Tag: PTI government

  • CM Buzdar calls on PM Imran twice within 24 hours amid reports of his removal

    Amid reports of massive changes in the administration in the provincial cabinet, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar has called on Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, the second time within 24 hours, The News International reported.

    According to the details, a one-line statement was issued by the PM Office that Punjab CM Usman Buzdar met Imran Khan here at the Prime Minister Office on Monday.

    Meanwhile, Chairman of PM Inspection Team Ahmad Yar Hiraj has called on the premier and the two had deliberations on the performance of various government departments.

    The premier has said that in the light of the PMIT report, the government departments should make every possible effort to strictly follow the report.

    It is important to note here that the party’s core committee and members of the provincial assembly of Punjab had expressed serious concerns regarding the bureaucracy.

    In the last 15 days, CM Buzdar has held a series of meetings with the Punjab Assembly members who repeatedly have complained that the bureaucracy is not cooperating to resolve the public’s issues in the province.

  • Imran govt steps up to support former military ruler in high treason case?

    Days after former dictator General (r) Pervez Musharraf petitioned the Lahore High Court (LHC) to challenge the reservation of a special court verdict in the high treason case against him, the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan-led government has also sought postponement of the same.

    According to media reports, the Interior Ministry on Monday also challenged the forthcoming November 28 verdict in a high court and said that Musharraf’s co-accused were not made part of the trial.

    In its petition, the ministry requested that the verdict in the high treason case be stopped until a new prosecution team was formed as the government had last month sacked the entire prosecution team formed by the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.

    On October 23, the Interior Ministry had denotified the prosecution and constitutional teams, as well as the research assistant working on the high treason case against Musharraf. The notification said that the step was taken under Section 4-A of the Central Law Officers Ordinance, 1970, which deals with appointments made by the president. It says that the services of the teams have been “disengaged”.

    “The prosecution team was denotified on October 23, but it pursued the case a day later on October 24 and submitted written arguments without any authority to do so,” the Interior Ministry, led by Brig (r) Ijaz Shah of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), reportedly said.

    Hearing Musharraf’s separate petition challenging the forthcoming verdict, the LHC, earlier in the day, directed the counsel of the former military dictator to present arguments on the maintainability of the petition seeking suspension of the ex-army chief’s high treason trial in a special court.

    Justice Sayyed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi told Musharraf’s counsel to argue on the maintainability of the petition on Tuesday. “How can the LHC hear this petition when matters relating to Musharraf are pending in the country’s top court [Supreme Court of Pakistan]?” asked Justice Naqvi.

    “Also, how is the petition maintainable in LHC when the petitioner is a resident of Islamabad?”

    The ailing former military ruler had last week petitioned LHC to stay the proceedings of a special court trying him for “subverting the Constitution on November 3, 2007” until he recuperates and appears before the court in person.

    Citing the example of cases against former PM Nawaz Sharif, Musharraf’s counsel argued that the LHC had found Nawaz’s petition maintainable although his cases were also being heard in Islamabad.

    “Nawaz Sharif is a resident of Lahore while Musharraf is a resident of Islamabad,” replied Justice Naqvi.

    The counsel further contended that the treason case against Musharraf was filed without following due process. “The case was filed with only the approval of then-premier Nawaz. His cabinet’s approval was never sought,” said Musharraf’s lawyer.

    Justice Naqvi adjourned the proceedings till Tuesday and directed the former army chief’s counsel to explain why his petition should be heard by the LHC.

    On November 19, the three-judge special court, which has been hearing the high treason case against Musharraf since 2013, reserved its verdict after six years.

    The verdict is likely to be announced on November 28 in the absence of Musharraf, who went to the United Arab Emirates in May 2016 for ‘medical treatment’ and has not returned since to face the court. The high treason charge carries capital punishment in Pakistan.

    MUSHARRAF CASE:

    The PML-N government had filed the treason case against Musharraf over the president’s imposition of an extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007.

    Earlier this year, head of the prosecution, Mohammad Akram Sheikh, tendered his resignation. In his resignation letter sent to the interior secretary, Sheikh expressed his inability to proceed with the case after the imminent change of government at the centre.

    Sheikh was appointed as the head of the prosecution in the case in November 2013, by the then-PML-N led government.

    The former army chief was indicted in the case in March 2014 after he appeared before the court and rejected all charges.

    On March 18, 2016, the former president left Pakistan for Dubai for medical treatment after his name was removed from the Exit Control List on the orders of the Supreme Court.

    A few months later, the special court had declared him a proclaimed offender and ordered the confiscation of his property owing to his no-show. Later, on orders of the Supreme Court, Musharraf’s passport and identity card were also cancelled.

  • Imran’s aide differs on inflation statement, says govt cannot give any timeframe

    Two days after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that his government will soon overcome inflation in the country “caused by the flawed policies of previous regimes”, his adviser on commerce, textile, industry and production, Abdul Razak Dawood, has said that no timeframe can be given in this regard.

    Addressing a public gathering in Mianwali last week, the premier said that his government had inherited multiple economic issues, including low foreign exchange reserves, a huge circular debt and fiscal as well as current account deficits.

