Tag: PTI

  • No one can arrest Imran till Monday, says Islamabad High Court

    No one can arrest Imran till Monday, says Islamabad High Court

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan can’t be arrested till Monday morning.

    Reportedly, Khan has been granted bail in all cases which were under the high court.

    As there is a possibility that Khan can be arrested again, he has decided not to step out of court without a written order.

    SC releases Imran but to be produced before Islamabad High Court tomorrow

    On Thursday, the top court declared Khan’s arrest “illegal” and ask for his immediate release from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) custody.

    The court also demanded that Khan should be produced before the court, then gave their verdict. The top court bench also directed Khan to present himself before IHC on Friday till then he can stay in Police Lines Guesthouse.

    Khan also made some statements, he alleged that he was hit with sticks and was abducted like a terrorist.

    He also said that he was under arrest and does not want unrest in the country. According to him, he was also unaware of the violent protests that were going on in support of him.

    After the SC verdict in Khan’s favour, PTI called off protests in various cities.

    Following are the remarks made by SC judges when they heard Khan’s plea against his arrest:

    “The NAB authorities and the ICT Police shall ensure foolproof security to the petitioner [Imran} until his production in the Islamabad High Court in this regard,” the court order stated.

    “Whilst the petitioner is in the Police Guest House, he shall be entitled to meet up to 10 guests. These persons shall be allowed to stay with the petitioner as long as desired by him”, court said.

    Before Khan’s appearance before the top court, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that NAB had committed “contempt of court”. “They should have taken permission from the court’s registrar before the arrest. Court staffers were also subjected to abuse,” he added.

    He emphasised that courts should be accessible to everyone for relief and that individuals should feel safe to approach the courts.

    “No one can be arrested from the Supreme Court, a high court or an accountability court,” the CJP noted

    Marriyum Aurangzeb says Supreme Court for providing ‘relief’ to Imran

    Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb censured the Supreme Court for providing “relief” to Imran.

    “The SC is giving relief to a criminal, a terrorist, a gangster who leads armed groups,” said Aurangzeb.

    “If courts support armed groups, encourage them, then similar relief should be given to all people,” said Marriyum.

    “Real contempt of court happens when the country’s courts become shelters for armed groups and terrorists,” she added.

  • ‘We do not have much time to waste anymore’: Najam Sethi asks ACC to decide

    ‘We do not have much time to waste anymore’: Najam Sethi asks ACC to decide

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi has disclosed the crux of his recent meeting with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials and the official broadcaster of Asia Cup 2023.

    In BBC’s podcast ‘Stumped’, PCB Chairman Najam Sethi said that they had proposed a Hybrid Model a month ago to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in which India will play their matches outside Pakistan and the rest of the teams will play their matches in Pakistan. “If India and Pakistan will meet in the final, we will play it at the neutral venue,” he said.

    BCCI secretary and ACC Chairman Jay Shah rejected the proposal by raising questions about logistics.

    “We have made it clear to them that it is we who decide where India can play their matches. If Sri Lanka suits us, we will choose Sri Lanka, but most probably we are prioritizing Dubai. First they have to consider and accept Hybrid Model then further talks begin,” Najam Sethi elaborated.

    That sounds negotiable, the Podcast host said.

    The PCB Chairman then said that they have proposed a revised version of ‘hybrid model’ in the recent meeting held twos days ago with ACC officials, in which the first four matches will be played in Pakistan and then the whole tournament will be shifted to Dubai.

    The ACC then raised a question about the possiblity of travel between two countries with all the crew and equipment.
    Sethi clarified that the teams have to come Pakistan just once.

    The podcaster asked Sethi how long it will take to negotiate, to which he replied, “Look, we only have three months left and we have to prepare. We have to selects the venues, we have to do arrangements for broadcasters. ACC have already wasted too much time, time is running out. ACC have to take a decision now”

    Najam Sethi also said that the World Cup is coming up, and if India does not come to Pakistan, our government will not allow Pakistan to travel to India.

    “If they don’t, why would we? Security risks are on both side,” Sethi concluded.

  • PTI leaders who have been arrested so far

    PTI leaders who have been arrested so far

    After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest from Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday, authorities have not spared his party members either.

