Tag: parliament

  • ‘I fed aaloo chanay to birds in jail’: Shehbaz Sharif talks about Nawaz, black magic & close friends

    ‘I fed aaloo chanay to birds in jail’: Shehbaz Sharif talks about Nawaz, black magic & close friends

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, on Thursday talked about how he spent his days in jail, his niece Maryam Nawaz’s political future, Nawaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and many other issues in an interview given to Kamran Khan on Dunya News.

    A typical day in jail

    When asked what is a typical day in jail and how he spent those eight months, Shehbaz said: “I used to pray for Pakistan in jail. It is not easy to remain in jail as it takes a lot of patience to remain in jail. Allah gives one hope there. I would get up for Fajr prayers, I continued my morning walk. After exercise, I would have my breakfast and then recite the Quran. I would read books like Bob Woodward’s Rage. I read Islamic books and read tafseer (explanation) of Quran as I had a lot of time on my hands in solitary confinement. I would feed birds when I was there. I once fed aaloo chanay to birds. I saw that a crow washed the potato with water as it was spicy, which I found very fascinating as they say that crows are wise so I would observe the birds keenly.”

    Corruption cases

    Kamran Khan asked Shehbaz about the allegations against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Sharif said since this is a sub judice matter, NAB invited him for the Saaf Paani case and arrested him in Ashiana scandal. During his arrest, they again arrested him in Ramzan Sugar Mills, and then assets beyond means case was opened against him. “I was given bail on merit in February 2019 in Ashiana and Ramzan Sugar Mills case.” He denied all charges of corruption. Shehbaz Sharif said that there is a NAB-Niazi collusion to target the Sharif family. “What else have they [the government] done in three years? They have no other priority other than how to destroy Sharifs’ businesses and our reputation. All they are interested in is to target my elder brother Nawaz Sharif and our family members.” He asked have they proved a penny of corruption against us. 

    Medical treatment in Britain

    Shehbaz Sharif said he is a cancer survivor. He has been getting an annual check up in Britain since 2003. When asked how he would have entered Britain since Pakistan is on a Red List, Shehbaz said he took a chance to go via Doha and if that wasn’t allowed, he would have gone via Istanbul as Turkey was not on Britain’s Red List at that time. “I wasn’t going to Britain to play a cricket match or to learn jaadu tona (black magic). I was going there for my medical treatment and also to see my family.”

    Pakistan Democratic Movement 

    Kamran Khan asked him about the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) while he was in jail and if he was involved directly or indirectly with PDM’s decisions. “As luck would have it, PDM was formed when I went to jail. PDM faced divisions within the alliance when I was in jail. I do not impose my views on anyone. I wasn’t allowed to meet my lawyers or family regularly either. I would give my advice when someone sought it. I didn’t know much about it [PDM]. Now I will be there in the next PDM meeting….Such alliances were formed in the past too like MRD, etc.” Shehbaz said differences do take place in such alliances. “No party alone can take a decision unilaterally. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the head of PDM, so such decisions are taken with consensus. Even if PDM isn’t there in its original form, I am the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and it is my duty to talk to all Opposition parties on issues like budget, Covid, foreign policy, Kashmir, Palestine or CPEC. Even if there are divisions in PDM, we have this forum in parliament.” 

    Roadmap for the future

    Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is facing a lot of problems. “India is a member of G20. We came into being together; we should have been leading in the comity of global nations. Bangladesh, which was part of Pakistan, now has a GDP growth rate higher than ours. How unfortunate that today, Afghanistan’s currency is stronger than Pakistan’s.”

    Sharif lamented that this is a selected government. “They came into power after massive rigging.” General Bajwa said in front of me that Mian Nawaz Sharif has given me a lot of respect and never said no to anything related to defence. “Confrontation is not our path; it has to be consultation. This country cannot move forward without this. We need a consultative process between all institutions within the limits set by the Constitution. No one institution can take us out of this quagmire alone. It has to be through collective wisdom and efforts can we make Pakistan as a going country among comity of nations.” Kamran Khan said this is music to everyone’s ears. 

    Nawaz Sharif

    Asked if Nawaz Sharif would agree to these suggestions, Shehbaz Sharif said: “He [Nawaz] is a statesman. I guarantee you he will be more than willing to contribute towards nation building efforts if there is a new social order which guarantees free and fair elections, all institutions work within their constitutional boundaries, judiciary is independent and free, and every government is allowed to work independently. Reconciliation is still possible; it’s never too late. Nawaz Sharif would be more than willing to do this, I guarantee you.” 

    He said that when he goes to London, he will meet Nawaz. “He is my leader, he is like my father. There is no compromise on national interest. I am sure he will promote national interest if there is a level-playing field. Even if I have to hold his feet for national interest, I will do so because it is my national duty. I am a Pakistani first and then anything else.”

