Tag: PPP

  • Zardari will sign plea bargain deal by March: Sheikh Rasheed

    Zardari will sign plea bargain deal by March: Sheikh Rasheed

    Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has claimed that former president Asif Ali Zardari will sing a plea bargain deal in corruption cases “by the end of March”, Pakistan Today reported.

    According to the details, the minister during a media talk at the Bahria University in Islamabad has said, “If Bilawal doesn’t accept a plea bargain deal, his political career will be finished.”

    Shiekh Rasheed said that Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf (PTI) government has been taking steps to address the issue of inflation, adding that only Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan can take people out of their problems.

    The minister also urged youth to play their role in the progress of the country and asserted that a strong economy was important to formulate independent policies and ensure a strong defence.

    Rasheed also regretted the attack on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore by a disgruntled mob of lawyers.

  • Former president Zardari granted bail on medical grounds

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday approved the bail of former president Asif Ali Zardari on medical grounds and asked him to submit surety bonds worth Rs10 million.

    A week earlier, Zardari, who is under detention on charges of money laundering and presently undergoing treatment at a hospital, had agreed to file a bail petition on medical grounds at the insistence of his family members.

    His lawyers had moved the IHC for his bail.

    It had been announced by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during a brief news conference after meeting his ailing father at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) last Monday.

    In his petition, Zardari had maintained that he was suffering from a heart condition and has had three stents placed in his body. He had said that he also suffers from diabetes which means that he has to constantly monitor his blood sugar levels.

    The PPP co-chairperson’s medical reports were also submitted along with the application to the IHC so that bail may be granted.

    The high court had also admitted for hearing a bail petition filed by Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur. In her appeal, Talpur had maintained that she is the mother of a differently-abled child. In order to care for her child, she had asked the court to grant bail until the completion of the trial.

    Zardari, Talpur and other accused face charges of corruption through fake bank accounts and embezzlement in the financial facility for Park Lane Private Limited and Parthenon (Pvt) Limited. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) alleges that the national exchequer suffered a loss of Rs3.77 billion because of the irregularities.

    Zardari was shifted to PIMS in October after the medical board stated that he was suffering from cardiac problem, diabetes and other ailments, and needed medical care.

  • Firdous Awan sees opposition’s hand in Bajwa’s extension case

    Firdous Awan sees opposition’s hand in Bajwa’s extension case

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awaz has claimed that the mafia behind the petitioner who submitted the application against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s extension is interlinked with the opposition parties.

    While talking during a talk show on a private news outlet, Firdous said that “PM Imran Khan has all the intelligence report, containing the information and facts about the mafia who wanted to get Gen Bajwa removed from COAS’s position and was involved in this issue”.

    PM’s aide while talking about the Army Act ammendent issue said that “Opposition parties are trying to use this opportunity as a bargaining chip and is trying to pressurize the government with their statements against this legislation [due to be passed in parliament].

    Watch Video:

    She also said that the mafia’s involvement in this matter can also be gussed by the fact that “when Supreme Court suspended COAS’s extension notification, the stock market suffered a severe blow”.

    The Supreme Court November 26 had suspended the notification confirming the extension of Gen Bajwa for another three years, saying that the “prime minister has does not have the power to extend the tenure of the army chief”.

    Later after hearing the case for two days the court announced its short order allowing Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa to remain the Chief of Army Staff for another six months, during which the parliament will legislate on the extension/reappointment of an army chief.

  • Called off Azadi March after assurance of general elections in three months: Fazl

    Called off Azadi March after assurance of general elections in three months: Fazl

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman has disclosed the “conditions” upon which the opposition’s Azadi March sit-in was called off.

    “I was assured that a change would come in the month of December […] I was assured that new general elections would be held in the next three months,” Dunya News quoted Maulana Fazl as saying.

    JUI-F chief said that we need to wait “whether in-house change [in the parliament] is brought or the entire government is sent packing”.

    Meanwhile, Fazl has called multiparty conference (MPC) of the opposition parties on November 26 aimed at discussing next course of action against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Reports reveal that Fazl has invited several influential politicians including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Ahsan Iqbal and Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, among other senior leaders of opposition parties.

    However, PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz has excused herself from attending the meeting due to health issues, including blood pressure and diabetes.

    The protests, led by JUI-F supremo, began with the ‘Azadi March’ on October 27 from Karachi. Thousands of supporters reached Islamabad on October 31, holding a two-week sit-in on the city’s main highway.

