Tag: PTI

  • Former Principal Secretary to Imran Khan testifies in court

    Former Principal Secretary to Imran Khan testifies in court

    Azam Khan, the former principal secretary to ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, has testified that the diplomatic cipher provided by the foreign ministry to the ex-Premier had not been returned to the ministry by the time he left the office after a Vote of No Confidence.

    He told the court on Thursday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder kept a copy of the contentious cipher and later said it had gone missing.

    Five witnesses named Anis-ur-Rehman, Javed Iqbal, Hadayat Ullah Muhammad Ashfaq, and Azam testified before the court in the cipher case in Adiala Jail. The court adjourned the hearing till January 22.

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had previously booked Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi under the OSA, 1923, last August on charges stemming from the alleged misuse of a diplomatic cipher at the end of the PTI’s rule in March 2022.

    Imran Khan and Qureshi, currently detained in Adiala Jail, were present in the courtroom as Khan appeared to give his deposition.

    Both PTI leaders insisted that Khan swear on the Holy Quran before providing his testimony.

    Azam Khan took a solemn oath on the Holy Quran during the hearing.

    During his statement, Azam Khan revealed that, as Imran’s principal secretary, he was informed by the foreign secretary about a cipher telegram.

    His office provided him with a copy, which he later shared with the then-Prime Minister. Imran, in turn, informed Khan that Qureshi had discussed the content of the telegram with him.

    The cipher telegram pertained to meetings between the Pakistan ambassador to the US and American officials.

    “The former PM stated that American authorities had interfered in Pakistan’s internal affairs. He said it seems the message was intended for internal actors to change the elected government through a vote of no confidence.

    “The former premier retained the copy of the cipher with him and instructed the military secretary, DC, and other staff to look into the matter. He also emphasized taking the public into confidence on the matter,” he said.

    Azam Khan recommended a formal meeting with the foreign ministry and suggested having the foreign secretary read the message from the master cipher. The federal cabinet, after discussing the matter, decided to present it before the National Security Committee (NSC), which then issued a demarche on foreign interference.

    According to Khan, it is customary to return the copy of a cipher to the foreign ministry, but this did not happen in this case.

    “I informed the PM, the PM Office, and staff multiple times that the cipher copy should be returned, but it was not returned until I left my charge,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Interior Secretary on the petitions against the prison trial of Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case and the £190 million NAB references.

  • Murad Saeed is not contesting elections this year

    Murad Saeed is not contesting elections this year

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed withdrew from the general elections 2024 on Thursday.

    During the hearing of the petition filed against his nomination papers in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Murad Saeed’s lawyer told the court that he had returned the ticket and he was not participating in the elections.

    The Peshawar High Court bench, comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Aijaz Anwar, and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah, entertained a plea regarding the rejection of Murad Saeed’s nomination papers and subsequently rendered its decision.

    However, it was revealed during the proceedings that the petitioner had withdrawn the application, informing the court that the ticket had been voluntarily returned.

    On Wednesday, the bench reserved its decision on the petition against the rejection of the PTI leader’s nomination papers.

    Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim remarked in yesterday’s hearing regarding what the law says when a person is declared a fugitive and does not surrender before the law.

    When a person does not appear in front of the law, how can the papers be approved, he will be elected again and legislate, he asked.

    The Advocate General said in his arguments that when a person becomes a fugitive, he loses some basic rights and he has no right to vote or contest election.

    The court stated in its remarks that, “It will then be used as a weapon to prevent anyone from the election”.

    While reserving the decision on Murad Saeed’s appeal, the court declared the documents of Shehram Tarkai and Atif Khan to be correct in this regard.

    A three-member bench of PHC upheld the decision of the Election Tribunal and rejected the petitions against the approval of Shahram Tarkai and Atif Khan’s papers.

