Tag: politics latest

  • Maryam Nawaz halts pink salt export; industry leader concerned

    Maryam Nawaz halts pink salt export; industry leader concerned

    Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed authorities to ensure that the export of pink raw salt is halted.

    Chairing a meeting to review proposals on maximising revenue from the export of pink salt, she stated, “Pink salt is like a treasure trove for Pakistan.”

    She ordered the preparation of a plan to form a value-added industry of pink salt aiming to generate up to thirteen billion dollars in the next three to five years and suggested a comprehensive strategy to improve the export of pink salt.

    For the extraction of minerals in Punjab, CM Punjab Maryam directed to ensure the safety of mining workers and advised them to use modern technology for better output.

    The Founding Chairman of the Salts Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (SMAP), Ismail Suttar declared the announcement “immature.”

    Suttar said, “It is very unfortunate to witness repeated mistakes by the government, leading the industry towards a destructive path.”

    “I am surprised at such a remark from the Office of the Chief Minister without considering the opinion of the salt industry stakeholders,” he concluded.

  • Senior lawyers urge Justice Qazi Faez Isa to resign on Oct 25

    Senior lawyers urge Justice Qazi Faez Isa to resign on Oct 25

    Senior lawyers, including the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), have strongly opposed the secretive constitutional package proposed by the government and called upon Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to hang his robes with honour on October 25, 2024.

    In a letter signed by senior advocates Muneer A. Malik and Faisal Siddiqi, lawyers stressed that Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah will deservedly be the next CJP on the dawn of October 26.

    In the letter, they also urged Justice Isa to “preserve his legacy and not be a nominee for any appointment for any proposed constitutional bench.”

    Both senior advocates recalled that they had acted as legal counsels or supported Justice Isa through their writings against the “unconstitutional and mala fide presidential reference filed against the then Justice Qazi Faez Isa” in 2019.

    SCBA president Shehzad Shaukat cautioned against the secrecy with which the coalition government was trying to pass the supposed amendments and not bringing it to designated forums for open discussion.

    Shaukat pointed out that the SCBA is unlikely to oppose the proposed amendment if it relates to the creation of a constitutional court, which, according to him, is necessary for dispensing justice to common people because the Supreme Court is mostly busy hearing cases of a political nature.

  • Govt struggles to pass constitutional amendments as JUI-F resists

    Govt struggles to pass constitutional amendments as JUI-F resists

    The incumbent federal government has yet to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament to approve a controversial constitutional package.

    Despite the government’s claim of having the requisite magic number in the Senate, the government is struggling to pass the amendments. Chief Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, is resisting voting in favour of the government.

    The magic number to pass the constitutional package in the Senate (Upper House) is sixty-four, whereas the coalition government has confirmed fifty-nine votes.

    Ziauddin and Abdul Moiz Malik

    Meanwhile, JUI-F has five votes in the Senate.

    The government has not shared the constitutional package draft with any party, including Chief JUI-F Rehman, upon which he said, “It is a sensitive issue which should be discussed calmly.”

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Omer Ayub Khan said, “They (the government) have no draft with them, and they did not know what to discuss.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf declared the constitutional package “a serious piece of legislation” and advised the government not to act hastily.

    The Senate meeting is expected at 12:30 PM today.

  • Arrested PTI MNAs presented in parliament

    Arrested PTI MNAs presented in parliament

    Ten Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers have been produced in the parliament on Thursday to participate in the National Assembly (NA) session.

    Under the watch of a heavy squad, federal capital police handed over Members of the National Assembly (MNA) Sher Afzal Marwat, Malik Owais Jhakar, Malik Amar Dogar, Zain Qureshi, Ahmad Chatha, Zubair Khan Wazir, Syed Ahmad Shah, Syed Naseem Ali Shah, Yousaf Khan, and Shiekh Waqas Akram to Sergeant-at-Arms.

    Earlier, Speaker NA Ayaz Sadiq had ordered the production of lawmakers who were apprehended from parliament premises.

    Sadiq had also suspended five officials after the MNAs were arrested from parliament.

    Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the order for the physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders.

    Yesterday, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) approved the physical remand of six PTI leaders and 30 others for violating a new public protest law.

  • ‘Imran Khan to be eliminated in Morsi style,’ claims Aleema Khan

    ‘Imran Khan to be eliminated in Morsi style,’ claims Aleema Khan

    Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, has shared a message from her brother pertaining to the September 10 arrests of PTI lawmakers from parliament premises.

    She claimed in the tweet that Khan received information from credible and reliable sources, which disclosed, “A decision has been taken to eliminate Imran Khan.”

    The former Prime Minister claimed that a plan had been made to finish him in the style of former Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi.

    While lambasting the country’s premier intelligence agency, Khan claims, “Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) controls Adiala jail Rawalpindi.”

    Aleema Khan stated that all concocted cases have been cleared against Khan, but he is still in prison.

