Tag: PTI government

  • Imran Khan named ‘Personality of the Week’ for ‘efforts against Islamophobia’

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has been voted the ‘Personality of the Week’ by Al-Jazeera’s weekly program Sibaq-ul-Akhbar (News Competition), Radio Pakistan has reported. The primer was selected for his views and efforts to address the issue of Islamophobia.

    PM Imran Khan had recently shared his views on Islamophobia in a series of tweets in which he sent out a message to “extremists abroad” who indulge in Islamophobia, and racist slurs to hurt and cause pain to the Muslims across the globe.

    “We Muslims have the greatest love and respect for our Prophet PBUH who lives in our hearts. We cannot tolerate any such disrespect and abuse,” the permier had said.

    Read more – ‘TLP’s way is not the answer’: PM Khan addresses the nation

    Sibaq-ul-Akhbar is an interactive and live one hour weekly program in Arabic on Al Jazeera TV. It is very popular in Arab countries. During the show, the channel selects three to four top news of the week and subsequently viewers are asked to vote which is the top news story and personality associated with the story. Imran Khan secured 56 percent votes from the viewers.

    Al-Jazeera’s viewers on the Sibaq-ul-Akhbar program held on April 24 voted for PM Khan as Personality of the Week for his candid views on the issue of Islamophobia.  

  • NA-249 by-poll: Others cry foul as PPP clinches victory in unexpected turn of events

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) came out on top after a close contest with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in NA-249 (Karachi West-II) on Thursday.

    According to unofficial results, PPP’s Abdul Qadir Mandokhel, in an unexpected turn off events, won the race against PML-N’s Miftah Ismail close behind.

    The NA seat was created in 2018 by amalgamating neighbourhoods that previously fell in two Upper House constituencies — NA-239 and NA-240 — during three general elections between 2002 and 2013.

    The constituency, with 339,591 registered voters, has emerged to be a highly contested seat with candidates belonging to almost every major political party fighting for it.

    Prominent candidates in the run were Miftah of PML-N, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Syed Mustafa Kamal, Amjad Afridi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Qadir of PPP, Mohammad Mursaleen of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Mufti Nazeer Ahmed Kamalvi of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

    Contrary to pre-poll surveys, the PTI was unable to reclaim the seat fallen vacant after Faisal Vawda’s resignation.

    The PTI, instead, couldn’t even make it to top three.

    Earlier, when Miftah was in the lead, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz claimed that the “masses know who exactly is responsible for their troubles and woes”.

    “I have said it earlier and I will say it again, Imran Khan and PTI will not be able to campaign and if they do, this is how they will be welcomed,” she said.

    Her remarks were in response to a video shared by former journalist Talat Hussain showing PTI candidate for NA-249 Amjad Afridi being heckled by voters of the constituency.

    Earlier, taking strict notice of PTI lawmakers’ presence in the NA-249 constituency during the by-poll, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) directed them to leave.

    According to details, six PTI MPs Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Raja Azhar, Saeed Afridi, Bilal Ghaffar, Shah Nawaz Jadoon and Shahzad Awan were found to be violating the code of conduct by being present in the constituency during polling hours.

    The ECP issued their expulsion orders, directing police to expel them from the constituency.

    Since after the surprising turn of events, rigging allegations are pouring in against the ruling PPP of Sindh.

  • Pakistan’s first media university to be set up in Islamabad, says Fawad Chaudhry

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has announced that the government plans to open the country’s first-ever media university in Islamabad, ARY News has reported.

    The minister said that the university will be opened in a vacant building in Islamabad, which has been empty for the past eight years.

    Fawad added that international professors will be called to teach at the university, adding that modern technology will also be taught there.

    The minister further said that this is for the first time in the country that animation, sound and lighting education will be given locally. He is hopeful that the media university will become the best varsity in the South Asia region.

    Fawad was recently reappointed Minister for Information and Broadcasting in a recent cabinet shuffle.

    Earlier, he also shared his plans on what he plans to do under his ministry.

    “The process that started in 2018 to initiate reforms in the Information Ministry is being resumed,” Chaudhry had said, adding that the project to make Pakistan Television HD will be completed by June 1. In addition to this, work on making PTV Sports HD is also in progress.

  • Against surveys: PML-N’s Miftah leads Karachi by-poll, PTI far behind

    Contrary to what surveys suggested, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Miftah Ismail is leading the race for Karachi’s NA-249 constituency, unofficial results from 54 of 276 polling stations show.

    While the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) are trailing behind, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for now rests at the bottom of the table.