    Later on November 13, Fazl ordered his supporters to disperse across the country to block roads, in what he termed as ‘Plan B’ to topple Prime Minister Imran Khan.

  • ‘Imran is a mental patient,’ PML-N reacts to PM’s speeches

    ‘Imran is a mental patient,’ PML-N reacts to PM’s speeches

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has lashed out at Prime Minister Imran Khan, referring to him as a ‘mental patient’, Geo News reported.

    According to the details, Marriyum while speaking to media on Friday said that after PM Imran today’s speech it was clear that he was a mental patient and needed to get himself checked.

    She said, “We’re convinced Imran Khan is a mental patient, he should get himself a medical examination.”

    PML-N spokesperson said that it was fortunate that Shehbaz Sharif was being compared to Nelson Mandela, addinf that Imran Khan had nothing to show for after five years of governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province and one year in power at the federal level. 

    “The issue here is that the government’s performance is zero,” she said. “He should have spoken about how the Peshawar BRT cannot be completed even after five years.”

    Marriyum further said that a case against the prime minister should be filed for provocative speech.

    PM Imran on Monday, had said that when he saw the former premier Nawaz Sharif climbing the stairs of the plane he remembered the doctors’ reports, which said the patient ‘will be gone [forever]’ if not allowed to go abroad.

    Meanwhile, Senator Sherry Rehman has also criticised the premier for mimicking political rivals by saying that was all he was doing these days. 

    “Imran Khan has destroyed the country and now all he does is mimic his rivals,” she said, adding that “He should think before he speak–his words contradict his own stance.”

    She said that people were unable to find jobs in the country and the PM was saying that the economy was stabilising.

    On Monday, PM Imran had made fun of PPP’s Bilawal over the latter’s “rain theory”.

    Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Havelian-Thakot motorway under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he had mimicked Bilawal and said that his theory had startled scientists across the globe.

  • ‘With more inflation, comes more poverty,’ PM Imran pulls a Bilawal

    Two days after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan mocked Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for his “rainwater” gaffe, the premier himself has pulled a Bilawal.

    “With more inflation, comes more poverty,” ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and the country’s chief executive reportedly said while addressing a ceremony to distribute Rs30 billion refund cheques of sales and income tax among prominent exporters at the PM Office in Islamabad.

    He also said that the country had not been able to make significant economic progress due to the absence of long-term economic policies. “China is progressing by adopting long-term strategies… now we are heading towards adopting the same approach.”

    The premier said that the country’s South Asian competitors, including India and Bangladesh, had also moved ahead of Pakistan by sticking to this approach and urged the business community to consider the payment of taxes as their national obligation

    “The government is firm to uplift the masses and check poverty through wealth creation, tax collection and industrialisation,” he said.

    ‘WITH MORE RAIN, COMES MORE WATER’:

    On Monday, PM Imran had made fun of PPP’s Bilawal over the latter’s “rain theory”.

    Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Havelian-Thakot motorway under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he had mimicked Bilawal and said that his theory had startled scientists across the globe.

    “Bilwal has startled scientists worldwide by saying ‘jab barish hoti hai to pani ata hai’ (water pours when it rains). But Einstein rolled over in his grave when he [Bilawal] went on to say ‘Jab ziada barish hota hai to ziada pani ata hai’ (more water comes when it rains more),” the premier quipped.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Bilawal had earlier this year made the statement while trying to explain urban flooding in Karachi amid heavy rains.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrqNAITOKw8
  • Larkana by-election: ‘Is Bhutto still alive?’ Zartaj Gul trolls PPP

    Larkana by-election: ‘Is Bhutto still alive?’ Zartaj Gul trolls PPP

    With Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) facing defeat in Thursday’s Larkana by-election, Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wazir has trolled the rival party with a jibe at its late founder, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

    By-poll in the PS-11 constituency — considered a stronghold of Sindh’s ruling PPP — had been announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after the Supreme Court had de-seated Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) candidate Moazzam Ali Abbasi in August.

    With an apex court bench declaring the election tribunal’s decision void and ordering re-election in the constituency, voters on Thursday polled to elect Abbasi, unofficial results revealed.

    As per preliminary results from 138 polling stations that were set up for the by-election, Abbasi bagged 31,557 votes, while his rival Jamil Soomro of the PPP obtained 26,021 votes.

