Tag: Imran Khan

  • ‘A party with 2.5 million voters cannot be banned’: PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan

    Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan while referring to the ban put by the government on Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) said that we cannot afford to ban a party that has a 2.5 million vote bank in Punjab.

    Speaking on Geo News‘ talk show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, Ali argued, “Shouldn’t they be a given chance to come into politics?”

    Moreover, he claimed that he met with TLP’s members two days ago along with other government representatives and will welcome the banned organisation into the national mainstream.

    He revealed that the proscribed organisation will accept Parliament’s decision on the issue of the French ambassador’s expulsion from the country.

    While talking about the agreement between TLP and the government the minister said that details of the agreement will come to light within seven to 10 days and hinted at the release of TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi in a few days.

    Anchorperson questioned, “Does Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan know about the details of the agreement?” In response, the minister didn’t answer and remained silent.

    “The state struck a deal with its people to restore peace in the country,” he stressed.

    When asked about the involvement of Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi in this matter Ali Muhammad “ignored” the question.

    The minister added that anti-Pakistan elements did not want peace in the country. He said that they wanted bloodshed and another incident of “Lal Masjid” in the country.

    Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government released more than 800 supporters of the party arrested across Punjab under the agreement which details haven’t been disclosed yet.

    Previously, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said, “TLP will be treated as a militant party and not a political party in Pakistan.”

  • ‘You people do not stand together on any issue’: PM Khan shows anger for disunity among PTI leaders

    ‘You people do not stand together on any issue’: PM Khan shows anger for disunity among PTI leaders

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday complained to the members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that they “do not stand together on any issue”, reports Geo News.

    The prime minister reportedly expressed displeasure over the ‘grilling’ of two federal ministers Fawad Chaudhry and Azam Swati by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and directed other leaders of the ruling PTI to stand by them on the matter. The premier seemed angry over the “disunity” among the PTI leaders.

    The premier told them all to “speak the same language” on national and political issues.

    The prime minister, however, barred PTI leaders from commenting on the government’s latest deal with the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

    He expressed these views while presiding over PTI’s core committee meeting, which was held a day after the government signed a secret deal with the TLP.

  • Twitter demands govt to disclose agreement made with TLP

    Various people on Twitter have demanded and questioned the government following the state’s claim about reaching an ‘agreement’ with the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in order to end the nearly two-week-long protests.

    The details of the negotiations have yet not been made public.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar tweeted: “The people of this country have a right to know about the agreement made with a proscribed group, which caused loss of life and property and disrupted citizens’ lives for weeks.”

    While recalling the Hazara community’s protest, he demanded to know whether the martyrdom of Punjab police officials was in vain and if the perpetrators will be punished.

    PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman questioned the decision to disclose details at an appropriate time. “Peace with the state on what terms?” she tweeted.

    Former Member of National Assembly (MNA) and rights activist Bushra Gohar said: “Yet another surrender agreement to be signed with the alleged Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) funded banned religious extremist group TLP,” with hashtag #GayaPakistan.

    Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir asked the media and all stakeholders to question the government why TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was not formally arrested.

    He expressed his concerns on Twitter and said, “TLP is being kept alive and will be kept alive to be the political nuisance it was intended to be, a variable in Punjab used as a when establishment wants it to.”

    Legal adviser for the International Commission of Jurists, Reema Omer tweeted: “Nothing in this press conference inspired confidence, least of all the ‘secret’ agreement”

    Journalist Yusra Askari mocked the government and labelled the agreement between the state and banned outfit as “horrors of this Halloween” that will haunt us forever.

    The protests by the banned outfit led to the deaths of five police officials and injured more than 250 others.

  • ‘Go back or things will be out of my hands,’ Sheikh Rasheed warns TLP protesters

    ‘Go back or things will be out of my hands,’ Sheikh Rasheed warns TLP protesters

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, while speaking on Geo News‘ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said: “Things will be out of my hands”, adding that Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) should stick to the promises it had made with the government.

    “Your loss is the government’s loss. But we will not allow Pakistan’s loss at any cost,” the minister said, adding that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will not allow Pakistan to be held hostage by anyone.

    “Pakistan is an atomic power, therefore, internal powers are trying to weaken the country,” Rasheed maintained. “Pakistan is the defensive line of Islam.”

    The prime minister had shown as much flexibility as was possible on the matter, the minister said. He added that the government couldn’t be forced to do something.

