Tag: Shehbaz Sharif

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif was about to resign on May 27: report

    PM Shehbaz Sharif was about to resign on May 27: report

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif decided to resign from his position on May 27 due to the tough conditions set up by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), reports Noor Aftab for The News.

    “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was not ready to fulfill conditions of the IMF that was mounting pressure on the government to increase prices of the petroleum products to an unprecedented level.”

    It has been reported that at the time PM Shehbaz and the former finance minister Ishaq Dar were supporting the proposal to dissolve the National Assembly and hold fresh elections instead of accepting IMF’s demands.

    However, later Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) realised that if PM Shehbaz resigned, it would be a loss for the PML-N. The party then decided that the coalition government would continue to work and they also needed a finance minister to deal with the economic issues.

    Shahid Khaqan says Dar isn’t coming back

    Former PM and PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that Dar is not coming back to Pakistan “in the near future”.

    “I don’t think former finance minister Ishaq Dar will return to Pakistan in near future. All decisions are taken by the party leadership in consultation with the senior party members”, said Shahid Khaqan, adding that Finance Minister Miftah Ismail would continue his work in the future as he has been doing exceptional work to restore Pakistan’s fractured economy.

    The debate about Miftah’s replacement escalated soon after speculations about Dar’s return and him confirming the same to BBC Urdu.

    Now, the development has sparked a debate that whether PML-N leaders are divided into two groups over the selection of a finance minister.

    Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique showed his support to Dar while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Abbasi are in favour of Miftah Ismail.

    Meanwhile, according to The Express Tribune, Miftah said that though he has support from the federal cabinet and the PML-N, there are a few party members who are criticising and opposing him.

  • PM Shehbaz approves financial assistance of Rs1 million for victims of rains and floods

    PM Shehbaz approves financial assistance of Rs1 million for victims of rains and floods

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a financial relief package for rain and flood-affected families.

    The PM, on an urgent basis, has approved financial assistance of Rs one million for the victims of rains and floods.

    “In case of death, 50 per cent of the relief amount will be paid by the federal government while the rest of the amount will be provided by the provincial government,” read a statement.

    It further said that PM Shehbaz has directed the authorities concerned to ensure complete assistance to the families of the victims.

  • Suleman Shehbaz’s legal team sends Rs1bn defamatory notice to PTI’s Imran Ismail

    Suleman Shehbaz’s legal team sends Rs1bn defamatory notice to PTI’s Imran Ismail

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s son, Suleman Shehbaz, served a defamation notice worth Rs1 billion to former Sindh Governor Imran Ismail for alleging that he owned a solar panel business and was taking undue benefits from the government, reports Geo News.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Ismail alleged in his tweets on July 3 that instead of strengthening ties with Turkey during his visit last month, PM Shehbaz had signed solar energy contracts with Ankara, which would benefit Suleman.

    The legal counsel of Suleman warned Ismail that if he does not fulfill the requirements within 14 days of receiving this notice, then legal action will be taken against Ismail.

    In response, Ismail said he welcomed the notice but asked in what capacity the PM’s son had sent him the notice.

    “The person who is a fugitive has sent me a notice. I stand by my claim of solar panels. The Sharif family is a business mafia, which uses the country for its businesses.”

  • ‘Mai ne video banaayi hui hai, agar mujhe kuch hua toh public ko sab pata chal jayega’: Imran Khan

    ‘Mai ne video banaayi hui hai, agar mujhe kuch hua toh public ko sab pata chal jayega’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Tuesday that he knows the names of those who were involved in the conspiracy to oust his government but said he is quiet for the sake of the country as he doesn’t want to harm Pakistan.

    Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Khan claimed that he has recorded a video that involves information about those who have committed “treason”. He said, “Mai ne video banaayi hui hai, agar mujhe kuch hua toh public ko sab pata chal jayega“, (I have recorded a video. If something happens to me, it will be made public). He added that if “they keep sidelining and harassing us, I will tell everything”.

    About the cases registered against Khan and his party members, he said this is being done to “shut them up”.

    “I have never seen such fascism in Pakistan, such a situation is leading Pakistan towards anarchy,” he said. Khan further added that the government can control the media but not social media. “Everyone has a voice now.”

    Khan also condemned the recent incidents of attacks on journalists. He posed a question, ” I ask the judiciary, has martial law been imposed? I ask them whether human rights have been suspended in the country?” Khan said that terrorism cases have been registered against them to keep them quiet.

    Criticising the incumbent government, the PTI Chairman said, “They will accept Israel as a state, will provide Pakistan’s bases to the United States, and will discard the Kashmiri people to establish better relations with India.”

    Moreover, Khan urged the public to come out to vote on July 17 in the Punjab by-elections. “PTI has to win the by-elections despite the election rigging,” adding that this is “jihad ” for the country.

    Khan said that Pakistan can only be saved from this crisis through transparent elections while saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) cannot be trusted.

  • Unidentified men attack political commentator Ayaz Amir

    Unidentified men attack political commentator Ayaz Amir

    Unidentified men reportedly attacked senior columnist and analyst Ayaz Amir and his driver in Lahore on Friday.

    Amir was leaving the office of Dunya News located at Lahore’s Abbott Road when unidentified men attacked him. The assailants also snatched his wallet and mobile phone.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident and asked Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz to hold a high-level investigation.

    CM Punjab ordered that the attackers should be arrested at the earliest. He condemned the attack on Ayaz Amir.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan also condemned the attack in “strongest terms”.

    The incident occurred a day after Ayaz Amir’s strongly-worded speech delivered at a seminar in Islamabad, where he had criticised the policies of former premier Imran Khan, accusing him of facilitating the realtors and property tycoons during his rule. He also criticised the extension granted to the army chief, criticising Khan’s decision.

