Tag: Omar Sarfraz Cheema

  • Alvi wants people from both sides of country to forgive each other

    Alvi wants people from both sides of country to forgive each other

    Former president and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Dr Arif Alvi said on Wednesday that people from both sides of the political spectrum should forgive each other. This can be seen as an indirect message to the ‘poweful circles’ regarding the violent protests that occurred last on May 9.

    He gave this statement while talking to journalists after visiting an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, where he met multiple PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, and Ejaz Chaudhary.

    On May 9 last year, law enforcement agencies arrested PTI founding chairman Imran Khan for the first time in connection with a corruption case, triggering violent riots across the country in which several installations of the security establishment were attacked.

    Arif Alvi assured PTI leaders during the meeting that they don’t need to worry about the cases as the people of Pakistan are with them.

    PTI senior woman leader Dr Yasmeen Rashid told Alvi to convey her message to PTI founder Imran Khan that she is happy despite facing multiple challenges in jail.

  • Jail Bharo Tehreek: PTI leaders transferred from Adiala to Shahpur jail

    Jail Bharo Tehreek: PTI leaders transferred from Adiala to Shahpur jail

    The Punjab police have transferred leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from Adiala jail to Shahpur jail.

    Those who transferred include Zulfi Bukhari, Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan among others who were arrested in Rawalpindi after they presented themselves for arrest before the police.

    Other than that, police moved 41 PTI activists from Adiala jail to Hafizabad jail.

    The move came after Adiala Jail was found occupied above its capacity.

    Earlier, Chohan claimed that the police van dropped him and others off on the way and left them there.

    PTI’s Jail Bharo Tehreek: Zulfi Bukhari, Fayaz Chohan arrested

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Zulfi Bukhari and Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan gave themselves up for voluntary arrests in Rawalpindi as part of the party’s Jail Bharo Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement) on Friday.

    A police prisoner van took them away from Committee Chowk. PTI leader Amir Kayani, Awami Muslim League chief and former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, and others reached Committee Chowk in Rawalpindi to voluntarily surrender to the police.

    While talking to the media in Rawalpindi, Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that he will not give himself over for arrest but some leaders and some workers will give an arrest.

    On Thursday, PTI activists, led by their leaders, reached Central Prison Peshawar and stayed there till the evening, however, no one was arrested.

    In the evening, the sit-in staged by the party came to an end with PTI claiming that the police were reluctant to arrest them. They then announced that PTI chairman Imran Khan had ordered them to end the protest and sit in. They also announced that they would go to Rawalpindi for the campaign on Friday.

    Meanwhile, several petitions have been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking the recovery of leaders — including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, and Azam Swati – who were arrested on Wednesday and are serving time in jail.

    Because they wanted it: SMQ, Asad Umar in Attock, Rajanpur jail

    Leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday voluntarily gave themselves up for arrest to Lahore police as part of the party’s Jail Bharro Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement).

    In videos taken at the protest at Charring Cross, PTI leaders including Senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Senator Azam Swati and others can be seen wilfully climbing into a prison van.

    Later, PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said, “Around 500-700 PTI workers have given themselves up for arrest.” Chaudhry claimed that the police had arrived prepared with police vans but were “worried after seeing the thousands of people and are contemplating what they should do”.

    The arrests took place as part of the PTI’s Jail Bharo Movement. Following the arrests, PTI Chairman Imran Khan summoned a meeting of his legal team at his mansion in Zaman Park, Lahore. The meeting aims to thrash out a legal strategy for obtaining bail for the arrested PTI leaders.

    A day earlier, the police confirmed that the number of people arrested is around 80, including central leaders of the PTI. However, now according to the list of accused detained in Central Jail in Lahore, the number is 77.

    Following are the names of PTI leaders who were arrested and the jails they have been transferred to.

    Omar Sarfraz Cheema (District Jail, Bhakkar)

    Asad Umar (District Jail, Rajanpur)

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi (District Jail, Attock)

    Muhammad Azam Khan Swati (District Jail, Raheem Yar Khan)

    Murad Ras (Central Jail, Dera Ghazi Khan)

  • ‘Khan wants to destroy Pakistan for his ego’: CM Hamza Shehbaz

    ‘Khan wants to destroy Pakistan for his ego’: CM Hamza Shehbaz

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz on Thursday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was “trying to divide the army”.

    “I want to tell you today that what Imran Khan Niazi is doing is not politics. He is spreading hatred in the name of politics,” said Hamza, addressing a press conference in Lahore. “What does he want to do with this country? I, as a Pakistani, want to warn the nation: don’t be misled with his fake demeanour.”

    He urged people and the institutions to “keep an eye” on Imran and his tactics.

    “He is trying to destroy Pakistan for his ego, just like he trampled upon the Constitution and the law for his ego. Keep politics aside. First decide what this man is trying to do with the nation. The people and institutions will have to take notice.”