    Maryam Nawaz

    Kamran Khan asked Shehbaz about Maryam Nawaz’s active political role in the last few months. “Maryam has a right to be in politics; she is now a politician. Time is on her side. The awaam (people) will decide. I am telling you whether it is Hamza who spent 21 months in jail or someone else from other parties, they all have a right to enter politics and then the people will decide.

    “Time is on Maryam’s side, time is on Hamza’s side. They need grooming. Maryam’s father, who is a statesman, will groom her. I will groom her as her uncle from my experience. We need to alleviate poverty, eliminate unemployment. This is our agenda. If we cannot follow this agenda, then politics means nothing.”

    Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan

    “Chaudhry Nisar was not my friend; he was Nawaz Sharif’s friend. Whether you like it or not, I have always inherited his [Nawaz’s] legacy. Whether it’s Chaudhry Nisar or Khawaja Asif or Khawaja Hamid or anyone else. Chaudhry Nisar was initially against me, then he became a close friend of mine. Unfortunately, this 30-year-old friendship ended on a bad note. I won’t go into the details. When my mother passed away, I met him when he came for her fateha (prayers). Taking oath is Chaudhry Nisar’s own decision; he did not consult me. He did not directly consult me on this.”

    Electoral reforms

    Shehbaz Sharif said that without electoral reforms, no one can take a step forward. However, he said this does not mean that electronic voting machines are the answer. “Who are they trying to befool? We all want to give the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis. But in the garb of providing them the right to vote through electronic voting machines, we cannot have an RTS again.”

    Summary of the interview 

    Shehbaz Sharif said that unity and a consultative process is needed and Parliament is the forum where this can be done. “We need a middle way for national reconciliation, consultative process with all institutions. Unfortunately, Parliament has been locked by Imran Khan Niazi. We need meaningful, substantial consultation in parliament. He [PM Khan] hates me so much that he did not even mention my name or title in the letters addressed to me by the Prime Minister. I addressed him by his title and name but he responded without mentioning my name again. If he is only interested in what his pir (spiritual guide) will tell him on how to destroy the Opposition, if this is his only priority, then what can I say?”

    Complete interview:

  • Govt will complete its term: CM Punjab

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar on Wednesday said that the government will definitely complete five years and the next general elections will be held in 2023. Talking to Punjab cabinet members and Punjab Assembly parliamentarians, CM Punjab said that Punjab is significantly ahead of all other provinces. Buzdar said that the politics of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is over. He added that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is spending money on backward areas as well, and not just Lahore. “People only want development and prosperity, the PTI government is pursuing equal development of every city,” added Buzdar.

    CM Punjab’s statement comes a day after analyst Sabir Shakir’s video went viral on social media where Shakir claims that the government will not complete its tenure and new elections will be held soon.

    PML-N’s Marriyum Aurangzeb said that this (new election) is the need of the hour. The country is facing high inflation and the people are suffering under the governance of PTI, She said.

  • NA body approves bill seeking criminal proceedings against anyone defaming military

    A bill seeking criminal proceedings against anyone who defames the military, has been approved by National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior.

    The bill, under which the said act is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of Rs500,000 or both, will now be presented before the lower house of the parliament.

    According to sources, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have opposed it as a violation of right to freedom of expression.

    However, it received the votes of a majority during the NA body’s meeting.

    Last year, the National Assembly had introduced the Criminal Law Bill, 2020, to make intentional defaming and insulting the armed forces as a punishable felony.

    According to an insertion 500A in the Pakistan Penal Code Act 1860, anyone who deliberately ridicules or slanders the armed forces or member of the armed forces shall be found guilty.

  • PM announces putting Labbaik’s demands, including ratification of blasphemy bill, forward in parliament

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that following an agreement with the hardliner Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), their demands will be put forward in the parliament.

    According to reports, the premier, in a statement, said that the government spoke to TLP, and the party has decided to extend the “deadline” given to the government from February to April 20.

    The demands put forth by TLP include the French ambassador’s deportation, ratification of the blasphemy bill, and a ban on French goods after blasphemous caricatures were published in France that had sparked protests across the Muslim world.

    Late last year, hundreds of protesters in Pakistan, most of them led by TLP leaders, had burned effigies of France’s leader and chanted anti-French slogans, as President Emmanuel Macron had tried to send a message of understanding to Muslims around the world.

    Smaller demonstrations in Lebanon, Turkey and India followed on anti-France protests across the Muslim world last week that were mostly led by Islamist groups, reported AP news agency.

    The renewed protests had come after President Macron’s interview in which he said that he understood the shock Muslims felt at caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

    Macron was speaking with the Qatar-based Arabic TV station Al-Jazeera, where he also defended freedoms of expression and France’s secular values.

    Just days before TLP chief Khadim Rizvi’s death, the protests had also turned ugly in Rawalpindi-Islamabad.

