Tag: politics latest

  • Mazay Khatam; No more 1st class for PM and five-star hotels for ministers 

    Mazay Khatam; No more 1st class for PM and five-star hotels for ministers 

    In a bid to curb expenses, the federal government has rolled out a stringent travel advisory affecting top-tier officials, including the president, prime minister, chief justice, services chiefs, and bureaucrats. 

    Effective immediately, the advisory mandates specific classes for air travel, categorizing officials based on their positions.

    Cabinet Division said the president and the CJP will travel in ‘class-1’, whereas the PM, Senate chairman, National Assembly speaker, ministers, services chiefs, MNAs, federal secretaries, grade-22 officers, and ambassadors will travel in business class.

    Other officers of the federal government, attached departments, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, and other institutions under the administrative control of various ministries/divisions will travel in economy class.

    Obligatory Visits Only

    According to the advisory, foreign travel of officers shall be allowed only in cases of obligatory visits and that too in the economy class.

    This move comes as part of a new foreign travel policy aiming to rationalize overseas visits, instill austerity measures, and enforce accountability.

    Key provisions of the policy include obtaining permission from an austerity committee for non-essential visits, providing comprehensive travel details to the Foreign Ministry, and a ban on simultaneous foreign trips by ministers and secretaries unless under unavoidable circumstances approved by the prime minister.

    No Five Star Hotels

    Additionally, the policy discourages stays in five-star hotels, prohibits support staff from accompanying government officers, and encourages teleconferencing as a viable alternative. Ministers, ministers of state, advisers, and assistants are limited to three foreign visits per year, with exceptions granted in special cases.

    Furthermore, ministers are prohibited from traveling during National Assembly or Senate sessions, and all foreign visit details must be submitted to the Foreign Ministry within 15 days.

    The guidelines also address diplomatic relations, mandating adherence to the ‘One China Policy’ for interactions with Taiwan and requiring special permission for contacts with Korea. Visiting India necessitates permission from the interior and foreign ministries.

    Lastly, hosting foreign companies is discouraged, and visits by experts and consultants are permitted only during bilateral discussions.

  • Resurfaced Indian clip about Imran Khan goes viral; people divided

    Resurfaced Indian clip about Imran Khan goes viral; people divided

    An old clip from an ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sushant Sareen, whose X (Former Twitter) bio says “Senior Fellow, ORF; obsessive Pakistan watcher and hence Afghanistan, Kashmir, Terrorism, Islamism; history buff but studied economics” and Tilak Devasher, whose bio says “Author of ‘Pakistan: Courting the Abyss’, ‘Pakistan: At the Helm’ and ‘Pakistan: The Balochistan Conundrum. Member National Security Advisory Board” has gone viral.

    X user Hamza Azhar Aslam who according to his profile bio is a journalist and Founder & Editor of ThePakDaily posted a clip on March 17 where Smita, Sushant, and Devasher were discussing Imran Khan.

    The clip was captioned as “Indian intelligentsia discusses the cult of Imran Khan.”

    The clip states that Imran Khan’s followers are a cult and they believe in whatever Imran says.

    X users are divided after this discussion. User @CherieDamour_ said, “Even the Indians get what youthias are blind to.”

    @awaissaleem77 wrote, “Does this “intelligentsia” ever discuss Modi cult with such enthusiasm as well?”

    @mariaa_awd said, “Wowww this one really thinks Smita is Indian intelligentsia , bhai mana we are Vishwagurus but Smita aunty is not our intelligentsia by any stretch, gossip aunty at best ‍♀️

    Her kisi se impress hona band Kare … we need some confidence building workshops for sarhad paar libbus”

    @ajmalkhankakar wrote, “The Indian folks in this clip perfectly characterize and provide the most accurate description of IK’s persona and his followers.”

    @samiyanoureen6 wrote, “Are there no journalists in Pakistan with the courage to speak bluntly and honestly like this?”

    @CHSandhu886 wrote, “I love how intricate these Indian analysts are about the phenomenon of Imran Khan’s popularity, truly admire how they’ve picked up on details. Don’t think any Pakistani analyst can explain this in such detail.”

