Prime Minister Imran Khan, while addressing the launching ceremony of Defence Analyst Ikram Sehgal’s book, said, “I was friends with both former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif. Sharif was more interested in cricket and by chance, he became prime minister.”
Speaking about his early days in politics a little over two decades ago, PM Khan said, “I knew them [Benazir and Nawaz] personally and they both offered me party tickets again and again, but I was opposed to their corruption and challenged them,” the premier recalled.
The premier said he had studied politics in university and therefore understood international politics, but every country has its own culture of politics. “I had no knowledge of Pakistani politics and that is how I began my career in it,” he said.
Taking a jibe at the opposition, PM Khan said that the leaders of Pakistan’s political parties spent their summers abroad and never thought about the country.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif says Nawaz Sharif would have been elected prime minister for a fourth time if the PML-N leaders had made a strategy based on consensus in the pre-2018 election period.
Shehbaz was responding to a question by Saleem Safi on Geo News programme, ‘Jirga’, about whether or not he was offered prime ministership before the 2018 elections on the condition that he would abandon his brother Nawaz Sharif and niece Maryam Nawaz.
When asked why was he failing to convince Nawaz Sharif and Maryam of the need for reconciliation, Shehbaz Sharif said he believed in “natural reconciliation”. Shehbaz said he wanted everyone to set aside their personal egos and join hands to eradicate poverty from the country. He further added that every matter in the party is decided with consultation, and his viewpoint is known to everyone.
The former Punjab chief minister said he was offered the prime ministership twice over the last couple of decades, adding that one of these offers was made by former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan and later, by General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
He said no single individual or a single institution was responsible for a weak democracy in the country, and “everyone is a culprit” [Is hamam me sab nangay hain].
Shehbaz Sharif said that Imran Khan had failed to deliver despite being provided all-out support by the establishment.
Shehbaz Sharif rejected the notion that he was about to resign from the party’s presidency, describing it as “fake news”.
A report in DailyJang published last week stated that Shehbaz was angry after his strategy for the Azad Kashmir elections was ignored, resulting in the party’s loss. Thus, he threatened to quit party leadership. “When I was finally allowed to speak during the budget session, after four days of chaos [in parliament], I said the budget is a fake one since the people’s pockets are empty. Similarly, just like the budget, this news report is also fake.”
Shehbaz said that PML-N is his home and that Nawaz Sharif, every party leader, worker, and women [leaders] over the past 40 years have played their role in building the party. He also rejected the accusation that he helped his brother flee the country, saying that it was propaganda.
Almost all the women lawmakers of the National Assembly, both from treasury and opposition benches, on Friday unanimously demanded the public hanging of all rapists, reported Dawn.
The demand was made in the National Assembly by women members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari said the government had recently passed a law against rape cases, but laws will not work alone. There is a need to change the mindset of our society about women.
She said that the government has to protect all women as women will no more accept their humiliation and suffering.
Mehnaz Akbar Aziz of PML-N said the killer of Noor Muqaddam must be hanged in public so that such incidents do not take place in the future.
“If Pakistan has to be run, then rapists and killers must be hanged in public. We will not let the country be run in the way it is being run,” said PTI lawmaker Asma Qadeer who broke into tears while speaking on the floor of the house.
Asma Qadeer talked about the rising cases of rape of women and children and the recent beheading of Noor Mukadam.
PPP’s Shamim Ara Panhwar said that in the light of increasing incidents of child abuse and rape of women, there was no other option but to hang rapists and killers in public.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Secretary-General Ahsan Iqbal has served a show-cause notice to Ismail Gujjar for his controversial statement a day ago during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir election wherein he threatened to “call India for help” if attempts were made [by the government] to rig the polls.
Talking to the media, Chaudhry Ismail Gujjar said, “If you try to commit such an act [rig elections], I will call India for help … I warn you this is the election of Azad Kashmir and its people, let it be peaceful.”
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) July 25, 2021
Reacting to the statement, Ahsan Iqbal issued a show-cause notice to Gujjar.
“A statement given by you appeared on the electronic media in which you have irresponsibly stated that you will seek help from India for your election,” the notice reads, asking Gujjar to give an explanation within seven days.
Issuing a clarification on to Geo News, Ismail had said his statement was directed towards the administration. “India kills Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir and over here, these people are taking down our camps,” he had added.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, while appreciating the PML-N for issuing a show-cause notice to a “political orphan” [Gujjar], said it would have been better had the party served a notice to Nawaz Sharif for meeting Pakistan’s enemy. Fawad was referring to Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with Afghan National Security Adviser (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib in London.