  • Fawad Chaudhry sent to Adiala jail on judicial remand

    Fawad Chaudhry sent to Adiala jail on judicial remand

    An accountability court on Thursday sent former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry to Adiala jail on judicial remand in a case related to corruption in construction projects, Geo has reported.

    Islamabad Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Basheer heard the case. During the hearing, Chaudhry asked Judge Muhammad Basheer about his health.

    In response to Fawad’s question, the judge said that “I am completely fine.”

    Fawad’s council requested the court to keep the former federal minister in the B-class category in jail.

    Meanwhile, a bail application was also filed on behalf of Fawad Chaudhry.

  • We have plan C for February 8 elections, says Imran Khan

    We have plan C for February 8 elections, says Imran Khan

    The founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has said that a plan C has been prepared for the upcoming general elections, set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    While talking to the media in Adiala Jail, the former Prime Minister said that democracy is being trampled under the “London Plan”, pointing out that people affiliated with PTI are being picked up despite the start of the election campaign, stressing that women and children were imprisoned for the May 9 incidents.   

    The former prime minister said, “Our plan C is prepared. They will be shocked on February 8.”

    On the question regarding PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, Imran Khan called the lawyer emotional, but added that he is playing from the front.

    “I told [former army chief Gen (r) Qamar Javed] Bajwa that free and fair election is the only solution,” he claimed.

    He demanded that the jail trial in cipher case be shown live, saying, “I want the nation to know what is happening.”

  • What is going on in PTI as leaders clash publicly?

    What is going on in PTI as leaders clash publicly?

    In a surprising turn of events within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), party founding chief Imran Khan has reportedly instructed senior vice chairman Sher Afzal Marwat to suspend all political activities in Sindh.

    Disagreements between Marwat and other party leaders, including Raoof Hasan and Barrister Hamid Khan, have escalated, leading to a temporary halt in political engagements.

    Hamid Khan endorsed the statements of Raoof Hasan.

    https://twitter.com/BrHamidKhan/status/1747182074191360492?s=20

    The directive from Imran Khan came a day after Marwat initially announced the suspension of the election campaign in Sindh, citing an alleged “attack” by party leaders Raoof Hasan and Hamid Khan.

    “Keeping in view the statements against me by sick-minded people like Hamid Khan and Rauf Hassan, I am calling off my campaign in Sindh,” said Marwat.

    However, conflicting statements emerged later after Marwat declared his intention to continue the polls campaign.

    “Workers are right and I will continue campaigning for PTI in Sindh. I will not be distracted,” wrote Marwat.

    In a social media post, he expressed his determination to continue campaigning for PTI in Sindh, urging party activists to confront what he referred to as “satanic forces” independently.

    The internal strife unfolded after Marwat launched the PTI’s election drive in Sindh but later called it off due to statements against him by party leaders.

    The controversy intensified as Marwat accused President Arif Alvi of being a “wrong number” and alleged a conspiracy against the party.

    In response, Hasan and Hamid disowned Marwat’s statements, asserting that he did not represent the party’s position and had no official post within PTI.

    Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of PTI, addressed the media, emphasizing the party’s commitment to democratic values and calling for unity among party members. Despite internal disagreements, he expressed confidence in Marwat’s candidacy for the upcoming elections from Lakki Marwat.

    The ongoing disputes raise questions about Marwat’s purported meetings with Imran Khan in jail, with conflicting statements from PTI leaders.

    While Hasan claimed no political leader was allowed to meet Imran, Gohar Ali Khan affirmed Marwat’s continued affiliation with the party.

    As PTI works towards finalizing its candidate list for the February 8 elections, the internal conflicts underscore the challenges inherent in the democratic process. PTI members are urged to set aside personal differences for the party’s success in the upcoming polls.

  • No Bat for PTI ka matlab kya, jo bhi? PTI candidate election campaigns that scream creativity

    No Bat for PTI ka matlab kya, jo bhi? PTI candidate election campaigns that scream creativity

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has always remained ahead of others when it comes to the use of social media in Pakistan’s political landscape.

