Tag: PTI

  • ‘Imran caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense’: Nawaz Sharif

    ‘Imran caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense’: Nawaz Sharif

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif met with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari who both lashed out at former PM Imran Khan and his policies, regretting that Imran Khan promoted the culture of hooliganism and immorality in politics. “The PTI chairman has caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense of the word.”

    Both PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari talked at length about political as well as coalition government affairs during the meeting that lasted for over three hours on Thursday in London.

    Later, both the leader addressed a press conference where they lashed out at former PM Imran Khan and his policies. Nawaz Sharif said: “Khan promoted the culture of hooliganism and immorality. He has caused huge damage to Pakistan in every sense of the word.”

    About the US foreign conspiracy which was claimed by Khan, Nawaz Sharif posed several questions: “Were you involved in holding an atomic blast? Why will there be a foreign conspiracy against you?”

    Nawaz said that Khan had claimed that he would take his own life before approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial support. “But we did not see him taking his own life till now,” he added.

    “Imran Khan’s rule has been the darkest chapter in the history of Pakistan. We are saddened at the state of affairs in Pakistan and what it has been turned into. There are enormous challenges we are facing but we will repair the damage, through national consensus. All the stakeholders from all the provinces including PPP, PML-N, JUI-F and others political powers will play their due role”, he added.

    Similarly taking a jibe at Khan, Bilawal said: “There was no conspiracy against Khan at the White House. However, a conspiracy against him was hatched at the Bilawal House to throw out an illegal, selected and cruel government through the power of the vote [no-confidence motion].”

    Moreover, he said that using the experience and guidance of elders like Sharif and his father the new generation will strengthen Pakistan to face the challenges.

    About the meeting between Bilawal and Sharif, Geo News‘ sources revealed that the PPP chairman didn’t ask for the positions of Senate chairman, Governor Punjab or seat adjustments.

    As per the sources, Nawaz was told that Bilawal may bring up these matters. However, Bilawal told Nawaz he was calling him to discuss the possibility and the need for working together in the future for the greater cause of a strong and vibrant democracy.

    The three-hour-long meeting between the PML-N supremo and PPP chairman was held in two parts. In the first part, Bilawal and Nawaz held a one-on-one meeting, while in the second half, other senior leaders of both parties were also present in the meeting.

    Now, upon his return to the country, Bilawal will take an oath as foreign minister of Pakistan.

  • Did Maryam Nawaz attend Imran Khan’s Twitter Space last night?

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s Twitter Space session on night between Wednesday and Thursday broke records with 165K people listening to it at one point. Right after the session, a screenshot started making rounds on social media claiming that Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz also attended the session.

    The screenshot was also shared by former Deputy National Assembly (NA) Qasim Suri.

    The news left some social media users surprised while majority questioned the authenticity of the screenshot.

    Earlier today, Fact-Check Pakistan declared the screenshot as fake. They shared the update on Twitter, saying: “Following former PM Imran Khan’s Twitter space some accounts of PTI supporters circulated a screenshot showing PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz as one of the listeners – this screenshot is doctored/fake – Ms Nawaz did not attend, a source in her staff confirmed to ⁦@PakistanCheck”.

    Before this, Maryam’s Political Secretary Zeeshan Malik, in a tweet, clarified that the screenshot was “fake”.

  • PML-N disbands Information Ministry’s Digital Media Wing for ‘opposition hate speech’

    PML-N disbands Information Ministry’s Digital Media Wing for ‘opposition hate speech’

    The new PML-N government has decided to close the Digital Media Wing (DMW), which was formed by the previous PTI administration to publicise official information on social media platforms.

    In her first press conference as minister for information and broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, on April 19, said the PTI-established DMW was made up of its own workers and bot accounts who targeted the opposition and national institutions.

    The information ministry has established a cyber wing to disseminate the government’s accomplishments and publicise its strategic plan on social media platforms.

