Tag: politics latest

  • Imran Khan details want he wants from people of Pakistan in message from jail

    Imran Khan details want he wants from people of Pakistan in message from jail

    The incarcerated Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, has a message for the people of Pakistan, shared by his family on October 10, and recently shared on his official X (former Twitter) account.

    The former Prime Minister calls his incarceration illegal but stresses that today’s Imran Khan is different from the one who went to jail.

    “When I was illegally incarcerated in Attock Jail, the first few days were particularly challenging. I wasn’t provided a bed and had to sleep on the floor and had insects and mosquitoes all over me. But with time I have adjusted well to the prison conditions.

    ’ . ; , , ,” the message says.

    He tells his supporters not to give up and hopes that people will vote for PTI, whenever the elections are held.

    “Do not give up. This time of trial will end because Allah says that “with every difficulty there is ease”. Keep raising your voice against this unelected predatory group and their facilitators at every forum and keep demanding a fair and transparent election in the country,” his message said.

    The entire message by Imran Khan is as follows:

    “When I was illegally incarcerated in Attock Jail, the first few days were particularly challenging. I wasn’t provided a bed and had to sleep on the floor and had insects and mosquitoes all over me. But with time I have adjusted well to the prison conditions.

    ’ . ; , , .

    During my time in prison, I have had the opportunity to study and research the Holy Quran in depth, along with other books which has strengthened my faith.

    I was also able to introspect the last few years of my political life. Regardless of what prison they keep me in, whatever conditions they impose upon me, I will not back down even an inch from the quest of Haqeeqi Azadi, for the upholding of the rule of law and the Constitution of Pakistan, at the core of which is free and fair elections.

    To those suggesting that I leave the country, know that I will live and die with Pakistan, and I will not leave my land to go anywhere.

    As far as the Cipher case is concerned, this bogus case is designed to protect former Army Chief General Bajwa and Donald Lu. I was the elected Prime Minister of the country. Treason was committed against me and my govt by General Bajwa, instead of investigating the foreign conspiracy in orchestrating a regime change, a case has been filed against me for informing the people of Pakistan, the real protectors of this country, about this treason.

    If there’s one thing that bothers & pains me, is the suffering of my workers who have been illegally imprisoned, especially our women workers who have been in captivity for months, by a few people who abuse their power to satisfy their egos. I appeal to the judiciary to provide justice and order the immediate release of our workers.

    Finally, Do not give up. This time of trial will end because Allah says that “with every difficulty there is ease”. Keep raising your voice against this unelected predatory group and their facilitators at every forum and keep demanding a fair and transparent election in the country.

    I am predicting that on whatever day the election is held, people of Pakistan will come out in huge numbers to vote for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and defeat all these parties combined. No matter how much these people cheat, their only destiny is defeat. Pakistan Zindabad.”

    Earlier of October 7, Imran Khan’s stance regarding the Palestine issue was also shared on his Twitter account which said, “Chairman Imran Khan has been and will always remain an advocate for the Palestinian cause. He has consistently maintained his stance that oppression, occupation, and peace cannot go hand in hand. From the first Nakba in 1948, to inhumane treatment and the siege of Gaza, Palestinians have stood alone fighting for their right to peaceful existence.”

    Since Hamas sent its fighters to Israel on October 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war, and Israeli forces have increased their attack in Gaza.

  • Imran Khan seeks suspension of cipher case trial

    Imran Khan seeks suspension of cipher case trial

    Imran Khan, the incarcerated Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has taken legal action against an upcoming indictment in a cipher case, filing a petition on Wednesday in the Islamabad High Court, contesting a trial court’s decision to charge him and party Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq heard the case, as the court merged the case with the plea seeking dismissal of the cipher case.

    The trial is scheduled for October 17, however, Khan claims that the relevant documents were not handed over to his defense counsel, despite the trial court’s order suggesting otherwise.

    Khan has also sought bail in two cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). These cases involve the Toshakhana case and allegations of corruption involving millions of pounds.

    Khan’s bail plea was previously dismissed by the Accountability Court due to his inability to appear in court. The petitions state that Khan’s detention in Attock Jail prevented him from attending court proceedings, asserting that his absence was not intentional.

