Tag: PPP

  • Nawaz Sharif’s close aide Chaudhry Nisar refuses to join PTI

    Nawaz Sharif’s close aide Chaudhry Nisar refuses to join PTI

    Estranged Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party member and former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan revealed that he will not join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) despite his meeting with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, according to Daily Jang.

    “Nisar will neither return to PML-N nor work under Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, hence will maintain his independent status,” said the news outlet’s sources.

    On Wednesday, PM Khan said that he met Chaudhry. “I have had an association with him [Chaudhry] for the last 40 years,” he revealed, adding that Nisar will be “taking all political decisions himself”.

    Jang report further reveals that Chaudhry was offered chief ministership of Punjab when PTI came to power. However, at the time, Nisar refused it and thought that in an assembly, where the PML-N is in the Opposition, he would not be able to speak against PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.

  • Sindh Tribe elects its first-ever female chief

    Sindh Tribe elects its first-ever female chief

    In a first, a Sindh Tribe — Soho — has elected its first-ever female chief, Heer Soho. She will be appointed officially in a ceremony after the month of Ramzan.

    The decision was made unanimously following the death of her father, Sardar Ismail Soho, by the tribe’s older members.

    Heer hails from Mirpur Bathoro, Thatta. She holds a Master’s Degree in Agriculture and in Economics. Currently, she is a member of the Sindh provincial member from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Her father was also an active member of PPP who had played a prominent role in the movement for restoration of democracy (MRD).

    In 2002, she was elected as a member of the Provincial Assembly as a representative of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on a reserved seat.

    After she left the MQM, she was again elected in the 2018 general elections on a reserved seat representing PPP.

  • Hopeful PM Khan: public pressure will force PTI members to come back

    Hopeful PM Khan: public pressure will force PTI members to come back

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project has said that ‘mark my words all the members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who have left will come back due to the party’.

    “And mark my words, as the no-confidence motion comes near, all those who are in talks with the Opposition will return as the people are angry at the lawmakers for venality,” the premier said.

    “The public would force the dissident PTI lawmakers — who are around a dozen — to come back to their party,” said PM Khan.

    “Times have changed […] and on March 27 — when PTI will stage a rally in Islamabad — everyone will witness a historic gathering.”

    Talking about the PTI workers who stormed the Sindh House in the capital where the disgruntled lawmakers were residing, he said what is the Opposition fearing and why so much security is being provided.

    PM Khan further said if the PPP is “buying” the loyalties of the PTI lawmakers, then it must be through the funds given to the Sindh government — “it is illegal as the people’s money cannot to used to lure in other party lawmakers”.

    The premier further said that “never in the history of Pakistan” has any provincial force been deployed “just to safeguard” the MNAs of other parties.

    “So why did they need Sindh police over there [Sindh House]? Because illegal activities were taking place there. People have now seen their reality,” the premier said.

    “They are so afraid of public pressure that no one [in the UK] can do the things that are happening at the Sindh House,” PM Imran Khan said but noted that no one was allowed to resort to violence.

  • 44% say Khan should resign before no-confidence motion: survey

    44% say Khan should resign before no-confidence motion: survey

    According to a survey conducted by Ipsos, 44 per cent of respondents are of the view that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan should resign ahead of the no-confidence motion while 33 per cent think he should fight it, reports Geo News.

    42 per cent of respondents are of the opinion that the no-trust motion would succeed against PM Khan while 26 per cent say the government would successfully defeat the motion and 31 per cent say that they are unsure about the outcome.

    To a question that if the no-confidence motion becomes successful, 27 per cent think Leader of the Opposition and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif should be the PM until new elections, 17 per cent say PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto and 6 per cent prefer PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as the new premier.

    However, after the general elections, 18 per cent want PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to become PM, 16 per cent voted for Imran Khan, and 14 per cent for Shehbaz Sharif.

    According to the survey, a significant number of 48 per cent think that PTI’s allies should support the party’s rival, while only 27 per cent of the respondents said that the PTI coalition partners should come back to Khan.

  • PPP says PTI is planning to attack Sindh House in Islamabad

    Several Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) members of the National Assembly (MNA) including Abdul Qadir Mandokhel, in a joint statement, said, “[Prime Minister] Imran Khan’s government is [hell]bent on [carrying out] terrorism” and planning to attack Sindh House.

