Tag: Marriyum Aurangzeb

  • PML-N’s agrees on not holding early elections

    PML-N’s agrees on not holding early elections

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with his key cabinet members and party leaders, had a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and it has been decided that there will be no early elections and the main focus of the current government should be on providing economic relief to the masses and also taking tough but long-term economic decisions, reports The News.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said that PM Shehbaz and ministers in his delegation presented a full report on Pakistan’s socio-economic and political situation to Nawaz Sharif.

    Aurangzeb further stated that the meeting deliberated upon the IMF conditions and how the people of Pakistan were affected by them.

    Marriyum Aurangzeb said there was nothing surprising in the London meeting.

    “Nawaz Sharif is our Quaid. The meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif was long overdue. We have inherited today’s Pakistan in a written-off situation and we needed to review the whole situation to formulate a plan. This was a private delegation.”

    When asked about early elections, she said that the current government’s “mandate is till next year and we are here to give relief to the people of Pakistan. It’s the history of Nawaz Sharif to take Pakistan out of economic crisis and if there is one person who can deliver, that’s Shehbaz Sharif. Only the PML-N has the right strategy.”

  • ‘Enjoying free ride on tax money’: PM Shehbaz’s London visit receives criticism

    ‘Enjoying free ride on tax money’: PM Shehbaz’s London visit receives criticism

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and the senior leadership of the main government party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), have gone to London where they are due to meet with party supremo Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday.

     PM Shehbaz Sharif departed for London via a British Airways flight shortly after midnight. It is expected that he will remain in London for two to three days.

    The 10-member delegation consisting of PM Sharif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Power Minister Khurram Dastagir, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Attaullah Tarar, among others have gone to London.

    Their visit has received a lot of backlash from PML-N’s opponents to the general public. The timing of the PM and his top leadership’s visit to London is being questioned, with observers asking why such a trip is necessary when the country is in dire straits.

    Former PM Imran Khan said in a jalsa in Jehlum on Tuesday that the entire cabinet was going to meet a ‘corrupt and convicted’ person, that too on taxpayers’ money.

    “This entire cabinet is going to London on your [tax] money — they won’t spend their own money.”

    Later Twitter reacted to the news when Deputy Secretary-General PML-N Attaullah Tarar shared a picture of the delegation visiting London.

  • PML-N disbands Information Ministry’s Digital Media Wing for ‘opposition hate speech’

    PML-N disbands Information Ministry’s Digital Media Wing for ‘opposition hate speech’

    The new PML-N government has decided to close the Digital Media Wing (DMW), which was formed by the previous PTI administration to publicise official information on social media platforms.

    In her first press conference as minister for information and broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, on April 19, said the PTI-established DMW was made up of its own workers and bot accounts who targeted the opposition and national institutions.

    The information ministry has established a cyber wing to disseminate the government’s accomplishments and publicise its strategic plan on social media platforms.

    Furthermore, she stated that the cyber wing needed to be more innovative and up to date with changing trends, as well as keep up with offices such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to maintain Pakistan’s good image abroad.

    The closure has split industry experts, with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) welcoming the decision to disband the controversial Digital Media Wing.

    The HRCP has been rejecting the DMW, claiming that it is pursuing the PTI’s agenda against political rivals, and there have been allegations that state resources are being used to advance the party agenda, including trolling media persons.

    Read more: FIA picks up 24 over social media campaign against Pak Army

    Even so, a social media rights activist applauded the decision to transfer the DMW’s responsibilities to the information ministry’s cyber wing, claiming that it would strengthen checks on any misuse of digital media platforms by state entities.

    The PTI established the DMW shortly after taking power in 2018. It was the reincarnation of the Press Information Department’s Social Media Wing (PID).

  • Twitter reacts to only five women in Shehbaz’s cabinet

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet members took oath on Tuesday. In the new setup, the cabinet has 31 federal ministers, three ministers of state and three advisers in the first phase, as has been said by the coalition government.

    As usual, the federal cabinet includes less ratio of females. The list includes:

    Marriyum Aurangzeb – Minister for Information

    Shazia Atta Marri- Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme

    Hina Rabbani Khar- Minister for Foreign Affairs,

    Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha- Adviser to PM on Finance

    Sherry Rehman- Minister of state for Climate change

    Following the oath-taking, social media users criticise the induction of only five females in the new federal cabinet.

    https://twitter.com/meinhiburihun/status/1516276827769212931?s=20&t=RsZ9tvKjcuEwfqKS0mnnYA

    https://twitter.com/jawismm/status/1516345385631035398?s=20&t=RsZ9tvKjcuEwfqKS0mnnYA

  • ‘Neutral tou janwar hota hai’: Opposition reacts to PM Khan’s neutral comment

    ‘Neutral tou janwar hota hai’: Opposition reacts to PM Khan’s neutral comment

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman hit out at Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and said that the premier’s recent use of tone and language was “shocking”.

    “If someone from the Opposition would have translated neutral the way [PM Khan] did, the government would have created a ruckus.”

    “The government has been saying for three and a half years that institutions are neutral,” said Rehman.