احسن اقبال صاحب نے ہندوستان سے مدد مانگنے کے بیان پر ایک سیاسی یتیم کو نوٹس دیا ہے جو اچھی بات ہے لیکن کیا ہی اچھا ہو مسلم لیگ کی مجلس عاملہ نواز شریف کو حمداللہ محب جیسے پاکستان دشمن اور ہمدوستان کے پروردہ شخص سے ملاقات پر بوٹس جاری کرے اور ان سے بازپرس کرے؟ pic.twitter.com/l1TOES5T84
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has won the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections by clinching the most seats. The PTI won in 25 constituencies, followed by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in 11 constituencies and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in six constituencies, according to unofficial results.
The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Party and the (JKPP) and the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJK-MC) managed to bag one seat each according to the unofficial results.
Turnout in AJK elections was recorded at around 62 per cent. More than 700 candidates from 32 political and religious parties contested for the 45 general seats.
The official Twitter account of PTI celebrated the victory and called Prime Minister Imran Khan the ‘Ambassador of Kashmir’.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz claimed that the PTI won the Kashmir polls through rigging and rejected the results of the elections held on Sunday.
Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “I have not accepted the results and neither will I.”
میں نے نتائج تسلیم نہیں کیے ہیں اور نا کروں گی۔ میں نے تو ۲۰۱۸ کے نتائج بھی تسلیم نہیں کیے نا اس جعلی حکومت کو مانا ہے۔ ورکر اور ووٹرز کو شاباش دی ہے۔ اس بے شرم دھاندلی پر کیا لائحہ عمل ہو گا، جماعت جلد فیصلہ کرے گی انشاءاللّہ https://t.co/tgaO8TrH9H
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 25, 2021
Maryam praised her party workers for “putting up a good fight” despite rigging by PTI.
Taking to Twitter, Bilawal Bhutto claimed the election commission had failed to take action against the PTI for violating electoral rules.
PTI resorted to violence & rigging in #AJKElections2021 . ECP failed to take action vs PTI for violating electoral rules. Despite this, PPP emerged as largest opposition party in AJK with 11 seats, up from 3 seats last time. incredibly proud of PPPAJK for putting up a good fight. pic.twitter.com/lAUXCp72Kw
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 26, 2021
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Farrukh Habib, said that when Prime Minister Imran Khan’s phone was being hacked through Pegasus spyware, it was Nawaz Sharif’s government.
Farrukh made this statement after The Guardian reported that the Indian government targeted Prime Minister Imran Khan’s phone for surveillance.
Farrukh further added that while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was busy hacking the phones of his Opposition, who knows, Nawaz Sharif might have sought Modi’s help for some other purposes as well.
“We will not allow them [Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi] to remain silent on these issues,” added Farrukh.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Shahbaz Gill tweeted, “Maryam Safdar kept speaking against Imran Khan. Today, the international media has once again exposed the nexus between her [Maryam Nawaz’s] father and Israel.”
کل مریم صفدر عمران خان کے خلاف ہرزہ سرائئ کرتی رہیں آج انٹرنیشنل میڈیا نےایک بارپھرانکے والداور اسرائیل گٹھ جوڑ کو بے نقاب کیاکہ اسرائیل کے ساتھ ملکرنواز شریف پاکستانی آفیشلزاورعمران خان،جبکہ مودی اسرائیل کے ساتھ ملکر اپنی اپوزیشن کے فون ہیک کرتا رہا بے شک اللّٰہ الحق ہے
A pre-budget seminar was organised by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on June 3 in Islamabad.
The seminar was organised by the Economic Advisory Council of the PML-N on the direction of party president Shehbaz Sharif.
Owing to the fragile policies of #PTIGovernment, our economy is in doldrums and the inflation has reached sky high. #PMLN will be exposing the government’s incompetence in tomorrow’s pre-budget seminar at 3:00pm. pic.twitter.com/Ht6Yx8wZaf
Titled ‘Economy sinking under Imran Khan’s government’, the seminar discussed all the economic issues before the upcoming budget. The main focus was on the economic policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government.
Graphs shown during the seminar entailed that Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.8 per cent in PML-N’s last year, the highest in 16 years. In addition, GDP growth consistently remained above 4 per cent in each of PML-N’s 5 years. GDP growth has significantly declined during PTI’s tenure with 2.1 per cent growth in 2019.
