Tag: PML-N

  • Nawaz Sharif was taken out of power unconstitutionally, says Qureshi

    Nawaz Sharif was taken out of power unconstitutionally, says Qureshi

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi has acknowledged that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif was removed from power unconstitutionally.

    Speaking with journalist Meher Bokhari, Qureshi said that PTI believed that Sharif would have learned from what happened to him and would not have repeated the same thing.

    “These experiments have not worked in the last 75 years. We were expecting that what he [Nawaz Sharif] went through as a leader, he would have learned from it and taken up a new attitude in politics,” said Qureshi.

    “If someone is removed unconstitutionally from power, a democratic mind will not accept it,” added Qureshi.

    It is pertinent to mention here, that PTI Chairman Imran Khan was removed as the prime minister in April, 2022 through a vote of no-confidence.

  • Shahid Khaqan resigns, says my leader is ONLY Nawaz and Shehbaz

    Shahid Khaqan resigns, says my leader is ONLY Nawaz and Shehbaz

    Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has resigned from his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) post, spokesperson for Nawaz Sharif Mohammad Zubair confirmed the development.

    “He [Shahid Khan Abbasi] is a big leader, and quitting the post will not affect him,” Zubair told the media. He also added that Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb had also confirmed the resignation.

    Zubair said that he doesn’t want to “wash dirty laundry” in public, adding that Miftah Ismail is still with PML-N.

    “He is a very senior leader and a former prime minister. The party needs his experience.”

    It was reported in The News on Wednesday that Abbasi decided to step down after Maryam Nawaz was elevated as the party’s chief organiser and senior vice president by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the President of PML-N.

    According to media reports, Abbasi said that he had made it clear to Nawaz Sharif three years back that it would not be possible for him to continue with Maryam Nawaz if she was elevated to party’s top office.

    To a query, he said he had not talked to Maryam Nawaz ever since her return from London. “I am happy that her surgery has been successful,” he said.

    On January 30, Abbasi had said that he believed Maryam Nawaz will be able to organise the party. Speaking on Dawn News, Abbasi was asked if he accepted Maryam Nawaz as his leader. The former premier responded by saying that his leader is Nawaz Sharif, and after him, Shehbaz Sharif is the president of PML-N. “Apart from this, I don’t say a yes or no to anyone else.”

    However, Abbasi’s spokesperson said that the news of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s resignation is “baseless”. “He did not leave the party in difficult circumstances; why will he leave today?” the spokesperson asked.

    As per reports, former PM Abbasi was unhappy with the decision being taken without consulting other party members, adding Abbasi tendered his resignation a day after Maryam Nawaz’s appointment.

    Earlier this month, Maryam was promoted as the PML-N’s senior vice-president and was also asked to reorganize the party which has faced a series of electoral defeats in 2022.

    It was also reported that Abbasi said, “Maryam Nawaz is appointed senior vice president and in this situation, there’s no reason for me to work as party’s SVP.”

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Nawaz directs Rana Sanaullah, Maryam Nawaz to lead PML-N
    
			
    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz have been given instructions by party supremo Nawaz Sharif to lead rallies and meetings ahead of the upcoming general elections in Punjab.
    

    Rana Sanaullah met the father and daughter in London where Nawaz briefed the two senior members of the party on what their roles would be.
    

    Nawaz instructed the interior minister to mobilise party workers in the province for the upcoming elections. Moreover, PML-N leaders also held consultations on party appointments in Punjab and on inter-party elections.
    

    The federal minister and Maryam Nawaz both are expected to land back home on January 28.
    

    Taking to Twitter, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb wrote: “There has been a change in the time of PML-N’s senior vice president and chief organiser Maryam Nawaz’s return home. Maryam Nawaz sahiba will now reach Lahore at 3:50pm on Saturday, January 28.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    On January 12, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi signed the summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly. Elections are now set to take place in the province within the next three months.
    

    Maryam Nawaz likely to return back on January 22
    

    Earlier, it was reported that Maryam is likely to return to Pakistan on January 22.
    

    According to media reports, the senior leadership of the party decided on Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s return to the political fray while her father, Nawaz Sharif, has given her essential tasks related to the PML-N mobilisation.
    

    Maryam Nawaz Sharif will be visiting Punjab and meeting senior leaders.
    

