Tag: PMLN

  • ‘Insaaf ka nizam aik hota hai, mumkin nahi ke Nawaz ke liye dusra nizam hai, Imran ke liye dusra’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    ‘Insaaf ka nizam aik hota hai, mumkin nahi ke Nawaz ke liye dusra nizam hai, Imran ke liye dusra’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader talked about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s disqualification on October 21.

    Discussing the topic on Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath‘, Abbasi said: “The one who accused others of corruption has been proven corrupt himself. It is a test for the Supreme Court now. Let’s see what it decides “

    He said that it is clear that Imran Khan was found involved in corrupt practices. Abbasi was of the view that it is inappropriate to be happy about making false statements and concealing facts while being the prime minister.

    During the show, he stressed on the fact that Khan’s Toshakhana case is far more legitimate than Nawaz Sharif’s case on the basis of which the three-times former Prime Minister was disqualified for life.

    Recalling his party chief’s disqualification, Khaqan Abbasi said, “Supreme Court (SC) deposed a prime minister and disqualified Sharif for lifetime on minor charges as compared to Khan’s Toshakhana matter.”

    When asked about the seeming recent change of heart in the SC about disqualifying a politician for life, the PML-N leader responded: “Insaaf ka nizam aik hota hai, mumkin nahi ke Nawaz ke liye dusra nizam hai, Imran ke liye dusra.” (Justice is the same for all. It is not possible that the justice system is different for Khan and different for Sharig. Law should be the same for all.”

    While talking about PTI’s planned long march, he criticised Imran Khan, accusing him of destabilising the country for his own sake.

    On October 21, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a consensus verdict in the Toshakhana reference, disqualified Imran Khan and ruled that he is no longer a member of the National Assembly. The Election Commission also directed criminal proceedings to be initiated against Imran for misdeclaration.

    The ECP ruled that Imran Khan submitted a false affidavit and was involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).

  • No decision has been reached so far on COAS appointment: Khawaja Asif

    No decision has been reached so far on COAS appointment: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has revealed that no decision has been reached by the federal government yet about the appointment of a new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

    According to the defence minister, the selection process for the new army chief will likely begin within the next five to seven days.

    Talking in Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, the minister said five names will be forwarded and then Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will pick one of those names. He was of the view that the appointment is quite a simple method as this exercise has been conducted several times in the past too.

    The appointment for the COAS position is due to take place in November.

    About the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned long march, the federal minister said that the government will not be blackmailed by the PTI if the party comes to Islamabad.

    The minister also said that no negotiations have taken place with PTI. “A couple of meetings took place because of Imran’s old acquaintances”, he added.

    On the contrary, Khan has claimed that negotiations were indeed held. He also warned the government to give a date for early general elections or else he will announce a date for the long march within the current month.

    Discussing the recent by-elections held on the past Sunday, Asif said that if Khan had let his party candidates run from their respective constituencies instead of contesting himself, the results would have been different.

    During the show, he also hinted towards keeping the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance in place in the next elections.

  • US officials take notice Ishaq Dar’s heckling incident at airport

    The Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan said that United States (US) officials had taken notice of an incident in which Finance Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar was heckled at the Dulles International Airport in Washington DC.

    FO Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad recalled the time when Saudi authorities raised the issue when the government delegation was targeted by certain individuals during the visit.

    On Thursday, Dar was harassed at the airport and people can be heard chanting “chor”. This was followed by an exchange of abusive words from both sides.

    Dar is currently in the US on a four-day visit to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

    It is pertinent to mention that this is not the first time that a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader has been harassed.

    Prior to this incident, Minister of Information Marriyum Aurangzeb was heckled and harassed by a group of PML-N’s political opponents in London while she was in a coffee shop.

    In July, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal was harassed by a group of PTI supporters when he went to a restaurant in Pakistan.

