Tag: Imran Khan

  • ‘Those who have dissociated from PTI through press conferences will not be granted election tickets,’ Barrister Gohar Khan

    ‘Those who have dissociated from PTI through press conferences will not be granted election tickets,’ Barrister Gohar Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan made a significant announcement on Wednesday, stating that PTI leaders who have dissociated from the party through press conferences will not be granted election tickets.

    Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Barrister Gohar emphasized the party’s firm decision not to award tickets to individuals involved in such public disassociations, regardless of the number of people involved.

    Highlighting the directives of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Barrister Gohar mentioned, “Imran Khan has instructed the party to gear up for general elections 2024.”

    In response to the recent Supreme Court order on senior PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the PTI chairman emphasized the Election Commission’s responsibility to ensure its implementation.

    He revealed that the commission had requested the party to submit an application concerning Qureshi and other incidents where PTI leaders and activists were targeted.

    Barrister Gohar informed the media about the Peshawar High Court (PHC) order and urged the Election Commission to upload the certificate of PTI’s intra-party elections, assuring that the commission would conduct an investigation. He asserted that if a party’s election symbol is revoked, it is equivalent to its dissolution, and only the Supreme Court holds the authority to make such decisions.

    Earlier on December 26, PTI Punjab Acting President Hammad Azhar commented on the issue, stating that the fate of PTI leaders who held press conferences and parted ways with the party would be decided by Imran Khan on a case-to-case basis.

    Azhar mentioned that many individuals who had dissociated through press conferences wished to return to the party, and Imran Khan would personally decide on their return.

    He also demanded release of all political workers, “Stop turning the criminal justice system into a joke. Release all political prisoners. My colleagues have languished in jails for more than 7 months despite being innocent. I myself have been falsely nominated as an accused in dozens of Fake FIRs despite being not present on any single incident mentioned (one overly imaginative mind even listed me as chucking petrol bombs on mall road). End this madness and release all. Stop rearresting ppl after bail. Stop booking ppl in fake cases after arbitrarily arresting them for holding political association with PTI. Let the people of Pakistan decide who will govern them.”

  • Mureeds of Shah Mehmood Qureshi protest against ‘ill-treatment’ by police

    Meher Bano Qureshi, daughter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said that the treatment being handed out to her father is unbearable for his “mureeds.”

    She was a guest on a podcast on the digital channel of Hum News.

    The mureeds of Shah Mehmood Qureshi protested on Thursday against the ill-treatment of police and the ‘bogus’ case against him.

    “The people of Umarkot came out of fear. Peaceful protest of Ghousia Jamaat followers and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf workers in Umarkot against the humiliation and bogus arrest of Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi by the Rawalpindi police.”

    @ik.imrankhan00 عمرکوٹ کی عوام خوف کے بت توڑ کر نکل آئی۔ کل راولپنڈی پولیس کی جانب سے مخدوم شاہ محمود قریشی کی تذلیل کرنے اور بوگس گرفتاری کے خلاف عمرکوٹ میں غوثیہ جماعت کے مریدین اور پاکستان تحریک انصاف کے کارکنان کا شہر میں پر امن احتجاج #ReleaseSMQ#releaseimrankhan #سیاسی_انتقام_بند_کرو #PakistanUnderFascism #foryou ♬ original sound – pti offical

    “The people of Khipro on the streets against oppression! Full peaceful protest of Ghousia Jamaat Khipro on ill-treatment of Shah Mehmood Qureshi and arrest in the bogus case.”

    @teamsmq کھپرو کے عوام ظلم کے خلاف سڑکوں پر! شاہ محمود قریشی کے ساتھ ناروا سلوک اور بوگس مقدمے میں گرفتاری پر غوثیہ جماعت کھپرو کا بھرپور پرامن احتجاج۔ #ReleaseSMQ ♬ original sound – riShi

    Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi is the Sajjada Nasheen of Shrine Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya (R.A).

    After Hur and Sarwari Jamaats, the Ghousia Jamaat has the most influence in Sindh.

    Pir Pagara is the Sajjada Nashin for Hur Jamaat and Makhdum Amin Fahim for Sarwari Jamaat.

    Their “gaddis”- religious centers- are in Pir Jo Goth and Hala.

    While the gaddi for Qureshi’s followers is in Multan, the city used to be a part of Sindh till 1818 when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured it. Hence, a large number of Bahauddin Zakariya’s followers are from Sindh.

    A few former parliamentarians in Sanghar, Hyderabad, and Tando Allahyar districts are diehard followers of Ghosia Jamaat, who were elected in the 2008 elections because of their influence in the community.

