Tag: Javed latif

  • Nawaz will be PM for fourth time within next two years, says Javed Latif

    Nawaz will be PM for fourth time within next two years, says Javed Latif

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Javed Latif has hinted that the federal government can consider early elections within the next two years, as doing so will make the path smooth for PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to become prime minister for the fourth time.

    During an interview, Latif stated on Thursday that Nawaz Sharif will be the next prime minister of the country. 

    “The elections can happen tomorrow,” Latif added.

    Javed Latif also said that the people who blocked Sharif’s path last time will support him this time, making him prime minister for the fourth time.

    Javed Latif is the only party member who has criticised his own party’s federal government.

  • Nawaz Sharif free in Avenfield apartments reference

    Nawaz Sharif free in Avenfield apartments reference

    In a massive relief for the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference on Wednesday.

    The verdict was announced by a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

    Nawaz Sharif was facing a 10-year jail sentence in the Avenfield properties corruption reference since July 2018, charged with owning assets beyond known income. An additional one-year sentence was imposed for non-cooperation with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), both to be served concurrently.

    Having been declared a proclaimed offender in two cases, Al-Azizia and Avenfield, in December 2020, Nawaz Sharif spent nearly four years in London on medical grounds before returning to Pakistan last month. Upon his return, he sought the restoration of appeals against his convictions, which had been dismissed for non-prosecution during his medical stay abroad.

    The second case against Nawaz was the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, for which Nawaz Sharif received a seven-year jail term on December 24, 2018, accompanied by a fine of Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million. The decision for this case is yet to be taken. 

    The IHC restored these appeals in a decision last month, leading to today’s pivotal hearing. Nawaz Sharif’s legal counsel, Amjad Pervaiz, argued before the court, pointing out perceived loopholes in the Avenfield reference.

    Nawaz’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz questioned the ownership of the properties, arguing that there was neither verbal nor documented evidence indicating Nawaz’s ownership. The defense emphasized the lack of evidence proving that Maryam Nawaz and other family members were under Nawaz’s patronage.

    Pervez argued that the NAB failed to prove any of the allegations against Nawaz Sharif. “The properties in question were acquired at different times, with some being acquired between 1993 and 1996. The appellant had no connection to these properties, and the prosecution did not clarify their relation to the properties in the reference.”

    He said that Wajid Zia, former DG FIA, admitted that there was no evidence to establish Nawaz Sharif’s connection to the properties. The charge sheet stated that the assets were not in accordance with declared assets.

    The court based the sentence on assumptions, and the decision was generally written without specific evidence. It was written that children are generally under the guardianship of their father, he said.

  • Arrest orders issued for PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb

    Arrest orders issued for PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday issued arrest orders for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Marriyum Aurangzeb in a hate speech case, directing authorities to produce the former federal minister in court on December 9.

    ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan issued the arrest warrant for the PML-N leader and ordered the concerned station house officer (SHO) to execute the orders of her arrest.

    The non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against the former information minister for not appearing before the court.

    A terrorism case had been registered against Aurangzeb, PML-N stalwart Mian Javed Latif, state-run Pakistan Television’s Managing Director Sohail Khan and others for allegedly trying to incite hatred by using the religion card against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    In the previous hearing, the ATC judge canceled the non-bailable arrest warrant against Latif after he appeared before the court.
    On November 25, Advocate Farhad Ali Shah representing Javed Latif and Marriyum Aurangzeb appeared before the court.

    During the hearing, Judge Khan inquired about the whereabouts of the PML-N leaders and was informed that Latif had appeared while Aurangzeb had not.

    Consequently, the judge issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the former information minister and directed all suspects named in the case to appear before the court on December 9.

    The case, registered on September 19, 2022, implicated both Aurangzeb and senior PML-N leader Javed Latif for allegedly “using religion to instill and spread hatred” against Imran Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and former prime minister.

    According to the FIR, the complainant had said Latif accused the PTI chief of “attacking the basic principles of Islam” by “supporting” the Ahmadiyya community during his tenure.

    “When Imran made the Naya Pakistan, units of Qadianis became active in Karachi […] Did Imran not give interviews to the foreign media in which he said that Qadianis will be given religious freedom,” Latif had said.

