Tag: Nawaz Sharif

  • Nawaz ready to support COAS’s extension legislation, but has conditions: report

    Former prime minister (PM) has agreed to lend support for the legislation in army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s extension matter, but with a condition, The Express Tribune reported.

    According to the details, former premier is flexible to supporting the Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf (PTI) government legislation to fix the army chief’s tenure but has reservations on giving a legal cover to giving extension to an army chief.

    The government reportedly before filing a review petition against the Supreme Court’s verdict in Gen Bajwa’s extension case tried to gain support of the opposition parties, including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), for required legislation.

    “The government had approached us through intermediaries”, reports quoted unknown officials from two opposition parties belonging to the PPP and the PML-N.

    But after failing to gather ‘desirable support’ from them, the government after nearly a month decided to file review petition in the apex court.

    Reports also reveal that a senior legal advisor of the PML-N has said that most party lawmakers believe that by supporting the ruling government on the extension issue could potentially harm the party’s own narrative which it has adopted since the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as PM on July 28, 2017.

    He furhter alleged that the government stage-managed the arrest of PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal and denied Maryam Nawaz permission to fly abroad to London after its failure to bend the PML-N and secure ‘unconditional support’ for the extension legislation.

    On the other hand, the PPP has reportedly set certain preconditions for supporting the legislation, which include proposed legislation on the NAB [National Accountability Bureau] law, the appointment of chief election commissioner, and elections reforms.

    On November 28, the Supreme Court had allowed the federal government to grant a six-month conditional extension to Chief of Army Staff (COAS). SC also directed the government to bring necessary legislation within six months’ time.

  • Quiz: Which Nawaz Sharif are you?

    With former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif celebrating his 70th birthday today, here’s a quiz for you to find out which of his avatars is you.

    Edit quiz
  • Govt may challenge Musharraf’s death penalty verdict: Babar Awan

    Govt may challenge Musharraf’s death penalty verdict: Babar Awan

    Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader and promi­nent lawyer Babar Awan has claimed that the government was examining the option of challenging the conviction of former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, Dawn reported.

    According to the details, Babar during a press conference said that if it deemed appropriate, the PTI government could file an appeal while the convict could also challenge the decision of the special court.

    He also rejected the argument that the government being the complainant in the high treason case could not file an appeal.

    Awan recalled that former premier Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif had been disqualified on a federal government complaint and the government went in appeal after the change of regime, adding that the treason case against Musharraf had been filed by the former prime minister (PM) with the consultation of his brother, but they both were silent on the conviction.

    The PTI leader cited the case of slain PM Benazir Bhutto who had been convicted while she was abroad, saying that an appeal on her behalf was taken up by the then Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan who held that the appeal of a person convicted in absentia could be heard in his/her absence.

    Babar said that the appeal had been taken up and the judgement set aside.

    He also insisted that nobody should think of a clash between institutions as the government of PM Imran had a resolve to run the institutions within their constitutional and legal framework preserving their honour and dignity.

    A special court trying the ex-preisdent last week sentenced him to death for imposing a state of emergency on November 3, 2007, adding that it had found him guilty of high treason in accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

  • Musharraf’s exit: ‘PML-N was powerless after Raheel Sharif’s recommendation’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said that former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf, who was recently sentenced to death in abstentia for treason, “was allowed to go abroad for medical treatment on the recommendation of then army chief Raheel Sharif”, and the government stood “powerless”.

    “We [the PML-N government] didn’t have the power to stop him,” said the former information minister, who was sacked in 2016 following the Dawn Leaks fiasco that revealed the details of a high level civil-military meeting discussing the issue of Pakistan’s banned outfits.

    Speaking to a private media outlet, Rasheed has also claimed that Gen (r) Raheel Sharif wanted an extension in his tenure as the army chief, but the then government of prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif refused it.

    However, a former army general rejected Rasheed’s claims that the PML-N had turned down Gen (r) Raheel’s request for an extension in his tenure. “In fact, the PML-N government had offered to give Gen (r) Raheel a promotion by making him a field marshal,” Lt Gen (r) Amjad Shoaib said while speaking to the TV channel.

    He added that Shehbaz Sharif and then interior minister Chaudhry Nisar wanted to give Gen (r) Raheel an extension in his tenure as the army chief. Shoaib said that Raheel had announced 10 months before his retirement that he would not take extension.

    “Raheel Sharif had an offer from Saudi Arabia,” the former military official said.

    In 2015, Saudi Arabia announced that it would form a new Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition force. Gen (r) Raheel Sharif was appointed the alliance’s chief in January 2017, months after his retirement as the army chief.

