Tag: PTI government

  • Shaheen Afridi backs Shahid Afridi on clarification on fake tweet about Imran Khan

    Shaheen Afridi backs Shahid Afridi on clarification on fake tweet about Imran Khan

    Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has denied that a tweet associated with him, voicing his opinion on ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s possible arrest is genuine, releasing a video of his clarification.

    The superstar former all-rounder on Sunday issued a statement in which he categorically denied saying anything about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and said the quote that is going viral on social media is fake.

    Shahid Afridi was making fun of his former teammate Shoiab Akhtar’s injury in a video for the former fast bowler’s YouTube channel. “Plaster hee nahi utar raha iska”, Afridi supposedly said in jest to his former colleague.

    People mistakenly understood the comments to be directed at Imran Khan, who’s opponents have questioned why his leg injury plaster is not coming off, criticizing Shahid Afridi on social media.

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1637378958684553216?s=20

    “I am seeing since yesterday on social media that a statement on Imran Khan, attributed to me, is going viral. This is very disappointing; whoever is doing this is… it is just dirty politics,” Afridi said in the video.

    Stating that he does not want to get into politics, Afridi emphasized that if he had to say something, he would have said it myself.

    “You can check my social media accounts or any other place where I have spoken anything about Imran Khan. Please don’t make me a part of this dirty politics. I only believe in the people of Pakistan and want to work towards serving them. Thank you,” Afridi concluded.

    After his video clarification PSL 8 champion and the backbone of Pakistan’s pace attack, Shaheen Shah Afridi also tweeted to support his father-in-law.

    The speedster wrote, “I request you all to only think about Pakistan. We should not indulge ourselves into any act which divides us further. Hum Sab ko apni apni fields me positive reh ker Pakistan ka haq Ada kerna hoga. Pakistan Noor hai or Allah pak is Noor Ki Hamesha hifazat farmayain ge, Ameen.”

  • Maryam Nawaz stops Safdar from speaking on behalf of party

    Maryam Nawaz stops Safdar from speaking on behalf of party

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz has reportedly stopped her husband—Captain (retired) Safdar—from delivering any ‘policy statement’ after he criticised the party’s leadership in an exclusive interview with ARY News.

    According to media reports, the senior vice president made it clear that no party leader, including her husband, should give any statement that goes against the party’s policy.

    She also warned the party that strict action would be taken against those who deviate from the directives.

    ‘Don’t see Maryam Nawaz becoming PM in near future’: Capt Safdar

    Earlier, Safdar said that he doesn’t see his wife becoming the Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan in the near future.

    He said, “I don’t see Maryam Nawaz becoming PM in near future”, adding that if PM Shehbaz Sharif gets elected in 2025, the country will prosper.

    He said the ‘vote ko izzat do‘ narrative of the party was buried on the day when PML-N decided to vote in parliament in favour of an extension to the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa. Safdar said he thinks whoever voted for Qamar Javed Bajwa’s extension except for Pervaiz Rasheed, are “criminals”.

    Replying to a question about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dissident leaders, Safdar said the parliamentarians should not change their loyalties. “It is not right to win elections on PTI’s tickets and later change your loyalties for power,” he maintained.

    Safdar was of the view that elections in Punjab and KP shouldn’t be held now and went on to say to hold general elections in 2025 after the recovery of the economy.

    In a turn of events, he also regretted his personal attacks on his party rival, Imran Khan, and said that political rivalry should remain political, not personal.

    Talking about PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi—who recently resigned from his position as the party’s vice president after Maryam’s elevation— Safdar said that Shahid doesn’t need a position and praised him.

    On January 3, Maryam was appointed as the party’s “Chief Organiser” and “Senior Vice President”. Later, she returned to the country to take charge of her new responsibilities after a three-month absence.

  • Asad Umar accuses govt of wasting eight months in starting Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway project

    Asad Umar accuses govt of wasting eight months in starting Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway project

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the 306-kilometre Sukkur-Hyderabad M6 motorway on Monday. The Rs307 billion project is expected to bring economic benefits in terms of saving significant travel time.

    During the ceremony, the premier said, “I ask Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to keep an eye on the entire project so that quality is maintained and the project is completed in a timely manner.”

    The premier also said that the project should be completed within 30 months. He also said that it is being completed under a public-private partnership agreement.

    He credited his brother and former PM Nawaz Sharif for laying the foundation of constructing motorways in the country. Moreover, he pointed out that this project was unnecessarily delayed by the previous government.

