacked the judiciary and maligned judges, reports Dawn.

    “But their [PML-N] bad tactics will not work this time,” he added.

    “The government stands by the state institutions,” said PM Khan.

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said that the PML-N should come out of “leaks, fake videos, and games” and clarify allegations against them on the basis of merit.

    Taking to Twitter, Fawad wrote: “Nawaz & Co, come out of fake videos, leaks, and games and answer the allegations levelled against you on the basis of merit.”

    “These dramas have completely flopped. If you do not wish to be imprisoned, then you should return the nation’s wealth,” said Fawad, adding, ” This is a simple solution, which they are complicating as a way out.”

    The minister’s comments come in relevance to the leaked audio of an alleged conversation claiming that CJP Nisar was the person who passed on the directions of handing down conviction to PML-N supremo Mian Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz only because the “institutions” wanted the former prime minister penalised in order to bring ahead Imran Khan. Ahmed Noorani reported this for FactFocus.

  • DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed farewell visit to PM Khan, President Alvi

    DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed farewell visit to PM Khan, President Alvi

    Director-General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Faiz Hameed paid farewell visits to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, President Dr Arif Alvi, and Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Quershi.

    Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed will serve as DG ISI till November 19 and will then take charge as Peshawar Corps Commander.

    After several meetings and consultations between country administrations [government and army], PM Imran Khan had issued a notification on October 26 for the appointment of Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum as the new DG ISI who will take charge on November 20.

    Earlier today, Lt Gen Hameed and President Alvi met at the President House on Wednesday. The president appreciated the efforts and services of Lt Gen Hameed as DG ISI for the country’s security and expressed his best wishes for him on his appointment as Peshawar Corps Commander, reports Geo News.

    Lt General Faiz Hameed had a meeting with PM Imran Khan. PM Khan wished him well.

    Lt Gen briefly met FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Qureshi expressed his best wishes on his new appointment.

  • Indian Punjab CM, Indian politicians at Kartarpur to celebrate Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary

    Indian Punjab CM, Indian politicians at Kartarpur to celebrate Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary

    Indian Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Charanjit Channi, along with other Indian politicians, visited the Kartarpur Corridor.

    Indian Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, along with his ministers, is part of the first delegation to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.

    The Kartarpur Corridor, which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district, reopened on Wednesday. The pilgrimage to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara was suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    On the directions of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, the best arrangements are being made for Sikh pilgrims who are participating in 552 birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak from all over the world, including India and within the country.

  • ‘Govt using all energy to sow seeds of legislation, someone else will benefit from its fruits’: Asif Ali Zardari

    ‘Govt using all energy to sow seeds of legislation, someone else will benefit from its fruits’: Asif Ali Zardari

    Former President Asif Ali Zardari took a jibe at the ruling party and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for bulldozing the electoral bills in the joint session. “They [government] are using all their energy to sow the seeds of this legislation, but he [Imran Khan] will not benefit from its fruits; rather someone else will reap the benefits.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) supremo Zardari while speaking to journalists was questioned over the joint session being convened without taking the Opposition into confidence and whether the government succeeded in its plans.

    Zardari said the government was getting success due to other reasons. “And you know the other reasons better,” he said.

  • Joint session ‘big victory’ for Govt, Opp to move ‘no-confidence’ motion against Senate Chairman

    Joint session ‘big victory’ for Govt, Opp to move ‘no-confidence’ motion against Senate Chairman

    The government on Wednesday managed to force amendments to the Elections Act, 2017, allowing the use of electronic voting machines and granting voting rights to overseas Pakistanis. A total of 33 bills were passed amidst the Opposition’s continuous protest against them.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry termed the passage of 33 bills in a joint sitting of parliament a “big victory” for the government.

    Speaking at a press conference, Fawad said, “The Opposition will remember this defeat for a long time and must have realised about its strength today (Wednesday) in parliament and now its dream to remove the Senate chairman will not come true.”

    “Those considering moving no-confidence motion against government functionaries should have a second thought about their assessments,” said Fawad.

    The Opposition on Wednesday decided to challenge the bills that were passed in parliament.

    Earlier the Opposition was considering bringing a no-confidence motion against Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani or National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser as a tester to confirm the present strength of treasury in parliament.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khurram Dastagir said on a Dawn News TV show that the motion would be moved soon. They said if the motion became successful, then a similar motion could be moved against the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    On the Opposition’s decision to move the court against the bills, Fawad said both the Houses had approved the legislation, so it would not be an “easy task” to challenge them.

