Tag: politics latest

  • Regime change ‘America’ ki sazish hai, Shiekh Hasina

    Regime change ‘America’ ki sazish hai, Shiekh Hasina

    Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister (PM) Shiekh Hasina has accused the US of being involved in the regime change in Bangladesh.
    According to NDTV, before leaving the country, Hasina wanted to address the nation but couldn’t because protestors stormed her official residence.

    Hasina shared details of her undelivered speech with close associates in India.
    A letter accessed by NDTV reveals, “I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over the dead bodies of students, but I did not allow it’’.
    Hasina wrote that she could have remained in power if she had “surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal.”

    “I beseech the people of my land, please do not be manipulated by radicals.”

    It also further added: “Maybe if I had stayed in the country, more lives would have been lost. I have removed myself. You were my strength and did not want me, so I left. I have lost, but the people of Bangladesh have won, the people for whom my father and my family died’’.

  • Audit report reveals illegal hiring in PTA causing over Rs45 million loss

    Audit report reveals illegal hiring in PTA causing over Rs45 million loss

    The Auditor General of Pakistan’s annual audit report for 2023-2024 has revealed significant irregularities in the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), leading to a loss of over Rs 45million, Samaa reported.

    The report stated that illegal recruitment in the PTA during financial year 2022-23, including two assistant directors and one IT officer, took place without the presence of any relevant job posts.

    Generally, government job vacancies appear as advertisements in the newspapers but most recruitments in the PTA did not adhere to established criteria.

    The audit report highlighted that the PTA has paid Rs 45.9 million in salaries and perks to these alleged illegal recruitments.

  • Students ‘inciting violence’ can face cancellation of their identity cards, passports

    Students ‘inciting violence’ can face cancellation of their identity cards, passports

    The Interior Ministry has announced that strict measures will be taken against students involved in or promoting violent activities, including their names being added to the Fourth Schedule.

    According to Section 11EE of the ATA, the Fourth Schedule is to include “any person who is an activist, office-bearer or an associate of an organisation kept under observation … or proscribed … or … affiliated with any group or organisation suspected to be involved in terrorism or sectarianism.”

    If an individual’s name is added to the Fourth Schedule, many of his/her constitutional rights are suspended, such as the cancellation of the identity cards and passports, prohibition from leaving their city, and denial of character certificates from any educational institution.

    The notification issued by the Interior Ministry emphasised that departments should be ready for action against potential troublemakers, The News reported.

    Last week, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced that it would launch a movement for the restoration of the Constitution and revival of the student unions in the country.

  • ‘Interviews have begun for technocratic setup,’ Sheikh Rasheed claims

    ‘Interviews have begun for technocratic setup,’ Sheikh Rasheed claims

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has claimed that a technocratic setup may take over by September 20 this year because “interviews have begun.”

    Rasheed, while talking to the media outside Adiala Jail, lamented, “It has been two years and 14 cases have been filed against me, but I’ve received no challans yet.”

    The former Interior Minister described his feelings saying, “They said I’ve lost 40kg weight. I never thought the Gate No 4 people would pick me up. The police took our women’s jewellery, my watches and shoes too.”

    He requested the people with whom he had a “decades long relation” and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir to declare amnesty.

    Sheikh Rasheed further stated, “August 31 is significant; the government is packing its bags. Technocratic government can come by September 20, and whatever happens, it will be bad.”

  • Government to introduce 5-year economic plan under supervision of British economist Stefan Dercon

    Government to introduce 5-year economic plan under supervision of British economist Stefan Dercon

    A five-year economic plan for the development of Pakistan’s struggling economy has been prepared under the supervision of Belgian-British economist Stefan Dercon. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to launch it on August 14.

    Geo News reported that the proposed economic plan has been named the Stefan Dercon plan. It contains target of 6 percent annual economic growth target by 2028.

    The ambitious plan also emphasises on structural reforms to take the export target to $60 billion by 2028.

    The proposed plan prioritises the promotion of private investment and the increase in exports. The successful implementation of reforms is estimated to create one million employment opportunities annually.

    According to the Dercon Plan, the proposed plan’s results would be fairly visible by 2028, one year after the IMF programme ends.

    “The failure of structural reforms for growth in Pakistan is not due to a lack of ideas, but a lack of political will to implement these reforms,” warns the draft report.

    It also warns that Pakistan won’t get chances like this; therefore, the opportunity must not be wasted.

  • Political stability cannot be achieved with rigged elections, says Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    Political stability cannot be achieved with rigged elections, says Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    The Awam Pakistan (AP) party convener, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has stated that political stability cannot be achieved in a country with rigged elections.

