Tag: Pakistani politicians

  • Miftah Ismail reacts to ‘hate campaign’ against him by former PTI ministers

    Miftah Ismail reacts to ‘hate campaign’ against him by former PTI ministers

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has reacted to a hate campaign launched against him by former minister for human rights Shireen Mazari and former Prime Minister’s spokesperson Shahbaz Gill.

    Mazari accused Miftah of using ‘religion card’ against Imran Khan. Miftah, while reacting to the organised hate campaign, said: “Imran Khan used religion for politics but now his ministers have also resorted to this method. And in order to do so, they also have to lie.”

    In a video clip shared on social media, Miftah said: “The former prime minister essentially then started talking about some Quranic verses, Amr bil Maroof wa Nahi anil Munkar (promotion of virtue and prevention of vices). Somehow, we (the Opposition) were the standard-bearers of vice and he was the standard-bearer of virtue.”

    Twitter users are condemning Mazari’s tweet.

    Mazari’s daughter, without naming anyone, also came forward to condemn the hate campaign and putting people’s lives in danger.

  • ‘The kindest face of humanity’: Tributes pour in for Bilquis Edhi

    ‘The kindest face of humanity’: Tributes pour in for Bilquis Edhi

    Bilquis Bano Edhi passed away on Friday (April 15) at the age of 74. She was the wife of renowned humanitarian and philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi. Politicians, journalists, cricketers and celebrities paid rich tributes to Bilquis Edhi.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted that the passing of Bilquis Edhi “is a huge loss for the nation”.

    First Lady Tehmina Durrani tweeted, “Today I lost the woman who became my mother when I most needed one. The entire world lost one of its most valuable assets.”

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto shared a picture of his late mother Benazir Bhutto with Bilquis Edhi and Abdul Sattar Edhi.

    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan tweeted: “Her quiet, selfless work for the poor, the homeless, especially the orphans & abandoned children, made her a role model and a symbol of hope.”

    Apart from politicians, several cricketers and celebrities also paid rich tributes to Bilquis Edhi.

    Shahid Afridi said Bilquis Edhi was a “mother to so many orphans, a sister to many grieving hearts; the kindest face of humanity”.

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1514979525230305280

    Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam tweeted: “May her unmatched legacy lives on and the hope to thousands remain as in her lifetime. Salute and respect.”

    Pakistani bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi tweeted that Bilquis Edhi was one of a kind hope to many.

    Singer and actor Hadiqa Kiani tweeted, “She trusted me with being a mother and I, like so many others touched by Mrs. Edhi’s grace and kind soul, will forever be grateful. I pray for her peace and I pray her legacy carries on.”

    Actor, Osman Khalid Butt tweeted, “Rest in peace and power, Bilquis Ji. We will never forget your contributions to Pakistan.”

    Adnan Siddiqui wrote: “We have lost a great philanthropist and an ever greater human being. It takes rare selflessness to dedicate your entire life to serving humanity. Bilquis Edhi, your humanitarian work will inspire generations.”

  • Raja Pervaiz Ashraf elected as NA speaker unopposed

    Raja Pervaiz Ashraf elected as NA speaker unopposed

    Former prime minister and Pakistan People’s Party leader Raja Pervez Ashraf was elected Speaker of the National Assembly unopposed on Friday following the en masse resignations by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members from the lower house of the parliament after the success of a no-confidence vote against former prime minister Imran Khan.

    It is to be noted that the seat of the National Assembly speaker fell vacant after Asad Qaiser resigned in accordance with the PTI’s decision minutes before voting on the no-confidence motion against then-Prime Minister Imran Khan on April 9.

    Who is Raja Pervaiz Ashraf?

    On Saturday, a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri is set to be introduced in the House. On Saturday, the National Assembly was scheduled to assemble to pick a new speaker. Suri, on the other hand, has adjourned the house on April 22.

  • PM Shehbaz announces ‘free metro service’ for Islamabad in Ramzan

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has announced ‘free metro service’ for the citizens of Islamabad during the month of Ramzan.