    Furthermore, she stated that the cyber wing needed to be more innovative and up to date with changing trends, as well as keep up with offices such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to maintain Pakistan’s good image abroad.

    The closure has split industry experts, with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) welcoming the decision to disband the controversial Digital Media Wing.

    The HRCP has been rejecting the DMW, claiming that it is pursuing the PTI’s agenda against political rivals, and there have been allegations that state resources are being used to advance the party agenda, including trolling media persons.

    Read more: FIA picks up 24 over social media campaign against Pak Army

    Even so, a social media rights activist applauded the decision to transfer the DMW’s responsibilities to the information ministry’s cyber wing, claiming that it would strengthen checks on any misuse of digital media platforms by state entities.

    The PTI established the DMW shortly after taking power in 2018. It was the reincarnation of the Press Information Department’s Social Media Wing (PID).

  • ‘Establishment offered us three options, not us’, Imran Khan maintains his stance

    ‘Establishment offered us three options, not us’, Imran Khan maintains his stance

    While talking to reporters, former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan insisted that the establishment gave him three options, contradicting the Pakistan military’s statement that the options were presented by Khan himself.

    Khan said, “The establishment gave me three options, so I agreed with the election proposal. How could I accept the resignation and no-confidence suggestion?”

    Last week, Director-General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the PM Office had contacted the military leadership to help resolve the ongoing political crisis. He added that the army chief and DG ISI visited the PM office at “their” request to play the role of “mediator”.

    The former prime minister said that the military was onboard over the Russia visit. He said, “Gen Bajwa said we must visit Russia.” The army has also confirmed that they agreed with the decision to visit Russia.

    Responding to the recent Toshakhana (state gifts) controversy, the PTI chairman said they were his gifts, so it was his choice whether to keep them or not. “Meray tohfay, meri marzi [my gift, my choice],” he added.

    According to media reports, the former PM received gifts worth more than Rs140 million from world leaders during his tenure and he kept them all either by paying a minor amount or without any payment.

    “Whatever I took from Toshakhana is on record. I purchased the gifts after paying 50 per cent of the cost,” Khan said.

    Regarding Farah Khan, he said that she had no position or ministry, how could she take money, if anyone has any evidence, bring it forward.

    About his party’s rallies in Peshawar and Karachi after the removal of his government, Imran Khan said: “I have never seen such a large number of people coming out in Pakistan.”

    He maintained his stance that the PTI government was removed as part of an “international conspiracy” and urged the nation to not accept this.

    The former prime minister also admitted that the filing of a reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa was a “mistake”. The reference against the SC judge should not have been filed, I have no personal enmity with anyone, it was sent by the law ministry”, the PTI chairman cleared.

  • PTI’s Shahzad Akbar leaves for Dubai after name removed from ‘no-fly list’

    PTI’s Shahzad Akbar leaves for Dubai after name removed from ‘no-fly list’

    Special Assistant to former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar left for Dubai on Sunday after his name was removed from the FIA’s ‘stop-list’ on the order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

    According to Express Tribune, Akhbar departed via Islamabad International Airport for Dubai on an international airline at 3:30 am, from where he is expected to depart for the United Kingdom (UK).

    Last week, the FIA had put names of four Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members including former aides — Shahzad Akbar and Shahbaz Gill on “no-fly list.”

    However, on April 12 the Islamabad High Court suspended the notification. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the court has already declared the blacklist illegal.

    He said, “We have already issued a verdict that no one’s name can be placed on this list.”

    IHC also suspended the ban on three other persons— former principal secretary Azam Khan, Khan’s ex-focal person on Digital Media Dr Arslan Khalid and Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment Chairman Mohammad Nafees Gohar.

  • ‘We still want immediate elections,’ Maulana Fazl tells the new govt

    ‘We still want immediate elections,’ Maulana Fazl tells the new govt

     Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has demanded immediate elections.

    Addressing his party workers in Islamabad, Maulana said that the maximum time this new government would be in power for is a year.