    In a related development, the Special Court (Official Secrets Act) distributed copies of the investigation report to Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi during a hearing held on October 9.

    This move precedes their impending indictment. Notably, PTI lawyers have requested that the trial not be held in camera due to the small size of the prison court.

    Shah Mehmood Qureshi has submitted a petition to challenge a notification from the Law Ministry regarding the trial’s location at Adiala Jail. The court has ordered the ministry to explain its decision.

    Copies of the investigation report will be provided to the suspects, contingent on the Islamabad High Court’s decision. The court directed the suspects to sign the copies, but Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi have refused to do so.

    Special court judge Abul Hasnat Zulqernain visited Adiala Jail to solve the problems allegedly being faced by PTI Chairman Imran Khan. The court ordered the demolition of the wall erected in front of Imran Khan’s cell.

    According to the jail superintendent, the PTI chief has been provided a place to walk, adding that he has requested further extension of his cell despite adequate space.

    Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be indicted in the case on October 17, said Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqernain.

  • ‘Why is Shehbaz happy if the judgment is against Nawaz’ asks Asad Umar

    ‘Why is Shehbaz happy if the judgment is against Nawaz’ asks Asad Umar

    The Supreme Court (SC) has on Wednesday evening issued a verdict in favour of the SC (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023, dismissing petitions challenging its validity.

    The decision was upheld by 10-5 majority. However, by an 8-7 decision, the majority of judges decided against the provision of law wherein retrospective right of appeal was given in the Act.

    Key Provisions of Act

    The act makes a number of significant changes to the way the Supreme Court operates. These include:

    • Requiring a three-member committee of senior judges, including the CJP, to approve all suo moto notices.
    • Establishing a transparent process for the formation of benches for hearing crucial constitutional issues.
    • Giving parties the right to appeal to the Supreme Court within 30 days of a final order from a lower court.
    • Requiring the apex court to hear applications alleging urgency or requesting interim relief within 14 days of filing.

    Reaction to the decision

    Former Prime Minister and President of _ (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the decision.

    “The Supreme Court’s verdict regarding the Practice and Procedure Act 2023 is a welcome step,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter)

    Interestingly, when Asad Umar, PTI’s former secretary general, was asked about the judgment, he stated that it was the right decision but was intrigued to know if Nawaz Sharif would come back after the decision or not.

    “My question is, everyone is saying this is not a good judgment for Nawaz Sharif, why is Shehbaz Sharif liking this decision so much? I’m just asking an innocent question,” he said while talking to the media on Thursday morning.

    The verdict has caused a rift in the legal world. The decision, which involves Article 184(3), has led to intense discussions about what it means for the PML-N leader, Nawaz Sharif.

    As per Dawn, lawyer Mohammad Ikram Chaudhry explained that in cases where no review has been filed, it’s possible to request a “condonation of delay,” which means the court might accept an appeal or application even if it’s late.

    Mohammad Akram Sheikh noted that according to the law, a review must be requested within 30 days of the judgment. He mentioned that in some cases, the highest court has allowed for delays but stressed that the applicant would need to provide a valid reason for the delay.

    Senior lawyer Raja Inam Ameen Minhas mentioned that the Supreme Court Bar Association has an ongoing review petition against the disqualification of politicians. He argued that since the matter of disqualification is still under consideration, it’s “still appealable.”

    Barrister Zafarullah Khan, the former special assistant on law to the ex-PM, pointed out that the Supreme Court’s decision wouldn’t affect Mr. Sharif’s cases because he wasn’t seeking relief from the highest court. Instead, he intends to pursue his appeals against convictions, which would eventually reach the Supreme Court.

    Some lawyers believe that the decision is a setback for Nawaz Sharif, who recently planned to return to Lahore after spending four years in London.

    The decision declared Section 5(2) of an act as ultra vires, meaning that the lifetime disqualification in the Panama case remains in effect.

    Lawyer Abdul Moiz Jafferi questioned who really won in this matter.

    Lawyer Usama Khawar Ghumman argues that Nawaz Sharif and Jehangir Tareen can still contest elections.