    “Prime Minister has ordered free metro service for the citizens of the capital during the month of Ramadan. He expressed dismay over delays in the project terming it severe negligence as 16 billion rupees have been spent on the project so far,” tweeted PM Office.

    https://twitter.com/PMO_PK/status/1514484230981521408

    He paid a visit to the Peshawar Morr Metro Bus Station at 7am to assess the project’s progress on the ground. He also ordered to operationalise Metro Bus Service from Peshawar Road to Airpot.

    Shehbaz Sharif took oath as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan on April 11.

  • 2 PTI men shot by JUI-F workers over social media comments

    2 PTI men shot by JUI-F workers over social media comments

    Two workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI ) were injured during an armed scuffle with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) workers over some social media content and comments. The police said that the incident took place in Timergra area of Lower Dir. Police officials said that the workers of both parties started fighting over some social media comments, which resulted in two PTI workers getting injured after being shot. They were rushed to the nearest hospital subsequently.

    On Tuesday, a fight broke out between a man with dissident PTI’s Noor Alam Khan, PPP’s Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Faisal Kundi.

    Noor Alam who was severely critical of Imran Khan was verbally abused and punched by a PTI supporter at an iftar after which his colleagues retaliated.

    “We were sitting for iftaar at a hotel and someone abused Noor Alam Khan before iftaar. We didn’t respond. When iftaar started, I said to the man why he is using this language. He started abusing even more and punched Noor Alam. That’s when we responded because he was uncontrollable,” says Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar.

  • PML-N MPA refuses to accept Farah Khan as daughter-in-law

    PML-N MPA refuses to accept Farah Khan as daughter-in-law

    Muhammad Iqbal Gujjar, father-in-law of Farah Khan has refused to accept her as his daughter-in-law. Iqbal Gujjar is Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA from Gujranwala of the Punjab Assembly.

    As per Geo News, he also attended the symbolic assembly session of the Punjab Assembly in which Hamza Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

    The reporter asked him about the allegations against Farah Khan, to which he replied that he has no link with her adding that he has not accepted her as his daughter-in-law.

    Gujjar, while explaining the reason why he has not accepted her as a daughter-in-law, said that his son married her without his consent.

    The wealth of Farah Khan has grown exponentially during the three and a half years of rule of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Centre and in Punjab. Umar Cheema in his special report The News writes, “Farah’s penchant for luxury items is also evident from her bid to buy a luxury car, Porsche, which she got booked through Porsche’s Pakistani dealer and paid a part amount of it (Rs33 million) as advance. This she declared in the nomination papers she submitted for the Senate election in March 2021. Later, Farah pulled out from the Senate race.”

  • ‘Mubarak ho Pakistan’: PTI celebrates dismissal of no-confidence motion, festivities will continue for a week

    ‘Mubarak ho Pakistan’: PTI celebrates dismissal of no-confidence motion, festivities will continue for a week

    Senator Faisal Javed Khan has announced that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) will start celebrations near the Red zone area of Islamabad. The celebrations will continue for a week.

    He said that celebrations will start from today after Iftar. He also invited the party workers and their families.

    Faisal added that fireworks will also be part of the program.

    Read more– Explainer: Law says dismissing no-confidence motion is a big no-no

    The National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri on Sunday “dismissed” the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, terming it against Article 5 of the Constitution, the legal war began. PM Khan then addressed the nation, saying he had advised the President to dissolve the National Assembly, which the President approved.

  • PM Khan’s old friend Aleem Khan joins forces against him

    PM Khan’s old friend Aleem Khan joins forces against him

    On Monday, Aleem Khan formally joined Jahangir Khan Tareen’s disgruntled group in the PTI. Aleem said the aim is to “save” the party after “loyalists who had been integral in PTI’s 10-year struggle were sidelined without any reason” from the ruling party.

    Aleem Khan reached Tareen’s residence on Monday evening and was all praises for the disgruntled PTI leader. He also criticised the way the Punjab government was being run.

    In a politically heavy weekend, and an even bigger Monday, all wheels seem to be set in motion for a major political change. The major updates that will affect the fate of the government and the Opposition are going to change the future of the current government.

