Former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Dr Asad Majeed Khan will brief the National Security Committee (NSC) members during a meeting on Friday about the diplomatic cable he gave to the PTI government last month, according to sources.
According to sources, the Pakistani diplomat has arrived in Islamabad and will join the National Security Council meeting convened by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM Office to review the situation in the aftermath of “letter-gate” and other regional issues.
According to sources, the meeting will be held today at the Prime Minister’s Office at 2:00pm. The members of the meeting will discuss the security situation in the country.
Top civil and military leadership including federal ministers, services chiefs will attend the meeting
Interim Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has directed his party members and workers to start preparations for the next elections, expressing his hope that the poll will be held in the country in the next three months.
Addressing a function at Governor’s House in Lahore, he criticised the opposition, saying that they should be given “exemplary punishment for betraying the country”, [for tabling the no-confidence motion in NA against him]. “The PTI will also approach the Supreme Court (SC) against them [Opposition]. “
Not only this, the interim PM urged the nation to come to the F-9 Park Islamabad to protest peacefully against the Opposition and its conspiracy. He asked the nation to protest on a daily basis to send a message to the United States (US), which he claims, is behind the foreign conspiracy. “Everyone knows who has aided and abetted the Pakistani Opposition in tabling the no-confidence motion.”
According to The News, after Khan asked the nation to prepare for the next general election in three months, the understaffed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started finding a way to make the polls possible during the stipulated time.
Sources within the commission said that Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has become active and making arrangements requisite for timely conduct of elections.
Earlier, a news report published in Dawn quoted an ECP official as saying that it is not possible to hold general elections within three months due to a variety of legal and procedural issues.
However, the commission denied issuing any statement regarding the time frame for the next general elections on Tuesday.
According to Fawad Chaudhry, “The [interim] prime minister has decided to give party tickets to those former 135 MNAs who remained loyal and stuck to the party till the end.”
While reacting to Aurat March’s statement in which the forum strongly condemned the constitutional crisis in Pakistan and the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA), Federal Minister Shireen Mazari dropped a controversial tweet.
A day earlier in a tweet, the Aurat March criticised Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, saying: “We condemn the political circus that has been kicked off due to the fragile masculine ego of a person who has sabotaged democratic processes just to save the perception of his individuality and to stage a dirty manoeuvre for his comeback to power.”
We condemn the political circus that has erupted due to the fragile masculine ego of a person who has sabotaged democratic processes just to save the perception of his individuality and to stage a dirty manoeuvre for his comeback to power.#NoConfidenceMotion#AuratMarch2022pic.twitter.com/Y4xccTJI6T
— Aurat March – عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) April 3, 2022
The statement clearly didn’t sit well with Mazari. She replied in disagreement, saying that “This [statement] shows Aurat March has little to do with genuine issues faced by women in Pakistan and more with politics and political agendas. Since many here have NGOs funded from abroad this statement, while condemnable, is not surprising. Fact is the US sought regime change and we do not accept it.”
This shows Aurat March has little to do with genuine issues faced by women in Pak & more with politics & political agendas. Since many here have NGOs funded from abroad this statement while condemnable is not surprising. Fact is the US sought regime change & we do not accept it https://t.co/7GwhsyPYWg
Indirectly hinting at Mazari, Aurat March Lahore released a brief statement, saying, “We cannot be asked to stay in our lane when the politics of this country deeply impact us.”
Aurat March Lahore believes that the feminist movement is not apolitical. We are just as impacted by the political machinations in assemblies and courtrooms as the rest of the country, and we have as much of a right to comment on it.#AsalInsaaf#AuratMarch2022#AuratMarchpic.twitter.com/giRbSVZT84
The statement reads, “Aurat March does not accept funds from, partner with, or endorse any political party, NGO or corporation. We reject the idea that activism should be apolitical.”
“We will continue to engage with politics, not only because it has a tangible impact on our lives, safety and wellbeing but because we are unafraid to stand up to institutions of political power,” the statement further reads.
After the opposition submitted the no-trust motion against the PM on March 8, many of the premier’s celebrity supporters professed their loyalty towards him.
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While most took to Instagram and Twitter to share their views, others like actors Haroon Shahid and Ahmed Ali Butt showed their support on-ground at Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) mega rally that was held in Islamabad on March 27.