    Besides Tharparker, Sanghar, Tando Allahyar, Ghotki, Umerkot, Larkana, Kamber Shahdadkot, Shahdadpur, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Thatta and Jacobabad districts also have a large following of the Ghousia Jamaat.

  • Court stops Imran Khan’s in-camera trial in cipher case till January 11

    Court stops Imran Khan’s in-camera trial in cipher case till January 11

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stopped the trial of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s trial in the cipher case till January 11 next year.

    Judge Miangul Hassan of the IHC issued a ruling in response to an appeal filed by the former Prime Minister where he had contested both his indictment and the proceedings related to the cipher case conducted by the special court established under the Official Secrets Act.

    Previously, during the hearing of the case, Justice Aurangzeb dismissed a plea from Usman Gul, the lawyer representing the PTI chief, requesting a stay on the trial. The judge clarified that the court would proceed by issuing notices before releasing any orders.

    In this matter, the IHC issued a notice to the federation and asked Usman Gul to submit all the necessary documents regarding the case at the next hearing.

    Pointing out the irregularities in the cipher case, the PTI lawyer argued in court that a first information report (FIR) had been filed before the submission of the official report.

    The judge asked the PTI council what the point of the petition was. “The point is that the legal procedure was not completed before the indictment,” said the lawyer, responding to the judge.

    The lawyer also said that a legally authorised individual can file a petition in court.

    “You are saying that an authorised officer can file a complaint directly,” asked the judge.

    Imran Khan’s lawyer requested the IHC direct the trial court to conduct the hearing after five or six days. “The trial court can complete the trial in the meantime,” he added.

    “How many witness statements have been completed so far?” the judge questioned.

    The lawyer responded that a total of 27 witnesses have recorded their statements before the court.

  • Khawaja Asif sends Rs1 billion defamation notice to Usman Dar, his mother

    Khawaja Asif sends Rs1 billion defamation notice to Usman Dar, his mother

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Khawaja Asif has sent a defamation notice of Rs 1 billion to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar and his mother.

    According to the notice, Dar and his mother, Rehana Dar, made false allegations to defame the PML-N leader, asking them to pay Rs 1 billion within 14 days.

    Both the leaders belong to Sialkot and have contested elections against each other from the National Assembly’s NA-73 constituency. Khawaja Asif has defeated Dar in the match up.

    After a police raid on Dar’s house earlier this month, Rehana Dar alleged that the former federal minister was behind the operation, stating in a video statement that cops forcefully entered into her residence, physically tortured her, and pulled her hair.

    “When they heard that I was submitting my nomination papers, they [Asif] sent 20 people to my house,” she claimed.

    The PML-N leader also said while speaking on Geo News’ programme “Capital Talk” on December 20 that Usman Dar wants to restore his reputation after quitting politics.

  • ‘I was tortured mentally, physically in jail,’ Shah Mehmood claims

    ‘I was tortured mentally, physically in jail,’ Shah Mehmood claims

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi claimed to have endured mental and physical torture during his incarceration.

    The former Foreign Minister appeared before Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali in the GHQ attack case, asserting that he was subjected to harsh conditions, both mentally and physically, and exposed to severe cold weather while in jail.

    During the court session, he insisted on recording his statement in the presence of his counsel, expressing dissatisfaction with the police’s attempt to obtain his statement without legal representation as per Geo News.

    The former foreign minister said he was being treated in jail for the past several months in the same manner. “Is this justice? I am tortured,” he asked.

    Qureshi said he will swear on the Holy Quran that he was not present in Rawalpindi on May 9 and instead, he was in Karachi that day.

    “I was with my wife in the Aga Khan Hospital. Get the record from PEMRA, I was present in Karachi,” said Qureshi.

    Qureshi, who had previously been granted bail by three Supreme Court judges, questioned the justice system, highlighting the fluctuating circumstances of his arrest and release.

    He said that he was arrested under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) 3.

    “One night I am arrested and in the morning I am told that I am being released. When I asked what made it happen, they replied there is a loophole in the case,” he said.

    Qureshi said he was ordered to be arrested on December 26 then the date was changed to 27. He was within the jail’s premises when Punjab police arrived to arrest him, he said.

    “I have been a member of the assembly for five times. SHO Ashfaq tortured me. He kicked and punched me,” he said. He said he felt pain in his chest for which he was begged the superintendent police for hours to take him to hospital.

    “A doctor was called who was carrying just a blood pressure checking machine,” he added.

    Earlier, the Rawalpindi Police reportedly barred journalists from entering the judicial complex, citing a ban on media coverage of the GHQ attack case against Qureshi.

