Tag: Salman Akram Raja

  • Fawad Ch’s wife shuts up PTI’s Falak Javaid for dig at husband

    Fawad Ch’s wife shuts up PTI’s Falak Javaid for dig at husband

    A heated exchange of words occurred between Hiba Fawad Chaudhry, wife of former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker Falak Javaid Khan on X (formerly Twitter).

    The fiery exchange followed Chaudhary Fawad Hussain taking to X (formerly Twitter) to write: “What kind of leadership is this? Iss se acha tu establishment koi subedari officialy laga de.”

    “Salman Akram Raja has been Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer from Panama until now. Who are the rest of these people?” Fawad Chaudhry asked, “The establishment has put us in jails and imposed its representatives on the party. As long as Imran Khan is in jail, they have a political life; when Imran Khan comes out from behind bars, they won’t even be visible.”

    Responding to the post, Falak Javaid Khan critically replied, “Salman Akram Raja didn’t walk away like you; instead, he stood firm at a hard time, it’s our party matter, we’ll see to it, aap niklain shabash.”

    Hussain’s wife Hiba Fawad Chaudhary, couldn’t hold back her anger and replied on X (formerly Twitter):

    “Stop your nonsense and appear before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), stay within your limit, Jummah Jummah aath din huway nahi.”

    Meanwhile, in another post on X, Fawad Hussain accused Salman Akram Raja of making a fake money trail for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2017, adding, “Those who facilitated the hiding of Nawaz Sharif’s multi-billion assets in Panama have now been imposed on Tehreek-e-Insaaf.”

    Sharing a Dawn News previous report titled “Sharif family expresses full confidence on legal team” Ch Fawad Hussain wrote, “Politics ma raastay judaa hu saktay hain laiken jab ap jurram chupanay main madadgar hu aur Pakistan kay billions kay assets halaal karwa dain, kiya aap ko muaaf kiya jana chahiye.”

    This development indicated the rift and clear divide between Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership.

    Earlier, Senator Faisal Vawda pointed out the formation of a forward bloc in PTI and disclosed that party members were not happy with the appointment of a forward bloc leader.

  • X finds Salman Akram Raja’s past remarks on judiciary’s seniority principle

    X finds Salman Akram Raja’s past remarks on judiciary’s seniority principle

    The coalition government successfully passed the controversial 26th constitutional amendment, aimed at judicial reforms, yesterday, which has been deemed as the “bleakest moment in our parliamentary history” by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Salman Akram Raja.

    The lawyer posted on X on October 20, “The bleakest moment in our parliamentary history is underway. A contrived body that should protect the basic constitutional value of an independent judiciary is about to hand over control of a suppressed judiciary to the executive effectively – Estab. Just 1 senator could save us.”

    While Raja has called the amendments a move to “suppress judiciary”, netizens refuse to forget the PTI leader’s past opinions about the judicial system.

    One social media user posted Salman’s tweets from 2021, in which he criticises the seniority principle in the elevation of judges of the top judiciary – a principle which has been amended through the 26th constitutional amendment.

    In August 2021, Salman wrote, “I have always maintained, including in our exchanges in the press, that the issue is the credibility of those making the appointments, not seniority as a principle per se. Seniority is in fact no principle at all. But credibility is key. Each appointment needs examination by the bar.”

    He also wrote: “Democracy is about interrogating power. The adoption of mindless seniority that stifles debate is acceptance of defeat. The credibility of those appointing is the key issue. Credibility is earned, doesn’t come with high office.”

    Furthermore, in a Twitter debate about judicial appointments back in 2021, the PTI leader emphasised that “seniority stunts the system.”

    Now, PTI strongly opposed the constitutional amendments and refused to vote in favour of the bill in parliament. The bill, containing 22 clauses, was presented by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar in the Senate, where it secured 65 votes, a two-thirds majority in the Upper House.

    The 26th Constitutional Amendment bill was tabled at the National Assembly following approval from the Upper House and passed with a two-thirds majority as 225 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill in NA, while the magic number in the Lower House was 224 votes.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council’s 12-member National Assembly (MNA) opposed the Constitutional Amendments In the National Assembly.

    “225 members cast their votes for ayes, 12 for nos. Consequently, the bill is passed by the assembly by not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the assembly,” the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, said.

    Following the passage of the bill from the NA, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remarked, “Today’s amendment, the 26th, is not just an amendment, but an example of national solidarity and consensus. A new sun will rise, emanating across the nation.”