Actor Adnan Siddiqui took to Twitter to call Khan a “mass leader”, saying that people’s love for him was proof of this. He also requested those playing “dirty politics” to let Khan complete his term before writing him off.
Those busy playing dirty politics, have they fathomed the burden a new election or a new leader will put on state exchequer? IK is a mass leader. People’s love for him is proof. For the sake of Pakistan, let the man complete his term before writing him off.
Actor Humayun Saeed shared he has been a fan of Khan since his cricketing days and he still “admires his leadership”. Like Siddiqui, Saeed too wants Khan to have the chance to complete his tenure.
He made one call and they came running, and this is not even 1% of the turn out. You cannot dispute the trust, love and faith this nation has for Imran Khan. #AmarBilMaroofpic.twitter.com/h6BS0DBO21
“He made one call and they came running and this is not even 1 per cent of the turn out. You cannot dispute the trust, love and faith this nation has for Imran Khan,” wrote pop singer Annie Khalid.
Actor Saba Qamar also tweeted in support of PM Imran and said that “this is not about one person, this is about Pakistan”.
This is not about one person, this is about Pakistan. May Allah (SWT) bless our Prime Minister Imran Khan with success. Ameen @ImranKhanPTI#IamImranKhan
Lollywood star Shaan Shahid shared a throwback photo with the premier and wrote, “Pakistan has spoken. [T]hey want only one leader to lead them to a brighter future of Pakistan,” referencing those who attended the Islamabad rally in support of Khan.
#IstandwithImranKhan Pakistan has spoken they want only one leader to lead them to a brighter future of Pakistan. They have shown solidarity with @ImranKhanPTI you can keep your parliament but you can never take away our leader♥️ pic.twitter.com/sRzGeFW8j0
Actor and host Samina Peerzada also showed support for the PM and wrote, “Kuch bhi na kaha aur keh bhi gaye,” referencing Madam Noor Jehan’s song of the same title.
During a case hearing of missing Lahore journalist, Mudassar Naro at Islamabad High Court (IHC), Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah said that enforced disappearances are ‘treason’.
He said that such disappearances are not acceptable in a country that follows the Constitution. In the hearing, the additional attorney-general and judicial assistant appeared before the court.
“Can anyone be disappeared without federal and provincial governments will? No,” the judge said. The judge then said that sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act are applied in such cases.
The CJ asked if the inability to recover Naro is the failure of state agencies. He added that both governments should have looked into this matter.
According to Geo News, Mudassar Naro has been missing since August 20, 2018. The disappearance occurred when he went to the northern areas with his wife and child. His wife and child returned but Naro has been missing ever since.
His activist wife Saddaf Chughtai passed away last year due to a sudden cardiac arrest, leaving behind their four-year-old son.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has shown serious concern over the situation. They have also called upon Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari to look into the case. However, after almost four years since his disappearance, his recovery hasn’t been made yet.
Former Captain of the Pakistan Cricket team, Shahid Afridi has spoken out in favour of Prime Minister Imran Khan and has expressed his thoughts on the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan. He took to Twitter on Tuesday to share his opinion about the current situation in the country.
“It has been 74 years since Pakistan’s independence. For God’s sake, let at least one elected government complete its constitutional term.”
He also stressed that “wrongdoings” that have been done in 74 years will slowly end with the passage of time.
پاکستان کے قیام کو ۷۴ سال ہوگئے ہیں ۔ خدارا کسی ایک منتخب حکومت کو تو آئینی مدت پوری کرنے دیں کیونکہ ہر عوام کی منتخب کردہ حکومت کو آئینی مدت پوری کرنے کا حق ہے ۔ ۷۴ سال کی برائیاں ختم ہوتے ہوتے ہونگی
Afridi’s tweet came a few hours after PM Imran Khan’s address to the nation last night. The voting on the no-confidence motion is expected to be held on Sunday against PM Imran Khan. The majority of the allies of the government, which includes MQM, BAP, and independent candidates, have left and joined the Opposition to vote against PM Imran Khan.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar termed the coalition party Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) as a party of a few districts of Punjab and said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was needed in Pakistan.
