According to details, PM Khan will take his party members into confidence on important national issues. According to sources, several party members protested on being called for the meeting by the chief whip of the PTI, Malik Aamir Dogar.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said that a summary for the joint session had been sent to the president by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
All party Members of the National Assembly (MNA) and senators are directed to attend the meeting.
وزیراعظم عمران خان نے تحریک انصاف کی پارلیمانی پارٹی کا ہنگامی اجلاس آج پارلیمنٹ ہاوس میں طلب کر لیا۔ وزیراعظم اہم سیاسی و قومی امور پر پارلیمانی پارٹی کو اعتماد میں لیں گے۔ تمام ارکان قومی اسمبلی اور سینیٹرز کو شرکت کی ہدایت۔
— Rizwan Ghilzai (Student of Arshad Sharif) (@RizwanGhilzai) October 14, 2021
It is likely that the government’s bill of electoral reforms, including the introduction of electronic voting machines and I-voting facility for overseas Pakistanis, and an ordinance concerning the powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will be tabled today in parliament, as per Geo News.
In an interview with ‘Evening Standard‘, Jemima Goldsmith talks about her life in Pakistan, being married to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, her children, her work, and her friendship with Monica Lewinsky.
Jemima says she saw parallels between her life and Lewinsky’s. “During the interviews, she [Monica Lewinsky] was describing the FBI sting, and I suddenly realised that the same year, in Pakistan, I’d had to leave the country because I’d also been threatened with jail on politically trumped-up charges. I’d been accused of smuggling antiques, one of the few non-bailable offences in Pakistan,” said Jemima, who had been targeted by the Nawaz Sharif government in 1998-99.
“I realised there were parallels [with Lewinsky], marrying an older, politically powerful man and being used to undermine him. It is not a normal decision, aged 21, with all the freedoms and privileges that we grew up with, to essentially give those up, to go and live in extremely black and white culture,” said Jemima.
“Adopt a black and white way of life and doctrine, with a man who was twice my age and a born again Muslim,” added Jemima.
“At that point in my life, I found some reassurance in the prescriptiveness of that culture, that religion, that man. When my sister [India Jane Birley] was asked in an interview why I went there she said, very intelligently, moral certitude.”
“It was seen as this great amorous adventure and I am not sure that was the whole story. I would say, in retrospect, that moral certainty might have been more of a driving factor,” said Goldsmith on her marriage with PM Khan.
“I do feel like I have an ability to see things from both points of view in a way that possibly some of my contemporaries, both in Pakistan or here, don’t. I even feel like I am right in the middle of the Islamophobia and anti-Semitism debate because I’ve seen both at firsthand. I’ve got half-Pakistani Muslim children and I was a young girl who was politically targeted because of my Jewish ethnicity. It’s an interesting perspective.”
Jemima says there are more exciting projects in the pipeline as far as her work is concerned — a political documentary series and a comedy. She nurtures a long-standing ambition to write a book as well.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister (PM) on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill said that no one can become Nawaz Sharif. “Such people are born this way,” said Gill while responding to Maryam Nawaz’s earlier comments about PM Khan. Maryam Nawaz had said that PM Imran Khan should not try to be Nawaz Sharif.
“These people are dangerous for the entire nation,” Gill said in a press conference, along with the Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Maleeka Bokhari.
While criticising Maryam Nawaz, Gill stated, “No one is safe from Maryam’s shadow, including her father [Nawaz Sharif] and her uncle [Shehbaz Sharif].”
“If you are talking about magic, tell us what kind of djinns helped you transfer your money abroad, tell us about the witches who helped you build these apartments [in London], which djinns and witches printed dollars for you to buy these apartments,” asked Gill, responding to Maryam’s comments about magic.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz said that Prime Minister Imran Khan should not try to be Nawaz Sharif. Maryam was addressing the media after an appearance at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
آپکو نوازشریف بننے کی کوشش بھی نہیں کرنی چاہیے نوازشریف جب ووٹ کو عزت دو کا نعرہ لیکر میدان میں آیا تھا تو وہ منتخب وزیراعظم تھا وہ آئینی وزیراعظم تھا وہ عوام کے ووٹ سے آیا تھا وہ ایک لمبی جدوجہد کرکے آیا تھا جو اسکی ذات کیلیے نہیں تھی@MaryamNSharifpic.twitter.com/d0MGoFD5wR
“When Nawaz Sharif came up with the slogan, ‘Vote ko izzat do’ [give respect to the vote], he was an elected prime minister, a constitutional prime minister, he came to power from the votes of the people and he had a long constitutional struggle, which was not for himself,” said Maryam.
