A session court in Islamabad has sent former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry to Adiala jail on judicial remand in a fraud case on Wednesday.
After the end of a one-day physical remand, Fawad Chaudhry was brought before the judicial magistrate, Yasir Mehmood.
The former minister’s council, Qamar Inayat, requested that the court remove his client’s handcuffs, to which the court agreed.
The lawyer asked for time to hold consultations, upon which the court ordered a 15-minute break.
After the break, Fawad Chaudhry told the court that it’s the third hearing, but a complainant has not been presented. After that, the court announced its decision to send Chaudhry on a 14-day judicial remand to Adiala jail.
Later, Fawad Chaudhry said in his media talk that Nawaz Sharif should play a role in decreasing political tension.
The legal saga surrounding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s jail trial and the controversial cipher case took center stage in Islamabad this week.
On Tuesday, three witnesses provided their testimonies against the PTI chief and his party’s Vice Chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Judge Zulqarnain presided over the proceedings at Adiala jail under the special Official Secrets Act court. PTI legal representatives included Barristers Salman Safdar, Taimur, and Gohar Ali Khan, while special prosecutors comprised of Shah Khawar, Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi, and Raja Rizwan Abbasi.
During the proceedings, PTI’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, representing Khan, raised concerns over the trial’s confined space within the jail premises, emphasizing that it wasn’t in line with legal protocols.
Family members met the two leaders before witnesses’ statements and cross-examination were conducted; legal teams consulted with Khan and Qureshi. The PTI chief met with his wife Bushra Bibi and sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Khanum, and Uzma Khan, within the jail premises.
Qureshi’s daughter, Meharbano, was also present during the trial. She also spoke with the media outside the jail, and demanded justice and a fair trial for her father.
“Let the family in; no one can have security concerns from their family. Fair trial is my father’s right and as a daughter, I have the right to see the trial,” she added.
Contempt of court petition
Adiala jail superintendent responded to the contempt of court petition filed by Khan on Wednesday, requesting the court to dismiss the contempt of court petition.
“Can’t even think of disobeying the court order,” he stated in his reply.
The superintendent told the court there is no permanent facility to make phone calls abroad on WhatsApp. He informed the court that the PTI chief spoke with his children on October 18, after the jail took special measures to make the call possible.
“Arrangements are made for prisoners to speak with family and lawyers at the jail PCO,” he said, adding that the court can direct the Punjab Home Department to amend the rules with regard to making phone calls.
The court, meanwhile, adjourned the hearing of the contempt petition till Monday due to the absence of Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.
Islamabad High Court
Islamabad High Court’s Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb asked the Attorney General of Pakistan to ensure that the cipher case trial was not conducted in an inappropriate manner, otherwise, it might collapse like a house of cards.
An IHC bench, comprising Justice Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, heard the intra-court appeal filed by Khan against his jail trial and the appointment of the special court’s judge in the cipher case.
The court adjourned the proceedings to November 14, allowing time for the attorney general to present arguments.
Nawaz wants his own umpires
Talking to media persons outside Adiala Jail, Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Umair Niazi said the PTI chief had criticised PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and also rejected the trial of civilians in military courts.
The PTI lawyer quoted Mr Khan as saying that Nawaz Sharif cannot play without his own umpires and is again looking towards them. All political parties, except the PML-N, are calling for a level playing field, he added.
Khan expressed concern over the fresh wave of terrorism in the country and said this was because of a “weak” Afghan policy as Mr Bhutto-Zardari, being the foreign minister, did not visit Kabul to address the issue of terrorism.
Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif will visit Balochistan on November 13, marking his first visit within the country after his return to Pakistan on October 21.
Nawaz Sharif will meet more than 20 electable politicians and known political personalities of the province.
According to Samas, the politicians will join PML-N after meeting Sharif.
On the other hand, the PML-N will announce seat adjustment with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
The former prime minister will also meet with the newly formed party structure in Balochistan.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is ready to conduct “free, fair, and transparent” general elections in Pakistan on February 8, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja said on Tuesday.
Sikandar Raja met with caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar at PM House to brief him about preparations for the upcoming general elections in the country.
During the huddle, PM Kakar reassured the CEC that the interim government will fully cooperate with ECP, providing all necessary resources to make the general elections free, fair, and transparent.
PM Kakar also said that the caretaker government will also provide funds and security to make polls possible.
On the other hand, CEC also invited PM Kakar to visit ECP to review preparations for the upcoming elections.
He further said the process of updating electoral lists is in the final phases, and they will soon be dispatched to all respective districts.
The Government of Punjab, after approval from the Chief Minister, has ordered “restricted movement” in some areas of Punjab to combat smog.
