Tag: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

  • Shah Mahmood’s son Zain Qureshi to be investigated for vote-buying practices

    Shah Mahmood’s son Zain Qureshi to be investigated for vote-buying practices

    District Monitoring Officer for PP-217, Haider Riaz, has issued orders for an inquiry against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Zain Qureshi, son of former foreign minister and PTI’s Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for indulging in vote-buying practices during the by-election campaign in UC-44.

    A complaint initiated through social media alleged that Zain Qureshi has offered a new motorcycle to each voter who can acquire 10 votes in his favour.

    The inquiry letter states that such practices are considered corrupt and Article 218 (3) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan allows the Election Commission to guard against corrupt practices. The inquiry is headed by Sadar assistant commissioner and DRTA secretary Multan.

  • Khan in court, granted pre-arrest bail in 10 cases against him

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has been granted pre-arrest bail till July 6 by the court of a district and sessions judge in Islamabad today (Friday). He got bail in 10 cases related to vandalism during his party’s Azadi March in the federal capital which happened on May 25.

    He is booked on charges involving interference in state affairs and damaging public property.

    Khan appeared in court with strict security arrangements. The court directed Khan to submit Rs5,000 as surety in each of the cases and directed the police to submit a record of cases in the next hearing which is on July 6.

    Prior to this development, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) granted transit bail to PTI Chairman till June 25 in different cases registered against him in connection with his party march.

    Bail to PTI leaders:

    Earlier, police had booked around 11 PTI leaders including Imran Khan, Asad Umar, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry and others in a case pertaining to violence at the Kohsar police station. However, an Islamabad court granted interim bail to them in this case on June 20.

    Similarly, last week, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted interim bail till June 28 to more than a dozen PTI leaders for vandalism in the case pertaining to violence at the Bhatti Gate police station, Lahore. The bail was granted to Hammad Azhar, PTI Central Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal and others.

  • Richest politicians in Pakistan: ECP releases data

    Richest politicians in Pakistan: ECP releases data

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday released the data on the assets owned by Pakistani politicians and their spouses.

    Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s assets for the year 2021 have witnessed an increase of Rs60 million as compared to the year 2020.

    Khan owns assets worth Rs142.1 million while he has inherited houses in Zaman Park and Mianwali and three in Bhakkar. He has a bank balance of more than Rs63 million and he has $329,000 in his two other accounts. The PTI chief has also declared four goats worth Rs200,000 in his assets.

    Bushra Bibi

    Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi’s net worth is Rs142.11million. Bushra Bibi owns 52 kanals of land in Pakpattan while she also has 379 kanals of land in Pir Ghani and 267 kanals of land in Okara. She is also the owner of a three-kanal house in Bani Gala.

    Asif Ali Zardari

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s wealth increased by around Rs40 million to Rs714.23 million in 2019-20 compared to the previous year. He owns thousands of acres of agricultural land, 20 horses, hundreds of camels, cows, and buffaloes as well as other valuables. The arms he possesses are worth Rs16.6 million.

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

    PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is a declared billionaire, having a total wealth worth of Rs1.6 billion. However, the bulk of his wealth remains outside the country.

    Bilawal has more assets in the UAE than in Pakistan and his 25 properties and other assets in Dubai are worth Rs1.44 billion, whereas in the country he has 19 agriculture and non-agriculture properties, around Rs122.14 million cash in hand or banks and arms valued at Rs3 million.

    Shehbaz Sharif

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif owns assets worth more than Rs245 million, and he also owes Rs140 million. The prime minister has Rs2 million in his bank account.

    “PM Shehbaz has borrowed Rs63.9 million from his son Suleman Shehbaz, however, his bank account in London is empty,” stated the document, adding that he is indebted with Rs140 million.

    Shehbaz Sharif also declared the assets of his wives.

    Nusrat Shehbaz

    Nusrat Shehbaz has wealth worth Rs230.29 million and owns nine agricultural properties and one house each in Lahore and Hazara divisions.

    Tehmina Durrani

    Shehbaz’s second spouse Tehmina Durrani has Rs5.6 million.