    It is pertinent to mention that the project was announced by the then PM Imran Khan last year, and is being described as the biggest project in the development package announced by him.

    Ahead of the PM’s address, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former planning minister Asad Umar congratulated the people of Sindh for the start of work on the motorway but highlighted the delay of this project by the incumbent government.

    Taking to Twitter, he said Public Private Partnership Board gave approval for the project on 31st March 2022. “Before this, the contractor was also selected. Now after wasting 8 months, the imported government is starting work,” he wrote.

  • ‘Workers should await a final call in September’: Fawad Chaudhry

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry has said that party organisations across the country have been ordered to come out and protest against rising inflation.

    Chaudhry said, “If the government doesn’t move towards elections, then wait for a final call in these two weeks as consultation continues. We think workers should await a final call in September.”

    “General elections will take place, whether the government wants them or not. The ultimate arbiter is the nation and until it doesn’t get the right to make political decisions, the PTI won’t step back from its struggle,” he warned.

    Chaudhry further said that any technocrat or interim government had no room in the Constitution and such a setup would in effect be considered a martial law.

    “Everything that has to happen will happen this month,” said Chaudhry.

    Two days prior to Chaudhry’s statement, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, in an address to the nation once again demanded early elections, warning that PTI’s patience was wearing thin.

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    “If we want to save the country from discord and chaos, free and fair elections need to be announced immediately,” he said.

    “Our patience won’t last long if you continue like this, we will have to give a call to the nation,” said Khan, addressing the government.

    “If there is no political stability, the economy won’t stabilise. So I want to tell my people today that we need to have elections quickly to save Pakistan from this quagmire,” the former Prime Minister insisted, adding that it was his fear that there will be no economic progress without political stability.

  • PTI to take legal action against Maryam Nawaz for ‘accusing Khan of blasphemy’

    PTI to take legal action against Maryam Nawaz for ‘accusing Khan of blasphemy’

    Political temperatures in the country will continue to rise as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is all set to take legal action against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz for allegedly triggering a social media campaign accusing the former Premier of blasphemy which may endanger his life.

    Maryam Nawaz on Monday tweeted, “This man (Imran) is using religion for his politics and promoting his false narrative. Save your faith and the country from this satan.”

    Fawad Chaudhry on Monday in a press conference said, “The coalition government is probably the only government that is using blasphemy laws against political opponents blatantly. Using religion cards is the most blatant attempt to physically eliminate political opponents and Maryam Nawaz and Fazlur Rehnan are creating this web to physically eliminate Imran Khan.”

    Khan on September 8, addressed a rally in Chishtian and said, “Agar ap ne Nawaz Sharif ko vote diya toh matlab ap mujrim ko vote de rahy hai. Is ka matlab ap burai ke sath khary hai. Is ka matlab ke ap Allah ke farman ke khilaf ja rahy hai.” (People who vote for PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif will be siding with a convict and are on the wrong side. This also means that you will go against Allah’s orders.)

    Opponents have accused PTI and Imran Khan of using religion to further his cause. In their turn, PTI has previously also alleged that it has been the target of ‘religion card’.

  • ‘Pervaiz Elahi and Punjab government being controlled through remote control from Bani Gala’: Tarar

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Attaullah Tarar warned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Punjab government that “all of you” will be arrested if a single PML-N worker is sent behind bars.

    Tarar, who was speaking to the media, warned Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi’s government that they “will face the consequences of the trend of revenge they had set”.

    “Pervaiz Elahi sahib, you and your son (Moonis Elahi) will face the consequences of this new trend that you have set,” warned Tarar, claiming that Moonis had been issuing instructions for action against PML-N leaders despite not having any official authority.

    “Pervaiz Elahi and his Punjab government are being controlled through remote control from Bani Gala. This is his old habit. For God’s sake, stop this, the country has already borne much loss.”

    He also linked the action against his party’s members to the “promotion of an anti-state narrative”, alluding to PTI leader Dr Shahbaz Gill’s remarks against institutions.

    Tarar alleged that CM Elahi had “fully facilitated [former Prime Minister] Imran Khan in promoting this anti-state narrative”, adding that Elahi was “at the forefront of exacting revenge from us”.

    He went on to claim that Elahi and Moonis had directed jail officials not to hand over Gill to Islamabad police even when the court had approved his remand in police custody.