  • PM Shehbaz meets COAS Gen Bajwa

    PM Shehbaz meets COAS Gen Bajwa

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa today (July 1), reports Geo News.

    In the meeting, the prime minister and army chief discussed the internal and external security situation of the country.

    Earlier, federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan revealed that the appointment of the next COAS will be made by PM Shehbaz after consulting with leaders of the coalition parties. The consultation process will begin in September.

    “The new army chief will be appointed in November. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after consulting with other coalition leaders, will decide on the army chief. This consultation will start in September,” said Dastgir.

  • Pak-China relations to restrengthen pledges Chinese delegation leader

    Pak-China relations to restrengthen pledges Chinese delegation leader

    Pak-China relations to re-strengthen, pledges Chinese delegation leader
    Chinese politician and Director of China’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi pledged to help re-strengthen Pakistan-China relations as he kickstarted his two-day trip to Islamabad with a meeting with Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday.

    “He assured to play his role for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels,” said the Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General (DG) Major-General Babar Iftikhar after the meeting with the army chief at the General Headquarters.

    Yang had a meeting with Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday as well. The PM highlighted the significance of Director Yang’s visit in furthering the bilateral relations between the two countries across all domains. In particular, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has strengthened the ties between China and Pakistan. The relationship between the two countries would continue to grow and prosper, bringing peace and stability to the region, noted Sharif.

    Yang also met Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

    “The two sides discussed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

    The meetings come at a sensitive time as the Pakistan-China relationship seems to be under strain after the April 26 attacks on three Chinese language teachers in Karachi.

  • IK sold three watches to local dealer gifted to him as PM for Rs37 million

    IK sold three watches to local dealer gifted to him as PM for Rs37 million

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan reportedly sold three luxury watches worth more than Rs154 million to a local watch dealer in Islamabad. The watches were gifted to him by visiting dignitaries from Gulf countries when he was Prime Minister (PM), reports The News.

    By selling these watches, Khan earned a whopping amount of Rs37million. According to the news report, instead of buying these watches from Toshakhana with his own money, Khan first sold the watches and then deposited 20 per cent of each in the government treasury.

    It has been revealed that these gifts were never deposited in Toshakhana. These watches were supposed to be submitted to Toshakhana as per the laws that restrict any head of the state to possess the gifts they receive from officials of other countries.

    The most expensive watch among these three was assessed at Rs101 million. However, Khan had declared he sold it for Rs51 million and deposited the 20 per cent of its sales money, which is Rs20 million, in the government treasury, thus earning a whopping Rs31 million. The watch was sold on January 22, 2019.

    By selling a Rolex Platinum watch gifted by a member of a royal family from a Gulf island, Khan almost earned Rs4.5 million profit in November 2018, two months after it was gifted to him.

    Another Rolex watch gifted by a dignitary from the same Gulf island was sold by the former PM. This time Khan made Rs1.5 million profit from this deal.

    It is pertinent to mention that these watches are in addition to the ones reported earlier in the media.

    In April, PM Shehbaz Sharif revealed that Khan took gifts worth Rs140 million from Toshakhana and sold them in Dubai.

    Earlier, responding to the Toshakana controversy, Khan had said they were his gifts, so it was his choice whether to keep them or not.

  • Loadshedding situation to get better by mid-July, says Musadik Malik

    Loadshedding situation to get better by mid-July, says Musadik Malik

    Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik hoped that the loadshedding situation across the country will get better in the second half of July.

    Earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif warned the nation of more power outages next month.

    Musadik further said that Pakistan is trying to import coal from Afghanistan. He said the major reason behind electricity loadshedding is the water shortage in dams, while the other reasons include coal price hikes and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shortage in the international market.

    “Only 5,000 MegaWatts (MW) of electricity is being generated instead of 9,500 MW,” he said.

    On Monday, residents of Karachi came out on the streets due to the persistent loadshedding in their areas. The protests continued for more than 24 hours.

    Interestingly, the government has pledged to decrease loadshedding several times. Earlier this month, PM Shehbaz instructed the power authorities to reduce loadshedding throughout the country to two hours. However, the situation remained the same.

  • Video: Karachiites protest against load-shedding, clashes erupt between police protesters

    Video: Karachiites protest against load-shedding, clashes erupt between police protesters

    Residents of Karachi came out on the streets in the late hours of Monday to protest against the unannounced and prolonged load-shedding in their areas.

    On Tuesday morning, the police used tear gas and baton-charged protestors in an effort to disperse the crowd, which resulted in a clash between the two.

    According to Dawn, the demonstrators have been protesting since last night, burnt tyres, and blocked the road for traffic, which has caused traffic problems.

    The chairman of the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) Aslam Pakhali said that over 100 shipping containers carrying mangoes and potatoes are worth an estimated Rs250 million were stuck in traffic since Monday evening.

    https://twitter.com/nshz22/status/1541682874750947328?s=20&t=OIuOxKPZe5onCToMDfxlBw

    According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Asif Bughio, electricity in several areas of Lyari has been suspended since 4pm yesterday (Monday). He claimed that the police tried to negotiate with them but they attacked the law enforcers with stones.

    Their protest has continued for more than 20 hours now.

    According to media reports, in Karachi’s Gadap Town, the load-shedding time has gone up to 18 hours in a day. Similarly, Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Surjani Town, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, and other areas are seeing power outages of 14 hours or more.

    Following the incidents, Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh contacted K-Electric Chief Executive Moonis Alvi. He noted that load-shedding has made the lives of people miserable.

    “Due to persistent load-shedding, the security situation is deteriorating,” he told the KE official.

    A day earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif warned the nation that they might face increased load-shedding in the coming month of July.