    Following is the list of all leaders of the former ruling party who have been arrested so far:

    1- Asad Umar

    On Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar was arrested from the premises of the IHC — the same court from where his chief was taken into custody.

    According to eyewitnesses, PTI lawyers fought with the police to prevent Umar’s arrest, but the law enforcers overpowered them and took the PTI leader away. He was booked in two cases registered against him and other PTI leaders following the protests that ensued after Khan’s arrest.

    2- Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    On Thursday morning, PTI senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi was arrested for “inciting violent protests” after Khan’s arrest.

    PTI also shared a video of Qureshi’s arrest. The party claimed that the ex-foreign minister had been taken to an undisclosed location.

    3- Fawad Chaudhry

    Chaudhry was finally apprehended by the police as he emerged from the Supreme Court building late on Wednesday night, where he had sought refuge for over 12 hours in an attempt to evade his impending arrest.

    4- Omar Cheema

    Former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema was arrested on Wednesday during a raid at his house by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab.

    5- Aliya Hamza

    According to ARY News, former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Aliya Hamza Malik was arrested in Islamabad from her residence on Wednesday.

    6- Maleeka Bokhari

    According to reports, authorities have picked up former MNA Maleeka from Islamabad

    Other than this, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Falaknaz Chitrali and Musarrat Jamshed Cheema have been arrested so far.

    7- Ejaz Chaudhry

    Senator got arrested on Thursday after Khan’s arrest.

    8- Ali Muhammad Khan

    On Thursday, Ali Muhummad Khan got arrested.

    9- Shireen Mazari

    In the early hours of Friday, the former human rights minister was arrested from her home in Islamabad. According to reports, she has been taken to Adiala Jail.

    10- Dr Yasmin Rashid

    Similarly, around the same time, the former provincial minister was arrested from Lahore. Her whereabouts are unknown.

    This is a developing story as it is feared that more leaders may get arrested soon.

  • Big victory for PTI: SC declares IK’s arrest Illegal

    Big victory for PTI: SC declares IK’s arrest Illegal

    SC declares IK’s arrest Illegal

    Supreme Court has declared Khan’s arrest “illegal” and ordered the authorities to release him immediately.

    Supreme Court will hear Imran Khan’s plea against arrest at 2pm

    In an unexpected development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from inside Islamabad High Court (IHC) by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday.

    Supreme Court will hear Imran Khan’s plea against arrest at 2pm:

    A three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench will hear PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s plea against his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case at 2pm.

    The bench will comprise Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah.

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi Arrest:

    PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi has been arrested in Islamabad and moved to an undisclosed location, according to the party.

    Fawad Chaudhry was arrested late last night and Asad Umar is already in custody.

    PM’s address to the nation:

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in an address to the nation on Thursday termed damaging public property an “act of terrorism” and “enmity” towards the country.

    In a short address, the premier said that he would like to warn “terrorists” who are harming the country to stop, otherwise strict actions will be taken against them.

    Any further attack on the army, state will result in a strong reaction: ISPR

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said on Wednesday that the institution will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands.

    In a harshly worded statement, the army’s media wing said that Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court “in line with the NAB statement and law”.

    “Immediately after this arrest, attacks were perpetrated on the army’s properties and installations anti-army slogans were raised,” it added.

    The statement also warned that, “Any further attack on the army and state will result in an extreme reaction.”

    ISPR also said that May 9 will be remembered as a “black chapter”

    Khan to stay with NAB for 8 days:

    NAB has gotten physical remand of PTI Chairman Imran Khan for eight days in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

    Army enters Punjab with govt permission:

    The Punjab Home Department has given permission to the Pakistan army to maintain law and order across the province amid civil unrest.

    Currently, internet service is suspended and protests are being carried out to show support for Imran Khan who was arrested from the premises of Islamabad High Court yesterday.

    NAB requests 14-day physical remand of Imran Khan:

    National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has requested physical remand of Imran Khan, Chairman of PTI, in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

    Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar heard the Al-Qadir Trust case against Imran Khan at New Guest House, Police Line.

    During the hearing, the NAB prosecutor asked the court for a 14-day physical remand of Imran Khan.