’s GDP grew by 5.8% in PMLN’s last year, the highest in 16 years. In addition, GDP growth consistently remained above 4% in each of PMLN’s 5 years. GDP growth has significantly declined during PTI’s tenure with 2.1% growth in 2019 #PMLNPreBudgetSeminar (1/2) pic.twitter.com/rs771fCURb
PTI is claiming 3.9 per cent growth now in 2021, but this claim is being challenged by independent economists. Whereas, GDP has significantly declined during PTI’s tenure with 2.1 per cent growth in 2019.
PTI is claiming 3.9% growth now in 2021 but this claim is being challenged by independent economists. Even if PTI’s claim is to be accepted, average GDP growth under PTI is 1.8% in 3 years, which is below the population growth rate.#PMLNPreBudgetSeminar (2/2) pic.twitter.com/TWfI1hQoSV
Shehbaz Sharif claimed that the government was pushing out wrong statistics and misinforming the public since the start of the its tenure.
“The government’s statistics [regarding the budget] have already become a subject of debate,” Shehbaz said while addressing the seminar virtually.
“Their past is evident and they have been putting forth forged figures,” he said. “This comes on top of the government’s worst performance and major failures.”
Last week, on Sunday, while addressing the nation live, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the Opposition parties were complaining about the government misleading the nation on the economy as they had not expected it to achieve a growth rate of nearly 4 per cent.
“The economic growth rate has baffled political opponents who wanted the government to fail in meeting these challenges left behind by our predecessors,” added Khan.
Punjab’s Provincial Minister for Prisons Fayyazul Hassan Chohan and Secretary Information Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Azma Bokhari had an interesting exchange outside the Punjab Assembly earlier today.
Fayyaz Chohan offered to hold a joint press conference in the Punjab Assembly with Azma Bokhari.
“Azma sahiba can talk openly against our government and then it shall be my turn to comment on her party [PML-N],” said Fayyaz laughingly.
Azma Bokhari said she should be allowed to answer him point-by-point. Chohan Fayyaz said it would not be possible.
On being asked by a reporter as to why the two individuals weren’t ready to do a joint press conference, Azma said, ” He [Fayyaz] should resign from his ministry, and stand beside me and hold a press conference as today’s presser is the Opposition’s.” Azma further added that she would happily welcome him [Fayyaz] and present him with a garland if he resigns and joins the Opposition.
“I offered her [Azma] to speak first because I personally respect her,” said Fayyaz.
Fayyaz Chohan later took to Twitter and said, “I offered Azma Bokhari to hold a joint press conference today, I was ready to give her the first turn but Azma did not dare accept.”
میں نے عظمی بخاری صاحبہ کو آفر کی کہ آج مشترکہ پریس کانفرنس کرتے ھیں۔۔اور۔۔پہلی باری بھی دینے کو تیار تھا۔۔۔لیکن عظمی بخاری صاحبہ نے ھمت نہ کی۔۔۔!!! https://t.co/8UbsvQ4DJN
— Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan (@Fayazchohanpk) June 2, 2021
To which Azma tweeted, “I asked you to resign. You are not destined to stand beside me.”
میں نے تو کہا تھا،استعفے دے کے آجاو، میرے ساتھ کھڑے ہونے کے مقدر نہیں ہیں آپ کے،منافقت چھوڑ دو https://t.co/VqSrSeFMZ6
— Azma Zahid Bokhari (@AzmaBokhariPMLN) June 2, 2021
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman on Saturday said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) were not discussed in the forum, as they are not part of the alliance.
“They [PPP] can still contact the PDM leadership and apprise them about their intentions. But it is not something that we will waste time over anymore during PDM meetings,” said Maulana Fazl.
PDM also rejected the government’s “one-sided” electoral reforms, which include the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), and announced a fresh wave of anti-government protests.
“PDM rejects the government’s unilateral electoral reforms ordinance, including the voting machines, and terms it as pre-poll rigging,” said Fazl.
In this regard, the Election Commission of Pakistan, which is responsible for holding transparent elections, should call a meeting of all political parties to take a unanimous decision on reforms, Fazl added.
The Opposition alliance announced a future course of action. On July 4, a massive anti-government protest will be held, followed by another one in Karachi on July 29.
On the occasion of August 14, a massive protest will be held in Islamabad, with PDM showing solidarity with Kashmiris and Palestinians.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will host a budget seminar soon to form a unified strategy during the budget session, while the task to hold the event has been given to PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.
The PDM chief said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif attended the meeting via video, while other Opposition party leaders were present in person.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, on Thursday talked about how he spent his days in jail, his niece Maryam Nawaz’s political future, Nawaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and many other issues in an interview given to Kamran Khan on Dunya News.
