Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has again stressed that he has no fight with the military.
Talking with journalists in Zaman Park, Khan said: “There is no fight with the army, this army is mine.”
Earlier, Khan said that he is ready to talk to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, however, he was of the view that the army chief treats him like his enemy.
Commenting on the mass departure of leaders from his party, Khan said, “I will give a big surprise in the coming days.”
Khan said some party leaders are leaving the party under compulsion while some have been exposed.
He also claimed that PTI will win the next general elections despite the desertions of party leaders.
In case of Imran’s disqualification, the PTI chief said, Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi would lead the party.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Dr Shireen Mazari has announced that she is leaving the party and politics.
During a short interaction with the media, the senior leader of the party unexpectedly called it quits, saying that she and her children went through a lot in the past few days because of her incarceration.
She mentioned that her daughter, lawyer and activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, went through a lot. The former minister also said that she is not in good health anymore.
In the beginning of the presser, she pointedly condemned the violence on May 9 when supporters of PTI clashed with law enforcement agencies.
“Not just May 9 and 10, but I have always condemned the violence on state symbols like GHQ, Parliament and Supreme Court,” she said.
After the May 9 riots when PTI workers allegedly attacked military installations, many of the party’s senior leaders including Shireen were put in jail for inciting violence. Mazari was arrested several times in the past few days despite being given release orders by the court.
Shireen also served as human rights minister during Imran Khan’s government till his ouster in April 2022. She joined the PTI in 2008 and since then has remained a vocal member of the party.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Monday called for strict action against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
According to an official statement, the decision was made during a six-hour meeting of the PDM, heads of coalition parties with Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.
The meeting also decided to take action against those involved in maligning state institutions, including the armed forces and judiciary, through a “smear campaign”.
“The meeting strongly condemned attacks on police and Rangers, who were obeying court orders, and called it an enmity against the state,” the statement said.
“All evidences and proofs are available, under which stern action will be taken against those involved in the unrest,” it added.
PDM strongly condemned the attacks on the police and Rangers personnel who were complying with the court’s orders on the direction of the PTI chairman and termed it “unacceptable”.
Expressing solidarity with officers and jawans, the meeting resolved that strict action should be taken against the law-breaking elements as per the law. The session also termed the attacks on the law enforcers as enmity with the state which cannot be tolerated.
“The entire nation witnessed that the PTI is not a political party but a group of trained militants,” the declaration read, adding that given the evidence and proof, it has been decided to take action as per the law.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) newly-appointed Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz took a jibe at arch-rivals Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for their leaders’ reactions after getting arrested.
Recalling the time when her father, former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, was imprisoned in Attock Fort in 1999 after a military coup by the-then army chief General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, she said, “You cannot even spend an hour there, he remained there for 14 months.”
Talking about her own time in jail where she spent five months, Maryam Nawaz said, “Death cell mein reh kar aayi hoon, phir bhi kabhi media ke saamnay nahin royi” (I stayed in a death cell but didn’t shed any tear in front of the media), adding that she was incarcerated during extreme heat but didnt pity herself.
“I had one charpai; the bathroom and room were the same”, she elaborated.
She reminded the members of the press that other PML-N leaders also spent months in jail and were unable to get bail.
Discussing the jail time PTI leaders had to face, Maryam Nawaz said that they couldn’t even bear jail for two days, stressing that this is nothing compared to what PML-N has faced.
She reiterated that PTI was under the protection of former spymaster, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence, General (retd) Faiz Hameed but now it’s gone.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has dismissed claims made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and Senator, Azam Swati, that he had been subjected to custodial torture and stripping by two military officials.
In a joint press conference today (Friday), Sanaullah along with Additional Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Ayaz Khan and Head of Cybercrime Waqaruddin Syed responded to Swati’s allegations.
The minister said that the FIA did not hand Swati over to any other institutions and denied allegations of torture, alleging that Swati and PTI were instigating mischief. “It is important to put facts before the nation, as they lie brazenly,” the minister added.
He also invited the additional director of FIA to present the “facts” behind the raid that was conducted to arrest Swati in October.
Ayaz said that the First Information Report (FIR) which was registered against Swati was for “a cognisable offence” after obtaining “proper” search, seizure and arrest warrants.
He clarified that Swati was not arrested in front of his grandchildren. He further said his team went to Swati’s house with the police and before entering the house they “properly introduced” themselves at the gate.
Talking about PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s allegations regarding the torture and stripping of his party members including Swati and Shahbaz Gill, Sanaullah said that he doesn’t understand why Khan keeps repeating the same narrative.
“Imran Khan has adopted an anti-national agenda and instigates propaganda. He wants to take the country toward chaos and anarchy. His propaganda will be countered at all levels,” the minister said.
Earlier today, Swati alleged that “Major General Faisal” and “Sector Commander Fahim” were the “two culprits” behind his abuse and custodial torture. During the press conference, he also showed the alleged torture marks present on his hands.
