Tag: politics latest

  • ‘Sleeping on floor with just one sheet’; how Rana Sanaullah spent his first night in jail

    ‘Sleeping on floor with just one sheet’; how Rana Sanaullah spent his first night in jail

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and MNA Rana Sanaullah, who was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on Monday, spent his first night in jail sleeping on the floor, a private media outlet has reported.

    Rana was taken into custody by the ANF while on his way to Faisalabad for a party meeting. Being intercepted on the motorway by an ANF team in Sukheki, he was detained for allegedly possessing a huge stash of heroin.

    With an anti-narcotics court sending the PML-N leader and other accused to prison on a 14-day judicial remand Tuesday, a news outlet has revealed how Sanaullah’s first night in jail went.

    According to reports, the lawmaker spent the night sleeping on the floor of Barrack No. 6 at Lahore’s Camp Jail, where he was provided with just a single sheet to sleep on.

    The PML-N leader was shifted to his cell after jail authorities emptied all neighbouring barracks, while the five other accused were kept in the old block of the prison.

    Sanaullah was arrested days after a large-scale crackdown on drug peddlers in Punjab was launched. Latest reports claim the MNA would be given B-class facilities in jail.

    Jail officials say B-class facilities include a newspaper, television, bed, table and chair, besides some other items.

  • 41% people happy over Zardari’s arrest, 31% unaffected: survey

    A recent survey has revealed that 41% of Pakistanis are happy over the arrest of former president Asif Ali Zardari, while the development has left 31% people unaffected.

    As per the details, the Gilani Research Foundation survey, based on a sample size of 1,386 men and women, was conducted in both urban and rural areas of all four provinces of the country from June 15-24.

    Among other answers, just 22% Pakistanis said they were upset, 2% remarked that they did not hear about the matter and 4% commented that they were either not aware or did not wish to respond.

    Former president Zardari was arrested on June 10 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials and is accused of plotting to “misappropriate and launder” money out of the country through fake bank accounts.

    Other allegations against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman include his use of Omni Group “front men” as associates in crime and receiving millions in cash.

  • PTI MPA seeks ‘corrective surgery and appropriate measures’ for transgender kids

    PTI MPA seeks ‘corrective surgery and appropriate measures’ for transgender kids

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Shahina Karim on Wednesday submitted in the Punjab Assembly a resolution to safeguard the rights of transgender children, ARY News reported.

    “Most of the times during childbirth, the kid is not transgender, but is presumed so,” the resolution read.

    “Such a child can be assigned gender after corrective surgery and appropriate measures so that they too can spend life like a man or a woman,” the resolution stated further.

    The move comes amid rising numbers of transgender persons’ killings across the country. Just last week, a 19-year-old transgender woman was found “riddled with bullets” beside a river bank.

    The teenager’s father and uncle were arrested for her murder.

  • Riches in the corridors of power

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has publicly released the asset details of key politicians in the country.

    According to the documents, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is revealed to be one of the wealthiest politicians with a net worth of Rs 1.5 billion. On the other hand, Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed has the minimum amount of assets. He reportedly only has 36 lakhs cash and 15 tolas of gold to his name.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan owns assets worth Rs108 million. These assets include his Bani Gala residence which he declared was a gift, three foreign currency accounts (Dollar, Euro, Pound), four goats worth Rs 50,000 and 150 acres of agricultural land.

    PM Khan had also shared details of his wife, Bushra Bibi‘s assets which include a 3-kanal house in Bani Gala, 431-kanal land in Pakpattan and 266-kanal in Okara.

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari owns holdings worth Rs660 million. Leader of Opposition Shehbaz Sharif assets amounts to Rs189m.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Rana Sanaullah own assets worth Rs600m and Rs66m respectively.

    Minister for Railways Shaikh Rasheed has assets worth Rs35m.

