Tag: Shehbaz Sharif

  • President, PM condemn Karachi police chief office attack

    President, PM condemn Karachi police chief office attack

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Arif Alvi have condemned Friday’s terrorist attack on the office of the police chief in Karachi.

    The building came under attack around 7:10pm, triggering an operation initiated by law enforcement agencies immediately after, with cops and soldiers of the Pakistan Army and Rangers taking on the terrorists together.

    Three persons, including security personnel, were martyred, while 18 people sustained injuries. Five terrorists were also killed in the attack.

    As the operation to clear the attackers out from the building has finally concluded, people from across the country, including officials and celebrities, have come together to condemn the attack.

    President Dr Arif Alvi sent out a message of support through the President House Twitter account, stating: “The entire nation stands with its security forces against terrorists. Efforts will continue to eradicate the menace of terrorism.”

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemning the attack, tweeted, ” I strongly condemn the terrorist attack on the police in Karachi and salute the brave police and law enforcement personnel who foiled the attack. Terrorists may have forgotten that Pakistan is the nation which defeated terrorism with its bravery and courage.”

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took to Twitter and tweeted, “Sindh police have bravely faced and crushed terrorism before. We have full faith they will do so again, such cowardly attacks will not deter us.”

    Security forces cleared a five-storey police compound on the port city’s main thoroughfare in an hours-long operation during which three militants of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed while two policemen, one Rangers official and a citizen embraced martyrdom.

    At least 19 men, mostly police and Rangers officials, sustained injuries in the exchange of fire with militants who stormed the heavily guarded Karachi Police Office after lobbing a hand grenade at its main entrance, police and hospital officials said.

    The outlawed TTP has claimed responsibility for the latest ambush.

  • ‘Get Khan’s blood test done, if he is not addicted to cocaine and ice, I will resign’: Rana Sanaullah

    ‘Get Khan’s blood test done, if he is not addicted to cocaine and ice, I will resign’: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanullah has said that he has every intention of arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, but is bound by permission from the government and Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to do the same.

    Speaking on Geo News’s programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, Rana said,” Get Imran Khan’s blood test done, if he is not addicted to cocaine and ice, I will resign.”

    Talking about elections, Sanaullah said that Khan wants to create anarchy in the country. He went on to say that Khan repeatedly claimed that he will block the roads and a sea of people would come out but he failed to do so. Sanaullah further added that this time he will be dealt with rather strictly.

    On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi opposed putting Khan behind the bars immediately.

    “Even if Imran Khan has done something, I’m not in favour of putting anyone in jail,” the former Premier said while speaking with journalists in Islamabad.

    Commenting on the ongoing cases against the PTI chief, Abbasi said: “After completing this matter, punish Imran Khan if he has done anything.”

    Abbasi added that Khan has committed several wrongs and admitted the mistakes himself. “Imran Khan has himself spoken without any limits. I’m not referring to hearsay, but talking about his own confessions.”

  • Shehbaz Sharif to leave today for two-day visit to Turkiye

    Shehbaz Sharif to leave today for two-day visit to Turkiye

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will leave for a two-day visit to Turkiye on Thursday to convey his “heartfelt condolences” over the loss of life in the massive earthquake that struck the country on February 6.

    The Foreign Office has confirmed in a press release that the Prime Minister will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and offer condolences on the staggering loss of life on behalf of the Pakistani people.

    He will also visit southern Turkey, which took the brunt of the damage of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and it’s massive aftershocks. The Premier is scheduled to meet earthquake survivors and the rescue and relief teams that Pakistan has sent to aid in the area.

    On Thursday morning Shehbaz Sharif posted a message on Twitter, stating that he will convey a message of solidarity and support for the Turkish people. “True to the spirit of one nation living in two states, we consider their loss as ours.”

    Continuing in another tweet, the Prime Minister wrote, “Natural disasters as the earthquake in Türkiye & Syria are beyond the capacity of any single government to handle. No country, howsoever resourceful, can deal with devastation of this magnitude. It is time the world came forward & extended support to the suffering humanity.”

    The Pakistani government has already sent a 51-memver rescue team to Turkey along with relief goods.

  • Another U-turn? Khan claims ‘conspiracy’ to remove him was ‘exported’ from Pakistan to US

    Another U-turn? Khan claims ‘conspiracy’ to remove him was ‘exported’ from Pakistan to US

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has yet again come up with another narrative regarding his version of “regime change”. The former Prime Minister has now said that former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa told United States (US) that Khan is anti-America, which resulted in his ouster.

