Tag: Khawaja Asif

  • PM Shehbaz arrives in UAE on important visit

    PM Shehbaz arrives in UAE on important visit

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has reached the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a one-day-long visit to hold discussions with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan regarding the shared interests of both countries.

    The vice president and Chairman of the Presidential Court of the UAE, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received PM Shehbaz at the airport. Multiple individuals, including Pakistani Ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid, were also present at the airport.

    This is Shehbaz Sharif’s first visit to the UAE after becoming prime minister of the country. Top federal ministers, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, are accompanying Shehbaz on his visit

  • Politicians criticise, reject recent leaked property records

    Politicians criticise, reject recent leaked property records

    Zulfiqar Ali Badr, spokesperson for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has said that the Dubai properties of the former Foreign Minister and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari are declared before the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    The spokesperson said, “The entire world knows that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Aseefa Bibi grew up in exile.”

    His remarks came as a global team of investigative journalists revealed details of properties owned by the world’s elite in Dubai.

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticised the leaked property records, stating that there was “nothing new in them.”

    He also claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the names of prominent figures like Pervez Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz, Faisal Vawda, and others were also in the Panama leaks, which they didn’t ever deny.

    Similarly, independent senator Faisal Vawda stated on Tuesday that the “Dubai leaks” are part of propaganda, and the timing of the publication of the report is “questionable” as Pakistan is nearing attracting foreign investment.

  • Pakistan in position to complete Pak-Iran gas pipeline project, says Khawaja Asif

    Pakistan in position to complete Pak-Iran gas pipeline project, says Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that “Pakistan is in a position to complete the [gas] pipeline project with Iran and makes decision regarding it.” However, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi’s visit to Pakistan is expected this month.

    “We are constructing a gas pipeline on our side from Gwadar to the Iranian border,” Asif said while speaking on Geo News’ Capital Talk programme.

    Earlier this month, The News said that Pakistan started building an 80km part of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline. They’re working from Gwadar to a spot where they can link it to the Iranian section of the project.

  • Khawaja Asif says Afghanistan ‘source of terrorism’

    Khawaja Asif says Afghanistan ‘source of terrorism’

    Federal Minister for Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is unlike any other border in the world – terming Afghanistan a ‘source of terrorism’ for Pakistan.

    In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said, “In view of the increase in terrorist incidents, there is a need for a fundamental change in the border situation. The source of terrorism in Pakistan is in Afghanistan and despite our efforts, Kabul is not making any progress in this direction.”

    He also stated that Afghan authorities were aware of all the terrorist hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating against Pakistan inside their territory but cooperation from Afghans on this has been negligible.

    The Minister’s comments came in the aftermath of the unfortunate terrorist attack that claimed the lives of six people including five Chinese engineers in Shangla. More importantly, over the past few days a string of terrorist attacks took place including Gawadar Port Authority Complex, PNS Siddiqi naval airbase in Turbat.

  • We don’t want armed conflict with Afghanistan, says Khawaja Asif

    We don’t want armed conflict with Afghanistan, says Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Pakistan does not want armed conflict with neighbouring Afghanistan, stressing that using force was the last option.

    The defence minister, in an interview with Voice of America on Wednesday, stated that Pakistan might block the trade corridor it gave to Afghanistan for trading with India. He added that Pakistan had the right to stop helping Kabul if it didn’t control terrorists against Pakistan who were active in Afghanistan.

    “If Afghanistan treats us like an enemy, then why should we give them a trade corridor?” Asif said.

    He passed the remarks after Pakistan launched intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions in response to several terrorist attacks in Pakistan.

    However, Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Taliban administration, said in a statement that “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not allow anyone to compromise security by using Afghan territory.”

  • Ex-Army Chief Bajwa threatens PML-N’s Khawaja Asif

    Ex-Army Chief Bajwa threatens PML-N’s Khawaja Asif

    Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif revealed on Shahzeb Khanzada’s show last night that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa threatened him that he would hold a press conference against him after the minister’s criticism about the previous army chief’s policy of rehabilitating Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants back into the country.

    Khawaja Asif pointed out that when the former army chief previously gave a briefing to the parliament,
    “A rosy picture was painted that if the Taliban were to return to Pakistan, it would usher in a new era of peace and brotherhood.”
    He further said “Its not wrong or blasphemous of me to suggest that they return to the same forum and explain.”