  • GRAPHIC CONTENT: Firing at Lahore airport kills two

    GRAPHIC CONTENT: Firing at Lahore airport kills two

    At least two people were killed and another injured when an unknown assailant opened fire at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport.

    According to the police, the suspect was taken into custody by the Airport Security Forces (ASF). The firing, however, caused panic among people which led to a stampede.

    “The suspect reached the airport in a taxi, while the two deceased had returned home after performing Umra,” reports quoted a police official as saying.

    The incident took place at the arrival/waiting area outside the main airport building. Footage available with The Current shows the deceased man lying on the floor with two women sitting next to the body.

    Heavy contingents of police reached the airport to secure the premises. The entry of vehicles at the airport was also barred as a precaution.

    A debate has sparked over the ASF’s failure to stop the flow of weapons into the airport premises.

    This is a developing story.

  • Adding to arrested leaders’ misery: PM orders amending production order law

    Adding to arrested leaders’ misery: PM orders amending production order law

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has ordered to amend the
    parliamentary procedure of issuing production orders that are necessary for a
    detained lawmaker to attend assembly sessions, a private media outlet reported
    Tuesday.

    “Money launderers and financially corrupt individuals should
    not be facilitated via production orders,” the premier reportedly said while chairing
    a cabinet meeting to discuss corruption inquiries and the economic situation of
    the country.

    Stating that people facing corruption inquiries cannot be
    awarded the status of political prisoners, PM Imran ordered the Law Ministry
    for further action and possible amendments to the law, reports said.

    The move comes after National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad
    Qaiser issued production orders for former president Asif Ali Zardari, who was
    arrested by the National Accountancy Bureau (NAB) last month.

    Similarly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Hamza
    Shehbaz and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Faryal Talpur were brought to
    the Punjab and Sindh assemblies, respectively, after the speakers concerned
    issued their production orders.

    Earlier in the day, an appeal submitted to the Supreme Court
    (SC) also challenged the production orders of opposition leaders arrested over
    corruption allegations. The application challenged the production orders issued
    by speakers of the national and provincial assemblies.

    The appeal also sought nullification of the production
    orders citing that such orders can’t be issued when the accused is under
    physical remand of a law enforcement agency.

  • Meet the members of PM Khan’s National Youth Council

    Meet the members of PM Khan’s National Youth Council

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar on Sunday announced that Prime Minister Imran Khan has established the National Youth Council which aims to empower and enable the youth. The council includes influential persons from the fields of sports, education, religion, arts, culture and economy who will assist and advise the government on matters of the youth.

    Some of the more prominent members of the council, such as Hamza Ali Abbasi and Mahira Khan, need no introduction so here are some of the lesser-known members who have several accomplishments to their name.

    Samina Baig

    Samina Khayal Baig is the first Pakistani woman and the third Pakistani ever to summit Mount Everest. Hailing from Shimshal, Baig is also the first Pakistani to climb the Seven Summits. She is UNDP’s (United Nations Development Programme) National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan.

    Shazia Batool

    A differently-abled artist from Hazara, Shazia Batool is fighting against polio through her paintings. She has also been awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for her work and efforts.

    Hassan Ali

    A modern-day fast bowler hailing from Punjab, Hassan Ali is Pakistan’s quickest bowler to take 50 wickets in ODIs.

    Marvia Malik

     A journalism graduate, Marvia Malik is Pakistan’s first transgender newscaster. She has also worked as a model in different projects.

    Major Tanvir Shafi

    A soldier who had fought in the Operation Zarb-e-Azb lost his leg during Shawal operation represents the jawans in the council.

    Karishma Ali

    21-year old Karishma is the first girl from Chitral who has played football at a national and international level. She has also represented Pakistan at the Jubilee Games in Dubai and is one of those five Pakistanis who have made it to the Forbes.

    Adnan Shaffi

    Shaffi is the founder of PriceOye.com, a price comparison platform for electronics. He is among those five Pakistanis who have made to the Forbes 30 under 30.