  • Man threatens to murder Maryam Nawaz if Khan gets arrested

    Man threatens to murder Maryam Nawaz if Khan gets arrested

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Talal Chaudhry posted a video on his Twitter handle in which a man can be heard giving threatening remarks about the PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz who is currently in London.

    He said that he has told his family that he would murder Maryam if Khan was illegally arrested.

    The man said that he would prefer to remain a worker and did not want any post in the party. However, he said that he would not like anything illegal done to Imran Khan.

    Surprisingly, when the man was passing these remarks, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri was sitting there, smiling.

    Talal Chaudhry took to Twitter to blame Khan for the threats. “After losing by-elections in NA-108, where Imran Khan himself was a candidate, they are issuing threats now.”

    Chaudhry also urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and police to take action against the threats.

  • ‘Jab yeh long march ke liye aayeinge, iss ko pakar kar ulta kardeinge’: Rana Sanaullah warns Imran Khan

    ‘Jab yeh long march ke liye aayeinge, iss ko pakar kar ulta kardeinge’: Rana Sanaullah warns Imran Khan

    Federal Minister for Interior, Rana Sanaullah, has warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan about his party’s long march, saying, “Jab yeh long march ke liye aayeinge [Islamabad], iss ko pakar kar ulta kardeinge” (We will hang Khan upside down if he takes his long march into Islamabad).

    In Geo News’ programme “Capital Talk”, the minister replied to remarks made by Imran Khan himself. Earlier, Khan said even if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Sanaullah turn upside down, they wouldn’t be able to stop the long march.

    The federal minister also said that there is a possibility of Khan and other party leaders being arrested during the long march.

    During the show, Sanaullah claimed that Khan doesn’t know about the steps the government would take.

    Despite repeating that the nation should remain ready for the march, Imran Khan hasn’t announced the date yet, claiming that he has completed the planning.

    When asked about PTI’s Senator Azam Swati’s arrest, the federal minister justified the incarceration, saying that Azam’s tweet tried to defame institutions and the tweet was objectionable.

    On October 12, Swati tweeted against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Following this, he was arrested in the early hours of the morning by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

  • ‘Inshallah,’ says Nawaz Sharif when asked about becoming PM for the fourth time

    ‘Inshallah,’ says Nawaz Sharif when asked about becoming PM for the fourth time

    Former Prime Minister (PM) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif’s pre-recorded press conference with his daughter PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was released on Sunday.

    During the interview, when Sharif was asked about the possibility of becoming PM of Pakistan for the fourth time, he smilingly said, “Inshallah” (Hopefully).

    The former premier began the interview by narrating the whole incident of his wife’s [Kalsoom Nawaz] illness and then her death. He said that he and Maryam were both in jail when they got to know about his wife’s death in London.

    He said when his wife was on her deathbed, people made fun of it. He said that one time when he was in court, he was informed that his wife’s health had worsened.

    “I went back to the jail and asked the jail superintendent to give me the phone so I can contact my family but he didn’t allow it.”

    He revealed that after three hours, he was informed about his wife’s death. He then said the bearers of the news were on their way to inform his daughter [who was also in Kot Lakhpat]. “At that point, I said no, I will do it and when I told her, she was in shock,” Nawaz said.

    He added that such events “are never forgotten and this loss can never be repaired or forgotten”.

    ‘We were the ones to say absolutely not’: Nawaz Sharif

    Addressing Imran’s stance of “absolutely not” to US airbases, Nawaz said, “We were the ones to say absolutely not. They offered us $5 billion but we said absolutely not. We don’t want it,” he was referring to the nuclear tests conducted during his tenure.

    According to Nawaz, when he was in power, his government had brought economic prosperity, finished loadshedding, increased employment, and eliminated terrorism but Imran Khan ruined it all. He said that now there is inflation everywhere.

    “He [Imran Khan] has taken a U-turn with regard to everything. He claimed that he would prefer dying by suicide instead of striking a deal with the IMF,” Nawaz said.

