Tag: PTI

  • Khan, Qureshi will remain behind bars till October 10 in cipher case: Court

    Khan, Qureshi will remain behind bars till October 10 in cipher case: Court

    A special court established under the Official Secret Act has extended the judicaila remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi till October 10 in the cipher case on Tuesday.

    The PTI Chairman and Vice Chairman will remain behind bars for the next 14 days.

    The hearing was conducted by Judge Abdul Hasnat Zulqarnain at the Attock jail.

    PTI lawyers Barrister Salman Safdar, Latif Khosa, Umer Niazi, and Naeem Panjutha attended the hearing, while the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team was also present there.

    After that, the court extended the judicial remand of both leaders until October 10.

    The FIA booked both PTI Chairman and Vice Chairman last month for allegedly misusing a top secret document for political gain.

    “Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in the secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” reads the First Information Report (FIR) registered against the PTI leaders.

  • There is space for a new political party, says PMLN’s Khaqan Abbasi

    There is space for a new political party, says PMLN’s Khaqan Abbasi

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has criticised the performance of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, stating that there is a need for a new political party in the country.

    “The ability of quick decision making was not seen in the Shehbaz-led government as it should have been,” Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said while referring to the previous coalition government.

    The PML-N leader has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government didn’t take initiatives to give relief to the people of Pakistan. On the other hand, he also criticised the previous coalition government and his own party, PML-N, for not taking meaningful steps to resolve the issues Pakistan is facing.

    Due to the current situation of the country, there is space and a need for a new political party, he remarked.

    “The PDM government didn’t take the decisions that should have been taken,” he said.

    Abbasi stated that PTI chief Imran Khan didn’t spend a single penny on any substantial work during his whole tenure.

    The PML-N leader also observed that the decision of former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial regarding the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will be problematic for political leaders.

    “The little expectation I have from someone to deliver has ended after this decision,” he added.

  • Sanam Javed, three other women arrested again after release

    Sanam Javed, three other women arrested again after release

    Lahore Police has rearrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Sanam Javed and three other women on Tuesday after they were released from jail.

    The other three women have been identified as Afshan Tariq, Ashma Shuja and Shah Noor.

    The court had ordered their release on bail from Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore, in the May 9 Jinnah House attack case.

    According to the police, the women have been arrested in the second case related to the Jinnah House attack.

  • Why doesn’t Imran Khan want to be transferred to Adiala Jail?

    Why doesn’t Imran Khan want to be transferred to Adiala Jail?

    Journalists were left in confusion about the current location of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Monday when officials from Adiala jail denied Khan’s lawyers assertion that Imran had been shifted to their facility.

    A twist in the story has now propped up. According to journalist Saqib Bashir’s sources, Imran Khan has said during the jail hearing that he doesn’t want to be transferred to Adiala jail as he is comfortable in Attock Jail.

    The PTI chief further stated during the hearing that “I will request my lawyers to withdraw the application.

    On Monday, the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Justice Aamir Farooq, issued an order to shift the PTI chief from Attock to Adiala jail. The chief justice remarked that Imran Khan deserves a better class in jail as he is the former prime minister of Pakistan.

    His rights should not be violated, Justice Farooq stated.

  • Imran to be transferred from Attock jail to Adiala jail: High Court

    Imran to be transferred from Attock jail to Adiala jail: High Court

    The Chief Justice of Islamabad High (IHC), Justice Aamir Farooq, has issued orders to shift Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan from Attock jail to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, stating that the former prime minister deserves a better class in jail. His rights should not be violated, Justice Farooq stated.

    The chief justice also said that according to the law, under-trial prisoners of Islamabad should be kept in Adiala jail, asking why Imran Khan is being kept in Attock.

    Mentioning that Imran Khan was sent to Attock jail in the Toshakhana case, the Chief Justice pointed out that his sentence in the said case has been suspended.

    Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal told the court that Imran Khan was being kept in Attock jail in the cipher case.

    On the other hand, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Sher Afzal Marwat, has demanded an exercise machine for Imran Khan, saying that the PTI chief was a sportsman.

    Earlier, Attock jail’s superintendent refused to transfer Imran Khan to Adiala Jail due to security concerns.

  • Anti-corruption establishment arrests Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, from Airport

    Anti-corruption establishment arrests Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, from Airport

    The ex-husband of Bushra Bibi, Khawar Farid Manika, has been arrested at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on Monday.

    Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested Khawar Manika and handed him over to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE).

    The ex-husband of the former first lady was leaving for Dubai when FIA officials arrested him at the airport, as his name is on the Exit Control List (ECL). After that, ACE registered a case against him.

    Khawar Manika is known as a spiritual devotee of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar and is originally from Pakpatan. Manika has also served as an officer in the Custom Department.

    Maneka has three daughters and two sons with his ex-wife, Bushra Bibi.