A typical day in jail
When asked what is a typical day in jail and how he spent those eight months, Shehbaz said: “I used to pray for Pakistan in jail. It is not easy to remain in jail as it takes a lot of patience to remain in jail. Allah gives one hope there. I would get up for Fajr prayers, I continued my morning walk. After exercise, I would have my breakfast and then recite the Quran. I would read books like Bob Woodward’s Rage. I read Islamic books and read tafseer (explanation) of Quran as I had a lot of time on my hands in solitary confinement. I would feed birds when I was there. I once fed aaloo chanay to birds. I saw that a crow washed the potato with water as it was spicy, which I found very fascinating as they say that crows are wise so I would observe the birds keenly.”
Corruption cases
Kamran Khan asked Shehbaz about the allegations against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Sharif said since this is a sub judice matter, NAB invited him for the Saaf Paani case and arrested him in Ashiana scandal. During his arrest, they again arrested him in Ramzan Sugar Mills, and then assets beyond means case was opened against him. “I was given bail on merit in February 2019 in Ashiana and Ramzan Sugar Mills case.” He denied all charges of corruption. Shehbaz Sharif said that there is a NAB-Niazi collusion to target the Sharif family. “What else have they [the government] done in three years? They have no other priority other than how to destroy Sharifs’ businesses and our reputation. All they are interested in is to target my elder brother Nawaz Sharif and our family members.” He asked have they proved a penny of corruption against us.
Medical treatment in Britain
Shehbaz Sharif said he is a cancer survivor. He has been getting an annual check up in Britain since 2003. When asked how he would have entered Britain since Pakistan is on a Red List, Shehbaz said he took a chance to go via Doha and if that wasn’t allowed, he would have gone via Istanbul as Turkey was not on Britain’s Red List at that time. “I wasn’t going to Britain to play a cricket match or to learn jaadu tona (black magic). I was going there for my medical treatment and also to see my family.”
شہباز شریف بتا رہے ہیں پاکستان کے برطانیہ کی کورونا حوالے سے ممنوع ریڈ لسٹ میں شامل ہونے کے باوجود لندن کا سفر کرنے کے لئے وہ لاہور ائیرپورٹ کیوں پہنچ گئے اس کا توڑ انکے پاس موجود تھا pic.twitter.com/lMomFRcsIs
Kamran Khan asked him about the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) while he was in jail and if he was involved directly or indirectly with PDM’s decisions. “As luck would have it, PDM was formed when I went to jail. PDM faced divisions within the alliance when I was in jail. I do not impose my views on anyone. I wasn’t allowed to meet my lawyers or family regularly either. I would give my advice when someone sought it. I didn’t know much about it [PDM]. Now I will be there in the next PDM meeting….Such alliances were formed in the past too like MRD, etc.” Shehbaz said differences do take place in such alliances. “No party alone can take a decision unilaterally. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the head of PDM, so such decisions are taken with consensus. Even if PDM isn’t there in its original form, I am the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and it is my duty to talk to all Opposition parties on issues like budget, Covid, foreign policy, Kashmir, Palestine or CPEC. Even if there are divisions in PDM, we have this forum in parliament.”
شہباز شریف PMLN صدر کی حیثیت سے بڑے پتے کی بات کررہے ہیں PDM غلط فیصلہ سازی کی وجہ سے ٹوٹ گئ اب آگے بڑھیں پارلیمنٹ میں اپوزیشن جماعتیں آپس میں مل کر تمام قومی مسائل پر مشترکہ حکمت عملی بنائیں گے اور پارلیمنٹ میں مسائل کا حل تجویز کریں گے pic.twitter.com/Iv0X6IRQIC
Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is facing a lot of problems. “India is a member of G20. We came into being together; we should have been leading in the comity of global nations. Bangladesh, which was part of Pakistan, now has a GDP growth rate higher than ours. How unfortunate that today, Afghanistan’s currency is stronger than Pakistan’s.”
Sharif lamented that this is a selected government. “They came into power after massive rigging.” General Bajwa said in front of me that Mian Nawaz Sharif has given me a lot of respect and never said no to anything related to defence. “Confrontation is not our path; it has to be consultation. This country cannot move forward without this. We need a consultative process between all institutions within the limits set by the Constitution. No one institution can take us out of this quagmire alone. It has to be through collective wisdom and efforts can we make Pakistan as a going country among comity of nations.” Kamran Khan said this is music to everyone’s ears.
