Tag: Shaukat Yousafzai

  • ‘Disappointing’; PTI leader Shoukat Yousufzai hits out at party leadership

    ‘Disappointing’; PTI leader Shoukat Yousufzai hits out at party leadership

    PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai has been actively conducting interviews with channels to express disappointment with the party leadership over Tuesday’s final call protest.

    Talking to ARY News, Shaukat Yousafzai confirmed that Bushra Bibi and Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur are in Mansehra and are safe.


    “It was the funeral of political culture in the country,” he said, pointing out that the government handled the protestors brutally. Moreover, he said that there is a need for self-analysis as well. He expressed disappointment over the lack of coordination within the party leadership during recent events, emphasizing missed opportunities for dialogue and poor decision-making. He also said that “no leader came forward except Ali Amin”, stressing that  “those holding positions of authority have disappointed us. Ali Amin Gandapur was made a scapegoat, and from Peshawar to Islamabad, no leader was visible.”

    He then turned his guns towards the main leaders. “Where were Barrister Gohar and Salman Akram Raja? Sher Afzal Marwat was also absent when the leadership did not have the authority to make decisions; why did it take so many workers?” 

    Talking about Bushra Bibi’s role, he remarked, “She holds no political position, yet her stance overrules others.” He further questioned the absence of other leaders, asking, “Where was Salman Akram Raja, the General Secretary, during all this?”


    In a frustrated tone, he lamented the exclusion of experienced party members from decision-making processes, saying, “Our opinions were ignored. If we are not considered politically relevant, remove us from the party.”

    Shaukat Yousafzai further said that it was already known that the government would demonstrate fascism in D Chowk. He demanded an investigation within the party as to why D Chowk was chosen as the target area for a sit-in. 

    The party’s former General Secretary then appeared on Geo News to raise the question of why, if the federal government had asked for talks, they were not held. “Why were consultations not held on the government’s offer of talks,” he asked in an exasperated tone. 

    Notably, former party leader Faisal Vawda also held a press conference and called this the “final nail in the coffin of PTI” while warning of tougher times ahead for them and an impending ban on the party. 

    On November 26, Islamabad Police announced a grand operation against PTI workers, as a result of which PTI leaders and workers, including the wife of PTI founder Bushra Bibi, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, left the federal capital for Mansehra and their press conference is awaited.

  • Shaukat Yousafzai, father of 13 children from two wives, forgot name of youngest son on live TV

    Shaukat Yousafzai, father of 13 children from two wives, forgot name of youngest son on live TV

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’S (PTI) provincial spokesperson Shaukat Yousafzai revealed in a morning show that he has fathered 13 children in total.

    During an appearance on HUM News, Yousafzai revealed that he has two wives and 13 children, including 10 daughters and three sons.

    The hosts asked Yousafzai if he could say the names of all his children in one go. Yousafzai smiled and started naming his children. However, Yousafzai could only name 12 as he forgot the name of his youngest son.

  • Dollar rises to Rs169.6, breaking the previous record

    The United States (US) Dollar continued its surge against the Pakistani rupee as it created a new high, rising to Rs169.6 in the interbank market.

    “Due to the recent sustained rise in the dollar’s value, importers have started booking the currency in advance, which has increased its demand in the interbank market,” Chairman of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan Malik Bostan told Dawn.

    Bostan warned that the dollar could become even more expensive if the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) does not intervene.

    On the other hand, (SBP) pumped $1.2 billion into the inter-bank market in three months to protect the weakening rupee but could not stop the local currency from falling to a historic low.

    From mid-June to the first week of September, the central bank injected $1.2 billion out of its reserves, government sources told The Express Tribune. The maximum single-day injection of $100 million was made in July, followed by $85 million in August, they added.

    Back in November 2019, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Minister for Labour & Culture, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Shaukat Yousafzai, was all praises for the rise in the value of the dollar.

    “The increase in dollar benefits Pakistan greatly as we only have to pay in rupees, not in dollars,” said Yousafzai.

    Senior journalist Mansoor Ali Khan shared Yousafzai’s old clip again today as the USD rose to a record high.

    Yousafzai can be heard saying, “The increase in dollar value has increased the cost of BRT by Rs3 billion and at the same time helped us save over Rs3 billion because we only have to pay that amount in rupees, not in dollars.”

    Yousafzai also said that all those saying that the rupee devaluation is going to increase the amout have no idea what they are talking about.

  • JUI-F lawmaker threatens to blow up assembly with a bomb, gets suspended

    JUI-F lawmaker threatens to blow up assembly with a bomb, gets suspended

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani has suspended Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) MPA Hafiz Issamuddin and gotten him escorted out of the provincial house after the latter threatened to blow up the assembly with a bomb.