    The members claimed they have information that Islamabad police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Tiger Force are planning the “assault”. The parliamentarians, further said that if any harm comes to Sindh House’s facilities or to their members then the government would be responsible for it.

    While referring to Parliament Lodges’ operation by capital police last week, the lawmakers said they had asked the Sindh police for protection because the capital police had “illegally raided and endangered the lives of people”.

    However, the government claimed the Opposition had detained some of their lawmakers at Sindh House ahead of the vote on the no-confidence resolution against PM Khan.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that no one is taking any action against anyone right now. “The time is far away”, he said.

    “There are some people in Sindh House. They have called in 300-400 policemen. No problem. There are many days left,” the interior minister added.

    Earlier this week, PM Khan had said that Opposition leaders are sitting in Sindh House with “heaps of money” to purchase loyalties of their lawmakers.

  • ‘Sari zindagi nappy change kartay rahainge kya, bachay ko neechay utarainge tu seekhe ga’: Pervaiz Elahi

    ‘Sari zindagi nappy change kartay rahainge kya, bachay ko neechay utarainge tu seekhe ga’: Pervaiz Elahi

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that it is important to put the baby down and let him/her learn to walk on its own.

    Without naming any names, the PML-Q leader said that “the work carried out on the government’s behalf never allowed it to learn things for itself.”

    “The child will learn to walk only when you put him down,” he said metaphorically. “Would you keep on changing nappies all his life?”

    Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi, while speaking on HUM News programme “Hum Meher Bokhari Kay Sath”, said that PM Khan was “100 per cent” in trouble because of the no-confidence motion against him.

    “The government 100 per cent lacks wisdom and understanding. They are going door to door, this is indication enough how troubled they are.”

    He further went on to share PML-Q’s grievances with the government. He said that all we have been showing is loyalty to the government and in return, all that is coming from their side is “dushmani“.

    The PML-Q leader said that they were still receiving threats and being blackmailed. “A week ago they said to NAB [National Accountability Bureau] to arrest Moonis [Minister for Water Resources and Pervaiz Elahi’s son].”

    Elahi said that he has already been offered Punjab’s chief ministership as well as electoral alliance — including seat-to-seat adjustment — by the Opposition alliance but the government has yet to make that offer.

    Elahi said: “We are waiting to see what the government has to offer. Maybe the government might do the same.”

     “The government 100 per cent lacks wisdom and understanding. The prime minister has a great desire for revenge, which is evident from the fact that he puts everyone in NAB and FIA. This is not how you govern,” he added.

    Elahi said that all that the government has done is ruin its relations with everyone. Without taking the PM’s name, the PML-Q leader said, “He has spoiled his relations with his own people as well. It is because of his own people that they are so worried. Tongue is one thing that can make or break things forever.”

    Elahi said that the Opposition alliance has the support of “more than required” lawmakers to pass the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly, warning that there are “plenty of surprises in store”.

    Talking about establishment, Elahi said, “DG ISPR has said on record that the establishment has nothing to do with politics, we are neutral in this. But did you see how he [PM] defined neutral, and said animals are neutral. Who was he saying this to?”

    He urged the government to move first and call off its planned political gathering for March 27, saying that it would put pressure on the Opposition to do the same.

  • Pakistanis prefer to sink with me than support the ‘three stooges’: PM Khan

    Pakistanis prefer to sink with me than support the ‘three stooges’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Thursday called the Opposition leaders Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif, and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari the “three stooges”, referring to a classic American program. He told party members the Opposition’s no-trust move was a “blessing” as it had “lifted” the entire party and now all ready to ready for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally.

    Addressing the Pakistan Overseas Convention in Islamabad he said, “When the people saw the faces of the three stooges — they decided against supporting them and expressed their desire to go down with [me],” PM Khan.

    I challenge media, economists, and Opposition parties to debate with govt over performance

    PM Khan challenged media organisations, economists, and Opposition parties to debate with the government over its performance in the last three and half years, saying that “nobody served Pakistan as we did”.

    “[Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana] Fazlur Rehman sold religion for 30 years,” he thundered. “In my 3.5 years, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has said you cannot disrespect Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in the name of freedom of expression. [Canadian Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau has given a statement [against Islamophobia]. This has happened for the first time.”

