Tag: Shehbaz Sharif

  • ‘Target political opponents instead of fighting with the establishment’: Pervaiz Elahi

    ‘Target political opponents instead of fighting with the establishment’: Pervaiz Elahi

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi while giving an interview to Voice of America (VOA) said that the no-confidence motion succeeded against a sitting government and the establishment did nothing about it.

    Commenting on the neutrality of the establishment, Elahi said, “Can there be more neutrality than this? So it is not correct to say that they are not neutral. They [establishment] are neutral so target political opponents instead of fighting with the establishment.”

    Talking about the relations between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and the establishment, Elahi said, “We are also trying to improve the relations between Imran Khan and the establishment. Whenever we went to Khan Sahib, we said that we don’t need to fight.”

    Chaudhry said that during the three-and-a-half-year rule, Khan’s relations with the establishment kept fluctuating on the foreign policy front but issues were resolved, adding that he is ready to play his part in improving relations with the establishment. “While some misunderstandings were created regarding Saudi Arabia and other countries.”

    The Speaker Punjab Assembly questioned the present governemnt and said why the government is looking for anonymity, and why it wants someone else’s intervention? “The government must deliver and lower the prices of goods, let Shehbaz Sharif show his mechanics and solve the problem of electricity.”

    “I have been with Sharifs for 22 years, and the track record of Sharif’s relationship with us was not good, Sharifs have always cheated us and we have always been with them, so we don’t want to repeat the same mistake,” said Elahi.

    When asked if Elahi will take charge as governor after the former governor of Punjab was sacked, he replied that he is still consulting his lawyers and has been advised to wait for the conclusion of the cases pending in courts.

    On early polls, Elahi said that Imran Khan wanted an early election for the national assembly constituencies only.

    “He wants the provincial assemblies to complete their terms,” Elahi told VOA Urdu, “there is no harm in holding polls for the national assembly now and provincial assemblies later.”

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    PM Shehbaz condemns the killing of Sikh citizens in Peshawar
    
			
    PM Shehbaz condemns the killing of Sikh citizens in Peshawar
    
			
    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the killing of two Sikh citizens in Peshawar.
    

    “Strongly condemn the killing of our Sikh citizens in Peshawar, KP. Pakistan belongs to all its people. Have ordered a high level inquiry to ascertain facts. The killers will be arrested & meted out exemplary punishment. My most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families,” PM said in a tweet. 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Unknown assailants killed two persons of the Sikh community at Sarband area in Peshawar. According to the police, two persons riding on motorbike opened fire on two shopkeepers of the Sikh community selling spices at Bata Tal Bazaar. They succumbed to their injuries on the spot.
    

    The deceased were identified as Kanwaljeet Sigh and Ranjeet Singh. According to journalist Iftikhar Firdous, the Islamic States Khurasan (ISKP) chapter says it carried out the attack targeting two Sikhs. In October 2021, ISKP also claimed another such attack in Peshawar.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also condemned the killing of Sikh citizens.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Please don’t go out in the heat to get tanks filled’: Miftah Ismail
    
			
    ‘Please don’t go out in the heat to get tanks filled’: Miftah Ismail
    
			
     Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said on Sunday that the government has no plans to raise the price of petroleum goods for the time being.
    

    Addressing a press conference, the finance minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had rejected the proposal of increasing petroleum prices today, adding that the government could not burden the people any further.
    

    “We are not increasing prices today. Please do not go out in this heat to get your tanks filled,” said Miftah Ismail.
    

    However, Miftah later tweeted, “But due to changing circumstances and international oil prices, we may have to revisit our decision soon.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The finance minister stated that he will be part of a delegation travelling to Qatar for talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) next week and he hoped the negotiations would be productive for the country.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘If something happens to me, a tell-all video will be released’: Imran Khan
    
			
    ‘If something happens to me, a tell-all video will be released’: Imran Khan
    
			
    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that he has recorded a video, in which he has mentioned each and every character behind the “conspiracy” against his government, and if something happens to him, it will be released.
    

    Addressing a rally in Sialkot on Saturday, Khan claimed that his life is in danger and a “conspiracy” is being hatched to take his life. According to him, the video is stored in a “safe place.”
    

    “I have recorded this video as I don’t consider what I do as politics, this is jihad to me,” the PTI chairman added.
    

    The former PM said, through this video, he will expose everyone who went “against the country’s interest. He urged people to come out against the current government and support PTI and if they do not do this, the “public will have no future”.
    

