Tag: PM khan

  • ‘Neutral tou janwar hota hai’: Opposition reacts to PM Khan’s neutral comment

    ‘Neutral tou janwar hota hai’: Opposition reacts to PM Khan’s neutral comment

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman hit out at Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and said that the premier’s recent use of tone and language was “shocking”.

    “If someone from the Opposition would have translated neutral the way [PM Khan] did, the government would have created a ruckus.”

    “The government has been saying for three and a half years that institutions are neutral,” said Rehman.

    “The prime minister himself says he is not part of any bloc and is neutral. He claims to have introduced a neutral umpire in cricket” said Sherry Rehman.

    She further accused PM Khan of pushing the country towards a crisis in his attempts to avoid the joint Opposition’s no-confidence motion against him.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted, “Imran Sahib has put dirt and filth in politics. By cleaning up this filth and filthiness, we will get rid of the stench and suffocation in society.”

    Aurangzeb even responded to Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s recent comment that democracy is not a system of extreme divisions, it is based on political consensus. Fawad also said, “I don’t think there should be such extreme division that conversations become difficult.”

    “Explain these things to Imran Sahib who has turned politics into enmity. Talks happen with politicians, not abusive thugs.”

    “The one who created division, chaos, and disorder in the society, his name is Imran Khan,” said Marriyum Aurangzeb.

    PM Khan’s recent comments have heightened the political temperature in the country.

    Prime Minister during his address in Lower Dir said, “Humans either side with good or evil. Only animals remain neutral.”

    His remarks had come a day after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (

    DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar categorically stated that the army had nothing to do with politics and called for avoiding unnecessary discussion and speculation about the army’s alleged involvement in political affairs.

  • ‘FC, Rangers will handle security on the day of no-confidence vote’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘FC, Rangers will handle security on the day of no-confidence vote’: Sheikh Rasheed

    In a press conference, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that Rangers and Frontier Corps (FC) will handle the security of Parliament House, Parliament Lodges, and MNA Hostel in the capital on the day the National Assembly (NA) votes on the no-trust motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Sheikh also warned that he will not take into consideration the stature of a leader and take all-out action against anyone who disrespects the law.

    “I will trample those who take the law in their hands next time,” he said.

    The minister’s statement came a day after Parliament Lodges’ showdown on Thursday. A heavy contingent of the police raided the Parliament Lodges and arrested members of the Ansarul Islam — a volunteer force of the Jamat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) — who were invited to provide security to Opposition lawmakers.

    Recalling last night’s incident, the minister said, “Around 362 families live there [Parliament Lodges]. Of them, 53 are senators and 278 are MNAs. I don’t want to spread terror but we do not have some good reports as recently we caught a group from Bara Kahu planning terror activities in Islamabad.”

    Moreover, Rasheed claimed that there is video evidence that shows Senator Kamran Murtaza using extremely foul language against the police but the cops continued to calm him down. He blamed the Opposition for creating a scene.

  • No-confidence to be submitted in 48 hours: PDM

    No-confidence to be submitted in 48 hours: PDM

    Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) leader and official spokesman for the Pakistan Demo­cratic Movement (PDM) Hafiz Hamdullah said that the joint Opposition would submit the no-confidence motion in the next 48 hours.

    The development emerged after PDM chief and JUI-F head Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s talks with reporters regarding the no-confidence motion.

    According to Maulana, the Opposition will make a final decision regarding submitting a vote of the no-confidence motion in the next two to three days.

    PDM chief termed the upcoming days “important”. He claimed they have the numbers required for the success of the no-confidence motion. However, he revealed that it has not been decided yet whether they would bring the no-confidence motion against National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser or Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    It is pertinent to mention that in order to bring in-house change against PM Khan, the joint Opposition needs the support of 172 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs). For the no-confidence motion against the NA’s speaker and deputy speaker, the Opposition would need simply a majority in the Lower House.

    Moreover, Maulana said that it seems that the “umpires” [establishment] are neutral. He declared that the Opposition is not seeking any support from the establishment, rather they want them to stop supporting the government.

    An insider told Dawn when the Opposition is 100 per cent about the success rate of the no-confidence motion, only then they will table it. He said it is true that some of the government’s own people are in contact with the Opposition but they still don’t have sufficient numbers.

