Tag: politics latest

  • Five May 9 suspects arrested again after bail from SC

    Five workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) involved in the May 9 riots, who were earlier granted bail by the Supreme Court, have been arrested again under 16 MPO (Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960).

    The MPO order was issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi after which they were arrested. Last night, they were released from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after the suspects submitted their surety bonds.

    The five suspects — Owais, Saifullah, Nasrullah, Kamran and Waqas — were booked in the May 9 violence case registered at the New Tow Police Station.

    Scores of PTI workers were arrested across the country after the May 9 incident following the arrest of Imran Khan from court premises.

    Last week, a three member bench granted relief to five suspects and emphasized that authorities must differentiate who are the real terrorists. Their surety bonds were worth Rs 50,000 each.

  • Maulana Fazlur Rehman announces protests against February polls

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman announces protests against February polls

    Leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday said that his party had decided to boycott by-elections and will be holding protests in different cities from April 25.

    “Just like in 2018 elections, the mandate of people has been stolen in elections of 2024. We decided that our party would not accept the results of recent elections because this parliament is more of a representative of the establishment rather than the people,” said the chief of JUI-F.

    By now, major political parties like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, JUI-F, and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have rejected the results of February 8 elections, making the general elections controversial.

    “This is our narrative and we have decided to move forward with it. We will start this movement named ‘Awami Assembly’ from April 25 from Balochistan’s Pishin,” said the JUI-F leader. The second ‘Awami Aseembly’ will begin from Karachi on May 2 and the third phase would be in Peshawar on May 9.

    He also said that his party is in contact with other political parties, “so that a united opinion of people comes forward.”
    He criticized the Elections Commission of Pakistan for neglecting its legal obligations and accused the security agencies of overstepping their boundaries.

  • PTI wants  EU to public report on February 8 polls

    PTI wants  EU to public report on February 8 polls

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded on Monday that the European Union (EU) publish a report on the February 8 general elections. 

    “The EU report on the elections should be made public,” PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

    Hasan confirmed that the EU delegation visited Pakistan before the elections and gave its report on the general elections directly to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    “The EU report is very sensitive and important,” he added. The party has repeatedly complained about alleged widespread rigging and manipulation of election results in last month’s general elections, stating that its mandate was’stolen’.

    The former ruling party’s founder, Imran Khan, had also written to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), calling on the global lender to hold an audit of the election results before approving any new loan for Islamabad—aa demand excused by the Washington-based lender, citing its “narrow mandate on economic issues” and saying that it does not comment on domestic political developments.

  • Police official transferred after stopping black window car of PML-N MPA

    Police official transferred after stopping black window car of PML-N MPA

    A police officer was transferred on Sunday for stopping the car of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Malik Waheed Awan.

    Sub-inspector Yasir and other officials halted Waheed’s vehicle with tinted windows while the MPA was inside the car.

    A video showing the conversation between the PML-N leader and police personnel surfaced online, where the politician can be heard saying, “I am Malik Waheed, not just an ordinary MPA.”

    Awan demanded an on-camera apology from the policeman. However, Sub-Inspector (SI) Yasir and officials apologised to MPA Malik Waheed. Later, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi transferred sub-inspector Yasir to the judicial wing.

    In a video statement, Malik Waheed stated that he had come to thank the trader’s community in the constituency after winning the election, but the police deliberately stopped his vehicle.

    The PML-N leader added that he is a police-friendly person and salutes the police.

  • Bajwa, Faiz Hameed didn’t violate constitution, says Khaqan Abbasi

    Bajwa, Faiz Hameed didn’t violate constitution, says Khaqan Abbasi

    Former prime minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said on Sunday that he didn’t ever seen former Army Chief General (R) Qamar Javed Bajwa and former Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. General (R) Faiz Hameed breach the constitution.

    Any wrongdoing should be addressed in a proper way, the former Prime Minister said on Samaa TV’s show “
    Do Tok with Kiran Naz. He also talked about different domestic issues and Pakistan’s relationship with other countries.

    Abbasi criticised the debate about Muhammad Aurangzeb’s selection as Finance Minister in the federal cabinet, emphasising the significance of competence rather than just party membership.

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also advocated for accountability and said that the establishment of a truth commission is necessary to keep the facts transparent.

    Abbasi also emphasised that the Prime Minister should chair the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to ensure quick and effective decision-making in economic affairs.

  • PPP stops Punjab chapter from making alliance with PTI for senate elections

    PPP stops Punjab chapter from making alliance with PTI for senate elections

    PPP’s top leadership has prevented its provincial chapter from attempting to persuade Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to form a non-political alliance in the upcoming Senate election.

    PPP Punjab chapter suggested forming an electoral alliance with PTI for women and technocrat seats in Punjab.

