Tag: PDM

  • Khokar resigns as Bilawal’s spokesperson

    Khokar resigns as Bilawal’s spokesperson

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar has confirmed his resignation from the position of spokesperson to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari a day ahead of the joint opposition’s power show in Lahore.

    In a statement on Twitter on Saturday, Senator Khokhar responded to the reports that claimed he had quit the PPP, saying that he will remain in the PPP and will stand by Bilawal “through thick and thin”.

    “In my years as his spokesperson, have given counsel with honesty, sincerity and in the best interests of the country and the party,” he added.

    Insiders say the PPP chief’s spokesperson had issues with the party’s stance on mass resignations, resulting in his resignation from the post on Thursday. Subsequently, Senator Khokhar also quit the party’s Whatsapp group, giving birth to speculations about his departure from the party.

    However, PPP media cell was quick to shoot down these reports. In a statement issued on Friday, the media cell said that Khokhar will remain in the PPP and serve as the spokesperson of the chairman. Whereas, Khokhar on the other hand remained silent on the issue till his aforementioned tweet wherein he confirmed his resignation from the post of the spokesperson.

    Dawn had reported that Senator Khokhar was “angry over the PPP’s decision about resignations from the assemblies and party leadership’s back-channel contacts with the military establishment”.

    It further reported that while almost all important PPP leaders are in Lahore ahead of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) plan to hold a rally on Sunday, the PPP senator preferred not to go to Lahore.

  • Video of Maryam enjoying ‘kamaal karahi’ goes viral

    Video of Maryam enjoying ‘kamaal karahi’ goes viral

    A video of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz eating ‘karahi’ at a Lakshmi Chowk restaurant in Lahore has gone viral on Twitter.

    A large number of people can be seen in the background trying to get a glimpse of the PML-N leader, who is seen enjoying her food along with other party leaders.

    The video clip was shared on Facebook and Twitter on Thursday. On Twitter, it also got the attention of the PML-N leader, who retweeted it with a caption, “Kamaal karahi thi.” 

    Maryam had spent several hours canvassing supporters in Lahore ahead of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on Sunday. The PDM leadership said it will take ‘big decisions’ at the jalsa, which probably includes mass resignations. 

    Meanwhile, the prime minister has said that the government will not stop the opposition from organising a jalsa in Lahore, but cases will be registered nonetheless. He said the government never shied away from a national dialogue.

    On Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf senior leader Shireen Mazari alleged that the PDM, a joint opposition alliance, is receiving foreign funding. The federal minister had claimed that a lot of people who are part of the PDM have received “a lot of foreign funds”. She, however, couldn’t provide any proof.

    “If we get the evidence […] but when we receive hardcore evidence, then it will become the responsibility of the government to take action,” she had.

  • Govt will hold by-polls in case of Opp’s mass resignations, says PM

    Govt will hold by-polls in case of Opp’s mass resignations, says PM

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced holding by-elections on vacant seats if joint opposition’s lawmakers step down as part of anti-government protests.

    “The government will hold by-elections if they leave the assemblies. If the opposition is confident, then so am I,” he said while speaking to senior journalists on Tuesday.

    The premier was referring to threats by opposition parties to resign from the parliament as part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s protests against the government.

    While a decision in this regard is yet to be taken by the opposition parties, it is being said that mass resignations could lead to a full fledged general election.

    Speaking to journalists, PM Imran also said he was aware of the fact that the opposition has support from abroad.

    “Some countries do not want to see Pakistan progress. Muslim countries around the globe have been destabilised under a well-conceived conspiracy, which is being replicated in Pakistan,” he alleged.

    The premier said that whenever the government sat down with the opposition, their leaders brought up their cases. “The opposition wants to disband NAB so that their cases can be disposed of.”

    PM Imran also admitted that his biggest mistake was not going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier. He said that the IMF wants to raise electricity prices but the government is not in favor of it.

  • ‘PDM on mind’: Firdous breaks tiles with a punch

    ‘PDM on mind’: Firdous breaks tiles with a punch

    Punjab Chief Minister’s Special Assistant on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan recently broke a stack of tiles with a punch.

    Firdous, who participated in a ceremony organised by Mashal-e-Rah Foundation in Lahore, said she broke these tiles with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on her mind. According to the CM’s aide, the PDM has been throwing punches at Imran Khan’s government, so now this was her response to them.

    As she broke the tiles to pieces, she was applauded by the host and the people who had gathered to watch Firdous’s feat of strength.

    Firdous is not the one to shy away from a fight. Last month, she had an altercation with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Azma Bukhari on a TV show. The argument between the two politicians lasted well after the show and Firdous almost hit Bukhari. But, the staffers intervened to placate the CM’s aide and cooled things down.

    Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan was appointed as the Punjab CM’s aide months after she was removed from the federal cabinet as PM Imran’s aide on information. She replaced Fayyazul Hassan Chohan in the Punjab cabinet.