“He [Nawaz Sharif] gave up prime minister office for the respect of the Constitution and people of Pakistan,” she said. “To give respect to vote, you need to go to prison, you need to say that you will not take dictation from anyone.”
“Imran Khan’s identity is to conspire against the elected prime minister and to hold a 126-day sit-in,” she said. She was referring to the 2014 sit-in by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Islamabad.
The PML-N leader went on to say that one does not simply become a lion by cloaking oneself in the creature’s hide.
Maryam said PM Imran Khan’s identity is confined to “conspiracies” and that he has “nothing to do with the principles of law and democracy”.
عمران خان آئینی اور منتخب وزیراعظم نہیں ہے وہ آئین کو روند کے آیا ہے اسکو وہ جواب پہلے دینا پڑے گا.مسلم لیگ ن عوام کے ساتھ ملکر یہ جدوجہد کرنا چاہتی ہے آئندہ کوئی شخص عمران خان کی طرح مہرہ بن کے سامنے نہ آئے.@MaryamNSharifpic.twitter.com/4OuZUdWEPH
She said that the premier will have to “answer for his conspiracies”. Speaking further about the so-called “conspiracies”, she said that if the use of “magic” has yielded such success, then it should be put to use to alleviate the petrol, diesel, flour crises, reports Geo News.
جو شخص ملک کی اہم ترین تقرریاں جادو ٹونے سے کرتا ہو بجائے وزیراعظم کے جنات تقرریاں کرتے ہوں تو پھر اس ملک کا دنیا میں تماشہ بننا کوئی حیرانگی کی بات نہیں ہے اگر انکا جادو ٹونا اتنا ہی کامیاب ہے تو وہ عوام کی بھلائی کیلیے کیوں استعمال نہیں ہوتا@MaryamNSharifpic.twitter.com/2mlafoQ1z1
“If your magic is so successful, then why don’t you use it for the good of the people?”
“Go ahead, revoke my bail, arrest me, so that the people can see how fearful you are,” she challenged the government.
درخواست دینے والوں کو یہ پتہ ہونا چاہیے کہ اگر یہ مجھے ڈرانے کیلیے ہے تو آپکو یہ علم ہونا چاہیے کہ اللہ کا شکر ہے نہ میں آپکی گرفتاری سے ڈرتی ہوں نہ میں جعلی مقدمات سے ڈرتی ہوں نہ نیب سے ڈرتی ہوں@MaryamNSharifpic.twitter.com/IxyYEd3qej
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday confirmed the meeting between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa held last night and said, “The PM and COAS had a meeting last night, the army and government share an ideal relationship.”
“Gen Bajwa and the prime minister have close and good relations … they are ideal relations between the civilian and military leadership,” he said, adding that the Prime Minister’s Office would “never take a step that will disrespect the army and vice versa”.
Commenting on the appointment of the Director-General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, Chaudhry 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”.
On October 9, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, calling out the government for failing to resolve public issues, said, “PM Khan is improper for the handling of sensitive matters,” adding that “history is a witness to sacrifices rendered by the institution responsible for Pakistan’s defence. Even Modi could not harm it the way Imran did,” reported Dawn.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said reports were circulating on media for the last couple of days about the army, which he said was an important institution for Pakistan. He hailed the “unity of command” and the public support the army enjoyed but went on to say that the premier had “harmed that institution”.
She stated, “My visit to Pakistan is for a very specific narrow purpose and the United States does not see itself building a broad relationship with Pakistan and we have no interest in returning to days of hyphenated [India and Pakistan]. That is not where we are. That is not where we’re going to be.”
“My visit to Pakistan in the context of Afghanistan is in a bid to make sure that Pakistan has the capabilities to ensure everybody’s security, including India’s and the US”, she said as she left India.
According to The News, the government was shocked at Sherman’s undiplomatic statements that she had made in India.
Furthermore, Yusuf blatantly said that Indian human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) also pose a threat to regional peace.
Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi met the Deputy Secretary on Thursday but he didn’t tweet about the meeting. However, Sherman tweeted, “I met today with Pakistan FM to discuss Afghanistan’s future and the important and long-standing US-Pakistan relationship. We look forward to continuing to address pressing regional and global challenges.”
I met today with Pakistani Foreign Minister @SMQureshiPTI to discuss Afghanistan’s future and the important and long-standing U.S.-Pakistan relationship. We look forward to continuing to address pressing regional and global challenges. pic.twitter.com/1tmUAMC18I
— Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell (@DeputySecState) October 8, 2021
Apart from the meetings, while talking to The News’ editors, Sherman said she believed US President Joe Biden will soon talk to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. She said, “We have an idea that every country wants to have a telephone conversation with US President. I am sure that this conversation will be held with PM Khan soon.”