    Data shared in a report from Digital Pakistan 2023 states that the number of internet users in Pakistan swelled to a record 87.35 million in January last year, showing a 4.4 million increase between 2022 and 2023.

    The number of social media users also increased to a record 71.70 million in 2023, including 37.30 million users of Facebook, 71.70 million users of YouTube, 12.95 million on Instagram, and 16.51 million on TikTok.

    Similarly, about 11.95 million people are using Facebook Messenger, 9.30 million Linkedin, 25.70 million Snapchat, and 4.65 million users of X — formerly Twitter — in the wake of an increase in mobile connections to 191.8 million in January 2023 in Pakistan.

    The importance of social media is made very clear by the fact that there is news circulating that the internet might be shut down two days prior to the election. Young Pakistanis will be turning to social media for the truth on election day and if the election is to be seen as free and fair, social media will be the judge and the jury, senior producer and journalist Marium Chaudhary said while talking to TheCurrent.

    The results show the importance of social media in the election arena. Its power was fully exhibited when a huge number of supporters turned up online using VPNs when the internet was down during PTI’s virtual jalsa.

    Senior Journalist Benazir Shah recently tweeted that according to a google search, PTI has emerged as the most searched political party in the last fortnight.
    As the elections are approaching in less than a month, the party is in a crisis because they have been stripped from their preferred election symbol of a cricketing bat.

    The candidates however have been issued varying symbols from a human eye to an eggplant.

    PTI’s candidate Zain Pervaiz from PS-99 has been given the symbol of human eye and he used a creative way to propagate it. He made a rip-off of the famous Tahir Shah’s song Eye to Eye.

    In another video, a clip from a cartoon film is extracted to publicise the symbol of eye.

    The same candidate, Zain Parvez, came up with a clip from a Pakistani Drama where the heroine is seen saying that she will only what Zain wants her to do.

    As a candidate was allotted the symbol of a desi bed (charpayi), he got a charpayi painted in colours of the PTI flag. Along with that they were seen chanting the slogan, “Aye Aye Charpayi”.

    The same candidate got a charpayi made adorned with fairy lights and released a song titled, “Charpayi da nishan, Rakho yad meri jan”.

    The candidate alloted the sign of brinjal has taken a huge leap of creativity by releasing a “baingan song”. This symbol of is given to the candidate of PTI from NA 46.

    The meme brigade were tickled enough to promote the different election symbols including a wheelchair where the punch line was give vote to wheelchair to be able to get the system back on foot.

    The meme for the symbol tap, that is “Nalka” shows a clip from an Indian movie.

    Summing up the whole confusion folk singer Malko released a song with lyrics implying, whatever the symbol is, vote will be cast to Khan.

    Apart from the hilarious campaigns by PTI, the party is also seriously pursuing the upcoming elections by using social media. The party has launched an online portal containing detailed information of candidate names & symbols to avoid disinformation.

  • What election-related matters are Pakistanis searching on Google?

    What election-related matters are Pakistanis searching on Google?

    As the much-anticipated general elections in 2024 draw near, Google has taken a noteworthy step to provide insight into the search pattern of Pakistanis.

    In preparation for the polls scheduled for February 8, 2024, the technology giant has unveiled the “Google Trends Pakistan General Election” page.

    Search interest of people in Pakistan in the last 14 days indicate that 77 per cent searched for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, 14 per cent searched for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and only 3 per cent searches were related to Pakistan Peoples Party.

    The innovative platform aims to offer valuable insights into the questions actively being searched by people in Pakistan concerning political parties, election topics, and general interests.

    The most searched questions include, what is the date of the election in Pakistan, will the caretaker minister be changed, and how to get into politics.

    The dedicated trends page not only highlights the top election-related topics but also categorizes them based on regions, providing a comprehensive view of concerns and interests prevalent across the country.

    It is important to note that Google emphasizes that the trends page is not a survey or a reflection of voting behavior. Instead, it serves as a dynamic tool showcasing evolving interests and search queries.