    His legal counsel expressed concern over the restriction, questioning the nature of an in-camera trial with limited media access.

    Qureshi’s daughter, Meher Bano Qureshi, filed a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against what she termed the “unlawful abduction” of her father, as per Geo News.

    Meherbano stated in the petition that Qureshi had been granted bail by the Supreme Court, and referred to the remark of Justice Athar Minallah, who stated: “The incarceration of the petitioners will not serve any useful purpose.

    Moreover, their release on bail during the period of elections would ensure ‘genuine elections and thus enable the people to exercise the right to express their will effectively and meaningfully.”

    The PTI vice chairman’s recent arrest, just after securing bail in a cipher case, raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his detention.

    President Arif Alvi also weighed in, calling on authorities to address the alleged mistreatment of Qureshi and uphold human rights and dignity.

    “We must not become a state where human rights and dignity are violated without fear. Authorities must pay attention to the confiscation of documents, the brutal action against the protesters, and now the indecent treatment of the former foreign minister by two governments,” Alvi wrote on X (former Twitter).

    The arrest is linked to cases related to the May 9 riots following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. Qureshi is implicated in a GHQ attack case and is expected to appear in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) for further proceedings.

  • PML-N raises objections to Imran Khan’s nomination papers from NA-122 Lahore

    PML-N raises objections to Imran Khan’s nomination papers from NA-122 Lahore

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Naseer has challenged the nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from NA-122 Lahore.

    The PML-N leader raised an objection to the nomination papers of the former prime minister, saying that Imran Khan is convicted while his sentence is suspended, not over, in the Toshakhana case.

    The PML-N leader further said in his objections that the nomination papers of the former prime minister should be rejected due to his conviction.

    However, the Returning Officer (RO) said that the decision on Imran Khan’s nomination papers will be made after hearing objections raised.

    On the other hand, the scrutiny of the nomination papers of PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and vice president Hamza Shehbaz has been completed.

    Objections have also been filed on the nomination papers of PML-N senior vice president Maryam Nawaz for the Punjab Assembly seat PP 80 from Sargodha.

  • Kya PTI leaders mein larai chal rahi hai?

    Kya PTI leaders mein larai chal rahi hai?

    As Pakistan gears up for the upcoming general elections, internal tensions have surfaced within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), notably between leaders Taimur Khan Jhagra and Sher Afzal Marwat.

    The disagreement revolves around Marwat’s decision to enter the electoral race in Peshawar.

    Jhagra, a prominent PTI leader hailing from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has expressed objections to Marwat’s choice to contest the elections scheduled for February 8 next year from the NA-32 constituency in Peshawar.

    During a recent statement, Jhagra emphasized, “It would be more fitting if a leader from Peshawar contested from that constituency.”

    He underscored that the party, rather than individual leaders, should determine the candidates’ election constituencies.

    In response to these objections, Marwat, in an interview with Geo News, stated that he has no personal interest in participating in the elections.”The PTI founder has directed me to contest elections from Peshawar,” he added.

    Marwat, who has already submitted his nomination papers, reiterated his commitment to contesting elections from Peshawar as per Imran Khan’s instructions.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reported a significant influx of nomination papers, receiving a total of 28,626 submissions from aspiring candidates across the country vying to participate in the upcoming polls.

    As per the ECP’s data seen by Geo News, 7,242 men and 471 women have filed nomination papers for national assembly seats (general), whereas for provincial assemblies, the number stands at 17,744 and 802, respectively.

    The ECP is currently scrutinising the nomination papers filed by the candidates with the stage set to culminate on December 30 (Saturday).

    Meanwhile, appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers can be submitted by January 3, and decisions on these appeals will be made by January 10.

    The top electoral body will issue the list of candidates on January 11, with candidates having the option to withdraw until January 12 i.e., before the ECP allots electoral symbol on January 13.

    As per the data shared by the ECP, a total of 459 and 1,365 nomination papers have been received by the electoral body for the reserved seats for national and provincial legislature, respectively.

    Meanwhile, on the reserved seats for non-muslims, 361 men and 32 women have submitted their nomination papers for provincial assemblies. For national assembly seats, the number stands at 140 and 10, respectively.

    A total of 7,713 people have submitted their nomination papers for national assembly seats (general), with the number standing at 18,546 for provincial assemblies (general).

  • ECP approves Nawaz Sharif’s nomination papers from NA-130 Lahore

    ECP approves Nawaz Sharif’s nomination papers from NA-130 Lahore

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) accepted the nomination papers of former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif from NA-130 Lahore constituency.