  • PTI ministers are with us, claims PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal

    PTI ministers are with us, claims PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal

    In Geo News‘ Programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal claimed that the government’s decision to decrease the petroleum prices is because of their [Opposition] pressure.

    Talking about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) allies, Iqbal said they [allies] have to decide for themselves. “If someone thinks of blackmailing them [PML-N] in exchange for offering support for the vote of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, it wouldn’t work as they [PML-N] have enough support.”

    He, further claimed that the Opposition has support inside of PTI and would successfully sail a no-confidence motion even without the support of PTI allies. According to him, PML-N has strong contacts with 20 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) of the ruling party including some federal ministers.

    He added that everyone wants PTI to go home. When asked about the date of the no-confidence motion against the PM, the PML-N leader said there are consultations going on right now.

    A day earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan met with the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leadership. The Chaudhrys of Gujrat assured PM Khan that they still supported him and his government and also expressed their lack of trust in the Sharifs who ditched them in the past.

    “We know them all, and do not trust them,” said Chaudhry Shujaat.

    Last week, Pakis­tan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari began his march towards the federal capital against the government.

  • Yeh Dosti, hum chorein gay? PM Khan calls ex-friend Jahangir Tareen

    Yeh Dosti, hum chorein gay? PM Khan calls ex-friend Jahangir Tareen

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has contacted disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen after the politician left Pakistan for the United Kingdom, said Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi, reports Geo News.

    “The prime minister was informed that Jahangir Tareen was unwell,” Qureshi said.

    Qureshi said PM Khan had called the PTI leader to inquire about his health as he left for London for a medical check-up.

    It was earlier reported that Tareen spent a week in a private hospital in Lahore and would spend a week in London.

    PM Khan is scheduled to meet Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) Chaudhry brothers during his daylong visit to Lahore today.

  • ‘PM Khan is a predator of free speech’: Pakistanis denounce PECA Ordinance

    ‘PM Khan is a predator of free speech’: Pakistanis denounce PECA Ordinance

    Since the promulgation of the Ordinance amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the law has been receiving a lot of criticism from the Opposition, civil society, journalists and even government allies.

    In a joint statement, the Opposition termed PECA “fascist and dictatorship”. The statement was released after a meeting between Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership, reports Geo News.

    Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter and said, “So-called ‘defamation’ amendment to PECA, promulgated by presidential ordinance, shows the real fascist face of the ruling clique.”

    PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto- Zardari said that freedom of expression and press is being muzzled under the guise of preventing false news. “Khan Sahib himself is the biggest leader of fake news mafia in Pakistan,” said Bilawal.

    PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was of the view that PECA is going to be used against the government.

    While condemning the Ordinance, PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman said that such laws are unacceptable.

    Lawyer Reema Omer tweeted, “With PECA Ordinance, PM Imran Khan has proven yet again that he is a predator of free speech.”

    However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from making arrests under Section 20 of PECA despite its promulgation by President Arif Alvi on Sunday, reports Dawn.

    Federal Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Amin Ul Haque has written to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, urging him to either withdraw or review the Ordinance.

  • PM Khan’s wife’s son booked for possessing alcohol, released on personal guarantee

    PM Khan’s wife’s son booked for possessing alcohol, released on personal guarantee

    First Lady of Pakistan, Bushra Bibi’s younger son, Muhammad Musa Maneka was registered for possessing illegal alcohol in a car. Police also booked his cousin, Mohammad Ahmad Maneka, and a friend Ahmad Shaharyar.

    According to the First Investigation Report (FIR), the Ghalib Market police found alcohol in their car on Monday. The car crossed a police picket on Zahoor Elahi Road. Police arrested the three of them when alcohol was found in their car.

    They recovered the alcohol bottle “Moon Original Whisky” and beer cans which were wrapped in a brown paper bag.

    Police registered a case against them under sections 3, 4, and 11 of The Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd Order, 1979).

    After a medical examination, Shaharyar was found drunk while Musa and Ahmad had not consumed alcohol. They were released on a personal guarantee from a relative.

    The judicial magistrate granted bail to their friend Shaharyar.