    Earlier, the polling process continued rather peacefully with no untoward incident taking place.

    Voter turnout, despite strict security arrangements, was reported to be low, mainly owing to Ramzan, scorching heat and the fact that the election was conducted on a business day.

    CONTRARY TO SURVEYS:

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his PTI were the most popular in embattled NA-249 constituency of Karachi until earlier today.

    According to surveys by Ipsos, Pulse Consultant and Gallup Pakistan, PTI was likely to retain the seat that had fallen vacant after its Faisal Vawda stepped down; however, rival PML-N could give it a tought time.

    The Karachi West-II seat of the National Assembly lies in Baldia Town neighbourhood of the metropolis.

    It was won by PTI’s Vawda in the 2018 general election after beating PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif.

    As many as 276 polling stations comprising 796 polling booths had been established in the constituency.

    The constituency, with 339,591 registered voters, had emerged to be a highly contested seat with candidates belonging to almost every major political party fighting for it.

    Prominent candidates in the run were Miftah Ismail of PML-N, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Syed Mustafa Kamal, Amjad Afridi of PTI, Qadir Khan Mandokhail of PPP, Mohammad Mursaleen of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Mufti Nazeer Ahmed Kamalvi of TLP.

    With results still pouring in, a sudden turn of events hasn’t been ruled out by pundits.

  • NA-249 by-election: Imran Khan, his PTI most popular, suggest surveys amid polling

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are the most popular in embattled NA-249 constituency of Karachi where a by-poll is currently being held.

    According to surveys by Ipsos, Pulse Consultant and Gallup Pakistan, PTI is likely to retain the seat that had fallen vacant after its Faisal Vawda stepped down; however, rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) could give it a tough time.

    The Karachi West-II seat of the National Assembly lies in Baldia Town neighbourhood of the metropolis.

    It was won by PTI’s Vawda in the 2018 general election after beating PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif.

    As many as 276 polling stations comprising 796 polling booths have been established in the constituency. The voting process on Thursday began at 8 am and will continue till 5 pm without any pause.

    The constituency, with 339,591 registered voters, has emerged to be a highly contested seat with candidates belonging to almost every major political party fighting for it.

    Prominent candidates in the run are Miftah Ismail of PML-N, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Syed Mustafa Kamal, Amjad Afridi of PTI, Qadir Khan Mandokhail of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Mohammad Mursaleen of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Mufti Nazeer Ahmed Kamalvi of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

    TLP which was banned earlier this month over violent nationwide protests is contesting the seat after the Ministry of Interior said it could contest elections until such time that it stood dissolved as a political party registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    Candidates and their supporters have acknowledged a lacklustre ambience reflecting a certain sense of detachment among the voters belonging to the constituency, however, expressed hope that they would come out of their homes by noon.

  • Dr Arif Alvi, wife open up on personal life, marriage

    President Dr Arif Alvi and First Lady Mrs Samina Arif Alvi recently opened up on their personal life, relationship dynamics and revealed how they got married.

    Appearing on Nida Yasir’s show, Dr Alvi and Mrs Samina shared that they are second cousins. When Yasir, in her typical style, asked if their marriage was an arranged or love, the president said that it was a “mix,” adding that they have an age difference of five years.

    President Alvi also shared that he would write letters to his wife after their marriage.

    Talking about their relationship dynamics, President Alvi and his wife shared that they joke around with each other at home but no one takes any offence. President Alvi said that he feels that Samina has a better sense of humour than him.

    “There are times when she objects to what I would wear and I’d ask her if I had ever criticised what she wore,” joked President Alvi to which Samina added that he never really listens to her.

    “We’ve been married for almost 50 years now and I have never asked her to change the way she dresses,” said the president to which Samina responded: “That’s because I always dress well.”

    Read more – Pakistani dramas are depressing, says First Lady Samina Alvi

    The couple have one son and three daughters together, all of who are married.

    Talking about their children, the duo said that while Samina did the personal grooming of the children, President Alvi looked after their studies.

    “It was from Grade 9 to 12 that I taught them,” said Dr Alvi, adding: “Samina was the one who groomed them otherwise.”

    “It was a big task to help our son with the studies,” said Samina. “I think because sons are the troublemakers. Daughters, on the other hand, are timider. They listen to whatever you tell them.”

    “We tried to make our children understand the importance of education to a point that the only thing they thought about was education,” said President Alvi. “That wasn’t what we wanted so we started focusing on other aspects as well. Even after our daughters were married, all they could think about was studying. I told them there was more to life than studying, raise your kids.”

