Tag: Maryam Nawaz

  • SC rejects PTI’s appeal; Daska re-polling order by ECP upheld

    SC rejects PTI’s appeal; Daska re-polling order by ECP upheld

    The Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding re-polling in NA-75 Daska’s entire constituency.

    A three-member bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial gave a short order upholding the earlier order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for re-polling in NA-75.

    Celebrating the SC’s decision, Maryam Nawaz tweeted that it had once again been proven that the government had tried to rob the votes of the people of Daska. She said that only re-polling is not enough. “Those who robbed the votes will have to be made answerable.”

    Reacting to the same, Punjab chief minister’s aide Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that they respected the apex court’s judgement and the PTI would win again.

    The development comes a day after PML-N demanded re-polling in 109 ‘controversial’ polling stations of the NA-75 Daska, if not the entire constituency.

    In February, the ECP had announced that new elections will be held in NA-75 after its returning officer alleged irregularities during the by-polls in a report submitted to the commission.

  • PDM hype dies down further after Fazl, Maryam fall sick

    PDM hype dies down further after Fazl, Maryam fall sick

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz are suffering from fever and have suspended all political activities for four days, their parties have said.

    Fazl, who also heads Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), has been suffering from the fever for the past two days,” a report said citing JUI-F sources. “He is currently residing at his Dera Ismail Khan residence.”

    It further said Fazl had sent his sample for coronavirus testing but the result came back negative.

    “He has suspended political activities [for the time being] as he is unwell,” said sources. “Doctors have advised him to rest.”

    On the other hand, Maryam too has caught “high fever” and is experiencing severe pain in her throat, said the PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb.

    “Maryam has suspended her political activities for four days,” she said in a statement. “She has also gotten herself tested for coronavirus.”

    The PML-N spokesperson said Maryam has been advised by her doctor to take rest, adding she attended a Lahore High Court (LHC) hearing the other day despite being sick.

    CRACKS IN PDM:

    Responding to Maryam’s comments against their party, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders on Sunday said that the PML-N VP’s tone was regrettable but their party knows how to respond to taunting remarks.

    Addressing a joint press conference with Shazia Marri and Maula Bux Chandio, Sherry said that while PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari adopted a “political tone”, the PML-N VP’s tone in her Saturday’s press conference was “regrettable”.

    “We were sorry to see the word ‘selected’ being used to describe the PPP,” Marri said. “However, the PPP knows how to respond to every taunting remark.”

    “There are people in PML-N who understand the delicacy of the occasion. We will continue democratic traditions inside and outside the parliament,” she said.

    The PPP leader said that her party had reservations against Azam Nazeer Tarar, PML-N’s candidate for leader of the opposition slot in the Senate.

    Advising Maryam, Sherry said that the PML-N VP must “reorient her political objectives” and “stick to [the aim of] ousting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government [instead of issuing controversial statements]”.

    “We do not want the PDM to dissolve, therefore, the PML-N should refrain from issuing remarks that would empower the selected government,” she stressed.

    Adding to the comments, Maula Bux Chandio said that the PDM is neither “anyone’s property” nor “a child’s play.”

    “Therefore, saying that the long march will not take place is [inappropriate],” Chandio said.

  • PDM at war

    PDM at war

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is at war with itself, it seems. The opposition alliance that was formed last year as an anti-government alliance now seems to be fighting a battle within its ranks.

    The two largest parties — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — have had a falling out of sorts in recent weeks.

    While we saw over the months since the formation of the PDM that the PML-N leadership took a rather strong stand on the establishment meddling in politics, the PPP was being cautious when it came to naming anyone directly. The strategies of both parties also seemed to be different, which is understandable given the fact that PDM is a mix of different parties with different ideologies. But one of their common goals was to get rid of the government.

    There were of course differences in strategies as to how to do it: the PML-N and Maulana Fazlur Rehman believed in resignations but the PPP believes that it should be done within the democratic framework while remaining in the system. It is understandable that the PPP would not want to resign given that it is the only Opposition party that is in power in a province. It has more at stake in parliamentary system at the moment than other parties of PDM.

    These issues have now come back in public again after the recent PDM meeting where former president Asif Zardari asked former premier Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan when the issue of resignations from assemblies was proposed once again by the latter. What ensued was a public war of words. From a tweet by Maryam Nawaz warning PM Imran to be wary of a ‘substitute’ being fostered, to Bilawal Bhutto saying he will not respond to a PML-N vice president’s statement and his party VP could respond.

