Tag: Prime Minister Imran Khan

  • Army releases 20 PTI workers arrested in May 9 riots

    Army releases 20 PTI workers arrested in May 9 riots

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has approved the release of 20 convicts involved in the May 9 riots by granting them a special relaxation.

    The Chief allowed the convicts to go free before Eid-ul-Fitr, leading to their release on April 6 and 7.

    The list released by the Army showed that among those freed, are eight residents of Rawalpindi, three from Lahore, five from Gujranwala, three from Dir, and one from Mardan.

    None of the convicts had completed their sentences and were released only on the orders of COAS.

    Violent clashes and riots had erupted across the country after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan.

    On December 23, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan had allowed the resumption of military trials.

    The released convicts had stayed in custody for various periods up to 10.5 months.

  • Punishing Nawaz Sharif on Iqama was judge’s mistake, says Aleema Khan

    Punishing Nawaz Sharif on Iqama was judge’s mistake, says Aleema Khan

    Founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan has said that punishing Nawaz Sharif on Iqama in the Panama case was a judge’s mistake.  

    Talking to media in Islamabad, Aleema Khan declared that the letter from six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges has revealed the wrongdoing of many individuals. She emphasised the importance of judges advocating for justice, stating that without their support, justice cannot prevail. Aleema Khan urged lawyers to unite in solidarity.

    Imran Khan’s sister stated that the judge made a mistake in the Panama case. She pointed out that the former prime minister was sentenced in the Iqama case, not in the original case, adding that if he were punished in the original case, he would not be free today.

    Aleema continued to say that if pay attention to the cipher case, there will be no doubt in the statement of Asad Majeed. The 10-year sentence in the cipher case and the treason case will be buried; this case is being conducted to save Donald Lu.

  • IHC puzzled by FIA singling out Imran, Qureshi in cipher case

    IHC puzzled by FIA singling out Imran, Qureshi in cipher case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday questioned why the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was only specifically investigating former Prime Minister Imran khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi for not returning the diplomatic cipher even though others involved in the case have done the same.

    Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb gave his remarks during the hearing of appeals filed by both Khan and Qureshi against their conviction.

    Defence council Barrister Salman Safdar presented his argument that the concerned diplomatic cipher was sent to the top eight offices, including the president, PM’s principal secretary, foreign secretary, army chief, director general of Inter-Services Intelligence, chief justice of Pakistan and cabinet secretary.

    However, the defense argued, none of the mentioned recipients returned the diplomatic cable to the Foreign Office when the inquiry commenced in October 2022.

    The other recipients didn’t return the cable for over a year and did so only when proceedings were started against only the ex-PM and FM.

    Justice Aurangzeb asked for an explanation of this move by FIA, to which Barrister Safdar replied it showed “selective prosecution, political victimisation, colourable exercise of power and defective investigation”.

  • Police official transferred after stopping black window car of PML-N MPA

    Police official transferred after stopping black window car of PML-N MPA

    A police officer was transferred on Sunday for stopping the car of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Malik Waheed Awan.

    Sub-inspector Yasir and other officials halted Waheed’s vehicle with tinted windows while the MPA was inside the car.

    A video showing the conversation between the PML-N leader and police personnel surfaced online, where the politician can be heard saying, “I am Malik Waheed, not just an ordinary MPA.”

    Awan demanded an on-camera apology from the policeman. However, Sub-Inspector (SI) Yasir and officials apologised to MPA Malik Waheed. Later, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi transferred sub-inspector Yasir to the judicial wing.

    In a video statement, Malik Waheed stated that he had come to thank the trader’s community in the constituency after winning the election, but the police deliberately stopped his vehicle.

    The PML-N leader added that he is a police-friendly person and salutes the police.

  • Political rallies are not terrorism: SC

    Political rallies are not terrorism: SC

    The Supreme Court granted bail to five suspects nominated cases pertaining to May 9 riots.

    A three-member bench led by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and comprising Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Mussarat Hilali on Wednesday took up bail applications of the accused suspects nominated under various laws including the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997 for rioting and vandalizing Hamza Camp in Rawalpindi.

    Last year, nationwide protests and riots took place on May 9 after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan from the premises of Islamabad High Court. Social media feeds were filled with videos showing acts of vandalism all over the country.

    During the hearing, Justice Mandokhail asked, “How is carrying out rallies [equivalent to] terrorism?”
    Justice Mandokhail asked the authorities whether they were aware of the conditions under which Anti-Terrorism Act could be enacted.