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    Former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and his wife own two houses in Islamabad and 40 tolas of gold. He gifted his shares in Air Blue airline worth Rs60 million to his son.

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi 

    Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi turned out to be the owner of assets worth Rs219.6 million – even more that those of his party chief, Imran Khan.

    Raja Pervez Ashraf 

    National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf declared the value of his assets as Rs23.6 million while his wife owned 100 tolas of gold.

    Hammad Azhar 

    Hammad Azhar owns assets worth Rs402 million.

  • ‘Bohat si ghaltiyaan huvi hain’: Hamid Khan says Imran Khan confesses to blunders

    ‘Bohat si ghaltiyaan huvi hain’: Hamid Khan says Imran Khan confesses to blunders

    Senior lawyer and former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hamid Khan said that former Prime Minister Imran Khan confessed to committing blunders that cost PTI politically.

    Hamid revealed that he had met Khan at the latter’s request. Speaking on Geo News show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, Hamid said that former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had brought Imran’s message to him. He said he agreed to see Khan along with former core members of the PTI.

    “He showed up with an open heart and confessed that bohat si ghaltiyaan huvi hain [We have made a lot of mistakes]. And [these mistakes] have resulted in a loss for the party,” said Hamid.

    Hamid said that Khan had admitted that his (Hamid Khan’s) stance and struggle against the establishment’s political role was right. He said Imran Khan had also admitted that he (Imran Khan) should have given importance to his (Hamid Khan’s) reservations about Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan.

    Hamid said Khan also admitted that he was misled on Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s issue, adding that he had told Khan that the reference was a mistake because the judge was an honest man.

    Earlier in April, Khan had admitted that the filing of a presidential reference for the removal of Supreme Court’s Justice Qazi Faez Isa was a mistake.

  • ‘Pagal’: Rana Sanaullah reveals PTI’s Qureshi called Imran Khan ‘mad man’

    ‘Pagal’: Rana Sanaullah reveals PTI’s Qureshi called Imran Khan ‘mad man’

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Apas ki Baat’ said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government itself had made an offer to them regarding the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendments and had invited the Opposition for talks when PTI was in power.

    Rana Sanaullah said that the PTI later used their suggestions in the media to attack them.

    Sanaullah further said that the then Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called him and said that he wanted to talk to Rana separately.

    “Give my salam to Mian Saab [Nawaz Sharif]. All the things you said were correct. We agree but that mad man [Imran Khan] doesn’t agree,” said Qureshi.

    “Don’t speak in front of Shahzad Akbar. He is his [Imran Khan]’s agent and tells him everything,” Qureshi said to Sanaullah.

    Anchorperson Muneed Farooq interjected and questioned if Qureshi really called former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan ‘pagal’, to which Sanaullah said, “I can say it on oath. Call him in front of me.”

  • Shafqat Mahmood resigns as Punjab PTI president because of ‘health issues’

    Shafqat Mahmood resigns as Punjab PTI president because of ‘health issues’

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and the former Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood resigned from his post as the party’s Punjab President on Friday because of health-related issues.

    In a tweet, Mahmood wrote: “It was an honour and privilege to serve as President PTI Punjab and I thank chairman Imran Khan for the opportunity. It is time for change due to my surgery and convalescence. I congratulate the new President and will serve the party in whatever capacity assigned.”

    According to Geo News, Vice-President Shah Mehmood Qureshi will look after the PTI Punjab President post. However, the names of Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed are under consideration for the post.

    After the PTI’s Azadi March, Shafqat Mahmood remained hospitalised and underwent surgery.

    It is pertinent to mention that PTI Punjab leadership remained under extreme criticism as they were unable to put up a solid power show in Islamabad.

    The news has come forward at a time when PTI has a real test ahead, in which it will have to fight the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for 20 vacant seats of the Punjab Assembly (PA).

  • Shehbaz Sharif – the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan

    Shehbaz Sharif – the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan

    The Joint Opposition’s candidate Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, after the former Prime Minister Imran Khan was voted out of office through a no-confidence motion on Saturday, April 9.

