Tag: Pakistan

  • Mohsin Naqvi faces criticism after Pakistan’s defeat by Bangladesh

    Mohsin Naqvi faces criticism after Pakistan’s defeat by Bangladesh

    The Federal Interior Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi came under fire in both houses of parliament after the country lost badly to Bangladesh in a two-match Test series in Rawalpindi.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Barrister Syed Ali Zafar stated, “There is only one reason for the disaster, and that is when you appoint an incompetent head of an institution. Not only the institution is destroyed, but all the work done by the institution is spoiled.”

    Meanwhile, Senator Saifullah Abro lashed out at Naqvi over his earlier statement about Balochistan in which he said that a single SHO could deal with terrorism in the province.

    “If it is so, then we may acquire services of 40 SHOs to handle four provinces, AJK, GB, and 36 ministries.”

    The Senator also wondered why the federal capital was shut down if the Pakistani team performed like it did.

    Senator Manzoor Ahmad reminded the House that the nation expects much more from players who are paid Rs4 to 6 million in monthly salaries besides other incentives, and called for Naqvi’s resignation.

    “The issue raised is of the entire nation. The talk here has been about his role as an administrator and a professional but not as a senator. It is a matter of the nation’s prestige. Unfortunately, youngsters have stopped watching cricket as they are so disappointed with the team’s performance,” remarked Senator Irfan Siddiqui.

    Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s X account chided Naqvi in a long post, saying, “He [Mohsin Naqvi] was given this position by none other than the “Big Boss” himself, and now he has annihilated cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Team suffered a whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh. What can be a worse defeat than that?”

  • Sindh govt defends its decision to buy vehicles worth billions

    Sindh govt defends its decision to buy vehicles worth billions

    The Sindh government has defended its decision to buy 138 double-cabin vehicles worth two billion rupees for Assistant Commissioners (ACs) in the province.

    “The Sindh government’s decision to allocate funds for new vehicles is a practical measure to ensure that field officers can perform their duties efficiently and effectively,” said a statement released by the provincial government.

    It further reads, “It is essential to provide these officers with reliable transportation to reach far-flung areas and respond promptly to emergencies and administrative responsibilities.”

    Stressing the need for new vehicles, the provincial government claimed, “Currently, most Suzuki Cultus vehicles under ACs have far exceeded their useful life, with many having run nearly 0.8 million kilometres.”

    “Ensuring that field officers are equipped with functional and reliable vehicles is not a luxury but a necessity for maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the provincial administration,” the statement concluded.

  • Supreme Court upholds NAB amendments, rejects Imran Khan’s appeal

    Supreme Court upholds NAB amendments, rejects Imran Khan’s appeal

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday approved the intra-court appeal, upholding amendments in the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).

    A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa announced the 5-0 majority verdict and remarked that respondent former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and other parties failed to prove NAO amendments unconstitutional.

    The apex court noted that the CJP and other judges “cannot be the gatekeepers of the parliament.”

    A larger apex court bench stressed, “whenever possible, the Supreme Court should strive to maintain legislation” enacted by the parliament.

    In 2022, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) led government made several amendments to NAO’s laws, including limiting the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) jurisdiction to investigate over Rs 500 million cases and restricting the tenure of the NAB chairman to three years.

    Imran Khan then moved the apex court, calling the amendments “legitimise corruption.”

    In September 2023, a Supreme Court bench led by the then CJP Umar Ata Bandial, ruled 2-1 to restore corruption cases, declaring Khan’s plea legitimate, which the provincials and federal government challenged.

  • ‘Militants will be dealt with an iron hand,’ DG ISPR

    ‘Militants will be dealt with an iron hand,’ DG ISPR

    Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry has said that militants will be dealt with an iron hand.

    During a press conference at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the DG said, “There is no area where terrorists are active,” ruling out the presence of a no-go area in the country.

    He further said that factions that attempts to create a rift between Pakistan and Afghanistan, two brotherly nations, are “living in an imaginary world.”

    Commenting on former spymaster General Faiz Hameed’s military trial, Chaudhry remarked that if an individual from the Pakistan Army “works for personal gain or promotes a specific agenda,” the law will take its course.

    He clarified that no one is exempt from the law, and action will be taken against anyone who does not abide law.

    “Pakistan Army is neither against nor in favour of any political party,” he added.

    Speaking about security operations nationwide, Chaudhry claimed that security forces and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) carried out 32,173 Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) against terrorists in the first eight months of the ongoing year.

  • There is one thing Ali Safina will never ever do

    There is one thing Ali Safina will never ever do

     
    Ali Safina has established himself in the entertainment industry with a successful acting, modelling and hosting career. He recently appeared as a guest in Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast where the host asked, “One thing you will never do.”

    Safina replied, “I will never talk nonsense against Pakistan. Nowadays, it has become a trend to say bad things about Pakistan or whatever. We constantly talk badly about our own people. You know, people talk about the establishment, then cricketers, then artists. I mean, give us a break.”

