Tag: London

  • Nawaz summons party leadership, PM Shehbaz on his way tonight

    Nawaz summons party leadership, PM Shehbaz on his way tonight

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday called an emergency meeting of the party and summoned the central leadership including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to London, reports Geo News.

    As per media reports, Nawaz Sharif declined the proposal of a video link meeting and directed the central leadership of the party to reach London. PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is already in London while PM Shehbaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, and Mariyyum Aurangzeb are likely to leave for London in a day or two.

    Nawaz Sharif has reservations on some issues and the PML-N leadership has gone to discuss them with him, reports the news outlet. After being summoned by Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will leave for London tonight.

    
    
  • Dr Murtaza Syed assumes charge as the new Governor State Bank of Pakistan

    Dr Murtaza Syed assumes charge as the new Governor State Bank of Pakistan

    With effect from May 5, Dr Murtaza Syed, the senior-most Deputy Governor and a former Deputy Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), became the new acting Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    Prior to this, the federal government named Dr Syed as the Deputy Governor of the SBP for three years on January 27, 2020.

    Dr Syed has taken up the position in light of Section 10(2) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Act 1956 (amended), and has therefore succeeded Dr Reza Baqir, whose term ended on May 4, according to the notification.

    He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Oxford’s Nuffield College and has more than 20 years of experience in macroeconomic research and policymaking, including 16 years at the IMF. He worked on IMF initiatives and monitoring of emerging markets and advanced economies such as the Eurozone, Japan, and Korea. Dr Syed also handled IMF training and technical support projects around the world, and between 2010 and 2014, he was the IMF’s Deputy Resident Representative in China.

    Dr Syed started his career as a Senior Policy Analyst at the Human Development Center in Islamabad, where he worked under former Finance Minister D. Mahbub ul Haq. Afterward, he worked for the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), a London-based public policy think tank, where he did research on company investment and employment behaviour, as well as evaluating Latin American anti-poverty programmes.

    Read more: Pakistan’s foreign currency reserves down by $328 million

    Dr Syed has produced papers on a multitude of macroeconomic topics, including fiscal and monetary policy, financial stability, economic crises, investment, demographics, poverty, and inequality, in addition to teaching public policy at the universities of Cambridge and Oxford.

  • Permission to perform Umrah: LHC seeks NAB reply on Maryam Nawaz’s plea

    Permission to perform Umrah: LHC seeks NAB reply on Maryam Nawaz’s plea

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday sought reply from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday (tomorrow) on a plea from Maryam Nawaz, seeking permission to travel abroad for performing Umrah.

    According to ARY News, Justice Baqar Najafi, heading the LHC division bench, asked as to in which case name of Maryam Nawaz was added to no-fly list.

    To this, the NAB prosecutor said that her name was added to no-fly list after the LHC approved her bail plea. An appeal was filed against the bail plea, however, it has yet to be fixed for hearing, he said, adding NAB has filed petition to cancel bail of Maryam Nawaz.

    Marium on April 21, filed a plea before the Lahore High Court (LHC) so that she can travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah in Ramzan. She has also said that she wants to travel to London to visit her ailing father, Mian Nawaz Sharif.

    “I want to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah but cannot because my passport is surrendered at the LHC,” reads the plea.

    Maryam Nawaz said in her plea that she was arrested by NAB in 2019 in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case and later the LHC approved her bail plea and in return, she submitted her passport to the court.

    The division bench of the LHC comprising Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Anwar-ul-Haq rescued themselves from the proceedings of the plea hearing today and asked Chief Justice LHC to fix the hearing before the bench that previously heard the matter, reports ARY News.

    “The bench that granted bail to the petitioner should listen to the case,” the bench remarked after Advocate Ahsan Bhoon pleaded the case on behalf of Maryam Nawaz.

  • ‘Imran caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense’: Nawaz Sharif

    ‘Imran caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense’: Nawaz Sharif

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif met with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari who both lashed out at former PM Imran Khan and his policies, regretting that Imran Khan promoted the culture of hooliganism and immorality in politics. “The PTI chairman has caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense of the word.”

    Both PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari talked at length about political as well as coalition government affairs during the meeting that lasted for over three hours on Thursday in London.