  • KYA BOLA? (Dec 2): ‘Darakht Kahan Gye?’, ‘Hakoomti Writ Khatam’, ‘Awam Ki Hifazat Ky Lye Jalsa’

    KYA BOLA? (Dec 2): ‘Darakht Kahan Gye?’, ‘Hakoomti Writ Khatam’, ‘Awam Ki Hifazat Ky Lye Jalsa’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on Dec 2, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    Darakht Kahan Gye?

    Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad has taken notice of the PTI government’s billion tree project. Daily Jang quoted the CJP as saying: “Billion tree project ki tehqeeqaat karain gy…Kaya sary darakht Bani Gala mai laga diay.”

    Hakoomati Writ Khatam

    JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been quoted by Dunya News as saying: “Hakoomti writ khatam… PDM kisi kisam ky muzakaraat nahi kary gi. Agla lahema-e-amal 8 December of PDM ijlaas mai teh ho ga.”

    Awam Ki Hifazat Ky Lye Jalsa

    PTI leader Andleeb Abbas said that government allowed PDM to organise jalsa in Multan. “Hum ny logon ki jaan-o-maal ki hifazat karni ha, chahy wo corona sy ho ya takhreebkaari sy. Aur jo in ki dando wali takhreebkaari thi hum ny us sy awam ko bachaya aur un ki hifazat ky lye jalsa hony diya.”

  • KYA BOLA? (Dec 1): ‘Lekin Banda Emandaar Ha’, ‘PDM Ky Barwain Khilari’, ‘Facebook Ki Her Larai Py Parcha’

    KYA BOLA? (Dec 1): ‘Lekin Banda Emandaar Ha’, ‘PDM Ky Barwain Khilari’, ‘Facebook Ki Her Larai Py Parcha’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on Dec 1, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Lekin Banda Emandaar Ha’

    Maryam Nawaz has taken a jibe at Prime Minister Imran Khan for his allegedly involvement corrupt practices, as per a report in Daily Jang. “Kehty thy Imran Khan banda emandaar ha, Niazi Services banai tax bachany ky liye, lekin banda emandaar ha; Aleema Baji ny salai machine sy arabon rupee kamaye, lekin banda emandaar ha.”

    ‘PDM Ky Barwain Khilari’

    Information Minister Shibli Faraz has compared JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to an extra player in a cricket team. Daily Jang reported Faraz as saying: “Maulana Fazlur Rahman Pakistan Democratic Movement ky barwain khilari hain. Maulana logon ko tashadud per uksaa rahy hain.”

    ‘Facebook Ki Her Larai Py Parcha?’

    According to Dunya News, the Islamabad High Court has asked whether the FIA will file a complaint on every Facebook fight. Dunya News quoted the Islamabad High Court as saying, “Mehz darkhwast per accounts block, internet laraion per karwaion hony lagi tou kaam kon kary ga. Aj tou her baat internet ky zareay hoti ha. Kiya FIA her case py PECA lagaye gi?”

  • Ali Tareen ‘welcome to join PPP’ after saying Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari is ‘pretty cool’

    Ali Tareen, who is the son of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s close aide and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) bigwig Jahangir Tareen, was on Monday offered to join the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in response to a tweet calling Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari “pretty cool”.

    “Political differences aside, Aseefa is pretty cool,” Tareen had tweeted after Aseefa’s address to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) jalsa in Multan, which was seen as the formal entry into politics by the daughter of the late former PM Benazir Bhutto and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari.

    “Shukriya [thank you] Ali Tareen we welcome you to join PPP [sic],” tweeted a PPP supporter in response to the Multan Sultans co-owner’s praise for Aseefa.

    Here’s what the younger Tareen had to say in response:

    The tweets came as several netizens took to Twitter to praise Aseefa, who was filling in for her coronavirus positive brother PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, over her maiden public address. Many said she reminded them of her mother Benazir.

    Earlier, Aseefa delivered a short and brisk speech. She vowed to stand by her brother “every step of the way”.

    She began her speech by heaping scorn on the “selected” government. “Despite the cruelty and oppression by the selected [government], so many of you have gathered here. This selected [government] will have to go!”

    She said those who think the opposition will be cowed into submission are mistaken, Geo reported.

    Aseefa said that the people had announced their decision and that they wanted PM Imran to “pack up and leave”.

    Speaking about her mother, she said Benazir Bhutto had carried on her father’s mission — to establish a welfare state — and faced several setbacks.

    “[Former] president Asif Zardari introduced the 18th Amendment and BISP [Benazir Income Support Programme] and fought for the people’s rights,” she said and promised supporters that she would continue their mission and would not back down.

    “They think that we are afraid of arrests. If they arrest our brothers, then they should know that every woman of PPP is ready to take up the struggle,” she said.

