Tag: politics latest

  • AJK protests enter fourth day as deadlock between government and protestors continues

    AJK protests enter fourth day as deadlock between government and protestors continues

    The Awami Action Committee (AAC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have staged massive protests and sit-ins against high electricity bills and taxation for the fourth day now.

    Protestors plan to reach the capital Muzaffarabad, after violent clashes took place between the AJK police and the protestors.

    The government of AJK called in Rangers and AJK police after clashes between the police and protestors erupted in Mirpur during demonstrations that killed a cop and injured more than 70 others.

    Heavy contingents of police have been posted at roundabouts and sensitive locations, while markets, trade centres and educational institutes remain closed, and transport is suspended.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grave concern on the situation and stated that there should be “absolutely no tolerance for taking the law into one’s own hands”.

    Meanwhile, the central leadership of the AAC has distanced itself from the violent incidents that occurred during the protests.

    A sub-inspector was killed while dozens of other policemen and protesters also got injured during the teargas shelling by the police and stone pelting by the demonstrators.

    Violent protesters damaged multiple vehicles, including a magistrate’s car on the Poonch-Kotli road. Moreover, markets, trade centres, offices schools and restaurants remained closed across the AJK.

    Cellular services have been suspended in different parts of AJK.

  • Big blow to ruling coalition as 27 reserved seats lost in Punjab

    Big blow to ruling coalition as 27 reserved seats lost in Punjab

    The ruling coalition government in Punjab led by PML-N on Friday lost dozens of reserved seats in the provincial assembly when the speaker suspended 24 women and three minority MPAs elected on reserved seats and barred them from joining the house proceedings.

    Most of the suspended members of parliament belonged to PML-N, two to PPP and one each to PML-Q and IPP.

    Speaker Malik Mohammad Ahmed Khan took the decision after the Supreme Court suspended the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of allocating the reserved seats of SIC to other parties.

    Opposition lawmaker Rana Aftab of PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), during the house proceedings, had raised this issue and then on Friday, the speaker read out the Supreme Court order and gave the ruling that Rana Aftab’s point of order was lawful and suspended the 27 members immediately.

  • No legal, moral justification to restrict Zartaj Gul from travelling: IHC

    No legal, moral justification to restrict Zartaj Gul from travelling: IHC

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday ordered a hearing on the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Zartaj Gul to remove her name from the Exit Control List (ECL) to allow her to go for Hajj.

    There is no legal or moral justification to restrict Gul from travelling, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri remarked in his order.

    The court, in its order, stated that the Interior Secretary should appoint a senior officer who knows about the law to assist the court, and the authorised officer should be aware of the facts of the case in the next hearing along with the relevant records.

    The state lawyer said during the hearing that the petitioner secured bail in multiple protest cases and was not absconding.

    On April 18, an anti-terrorism court granted Zartaj interim bail in the May 9 case. After the lawyers presented their arguments, the judge granted interim bail to the PTI leader until May 10.

  • Fawad Chaudhry thinks Nawaz only hope for dialogue with PTI

    Fawad Chaudhry thinks Nawaz only hope for dialogue with PTI

    Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry recently replied to a journalist’s question that, “Dialogues can be definitely held better under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.”

    Journalist Ali Hamza asked Chaudhry if Nawaz is taking the reigns of his party’s leadership back so would that have any impact on starting talks with PTI?

    According to Fawad, “The real power lies with Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif has nothing.”

    The former PTI leader said that he was hopeful that Nawaz Sharif will take the initiative of starting dialogue with PTI.

    “Nawaz Sharif has been in politics since 1985 and if there is anyone in this country that can do something to improve the political landscape of Pakistan, then that is only Nawaz Sharif,” said Chaudhry.

  • Faisal Karim Kundi warns Gandapur against taking over Governor House

    Faisal Karim Kundi warns Gandapur against taking over Governor House

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) newly appointed Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday warned chief minister KP, Ali Amin Gandapur, against taking over Governor House, promising to take strong action, even resorting to dragging them through the streets if needed.