    Court issues arrest warrants for Ata Tarar, 11 other PML-N leaders

    A judicial magistrate Friday, August 19, issued the arrest warrants for a dozen PML-N leaders, including prime minister’s special assistant Atta Tarar, in relation to a ruckus created at the Punjab Assembly.

    A case was registered against the PML-N leaders over the ruckus which took place in April during the chief minister’s election — when Hamza Shehbaz was elected to the top office.

  • ‘High hopes from youth and women’: Khan reveals plan for 2 July rally

    ‘High hopes from youth and women’: Khan reveals plan for 2 July rally

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan revealed his plans to lead the July 2 protest at the Islamabad Parade Ground against the “imported government” in a meeting of the party’s political committee.

    Khan said that he had high hopes from the youth and women of the country, urging them to register for the “tiger force”. He said that the youth and women were now politically more mature than ever, as is evident from their reaction against the ousting of his government.

    The meeting also had PTI’s Central Secretary General Asad Umar, Pervez Khattak, and Aamir Mehmood Kiyani in attendance.

    This is Khan’s second call for a protest since Azadi March.

  • ‘Will never compromise on defence and security of Pakistan’: PM Shehbaz

    ‘Will never compromise on defence and security of Pakistan’: PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif expressed commitment to restoring the role of provinces in the National Action Plan (NAP), which the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had allegedly ignored, in a meeting on 26 June.

    The 20-point NAP was drawn up after the December 2014 terrorist attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar.

    Sharif was of the view that the increase in terrorism was due to the ignorance of the NAP.

    “This role of the provinces will be restored that remained missing during the last four years,” said the PM.

    “Ensuring law and order is essential for restoring the national economy and development in the country. The fight against terrorism would continue till its elimination,” said Shehbaz. He further pledged to never compromise on the defence and security of Pakistan.

    He said that the entire country was united in the effort to eradicate terrorism, standing behind the armed forces and law-enforcement agencies.

    The meeting also reviewed the steps taken to eliminate the source of terror financing and relevant laws.

  • Update: Sindh High Court restrains police from exhuming Aamir Liaquat’s body, Bushra gets emotional

    Update: Sindh High Court restrains police from exhuming Aamir Liaquat’s body, Bushra gets emotional

    Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain was found dead on Thursday at his residence. Aamir’s son Ahmed and daughter Dua Aamir refused the postmortem of their father. His funeral prayers will be held today.

    The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday restrained the police from exhuming his body for a post-mortem examination to determine the “actual cause of his death”.

    Following Hussain’s sudden death on June 9, the police had said an autopsy would be conducted but performed only a preliminary examination before relinquishing custody of the body to his family after they refused an autopsy. He was buried the following day.

    His ex-wife Syeda Bushra Iqbal on Wednesday could not control her emotions and her eyes filled with tears after hearing the Sindh High Court’s ruling about suspending the orders for the exhumation of Hussain’s body for an autopsy.

    In a video, Bushra Iqbal can be seen with tears in her eyes while standing with her daughter in the corridor of the SHC.

    A two-member bench of the SHC suspended the judicial magistrate’s order. Aamir Liaquat’s children, Ahmed Aamir and Dua Aamir had moved the court against the order.

    Last week, a Karachi judicial magistrate had ordered authorities to conduct a post-mortem on the televangelist’s body after which a six-member medical board was constituted for the purpose on June 23.

    However, Hussain’s children, Ahmad and Duaa filed a petition in the SHC expressing that they were “aggrieved” and “dissatisfied” at the judicial magistrate’s “baseless and meritless” order and appealed for it to be dismissed.

    When the news of the Aalim Online star’s demise surfaced, his third wife In a video message was seen weeping and pleading to “meet her husband for the last time”. She, however, asked the provincial government to “provide her security” so she could visit Karachi. 

    She further claimed that the couple was about to reconcile, adding that she had no idea that Hussain would “leave her behind” and bid farewell to the world. 

    Expressing her sorrows, Dania once again appealed to CM Punjab to allow her to be a part of Hussain’s last rites. 

    The PTI leader was found unconscious at his home in Khudad Colony in Karachi and was shifted to a private hospital in critical condition.

    Hussain, 50, reportedly felt chest discomfort the night before but refused to go to the hospital. His employee, Javed, said he heard Hussain scream in the morning. 