    The premier said there had been a debate at the United Nations and a resolution would be passed against Islamophobia, adding that it was “because of us” and how the government raised the matter at different forums.

    The premier said that the Opposition parties had been taking turns in governing Pakistan during the last 30 years but the PTI government would “prove” that it had built the nation.

    They cannot defeat us: PM Khan

    The premier said he and his team were always trying to figure out ways to reduce the impact of inflation on the masses, but after the Opposition’s no-confidence motion, the focus shifted to mainstream politics rather than inflation.

    PM Khan said neither of the three parties — PPP, PML-N, and JUI-F — worked at the grass-root levels and did “actual politics”, while the PTI struggled for more than two decades to get to where it is today. “They cannot defeat us.”

    “Nawaz became the chief minister through General Jilani; Shehbaz, who used to give bribes to get his work done, Zardari became the president by ‘showing’ a fake paper; Fazl has been selling the religion from the last 30 years,” he said.

    If they are the ones to save Pakistan, it is better to drown with Imran Khan

    “I was thinking of how the country changed suddenly in 10 days, inflation was forgotten and my entire party was lifted.”

    All the Opposition politicians used to call each other corrupt, he said, thanking them for coming together so the nation could see that “if they are the ones to save Pakistan, it is better to drown with Imran Khan”.

    The premier said that PTI had risen from the grassroots which is why the Opposition parties could not compete with it.

    Fallen into captains trap

    PM Imran Khan said the Opposition leaders were under the “false impression that the people had forgotten their corruption”, but they were wrong as now, they had fallen into the “captain’s trap”.

    “I predict that not only is their no-confidence motion going to fail, but they will taste defeat in the 2023 general elections as well,” he said, foreseeing his party’s triumph in the polls.

    PM Khan said due to the corruption of the politicians, the country had become a “slave” to the foreign powers. “When our then prime minister [Nawaz Sharif] met then US president Barack Obama, his legs were shaking as he was cautious against saying something his ‘master’ might feel bad”.

    “Because they know [those countries] can catch their [corrupt Pakistani politicians’] money laundering whenever they want,” the prime minister said.

    Not anti-US, UK and India

    “You [Nawaz and Zardari] should have at least said that no law in the world allows anyone to play the role of judge, jury, and executioner,” he said, stressing “never have I been anti-American, anti-Britain or anti-India”.

    “I pray that a sensible leadership comes into power in India so that we can hold talks with them after revoking the August 5, 2019, decision on Kashmir.”

    Only an uneducated man would be against a country, he elaborated, adding that he was against their policies. “I was against the war on terror from day one and I will remain so.”

    The premier said 100 drone strikes had been conducted in Pakistan during the governments of Nawaz Sharif and Zardari and PTI leaders had staged sit-ins to protest but “they had no shame”.

    He also mentioned India’s “Hindutva” policy, expressing the wish that a “better government” comes to power in the neighbouring country that would grant rights to Kashmiris.

    Pakistan military was the reason behind the country’s stability

    The Pakistan military was the reason behind the country’s stability, as he gave an example of other Muslim countries — Libya, Syria, and Yemen — where the situation was dismal.

    Noting that despite having differences with former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, PM Imran Khan lauded him and acknowledged that he was a self-reliant leader.

  • Bye bye PTI? PPP, MQM-P to work together

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari met the incumbent government’s Sindh ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Monday.

    In the meeting, both parties have agreed to work together in the interest of the country. PPP has also reportedly agreed to all points of MQM-P.

    PPP’s senior leader Yousuf Raza Gillani said that Bilawal Bhutto will brief the public on all matters which have been settled in the meeting.

    It is pertinent to mention that the meeting is quite important as the no-confidence date is approaching fast.

    Last week, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan himself went to Karachi to meet the MQM- P leadership.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Mother of all jalsas will be held in Islamabad’: Fawad
    
			
    ‘Mother of all jalsas will be held in Islamabad’: Fawad
    
			
    A meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) core committee was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in which ruling party members discussed the ongoing political situation in the country. The meeting took place in the wake of the no-confidence motion which is likely to happen next week. 
    

    After the meeting, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said PTI rejected the Opposition’s “lotacracy” and their efforts to bribe its party lawmakers. He claimed that PTI MPAs are being offered millions of rupees and all party members have strongly condemned this unethical act.
    