    “The prime minister himself says he is not part of any bloc and is neutral. He claims to have introduced a neutral umpire in cricket” said Sherry Rehman.

    She further accused PM Khan of pushing the country towards a crisis in his attempts to avoid the joint Opposition’s no-confidence motion against him.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted, “Imran Sahib has put dirt and filth in politics. By cleaning up this filth and filthiness, we will get rid of the stench and suffocation in society.”

    Aurangzeb even responded to Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s recent comment that democracy is not a system of extreme divisions, it is based on political consensus. Fawad also said, “I don’t think there should be such extreme division that conversations become difficult.”

    “Explain these things to Imran Sahib who has turned politics into enmity. Talks happen with politicians, not abusive thugs.”

    “The one who created division, chaos, and disorder in the society, his name is Imran Khan,” said Marriyum Aurangzeb.

    PM Khan’s recent comments have heightened the political temperature in the country.

    Prime Minister during his address in Lower Dir said, “Humans either side with good or evil. Only animals remain neutral.”

    His remarks had come a day after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (

    DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar categorically stated that the army had nothing to do with politics and called for avoiding unnecessary discussion and speculation about the army’s alleged involvement in political affairs.

  • ‘Legal action will be taken against you if Nawaz doesn’t return’: Fawad warns Shehbaz

    ‘Legal action will be taken against you if Nawaz doesn’t return’: Fawad warns Shehbaz

    The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that either Shehbaz Sharif asks Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan or legal action will be taken against him [Shehbaz] for providing a fake affidavit.

    In a press conference, the minister said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has directed the Attorney-General of Pakistan (AGP) to ensure Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is brought back to Pakistan.

    Following Fawad’s statement claimed that the PML-N secretary-general Ahsan Iqbal Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI)-led government is suffering from “Nawaz phobia.”

    “The government holds cabinet meetings only to discuss Nawaz Sharif, which shows that it is suffering from Nawaz Sharif phobia,” he said.

    Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that “Nawaz Sharif had gone abroad for treatment after seeking permission from the country’s judiciary.”

    “Issuing statement against Nawaz and Shahbaz on a daily basis shows how panicked the government is,” Marriyum said.

    She went on to say that instead of telling the attorney general to ensure Nawaz’s return to Pakistan, the government should direct him to take action against those who steal wheat, sugar, electricity, gas, and medicines.

  • ‘All overseas Pakistanis votes shall go to PTI’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘All overseas Pakistanis votes shall go to PTI’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday, while talking to the media, said that all overseas Pakistanis shall be voting for the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and as a result, the Opposition will have a problem with this.

    “40 of Punjab’s and 80 constituencies of the country will be decided by overseas voters,” said Rasheed.

    “Go to court or do whatever you want, the law has been made and elections will be conducted through the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM),” said the minister.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb commenting on EVMs said, “Elections shall not happen through EVM. Elections and electoral reforms can not be carried out in an undemocratic and authoritarian manner.”

    “They [government] could not get biometrics done for the Corona Fund, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and Health Card, now they are talking about elections on EVM?” added Aurangzeb.

    Aurangzeb further criticising the government said, “Parliament gives funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Funds for national resources and institutions are not Imran Khan’s personal estate.”

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Thay 64 nikly 50 votes’, PPP’s Mustafa Khokhar says it’s also Opposition’s fault
    
			
    ‘Thay 64 nikly 50 votes’, PPP’s Mustafa Khokhar says it’s also Opposition’s fault
    
			
    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar appeared in Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ and questioned the role of Chairman of Senate of Pakistan Sadiq Sanjrani. Khokhar said that it was the Opposition’s fault too as their party’s members weren’t present at the time during the time of voting.
    

    The bills proposed by the PTI government were officially passed by the Upper House of Parliament (Senate) on Friday. While answering the question on the conflicts between the Joint Opposition, Khokhar maintained his stance and said that the Opposition should have maintained the number while voting in Senate.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    “Thy 64, nikly 50  votes” (They were supposed to be 64 votes but actual votes were 50) he added. While criticising the government, Khokhar stated: “We know which people had been called by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) in the joint session of parliament.”
    

    The joint Opposition of the parliament is expected to meet today (Saturday) to decide how and when it will challenge the passed laws by the government in the parliament (which were passed in Opposition’s absence) in court, reports Dawn.
    

    “The meeting discussed the issue of bulldozing the government’s legislation in the joint sitting of the parliament and decided that the united opposition would challenge the government’s fascism and unconstitutionality inside and outside parliament,” said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb.
    

    Speaking in the meeting, the Leader of the Opposition and President of PML-N Shehbaz Sharif said the constitution did not recognise the government’s legislation as legal and termed the laws “decrees” of Imran Niazi” (Prime Minister Imran Khan).
    

    He was quoted as saying: “The government, which has been bombing the people with inflation, carried out a suicide attack on the parliament. After being disgraced by the people, the PTI government is now attacking the constitution.”
    

    While voting in the Parliament on Thursday, the Opposition walked out of the National Assembly (NA) and gave the government a chance to pass the laws on their own.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Govt is only giving takleef’, Opposition slams price hike
    
			
    The Opposition slammed Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s government for increasing petroleum prices once again and setting a new record in the country’s history. 
    