    “In this new setup, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam has its own identity and we are telling them [new government] that we still want immediate elections.”

    READ MORE: Zardari, Nawaz, Maulana have all been ruined by one man: Saleem Safi

    Maulana said that continuing to stay in power unnecessarily is not his party’s stance. The new government, he added, can take some time for electoral reforms but Maulana said that Imran Khan was ousted so that the people of Pakistan could be given their mandate back.

    “Now it is our responsibility to give back the nation what we promised.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has also been demanding early elections. However, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that elections cannot be held before October as it needs four months to complete the process of delimitation of constituencies.

  • Tofay hi tofay: What did Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi keep from the state gift list?

    Tofay hi tofay: What did Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi keep from the state gift list?

    An investigation by news organisation Fact Focus reveals that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi kept all 112 presents worth Rs142.02 million from the Tosha Khana of Pakistan.

    The former PM and his wife Bushra Bibi have retained everything that was gifted to them by different states. The gifts include luxurious Rolex watches, gold and diamond jewellery, cufflinks worth millions, expensive dinner sets and perfumes. Not only that, they also kept a book worth Rs. 500, a tablemat, a samsonite bag and even a tasbih.

    The most expensive gift was a Graff watch worth Rs 85 million (Eight crore and fifty lac rupees), gifted to PM Khan by Saudi crown prince Muhammad Bin Salman when he visited Saudi Arabia on September 18, 2018. Instead of giving it the Tosha Khana, which is what every prime minister and his family is bound to do, Khan sold the watch in Dubai, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khan also declared tax returns on the watch when filing his taxes in 2020-21. He apparently paid Rs. 20 million (2 crore), which was 20 percent of the estimated value, according to his tax returns.

    List of some of the gifts:

    • One pair of cufflinks worth Rs. 5,670,000.
    • Five Rolex watches
    • A table mat of Rs. 30,000
    • Wall hanging worth Rs. 15,000
    • One locket with chain (Gold+Diamond) worth Rs. 269,350
    • Carpet worth Rs. 22,000

    In his returns for the financial years 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21, Imran Khan did not mention any of the Tosha Khana presents that were kept. Bushra Bibi, Khan’s wife, did not file a tax return at this time. Bushra Bibi, in reality, has never submitted a tax return in her life and was just registered with the Pakistani tax authorities in July 2021.

    A few days ago, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry that, Kya jurm huva agar gharri baich di’, admitting that Khan had sold the gifts.

    DISCLAIMER: The pictures used are for pictorial representation only and do not represent what the actual items might have been.

    Other gifts include:

  • ‘We are inching towards Civil unrest’: Fawad Ch on Punjab Assembly clash

    ‘We are inching towards Civil unrest’: Fawad Ch on Punjab Assembly clash

    Former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry took to his Twitter account to comment on the manhandling of Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari by Assembly members belonging to PTI, earlier today (Saturday).

    “We are inching towards a full-fledged Civil unrest, Imran Khan has exercised utmost restraint even he won’t be able to stop this very angry mob and we’ll see the country plunging into civil unrest, imported leaders will not be able to leave the country,” he wrote in the tweet.

    Mazari was roughed up by PTI legislators carrying lotas (round water containers) before being brought back to his chamber in protective custody by the assembly’s security team. Mazari was said to have suffered minor injuries as a result of the assault by the PTI MPAs.

    On Friday, a division bench of the Lahore High Court dismissed a petition filed by a PML-Q politician and ordered Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari to hold a transparent and impartial election for the new Chief Minister of Punjab on April 16 (saturday).

  • ‘Elahi wants to get people murdered’: PML-N blames PTI, PML-Q for attack on Deputy Speaker Punjab

    ‘Elahi wants to get people murdered’: PML-N blames PTI, PML-Q for attack on Deputy Speaker Punjab

    The Punjab Assembly (PA) session, which was started to elect the new Chief Minister (CM) Punjab turned into a battle filed today (Saturday).

    Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari was attacked by several Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs). The lawmakers of the ruling party threw “lotas” at Mazari first, attacked him and pulled his hair despite the presence of security guards. Mazari who got injured somehow managed to go inside his chamber.

    Consequently, the session has been delayed due to the unfortunate incident.

    In a media talk outside the Punjab Assembly after the ruckus inside, PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar blamed Pervaiz Elahi and his “group of gangsters” for everything that happened inside the legislature.

    “What happened today is a blatant violation of the law and Constitution,” he said. “Today, the deputy speaker was attacked. This is an incident of terrorism. I have heard Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi wants to get one or two people murdered.” He added that Elahi had been encouraging the MPAs when they attacked the deputy speaker.

    Tarar also called on the Lahore High Court to take suo moto notice of the incident and initiate action against the culprits. “We are here and won’t move till midnight.”

    PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also condemned the incident. In a tweet, she said, “The gang of thugs whose name is PTI, seeing their defeat in Punjab, have started bullying again.”

    She further said that “This culture is by no means good for the country and for the nation but is a disaster. It must be stopped and eradicated immediately.”

    Similarly, PML-N Marriyum Aurangzeb took a jibe at former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. She said, “After attacking the constitution, Parliament, Khan ordered an attack on Deputy Speaker in Punjab Assembly.”

    PML-N Khawaja Asif lashed out at Pervaiz Elahi, saying: “PTI-PML-Q gang of mobsters has not only desecrated Punjab Assembly a constitutional institution representing people of Punjab but they have also brought shame to parliamentarians all over the country.”

    On the contrary, the ruling party nominee  Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi blamed the PML-N for bringing the police inside the legislature “for the first time since the creation of assemblies”.

    “Who is the police to enter the assembly?” the PML-Q leader said. “We will make sure the Inspector General of Police (IGP) appears before us and he will be punished for a month.”

    A tough contest is expected to take place between Elahi and PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz, who is the joint opposition’s candidate. Both candidates, along with their supporters, had arrived at the PA in the morning.

  • Fact check: Shehbaz Sharif did not meet singer Farhan NTF at PM House

    Fact check: Shehbaz Sharif did not meet singer Farhan NTF at PM House

    Claim: PM Shehbaz Sharif invited singer Farhan NTF to the PM House

    Fact: Shehbaz Sharif met Farhan NTF at his private residence in November 2021, almost 5 months before becoming Prime Minister.

    A video of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif meeting singer, composer and writer Farhan NTF went viral on Friday in which the singer can be seen sitting with Sharif and singing “Mian De Naray“, which is a political song.

    Political analyst Raheeq Abbasi tweeted the video and wrote: “These days, PM House looks like a circus. If in doubt, watch this video.” His tweet was retweeted more than 12,000 times and had almost three thousand quote-tweets.

    Former federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry quoted Raheeq Abbasi and tweeted: “Pakistan’s dummy prime minister in an important meeting discussing people’s issues in PM House.”

    Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan also quote-tweeted the same video and wrote that the King can be seeing enjoying himself.

    However, the video is not recent. Farhan tweeted about meeting Shehbaz Sharif on November 3, 2021. At that time, Imran Khan was the prime minister of Pakistan and the video was not shot inside the Prime Minister House.

    In a YouTube video, Farhan explains how hurt he was that his old video went viral and is being misused by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He clarifies that he met PM Shehbaz last year in November at Sharif’s private residence. He said that it seems that the video is being used as if PM Shehbaz is listening to a political song that was written for him instead of working.

    “I am a singer. I don’t have any political affiliations. I have sung songs for PTI also but my song ‘Mian De Naray’ became very popular. Did Khan not meet Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar and Shaan Shahid when he was prime minister? Why can Shehbaz Sharif not meet any artist? I hope that people do not misuse our videos for their political interests.”

    VERDICT: FALSE