Tag: NRO

  • Imran Khan’s message to the nation from Adiala Jail

    Imran Khan’s message to the nation from Adiala Jail

    In a message to the nation released from Adiala Jail, the Founder Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, talked passionately about the upcoming general elections, highlighting the significance of February 8 as a day that symbolizes the dichotomy between freedom and slavery.

    Expressing confidence in the resilience of the nation, Khan stated, “I believe that my people stand united with the cause of freedom. Through their votes, they will safeguard Pakistan’s liberty.”

    Drawing attention to electoral manipulation on February 8, the Chairman voiced concern that a faction seeks to shackle the nation in chains of slavery.

    He pointed out that under what he calls the London Plan, a certified criminal was brought back to the country unjustly, wreaking havoc on the judicial system and trampling on the principles of justice and the constitution.

    Khan emphasized that efforts to manipulate the electoral process and undermine the rule of law have jeopardized the nation’s democratic foundations.

    Khan lamented that despite snatching the ‘bat’ from PTI to accommodate rivals, worst rigging is happening.

    Acknowledging the resilience and courage displayed by mothers, sisters, daughters, and party workers in facing injustice, the Chairman pledged to defeat all criminals within the bounds of the law and constitution, with the support of Allah and the nation.

    From his jail cell, the Chairman asserted that, with the blessings of Allah and the support of the people, all these criminals would be defeated, maintaining the integrity of the legal system.

    He urged citizens to exercise their right to vote on February 8, endorsing the movement for governance by law, supremacy of the constitution, and the restoration of democracy.

    The former Premier cautioned against unconstitutional forces attempting to subjugate the nation, warning that if these anti-constitutional powers succeed on February 8, they will establish a regime of theft and plunge the country further into turmoil.

    He called upon the people to exercise their voting power on February 8, making a decisive choice between freedom and slavery.

    “I want every individual in the nation to prepare, cast their votes, and ensure the protection of their votes, securing Pakistan’s path to constitutional governance on February 8,” Khan said.

  • ‘Imran Khan was offered a two-third majority by Bajwa to end protests in August 2022’, Aleema Khan

    ‘Imran Khan was offered a two-third majority by Bajwa to end protests in August 2022’, Aleema Khan

    Aleema Khan, the sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan disclosed on Wednesday that her brother had once previously, received a message from the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    The message reportedly offered a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to Imran’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), if he agreed to end the nationwide protest he initiated after his ouster from the Prime Minister’s Office.

    PTI USA’s official account on X (former Twitter) posted, “In August 2022, General Bajwa, who was the COAS at the time, asked Imran Khan that if he stops talking about the conspiracy of regime change operation, which overthrew Khan’s government in April 2022, then PTI will be “allowed” to form a majority government in the upcoming elections. However, if Imran Khan doesn’t agree to stay quiet, then PTI will be reduced to only 30 seats.”

    Imran Khan launched a countrywide protest in April 2023, becoming the first prime minister in Pakistan’s history to be removed through a no-confidence vote.

    Despite governing the country for over three-and-a-half years, PTI faced challenges as allies defected, aligning with opposition parties that collectively sought to overthrow the PTI government.

    The former PTI chief had previously asserted that the conspiracy against his government originated within Pakistan, a departure from his earlier stance in which he had blamed the United States for his removal.

    During a media interaction after meeting Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan shared the details of the alleged offer. She quoted her brother, saying, “In August 2022, General Bajwa approached me with an offer that if PTI ceased protests against regime change, a two-thirds majority for the party would be ensured in the National Assembly.”

    Imran Khan, according to Aleema Khan, expressed his unwavering commitment to principles, stating, “Our parents were born in a slave country; we are free, and I will not bow before anyone except God. We should face death than to accept slavery in a free country.”

    Aleema Khan also shed light on the challenges Imran faces in jail. She criticized the lack of an open trial in Adiala Jail, asserting that the cases against Imran Khan lacked substance. She further claimed that new cases are being brought up whenever he secures bail in an old case, suggesting a deliberate effort to keep the former prime minister incarcerated.

