Tag: Prime Minister Imran Khan

  • PTI’s Usman Dar says Imran Khan responsible for May 9 riots

    PTI’s Usman Dar says Imran Khan responsible for May 9 riots

    Kamran Shahid, the anchor of On the Front on Dunya News, filmed a highly anticipated interview at his ancestral ‘Haveli’, airing it on Wednesday night.

    Usman Dar, one of the stalwarts of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the former head of PTI’s Tiger Force, an organization comprising young volunteers, appeared on the show to talk about who was the mastermind behind the May 9 riots. On the said day, after PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from Islamabad High Court, protests broke out throughout the country, leading to armed clashes between them and law enforcement agencies. Jinnah House in Lahore, GHQ building in Rawalpindi, airbases and other state installations, along with monuments honouring martyred military men, Askari Tower, Military Library, residences of the armed forces officers, army selection center, petrol pumps, were attacked or set ablaze.

    Dar reappeared in public after 147 days to announce on the show that not only was he leaving PTI but also bidding farewell to politics forever. Dar started off by mentioning that he had been missing his passionate arguments with Kamran Shahid on his programs, moving on to say he joined PTI because he genuinely believed that Imran Khan was a leader who could provide a platform for “clean politics.”

    Dar termed the aftermath of May 9 for PTI workers an “earthquake”, stating that the day did not unfold incidentally but happened after a significant build-up. After the PTI government was removed, there were two types of mindsets in the party, Dar revealed. Murad Saeed, Azam Swati, and Hammad Azhar were the ones who believed in the politics of collision while Asad Umar, Omar Ayub, Ali Muhammad Khan, Shafqat Mahmood, and Dar himself believed in the politics of reconciliation.

    “Those who believed in the collision were convinced that this confrontation would generate results. Unfortunately, Imran Khan supported that group more. He is anyways more of a leading from the front type, and he likes front liners,” said Dar, unveiling what went on in Zaman Park, where Imran Khan was bunkered down.

    He further stated that the beliefs of the collision group prevailed more within the party and Imran Khan supported this policy. He also explained how workers from Punjab and KPK were called on and off to Lahore to provide Imran Khan with a ‘human shield’ to avoid arrest. Duties, timing, and days were divided among leaders and workers to stop something as “unique” as Imran Khan’s arrest.

    Dar stated that workers had a feeling that they had to save Imran Khan at all costs. Imran Khan was supporting the anti-state narrative that was being developed among workers. “Imran Khan started with General Bajwa and then on to [Chief of Army Staff] Asim Munir. I believe any Army Chief would leave, like today General Asim Munir is there instead of General Bajwa but the institution remains there,” he said.

    He also explained that the long march organised by PTI in November 2022 was to oppose General Asim Munir’s appointment. “I think Imran Khan had some information from within the institution that probably the long march would hinder the appointment of General Asim Munir,” Dar said, confirming what many political pundits had suspected since long.

    Dar also said that he’ll appear in court to state all this under oath if he has to.

    After May 9, the lives of PTI workers have changed entirely and their families are suffering, the Sialkot based Dar observed. Finally, he said he is disappointed in Imran Khan.

  • Arif Alvi nay Imran Khan ka dil tor diya?

    Arif Alvi nay Imran Khan ka dil tor diya?

    Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister, has voiced his profound disappointment and discontentment with President Dr. Arif Alvi for not yet announcing the date for upcoming elections, his sister Aleema Khan has said while talking to the press after a court appearance in Lahore.

    Aleema Khan, who has been implicated in the May 9 riots case, appeared before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday, where her’s and former Finance Minister Asad Umar’s interim bails were extended until October 16. The judge instructed their legal representatives to present final arguments in the Jinnah House attack case.

    Aleema Khan later told the media that Imran Khan was disappointed with President Alvi’s perceived failure to fulfill his constitutional obligation of announcing an election date, especially during a critical time for the nation.

    The issue of the election date has been a subject of contention in recent times. The PTI’s core committee issued a strong statement last month, reminding President Alvi of his constitutional responsibilities and urging him to promptly announce the election date. The committee asserted that failure to do so would amount to a violation of the Constitution and the basic democratic rights of the people.

    The core committee argued that announcing the election date would bring an end to political uncertainty and chaos that had gripped the country since the “regime change conspiracy” in April 2022.

