Tag: PTI

  • Who is going to be the next governor of Sindh?

    Who is going to be the next governor of Sindh?

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government has decided to appoint their party ally Muttahida Qaumi Move­ment-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) senior leader Nasreen Jalil as the governor of Sindh.

    If Jalil becomes the next governor, she would be the second female governor in the province’s history after the first Prime Minister (PM) Liaquat Ali Khan’s wife Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan who served in the 1970s.

    The office of the Sindh governor fell vacant on April 12 when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Imran Ismail resigned, hours before PM Shehbaz Sharif took oath as the premier of Pakistan.

    Nasreen Jalil was born in Lahore but she spent most of her time in Karachi. In her childhood, she lived in London. She went to Paris for her education. She joined MQM and started her political career in Karachi. She served as a senator two times. Nasreen Jalil had been elected as chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights in 1994 and 2012.

    Following the news, the former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter, saying the “crime minister” has proposed the name of Nasreen Jalil as Sindh governor. He claimed that Jalil had written a letter to the Indian high commissioner on June 18, 2015, and sought ‘help’ against Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies.

    Similarly, PTI’s Imran Ismail and former Sindh governor said that it appears that in order to become part of the present government it has become ‘imperative’ that one should be on bail or an “expert of vicious attacks” on security institutions.

    Responding to Ismail’s tweet, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Senator Faisal Subzwari cleared that the letter was written to all diplomats.

    He admitted that it was the party office’s mistake that the name of the Indian diplomat was not excluded from the list of diplomats. However, this letter surfaced in 2015 and its contents were before everyone.

  • ‘Maybe PTI does not trust the court’: Justice Athar Minallah

     Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah on Monday questioned former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed if he trusted the IHC.

    Justice Minallah said that it seemed as if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not have faith in the courts.

    “It is said in rallies that courts are not independent. Political statements are made at rallies questioning why courts opened at night. It is said that the courts open at the behest of someone,” he said.

    IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition of the former interior minister against the appointment of Hanif Abbasi as a Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM), with Sheikh Rasheed appearing before the court on Monday.

    The IHC CJ summoned Rasheed to the rostrum and said, “These courts are for everyone. Perhaps, people don’t believe this.”

    “Important cases of this country are being heard in this court,” he said, further telling Rasheed that the IHC would hear his plea if he had faith in his court. Justice Minallah said important and big cases are pending in the high court, like the cases of missing persons and Baloch students.

    “There are other courts and judges who, too, can hear your cases. But if Imran Khan does not have faith [in this court] … I will refer the case to another court,” he stated.

    “If you have faith in it, then this court would hear your case. Also, ask the PTI chairperson about this,” Justice Minallah said, adding that the courts had been “issuing judgements for the weak”.

    “Your lawyers must have told you that there are rules and the chief justice can take up a case at any time,” CJ IHC told Rasheed.

    Rasheed said that he had appeared before the court because he had faith in it. “I will talk to Imran Khan,” added Rasheed.

    Justice Minallah said, “One should have the respect for the judiciary in their heart.” He then told Rasheed to “decide by tomorrow” whether he had faith in his court.

    At that, Rasheed asserted that he was already decided on the matter.

    “I have been a minister 16 times and that is why I have appeared before the court,” said Rasheed.

    IHC directs PM Shehbaz to review Hanif Abbasi’s appointment as SAPM

    IHC on Monday directed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review his decision of appointing Hanif Abbasi as his special assistant.

    Rasheed had filed the petition challenging Abbasi’s appointment on May 6. 

  • Khan video released asking if his ‘khitaab’ will be shown in the US

    Khan video released asking if his ‘khitaab’ will be shown in the US

    An exclusive video of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has been released by 24News Channel, in which he can be heard asking if his virtual address be shown in the United States (US).

    The former PM was preparing for an address to overseas Pakistanis when he got curious about the broadcasting of his video.

    Upon asking, Khan was told that US residents would not be able to see the video because of the time difference between the two countries. Only Europe and England residents would be able to see his address, one of the people on set said.

    Khan, further can be heard saying that 20 minutes are enough for the address.

    It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) wants the right to vote for Pakistani residents living abroad. On multiple occasions both Khan, his former ministers and party members made several addresses for Pakistanis living abroad.

  • Rana Sanaullah says PTI supporters will become ‘humans’ after being thrashed

    Rana Sanaullah says PTI supporters will become ‘humans’ after being thrashed

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters will become human beings after being thrashed.

    “This is your misconception that you will be able to cause anarchy or chaos in the country. Nothing will happen,” Sanaullah told former Prime Minister Imran Khan. “They [the supporters] will become human beings after a few thrashings.”

    “Even yesterday, he (Imran Khan) told his supporters not to spare anyone. I am warning you for the last time — not as a minister — but as the president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab. If you don’t let go of these tactics and keep inciting your supporters to misbehave with members of other parties, you will face the same fate too. You won’t be able to escape from it.”

