Tag: Murtaza Wahab

  • MQM nay ‘dil aur darwazay’ Opposition kay liye khol diye

    MQM nay ‘dil aur darwazay’ Opposition kay liye khol diye

    The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has decided to part ways with the government in principle. The final decision was announced today during a press conference, flanked by leaders of the joint Opposition, MQM-P. MQM is a government ally at the Centre.

    The development was “historic”

    MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui at the beginning of the conference said the development was “historic” and at the same time, it was a “test for the political leadership of the country” as the coming days would pose several challenges to them.

    “Today, we are gathered here to vow that we should work beyond promises and ensure that the decisions we take impact common Pakistanis,” Siddiqui said.

    A national jirga of the opposition … has come together: Shehbaz

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said: “Today is an important day in Pakistan’s history because a joint opposition … a national jirga of the opposition … has come together and efforts have been made for national unity.

    “This agreement will be implemented in letter and spirit,” added Shehbaz.

    PPP and MQM-P have to work together under any condition if we want to work for Karachi and Pakistan’s prosperity: Bilawal

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari thanked MQM-P and described its decision of teaming up with the opposition as “historic”.

    “I want to repeat that PPP and MQM-P’s working relationship is not related to the no-confidence motion. PPP and MQM-P have to work together under any condition if we want to work for Karachi and Pakistan’s prosperity,” he said.

    “Imran Khan has now lost his majority. He is not the prime minister anymore. The parliament session is tomorrow. Let’s hold voting tomorrow and settle this matter. We can then start working on transparent elections and the journey towards restoration of democracy and an end to economic crisis can then begin.”

    Following the formal announcement, MQM-P’s Siddiqui signed the agreement with the opposition parties.

    MQM-P’s Farogh Naseem, Aminul Haque step down as federal ministers

    Both members of MQM-P serving as federal ministers, Farogh Naseem and Aminul Haque, have stepped down from their posts, hours after the party’s announcement to side with the Opposition in the vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Opposition congratulates Pakistan

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari congratulated Pakistan on the latest development.

    “The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. Rabta committee MQM & PPP CEC will ratify the said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan.”

    Rabta Committee meeting today

    A draft agreement had been finalised between the two sides in the early hours today but MQM will publicly announce its final decision once the Rabta Committee has ratified the agreement. MQM-P will convene a meeting at their Bahadurabad office today at 2pm to discuss the agreement with the Opposition. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui will preside over the Rabta Committee meeting.

    MQM’s list of demands

    Journalist Gharidah Farooqi tweeted the list of demands made by the MQM.

    The government ally has asked the Opposition that the local government law will be made in accordance with Article 140-A, the Sindh government will present a draft amendment in the local body law in the assembly within a month, Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab will resign from his post, put an end to fake domiciles in Sindh, an increase in the powers of local bodies, and administrators of local bodies in Hyderabad, Karachi to be appointed in consultation with PPP and MQM.

    PTI’s offer

    After the Opposition’s meeting, a delegation of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also reached Parliament Lodges to convince the MQM, not to part ways with the government.

    Governor Sindh Imran Ismail told the media that the government has made a better offer than the Opposition.

    “We offered one more ministry and are willing to give whatever they will ask for. Our doors are open,” said Governor Sindh.

    Previously, the government had offered to give another ministry to the MQM.

  • Three killed in bomb blast near police mobile in Quetta

    Three killed in bomb blast near police mobile in Quetta

    Three people were killed and more than 20 injured in a bomb blast near a police mobile in Quetta. The explosion took place at Jinnah Road on Wednesday night.

    A deputy superintendent of police (DSP) also lost his life in the blast. Nearby shops caught fire after the bomb exploded.

    The Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Quetta Fida Hussain revealed that people injured in the blast have been shifted to Civil Hospital. He also confirmed the death of DSP.

    “Two-and-a-half to three kilograms of explosives were used in the blast,” DIG Fida Hussain said.

    According to the medical superintendent of the hospital, the wounded brought in for medical treatment were 25 in number and six of them were critical.

    Balochistan Chief Minister, Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo strongly condemned the deadly incident.

    “Cowardly terrorists targeted innocent citizens in a terrorist attack,” he said, “efforts are being made to disrupt peace in Quetta and the province under a planned and well-thought-out conspiracy.”

    He also added that terrorists are being funded by external forces.

    He directed the Inspector General of Police (IG) to submit a detailed report.

    Governor of Sindh, Imran Ismail also strongly condemned the bomb blast in ‘which innocents were targeted by cowardly terrorists.

    https://twitter.com/GovernorSindh33/status/1499043386870927363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1499043386870927363%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F402533-quetta-three-killed-more-than-20-injured-in-blast-near-police-mobile

    CM Buzdar, while condemning the incident, said, “a handful of terrorists cannot shake the resolve of the nation.” 

    The spokesperson of the Sindh Government, Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui also condemned the incident.

