Tag: politics latest

  • May 9 riots: Pakistan to ask relevant foreign governments to hand over culprits

    Foreign nationals involved in “instigation, glorification and support (physical, moral and financial)” of the incidents of May 9 will be investigated, the government has decided on Thursday, Geo news has reported.

    As per Geo’s sources, the government has collected relevant data of more than 500 Pakistanis. “Their call records, social media activity, travel history, financial transactions, immigration status and other relevant data has been analysed.”

    Reportedly, the expats are mostly from the UK, Europe and the US.

    The people involved will be investigated upon arriving in Pakistan. “Moreover, the government shall initiate criminal proceedings against all those involved, and the relevant foreign governments will be contacted for handing over the culprits.”

    Their legal status in host countries, mode of entry and pending dual nationality applications shall also be made part of the proceedings.

  • ‘No new military courts’: Khawaja Asif says govt is not snatching anyone’s basic rights

    ‘No new military courts’: Khawaja Asif says govt is not snatching anyone’s basic rights

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said on Sunday that there no new military courts are being established.

    “No new military courts are being established. Law is already present at this time. Courts are present and they have been working for the past 75 years continuously,” said the minister while talking to media in Sialkot.

    He further said that cases would be pursued against individuals whose “footage, faces and identity is showing that they are attacking military installations”, adding that the government was not “snatching anyone’s basic rights”.

    Khawaja termed May 09 protests as “an attack on Pakistan’s integrity and existence”.

    On May 09, supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took to the streets after party Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from Islamabad High Court. In the ensuing riots, many military and government installations sustained damage, most notably, Jinnah House, the residence of Corp Commander Lahore.

  • Bilawal advises PTI to end violent protests

    Bilawal advises PTI to end violent protests

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said on Thursday that one attack on General Headquarters of the Army (GHQ) was carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and now another one has been carried out by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Addressing a press conference, the Foreign Minister referred to violent acts of PTI workers, pointing out that this is not the first time that they have violated the law. “I had warned earlier that you people are creating Altaf Hussain in Punjab,” said Bilawal.

    He continued by adding that Imran Khan believes that he can cross every red line and the law is only applicable on others.

    The PPP head advised PTI to not make “matters worse [and] call for an end to violent protests and declare that you will abide by the rule of law and Constitution.”

    Bilawal said that he is principally against banning any political party but said that “such decisions are made in view of the circumstances”.
    If such a decision is taken, he continued, “it would be taken because there would be no other choice left.”

    PM’s address to the nation:

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in an address to the nation on Thursday termed damaging public property an “act of terrorism” and “enmity” towards the country.

    In a short address, the premier said that he would like to warn “terrorists” who are harming the country to stop, otherwise strict actions will be taken against them.

    Sharif was referring to PTI supporters who are protesting against the arrest of party head Imran Khan.

    PM also recalled his party members’ arrests, adding that “revengeful acts in politics never renders good results”.

    He also added that “all evidence” has been accumulated in the Al-Qadir Trust case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who is now under NAB custody for the next eight days.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Asia Cup in Pakistan or not: Next 48 hours crucial
    
			
    Asia Cup in Pakistan or not: Next 48 hours crucial
    
			
    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi is in Dubai for a crucial meeting with Jay Shah, the President of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and also secretary for Board of Control for cricket in India (BCCI).
    

    Jay Shah has continuously threatened PCB that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023 and force Pakistan to step back from hosting the tournament.
    

    Pakistan has declared its stance loudly and clearly for everyone that if Pakistan is forced to back off from hosting Asia Cup, warning that if anyone tries to take away Pakistan’s rights, the country will boycott Asia Cup and will also not travel to India for the upcoming World Cup.
    

    Najam Sethi also proposed a hybrid model for India, suggesting that they can play their matches at another venue but it’s Pakistan’s right as host to decide where those matches will be played.
    

    Star Sports’ owner is also attending the meeting.
    

    It is clear that no other team will give the kind of revenue an India Vs Pakistan match can produce. Star Sports has a contract with ACC from 2016 to 2023 under which they paid 50 million USD.
    

    Indian Media has reported that BCCI is planning to organized its own five nation Asia Cup in which they will exclude Pakistan but broadcasters are not ready for this.
    

    Earlier Indian media ran fake news that Asia Cup has been shifted to Sri lanka but Sri Lankan media denied Indian media reports.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    President Alvi’s cryptic tweet says he’s disappointed watching TV
    
			
    President Alvi’s cryptic tweet says he’s disappointed watching TV
    
			
    President Dr Arif Alvi has posted a cryptic tweet on Wednesday, stating that he is disappointed while watching TV where he sees the eagerness of friends seeking “filth” in each other.
    

    “Watching TV I am disappointed to see the eagerness of friends seeking only filth in each others souls as if that is the shortest route to salvation.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The tweet further said that watching such things reminded him of the words of Shams Tabrizi and wrote, “Real filth is the one inside. The rest simply washes off. That which cannot be cleaned even with pure waters is the stain of hatred & bigotry contaminating the soul. You can purify your body through abstinence & fasting, but only love & forgiveness will purify your heart” Lets pray to Allah to help us do it.”
    

    It is unclear which friend the President was referring to.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    PM Shehbaz convenes allies’ meeting today on talks with PTI
    
			
    PM Shehbaz convenes allies’ meeting today on talks with PTI
    
			
    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has summoned a meeting of the ruling alliance today (Wednesday) before negotiations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on the Supreme Court’s (SC) directions.
    