     Muneeba Mazari

    She is an anchorperson, motivational speaker and Pakistan’s goodwill ambassador for UN Women.

    Sana Mir

    Sana Mir is a cricketer and the former captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team. She is also the most successful spinner in women’s one-day international history. Sana has tirelessly worked to uplift women cricket in Pakistan and has been successful in her mission.

    Dileep Kumar

    A lawyer from Thar (Sindh), Kumar is an activist working for the progress of youth.

    Zoe Viccaji

    Zoe Viccaji is a Pakistani singer, songwriter, and actress from Karachi. 

    Zain Ashraf Mughal

    An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Zain Ashraf Mughal is the founder of Seedout, a not for profit crowdfunding platform which is working to end poverty by establishing micro-entrepreneurs through interest-free Micro Financing.

    Sadia Bashir

    Pakistani entrepreneur Sadia Bashir is the founder of Pixel Art Games Academy which aims to bridge the gap between industry demand and education by providing training in video game development and recruitment opportunities.

  • Pakistan beats Israel in global military strength rankings

    Pakistan has beaten Israel in the Global Firepower (GFP) Military Strength Index 2019, according to data released by the group on its official website.

    The list by GFP relies on more than 50 factors to assign the 137 countries included in the survey an individual Power Index (PI) score, based upon their conventional war-making capability across land, sea and air.

    According to the 2019 GFP Index, Pakistan’s armed forces have been ranked the 15th most powerful in the world, beating Israel and other countries, including oil-rich Saudi Arabia.

    The ranking also includes factors concerning the respective states’ economic muscle and geographical characteristics. The report details Pakistan’s present military strength at 654,000 army personnel, 786 jet aircraft and 2,200 operational tanks.

    In addition, Pakistan’s naval capacity stands at a total of 197 vessels.

    Israel’s armed forces, on the other hand, have been ranked 17th, with a total of 170,000 military personnel, 506 warplanes and 2,760 tanks. Its naval strength stands at 65 assets.

    The ranking comes amid a flare in tensions between Pakistan and Israel, owing to alleged Israeli involvement in the failed February 26 airstrikes by India in Balakot.

  • Govt withdraws food-from-home facility for jailed Nawaz

    Govt withdraws food-from-home facility for jailed Nawaz

    The Punjab government has decided to withdraw food-from-home facility for former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, who is currently serving a seven-year sentence at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail.

    According to media reports, the jail administration, anytime this week, would order the withdrawal of the facility that Nawaz has been availing since his days in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.

    After the withdrawal of the facility, the former premier would have to be content with the jail food — which according to Nawaz’s family, is “unfit to consume” considering his deteriorating health.

    A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa had last month rejected a petition by the ex-PM for an extension in the bail granted to him on medical grounds in the Al-Azizia reference.

    It was followed by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also rejecting his bail plea. Nawaz had been granted bail on medical grounds by the apex court on March 26 for six weeks.

    On April 25, he had submitted a review petition in the SC seeking a permanent bail. His bail expired on May 7.

  • Indian leader encourages ‘Hindu brothers to gang rape Muslim women’

    Indian leader encourages ‘Hindu brothers to gang rape Muslim women’

    A leader of the hardliner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been removed from her position in the party’s women wing after she encouraged “Hindu brothers to gang rape Muslim women openly in the streets”, Indian media reported.

    “Muslim mothers and sisters should have their honour looted as there is no other way to protect India,” said Sunita Singh Gaur in a Facebook post.

    The viral post was later deleted; however, with screenshots being posted all over Twitter, Gaur was sacked as the Mahila Morcha leader.

    “Be assured, BJP Mahila Morcha will not tolerate any hateful comments whatsoever from any karyakarta [worker],” BJP Mahila Morcha National President Vijaya Rahatkar said.

    This is not the first time a member of BJP has spewed hate online. However, many were shocked to see the leader openly encourage rape and sexual violence.