Tag: Rana Sanaullah

  • ‘Imrani tolay ki jaali popularity aglay 3 mahinay mein apnay anjaam ko pohanchegi’: Rana Sanaullah

    ‘Imrani tolay ki jaali popularity aglay 3 mahinay mein apnay anjaam ko pohanchegi’: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in a press conference today predicted that the popularity of the “Imrani tola [Memebers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)]” will finish within the coming three months.

    Calling the PTI’s popularity fake, the minister said, “Government is trying to bring the country out of the economic crunch PTI left it in, and the fake popularity narrative that PTI claims to have will be shattered in a matter of three months.”

    Speaking about the Geneva Conference, Rana Sanaullah said that the world stands with Pakistan on the appeal of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, adding that Pakistan’s expectations have been fulfilled with the world helping the country beyond expectations.

    Declaring Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi and PTI Chairman Imran Khan responsible for the dollar hike, he said that these people bought dollars and smuggled them abroad.

  • ‘Establishment neither approached PML-N nor PTI for technocratic setup’: Rana Sanaullah

    ‘Establishment neither approached PML-N nor PTI for technocratic setup’: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said the that establishment neither approached the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nor the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in connection with a rumored technocratic setup that might be installed to govern the country.

    “Imran Khan makes up fresh stories every other day, however, no message regarding the technocratic setup was conveyed,” he stated.

    He said that the institution has pledged to the nation that it will remain apolitical. “From now on, whatever happens will be in line with the Constitution,” Sanaullah categorically said.

    Speaking to senior journalists in Lahore, Imran had stressed, “I don’t see elections happening now. There is hearsay about a technocratic government being brought forward,” he had told the media personnel in an informal talk.

    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had addressed the rumors, calling any such plan a “joke”. The former minister had said, “It is a joke to form a technocratic government for two and a half years after wrapping up this government and sending it home. Experimenting and playing jokes with Pakistan should come to an end now.”

    “You will bring ‘imported technocrats’ from the United States if the Shehbaz Sharif-led government is not functioning,” he added. “The solution to the country’s problems is holding elections.”

  • Pervaiz Elahi no longer Punjab CM after skipping confidence vote says Rana Sanaullah

    Pervaiz Elahi no longer Punjab CM after skipping confidence vote says Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that constitutionally Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervaiz Elahi is no longer the Chief Minister of Punjab.

    “The Governor of Punjab had asked the Chief Minister to take a vote of confidence by yesterday, but he did not take it, so according to the constitution, Pervaiz Elahi is no longer the chief minister,” said Sanaullah.

    Governor Punjab Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman directed Chief Minister Elahi to obtain a vote of confidence from the house on December 21.

    Sanaullah said that Governor Rehman is using his powers under the Constitution, adding that whenever he issues the orders [of de-notifying Elahi as chief minister], they will be implemented.

    “The governor’s order de-notifying Elahi as the chief minister is now just a formality,” he said. “I think it will be issued today.”

    The minister also said that Elahi cannot advise dissolving the assembly now, terming it “illegal and unconstitutional” and against the rules of the assembly.

    “If this constitutional decision is resisted and its implementation is stopped, the governor can write to the federal government,” Sanaullah said. “After the cabinet’s approval, the federal government can send his advice to the president to approve the imposition of governor’s rule in the province.”

    The interior minister asserted that the president is bound to follow the advice of the prime minister.

    “The second option we have is that parliament can pass a resolution and then governor’s rule will be imposed for two months,” he added. “After two months, another resolution can be passed and the governor’s rule can be extended for six months.”

  • India behind Johar Town bomb blast in Lahore: Rana Sanaullah

    India behind Johar Town bomb blast in Lahore: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has revealed that India was behind the Johar Town blast in Lahore— a powerful blast in 2021 near the residence of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, which resulted in three deaths.

    He held a joint press conference on Tuesday with Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Additional Inspector General Imran Mehmood, during which he said that there is “clear evidence” of India carrying out terrorist activities in Pakistan.