  • Shah Mahmood, Hammad Azhar and others to negotiate with govt

    Shah Mahmood, Hammad Azhar and others to negotiate with govt

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has nominated a total of seven people from his party for holding negotiations with the incumbent government.

    The team includes the party’s Senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former federal minister Hammad Azhar, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Murad Saeed and others.

    According to PTI, the team will discuss the matter of elections with the government.

    After the recent string of PTI leaders leaving the party, Khan expressed willingness to negotiate with “anyone who is in power”.

    However, the government does not seem willing to hold talks with the embattled PTI.

    Before the May 9 riots, several rounds of talks took place between PTI and the government to decide on the matter of elections but no fruitful result came out.

    ‘It is an appeal for NRO, not dialogue’: Govt doesn’t want to hold talks with Imran

    Earlier, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb clearly stated that no talks Khan will take place.

    Stating that those who attacked the state must be punished, she said that talks aren’t held with such people. “It is an appeal for NRO, not dialogue”, the minister said.

    Pointing out that Imran had realised the importance of talks only after his party had been shattered, she said, “Now you are saying that you want to hold talks after torching schools, hospitals and ambulances?”

    She also accused Imran of poisoning the minds of youth by spreading chaos in the country.

  • ‘Bajwa helped Imran get NRO for Bani Gala house’: PML-N’s Malik Ahmad Khan

    ‘Bajwa helped Imran get NRO for Bani Gala house’: PML-N’s Malik Ahmad Khan

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Malik Ahmad Khan has alleged that the former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had helped to give a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to save him from disqualification in the Bani Gala case.

    According to Malik, the-then Chief Justice Saqib Nisar was influenced by Gen Bajwa to decide a case about Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence case in his favour. Later, Khan was declared Sadiq and Ameen by the court.

    The News contacted the former chief justice who denied the story, he said that it’s all “rubbish, total bullshit and completely baseless.” Justice (retd) Nisar insisted that he was never influenced while dispensing his judicial duties directly or indirectly by the-then Army Chief. Nisar said that the entire locality of Bani Gala was illegally built. His verdict was about the regularisation of all properties in the locality as they could not be razed to the ground.

    Malik said that the PTI Chairman should come forward and say under oath that he had not been given a NRO in the Bani Gala residence case when it was being heard by the court of the-then CJP Justice (retd) Nisar.

    The SAPM while speaking on Channel 92 political talk show, ‘Breaking Views with Malick’, said that he had all the evidence about how and when it happened, who were the characters involved, and who sent messages to whom. When asked by the anchor if Malik Ahmad Khan was saying that the then army chief had influenced the-then Chief Justice of Pakistan to decide IK’s Banigala house case, Malik Khan said, “I stand by it, I have all the evidence.” He further said that the collateral victim of this case was Jehangir Khan Tareen.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Malik Ahmad Khan was among those Leaguers who had been close to the retired army chief. Malik Ahmed Khan had also been occasionally meeting the-then army chief.

  • ‘Meri gharri hai, mai bechoon ya jo marzi karoon’: Imran Khan

    ‘Meri gharri hai, mai bechoon ya jo marzi karoon’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has accused the media of looking the other way on important matters and instead focusing on what he implied were trivial issues, such as the Toshakhana watch scandal.

    “The channels that used to bash the PTI government for inflation, those channels are quiet now and are instead focused on a watch,” he said in a press conference in Lahore.

    “It’s my watch. I can sell it, or do whatever I want. No one is talking about the economic murder being committed right now.”

    Referring to his opponents, Imran Khan said the “gang of thieves” has properties in foreign countries worth billions of dollars, hence they do not care about the economic collapse of the country.

    He added that the US dollar will further shoot up and there would be no foreign investment “if Pakistan defaults”.

    “A group of thieves has been imposed on us,” the deposed premier said, adding that the gang has been stealing national wealth for the past 30 years. He also said they were laundering the looted money abroad via illegal means including hundi and hawala.

