Tag: politics latest

  • JI announces protest against inflated electricity bills

    JI announces protest against inflated electricity bills

    The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) announced on Saturday that it would stage a protest against the exorbitant electricity bills.

    Addressing a seminar in Lahore, JI Ameer Sirajul Haq lashed out at political opponents and the caretaker government, saying, “The caretaker government is following the footsteps of the previous governments in terms of taking wrong decisions for the sake of the country.”

    “The power bills have increased three times within one month. People have been compelled to commit suicide due to the ballooning inflation. The electricity bill of at least Rs50,000 has been sent to every house,” said Mr Haq.

    He made it clear that the JI would stage a protest outside of the power distribution companies.

    Earlier, interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that that he has summoned an emergency meeting over the price of electricity and consumers’ inflated bills, adding that he will hold consultations to provide maximum relief to power consumers.

    The prime minister has directed the Ministry of Energy and power distributions companies to present him with a detailed briefing over the issue.

  • PPP hints at legal action if elections are delayed

    Reiterating their call for general elections within 90 days, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has reinforced on Friday that it agreed to endorse the digital census results at the Council of Common Interests (CCI) only after receiving assurances that the action wouldn’t hinder the timely conduct of elections. The move, however, is now being exploited as a pretext to delay the polls. 

    Hinting at the possibility of pursuing “legal course” to uphold their principled stance, PPP leader Nayyar Bukhari said that if the party’s attempt to convince the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to meet the constitutionally mandated 90-day deadline, during the meeting scheduled for August 29, remains unsuccessful, the next central executive committee meeting in Lahore in September would unveil their final strategy.

    Speaking at a press conference alongside fellow party members at Bilawal House after the CEC meeting, PPP leaders adopted a more assertive tone in response to the ECP’s recent announcement. The ECP stated that the process of revising the delimitation of national and provincial assembly constituencies would conclude by December 14, extending beyond the constitutionally set deadline for conducting general elections.

    Sindh’s former chief minister Murad Ali Shah said that his party does not want elections to be postponed due to new delimitations. “Our aim is that the elections should be held on time. This census does not require fresh delimitations,” he added. 

    The digital census, he said, was controversial, adding that the Constitution does not say to conduct fresh delimitations after the census.

  • Judge Humayun Dilawar made OSD at IHC after citing threats to family

    Judge Humayun Dilawar made OSD at IHC after citing threats to family

    Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar, who convicted PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan, giving him a three-year jail term in the Toshakhana case, was made an officer on special duty (OSD) on Friday.

    As per the notification, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq appointed ADSJ Dilawar as an OSD against a “newly-created post” at the high court.

    The notification issued by the Islamabad High Court additional registrar, Ijaz Ahmed, also states “The honourable chief justice of this court has been pleased to make following transfer/posting of ADSJ working in the Islamabad Judicial Service, in the public interest.” 

    The transfer came about after ADSJ Dilawar wrote to the IHC on August 17, asking for a transfer. In his letter, the judge stated his concerns regarding protests by PTI’s lawyers in his courtroom, the trolling he faced on social media and a campaign against him during his training at the University of Hull, UK.

    In an application to the IHC registrar the ADSJ said: “I take the honour to submit that the undersigned has recently rendered a judgment in criminal Complaint under section 190 of Election Act 2017 in respect of offences under sections 167 and 173 Of the Election Act 2017 along with all other enabling provisions of Law, titling District Election commissioner Islamabad Versus Imran Ahmad Niazi, convicted the accused who is the chairman of a political party.”

    The judge said that during the trial and particularly after passing the judgment, a campaign on social media was launched against him leading to serious threats from different people across the world. 

    “My children are also facing hardship in moving to school and facing an unpleasant situation,” he said, adding that an organised social media campaign was orchestrated against him and his family. 

    “Similarly, during a recent visit of the undersigned to the UK to attend Training at the University of Hull, the undersigned and other judicial officers had to undergo displeasing episodes.” 

    In view of the situation, the judge requested the relevant authority that he may be transferred to any other place.

  • Nawaz Sharif finalises date for return to Pakistan

    Nawaz Sharif finalises date for return to Pakistan

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is likely to return to Pakistan on October 15 this year as per family discussions, according to reliable sources as reported by Murtaza Ali Shah for Geo News.

    The matter of the date was discussed between Nawaz, Shehbaz Sharif and close family members in London.

    Earlier, it was reported that Nawaz will return to Pakistan by mid-September; however, the party’s plans changed in the last few days after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that elections will not take place within 90 days.

    Sources told Geo that Nawaz’s return has been delayed till mid-October, not because of the ECP announcement but over the advice of party loyalists that September is too hot and for large-scale political gatherings, making mid-October a better time for return.

    The decision to return around mid-October was taken after Shehbaz held two meetings with the PML-N supremo in London.

    “It’s the severity of weather that is being kept in mind in deciding the return date of Nawaz Sharif. There could be a further change but for now, the date of 15th October is final, and further discussions will take place around it,” said the trusted source.

  • ‘Weakened arm muscles’; Bushra Bibi requests court to ensure Imran’s safety in jail

    ‘Weakened arm muscles’; Bushra Bibi requests court to ensure Imran’s safety in jail

    Bushra Bibi, the wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday, requesting the court to address the conditions in which her husband is incarcerated in at Attock Jail.