    The FIR had said Latif made the controversial remarks at the behest of the party leadership as well as Aurangzeb in order to spread religious hatred against Imran.

    The complainant had said he watched another presser by Latif a day later wherein he insisted that he stood by his earlier statement.
    The complainant said, “The world knows Imran Khan for his welfare work. He is a true Muslim, a Prophet (PBUH) lover and a patriotic Pakistani.

    “He (Imran) made Quranic teachings in schools compulsory and also constituted Rehmatullil Alameen Authority. He also made it clear before the world through his speech at the United Nations that we will not tolerate blasphemy at any cost and raised his voice against Islamophobia which is matchless.

    “In his news conference, Latif declared Imran a non-Muslim and deliberately used words to incite his followers to create a law and order situation.”

    The FIR added that the PTI chief’s followers and supporters were enraged by the derogatory remarks of the PML-N leader.
    “Latif made the controversial remarks at the behest of his party leadership as well as Marriyum in order to spread religious hatred against Imran.”

    Complainant Rehman said that he had watched another news conference a day later in which Latif said that he stood by his earlier statement.

    He demanded action be taken against the PML-N leaders and others nominated in the complaint under the law.

  • Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for Marriyum Aurangzeb

    Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for Marriyum Aurangzeb

    An anti-terrorism court in Lahore issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Marriyum Aurangzeb, former Information Minister and a prominent leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), on Saturday.

    The warrants were issued after Aurangzeb’s repeated absence from hearings of a terrorism case filed against her last year.

    The case, registered on September 19, 2022, implicated both Aurangzeb and senior PML-N leader Javed Latif for allegedly “using religion to instill and spread hatred” against Imran Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and former prime minister.

    The FIR

    According to the FIR, the complainant had said Latif accused the PTI chief of “attacking the basic principles of Islam” by “supporting” the Ahmadiyya community during his tenure.

    “When Imran made the Naya Pakistan, units of Qadianis became active in Karachi […] Did Imran not give interviews to the foreign media in which he said that Qadianis will be given religious freedom,” Latif had said.

    The FIR had said Latif made the controversial remarks at the behest of the party leadership as well as Aurangzeb in order to spread religious hatred against Imran.

    The complainant had said he watched another presser by Latif a day later wherein he insisted that he stood by his earlier statement.
    The complainant said, “The world knows Imran Khan for his welfare work. He is a true Muslim, a Prophet (PBUH) lover and a patriotic Pakistani.

    “He (Imran) made Quranic teachings in schools compulsory and also constituted Rehmatullil Alameen Authority. He also made it clear before the world through his speech at the United Nations that we will not tolerate blasphemy at any cost and raised his voice against Islamophobia which is matchless.

    “In his news conference, Latif declared Imran a non-Muslim and deliberately used words to incite his followers to create a law and order situation.”

    The FIR added that the PTI chief’s followers and supporters were enraged by the derogatory remarks of the PML-N leader.

    “Latif made the controversial remarks at the behest of his party leadership as well as Marriyum in order to spread religious hatred against Imran.”

    Complainant Rehman said that he had watched another news conference a day later in which Latif said that he stood by his earlier statement.

    He demanded action be taken against the PML-N leaders and others nominated in the complaint under the law.

  • A timeline of Nawaz Sharif’s fall from power and return to Pakistan

    A timeline of Nawaz Sharif’s fall from power and return to Pakistan

    Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif got disqualified when the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) announced its decision on July 28, 2017 in the Panama Papers case.

    After that, Nawaz Sharif and three of his children were referred to an accountability court, which was ordered to file corruption cases against Sharif’s family within six weeks.

    In July 2018, the expelled prime minister was imprisoned for 10 years in Avenfield properties corruption case, an assets-beyond-means trial.

    Nawaz’s sentence then got extended to one more year for not cooperating with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the same case.

    His daughter, PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, had initially received a seven-year jail sentence in the same case. However, she was subsequently acquitted in September 2022, along with her husband, (retd) Captain Safdar.

    In Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, the PML-N supremo was sentenced to seven years in jail on December 24, 2018. Nawaz Sharif was taken to Adiala jail in this case, and then he got shifted to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on the very next day. He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million in this case.

    The former prime minister was released from jail in March 2019. After that, Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed Nawaz Sharif to go to London for treatment for fast depleting platelets levels, and then he left for London in November 2019.