    He again criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan and the establishment of supporting the ruling alliance led by the PML-N during the recent by-polls in the country.

    “Maryam Nawaz reached [homeland] first, then Ishq Dar was dry cleaned and now Suleman Shehbaz will be dry cleaned,” Imran Khan said.

    “We all knew who gave them NRO-II,” the former Prime Minister said and asked if the Constitution has room for NRO-II.

    The PTI chairman feared that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will not move towards elections.

    Addressing the new military leadership in the presser, the former premier said: “The new regime which has recently taken over should think about the country for God’s sake. National security institutions should see what is happening with the country.”

    He also stressed that the nation and army go hand in hand, not separately.

  • ‘Khan has confessed his involvement in horse trading in audio leak’: PM Shehbaz

    ‘Khan has confessed his involvement in horse trading in audio leak’: PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s involvement in horse trading has been confirmed in the alleged audio leak that surfaced a day earlier.

    “Imran Khan has confessed that he was involved in horse trading in the audio,” said PM Shehbaz while lambasting Khan for accusing his opponents of getting an NRO.

    The premier said that no one is above the law, adding that his family suffered the worst cruelty and yet have been appearing before the court.

    “Did any court summon Imran Khan?” he asked.

    “Pakistan’s prime minister was bidding [for people] in the PM house,” PM Shehbaz said outside Special Central Court in Lahore.

    “He had set up a market to buy and sell, and consciences were being sold. Could there be a bigger crime than this by a sitting PM?” the prime minister questioned, referring to the recent audio leaks in which Imran can be allegedly heard talking about buying “five” MNA’s.

    Terming Khan the world’s worst fraud, Shehbaz Sharif asked why the then NAB chairman did not take notice of the £190 million robbery.

    He accused the PTI chairman of hatching a conspiracy against the nation and asked where did he get the money to buy the conscience of five lawmakers?

    “Imran Niazi now you have to answer the nation,” the PM declared.

  • ‘Take your obsession with proof to court’: Bakhtawar Bhutto blasts Khan for allegations against Zardari

    ‘Take your obsession with proof to court’: Bakhtawar Bhutto blasts Khan for allegations against Zardari

    Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, the daughter of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, hit back at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for levelling allegations against her father.

    Bakhtawar took to Twitter and warned Khan: “Why don’t you take your obsession with proof to the court, otherwise you will be hearing from our lawyers for defamation and lies.”

    “Still not over the absolutely no phone call? Why don’t you take your obsession with proof to the court,” wrote Bakhtawar, adding that she pities Khan as he has never read the Constitution and that nothing can save the PTI chairman “for committing treason”.

    On July 20, Khan alleged that Asif Ali Zardari was the “main architect” behind horse-trading in Lahore, adding that the former president has secured an “NRO for his corruption and purchases people with looted wealth”.

    READ MORE: PTI rejects ECP decision to defer Sindh local body elections, plans to challenge it

    Khan further claimed that after his government was toppled with stolen money from Sindh and NRO 2 achieved, “certified criminal Asif Zardari in cahoots with the Sharif mafia was now seeking to steal people’s mandate in Punjab by trying to purchase MPAs”.

  • Gen Bajwa told me not to call Maulana Fazlur Rehman ‘diesel’: PM Khan

    Gen Bajwa told me not to call Maulana Fazlur Rehman ‘diesel’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major-General Qamar Javed Bajwa has asked him not to call Jamiat-Ulema-eIslam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman “diesel”.

    “I was just talking to Gen Bajwa and he told me not to refer to Fazl as diesel. But I am not the one who is saying that. The people have named him diesel,” the prime minister said. He was addressing a public gathering in Dir.

    The premier said that in a recent media talk, Fazl had said when he comes to power, he would “mend an institution”. This, the premier said, was a reference to Pakistan Army.

    https://twitter.com/UmerNaseem_/status/1502251719526424582

    “Today, Pakistan exists because of the army,” the prime minister said. “Will these people fix the army?”