  • Did ARY News take Kashif Abbasi’s show off air mid-transmission?

    Did ARY News take Kashif Abbasi’s show off air mid-transmission?

    Kashif Abbasi, a prominent journalist at ARY News, was conducting his political talk show, which airs from 8 PM – 9 PM, when it was allegedly taken off air mid-transmission around 8:42 PM on May 7.

    The guests in the program were Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) senior leader Mian Javed Latif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Salman Akram Raja.

    When the show was taken off air, Raja and the journalist were discussing the recent press briefing by DG ISPR and the events of May 9.

    Kashif Abbasi emphasised that the press briefing had made it clear that the ‘military was not ready for any talks with PTI’ and remarked “PTI needs to decide whether they want to hold dialogue with political parties or not.”

    After this, the show was taken off air. The part that did air is available on YouTube.

    Social media reactions were mostly critical of the show being taken off the air.

  • ‘PTI will continue protests till restoration of mandate,’ Latif Khosa

    ‘PTI will continue protests till restoration of mandate,’ Latif Khosa

    Dozens of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers were reportedly arrested in Lahore amidst allegations of violent protests, prompting PTI leader Latif Khosa to vow continued demonstrations until their “mandate” is recognized.

    Speaking to the media in Lahore, Khosa emphasized the party’s singular demand for an audit of election results, stating that the government must address this issue before progress can be made.

    Khosa also called for the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, leaders, especially female leaders, and workers, asserting that the party will persist in its protests to defend the people’s right to self-governance and elect their representatives.
    “I will register an FIR against them for kidnapping. We’ll see how this government can run,” he said referring to police’s arrest of PTI workers as abduction.

    He asked the police to tell on whose order they were carrying out action against the political activists.
    Khosa revealed his own experience at the police station where he was detained for six hours, highlighting that although he wasn’t mistreated, he asserted his immunity as a sitting MNA against arrest without permission from the National Assembly speaker.

    Regarding the charges against PTI’s Salman Akram Raja for blocking roads, Khosa insisted that their protest was peaceful and demanded surveillance camera footage to verify if arteries were indeed obstructed.

    Earlier, around 40 PTI leaders and workers were booked under serious charges including terrorism, abduction, interference in public affairs, and harassment, following protests on Mall Road in Lahore against alleged election rigging.

    The FIR alleged that PTI leader Hafiz Farhat Abbas incited activists to damage public property and that Abbas, along with others, opened fire and assaulted a police constable.

    It claimed that PTI leader Hafiz Farhat Abbas incited the party activists to damage public properties. Henceforth, they damaged a government vehicle too, it added.

    Abbas along with four to five other unidentified persons opened fire and manhandled a police constable tearing his uniform, the FIR said adding police detained the PTI leader and recovered a pistol from him. The FIR mentioned that batons and clubs were recovered from 42 suspects arrested by police.

    Meanwhile, several PTI leaders, including Latif Khosa and Salman Akram Raja, were taken into custody during police actions in various cities as the party staged nationwide protests against alleged election manipulation and theft of its mandate in the recent elections.

    PTI supporters rallied in cities like Rawalpindi, Karachi, Kandhkot, and Tank, responding to the party’s call for demonstrations against what they perceive as electoral malpractice.

  • Latif Khosa, Salman Akram Raja, and PTI workers arrested for protests against election ‘rigging’

    Latif Khosa, Salman Akram Raja, and PTI workers arrested for protests against election ‘rigging’

    Several leaders and workers belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including prominent figures such as Latif Khosa and Salman Akram Raja, were apprehended by authorities during widespread demonstrations across various cities in Pakistan. The protests, organized by the erstwhile ruling party on Sunday, were in response to alleged rigging in the recently held general elections on February 8.

    PTI supporters and activists took to the streets in nearly every corner of the country, staging rallies and protests in cities like Rawalpindi, Karachi, Kandhkot, Tank, and others. The demonstrations were fueled by PTI’s assertions of election result manipulation and the purported theft of the party’s mandate.

    In Lahore, a heavy police presence was deployed, resulting in the arrest of several PTI workers at GPO Chowk. Notably, PTI-backed Punjab Assembly lawmakers Hafiz Farhat Abbas and Mian Haroon Akbar were among those detained. Furthermore, PTI leaders Latif Khosa and Salman Akram Raja faced arrest in the city.