    Later, both the leader addressed a press conference where they lashed out at former PM Imran Khan and his policies. Nawaz Sharif said: “Khan promoted the culture of hooliganism and immorality. He has caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense of the word.”

    About the US foreign conspiracy which was claimed by Khan, Nawaz Sharif posed several questions: “Were you involved in holding an atomic blast? Why will there be a foreign conspiracy against you?”

    Nawaz said that Khan had claimed that he would take his own life before approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial support. “But we did not see him taking his own life till now,” he added.

    “Imran Khan’s rule has been the darkest chapter in the history of Pakistan. We are saddened at the state of affairs in Pakistan and what it has been turned into. There are enormous challenges we are facing but we will repair the damage, through national consensus. All the stakeholders from all the provinces including PPP, PML-N, JUI-F and others political powers will play their due role”, he added.

    Similarly taking a jibe at Khan, Bilawal said: “There was no conspiracy against Khan at the White House. However, a conspiracy against him was hatched at the Bilawal House to throw out an illegal, selected and cruel government through the power of the vote [no-confidence motion].”

    Moreover, he said that using the experience and guidance of elders like Sharif and his father the new generation will strengthen Pakistan to face the challenges.

    About the meeting between Bilawal and Sharif, Geo News‘ sources revealed that the PPP chairman didn’t ask for the positions of Senate chairman, Governor Punjab or seat adjustments.

    As per the sources, Nawaz was told that Bilawal may bring up these matters. However, Bilawal told Nawaz he was calling him to discuss the possibility and the need for working together in the future for the greater cause of a strong and vibrant democracy.

    The three-hour-long meeting between the PML-N supremo and PPP chairman was held in two parts. In the first part, Bilawal and Nawaz held a one-on-one meeting, while in the second half, other senior leaders of both parties were also present in the meeting.

    Now, upon his return to the country, Bilawal will take an oath as foreign minister of Pakistan.

  • UK PM Boris Johnson begins his India tour from Modi’s home state Gujrat

    British Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson arrived in India on Thursday for his first-ever visit. He is expected to offer his help to India cut reliance on Russian oil and defense equipment, reports Reuters.

    Johnson has begun his two-day tour from Indian PM Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat. On Friday, Johnson will visit New Delhi to meet his counter partner, where the two of them will have a take on certain topics including a new defense partnership and a free trade agreement.

    Western countries have urged Delhi to speak out against the war in Ukraine. India, which imports Russian oil and is the world’s biggest buyer of its weapons, abstained in a United Nations (UN) vote condemning the invasion and has not imposed sanctions on Moscow.

    However, Indian PM Modi has expressed concern over the killing of civilians.

    Earlier this month, the United States (US) President Joe Biden told Modi that buying more oil from Russia is not in India’s interest. According to Johnson’s spokesperson, “Johnson will not lecture Modi on the matter.”

    It is pertinent to mention that the United Kingdom (UK) has been at the forefront in providing military aid and support to Ukraine. Johnson recently visited Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

    Previously, the India trip has been twice postponed because of Covid flare-ups in each country.

  • PML-N protests outside my home remind me of being ‘back in 90s Lahore’: Jemima

    PML-N protests outside my home remind me of being ‘back in 90s Lahore’: Jemima

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith shared a poster by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Abid Sher Ali, for calling a protest outside her home in London on Sunday, April 17.

    “Protests outside my house, targeting my children, antisemitic abuse on social media. It’s almost like I’m back in 90s Lahore,” tweeted Jemima.

    Reacting to the protest, Journalist Hamid Mir said, “PTI must stop protesting outside the house of Nawaz Sharif in London and PML-N should not do the same outside the house of Jemima Khan those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.”

    Jemima replied: “The difference is that I have got nothing to do with Pakistani politics and neither have my children. They are low-key private individuals who are not even on social media.”

    As per reports, PML-N has decided to protest outside the home of the Goldsmiths in London on Sunday. Party representatives in the United Kingdom (UK) say that since Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters protest outside the home of Nawaz Sharif, they will also protest outside the home of Jemima where Khan’s sons and daughter live.