    Shehbaz bagged a total of 174 votes as opposed to PTI’s candidate Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Qureshi received no votes after his party decided to boycott the polling process.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Ayaz Sadiq presided over the session after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri said his conscience did not allow him to conduct the session.

    Born in Lahore in 1950, Shehbaz is the younger brother of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Shehbaz has served three times as Punjab’s chief minister.

    Taking the floor, the newly-elected prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said that it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that a prime minister was ousted through the no-confidence motion.

    April 11 historic day

    Terming April 11 a “historic day”, he mentioned that the happiness of the people can be seen through the economic indicators. Shehbaz mentioned that the rupee regained its value — which was trading at Rs190 per dollar and closed at Rs182 per dollar today.

    ‘Will probe threat letter’

    The newly-elected prime minister said the Opposition was discussing the no-confidence motion days before Imran Khan’s “concocted threat letter controversy”.

    “They say that this letter came to them on March 7, but our decisions were made way before that, so, if [what the previous government claimed] is a lie, then the matter should be disclosed transparently before the public,” he said.

    PM Shehbaz Sharif announced that the parliament’s security committee would be given a briefing on the “threat letter” to the members of the committee in presence of the armed forces personnel and bureaucrats — the director-general Inter-Services Intelligence, foreign secretary, and the ambassador who wrote it, who has now been transferred to Brussels.

    “If there’s an iota of evidence that we were backed by foreign conspirators […] then with you Mr speaker and God as my witness, I will not think for another second and resign from the office of the prime minister,” PM Shehbaz Sharif said, vowing to hold an in-camera session of the security committee at the earliest.

    Economy

     Shehbaz Sharif said that hard work was required for Pakistan’s progress as if only statements could move the country forward, then during PTI’s tenure, we would have been among the leading nations.

    “We will need to wash out the effects of the previous government by working together, otherwise, we will fail […] our economy is in a bad situation right now,” the prime minister said.

    “We will need to wash out the effects of the previous government by working together, otherwise, we will fail […] our economy is in a bad situation right now,” said PM Shehbaz.

    “The minimum wage will be jacked up to Rs25,000 (from April 1). 10 per cent increase in pensions of retired civil, and military officials (from April 1). Cheap wheat to be introduced at utility stores.”

    “Laptop and technical education for youth. Reintroduction of Benazir Card. Appeal to industrialists to increase salaries of employees who earn up to Rs100,000 by 10 per cent.”

    Shehbaz’s take on foreign policy

    Shehbaz said China has been Pakistan’s partner through thick and thin. “No one can snatch Pakistan and China’s friendship from us,” he said, calling it a “long-lasting relation.”

    “But this friendship is for forever and … I assure that we will make progress on the CPEC,” he added, thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    Speaking about India, the newly-elected prime minister lamented that despite them wanting peaceful ties with India, they know that until the Kashmir issue is resolved, relations between the two cannot be strengthened.

    Urging Indian premier Narendra Modi to understand the issues of the people living on both sides, he questioned there is poverty, unemployment, medical issues, etc. then “why are we harming ourselves and the generations to come?”

    “Why do we want our coming generations to suffer. Come, let’s resolve the Kashmir issue in line with United Nation resolutions and Kashmiris’ expectations, so that we are able to end poverty on both sides of the border.”

    Underlining the significance of having good ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, European Union nations, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, and Iran, he said that ties needed to be strengthened with the US on the basis of equality and “we need to raise our voice for Afghanistan” where the situation was dire.

    “We want peace in Afghanistan.”

    The session was subsequently adjourned till 4pm on April 16.

    Sanjrani administers the oath to Shehbaz in President Alvi’s absence

    Prior to the ceremony, President Dr Arif Alvi had complained of discomfort and was advised to rest for a few days, according to an update posted on his Twitter account.

    In the president’s absence, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath to PM Shehbaz.

    Modi, Turkey’s Erdogan congratulate Shehbaz on becoming PM

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Monday congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on becoming the 23rd premier of Pakistan.

    Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation with Shehbaz, Turkish President Erdogan told the newly-elected prime minister that he was “extremely happy” about him being elected as the premier.

    Guard of honour

    Earlier this morning, the premier was given a Guard of Honour at Prime Minister’s House.

  • Pakistan to choose its new Prime Minister today

    Pakistan to choose its new Prime Minister today

    The National Assembly is set to choose a new Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan today (Monday) at 2pm after the removal of Imran Khan from the premiership in a no-confidence vote.

    On Sunday, the Joint Opposition’s candidate and Pakistan Muslim-League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s nomination papers were accepted.

    The former minister for information and broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry also announced that PTI’s MNA will resign from their posts on Monday.

    In the early hours of Sunday, Imran Khan was ousted as the PM of Pakistan from office through a no-confidence motion after a 12-hour heated NA session.

    The session was chaired by Ayaz Sadiq after the resignation of NA speaker Asad Qasier.

    “174 members have recorded their votes in favour of the resolution, consequently the resolution for the vote on no-confidence against Mr Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, has been passed by a majority,” Ayaz Sadiq announced after the process of voting was completed.

  • PM refuses to accept ‘minus Imran Khan’ policy

    PM refuses to accept ‘minus Imran Khan’ policy

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Friday refused to accept the “minus Imran Khan” policy proposed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), reports Geo News.

    “This cannot happen in any scenario,” said the PM according to media reports.

    Chairing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) political committee, PM Khan said that the parties think this “minus one” formula will save the PTI-led government from falling. 

    “Fortunately, they are requesting […] this will boost our morale,” the premier was quoted.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad said that there was a rumour circulating that “everything is okay but Imran Khan. Everything can be saved if we go towards minus one.”

    The minister declared that there is “no room for minus one” in the PTI, adding that if anyone had any misunderstanding, they should remove it.

    MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, during an interview in Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath“, said, in the light of current developments, he thinks there was no chance for PM Imran Khan to stay in the office any longer.

    “After today’s events, PTI government can survive but the prime minister’s survival is unlikely,” Siddiqui said.

    Speaking on the same show after Maqbool, PML-Q leader and Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema agreed with the MQM-P leader’s views.

    “Instead of opting for a new adventure, the prime minister should select a member from within the PTI who will be acceptable to all,” said the PML-Q leader — whose party is an ally in Punjab and the Centre.

    “He has time till the [National Assembly votes on the] no-confidence motion,” Cheema said.

  • ‘Great people’: Indians praise Pakistan Embassy for assisting their students in evacuation from Ukraine

    Pakistan has won the hearts of Indian citizens after assisting their students in evacuation from Ukraine.

    Indian students were left alone as they could not find any Indian embassy officials who could help them evacuate safely from war zone areas.

    According to media reports, Indian nationals have been facing discrimination in Ukraine since India abstained from the right to vote against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    When Indian students reached Lviv, a town 70 kilometers away from Poland, they did not find any Indian embassy officials to facilitate them.

    A Sweden-based Professor, Ashok Swain, shared a video in which a student has described the current situation sitting with other Pakistani nationals in a dining hall of a building at the Romanian border.

    He said, “Only four of us are Indian. The rest of them are Pakistanis. You can see. There were many people when we reached Lviv yesterday from Kharkiv. There were no officials from Indian Embassy. We have tried many times to find them.”

    Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also confirmed the news about the facilitation given to Indian students from Pakistan Embassy in Ukraine.

    He said that Pakistani embassy officials helped Indian students in Ukraine on humanitarian grounds as they were in distress.

    Indian Twitter user, Gaurav Sabnis, appreciated the gesture shown by the Pakistani Embassy staff.

    He said, “First with that vandalized temple reconstruction and now this, the Pakistani government is showing that it has a much better grasp on the concept that doing the right thing can actually be good for your public image too. That you can ‘win’ with generosity.”

    Another Indian has shared his experience of hospitality when some Pakistanis helped him in the United Kingdom.