Tag: Imran Khan

  • Naswar is drug of poor, not forbidden in Sharia: KP Agriculture Minister

    Naswar is drug of poor, not forbidden in Sharia: KP Agriculture Minister

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) agriculture minister Major (ret) Sajjad Khattak has said that the provincial government has imposed a tax on tobacco used in Naswar, adding that the usage of Naswar is neither a sin nor a reward.

    The provincial agriculture minister told the provincial assembly that Naswar is the drug of the poor and it is not even forbidden in Sharia.

    Opposition members of the KP assembly, including Sobia Shahid and Ahmad Kundi, tabled a bill demanding more tax on Naswar and cigarettes, as they are luxuries, and that the tax on private schools should be abolished.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sobia Shahid said that the tax on tobacco exports should be increased, and that it should be abolished in schools and colleges.

  • Imran Khan’s X account being handled from USA, Rauf Hassan reveals  

    Imran Khan’s X account being handled from USA, Rauf Hassan reveals  

    PTI in confusion: Who is running Khan’s social media?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Makhdoomzada Muhammad Zain Hussain Qureshi recently gave an interview to journalist Asma Shirazi on Hum News where he backtracked from his party’s recent narrative and clarified that Khan’s social media account is, indeed, not being operated from abroad.

    Qureshi stated, “There is no such thing as [someone] from outside the country handling Khan’s social media but is being operated according to Imran Khan’s instructions and party policy.”

    Zain clarified, “It is obvious that he [Imran Khan] can’t use his own account because he is imprisoned so the party has the responsibility and it is done on his instructions.”

    Qureshi’s contrasting statement clashes with PTI leader Raoof Hasan’s claim that Imran Khan’s social media accounts were being handled from America.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Rauf Hassan revealed on Thursday to Kashif Abbasi on ARY News, that PTI founder Imran Khan’s official X (formerly Twitter) account was being handled from abroad. The head of PTI’s official social media team is based in the USA, Hassan confirmed.

    Rauf Hassan also stated that he will investigate who uploaded the video about former Bangladesh president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the PTI founder’s official X account. PTI workers shared the video from Khan’s account in their personnel capacity, Rauf Hassan added.

    The PTI spokesperson also said that he didn’t even see the video. 

    The development came when the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) started an investigation into the circulation of the video.

    However, sources in Adiala jail confirmed to Aaj News that the former prime minister refused to meet the FIA team in Adiala jail.

  • PTI in hot waters as Khan’s controversial post invites FIA investigation

    PTI in hot waters as Khan’s controversial post invites FIA investigation

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan refused to see the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime team when it arrived at Adiala Jail late Thursday night to investigate his recent controversial social media post.

    “I will answer any question in the presence of lawyers,” said Khan, refusing to become a part of any investigation by the FIA, Geo News reported.

    Recently, Khan’s social media handle on X (formerly Twitter) posted a video regarding the breakup of East Pakistan and putting the blame on the military establishment for committing atrocities which led to the country’s separation.

    The development came after FIA’s cyber crime wing decided on Thursday to initiate action against Khan over his controversial tweet on social media.

    Interestingly, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan tried to distance his party from the post saying it should be seen “in political context” and that Khan did not know the contents of the post that was uploaded.

    Geo News reported that FIA’s cyber wing will investigate four people including Khan, Gohar, PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan, and Secretary-General Omar Ayub for the “propaganda videos”.

  • Murtaza Solangi calls Imran Khan’s claims about prison conditions complete lies

    Murtaza Solangi calls Imran Khan’s claims about prison conditions complete lies

    Former Caretaker Minister for Information and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi took to Twitter to criticise Imran Khan’s recent interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, calling it a lie.

    “The biggest lie is that the disgraced and sacked former PM is in solitary confinement. Far from it,” wrote the ex-caretaker minister.

    He said, “Imran is staying in a complex of 7 rooms with access to all of them. Yes, he doesn’t have an AC but does have a room cooler. He can walk in the corridor whenever he wants. He is provided with a Bike Machine to keep him fit.”

    Solangi stated that the former Prime Minister “Gets three meals cooked by a special cook for him. Each meal is inspected by the doctor who also checks him three times a day. He also has a TV and a Refrigerator in his room and is also provided books.”

  • No stability until May 9 Perpetrators brought to justice: Pak Army

    No stability until May 9 Perpetrators brought to justice: Pak Army

    The Pakistan Army on Thursday reiterated the call for bringing to justice the planners, perpetrators, abettors, and facilitators of the May 9 riots for the “collective good of the country”.

    According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s resolve was communicated during the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) presided by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir.

    “Digital terrorism unleashed against state institutions, especially Pakistan’s armed forces, is being carried out with the help of external facilitators to achieve nefarious political objectives,” said the presser.

    Furthermore, the military leadership believed that there are efforts to sow discord between the state institutions and the Pakistani nation.

    The conference concluded with the determination that, “All threats to the security and stability of the country will be thwarted with the full support of a proud nation.”