    Similar scenes unfolded in Multan, where Zahid Hashmi and Qasim Hashmi, both holding PTI tickets, were taken into custody. Meanwhile, in Karachi, security forces were stationed outside the Korangi Deputy Commissioner’s office in anticipation of PTI protests.

    In Rawalpindi, tensions escalated as PTI demonstrators clashed with paramilitary forces, following the prevention of a rally led by Seemabia Tahir from entering the city via the Khanna Pul route. Though some PTI workers were apprehended, Tahir managed to secure their release later on.

    Meanwhile, protests erupted in various other cities including Faisalabad, Vehari, Khushab, Islamabad, Multan, and Gujranwala.

    Addressing a mass rally in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur accused conspirators of attempting to overthrow their government in 2022. He demanded a judicial commission, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, to investigate alleged electoral malpractice.
    “According to Form 45s, the PTI has won the general elections”, the KP chief minister claimed and demanded a judicial commission to probe the result tempering.
    Moving on to the reserved seats dilemma, Gandapur said that distributing PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) reserved seats for minorities and women among other political parties was illegal and unconstitutional.

    Despite the arrests and legal challenges, PTI Senator Faisal Javed expressed confidence in the party’s resilience and the eventual release of its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan.
    PTI Senator Faisal Javed lauded the sacrifices and services of his party’s incarcerated founder and said: “Imran Khan did not disappoint the nation and the party.”
    The weather would change soon and Khan would be released, he hoped.
    “The nation has rejected “Form 47 government,” the PTI leader said and demanded that public mandate should be restored.

  • PTI leader Salman Akram Raja arrested in Lahore

    PTI leader Salman Akram Raja arrested in Lahore

    Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) leader and lawyer Salman Akram Raja has been arrested by the police near PTI’s Jail Road office, for participating in the party’s call for nationwide protest against electoral rigging. Salman participated as a PTI backed independent candidate in general elections

    “They’re arrested me illegally, and I’m with the public, we will continue raising my voice for truth” he said while being arrested

    PTI yesterday had called for nationwide protests against electoral rigging.

  • Salman Akram Raja’s request to show party affiliation rejected

    Salman Akram Raja’s request to show party affiliation rejected

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected the application of independent candidate Salman Akram Raja to declare his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Form 33, reports Geo.

    ECP passed a reserved decision on Salman Akram Raja’s request to declare his party on Form 33.

    Election Commission Deputy Director Law Saima Janjua announced the verdict.

    The Commission has said in its decision that Salman Akram Raja has been given the symbol of an independent candidate, but the party he belongs to cannot be given one.

  • Kaala coat in Karachi; PTI favours lawyers for general elections  

    Kaala coat in Karachi; PTI favours lawyers for general elections  

    Pakistan Teheek-e-Insaf (PTI) has issued tickets to more than a dozen lawyers in Karachi to contest on national and Sindh assemblies in the upcoming general elections set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    PTI counsels are taking part in polls on seven National Assembly (NA) seats and four provincial assembly seats in Karachi. There are a total of 22 NA seats and 47 provincial assembly seats all over the city.

    Advocate Zahoor Uddin, who is the Insaf Lawyers Forum Karachi president, is contesting from NA-237 (East-III), Shujaat Ali Khan NA-243 (Keamari-II), Khalid Mehmood NA-231 (Malir-III), Advocate Haris Meo NA-233 (Korangi-II), Attaullah Khan NA-245 (West-II), Barrister Fayaz NA-247 (Central-I) and Barrister Uzair Ghauri from NA-249 (Central-III).

    Ashraf Samoo PS-89 (Malir-VI), Barrister Ali Tahir PS-101 (East-V), Advocate Ali Palh PS-103 (East-VII) and Rana Imran PS-123 (Central-II) are contesting elections for provincial assembly seats.

    Prominent PTI lawyers, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Latif Khosa, Salman Akram Raja, Shoaib Shaheen, and Sher Afzal Marwat, are also contesting elections in different cities of the country.

    “Lawyers supported and stood by the PTI in its testing times and handled the cases of party leaders, including Imran Khan. They truly deserved [party tickets],” PTI leader Khurram Sher Zaman said, talking to The News.

  • Legal Battle: Is what Prime Minister Imran Khan did today, legal?

    Legal Battle: Is what Prime Minister Imran Khan did today, legal?