  • Nawaz Sharif criticises increase in gas, power rates under IMF pressure

    Nawaz Sharif criticises increase in gas, power rates under IMF pressure

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif criticised the increase in rates of electricity and gas prices after directives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to do so.

    The former prime minister raised concerns regarding the increase in rates of gas and power during a meeting with the Punjab government. The Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, was also present in the meeting.

    The leader of the PML-N commented on high inflation, questioning how much more the nation could endure. He urged authorities to solve the issue of costly electricity for small farmers by giving them solar panels.

    Senior provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Information Minister Azma Bukhari, Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, MPA Sania Ashiq, provincial chief secretary, Planning and Development Board chairman, Transport secretary, and other officials concerned were also present at the meeting.

    The PML-N supremo also said that small farmers should be rewarded for their hard work and should be saved from the exploitation of big farmers.

  • Tayyaba Raja angry at PTI for senate seat for Sanam Javed

    Tayyaba Raja angry at PTI for senate seat for Sanam Javed

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker Tayyaba Raja criticised her party for nominating Sanam Javed as a candidate for a seat in the Senate.

    Tayyaba Raja wrote on her X (previously Twitter) account that it is unfair to highlight one person’s achievements and ignoring the sacrifices of others.

    Tayyaba also asked how an anti-terrorism court granted bail to Sanam Javed, writing that she arrested eight times and received bail on seven occasions.

    The PTI leader pointed out that Aliya Hamza and Khadija Shah were granted bail by the Lahore High Court after nine months following the reformation of the bench 15 times.

    “How can the ATC repeatedly grant bail to an individual? This is a major question.”

    “All of us are silent only till the return of [PTI founding chairman] Imran Khan,” she said.

    She urged every woman worker to remain patient and wait for the best time to speak up.

  • Corruption was rampant in PTI’s previous KP government,’ Sher Afzal Marwat

    Corruption was rampant in PTI’s previous KP government,’ Sher Afzal Marwat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat made startling admissions regarding corruption within his party’s previous government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    Known for his outspoken demeanor and controversial statements, Marwat recently alleged on an X (former Twitter) space that corruption had reached unprecedented levels during the previous PTI government in KP, with individuals amassing not billions, but trillions through illicit means.

    Responding to a question, the PTI leader said that the narrative of keeping former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail instead of his residence in Bani Gala was not floated by him.
    “Former KP chief minister Mahmood Khan earns Rs2.5 million daily from one of his mines now,” he added.

    Marwat’s remarks have once again thrust him into the limelight for his blunt and provocative statements. Just last week, he openly criticized his party’s decisions on alliances, attributing their electoral setbacks to two major mistakes.

    He said the first major mistake was committed when party founder Imran Khan gave instructions for a political alliance with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Sherani and the second major mistake was the announcement of the inclusion into the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, adding that some people gave sectarian colour to the issue and gave threatening messages to the PTI leadership.
    However, Marwat’s comments have drawn ire from within his party, as well as from political allies.

    Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), issued a stern warning to leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), cautioning them against airing internal grievances publicly.
    The revelations made by Marwat have reignited discussions surrounding corruption allegations within the PTI and have raised concerns about the party’s internal cohesion.

  • Aseefa Bhutto may be joining National Assembly soon

    Aseefa Bhutto may be joining National Assembly soon

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has filed her nomination papers on Sunday to contest by-elections on the National Assembly (NA) seat vacated by her father. Aseefa Bhutto will take part in the polls from NA-207 as the PPP’s co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, left his seat after being elected president of Pakistan.

    The returning officer also confirmed that Assefa Bhutto submitted her nomination papers, stating that by-polls in Shaheed Benazirabad-1 will be held on April 21.

    On her X (previously Twitter) account, the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto shared pictures of herself filing nomination papers.

    She was accompanied by her aunt, Azra Fazal Pechuho. Party workers showered rose petals on her when she stepped out of the RO’s office.

    Asif Ali Zardari was elected on March 10 as the 14th president of Pakistan.

    The population of the constituency stands at 959,756 with 496,037 registered voters — of which 268,522 are male and 227,515 female voters.

    Earlier, in the February 8 general elections, Zardari secured victory in NA-207 Shaheed Benazirabad-I constituency as he defeated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed (PTI) Sardar Sher Muhammad Rind by a huge margin.