    “Our agreement with you still stands, but if you keep moving [towards Islamabad], the government will have to establish its writ,” he said while addressing the protesters.

    “The government is being mocked across the world [for not establishing its writ],” he said, adding that “matters should not reach a point of no-return”.

    “This time, PM Imran has decided that enough is enough.”

    Commenting on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda’s statement that PM Khan was not aware of the government’s agreement with TLP, which was signed in November 2020, Rasheed said, “I have told Faisal Vawda that what you have said is wrong. The agreement I signed with TLP was in line with the Prime Minister’s directives.”

    “We are ready to go through with our agreement with the TLP,” the minister said, warning the TLP of consequences if it didn’t follow through with its commitments. “I don’t want matters to worsen, and if that happens, those out on the road would be harmed.”

  • ‘PM Khan was not aware of government’s agreement with TLP in November 2020’: Faisal Vawda

    ‘PM Khan was not aware of government’s agreement with TLP in November 2020’: Faisal Vawda

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda, while speaking on Samaa News programme, ‘Nadeem Malik Live’, revealed that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was not aware of the government’s agreement with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which was signed in November 2020.

    Faisal Vawda’s comments come in reference to the TLP announcement in November 2020 that the government accepted all its four demands and released a copy of the handwritten agreement carrying signatures of Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Qadri, then-Interior Minister Ijaz Shah, and Islamabad deputy commissioner.

    Faisal, while speaking to anchorperson Nadeem Malik, said, “PM was not informed. PM’s consent was not in this agreement. I am referring to the first agreement, I don’t know the details of the second one.”

    Malik questioned Vawda, “Why wasn’t he [PM] aware?”

    “If I have been sent for negotiations, I will do as I see fit as per the situation and inform PM later of what happened,” added Vawda.

    “This can only happen if the PM has empowered you, otherwise you can’t,” interjected Malik.

    “No, why did I go to negotiate then? If I am bogus, I cannot do anything, why did I go?” responded Vawda.

    Later, Faisal Vawda took to Twitter and said, “The ministers who went for the negotiations with the TLP should take the responsibility themselves, rather than putting it on the prime minister.”

    However, the PTI leader deleted the tweet after some time.

  • After PM Khan’s visit, Saudi Arabia revives $3 billion financial support to Pak

    After PM Khan’s visit, Saudi Arabia revives $3 billion financial support to Pak

    Saudi Arabia has agreed to revive its financial support to Pakistan, including about $3 billion in safe deposits and $1.2bn to $1.5bn worth of oil supplies on deferred payments, reports Dawn.

    The news was first broken by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. The minister took to Twitter and wrote, “Saudi Arabia announcement support Pakistan with 3 billion US dollar as deposit in Pakistan central bank and also financing refined petroleum product with 1. 2 billion us dollars during the year.”

    Energy Minister of Pakistan, Hammad Azhar confirmed the news and tweeted, “The Saudi Development Fund has generously announced for Pakistan an oil deferred payments facility of $1.2bn/annum and a $3 bn deposit with SBP. This will help ease pressures on our trade & forex accounts as a result of the global commodities price surge.”

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman for supporting Pakistan with the deposit in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and extending the oil facility on deferred payment.

    The facility is expected to help Pakistan convince the International Monetary Fund  (IMF) about its financing plan.

    The news came after PM Khan’s three visit to Saudi Arabia, where he went to attend the launch ceremony of the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit in the capital Riyadh.

  • Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum to take charge as DG ISI on Nov 20

    Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum to take charge as DG ISI on Nov 20

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan issued a notification on October 26 for the appointment of a new director-general (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum has been appointed as the new DG ISI and will take charge on November 20.

    Notification for the appointment of the General Officers

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Prime Minister Imran Khan today.

    The meeting was part of the ongoing consultation process between the premier and army chief about the timing of change of command in ISI and selection of the new DG ISI.

    During this process, a list of officers was received from the Ministry of Defence. Prime Minister interviewed all the nominees. A final round of consultation was held between the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff today.

    After this detailed consultative process, the name of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum was approved as the new DG ISI.

    The designated DG ISI shall assume charge on November 20.

    October 6: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced a reshuffle in the army, in which Lt Gen Anjum replaced Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, who has been posted as Commander of Peshawar-based Corps XI.