    A resolution condemning the JUI-F leader’s statement was also passed by the KP Assembly, which was supported even by the Awami National Party (ANP) of the opposition, reports said.

    Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and KP’s Labour Minister Shaukat Yousafzai had sought action against Issamuddin for his statement, complaining that the speaker had not taken any by himself.

    “Why are [party] tickets awarded to people who threaten to target the house with suicide bombings if some issue stands unresolved?” he had asked.

    While some of Issamuddin’s colleagues tried to defend his statement, saying that he was driven by emotions while speaking for his constituents and their problems, others resorted to protesting on the floor of the house and creating ruckus to stop the JUI-F leader from being escorted out of the assembly.

    However, their attempts failed due to adjournment of the session that was later boycotted by the JUI-F.

    Issamuddin was elected to the provincial house from PK-113 South Waziristan-I.

  • PTI’s new education minister in KP hasn’t studied beyond matric: report

    PTI’s new education minister in KP hasn’t studied beyond matric: report

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s new Education Minister Akbar Ayub hasn’t studied beyond matric, Geo News has reported.

    In a major cabinet reshuffle made by the KP chief minister (CM) on Saturday, Ayub was handed reins of the education department. He was earlier serving as the minister for communication and works department.

    According to reports, KP provincial assembly’s official website shows that Ayub’s educational qualification is matric. The same has been listed in an affidavit submitted by the education minister, which also states his occupation as a businessman and a landlord.

    A copy of Akbar Ayub Khan’s documents submitted to the ECP. 

    Speaking to Geo News, the minister said that his education qualification “did not matter”. Ayub said he was experienced in educational and administrative affairs.

    Backing his statement, KP Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai said Ayub had vast administrative experience.

    “It does not matter what degree he holds,” said Yousafzai. “He has studied from a reputable institute and is a capable man.”

    In a separate video message, Yousafzai said one should not question Ayub’s capabilities solely due to the fact that he had not studied beyond matriculation level.

    “He left for Canada to pursue the construction business while he was in grade 12,” said the information minister. “He is a skilled man and we should extract benefit from his experience and capabilities.”

    Yousafzai said the education minister could speak to foreign diplomats and dignitaries as “his English is the best”. He said since education had been bifurcated into two parts, Ayub was given charge of the elementary education, not secondary. 

    “He has to run an institute and for that, he has ample experience in the past as a minister,” he said.

  • ‘Increase in dollar rate benefits us as we only pay in rupees,’ says PTI minister

    ‘Increase in dollar rate benefits us as we only pay in rupees,’ says PTI minister

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai has said that the increase in dollar benefits Pakistan greatly as we only have to pay in rupees, not in dollars.

    While addressing the media on Wednesday, the KP minister said that the 3 billion rupees increase in Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project due to rupee devaluation has not affected the national treasury, as we have paid that amount from our savings.

    “The increase in dollar value has increased the cost of BRT by Rs3 billion and at the same time helped us save over Rs3 billion because we only have to pay that amount in rupees, not in dollars”, the minister said.

    Shaukat also said that all those saying that the rupee devaluation is going to increase the amout have no idea what they are talking about.

    Watch Video:

    Meanwhile, Peshawar metro bus project misses its 6th deadline

    The Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf (PTI) led KP government has missed its sixth deadline despite announcements by the KP information minister that the project would be completed in time.

    Shaukat Yousafzai had earlier claimed that the project would be completed in 2020 and people would start getting its benefits from next year.

    He also claimed that 87% work on the mega project has been completed, adding that 30 stations had been finalised, while work on the remaining 10 stations was underway.

    Earlier, the minister had said the project would be finished by December this year, but reports claimed that the flagship project of the PTI government was unlikely to be completed in December, citing completion of only 16 stations out of over 40.

    Moreover, three bus depots made for Peshawar BRT were reportedly also under construction.

    “Even 10 per cent work has not been done on the Haytabad bus depot. No work has been done on the route from Hayatabad to Karkhano Market,” claim reports.

  • 2800cc luxury car worth Rs8 million imported for KP minister

    2800cc luxury car worth Rs8 million imported for KP minister

    Amid the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s claims of continuing its austerity drive to save taxpayers’ money, a luxury car worth Rs8 million (Rs8,000,000) has been imported for a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) minister.

    According to Dunya News, the 2800cc luxury car has been imported for KP Information Minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, who is only entitled to an 1800cc vehicle.

    It was decided that a double cabin worth around Rs5.5 million would be imported, however, the minister insisted on getting the luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV), reports said.

    The move comes despite Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan pushing for austerity measures to reduce the burden on the national exchequer ever since he assumed office last year.

    The austerity drive has faced multiple setbacks over the past 10 months owing to the apparent reluctance of the lawmakers in cutting down expenses.