    According to news reports, the meeting of the ruling alliance will be held at the Prime Minister’s House at 12:30 pm.
    

    Almost all parties in the ruling coalition have shown an inclination to end the political impasse by entering into negotiations with the PTI, but according to Dawn, Jamat-e-Ulema Islami- Fazl (JUI-F) continues to oppose the move.
    

    Geo News claims that the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leadership has asked former speaker Ayaz Sadiq to contact PTI’s Asad Qaiser and both have agreed to meet today. However, PTI chief Imran Khan has clearly stated that the mandate for negotiations rests with Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
    

    On April 20, the SC adjourned the hearing of the petition till April 27 after the key ruling parties —PPP and PML-N — had assured the Supreme Court they would sit with the PTI on April 26 and try to find a solution on the election date.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Gen Bajwa advised me to dissolve assemblies: Khan
    
			
    Gen Bajwa advised me to dissolve assemblies: Khan
    
			
    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has admitted that he dissolved the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on advice from former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.
    

    “In a meeting with General Bajwa held in the presence of President Dr Arif Alvi, he [Gen Bajwa] said that if you want elections, dissolve your governments,” said Khan while talking on ARY News programme, ‘Sawal Yeh Hai’.
    

    Khan had earlier made multiple accusations against the former army chief, including the allegation that he had conspired to remove PTI government at the center.
    

    The former prime minister further said, “General Bajwa and the [premier intelligence] agency knew that the current rulers had stolen the money from the national kitty and taken it abroad. Despite knowing this, General Bajwa was willing to give them NRO as he had planned an extension [for himself].”
    

    “If you have an ideology, you can’t convince yourself to give NRO to these people,” added Khan.
    

    He also revealed that a leader from the Middle East had told him a year ago that Bajwa was not supporting him any longer.
    

    Khan went on to say that they [coalition government] are running away from elections.
    

    During the interview, Imran Khan also suggested that polls can take place in July if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dissolves the National Assembly — the lower house of parliament.
    

    “Elections can be held in July if the prime minister dissolves the assembly,” the ousted premier said.
    

    He also stressed that caretaker governments in both Punjab and KP — the provinces where Khan’s party was in power before he decided to dissolve its two assemblies on January 14 and 18, respectively — are illegal after the lapse of their stipulated term.
    

    “The caretaker government’s tenure is over already, it has become illegal,” the deposed premier said. He demanded the caretaker government be abolished and a new “neutral” interim setup be instated.
    

    He added that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has given May 14 as the date for Punjab polls and his party won’t let the government extend polling day beyond that.
    

    “If they think they [incumbent government] will pressurise the Supreme Court, we will not let it happen. They will create scandals about the top court to run away from elections,” he said.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Fear of operation at Zaman Park: Bushra Bibi writes letter to PM Shehbaz and interim CM Naqvi
    
			
    Former First Lady Bushra Bibi has written a letter to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and interim Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi.
    

    It is being reported that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s wife has sent the letter through her lawyers to the premier and caretaker CM due to fear of a government operation in Zaman Park on Eid.
    

    The letter states that a court order has been issued in the matter of the government conducting an operation at Imran’s Lahore residence. It further adds that a plan has been hatched to misinterpret the court order, while reminding the recipients that an operation has been conducted in the past despite court orders. The document warns that if an operation takes place in Zaman Park on Eid, then higher courts will be approached.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Judiciary cannot re-write Constitution’; PM Shehbaz remains defiant
    
			
    ‘Judiciary cannot re-write Constitution’; PM Shehbaz remains defiant
    
			
    A defiant Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the judiciary can only interpret the law, but cannot re-write it.
    

    “There is no example in the world where the parliament’s law — which has not even come into existence right now and has not taken its applicable shape — was subjected to a stay order,” said PM Shehbaz while addressing the launch ceremony of the constitution’s mobile app in Islamabad.
    

    “The Constitution has taken birth from the cradle of the parliament. The judiciary can interpret the Constitution — that is their right — but the judiciary cannot rewrite the Constitution,” said the Premier as his government faces off with the Supreme Court.
    

    “This (rewriting Constitution) is only the parliament’s authority,” he added, warning that the “parliament will use its constitutional and legal rights on this” matter.
    

    Shehbaz said the country was “standing at crossroads today” and that politicians, including him, had committed numerous mistakes.
    

    “The ones who stand above others are those who move forward after learning from their mistakes and subordinate themselves to the national interest for the nation’s supreme aim,” he said.
    

    The prime minister said the government was “working day and night to improve Pakistan’s difficult conditions and will keep doing so”.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Boycott? PML-N decides not to give tickets for Punjab election
    
			
    Boycott? PML-N decides not to give tickets for Punjab election
    
			
    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided not to issue tickets to any candidate for the general elections in Punjab.
    

    According to news reports, PML-N leadership has decided that the nomination papers of the party candidates will not be withdrawn for now. The party will give tickets after the Supreme Court gives its verdict. For now, it has been decided not to issue party tickets till the court decision is announced.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    It is also reported that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif will decide whether his party will participate in the upcoming elections or not.
    

    In the light of the court decision, there is a possibility of calling an important consultative meeting after Eid ul Fitr.
    

    According to the election schedule, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has to allot party symbols to the candidates today.