Tag: PTI

  • NAB summons Khan and wife on March 9 in Toshakhana case

    NAB summons Khan and wife on March 9 in Toshakhana case

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi on March 9 in connection with the Toshakhana reference.

    The anti-graft watchdog’s Rawalpindi branch summoned the PTI chief hours after NAB Chairman Aftab Sultan tendered his resignation after reportedly refusing to “toe the line”.

    In its notice to Khan, NAB wrote: “The competent authority has taken cognizance of an offence allegedly committed by the accused persons under the provisions of NAO, 1999.”

    The questions on gifts included in the notice are on six Rolex watches and an iPhone given by the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces.

    On November 19, NAB had taken notice of the alleged non-disclosure of the actual value of gifts received by the former prime minister, his wife, and other cabinet members.

  • Military, civilian leadership has put full stop on Khan’s appeasement policy on terrorists: Bilawal

    Military, civilian leadership has put full stop on Khan’s appeasement policy on terrorists: Bilawal

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that negotiating with those people who don’t accept Pakistan and its constitution is not in favour of the country or it’s people.

    In an interview with German broadcaster DW Urdu, the foreign minister said that the previous government was asking the interim Afghan government to facilitate reconciliation with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and had plans to resettle the militants in Pakistan.

    “Every Pakistani was saying that terrorists who were involved in heinous attacks such as the Army Public School massacre could never be our friends”, said Bilawal.

    Earlier in an interview with CNBC, Bilawal said, “Unfortunately, following the fall of Kabul, the government that preceded ours started negotiating with these very same terrorist groups and without preconditions such as disarming.”

    The foreign minister said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government and military leadership have “put a full stop to the policy of appeasement”.

    Citing the porous border with Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister said that the new government doesn’t have the capacity to man it.

    “We are confident that we’ll be able to take on the terrorist groups that are functioning within Pakistan,” he said.

    Discussing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Bilawal said that if he strives to pursue a democratic path and commits to play a constitutional role, he can have a future, adding that Khan’s ouster through a vote of no-confidence motion was the first time parliament removed a prime minister in a democratic way.

    However, since his ouster, Khan has been asking the army for help in getting back to power, the foreign minister alleged.

     “If the military says it wants to change its controversial conduct constitutionally, it should be welcomed.”

    While responding to a question regarding the statement about Pakistan’s bankruptcy made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Bilawal said: “He was talking in a political context at a political gathering and he was referring to the harsh economic times rather than speaking technically. He was talking in the overall context of the country.”

  • President Alvi sets April 9 as election day for Punjab and KP

    President Alvi sets April 9 as election day for Punjab and KP

    President Dr Arif Alvi has announced that elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will be held on April 9.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Section 57(1) of the Elections Act, 2017 says that the president is entrusted to announce the election date after consulting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

    Earlier today, ECP said no to meeting President Alvi when he invited the commission to consult with him, citing that the matter of elections is sub judice.

    ECP says no to meeting with President Alvi

    On Monday, ECP, in a letter addressed to Alvi, has stated that the matter of deciding a date for elections is subjudice, hence, it cannot participate in a meeting on this issue with the president.

    The development comes days after Alvi wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, inviting him for an “urgent meeting” to discuss and consult on the election date in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The meeting was set to take place today (Monday, February 20).

    Two federal ministers, Rana Sanaullah and Marriyum Aurangzeb, have defended the ECP.

    In a statement issued on Monday, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Presidency has become “Awan-e-Sazish” [centre of conspiracy], adding that the government will not allow it to become “Imran Khan’s Tiger Force”. She also advised Alvi against becoming a puppet of the former Prime Minister.

    Meanwhile, in a tweet, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah lambasted Alvi, stating that, “ECP is not your slave,” and adding that “Imran is now using the head of state [Alvi] for conspiracy”.

