Tag: PDM

  • Exams are bad in COVID, political rallies not so bad, believes Maryam

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz thinks it is unsafe to conduct medical entry tests due to coronavirus, but it is perfectly okay to organise massive political gatherings amid a second wave of the virus.

    In a tweet, the PML-N leader expressed solidarity with the protesting students. She questioned why the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT 2020) was being held when educational institutions have been closed due to the virus.

    “While all educational institutions are closed and exams are being postponed, MDCAT students are being forced to appear for MDCAT test by PMC,” tweeted Maryam, expressing concern for the families of the students. 

    But it seems the PML-N leader wants to use the medical entry tests issue to gain political mileage, and coronavirus is just an excuse. The PML-N leader has no plan to postpone her Multan rally despite the soaring tally of COVID cases and repeated government directives.

    According to local media reports, the PML-N vice president said that she will go ahead with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally in the southern Punjab city.

    “I am taking part in the rally on instructions of my father Nawaz Sharif,” Maryam said, adding that her father has told her to carry on her political activities despite the loss of her grandmother. Shamim Akhtar who died in London on Sunday will be brought back by the end of this week.

    PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah has refused to admit the role of the opposition rallies in the spread of coronavirus infections. He said the virus doesn’t spread by organising rallies and asked for relevant data to prove him wrong.

    Meanwhile, the Multan district administration has refused to grant permission for the rally in the wake of the increase in coronavirus infections. “We have not allowed public gatherings because of COVID-19,” Deputy Commissioner Amir Khattak was quoted by a local media outlet as saying.

    COVID CASES IN PAKISTAN:

    Pakistan has reported over 3,300 infections for the second time in day, while at least 40 people have died due to the virus. Despite quasi-lockdown restrictions, the number is on the rise with people paying no heed to the SOPs.

    According to the National Command and Operation Centre, Muzaffarabad has reported the highest positivity ratio at 17.05%.

    Peshawar has reported the second-highest positivity ratio at 15.64%, following by Hyderabad and Karachi with 14.40% and 14.02% positivity rate, respectively. In Rawalpindi, Multan, and Mirpur, the positivity rate is over 10%.

  • Nawaz won’t accompany mother’s body to Pakistan

    Nawaz won’t accompany mother’s body to Pakistan

    Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who has been in London for over a year due to health concerns, will not able to accompany his deceased mother to Pakistan owing to poor health and other reasons.

    Shamim Begum, the Sharif family matriarch, breathed her last in London on Sunday due to a chest infection at the age of 89. The death prompted PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz to abandon a joint opposition rally in Peshawar and return to Lahore.

    Maryam, who complained about the government’s apathetic attitude in a tweet, also shared that she would ask her father Nawaz Sharif not to come back to Pakistan.

    “I have requested Mian sahab not to come back [to Pakistan] at all. These are tyrants, these are the people hellbent on exacting revenge, and no humanity is expected from them,” Maryam Nawaz wrote on Twitter.

    Furthermore, a report published in The News also claimed that the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will not be coming back with the dead body on the advice of his doctors. “Nawaz Sharif has been advised by doctors not to travel because of his ailing health,” the report quoted PML-N leader Ishaq Dar as saying.

    It may be noted here that the PML-N supreme leader was taken to a hospital last week after his condition deteriorated due to kidney pain.

    According to the report, the body will be brought back to Pakistan sometime later this week after the issuance of the death certificate.

    Meanwhile, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif along with his son Hamza Shehbaz has also applied for parole to attend the funeral of his mother. Subsequently, the Punjab government granted permission to attend the last rites of Shamim Begum. The father-son duo is in jail on suspicion of corruption.

  • Imran accuses opposition, its anti-govt rallies of ‘destroying people’s lives & livelihoods’

    Imran accuses opposition, its anti-govt rallies of ‘destroying people’s lives & livelihoods’

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that the careless actions of the opposition alliance, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), can result in a second lockdown for the country, and would adversely affect people’s livelihoods.

    “Opposition is callously destroying people’s lives & livelihoods in their desperation to get an NRO. Let me make it clear: they can hold a million jalsas but will not get any NRO,” he tweeted.

    While the premier has been against going into lockdown, he felt that the actions of the PDM and their refusal to stop their rallies would result in faster spread of the novel coronavirus, and this in turn would leave the country with no choice but to go into lockdown.

    “If [coronavirus] cases continue to rise at the rate we are seeing, we will be compelled to go into complete lockdown and the PDM will be responsible for [the] consequences,” he said further.

    PM Imran said that another lockdown would be terrible to the economy, which declared was “showing signs of a robust recovery”. However, he added that should the PDM continue with its actions, the government would have no choice but to impose another lockdown.

    At the moment, there are a number of smart micro-lockdowns taking place across the country, where those streets with more than eight cases reported are shut down. Similarly, wedding halls, large public gatherings, and indoor events have been banned as per the official orders of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

    On Friday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government had refused to grant permission for a public meeting planned by the PDM due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.

    In response to the notification, the PDM had refused to back down and claimed that this is a ploy by the ruling party to prevent the rallies from taking place.