     The Fairy Tale actor reflected on the trend of negativity, expressing disappointment at how quickly people criticize and judge their own country’s achievements.

    “What I’m trying to say is, why everyone so angry is. Why is everyone judging others? I think our country is really great, a beautiful country, but people aren’t appreciating it. We’re destroying everything and fighting with everyone. Why are we fighting, we have nothing to celebrate. But even the little things sometimes we feel happy about them. Like recently, when our satellite went to space, people were still making negative comments about it,” he observed.
     
    Ali Safina continued, “Okay, tell me, when was the last time we sent a satellite? It’s the first time we did something like this. Now that Sparco has finally done it, it’s a good thing. You know, people need to talk positively. But again, they only criticize. You’ll never find me speaking badly about Pakistan.”
    Safina has starred in dramas like the Barat series, Suno Chanda, Chupke Chupke, and Very Film.

  • Imran Khan lambasts Pakistan cricket team

    Imran Khan lambasts Pakistan cricket team

    Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has called Bangladesh’s whitewash of Pakistan cricket team the worst defeat and questioned the factors that destroyed national cricket within three years.

    Speaking to journalists at Adiala jail, Khan remarked, “Cricket is a technical game. The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should be a professional in cricket; Ramiz Raja, former Chairman of PCB, was not my relative but a non-amateur.”

    He explained that the Supreme Court of Pakistan is the last institution representing the country’s integrity; any effort to destroy the apex court will be turned into a nationwide protest movement.

    Talking about the military, he added, “The institution belongs to everyone, not just the army chief.”

    He pointed out that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, incumbent Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, and President Asif Ali Zardari’s high-profile cases are frozen due to the pending Nationals Accountability Bureau (NAB) ruling.

  • Lt Gen Satti becomes head of FPSC

    Lt Gen Satti becomes head of FPSC

    President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has approved the appointment of Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz Satti as Chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC).

    Satti will take charge of the post after he retires from the army. The post has been vacant since August 22, The News reported.

    According to the FPSC website, the Commission comprises a Chairman and Members. The Chairman is appointed by the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, at his discretion, under Article 242 (IA) of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973.

    Moreover, the President appointed members on the advice of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Secretary assists the Commission and provides a link between the Commission, its Secretariat, and the government agencies.

  • Azaz Syed reveals what Khan is currently worried about

    Azaz Syed reveals what Khan is currently worried about

    Journalist Azaz Syed has told Geo News last night, that after the arrest of former ISI Chief Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed and the detention of Superintendent Adiala Jail, Imran Khan is “worried about a possible military trial.”

    “Right now, evidence against Gen Faiz is being collected, and this stage is called a summary of evidence. Khan’s name is coming up in the Army’s investigation against Gen Faiz,” revealed Syed.

    Azaz further stated that after evidence collection, a Field General Court Martial would be constituted.

    “If the civilian courts cannot convict Khan, then there are chances that he might be convicted in a military trial, so his concerns are genuine,” noted Azaz Syed.

    He went on to reveal that some YouTubers met Gen Faiz regularly in Bahawalpur and Peshawar and remained in touch with him even after retirement. “Faiz Hameed used to change his phone SIM frequently and used an old Chinese phone. His direct contact with PTI’s Hasan Raoof has been established.”

  • Austerity? Sindh govt approves purchase of 138 double-cabin vehicles for Assistant Commissioners

    Austerity? Sindh govt approves purchase of 138 double-cabin vehicles for Assistant Commissioners

    The Sindh government on Wednesday approved the procurement of 138 luxurious double-cabin vehicles for its Assistant Commissioners as the country struggles to secure another IMF loan.

    The federal and provincial governments have made bold claims about reducing bloated government expenditures amid the so-called austerity drive.

    Around two billion rupees will be spent on the procurement of the vehicles, as Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah approved the summary before leaving for the United States on a week-long visit.

    Chief Minister House Spokesperson Rasheed Channa told Dawn that the government purchased the vehicles after 12 years, as the last procurement was made in 2012.

    “It is a necessary expenditure as vehicles are needed for official duties in the province, especially in rural areas,” the spokesperson explained.

    Provincial president of PTI, Haleem Adil Sheikh, strongly condemned the move, saying that hundreds of families are on the streets due to floods, but the Sindh government is taking “royal decisions.”

  • Nawaz Sharif seeks unconditional dialogue with PTI, says Rana Sanaullah

    Nawaz Sharif seeks unconditional dialogue with PTI, says Rana Sanaullah

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Advisor on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif wants unconditional dialogue with all parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had denied reports of receiving direction from former PM Nawaz Sharif to initiate talks with all parties, along with PTI.

    According to Associated Press Pakistan (APP), Sanaullah stated on a local news channel, “We have also maintained the same stance before the PTI lawmakers in the National Assembly.”

    Emphasizing that Shehbaz shook hands with everyone two weeks ago, offering unconditional talks, Sanaullah advised the PTI to reverse its “stubborn attitude” to make talks productive.

    Responding to Chief Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s negotiation offer, Sanaullah said that PML-N believes in democracy and negotiation to curb political issues.