  • PDM rally: People see ‘young Benazir’ in Aseefa

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari is all-set to address a political gathering in Multan, prompting people to draw comparisons between the young PPP leader and her mother former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

    The gathering organised by PPP to mark its foundation day has been attended by political bigwigs, including PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz. Aseefa, who is going to address a political rally for the first time, is attending the rally instead of her brother and PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who tested positive for COVID-19 recently.

    According to The News, the participation didn’t amount to Aseefa’s formal launch in politics. “She has already been taking part in various political activities. Since she is the daughter of Benazir Bhutto, she has to be a Benazir,” the newspaper quoted a PPP senator as saying.

    People on social media shared photos of Aseefa, saying she reminded them of BB.

  • Politics in the time of corona

    Politics in the time of corona

    The second wave of COVID-19 is here in Pakistan. The number of new coronavirus cases in the last few weeks has been gradually increasing. Reports indicate that hospital beds for corona-positive patients in several cities have reached maximum capacity.

    Pakistan had quite successfully controlled the coronavirus after its first wave. By August, the number of cases had gone down considerably. However, the success was short-lived. Come winter, the second wave was sudden but it spread quite rapidly. The positivity rate has now reached 7 percent in a matter of weeks. It is important that people follow SOPs like wearing a mask, sanitising their hands frequently, and maintaining social distance. Unfortunately, most of us have become careless.

    On top of that, both the Opposition and the government are also being irresponsible. Leaders lead by examples but our leadership wants to spend more time in political point-scoring and blame-game than doing something for the people. The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has refused to postpone their rallies despite the fact that it can risk the lives of thousands of people who will be attending those jalsas.

    As if the PDM jalsas are not enough of super-spreader events, government officials don’t want to be left behind. Federal Minister Asad Umar, who also chairs the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), addressed a workers’ convention titled ‘Youth of Sukkur’ just yesterday.

    Tomorrow, the PDM is holding a rally in Multan. Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will be addressing the rally via video link because he contracted COVID-19 after the Peshawar jalsa. Both the Opposition and the government need to stop all public gatherings.

    Opposition leaders who are making light of the global pandemic by saying that the government is more dangerous than COVID-19 should really stop. They not just sound absurd but making light of a virus that can be deadly is highly irresponsible. The government, instead of threatening the Opposition and arresting their workers and leadership, should talk to the PDM leadership and talk them out of holding rallies. Such political rallies can hardly be stopped through sheer force. The Opposition really needs to put aside their egos and postpone their rallies for the larger good of the public. If our leadership will not set an example by acting responsibly, the public will not either.

    Educational institutions have now been closed. If people are not careful, soon the government may have to close down public places like parks, restaurants, gyms, malls, etc. We cannot take this new wave lightly. People are losing their lives across the world. We must stay vigilant.

  • PDM protesters break into sealed jalsa venue ahead of joint opposition’s gathering

    Workers and leaders of joint opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Saturday broke into the venue of the alliance’s Multan gathering to be held on November 30, which had reportedly been sealed by the administration.

    According to reports, the district administration had placed 30 containers around the venue, Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh, with more being brought in to block roads leading to the city and police deployed outside.

    As per the details of Saturday’s incident, a rally led by sons of former prime minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gillani, namely Ali Haider and Ali Musa, overpowered law enforcement to enter the venue. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers led by local party leaders also accompanied the PPP stalwarts.

    The episode saw several scuffles between opposition workers and the police on different routes leading to the stadium where the rally was headed. A final scuffle broke out right outside the venue where hundreds of cops were discharging their duties.

    Unconfirmed reports of casualties — both police personnel and political workers — are pouring in.

    A senior PPP leader confirmed to The Current that Gillani brothers have taken control of the venue and a welcome camp is also being setup at the stadium. “They refuse to leave until the gathering has been held on Monday.”

    To a question, they said the people of Multan are overjoyed to have with them the late former PM Benazir Bhutto’s daughter, Assefa Bhutto-Zardari, who’ll be replacing her coronavirus positive brother and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

    Earlier, more than 200 workers of PDM constituent parties were arrested and raids were being conducted to arrest more. The lists of workers, particularly from the PML-N and PPP, were provided to respective police stations.

    The arrests had come after the government vowed to not let opposition “put people’s life at risk” by holding a gathering amid the second wave of COVID-19.

    As the opposition claims the government is using the virus outbreak to stop the PDM from holding its rallies against “the fascist regime”, PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah has declared that the Multan rally will be held at all costs.

    Talking to the media outside the party’s Model Town secretariat in Lahore, he said if the government did not de-seal Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh, the entire city of Multan will become the venue of the public meeting.

    He said the first phase of the PDM’s anti-government protests will be completed by holding the last event of the series in the Punjab capital on December 13, and the next phase will begin after the alliance leadership devises a new strategy.

    “We stand united against the government,” he said.