Tag: politics-stories

  • Gandapur mistakes GTA V video for real-life footage, praises pilot for ‘narrow escape’

    Gandapur mistakes GTA V video for real-life footage, praises pilot for ‘narrow escape’

    Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur has shared the video of a simulation from popular video game Grand Theft Auto (GTA) V, assuming it to be real.

    Tweeting the video which showed a plane miraculously avoiding colliding with an oil tanker as it descended on the runway, Gandapur wrote, “Narrow escape of an aircraft which could have ended in a great disaster. Miraculous save by the pilot’s presence of mind.”

    The clip had originally been shared to Youtube on June 20 by The UiGamer, who has amassed millions of views with clearly labelled videos of plane stunts on GTA V.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://twitter.com/securepakistan/status/1147489515071836166

    While Khurram mistook the animated video for a real-life clip, Twitterati did not and most of them were quick to troll anyone who thought it was actually a “miraculous save”.

    “As if our politicians are super intelligent,” one said while suggesting in a joke the United States (US) might sell virtual fighter jets to Pakistan instead of F-16s. “These innocuous mistakes are what we live for,” another wrote.

  • Resolution in Punjab Assembly seeks ‘Medal of Democracy’ for Gen Bajwa

    Resolution in Punjab Assembly seeks ‘Medal of Democracy’ for Gen Bajwa

    A resolution seeking ‘Medal of Democracy’ for Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, has been tabled in the Punjab Assembly, a private media outlet reported.

    According to reports, ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Haroon Gill submitted the resolution wherein he stated that the provincial house acknowledged Gen Bajwa’s unbiased role in promoting democracy in the country.

    “The [Punjab] assembly sees with respect the role army chief has played in establishing peace,” the resolution said further.

    It also demanded that the government awards ‘Medal of Democracy’ to the army chief for promoting, stabilising and protecting Pakistan’s democratic institutions.

    “I got this idea because the 2018 general election was free and fair,” Gill said when approached by a private media outlet. He added that all political parties were independent and the military was playing a crucial role in these testing times.

  • Army helicopter reaches Golain Glaciers to rescue PM Imran’s sister

    Army helicopter reaches Golain Glaciers to rescue PM Imran’s sister

    A helicopter of the Pakistan Army on Monday reached the Golain Glaciers to rescue Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, who had been trapped there following a ‘burst’.

    A massive flood hit several villages in the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as a glacier melted near the Golen Gol area on Sunday. Roads, electric poles and farms were partially damaged around the forest area, police said.

    The premier’s sister, Aleema, who was in Golain for a tourist trip was stranded along with hundreds of other tourists and residents. According to Dunya News, an army helicopter was sent to rescue her; however, she refused to leave until other tourists and residents were evacuated.

    While Chitral’s deputy commissioner has confirmed the suspension of ground connection, the army has reportedly been reached out and a rescue operation will soon be conducted.

  • Ex-PPP leader Jamshed Dasti goes bald in protest against PM Imran’s ‘broken promises’

    Ex-PPP leader Jamshed Dasti goes bald in protest against PM Imran’s ‘broken promises’

    Awami Raj Party (ARP) chief and former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Jamshed Dasti has gone bald to protest the “broken promises” of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and the rise in inflation under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rule.

    Speaking of his peaceful protest in a video message, Dasti, along with his shaved-head companions, said that inflation had spelled misery for the people.

    “PM Imran had made several promises to the people before elections, but even snatched from them the opportunity to earn bread after coming to power,” he said, requesting the people to shave their heads and join the peaceful protest campaign.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Elected to the National Assembly on a PPP ticket in 2008, Dasti resigned as an MNA in 2010 for possessing a fake Bachelors degree. He was re-elected to the lower house of the parliament in a 2010 by-election.

    In 2012, he quit PPP to join the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N); however, he was elected as an independent candidate in 2013. Starting his own party ahead of last year’s general election, he lost to a PPP candidate in the NA-182 constituency of Muzaffargarh.

  • US trip: PM Imran wants to stay at ambassador’s home instead of expensive hotels

    US trip: PM Imran wants to stay at ambassador’s home instead of expensive hotels

    Unlike his predecessors, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, during his maiden visit to the United States (US), is planning to stay at the residence of the Pakistani ambassador instead of some lavish hotel, a private media outlet reported.

    According to reports, the Pakistani Embassy in the US has been informed about the premier’s intentions; however, his stay at the ambassador’s residence might not be possible due to his planned meetings with top US officials.

    The residence is located in the heart of Washington’s diplomatic enclave, just off one of the city’s main arteries, Massachusetts Avenue, with at least a dozen embassies.

    If the premier stays at the ambassador’s residence, he will not be able to meet US officials there due to a shortage of staff, Dawn News reported, adding that such meetings can, however, be arranged at the Pakistani Embassy.

    While PM Imran’s plan to avoid a five or seven-star hotel in Washington, which comes amid his government’s aim to cut expenses and lighten the burden on the national exchequer, might not be achieved owing to security and logistical reasons, a final decision would be made soon.

    The premier can also choose to stay with one of the rich Pakistani-Americans in the suburbs of Washington.

    During his trip to Washington starting July 20, PM Imran is poised to discuss with US President Donald Trump the Afghan peace process along with regional issues.

    “At the invitation of US President Donald Trump, PM Imran Khan will visit Washington and hold a meeting on July 22, 2019,” Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal announced last week.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other officials will accompany the premier on the trip.

