Netizens took a jab at Barrister Maleeka Ali Bokhari for a post in which she wished a happy birthday to the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, on X (formerly Twitter).
The former Prime Minister is celebrating his 72nd birthday in Adiala jail, Rawalpindi.
Former Member National Assembly (MNA) Maleek Ali Bokhari took to X (formerly Twitter) to post, “Happy birthday to our abba, my inspiration and leader who taught me to dream big, fight injustices & be proud of my identity. May Allah always protect you and give you a long life. Ameen.”
One user wrote: “how abba.”
Another user wrote, “Please leader ko leader rehny dain, abba mat banayein.
And one online user expressed, “Please correct the system’s abba.”
In a emotional way, a PTI affiliated account replied, “Happy Birthday father of the nation. Our superstar”
In all honesty, 2023 was more like a crazy roller coaster than a democratic process when it comes to Pakistani politics. Here are some of the significant events that happened this year:
Assemblies dissolved
On January 14, 2023, the provincial assembly of Punjab was dissolved while on January 16, 2023, Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was dissolved as former Prime Minister Imran Khan was pushing for early national elections.
May 9
On May 9, 2023, former prime minister and founder chairman of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan was submitting his biometric data for a court appearance when paramilitary forces broke down a window inside the court to get to apprehend him.
The dramatic and sudden arrest of the former cricket star turned leader resulted in violent clashes between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and law enforcement agencies protests to mark the arrest of the former Prime Minister turned into riots.
Several military installations, including GHQ and the Lahore corps commander’s official residence, were attacked across the country within hours of Imran Khan’s detention.
May 9, termed a “black day” by the Pakistani state, ended up provoking a harsh military crackdown on Khan’s party.
PTI Dismantled
Thousands of PTI members, including many women, were rounded up and arrested after May 9 riots.
More than two dozen members of PTI resigned from the politics following the protests.
Notable figures like Shireen Mazari, Asad Umer, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Fawad Chaudhry, Maleeka Bokhari, Abrar ul Haq, Murad Ras, Ali Haider Zaidi, Imran Islamil, Usman Dar, Farrukh Habib, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Andleeb Abbas, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Shaukat Tarin and others either left PTI or quit politics.
Imran Khan Jailed
Police arrested Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on August 5, 2023, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, potentially barring the opposition leader from contesting an upcoming election.
On September 26, 2023, Imran Khan was shifted to the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi from Attock prison, a day after the Islamabad High Court ordered authorities to relocate him to the high-security jail.
Qazi Faez Isa
On September 17, 2023, Justice Qazi Faez Isa was sworn in as the 29th chief justice of Pakistan.
A ceremony was held at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad during which President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir were also present.
Justice Isa was accompanied by his wife, Sarina Isa, while he was taking oath.
Imran Riaz ‘safely’ returns
On the evening of May 11, 2023, police arrested Imran Riaz Khan, a former anchor with the privately owned broadcaster Express News and host of a YouTube channel with over three million subscribers.
Imran Riaz Khan, often called Imran Riaz, was trying to flee the country over fears of his arrest. At the time, authorities accused him of inciting people to violence through his reporting.
He was said to have been freed a few days later, but there was no trace of him and police denied keeping him in custody.
On September 25, 2023, his lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq took to X (former Tiwtter) and posted a picture of Imran Riaz, after his return, stating that the recovery took a long time due to “countless difficulties, a weak judiciary” and the ineffectiveness of the Constitution. He also shared a photo of him with Khan.
The rift between Zardari and Bilawal
On November 23, 2023, the former president of Pakistan and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‘s father, Asif Ali Zardari, during an exclusive interview with Hamid Mir on Geo News’ program “Capital Talk”, said that Bilawal is “inexperienced” and that it would take some time for him to gain more exposure, on Thursday.
“Bilawal is much more talented than I am, but he isn’t experienced,” he said.
On November 24, 2023, in a seeming act of defiance to his father, Bilawal changed his profile picture on X on Friday afternoon, to a photo with his mother Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and head of the PPP till her assassination in 2017.
PPP denied all the claims of a rift between the father-son duo.
Afghan Refugees Repatriation
On October 3, 2023, Pakistan’s caretaker government announced it would carry out mass deportations — known under domestic law as an Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan — asking all concerned to leave the country before 1 November. Although the plan purported to apply to all foreigners residing in the country illegally, it appears designed to target Afghans, millions of whom have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years.