  • Free and fair elections can be held without Imran, says PM Kakar

    Free and fair elections can be held without Imran, says PM Kakar

    Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, has said that free and fair elections can be held in the country without Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan who is currently incarcerated in Attock jail in the cipher case.

    “Free and fair elections can take place without [Imran] Khan or hundreds of members of his party who are jailed because they engaged in unlawful activities, including vandalism and arson,” said PM Kakar in an interview on Friday with The Associated Press.

    PM Kakar dismissed the possibility that the military establishment would manipulate the results to ensure that PTI doesn’t win as “absolutely absurd”.

    Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that elections would be held by the end of January next year.

    Kakar said that once the ECP sets an exact election date, the caretaker government “will provide all the assistance, financial, security or other related requirements”.

    Imran Khan faces multiple charges in court including May 9 riots when PTI workers clashed with police. Some of the PTI workers were involved in the violent protests and attacks on military installations in different cities of the country.

    PM Kakar also said that the arrested PTI workers are involved in violent protests, attacks on military installations, and other illegal activities.

    “Thousands of PTI activists who did not engage in unlawful activities can partake in the upcoming elections,” he added.

  • Khan ‘worried’ about change of judge in Zeba Chaudhry case, says Khan’s lawyer

    Khan ‘worried’ about change of judge in Zeba Chaudhry case, says Khan’s lawyer

    The legal team of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that the change of the judge hearing the Zeba Chaudhry case against Imran Khan is quite shocking for the former prime minister.

    “The PTI chairman was shocked and worried at the change of the judge hearing the Judge Zeba Chaudhry case,” said one of the PTI chief’s legal counsels, Salman Safdar, in a media talk outside the Attock jail after meeting his client.

    Justice Malik Aman should not have been changed at this critical time, the lawyer said, as he was going to announce the decision soon.

    Salman Safdar also said that the former prime minister apologised to Judge Zeba Chaudhry in her court for passing remarks against her in a public rally.

    In August last year, Imran Khan was booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act for threatening additional sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and other police officers of the Islamabad police in a public gathering.

  • Imran Khan’s lawyers and doctor can meet him in jail: Court

    Imran Khan’s lawyers and doctor can meet him in jail: Court

    Under the Official Secrets Act 1923, the Official Secret Act Court has allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to meet with his legal team and doctors on Thursday. Imran Khan was arrested in the cipher case and is currently in Attock jail.

    The Official Secrets Act Court decision came as Imran Khan’s attorney, Naeem Haider Panjutha, filed a petition on behalf of the former prime minister.

    Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain gave permission to the PTI chairman to meet with his legal team, including well-known lawyers Latif Khosa, Sameer Khosa, and Salman Akram Raja. Imran Khan can also meet with his doctor, Dr. Asim Yusuf, the court decided.

    Previously, the court allowed Imran Khan to talk to his sons via telephone in Attock jail.

    Official Secrets Act, 1923 is Pakistan’s Anti-Espionage Act and was enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to official secrets in the country.

  • May 9 attack; Imran Khan charged with ‘criminal conspiracy’

    May 9 attack; Imran Khan charged with ‘criminal conspiracy’

    The Punjab police have pressed charges of ‘criminal conspiracy’ against Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and all other suspects in May 9 cases across the province. Official sources have disclosed to Dawn that a total of 50 cases were registered, encompassing charges under anti-terrorism and other relevant laws. Among these, 14 cases were filed in various police stations in Lahore and Rawalpindi, while nine were recorded in Sargodha, seven in Sheikhupura, five in Faisalabad, and one in Gujranwala.

    Moreover, the Punjab police have recently added offenses under sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or aiding such efforts against Pakistan), 131 (abetting mutiny or attempting to influence a soldier, sailor, or airman from their duty), and 146 (rioting) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to the FIRs.

    Dr. Anoosh Masood Chaudhry, Lahore SSP (Investigation), while talking to the media, revealed that the police have also incorporated certain offenses/sections, including 34 and 120b of the PPC, into the May 9 cases.

    Section 34 reads: “Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention. When a criminal act is done by several persons, in furtherance of the common intention of all, each such person is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone.”

    Section 120b states: “Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term of two years or upwards, shall, where no express provision is made in this Code for the punishment of such a conspiracy, be punished in the same manner as if he had abetted such offence.”

    As per the Lahore police’s investigation, Dr. Chaudhry stated that there appears to be substantial evidence confirming incitement to mutiny and the planning of vandalism on May 9.

    Responding to a question regarding Imran Khan’s presence at the crime scene, she emphasized that it is immaterial whether he was physically there or not, as evidence suggests that he incited the suspects to carry out violent attacks on sensitive installations of the Pakistan Army.

    Dr. Chaudhry further noted that the prosecution and police are awaiting final reports from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) concerning videos and other evidence related to the planners and perpetrators of the May 9 incidents. She assured that all objections raised by the prosecution have been addressed, and the challans for the May 9 cases will be submitted to the courts of law after receiving reports from the FIA and Pemra.