    “Both the Houses have passed the bills […] it will be hard to challenge them, but they can be challenged,” added Fawad.

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, speaking to media outside Parliament, said legislation was bulldozed and NA Speaker Asad Qaiser had “trampled” Parliamentary traditions.

    “Legislation cannot take place in such an atmosphere […] the votes counted for the Opposition were far fewer than their actual numbers,” he added.

    “We believe three or four additional votes were counted in favour of the government,” he said, adding: “We had more than 200 lawmakers in the house today.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said, “The government did not emerge victorious today in parliament.”

    Bilawal tried to explain that according to the law, more than half of the combined votes of a joint sitting were required to get a law passed in parliament.

    Bilawal said he “tried his best” to draw the attention of the treasury benches and NA Speaker towards the joint sitting’s rules, but no one paid heed to it.

  • ‘Evil and vicious machine,’ and ‘respect your own chair, position’: Opp and govt come face to face

    ‘Evil and vicious machine,’ and ‘respect your own chair, position’: Opp and govt come face to face

    The government on Wednesday managed to bulldoze amendments to the Elections Act, 2017, in the joint session of parliament, allowing the use of electronic voting machines and granting voting rights to overseas Pakistanis.

    Shehbaz Sharif: “Electronic voting machines should be called evil and vicious machines.”

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif termed electronic voting machines (EVMs) “evil and vicious machines” and accused the government of not being sincere in creating a consensus on electoral reforms in the joint session.

    Stating that the government was bulldozing important bills, he said that it was “illegal” and that it was equivalent to spoiling the traditions of the house.

    “You [Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser] sent a letter to me and the whole joint Opposition,” he said, adding that in response he submitted a comprehensive answer with “great suggestions”. “But you cancelled your contact and we received no answer from you.”

    “This is the first time in history that there are allegations of rigging before the elections.”

    Shehbaz said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which is responsible for carrying out fair and transparent elections, had also expressed its reservations about EVMs. “They [govt] want to pass these laws despite their [ECP] reservations.”

    He said that the party that had once talked about democracy, transparency, and change, now wanted to pass “black laws”.

    “If you allow this black law to be passed, then Pakistan will be severely damaged for which responsibility will be on you and them,” he said while addressing Qaiser.

    “If the government used the energy that it is spending on this issue to tackle inflation, then we might have seen a difference. But they are not concerned. They are only concerned with remaining in power without securing the people’s vote.”

    In response to the Leader of the Opposition, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi presented from the government’s side.

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi: “Govt wants to wash away blackness of past.”

    “Shehbaz said that the government wanted to introduce a black law. Absolutely not, the government wants to wash away the blackness of the past,” said Qureshi.

    Qureshi rejected the notion that the government had previously cancelled the joint session because it did not have majority support said, “If we didn’t have the numbers, then how are we presenting these bills today? There is solidarity in government ranks and our allies are standing with us.”

    “You call EVMs ‘evil and vicious machines’ and that is your right. But EVMs are not evil and vicious machines, they are being introduced to bury evil and vicious designs.”

    Following Qureshi’s address, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was asked to deliver his speech.

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari: “[Speaker AsadQaiser] Respect your own chair, position.”

    Addressing the Speaker Asad Qaiser, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto requested him to “respect his own chair”, “respect his own position” and “respect the House”.

    Bilawal criticised the government’s “one-sided” electoral reforms which have never been witnessed in the country’s history.

    Referring to the government of former PM Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal said: “If that government had unilaterally decided and used the majority to force reforms, then the PTI and the PPP would not have been able to do anything.”

    “If they had decided to introduce a constitutional amendment, then we would have to accept their decision. But they achieved a consensus,” he said.

    “If we were all legislating together, the next election would have been transparent,” Bilawal said.

    “If we carried out reforms together then the next election would not be controversial and it would have been Khan Sahab’s success.”

    He said the government is making the next election controversial and gave an ultimatum that they will not accept the next election if the bill for EVMs is passed.

    Bilawal said they will stand by the ECP. “As long as the ECP has reservations, we have reservations,” Bilawal said.

    “How can we accept your suggestion where Pakistanis sitting in Paris, California and Britain decide for the people of Karachi and the tribal areas? They should have their own electoral college.”