    “Previous administration had been spending reserve dollars to stabilise and maintain the value of the local currency. The PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf] government had not found enough dollars to follow suit so a correction strategy followed,” he said.

    The premier also blamed rupee devaluation for inflation, adding that his government had nothing to do with it and the genie will soon be put back in the bottle.

    Speaking at a prize distribution ceremony at the concluding day of three-day 11th “Interiors Pakistan” international exhibition at the Expo Center organised by Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC), Dawood on Sunday said that inflation was a very big issue and the government was trying to control it.

    He said that no timeframe could be given in this regard, however, “prices of food items will soon be controlled”. “The price of dollar has stabilised, fluctuation has been brought under control,” Dawood maintained, adding that escalating prices will be controlled with the efforts of the government in near future.

  • ‘Gen Bajwa reached China to control situation after PTI ministers’ statements against CPEC’

    Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa had to go to China to control the situation after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ministers levelled baseless allegations regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

    Speaking to a private media outlet Sunday, Mushahid said it was regrettable that the United States (US) openly opposed the CPEC initiative, adding that the project was not aimed at defence, though it did have various strategic implications.

    “China has no link with attempts to subjugate right to freedom in Pakistan,” he said and added that it was unfortunate how every government in Pakistan tried to take credit for the projects launched by its predecessors.

    Speaking about Federal Minister for Communication Murad Saeed’s allegations about corruption in CPEC projects, Mushahid said not even a single rupee corruption had been proven and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal should take Murad to court in this regard.

    The PML-N senator said that CPEC had a central position in the Pak-China strategic relationship, and maintained that the PTI leadership should be very careful in giving statements about the flagship projects as they were not fully aware of the sensitivities attached to it.

  • ‘Maryam needed in London for Nawaz’s treatment,’ says Ishaq Dar’s son

    ‘Maryam needed in London for Nawaz’s treatment,’ says Ishaq Dar’s son

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s son Ali Dar has said that PML-N Vice President (VP) Maryam Nawaz’s presence in London is essential for her ailing father and former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s treatment.

    “Maryam is aware of her father’s deteriorating health and knows his medical history. His [Nawaz’s] sons haven’t lived with him for around 20 years,” Dar reportedly said.

    Former premier Nawaz is in London after he was allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment despite his convition in corruption cases. His daughter Maryam, however, was denied the same due to the ongoing Chaudhry Sugar Mills case against her.

    Granting her bail, the court had told her to submit her passport with the court.

    Dar’s demand seeking foreign travel for Maryam to see her ailing father comes amid reports that she will soon be moving the Lahore High Court (LHC) in this regard. While PM Imran Khan has said that Maryam won’t be allowed to go to London come what may, according to some journalists, the government won’t be challenging the move if Nawaz’s health deteriorates any further.

  • Imran criticises himself ‘for not running country right’

    Imran criticises himself ‘for not running country right’

    In what appears to be criticism for his own government, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said the manner in which Pakistan is being run, cannot lead to progress and the country will face severe financial difficulties if steps are not taken to enhance the tax revenue.

    According to The News, the premier on Wednesday took the top hierarchy of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) into confidence over the proposed reforms plan for converting it into the Pakistan Revenue Authority (PRA) and assured them that no action plan would be implemented without consultations.

    PM Imran urged the officers to speak out and said that people will be eager to pay tax if they are assured that their money will be spent on public welfare instead of lavish lifestyle of rulers.

    He said currently, the government has no money to spend on masses as it inherited record deficit and instructed the FBR officials to take measures to restore the confidence of the business community by addressing its grievances regarding the tax machinery.

    The premier said that the collection of Rs8 trillion tax was not difficult if all stakeholders considered it their national responsibility and the country could not run on the old pattern as his government had inherited the biggest financial deficit and current account deficit.

    “Half of the tax collection in the first year was spent on debt servicing,” he said and added that Pakistan had huge potential in terms of its young population. “If they [the youth] are provided with opportunities, the country can progress on the path of prosperity.”

  • VIDEO: ‘Peas being sold for Rs5/kg,’ claims Imran govt

    VIDEO: ‘Peas being sold for Rs5/kg,’ claims Imran govt

    As rising vegetable prices spell misery for people under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has claimed that peas are being sold in the market for only Rs5 per kilogram (kg).

    “Another grower, [Federal Minister for Aviation] Ghulam Sarwar Khan Sahab has told [me] that 20kg pea bags are being sold at the rate of Rs5/kg,” she said while addressing a press conference.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Statement from PM Imran Khan’s aide, who seems to be totally unaware of the persisting sky-high vegetable prices in the country, made headlines a day after the premier’s finance adviser, Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, told reporters that tomatoes were being sold for as low as Rs17 per kg across Karachi.

    “In Karachi, in the sabzi mandi (produce market), tomatoes are being sold for Rs17 per kg”.

    When some of the reporters present at the scene told him that tomatoes were, in fact, being sold at Rs240 per kg, he refuted saying “people were lying”.