    Asad Umar arrested:

    Asad Umar and Shah Mahmood Qureshi went to the Islamabad High Court to submit a petition pleading to meet Imran Khan.
    He has been arrested by Anti-Terrorist squad of Islamabad Police.

    PML-N Secretariat office in Model Town in flames:

    The protests against Imran Khan’s arrest have turned violent as the PML-N Model Town secretariat in Lahore has been set on fire by protesters.
    According to reports, a violent mob is heading to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s personal residence in Lahore.

    PTI to challenge Khan’s arrest in Supreme Court: Fawad Ch

    Fawad Chaudhry has said that PTI will challenge Imran Khan’s arrest in the Supreme Court in the morning.

    In his tweet, senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry labelled Khan’s arrest “illegal”.

    Twitter down in Pakistan:

    Amid the protest across the country in support of Khan, many mobile services have been suspended and now Twitter is also not working.

    Punjab Government imposes section 144

    The Punjab government has enforced Section 144 throughout the province amid the protest happening against the arrest of Imran Khan.

    The Home Department has released a notice stating that Rangers have been called in to aid the police in managing the situation.

    Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi in a tweet said that the government will not spare anyone involved in attack on the state of Pakistan.

    Rana Sanaullah’s press conference:

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed Khan’s arrest by NAB, adding that there are “dozens” of other cases with corruption inquiries in progress against the former premier.

    “Look at this person’s hypocrisy that when he was making false corruption cases against people, he himself was [involved] in such disgusting corruption,” he said.

    The interior minister said evidence is present for all of the above developments.

    Protests by Khan’s loyalists:

    Later, protests started across the country and several roads are blocked.

    Rangers and Khan:

    Around 3pm, Khan was arrested. Here is a video of Khan being pushed by rangers as they arrest him in Islamabad.

    Moments before arrest:

    Following is the video of Khan before his arrest.

    PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that the party wanted the IHC to form a full court to hear the case. However, no action has been taken so far by the court.

    PTI leaders reaction

    Following are the tweets by PTI leaders who strongly condemned the arrest of their chief and urged people to come out of the street.

  • Imran Khan arrest kyun huvay hain?

    Imran Khan arrest kyun huvay hain?

    In an unexpected development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has been arrested from inside Islamabad High Court (IHC) by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) today (Tuesday).

    NAB bought arrest warrants with them, which were issued by the accountability watchdog’s Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt on May 1. As per details, Khan was taken into custody under Section 9A of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999. 

    According to Islamabad police, Imran has been arrested in a case in which Bahria Town allegedly gave land worth Rs530 million to Khan and Bushra Bibi’s Al-Qadir Trust in return for a settlement.

    What is the Al-Qadir Trust case?

    In 2019, more than £190m of assets were seized from Malik Riaz by National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK.

    Later, NCA returned this amount to Pakistan’s national treasury, however, the Khan-led cabinet of the time decided to submit millions of pounds to Supreme Court on behalf of Malik Riaz.

    A few weeks later, the Al-Qadir Trust was founded by Khan, Bushra Bibi, Zulfi Bukhari, and Babar Awan. Malik allotted 458 kanals to them to establish a university that apparently has only 35 students.

    However, according to senior journalist Kamran Khan, the former Prime Minister (PM) was arrested for making accusations against the top brass in the army including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.

    Earlier, Khan made serious allegations that General Faisal Naseer plotted his assassination. Later, when Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) condemned his words, he said that he can prove that ISI took over the judicial complex in Islamabad to murder him.

  • Asad Umar suggests that Asim Munir and Khan should be locked in one room so they can talk

    Asad Umar suggests that Asim Munir and Khan should be locked in one room so they can talk

    Senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Asad Umar has suggested that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and his party’s chief Imran Khan should have a one-on-one discussion in a room and that room should be locked so they can sort out the matter alone.

    Speaking on Meher Bokhari’s show on ARY News: Khabar, Umar said that an open discussion should take place and whatever reservations they have for each other, should be placed on the table.

    He also noted that it is possible that there are some actors who are trying to create distance between Imran and General Munir.

    When asked about Khan’s recent allegations against General Faisal Naseer, Umar admitted Khan has serious reservations about him, however, he doesn’t have a problem with the establishment.