    Previously, according to journalists on Twitter, it was possible that PTI’s Aleem Khan, who is also PM Khan’s close friend, might be joining the Opposition. He had been reportedly contacted by the PML-N and was set to meet the Jahangir Tareen Group today at Tareen’s residence. Tareen, who is currently in London, was reported to address the meeting through a video link. According to reports, Aleem Khan has met 40 members of the provincial assembly this week, out of which ten are provincial ministers.

    PML-N, PPP stop their MNAs from leaving the country

    In a tough battle in Parliament over the no-confidence motion against PM Khan, which will remove him from power, the PPP and PML-N are making sure their MNAs are present for the motion.

    “Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has directed all MNAs of the party to remain in Islamabad,” PPP Information Secretary Shahzia Atta Marri said on Sunday, which means no official delegations and allegedly no vacations for the MNAs until the motion is carried through.

    According to a report published in The News, PML-N Information Secretary Marriyam Aurangzeb said that her party’s members would not be part of any foreign tour nominated by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser. All members of the party had been instructed to stay in the country. “PML-N MNAs have been barred from travelling abroad at expenses from the national exchequer. We hope sensible members of the PTI will also refuse to be part of the tours,” she added.

    ‘Beware,’ PM Khan warns Opposition

    On Sunday, PM Imran said that he will continue his fight against looters and dacoits till the last drop of his blood. He also warned the Opposition of grave consequences if the no-confidence motion against him fails.

    “Are you ready for what I will do to you once your no-confidence motion fails insha’Allah?”

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1500458502942334978
    PM Khan attacked all Opposition leaders.
    Nawaz Sharif

    PM Khan said that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif is ‘Mujrim Number 1′ (Criminal number 1) who acted like a Bollywood actor so that he could leave the country. He also called Nawaz a ‘bhagora’ (someone who runs away).

    Shehbaz Sharif

    PM Khan said that the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly starts polishing boots whenever he finds one.

    Asif Zardari

    PM Khan called PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari a “beemaari” (disease).

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    PM Khan referred to Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman as ‘Fazlu’ and said he does not want to address him as a ‘maulana’ because “the title is for people who are respected”.

    PM Khan also reminded Fazlur Rehman that their ages are the same and in this age, they should be more worried about their aakhirat (life after death). He said Fazlur Rehman’s weight is also more than his.

    Maryam Nawaz reacts to PM Khan’s attack:

    PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “Why falling apart & sounding hysterical ImranKhan PTI? The game has only just begun, dude & you have already lost it! Show some sportsman spirit man!”

  • ‘Inflation has benefitted traders and industrialists’: Hammad Azhar

    ‘Inflation has benefitted traders and industrialists’: Hammad Azhar

    Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar has said that inflation has increased in Pakistan because it is a global trend. He added that “inflation has benefitted traders and industrialists”.

    “Our competition is with inflation, not with the Opposition,” said Hammad.

    Azhar was addressing a press conference in Lahore along with Punjab Minister for Local Bodies Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed. Hammad, while talking about the local government elections, said, “To win the local body elections, we will benefit from the experience of senior leaders like Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed and give honest leadership to Lahore.”

    “In order to win the elections, the internal differences of the party will be eliminated. The party’s organisation in Lahore will be announced in the next few days. We will win the local bodies’ elections through hard work and make Lahore a stronghold of PTI,” he added.

    On January 22, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf nominated Hammad Azhar as the party’s candidate for the mayorship of Lahore.

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    PTI’s Hammad Azhar gives tax details, confirms that he paid Rs18 million in taxes
    
			
    PTI’s Hammad Azhar gives tax details, confirms that he paid Rs18 million in taxes
    
			
    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar has responded to The Current’s news report that stated he paid Rs29,025 in an individual capacity in 2019. However, the minister denied the report and clarified that he paid Rs18 million in 2019. 
    

    Hammad Azhar said that, “My AOP pays my personal income tax on my behalf and it has paid Rs18 million on that count. They [Federal Board of Revenue] have listed clearly that my AoP has paid my share of income tax as Rs18 million.”
    

    

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) released its 2019 tax directory for parliamentarians recently. According to the document, the directory complied tax returns filed manually and electronically till January 3, reports Dawn.
    

    According to the data, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan paid Rs98 lakh. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif paid Rs82 lakh while Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari paid Rs5 lakhs 30 thousand.