He also demanded that “the infamous ISI political wing be buried” as he was of the view that it is responsible for the “insult and notoriety” for the country.
Earlier this month, Swati was arrested in a case registered against him over a controversial tweet thought to be against the armed forces. Since his arrest, Swati has alleged he was stripped and tortured while in custody.
Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Babar Iftikhar, has said that the military has requested the federal government to conduct a “high-level investigation” into the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
On October 23, Sharif was shot dead near Nairobi, Kenya, by the local police. The local law enforcing authorities have termed the killing a case of ‘mistaken identity’.
While talking to 24 News, DG ISPR said, “We have requested the government to hold a high-level investigation so that all these speculations can be put to rest.”
“Who is the beneficiary of the smear campaign after the killing of Arshad Sharif in Kenya?” : Pakistan army spokesman Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar #ArshadSharifpic.twitter.com/lz2lvwTAg4
Gen Iftikhar stressed that it is important to find out why the journalist left Pakistan, where did he live all this time, and what circumstances led to this incident.
“Investigation should be held that why Arshad Sharif had to leave Pakistan,” the DG ISPR said while adding that we have to put an end to the speculations.
He regretted that people are accusing institutions, stressing that the military has also requested the government “to take legal action against all these people who are leveling allegations without any evidence”.
“This is why it is most upsetting that his death is being used for baseless conversations and fingers are being raised on it. We just have to see who is using this unfortunate incident, who is the beneficiary of this thing,”‘ General Iftikhar pointed out.
Describing Arshad Sharif as a “very professional man”, the General observed that everyone is sad about his tragic death.
Earlier in the day, General Headquarters (GHQ) asked the government to constitute a high-level panel to look into the tragic circumstances of Arshad’s death.
The people of Swat have already witnessed enough bloodshed. The people of Swat were displaced. Peace returned in 2009. In the blink of an eye, the situation turned into chaos where despite the presence of a large number of security forces, the Taliban entered, resettled, and sabotaged peace in the region.
Earlier this month, one man was killed while two students were injured when unidentified militants opened fire on a school van in Charbagh tehsil. This incident of violence gripped the valley, prompting citizens to take to the streets against the rising tide of insurgency. The incident brought back memories of the attack on the then-school girl Malala Yousafzai, on October 9, 2012, who survived a gun attack by Taliban gunmen nearly a decade ago. Though militants had been behind the attack on the Nobel Prize winner, the authorities are tight-lipped about the latest incident, while no group has claimed responsibility yet.
The outfit known as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is gaining ground across Swat Valley once again. The people of Swat and other areas of KP must be commended for courageously demanding their right to live in peace. They have witnessed firsthand the bloody rule of the militants, and the associated pain of conflict and dislocation. No one can say for certain how and why TTP members have now resurfaced in Swat as well as several other adjoining tribal districts. This is the main reason for the unease among the people of Swat and is sure to give many a sleepless night to officials, both in the civilian setup as well as the military. And what have the latter done to allay the fears of the people? Not much, unfortunately.
The return of TTP militants to their respective areas is part of the TTP-government negotiations being held in Kabul, Afghanistan, but no agreement has been reached to this effect. It, therefore, remains unclear who, if anyone for that matter, allowed the militants to return before a formal deal had been reached. It would not be wrong if we say the ghosts of the past are coming back to haunt the residents of Swat Valley. The valley has seen enough bloodshed, we hope and pray peace prevails in the region.
Pakistan has lost 80,000 lives in the war on terror. We fought bravely to get rid of terrorism on our soil. The return of terrorism is a bad omen for peace in the country and the region.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to extend a hand of friendship between the civil and military forces.
Chaudhry suggested that “Power should be transferred to the people of Pakistan.”
“I call upon political parties and establishment let’s rewrite political framework Let’s agree on rules of game. Present system has failed Pak, we need to look up for fair rules,” tweeted Chaudhry.
We must strive for balance in Civil-Mily relationship,Power must be transferred to people of Pakistan,I call upon political parties and establishment let’s rewrite political framework Let’s agree on rules of Game. Present system has failed Pak we need to look up for fair rules
Chaudhry’s tweet comes after PTI Chairman Imran Khan instigated the public to revolt against ones who are making “threatening calls.”
“Those who call you from unknown numbers and threaten you, you threaten them back. Who ever tries to scare you, scare them back,” said Khan.
“I am asking Pakistanis to break the fear of idols, those threatening you by calling from unknown numbers and frightening you, threat and scare them in return,” said Khan.
He claimed that since ‘Mr X and Mr Y’ have been issuing threats to people, they should be on the receiving end of their own medicine.
“Frighten people by calling them from unknown numbers, and threaten them with inflicting harm,” he stated.