    “While it is a valuable resource for understanding what people are searching for, it’s crucial to clarify that a spike in a particular search query does not indicate the popularity or success of a political party. It is not a measure of voting intentions but rather a reflection of the evolving search interests of the public,” stated Google in its official announcement.

  • Why are electoral symbols important, and how does ECP allot them to candidates?

    Why are electoral symbols important, and how does ECP allot them to candidates?

    Electoral symbols are allocated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to political parties and independent candidates participating in general elections.

    Major political parties in the country have established electoral symbols, including a bat for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), an arrow for Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and a tiger for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    All the electoral symbols appear on the ballot paper, giving the voters the choice to stamp the symbol of their choice. The ballot paper also has names, but 40% of the country’s 241 million population is illiterate, so symbols can be easier to identify.

    Thousands of candidates participate in elections, as do dozens of political parties and millions of voters. A single ballot paper offers voters a wide range of choices.

    How does the ECP allot electoral symbols?

    According to Section 216, political parties can submit an application to the election commission to apply for electoral symbols.

    Registered political parties can claim the same election symbol as allocated to them in the previous polls.

    On the other hand, an independent candidate can apply for allotment of an election symbol from the symbol list published by the ECP.

    If the two independent candidates want the same electoral symbol, then priority will be given to the candidate who has previously taken part in elections.

  • ‘An umpire has recently given a no-ball’; Imran Khan slams Supreme Court decision

    ‘An umpire has recently given a no-ball’; Imran Khan slams Supreme Court decision

    Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and Founder Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), engaged in an informal conversation with media representatives during the Toshakhana case hearing in Adiala Jail on Monday.

    He voiced concerns over the political and legal developments, particularly critiquing the Supreme Court’s decision regarding PTI’s electoral symbol, referring to the decision as an “umpire giving a no-ball”.

    Khan suggested that the Supreme Court should have formed a five-member bench rather than a three-member one, to address controversies surrounding PTI’s electoral symbol. These remarks were made amidst the Toshakhana case proceedings.

    He again reiterated his belief that the current situation in Pakistan is part of what he referred to as the “London Plan”, alleging that elements of this plan include his imprisonment before elections, the perceived decline of PTI, and the exoneration of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    Imran Khan further highlighted the alleged misuse of state resources, asserting that Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had obtained bulletproof vehicles from the ToshaKhana without being held accountable.

    “Something very bad is going to happen to them,” he predicted.
    He demanded that an open trial of the cipher case should be conducted so that the people know the facts. “They ask me why did I not keep the cipher secret.”

    He alleged that the expose of former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and U.S. State Department official Donald Lu is responsible for what is happening with PTI now, adding that his party is the only one that has consistently struggled for 27 years to attain its current position.

    Imran Khan remarked that recent decisions by decision-makers fail to accurately gauge public sentiment.

    He predicted significant repercussions for those involved and emphasized the power of social media in bringing transparency to such issues.

    Talking about the upcoming elections, Imran Khan claimed that PTI candidates are not being allowed to run their campaign properly, but he anticipates that the people’s dissatisfaction will become evident on February 8th.

    Despite facing various challenges, Imran Khan stated that PTI has not been entirely eradicated as the people continue to support the party. However, he voiced concerns about the electoral process, stating that PTI intended to give tickets to 850 candidates for the national and provincial assemblies in the general elections but were allegedly not allowed to consult with registered members in jail.

    In response to a question, Imran Khan ruled out the possibility of an electoral alliance with Bilawal Bhutto’s party.

    He also reiterated his claims about biased umpires in the political arena, asserting that Nawaz Sharif has never played a match without favoritism.

    In a related development, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced that the party’s candidates would contest the upcoming elections as independent candidates. Qureshi, while referring to the SC verdict, commented on the perceived lack of a level playing field for the PTI and criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for its stance on intra-party elections.

