Tag: PTI

  • ‘PM Khan to make significant changes in cabinet within two weeks’: Fawad

    Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) on Political Affairs Shahbaz Gill have revealed that PM Imran Khan would soon make changes in the federal and Punjab cabinets by including allied parties’ members, reports Dawn.

    While talking to the media outlet, Chaudhry stated that “the premier will make significant changes in the federal cabinet within two weeks”. It has been reported that PM Khan is expected to make changes in five ministers of state, i.e. ministries of defence, planning, education, energy and overseas Pakistanis.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will include leaders from its two major coalition partners — the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).

    BAP’s Kauda Babar told Dawn that his party had demanded at least four federal cabinet seats.

    The news has come at a time when the Opposition is gearing up to bring a no-confidence motion against PM Khan in the National Assembly (NA). They recently approached the MQM as well as the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) to support them.

    The government has recently given appreciation certificates to the ten ministers who performed better than others. However, those who were not included in the list are reportedly unhappy.

  • ‘Overseas Pakistanis ki maujain’: Cabinet approves separate judicial system for expats

    ‘Overseas Pakistanis ki maujain’: Cabinet approves separate judicial system for expats

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, while addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting, said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has approved a separate judicial system for Overseas Pakistanis.

    Fawad shared that the cabinet has approved the formulation of a separate judicial system for the expats for summary trial.

    The minister further said that the implementation of the laws will come in accordance with PM Khan’s vision to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, who are a precious asset of the country.

    The federal minister further revealed that a similar judicial system will also be established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, where PTI is in power.

    Fawad said that the administrative issues of courts should be dealt with in line with the view of the government.

    “Pakistan is facing an administrative crisis due to stay orders given by the courts,” said Fawad, adding that lawsuits are “cheaper in Pakistan than in the world”.

  • Court reserves decision on PTI’s Faisal Vawda’s appeal against lifetime disqualification

    Court reserves decision on PTI’s Faisal Vawda’s appeal against lifetime disqualification

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its decision on the maintainability of an application filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Faisal Vawda against his lifetime disqualification from parliament, reports Dawn.

    Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Vawda as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) and ordered him to withdraw the notification appointing him as senator for concealing his dual nationality.

    Later, the PTI leader approached the IHC. In his appeal, he stated that Section 8C of the Elections Act, 2017 allowed the ECP to conduct an election but did not empower it to disqualify a candidate. According to him, the commission was directed by the court to “probe the issue of falsity or otherwise of the affidavit expeditiously as per a judgment of the Supreme Court (SC)”.

    The commission said Vawda had submitted a “false affidavit” when submitting nomination papers. However, Vawda’s lawyer, Wasim Sajjad argued in the court that his client [Vawda] did not submit a false affidavit.

    Sajjad maintained that Vawda cancelled his United States (US) passport and acquired a certificate from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and said that he [Vawda] is only a Pakistani citizen.

    Vawda secured the National Assembly seat (NA-249) in July 2018 and got elected as a Senator last year.

    As per the commission, Vawda can approach the Supreme Court (SC) against its verdict.

  • PM Khan says his five-year term will be successful if he ends poverty

    PM Khan says his five-year term will be successful if he ends poverty

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Tuesday launched Raast person-to-person payment system for instant digital transactions.

    PM Khan, while addressing the audience, said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) got a second chance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) because the party ended poverty in the province.

    “After five years, we were given a chance again in a province which provides a second chance to no one. A report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) suggested that KP ended poverty the fastest,” said the premier, adding that we were given votes again because we ended poverty.

    “I will consider myself successful by the end of 2023 when my tenure is evaluated if I have ended poverty and lifted the poor,” said PM Khan.

    Sharing features of Raast, the premier said it would create ease for the common man, especially those who were afraid of going to banks because now they would be able to transfer money instantly through their mobile phones.

