Tag: politics latest

  • PPP leader Saeed Ghani terms Punjab govt’s relief in bills a ‘political stunt’

    PPP leader Saeed Ghani terms Punjab govt’s relief in bills a ‘political stunt’

    Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani mocked the Punjab government’s recent move to give relief to the masses by reducing electricity prices for just two months, terming it a “political stunt.”

    He said this in response to Punjab’s government’s decision to provide relief to the public by rescuing Rs 14 per unit on electricity bills for two months (August and September).

    Ghani remarked that it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide people with cost-efficient electricity, saying, “Rs 45 billion are being expended for relief for two months only, while scores of relief works could be done with that Rs 45 billion.”

    “The question is what will happen after two months. The consumers will be paying the same [high] prices,” the PPP leader stated.

    Interestingly, Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori asked Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Sunday to announce a Punjab government-like relief in electricity bills.

  • ‘Faiz was more Bajwa’s man than PTI’s’: Sher Afzal Marwat

    ‘Faiz was more Bajwa’s man than PTI’s’: Sher Afzal Marwat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has said that former spymaster General Faiz Hameed had harmed the party more than any good he did for it.

    Talking on Shahzeb Khanzada’s talk show on Geo News, Marwat said, ‘’Faiz Hameed’s role as DG Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) was to harass political opposition, prepare cases against them, put them behind bars and send references against incumbent Chief Justice Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa on Gen Bajwa’s decision.”

    ‘’Faiz was more Bajwa man than PTI and was working for his own benefit,’’ Marwat stated
    While talking about militants resettling in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Marwat claimed. ‘’it was not Imran Khan’s decision alone but the parliament’s, but setting them free after rehabilitation was a mistake.”

    ‘’We will show the High Court’s permission if the police file a case against them after the August 22 power show,’’ he concluded

  • Former officer suspected of killing Ali Raza Abidi was close to Gen Faiz: Absar Alam

    Former officer suspected of killing Ali Raza Abidi was close to Gen Faiz: Absar Alam

    Journalist Absar Alam has revealed in the Samaa Podcasts series that a retired officer who is allegedly suspected of being involved in the assassination of ex-MQM leader Syed Ali Raza Abidi in 2018 was very close to former spymaster Gen Faiz Hameed.

    “Many orders were given to kill people; some were executed while some escaped. The details will emerge with time, whether these orders were given by Imran Khan or his boss [Gen Bajwa] or if he followed his own whims,” alleged Absar Alam.

    In 2018, Syed Ali Raza Abidi was shot dead in Karachi’s DHA when two unknown men riding a bike opened fire on Abidi’s car near his home.

    MQM at that time called it a “coldblooded assassination” that was “part of a crackdown on the party by Pakistan’s military establishment.”

    Absar opined that the details coming to light depends upon whether Faiz cab prove if he was given orders and by whom to conduct these activities.

  • Gen. Faiz, former Chief Justice Saqib Nasir were in contact with each other in the past, claims Ansar Abbasi

    Gen. Faiz, former Chief Justice Saqib Nasir were in contact with each other in the past, claims Ansar Abbasi

    Journalist Ansar Abbasi has claimed in his op-ed today that official investigations have confirmed that former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and ex-ISI Chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed were in contact with each other, however, the nature of the connection is unclear.

    Ansar revealed that authorities have gathered some evidence against the former CJP, but contrary to social media rumours, his sources did not indicate that he would be arrested.

    Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar addressed a press conference on Saturday, in which he stated, “Whether it is Saqib or Nisar, the scope of the investigation will be widened due to what has come out after General Faiz’s arrest.”

    Recently, social media was abuzz with speculation that former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar had fled to London and may be arrested in connection with the wider inquiry.

    However, earlier, Saqib Nisar dismissed all rumours that he left the country due to Faiz’s recent arrest and confirmed that he is in London on a planned leave.

  • Khan’s government was the first to recommend a firewall in 2020

    Khan’s government was the first to recommend a firewall in 2020

    The decision to implement a firewall system was taken by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government in a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on October 22, 2020, Samaa has reported.

    A letter to the Secretary of Information Technology (IT) revealed that the government was preparing to install a national firewall system and make a new chat application like ‘We Chat’ based on the Prime Minister’s decision.