    The PTI proposed it to the special committee of the PPP after receiving a conditional offer. They asked the PPP to vote for Yasmin Rashid.

    Sources told SAMMA that in return, the PPP offered to support Faiza Malik in women’s seats. 

    PPP instructed the party leadership in Punjab to form an alliance with the political allies Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) instead of PTI.

  • Gandapur gets bail; arrest warrants suspended

    Gandapur gets bail; arrest warrants suspended

    An Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad has given permission for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to be granted pre-arrest bail in the judicial complex vandalism case. Meanwhile, the Sessions Court has stopped his arrest warrants in cases filed at Bani Gala and Golra police stations in Islamabad.

    The ATC granted Gandapur interim bail until April 17, approving his pre-arrest bail request.

    Gandapur’s lawyer Raja Zahoorul Hassan told the court his client was named in the first information report (FIR), but he had no role in the vandalism incident as he was not present on the scene. The lawyer further revealed that despite facing 50 FIRs, Gandapur was not even being allowed to reach the court.

    However, Gandapur turned himself in to the Sessions Court in Islamabad, which led to the cancellation of the arrest warrants issued against him in cases filed at Bani Gala and Golra police stations.

  • Zardari wants to use presidential protection in NAB cases

    Zardari wants to use presidential protection in NAB cases

    President Asif Ali Zardari has filed for Presidential immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution in two National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases. The clause provides protection to high-ranking state officials from all legal proceedings in court for any action taken by them during their terms in office.

    In the Park Lane Case, Mr Zardari is accused of allegedly using his influence to extract loans from the state exchequer for dummy corporations during his term as the President from 2008 to 2013. It is important to note that Mr Zardari, along with his sister and several other business associates, are accused in this case as well. However, the Presidential immunity only protects Mr Zardari.

    The other NAB case is known as the Thatta Water Supply reference in which Asif Ali Zardari and others are accused of illegally awarding different contracts to private contractors. Zardari’s counsel emphasized that President Zardari’s status as the country’s elected head granted him immunity from legal action, thus rendering the continuation of the case against him untenable.

    The accountability court has since issued a notice to the NAB, seeking a response to Mr Zardari’s application for immunity by April 22.

    President Asif Ali Zardari has filed for Presidential immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution in two National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases. The clause provides protection to high-ranking state officials from all legal proceedings in court for any action taken by them during their terms in office.

    In the Park Lane Case, Mr Zardari is accused of allegedly using his influence to extract loans from the state exchequer for dummy corporations during his term as the President from 2008 to 2013. It is important to note that Mr Zardari, along with his sister and several other business associates, are accused in this case as well. However, the Presidential immunity only protects Mr Zardari.

    The other NAB case is known as the Thatta Water Supply reference in which Asif Ali Zardari and others are accused of illegally awarding different contracts to private contractors. Zardari’s counsel emphasized that President Zardari’s status as the country’s elected head granted him immunity from legal action, thus rendering the continuation of the case against him untenable.

    The accountability court has since issued a notice to the NAB, seeking a response to Mr Zardari’s application for immunity by April 22.

  • Two army officials martyred in suicide blast in DI Khan

    Two army officials martyred in suicide blast in DI Khan

    The military’s media wing reported on Friday that a suicide blast on a convoy resulted in the deaths of two soldiers who embraced martyrdom. 

    The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that a suicide bomber detonated himself near a convoy on Thursday.

    “Resultantly, two brave sons of soil, Naib Subedar Yasir Shakeel, 38, resident of District Kohat, and Sepoy Tahir Naveed, 34, resident of District Kohat, embraced shahadat (martyrdom),” the ISPR said.

    The military’s media wing also said that security forces are committed to eliminating the terrorism from the country.

    “Moreover, the perpetrators of this cowardly attack will be brought to justice,” it said.

    On the other hand, armed forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Panjgur district on Thursday, during which one terrorist was killed and two others sustained injuries, the ISPR said.

  • Government likely to extend new IMF programme for three years, says Shehbaz Sharif

    Government likely to extend new IMF programme for three years, says Shehbaz Sharif

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has indicated that the government is likely to extend the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme for three years.

    “The new tranche of loan is likely to be received from the IMF in a few days, however, we would need another programme,” he said while addressing a session of the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s (SIFC) apex committee attended by civil-military leadership on Thursday.

    Shehbaz Sharif also stated that the presence of civil-military leadership, including elected lawmakers, in the session is a clear message of unity, development, and prosperity for the country.

    The PM also said that the former coalition government, comprised of 13 political parties, prioritised the country over politics.

    “There are major challenges to national economy. The SIFC is an important platform which was primarily establishment to remove hurdles in foreign investments, and it held several meetings during the last eight months.” Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir played vital role in SIFC’s formation, he added.