    Taking a jibe at Khan, Nawaz said that during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) tenure foreign relations had also been affected.

    ‘Revenge, not a court’s decision’: Nawaz Sharif

    Moreover, he alleged that he was punished and disqualified for life by the Supreme Court (SC) but now lifetime disqualification is being criticised as “draconian” by SC judges.

    Nawaz questioned whether there was a “valid reason” for the decision. “Disqualified for life and removed from the PML-N presidency. This is revenge, not a court’s decision,” he added.

    Regarding the recent alleged audio leaks of Khan, Nawaz said that “the one who plotted has turned out to be the biggest conspirer”.

  • ‘Nawaz Sharif ka rasta ab saaf hai’: Maryam Nawaz hints at her father’s return

    ‘Nawaz Sharif ka rasta ab saaf hai’: Maryam Nawaz hints at her father’s return

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz hinted that her father, PML-N supremo and former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, might soon return to Pakistan.

    Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Maryam said, “Nawaz Sharif ka rasta ab saaf hai, sirf ab aik application deni hai court mei.” (The path to his return is clear now. All we have to do is submit an application in court.)

    The PML-N leader also revealed that now that she had received her passport, she would soon visit her father in London.

    “I am happy today that I have received my passport, but I would like to ask why I was deprived of my fundamental right for three years,” the PML-N leader asked.

    Taking a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Maryam told the judiciary that it should not be lenient with a person like him who thinks like “satan” and whose only job is to blame people and launch smear campaigns.

    The PML-N leader said Khan went to the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry to apologise as he was aware that if he didnt do it, then he could be disqualified.

    “Was Zeba asked whether she wants to forgive him or not? Do you [courts] know what kind of precedent are you setting?” she said.

    Maryam noted that since Khan has been forgiven, the contempt cases against PML-N party leaders Talal Chaudhry, Daniyal Aziz, and Nehal Hashmi should also be disposed of.

    Referring to the misplacement of US cipher allegedly linked to Khan’s ouster, Maryam said that she is “At a loss of words” at the PTI chairman’s carelessness.

    “This wasn’t a record of a diamond ring that you misplaced or the record of the dollars that you took in the foreign funding case. It was Pakistan’s property,” she lashed out.

  • Maryam Nawaz gets her passport back after three years

    Maryam Nawaz gets her passport back after three years

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz received her passport on Monday after Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered that the passport be returned to her.

    She had surrendered her passport three years ago in order to get bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills money laundering case.

    “Alhamdulillah, my passport has been returned”, Maryam said in a tweet.

    “Due to the fear of my jalsas (rallies), fitna kept me in NAB for three months and in death cell in Kot Lakhpat Jail for investigation, but the case has not been filed to date”, she added.

    A three-member bench of the LHC, headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Muhammad Ameer Bhatti and comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard the case on Monday (today). During the proceedings, Maryam’s counsel Muhammad Amjad Pervaiz argued that his client had been granted bail after she surrendered her passport in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills money laundering case but that despite the passage of a span of four years, no reference had been filed against her.

    Maryam, through her counsel, moved the fresh petition, arguing that in 2019, NAB had forced her to surrender her passport in this case, fearing that she would flee the country.

    Pervaiz also informed the court that the conviction in the Avenfield case could have caused difficulty in the return of her passport, but that the case has been closed.

    During the hearing, the federal government said that they have no objection to the plea. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor also said that his organisation has no objection to it. He added that they did not know whether the case came under their jurisdiction or not after the new amendments to NAB’s law.

    Last month, Maryam approached the court to get her passport released. She stated that she was unable to exercise her fundamental rights for the last four years despite the absence of any charge sheet or trial, as she had surrendered her passport in accordance with the court’s order when she was arrested in 2019.