    Abid Sher Ali dropped an unwarranted tweet: “There will be a protest outside the house of Imran Niazi’s ex-wife in London on Sunday. So that his children also know how mean their father is.”

    He also replied to Goldsmith’s reaction, saying: “There is only one person responsible for this: Imran Khan. He has ordered attacks and protests outside homes of his political opponents, he incites hate, homophobia and terrorism on daily basis. Our protest will be peaceful and non-violent. Condemn Imran Khan.”

    Goldsmith and Khan parted ways in 2004.

  • Are Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar coming back to Pakistan?

    Are Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar coming back to Pakistan?

    The federal government has directed the Ministry of Interior for the renewal of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s passports, reports Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai for Geo News.

    The report came after Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as the premier following the ouster of former PM Imran Khan from power.

     Pakistani High Commission in London has also been directed to start work on the renewal of the passports of both Nawaz and Dar, suggests the news report.

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo was granted an eight-week bail on medical grounds in October 2019, and, he was allowed to travel to London for treatment for four weeks. However, Nawaz never returned and is still in London.

    In September last year, PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif claimed that Nawaz Sharif will come to Pakistan this year. He added that those who disqualified Nawaz also realised that there was no option except to have him back.

    Latif, while speaking during Geo News programme ‘Aapas Ki Baat’, said that Nawaz Sharif is expected to return to Pakistan after Eid.

    Latif further said that after coming to Pakistan, Nawaz will face the cases against him.

    “He [Nawaz Sharif] will face the courts and rule of law, but we expect neither should anyone should be treated as ladla [favourite] nor should anyone have to face brutality,” he added.

  • Is Firdous Apa going to join PML-N?

    Is Firdous Apa going to join PML-N?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader and former special assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) on information and broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has termed the news regarding her wish to join the government’s rival political party —PML-N as “fake”.

    According to Geo News, it was earlier reported that the former SAPM had conveyed the message to the PML-N leadership in London through renowned singer Waris Baig — who had met PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar in London.

    As per the news outlet’s sources, Awan did not demand a ticket from her constituency Sialkot.

    Geo News further revealed that the PML-N’s top leadership discussed the matter for ten minutes.

    However, Awan was not given any assurance regarding her addition to the party and was told to contact the PML-N leadership in Punjab.

    It is pertinent to mention that Awan has been not seen by the public on mainstream media for quite a while.

  • Ex-Bestie’s wish: PTI requests Tareen group not to take extreme steps

    Ex-Bestie’s wish: PTI requests Tareen group not to take extreme steps

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) disgruntled Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT) group leader Aun Chaudhry claimed that Defense Minister Pervez Khattak contacted him last night (Friday) and urged Chaudhry not to take decisions immediately as the government will soon update them regarding the latest developments.

    According to Geo News, Tareen group leaders announced that they wouldn’t meet the ruling party’s members after which Governor Sindh Imran Ismail tried to contact Jahangir Tareen but he was unable to get in touch with him.

    However, the disgruntled group is holding meetings with the Opposition.

    Recently, Minister for Water Resources and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)’s leader Moonis Elahi went to London, where both Tareen and Nawaz Sharif are currently residing.

    Earlier this month, Tareen was discharged from a private clinic. To convey his best wishes, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif sent him a bouquet.

    Previously, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s old friend Aleem Khan joined the JKT group. Later, he visited Tareen and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

  • Shehbaz Sharif sends bouquet to Jahangir Tareen

    Shehbaz Sharif sends bouquet to Jahangir Tareen

    Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly sent a bouquet to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) disgruntled leader Jahangir Khan Tareen in London and conveyed his best wishes and prayers for Tareen’s speedy recovery, journalist Murtaza Ali Shah has tweeted.

    Tareen, who is currently in London for medical treatment. He was discharged from a private clinic on Saturday.

    It has been reported that PTI’s Aleem Khan, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s close friend, was contacted by PML-N. He has reached Jahangir Tareen’s residence where Tareen is expected to address the meeting through a video link.

    It is pertinent to mention that Tareen had left for London on February 26 after his health deteriorated. But despite being away from home, he has been in touch with his political allies in Pakistan throughout.

    Tareen will stay in the United Kingdom (UK) for around a week more and will travel to Pakistan depending on his doctors’ advice.