    In addition, the digital payment system would bring people into the formal economy, he said. “A country progresses when the saving rate increases, we have amongst the lowest,” he said, adding that people would have to become part of the formal economy if the country was to progress and the tax to GDP (gross domestic product) ratio would have to be increased.

    PM Imran said the government was reaching more people to bring them into the tax net, warning defaulters, “We are about to reach you because we are getting data very quickly.”

    Raast is part of Prime Minister Imran’s Digital Pakistan vision to include the poor segments of society in the formal economy. It has been developed by the SBP in collaboration with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Karandaaz, Pakistan.

  • Moonis Elahi tells PTI not to worry, ‘nothing substantial’ in meetings with Opposition leaders

    Moonis Elahi tells PTI not to worry, ‘nothing substantial’ in meetings with Opposition leaders

    Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi said on Monday that the government alliance is not facing any trouble. Elahi said that the political environment was a “bit strange these days” but there is nothing substantial in it. Moonis Elahi was referring to the recent meetings of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leadership with Opposition leaders, which include Shehbaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Asif Ali Zardari.

    Moonis Elahi, while addressing the International Symposium on Hydropower Development, said, “A spectacle is going on, whatever talks are being held, we are political people, we meet people and welcome someone who comes to our home. The important thing to understand is that political people form relationships and then see them through.”

    “Just like we have made a relation with Janab [Prime Minister Imran Khan], and we will carry on with this relation,” adding, “I would like to request you [PM Khan] to say it rather firmly to all Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers/supporters that ghabrana nahi hai [no need to worry].”

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, without taking names, criticised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif and said that in a panic, some people have gone to ask about the health of PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

    PM Khan, responding to the words to Moonis Elahi said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has full confidence in the Chaudhry brothers.

    PM said that hardly anyone has the political skills that Chaudhry Sahib [Shujaat Hussain] possesses.

    PM Khan’s comments come after Shehbaz Sharif met PML-Q’s Chaudhry brothers at their residence after 14 years as the Opposition seeks to mount pressure on the government.

    It is being reported that the Chaudhries of Gujrat will be holding party meetings to discuss the overall political situation and go into further discussions to come up with a consensus plan to move ahead in the current political turmoil.

    It is pertinent to mention here that PML-Q is a key ally of the PTI in the Centre and Punjab.

  • Shehbaz visits Chaudhry brothers after 14 years

    Shehbaz visits Chaudhry brothers after 14 years

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and senior party leaders visited Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi yesterday (February 13, Sunday).

    Shehbaz went to their residence where the leaders of the two rival parties met each other for a formal political meeting after a gap of about 14 years.

    The meeting lasted over an hour, where both sides discussed the current political situation in the country in detail. Sources say that Shehbaz Sharif asked the Chaudhries of Gujrat to support the Opposition in its planned no-confidence move against Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, the Chaudhry brothers told the PML-N leadership that they would adopt a strategy after consultations with their party leaders.

    The News reported that the Chaudhry brothers have asked for the slot of Chief Minister Punjab from 2023 to 2028. Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly conveyed details of the meeting to Mian Nawaz Sharif, who will make the final decision. Currently, the PML-Q is a key ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in both Punjab and the Centre.

    On Saturday (February 12), Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who also heads the Opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), called on the Chaudhry brothers in Lahore. Maulana also asked them for their support against the sitting government.

    Earlier on Monday (February 7), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also paid a visit to the Chaudhry brothers in Lahore to ask for PML-Q support in ousting the government.

    Last year in December, Nawaz Sharif called Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to ask about the health of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and also invited them to meet him in London.

  • PML-N Ishaq Dar appeals to take Senate oath virtually from UK

    PML-N Ishaq Dar appeals to take Senate oath virtually from UK

    Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) senior leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar has reportedly written a letter to Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in which he expressed his willingness to take his oath as a member of Senate “virtually” from the United Kingdom (UK) due to his illness, states Dawn.

    The letter, dated February 2nd reads, “It is requested that arrangements may please be made to enable me [Dar] to take the required oath, virtually, through any electronic mode as you may deem convenient; the same being within the applicable legal framework and being used by the apex court of Pakistan.”