    After the court hearing, Aleema Khan addressed the media and expressed concerns about her brother’s deteriorating health. She mentioned that Imran Khan had lost a significant amount of weight and highlighted the lack of opportunities for him to exercise or even take a walk. She also expressed apprehensions about potential efforts to prolong Imran Khan’s detention in the cipher case.

    It’s worth noting that the caretaker government has emphasized that only the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has the authority to make such an announcement. Initially, President Alvi had invited Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in an attempt to get him to agree on a date. However, Raja declined the request, asserting that only the ECP possessed the authority to announce the date, citing amendments made in the ECP Act of 2017.

    Before the amendment to Section 57(1) of the act, Raja had explained that the president was required to consult the ECP before appointing an election date. However, after the amendment, the commission was empowered to announce the date or dates for the general election, he noted.

  • Why did A National TV reporter hurl abuse at PTI supporters?

    Why did A National TV reporter hurl abuse at PTI supporters?

    Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif in London, emphasizing that he has maintained a 35-year relationship with the party, and these ties go beyond political considerations.

    After the two-hour-long meeting, Shahid Khaqan talked to the media outside Nawaz’s residence. During the conversation, PTI supporters started raising slogans against him.

    While a reporter from Samaa was trying to interview Abbasi, PTI supporters came near them in a car and started chanting, “Kaun Bachaye Ga Pakistan, Imran Khan, Imran Khan”. Abbasi responded with a simple “Khuda Hafiz”.

    This would’ve been fine, but then the Samaa reporter started shooing the PTI supporters off, eventually swearing at them.
    Watch the video to see what happened.

  • Fact check: Is this the cell in which Imran Khan is being detained?

    Claim: Multiple journalists including Sami Abraham and Sabir Shakir have implied in their tweets that Imran Khan is being held in a derelict jail cell, complete with a picture of a dark jail cell.

    Sara Taseer, daughter of late Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, also took to X (formerly Twitter) on October 1, writing:

    “This is what you call “zameen tang”. This inhumane treatment for the man you has given so much for the name fame betterment for #Pakistan I’m so ashamed to call myself Pakistani today. I never thought I’d ever feel this way. #ImranFightingForPakistan”

    The picture of the cell was quite disturbing, with peeling paint, a dark interior and derelict walls.

    Journalist Sami Abraham also tweeted the same picture.

    However, this is not actually Imran Khan’s cell.

    This photo was published by Jeannie Adams in ‘DOING TIME – MISSOURI STATE PENITENTIARY TOUR 26 JUL 2017’

    The cell picture shared by these accounts is actually in Missouri, from a now-closed facility where prisoners on suicide watch were detained.

    Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has been recently shifted to Adiala Jail and is being tried for the Cipher case.

    True or False: The claim is false.

  • Who hasn’t paid house rent for the last 12 years?

    Who hasn’t paid house rent for the last 12 years?

    Janay kab hongay kum, PTI leadership ki zindagi kay gham

    The owner of ‘Insaf House’, PTI headquarters in Karachi, who rented the place to PTI leadership, has approached a court to seek unpaid rent worth more than Rs 10 million accumulated over the past 12 years, as per Geo News.

    Dues calculated till July 2023 are Rs 13.9 million. The rent agreement was signed between the landlord and PTI’s late leader Naeem ul Haque, President Arif Alvi, and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail. Meanwhile, Firdous Shamim Naqvi and Samar Ali Khan signed the agreement as ‘guarantors’.

    Under the rental agreement, PTI leaders including Alvi, Ismail and Haque had agreed to pay Rs100,000 in rent each month.
    Party leaders, including President Arif Alvi, might face legal consequences after the owner filed a case under section 15 of the Sindh Rental Ordinance Act 1969.

    As per the documents, PTI leadership not only faces legal consequences due to unpaid rent but also might face charges for violating the agreement’s clause that prohibited any political activities at the premises.

    If the case is decided in favor of the landlord, Alvi, Ismail, and the guarantors might even face disqualification.

    PTI had moved the court to de-seal the Insaf House after it was cordoned off following the May 9 riots. The court directed authorities to de-seal the party’s office and barred any gathering of more than five people at the premises.

