Tag: politics latest

  • Jemima Khan reacts to being called ‘Wiki’s’ cousin

    Jemima Khan reacts to being called ‘Wiki’s’ cousin

    Former wife of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Jemima Goldsmith had a hilarious response to being called ‘Wiki of Wikileaks’ cousin by Jamiat Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Mufti Kifayat.

    During a debate on a private TV channel, when the anchor apprised Mufti Kifayat that as per cable leaks, Maulana Fazlur Rehman had met an American official, Mufti Kifayat interrupted him and said that ‘Wiki of Wikileaks’ is cousin of Jemima Goldsmith and that the leak [regarding Fazlur Rehman] was part of a vested agenda.

    Jemima founds the claims to be extremely amusing and took to Twitter to share her amusement.

    Jemima then even joked that “Panama Leaks” and “Vicky Pedia” are also her cousins.

    When Mufti Kifayatullah stood by his claims in another talk show, Jemima also responded to that.

    Mufti Kifayatullah, a JUI-F leader, was arrested from Islamabad the day his party began their ‘Azadi March’ for making inflammatory statements against state institutions. He was later released on bail by the Peshawar High Court.

    Meanwhile, Jemima also added that nothing “compares to the madness, vitriol & corruption of Pakistan’s elections.”

    Journalists and other Twitter users loved Jemima’s response.

    According to its website, WikiLeaks is “a multi-national media organisation and associated library. It was founded by its publisher Julian Assange in 2006.”

    WikiLeaks says it specialises in “the analysis and publication of large datasets of censored or otherwise restricted official materials involving war, spying and corruption. It has so far published more than 10 million documents and associated analyses.”

  • Irshad Bhatti slapped with legal notice over Buzdar’s ‘second marriage’ claims

    Irshad Bhatti slapped with legal notice over Buzdar’s ‘second marriage’ claims

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar on Wednesday served a legal notice to journalist Irshad Bhatti for claiming that the former had “recently gotten married for the second time”.

    Bhatti had on October 29 claimed that the provincial chief executive “had gotten married for the second time” and congratulated his colleagues while appearing on Geo News‘ programme “Report Card”.

    “I congratulate all of you as Buzdar Sahib has gotten married for the second time… and on top of that, stories surrounding his new in-laws are amazing,” he had said.

    “You have made certain assertations and touted them as facts which, I am instructed, are completely untrue and baseless, to say the least,” CM Buzdar’s lawyer, Advocate Obaid Ullah, stated in the notice served to Bhatti on Wednesday.

    The notice further said that that the statements had damaged Buzdar’s reputation both personally and as a politician, and “lowered him in the estimation of others”.

    “Personal relationships of my client with his family members, who are also respectable members of the society, have been soured and grossly undermined as a natural consequence of your defamatory utterances.”

    Seeking an unequivocal apology within 14 days, Obaid also sought for CM Buzdar Rs250 million in damages. “…failing which, if a suit is filed, Rs500 million plus mark up shall be claimed, apart from the claim pertaining to entangling and grossly undermining the personal relationships of my client and his family.”

  • Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari hit out at Tallal Chaudry for his rude & sexist behaviour

    Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari hit out at Tallal Chaudry for his rude & sexist behaviour

    PML-N leader Tallal Chaudry has come under fire again for passing derogatory comments and being rude to PTI MNA Kanwal Shauzab.

    On a talk show, the PML-N and PTI members were in a heated debate on the ongoing ‘Azadi Marchi’ when Chaudry disrespected Kanwal by using abusive language and accusing her of the ‘things’ she has done to reach power.

    “Main yahaan saari cheezain nahi bata sakta. Humaray peechay bhi phirti rahi ho. Iss baat ka jawaab do,” Chaudry said to Kanwal.

    (Sister, I can’t discuss everything here. You also followed us. Do you have an answer to this?)

    When Kanwal called him out for his “cheap” comments, Tallal responded, “Ghatiya tum ho gee (You are cheap). Keep your tongue in check.”

    At this point, the host intervened and asked her guests to stay on the topic.

    However, the two did not back down and continued to engage in an argument.

    “Aap kay peechay kaun phir sakta hai? Aap toh khud dus jaghon say phir kar aye hain,” (Why would anyone follow you? You yourself have been at ten places), Kanwal remarked.

    At this point, Tallal asked Kanwal to be quiet and act like a woman and earn her respect.

    What was even more interesting to note that the JUI-F member Mufti Kifayat­ullah present on the show sat with his eyes closed.