  • Journalist Kamran Khan posts robbery video, Sindh govt says it’s a drama recording

    Journalist Kamran Khan posts robbery video, Sindh govt says it’s a drama recording

    Journalist Kamran Khan on Sunday shared a video of an alleged robbery incident taking place in Karachi. Khan, while sharing the video requested Karachi police and Rangers to take action. He further added that such incidents have happened 2500 times in the first 22 days of 2022.

    Karachi, City Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab took to Twitter to inform Kamran Khan that the video he shared was from a shoot of a drama serial.

    People on Twitter are sharing their opinion on the video, and while some are making fun of the video, others are questioning Murtaza Wahab about the increase in street crimes in Karachi.

  • Factcheck: Sindh is not closing down schools, offices because of Covid

    Factcheck: Sindh is not closing down schools, offices because of Covid

    A notification circulating all over social media stating that schools and offices are being closed until January 31 is fake. The notice was allegedly issued by the provincial government. However, the spokesperson of the Sindh government, Murtaza Wahab has denied that the provincial government issued any notification on the lockdown and closure of schools.

    Murtaza Wahab also said previously, in a high-level meeting, that the provincial government does not want to take strict action and requested people to follow precautionary measures to avoid the spread of the virus.

    The emergence of cases related to the omicron variant of coronavirus have exceeded 50 percent in the province, especially in Karachi.

    Meanwhile, the Sindh Minister for Health, Dr Azra Pechuho said on Thursday that the lockdown could be imposed after assessing the cases of omicron variant which is increasing steadily day by day.

    She also revealed that 500 cases have been reported during the last 24 hours which shows a widespread increase of the new strain of coronavirus.

  • Half of the covid cases in Sindh are of omicron variant: Sindh govt

    Half of the covid cases in Sindh are of omicron variant: Sindh govt

    The Sindh government has announced, in the meeting held on Monday, that the emergence cases related to the omicron variant of coronavirus have exceeded 50 percent in the province, especially in Karachi.

    A high-level meeting was held which was presided over by the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah to discuss the worsening situation of covid in the province which accelerated from the new variant, omicron. The brief was given by the Sindh Health Department to the Chief Minister regarding the alarming situation of the new wave of coronavirus.

    According to reports by provincial health officials, 351 samples were taken from positive covid patients for analysis, out of which 175 patients were found to be infected with the omicron variant.

    The meeting was attended by the concerned government officials including Dr Bari of Indus Hospital and Provincial Minister Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho.

    It was informed in the meeting that the number of covid cases has surged from the last 30 days. The new cases reported on December 3 were 261 and it exceeded 403 new cases of covid on January 2 this year.

    The Chief Minister claimed the situation is alarming and asked the health department to speed up the tests and initiate the vaccination drive on a large scale.

    Statistics were also shared in the meeting that during the last 30 days, the number of covid positive patients who died was 51. Out of 51 patients, 40 were on ventilators, six were on ventilators, five were at home.

    In the meeting, it was informed to the Chief Minister that until now, 29,579,471 vaccine doses had been administrated across Sindh province.

    The spokesperson for the Sindh government Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that the provincial government does not want to take strict action and requested people to follow precautionary measures to avoid the spread of the virus.

  • ‘Get out from here’: SC reinstates Murtaza Wahab as Administrator Karachi after unconditional apology

    ‘Get out from here’: SC reinstates Murtaza Wahab as Administrator Karachi after unconditional apology

    The Supreme Court (SC) took back its order for the removal of Murtaza Wahab from the post of Administrator Karachi after he tendered an “unconditional apology” during a hearing of the Gutter Baghicha case at the Karachi Registry on Monday.

    The court directed that the post of administrator be “kept away from politics” and instructed Wahab to fulfill his responsibilities while remaining above “political affiliation and pressure”.

    Earlier, a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin issued a directive for Wahab’s removal after a heated exchange with him.

    Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan, Advocate General of Sindh Salman Talib Ud Din, Karachi Commissioner Iqbal Memon, Wahab, and Senior Director of the anti-encroachment department Bashir Siddiqui were present during today’s hearing.

    During the hearing of a matter related to the Gutter Baghicha park, Justice Amin, while addressing Wahab remarked, “These are state lands [and] not your personal property. [You will] have to return them. If we don’t take them [back] then someone else will. You will return the lands.”

    “Should we leave the government?” Wahab questioned, saying that major observations are made about the provincial government by the court.

    “Silence yourself mister, what are you saying? Don’t do politics here,” the chief justice reprimanded Wahab.

    “Get out from here. We will fire you right now. Are you an administrator or a political leader?” Justice Gulzar questioned. 

    “The administrator, prima facie, failed to perform his duties. The administrator’s behaviour is that of political leaders [and] not of serving the citizens,” the chief justice remarked.

    “Go and transfer Bin Qasim park [and] Hill park in your name. Take Frere [Hall] park too. How many parks are there in Karachi? Finish them now. Distribute the few remaining parks among your officers as well,” the chief justice scolded Wahab.

    “Is Karachi your personal property?” he questioned.

    Murtaza Wahab later apologised to the court for using harsh words.