    The case:

    As per details of Chaudhry Sugar Mill’s money-laundering investigation, NAB in January 2018 received a Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) report describing suspicious transactions of billions of rupees under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

    After receiving the FMU report, NAB started an inquiry in October 2018 and found that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, the incumbent PM Shehbaz Sharif, Abbas Sharif and family were shareholders in the company, along with foreigners from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Kingdom (UK).

    A probe revealed that investments in Chaudhry Sugar Mills from 2001 to 2017 worth billions of rupees were made under the guise of issuing shares for foreigners.

    Interestingly, later on, the same shares of the company were transferred back to Maryam, Hussain, and Nawaz Sharif on various occasions without any money paid to the said foreign business partners.

  • Rs16 billion money laundering case: PM Shehbaz appears before court, terms case as ‘fake’

    Rs16 billion money laundering case: PM Shehbaz appears before court, terms case as ‘fake’

    A special court in Lahore adjourned the hearing till October 8 in a Rs16 billion money laundering case filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Hamza Shehbaz.

    The court also directed the lawyer to submit additional details on the acquittal plea by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.

    In the hearing which took place on Friday (today), PM’s son Hamza Shehbaz did not appear before the court as he had sought exemption on medical grounds. However, PM Shehbaz appeared before the court but later sought exemption as he had “important” matters to attend to.

    PM’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz told the court that the first information report (FIR) registered against his clients mentioned they were involved in money laundering worth Rs25 billion from 2008-2018 through fake companies. However, he said, “During this 10-year span, PM Shehbaz was neither the director nor a shareholder of those companies.”

    PM Shehbaz also spoke before the court, stating that the money laundering case against him is “fake”.

    He claimed that when he was Chief Minister (CM) for 20 years he had made decisions that “hurt” his family’s sugar business. “I was requested to provide subsidy to sugar mills, but I refused. I refused as the amount (that would be used for subsidy) belonged to the poor people in Punjab,” he declared to the court.

    Later, he sought an exemption from the court which was granted to him. After Shehbaz left, the court went on a break.

    Once the hearing resumed, the lawyer presented his arguments again. Then, the court adjourned the hearing till October 8 and asked him to continue deliberations at the next hearing.

    In 2021, the FIA submitted a challan against Shehbaz and Hamza to the special court for their alleged involvement in laundering Rs16 billion in a sugar scam.

    The report added that the amount was kept in “hidden accounts” and “given to Shehbaz in a personal capacity”.

    At the time, FIA had said that the amount of Rs16 billion has nothing to do with the sugar business of Shehbaz’s family. The money allegedly received from the accounts of low-wage employees was transferred outside Pakistan, ultimately destined for the beneficial use of his family members.

  • ‘Agar PM house ko secure karna hai, toh mobile phones ko band karna hoga’: Khurram Dastgir

    ‘Agar PM house ko secure karna hai, toh mobile phones ko band karna hoga’: Khurram Dastgir

    Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that “Agar PM house ko secure karna hai, toh mobile phones ko band karna hoga.” (If one wants to secure the Prime Minister’s (PM) house, the use of mobile phones should not be permitted within the premises.)

    The minister’s remarks came after several audio leaks allegedly of PM Shehbaz Sharif have surfaced on the internet.

    Dastagir was of the view that “These security necessities are important as high-level talks take place at the PM office”, adding that that’s why “we need to secure it”.

    About his fellow party member Senator Ishaq Dar, Dastgir said, “Dar has remained finance minister twice in emergency situations. We hope that nation will benefit from his vast experience.”

    Dar took oath as a senator today (Tuesday) and will take over the finance ministry tomorrow.

    After the audio leaks surfaced online, the federal government constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the data hack.

    An investigation has been initiated to probe the leak from the PM House, with one member each in the JIT to be included from the country’s intelligence agencies.

    The premier also called a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Wednesday, September 27, to discuss the matter.

    On Saturday, September 24, alleged audios of PM Shehbaz and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including some federal ministers and Vice-President PML-N Maryam Nawaz, appeared online.