  • ‘Nawaz is really sick,’ confirms Pakistan High Commission in UK

    ‘Nawaz is really sick,’ confirms Pakistan High Commission in UK

    A cardiothoracic surgeon at London’s University College Hospital, Dr David Lawrence, has confirmed that ailing former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, who is currently undergoing medical treatment in the United Kingdom (UK), is really sick and his health can deteriorate further.

    As per the details, Advocate Amjad Pervez, who is representing the former premier in the Al-Azizia and Chaudhary Sugar Mills references, on Friday submitted Nawaz’s medical reports to the Lahore High Court (LHC).

    According to the medical report, the ex-PM is seriously ill and suffering from various health problems, including the coronary artery disease. It added that Nawaz’s platelets were also not stable even now and a platelet count of at least 50,000 to 100,000 was required for proper treatment and recovery.

    The report by Dr Lawrence, which has also been verified by Pakistan High Commission in UK, further said that the health of the ex-premier had improved after bypass surgery; however, they were far from diagnosis and so further medical tests had to be done.

    While his deteriorating health can also lead to a stroke, Nawaz might be suffering from a serious disease such as an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in some part of the body, it added.

    Last month, the LHC, in its order regarding permission to Nawaz to go to London for treatment, had ordered the ailing former premier to continue submission of his health report to the court.

    He had earlier been granted bail in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases against him and allowed to fly to London on medical grounds for eight-weeks.

    The premier can stay out of the country for as long as his treatment continues.

  • ‘PTI’ supporters in London raise slogans ‘to shoot Nawaz dead’

    A group of alleged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters held a protest outside the Avenfield flats in London, where they raised slogans to shoot former premier Nawaz Sharif and attempted to break down the main gate, The News International reported.

    According to the details, around 40 protesters, led by Tariq Mehmood who runs a group called ‘Pakistan Patriotic Front’, raised slogans in support of the ruling PTI and many were wearing PTI caps.

    Reports claim that many of the protesters who were present outside Avenfield flats are seen often at the PTI protests earlier, but the party’s elected body has issued a statement distancing itself from the protest.

    One of the protesters can be heard shouting in the video that “some shoot him” in reference to former prime minister’s presence on the third floor in Avenfield flats and slogans for Taliban style bombing of the Avenfield apartments were also made during the protest.

    Video footage from the protest also shows at least three protesters banging the front gate in order to break down while two protesters entered premises from the side entrance and they were asked by the police to come out.

    Ahead of Nawaz’s arrival, elected senior official of PTI in United Kingdom (UK) Soraya Aziz had issued a similar call for violence on Twitter.

    Soraya Aziz, who is head of Computing at the Beths Grammar School in Bexley, Kent had wrote, “For his own safety, I strongly recommend Nawaz Sharif not leave his Avenfield apartments. If he’s seen shopping in Knightsbridge, overseas Pakistanis will give him response even his few remaining platelets won’t know where to hide!!”.

    Soraya later deleted her Tweet.

    Meanwhile, PTI’s Information Secretary London Taqveem Ahsan Siddiqui, in a statement issued on Sunday had said, “The PTI has not called for any demonstration outside disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s residence.”

    “It has been brought to our attention that an invite to demonstrate outside his residence is in circulation. PTI UK does not have any intention to call or join any demonstration outside Nawaz Sharif’s residence until he abides by his bail condition”, Taqveem added.

    Former premier Nawaz is in London for a medical check-up after the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted him exemption on medical grounds. The court had earlier directed Nawaz to return to Pakistan after four weeks.

  • Nov 26: News you need to know before heading to work

    Nov 26: News you need to know before heading to work

    PTI’s conscience clean in foreign-funding case: PM Imran

    • Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that the opposition was misleading the people in the foreign-funding case.
    • Speaking to his party’s spokespeople PM said, the PTI submitted all relevant details to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), noting that the leaders of two of the country’s biggest political parties made money through money-laundering.
    • Reacting to opposition’s call for APC he said they were doing so and protesting to mask their embarrassment. However, the people have rejected their protest.

    Nawaz to be admitted in hospital upon cardiologist’s advice

    • Dr Adnan Khan, has said that Professor Simon Redwood of the London Bridge Hospital had recommended hospital admission for the former prime minister to undergo angiogram followed by further intervention.
    • “Once he has gone through all haematological investigations, we will then have a clear picture of what is required next and what the exact treatment should be”, Dr Adnan added.