    In an interview with Voice of America, aired on Saturday, Khan said, “As things unfolded, it wasn’t the US who told Pakistan, it was unfortunately, from what evidences have now come out, it was General Bajwa who actually somehow managed to tell the Americans that I was anti-America and so it was not imported from there actually it was exported from here to there.”

    The former premier was of the view that “International relationships shouldn’t be based on personal egos, they should be based on the interest of the people of your own country”, adding that it is in the interest of Pakistanis to have good relations with US.

    Talking about his relationship with Bajwa, Khan said that his government and the military were on the “same page”, which meant that “we had the organised strength of Pakistan army to help us”.

    However, Imran contended that Gen Bajwa “favoured some of the biggest crooks in the country” and didn’t think about corruption as a big problem.

    “He wanted us to work with them. What that meant [was] giving them immunity from their corruption cases,” he claimed, adding that Gen Bajwa has a “very close” relationship with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

    In response to another question, Imran said that he was sure that the new military leadership had realised that the “experiment of regime change” has gone wrong.

    Addressing the worsening law and order situation, he blamed the “negligence” of Pakistan’s security forces and intelligence agencies for the rising incidents of terrorism in the country.

    Reacting to the disclosure, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif said, “Imran Niazi’s antics & somersaults continue to disappoint the nation. The only constant is his desperation to get back into power even if it involves plunging the country into a protracted period of instability. His politics is based on lies which are getting exposed by the day.”

  • ‘Not focusing on PM or CM slot’: Maryam Nawaz

    ‘Not focusing on PM or CM slot’: Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice-President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz has clarified that she is not interested in becoming the prime minister (PM) or the chief minister (CM).

    “My focus is not on prime minister or chief minister slot,” Maryam categorically said during an informal interaction with journalists on Sunday.

    Maryam also said that for now, Junaid Safder — her son — also had no intention of joining politics. “Junaid has to take responsibility for his home first,” she said on a lighter note.

    Earlier, Maryam reportedly stopped her husband—Captain (retired) Safdar—from delivering any ‘policy statement’ after he criticised party leadership.

    The senior vice president made it clear that no party leader, including her husband, should give any statement that goes against the party’s policy.

    She also warned the party that strict action would be taken against those who deviate from the directives.

    Safdar had said in an interview with ARY News that he doesn’t see his wife becoming the Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan in the near future.

    “I don’t see Maryam Nawaz becoming PM in near future”, Captain Safdar said, adding that if PM Shehbaz Sharif gets elected in 2025, the country will prosper.

  • Police arrest 60 suspects in Nankana Sahib lynching case

    Police arrest 60 suspects in Nankana Sahib lynching case

     The Nankana Sahib police arrested 60 suspects involved in the lynching of a man outside the police station on Saturday morning, reports Dawn.

    Several police teams launched a massive crackdown at the residences, business points, and other places to round up the suspects.

    Sheikhupura Regional Police Officer (RPO) Babar Sarfraz Alpa said that the police were very clear in its action against the attackers whether they were from any religious organsation or a political party.

    Mob storms police station, kills man accused of blasphemy

    A violent mob stormed a police station in Nankana Sahib on Saturday, dragging out a man accused of committing blasphemy before burning him to death.

    The man had been accused of desecrating the Holy Quran.

    Inspector General (IG) of Punjab Police, Dr Usman Anwar, suspended Nankana Sahib Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police Nawaz Waraq and Warburton Station House Officer (SHO) Feroz Bhatti. The SHO and other police personnel allegedly ran away from the mob, trying to save their own lives.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif also took notice of the incident.

    “Why didn’t the police stop the violent mob? The rule of law should be ensured. No one should be allowed to influence the law,” he was quoted as saying in a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi has condemned the incident, saying killing and burning someone accused of blasphemy is a cruel act.

    This is not the first time that a mob has burnt a man to death on the suspicion of blasphemy. In 2021, Sri Lan­kan engineer Piryantha Kumara was burned to death on the alleged charges of blasphemy by his own factory workers in Sialkot. In 2017, Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University was lynched by his peers within the premises of the institution on the same accusations.

  • VIP protocol for Maryam Nawaz in Islamabad

    VIP protocol for Maryam Nawaz in Islamabad

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz was given VIP protocol upon her arrival in Islamabad, Dunya News reported on Friday.

    According to media reports, the security plan was designed under the supervision of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Parliament Lodges through which 16 security personnel, including police and FC, were appointed outside the are where Maryam Nawaz was staying.

    Security personnel were strictly prohibited from using their mobile phones during duty hours. The Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) was also tasked with managing parking and traffic flow outside Parliament Lodges during Maryam Nawaz’s stay.

    On January 3, Maryam was appointed as the party’s “Chief Organiser” and “Senior Vice President”. Later, she returned to the country from London, to take charge of her new responsibilities after a three-month absence.

