Tag: Opposition

  • ‘Soft intervention’ by the Establishment due to political crisis: report

    ‘Soft intervention’ by the Establishment due to political crisis: report

    In an exclusive conversation with Geo News, senior journalist Ansar Abbasi revealed that the establishment is considering holding elections in October.

    “A soft intervention by the establishment between the government and the Opposition has raised the prospect of early talks and general elections in the country in October,” said Abbasi.

    In view of the current political and economic instability, the establishment is considering persuading the politicians for negotiations as in the past, but the final decision in this regard has to be taken by the politicians, said Abbasi on Geo News.

    Abbasi further said that after the unconditional intervention of the establishment between the government and the Opposition, talks between the political parties are likely to begin soon and the prospect of general elections in October is starting to look clear.

    DG ISPR has denied the news of an intervention: Kamran Khan

    However, senior journalist Kamran Khan tweeted that Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar has denied the news of a ‘soft intervention’.

    “In a conversation with me, DG ISPR General Babar Iftikhar has strongly denied the news regarding the military leadership’s interest in any political issues, including initiating a political dialogue. He has requested that the media should refrain from such rumour-mongering,” tweeted Kamran Khan.

    Imran Khan ready for talks, likely to write a letter to President Alvi: Suhail Warraich

    Senior journalist Suhail Warraich revealed that in a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan yesterday (July 22) along with senior journalist Mujib-ur-Rahman Shami, it was discussed that politicians should hold talks on three important issues.

    “Number one, elections, including election reforms. Number two, the economic agenda, and number three, the army chief’s appointment. These are the three things that should be discussed before the next elections. Imran Khan is ready for talks. There is a likelihood that he may write a letter to the president, who can then invite all parties for discussions.”

    Suhail Warraich further said that all stakeholders now feel that such discussions should be held between all political parties.

  • ‘Martial law or elections – your choice’: Khan threatened to impose martial law, states report

    ‘Martial law or elections – your choice’: Khan threatened to impose martial law, states report

    Imran Khan, who was ousted as Pakistan’s prime minister (PM) on Saturday, April 9, had threatened to impose martial law rather than facing the no-trust motion and handing over the power to the Opposition, reports The Guardian.

    The news outlet writes, “On Friday, a senior minister from his ruling government sent a message to an Opposition leader that read: “Martial law or elections – your choice.”

    “It appeared to threaten the Opposition with the ultimatum that they should agree to Khan’s demand for fresh elections or he would bring in Pakistan’s powerful military to take control, as has happened repeatedly in the country’s history,” writes The Guardian.

    “Imran Khan believed it should be him or no one,” says the news report, attributing, to one figure from the Opposition who said he had refused the demand.

    The news report also states that the premier had attempted to sack Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in order to provoke the military into taking control and imposing martial law.

    “Imran Khan wanted to sack the army chief, but the forces received information about it and they thwarted his plan after they came to know about it,” said a security official on condition of anonymity. “Khan wanted to create a huge crisis to remain in power,” writes The Guardian.

    There were also reports that the COAS and the former PM had 45 minutes meeting in Prime Minister House. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)  has dismissed BBC Urdu’s story that claims that Khan was pushing for the removal of COAS.

    The Opposition’s no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan succeeded on Sunday with 174 members voted in favour of the motion. The magic number to oust Khan was ‘172’. The National Assembly debated on the matter for more than 12 hours and the political situation in the country took a critical turn.

    Later, PM Khan was voted out as Prime Minister of Pakistan a little after midnight with 174 votes.

  • Hamza Shehbaz moves High Court for new Punjab CM’s election

    Hamza Shehbaz moves High Court for new Punjab CM’s election

    Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz moved Lahore High Court (LHC) to seek the court’s help for the in-house election of a new Chief Minister (CM) Punjab after the resignation of Usman Buzdar.

    The petition said the nomination papers of Hamza and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) Pervaiz Elahi were submitted for the CM’s seat and later a session of the assembly was convened for voting on April 3 but it was adjourned.

    Consequently, the Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari directed to hold the session on April 6 at 07:30 pm but the assembly premises were sealed. Hamza requested the court to ensure that there is no interference in the house.

    During the hearing, chaired by LHC Chief Justice (CJ) Amir Bhatti, Hamza’s counsel Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said the Punjab advocate general had assured the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on April 5 that the session would be held the next day i.e. April 6th. At this, the CJ summoned the Punjab advocate general only to know that he is in Islamabad.

