Tag: Imran Khan

  • Pakistan denies reports of ‘agreement’ with US to use airspace for military operations in Afghanistan

    Pakistan denies reports of ‘agreement’ with US to use airspace for military operations in Afghanistan

    In a statement by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the spokesperson stated that “no such understanding was in place”. The statement said that Pakistan and the United States (US) have longstanding cooperation on regional security and counter-terrorism and the two sides remain engaged in regular consultations.

    However, a report published in CNN suggested that the US administration has informed that the country is nearing an agreement with Pakistan to use its airspace to conduct military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan.

    The report cites three sources familiar with the details of a classified briefing with members of the American Congress, held on Friday. It states that Pakistan had expressed the desire to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US government in exchange for assistance with its own counter-terrorism efforts and help in managing the relationship with its neighbour India.

    However, negotiations between both countries are ongoing and nothing has yet been finalised.

    The US military currently uses Pakistan’s airspace as part of ongoing intelligence-gathering efforts, but there is no formal agreement and without it, the US has the risk of Pakistan refusing entry to US military aircraft and drones to Afghanistan.

    One source said that an agreement was discussed when US officials visited Pakistan, but it’s not yet clear what Pakistan wants or how much the US would be willing to give in return.

    Prior to this revelation, in an interview, Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan Imran Khan said that Pakistan would absolutely not allow the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to use bases on its soil for cross-border counter-terrorism missions after American forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

    Moreover, National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf said that Pakistan has not given a chance to the US to demand airbases after withdrawal from Afghanistan, and categorically said, “Pakistan’s position is that it cannot provide airbases to the US.”

    The US withdrew its troops from Afghanistan on August 31.

  • PM Khan calls back Sheikh Rasheed to deal with security situation in the country

    PM Khan calls back Sheikh Rasheed to deal with security situation in the country

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed returned to Pakistan Saturday morning after he was called back by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to deal with the ongoing security situation in the country.

    The minister had gone to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to watch the Pakistan-India T20 World Cup match to be held on Sunday. Rasheed had said that PM Khan had approved his request for a two-day holiday to watch the game live in the UAE.

    However, the premier urged the interior minister to return to the country to tackle the law and order situation in Pakistan. The minister arrived in Islamabad via the Airblue flight PA-213 from Sharjah today.

  • PTI’s Shahbaz Gill’s entry in press clubs to be banned for maligning journalist Asma Shirazi

    PTI’s Shahbaz Gill’s entry in press clubs to be banned for maligning journalist Asma Shirazi

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill in a press conference on Thursday allegedly accused senior journalist Asma Shirazi of maligning First Lady Bushra Bibi in an article about the existing political situation and the government’s handling of it.

    Gill held a presser in connection with the article written by Shirazi for BBC Urdu, which criticised the government without naming any individual, including Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife.

    Critising Shirazi for her article, Gill said, “While criticising, people forget that First Lady Bushra Bibi is a daughter of Pakistan first, then she is a mother and then a wife. If you have any proof Asma Shirzai Sahiba of all the things you have accused her of, then you have every right to report news if you have the proof of it, but don’t make news out of assumptions.”

    “If you dislike the prime minister’s family, you can hold a grudge against them, but there are ethical limits.”

    Gill expressed resentment with some senior journalists for supporting Shirazi [on Twitter] with the hashtag ‘I stand with Asma Shirazi’.

    He asked whether she was doing “all this after failing to find any scandal of the PM in the last three years”.

    Gill’s presser was widely critised. Press clubs in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta will ban Gill’s entry unless he apologises to Asma Shirazi for baseless allegations.

    Lahore Press Club released a statement condemning the vile comments of PM’s aide and said, “All Press Clubs of Pakistan will ban the entry of Shahbaz Gill, and the media will boycott him.”

    Human Rights Commission of Pakistan tweeted, “HRCP is appalled by @SHABAZGIL’s slurs against senior journalist @asmashirazi and his attempts to disparage her professional and personal integrity. Such behaviour reflects the govt’s regrettable antipathy towards critical reportage, which is every journalist’s right.”

    Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) warned of serious consequences for the use of abusive and intimidating language against Asma Shirazi by Shahbaz Gill.

    Journalist Benazir Shah tweeted, “The special assistant to the prime minister for political communication just held a press conference against journalist Asma Shirazi, who is already being viciously trolled and attacked since yesterday. This is what targeted harassment looks like by govt officials.”

    Lawyer Reema Omer tweeted, “Shahbaz Gill’s vile press conference against @asmashirazi is a new low for this Government And given their already atrocious record on media freedom, this is saying a lot.”

    Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) official Twitter account posted a video of an old telephonic conversation between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and journalist Asma Shirazi during a telephonic press conference. The tweet came after journalists condemned the ruling party for targeted harassment.

    PTI’s official account also asked social media users to mention the names of the journalists who have blocked them for ‘questioning’ the journalists.

    “We have received a lot of feedback from folks who have been blocked unfairly by journalists for asking questions (no abuse or harsh language at all). If you suffered an unfair block, mention in this thread. We will request journalists to unblock you,” the tweet from the official Twitter handle of the ruling party read.

  • PM Imran Khan meets Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum

    PM Imran Khan meets Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum

    Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Nadeem Ahmed Anjum met Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, who is expected to formally approve the appointment of new director-general (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency within a few days, reports The News.

    A source told The News that there is no official word available about this important meeting. However, while confirming it, the source hinted that the notification for the appointment of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as the next DG ISI is expected in the coming few days. The source expected it on Friday.

    On October 14, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary group had an emergency meeting at Parliament House where PM Khan assured the party leaders that the issue of the appointment of the new ISI chief has been amicably settled by him and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and that the government will complete its five-year term.

    Later, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told the media that the notification regarding the appointment of the new DG ISI would be issued in two to three days.

  • PDM to launch nationwide anti-government protests today

    PDM to launch nationwide anti-government protests today

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will launch its countrywide anti-government protests from today (Wednesday).

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif held a high-level party meeting on Tuesday to finalise the schedule for protests and rallies against the PTI-led government. 

    The first jalsa will be held in Rawalpindi today, and Shehbaz Sharif is urging workers and leaders of the party at the district and provincial level tp take part in the protests. 

    PDM leaders in Islamabad will be meeting at 2pm, to decide the dates and venues for the Islamabad protests. 

    READ MORE: 57% Pakistanis losing confidence in PM Khan overcoming economic crisis: Survey

    PDM, which had lost steam in previous months, is now once again, at the receiving end of the opposition’s criticism. Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that the Prime Minister is lucky he has such a “worthless” Opposition to deal with and that the government does not feel threatened by the Opposition at all because “it is spineless”.

    The call for protests come at a time when inflation is at its height and buying essentials in the country has become difficult.

    RELATED: Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Rasheed had also reacted to the Opposition’s criticism of the PTI-led government due to the rising inflation in the country and said that the situation arose due to the policies of the previous governments as well as the coronavirus situation in the country.

  • ‘When pornography becomes common in a society, family system breaks down’: PM Khan

    ‘When pornography becomes common in a society, family system breaks down’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, while speaking at the Rehmatul-lil-Alameen conference held in celebrations of 12th Rabiul Awal, said, “When pornography becomes common in a society, the family system breaks down.”

    Citing the example of the West, PM Khan talked about growing sexual crimes in the country and said that it has become a “big threat”.

    “The family system is slowly breaking down due to sexual crimes in Britain,” he said.

    The premier expressed his concern about the youth of the country and how bringing them towards the path of righteousness is challenging.

    He said that parents are unable to take away mobile phones from children and cannot block their social media.

    “Although there is no compulsion in religion, we can show them the right way. We can, at least, train our children and talk to them about the bad effects of [Western] culture,” he said.