    Ikhtiar Wali, the spokesperson of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) KP chapter, had insisted that the coalition would go ahead with the rally.

    Speaking to media persons on Friday, the spokesperson had said that the premier had held a rally in Swat a week ago and that the KP chief minister had held a large public gathering two days ago.

    “Who did they ask for permission? And who granted them permission? So if there is no rule for the ruling party, then why is [there one] for us?” he had asked.

    Separately, referring to the government as ‘Covid-18’, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz had rejected the government’s demands to postpone jalsas and public gatherings as coronavirus cases rise across the country.

    https://twitter.com/MaryamNSharif/status/1329765124916260864

    “While a mask gives you protection from COVID-19, ‘Vote ko izzat do’ narrative & struggle will protect you from ‘Covid-18’ & all such future attempts, Insha’Allah. Protect yourself, protect your vote,” she tweeted.

  • PM claims to have intelligence on Nawaz’s ‘treason’

    PM claims to have intelligence on Nawaz’s ‘treason’

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed to have intelligence on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, alleging that former ambassador to the United States (US) Hussain Haqqani was “running Nawaz’s communication strategy”.

    Speaking to a private media outlet on Thursday, the premier was referring to the former PM’s recent speeches in public meetings of his party and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) during which he had accused the army establishment of orchestrating his ouster.

    Nawaz had gone on to name the Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chiefs and said that there was “a state above the state”.

    Reacting to his political rival’s statements, Imran on Thursday accused Nawaz of trying to create rifts within the armed forces by encouraging army personnel to “rebel against” the military leadership.

    “When they say that the [military leadership] is bad and the rest of the army is good; is army a democratic party that would move a no-confidence motion? You [Nawaz] are telling the army to launch a coup, to rebel [against the leadership]. Can there be a bigger [form of] treason?”

    When asked if the government would take up a treason case against Nawaz, the premier did not give a clear answer and said, “Treason cases are hard to prove.”

    He said that he had information on Nawaz’s activities but added that “court cases cannot be filed on agencies’ reports”.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “A person who is sitting outside in a Mayfair luxury flat bought with stolen money is telling the army [personnel] to rebel. He is also trying to drive a wedge in the judiciary by taking the name of one judge saying he is good while another, who was a chief justice and gave the Panama judgement against him, was a bad judge.”

    “Imran Khan is a Bollywood villain but Nawaz is a democrat. The person who grew up in Ziaul Haq’s lap is a democrat today, while Imran Khan who started his party from scratch, who mobilised people to come to power is an army puppet!”

    “Nawaz Sharif suits India, not Imran Khan.”

  • Bilawal’s opposition to Nawaz’s narrative is fine with Maryam

    Bilawal’s opposition to Nawaz’s narrative is fine with Maryam

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has come forward to defend Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after comments made by the latter stirred controversy regarding his party’s role in the joint opposition alliance.

    In an interview to BBC Urdu, the PPP chairman said he didn’t agree with PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif over his decision to name the army generals during a rally in Gujranwala.

    Bilawal said the statement “shocked” him because the use of such language during public gatherings was unprecedented.

    The statement was taken by many as an indication that the PPP would jump the ship and leave the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — a joint opposition alliance — in a lurch. The impression, however, was contested by the PPP leadership, as it expressed commitment to the anti-government alliance.

    Responding to these reports, PML-N VP Maryam Nawaz said the statement made by Bilawal didn’t stand in contrast to the narrative peddled by the PDM. She said attempts to create rifts in the PDM will fail, adding that the party has no issues with the PPP chief’s remarks.

    Previously, the rumours regarding the PPP’s role in PDM started making rounds in the mainstream and social media after Capt (r) Safdar, Maryam’s spouse, was arrested from his hotel room by the Karachi police.

    The PPP had distanced itself from the arrest, demanding an inquiry into the episode. The arrest was dubbed by the PDM leadership as an attempt to damage the multi-party alliance.

  • Cracks in PML-N ranks over party’s ‘anti-establishment’ stance

    Cracks in PML-N ranks over party’s ‘anti-establishment’ stance

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is in quandary for taking an anti-establishment stance, as a number of its leaders from Punjab and Balochistan have distanced themselves from the “anti-state” narrative of the party.

    Amid these reservations, PML-N leader Abdul Qadir Baloch has also decided to bid goodbye to the Nawaz league for allegedly speaking against the army.

    The decision to quit the party was taken after the PML-N leaders refused to invite former chief minister Sanaullah Zehri to the Quetta rally over his feud with Akhtar Mengal, the chief of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M). However, Qadir said he was leaving the party with “heavy heart” over “anti-army” rhetoric of the PDM leadership.

    “I am product of the army and cannot stand by the narrative of disobedience since it would be extremely injurious to the country. I have taken the decision of parting ways with heavy heart,” said the retired general who had served as Corps Commander in Quetta.

    This resignation was followed by several leaders of the PML-N going public with their reservations over the rhetoric employed by the PDM leaders against the state institutions of Pakistan.

    The statement of Ayaz Sadiq, wherein he said Indian pilot Abhinandan was released by Pakistan because it feared an Indian attack, also irked some PML-N leaders, who decided to disown the statement and the party line.