توڑ دو خوف کے یہ بت، جو تمھیں ڈراتا ہے واپس اسے ڈراؤ، یہ ہوتے کون ہیں۔ آپ عوام اس ملک کی قیادت کا فیصلہ کرنے والے ہو۔ چیئرمین عمران خان #ChakwalJalsapic.twitter.com/LDaPH3LK7g
Although the former Prime Minister has stopped short of naming the individuals he alleges are behind removing his government and threatening people, it is widely believed that he is talking about the security establishment of the country. At various times in his interviews and speeches, Imran Khan has referred to “neutrals”, “Mir Jaffar”, “Mir Sadiq”, “Mr. X” and “Mr. Y”.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, distancing from party Chairman Imran Khan’s anti-establishment remarks has said that he hasn’t seen or heard Khan’s controversial remarks.
“Mainay bayaan ko suna nahi hai, mainay dekha nahi hai. Main apsay sun raha hon. [I have not heard or seen his comments. I am listening to them from you]. Once I know the background of the story I will be able to comment on this,” he said on a news show. The remark earned him a few smiles from the program host.
PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi has no idea about Imran Khan’s speech on Pakistan Army that everyone is talking about … pic.twitter.com/QnnGKe4YaB
“However, I know he [Imran Khan] knows the importance of this institution. He has always protected this institution as well,” he added.
Khan on September 4, alleged that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Zardari wanted to appoint their favourite as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) because if a “strong and patriotic army chief” was appointed, they would be questioned about their corruption.
Earlier today, Khan has said that he has had enough of the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) “cabal of crooks” who are trying to launch propaganda against him.
In a tweet, the PTI chairman said, “Am following intense propaganda launched by PDM cabal of crooks against me.This stems from their being petrified of PTI’s soaring popularity.”
“Today in Peshawar jalsa I will give proper reply to all those who have deliberately been distorting my words to malign me. Enough is enough,” said Khan.
President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi has also said that the chairman of his party, Khan “apne bayaan ki khud wazahat karey ke in ka kya maqsad tha”. (Imran Khan should himself clarify what he meant.)
Pakistan is observing Defence Day today to pay tribute to the martyrs of the country and to their sacrifices in defending its borders.
Nishan-e-Haider is the highest military gallantry award in Pakistan. It is conferred upon soldiers who perform acts of great heroism in circumstances of extreme danger and to those who demonstrate the bravery of the highest order.
Here is the list of eleven recipients of Nishan-e-Haider.
Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed
Captain Sarwar was the first person to receive Nishan-e-Haider in the history of Pakistan. He served as a Company Commander in the Uri Sector in Kashmir. He was awarded Nishan-e-Haider for laying down his life during the first Pakistan-India war in 1948.
Naik Saif Ali Janjua Shaheed
Born in 1922 in Khandbaz Tehsil Nakial (Azad Jammu & Kashmir), Naik embraced martyrdom during a battle on 26 October 1948 for which the Defence Council of Azad Jammu & Kashmir adorned him with Hilal-e-Kashmir (posthumous) the next year. In1995, the government of Pakistan declared his Hilal-e-Kashmir equivalent to Nishan-e Haider.
Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed
In 1958, the Indian Army troops occupied the Lakshmipur area in East Pakistan. Major Tufail was tasked with recapturing the occupied area. In the line of his duty, the Major launched an attack on Indian infiltrated troops and set an example of bravery and leadership. During the operation, he embraced martyrdom.
Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed
Born in 1928 in Hong Kong, Major Raja embraced martyrdom while defending the country during the 1965 war with India.
Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed
He was commissioned as a pilot in Pakistan Air Force in 1971. The same year Pilot Officer Minhas stopped his plane from entering Indian territory. He tried to regain control of the plane but was unable to do so. Knowing that it meant certain death, he damaged the controls and forced the aircraft to crash thirty-two miles short of the border for which he was awarded Nishan-e-Haider.
Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed
Major Shabbir Sharif embraced martyrdom fifty years ago on December 6 at Sulemanki Sector during the 1971 war.
Sowar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed
During the 1971 war, Sowar took an active part in every battle with the unit. During the battle, he was hit in the chest with machinegun fire and embraced martyrdom on 10 December 1971.
Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed
Major Akram was leading an anti-tank party in front of the forward defended locations and destroyed three tanks of the enemy. During the battle, he was hit in the chest and embraced martyrdom on 5 December 1971.
Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed
During the 1971 war, Naik participated in the famous Pul Kunjry operation and captured the area. He was stabbed with bayonets and embraced martyrdom on the night of 17 December 1971. The next morning ceasefire was ordered and the enemy commander himself praised the Lance Naik while handing over his dead body wrapped in the Pakistani flag.
Captain Karnal Sher Shaheed
During Kargil War, the Captain set up personal examples of bravery and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. He also chased the enemy and conducted many raids in the enemy area. During one of those raids, he went inside the enemy camp where he inflicted heavy losses. During the battle, he was hit in the chest and embraced shahadat (martyrdom) on 5 July 1999.
Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed
Like Captain Karnal Shaheed, the Havaldar embraced martyrdom during Kargil War. On 7 July 1999, he sustained serious injuries as enemies pounded the area with heavy mortar shells. But despite being injured, he retained his position and frustrated the Indian assault.