    President Alvi asks ECP for urgent meeting to consult on Punjab, KP’s election dates

    Earlier, in a letter to ECP, the president expressed displeasure over the “apathy and inaction” of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on not responding to his earlier letter as yet. The first letter was sent on February 8.

    The president stated that he had waited anxiously that the ECP would realise its constitutional duties to proceed and act accordingly, but was extremely dismayed by the commission’s “approach on this important matter”.

    The meeting will take place on February 20 (Monday).

    The president’s official Twitter account said that the two will discuss Section 57(1) of Elections Act, 2017 which details that the president is entrusted to announce the election date after consulting the ECP.

    Punjab and KP assemblies were dissolved in January to pave way for fresh elections.

    It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been asking for the elections since the ouster of their chairman Imran Khan as Prime Minister.

  • Imran is still being facilitated by traces that Faiz Hameed left: Maryam Nawaz

    Imran is still being facilitated by traces that Faiz Hameed left: Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior Vice President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, while talking exclusively to Geo News’ programme “Jirga with Saleem Safi” shed light on the ongoing political crisis and emerging differences between her and the party’s senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

    Claiming that the new setup in the establishment is neutral, Maryam Nawaz said that there are elements associated with Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed that are helping Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan because their interests are interlinked.

    She said that due to this support, Khan doesn’t appear before the court despite being called numerous times.

    Maryam deemed the content of the alleged audio leaks of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as “bench fixing”.

    “I said long ago that bench fixing is happening. Elahi’s leaked audio is its evidence,” she stated.

    All set for elections, says Maryam Nawaz

    Reflecting upon the provincial elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab, which is the core demand of PTI, Maryam said that she and her party are all set for elections.

    When asked if the party was avoiding polls, Maryam stated: “Who said [we are] running away from elections? I am in front of the public and preparing for the polls.”

    She added that all the places that she has visited recently are a part of the election campaign. “We are preparing for the polls. Everyone wants a ticket from PML-N,” she claimed.

    The party’s chief organiser said that there is a list of people who wants PML-N’s tickets from all four provinces.

    Shahid Khaqan’s departure from PML-N would be an insult to me: Maryam Nawaz

    Addressing the rumours of a rift between her and former PML-N senior vice-president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Maryam said that she had a detailed conversation with him for two and a half hours about his resignation.

    Maryam said that Abbasi’s departure from the party will be an “insult to me, not to him”; however, Khaqan told her that she is like a sister to him. “He wanted to give me some space. I will not let Abbasi go, nor is he going anywhere,” she maintained.

    Don’t believe in revenge: Maryam Nawaz

    When asked that there are apprehensions that Maryam might take revenge when she comes to power, the PML-N senior vice president said, “I don’t have to do anything, they already are suffering because of their own deeds.”

    She said that she doesn’t believe in revenge and won’t do what Khan’s government did in the past to her party. Moreover, she said that now both the establishment and Khan are busy exposing each other.

    Maryam assures Nawaz’s return

    Maryam again assured party followers that her father, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, will come back. She said: “This is Nawaz Sharif’s homeland and he will return to the country.”

    “Fake cases were lodged against him and he not only appeared before the law [judiciary] but also accepted the victimisation with dignity in the larger interest of the country,” she said.

  • Police conduct search operation outside IK’s Zaman Park residence

    Police conduct search operation outside IK’s Zaman Park residence

    The Punjab police have conducted a search operation outside Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park, Lahore on suspicion of possible security threat and to locate any suspicious item.

    The police also used a metal detector in the search operation.

    The police also carried out a search operation in the camps outside Khan’s residence.

    In the late hours of Friday night, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters gathered in large numbers at Khan’s residence to thwart any attempt of arrest.

    Since the ouster of Imran Khan from power, his party has said that Khan’s life is in danger.

  • Sheikh Rashid to be formally charged on March 2 in Zardari allegations case

    Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid will be formally charged on March 2 by a district and sessions court in Islamabad for accusing former President Asif Ali Zardari of plotting an assassination attempt on Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    The court has also ordered that the former interior minister’s appears before the judge on the said date.