The areas of Lahore Division (District Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Kasur), District Gujranwala, District Hafizabad, and District Narowal, have the worst Air Quality Index (AQI), becoming potential hotspots for Conjunctivitis, and will go under lockdown.
From Thursday to Sunday i.e., November 9, 2023, to November 12, 2023, all markets, shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, gymnasiums, schools
(public and private), and offices (public and private) will remain closed in these areas.
Also, movement of people will be limited to and from these areas by public and private transport.
Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari have agreed to collaborate for the betterment of the country during a recent telephonic conversation, Geo news has revealed.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) expressed their commitment to jointly tackle crucial issues affecting the nation.
Zardari reportedly extended congratulations to Sharif on his return to Pakistan on October 21 after spending four years in self-imposed exile in London.
Both leaders underscored the significance of the participation of all stakeholders in the collective effort to steer the country towards stability and progress, according to reliable sources.
Acknowledging the pressing concern of inflation, the leaders also discussed plans to alleviate the burden on the public. In light of their discussion, it is anticipated that a high-level meeting will soon be convened to deliberate on crucial matters.
The timing of their conversation coincided with the directive given to their respective party workers to gear up for the forthcoming general elections scheduled for February 8.
Notably, the PPP and the PML-N were previously coalition partners in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government, which came into power following the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
However, while the news of the conversation has been making rounds, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari downplayed its significance, emphasizing that the PPP remains open to collaborating with all political parties.
Contradicting earlier reports, PPP Central Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi denied any direct communication between Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, urging the public to verify the authenticity of such claims before spreading them.
He took to X (former Twitter) and said, “I would like to clarify that the news of Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif contacting President Asif Ali Zardari is false and holds no truth. We urge everyone to verify information before spreading it.”
I would like to clarify that the news of Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif contacting President Asif Ali Zardari is false and holds no truth. We urge everyone to verify information before spreading it. #FactCheck#fakeNews@AAliZardari@NawazSharifMNS@PPP_Org
In related developments, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) on Tuesday announced that they would be jointly contesting the upcoming general elections scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024.
The development comes following a meeting of an MQM-P delegation led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar, and Syed Mustafa Kamal with the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in Lahore at the party’s Model Town secretariat.
Later, speaking to the media, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique said, “It has been decided that both parties will contest February 8 polls jointly”.
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) اور ایم کیوایم کا مشترکہ اعلامیہ
لاہور:7 نومبر
متحدہ قومی موومنٹ پاکستان (ایم۔ کیو۔ایم) کے وفد نے ڈاکٹر خالد مقبول صدیقی کی قیادت میں ، جس میں ڈاکٹر فاروق ستار اور مصطفی کمال شامل تھے، نے پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے قائد محمد نوازشریف اور صدر پاکستان مسلم لیگ… pic.twitter.com/38wTv7WaeC
Amidst escalating political activities, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and President Arif Alvi have reached an agreement to hold the general elections on February 8, adhering to the Supreme Court’s directives following a case regarding the delay of elections.
Following the electoral alliance between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has said that he welcomes his opponent’s intention to stand in elections.
“We will stand against our opponents that are coming in elections and we welcome them,” Zardari said while addressing party works in Ghotki’s Khangarh.
لائیو: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی پارلیمٹرینز کے صدر آصف علی زرداری ضلع گھوٹکی کی تحصیل خان گڑھ میں واقع گوہر پیلس میں کارکنان اور عوام سے خطاب کررہے ہیں https://t.co/7TLos5GmRU
The former president was of the view that when people who oppose each other contest elections then the competition among them delivers the “best results”.
The police on Tuesday found a bag containing an explosive device in Gorakhpur near Adiala jail, where the hearing of the cipher case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled for today.
According to police, the bomb disposal squad also confirmed that the bag had explosive material.
“The suspicious bag was packed with high-grade explosives of 1,500 grams,” the bomb disposal squad said.
The explosive device was defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) experts. Senior police officers of Rawalpindi police were present at the spot.
The bag with explosives material was found one kilometre away from Adiala jail, where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan is imprisoned.
The incident came to light during a period when the country is facing terrorist threats from both internal and external extremist organisations, including the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to the report of Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), at least 386 security officials lost their lives in first nine months of 2023.
Suspected militants on Tuesday attacked an oil and gas company in Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan), resulting in two police officials being martyred and three getting injured.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) confirmed that the terrorist attack occurred in Drazanda tehsil of DI Khan.
The injured police officials and the bodies were shifted to hospitals, said the DSP. He also confirmed that one of the injured policemen is in a critical condition.
The DSP stated that police officials were deployed for security of the oil company, adding that the search for terrorists is underway.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, stating that strict action is required to wipe out terrorists from Pakistan.