  • Khan, Qureshi will remain behind bars till October 10 in cipher case: Court

    Khan, Qureshi will remain behind bars till October 10 in cipher case: Court

    A special court established under the Official Secret Act has extended the judicaila remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi till October 10 in the cipher case on Tuesday.

    The PTI Chairman and Vice Chairman will remain behind bars for the next 14 days.

    The hearing was conducted by Judge Abdul Hasnat Zulqarnain at the Attock jail.

    PTI lawyers Barrister Salman Safdar, Latif Khosa, Umer Niazi, and Naeem Panjutha attended the hearing, while the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team was also present there.

    After that, the court extended the judicial remand of both leaders until October 10.

    The FIA booked both PTI Chairman and Vice Chairman last month for allegedly misusing a top secret document for political gain.

    “Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in the secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” reads the First Information Report (FIR) registered against the PTI leaders.

  • Why doesn’t Imran Khan want to be transferred to Adiala Jail?

    Why doesn’t Imran Khan want to be transferred to Adiala Jail?

    Journalists were left in confusion about the current location of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Monday when officials from Adiala jail denied Khan’s lawyers assertion that Imran had been shifted to their facility.

    A twist in the story has now propped up. According to journalist Saqib Bashir’s sources, Imran Khan has said during the jail hearing that he doesn’t want to be transferred to Adiala jail as he is comfortable in Attock Jail.

    The PTI chief further stated during the hearing that “I will request my lawyers to withdraw the application.

    On Monday, the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Justice Aamir Farooq, issued an order to shift the PTI chief from Attock to Adiala jail. The chief justice remarked that Imran Khan deserves a better class in jail as he is the former prime minister of Pakistan.

    His rights should not be violated, Justice Farooq stated.

  • Imran to be transferred from Attock jail to Adiala jail: High Court

    Imran to be transferred from Attock jail to Adiala jail: High Court

    The Chief Justice of Islamabad High (IHC), Justice Aamir Farooq, has issued orders to shift Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan from Attock jail to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, stating that the former prime minister deserves a better class in jail. His rights should not be violated, Justice Farooq stated.

    The chief justice also said that according to the law, under-trial prisoners of Islamabad should be kept in Adiala jail, asking why Imran Khan is being kept in Attock.

    Mentioning that Imran Khan was sent to Attock jail in the Toshakhana case, the Chief Justice pointed out that his sentence in the said case has been suspended.

    Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal told the court that Imran Khan was being kept in Attock jail in the cipher case.

    On the other hand, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Sher Afzal Marwat, has demanded an exercise machine for Imran Khan, saying that the PTI chief was a sportsman.

    Earlier, Attock jail’s superintendent refused to transfer Imran Khan to Adiala Jail due to security concerns.

  • Imran Khan’s lawyers and doctor can meet him in jail: Court

    Imran Khan’s lawyers and doctor can meet him in jail: Court

    Under the Official Secrets Act 1923, the Official Secret Act Court has allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to meet with his legal team and doctors on Thursday. Imran Khan was arrested in the cipher case and is currently in Attock jail.

    The Official Secrets Act Court decision came as Imran Khan’s attorney, Naeem Haider Panjutha, filed a petition on behalf of the former prime minister.

    Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain gave permission to the PTI chairman to meet with his legal team, including well-known lawyers Latif Khosa, Sameer Khosa, and Salman Akram Raja. Imran Khan can also meet with his doctor, Dr. Asim Yusuf, the court decided.

    Previously, the court allowed Imran Khan to talk to his sons via telephone in Attock jail.

    Official Secrets Act, 1923 is Pakistan’s Anti-Espionage Act and was enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to official secrets in the country.

  • Court issues notice to FIA for Imran Khan’s bail plea in cipher case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman plea seeking bail before arrest in the cipher case.

    The court issued the notice during the hearing of Khan’s petition challenging the decision of the special court in a diplomatic document case. Imran Khan filed the plea on Saturday.

    The bail pleas of Imran Khan and vice president of PTI Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the missing cipher case got rejected by the special court made under the Official Secrets Act.

    PTI’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, filed a petition on behalf of Imran Khan while IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the notice to FIA in response to the petition.

    Imran Khan’s legal team repeatedly requested an early hearing of the case, but the chief justice of the IHC said that the case would be decided according to proper procedure.

    On the other hand, the court ordered the FIA to submit its response regarding Imran Khan’s petition.