Nawaz Sharif
Asked if Nawaz Sharif would agree to these suggestions, Shehbaz Sharif said: “He [Nawaz] is a statesman. I guarantee you he will be more than willing to contribute towards nation building efforts if there is a new social order which guarantees free and fair elections, all institutions work within their constitutional boundaries, judiciary is independent and free, and every government is allowed to work independently. Reconciliation is still possible; it’s never too late. Nawaz Sharif would be more than willing to do this, I guarantee you.”
He said that when he goes to London, he will meet Nawaz. “He is my leader, he is like my father. There is no compromise on national interest. I am sure he will promote national interest if there is a level-playing field. Even if I have to hold his feet for national interest, I will do so because it is my national duty. I am a Pakistani first and then anything else.”
شہباز شریف با بانگِ دہل اعلان کررہے ہیں ٹکراؤ لڑائی جھگڑے کی حکمت عملی سے کام نہیں چلے گا صرف مشاورت سے کام چلےگاسب سے اہم بات شہباز صاحب ” گارنٹی” دے رہے ہیں نواز شریف قومی مفاہمت کی ہر کاوش کی حمایت کریں گے وہ نواز شریف کو قائل کرلیں گے چاہے پاؤں پکڑنے پڑیں pic.twitter.com/npZjrbx3nT
Kamran Khan asked Shehbaz about Maryam Nawaz’s active political role in the last few months. “Maryam has a right to be in politics; she is now a politician. Time is on her side. The awaam (people) will decide. I am telling you whether it is Hamza who spent 21 months in jail or someone else from other parties, they all have a right to enter politics and then the people will decide.
“Time is on Maryam’s side, time is on Hamza’s side. They need grooming. Maryam’s father, who is a statesman, will groom her. I will groom her as her uncle from my experience. We need to alleviate poverty, eliminate unemployment. This is our agenda. If we cannot follow this agenda, then politics means nothing.”
بڑی مہارت سے شہباز شریف صاحب نے مریم نواز ساتھ ساتھ جمزہ شہباز کو مشورہ دیا یاد رکھیں ابھی انکا وقت نہیں آگے انکا وقت آسکتا ہے ابھی انہیں تربیت کی ضرورت ہے ابھی انکے والدین موجود ہیں لیڈرشپ رول انکے پاس ہے گویا ابھی انتظار کریں pic.twitter.com/y8dru3jLee
“Chaudhry Nisar was not my friend; he was Nawaz Sharif’s friend. Whether you like it or not, I have always inherited his [Nawaz’s] legacy. Whether it’s Chaudhry Nisar or Khawaja Asif or Khawaja Hamid or anyone else. Chaudhry Nisar was initially against me, then he became a close friend of mine. Unfortunately, this 30-year-old friendship ended on a bad note. I won’t go into the details. When my mother passed away, I met him when he came for her fateha (prayers). Taking oath is Chaudhry Nisar’s own decision; he did not consult me. He did not directly consult me on this.”
چوہدری نثار کے حوالے سے بلاوجہ قلابیں ملائیں گئی حالانکہ جب شہباز شریف ہی چوہدری نثار علی خان سے کنارہ کشی بلکہ لا تعلقی کی گفتگو کریں تو واضح ہے چویدری نثار کا ن لیگی تعلق حتمی انجام کو پہنچ گیا pic.twitter.com/6xfAU9Jg8z
Shehbaz Sharif said that without electoral reforms, no one can take a step forward. However, he said this does not mean that electronic voting machines are the answer. “Who are they trying to befool? We all want to give the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis. But in the garb of providing them the right to vote through electronic voting machines, we cannot have an RTS again.”
Summary of the interview
Shehbaz Sharif said that unity and a consultative process is needed and Parliament is the forum where this can be done. “We need a middle way for national reconciliation, consultative process with all institutions. Unfortunately, Parliament has been locked by Imran Khan Niazi. We need meaningful, substantial consultation in parliament. He [PM Khan] hates me so much that he did not even mention my name or title in the letters addressed to me by the Prime Minister. I addressed him by his title and name but he responded without mentioning my name again. If he is only interested in what his pir (spiritual guide) will tell him on how to destroy the Opposition, if this is his only priority, then what can I say?”
مجھے یقین ہے شہباز شریف انٹرویو کے سیاسی منظرنامے پر دورس خوشگوار اثرات رونما ہوں گےتوجہ سے سنیں: میں نے شہباز شریف سے زور دیکر قومی مفاہمتی منصوبہ اور نواز شریف شمولیت کی دو ٹوک وضاحت حاصل کی معنی خیز لگا دوران گفتگو انہوں نے نواز شریف صاحب کے لئے جنرل باجوہ کے جذبات کا زکر کیا pic.twitter.com/r8h3vfa5L4