    If today the world does not recognise Pakistan’s green passport, it’s because of these three stooges: Imran Khan

    Speaking about the three “stooges” — leaders of JUI-F, PPP, PML-N — who have joined hands against him, PM Imran said the chiefs of these three parties are among those who have been ruling the county for the last 30-35 years.

    https://twitter.com/ChicoJahangir/status/1502267420504899584

    “If today the world does not recognise Pakistan’s green passport, it is because of these three because these three mortgaged Pakistan,” he claimed.

    Speaking about the no-trust motion filed against him, he said he had been praying that the Opposition would take such a step

    I will take all three wickets with one inswing yorker: PM Khan

    “This has given me a chance to take three wickets in one ball,” he said, three wickets being a reference to Zardari, Shehbaz, and Fazl. “I am competing against these three dacoits and … I will take all three wickets with one inswing yorker.”

    He alleged that the Opposition had been demanding an NRO from him.

    “They tell me that they will topple my government if I don’t close corruption cases against them. But I tell them that I will not close the cases even if I have to give my life for it. I am not doing politics against you but fighting a jihad.”

    He continued that he had called on people to gather at Islamabad’s D-Chowk a day before the session for voting on the no-confidence motion, which is yet to be scheduled.

    The person who met Modi; how will he fix the Pakistan army?

    Without mentioning the name of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, PM Imran Khan said that the “biggest coward and the biggest liar” of Pakistan is residing outside the country.

    “They say I shouldn’t call him fugitive but the fact is that he is a fugitive and liar,” the premier said, adding that he started lifafa (envelope) journalism in Pakistan.

    “The person who tried to bribe former army chief Asif Nawaz Janjua with a BMW is planning to fix the Pakistan army,” he said, taking a jibe at the PML-N supremo.

    “The person who met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Nepal and invited the person who is torturing the Kashmiris to a wedding; how will he fix the Pakistan Army,” he questioned.

    Once again criticising them, he questioned: “Who will fix the army — PDM chief, who told the American ambassador that he is ready to serve him if given one chance, or PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari, who wrote a letter to the Americans to protect him from the army?”

    “Or will Shehbaz Sharif, who said that I did wrong by criticising the European Union, fix the institute?”

    PM Khan says only ‘animals are neutral’

    Speaking about PPP’s “Awaami March”, he said that after so much they brought people to Islamabad from Sindh and what was the message that he gave: “kaanpein tang rahi hain.”

    Taking a jibe at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the PM said that by the time Bilawal leaves politics, new words will be added to the dictionary like “kaanpein tang rahi hain, cheeni ugg rahi hai.”

    “This is what happens when you forcefully try to make a person a leader…kaanpein taangti hain,” he stated.

    He further added that Allah did not allow us [PTI] to be neutral as only “animals are neutral” because the animals do not distinguish between good and evil. “Humans stand with the good,” he concluded.

    Restrain your tongue: Shehbaz Sharif

    Responding to PM Khan’s speech, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said, “You are talking about sisters and daughters in a way that is not allowed in the civilised world and Islamic society. I want to warn you, restrain your tongue or we have to restrain.”

    Keep your fight political: Maulana Fazl

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday took a swipe at PM Khan and told him to “keep his fight political,” after the premier launched a verbal assault at the Opposition during a public gathering in Lower Dir.

    Fazl said: “Your foul language makes you ineligible to hold the post of the prime minister as there is no nobility in you.”

    The PDM chief claimed to have the majority to overthrow the PTI-led government and went on to call the premier “crazy.” 

    “We have experience in dealing with such situations,” he warned.

  • ‘Opposition scared because Imran Khan has no price’: Prime Minister

    ‘Opposition scared because Imran Khan has no price’: Prime Minister

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Friday said that the Opposition would not receive a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

    “They are scared because Imran Khan has no price, he will not give you an NRO like General Musharraf,” said Khan, referring to the country’s former military ruler.