    Kundi of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) promised to work tirelessly for the development of the KP and avoid engaging in political retribution.

    On Wednesday, Ali Amin Gandapur threatened to take over Governor House. In response, Kundi urged KP’s chief minister to work for the people with honesty.

    Kundi stressed how working together and including everyone is key to making the province better. He brushed off rumours about Governor Raj, saying they’re coming from people who feel threatened politically. The newly appointed governor challenged these people to come forward and try to prove their power, but warned them that they won’t get any backing from the province.

  • MBS much-anticipated visit to Pakistan delayed

    MBS much-anticipated visit to Pakistan delayed

    The highly anticipated visit of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) to Pakistan has been delayed, The News has reported.

    Official sources had earlier indicated that the crown prince would be in Islamabad on May 19, for two days.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman is likely to visit Pakistan soon. Dar confirmed that the date of the Saudi Prince’s visit will be finalised this month.

    “InshaAllah, the visit is due [and] I believe we may receive final dates [of the visit from Saudi Arabia] anytime in May,” Dar said while addressing media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Tuesday.

    Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch, when asked to comment on the development, made it clear on Friday that as soon the schedule was worked out between the two capitals, it would be made public.

    The FO spokesperson was hopeful that the visit would take place soon.

  • Tax chor tyar hojaen; FBR, telecos agree to start blocking SIMs

    Tax chor tyar hojaen; FBR, telecos agree to start blocking SIMs

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and telecom operators have agreed on blocking SIMs of tax non-filers as part of the government’s strategy to punish tax evasion, The News reported on Saturday.

    In a statement, the FBR announced that telecom companies have agreed to start the manual blocking process of SIMs in small batches until their systems are fully equipped to automate it.

    The FBR said that the first batch comprising 5,000 non-filers has been communicated to telecom operators and further batches would be sent to telecom companies on a daily basis.

    Meanwhile, the operators have also commenced sending messages to non-filers regarding the blocking of their SIMs for intimation purposes.

    Earlier, a deadlock had been created when telecom operators refused to implement FBR’s decision to block 500,000 SIMs of tax evaders.

  • Pakistani researcher killed in Portugal

    Pakistani researcher killed in Portugal

     A young researcher from Lahore has been killed in Porto, Portugal, when he resisted a robbery attempt, Geo reported on Friday.

    Family members of the victim, Anthony Shoukat, said he went to Portugal for a research project of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital.

    They appealed the government to help them bring the victim’s body at the earliest and bring the culprits to justice.

    The victim’s family said Anthony had done his masters from Sweden and his PhD from Germany.

    In March, Fahimuddin, a Pakistani-German, was murdered and his family attacked with a knife in Germany. Fahimuddin had moved from Karachi’s Azizabad neighbourhood to Germany and made it his permanent home.

  • Laptop scheme phir shoroo?

    Laptop scheme phir shoroo?

    Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz on Friday gave the green signal to restart her party’s laptop scheme for students after a gap of seven years.

    Punjab government announced that laptops will be given to students, it was decided in a meeting presided by Maryam about higher education sector reforms, wherein a detailed briefing was also given on promotion of laptop and transport facility for students.

    Punjab has almost 0.65 million students, 44 per cent of whom are boys and 56 per cent are girls.

    Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, the chief secretary, secretary higher education and other officials also attended the meeting.

  • Governor rule will not be tolerated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, says Gandapur

    Governor rule will not be tolerated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, says Gandapur

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur said on Thursday that the KP government will resist any efforts to impose governor rule in the province.

    He condemned the May 9 incidents and said that those who are responsible for violent protests should be held accountable.

    Gandapur emphasised that, despite facing eight FIRs in eight different districts, none of the allegations have been proven to be true.

    Gandapur also warned undemocratic forces who want to undermine the democratic process.

    “I will not remain silent for the chief minister’s seat, and if governor rule is imposed, we will take over the governor’s house,” Gandapur said.