    When he didn’t come back to Pakistan for almost a year, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared him a fugitive.

    On September 9, 2021, PML-N leader Javed Latif claimed that Nawaz Sharif will come back to Pakistan within the year, but that return didn’t work out.

    Latif, a PML-N MNA, was talking to media after visiting NAB’s Joint Investigation Team for a graft inquiry.

    On November 12, 2022, a PML-N party insider expressed confidence that Sharif will be back in Pakistan next month in December, but that didn’t happen either.

    Once again, on August 15, 2022, Javed Latif claimed that Nawaz Sharif will come back to Pakistan in September, as doctors had allowed him to travel.

    “The doctors change their opinion with time. The people are his doctors; the nation has announced its decision that Nawaz Sharif should come back,” Latif added.

    In June 2023, one of the well-informed sources within PML-N also claimed that Nawaz Sharif will come back to Pakistan next month, in July 2023.

    The former prime minister and PML-N president, Shehbaz Sharif, has confirmed multiple times in the last few months that Nawaz Sharif is coming back on October 21, 2023.

    The PML-N supremo left London for Saudi Arabia on October 11 and performed Umrah there. Nawaz Sharif is currently in Dubai and will land in Pakistan on October 21.

    Meanwhile, the IHC has approved Nawaz Sharif’s plea on Thursday, providing him with bail in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases until October 24.

  • ‘Kabhi petrol bomb phainknay waalon se mazaakraat nahin hotay: Javed Latif calls PTI ‘terrorist’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Javed Latif, has expressed disapproval of the ongoing talks between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying that dialogue should never be held with a “terrorist wing” and the “ones who throw petrol bombs”.

    Addressing a press conference, Latif, who is considered close to PML-N head Nawaz Sharif, went on to say that dialogue could never be held with a person who “is spreading anarchy in the country, especially at a time when Pakistan’s economy is stabilising and the country is progressing without IMF’s aid”.

    He urged “individuals in institutions” to take responsibility for “producing” a person like Imran Khan, Chairman of PTI, and for the consequences of their actions. He also claimed that some people are trying to reinstate the PTI chairman as Prime Minister.

    The PML-N leader said that the elections won’t be held without the participation of his party supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    The third and final round of talks will be held tomorrow. As of yet, no census is in sight.

  • ‘Removing, transferring CCPO is upto me’: CM Punjab takes stand over CCPO’s transfer

    ‘Removing, transferring CCPO is upto me’: CM Punjab takes stand over CCPO’s transfer

    Punjab is once again caught up in a controversy over the filing of cases against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders as the Lahore police chief has refused to relinquish his charge, saying he will not do so unless directed by the provincial government, reports The News.

    The federal government, withdrawing the services of Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar, directed him to report to the Establishment Division for further order.

    However, Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, refusing to abide by the orders, said that the Centre had no power to order the transfer.

    “Removing or transferring the CCPO is my authority,” said Elahi in a tweet.

    Later, Elahi’s son, Moonis Elahi, took to Twitter and shared a video of a meeting between the CM and Dogar.

    In the video, the CM can be heard saying, “We will not let you go anywhere.”

    Speaking to Geo News, Ghulam Dogar said that he will not relinquish his charge until and unless asked by the Punjab government.

    Speaking to Geo News, Ghulam Dogar said that he will not relinquish his charge until and unless asked by the Punjab government.

    The development came after a case was filed against PML-N leaders Javed Latif and Marriyum Aurangzeb for allegedly “using religion to instil and spread hatred” against PTI chief and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

  • PML-N’s Marriyum Aurangzeb, Javed Latif booked in terror case

    PML-N’s Marriyum Aurangzeb, Javed Latif booked in terror case

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and PML-N central leader Javed Latif, have been booked in terror cases in Punjab.

    The two have been accused of allegedly “using religion to instill and spread hatred” against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former prime minister Imran Khan.

    Punjab Home Minister Hashim Dogar shared on Twitter the First Information Report (FIR) filed against the PML-N leaders.

    Pakistan Television Managing Director Sohail Khan and controller programme Rashid Baig have also been nominated in the case. The complaint said that a press conference in which Imran Khan was accused, was shown on national television.