As of December 29, 2023, the total number of allegedly illegal Afghans who left Pakistan reached 453,480 and the process is still underway.
Nawaz Sharif Returns
On October 21, 2023, Pakistan’s thrice-elected former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan, ending four years of self-imposed exile in London.
Nawaz Sharif was 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 the Avenfield properties corruption case, an assets-beyond-means trial.
In the 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 was 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, the Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed Nawaz Sharif to go to London for treatment for fast-depleting platelet levels, and then he left for London in November 2019.
Elections Date Announced
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on November 3, 2023, that 8th February 2024 is the poll date for the General Elections for the National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The date was announced by the President House in a statement following a meeting between the top election officials and President Alvi, hours after the election commission lawyer told the Supreme Court that elections will be held on February 11.
PTI New Chairman
On December 2, 2023, The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) on Saturday elected Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the new chairman in the intra-party elections held on the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Gohar won the chairman’s position unopposed.
The change was forced on the party after the Election Commission of Pakistan warned the PTI last month that it risked losing its emblem – a cricket bat – unless an internal ballot was held for party officers.
Election symbols are crucial in a country where the adult literacy rate is 58 percent, according to World Bank data.
Baloch Long March
Demanding the release of all “missing persons” and an end to “extrajudicial killing” in Balochistan under the leadership of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the march started in Turbat, Balochistan, on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of 24-year-old Balach Baloch.
According to BYC, when the march reached the capital, the city administration didn’t allow them to protest in front of the press club. Maharng Baloch said in her live video from the Facebook page of BYC that Islamabad police arrested 300 male protesters, eight women, and 10 children.
After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest from Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday, authorities have not spared his party members either.
Following is the list of all leaders of the former ruling party who have been arrested so far:
1- Asad Umar
On Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar was arrested from the premises of the IHC — the same court from where his chief was taken into custody.
According to eyewitnesses, PTI lawyers fought with the police to prevent Umar’s arrest, but the law enforcers overpowered them and took the PTI leader away. He was booked in two cases registered against him and other PTI leaders following the protests that ensued after Khan’s arrest.
2- Shah Mahmood Qureshi
On Thursday morning, PTI senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi was arrested for “inciting violent protests” after Khan’s arrest.
PTI also shared a video of Qureshi’s arrest. The party claimed that the ex-foreign minister had been taken to an undisclosed location.
3- Fawad Chaudhry
Chaudhry was finally apprehended by the police as he emerged from the Supreme Court building late on Wednesday night, where he had sought refuge for over 12 hours in an attempt to evade his impending arrest.
4- Omar Cheema
Former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema was arrested on Wednesday during a raid at his house by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab.
5- Aliya Hamza
According to ARY News, former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Aliya Hamza Malik was arrested in Islamabad from her residence on Wednesday.
6- Maleeka Bokhari
According to reports, authorities have picked up former MNA Maleeka from Islamabad
Other than this, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Falaknaz Chitrali and Musarrat Jamshed Cheema have been arrested so far.
7- Ejaz Chaudhry
Senator got arrested on Thursday after Khan’s arrest.
8- Ali Muhammad Khan
On Thursday, Ali Muhummad Khan got arrested.
9- Shireen Mazari
In the early hours of Friday, the former human rights minister was arrested from her home in Islamabad. According to reports, she has been taken to Adiala Jail.
#EXCLUSIVE: Police arresting former federal human rights minister and #PTI leader @ShireenMazari1 under 3 MPO, taking her to Adiala jail. While sitting in the @ICT_Police vehicle she chanted “victory to democracy and state terrorism is unacceptable.” pic.twitter.com/koaK93lXIS
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s women wing held a press conference on Monday at the KPK House, Islamabad. During this press conference, while criticising the current government, PTI women wing president Kanwal Shauzab and Maleeka Bokhari announced that Imran Khan did not go to D-Chowk on May 25 because the government had allegedly planned to kill a large number of protesters. To back up this conspiracy, they also showed a video clip to the audience which showed tear gas attack.
While they claimed that the video shows Shehbaz Sharif government attacking PTI’s women political workers. When someone in the audience pointed out that this is an old video, Kanwal Shauzab replied that because it is old, there is not as much smoke.