    Rashid requested the court to set March 15 as the date for indictment. However, the judge said that the high court has given its orders and the date cannot be extended.

    Court grants bail to Sheikh Rasheed in Zardari remarks case

    On Thursday, Rashid was granted bail in this case by Islamabad High Court (IHC).

    The high court approved his application and passed an order to submit surety bonds worth Rs50,000.

    Earlier, a district and sessions court of Islamabad rejected his bail, after which he approached the high court.

    In the early hours of February 2, Rashid was arrested from his home in Islamabad and was later handed over to police on a two-day physical remand.

    Rashid was also booked in another case in Karachi for allegedly using inappropriate language against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

  • Sanaullah calls for forensic test of Elahi’s alleged ‘leaked audio’

    Sanaullah calls for forensic test of Elahi’s alleged ‘leaked audio’

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday called on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to take notice of a recent audio leak purportedly involving former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

    Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Sanaullah called for a forensic test of the leaked phone recording. He also urged the top judge to bring the culprits to justice.

    “If the former Punjab CM is found guilty after the forensic, then the matter should be presented before the judicial committee,” he added.

    In a sensational audio leak that surfaced online on Thursday, Elahi, can allegedly be heard talking to a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, about Mohammad Khan Bhatti’s case.

    The audio recordings, released in three parts, allegedly feature the voice of Elahi, a close ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), talking to three different people.

    In the first part, Pervaiz Elahi is talking to lawyer Jahangir Jhoja in Punjabi, and asks him to ensure that Mohammed Ali Bhatti’s case is put up before the said judge. Bhatti, the former Secretary of Punjab Assembly, considered a close aide of Pervaiz Elahi’s, was arrested from Karachi on February 6 while he was en route to Sindh High Court for protective bail.

    Jhoja allegedly replies to Pervaiz Elahi that they will try to make it happen. Pervaiz Elahi then says, “He is dabang (bold).”

    In the second audio leak, Pervaiz Elahi talks to Abid Zuberi, the President of Supreme Court Bar Association. Elahi again asks him to ensure that the case is put up before the same judge. “Have they filed the case sir,” Zuberi asks, to which Elahi replies in the affirmative, asking Zuberi not to tell anyone.

    Zuberi then says, “Day after tomorrow, Dogar’s case will be heard too, on 14th. [The judge] is part of the bench.” Elahi does not seem to remember who Dogar is, upon which Abid Zuberi reminds him that Ghulam Muhammad Dogar was the CCPO Lahore. “He has been removed but the case still is pending before the court, Sir,” Zuberi says. “I will discuss it,” said Pervez Elahi.

    The third and final audio allegedly is of a phone conversation between Pervaiz Elahi and the judge himself. The former Chief Minister tells the judge that he is coming over to meet him. He also asks if Muhammad Khan is there to which the reply is that he has reached. Elahi then allegedly says that he is coming without protocol and is quite near. He allegedly says that he will offer salam and then depart.

    The audio clip is cut off at this point.

  • No more Amreeki sazish? Fawad Chaudhry meets Donald Blome

    No more Amreeki sazish? Fawad Chaudhry meets Donald Blome

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry has confirmed on Twitter that he met with United States (US) Ambassador Donald Blome and other senior American officials.

    Taking to Twitter, Chaudhry wrote, “Had a good meeting with US ambassador and senior officials. The worsening HR [human rights] situation in Pakistan was a particular focus of discussion.”

    Chaudhry said, “The political situation and PTI position on various issues came under discussion. Such meetings are part of mutual desire to have relationship based on equality and well being of people.”

    Last week, PTI Chairman Imran Khan yet again came up with another narrative regarding his version of “regime change”. The former Prime Minister said that former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa told United States (US) that Khan is anti-America, which resulted in his ouster.