    “Despite Supreme Court’s decision to strike down retrospective rights of appeal, Nawaz Sharif & Jehangir Tareen can, in the short run, contest elections due to the PDM-led Parliament’s amendment to Section 232 of the Election Act, 2017,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

  • Court reserves verdict on Practice and Procedure Act 2023

    Court reserves verdict on Practice and Procedure Act 2023

    The Supreme Court (SC) has reserved its decision on petitions that challenge the 2023 SC (Practice and Procedure) Act, which restricts the authority of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa led the full-court bench consisting of Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, and Justice Musarrat Hilali are hearing the case.

    “We will discuss amongst ourselves [now]. If there is a consensus, then we will announce it, otherwise, the decision will be reserved,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa said at the end of today’s hearing.

    During the hearing, the CJP emphasised the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship between the Parliament and the SC.

    “Do not pit the Parliament and Supreme Court against each other,” he remarked, insisting on the idea of “live and let live”.

    “Why do we see each other’s institutions negatively? Why can’t it be said that one institution legislated for the betterment of another?” CJP Isa questioned.

    All the petitioners, including all political parties, concluded their arguments in today’s hearing. The Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), Mansoor Usman Awan, also gave his arguments today.

  • Director of Punjab Local Fund Audit alleged to be involved in corruption case of Rs400 million

    Director of Punjab Local Fund Audit alleged to be involved in corruption case of Rs400 million

    Amir Saeed, a Grade 17 officer working as the director of the Punjab Local Fund Audit Department at a Grade 20 level with the approval of the relevant authorities, is facing allegations of receiving kickbacks while supposedly conducting audits of different local government departments during his tenure from 2019 to 2022, SAMMA has reported. 

    The report indicates that Saeed used his position and influence to dishonestly obtain benefits from officials by employing various deceitful methods, such as making recommendations for officials to attend training programmes, handling pension disbursements, arranging transfers and postings, and manipulating record-checking procedures.

    Numerous complaints were filed against Saeed, accusing him of corruption and unethical practices. These complaints have been lodged with several authorities, including the Prime Minister’s Complaint Cell, the Anti-Corruption Establishment, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and various other forums.

    In spite of the allegations and the evidence put forward, no significant action has been taken up to this point.

    Nevertheless, an investigation into the accusations was initiated by the director general of the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment in 2022. This inquiry also failed to produce any outcomes, allowing Saeed to avoid being held accountable.

    At present, Amir Saeed holds the position of an auditor at Arfa Karim University, although his rank has been reduced from 20 to 17.

  • ‘I have passed all exams of life,’ Zardari tells ‘enemies’.

    ‘I have passed all exams of life,’ Zardari tells ‘enemies’.

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, has told his enemies that “elections are near” and he has passed all “exams of life”, Geo has reported.

    While addressing a dinner party given by PPP leader Ghulam Qadir Mari in Naushero Feroz district on Tuesday, Zardari said, “I was born in this land (Sindh), and I will continue to strive for the development of this land.”

    The PPP co-chairman also said that he is the son of soil and will always struggle for it.

    “The PPP has always served the people. I have struggled all my life, and my workers have also supported me,” said the former president, adding, “We know each other. Allah gave us the opportunity, so we served the people and this soil. I have to be buried in this soil. It is our duty to serve it.”

    The PPP leader also mentioned that he gave Pashtuns their separate identity, and by bringing the 18th Amendment, his party gave provincial service.

    Recounting the sacrifices of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said, “Today, I am serving you, then Bilawal Bhutto will serve, as will Aseefa Bhutto. We are all with the people of Sindh.”

  • Major changes in Punjab’s National and Provincial Assembly seats

    Major changes in Punjab’s National and Provincial Assembly seats

    Five newly created districts in Punjab are set to receive a total of 13 national and provincial assembly seats as part of the preliminary delimitation, marking a notable shift in the political landscape.

    The districts in question are Kot Addu, Taunsa, Wazirabad, Talagang, and Murree. Among these, Kot Addu district in southern Punjab stands out, securing two National Assembly seats, NA-179 and NA-180, along with three provincial assembly constituencies: PP-276, PP-277, and PP-278.