    Then Bhutto-Zardari said a family from Lahore has a track record of being selected, quite obviously taking a jibe at the Sharifs. Things escalated even faster when the PPP went against the consensus decision of PDM on the Leader of the Opposition in Senate being from the PML-N. First they said they do not agree on the name of Azam Nazeem Tarar as he is defending two police officers accused in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination case, who have been accused of negligence after her murder.

    The PML-N says that if the PPP could have a deputy PM who was directly nominated in BB’s letter, then why would they have an issue with Tarar’s name who is not defending any murderers. The PPP’s Yousaf Raza Gilani recently became the Leader of Opposition in Senate after securing votes from the government’s ally, BAP. Apart from the ANP and Jamaat-e-Islami, the rest of the Opposition parties supported Tarar in Senate.

    Now it remains to be seen whether the PDM decides that PPP will remain part of the Opposition alliance or not. The government, it seems, is having fun at the PPP’s expense. However, it is important that instead of this infighting, the Opposition parties should sit with the government and work on electoral reforms, accountability reforms, judicial reforms, among other things. Every democratic government must complete its tenure and bring about reforms.

    It is high time that the PDM stop thinking about a change in government and think long term so that it can benefit the system. Any elections without proper reforms would lead to finger-pointing by those who lose. It is important that all parties put aside their differences for the greater good of democracy.

  • VIDEO: Zardari is life-long chairman of son-in-laws’ union, I am the general secy, says Capt (r) Safdar

    As both the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) reportedly pour in efforts to save the sinking ship of the opposition alliance amid growing differences, a statement by PML-N’s Capt (r) Muhammad Safdar has left netizens in fits of laughter.

    Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Safdar said the media shouldn’t expect him to comment over the straining relations between the PPP and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

    “[PPP chief] Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is like a brother to me while his father [and PPP co-chairperson] Asif Ali Zardari is the life-long president of the son-in-law’s union. I am the general secretary,” said the son-in-law of former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif.

    So, Safdar went on to say, he shared a lot of relations with the PPP leadership and wouldn’t give any statement.

    Earlier, his wife and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also refused to answer a journalist’s query regarding reports of the PPP backstabbing the opposition alliance.

    ZARDARI & SAFDAR:

    The son of Hakim Ali Zardari, a landowner from Sindh, Zardari rose to prominence after his 1987 marriage to PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s daughter Benazir Bhutto, who became the PM of Pakistan after her election in 1988.

    After his wife’s assassination in 2007, Zardari, the new co-chairperson, led the PPP to victory in the 2008 general election.

    Safdar, on the other hand, married Maryam Nawaz in 1992 while he was serving as a captain in the Pakistan Army and had been the military secretary to then PM Nawaz Sharif.

    After retiring from the military, he joined the civil service. He joined politics after returning to Pakistan from exile in 2007 along with the Sharif family and is now a key PML-N leader.

  • Maryam Nawaz’s statement about father’s struggles sparks off a meme fest

    Maryam Nawaz’s statement about father’s struggles sparks off a meme fest

    Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who has emerged as a strong political leader in the past couple of months, recently talked about the hardships faced by her father, asking everyone to name any other person who has suffered as much as he has.

    Maryam’s statement has given memers an opportunity to treat us with some hilarious memes.

    https://twitter.com/_noor_nama/status/1373922426451591168?s=20
    https://twitter.com/TaimoorGhik/status/1373742864337936385?s=20
  • ‘Too-weak-to-fight-establishment Zardari’ has also apologised to Maryam, Rana Sanaullah claims

    ‘Too-weak-to-fight-establishment Zardari’ has also apologised to Maryam, Rana Sanaullah claims

    Punjab president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Rana Sanaullah, has revealed that confusion prevails among ranks of the joint opposition ever since Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — also a member of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), said he is weak and cannot fight the establishment on his own.

    The PML-N leader, speaking to Geo News’ programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, said he was unable to understand what the former president meant by that statement.

    Sanaullah said the joint opposition had decided that office of the leader of opposition in Senate would be set aside for the PML-N but the PPP kept saying it deserved to appoint him or her from within their ranks.

    “During Zardari’s speech, someone came inside [his room] and said that there is chaos outside. After that, Zardari changed his stance,” he said.

    Following the disturbance, according to Sanaullah, Zardari said he is weak and cannot fight the establishment on his own. “I have only one son, and no one else.”