    The minister warned Khan that if he didn’t mend his ways, the PML-N too would instruct its workers to “catch and beat them up”.

    Rana Sanaullah demanded guarantees of a ‘peaceful’ PTI march to Islamabad as well.

    “They will have to give [the government] assurances that the march will be peaceful, political, and democratic,” said Sanaullah. 

    Sanaullah also warned former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and said,  “You told people that this march will be bloody. I am warning you to take your words back or I won’t let you step out of your house.”

  • Imran Khan meets accused sexual abuser Zia Chishti at Bani Gala

    Imran Khan meets accused sexual abuser Zia Chishti at Bani Gala

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan met Sitara-i-Imtiaz (third-highest honour and civilian award in Pakistan) holder and founder of a software company “Afiniti” Zia Chishti at Bani Gala. Chishti was accused of sexually abusing Tatiana Spottiswoode, a former Afiniti employee, and Zia’s friend’s daughter last year.

    Chishti stepped down from his position as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Afiniti, effective immediately following the allegations of sexual assault by a 23-year-old against him.

    The news of the meeting between the two came to the surface when the official Twitter handle of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tweeted a picture of the meeting at Khan’s residence.

    Zia Chishti along with former Special Assistant to the prime minister Sayed Zulfi Bukhari were seen meeting Khan.

    However, the party’s Twitter account later deleted the tweet.

  • ‘Rana, rethink decision’, PPP tells govt not to lodge case on Masjid-e-Nabwi incident

    ‘Rana, rethink decision’, PPP tells govt not to lodge case on Masjid-e-Nabwi incident

    Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has said that cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should not have been lodged in Pakistan.

    According to Shah, action should only be taken against the people who took the law into their hands in Pakistan. He added that if somebody had shown disrespect to the sacred place, only Allah and His Prophet (PBUH) would punish him for that.

    Shah further said that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah should rethink the issue seriously. However, the interior minister defended the registration of cases against PTI leaders.

    In a tweet, Sanaullah said that there was no justification to not register a case against those who violate the sanctity of Roza-e-Rasool.

    Pilgrims were instigated under a plan, the minister said, adding that some of the people had travelled to Saudi Arabia from Britain. “There can be no forgiveness for what these people have done,” he said.

    Talking about the ongoing protest led by PTI Chairperson Imran Khan, Shah said that we will never object to Khan’s democratic right to protest.

    “Whoever wishes to bring millions of people in long march should not be barred and protesters should not be arrested for taking part in a peaceful protest. The government should be careful while issuing statements about PTI’s long march. It should take decisions with consensus as we are their partners in the coalition government,” added Shah.

    Last week, Faisalabad police registered a case under ‘blasphemy laws’ against the PTI chairman and over 150 others following the Masjid-e-Nabwi incident.

    Top leaders of the PTI and Imran’s close associates, including Fawad Chaudhry, Shahbaz Gill, Qasim Suri, Sahibzada Jahangir, Aneel Musarrat as well as Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and his nephew Sheikh Rasheed Shafiq were nominated.

  • ‘Gadhay par lines bana kar woh zebra nahin ban jaata’, Khan on Pakistan vs England

    ‘Gadhay par lines bana kar woh zebra nahin ban jaata’, Khan on Pakistan vs England

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan revealed that he was aware that his government was in danger since July 2021 and as a result didn’t want the then Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt-General Faiz Hameed to be changed.

    “I wanted him to continue serving as the director-general of the ISI during the difficult winter season when the fallout of the Afghan infighting was imminent.”

    “I was aware of a possible civil war in Afghanistan last summer. I was afraid of the fallout in Pakistan as an aftermath of the possible war on Afghan soil. I didn’t want the ISI chief to be changed before winter, as it was a difficult time,” said Khan. “I was aware that the PML-N was planning to remove me. I was aware of their plans since last July so I didn’t want our intelligence chief changed.”

    Khan accused his former aides Jahangir Khan Tareen and Aleem Khan of seeking illegal benefits from him. He further revealed that the differences were developed among them when he refused to do what they asked for.

    Khan made these comments in a podcast on Thursday.

    The former prime minister said, “Aleem Khan expected me to legalise his 300-acre land near Ravi”.

    “I developed differences with Aleem after this. Their cases were in NAB and his name was in Pandora Papers as well.”

    Commenting on Tareen, Khan said that his problem was the sugar crisis.

    While responding to another question about his party’s ties with the establishment, Imran rubbished speculation that he wanted Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed to be the next army chief.

    “You don’t replace an intelligence chief during difficult circumstances,” he said.

    Khan also said that, unlike Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, he never wanted to control the army as he had a ‘clean record’ and didn’t fear anyone.

    Khan also commented that he was welcomed in British society but he never considered England his home because he is a Pakistani. Giving an example that if one draws lines on a donkey it doesn’t become a zebra. A donkey remains a donkey.