    Addressing a rally in Mandi Bahauddin, PM Khan said, “Thieves will not get any NRO until they return the country’s [looted] money […] as long as I am alive, I will not let them rest until they return the people’s wealth.”

    If Shehbaz Sharif is innocent, then why is he running away from the courts?

    Criticising Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, the premier said that he had a “weak heart and knew he would not be able to escape if his case (of being a guarantor in Nawaz Sharif’s case) is heard”.

    “If Shehbaz Sharif is innocent, then why is he running away from the courts?”

    PM Imran went on to say that when the Opposition had filed a case against him in the Supreme Court, he did not leave the country and had proved that he was sadiq and ameen (honest and righteous).

    “I provided the documents the court asked for. I did not run away [or] ask for more dates. I told them to listen to the case [day-to-day],” said PM Khan.

    Have you ever heard a politician blackmail others via tapes?

    Berating PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, he said Nawaz’s daughter claims she has “tapes” on government officials.

    “Have you ever heard a politician blackmail (others) via tapes?”

    Whatever your plan is, Kaptaan is prepared

    “I have a message for the Sharif family: Kaptaan is ready for all your plans. You will not only face defeat, but all of you will go to jail,” the prime minister vowed.

    “This is not what politicians do, this is what mafias do,” he declared, calling on supporters to help the government combat them.

    “I have vowed to fight them as long as I am alive.”

    There is no doubt inflation has increased

    The prime minister said: “They [the Opposition] say that inflation has increased. There is no doubt it has increased.”

     He went on to say that the government was always working on how to lessen the burden of this inflation on the people of the country.

    “I promise to reduce the burden on the people.”

    “Supply lines were affected due to the pandemic. There was a shortage of commodities and they became more expensive,” said PM Khan.

    “Every month, the government suffers a loss of Rs70 billion due to this,” said PM Khan.

    The premeir said that petrol that was previously available for $40 per barrel was now being sold for $90. “What can we do about this? We have to import petrol.”

  • ‘It’s in the interest of the country that establishment and Khan be on same page’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘It’s in the interest of the country that establishment and Khan be on same page’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that there is no difference between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and the military leadership and it is in the interest of the country that the establishment and Imran Khan be on the same page.

    In an exclusive interview with BBC Urdu, Rasheed said that the military leadership had decided that it would stand by the elected government.

    Responding to a question about the differences between the government and the army, the minister said, “Small differences can happen. There may be differences of opinion between the civil government and the establishment, but they are on the same page.”

    Rasheed had recently stated that the hand of the establishment is on Imran Khan’s head and later said that he was asked to withdraw this statement.

    However, Rasheed said he was still standing by his statement and that he had been asked by a person in the civilian government, not the establishment, to withdraw his statement. “I did not name the establishment but I meant that the policies of the government and the institutions are on the same page,” he explained.

    Rasheed further said that the PM is adamant on the issue of corruption and accountability and that he fired many people from the party or positions who were accused or suspected of corruption. “Imran Khan can’t do more than that,” he said.

    Accountability was Imran Khan’s biggest slogan but we did not get the success we deserved, he added.

    Rasheed said that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was trying to repatriate those wanted by the courts and the government in Pakistan, but he also complained that despite many efforts, it is still not possible for Ishaq Dar to return.

    Regarding the return of former PM Nawaz Sharif, he said that the government of Pakistan is trying to get him back. “We have been doing this for three and a half years. We sent him ourselves, it is our fault. He [Nawaz] managed to throw dust in everyone’s eyes and went out.”

    Rasheed said that the reason for the former adviser on accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar’s resignation and the Prime Minister’s displeasure with him was not only about bringing back Nawaz Sharif or Shehbaz Sharif but also because “we could not bring back the money”.

    Sheikh Rasheed says there is room for improvement everywhere in the accountability process. “We need to prepare cases well, be good lawyers. Imran Khan has no lack of intent, he says giving National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) would be treason.”