کنول شوزب اور ملیکہ بخاری نے پی ٹی آئی دور 2021 میں سرکاری ملازمین پر ڈی چوک میں کی گئی شیلنگ کی ویڈیو ابھی کی بتا کر پریس کانفرنس کر ڈالی۔ صحافیوں نے نشاندہی کی تو کہا یہ ہمارے دور کی ہے اس لیے دھواں کم نظر آ رہا ہے، اگر ان کے دور کی دیکھیں تو دھواں زیادہ نظر آئے گا۔ pic.twitter.com/CdHCcQyZmZ
The shared video clip is from 2021 when during Imran Khan’s government, the law enforcement attacked the civil servants’ protest at D Chowk and subjected the protesters to severe teargas shelling.
Several PTI workers and supporters shared a video clip on Twitter and have been corrected by journalists, politicians belonging to the Opposition and other social media users, some examples can be seen here, here, here, here and here.
The state has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brother Waseem Azeem, Parliamentary Secretary for Law Maleeka Bokhari said in a tweet. Waseem Azeem was convicted of Qadeel’s murder in 2016.
“The state has filed an appeal against the acquittal in the Qandeel Baloch case. The Hon Supreme Court of Pakistan has an opport [opportunity] to set an imp precedent in cases of such brutal murders. The PTI Government led by PM Imran Khan continues to stand for the protection of the rights of women & girls,” the tweet read.
State has filed an appeal against the acquittal in Qandeel Baloch case. The Hon supreme Court of Pakistan has an opport to set an imp precedent in cases of such brutal murders.The PTI Government led by PM @ImranKhanPTI continues to stand for protection of rights of women & girls
The Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) acquitted Waseem Azeem on Feburary 14. The verdict was announced on the basis of an agreement between the parties and on retraction of statements recorded by the witnesses.
Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Barrister Maleeka Bokhari in a tweet has said that the State will pursue prosecution in the Usman Mirza case.
“The State will pursue prosecution in the Usman Mirza case irrespective of recent developments relating to victim’s testimony. Irrefutable video & forensic evidence on record- anyone harrassing & stripping a woman must face full force of the law,” read Bokhari’s tweet.
Meeting held at @MoLawJusticeof1 The State will pursue prosecution in the Usman Mirza case irrespective of recent developments relating to victim’s testimony.Irrefutable video & forensic evidence on record- anyone harrassing & stripping a woman must face full force of the law. pic.twitter.com/SHRMCzhXk1
The case came back into the limelight again yesterday when Journalist Rauf Klasra, in a tweet said that the victim couple in the Usman Mirza case have refused to recognise the accused persons. He further said that police has said the couple have taken “one crore and have reached a settlement.”
In a press conference on Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary secretary on law Maleeka Bokhari announced that the bill passed on the chemical castration of rapists has been revoked.
“We have amended the criminal law and decided that the chemical castration clause will be taken out,” said Bokhari.
She said the decision was taken after the Islamic Ideology Council, a state-run body that interprets laws from an Islamic perspective, found chemical castration un-Islamic.
While talking about the Anti-Rape Bill 2021, Bokhari announced the abolishment of the “two-finger virginity test”. Moreover, according to her Pakistan’s rape conviction rate is less than 1- 2 per cent that’s why the government has introduced the setting up of Special Courts to avoid delays in the proceedings of rape cases.
Furthermore, under the new bill, she announced that National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) would register sex offenders so the government would have a record of such people.
“In an effort not to disclose the victim’s identity instead of open trial, video trials would take place under the new Anti-Rape Bill”, she added.
The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trail) Bill 2021 also includes:
1- Creation of anti-rape crisis cells in public hospitals to ensure prompt registration of the FIR, medico-legal examination
2- Use of modern devices during investigation and trial.
3- The accused is barred from the cross-examination of a rape survivor.
4- Evidence pertaining to the ‘immoral character’ of the victim is inadmissible in court.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister (PM) on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill said that no one can become Nawaz Sharif. “Such people are born this way,” said Gill while responding to Maryam Nawaz’s earlier comments about PM Khan. Maryam Nawaz had said that PM Imran Khan should not try to be Nawaz Sharif.
“These people are dangerous for the entire nation,” Gill said in a press conference, along with the Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Maleeka Bokhari.
While criticising Maryam Nawaz, Gill stated, “No one is safe from Maryam’s shadow, including her father [Nawaz Sharif] and her uncle [Shehbaz Sharif].”
“If you are talking about magic, tell us what kind of djinns helped you transfer your money abroad, tell us about the witches who helped you build these apartments [in London], which djinns and witches printed dollars for you to buy these apartments,” asked Gill, responding to Maryam’s comments about magic.