  • ‘Gill tried to paint Motorway accident as murder’: Police

    ‘Gill tried to paint Motorway accident as murder’: Police

    Police arrested driver Wajahat Ali, whose car hit Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill on M2 Motorway, ruling out allegations of a “planned attempt to target” him.

    As per Geo News, the Motorway Police said that the incident took place due to the negligence of Wajahat Ali and added that there was no planned attempt to harm Shahbaz Gill.

    “Gill tried to paint the incident as a murder attempt and did propaganda. After the driver’s interrogation and investigation of the crash site, it can be concluded that it was an accident,” said the police.

    A day earlier, Dr Shahbaz Gill sustained injuries in a vehicle accident on Thursday on the M2 Motorway.

    The PTI leader had claimed that it was an attempt to murder him in which a vehicle chased and hit his vehicle deliberately. 

    The former special assistant to ex-prime minister Imran Khan was travelling to Islamabad from Lahore. According to reports, Motorway Police officials arrived on the scene.

    Journalist Khawar Ghumman tweeted a video of the accident vehicle: “Initial evidence suggests his vehicle had been hit deliberately. Let’s see and wait what does motorway police say about the incident.”

  • Shireen Mazari urges UN to stop Govt from misusing blasphemy law against PTI

    Shireen Mazari urges UN to stop Govt from misusing blasphemy law against PTI

    Former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari wrote a special letter to United Nations (UN) to stop the Pakistani government from misusing blasphemy law against former Prime Minister (PM) PM Imran Khan and his party leaders.

    According to Dawn, the letter has been addressed to the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, special rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression, and special rapporteur on the freedom of religion and belief.

    The letter states that the country had been engulfed in a political crisis since PTI was ousted in the aftermath of [which PTI claims] is “regime change scheme” and replaced with a government led by Shehbaz Sharif, who has been named in “multiple money-laundering and corruption cases and is out on bail”.

    In the letter, Mazari pointed out major human rights violations conducted against Khan.

    “One: A complete blackout of media coverage by state-owned media as well as almost all private channels through a carrot (advertisements) and stick (establishment). In this connection, the government-controlled PTCL, which provides cable connections to cable operators, has denied this access to any private channel seen covering Khan’s massive rallies.”

    The second violation highlighted by Mazari was the registration of blasphemy cases against PTI leader in connection with the Masjid-e-Nabwi incident.

    According to her, it was not a planned incident. “To use the Madina incident as an excuse to file charges of blasphemy means endangering lives of Imran and party’s leadership,” the former minister wrote.

    She informed that one member of the NA from the PTI-allied party is already under custody on blasphemy charges.

    Last week, Faisalabad police registered a case under ‘blasphemy laws’ against the PTI chairman and over 150 others following the Masjid-e-Nabwi incident.

    Top leaders of the PTI and Imran’s close associates, including Chaudhry, Gill, Suri, Sahibzada Jahangir, Aneel Musarrat as well as Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and his nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafiq were nominated.

    The complainant— Muhammad Naeem, a resident of Faisalabad alleged the Masjid-e-Nabwi episode was a “planned and thought-out conspiracy” and supported his claims by referring to videos and speeches made by certain PTI leaders.

  • Videos being prepared for my character assassination, says Khan

    Videos being prepared for my character assassination, says Khan

    Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday claimed that the Sharif family is preparing to launch a campaign against him after Eid.

    Expressing his views during an interview with actor Shaan Shahid on Hum News, Khan said, “Now that Eid is over, you will see they [Sharif family] are fully prepared for my character assassination. They have hired companies that are readying the material.”

    “I had to face mafias, the biggest of which is the Sharif mafia […] they always attack on a personal level because they are indulging in corruption for the past 35 years. When someone [points out] their corruption, they attack a person’s character,” said Khan.

    “Instead of responding to the theft of billions of rupees, the Sharif family will focus on immorality,” Khan said, adding that they had previously pursued a fake case against his ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith.

    “What was Jemima’s crime? She was my wife. Now they have Farah Khan because she is close to Bushra Bibi,” he added.

    He went on to say that the Sharifs had also made further preparations and “made videos” similar to the ones of former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar and late Judge Arshad Malik.

    “This is mafia style. I only want the nation to understand that if you want to smear anyone’s name, there are companies that can help you achieve this.”

    He added that the PTI had announced its long march to Islamabad by the end of May due to which the Sharifs wanted to lower his respect in the eyes of the public and assassinate his character.

    He added that 60 per cent of the federal cabinet was out on bail. “The father (Shehbaz) is on bail and so is the son (Hamza). Maryam is also out on bail and Nawaz Sharif has been convicted [while] his sons have fled abroad. So what [other] defence will they have?”

    He said that in a democracy, they were required to give an answer for the allegations levelled against them. “You can’t come up in any democracy if you are out on bail; you can’t get any position.”