    The minister further added that India’s footprints are seen in all terror activities carried out in Pakistan and New Delhi’s activities have gone “beyond that of an enemy state” just to hide its atrocities in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

    He said that Pakistan will raise this matter before the world. The minister also mentioned that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had support from the foreign intelligence agency of India, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), to carry out terrorist activities in Pakistan.

    Mehmood also briefly explained who were the culprits behind the Johar Town blast.

    He said that in the initial 24 hours, CTD arrested three terrorists. However, Sami ul Haq — the main handler of RAW-sponsored terror activities in Pakistan — was arrested a year later in April when he was trying to enter Pakistan via Balochistan

    According to Mehmood, his Red Warrants were issued through Interpol. Mehmood added that his brother-in-law, Uzair Akbar, assisted Sami in terror activities and his Red Warrants were issued as well. CTD also got information about Naveed Akhtar — who did the surveillance and selected the target.

    “We also found out that close to a million dollars of terror financing was done through India to spread terrorism in Pakistan through different channels,” he revealed, adding that all the arrested persons have been sentenced to death three times by the court.

    Prior to this, days after the incident, the then information minister Fawad Chaudhry and National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf said that the mastermind of the attack was “an Indian citizen and he is associated with RAW”.

  • Rana Sanaullah acquitted in narcotics case by Lahore court

    Rana Sanaullah acquitted in narcotics case by Lahore court

    A special court in Lahore on Saturday acquitted Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in a narcotics case filed against him during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s tenure.

    In his plea filed today, Sanaullah argued that the case against him was “concocted, devised and fabricated”.

    The minister urged the court to acquit him of the charge “in the interest of justice, equity and fair play”.

    Sanaullah was arrested in 2019 by the Anti-Narcotics Force’s (ANF) Lahore team while he was travelling from Faisalabad to Lahore.

    The ANF claimed to have seized 15 kilogrammes of heroin from his vehicle. A special team of the force had also arrested five others, including the driver and security guards of the PML-N leader.

    He was twice denied bail by the trial court, however, the Lahore High Court ordered his release on December 24, 2019.

  • Sanaullah says Azam Swati ‘maligned’ army, judiciary, not govt

    Sanaullah says Azam Swati ‘maligned’ army, judiciary, not govt

    Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanauallah has said that the cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati were a part of “political revenge”, adding that Swati did target the army and judiciary but not the government.

    Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the Minister said that the government has got nothing to do with the cases against Swati.

    “If we wanted to frame [PTI leaders] in court cases or treat them the way they treated us, we would have had them charged with the possession of heroin,” he said, referring to the case made against him under the PTI government.

    Sanaullah added that cases are being filed against them in accordance with the law. “Recently, the Balochistan High Court (BHC) cancelled cases against Azam Swati. On the other hand, we have fought our cases for years,” he said.

  • TTP terror activities should be concerning for Afghan Taliban says Rana Sanaullah

    TTP terror activities should be concerning for Afghan Taliban says Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanullah has said that the involvement of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) militants in terror activities inside Pakistan should be a matter of concern for the Afghan Taliban as it is dangerous for regional peace.

    Addressing a press conference, Rana Sanaullah said that the rise in terror activities is alarming but the situation is not out of control.

    “TTP is enjoying all sorts of facilities in Afghanistan,” the minister said, a day after the banned outfit claimed an attack in Quetta in which a policeman, a woman, and two children were killed, while 26 people, including 23 cops and two children, were injured. Sanaullah has also asked the provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to address terrorism before the federal government takes the matter in its hands.

    Police have said that a truck of Frontier Constabulary (FC) was targeted in the Quetta explosion. Injured cops and civilians were rushed to a nearby hospital.

    Emergency responders and police rushed to the scene to provide rescue assistance. Police confirmed that 16 members of Balochistan constabulary also suffered multiple injuries.

    TTP has claimed the attack. This is the third attack by the militant organisation since they announced an end to ceasefire on Monday.

