Tag: politics latest

  • Arrest warrants issued for judge who convicted Imran Khan in Toshakhana case

    Arrest warrants issued for judge who convicted Imran Khan in Toshakhana case

    In an interesting development, arrest warrants have been issued for the judge who convicted the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, in the Toshakhana reference. Justice Humayun Dilawar’s arrest warrants have been issued in a land-grabbing case by a judicial magistrate in Bannu, who also issued arrest warrants for the judge’s brother, father, and registrar.

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has been directed to arrest and present the judge in court.

    Special Assistant on Anti-Corruption to KP CM Musaddiq Abbasi confirmed the development saying that the suspect “illegally” registered government land for their housing society.

    Imran Khan was arrested last year from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore soon after being convicted in the Toshakhana reference and given a sentence of three years in jail with a fine of Rs 100,000.

    However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Khan’s sentence in the same reference in April 2024.

  • ‘CM KP Gandapur was abducted,’ claims Imran Khan

    ‘CM KP Gandapur was abducted,’ claims Imran Khan

    Founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has claimed that Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur was abducted after a power show at Sangjani.

    Speaking to journalist at Adila jail, former Prime Minister Khan allegedly said that the establishment had tricked him over the September 8 rally at Sangjani and arrested PTI’s top leadership.

    Khan expounding on the postponed rally of August 22 he said, “PTI leader Azam Swati visited Adiala jail at 7 AM and conveyed the establishment message.” This was followed by Khan rescheduling the rally in Islamabad.

    Khan alleged that the establishment had offered him ‘acquittal in all cases’ if he remained silent for three years.

    He criticized the incumbent government for barring the PTI supporters from reaching the Sangjani area by blocking the roads with containers.

    Responding to Chief Justice Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa’s tenure extension, Khan warned of street agitation if parliament tries to extend CJP’s tenure through constitutional amendments.

  • Vawda accuses Imran Khan of knowing ‘something big’ before Arshad Sharif’s murder

    Vawda accuses Imran Khan of knowing ‘something big’ before Arshad Sharif’s murder

    Senator Faisal Vawda has accused former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, on Monday of knowing “something big” was about to happen ahead of the October 2022 assassination of journalist Arshad Sharif.

    Vawda laid down the substantial claims in multiple TV shows last night and also released a 42-second audio clip which allegedly recorded Imran Khan talking about something big that was about to happen before Arshad Sharif’s murder.

    Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was killed in Kenya on October 23, 2022 after he left the country followimg Khan’s government being thrown out through a no-confidence motion in the parliament.

    Vawda also claimed that former ISI Chief Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed might have been involved in the incident.

    “According to my analysis, [Imran] was not aware that Arshad Sharif was going to be murdered. But he was well aware that something big would happen,” said Vawda.

    “But Faiz Hameed was directly involved, and he was well aware of that [plan]. And Murad Saeed was also aware. He was aware of it in August 2022. He even knew that someone outside the country had been hired for the job. His presser on this subject is on the record,” stated the Senator known for making sensational claims.

    In the audio clip, the alleged voice of the PTI founder can be heard saying: “Look, we should not confuse what we’re going to do in the long march and what we’re doing in the protests that we are staging today. Both protests have different dynamics and we have planned very meticulously what we’re going to do [in the long march] and I am not going to announce it in a knee-jerk reaction. I am going to announce it very soon, by the end of the month or maybe on 30th or by next Sunday. But I am not giving any date.”

    Vawda said that anyone can perform a forensic analysis of the audio recording to check its authenticity.

  • Was KP CM Gandapur arrested in Islamabad?

    Was KP CM Gandapur arrested in Islamabad?

    Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur has reached Peshawar despite speculation of his arrest in Islamabad.

    Yesterday, Information Advisor KP Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif claimed that Gandapur disappeared after the power show rally at Sangjani, and his phone number was switched off.

    “Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is in Islamabad, not Peshawar, but we have no information on his whereabouts,” he claimed yesterday.