    It is pertinent to mention here that PML-N senior vice president Maryam Nawaz underwent throat surgery in Switzerland. She travelled to Geneva from London where she stayed with her father and brothers.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    No suit, no service; Islamabad club will not entertain you if you’re wearing a dhoti
    
			
    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member National Assembly (MNA) and member Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Sheikh Rohail Asghar was denied service at the Islamabad Club for wearing a Dhoti, the traditional Punjabi attire.
    

    Expressing his anger, Asghar said, “Shalwar Kameez is our national dress and Dhoti a cultural dress. If I don’t wear a suit, then no one serves food in the club.” He tainted the club’s management, remarking that the British left the country, but their “remnants” still followed their rules.
    

    The club’s secretary said that a formal dress code was applicable in the formal dining hall, as it was part of the club’s tradition and hence Asghar was denied service. He observed that Islamabad Club is not a cultural club.
    

    PAC directed the management of Islamabad Club to call a board meeting to review the dress code and resolve the issue. There were also concerns over the financial affairs of the Islamabad Club and the committee sought an audit report in the next meeting.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    What the hell is going on in Punjab  ?
    
			
    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi won the confidence vote in the Punjab Assembly (PA) in the early hours of Thursday morning.
    

    A total of 186 members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) voted in support of Elahi as the chief minister on a resolution moved by Punjab Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Raja Basharat.
    

    The Opposition boycotted the session, claiming that the pre-requisite legal requirements were not met and that Punjab Governor Baligh-Ur-Rehman’s order of vote of confidence was sub judice.
    

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) refused to accept the proceedings, with federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah terming them against the Constitution and “illegal”.
    

    The interior minister, speaking to media outside the Assembly premises, said that the PTI lawyers argued before the court that the governor’s order is unconstitutional.
    

    “So, how did they conduct the confidence vote under Article 130(7) today?” he asked.
    

    “PA Speaker Sibtain Khan said the confidence vote would not be taken during today’s session. However, the agenda was changed at midnight, and a vote of confidence was initiated by deceit.”
    

    On the other hand, PTI leaders celebrated the victory and praised party Chairman Imran Khan for the win.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Aleem, Aun Chaudhry not forming a new party: report
    
			
    Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Awn Chaudhry and Abdul Aleem Khan have dismissed reports that they are forming a new political party, reports Raees Ansari for Geo News.
    

    The news report states that Chaudhry clarified that former PTI stalwart Jahangir Khan Tareen, Aleem and Chaudhry Sarwar are “not forming a new political party”.
    

    “Currently, we are part of the government and are standing with it. Tareen group is an ally of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and will remain an ally,” Chaudhry said.
    

    It was also reported that senior politician Aleem Khan denied joining a political party or forming a new one, saying: “There is no truth in the reports of my inclusion in a new political party.”
    

    “I am neither a part of any political party nor have any intentions to become one,” Aleem said adding that he has good ties with former PTI leaders Chaudhry Sarwar and Jahangir Tareen but has no intentions of becoming active in politics.
    

    It is pertinent to mention here that Aleem and Tareen were the most prominent leaders in the PTI’s early years. Internal differences got in the way with Tareen first and then Aleem parting ways with the PTI chief Imran Khan.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Kya baat hai Lahore ki thand ki’: Junaid Safdar returns to Pakistan, talks about future plans
    
			
    ‘Kya baat hai Lahore ki thand ki’: Junaid Safdar returns to Pakistan, talks about future plans
    
			
    Junaid Safdar, the son of Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz, has reached Lahore on Thursday night.
    

    It was reported earlier this week that Junaid was shifting permanently to Pakistan to assist his mother in her party’s political activities.
    

    Taking to Instagram, Junaid wrote, “I am not interested in Pakistani politics, for now. I have only moved to Pakistan to fulfil the responsibilities owed to my mother and family. I will be assisting my mother in her work and family matters but I will not be taking part in politics,” he added.
    

    

    

    

    

    “Side note: Kya baat hai Lahore ki thand ki [Nothing can come close to Lahore winters]. Have really missed this!” added Junaid.
    

    On January 2, Maryam Nawaz was appointed the Senior Vice President of PML-N. She will also take on the responsibility of reorganising the party.
    