    Wazirabad and Taunsa districts are also set to gain representation, with Wazirabad obtaining NA-66, PP-35, and PP-36, while Taunsa secures NA-183, PP-284, and PP-285.

    Talagang, which was carved out of Chakwal, will now share a National Assembly seat, NA-59, with Chakwal itself. This arrangement leads to Chakwal having one independent NA seat, and Talagang securing one provincial assembly seat, PP-23. PP-22 will be referred to as Chakwal-cum-Talagang.

    Similarly, Murree will not have an independent NA seat but will be included in NA-51, referred to as Rawalpindi-cum-Murree. Nonetheless, Murree will have representation in the provincial assembly with PP-06.

    These changes also entail a reduction in the number of national and provincial assembly seats for some districts. Dera Ghazi Khan, for instance, will see a decrease from four to three NA seats and a reduction from eight to six provincial assembly seats. Muzaffargarh, too, will experience a decrease, with two fewer NA seats, resulting in a drop from six to four NA seats, and a reduction in provincial assembly seats from 12 to eight.

    Gujranwala and Hafizabad, despite Gujranwala’s sizable population of 5.95 million, will collectively have only five seats, despite the potential for an additional independent seat. Dera Ghazi Khan is also set to lose one NA seat and two provincial assembly seats.

    These changes in seat allocations underscore the evolving political landscape in Punjab, reflecting efforts to ensure fair and equitable representation for all regions within the province.

  • No chance of Nawaz Sharif’s arrest, says Ishaq Dar

    No chance of Nawaz Sharif’s arrest, says Ishaq Dar

    Senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former finance minister Ishaq Dar has said that there is no chance of the party supremo Nawaz Sharif getting arrested on his return to Pakistan.

    In an interview with Asma Sherazi, Ishaq Dar said that Nawaz Sharif will arrive in Saudi Arabia and perform Umrah. After performing Umrah, the PML-N chief will reach Pakistan on October 21.

    He continued, “There is no chance of arresting Nawaz Sharif on his return as he will take protected custody and transit bail on return”.

    The former finance minister also mentioned that it’s a standard judicial practice to face the courts.

    Dar also stated that PML-N will clearly get a clear majority in the next election, and PML-N’s agenda is the recovery of the economy.

    The former finance minister said that the truth commission on the characters of Project Imran is included in our agenda, “however we do not want to take any action that smells of revenge,” he added.

  • ECP reserves decision on PTI election symbol

    ECP reserves decision on PTI election symbol

    A five-member bench headed by chief election commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja heard a petition filed by Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party’s (IPP) leader Auwn Chaudhry regarding the withdrawal of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election symbol.

    During the hearing, Aun Chaudhry’s lawyer said that PTI should not be given the bat symbol, on which the CEC said that PTI has already been given the bat symbol.

    The Election Commissioner also said that the case related to the PTI election symbol is already under hearing in the ECP, to which one of the petitioner’s lawyers asked to link their application with the same case.

    Later, the ECP reserved its decision regarding the election symbol of PTI.

  • ‘Imran Khan can’t talk to his sons’: Jailer

    ‘Imran Khan can’t talk to his sons’: Jailer

    The incarcerated chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has been denied permission to speak with his sons while in detention at Adiala Jail. The superintendent of the jail conveyed the decision to a special court during a hearing on Tuesday.

    Referring to security concerns and the specific nature of the cipher case under the Official Secrets Act, the jailer cited the two as the basis of his refusal to let Imran Khan speak to his sons.

    The presiding judge, Abual Hasnat, acknowledged the jail superintendent’s stance and requested the Adiala Jail’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) concerning telephone communication between inmates and their relatives. The case hearing has been adjourned until October 18, pending further review.
    It is pertinent to mention that Imran Khan is currently detained at Adiala Jail in connection with the cipher case, a transfer that was ordered by the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court after his initial incarceration at Attock Prison.

    Imran Khan and the PTI vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, are facing charges related to the alleged deliberate mishandling of a diplomatic cipher. The special court announced that PTI leaders will be indicted in the cipher case on October 17.