    It is pertinent to mention that Khan’s repeated criticism of the establishment has created barriers for him to now amend his relations with the institution.

    Last week Khan levelled serious allegations that General Faisal had plotted his assassination attempt. He also alleged that he is behind journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder and Swati’s custodial torture.

  • Bye bye Buzdar? Elahi says Khan has promised him the CM seat

    Bye bye Buzdar? Elahi says Khan has promised him the CM seat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Pervaiz Elahi has claimed that party chief Imran Khan has “promised” to give him the chief minister’s post once again if their party wins the election in Punjab.

    Discussing the current political crisis, Elahi said that when he agreed to dissolve the assembly, Khan offered him the post of the central president of the party and promised him that he or his son Moonis Elahi would be the next CM of the province.

    When asked that Imran has said that Punjab dissolution took place on former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s directives, Elahi said that he had “no discussion with him over this issue.”

    He clarfied that PTI respects the real establishment, however, there are some intruders, so the party cannot side with them.

    He admitted that Khan’s fight was with Bajwa, adding that now that the former army chief is gone, new people had come in, so Khan doesn’t want more fights.

    About the raid at his homes in Lahore and Gujrat last week, the PTI leader chose not to name who he thinks are responsible, saying “Everyone knows who they are”.

    Last month, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry said that the senior leadership of the party, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Hammad Azhar, and himself didn’t get party tickets for the upcoming Punjab election although it was widely speculated that they wanted one for the CM seat. Meanwhile, both former CMs of Punjab, Pervaiz Elahi and Usman Buzdar were given a ticket.

  • Oops! Imran will be formally charged in Toshakhana case next week

    Oops! Imran will be formally charged in Toshakhana case next week

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will be inducted in the Toshakhana case on May 10 (Wednesday), a judge of the Islamabad District and Sessions Courts Additional Sessions decided on Friday.

    The court also summoned Khan on May 10 to appear in person before the court, rejecting both applications by Imran Khan while giving a verdict in favour of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    PTI’s lawyers argued that the court can’t directly hear the Toshakhana case. However, the verdict was served.

    Recently, Khan got an extension in bail from Islamabad High Court (IHC) in multiple cases.

    Toshakhana has been at the center of a political storm since 2021 when Khan was accused of hiding details of state gifts he received during his tenure. A case and an investigation pertaining to the same are currently going on.

    Last year, ECP disqualified the PTI chief as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) in the case after he was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).

  • Supreme court will take action if govt and PTI don’t reach consensus: Chief Justice

    During today’s proceedings, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said that the Supreme Court (SC) would not “sit idle” on its order on holding elections in Punjab on May 14 if the talks between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) failed.

    A three-member bench headed by CJ Bandial, comprising Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, heard the case

    In the hearing, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawyer Farooq H Naek said that while the ruling alliance had agreed to dissolve the National Assembly in August, “more time is needed for negotiations.”

    CJP remarked that the court is not interested in the PTI-government dialogue, however, the court has left the matter to the political parties.

    Farooq H Naik assured the apex court that problems will be solved.

    After conducting a hearing that lasted nearly two hours, the proceeding was adjourned, with the CJP saying that an appropriate order will be issued.

    Post the negotiations, the PTI submitted a report to the court stating that no resolution was reached and requested that the court enforce its April 4 order regarding elections in Punjab.

    Earlier, rounds of talks took place between the ruling alliance and the PTI, with both sides agreeing on having elections on the same date. However, the date itself became a bone of contention.

  • Islamabad High Court provides relief to Khan, extends bail

    Islamabad High Court provides relief to Khan, extends bail

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday approved an extension in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s bail in nine different cases.

    The former Prime Minister appeared before the court after travelling from Lahore to Islamabad amid tight security as a warning from the court of bail revocation over his continuous absence loomed ahead.

    Khan entered the court in a wheelchair. On the previous day, his doctors had advised him to bed rest, citing insufficient healing of his injured leg.

    Earlier in the day, the PTI chief revealed in a video message that he was the target of a second murder attempt on March 18 in the judicial complex in Islamabad.

    In a video message, the former Prime Minister said, “If anything happenes to me, I believe Dirty Harry and his gang will be responsible,” adding that he is not under threat by an outside enemy.