    A letter to the Ministry of Information advised to send the case to the relevant authority to approve national firewall installation.

    ‘’Submit a timeline and progress report on the order of the Prime Minister, and recommendation of other parties should also be presented for its implementation’’ the letter stated.

  • PTI is a foreign-funded party: Attaullah Tarar

    PTI is a foreign-funded party: Attaullah Tarar

    Federal Minister for Broadcasting and Information Ataullah Tarar has said in a press conference that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Raouf Hassan’s conversation with an Indian journalist has revealed the party’s anti-state agenda.
    ‘’PTI is a foreign-funded party that compromises the country’s sovereignty and seeks help from its foreign masters,’’ Tarar stated

    He pointed out that, ‘’Cypher was a conspiracy which significantly undermined the integrity of our country’s foreign policy, posing a potential threat to national security.”

    While labelling PTI anti-state, the minister alleged that Raouf Hassan’s conversation with an anti-Pakistan Indian journalist was a true reflection of the party ideology.
    “Their clamor for a bloody revolution in the country proved that the PTI had received foreign funding from India for the purpose. This was also revealed by the investigation into the prohibited funding case.”

    Tarar also accused PTI of resettling terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).

  • Sharing is caring, electricity relief shouldn’t just be for Punjab: Mustafa Kamal

    Sharing is caring, electricity relief shouldn’t just be for Punjab: Mustafa Kamal

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Mustafa Kamal, while addressing a press conference in Karachi, criticized the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) led government for announcing electricity relief only for Punjab.

    “Relief on electricity bills should be provided nationwide instead of only for Punjab,” he said.

    Kamal also rejected the electricity bill relief, stating that the PML-N is not only a party representing Punjab but should also represent the entire country.

    “These IPPs have already earned billions of rupees through their services, and the government should engage in dialogue with both foreign and local electricity-producing companies about the current economic situation,” he added, commenting on Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

    Kamal emphasised that IPPs, which have become obsolete, should be discarded immediately.

  • LHC summons PTA, federal govt and Information Ministry over internet disruption

    LHC summons PTA, federal govt and Information Ministry over internet disruption

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Information Ministry, and federal government representatives to appear before the court on a petition pertaining to internet disturbance on the next hearing on August 21.

    Advocate Nadeem filed the petition stating that the internet shutdown should be declared unconstitutional and the government should ensure smooth internet.
    The petition stated that ‘’Internet shutdown is a violation of Constitution Article 9 (personal security), 18 (freedom of business), article 19 (freedom of speech).”

    “Apart from the general public, hundreds, if not thousands, of companies have also been affected. Ride-hailing companies like Bykea, Careem and InDrive have taken the brunt, as their users —drivers and passengers — need mobile data on the go,” the petition read.

  • Sher Afzal Marwat returns to PTI

    Sher Afzal Marwat returns to PTI

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member National Assembly (MNA) Sher Afzal Marwat has returned to the party after meeting with former Prime Minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail.
    ‘’All misunderstandings have with party members are over, and Imran Khan has clearly pointed out that no grouping in the party and disagreement is acceptable,’’ Marwat said while addressing media outside Adiala Jail.

    He further stated, ’’Imran Khan has made me responsible for holding protests nationwide along with the August 22 jalsa’’.
    He also pointed out that we would develop all the strategies regarding protests so that if May 9 happened again, Khan will not be charged.

  • After Gen Faiz, Gen Bajwa won’t be spared: Hamid Mir

    After Gen Faiz, Gen Bajwa won’t be spared: Hamid Mir

    Journalist Hamid Mir, appearing on the Geo News last night, remarked that former Army Chief Gen Bajwa will “not be spared” because he knew everything that former ISI Chief Faiz Hameed was doing.

    “Imran Khan was being used not only by General Faiz Hameed but also by former Army Chief General Bajwa”, stated Mir.

    Hamid Mir also said, “There are dozens of people in Pakistan who are related to many other fields, including politics, who are ready to come to the media and describe that General Faiz Hameed had committed robberies against them.”

    He further stated that the former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association told him about a similar incident that happened to him. According to Mir, General Bajwa contacted the former president of SCBA through a religious scholar and apologised to him personally.

    Hamir Mir stated, “This means that he [Bajwa] knew what Faiz was doing.”