    “That’s what is being run on the television,” Imran’s adviser noted, to which one of the reporters said, “But on the TV, it says tomatoes are being sold for Rs240 a kg.”

    Another journalist responded with a fresh personal story, “Sir, I myself bought tomatoes for Rs300 a kg.”

    “Oh but I am agreeing that prices of many commodities need to be controlled. Agriculture [industry] has seasonality,” the PM’s adviser explained, as someone from behind persistently tried to stop the person holding the phone from recording the video.

  • Azadi March: Police unhappy with govt over improper food, living conditions

    Azadi March: Police unhappy with govt over improper food, living conditions

    The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) anti-government Azadi March has entered its third week and while Maulana Fazlur Rehman seems determined to continue the sit-in, cops deployed across the capital are reportedly not happy at all.

    According to Samaa, the police personnel deployed for the protection of protesters have complained that “they are not getting proper food and their living arrangements are lesser than ideal”.

    Moreover, a police constable deployed for the security of the sit-in attempted to harm himself on Monday morning after his request for leave was rejected.

    The constable wanted to go back to Swat and had earlier filed a request for leave. Later, after his application got rejected, he attempted to hurt himself in the bathroom of a building in the H-9 sector.

    The constable was rushed to PIMS where doctors initially said that his condition was critical, but later downgraded it out of danger. The police officer later told people that he harmed himself after his application was rejected.

    Islamabad DIG Waqaruddin Syed has taken notice of the incident and told SP Zubair Sheikh to investigate.

    It is pertinent to note that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has deployed around 20,000 to 25,000 security officials across the federal capital for the protection of JUI-F’s Azadi March that entered the city on October 31.

  • Imran’s PTI reluctant to let ECP audit its foreign funding

    Imran’s PTI reluctant to let ECP audit its foreign funding

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is reluctant to let the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) audit its foreign funding as the ruling party has petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the top election watchdog’s decision.

    According to Dawn, through a petition filed in the IHC on Thursday, the ruling party has requested the court to restrain the scrutiny committee formed by the ECP from probing its foreign funding.

    On October 10 a three-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Sardar Mohammad Raza, had rejected four applications filed by the PTI against the audit of its accounts by the scrutiny committee and directed the panel to continue its work and submit a report as soon as possible.

    Akbar S Babar, a founding member of the PTI, had filed the case in 2014, alleging that the party had illegally collected about $3 million through two offshore companies, and that the money was sent through illegal channels from the Middle East to certain accounts of “PTI employees”.

    He also alleged that the foreign accounts used to collect the funds were not mentioned in the annual audit reports submitted to the ECP by the PTI.

    The party, in one of its petitions, took the plea that since the ECP which comprised the CEC and four members, was incomplete, an order passed by it lacked legal force.

    The scrutiny committee was formed last year to investigate the issue of foreign funding of the PTI in a month, but later the time-limit was extended to an indefinite period.

    During the hearing on October 1, a conversation took place between the CEC and the PTI’s counsel over the disclosure that the party was operating numerous undeclared accounts.

    The party’s lawyer argued that some of the PTI’s accounts might not be in the knowledge of the party’s central office and that the PTI could not be held responsible for its account in Azad Kashmir as it fell under another legal jurisdiction.

    On Aug 22, President Arif Alvi had appointed Khalid Mehmood Siddiqui from Sindh and Munir Ahmed Kakar from Balochistan as ECP members on the posts that had fallen vacant after the departure of Abdul Ghaffar Soomro and retired Justice Shakeel Baloch.

    However, the ECP chief refused to administer oath to the new members on the ground that the appointments had been made without fulfilling constitutional requirements.

    The ECP’s scrutiny committee is headed by the director general law and also comprises two auditors from the defence establishment.

    The ECP was of the view that President Alvi had made these appointments “in violation of clauses 2A and 2B of Article 213 of the Constitution” that made it mandatory for these appointments to be made with the consensus of the prime minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

    However, the committee could not make any significant progress as the PTI did not submit financial documents, particularly statements of its bank accounts, sought by the committee.

  • Govt paving way for Nawaz to leave country?

    Govt paving way for Nawaz to leave country?

    Government-constituted medical board that is overseeing the treatment of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, has recommended him a genetic test that is not available in Pakistan, The News International reported.

    Reports quoted the head of the medical panel, Prof Dr Mehmood Ayaz, as saying that Nawaz needed to go abroad for treatment. “We will inform the Health Department in writing that Nawaz should undergo a genetic test abroad,” he reportedly said.

    According to Dr Ayaz, a foreign visit would become essential if doctors want to examine Nawaz’s body tissues in order to diagnose the exact cause of his illness since the former prime minister (PM) was “not facing a minor genetic issue”.

    With the panel head’s comments making headlines, rumour has it that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government — in both Punjab and centre — is paving way for the PML-N supremo to leave the country and “a deal has been struck”.

    On Tuesday, Federal Minister for Interior Brig (r) Ijaz Shah had also hinted at allowing Nawaz to seek treatment abroad “if that turns out to be the only option”. According to some reports, incumbent PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif is also trying to convince his brother to leave the country for treatment.