    “Every system in the world has been tried in this country, and now it’s time to turn to the Constitution,” the former Prime Minister said during the launch of the ‘Foundation and Vision Document’ event for the (AP) manifesto.

    “The country doesn’t function because no one adheres to their oaths,” he opined.
    While talking about the economy, he noted, “The state of the economy today is the same as it was ten years ago.”
    Abbasi mentioned that Independent Power Producers (IPPs) might be an issue, but the real problem is the economy’s failure.
    Former finance minister Miftah Ismail was also present at the event. He said the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award should be reviewed.

    “The government is providing Rs 109 billion to cover the losses of the railways. We bear these losses because the railways operate for the benefit of its employees and officers, not for the public,” he added

  • CJ-led SC bench reinstates three PML-N leaders’ NA membership

    CJ-led SC bench reinstates three PML-N leaders’ NA membership

    A three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, restored the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) order to recount three Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members constituency results while reinstating them.

    The SC bench declared the Lahore High Court’s decision null and void while hearing the recount petitions of three different polling stations of NA-154, NA-81, and NA-79.

    However, the decision was made with a majority of 2-1, with Justice Aqeel Abbasi issuing a dissenting note.

    The court reinstated the election commission’s decision regarding the recount of votes for three PML-N members: Azhar Qayyum Nahra, Abdul Rehman Kanju, and Zulfiqar Ahmed.

  • PMLN Sindh President to replace Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori

    PMLN Sindh President to replace Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori

    Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and its coalition government ally, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), have agreed to change the Governor of Sindh, Kamran Khan Tesori.

    According to a Geo News source, the incumbent Sindh governor could be replaced by PML-N Sindh president and former head of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Bashir Memon.

    While responding to the report, MQM denied that the Governor will be changed.

    A spokesperson of MQM said, ‘’The Centre has not contacted us yet in this regard’.”

    PPP Sindh General Secretary Waqar Mehdi said, ‘’Kamran Tessori better go on leave until the PMLN chooses the new Governor of Sindh’’.

    In April this year, sources made similar claims that former Sindh caretaker chief minister Justice (retired) Maqbool Baqar could be appointed governor of Sindh.

  • From TikTok to Politics: Dania Shah’s new career move

    From TikTok to Politics: Dania Shah’s new career move

    TikToker Dania Shah, who recently made headlines for her second marriage, has announced that she plans to contest in the next general elections.

    Dania Shah’s announcement came shortly after she confirmed her marriage to lawyer Hakeem Shehzad through a video and held a wedding reception.

    Since announcing their marriage, Dania and Hakeem have been actively speaking with news outlets and local journalists.

    In a recent interview, Hakeem Shehzad revealed that he and his wife are entering politics. He stated, “Dania will be contesting for a National Assembly seat from Lodhran, and I will contest from an MNA seat from Shujaabad.”

    He also mentioned, “We are both preparing for the upcoming elections. If we succeed, we will introduce a presidential system in Pakistan. I don’t just talk; I deliver on my promises.”

    When asked about his thoughts on Pakistan’s political leaders, Hakeem Shehzad shared his unique view: “When a journalist asked me who I would choose to sit with—Imran Khan, Asif Zardari, or Nawaz Sharif—I said I would choose to sit with myself because I consider myself a leader and don’t need to follow anyone else.”

  • PML-N, Buzdar scramble to take credit for Arshad Nadeem’s big win

    PML-N, Buzdar scramble to take credit for Arshad Nadeem’s big win

    Right after Pakistani champ Arshad Nadeem won the gold medal in the javelin competition in the Olympics 2024 after years of sweat, toil, and struggle – politicians and political parties scrambled to congratulate him and take credit for the star athlete’s fantastic feat.

    Former Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar posted an old picture of himself and Arshad with the caption, “This is a memorable picture from five years ago when I saw Arshad Nadeem’s talent, invited him to the Chief Minister’s office, and assured him of all support from the Punjab government.”

    Meanwhile, netizens were outraged at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Mashood, congratulating Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for “his vision” right after Arshad won the gold medal with his record-smashing throw.

    Moreover, an X user tweeted about the comparison of Pakistan’s win in the 1992 Cricket World Cup and Arshad Nadeem’s 92.9-metre-long javelin throw that made him the champion, to which the official handle of PML-N quoted, “Both the time it’s PML-N government!”

    Social media reacted angrily to politicians trying to take away the champ’s spotlight. At the same time, one user posted a picture of Nadeem with his parents with the caption, “The only support that deserves the credit for Arshad Nadeem’s success.”