    The TV personality’s domestic staff broke down his room’s door when they did not receive any reply from him. When rushed to the hospital, doctors said he had already passed away by the time he reached the facility. 

    He was found unresponsive at his house and was rushed to Aga Khan University Hospital.

     The post-mortem examination of the politician was going to be conducted at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

    Liaquat had won the elections from National Assembly constituency NA-245 Karachi-I East-IV in 2018.

    Earlier this year in April Liaquat was taken to the emergency room of a hospital in Karachi, when he complained of a heart ailment, with people speculating it was a heart attack.

  • Imran Khan responsible for the chaos during PTI’s long March: Islamabad Police

    Imran Khan responsible for the chaos during PTI’s long March: Islamabad Police

    The Islamabad Police, Chief Commissioner Islamabad and the interior secretary submitted their report regarding the Supreme Court’s (SC) order violation by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders during the long march. The report submitted on Friday by the Islamabad Police stated that PTI Chairman Imran Khan caused disorder in the federal capital during his party’s “Azadi March”, which took place on May 25.

    The federal police further told the top court on Friday that Khan had directed protesters to enter the Red Zone despite a judicial order to hold the jalsa in H-9 ground. No PTI member went there because in a video message, PTI Chairman Imran Khan instructed his party workers to reach D-Chowk.

    “The PTI Chairman Imran Khan told his workers to reach the D-Chowk in a video message. The police and law enforcers made every effort to stop the protesters but they advanced removing all containers and barriers on the night between May 25 and 26,” the report stated.

    Islamabad Inspector-General (IG) Akbar Nasir Khan also attached video evidence and tweets of the PTI leaders with their report.

    The report says that the PTI supporters managed to remove containers and barriers as PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Zartaj Gul, Saifullah Niazi and Imran Ismail kept provoking them.

    Earlier, the SC sought a report from law enforcement within seven days. The top court also directed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and other authorities to submit a report before the court explaining whether the judiciary’s orders were violated on May 25 during the long march.

    On June 1st, SC gave its majority judgment after a petition was filed by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association under Article 184(3) of the Constitution in anticipation of a protest march into Islamabad by the workers of the (PTI) on May 25, the federal government had blocked highways to and roads within the Capital to prevent entry and movement of the protestors.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial observed that Pakistani citizens have the right to move and assemble anywhere within the country under Articles 15, 16 and 17 of the Constitution of Pakistan. He also warned the government against any illegal arrests and raids.

    However, during the hearing, Attorney-General (AG) Ashtar Ausaf Ali claimed that the PTI workers and supporters moved forward to D-Chowk after their leader [Imran Khan] asked them to.

    In its majority judgment, the top court stated: “It is apparent that the assurances conveyed to the court by the learned counsel for the top leadership of the PTI may have been dishonoured by the workers/supporters/sympathisers of the party by proceeding to the D-Chowk in the Red Zone area and by allegedly committing acts of arson and destruction of public and private properties on the way. However, we note that in the early morning today Mr Imran Khan reached Jinnah Avenue leading to D-Chowk and announced the postponement of his sit-in at Islamabad for six days. As a result, further damage to property or injury to human life has been averted.”

    The judgment also added, “there is no evidence or allegation that such acts were committed on the instigation of any party or happened randomly.”

    “At its most elementary level, the PTI leader appears to have assured the holding of a political rally at the G-9/H-9 ground and therefore not to assemble and sit in another venue including at D-Chowk in G-5 Islamabad.”

    ’ Not withstanding the said request by the AGP, we exercise restraint for the time being for several reasons’: SC

    The court also said it was “disappointed” to note that riots took place in the federal capital despite its order to create a balance between both sides, PTI and the government.

    The court further added that peaceful protest is a constitutional right but PTI could have done it with the permission of the state. As long as sanctions under Articles 15 and 16 are inevitable, the right to protest cannot be restrained without legal, reasonable grounds.

    However, Justice Yahya Afridi wrote a dissenting note. He quoted Khan’s statement after the court order: “Wherever Pakistanis are, there is good news: the Supreme Court has issued an order that there will be no hurdles and no one will be arrested. This is why I want all Pakistanis to come out of their homes today evening; people in Islamabad and Rawalpindi should try their best to reach D-Chowk because I will reach there within one-and-a-half-hour.”

    Justice Afridi said that there is sufficient material before the court to proceed against Khan “for the alleged disobedience of the court order which warrants the issuance of notice by this court to Mr Imran Khan to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.”