    He further said that his daughter’s nomination papers were snatched when she went for scrutiny. She was compelled to leave her native city, Qureshi added.
    “We accept the court’s verdict. History will certainly write its judgment on the SC’s verdict [on PTI election symbol]”

    Jail Trials Challenged

    Former Prime Minister and Founder Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has taken legal action by challenging the jail trial notifications related to the Toshakhana and Al-Qadir Trust cases at the Islamabad High Court.

    Both notifications, about the jail trial, have been contested by Imran Khan in the Islamabad High Court.

    Notably, the notification for the jail trial in the Al-Qadir Trust case was issued on November 14, while in the Toshakhana case, it was issued on November 28, as per the petitions filed on behalf of the PTI leader.

    The legal challenges assert that the notifications for the jail trial are deemed illegal and are allegedly motivated by malice.

    Imran Khan’s legal team has requested the court to declare the jail trial notifications null and void.

    Additionally, they seek a halt in the proceedings of the trial court until a resolution is reached on this matter.

    Imran Khan has named Chairman NAB (National Accountability Bureau) and others as respondents in both petitions, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the Toshakhana and Al-Qadir Trust cases.

  • A complete list of women taking part in elections on February 8

    A complete list of women taking part in elections on February 8

    The 2024 elections are approaching in Pakistan, and political parties have nominated candidates from different constituencies to contest the polls. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has allotted election symbols to all the candidates. Female candidates are also taking part in the elections set to take place on February 8, 2024, SAMAA has reported.

    After the 2018 general elections, there were 11.74 million more women than men on the voter rolls, bringing the overall number of registered voters in the country to 127 million from the previous 106 million.

    Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) has approved six general seat tickets for female candidates, including PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Saira Afzal Tarar, Nosheen Iftikhar, Shazra Mansab Ali, Tehmina Doultana, and Syeda Shehrbanu Bukhari.

    On the other hand, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) allotted its ticket to Shazia Marri, Dr Sawera Prakash for PK-25 in Buner, Sajida Tabassum for PK-39 in Mansehra, Shaista Raza for PK-48 in Haripur, Dr Ghazala Atta for PK-49 in Swabi-I, Aneela Shahzad for PK-54 in Mardan. The PPP candidate Shazia Tehmas for NA-24 in Charsadda, Mehr Sultana for NA-38 in Karak, and Farzana Shireen for NA-39 in Bannu to contest the election for a National Assembly (NA) seat.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) allotted tickets to 21 women to take part in the upcoming general election.

    In Punjab, former MNA Iman Tahir Sadiq from Attock, former MPA Seemabia Tahir from Rawalpindi, former adviser to Prime Minister Usman Dar from Sialkot Rehana Imtiaz Dar, former MNA from Lahore Alia Hamza Malik, former provincial minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Sidra Faisal from Kasur, Mehr Bano Qureshi daughter of Shah Mahmood Qureshi from Multan, Ayesha Nazir Jatt daughter of former MNA Nazir Jatt from Vahari, Mrs. Talat Basra wife of Shaukat Basra from Bahawalnagar, and former MNA Kanwal Shuzab from Bahawalpur will contest.

    PTI allotted National Assembly tickets to Mrs. Qamar Javed Waraich from Rahim Yar Khan (RYK), Mrs. Humira Ahmad Khan from Muzaffargarh, Mrs. Anbar Majeed Niazi, wife of ex-MNA Majeed Niazi from Layyah, and former minister Zartaj Gul Wazir from Dera Ghazi Khan (D.I. Khan).

    PTI also approved National Assembly tickets for Umbreen Malik from Khairpur, Hamida Masood Shah from Sanghar, Maherul Nasa Baloch from Tharparkar, Nazish Fatima Bhatti from Matiari, Rozeena Bhutto from Tando Ulyar, Shabana Nawab Bajarani from Dadu, and former MNA Shandana Gulzar from Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa NA-30 Peshawar.