    In an interview with Voice of America, Khan said, “As things unfolded, it wasn’t the US who told Pakistan, it was unfortunately, from what evidences have now come out, it was General Bajwa who actually somehow managed to tell the Americans that I was anti-America and so it was not imported from there actually it was exported from here to there.”

  • Ishaq Dar presents mini-budget in National Assembly to meet IMF conditions

    Ishaq Dar presents mini-budget in National Assembly to meet IMF conditions

    A crucial tax amendment bill to fulfil the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revive a stalled loan programme that the country needs to stave off default was presented in both houses of parliament on Wednesday.

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar introduced the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023 first in the National Assembly and then in the Senate.

    The Pakistani government approved a proposal last night to increase the general sales tax (GST) rate from 17 to 18 per cent and to raise the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cigarettes. The aim is to generate an additional Rs115 billion out of Rs170 billion, which was agreed upon by Pakistan in accordance with the IMF conditions.

    Through the implementation of the “mini-budget,” led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government, the country intends to reduce the budget deficit and enhance its tax collection efforts to meet the conditions set by the IMF, a Washington-based lender.

    The National Assembly will not be referring the bill to the Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue for further review, while the Senate has sent the legislation to the relevant committee. Officials at the Ministry of Finance have stated that they anticipate the bill to be passed by Thursday morning, which will allow for the receipt of funds not only from the IMF but also from other multilateral and bilateral sources.

    Last week, Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were unable to reach an agreement, and the visiting IMF delegation left Islamabad after 10 days of talks. However, negotiations are set to continue. The Pakistani economy, valued at $350 billion, is in dire need of financial assistance as it grapples with a severe economic crisis.

    In an effort to appease the IMF, the government initially intended to implement the fiscal measure via an ordinance. However, President Dr Arif Alvi recommended that the administration obtain the parliament’s approval instead.

    During his address to the lower house, Finance Minister Dar highlighted the unprecedented crises the nation is currently facing due to the “substandard” policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. In contrast, the country had experienced economic growth during the previous government led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), during which the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had increased by $112 billion.

    “The PML-N always tries to take fewer loans. Foreign investment had also increased during PML-N’s tenure. In contrast, during the PTI’s government, the loans hit record highs, and a common man’s income also plunged.”

    According to Geo, the finance minister stated that in addition to the challenges that the current government is confronting as a result of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) policies, the country suffered losses exceeding $8 billion due to last year’s floods.

    “But, we should always prefer the state over politics,” he reiterated — the mantra that PDM leaders have time and again propagate as they face an uphill task on the economic front.

    This is a developing story…

  • Islamabad ATC rejects Imran’s bail in ECP protest case

    Islamabad ATC rejects Imran’s bail in ECP protest case

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s request for an extension in his interim bail. The plea was made in a case pertaining to a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following its decision in the Toshakhana case.

    During today’s hearing, Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan told the court that Imran tried to travel to Islamabad but could not.

    Awan highlighted that the additional sessions judge had granted interim bail to the PTI chief till February 27.

    Awan requested the court to extend the bail, adding that Khan had tried to come but could not travel.

    Islamabad ATC orders Imran Khan to appear in person today

    An Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday ordered Khan to appear in person before the judge by 1:30pm today.

    During the hearing today, ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan rejected his request for exemption from appearance on medical grounds.

    “Imran Khan should appear in court by 1:30pm,” he ordered.

    Earlier, an Islamabad banking court also refused Imran’s exemption request in the prohibited funding case against his party and instructed him to appear before the judge in person today.

    “Imran Khan should appear in the court before 3:30pm today,” Special Judge Banking Court Rakhshanda Shaheen said.

    “If he fails to do so, the law will take its course,” she added.

    At the previous hearing, the court had granted the PTI chief a last opportunity to appear on February 15.

    Khan has been in Zaman Park, his Lahore residence, since he was shot on November 3, in Wazirabad, while leading a protest march towards Islamabad.