    CJ Bhatti decided to issue notices to all respondents including; Elahi, Mazari, the Punjab chief secretary, and the provincial police chief for Monday (April 11) and adjourned the hearing.

    On April 6th, Mazari summoned a crucial session of the assembly for the election of new CM Punjab. However, the PML-Q submitted a no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker.

    After the Punjab Assembly was sealed off with barbed wires and the building’s main gate was locked while the Opposition lawmakers, led by the PML-N, held a session of their own at a private hotel, with PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz claiming that Hamza Shehbaz has been “elected” as the Punjab CM.

    In the Punjab Assembly, the govt has 183 lawmakers, PML-Q 10, PML-N 165, PPP seven, five are independent and one belongs to Rah-i-Haq party.

  • ‘Dissolution of Assembly deprives Pakistanis of right to choose govt’: Human Rights Watch

    ‘Dissolution of Assembly deprives Pakistanis of right to choose govt’: Human Rights Watch

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) denounced Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s action of dissolving the National Assembly and escaping from facing the no-confidence motion tabled against him. “This move of the premier has infringed on the rights of Pakistani citizens to choose their government.”

    “To dissolve parliament rather than face a no-confidence vote that could remove him from power effectively deprives Pakistani citizens of their right to choose their government,” said HRW in a statement.

    The watchdog for advocating human rights said, “Move has plunged Pakistan into a constitutional crisis. Under Pakistan’s constitution, the prime minister ceases to hold office if a majority of the National Assembly votes for a motion of no confidence – Imran Khan’s party appeared to have lost its majority by April 3. The action allows Khan to continue as prime minister until a caretaker government takes over, with neither a national assembly nor a federal cabinet.”

    “Government officials threatened to blow up the Opposition in a suicide attack and called on supporters to go out and take traitors to the task,” said HRW.

    “One member of parliament from Khan’s party tweeted that all Opposition members should be shot – a tweet he subsequently deleted. Senior members of Khan’s party have called for Opposition members to be arrested for treason,” added Human Rights Watch.

    Pakistan is in a state of political chaos as the no-confidence motion against Khan was dismissed abruptly on Sunday, April 3. Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri said that the no-confidence motion, presented on March 8, should be according to the law and the Constitution. “No foreign power shall be allowed to topple an elected government through a conspiracy,” he said, adding that the points raised by the minister were “valid”.

  • 64% Pakistanis believe there is no US conspiracy to overthrow PTI government

    64 per cent Pakistanis believe that there is no US conspiracy to overthrow the PTI government, Gallup survey has revealed. The survey was conducted between April 3 and 4, according to which 64 per cent Pakistanis cited inflation as the main reason behind the fall of the PTI government.

    Those who participated in the survey said that the main reason behind the Opposition’s efforts to remove the government is inflation and lack of relief for the people.

    Only 36 per cent of the participants said that the US was behind the fall of the government.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has named Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu as the United States (US) representative who had a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador in the US, which led to the ‘threatening’ diplomatic cable.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan is in a state of political chaos as the no-confidence motion against Khan was dismissed abruptly on Sunday. The move came after Suri termed it “unconstitutional”, saying that it was backed by “foreign powers”.

  • US official Khan named behind ‘foreign conspiracy’ key person in IMF deals last year

    US official Khan named behind ‘foreign conspiracy’ key person in IMF deals last year

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has named Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu as the United States (US) representative who had the a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador in the US, which led to the ‘threatening’ diplomatic cable.

    Khan said that the US had sent a threatening message through Pakistan’s Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan. He was quoted as saying that Donald Lu had reportedly in a meeting with Majeed warned that there could be implications if he survived the Opposition’s no-confidence motion tabled against him in the National Assembly.

    We are following developments in Pakistan and we respect and support Pakistan’s constitutional process and the rule of law: Lu

    Indian newspaper, The Hindustan Times, interviewed Lu in Washington this Friday and asked him about reports that he was the US official to warn the Pakistani ambassador of the consequences if Imran Khan stays in power.

    Hindustan Times: “Let me move to the rest of the region and start with Pakistan. Imran Khan seems to suggest that you had a conversation with the Pakistani ambassador in the US and told him that if Imran Khan survives the no-confidence motion, Pakistan is in trouble and the US won’t forgive Pakistan. Any response?”