    Bilawal further said that the government had given a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

    “If you have to give relief to anyone then it should be the poor people of Pakistan who are facing a multitude of problems […] how can you expect that we will permit you to use this House to give an NRO to that Indian spy?”

  • ‘Zaalim ki pakar bohat sakht hoti hai’, Maryam Nawaz criticises PM Khan

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz appeared before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday for her appeal hearing regarding the annulment of her conviction in the Avenfield apartments reference case.

    After the hearing, while talking to the media, Maryam said, “The man who had announced the conviction [in the Al Azizia reference] gave a statement expressing the truth about Nawaz Sharif in his life.”

    “Today we have the third major testimony from within the judiciary after the testimonies of late accountability judge Arshad Malik and former Justice of the Islamabad High Court Shaukat Aziz,” said Maryam.

    “Zaalim ki pakar bohat sakht hoti hai‘ (The punishment of a cruel person is very severe)”, said Maryam, adding, “They knew that the oppressors’ days [government] were numbered but didn’t expect the truth would come to light so soon.”

    “I respect Ansar Abbasi, he is a credible journalist. Truth is not an insult,” she added while saying that Ansar has also spoken against PML-N.

    “Whatever [Prime Minister] Imran Khan is doing to us that is all because of [Ex- Chief Justice of Pakistan] Saqib Nisar. He is the one who gave him ‘Sadiq and Amin’ title,” Maryam said and demanded a free and fair election.

    Talking about her hearing, Maryam Nawaz said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has asked for two weeks’ extension.

    Maryam filed a new appeal on October 5 in the IHC seeking annulment of the verdict in the reference.

    A day earlier, upon a question related to Maryam Nawaz’s petition, former President Asif Ali Zardari said he would not talk about it and referred to Maryam as his “daughter“.

    Zardari said, “Maryam Nawaz is like a daughter to me. What comment should I make on my daughter?”

    According to a copy of the petition available with Dawn, Maryam’s latest application was filed “in consequence of certain extremely relevant, simple and clear-cut facts which have come to light after the pronouncement of judgment and sentence” in the case.

    In the petition, Maryam stated that the entire proceedings that resulted in her conviction were a “classic example of outright violations of law and political engineering hitherto unheard of in the history of Pakistan”.

    In a hearing on October 13, her lawyer had argued that legal procedure was not followed in the reference. After the hearing, the court had directed NAB to present its arguments at the next hearing. The case was adjourned until November 17 (today).

  • Self-proclaimed ‘icon of Karachi’ Aamir Liaquat ‘called to National Assembly’ after not meeting Khan

    Self-proclaimed ‘icon of Karachi’ Aamir Liaquat ‘called to National Assembly’ after not meeting Khan

    Former television host Amir Liaqat took to Twitter to reclaim his grievances against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Liaquat tweeted, “PM met every member but not have a time for the ICON of Karachi, the man who got a seat for PTI from the most crucial constituency, defeated my old senior college [colleague], Farooq Sattar.”

    “I have defended PM and First Lady (Bhabhj) every time but he have no time, it is ok?” tweeted Liaquat.

    Making an appearance at the National Assembly (NA) this morning, Liaquat while talking to Journalist Azaz Syed said, “I have not come on my own, I was especially called to NA.”

    On October 4, Liaquat resigned from Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI).

    “Resigned from the National Assembly. May Allah Almighty support Imran Khan and PTI. Good-Bye,” Liaquat said in a tweet.

  • ‘Those who brought Khan now admit they made a mistake’: Asif Ali Zardari

    ‘Those who brought Khan now admit they made a mistake’: Asif Ali Zardari

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday while speaking to reporters during his appearance at an accountability court said, “Those who brought Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan are now admitting that they committed a mistake,” adding that they are now figuring out how to undo that mistake.

    “Only Allah knows best how they can fix this mistake,” said Zardari.

    When asked a question relating to Maryam Nawaz’s petition which was similar to that of former PM Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said he would not talk about it as “Maryam Nawaz is like a daughter to me. What comment should I make on my daughter?”

    Replying to a question about ex-chief justice Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim’s affidavit, the former president said: “We have already seen this. Justice Qayyum had a tape with Saif-ur-Rehman and some friends as well.”

    A division bench of the Islamabad High Court comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amir Farooq heard the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) appeal against Zardari’s gold reference and Ursus tractors deal.