    After meeting with her husband on August 22, Bushra Bibi submitted the affidavit to the court through advocate Hamid Khan.

    In her affidavit, she raised questions about Imran Khan’s health, stating that there are evident signs of drastic weight loss and weakened arm muscles.

    She also expressed concerns that her husband’s life is at risk because of his age of 70, requesting immediate action to ensure Imran Khan’s safety.

  • Who is Shoaib and why is Governor Sindh promoting him?

    Who is Shoaib and why is Governor Sindh promoting him?

    Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori was recently seen in a video talking about, of all the things, his new haircut. The background music and his facial expressions might seem a bit serious but he flaunts his hair cut and style with panache while recommending Shoaib Salon.

    It made us wonder, who Is SHOAIB?

    His Facebook page states that he is a “renowned Stylist & Hair Dresser” who is based in Karachi and has “experience of 12 years.” I rather enjoyed his Instagram profile bio more which says, “Playing with fire and scissors.”

    Shoaib’s timeline is filled with pictures of Pakistani celebrities, his salon and him at work for Express News’s program transmission but what we found fascinating was this BTS video of Kamran Tessori getting ready.

    Not only Mr. Governor, but his son, Zahid Khan Tessori, also loves the salon and you’ll get a special 20 percent discount if you go and take his name.

    Shoaib has also gotten a picture framed with Kamran Tessori for his salon.

  • ECP assures PTI, JUI-F of conducting timely elections

    ECP assures PTI, JUI-F of conducting timely elections

    According to a report in Geo News, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) assured delegations of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) of conducting general elections as early as possible.

    ECP’s assurances came after consultations with the representatives of PTI and JUI-F.

    The discussions were part of ECP’s deliberations with major political parties on electoral matters such as delimitations, conducting the polls, and other related issues.

    According to ECP’s Media Wing, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja stressed that transparency in the upcoming general elections is necessary.

    Members of the election commission, the secretary and senior officials were present in the meeting. The PTI delegation joined the meeting at 2 pm, however, JUI-F attended the meeting at 3 pm to discuss election roadmaps.

    PTI delegation stressed the need to conduct the election within 90 days, as per the constitution. The PTI delegation also demanded equal political opportunities for the party.

  • President invites CEC to announce dates for general elections

    President invites CEC to announce dates for general elections

    According to recent reports, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja will not meet President Dr. Arif Alvi for discussion on fixing the date for general elections. After a recent amendment to existing laws, fixing the date for the election is at the discretion of the ECP.

    Reliable sources in ECP told The News that the CEC called a meeting of the commission to talk to its members about the matter of fixing the date before taking a formal position. It is not the ECP’s responsibility, according to the law, to consult with the president on this matter. “The law is very clear about it. The President has cited the wrong article for this purpose.”

    President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, has invited Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, for a meeting on August 23 or 24, to fix an appropriate date for holding the general elections.

    The letter, written to Mr. Raja by Dr. Alvi, states that the constitution requires the president to decide a date for general elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA).

    The letter was shared on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the president. It noted that the national assembly was dissolved by the president on August 9th, as per the instructions given by the Prime Minister.

    And “by virtue of Article 48(5) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the president is obliged to appoint a date not later than 90 days from the date of dissolution for the holding of general elections of [the] assembly”, the letter read.

    READ MORE:  Elections not possible before May 2024,’ says former ECP secretary

  • ATC allows Lahore Police to arrest Imran Khan in Jinnah House case

    ATC allows Lahore Police to arrest Imran Khan in Jinnah House case

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has allowed Lahore police to interrogate and arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Jinnah House attack case.

    Imran Khan is already in Attock district jail to serve a three-year sentence in the Tosha Khana case.

    After Imran Khan was arrested on May 9 in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, protests started across the country, with violent clashes between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters and law enforcement agencies. Eight people died in the riots, while several others were injured. The rioting led to the ransacking of several state buildings and installations, including Jinnah House in Lahore and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

    Protesters accused of attacking military installations will be tried under the Army Act.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP) requested permission in an application to ATC to interrogate and arrest Imran Khan in the case pertaining to May 9 riots. On Wednesday, ATC Lahore approved the application submitted by the IGP.

  • JIT to conduct forensic test of audios linked with Bushra Bibi

    JIT to conduct forensic test of audios linked with Bushra Bibi

    The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has decided to test two audios alleged to feature the voice of former first lady Bushra Bibi, in the ToshaKhana case. On Tuesday, the JIT decided to conduct a forensic test of audios as during the investigation, Bushra Bibi has denied that it was her voice.

    The JIT is currently investigating the ToshaKhana case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.

    In Bushra Bibi’s recent appearance before the JIT, two audio clips were played for her. After hearing the audio clips, she said that the voice was not her’s.

    In one of the recordings, she is allegedly heard reprimanding someone for taking pictures of the things being brought from Toshakhana to Banigala House. In the second recording, she is talking to the then assistant to the prime minister, Zulfi Bukhari, about the watch at the center of the case, gifted by Saudi Arabia to Imran Khan when he was Prime Minister.

    These audios went viral on social media platforms, igniting a conversation about how involved Bushra Bibi was in the matter.

    It should be noted that Bushra Bibi appeared before the JIT on August 15 and was questioned for 20 minutes. She responded to each of the 20 questions asked by the JIT.