  • Supreme Court rejects petition for live coverage of NAB amendment case

    Supreme Court rejects petition for live coverage of NAB amendment case

    The Supreme Court (SC) has rejected the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s request for live streaming of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendment case hearing on Thursday, Geo News reported.

    The top court rejected the plea filed by the KP advocate general, with Justice Athar Minallah being in favour of live broadcasting of the case.

    “The [hearing of] case should be broadcast live since this was the case before as well,” the judge said.

    The development comes as the SC is hearing intra-court appeals filed by the federal and provincial governments against the NAB amendments struck down by the top court.

    Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Minallah, and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi are part of the larger SC bench hearing the case.

  • Imran Khan acquitted in two more May 9 cases

    Imran Khan acquitted in two more May 9 cases

    The district and session court in Islamabad acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in two more cases related to May 9 violence, ARY News reported on Thursday.

    Judicial Magistrate Omar Shahab announced the decision on two May 9 cases registered against PTI founder at Shahzad town police station.

    The court cleared the former prime minister in both cases due to insufficient evidence. The prominent lawyers Mirza Aim Beg and Naeem Panjootha were representing Khan in both cases. 

    An unofficial person registered the FIR against Imran Khan and falsely accused him under Section 109, but Khan’s lawyers pointed out that the evidence is not sufficient to support the charge.

    However, Imran Khan’s lawyer and PTI leader Naeem Panjootha told the court that Khan’s sentence in the Toshakhana case has been suspended, but the court has yet to announce on the illegal marriage case and the cypher case.

  • Hina Pervaiz Butt falsely claims Khan’s interview with Mehdi Hassan was paid

    Hina Pervaiz Butt falsely claims Khan’s interview with Mehdi Hassan was paid

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Hina Parvaiz Butt recently got into a Twitter feud with journalist Mehdi Hassan after she called his recent interview with founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan “paid content.”

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan gave an exclusive interview with renowned journalist Mehdi Hassan for his new platform Zeteo where he openly talked about his imprisonment experience, past regrets, and the country’s worsening political situation.

    The interview was available to paid subscribers on his new platform Zeteo and the MPA highlighted the ‘paid’ written at the start of the article alleging that it is paid content, a claim that is false.

    Mehdi called her out saying, “This Pakistani politician from the governing party is pushing a conspiracy theory that I was “paid” to do my interview with Imran Khan. ‘Paid’ on the post below means it’s a post only for paid subscribers to Zeteo.”

  • Talks sirf unke sath hongi’ says former president Arif Alvi

    Talks sirf unke sath hongi’ says former president Arif Alvi

    Former President and senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Dr Arif Alvi reiterated that Imran Khan is ready to hold a dialogue but only with those “who could offer something”, Dawn reported.

    Alvi said that holding talks with those who had come into power through ‘Form 47s’ would be futile.

    Interestingly, during the interaction with reporters outside the Karachi Press Club, Alvi tried to downplay a social media post from Imran Khan’s account on social media which made a comparison with Pakistan’s current political turmoil with events during the fall of Dhaka, saying “It’s never about the whole institution but a few individuals”.

    However, the former president warned that the prevailing situation in the country was “pushing everyone towards a dead-end”.

    “We never invited the military to intervene in politics, but Imran Khan wants to talk to those who have the power to decide,” he said in response to a question.

    “If these talks aren’t held, it would further push everyone to a dead end,” warned the senior PTI leader.

  • ‘Lies, deceit, God knows what other lies’ Khan blames one General alone for his fall from power

    ‘Lies, deceit, God knows what other lies’ Khan blames one General alone for his fall from power

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan gave an exclusive interview with renowned journalist Mehdi Hassan for his new platform Zeteo. Khan openly talked about his imprisonment experience, past regrets, and the country’s political situation.

    Mehdi Hassan clarified that he could only send a list of written questions and did not directly speak to him, nor could he ask a counter-question.

    Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala jail, spoke about his ordeal in prison saying, “They employ psychological tactics to break my spirit, but my heart, fortified by faith in Allah, remains strong.”

    Hassan asked Khan whom he blamed for everything that had happened to him since the 2022 fall of his government and he replied, “After 11 months in prison, I am certain that this ordeal was orchestrated solely by General Bajwa. I hold no one else responsible.”

    The founder of PTI used strong words for the former Chief of Army Staff saying, “He meticulously planned and executed this scheme, presenting himself as a deceitful figure, creating lies and false narratives to cause both national and international chaos – all to secure his extension.”

    Khan blamed ex-COAS Bajwa for “painting him as anti-American due to his insatiable thirst for power. God knows what other lies he disseminated to various countries.”

    “My only regret is trusting General Bajwa,” he commented.

    Interestingly, Khan did not mention current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir at all.

    Criticizing the ruling government he said, “This government lacks legitimacy. The PML-N barely won 17 seats in Parliament. The violence, torture, and pre-poll rigging were evident. After the elections, it took them nearly two days to alter the results.”

    Finally, Khan’s message was “There has been an attack on democracy and the right to self-determination of 250 million people”. He further called the February 8 general elections a sham which brought “more uncertainty and a greater trust deficit between the people and the ruling elite.”