Female leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday defended Prime Minister Imran Khan’s comments on sexual violence and temptation. Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul, Parliamentary Secretary for Law Maleeka Ali Bokhari and MNA Kanwal Shauzab held a press conference and came out in support of PM Khan and called out the “liberal brigade” for misrepresenting facts.
Gul claimed that the premier was a “symbol of women empowerment”.
“For the first time in Pakistan, five women ministers are sitting in the federal cabinet. This means that if there is a symbol of women empowerment in Pakistan, it is Prime Minister Imran,” Gul said.
Gul added, “My culture has given me respect, Islam has taught me modesty. Do not try to distort the things said in the Holy Quran.”
Bokhari said that she was proud to be a member of parliament under the leadership of “a man who prioritised the protection of women and children”.
“You can’t distort a question and determine whether or not the premier cares about protecting women and children. You need to see what the government has done,” she said pointing to the establishment of special courts for deciding rape cases and anti-rape crisis cells at hospitals.
“The Prime Minister has set aside Rs100 million in the budget for implementation of the anti-rape law,” Bokhari added.
“We are strong women and we have been strengthened by our leader Imran Khan,” Bokhari said.
“Under PM Imran’s leadership, the two-finger test was abolished,” Bokhari said. “Because we realise the difficulties that women have to face, we ensured that they get their inheritance rights. No other premier has called for such a law,” she said.
MNA Kanwal Shauzab reiterated that PM Khan had empowered women in true sense.
Quoting a verse from the Holy Quran, which she said was the essence of the prime minister’s statement, she remarked that those contesting the premier’s statement were actually contesting Allah.
Shauzab, meanwhile, believes that if you are among those who are “fighting” against the premier’s statement in his HBO interview, then you are “disagreeing with the orders of Allah”.
She said PM Khan explained the commands of Allah regarding women.
“We are proud to live in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” Shauzab said, adding that our society does not accept obscenity.
Earlier in the day, another PTI MNA, Aliya Hamza Malik, too, spoke in support of the premier. In an appearance on Geo Pakistan on Tuesday, Malik urged “liberals” to listen to the premier’s statement before critiquing it.
She said the premier made a comparison between the East and the West when speaking about rape cases.
PM Khan has made strict laws for abusers, she said, adding that the state is fulfilling its responsibility and it is our job to make strict legislation.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Maleeka Bokhari was injured when the National Assembly (NA) turned into complete mayhem as Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif addressed the lower house.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Maleeka said, ” The people have elected us. We are equally part of the democracy as you are.”
“Accept this position and do not consider throwing shoes from the other side of the aisle. Do not use abusive language for the members of parliament,” added Maleeka, criticising the Opposition.
ن لیگ نےماڈل ٹاؤن میں خواتین کی تضحیک کی.قوم جانتی ہے کہ ن لیگ کاخواتین سے رویہ انتہائی غیر اخلاقی ہے خواتین سےغیر اخلاقی رویہ اختیار کرنان لیگ کی تاریخ ہے گزشتہ روز پیش آنےوالا واقعہ شرمناک اور قابل مذمت ہے میں نے خواتین کو تحفظ دلوانے کا بل پاس کروایا. :ملیکہ بخاری@MalBokharipic.twitter.com/ATgUHmkb58
“You [ Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] do not differentiate between a man and a woman. All you see is he/she is a member of PTI, and you attack them,” said Maleeka.
In a video shared by State Minister for Information Farrukh Habib on Tuesday, the PTI lawmaker Bokhari can be seen getting treatment for her injured eye.
ملیکہ بخاری خاتون رکن اسمبلی کی آنکھ پر بجٹ بک ماری گئی ہے جس سے انکی آنکھ زخمی ہوگئی۔ #ن لیگ اراکین اسمبلی کو خواتین کی عزت اور آبرو کا بھی کوئی احساس نہیں ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/3aRqkn3TPK
The NA proceedings witnessed violent scenes when parliamentarians were seen creating a ruckus, using filthy language, whistling, and attacking each other with budget books during and after the speech of Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif.
One of the members from the treasury benches threw a book towards Shehbaz, which fell on the dais in front of him. PTI and PML-N members then came close to a physical brawl in front of the NA Speaker’s chair, but he could do anything requesting parliamentarians to behave and later adjourning the house.