    Fawad said that the “mother of all jalsas” will be held in Islamabad.
    

    Taking a jibe at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) “Awaami March”, he said that those who are bringing a limited number of supporters should now know that PTI is the only federal party and PM Khan is the only federal leader and this is the reason why their “kaanpein tang rahi hain.”
    

    “All party members, including the lawmakers, believe that only Khan can rule the country during these challenging times,” he said, adding that the recent public gatherings held at various locations in the last few days have once again proved that PTI is a “federal party and not a divisional party”.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Didn’t join politics to know prices of ‘aaloo, tamatar’ but for country’s youth: PM Khan
    
			
    Didn’t join politics to know prices of ‘aaloo, tamatar’ but for country’s youth: PM Khan
    
			
    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Sunday said that he did not join politics to know the prices of aaloo and tamatar (potatoes and tomatoes) but decided to become a politician for the sake of the country’s youth. 
    

    Addressing a rally in Hafizabad, the premier promised the people of Punjab that his government will work on the development of the province, something which he claimed would be “unprecedented” in the history of the country.
    

    I joined politics for the sake of the country’s youth: Khan
    

    “I didn’t join politics to know the prices of potatoes and tomatoes. I joined it for the sake of the country’s youth,” the premier said. “If we want to become a great nation, we will have to support the truth, and this is what I have been preaching for the last 25 years.”
    

    The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan wanted equal ties with all the countries. “But as a prime minister of a country with a 220 million population, it is my first and foremost duty to protect people’s rights and interests of the country. I will not allow any policy that harms our motherland. I will not compromise on the national interests just for seeking the pleasure of any country,” he stressed.
    

    Past PMs of Pakistan used to “shiver with fear” whenever they met a United States president
    

    Taking a dig at the Opposition and how leaders of different parties criticised him for issuing statements against the European Union (EU) envoys, the premier said that in the past, prime ministers of Pakistan used to “shiver with fear” whenever they met a United States president and used Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal’s slip of the tongue “kaanpein taang rahi hoti thein” as an example. 
    

    The premier went on to say that when he rebuked the envoys of European countries for asking Pakistan to explicitly condemn Russia for attacking Ukraine, Shehbaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were “trembling”.
    

    “My criticism of EU was justified,” the premier said, adding that Opposition leaders, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Shehbaz Sharif, and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari thought it was “grave injustice” to chide EU envoys.
    

    The prime minister said that whenever a foreign diplomat came to meet Shehbaz Sharif, he would quickly change into a suit and a tie.
    

    “Since I know the West better than everyone else, I can assure that they do not respect people who polish their boots,” he said. “They respect nations who stand up for themselves.” 
    

    On the ‘terrorist’ living in London
    

    PM Imran Khan also spoke about the US War on Terror and the ensuing drone attacks in Pakistan, calling it a “violation of human rights”. He also talked about a “terrorist” living in London for the last 30 years, saying that this terrorist was responsible for the killing of more people than those killed by US drones. 
    

    He said he once told a group of European representatives whether they would allow the use of drones against a terrorist and criminal sitting in London who had killed scores of people in Karachi. The premier was apparently referring to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain.
    

    PM Imran further said the United States carried out 400 drone strikes inside Pakistan from 2008 to 2013 but governments led by PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) never opposed them.
    

    “We want cordial relations with all countries but will not compromise on national interest… I would not bow down to anyone nor would I allow the nation to give in before anyone.”
    

    On the contrary, the prime minister said, he had always opposed those attacks, staged sit-ins, and gave statements in the United States and the United Kingdom, calling these attacks a grave violation of basic human rights and global principles.
    

    ‘One-million-strong’ power show at D-Chowk
    

    The premier then talked about transforming Pakistan into an exemplary welfare society, based on the model of the State of Madinah.
    

    “I formed Rehmatul-Lil-Alameen Authority in the country so that every Pakistani child becomes aware of the life and teaching of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and stay on the path of the truth.”
    

    As part of the PTI-led government’s strategy to thwart the Opposition’s no-trust bid, it was decided during the meeting that a one-million strong rally would be staged at Islamabad’s D-Chowk ahead of the no-confidence motion in the lower house of parliament.