    Sana also said PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was upset over some words of the former president’s speech, adding that the PPP co-chairman even apologised to Maryam Nawaz for it.

    The PML-N leader was talking about the key PDM meeting from last week during which opposition parties were unable to achieve a breakthrough on the issue of resignations from the parliament before the long march as the PPP remained the only party reluctant to resign.

    Following the meeting, rumours of the PPP backstabbing the joint opposition went rife, as they remained at crossroads over the appointment of the Upper House’s Opp leader.

    “It was not my intention to hurt your feelings,” Zardari said to Maryam after the meeting during which Zardari had spoken at length to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif via videoconferencing and urged him to return to Pakistan if he was ready to wage a war against the government.

    Maryam and Bilawal have reportedly since been trading barbs.

  • Bilawal-less PDM decides to resist PPP’s bid to field its own candidate for Senate Opp leader

    Amid rumours of a rift between joint opposition members after “a deal was struck” and pundits’ predictions of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) “backstabbing” others, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has decided to resist a bid by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s party to bring in its own nominee as leader of the opposition in the Senate.

    According to reports, with an aim to keep the PDM on the same page, head of the opposition alliance, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, called on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and Opposition Leader of Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz in Jati Umra on Sunday.

    As per details of the meeting, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) head met the PML-N leaders to discuss future strategy regarding long march and resignations from the parliament.

    It emerged that Fazl and Maryam decided during the meeting to resist the PPP’s bid to secure the leader of opposition’s slot which in principle had been awarded by the alliance to the PML-N’s nominee, Senator Azam Nazir Tarar.

    PDM has postponed the long march for an indefinite period after the PPP, a key member of the alliance, refused to resign from assemblies and stressed to continue the movement from within the parliament.

    Fazl has said that apart from PPP, all parties have agreed on giving resignations from assemblies. He said that PPP has sought more time for consultation on the issue.

    PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had said that be it long march or no-confidence motion against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, former prime minister and PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif must return to Pakistan.

    “This is not the first time that the democratic forces have encountered rigging,” he said and added he had spent 14 years of his life in jail.

    After the meeting at Jati Umra, the two senior leaders of the opposition alliance addressed the media, where Fazl said that the PDM would be present during Maryam Nawaz’s hearing on March 26 with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a show of solidarity.

    “The apparent reasons cited by NAB have exposed the bureau for the puppet institution it is. It has approached the court for cancellation of [Maryam’s] bail on the basis that she speaks against institutions.

    “So the institution has been formed not to combat corruption but to serve other institutions,” he said.

    Fazl maintained that the workers of the PDM will number in the thousands. Furthermore, he shot down any rumours of a rift within the alliance after the appointment of Yousaf Raza Gillani was appointed as the leader of the opposition in the Senate.

    “PDM is not only united, through mutual consultations we have matters under control. We all have to move ahead forward. The nine parties that have a particular ideology will request the PPP to respect their viewpoint,” he said.

    Fazl said that nine parties of the PDM are united on one principle while the PPP has yet to make a decision. He added that the PDM would wait for the decision of the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) – which will meet in April – so that the alliance can move forward effectively.

    “The PDM is united and we are trying to resolve our internal issues mutually. We are trying to find a solution and we are ready to consider further the arguments of the PPP. We will effectively improve our issues with the PPP and will wait for the decision of the PPP CEC. We will tell the PPP to agree on the decision of nine parties,” he said.

    He said that the PDM is united and we have to move together while the people of Pakistan will stand by the sovereignty of the country.

    He said that there was a detailed discussion with Maryam on the situation facing the country.

    “NAB has summoned Maryam Nawaz on March 26. I wonder whether the NAB has been tasked to serve and represent the state institutions? The reasons given for Maryam Nawaz’s NAB summoning have exposed the NAB. PDM workers and leaders will be present on the occasion of Maryam Nawaz’s appearance in NAB,” he warned.

  • Is PDM over? Nawaz believes ‘you know why’ PPP isn’t sure about long march, resignations

    Is PDM over? Nawaz believes ‘you know why’ PPP isn’t sure about long march, resignations

    With differences apparently coming to the fore among ranks of the opposition alliance as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) seems to be stepping back from confrontation, a statement by former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has raised quite a few eyebrows.

    Talking about the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) Tuesday meeting, Nawaz told reporters in London that the long march “was set to be held on its time”, but the PPP had sought time to discuss the issue of the resignation in its Central Executive Committee (CEC) due to “reasons you already know”.