    Hamza said he would stay on the post of CM “as long as God wills it” and vowed to continue working for the welfare and well-being of the people of the province “without wasting any moment”.

    “The way these people are creating problems in Punjab, whether it is the former governor [Omar Sarfraz Cheema] or the president [Arif Alvi] … The way they are spreading propaganda among the public … I have decided not to waste a second in making things easier for the people.”

    “I won’t let anything hinder my resolve in working for the people of Punjab.”

    “But I want to tell you today that the government of Punjab is standing with its people,” he pledged, announcing a relief package for the province in which the price of a 10kg bag of wheat flour, which earlier cost Rs650, has been reduced to Rs490. “In 36 districts of Punjab, people will be able to buy flour at this price,” the CM said. “We are giving a relief of Rs160 under the Rs200 billion subsidy for the province.”

    Hamza also said that he will ensure that everyday medicines and especially the ones used for cancer will be given free to people.

  • Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema removed by federal government

    Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema removed by federal government

    Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema has been de-notified on Tuesday after President Arif Alvi’s rejection to approve Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s summary to remove Cheema from his post.

    President Alvi had conveyed to the prime minister that the Punjab governor cannot be removed without his approval.

    However, in contrast to the president’s rejection of the PM’s advice, the federal cabinet division issued a notification regarding the removal of Omar Cheema as governor of Punjab.

    “In terms of Article 101 and proviso to Article 48 (1) of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, read with serial No. 2D of schedule V-B to the Rules of Business, 1973 and the Prime Minister’s advice (s) rendered on 17-04-2022 and 01-05-2022 for removal of Governor of Punjab, Mr Omer Sarfraz Cheema ceases to hold the office of the Governor Punjab, with immediate effect,” the notification read.

    The Punjab Assembly speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi shall perform the functions of the governor till the appointment of an incumbent, in accordance with Article 104 of the Constitution.

    Cheema was appointed Punjab Governor by Imran Khan during his last days in power. 

  • Govt to file high treason case against PTI leaders

    Govt to file high treason case against PTI leaders

    The government has started preparing a high treason case against the former and the current PTI government officials on the basis of Article 6 for violating the Constitution, confirmed Deputy Secretary General PML-N Attaullah Tarar.

    According to Geo News’ sources, the people who are being named are President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi, Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Former National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri and Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema.

    As per the news outlet, currently, the government is consulting legal experts. The current ministries of interior and law have started gathering evidence related to the case.

    Article 6 of Constitution of Pakistan, says any person who “abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance the Constitution shall be guilty of high treason”.

    On April 3rd, Deputy Speaker Suri “dismissed” the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, terming it against Article 5 of the Constitution. Then, Khan addressed the nation, saying he had advised President Alvi to dissolve NA, which the President approved.

    Later, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) declared the act unconstitutional, restored the assemblies and directed to hold the no-confidence motion in the House, which resulted in the removal of Khan’s government.

    A couple of weeks ago, PML-N Hamza Shehbaz was elected as the new CM of Punjab. However, his oath-taking ceremony is still hanging as the Governor of Punjab Omar Sarfraz Cheema declined to administer the ceremony multiple times. Despite Lahore High Court’s (LHC) order to do the ceremony, it is yet to take place.

    Many legal experts have argued that Punjab’s governor cannot decline to administer the oath to the chief minister-elect under any circumstances and termed it illegal.

  • LHC to Punjab governor: Either administer oath to Hamza or appoint anyone

    LHC to Punjab governor: Either administer oath to Hamza or appoint anyone

    Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti on Wednesday directed Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema to either administer oath to Punjab Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz or appoint anyone for it.

    According to ARY News, the chief justice while announcing a reserved verdict over delay in oath taking of the newly-elected chief minister directed the governor Punjab to hold oath-taking ceremony by tomorrow.

    The LHC CJ declared that the court’s order should immediately be conveyed to the governor and president, regretting that the province is being run without a chief executive for 25 days.

    The court further said in its order that currently Usman Buzdar is acting as chief minister and the governor as per the Constitution is bound to take oath from the newly elected chief minister.

    Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had directed President Arif Alvi to nominate another official to take oath from Punjab Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz after Governor Omar Sarfraz refused to administer oath to him.

    The court ruled that the governor could not refuse to administer oath to the chief minister-elect and the president should appoint another person to administer oath to Hamza Shehbaz.

    The court also directed to send a copy of the decision to the president for implementation on the orders within 24 hours.

    The PML-N had approached the LHC in a bid to have the governor of Punjab administer the chief minister’s oath to Hamza Shehbaz, the newly-elected chief executive of the province.

    Hamza Shehbaz stated that he had been elected as the Punjab chief minister on April 16, during a provincial assembly session held under the LHC’s direction and that he had secured 197 votes out of 371.