  • ‘Come back to the parliament for Pakistan’s progress’: Sanaullah tells Khan

    ‘Come back to the parliament for Pakistan’s progress’: Sanaullah tells Khan

    Interior Minister Rana Sanullah has asked Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to come back to the parliament so that the “country can move forward”.

    “If you don’t do this, you will be responsible for everything including inflation, economic turmoil and political turmoil. Stop being stubborn and come do politics instead,” he asserted at a press conference on Friday in Islamabad.

    Sanaullah also said that when politicians sit together, deadlocks are broken and decisions are changed.

    “I’ve seen my leaders amend their decisions after arguments and discussions,” he remarked, in what was seen as a government effort to offer an olive branch to Imran Khan.

    ‘There is a threat’: Sanaullah advises Khan to postpone long march headed to Rawalpindi on Nov 26

    Sanullah also advised Khan to postpone his party’s long march in Rawalpindi on November 26 (Friday).

    “Imran Khan should have delayed this march but he is stubborn and still wants to come to Rawalpindi.

    “I reviewed a meeting and all intelligence agencies have alerted me that any terrorist outfit can take advantage of this march. There is a threat to Imran himself,” he told the members of the press.

    Khan won’t get an election date from Rawalpindi: Sanaullah

    Sanaullah also stressed that Khan won’t get a date for fresh elections from Rawalpindi, where the General Headquarters of the armed forces is located.

    “I want to tell Imran Khan sahab that there is no purpose for this long march now. You say that you are coming to Rawalpindi for an election date. Imran Khan, you won’t get a date for elections now. The establishment won’t give you an election date […] if someone had to give in to your blackmailing, you would have a date […] but the establishment as an institution is standing firm on the decision that it won’t step out of its constitutional role,” Sanaullah emphasized.

    He further said that if Imran wanted a date for elections he should “become a politician” and meet his political opponents. “Meet Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Akhtar Mengal, Khalid Magsi, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui […] discuss the elections with them […] you can even meet Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, they won’t refuse,” he advised the former Prime Minister.

  • Risk of violence in PTI long march, police tells IHC

    Risk of violence in PTI long march, police tells IHC

    There is a risk of violence during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march, the federal police stated in a report submitted to Islamabad High Court (IHC).

    Citing PTI leader Amin Ali Gandapur, the report says, “He has threatened that they [protesters] will gather at Islamabad with arms and persuaded its [PTI] workers to bring their weapons during the long march at Islamabad”.

    Moreover, it stated that some PTI leaders had extended death threats to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and PTI chief Imran Khan has admitted that some of his supporters were armed with pistols during the party’s May 25 march.

    The report alleged PTI workers usually participated in the march on vehicles, motorcycles and cranes and “spread terror amongst the public”.

    The police, in its report, also detailed precautionary measures taken by them ahead of the long march, including ensuring that no procession or activity by a political party was allowed into the Red Zone, the extension of Red Zone, imposition of Section 144 in the capital and a ban on displaying, carrying or bringing firearms in the Red Zone.

    Currently, the PTI is marching toward the capital and has sought approval from the authorities to stage a protest/sit-in there.

  • Name of new COAS will be revealed by Tuesday or Wednesday, says Khawaja Asif

    Name of new COAS will be revealed by Tuesday or Wednesday, says Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that the name of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will be revealed by Tuesday or Wednesday.

    Discussing the all-important appointment on Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath”, the defence minister said that the process to appoint a new head of the armed forces would start on Monday.

    During the show, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said that the change of command ceremony would be held on November 29. He also predicted that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march would suffer a severe blow the day the appointment decision was finalised.

    COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the incumbent army chief, is set to retire later this month. On multiple instances, he has ruled out an extension in his tenure — and so has the military.

    Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said the matter of the next army chief’s appointment would be settled in a day or two.

    “I believe the Prime Minister has completed this process (of consultation) and will bring it to paper, today or tomorrow or the next two days, [it] takes no time,” he said.

    “I will also request you that this is a matter of a day or two so don’t ask questions which can lead to unnecessary speculation,” he said, adding that “there is not a lot of time left to this decision and it will come before you.”