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said, “Government officers are being changed because of incompetence but Imran Khan is still sitting on his seat after the biggest incompetence and corruption,” adding that it had been proved that the incumbent government could “only give takleef (trouble) to people instead of relief”.
    

    “[PM] Imran Niazi has become a killer of people’s joy,” tweeted Shehbaz.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took to Twitter and wrote, “Govt increase petrol in the dead of night by Rs8. Increase of almost 20rs in less than a month.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    PPP leader Sherry Rehman also slammed the government and tweeted, “Days after announcing a ‘relief package’, PTI govt drops another petrol bomb by hiking petrol prices by a whopping Rs8.14/L. Petrol prices now stand at a record Rs145.8/L. First time in Pakistan’s history that prices of all petroleum products are above Rs110/L.” 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb demanded the resignation of PM Khan. “Increasing the price of petrol and sugar under the relief package is only increasing the hardships of the people and making life easier for the mafia and filling their pockets.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Earlier today, the Opposition protested against the ‘petrol bomb’ by walking out during Senate proceedings.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Meanwhile, PPP Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi chose to protest the increase in petrol prices by cycling to Parliament House from Parliament Lodges.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    British court orders unfreezing of Shehbaz Sharif, son’s UK bank accounts
    
			
    British court orders unfreezing of Shehbaz Sharif, son’s UK bank accounts
    
			
    A United Kingdom (UK) court has ordered to unfreeze Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his family’s bank accounts for lack of evidence of corruption and money laundering, reported Geo News.
    

    The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) unfroze the bank accounts of former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif and those of his son, Suleman Shehbaz, on Monday.
    

    The NCA had conducted a 17-month long probe in which it examined Shehbaz Sharif’s financial transactions over the past 20 years. It said that no evidence of money laundering or criminal activities against the PML-N president or his family was found.
    

    The UK’s top anti-corruption agency filed a unilateral application before Judge Rimmer to declare that its two-year high-profile investigation in the jurisdictions of Pakistan, UK, and Dubai found no evidence of money laundering and criminal conduct on part of the two Sharifs who were investigated. 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The NCA had initiated the probe after Pakistan’s Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) had shared evidence with the UK crime agency.
    

    After the Westminster Magistrates Court allowed the accounts to be frozen and issued a probe consent to the NCA on December 19, 2019, Suleman Shehbaz’s declared Barclays account, Shehbaz Sharif’s HBL UK and Barclays account were immediately probed, seized and monies were frozen.
    

    Usually, anti-money laundering investigations go back only six years, but in this case, the NCA used its excessive powers and investigated Shehbaz Sharif and his son’s transactions dating back to around 20 years.
    

    NCA’s investigators started the probe from the first flat that Shehbaz Sharif bought in 2004 on Edgware Road when he was in exile and asked him to produce evidence of the clean origin of the money, including mortgage payments, sources of proceeds in his accounts, salaries and dividends, and full proceeds of the property purchase in the UK bought during exile.
    

    The NCA investigated Suleman Shehbaz’s Barclays account declared in Pakistan with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and looked into all transfers that were made from Pakistan after the State Bank of Pakistan’s approval. The NCA went through each receipt of transfers from the official money exchangers.
    

    The court documents obtained by this correspondent from credible sources show that the NCA received a letter from the ARU on December 11, 2019, in which it levelled allegations of criminal conduct against Shehbaz Sharif and Suleman Shehbaz.
    

    The government of Pakistan had requested the UK government to seize all assets and funds of Shehbaz Sharif and his family and asked them to return the same to Pakistan and extradite Suleman Shehbaz with his family.
    

    Advisor to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said that reports of Shehbaz Sharif being acquitted by the British court were incorrect, clarifying that neither had the ARU nor NAB requested the UK government to initiate a probe against the PML-N leader.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    “[These transactions] were declared as a suspicious transaction by the UK authorities and the NCA secured an asset freezing order(AFO) from the court against these funds,” he tweeted.
    

    “The news about the alleged acquittal of Shehbaz Sharif or his son Suleman run by one news channel is incorrect and misreporting. It was a result of a suspicious transaction reported by a bank to NCA. The investigation by the NCA against Suleman Shehbaz and some of his family members was not initiated at the request of Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) or National Accountability Bureau (NAB),” tweeted Akbar, who had been keeping a low profile for the last couple of months.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said: “The UK court’s decision has unequivocally exonerated Shehbaz Sharif and his family of all malicious and vexatious claims of corruption and money laundering by Imran Khan. The NCA conducted a 21-month global investigation spanning across a 20-year timeframe whilst overcoming unprecedented jurisdictional challenges.”
    

    “Never in the history of Pakistan has such a public office-holder been subjected to global scrutiny and multi-jurisdictional probing. Imran Khan has been exposed as a charlatan, willing to malign and assassinate characters of honest public office-holders. False corruption narrative exposed as nothing more than a smokescreen and Imran Khan to be an unscrupulous ringmaster of a circus built on incompetence, deceit and stained by the indignation of the innocent and the poor,” she said.