    Opposition leader in the National Assembly (NA) Omar Ayub Khan said that the federal government and establishment invited Gandapur for a cup of tea to discuss security concerns in KP, adding that they could not reach out to the security staff via mobile phone.

    On the other hand, Zulfi Bukhari claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that CM KP Gandapur had been arrested/abducted.

    Upon CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur’s arrival in Peshawar, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Shahid Khattak clarified that Gandapur was busy in various meetings in Islamabad, rejecting the rumours of disappearance.

    On September 9, Islamabad police launched a crackdown against PTI leadership for violating the new public order law. They arrested prominent figures, including Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Sher Afzal Marwat.

    Today, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan criticised the incumbent government in the National Assembly on the arrest of PTI lawmakers.

    Posing a question, he said, “Today, I am making a case on democracy. What happened to democracy and to this parliament last night? We are not in Israel; we are in Pakistan.”

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif hit back at Khan, saying, “If you say ‘No founder PTI Imran Khan, no Pakistan’, what will be the reaction?”

    “CM KP Gandapur, bring an army of Pashtuns and attack Punjab,” he added.

  • PM Shehbaz plans major constitutional amendments for judicial system reform

    PM Shehbaz plans major constitutional amendments for judicial system reform

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Monday that the government intends to present a constitutional amendment draft for the approval of both Houses of Parliament this week, ending long-debated speculations, to bring about significant changes in the judicial system.

    While addressing a dinner for MNAs of his own and allied parties in the PM’s house, Sharif said that certain elements are busy undermining government performance but they would be helpless under the upcoming amendments.

    Earlier, many YouTubers and journalists speculated about the government’s alleged plans to extend the tenure of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa through an upcoming judicial package; however, both the government and the CJP denied the claims.

    He also asked coalition members of the parliament to ensure their attendance from September 10 till the adjournment of the current session.

    Jang News reported that the government has attained a two-thirds majority in the Houses of Parliament for the proposed constitutional amendment.

    Meanwhile, The News reported that the two major amendments include removing the suo motu powers of the superior judiciary and establishing a constitutional court under the Nawaz-Benazir Charter of Democracy signed in June 2006.

  • Crackdown on PTI leadership for violating new law

    Crackdown on PTI leadership for violating new law

    A crackdown has been launched against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) top leadership for allegedly violating the new Public Order law during the September 8 rally at Sangjani.

    The capital police registered multiple cases against 25 leaders, resulting in the arrest of prominent PTI figures, including Sher Afzal Marwat, Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, Chief Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, from outside the parliament.

    Law enforcement agencies have also conducted raids to arrest Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan.

    PTI’s bigwigs Hammad Azhar, Kanwal Shauzab, Naeem Haider Panjotha, Amir Mughal, Khalid Khursheed and Zartaj Gul Wazir are also nominated on the raid list.

    The development came after Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) passed sexist and controversial remarks at the Islamabad rally.

    However, Chairman PTI barrister Gohar Ali Khan offered a “conditional apology”.

    Speaking to Geo News, barrister Khan said that he had not heard Gandapur’s speech but contacted him immediately, upon which CM KP apologised for his recent remarks.

    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.

  • Gandapur publicly threatens Maryam Nawaz again

    Gandapur publicly threatens Maryam Nawaz again

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur gave a hard-hitting, controversial speech at the September 8 party rally, even threatening Defence Minister Khawaja Asif by remarking, “Not even your father can do a military trial of Khan!”

    “Those whom you [Khawaja Asif] consider your father, they cannot do it [military trial of Khan] as well. He [Khawaja Asif] says that Gen Faiz contacted us after retirement. Did we get Gen Faiz in dowry or inheritance? He was your father…your general… fix your institutions and generals,” exclaimed the KP CM.

    Journalist Muneeb Farooq, speaking on the Geo News programme last night, revealed the military establishment’s perspective on the KP CM’s speech, saying, “Whatever they’ve said in the rally, the military reply is this: whatever is ‘inevitable’, PTI is pushing it at jet speed.”