  • PM Shehbaz says Pakistan will never leave Turkey, Syria alone in these circumstances

    PM Shehbaz says Pakistan will never leave Turkey, Syria alone in these circumstances

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced that the federal government has allocated Rs10 billion to help Turkey’s earthquake relief efforts.

    The premier said that Pakistan will never leave alone Turkey in these circumstances, urging the nation to pray for the victims of the earthquake in Friday prayers today.

    “I believe that the people of Turkey and Syria will come out of this difficulty,” he said, adding that Pakistan assured Turkey of assistance on the very day the tragedy took place.

    “A committee has been formed to send funds to Turkey. 1,486 tonnes of relief goods are being sent to Turkey and Syria,” he added.

    The premier said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will purchase relief items — such as tents, clothes, blankets and dry food — from the fund and dispatch them to Turkiye.

    “Destruction of such magnitude is seldom seen, where parents have lost their children and infants have become orphans […] there are dreadful visuals everywhere,” he noted.

    However, the prime minister asserted that under the leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the people of Turkiye would emerge out of the crisis. “And so will our brothers in Syria,” he said.

    More than 21,000 people have died in Turkiye after an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck the region in the early hours of Monday morning. The hope of pulling out survivors from underneath the rubble diminishes as the days pass and freezing temperatures continue unabated.

  • How many people does PM Shehbaz need in his cabinet to run the country?

    How many people does PM Shehbaz need in his cabinet to run the country?

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has appointed seven more Special Assistants to the PM (SAPMs) on pro bono basis, as the federal cabinet swells to 85.

    As per details, the PM has appointed five new SAPMs including Members of National Assembly Rao Ajmal, Shaista Parvez, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Muhammad Hamid Hameed, Malik Sohail Khan, Chaudhary Abid Raza and Muhammad Moeen Wattoo.

    Criticising the PM’s decision, PTI leader Farrukh Habib remarked that the government was close to making a century of cabinet members.

    The newly appointed SAPMs will enjoy the status of ministers of state, however they have not been assigned any portfolios yet.

    Of the 85 cabinet members, 34 are federal ministers, seven are ministers of state, and there are four advisers to the PM and 40 SAPMs.

    Besides the long list of federal cabinet members, 38 parliamentary secretaries in the National Assembly answer questions on behalf of the ministers in their absence.

  • Court suspends National Assembly Speaker’s order to accept PTI MNAs’ resignations

    Court suspends National Assembly Speaker’s order to accept PTI MNAs’ resignations

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday suspended National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s order accepting the resignations of 43 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers last month, putting by-elections in these constituencies on hold.

    During the hearing today, PTI lawyer Ali Zafar contended that PTI MNAs had withdrawn their resignation before the NA speaker had accepted them.

    The former ruling party had filed a petition stating that PTI lawmakers had requested the speaker not to de-notify them, as they had withdrawn resignations but the speaker still went ahead and accepted their resignations “without following due process”.

    Pervez Ashraf ‘approves’ resignations of 43 more PTI MNAs

    Earlier, Ashraf approved the resignations of 43 lawmakers in the lower house.

    Reacting to the development, senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said the main reason to return to the assembly in small numbers was to remove Raja Riaz as the opposition leader because the legislature had “no importance”.

    “Right now, Shehbaz Sharif has lost the support of 172 members and is relying on lotas (turncoats) to save his government,” tweeted Fawad.

    He also pointed out that 40 per cent of seats in the NA were now empty. “The only solution to this crisis is elections.”

    NA speaker accepts resignations of 35 more PTI lawmakers

    Ashraf on Friday, January 20, accepted the resignations of 35 more PTI Members of Provincial Assembly (MNAs), days after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified 34 PTI MNAs after their resignations were accepted by Ashraf.

    PTI lawmakers had resigned en masse from the lower house of parliament following the ouster of PTI chief Imran Khan in April last year through a Vote of No Confidence.

    A total of 69 resignations were accepted this week after the PTI announced to return to the assembly and threatened to move a no-trust motion against the incumbent Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    According to reports, President Arif Alvi had been all set to ask PM Shehbaz Sharif to take a vote of confidence from the lower house of the parliament.

    Raja Pervez Ashraf had previously accepted the resignations of only 11 MNAs in July last year.

    After ECP de-notified 35 PTI MNAs, the party’s senior leader Fawad Chaudhry announced that party Chairman Imran Khan himself will contest on all 33 National Assembly constituencies.

    This is not the first time that such an announcement has been made.

    Last year, in October, Khan announced that he would contest on seven seats of the national assembly. At the time, he lost from only one seat and won the remaining six.