“I am sure that this contact will take place soon, so I don’t think it should mean anything else,” she added.
Moreover, while replying to a question about a bill presented in September by 22 Republican senators targeting Pakistan, Sherman assured, “We get hundreds of bills; thousands of people are behind them but we are well aware of Pakistan’s concerns and are closely looking at the situation.”
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said the federal cabinet members, whose names appeared in the Pandora Papers, would not be removed from their positions unless proven guilty.
“Action will be taken once they are proven guilty,” said the minister.
Chaudhry criticised the owners of media houses and said, “I see the photos of [Finance Minister] Shaukat Tarin and [Industries Minister] Khusro Bakhtiar being aired on TV channels, but not of media house owners, who have also been named as owners of offshore companies.”
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday formed a high-powered cell to investigate the 700 Pakistanis named in the Pandora Papers, including federal cabinet members, politicians, retired generals, owners of media houses, and others in establishing offshore companies.
The cell will categorise the named individuals into four groups: those who have declared their offshore companies in Pakistan; those who have not declared their companies here and committed tax evasion; those who used their companies for money laundering and individuals who have not shown their offshore companies as part of the assets owned by them while declaring their wealth, reports Dawn.
People took to social media to wish Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on his 69th birthday on Tuesday.
#HappyBirthdayPMIK quickly became one of the top trends on Twitter.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) official Twitter account shared a video of PM Khan with the caption, “Compromise for your Dream but never Compromise on your Dream ~Imran Khan #HappyBirthdayPMIK.”
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a post highlighting a track record of his phenomenal performances.
3807 runs and 362 wickets in Tests 3709 runs and 182 wickets in ODIs ⚪️ Third leading wicket-taker for Pakistan in Tests A match-winning all rounder ⭐ A @cricketworldcup winning captain And our Prime Minister
From PTI leaders to cricketers, all wished the PM on his birthday.
Happy Birthday to the legend of our game. May you live a healthy life and keep inspiring us to do better. I hope you have a good year ahead for our beloved country. #HappyBirthdayPMIKpic.twitter.com/eHmmimAqn8
The government has decided to give an extension to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal and a draft ordinance has been prepared, Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai reports forGeo News.
Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan, and Adviser on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar suggested changes in the law.
According to sources privy to the matter, more than one amendment has been proposed.
Geo reports that Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a meeting today (Tuesday), in which a final approval will be given to the proposal drafted in consultation with federal ministers.
The tenure of a NAB chairman cannot be extended under section 6(b) of the NAB Ordinance 1999.
Earlier, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari tweeted that the PPP will forcefully oppose the illegal extension in the tenure of Chairman NAB.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday formed a high-powered cell to investigate the 700 Pakistanis named in the Pandora Papers, including federal cabinet members, politicians, retired generals, owners of media houses, and others in establishing offshore companies.
PM Khan categorically stated that the prominent leaders and federal ministers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will have to clear themselves.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, while speaking to Dawn said: “The prime minister was adamant that those who have been accused in Pandora Papers of having offshore firms will have to clear themselves.”
The minister took to Twitter and informed about the formulation of the high-powered investigation cell. “The prime minister has set up a high-level cell under the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission to investigate the Pandora leaks, which will present the facts before the nation,” tweeted Fawad.
پنڈورا لیکس کی تحقیقات کیلئے وزیر اعظم پاکستان نے وزیر اعظم انسپکشن کمیشن کے تحت ایک اعلیٰ سطحی سیل قائم کیا ہے یہ سیل پنڈورا لیکس میں شامل تمام افراد سے جواب طلبی کرے گا اور حقائق قوم کے سامنے رکھیں جائینگے #PandoraLeaks
Law Minister Farogh Naseem would head the investigation cell that would also comprise the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials. The cases of the cabinet members would be sent to NAB for investigation. A separate probe will be launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to investigate the media owners whose names are included in the Pandora Papers, reports Dawn.
Those who had evaded tax or made offshore firms through ill-gotten money would be taken to task, otherwise, no action would be taken against others because establishing offshore firms was not a crime, the source tells Dawn.
Under the law, setting up an offshore company is not an offence or crime if the company is not involved in any illegal activity. However, those who have not declared these companies in their returns as assets may face legal action.
After the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released a detailed list of public figures with offshore companies called the ‘Pandora Papers’ as part of their new investigation, PM Khan vowed to investigate all those Pakistanis mentioned in the Pandora Papers, and tweeted: “If any wrongdoing is established we will take appropriate action.”
My govt will investigate all our citizens mentioned in the Pandora Papers & if any wrongdoing is established we will take appropriate action. I call on the international community to treat this grave injustice as similar to the climate change crisis.