    On Tuesday at midnight 3 AM, plain clothes men entered the parliament, cut the electricity supply, and arrested at least six PTI legislators.

    Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Khan, Sher Afzal Marwat, Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, and Zain Qureshi were also arrested. Gohar was released after a brief detention.

    Speaking at parliament yesterday, Gohar clarified that the rally was delayed amid road blockages, which prevented the Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Ali Amin Gandapur, from reaching the Sangjani area for the rally.

  • Govt just three votes away from extending judges’ tenure

    Govt just three votes away from extending judges’ tenure

    The incumbent government led by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif intends to extend the judge’s tenure as soon as it secures enough votes in the Upper House.

    The incumbent government is only three votes short in the Senate to amend the tenure of Supreme Court and High Court judges, a government source told Geo News.

    Government sources further revealed that the incumbent government has achieved a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly (NA). Once the Senate’s majority is secured, Parliament will pass constitutional amendments.

    After constitutional amendments, the tenure of Supreme Court judges will be extended to sixty-eight years of age, and that of High Court judges will be extended to sixty-five years of age.

    Earlier, Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar had remarked that suggestions for extending the judge’s tenure could be considered. Meanwhile, Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa had vehemently rejected the extension offer.

  • Speaker suspends five security officials after PTI lawmakers arrested from parliament

    Speaker suspends five security officials after PTI lawmakers arrested from parliament

    Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has suspended five security officers for four months after the arrest of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers from parliament premises.

    The National Assembly Secretariat issued an order of suspension of the officials, including Sergeant-at-Arms (BPS-20) Muhammad Ishfaq Ashraf.

    The order read, “During the period of his suspension, he will be entitled to draw pay and allowances as admissible under the applicable rules.”

    In a joint parliament session today, Sadiq ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the arrest of Members of the National Assembly (MNA).

    During the meeting, Sadiq stated that no compromise would be tolerated on the dignity and prestige of the parliament.

    On Tuesday at midnight 3 AM, plain clothes men entered the parliament, cut the electricity, and arrested at least six PTI’s legislators.

  • Physical remand approved for key PTI figures

    Physical remand approved for key PTI figures

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has approved the physical remand of six Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and thirty others for violating a new public protest law.

    Lawmakers associated with PTI including Sher Afzal Marwat, Zain Qureshi, Naseem Shah, Amir Dogar, Ahmed Chattha, are charged in connection with the Sanghjani police station case.

    However, PTI bigwig, advocate Shoaib Shaheen is exempted from physical remand, but the court has advised sending him to judicial custody.

    Earlier, the Federal Capital Administration allotted a three-hour time slot from 4 PM to 7 PM for the rally at Sangjani, which was violated by PTI leadership, resulting in a crackdown.

    Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, and Sher Afzal Marwat, were arrested from parliament premises.

    However, Islamabad police released barrister Khan after a few hours of detention.

  • Governor Raj in KP? Netizens debate probability

    Governor Raj in KP? Netizens debate probability

    Senior journalist Absar Alam, while talking on Samaa news, warned of increasing political instability and the possibility of Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after the KP Assembly issued a resolution on September 10, demanding court marital of army officers allegedly involved in politics.

    The resolution demanded that state institutions must remain within their constitutional domain while calling their actions against elected leaders ‘high treason.’

    Absar Alam noted that the political situation is quite concerning. He also stated that a parliamentary party meeting occurred at CM KP’s house in which Ali Amin Gandapur assured provincial ministers that he stands by every word he spoke at the recent PTI’s rally on September 8.

    Absar stated that the ministers assure the CM of their support and vowed that much harsher language would used in future political rallies.

    “This kind of resolution is unprecedented and historically, we have not seen such harsh resolutions. If the situation does not improve then I think that the federal government might consider imposing Governor’s rule in KP,” warned Absar Alam.

  • ‘Gandapur apologised instantly for his speech after meeting with intelligence officers,’ discloses Azaz Syed

    ‘Gandapur apologised instantly for his speech after meeting with intelligence officers,’ discloses Azaz Syed

    Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur apologised for his controversial remarks during the Sangjani power show after meeting with intelligence agency officers in Islamabad, veteran journalist Azaz Syed has claimed.

    Speaking on ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath,’ Azaz Syed disclosed that intelligence officers showed concerns over Gandapur’s speech, upon which he apologised instantly.

    Syed ruled out rumours of Gandapur’s arrest, saying that the CM received a call from an intelligence officer to meet in a Constitutional Evenue intelligence office.

    He said, “All mobile phones were taken away before the meeting with officers.”

    “Gandapur was not confident after the meeting was over,” claims Syed

    Earlier, Opposition Leader in National Assembly (NA) Omar Ayub Khan said that the federal government and establishment invited Gandapur to a cup of tea to discuss security concerns in KP; after that, his security staff and mobile phone went out of reach upon which rumours erupted of Gandapur’s possible arrest in Islamabad.