Tag: politics-stories

  • JUI-F protesters in Ronaldo’s Juventus jersey go viral

    JUI-F protesters in Ronaldo’s Juventus jersey go viral

    As the long-awaited Azadi March of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government continues, an image, showing protesters wearing Juventus jersey, has gone viral over the internet.

    Juventus Football Club, colloquially known as Juve, is an Italian professional football club. Among its star players are Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentinian professional footballer Paulo Dybala.

    While the reason behind the move remains a mystery, netizens wonder if it has something to do with the similarity that colours of the football club’s jersey — black and white — bear with those of the JUI-F’s party flag.

    AZADI MARCH:

    Meanwhile, the religio-political party’s long march on Tuesday reached Lahore via Multan.

    After the caravan arrived in Lahore from where it will head to Rawalpindi, a large crowd of supporters of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman joined their leader and chanted slogans against the government.

    Addressing his supporters, Fazl said JUI-F was going to Islamabad to announce that the incumbent rulers were fake. “Government should resign before we reach Islamabad,” he said.

  • PM’s aide served show-cause notice over anti-judiciary media talk

    PM’s aide served show-cause notice over anti-judiciary media talk

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday served a show-cause notice to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan for her anti-judiciary press conference.

    Awan, while criticising the judiciary for granting former premier Nawaz Sharif bail on medical grounds, had on Tuesday said that the court had been “brought to order during the evening only to provide justice to jailed Nawaz”.

    “This will open a floodgate of similar requests by prisoners suffering from various diseases,” she had said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “While maligning the honourable courts [she] went to say that the case of the accused was heard during the evening ‘as a special dispensation’,” read Wednesday’s show-cause notice highlighting Awan’s remarks.

    The IHC observed that Awan “made an attempt to scandalise the court in the eyes of the public, thereby, tried to lower the esteem of the judiciary.” Seeking reason as to why the court should not proceed with contempt of court against the premier’s aide, IHC also summoned her on November 1.

  • ‘PM resigns amid opposition’s protests’, TV channel stuns Pakistanis

    ‘PM resigns amid opposition’s protests’, TV channel stuns Pakistanis

    The report by a private media outlet regarding some prime minister’s (PM) resignation due to pressure from opposition parties on Tuesday left Pakistan stunned as tensions soar among the country’s political quarters.

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has launched its anti-government campaign with plans to enter the federal capital on October 31. With party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanding PM Imran Khan’s resignation, other opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), have lent their support to the JUI-F.

    While opposition leaders and workers march to Islamabad against the “illegitimate” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, a news channel on Tuesday evening aired breaking news claiming that “the opposition’s protests had borne fruit as the premier had resigned”.

    With the news leaving audiences stunned across the country as it suggested that PM Imran had stepped down, the media outlet clarified its report.

    It actually pertained to the resignation of Lebanese PM Saad Hariri, who announced his resignation on Tuesday after 13 days of mass protests demanding the departure of the country’s entire political elite.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Hariri’s sombre televised address was met by cheers from crowds of protesters who have remained mobilised since October 17, crippling the country to press their demands.

    “It has become necessary for us to make a great shock to fix the crisis. I am going to the Baabda Palace to submit the government’s resignation,” said Hariri, who had already stepped down twice from the same post.

    He said his decision comes “in response to the will of many Lebanese who took to the streets to demand change”.

  • VIDEO: Faisal Vawda, Hafiz Hamdullah offer each other ‘halwa puri’ on Azadi March

    VIDEO: Faisal Vawda, Hafiz Hamdullah offer each other ‘halwa puri’ on Azadi March

    Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda has demanded a “halwa puri” breakfast from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah.

    “I have seen videos of Azadi March on social media, wherein JUI-F leaders were feeding naan cholay [chickpeas curry] to their workers,” Vawda said while speaking of the opposition party’s forthcoming long march during a talk show on Geo News Tuesday.

    “I love naan cholay too,” he added.

    Reacting to his comments, JUI-F’s Hamdullah said his workers “were not mummy daddy” and so there was no point in feeding them burgers or Savour Foods. “I would offer you halwa puri with cholay,” he said further.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    JUI-F’s anti-government Azadi March led by party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman with opposition’s support is scheduled to enter the federal capital on October 31.

  • Infograph: What’s the deal with Nawaz’s platelet count?

    Infograph: What’s the deal with Nawaz’s platelet count?

    Nawaz Sharif has been granted a two month suspension of his jail sentence as his health has been deteriorating over the past week. It’s all over the news. His doctor said in court that ‘we might lose Nawaz Sharif’, and tweeted that the ‘definitive diagnosis’ hasn’t been confirmed yet.

    What exactly is a low platelet count and why is it so serious?

    platelets in the bloodstream

    Platelets are what helps our blood clot when we hurt ourselves. When needed (example if you cut yourself) they are activated and stick to one another to block the flow of blood from the damaged blood vessels.

    A normal platelet count range is from 150,000 to 450,000. Nawaz’s was 6,000 which is dangerously and critically low. If the platelet count is under 20,000 it can lead to uncontrollable bleeding.

    In the past eight days, Nawaz’s platelet count first dropped to 2,000 on Oct 22nd. After treatment it rose to 29,000 and then dropped back down to 7,000 on Oct 23rd. It then went up to 20,000 according to the doctors but the PML-N claimed it was at 6,000. On October 25th it was steady at 22,000, rose to 45,000 on Oct 26th but fell back down to 25,000 on Oct 27th. It rose to 28,000 on Oct 28th and remained there on the 29th.

    He also suffered an angina attack while at the hospital. Angina is a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.

  • ‘I am the first CM to go to jail,’ says Buzdar

    ‘I am the first CM to go to jail,’ says Buzdar

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar was summoned by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) during a hearing on former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s health.