    Reacting to the results, PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari vowed to challenge what he believes was “rigging” in the by-election.

    In a series of posts shared on Twitter, the PPP leader said he was proud of party workers for “fighting an honourable election,” which he claimed they did “despite immense pressure from the establishment”.

    The accusations, however, did not seem to bother GDA or its allies, one of which is the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    “Wanted to ask if Bhutto is still alive or not,” PTI leader and minister Zartaj Gul tweeted.

    While many joined Wazir in her attempt to poke fun at the opposition party, others argued that the statement was in bad taste for speaking ill of the deceased.

  • Meet social media stars of Chohan’s TikTok video fame

    Meet social media stars of Chohan’s TikTok video fame

    A TikTok video of Punjab government’s spokesperson and ex-information minister Fayyazul Hasan Chohan went viral on social media, showing him and two girls laughing while asking him a question.

    Since then, people had been asking who the two girls were as the video was followed by their pictures with Pakistan Terheek-e-Insaf (PTI) stalwarts, including Jehangir Tareen, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and even Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    To address netizens’ curiosity, Hareem Shah and Sundal Khattak were invited by a private media outlet, speaking to which they shared how they were big fans of the PTI, how they had gone to meet Chohan for an official concern and then recorded the video.

    They also shared how they want to meet Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and record a TikTok video with him as well.

  • Asif Ali Zardari to be arrested today: sources

    Asif Ali Zardari to be arrested today: sources

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairperson and former president Asif Ali Zardari will be arrested by the National Accountancy Bureau (NAB) in the fake bank accounts case today, The Current has learnt.

    As per the details, Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur will be taken into custody after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected their pre-arrest bail pleas earlier in the day.

    Issuing its orders, the bench also permitted NAB authorities to carry out the arrests.

    “A team of NAB officials has already informed National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser in this regard,” sources said, adding that an elected representative cannot be detained unless the speaker of the respective house has been informed.

    NAB’s letter to NA Speaker Asad Qaiser

    “Another NAB team has reached Zardari’s residence, however, PPP leaders are seeking a certified copy of the judgment ahead of the arrest,” they said further.

    The judgement is being sought so that the Supreme Court (SC) can be petitioned against the high court’s order. “That is the only option left for the two PPP leaders.”

    Meanwhile, PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s spokesperson Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar has requested party workers to stay calm and not resort to violence.

    The fake accounts case relates to transactions of hundreds of millions of rupees to Zardari and Talpur’s private companies allegedly through fake bank accounts.

  • United opp divides people: All you should know about Bilawal’s Iftar

    United opp divides people: All you should know about Bilawal’s Iftar

    As leaders of major opposition parties joined hands to attend an Iftar dinner hosted by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday, their united stance against the government left social media divided.

    ATTENDANCE:

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) senior leader Liaquat Baloch, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Sherpao and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leaders Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar were all in attendance for the event organised at Zardari House in Islamabad.

    AGENDA:

    Bilawal is working to unite all opposition parties and his Iftar was an opportunity for them to reach consensus on launching an anti-government movement after Ramzan.

    The grand show of around ten political parties discussed strategies against the government. Sources had earlier informed The Current that the meeting was set to unite opposition leaders against the country’s economic crisis — falling rupee value and inflation.

    It was decided that solutions will be found to the issues the country is facing and all opposition parties will launch a protest inside and outside the parliament after Eid.

    They also agreed that the government has failed in running the affairs of the country and after Eid, an All Parties Conference (APC) would be held where a joint strategy would be formulated.

    The meeting also expressed concerns over “political victimisation” by the National Accountancy Bureau (NAB).

    PM IMRAN’S REACTION:

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan hit out at the opposition and said, “Today certain people have gathered for an event but we really know that it is because of them that Pakistan has not moved forward.”

    He said that the economy was being used “as a source of blackmail by corrupt political mafia”.

    DIVIDED SOCIAL MEDIA:

    Some social media users lauded Bilawal and Maryam as the new faces behind the two biggest opposition parties in the country, “taking forward the ideas of their parents” — former PMs Benazir Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz.

    https://twitter.com/always_opposed/status/1130139351558631424

    Meanwhile, some others stepped up to criticise the “unholy alliance”.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1130080776899452928

    https://twitter.com/Faisal_Kp01/status/1130382713062678528