    After the National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri on Sunday “dismissed” the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, terming it against Article 5 of the Constitution, the legal war began. PM Khan then addressed the nation, saying he had advised the President to dissolve the National Assembly, which the President approved. The country is in a state of shock and the main question is: Is what is going on, legal?

    BUT FIRST, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ASSEMBLY SESSION?

    Loyalty to the state is the basic duty of every citizen under Article 5: Fawad Chaudhry

    The much-awaited and crucial NA session started after a delay to hold the vote on the no-confidence motion against Khan.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said, “On March 7, our official ambassador was invited to a meeting attended by the representatives of other countries. The meeting was informed that a motion against PM Imran was being presented,” he said, adding that this happened a day before the Opposition filed the no-trust move.

    “We were told that relations with Pakistan were dependent on the success of the no-confidence motion. We were told that if the motion fails, then Pakistan’s path would be very difficult. This is an operation for a regime change by a foreign government,” he alleged.

    NA speaker dismisses no-confidence motion against PM Imran, terms it contradictory to Article 5

    After Fawad Chaudhry spoke, Deputy Speaker Suri agreed with Fawad and said that the no-confidence motion was presented on March 8 and should be according to the law and the Constitution. “No foreign power shall be allowed to topple an elected government through a conspiracy,” he said, adding that the points raised by the minister were “valid”.

    He dismissed the motion, ruling that it was “contradictory” to the law, the Constitution, and the rules. The session ended and the government representatives walked out.

    LET’S GET LEGAL: What is Article 5?

    According to Article 5, “Loyalty to the State is the basic duty of every citizen.”

    “Obedience to the Constitution and law is the [inviolable] obligation of every citizen wherever he may be and of every other person for the time being within Pakistan.”

    THEN WHAT HAPPENED: On PM Imran Khan’s advice, President Arif Alvi approved the dissolution of the assembly

    In a surprise move, the premier on Sunday said that he has advised President Alvi to dissolve all the assemblies.

    President Dr Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on the proposal of PM Khan.

    In a brief address to the nation after the no-confidence motion was rejected, the premier congratulated the nation and said that he had sent a proposal to the President to dissolve the NA and the nation should prepare for the next election.

    WAS WHAT HAPPENED LEGAL?

    What do the legal experts have to say?

    The Current reached out to legal experts to understand and get better clarity on the constitutional process in relevance to dismissing the no-trust move against PM Khan.

    Senior Lawyer and Journalist Muneeb Farooq terming the dismissal of the no-trust move “absolute nonsense” said, “The court will decide if what the speaker did is illegal and the no-confidence motion will likely move on. Today the court is closed, they [the Opposition] will take it to the court tomorrow.”

    Farooq further said, “Article 69 says that the court cannot question parliament proceedings, but there are exceptions,” adding that certain things were taken to court and the Supreme Court has ruled on them.

    WHAT’S FAROOQ’S MAIN POINT?

    Farooq said that the Prime Minister does not have the right to ask the President to dissolve the national assembly when there is a motion of no-confidence against him. He also added that the Speaker cannot dismiss a motion against the PM when the motion is already a part of the agenda. He added that Article 5 cannot be used in this situation, the way the government has used it.

    THE OTHER SIDE:

    Supreme Court Lawyer Chaudhry Faisal Hussain said, “The Deputy Speaker gave the ruling to dismiss the no-confidence motion. It is in his power to discard the no-confidence motion against the prime minister. Hence the motion gets dismissed and PM Khan still remains the prime minister.”

    WHAT’S HUSSAIN’S MAIN POINT?

    “Since Imran Khan is still Prime Minister, he can call for fresh elections, after dissolving the assembly, which he has done. The issue now will be that PM Khan has already moved past the no-confidence motion. If the assembly had not been dissolved, then perhaps the Supreme Court could make a ruling on the no-confidence issue.”

    ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW

    Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) Salman Akram Raja speaking to Geo News said that what happened in the National Assembly today was “highly unconstitutional”.

    He further said that SCP will look into the ruling given by the deputy speaker and could decide on allowing early elections or letting the no-confidence motion vote happen.

    The Joint Opposition had submitted the no-confidence motion to kick out PM Khan on March 8. According to reports, Chief Justice Umar Bandial has called his fellow justices to his place to discuss what is going on in the country.

    Meanwhile, sources say the Supreme Court may hold special proceedings today as well.