    Watch the video here:

    Meanwhile, Twitter called out Tallal for being “rude and indecent”.

    Ministers Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhry and Zartaj Gul Wazir were among those who hit out at the lawmaker.

    https://twitter.com/ayeshakhalid7/status/1191986019635216386?s=20

    This is not the first time Talal has come under fire for passing derogatory and sexist remarks. Earlier his comments on Firdous Ashiq Awan has sparked social media outrage.

    “This is the kind of tabdeeli … if Baji Firdous Ashiq Awan got her face washed, the way her real looks would emerge from behind her makeup… she would appear as Firdous Khan instead. This is also the real face of this tabdeeli,” Chaudhary had said.

    Following the backlash, Chaudhry had issued an apology on Twitter saying: “My intentions were not to hurt someone, if my statement or example was ‘inappropriate’ then I would like to apologise.”

  • Security breach: Man, pretending to be BBC journalist, interviews senators

    Security breach: Man, pretending to be BBC journalist, interviews senators

    Pictures of a man pretending to be a journalist from BBC has interviewed senators, including the Upper House’s Standing Committee on Interior Chairperson Rehman Malik, outside the Parliament House in what is being termed as a massive security breach.

    The incident was brought to limelight by Tahir Imran, a journalist actually affiliated with BBC, as he tweeted images of the imposter and wrote, “Dear Senator Rehman Malik, this guy is an imposter who pretends to be a BBC journalist. He is not a BBC employee”.

    In another picture, the man was seen covering Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) ongoing Azadi March in the federal capital.

    Sharing the images, Tahir also urged Senator Malik to lodge a complaint and inform BBC’s local office in Islamabad about the imposter.

    Responding to the tweet, the senator said that he had already ordered an inquiry as to how did the man enter a restricted space. “Have also informed the BBC head in Islamabad,” he tweeted, adding that he found the fake reporter suspicious after the latter’s claim of being affiliated with BBC Italy.

    “BBC Islamabad has confirmed that he is not a BBC employee and will be booked as an imposter under the law,” the senator added.

  • ‘Pakistan may have released poisonous gas to pollute air in India,’ alleges BJP leader

    ‘Pakistan may have released poisonous gas to pollute air in India,’ alleges BJP leader

    A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vineet Agarwal Sharda has said alleged either Pakistan or China could have released poisonous gases into India to pollute its air, Pakistan Today reported.

    According to the details, the BJP leader that our neighboring countries should be blamed for the high levels of pollution in Delhi and adjacent areas, adding that “I feel that Pakistan or China are afraid of us”.

    “Ye jo zehreeli hawa aa rahi hai, zehreeli gas aayi hai ho sakta hai kisi bagal ke mulk ne chhori ho jo humse ghabraya hua hai (There is a possibility that this poisonous gas could have been released by any neighboring country which is afraid of us), BJP leader said.

    “We must seriously consider whether Pakistan has released any poisonous gas,” Vineet Agarwal said.

    Sharda said that Pakistan was “frustrated” ever since Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah took charge and was resorting to all sorts of tactics against India.

    Terming Modi and Shah as Lord Krishna and Arjuna from Mahabharata, Vineet said that both leaders were capable of solving all problems.

  • ‘#ShameOnUsmanDar’ trends after PM’s aide makes fun of Pashtuns

    ‘#ShameOnUsmanDar’ trends after PM’s aide makes fun of Pashtuns

    Hashtag “#ShameOnUsmanDar” on Wednesday started trending on Twitter after Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Youth Affairs, Usman Dar, made fun of Pashtun workers.

    “In the end, they [the Azadi marchers] will get the same [returns] as those Pathan [vendors] who roam in streets and sell a blanket worth Rs500 for Rs50,” the PTI leader had said while appearing on Express News’ programme To the Point earlier this week.

    He was immediately called out by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Hina Pervaiz Butt, who was also a guest on the show. “I want to condemn [the usage] of the word Pathan [randomly] like this. We are all Pakistanis,” she said.

    Dar, however, continued to use the rhetoric until the show’s host, Mansoor Ali Khan, asked him to take his words back.

    “Alright, I will take [my words] back,” the PTI leader later conceded.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    The remarks invited a backlash on Twitter, where “Shame on Usman Dar” became a top trend as users condemned the PTI leader’s choice of words.

    MNA Mohsin Dawar also reacted to Dar’s statement, saying, “Pashtun displacement into Punjab is a cost of Pakistan’s strategic depth policy.”