    Treason case: Musharraf, Govt file petition against special court’s verdict on Nov 28

    • The federal interior ministry and former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf both submitted pleas in the Islamabad High Court on Monday, requesting it to stop the special court from announcing its reserved verdict in the high treason case against the former army chief.
    • The special court, constituted to try the former military ruler for high treason, was set to announce its verdict on November 28. The IHC will hear the case on Tuesday.
    • The ministry in its plea has stated that the accusers to be tried with Pervez Musharraf were not included in the trial. The prosecution team was denotified on Oct 23, but it proceeded with the case on Oct 24 without having an authority in the matter.

  • VIDEO: Chef Gulzar hits himself with slipper as a protest for letting Nawaz go abroad

    Pakistani chef Gulzar has recorded a video in which he is hitting himself repeatedly over the head with a slipper, reacting to the government’s decision of allowing former premier Nawaz Sharif to fly abroad for medical treatment.

    “I never comment on politics but today, I wanted to say something,” Gulzar said in the beginning of the video, adding that “I want to congratulate Nawaz Sharif on behalf of myself and millions of people as he got relief from the government.”

    Gulzar then pulls out a slipper and before hitting himself over the head with it repeatedly, saying: “I wanted to express my happiness at the government and its institutions for giving relief to Nawaz. This is how I will celebrate my happiness–by hitting myself over the head repeatedly with this slipper.”

    Watch Video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPYcRb1f0g8

    Gulzar then states that he expects that the rest of the people who are in jails will also get instant relief like the former prime minister and people who were committing suicide owing to inflation will also get justice.

    He said, “People who are selling their children will also get relief”, before hitting himself again with a slipper.

    Further criticising government, Gulzar said that women who were selling their dignity to run their household will also get relief due to this.

  • VIDEO: How Nawaz ‘on deathbed’ walked to plane on foot, left me stunned: Imran

    VIDEO: How Nawaz ‘on deathbed’ walked to plane on foot, left me stunned: Imran

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that when he saw the former premier Nawaz Sharif climbing the stairs of the plane he remembered the doctors’ reports, which said the patient ‘will be gone [forever]’ if not allowed to go abroad, Geo News reported.

    According to the details, PM Imran while addressing a gathering in Mianwali after putting the foundation stone for a hospital said that in the reports it was written that “the patient had heart problems, kidney problems, high sugar and if the patient is not allowed to go abroad then he will be ‘gone’ [forever].”

    PM said that he wondered if Sharif’s recovery owes to the luxurious plane he travelled in or to the London climate, adding that he seeks clarity on the issue and that the matter needs to be investigated.

    The prime minister taunted former PM again by saying that maybe Nawaz had recovered by simply looking at the plane “since it was such a magnificent plane and a common man cannot travel in such an aircraft”.

    The statements from PM Imran have come only a few days after he had put the burden of letting Nawaz travel abroad for treatment on Pakistan courts.

    Watch Video:

    Imran Khan had earlier said in an indirect reference to Nawaz’s travel to London that there are separate laws for the weak and powerful in the country, requesting the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa to deliver prompt justice.

    PM also urged CJP Khosa and puisne judge of the Supreme Court Justice Gulzar Ahmed to come forward and restore public confidence in the judiciary.

    CJP Khosa later responding to PM’s remarks reagarding the judiaciary said that Imran Khan himself agreed for ‘someone’ to travel abroad, so it should not be said that the judiciary was the sole authority in the matter.

    CJP added, “Do not taunt us regarding the powerful, everyone is equal before the law”.

    After CJP Khosa’s remarks Imran Khan clarified his stance and said that the government agreed to allow the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo for medical treatment on “humanitarian grounds”.

  • Boxer Amir Khan expresses desire to become sports minister

    British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan has said that he would like to become the sports minister in Pakistan to promote sports, Geo News reported.

    According to the details, Amir in an interview has alleged that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has done ‘nothing for sports in Pakistan’ after coming to power, adding that he is the only person that does anything for sports.

    Amir Khan, who is a friend of PM Imran, said that “all the people in Pakistan are crying”, and credited himself for taking Pakistani boxers around the world to put them in fights.

    The boxer further alleged that a government minister visited his boxing academy, made some pictures and left, and nothing was done after that.

    “There should be at least 10-15 boxing academies in Pakistan because there are so many boxers in Pakistan but nothing’s happening so that’s why I said that Imran khan, being a sports man, he is not really backing sports”, Amir said.

    He also feared that sports are “probably going down even more than before because Nawaz Sharif is the one who got the Sports Council of Pakistan to give me the boxing academy, then I spent my own money around $100,000 on it to build it up but all I say is that Imran Khan is less supporting boxing”.

    Amir Khan also expressed desire to enter in Pakistani politics, saying that he will do something for people if he became sports minister.

    Amir Khan often attended fundraising events with PM Imran in Manchester in the past. The prime minister had at one event promised to take people like Amir Khan to Pakistan.