    PM Imran Khan promised the nation to establish an exemplary rule of law in the country and said that everyone, irrespective of their status in society, will be equal before the law. 

    “We will have to make the powerful abide by the laws of this country, otherwise, the system will never be corrected,” said PM.

    “We cannot win this war unless the rule of law prevails in the country,” he said.

    “You can’t destroy a nation’s principles through bombing,” the premier said, adding that a nation is not poor without resources but it becomes poor without law and justice.

  • Eid Milad-ul-Nabi: PM, President extend greetings to nation

    On the occasion of Eid Milad-ul-Nabi: Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Dr Arif Alvi, among others, have extended their greetings to the nation.

    Imran Khan, in his message said that the arrival of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in the world brought a revolution in every aspect of human society, Radio Pakistan has reported.

    He said it was the affect of the life of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) that Arab tribes who were victims of internal chaos for centuries, emerged as a nation.

    The Prime Minister said in this state system, minorities were protected, poor and needy were taken care of and rights and obligations of the state and citizens were determined.

    He said the government has formed Rahmat-tulil-Aalameen Authority to apprise the people and the world about the life and teachings of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

    President Dr Arif Alvi in his message said that Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) united people for the Oneness of Allah Almighty and it is his character that made worst enemies as each other’s well-wishers.

    The President said that Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) established such a welfare state where the rich and poor enjoyed equal rights.

    Lauding the efforts of the present government in turning Pakistan into a model welfare state on the patterns of Riasat-e-Madina, President Alvi hoped that all resources will be utilized for this purpose.

  • Shaukat Tarin appointed adviser to PM Khan on finance and revenue

    Shaukat Tarin appointed adviser to PM Khan on finance and revenue

    Former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin has been appointed Adviser to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on finance and revenue.

    An official notification issued on the appointment read that Tarin’s new status will be equivalent to that of a federal minister.

    The government on Friday had decided to appoint Tarin as an advisor to the PM on finance, as his six-month tenure as the financial advisor was expiring that day, sources had told Geo News.

    The finance minister was supposed to get elected as a senator — a prerequisite to continue as finance minister — as the six-month time limit to elect him as a member of Parliament expired on Friday.

  • ‘Imran Khan trying to turn army, ISI into his Tiger Force’: Bilawal Bhutto

    ‘Imran Khan trying to turn army, ISI into his Tiger Force’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, while addressing a PPP rally at Karachi’s Bagh-i-Jinnah, accused Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan of turning the army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency into Tiger Force, saying that the current state of the country shows that this is not ‘tabdeeli but destruction’.

    “He (PM Imran) is trying to turn the army and ISI into his Tiger Force,” said Bilawal.

    “Whatever task Imran Khan undertook saw destruction instead of the promised tabdeeli (change),” he said. 

    “Imran Khan is also trying to turn all institutions of the country into his Tiger Force. He attacked the parliament, Senate, judiciary, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Punjab Police, and Punjab bureaucracy as he changed the Punjab Police chief and chief secretary many times. No institution is left as he is even trying to make the media his Tiger Force,” Bilawal alleged.

    “PPP jiyalas will not spare him. Whenever he speaks, he makes a mistake. Now we are warning Khan that his days are numbered,” said Bilawal.

    Bilawal’s comments come as the speculation continues about the appointment of the head of ISI, following the unusual delay in the issuance of official notification of Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Nadeem Ahmed Anjum’s appointment as the new spymaster.

  • Petrol prices likely to increase by Rs5.90 per litre

    The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has sent a summary to Prime Minister Imran Khan for the approval to increase the price of petrol by Rs5.90 per litre, Geo News has reported. The petrol prices are likely to be increased on October 16, 2021 as per sources of Geo News.

    If approved, The petrol prices can reach up to Rs133.2. In addition, Ogra has recommenced an increase in high-speed diesel price by Rs10.

    In early October, the government had increased the price of petrol by Rs4 per litre taking its price to a record level of Rs127.30 per litre.