    Donald Lu said, “We are following developments in Pakistan and we respect and support Pakistan’s constitutional process and the rule of law.”

    The assistant secretary was asked, “Did you have such a conversation?” Lu replied, “That’s all I have for you on that question.”

    Who is Donald Lu?

    Donald Lu became Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs on September 15, 2021. Prior to this assignment, Assistant Secretary Lu served as the US Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic from 2018 to 2021.

    Lu is a Foreign Service Officer with more than 30 years of US government service.

    Samaa News reported, “Donald Lu’s last major interaction with a Pakistani official came in October 2021 when a Pakistani finance ministry delegation was holding talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington.”

    On October 15, Shaukat Tarin and Donald Lu held talks at the Pakistan embassy in Washington and the finance minister assured the US official that the PTI government would live up to its promise of economic reforms.

    Pakistan embassy also issued a statement on the meeting between Donald Lu and Shaukat Tarin.

    Ten days after the March 7 meeting, the date on which the government alleges to have received the threatening communique, Lu attended an event organised by the Pakistan Embassy on March 16 to recognise and appreciate prominent women who are leading in their respective fields.

    He addressed the event along with Representative Sheila Jackson Lee. In his tweet, Ambassador Majeed thanked Lu and Lee for sharing their perspectives.

  • Name your candidate: President asks Khan, Shehbaz to give names for caretaker Prime Minister

    Name your candidate: President asks Khan, Shehbaz to give names for caretaker Prime Minister

    President Dr Arif Alvi has sent letters to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif to seek suggestions for the appointment of a caretaker PM.

    The letter states that the caretaker PM will be appointed after the mutual consultation of the President, current PM, and Leader of the Opposition.

    The letter also mentions that if consultations fail, both government and the Opposition will nominate one person for the seat to a committee comprising both Govt and the Opposition.

    However, responding to the letter, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari questioned the President, saying that if there is no Assembly, then how can the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition exist name any caretaker prime minister? What would be the status of consultation between them?

    Bilawal also asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop this ‘coup’.

    A day earlier, Deputy Speaker National Assembly (NA) Qasim Suri dismissed the no-confidence motion against Khan, terming it “unconstitutional”, saying that it was backed by “foreign powers” under Article 5.

    Following this development, Executives [Khan and Alvi] announced the dismissal of the National Assembly under Article 58. However, Imran Khan will remain seated as PM till the appointment of a caretaker PM.

  • Opposition leaders claim PM Khan wants an NRO

    Opposition leaders claim PM Khan wants an NRO

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that it is time for Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to exit honourably.

    “You have played your innings. Show sportsman spirit and leave,” said Bilawal while talking to the media in Parliament House

    “An honourable way to exit is to step down and let the vote of no-confidence motion happen and allow the Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif to take a vote of confidence.”

    “We will not give any NRO to Imran Khan nor will we withdraw the no-confidence motion,” said Bilawal.

    During the meeting of the Opposition leaders today ahead of the crucial National Assembly (NA) session for a debate on the no-confidence motion, it was shared that the premier has asked for a “safe passage” amid a deepening political crisis, reported Geo News.

    PM Khan has said that if the Opposition doesn’t agree with his suggestion, he is ready to face any situation.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “#NoNROforNiazi”.

    PML-N leader Miftah Ismail took to Twitter and asked, “Guess who is pleading for an NRO now?

    PML-N leader Saad Rafique tweeted, “On the one hand, you are asking for face-saving, and on the other hand foreign conspiracy drama, naked abuses, threats of bringing one lakh people cannot go together.”

  • 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.

  • Bye Bye Buzdar?: No-trust motion submitted against Punjab CM Usman Buzdar

    Bye Bye Buzdar?: No-trust motion submitted against Punjab CM Usman Buzdar

    The Opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar in the Punjab Assembly today (March 28).

    A total of 126 lawmakers from the Opposition parties have signed the no-confidence motion against Buzdar, said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Rana Mashood, adding that 119 members signed the requisition for a session.

    Copy of the no-confidence motion against CM Buzdar

    The speaker is bound to summon a session within 14 days of the submission of the no-trust motion. CM Punjab can no longer dissolve the Assembly after the submission of a no-confidence motion against him.

    It is pertinent to mention here that on March 8, the Opposition submitted a no-trust motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in National Assembly, which is likely to be tabled today in a crucial NA session.