    Meanwhile, President Alvi also gave viewers a glimpse into his childhood saying that growing up he was a very naughty child, according to his elder. He said that he deeply misses his school days adding that his father was very strict and he was very close to his mother.

  • VIDEO: Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan vaccinates citizens

    Trust Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan to do the unusual and make headlines. Dr Firdous was recently spotted administering COVID-19 vaccines to citizens who had come to get vaccinated.

    In a video doing the rounds on social media, Dr Awan can be seen injecting a citizen with a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. As per Geo News, the CM’s aide vaccinated more than one citizen at a vaccination centre set up by the government in Sialkot.

    During her visit, Dr Awan also promised to announce vaccinations for journalists, saying that she will vaccinate journalists herself.

    Meanwhile, Asad Umar has announced that vaccine registrations for citizens aged 40 and above will commence from tomorrow. He also announced that walk-in vaccinations for citizens above 50 have also been opened.

    Vaccinations of people 60 and above commenced on March 10, while registrations for people above 50 started from March 30, and the vaccination drive of people in the age group 50-59 started on April 21.

    As per NCOC, Pakistan recorded 4,825 cases and 70 deaths in last 24 hours with the positivity rate of 9.61%.

  • PTI govt’s fourth finance minister in two years here for only six months?

    PTI govt’s fourth finance minister in two years here for only six months?

    As the government has decided to appoint Shaukat Fayyaz Ahmed Tarin as the new minister of finance and revenue, it needs to get him elected as the member of parliament within six months to have him continue in office, reports said.

    This is the same as witnessed in Hafeez Shaikh’s case earlier.

    In yet another shuffle in the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday removed Hammad Azhar from the Finance Ministry less than a month after his appointment and replaced him with Tarin.

    Prime Minister Imran, instead of appointing Tarin as his adviser on finance, appointed the banking wizard as the finance minister, for which, as per law, he needs to be a member of parliament within six months.

    While most ministers have to be elected representatives – i.e. members of the National Assembly (NA) or Senate – there is a clause in the Constitution that allows short-term appointments of non-elected ministers.

    According to clause nine of Article 91 of the Constitution, a non-elected person can be appointed a federal minister for six months once during the five-year tenure of the NA.

    “A minister, who, for any period of six consecutive months, is not a member of the National Assembly, shall, at the expiration of that period, cease to be a minister and shall not before the dissolution of that assembly be again appointed a minister unless he is elected a member of that assembly,” reads the clause.

    It is worth mentioning here that Tarin had become a senator and the federal finance minister in former president Asif Ali Zardari’s government.

    According to an official at the Finance Ministry, Tarin, who was the finance minister during the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) tenure, would help the government in resolving many issues. As he had completed the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC), he may play an important role in resolving the longstanding issues related to the next NFC. No NFC award was given after the 7th NFC as differences between the Centre and provinces remained unresolved.

    As Tarin had also signed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme during the PPP government, he may also handle matters with the IMF to complete the existing loan programme signed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. Islamabad had signed the 39-month bailout programme with the IMF to avert sovereign default because of a balance-of-payment crisis.

    As the finance minister under the PPP government, Tarin had signed the bailout programme with the IMF under that government and concluded the seventh NFC Award. However, he left the ministry without completing his tenure to start his own bank, Silk Bank, where he served on the top slot.

    These changes come at a time when Pakistan has just received another $500 million from the IMF as part of the $6 billion bailout package it signed in July 2019.
    The third and latest tranche of the program brings the total borrowing for budget support to $2 billion.

    Tarin was already a member of the prime minister’s Economic Advisory Council. He is a banker by profession and worked as the president of HBL in 1997. In 2000, he built Union Bank, which was later sold to Standard Chartered Bank.

    Earlier this month, it was reported that the government had made an offer to Tarin to join the federal cabinet as special assistant or adviser to the PM, but he linked his joining the federal cabinet with the decision on an accountability reference that he has been facing for nearly a decade.

    He had that said he would not accept the offer, which he claimed had been made for a second time, unless a case against him filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was disposed of.

  • ‘CJP Khosa backstabbed me’: Justice Isa accuses SC of acting maliciously

    ‘CJP Khosa backstabbed me’: Justice Isa accuses SC of acting maliciously

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa has alleged that the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) acted “maliciously” against him and never gave him the chance to defend himself, adding the SJC did a massacre of justice.

    The SC judge made the comments on Thursday while presenting his arguments for a review petition against the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling on the presidential reference filed against him.