    October 12: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday confirmed the meeting between PM Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and said, “PM Khan is the authority in appointing the DG ISI,” further adding that “all legal methods will be adopted in the appointment of the new director-general”.

    October 13: Fawad took to Twitter and said, “The process of consultation between PM Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa over the appointment of the new DG ISI has been completed and the process for the new appointment is now underway.”

    However, rumours started circulating that PM Khan wanted Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to continue serving as the spymaster for some time due to the critical situation in neighbouring Afghanistan.

    October 14: PM Khan convened an emergency meeting of the ruling party’s parliamentary group at Parliament House. Journalists questioned PM Khan about the appointment of the DG ISI. PM Khan did not answer the questions but laughed in response.

    Prior to this, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson and former President Asif Ali Zardari, made an appearance before an accountability court in Islamabad today, where journalists questioned him about the appointment of DG ISI and he responded with laughter as well.

    October 15: Fawad told the media that the notification regarding the appointment of the new DG ISI would be issued in two to three days.

    News started circulating that PM Khan would take interviews of the potential candidates for the appointment of the new DG ISI and that a new summary with names of candidates for the position of ISI chief had been sent to the Prime Minister. Fawad denied the news and said, “Prime Minister Imran Khan will just meet all candidates (for the slot of DG ISI).”

    October 19: Fawad said, “All the matters have been resolved” and announced that the notification of the new DG ISI would be issued this week.

    “It [Opposition] is thinking that there are some differences between the government and security institutions but its euphoria is gradually fading,” said Fawad.

  • US Senator indirectly urges President Biden to call PM Khan

    United States (US) Senator Bob Menendez said that he has asked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to urge President Joe Biden to have a conversation with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in an effort to rebuild the Pak-US relationship, reports Geo News.

    While addressing a fundraising event, Menendez said, “I think it would serve us well to have such a conversation and, you know when we have these conversations, they are honest, and that means they are also transparent.”

    “Where there is an agreement, we build upon it and where there is disagreement, we talk about how do we get through that disagreement,” said Menendez.

     “I hope, I can expand on it — not just about Pakistan in the context of a military or security dimension, but much greater– talking about an incredibly large population that is very young; there is tremendous opportunity to build upon the economic dynamism that we create,” he told the members of the American-Pakistani Political Action Committee (APPAC).

    US President Joe Biden, who assumed office in January this year, has not yet telephoned PM Khan.

    Earlier this month, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R Sherman on her visit to Pakistan said, “I am sure that this contact [between President Biden and PM Khan] will take place soon, so I don’t think it should mean anything else.”

    However, in August, the premier himself commented on the situation and said he was “not waiting for a phone call from the US President”.

  • Black day to be observed tomorrow in solidarity with Kashmir

    Black day to be observed tomorrow in solidarity with Kashmir

    Pakistan will observe a black day tomorrow (October 27), to express solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

    Shehryar Afridi, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, presided over an in-camera meeting to discuss preparations for the observance of the Black Day on October 27. Pakistan will protest the Indian security forces’ forceful and illegal occupation of the valley.

    Each year, October 27th is observed as a ‘Kashmir Black Day’ to mark the protest and resentment of Kashmiris around the world in commemorating the forced occupation by Indian security forces of the Jammu & Kashmir valley.

    Read more- PM Imran Khan to address UNGA on Kashmir, Afghanistan issues today

    An analytical report released by Kashmir Media Service said that October 27 is the darkest day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. Radio Pakistan has reported.that on this day in 1947 India forcibly occupied the territory by landing its troops in Srinagar against the will of the Kashmiri people.

  • Maryam Nawaz criticises PM Khan for watching the Pak vs Ind T20 match

    Maryam Nawaz criticises PM Khan for watching the Pak vs Ind T20 match

    As the world celebrated the historic victory of the Men in Green, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz did not let go of a chance to criticise Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for watching the Pakistan and India T20 World Cup match.

    PM Khan shared a picture on Twitter watching the match along with various other government figures and ministers, saying that the “entire nation was proud of the Pakistan team.”

    Maryam Nawaz, tweeting the photo PM Khan tweeted, wrote, “God! People in the country are dying of hunger, inflation, and incompetence, and look at them!”

    PM Khan is currently in Saudi Arabia for a three-day visit. The premier performed Umrah along with his accompanying delegation.

    The prime minister is visiting Saudi Arabia to attend the launch of the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit being held in Riyadh, at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.