    The former finance minister attached his medical report along with his appeal. He stated that because of his “prolonged illness and ongoing medical treatment” in the UK, he cannot return to Pakistan to take the oath in person.

    In 2018, following the elections, Dar’s rival candidate, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ‘s (PTI) Nawazish Ali Pirzada, approached the Supreme Court (SC) against Dar’s selection as a senator. At the time, the top court suspended the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) notification, which declared the PML-N leader’s victory. However, on January 10, the SC gave its verdict in favour of Dar.

    Dar has been living in London since 2017 (before the 2018 general elections). He went there at a time when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was dealing with a corruption case against him.

  • 80 per cent of people want us to leave government alliance due to rising inflation: Faisal Sabzwari

    80 per cent of people want us to leave government alliance due to rising inflation: Faisal Sabzwari

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Senator Faisal Sabzwari while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Jashn-e-Cricket’, said that 80 per cent of people want them to leave the government alliance.

    “Due to rising inflation in the country, 80 per cent of people want us to leave the government alliance,” said Sabzwari.

    Faisal Sabzwari advised the incumbent government not to panic, adding that his party has not received any signal yet to leave the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi while speaking on  Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, said that the government is not worried about any motion and “we completely trust our allies and partners stand with the government”.

    “I’m sending a clear message to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that their meetings to depose the prime minister are nothing more than table talk,” said Qureshi.

    It is worth noting that the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met MQM-P delgation.

    Addressing a press conference along with MQM-P Deputy Convenor Amir Khan and other party members, Shehbaz said, “Today’s ally can become tomorrow’s rival.”

    Meanwhile, Amir Khan said, “The kind of problems people are facing because of the federal government in the provincial capital, we are facing the similar kind of torture and oppression in Sindh because of them.”

  • Zardari meets Chaudhry brothers to discuss no-confidence motion

    Zardari meets Chaudhry brothers to discuss no-confidence motion

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari met Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and the current Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to seek support from them regarding the no-confidence motion against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    According to Dawn , PML-Q agreed that primarily it had reservations with the government, but it could not become a part of any “political misadventure”.

    PML-Q also questioned the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders’ seriousness about a no-confidence motion and the numbers required in parliament to support it.

    However, it is expected that the PPP and PML-Q leadership will meet once again in the next few days, as per Geo News.

    PML-Q is a key ally of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the Centre and Punjab. Despite the Opposition approaching PML-Q for the no-confidence motion, the party has reassured its support to the ruling party.

    PPP and PML-Q meeting was held two days after PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari attended a luncheon meeting with Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and other (PML-N) leaders, including Maryam Nawaz in Lahore.

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif is expected to meet Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) today (Tuesday).

  • PM Khan says people have no better option than PTI, party set to launch election campaign

    PM Khan says people have no better option than PTI, party set to launch election campaign

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday said the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will contest Punjab’s local bodies elections.

    While chairing the Central Executive Committee’s (CEC) meeting, the premier decided to speed up and mobilise people at the grassroots level.

    The premier has decided to hold public gatherings in different parts of the country to mobilise workers and voters of the ruling PTI for the upcoming local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [second phase] and in Punjab, expected to be held in May.

    PM Khan during the CEC meeting said that the people of Pakistan have “no better option than the PTI”. It is being reported that during the meeting, the distribution of tickets during the elections and considered recommendations for mayors in major cities was also discussed

    During the meeting, the PM said that the organisational structure of the party would be formed. “Our workers are a valuable asset to the party and the tickets will be distributed on the basis of merit.”

    It is pertinent to mention here that the two Opposition parties — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — have united towards achieving their common goal of sending the government packing.

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif hosted PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari at his Lahore residence on Saturday, January 5, to discuss the present political situation.

    Speaking after the lunch, Shehbaz said, “Broken hearts can be united again. Both PPP and PML-N are united to take Prime Minister (PM), Imran Khan, out.”