    PML-N MPAs Nishat Daha and Younas Ansari said that their heads hang in shame because of MNA Ayaz Sadiq’s controversial statement.

    “The entire nation was hurt by the statements of Nawaz Sharif and Ayaz Sadiq, what they are doing is not good for the country,” Daha added.

    Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Younas Ansari said, “Our family has been in politics for 35 years but I am ashamed at what is happening in the National Assembly. Ayaz Sadiq should be remorseful at his statement.”

    The party leaders in Attock district also disagreed with the leadership over its so-called anti-state remarks.

    At separate press conferences in different towns of the district on Sunday, PML-N MPA Jehangir Khan­zada, former MNA Malik Itabar Khan and former MPA Shahwaiz Khan criticised the recent remarks of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Ayaz Sadiq.

    Khanzada termed Ayaz Sadiq’s statement “anti-state”. “He should not have talked in such a way while speaking in parliament,” the MPA said while highlighting sacrifices rendered by the armed forces.

    Itabar Khan said he could not support the “anti-national narrative”, adding that Maryam Nawaz, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman had made statements which did not “serve the interest of the country”.

    Shahwaiz Khan, former MPA from Hassanabdal, said he did not support the party leadership’s recent “anti-state” stance and condemned their criticism of state institutions.

    PML-N MPA from Shakargarh Allama Ghiyasuddin has also condemned the statements of the opposition parties against the Army. Former PML-N MNA Sardar Mansab Dogar has also announced to quit the party over what he said the “anti-state” statements of the party leadership.

    RELEASE OF ABHINANDAN:

    Sadiq, a former National Assembly speaker, is under fire for accusing the government of taking the decision to release the India pilot under pressure.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi had “begged the opposition to release Abhinandan, otherwise, according to the FM, India would have attacked Pakistan at 9 pm that day,” the lawmaker had said during a session of the National Assembly.

    In response, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar held a press conference to set the record straight about the events surrounding the capture and release of the Indian wing commander.

    “Yesterday such a statement was given in which facts were attempted to be twisted surrounding the events that day,” the military spokesperson said during the media briefing.

    On Friday, Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz hinted at legal action against Ayaz Sadiq for accusing the government of releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force (IAF) under pressure. “What Ayaz Sadiq said is not forgivable,” he tweeted, adding that law will take its course now.

  • PML-N’s Azma Bokhari reveals Maryam Nawaz’s hotel room number during a terror threat

    A day after the Balochistan government requested the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to postpone its rally in Quetta due to terror threats, the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N)’s former member of the Punjab provincial assembly (MPA), Azma Bokhari posted a video on social media revealing Maryam Nawaz’s room number and suite name. While shaking the door handle of the room, next a sign which clearly states the name of the suite and the number, Azma says, “…yeh lock aur darwaza InshaAllah salamat rahe ga, agar kisi ko adventure karne ka shauq hai tou hum yahan hi hain” (this room is locked, and if anyone wants to have an adventure, we will be waiting right here).

    The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has issued a terror threat for Peshawar and Quetta, saying that banned militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is planning terrorist activities in the two cities. The statement reads that the TTP is aiming to target religious and political parties in possibly bomb attacks or suicide bombings.

    Azma Bokhari seems to be alluding to the recent arrest of Captain Safdar from his hotel room in Karachi, suggesting that the workers of the party are on high alert and will be there to counter any potential ‘middle of the night’ arrest in Quetta.

    The PML-N former MPA was previously involved in another ‘video war’ with members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, over the price of aata in her area.

    PDM lead by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s Maulana Fazalur Rehman, PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has done two successful jalsas, one in Gujranwala and another in Karachi but there is some speculation about cracks within the opposition.

  • Is PPP ditching joint Opp alliance?

    The decision by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to skip the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) jalsa in Quetta has left people talking.

    Social media is abuzz with speculations about a potential deal between the PPP and the military establishment. People are claiming that the PPP is eyeing a deal and will quit the joint opposition alliance once things are sort out with the powers-that-be.

    Some observers see these rumours that are making rounds ahead of the gathering in Quetta an attempt to create rifts among 11 opposition parties who joined hands to oust the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    But analysts have also questioned the role of PPP in past when it made deals with establishment behind other parties’ back. And now the absence of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari from the rally is also seen as the first step towards reconciliation.

    But is PPP really thinking of leaving the PDM? Facts state otherwise. Not only the PPP chief is addressing the gathering via videolink, but the rally is also attended by top-tier leadership of the party. This was also confirmed by PPP leader Palwasha Khan.

    However, later in the day, it emerged that the PPP chief would not be able to address the Quetta jalsa due to poor bandwidth in GB region. According to PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the address might not materialise due to the internet issues.

    As Gilgit-Baltistan is set to go to polls on Nov 15, PPP Chairperson Bilawal is in the region for a period of three weeks to run an election campaign.

    During the election campaign in Gilgit-Baltistan, Bilawal will address public rallies, corner meetings and press conference at Ganache district, Skardu, Ghizer, Astor, Diamir, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar and other areas of Gilgit-Baltistan.