    Khan praised the judiciary and said they took a good initiative by taking a suo motu on the night of the no-confidence vote and opened the gates of the courts.
    

    The PTI chairman told the judiciary that Rs24 billion corruption cases were filed against the current PM Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shahbaz, and his brother, Suleman Shahbaz.
    

    He said that the former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director Dr Rizwan, was bold enough to continue investigating corruption cases against the “Sharif mafia”.
    

    Reacting to a police crackdown at the party’s venue, Khan said that when PTI was in power, it did not stop the then-Opposition from holding long marches, rallies, or sit-ins.
    

    On Saturday, police got the PTI’s rally venue vacated after they tried to hold a public meeting at the CTI ground, a property belonging to the Christian community, without their consent. However, the party changed the venue to the public VIP Ground in Sialkot.
    

    Khan claimed that his party has always remained peaceful, but warned Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and the government, that if they resort to violence, then they would “not get any place to hide”.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Journalist turned politician, Fahd Husain appointed as SAPM to PM Shehbaz
    
			
    Journalist turned politician, Fahd Husain appointed as SAPM to PM Shehbaz
    
			
    Senior journalist and columnist Fahd Husain has been appointed as Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Shehbaz Sharif.
    

    The Cabinet Division issued the notification following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s approval on Friday.
    

    

    Image of notification
    

    

    “The Prime Minister, in terms of rule 4(6) of Rules of Business, 1973, has been pleased to appoint Syed Fahd Husain as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister with the status of Federal Minister, with immediate effect,” read a notification of his appointment.
    

    Fahd Hussain will have the portfolio in Public Policy and Strategic Communication.
    

    Husain has previously served as the Resident Editor of Dawn newspaper in Islamabad.
    

    He has spent three decades in the field of journalism. Husain has been a newspaper reporter, editor, columnist, television anchor, and news director during his time as a journalist.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Jo sazish rok saktay thay, unko bataaya tha ke barri mushkil se mulk ki economy sambhali hai’: Imran Khan
    
			
    ‘Jo sazish rok saktay thay, unko bataaya tha ke barri mushkil se mulk ki economy sambhali hai’: Imran Khan
    
			
    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan while speaking to a public gathering said, “Jo sazish rok saktay thay, unko bataaya tha ke barri mushkil se mulk ki economy sambhali hai.” [Those who could stop the conspiracy I told them that we managed the economy with a lot of difficulty.]
    

    Khan on Friday claimed that he talked to “those who could have stopped the conspiracy” and also sent the then finance minister Shaukat Tarin to have a word with them but it turned out to be a futile exercise.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    “I am ready to go to jail and even die for this cause but I would never accept becoming a slave to the United States,” he said, adding that the “three stooges” [Asif Zardari, Shehbaz Sharif, and Maulana Fazlur Rehman] had hatched a conspiracy against his government in collaboration with the US.
    

    “Handlers, while sitting in the US, toppled a sitting government in Pakistan,” he said. “We would, therefore, continue a campaign against this conspiracy until elections are called anew.”
    

    Referring to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Imran Khan said: “One of the brothers hurls abuses at the country’s army, while the other resorts to bootlicking.”
    

    He further said that PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari suggesting the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reforms is “a sign of the Judgement Day”.
    

    “Those who could have stopped the conspiracy should know that the PTI government had stabilised the economy with great difficulty,” he added.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Hangout in London: PML-N leaders show off pictures from their trip
    
			
    Hangout in London: PML-N leaders show off pictures from their trip
    
			
    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and his party members have gone to London to meet Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif. 
    

    PM Shehbaz’s 10-member delegation includes Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Power Minister Khurram Dastagir, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, among others. 
    

    The PML-N leaders shared some special moments from their London trip with their followers on social media platforms.  
    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    PML-N leaders who are currently in London remained tight-lipped about their discussions with the party’s supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.
    

    It is being said that the PML-N delegation took an oath “not just once but twice” to ensure that the issues that came under discussion before Mian Nawaz Sharif would not be revealed outside under any circumstances.
    

    The delegation did not share what policy direction was given by the Nawaz during the meeting at Stanhope House in London and stressed that any decision taken would only be announced after consultation with the government’s coalition partners.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    One killed, at least nine injured in Karachi’s Saddar blast
    
			
    One killed, at least nine injured in Karachi’s Saddar blast
    
			
    One person was killed and at least nine were injured in a blast that rocked the Saddar area of Karachi late Thursday night when a a vehicle of Pakistan Coast Guards was passing by. Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA), an outlawed nationalist party, claimed the responsibility of the blast through social media. It said that the target was Pakistan Coast Guards.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    According to the initial report submitted to Chief Minister (CM) Sindh Murad Ali Shah by the DIG South, an improvised explosive device (IED) was planted in a bicycle. The blast occurred near the United Bakery.
    