    Replying to a question about the condition of prisoners in jails, Usman Buzdar said that he was the first CM to go to jail.

    “Mai pehla wazir-e-aala hoon jo jail gaya.”

    The honourable judge corrected CM Buzdar by saying that “he did not go to jail but visited it”.

    “Jail gaya nahin, jail ka daura keeya.”

    The entire courtroom erupted in laughter.

    CM Buzdar was summoned by IHC to submit response of the provincial government over the deteriorating health condition of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo.

    CM Usman Buzdar appears in court
  • ‘Ministers criticised Pemra’s order like they were in opp,’ complains Firdous to PM Imran

    ‘Ministers criticised Pemra’s order like they were in opp,’ complains Firdous to PM Imran

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan has complained to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan that ministers criticised Pemra’s [Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority] order like they were in the opposition.

    During the federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday headed by PM Imran, the minister said that it is humiliating if the government’s own ministers criticise the orders themselves.

    On Firdous’s complaint the Federal Minister for Science and Technology said that, “humiliation happens when the government issues an order and takes it back within a few hours”.

    Fawad Ch also said that, “Decisions are made without anyone having knowledge of it”, adding that you should take everyone into confidence before passing such orders.

    Pemra on Monday had barred television anchors from giving their “opinions” during talk shows and limited their role to “moderator”.

    The authority after receiving massive criticism later backtracked on its decision and issued a statement clarifiying that there is no ban on TV anchors from appearing on talk shows. Pemra said it didn’t mean to restrict freedom of expression as ‘being projected by few’.

  • Al-Azizia case: Nawaz free for two-months as IHC suspends sentence

    Al-Azizia case: Nawaz free for two-months as IHC suspends sentence

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the seven-year sentence of former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif for two months in Al-Azizia case.

    According to the details, the court on Tuesday resumed the hearing of a bail plea filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif for former premier Nawaz Sharif in the Al Azizia case.

    A two-member bench, comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, heard the appeal.

    Last week, Shehbaz had appealed the IHC to grant bail to Nawaz in the Al Azizia case — in which the latter is sentenced to seven years in prison — on medical grounds.

    A two-member bench of the IHC had heard the bail petition on Friday and after questioning Services Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr. Saleem Cheema, who is part of the medical board treating Nawaz, the high court had adjourned the hearing until today.

    However, on Saturday, Shehbaz filed another petition in IHC and requested the court to hear the bail plea sooner owing to Nawaz’s “extremely critical condition”.

    The high court then granted interim bail to Nawaz on medical grounds which expired today.

    It is pertinent to mention that the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday had approved the bail of former PM Nawaz Sharif in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. The bail was approved on medical grounds.

    In light of this development, people are wondering if former PM will leave the country for further treatment.

  • ‘I fear we may lose Nawaz Sharif,’ Dr Adnan

    ‘I fear we may lose Nawaz Sharif,’ Dr Adnan

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, Nawaz Sharif’s personal physician Dr Adnan Khan has expressed fear of losing him due to his critical health condition.

    In a series of tweets, Dr Adnan has said that former premier is critically unwell and is fighting the battle for his health and life.

    He also wrote that the poor blood sugar and blood pressure had also taken a toll on Nawaz Sharif’s health, adding that, “Pending Scans/Biopsies, diagnostic dilemma still ensues from multiple complex pathologies & co-morbidities.”

    “Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) & NSTEMI (heart attack) is further complicated by deteriorating Kidney functions”, Dr. Adnan said.

    The chief executive of Sharif Medical City said that the doctors were also facing difficulty in establishing a definitive diagnosis and subsequent management poses a considerable risk to Nawaz’s health.

    Meanwhile, reports further reveal that the former Prime Minister (PM) had lost close to seven kilos since he had been admitted to the hospital. His weight was 107 kilos and right now it had gone to 100 kilos.

    Former PM Nawaz was shifted to Services Hospital Lahore last week for medical examination and treatment after his condition deteriorated with a sudden drop in his platelet count.

  • Irregularities worth Rs7.44 billion detected in KP public departments

    The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has detected a large number of irregularities, worth Rs7.44 billion, in accounts of public sector enterprises (PSEs) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a private media outlet has reported.

    According to details, irregularities include 42 cases of provision of funds, wasteful expenditure on a rest house and delays in claim insurance.

    Apart from that, there are 13 cases of less/non-recovery, irregular retention of development funds, irregular award of contract, non-depositing of interest, non-deduction of tax and 11 cases of irregularities of miscellaneous nature during the financial year 2015-16.

    The audit report has also noted that the provision of funds to the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) was in violation of KP Energy and Power Development Fund Ordinance 2016.

    During the audit of Energy and Power Development (EPD) Fund Peshawar, for the year 2015-16, AGP observed that the authorities released Rs6,977.13 million from 2012-13 to 2014-15 to the organization for 7 projects.

    The EDO could only utilize Rs490.49 million during 2012-13 and 2014-15 on said projects, and the release of Rs6,486.64 million by EPD Fund was done without proper assessment and resulted in the loss of interest income amounting to Rs421.62 million.

    The second problem detected in the PEDO was the irregular expenditure of Rs14.88 million incurred in the appointment of Chartered Accountants (CA). The auditors are required to be appointed in consultation with the office of the AGP.

    The audit report also noted the non-recovery of outstanding dues worth Rs.66.70 million from allottees of industrial plots by Sarhad Development Authority (SDA).

    During the audit for the year 2015-16, it was also observed that the management failed to recover the recurring charges on account of maintenance, water and extension from the allottees of plots at Industrial Estates, Peshawar, Gadoon, Hattar, and Nowshera.