    According to news reports, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday left London for a week-long trip to Geneva.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Phaddah continues: Dar is closer to Nawaz Sharif because his son is married to Nawaz’s daughter, says Miftah
    
			
    Phaddah continues: Dar is closer to Nawaz Sharif because his son is married to Nawaz’s daughter, says Miftah
    
			
    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail has blamed his successor Finance Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar for running campaigns against him for over six months.
    

    During a podcast on a YouTube channel on Wednesday, Ismail said that Dar could not tolerate anyone else from within the party as finance minister.
    

    Elaborating on the closeness of Dar with the Sharif family, Ismail said that Dar is closer to Nawaz Sharif because his son is married to the PML-N chief’s daughter and was with him in London. He added that Dar used to tell the PML-N supremo that he would bring the dollar rate and petroleum prices down.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Miftah added that even though it was the PM’s right to remove him, the way it was done was not respectful. Nawaz Sharif called him to London and told him that he was being replaced in front of 12 people, revealed Miftah.
    

    The disgruntled former finance minister said that there is no doubt that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan is a good politician and no one is close to him when it comes to political strategy and narrative building.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Establishment neither approached PML-N nor PTI for technocratic setup’: Rana Sanaullah
    
			
    ‘Establishment neither approached PML-N nor PTI for technocratic setup’: Rana Sanaullah
    
			
    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said the that establishment neither approached the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nor the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in connection with a rumored technocratic setup that might be installed to govern the country.
    

    “Imran Khan makes up fresh stories every other day, however, no message regarding the technocratic setup was conveyed,” he stated.
    

    He said that the institution has pledged to the nation that it will remain apolitical. “From now on, whatever happens will be in line with the Constitution,” Sanaullah categorically said.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Speaking to senior journalists in Lahore, Imran had stressed, “I don’t see elections happening now. There is hearsay about a technocratic government being brought forward,” he had told the media personnel in an informal talk.
    

    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had addressed the rumors, calling any such plan a “joke”. The former minister had said, “It is a joke to form a technocratic government for two and a half years after wrapping up this government and sending it home. Experimenting and playing jokes with Pakistan should come to an end now.”
    

    “You will bring ‘imported technocrats’ from the United States if the Shehbaz Sharif-led government is not functioning,” he added. “The solution to the country’s problems is holding elections.”
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Don’t tell our women what needs to be done
    
			
    Don’t tell our women what needs to be done
    
			
    Women political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy. It facilitates women’s direct engagement in public decision-making and is a means of ensuring better accountability to women. But here in Pakistan, women in politics are seen as a threat to the fragile egos of some male politicians.
    

    When we talk about women’s political participation, it is easy for us to imagine the empty seats around the decision-making table, and a little more difficult to picture the many obstacles and challenges women face to get into those seats. When the same empty seats are filled by women, they somehow become a threat and danger. Recently, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali criticised State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on her recent visit to Afghanistan. Chitrali said that he was not against any female minister, but he believed that the government should have included some tribal elders in the Khar-led delegation that visited Afghanistan. In response to his sexist statement, women Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from treasury benches extended their support for Khar. Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman said, “This debate on gender difference has ended in the entire world, as to who is a man and who a woman. People are known for their performance and merit and not for their gender. Our women are excelling internationally and continuing to do so.” Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also spoke up, asking that all parliamentarians, especially the men, should encourage and acknowledge the competency of women ministers appointed on merit.“Hina represented Pakistan in Afghanistan. This is a moment of pride for the entire nation,” she said, rebuffing Chitrali’s objections.
    

    It is not the first time that we have seen sexism in parliament. Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani called Sherry Rehman the “Senate’s dadi (grandmother)” when he asked a house member to keep the questions specific so that Sherry Rehman can answer the questions. “I would advise you to only ask specific questions so that Sherry Rehman, who is the dadi of this House, can give you the right answers,” Sanjrani said, adding that members should keep the environment of the House calm.
    

    This month we saw PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry advising Information Marriyum Aurangzeb and Sherry Rehman to quit politics and open a beauty parlour instead.
    

    The question remains: what are the male politicians so frightened of? Politicians need to learn that there is a a fine line between criticism and misogyny remarks. Our politicians and men in general of Pakistan need to do better. Women of Pakistan are fierce, resolute and hardworking — be it in any field of the world. They are trendsetters and opinion makers. They shall and will not be stopped.