    He, however, dodged a question pertaining to the possibility of a deal being struck, “a consequence of which could be delays in joint opposition’s anti-govt plans, as sought by the PPP time and again over the past several months”.

    Earlier in the day, PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari urged the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo to return to Pakistan to strengthen the PDM.

    The two senior leaders spoke during the meeting of the anti-government alliance, wherein the former president told Nawaz that he must be ready to go to jail if they wish to fight against the establishment.

    Zardari said that he remained in jail for 14 years. He urged the PML-N supremo to return to the country at the earliest. He complained that PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar did not come to Pakistan to cast his vote in the Senate election.

    “The struggle against the establishment should be aimed at achieving democratic stability, instead of settling personal scores,” Zardari told the meeting.

    Nawaz, who attended the meeting through video link, was told that he needs to return whether the PDM moves forward with a long march or a no-confidence motion. Zardari further said that Nawaz’s presence was extremely important to secure support from Punjab.

    Speaking to Nawaz about the idea of mass resignations, Zardari maintained that such a move would only help PM Imran Khan and the members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    He further stated that no move would be made to divide the parties of the PDM, emphasising that their war is within the parliament, not from the mountains.

    “When you return to Pakistan, we will hand over our resignations to you,” Zardari added, urging both Sharif and Dar to return.

    Defending her father, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz stressed that her father’s “life is in danger” and questioned how he could return under the circumstances.

    “Does Zardari sahab guarantee that my father’s life will not be in danger in Pakistan?”

    Maryam then reportedly said that she is there “of her own accord”.

    “Just like you are on video link, so is Mian sahab,” she said.

    She said that Nawaz’s life is “threatened under NAB custody” and that he had suffered “two heart attacks while in jail”.

    While the episode has “exposed” cracks within the opposition alliance which analysts say have now been there for a long time, reports claim Zardari later apologised to Maryam.

    “It was never my intent to have you apologise. I merely considered myself a daughter to you and complained as Bakhtawar or Aseefa would,” Maryam reportedly told the former president.

  • NAB strongly reacts to Maryam’s tirade

    NAB strongly reacts to Maryam’s tirade

    Reacting to PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’ tirade, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has dismissed the same as an attempt to halt ongoing investigation against the Sharif family in Chaudhry Sugar Mills and money laundering cases.

    A day ago, Maryam had questioned who gave the bureau the right to “judge [her] statements”.

    Taking notice of the allegations that came as NAB moved LHC seeking cancellation of Maryam’s bail, the bureau, in a press release, said that the PML-N leader was trying to cause differences among institutions.

    “Statements against NAB and judiciary had been given in the past and attack over NAB Lahore office last year is evidence of it.”

    The bureau claimed that Maryam had “challenged law and order by giving inciteful speeches”, citing the violence that had erupted during her appearance at the NAB Lahore office in August last year.

    “NAB is an independent institution and striving to eliminate corruption from the country without any discrimination.”

    Read more – Maryam Nawaz being threatened, says Nawaz

    It said that after NAB summoned her in a personal capacity, Maryam was “making efforts to create an environment of chaos in the country, besides continuing to give treasonous statements against respectable institutions like NAB, judiciary and law enforcement agencies”.

    The primary purpose of these statements was to create obstacles in, and influence, the investigation of cases related to corruption and money laundering against the Sharif family besides promoting conditions that were detrimental to peace, the handout said.

  • Zardari asks Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan

    Zardari asks Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari has reportedly asked former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan in the ongoing meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

    According to reports, Zardari asked Sharif to return to Pakistan while discussing the resignations from the assemblies. He also said that “if we have to fight together, then we have to go to jail together as well”.

    “I have spent 14 years in jail,” said Zardari. He also complained about Ishaq Dar not returning to Pakistan for the Senate elections. Zardari asked both Sharif and Dar to return to the country, saying that if they return to the country, then the PPP will submit its resignations to Nawaz Sharif.

    Zardari said that if the opposition resigns from the assemblies now, it will strengthen Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as the establishment.

    Sources say that Maryam Nawaz has said her father’s life is under threat. She asked Asif Zardari to give a guarantee that nothing will happen to Nawaz Sharif upon his return.

    Later, after the meeting, core members of the PDM including Maulana Fazl ur Rahman, Maryam Nawaz and Yousuf Raza Gilani addressed a press conference in which they confirmed Zardari’s request.