    “I apologise for my behavior,” Wahab said.

    Justice Qazi Amin remarked that they have removed him [Wahab] from office. “You are no longer an administrator. You are not part of the state but the government,” he said.

    Wahab, while speaking to the media during a break in the hearing, said that he accepted whatever the court’s decision would be.

    He said that he has apologised to the court. “I was stating my opinion with great respect,” said Wahab, adding that this court is his own court.

    “[A person] should be heard before issuing a decision against them,” Wahab said as he looked forward to the court’s final decision after the break.

    The court later accepted the apology of Murtaza Wahab after a short break in the proceedings and withdrew the order to remove him from office.

  • Reema’s husband offers to perform high risk procedure for Umer Sharif, help with travel

    Reema’s husband offers to perform high risk procedure for Umer Sharif, help with travel

    Former Pakistani film actress and host, Reema Khan has disclosed that her husband Dr Syed Tariq Shahab has agreed to perform the high risk procedure of ailing comedian Umer Sharif in the United States.

    Reema turned to Instagram and shared a throwback photo with Umer Sharif and disclosed that Dr. Shahab agreed to perform the high risk procedure and is helping the family in transfer arrangements to America.

    She wrote, “Umer Sharif – one of the greatest comedians of the sub-continent and a real legend of all times. He always was working hard to make other people laugh and smile. Today it disturbs me to know that he is in pain and distress because of his grave illness.”

    “I am proud of my husband – Dr Syed Tariq Shahab who has agreed to perform the high risk procedure and is helping the family in his transfer arrangements to America,” she said. “I have requested him to do all he can to help Umer Sharif Sahib recover from this illness,” she added.

    Reema went on to say, “Thank you Tariq. I pray to Allah PAK to give Shifa in your hand and to give Umer Sahib full and complete recovery. Aameen.”

    Ailing comedian Umer Sharif is expected to travel to the US for medical treatment this week, said his wife Zareen Umer on Tuesday.

    She took to social media from Umer Sharif’s official account and thanked the federal government for helping arrange travel. She also thanked Murtaza Wahab and Chief Minister Sindh Murad ali Shah for arranging an air ambulance. She also thanked Anchor Waseem Badami for highlighting the issue.

  • Anonymous person donates Rs1 million to Sindh’s coronavirus fund

    Anonymous person donates Rs1 million to Sindh’s coronavirus fund

    Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah received an “anonymous” donation of Rs1 million for the Sindh Coronavirus Emergency Fund on Monday.

    The CM shared this on social media and expressed his gratitude to the person who made the donation.

    “Such acts of kindness strengthen our resolve to continue fighting this challenge, & reassure us that humanity stands tall during such extraordinary times,” he wrote alongside pictures of a cheque and a letter.

    Meanwhile, the letter sent to the chief minister by the anonymous donor reads, “I am a retired person of 88 years. In response to your appeal, I submit herewith a cheque of a humble amount in face of the unheard and dreadful epidemic.”

    Earlier, on March 17, the Sindh government had set up a ‘Coronavirus Relief Fund’ to fight the epidemic.

    The provincial government’s spokesperson Murtaza Wahab in a tweet had said the Sindh chief minister, advisors, special assistants and all PPP MPAs will donate their one-month salary to the fund.

  • Need authentic coronavirus updates? Follow these Twitter accounts

    With the coronavirus spreading fast, misinformation on the matter is also spreading with the same speed causing panic among citizens.

    For the most authentic information on the matter, follow the following Twitter accounts.

    Dr Zafar Mirza, State Minister of Health of Pakistan

    Murtaza Wahab

    Taimur Khan Jhagra, Health Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    Musarrat Cheema, Spokesperson of the Government of Punjab

    https://twitter.com/MusarratCheema/status/1239242495956934656?s=20

    Liaquat Shahwani, Spokesperson of the Government of Balochistan

    UNICEF also requested people to beware of misinformation and take all coronavirus related information from official platforms.

    Meanwhile, The Current is also posting all updates regarding the coronavirus on its live blog. You can visit the blog here:

    Coronavirus

  • Sindh confirms 41 new cases of coronavirus, 94 infections confirmed in Pakistan

    Senator Murtaza Wahab has confirmed 50 new coronavirus cases since his last update — 41 new cases since The Current’s last report — in Sindh, which has taken the total number of infections in Pakistan to 94.

    According to Murtaza, out of the total 76 patients in Sindh, two have recovered while the remaining 74 are being kept in isolation. 25 of the said cases are in Karachi.

    RELATED: Pakistan’s handling of coronavirus among world’s best: WHO country head

    Meanwhile, Lahore has confirmed just one case of the virus, one in Islamabad and Punjab has imposed section 144 in the province, shutting down schools and public places for three weeks. Shrines have also been closed in the province for three weeks.

    https://twitter.com/MusarratCheema/status/1239244547282161666

    READ MORE: Daily Coronavirus Updates

    Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan has stated that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is personally monitoring the pandemic and its spread in Pakistan.