    Criticising former chief justice Asif Saeed Khosa, the judge said that the former top judge “stabbed me in the back” without listening to his point of view. “My fellow judges in the SJC declared me a madman,” said Justice Isa.

    He further said that his fellow judge, Justice Azmat Saeed, had been a friend and had disappointed him (Justice Isa) with his judgement on the matter. “Today, the former judge is a favourite of the ruling party,” Justice Isa alleged.

    The judge complained to the bench that Law Minister Farogh Naseem had made “serious allegations” against him and his wife. “The decision to quash the reference against me was based on the Constitution and law. My wife was not a party to the case, yet the decision was against her,” said Justice Isa.

    He alleged that Naseem had “no respect for the court” and that “his ministry is more important to him”. “This is the first time that a law minister has declared the Constitution of Pakistan to be in conflict with fundamental rights,” said the SC judge.

    He further complained to the court asking why, even after the end of the hearing, the law minister kept submitting written arguments to the court.

    He also asked why the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was ordered to complete its investigation before the detailed verdict was issued in his case, alleging that Tax Commissioner Zulfiqar Ahmed went ahead with the investigations only due to the court’s pressure. He further added that President Arif Alvi “did not even bother” to respond to the three letters he sent to him on the presidential reference.

    “I did not even get a copy of the reference, but it was run on the media. Fifth generation war was started against me and my family,” said Justice Isa.

    Talking about his verdict in the Faizabad dharna case, Justice Isa claimed that the government wants to remove him from the apex court over his verdict in the Faizabad sit-in case but vowed that he will fight “till the last drop of blood” and not give up.

    Justice Isa regretted that everyone other than former Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi filed a review petition challenging his findings. “[Even the] PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) and MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) also filed an appeal against the Faizabad sit-in decision. The PTI’s review petition said that I am not qualified to be a judge. I really am not qualified to be a judge because I talk about fundamental rights,” said Justice Isa.

    The SC judge appealed to the court to hear the instant case in the mornings so it can be wrapped up at the earliest because Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, part of the bench, is retiring soon.

    However, one of the judges reminded him that time had been lost due to a related petition filed by Justice Isa himself.

    “You are just now remembering that there is less time,” observed Justice Bandial, reminding the judge that he “wasted the complete month of March by filing an application for the live coverage of his hearing”.

    Justice Isa responded that he had requested live coverage of the case as it was “important” to restore his “image”, which he believes has been tarnished in front of the public.

    “A person’s image is in the hands of Allah and you should trust him,” said Justice Bandial in response.

    Justice Isa retorted saying that he was more worried about the SC, and that he himself was “nothing in front of it.”

    The court, after hearing the arguments, adjourned the hearing till April 19.

  • PM, aide continue defending accountability drive

    PM, aide continue defending accountability drive

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the government would uphold the law without discriminating between the weak and powerful, as he slammed sugar mill owners for hiking up sugar prices.

    Responding to a question on Jahangir Tareen’s hearings while addressing media persons in Sargodha, the PM said: “I am ready to listen to everyone’s reservations, but there is one thing they should understand. Sugar prices increased by Rs26 in a year or so.”

    An increase of Rs26 per kg in sugar prices translates into Rs120-130 billion, and this huge sum of money went from the citizens’ pockets to the sugar mills, PM Imran Khan said.

    “It is obvious: the government has to work in the best interests of the people and we’ve asked the FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) to probe the matter. During the investigation, several horrific things were revealed to us.”

    The premier said he was ready to speak to those who had reservations against the proceedings, but stressed that the government would uphold the law — the same law that is applicable to everyone.

    PM Imran Khan said the “elite and the powerful are the actual menaces behind the country’s downfall.”

    “If you combine the amount of corruption done by all poor people in jails, it will amount to a maximum of Rs2-3 billion.”

    The premier, speaking on PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif’s bail, said if they are unable to convict people against whom evidence was available, the country could not prosper.

    A day later, on Thursday, his aide on accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar said it was regrettable that a few were threatening watchdogs for questioning them “only for personal gains”.

    He was tweeting on reactions by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to the transfer of 127 kanals of land belonging to the Raiwind residence of the Sharif family back to the government.

    Punjab Revenue Department was ordered, however, a court in Lahore approved the stay order and summoned all parties to the case on April 27. 

    The court of civil judge Faheemul Hassan Shah issued the stay order after Nawaz Sharif’s nephew Yousuf Abbas Sharif and other members of the Sharif family, through their lawyers, approached the court.