Speaking at the Pakistan Overseas conference, Asad said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is the party of Pakistanis across the country while PML-Q is the party of some districts of Punjab while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is the party of GT Road and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is the party of Sindh.
Earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, commenting on the politics of Punjab, said, “I am not one of those who blackmail for chief ministership with five seats in hand.”
It is being reported that National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser held a meeting with the legal department to seek an opinion regarding the voting of disgruntled members of the party.
Sources privy to the matter have revealed that the Speaker was informed that none of the members can be stopped from casting their votes, however, the party can take action against those who violate its policy.
They further added that citing Article 63(1)A of the Constitution of Pakistan, the legal department said the law is very clear in this regard.
PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan said on Monday that the voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran will take place after March 27.
انشاء اللہ پاکستان کی تاریخ کا سب سے بڑا جلسہ آزادی چوک اسلام آباد میں 27 مارچ بروز اتوار کو ہوگا-وزیراعظم عمران خان تاریخی خطاب کریں گے-تحریک عدم اعتماد پر ووٹنگ 27 مارچ کر بعد ہوگی-اپوزیشن کو تحریک عدم اعتماد میں بھرپور ناکامی ہوگی – وزیراعظم عمران خان پر اعتماد پلس ہو جائے گا
In a tweet, he said the “biggest rally” in Pakistan’s history would be held at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, located in front of Parliament House, on March 27 during which PM Imran would give a “historic speech”.
Islamic scholar, Mufti Taqi Usmani shared his thoughts on Twitter over the ongoing political conflict among politicians in Pakistan on Monday.
He issued the statement after a series of heated confrontations was seen between the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and the opposition leaders after a no-confidence motion against PM was submitted last week.
Mufti wrote, “It is frightening to imagine the extent to which Islamic rules and values are being violated in political disputes. May Allah protect us from its calamity.”
اختلاف چاہے سیاسی ہو یانظریاتی اسے دشمنی بنا کر مرنے مارنے اور گالیاں دینے کا طریقہ معاشرے کے لئے مہلک ہےتنقید دلائل سے ہوتی ہے بھونڈی زبان سے نہیں قرآن میں حضرت موسی و ہارون علیہماالسلام کو فرعون کے مقابلے میں بھی نرم بات کرنے کی تلقین فرمائی گئی خدارا سوچیں کہ ہم کہاں جارہے ہیں
— Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Official) (@muftitaqiusmani) March 14, 2022
He continued that the political leadership should show decency while having arguments as it is detrimental to any society.
“Whether the difference is political or ideological, to make it a matter of taking one’s life and abusing each other is deadly for the society. Criticism is done through arguments and not by vulgar language. Think about where we are going,” he further added.
The government has decided to convene the National Assembly (NA) session very soon after the Opposition submitted the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, reports Jang.
According to media reports, only one member of the government will be allowed to sit in NA on the day, when NA members will cast votes on the no-confidence motion.
The government will issue a notification in which government members will not be permitted to attend the meeting and cast a vote for the no-confidence motion on the basis of Article 63-A of the Constitution.
As per media reports, if any member of the government attends the meeting or casts a vote, PM Imran Khan — who is also chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — will write a letter regarding a reference against that member. The letter will be addressed to the NA Speaker.
In a press conference yesterday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the Speaker of the National Assembly should call the session for the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan.
He said that the no-confidence motion should not be delayed as the country cannot afford such situations for a longer period of time.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will visit Lahore today as the Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT) group builds pressure on Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar, demanding his removal from office, reports Geo News.
The premier has called a meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party in the provincial capital to seek assurance of the party members and address their grievances ahead of voting on the no-confidence motion.
On Wednesday, CM Buzdar held back-to-back meetings in his office with provincial ministers and lawmakers, including those also present at the lunch hosted on Monday by former Punjab minister Aleem Khan ahead of his meeting with the Jahangir Tareen group.
A six-member delegation of the Tareen group, led by provincial minister Nauman Langrial, discussed with Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi a possible no-confidence motion in the house and sought guidance whether the disgruntled members could submit such a motion or not. The group also sought the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) support to remove the Buzdar government.
Elahi and Tareen Group agreed to continue contacts for the betterment of the province and the people.