    Farooq also quoted a high-level official regarding the stark difference between Gandapur’s speech at the rally and his soft-spoken attitude during meetings with the military establishment.

    “Ali Amin Gandapur may not stay in his post for long for many reasons,” predicted Muneeb Farooq.

    Furthermore, Ali Amin Gandapur also vowed that if Imran Khan is not released within two weeks, the party would “set him free” themselves.

    He also announced that the next party rally would be conducted in Lahore while inciting violence against CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz, saying, “Tumhara wo haal karenge kay tum Bangladesh bhool jao gay.”

  • ‘Gandapur won’t even be able to cross Attock bridge’; Rana Sanaullah responds to CM KP

    ‘Gandapur won’t even be able to cross Attock bridge’; Rana Sanaullah responds to CM KP

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Special Assistant for Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has declared that Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur’s controversial speech at Sunday’s Sangjani rally was intended to spread anarchy in the country.

    Speaking at the ‘Naya Pakistan’ talk show, Sanaullah dismissed Gandapur’s statements by saying, “It was not a political speech” and advised the political parties to remain within constitutional limits.

    “These types of rallies should not be permitted,” Sanaullah stated.

    Responding to Gandapur’s remarks about the two-week ultimatum to free founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan from prison, Sanaullah questioned, “In which rally did the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) give an ultimatum?”

    Sanaullah challenged Gandapur’s claims to hold a rally in Punjab, saying, “He won’t even cross the Attock bridge for a rally in Lahore; the government will answer in the same language that the CM KP understands.”

    On September 8, at a rally in Sangjani, CM KP remarked, citing former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s military trial speculation, “Not even your father can do a military trial of Khan.”

    “Tumhara wo haal karenge kay tum Bangladesh bhool jao gay,” Gandapur remarked while challenging CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz that he will hold PTI’s next rally at Lahore.

  • ‘IMF wanted Pakistan to default last year,’ claims Ishaq Dar

    ‘IMF wanted Pakistan to default last year,’ claims Ishaq Dar

    Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has claimed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wanted Pakistan to default during the tenure of last year’s sixteen-month government led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

    In a Defence Day ceremony, Dar said, “The IMF was not reviewing Pakistan’s loan request, despite fulfilling the technical review demands.”

    He mentioned that the IMF had delayed the loan for eight months when Pakistan was in economic turmoil despite having three billion commitments from friendly countries.

    “Pakistan could lead the fifty-seven Islamic countries by achieving economic power, and whenever the country was quite close to achieving that goal, the government’s legs were pulled from underneath it,” Dar claims.

    He urged politicians to be rational about Pakistan’s economic potential, pointing out the country’s nuclear power status.

    The Deputy Prime Minister stood by his unusual statement at Geo News last year, asserting, “Pakistan can avoid default without the IMF.”

  • Ahsan Iqbal recalls how PTI govt prevented him from undergoing physiotherapy after he was shot

    Ahsan Iqbal recalls how PTI govt prevented him from undergoing physiotherapy after he was shot

    Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives of Pakistan Ahsan Iqbal recalled the unfortunate incident of May 2018 when he was shot by a religious extremist, saying, “Even today, when I see my crooked and broken arm, Imran Khan’s face comes before me.”

    Iqbal appeared on a Dawn News programme with anchor Adil Shahzeb, claiming that former Prime Minister Imran Khan did to the opposition during his tenure while he had maximum facilities in Adiala Jail.

    “On the third day of my second surgery, the doctors said that if I didn’t do physiotherapy, my hand would become crooked. Despite court orders, Imran Khan did not allow me to undergo physio for two and a half months, due to which the hand became crooked,” lamented the federal minister.

    Iqbal said, “This was the kind of vengeance Imran Khan’s government was undertaking, but we did not make such a fuss about it.”

    Ahsan Iqbal said that he was not telling this story to take revenge on Khan but to let the people know that “What they did to us did not happen to them [PTI leaders].”