This was the fifth attack on DI Khan in the last few days.
Earlier, on Monday, militants attacked the Gul Imam police station in Tank Area, DI Khan.
Former ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has declared its intention to participate in the upcoming general elections across all constituencies in the country.
The decision was made following a key meeting of the party’s core committee.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had previously confirmed that the general elections will take place on February 8, 2024, after the Supreme Court’s instructions.
ECP announces 8th February,2024 as poll date for the General Elections to the National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan #ECPpic.twitter.com/pbSpLF9Z9o
— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL) (@ECP_Pakistan) November 3, 2023
The announcement followed consultations with President Arif Alvi in response to the apex court’s directives.
Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr. Sikandar Sultan Raja, along with the Attorney General for Pakistan, Mr. Mansoor Usman Awan, and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan, came to meet President Dr. Arif Alvi, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad. pic.twitter.com/wsPqo5tIxl
The Imran Khan-led party, in its statement, reiterated its determination to take part in electoral politics, adding that “Coercion and fascism will not deter [PTI] from contesting the elections.”
Addressing former prime minister and party chairman Imran Khan’s incarceration, the statement said: “The PTI chairman will lead the nation after being released [from Adiala jail]”.
“If the chairman is kept incarcerated, [then] he will lead the nation from the jail,” it added.
As per Imran Khan’s instructions, the party is set to actively engage in the national and provincial assembly elections, undeterred by any form of coercion or suppression, the core committee affirmed.
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It is the fiduciary duty of the judiciary and the lawyers to protect the Constitution, upon which rests the progress of…
The committee paid glowing tributes to the party chairman for demonstrating “unparalleled courage, resilience, and determination”.
Imran Khan stands as an embodiment of struggle, resistance, maturity, determination, and perseverance in the pursuit of genuine liberation for the nation, the committee noted, highlighting the chairman’s “unwavering resolve” despite his nearly 100-day “unjust incarceration”.
Members of the committee highlighted that Imran Khan’s “bravery and unwavering commitment” to not compromise on the true freedom of the nation serve as a wellspring of inspiration for the 240 million Pakistanis.
The PTI also plans to release a ‘White Paper’ outlining the alleged failures of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the caretaker government, which, they claim, have contributed to the country’s economic crisis.
Notably, the PTI has voiced concerns about the lack of a level playing field in the upcoming elections, a sentiment echoed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Both parties have alleged biased treatment favoring the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Meanwhile, as political parties gear up for the elections, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the PML-N, has directed party members to begin their preparations for the upcoming polls during a recent meeting in Lahore.
Former President Asif Ali Zardari said on Monday that he believes his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, will win the next election.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and President Arif Alvi recently decided that the election will take place on February 8, 2024.
In an official statement issued today, Zardari welcomed the announcement of the election date and said: “The sun of February 8 will rise with the message of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s victory.”
آصف علی زرداری کا سندھ میں بلدیات کے ضمنی انتخابات میں جیت پر عوام سے اظہار تشکر
سندھ کے دل کراچی نے بھی جیئے بھٹو کا نعرہ لگا دیا، آصف علی زرداری
مرتضٰی وہاب اور سلمان عبداللہ مراد کی کامیابی اہل کراچی کا مخالفین کے لیئے خاص پیغام ہے، آصف علی زرداری
“A few days of the public’s difficulties are left. The PPP will bring an end to the people’s ordeals,” he added.
The former president went on to express his gratitude to the public for the party’s victory in by-elections held in Karachi’s nine local government constituencies.
“Sindh’s heart, Karachi, also raised the slogan of ‘Jiye Bhutto’,” Zardari said while terming Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab and Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad’s wins a “special message for the opponents”.
“Every party worker may become the ambassador of Benazir Bhutto shaheed and start the electoral campaign,” he added.
In another statement, Bilawal also congratulated the Karachi by-election winners and said, “The public has given its verdict. Now, God-willing, the PPP’s victory on February 8 is also written on the wall.”
چیئرمین پی پی پی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی سندھ بھر میں بلدیات کے ضمنی الیکشن میں کامیاب ہونے والے جیالے امیدواروں کو مبارک باد
چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی کراچی کے میئر اور ڈپٹی میئر مرتضیٰ وہاب، سلمان عبداللہ مراد اور ڈپٹی میئر سکھر ارشد مغل کو الیکشن میں کامیابی پر مبارک باد…
Before the election, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been arguing a lot.
The PPP says the PML-N is secretly working with the current interim government. On the other hand, the PPP has said it is ready to work with the former ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party because they want the election to be fair for everyone.
This shift in alliances and strategies underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of Pakistani politics, as the country gears up for a pivotal moment in its democratic journey.
