Tag: interior minister

  • Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi supports stricter rules on social media use

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi supports stricter rules on social media use

    During a press conference in Lahore held on Monday, federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi pointed out that everyone knows how people who share fake videos in the United Arab Emirates or the UK are treated by those countries.

    He added that while there should be freedom of speech in Pakistan, there must also be a law under which a person making a false accusation can be arrested.

    As for the issue of the increased street crime in Karachi, the Interior Minister acknowledged the fact that the crimes are taking place in the city, but he also asserted that the police are fighting there on a daily basis.

  • Sindh High Court allows Zulfiqar Mirza, Fahmida Mirza to contest elections

    Sindh High Court allows Zulfiqar Mirza, Fahmida Mirza to contest elections

    The Sindh High Court has on Thursday allowed former interior minister Zulfiqar Mirza and his wife, former Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Fahmida Mirza to contest the general elections.

    The Court heard the constitutional petitions filed against the rejection of the couple’s nomination papers.

    Fahmida Mirza and Zulfiqar Mirza submitted nomination papers from National Assembly Constituency NA 223, while Zulfiqar Mirza also submitted papers from PS 70, 71, and 72.

    Both nomination papers were rejected by the returning officers, and an election tribunal accused them of being bank defaulters.

    However, the Sindh High Court approved the constitutional petitions of both candidates and allowed them to contest the elections.

  • Sarfraz Bugti kis party kay ticket par election larrain gay?

    Sarfraz Bugti kis party kay ticket par election larrain gay?

    Sarfraz Bugti, former interim interior minister, sent his resignation to caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on December 13, which was accepted Friday night.

    He cited personal reasons for stepping down from his position.

    Interior Ministry spokesperson Qadir Yar Tawana confirmed the report on Friday when contacted for the version of the ministry by Geo News.

    Close aides of Bugti said he had decided to resign from the office about two months ago to take part in the upcoming general elections. His resignation was accepted hours before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the schedule of the general elections in 2024.

    As per sources of Geo News, Sarfaraz Bugti resigned to contest the election on a Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N)’s ticket.
    They said he was expected to call on the PML-N leadership in a few days.

    He is currently associated with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).

    Bugti had been elected as a senator from Balochistan in 2021.

    The 42-year-old had previously served as interior minister for Balochistan after winning a seat in 2013 as an independent candidate, but later joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    In a related development, Balochistan caretaker Minister for Sports and Culture, Nawabzada Jamal Raisani and Adviser to the Chief Minister on Mines and Minerals, Mir Umair Muhammad Hasni, also resigned from the interim provincial cabinet on Friday.

  • Security personnel are involved in cross-border smuggling, says Sarfraz Bugti

    Security personnel are involved in cross-border smuggling, says Sarfraz Bugti

    Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Monday in a press conference that security officials who are involved in cross-border smuggling would be court-martialed.

    Pakistan has escalated its crackdown on smugglers involved in the transportation of goods and dollars to Afghanistan.

    “If I say that security forces weren’t involved in [smuggling], it won’t be right as the [smuggled] items are transported via trucks, not camels,” Bugti said during a press conference in Islamabad.

    He also mentioned that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has told military officials that whoever is involved in cross-border smuggling will face the consequences.

    “Pakistan’s army chief had told his people very clearly: there won’t only be court-martials, but those involved in such activities would also be sent to jail,” the interior minister mentioned.

    Bugti also told the reporters that the Army’s accountability mechanism is not disclosed to the public; that’s why the general population doesn’t know much about it.

  • Shahid Khaqan Abbasi criticises Rana Sanaullah’s warning to Sarfraz Bugti

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi criticises Rana Sanaullah’s warning to Sarfraz Bugti

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has denounced the statement of former interior minister Rana Sanaullah against interim security czar Sarfraz Bugti.

    “Rana Sanaullah is a sensible man but he should not have said something which has multiple meanings,” Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said while responding to a question on Geo News’ Capital Talk show programme on Tuesday.

    The caretaker interior minister had angered PML-N ranks by stating that if Nawaz Sharif is not granted bail, authorities will arrest him from the airport on October 21, when he arrives back in Pakistan.

    PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah took exception to the statement, responding to Bugti’s remarks by saying, “Sarfraz Bugti should see the fate of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid before issuing such remarks.”

    However, Abbasi also criticised Sarfraz Bugti, stressing that it’s not the responsibility of the interim interior minister to arrest someone. The caretaker security czar is only responsible for ensuring the implementation of the law in the country, Abbassi said.

    “If you want to arrest Nawaz Sharif and there is also a court order [regarding arrest], then you will have to implement it,” he maintained.

  • Khan wants to divide the country: Rana Sanaullah

    Khan wants to divide the country: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said the government is ready to form a judicial commission to inquire about life threats received by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, Rana Sanaullah said that the government had provided Khan ‘prime minister-level’ security and around 150-200 security personnel had been deployed for his safety. He said that security stays with Khan all the time and they move him from Bani Gala to wherever he goes.

    “However, if Imran Khan needs more security, then he should tell us. We will provide it too,” he added.

    “If you have recorded that video, then share it with the people. You say you will bring everything in front of the people of Pakistan, then you must share the video. They say one thing one day, and another the next day. Every few days, they bring a new fraud and lie. This man [Imran Khan] wants to divide the country and misguide the youth.”

    Talking about PTI leader Dr Shahbaz Gill’s claim that two of Imran Khan’s mobile phones were stolen in the Sialkot jalsa, Rana Sanaullah said that Imran Khan’s mobile phones must have been stolen by his companions because Imran Khan is “surrounded by such people who can do it”.

    On a question asked about the comments Khan made in relevance to Dr Rizwan’s death caused by a heart attack and poison that can be mixed in food, Sanaullah said, “What should I say to this horrendous man? He was the prime minister of this country and unfortunately is again the candidate for the position of prime minister. If something like this was even suspected, the family would have had his post-mortem done.”

    “They bring such lies and fraud to their fan crowd and they believe whatever he [Khan] says. Anyone with wisdom knows about the lies told by Khan,” said Sanaullah.

  • PM Shehbaz plans grand jirga over NWA situation

    PM Shehbaz plans grand jirga over NWA situation

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he will soon convene a grand jirga of North Waziristan tribal elders in Islamabad to find a way out of the prevailing situation in the tribal region.

    “Restoration of lasting peace in North Waziristan tribal district is the top most priority of my government.”

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was speaking during a daylong visit to Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan on Thursday. The prime minister addressed a gathering the elders of Uthmanzai tribe. Earlier, senior civil and military officials and elders of the area received the prime minister.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor, PM’s adviser Amir Muqam and MNA Mohsin Dawar accompanied the PM. According to officials, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed briefed the prime minister on the prevailing law and order situation in the area.

    Addressing the jirga, PM Sharif said the people of North Waziristan had suffered miseries and rendered matchless sacrifices for the motherland, adding that the government would not ignore their sacrifices.

    On the demand of Mohsin Dawar, the prime minister announced the establishment of a university, a medical college, a mobile hospital and Danish school in North Waziristan. The prime minister said he would soon announce more development schemes for the district.

    He expressed gratitude to the tribal elders for their support in the war against terrorism for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan and assured them that the government would do all to bring comfort in local populace and ensure socio-economic development as dividends of the fight against terrorism.

    On arrival in Miramshah, PM Sharif was received by Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The prime minister laid floral wreath at the Shuhada monument and offered fateha for valiant sons of the soil who rendered supreme sacrifices while defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan.

  • Banned Baloch organisations have the support of ISIS and TTP: Sheikh Rasheed

    Banned Baloch organisations have the support of ISIS and TTP: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said that there was a link between Baloch militant groups and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as well as other militant groups, to carry out terror attacks in Pakistan.

    Rasheed further said that the Afghan Taliban acted as a bridge for conversation with TTP.

    “The Taliban tried to converse with TTP and make them understands things but the result turned out differently. Instead of negotiations, we are witnessing an increase in terrorism.”

    Rasheed said, “The banned TTP has begun demanding extortion in Peshawar.” He also said that the TTP may have been involved in the Naushki and Panjgur attacks on security forces.