  • Maryam Nawaz’s iftar with prisoners in Kot Lakhpat Jail sparks debate

    Maryam Nawaz’s iftar with prisoners in Kot Lakhpat Jail sparks debate

    The newly-elected Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, broke her fast on Sunday with prisoners of the central jail in Lahore in Kot Lakhpath. She visited the prisoners in jail, after having been imprisoned there herself in the past.

    Videos released by her party showed her taking iftar with prisoners, giving them gifts and clothes, and providing Rs 15,000 in monetary assistance. 

    People on X (previously Twitter) appreciated that Maryam Nawaz extended her support to prisoners in jail. However, some people are also criticising the iftar as a publicity venture, stating that putting up banners of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in jail is wrong.

    A video shared by Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb showed the CM Maryam visiting different sections of the jail and planting a tree in the garden on the occasion. Besides meeting the prison officials, Maryam also spoke to the prisoners and asked about their issues and problems.

    Biryani, samosas, pakoras, fruits, and other savoury items were included in Iftar’s menu.

    Earlier, Maryam Nawaz inaugurated a 20-bed hospital for drug addicts inside the prison.

  • Court grants bail to journalist Asad Toor in anti-judiciary campaign

    Court grants bail to journalist Asad Toor in anti-judiciary campaign

    Special Judge Central Humayun Dilawar granted bail to vlogger Asad Toor on Saturday in a case pertaining to allegations of running a malicious campaign against the judiciary.

    Ishtiaq Hussain Shah, the special prosecutor for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), went to court and said the agency doesn’t oppose giving bail to the vlogger.

    The bail was granted against surety bonds worth Rs5,000.

    Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also declared call-up notices issued to Toor by the FIA against the law.

    IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued a seven-page written order regarding the vlogger’s plea against the FIA notices. He stated that the FIR was filed because notices were wrongly issued.

    The judge maintained that the relevant forum can be approached once the FIR is registered, adding that the court cannot order Toor’s release due to the bar on taking suo motu action.

  • Fatima Bhutto becomes mother to baby boy

    Fatima Bhutto becomes mother to baby boy

    Fatima Bhutto, author and the granddaughter of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, announced the birth of her baby boy on Saturday. She has named her son Mir Murtaza Byra, after her father Mir Murtaza Bhutto.

    The writer shared the good news via her account on X and wrote, “Graham and I are so happy to share the news of the birth of our baby boy.”

    The internationally acclaimed writer also shared an elaborate social media post, revealing the name she picked for her son and explaining her reasons behind the choice.

    “We wanted to give our son a name that would bestow him with courage and kindness as he makes his way through the world. I wanted a name that would act as an inspiration to him in his life but also one that would cloak him in love and strength, a name that he could wear with the knowledge that it was given to him from deep within his mother’s heart and soul to protect him throughout his life, to give him in equal measure both grace and fearlessness, a sense of his homeland and of joy,” she wrote.

    Sharing her feelings regarding the naming her child, Fatima stated: “Every time I thought of what name might do that, I always came back to my beloved father’s name.”

    She also asked her fans and followers to pray for her family during this happy time.

  • PTI decides to field activist Sanam Javed for women’s seat in Senate

    PTI decides to field activist Sanam Javed for women’s seat in Senate

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) has decided to field its jailed activist Sanam Javed for the women’s seat in the upcoming senate polls while incarcerated leader Dr Yasmin Rashid will contest the election for the technocrat seat in the Upper House.

    Party leader Mian Aslam Iqbal announced that Hamid Khan and Zulfi Bukhari are candidates for general seats in Punjab while Umar Sarfaraz Cheema and Col (retd) Ijaz Minhas will serve as covering candidates for the general seats.

    Meanwhile, today is the last date for submitting nomination papers for the Senate elections on general seats. The returning officers will be accepting the nominations till 5pm. The scrutiny of the nomination papers would be completed by March 19, while by March 21, appeals can be filed against the acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers. 

    Furthermore, authorities will issue decisions on the appeals by March 25. Polling will take place in both the provincial and national assemblies on April 2 from 9 am to 4 pm.