    Taking to Twitter, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said, “Using religion card against PML-N and other opponents is as bad by any PTI follower as it is for others.”

    “We demand not to use religious hatred campaigns against our leadership or opponents,” tweeted Fawad.

    Latif had accused the PTI chief of “attacking the basic principles of Islam” by “supporting” the Ahmediyya community during his tenure.

    “When Imran made Naya Pakistan, units of Qadianis became active in Karachi […] Did Imran not give interviews to the foreign media in which he said that Qadianis will be given religious freedom,” Latif had asked.

  • Ahsan Iqbal issues show-cause notice to Mian Javed Latif

    Senior journalist Mohammad Malick tweeted on Friday, “Ahsan Iqbal issues show-cause notice to Javed Latif for accusing ‘muffamat’ group in Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of ‘assignment’ from someone. This was one of the key demands of the angry half of sharif equation now let’s see what happens to the main demand of Mian Nawaz Sharif truly empowering Shehbaz Sharif as president.”

    Prior to this, an exclusive report by Dawn’s Zulqernain Tahir revealed that Javed Latif has become a bone of contention between the Sharif brothers because Nawaz Sharif did not agree with Shehbaz Sharif to issue Mian Javed Latif a show-cause notice for his serious allegations against the younger Sharif and his group.

    According to the report, a party insider revealed that as a mark of protest, Shehbaz did not attend two back-to-back divisional level meetings of the party in Lahore, which were attended by his elder brother [Nawaz]. Hamza Shehbaz also did not attend these meetings, supporting his father’s stance.

    The former prime minister had asked his brother to wait for a while. After this, Shehbaz did not challenge his elder brother’s opinion but he chose to register a silent protest by not attending the meetings he was supposed to preside over, the insider claimed.

    When contacted by Dawn, Malik Ahmad Khan, the newly appointed spokesperson for the party’s president, admitted that Mr Latif had violated party discipline.

    Latif, who had come close to Maryam Nawaz after going to jail, had told a private news channel that four to five leaders in the PML-N were on an ‘assignment’.

    According to him, four or five leaders in the party got assignments from those who did not believe in law and the constitution. “These leaders must remember the fate of Chaudhry Nisar,” he had warned.

    Maryam Nawaz’s response

    Vice President of PML-N Maryam Nawaz denied the reports, urging the party workers not to pay attention to the propaganda by the enemy saying Nawaz and Shehbaz ‘are one’.

    While addressing a gathering of workers from the Bahawalpur division she said, “This is a democratic party. Differences in opinion may exist. This does not mean that one raises questions pertaining to party leadership. When it comes to the party leadership, everyone agrees with Nawaz Sharif as well as Shehbaz Sharif.”

    Earlier, Mian Javed Latif had claimed that Nawaz Sharif would come to Pakistan this year. Later, Marriyum Aurangzeb contradicted his statement and said, “He will only return to Pakistan when doctors will give a clean bill of health allowing him to travel and when the party decides.”

  • ‘Prove that I called anyone,’ Saleem Safi shares his banned politician list

    ‘Prove that I called anyone,’ Saleem Safi shares his banned politician list

    Senior Journalist and Talk Show Host Saleem Safi, while speaking to The Current, revealed that he has a banned list for his show ‘Jirga’ on Geo News.

    “I have a ‘banned list’ on my show and I am very particular who I call on my show,” said Safi.

    The banned list includes Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Dr Shahbaz Gill, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Afridi,  Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan and Minister for Prisons, Punjab, as Official Spokesperson for the Government of Punjab, Fayaz-ul-Hassan Chohan. From Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the list includes (PML-N) Talal Chaudhry and MNA Javed Latif.

    “I do not shake hands with SAPM Dr Shahbaz Gill and Minister of Science and Technology, Shibli Faraz,” added Safi.

    “Provide me with proof that my team or I contacted or called any of these people on my show, and I am ready to face the consequences,” said Safi.

    Clarifying his stance, Safi informed The Current, “I did not call Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on my show till he became a minister. It became a necessity to call him then.”

    Safi’s comments come after Fawad Chaudhry commented on the former’s program, saying that, “Meray elawa apka koi phone nahi uthata [No one attends your call except for me]”

    To which Safi replied, “Meiny kisi aur ko phone kiya hi nahi hai kabi [ I have not called any one before].”