    According to the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) officials, explosive material was planted in the carrier of the bicycle that was detonated using a time device.
    

    “The bomb was made locally and about 2 to 2.5-kilogrammes of explosive material was used in it,” said BDS, adding that “ball-bearings were used in the explosive material”.
    

    Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon has said that those responsible for the incident will not be spared. 
    

    He said there was no threat of a blast at any particular place. Replying to a question, he said that the blast at the University of Karachi was a suicide bomb blast; however, it is too early to comment whether the two had any links.
    

    Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab said that the police and other law enforcement agencies were assessing the situation.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow after the terror attack.
    

    

    
https://twitter.com/PMO_PK/status/1524832321492373522

    

    

    Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed his sorrow and sent heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased. He directed authorities concerned to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
    

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan also condemned the blast and also sent his condolences.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    PML-N leaders take oath twice, vow issues discussed with Nawaz to remain secret
    
			
    PML-N leaders take oath twice, vow issues discussed with Nawaz to remain secret
    
			
    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders who are currently in London remained tight-lipped about their discussions with the party’s supreme leader Nawaz Sharif. 
    

    It is being said that the PML-N delegation took an oath “not just once but twice” to ensure that the issues that came under discussion before Mian Nawaz Sharif would not be revealed outside under any circumstances, reports Dawn. 
    

    After the meeting, the delegation talked to the media outside Hasan Nawaz’s office. They did not share what policy direction was given by the Nawaz during the meeting at Stanhope House in London and stressed that any decision taken would only be announced after consultation with the government’s coalition partners.
    

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that electronic voting machines (EVMs) will not be used in the next general elections.
    

    When asked to comment on the DG ISPR’s presser on the army’s role in politics, Rana Sana said, “Our position on this is exactly the same that institutions should not be involved in politics or be dragged into politics. It is very inspiring that courts and other institutions have at this moment played a role that is not political.”
    

    When asked if former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan would be arrested, the interior minister said there would be no arbitrary arrest, but anyone found involved in illegal activities would be arrested and dealt with an iron hand after all legal requirements are met.
    

    Meanwhile, federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said the basic purpose of the visit was to take stock of the real existing situation of the country and seek guidance from Nawaz Sharif as he is the most senior statesman of Pakistan. He said the party wanted to consult him so that in the coming days the government could steer the country out of crises at a fast pace. “Pakistan’s economy is in really bad shape and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has left it in a complete mess.”
    

    “We will take our partners in confidence on everything that we discussed with Nawaz Sharif. The national leadership will play its role to bring the country out of crises”.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    FIA terms withdrawal of cases against Shehbaz, Hamza ‘fake news’
    
			
    FIA terms withdrawal of cases against Shehbaz, Hamza ‘fake news’
    
			
    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday termed the news story related to the withdrawal of cases against Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and his son Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz and others as “fake news”.
    

    In a statement, the FIA said that it had registered the case and it has not been withdrawn. The investigating agency further said that the proceedings are continuing in the court, with the next hearing scheduled for May 14.
    

    “Hence, it is fake news. FIA may legally proceed against the persons involved in spreading this fake news,” said the FIA spokesperson.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The FIA said that on April 11, the prosecutor had submitted his opinion-based application in the court regarding a change of the prosecutor wherein he was instructed not to appear on behalf of the prosecution.
    

    It added that the prosecutor had alleged that the director-general of the FIA, via the investigation officer, had asked him not to appear before the court, adding that “it was not a withdrawal application anyway”.
    

    “On 11-04-2022, Mr Sanaullah Abbasi was the DG FIA. At the time of submission of the application, the new PM had not yet taken the oath. Tahir Rai was posted as DG FIA on 22-04-2022. This matter pertains to the timing before his arrival in FIA,” said the FIA.
    

    The agency said that the “change of prosecutor is a routine matter” and added that the government lawyer was also changed several times during the PTI government.
    

    “It is requested that fake news may not be spread in this matter,” said the FIA spokesperson.
    

    On the last hearing, the FIA’s special court issued an order that it will indict PM Shehbaz and CM Punjab Hamza.