    “Recently, an incident of terrorism occurred in which officers were martyred [in North Waziristan]. The attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School was an act of terror. The suicide attack on lawyers in Quetta was an act of terror.”

    Justice Mandokhail criticized the authorities and asked, “Is carrying out rallies or being a worker of a political party a crime?”

    The Judge also emphasized that banning political parties and student unions had gotten the country to this point.
    The SC later granted bail to the suspects by accepting their bail requests against surety bonds of Rs50,000 each.

  • Who was wearing Imran Khan mask in National Assembly today?

    Who was wearing Imran Khan mask in National Assembly today?

    In today’s oath-taking ceremony at the National Assembly (NA), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-supported candidates appeared wearing Imran Khan masks. Newly-elected members took oath today at the inaugural ceremony of the 16th NA.

    In solidarity with former Prime Minister Imran Khan, PTI leaders Ali Muhammad Khan, Sher Afzal Marwat, Zartaj Gul, and Shandana Gulzar, were wearing masks in today’s session at the lower house.

    Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), joined by independent candidates from PTI, began chanting slogans during the inaugural ceremony.

    The session is being held today under Article 91(2) of the Constitution, with President Arif Alvi refusing to sign an earlier summary for summoning the session on the reported grounds of non-allocation of reserved seats to SIC.

  • PTI to hold countrywide protests over alleged rigging

    PTI to hold countrywide protests over alleged rigging

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will hit the streets today at 12pm across the country to protest against what they claim is rigging and tampering with election results from February 8th.

    Major parties that won the most seats have been looking for allies and making alliances to form the next governments at both the national and provincial levels.

    The PTI expressed disappointment with the election results, where its affiliated candidates won over 90 National Assembly seats, making them the largest group. They announced plans to hold peaceful protests countrywide against what they called “record-high rigging” in the recent general elections.

    “The PTI has called for country-wide protests against the unprecedented, massive, brazen rigging in general elections 2024, where PTI’s win of 180 National Assembly seats and a two-thirds majority in the parliament, was cut down to half,” the party said in a statement.

  • Firdous Ashiq Awan apologises for slapping a police officer

    Firdous Ashiq Awan apologises for slapping a police officer

    Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan has formally apologised for slapping a police officer during the general elections.

    In a hearing held at the Election Commission, chaired by Nisar Durrani, Awan expressed regret for the incident and sought forgiveness in a written statement submitted to the commission. The affected police officer also submitted a written response during the hearing.

    During the inquiry, a member of the Election Commission questioned Awan, asking who she thought she was to take the law into her own hands.

    Awan responded to the inquiry by stating that she apologizes for her actions, clarifying that the polling stations were in a chaotic state and that she was merely trying to ensure order.

    She further stated that the police were a passive spectator and she felt threatened by the crowd.

    The incident, which sparked widespread criticism on social media, has been under scrutiny by the Election Commission.

    The commission has stated that it will issue further directives regarding the hearing at a later date.

    On February 12, Awan said that she slapped a police officer as the person in uniform was facilitating one political party on election day. The IPP leader also said that if the law does not take its course, then citizens will teach corrupt police officers a lesson.
    The video was widely slammed on social media, with users calling out the IPP leader for resorting to violence.

    Read more: ‘Thappay par thappa’, Firdous explains why she slapped a police officer

  • Nawaz Sharif’s victory speech is ready, says Maryam Nawaz

    Nawaz Sharif’s victory speech is ready, says Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz has said in a tweet that the party is emerging as the single largest party in the centre as well as in Punjab.

     She wrote in a post on X (previously Twitter), “As opposed to the false perception deliberately built by a section of media last night, PMLN, Alhamdolillah emerging as the single largest party in centre and in Punjab. Some results awaited. MNS will head to PMLN HQ for the victory speech as soon as final results are received. Insha’Allah. Stay tuned”

  • Bilawal promises to change Karachi if elected

    Bilawal promises to change Karachi if elected

    Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has promised to change the map of Karachi if he comes into power after winning the upcoming general elections set to take place on February 8.

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman promised to ensure Karachi receives its fair share of rights by securing representation in both the provincial and national assemblies.

    “Other parties are contesting polls for their benefits, but the PPP will work for Karachi and protect its mandate,” he said.

    Bilawal Bhutto also stated that everyone other than PPP is engaged in the politics of hatred and revenge.