    PML-N leader Bilal Yaseen submitted the nomination papers of the former prime minister.

    He also confirmed that ECP accepted the papers.

    Sharif has submitted nomination papers from Lahore and Mansehra constituencies.

    “By the grace of Allah, Nawaz Sharif’s nomination papers were accepted from NA-130,” said Bilal Yaseen, adding that ECP has raised no objections as yet.

    “Nawaz Sharif will succeed from this constituency in the February 8 elections. He will be elected prime minister of Pakistan for the fourth time,” he added.

    Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer, Amjad Parvez, also told the media that “the returning officer has said that everything is complete from your side.”

  • Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrested again in May 9 case

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrested again in May 9 case

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was arrested again on Wednesday by Rawalpindi police from Adiala jail in connection with a case related to the May 9 riots.

    Earlier, Shah Mahmood Qureshi was detained for 15 days after the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rawalpindi issued an order to that effect.

    According to the orders, the PTI leader will be detained owing to his involvement in attacking the GHQ, Rawalpindi Gate, on May 9.

    Priviously, there was news circulating that Shah Mahmood Qureshi can be released from Adiala Jail today as the Supreme Court (SC) had approved his bail last week on Friday.

    The former federal minister’s lawyer, Barrister Taimur Malik, reached Adiala jail today with required bail bonds.

    Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, who is hearing the cipher case, also arrived at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

    The wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and lawyers Umair Niazi and Rai Muhammad Ali were also present.

    The SC approved the post-arrest bail of PTI leaders in the cipher case as well as the apex court also determined that Islamabad High Court (IHC) incorrectly exercised discretion deny the bail of petitioners in the said case.

    After examining the material available on record, the court found that there was no sufficient incriminating material available at this stage to show that Khan communicated the information contained in the cipher telegram received from PAREP (Ambassador), Washington, USA, to the public at large with the intention or calculation, directly or indirectly, in the interest or for the benefit of a foreign power, nor the disclosed information related to any of the defence installations or affairs, nor did he disclose any secret official code to the public at large.

  • What is Hum Awam Pakistan Party and why do they want ballay ka nishan?

    What is Hum Awam Pakistan Party and why do they want ballay ka nishan?

    The Hum Awam Pakistan Party (HAPP) has requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to allot it the cricket bat as its electoral symbol.

    The party’s petition earnestly requested that the election symbol of the bat be allocated to the Hum Awam Pakistan Party, advocating for fairness and representation.

    The chairman of Hum Awam Pakistan Party, Muhammad Amjad Chaudhry, filed the petition.

    Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, Ahmer Zaman Khan, who is additional secretary general said, “Our election symbol was ‘lock’ but it was withdrawn for not submitting returns. Now the Election Commission is requested to allot us the election symbol of the bat,” he pleaded.

    The party had written to ECP on December 11, 2023, too for allotment of Bat symbol.

    “We have this right to request for the very symbol under the Constitution and accordingly we have requested the Election Commission and we have full faith in it,” Khan added.

    Recently, the Election Commission canceled the registration of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and also withdrew the election symbol Eagle, which was allotted to it. Now, the symbol has been allotted to the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party.

    What is the Hum Awam Pakistan Party?

    The Facebook page of this party was created on June 6, 2020. Currently, the Facebook page has 1800 followers. Interestingly, the pages followed by this party’s page include DG ISPR and ISPR along with Malik Riaz and Sami Ibraheem.

    The About section of this Facebook page has a website link to the party but http://humawampakistan.com/ is not accessible as of the time this article is being published.

    In September 2020, the party organized a protest outside the Karachi Press Club and demanded that an independent, nonpolitical administrative setup, comprising the people of Karachi should handle all the administrative matters of the city instead of the political framework and it should be under the supervision of Pakistan’s Army.

    In August 2020, a constitutional petition was filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan by this party that sought direction from the prime minister to enable the holding of a referendum regarding the establishment of a presidential form of government in Pakistan.

    The petition was filed by Tahir Aziz Khan, chairman of the political party Hum Awam Pakistan, under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution. One of the main objectives of the lesser-known political party was to establish a presidential form of government in the country.

    The petition was rejected as the registrar’s office objected that the petitioner had not pointed out the question of public importance in this case.

    “The petitioner did not approach any other forum available to him under the law for the same relief,” the SC office further said. “Petitioner did not justify invoking of extraordinary jurisdiction of this court under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution”

    The current chairman of this party, Muhammad Amjad Chaudhry, is also the founder of the All Pakistan Customs Agents Association and was given an award on January 27, 2021, by Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar on Customs Day.