  • Motorway gang-rape: Lahore CCPO could be arrested

    Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umer Sheikh, who recently made headlines for his controversial statements regarding survivor of the Lahore-Sialkot motorway gang-rape victim, can be arrested if he continues to ignore the summons from the upper house of the parliament.

    As per the details, Senate Committee on Human Rights has dismayed over the absence of Lahore top cop who had been directed by the body to appear in person during its Wednesday meeting. Other than not appearing before the human rights body of the upper house, Sheikh did not notify any reason either.

    Irked over the cop’s absence, the committee chairperson, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, has said that it is unacceptable.

    While the committee has reportedly decided to submit a privilege motion against the CCPO and issued summons to ensure the officer’s presence at its next hearing, Khokhar has also hinted at the possibility of arresting the cop in case of continued absence.

    Speaking to senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir, Khokhar said that the committee “will issue CCPO’s arrest warrants” if needs be.

    “Despite public outrage, the CCPO hasn’t had the courtesy to appear before public representatives. If he doesn’t appear, we will have no other option than to issue his warrants,” he said, adding that all committees of the parliament can do so owing to the powers vested in them under the constitution.

  • Parliament approves law allowing army men to contest elections

    Parliament approves law allowing army men to contest elections

    Egypt’s parliament on Monday approved amendments allowing active or former military personnel to run for the presidency and parliament pending the army’s approval, AFP reported.

    The legislative changes come a year after Egyptians overwhelmingly voted in favour of constitutional amendments that potentially allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a former army chief, to stay on until 2030.

    Since it became a modern republic, all but two of Egypt’s presidents have hailed from a military background.

    The army is highly visible in Egypt’s public life, with former top brass currently serving as ministers and heading governorates as well.

    The nationalist institution boasts a sizeable business portfolio ranging from massive construction projects to most recently producing protective masks.

    Sisi, the former general-turned-president, led the army’s overthrow of elected president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 following mass protests against the Islamist leader’s rule.

    He won his first term as president in 2014 and was re-elected in March 2018 with more than 97 percent of the vote, after standing virtually unopposed.

    The amended law also prohibits officers from divulging information during their service publicly or joining political parties without the Supreme Council of Armed Forces’ permission.

    SCAF is a military council comprised of the country’s most senior generals. It ruled Egypt following the toppling of long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

    A former chief of staff of the armed forces, Sami Anan, was jailed in January 2018 after contesting the presidential elections against Sisi without the military’s explicit approval.

    He was released nearly two years later.

    A military court jailed another former soldier in December 2017 for six years for announcing his decision to enter the presidential race as a potential candidate in a video he posted on YouTube.

  • Trouble for Imran? Govt’s allied PML avoiding accountability, adopting Opp’s stance

    Trouble for Imran? Govt’s allied PML avoiding accountability, adopting Opp’s stance

    With the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), in line with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s vision of holding the corrupt accountable, planning to reopen a decades-old investigation against the Chaudhrys of Gujrat, trouble seems to be around the corner for the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that is in power owing to the support of its allies, including the Chaudhry cousins’ Pakistan Muslim League (PML).

    PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and his cousin, Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, have approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) against NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal’s jurisdiction after reports said that an investigation into the assets of the two leaders was being re-opened 19 years later.

    Reiterating that the accountability watchdog has no authority to reopen an almost two-decade-old case that had already been closed, the Chaudhrys, in their petition, have questioned the jurisdiction of NAB to invoke provisions of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010 simultaneously, arguing that the bureau has no power to hold an inquiry into allegations of money laundering under NAO 1999.

    While the court has directed the NAB chief and other parties to submit a reply till May 11, the bureau alleges that it is facing propaganda onslaught since after reports of reopening of the alleged cases against the PML leaders and the decision in this regard is yet to be taken by the NAB chief.

    The Chaudhrys, however, are convinced that the anti-graft watchdog is an institution of “political engineering”.

    “NAB is an independent institution and worked transparently without an influence,” NAB has in response to the allegations levelled by the PML leadership, which seem to support the stance of opposition parties, including the PML-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), as leaders of both the former ruling parties have time and again also accused the government of using the anti-graft watchdog for political vendetta.

    TROUBLE FOR IMRAN?

    “Relationship between PM Imran and the Chaudhrys is not based on principles, but is rather a marriage of inconvenience since the two need each other in the post-2018 election scenario, when Imran, despite all his reservations about them was left with no other choice but to reach an agreement to come to power,” sources told The Current.

    They said it was interesting how the PML leadership was trying to evade the process of accountability that the premier has a special place for in his heart, adding that members of the opposition parties and even some from both the PTI and PML are eagerly waiting for whatever is to follow the episode.