  • ‘Jang/Geo journalists forced to deactivate Twitter accounts’

    ‘Jang/Geo journalists forced to deactivate Twitter accounts’

    At least three journalists affiliated with the Jang/Geo Media Group have allegedly been forced to deactivate their Twitter accounts, Urdu News reporter Waseem Abbasi has claimed.

    According to Abbasi, Wajih Sani, Umar Cheema and Azaz Syed “suddenly and suspiciously” deactivated their accounts “amid concerns about increasing censorship in the country”.

    In a subsequent tweet, the journalist claimed that all three were safe and had “only been asked to deactivate their Twitter accounts”. He, however, did not disclose who exactly had “asked” the three journalists to deactivate the accounts.

    With the claim taking over the micro-blogging website by storm, Wajih Sani returned to tweet, “Thank you for all your love. I am perfectly fine.”

    Twitter handles of both Azaz Syed and Umar Cheema, on the other hand, remain deactivated. Meanwhile, it is being speculated that the journalists have been forced to deactivate the accounts by their employer.

    None of the journalists have confirmed or denied it.

  • Govt officials ditch Asad Umar at NA finance body meeting

    Govt officials ditch Asad Umar at NA finance body meeting

    Government officials have ditched former finance minister Asad Umar at a session of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, a private media outlet reported.

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA was appointed chairman of the NA finance body after he was sacked by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan as the country’s finance minister earlier this year.

    According to reports, Umar on Thursday expressed displeasure over the absence of government officials during a meeting of the parliamentary committee convened by him.

    The committee, in protest, has postponed its approval for the passage of government bills, including the Foreign Exchange Regulation Amendment Bill 2019, Anti-Money Laundering Amendment Bill 2019 and Asset Declaration Ordinance 2019.

    “We are postponing the passage of all government bills,” Umar was quoted as saying. “If the government is not serious about these bills, then they should at least take us [committee members] seriously,” he said.

  • Govt goes after parents paying Rs200,000 or more as kids’ annual school fee

    Govt goes after parents paying Rs200,000 or more as kids’ annual school fee

    Continuing to desperately look for potential taxpayers, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has dispatched letters to parents paying Rs200,000 or more as their children’s annual school fee, The Express Tribune reported.

    Aggressively digging the records of citizens who, at some stage, have come under prominent sections of the Income Tax Ordinance, the FBR has asked the parents to declare their hidden assets and become tax return filers.

    “Data available with the FBR reveals that advance tax under Section 2361 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 has been collected from you and deposited in the government treasury, meaning thereby that you are paying an annual fee exceeding Rs200,000 per child (student) to educational institutions,” said the letter sent by the FBR’s Corporate Regional Tax Office (RTO) in Lahore.

    According to Section 2361, every educational institution is required to collect advance income tax at the rate of 5% on the fee paid. The person responsible for preparing monthly, bimonthly or quarterly fee vouchers shall also charge withholding tax in case the fee exceeds Rs200,000 annually.

    “Please note that the FBR intends to register all those persons who are earning taxable income and are liable to file returns under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, but have failed to do so,” it stated, adding the registration drive also included the persons who were liable to be registered under the Sales Tax Act 1990 or Federal Excise Act 2005.

  • ‘Thai Airways never stopped operating from Pakistan’, Sherry Rehman ridicules Fawad

    ‘Thai Airways never stopped operating from Pakistan’, Sherry Rehman ridicules Fawad

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman has ridiculed Federal Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chaudhry over his claim regarding Thai Airways’ operations in Pakistan.

    “Thai Airways to start operation from Lahore to Bangkok and beyond with four flights a week starting July 16, 2019,” the minister had tweeted Tuesday.

    While a lot of people praised the “restoration” of Thai Airways’ operations after British Airways, that operated its first flight to the country in eleven years on June 2; some users, including Sherry, pointed out what was wrong with the claim.

    “Err, Thai Airways has been flying from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi several times a week for over ten years. The Islamabad and Lahore flights were suspended due to [the] closure of air space recently. Islamabad flights have still not resumed,” she tweeted.

    Pakistan closed its airspace following an aerial engagement with the Indian Air Force (IAF) along the Line of Control (LoC) on February 27. On June 28, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that the closure for overflight and transit flights will continue till July 12.

  • ‘Sleeping on floor with just one sheet’; how Rana Sanaullah spent his first night in jail

    ‘Sleeping on floor with just one sheet’; how Rana Sanaullah spent his first night in jail

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and MNA Rana Sanaullah, who was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on Monday, spent his first night in jail sleeping on the floor, a private media outlet has reported.

    Rana was taken into custody by the ANF while on his way to Faisalabad for a party meeting. Being intercepted on the motorway by an ANF team in Sukheki, he was detained for allegedly possessing a huge stash of heroin.

    With an anti-narcotics court sending the PML-N leader and other accused to prison on a 14-day judicial remand Tuesday, a news outlet has revealed how Sanaullah’s first night in jail went.

    According to reports, the lawmaker spent the night sleeping on the floor of Barrack No. 6 at Lahore’s Camp Jail, where he was provided with just a single sheet to sleep on.

    The PML-N leader was shifted to his cell after jail authorities emptied all neighbouring barracks, while the five other accused were kept in the old block of the prison.

    Sanaullah was arrested days after a large-scale crackdown on drug peddlers in Punjab was launched. Latest reports claim the MNA would be given B-class facilities in jail.

    Jail officials say B-class facilities include a newspaper, television, bed, table and chair, besides some other items.