    The Interior Minister stated that the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) was not capable of carrying out the attacks in Naushki and Panjgur, but that TTP could be behind those attacks. He further added that this was his own analysis.

    Sheikh Rasheed said that terrorists have contacts in India and camps in Afghanistan.

    He added that Daesh (ISIS) and other militant organisations are also increasing terrorism in the country.

    When asked by anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada how the Afghan Taliban were allowing all the contacts between Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and these militant groups, which were posing a threat to the security in Pakistan, Sheikh Rasheed said: “These groups are connected through phones. We have given a high alert. There is a great increase in terrorism and the situation can go to any side.”

    The interior minister said that TTP now has the latest weapons, all of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) weapons are with them. Those weapons are also being sold, smuggled in Afghanistan and coming to Pakistan as well.

    Rasheed said that terrorists enter from Afghanistan to carry out attacks in Pakistan and go back, as happened recently in two major attacks on security forces; terrorists went back to Afghanistan after conducting attacks.

    On February 3, it was reported that two separate terrorist attacks have been successfully repulsed by the Pakistan Army in Balochistan’s Panjgur and Noshki areas.

    In a press release, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said “both attacks have been successfully repulsed while inflicting heavy casualties to terrorists”.

    According to the ISPR, terrorists were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan. They said that after the Taliban’s takeover, we were told that attacks from the war-torn neighbour will stop but they have increased.

  • Alert issued after Lahore and Islamabad terror attacks

    Alert issued after Lahore and Islamabad terror attacks

    The Interior Ministry of Pakistan has issued a notification on Saturday in which it directed the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to exercise “extreme vigilance”.

    The notification alert has asked LEAs of all provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to tighten security measures to prevent any unforeseen terror attacks.

    “… In view of recent terrorist attack in Anarkali Bazar, Lahore and threat posed by activities of anti-state elements, all provincial and special area governments/Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are requested to exercise extreme vigilance and be on alert to deal with any untoward situation,” the notification said.

    On January 17, militants opened fire on a police checkpoint in the vicinity of the Karachi Company Police Station in Islamabad. The incident resulted in a policeman’s death and two injuries. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility.

    After this incident, Interior Minister, Sheikh Rasheed has also warned of more terrorism-related incidents in Islamabad and said that the capital’s police and other forces are on alert.

    However, another terror attack on January 20 took place in which terrorists targeted the famous Anarkali market in Lahore. Three people died and 28 people got injured in the Lahore bomb blast. An investigation is still underway.

    Sheikh Rasheed also faced criticism from the Opposition for rising terrorism activities in the country. One of the senators from the Opposition commented that he “not seen the interior minister in the House for any briefing during the last nine months”.

  • France orders shutdown of mosque for inciting hatred against Jews and homosexuals

    The government of France has decided to shut down a mosque located in the north of a country, Beauvais on Tuesday as the Imam was allegedly inciting hatred and violence.

    Government officials claim that the sermon was based on violence against non-Muslims and sexual minorities and provoking Jihad.

    The Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin took the decision to close down the mosque because the Imam “is targeting Christians, homosexuals, and Jews” in his sermons. The minister said that it is totally unacceptable to incite such hatred among people.

    Local authorities were legally bound to observe 10 days of information gathering before taking action. However, the closure of the mosque will be scheduled within two days.

    It was reported by the local newspaper that the imam recently converted to Islam this month.

    The lawyer for the association managing the mosque, Samim Bolaky filed the case to overturn the banning of the mosque which would be heard by a court within 48 hours.

    The association claimed that the Imam occasionally preached in the mosque. The suspension of the Imam and closure of the worship place was made due to his regular presence, according to the official document citing the reasons for the shutdown.

    According to the official document, the Imam allegedly called for the war against enemies of Islam and allegedly glorified heroes who protected religion against Western influencers. He also labelled non-Muslims as enemies of Islam.

    The document said, “The terrorist threat remains at a very high level” and the closure had “the aim of forestalling acts of terrorism being committed.”

    Earlier this year, France President, Emmanuel Macron announced a crackdown on religious extremism after a teacher, Samuel Paty was killed because of alleged blasphemy. He pledged that he would not compromise on the secular values of the country.