    “The PTI has a total number of 156 members in the Lower House [National Assembly] against rival PML-N’s 84 and the PPP’s 55. The two largest opposition parties also enjoy the support of a few independent lawmakers in addition to those from other parties of the anti-government alliance,” they said, adding that the support of MNAs from the PML among other allies such as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) was imperative for the PTI to keep on enjoying a majority in the parliament.

    “PTI seems to be struggling in this regard as it has lately not been the best of friends with many of its allies. Other than the PML and MQM-P, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) is also not very happy and is finding it difficult to not break ties,” a senior member of the ruling party, on the condition of anonymity, told The Current.

    To a question, they said that if the PML strikes a deal with the opposition parties, the current system would collapse like a “house of cards” as it is no secret that PTI is in power in Punjab also only because of the Chaudhry’s support. “Independent members do not mind joining hands with whoever seems to be in charge.”

    “The recent developments regarding the NAB’s old case against Chaudhrys coincided with their recent meetings with some PML-N leaders, including Rafiq brothers and some backdoor exchange of possibility of cooperation between the two. This has led to them believing that the PTI is trying to force them back into the coalition and not jump ship,” said a close aide of Pervaiz Elahi.

    They, however, refused to shed light on the possible troubles facing Chaudhrys because of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar, who had also elevated to the position of the provincial chief executive as part of the deal struck between the PTI and PML.

    MOONIS SAYS ‘NO COMMENT’:

    When contacted, senior PML leader and son of Pervaiz Elahi, Moonis Elahi, refused to comment on the situation.

    The PML leader was asked about his party’s goals with regard to taking NAB to court; why was the PML, despite being an ally of the PTI, not letting the anti-graft body go through with its aim to eradicate corruption; and who exactly was using NAB as a tool for political engineering as claimed by the party.

    He said that the party leadership and lawyers had strictly told them not to directly comment on the case as it was sub-judice and any statement could be used against them in court.

  • ‘When in Pakistan, I feel like I am at home,’ Turkish president tells parliament

    ‘When in Pakistan, I feel like I am at home,’ Turkish president tells parliament

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday thanked the people and leadership of Pakistan over the warm welcome he was accorded upon arrival, adding that while in Pakistan, he felt like he was at home.

    “It is my pleasure to speak to you. I am thankful to you for giving me the opportunity to address this house. While in Pakistan, I feel like I am at home,” he said while addressing a joint session of the parliament.

    Vowing unflinching support for Pakistan on the issues related to anti-terror financing and the illegal annexation of occupied Kashmir by India, Erdogan also said that he was thankful and happy to have had the opportunity to address the joint session of the parliament in Pakistan. “I am thankful for this opportunity. I am thankful to each of you individually for allowing me to address this joint session of Parliament,” he said.

    According to Geo, Erdogan also said that Pakistan and Turkey’s relations were admirable for others. “During difficult times, Pakistan has supported Turkey. Our friendship is based on love and respect. Pakistan’s pain is our pain.”

    Speaking about the issue of occupied Kashmir, the Turkish president said that Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) meant to Turkey exactly what it had meant to Pakistan over the years. “The relationship between Pakistan and Turkey will continue in the future as it has in the past,” he added.

  • ‘Parliamentarians being threatened to legalise homosexuality in Pakistan’

    ‘Parliamentarians being threatened to legalise homosexuality in Pakistan’

    Lawmakers belonging to both the National Assembly and Senate are receiving threats for refusing to move the parliament for the legalisation of homosexuality in Pakistan, senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir has claimed.

    In his latest column for Daily Jang, Mir has quoted a senator as saying that students of a reputable educational institution are nowadays approaching parliamentarians to move the house for the legalisation of homosexuality in the country.

    “They [the youngsters] have been contacting different lawmakers and demanding, that like many other countries, homosexuality should be legalised in Pakistan,” the journalist quoted the senator as saying.

    He claimed that when the lawmaker advised one of the students to focus on religion and praying five times a day so that “their thoughts do not go astray”, the youngster urged the senator to at least move the Upper House in this regard.

    “When the senator strongly turned down the student’s demand, they were threatened by the youngsters,” Mir wrote. He further claimed that some students have also approached parliamentarians belonging to religio-political parties, but they not yet responded.

    HOMOSEXUALITY IN PAKISTAN:

    The Colonial British government criminalised homosexuality in India under section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860. Pakistan, after independence, adapted the same laws under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) that states, “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than two years nor more than ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”

    In the 1980s, rules against homosexuality stiffened even more under General Muhammad Ziaul Haq. The punishment for homosexual activities increased to life imprisonment or even death by stoning as a result of the Sharia Law added to the PPC.

    Religious leaders have consistently forbidden and condemned homosexual activities as being immoral under the constitution of Islam. People in Pakistan, who identify themselves as homosexual, do not expose their sexual preference in public due to the fear of being looked down upon or physically attacked.