    Asif said that he did not insult anyone by asking that Bajwa and Gen (ret.) Faiz Hameed be summoned before the national parliament to give a briefing about their flawed policy. He reiterated, “What Pakistan is currently going through is basically a ‘continuity’ of that infamous briefing that the ex-generals gave us.”

    When the anchor asked him whether he received any advice from his party to stay away from this topic, he replied that they did not, and it is a matter of principle for him.

  • Which federal portfolio are the ministers getting?

    Which federal portfolio are the ministers getting?

    The portfolios of the newly appointed federal cabinet were announced on Monday as four-time finance minister Ishaq Dar became foreign minister this time. Banker Muhammad Aurangzeb, one of the highest paid heads of a financial institute in the country, took charge as finance minister.

    The notification was issued after 19 members of the cabinet were sworn in on Monday. There are some new faces included in the newly formed cabinet.

    Ex-caretaker chief minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also being tipped to be elected as a member of the upper house of Parliament, has been appointed the interior minister, while Ahad Khan Cheema who had also served during the interim setup was allotted the portfolio of Economic Affairs with the additional portfolio of Establishment Division.

    Khawja Asif has been allotted the defence ministry, and he will also see to matters of defence production and aviation. Ahsan Iqbal will keep control of the ministry for planning, development, and special initiatives.

    On Monday, State Minister Shaza Fatima Khwaja didn’t receive a specific job, but on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Shehbaz gave her the Ministry of Information Technology.

  • Who does Shehbaz Sharif want to be in cabinet?

    Who does Shehbaz Sharif want to be in cabinet?

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has recommended 19 names to President Asif Ali Zardari to be inducted into the federal cabinet, according to a summary forwarded to the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.

    As per Geo news, the federal cabinet is expected to take oath today at 3 pm at the President House.

    The list of recommendations for federal ministries includes several prominent names from the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), such as Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Ishaq Dar, and others. Additionally, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM-P and Abdul Aleem Khan from Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party are also among those recommended.

    Furthermore, Senators Ishaq Dar and Musadik Malik have been recommended for appointment as federal ministers under clause 9 of Article 91 of the Constitution, as their Senate term is set to end on March 12.

    The clause permits the prime minister to appoint individuals outside of parliament to the federal cabinet for a period of six months.

    Three additional names recommended for induction as federal ministers under clause 9 of Article 91 are Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, and Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi.

    Shaza Fatima is the sole woman recommended for inclusion in the federal cabinet. She is slated to take oath as a state minister under clause 1 of Article 92 of the Constitution, according to the summary.

    Sources indicate that while the Prime Minister initially plans to keep the cabinet small, more ministers will likely be inducted in the second phase.

    The swearing-in of the federal cabinet follows Prime Minister Shehbaz’s oath-taking as the 24th premier of the country a week ago, and President Zardari’s inauguration as the head of state a day earlier, attended by all dignitaries.

  • 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.

  • Kya Malik Riaz ka interview Imran Khan ko muskhkil mein daal sakta hai?

    Kya Malik Riaz ka interview Imran Khan ko muskhkil mein daal sakta hai?

    Pakistan is watching a wave of interviews and the latest twist in this unfolding drama has been disclosed by senior journalist Javed Chaudhry in a recent vlog, hinting that Malik Riaz, a property tycoon, is poised to unravel a series of explosive revelations in the days to come.

    Javed Chaudhry’s vlog, providing a sneak peek into an upcoming interview with Malik Riaz, outlined three key points that are expected to rock the political landscape.

    First and foremost, the interview is anticipated to shed light on the staggering Rs460 billion penalty imposed on Bahria Town by the Supreme Court. Riaz is expected to reveal what Saqib Nisar got in return for favors. He will also delve into the details of the 460 billion rupees fiasco.

    Furthermore, the property tycoon is predicted to make startling claims regarding the 2014 protest, alleging that influential figures orchestrated the demonstration to unseat then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    The revelations will also cover how the sit-in was sponsored and from where and how food was provided.

    Riaz will also talk about why he advised Nawaz Sharif to leave the country for three months after his resignation.

    Riaz is also anticipated to discuss his role in preventing a collaborative effort between Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif against Imran Khan, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that shaped Pakistan’s political landscape.

    Riaz will also openly talk about who played what role during Imran Khan’s government and how they all benefited from it.

    While specific details of the upcoming interview were not disclosed by Chaudhry, he expressed confidence that Malik Riaz’s revelations would be nothing short of bombshells, suggesting a turbulent period ahead for Pakistani politics.