  • Mohsin Baig case: Court says FIA misused its power, issues show-cause notice

    Mohsin Baig case: Court says FIA misused its power, issues show-cause notice

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued show-cause notice to the Director of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) cybercrime wing, Babar Bakht Qureshi, on Monday for misusing FIA’s powers in the arrest case of journalist Mohsin Jamil Baig.

    The FIA cybercrime wing and the police arrested and raided Daily Jinnah and Online news agency Editor Mohsin Baig’s house. He was accused of initiating a debate on News One’s programme ‘G for Gharidah’. He made some controversial references towards Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Minister for Communication Murad Saeed.

    IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah asked, “Why should we not register contempt of court case against the FIA? Do they think they are above the law?”

    During the hearing, Justice Minallah grilled the FIA director, reminding him that the court had told the agency to not make arrests. “This court will take action against you. Your job is to protect people and not to restore the reputation of an elite person.”

    Justice Minallah also posed some questions related to the arrest. He asked Qureshi that when there were four people in the programme, why only Baig was arrested.

    Justice Minallah further said that the agency has always abused its authority, adding that the court will not allow the FIA to infringe on anyone’s fundamental rights.

    When asked about PM Khan’s ex-wife Reham Khan’s book and which reference was given by Baig in the show. Additional Attorney General Qasim Wadood, who was present before the court, replied that he had not read the book.

    “Does everyone know what is written in the book?”, CJ asked.

    Justice Minallah said that this court has repeatedly said that you should be careful but the message being given is that there is no freedom of expression.

    However, the Director of FIA continued his argument that the reference to the book is defamatory and added, “We must discourage obscenity.”

    CJ Minallah stated that the biggest obscenity is not respecting the constitution, adding that prohibition is an abuse of power.

    Responding to contempt of court notice, Quershi pleaded to the CJ, saying we are like your children, have mercy. To which the CJ responded, “You are not my child and I am not your father.”

    Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned and Justice Minallah asked Qureshi to submit his response. The court also summoned Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan in the next hearing on February 24. Previously, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) approved the three-day remand of journalist Mohsin Baig.

  • Fazl to host dinner for Zardari to discuss no-confidence motion today

    Fazl to host dinner for Zardari to discuss no-confidence motion today

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari will meet Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad to discuss the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, reports Geo News.

    According to the media outlet’s sources, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief will also host a dinner in honour of the former president.

    The two leaders are also likely to discuss a plan of action regarding the no-confidence motion, which will be tabled by Opposition parties to oust PM Khan’s government.

    Zardari has been staying in the capital for a couple of days and holding low-profile meetings. 

    It is pertinent to mention that the meeting of the two leaders will be the first since PPP’s exit from PDM. 

  • MQM-P’s Amir Khan seeks mercy from PM Khan, says they don’t want more ministries

    MQM-P’s Amir Khan seeks mercy from PM Khan, says they don’t want more ministries

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Amir Khan in a Geo News‘ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath‘ said that the party seeks mercy from the government, doesn’t want any more ministries and the government can take back the MQM-P’s current federal cabinet seat.

    Currently, MQM-P holds two federal ministries— Information Technology Minister Syed Amin-ul-Haq and Law Minister Farogh Naseem. However, MQM-P has been saying that the law ministry has not been given to it.

    Amir raised serious concerns about government policies. He stated, “Our legs have started trembling, carrying the weight of the government’s economic policies.”

    “We have our own identity and are independent in making decisions; we are not obligated to work with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government, and we will make decisions as we deem appropriate”, he added, while talking about the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Talking about the recent meetings with the Opposition who are gearing up for the no-confidence motion, the MQM-P leader stated, “The Opposition should have a clear stand on a vote of no confidence.” He demanded that the party wants an independent local bodies system in Sindh, and if contacted, they will present Sindh problems before the Opposition.

    On the contrary, while speaking on Geo News‘ Programme ‘Jashan-e-Cricket’, MQM-P leader Wasim Akhtar said that their party has a lot of compulsions to support PTI yet he questioned the incumbent government wining in Karachi. He claimed that PTI would not have won 14 seats in Karachi if Khalai Makhlooq (‘Aliens’) had not played a role.

    Akhtar further said that he wondered, “How Imran Khan has become Prime Minister of Pakistan.”

    It was reported on Wednesday that the premier would soon make changes in the federal and Punjab cabinets by including allied parties’ members i.e MQM-P and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).