    “These Pashtuns won’t have left their homeland, if it wasn’t used for strategic games and was allowed to grow to full potential. #ShameOnUsmanDar for making fun of those who are just making an honest living,” he added.

  • Govt paving way for Nawaz to leave country?

    Govt paving way for Nawaz to leave country?

    Government-constituted medical board that is overseeing the treatment of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, has recommended him a genetic test that is not available in Pakistan, The News International reported.

    Reports quoted the head of the medical panel, Prof Dr Mehmood Ayaz, as saying that Nawaz needed to go abroad for treatment. “We will inform the Health Department in writing that Nawaz should undergo a genetic test abroad,” he reportedly said.

    According to Dr Ayaz, a foreign visit would become essential if doctors want to examine Nawaz’s body tissues in order to diagnose the exact cause of his illness since the former prime minister (PM) was “not facing a minor genetic issue”.

    With the panel head’s comments making headlines, rumour has it that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government — in both Punjab and centre — is paving way for the PML-N supremo to leave the country and “a deal has been struck”.

    On Tuesday, Federal Minister for Interior Brig (r) Ijaz Shah had also hinted at allowing Nawaz to seek treatment abroad “if that turns out to be the only option”. According to some reports, incumbent PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif is also trying to convince his brother to leave the country for treatment.

  • Winter rain: PM orders CDA chief to visit Azadi March site, provide relief to protesters

    Winter rain: PM orders CDA chief to visit Azadi March site, provide relief to protesters

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Wednesday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman to visit the Azadi March sit-in site and determine what relief could be provided to the protesters.

    “I have directed the CDA chairman to immediately visit the dharna site to assess what relief and assistance can be provided to the dharna participants,” he tweeted.

    PM Imran also said that the relief would be provided in view of the onset of rain and changing weather conditions.

    On Tuesday, protesters had refused to let rain or the biting cold dampen their resolve as the anti-government sit-in continues and they demand the PM’s resignation.

    Earlier, a picture of a few Azadi marchers preparing to go to sleep in the biting cold and rain under a plastic sheet had gone viral on social media.

  • Maryam Nawaz still not released despite bail

    Maryam Nawaz still not released despite bail

    While the Lahore High Court granted bail to Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday, her release has so far been delayed due to procedural issues.

    As per media reports, Maryam Nawaz’s lawyers were late in completing the necessary documentation. However, sources share that the delay wasn’t at Maryam’s lawyers’ end.

    Due to the delay in her release, Mian Nawaz Sharif also did not shift to Sharif Medical City Hospital despite being discharged from Services Hospital on Tuesday. Mr. Sharif is adamant that he will shift only when Maryam Nawaz is released so that she can go with him.

    Meanwhile, #ReleaseMaryamNOW trended on Twitter for several hours once news broke out that her release has been delayed due to procedural issues.

    Some TV analysts speculated whether the delay in her release was related to a fear that she may address the Azadi March.

  • Billboards with images of PM Khan in Amritsar taken down after criticism

    Billboards with images of PM Khan in Amritsar taken down after criticism

    Ahead of the historic Kartarpur opening, scheduled to be held on November 9, billboards featuring images of Prime Minister Imran Khan have popped up in Amritsar, India.

    The posters which featured images of PM Khan and former Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu read, “Navjot Singh Sidhu and Imran Khan are the real heroes, for opening Kartarpur Corridor.”

    However, the hoardings were taken down within hours of being put up as they irked the Indians who widely criticised them.

    According to India Today, supporters of Sidhu put up hoardings calling him and PM Imran the real heroes of Kartarpur. The report further added that the hoardings were put up by Amritsar Municipal Councillor Harpal Singh Verka who is known to be close to Sidhu.

    Speaking to India Today, Verka said, “Imran Khan had asked his friend Navjot Singh Sidhu what he can do for him as he visited his swearing-in ceremony in Pakistan. Sidhu put forth a demand before Imran Khan that the Kartarpur corridor be opened for Sikh devotees. I put up hoardings of my own as I wanted to send out the message to the people about Sidhu’s role in getting the corridor opened.”

    See pictures: Kartarpur Corridor ready to welcome Sikh pilgrims

    As per reports, Sidhu was the first Indian politician who received the first invitation card to the opening ceremony bearing number 001 from Imran Khan three days ago.

    Sidhu has reportedly been given permission to visit Pakistan on November 9 when the Kartarpur corridor will be formally inaugurated.