Tag: Sheikh Rasheed

  • ‘DG ISI presser more political than Sheikh Rasheed; Khan responds to the establishment, says they’re defaming COAS

    ‘DG ISI presser more political than Sheikh Rasheed; Khan responds to the establishment, says they’re defaming COAS

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, said on Friday that the joint press conference by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar held a day earlier was more “political than Sheikh Rasheed”.

    Addressing the head of the ISI who made an unprecedented appearance at the press conference on Thursday, Imran Khan said, “You say you are not political, but your presser was more political than that of Sheikh Rasheed.”

    “DG ISI, listen carefully, the things I know…I am staying silent for my institutions and the country. I don’t want to damage my country,” Khan said as the crowd cheered.

    “DG ISI, when we criticise [the institutions], it is constructive and for your betterment. I am saying this again, I can say a lot and can respond to you. But I don’t want the institutions to get weak,” he stressed.

    Addressing the DG’s statement that Imran Khan had met the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in secret, the former prime minister said that he never made any unconstitutional demands during “backdoor contacts”.

    “I want free and fair elections. I want the people to decide who will lead the country — not Washington, America, or anyone else,” Khan added.

    Khan then addressed General Bajwa and said: “When Bilawal Bhutto gave a statement against the ISI sector commander in Karachi, you removed him. Remove them [Faisal and Faheem] too now.” PTI leader Azam Swati earlier today revealed in a presser the names of the military officers [Faisal and Faheem] allegedly responsible for his custodial torture.

    “These people are defaming you, Gen Bajwa,” Khan claimed.

  • ‘Depression ki aakhri hadd pe hoon, soch raha hun apnay khilaaf koyi faisla kar loon’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘Depression ki aakhri hadd pe hoon, soch raha hun apnay khilaaf koyi faisla kar loon’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that he has gone into depression after witnessing the situation of his constituency.

    “The conditions are so bad in my constituency that I am thinking from the past two to three days that I should make a big decision. I am thinking of making a decision against myself. I can not bear to see any of this. I am at the extreme end of my depression, I can do anything,” said Rasheed while speaking in ARY News programme, 11th Hour.

    Speaking with journalist Waseem Badami, Rasheed said, “I am sorry to say, I love our army and our institutions but this is the first time I have disassociated myself from them. I am not in a position to tell them that whatever is happening, it is need of the hour that the respect and dignity of the institutions do not get insulted.”

    “I am saying this with a lot of honesty, no one will be able to stop this fire. Neither Imran Khan will be able to stop it nor Sheikh Rasheed. The army will get respect in abundance, if they conduct fair and free elections and give power to the one winning the elections,” stated Rasheed.

    Badami interjected and asked, “So you think this hasn’t happened before? “Not in my opinion”, responded Rasheed.

  • ‘September sitamgar hoga’: Sheikh Rasheed announces Khan’s march in Islamabad

    ‘September sitamgar hoga’: Sheikh Rasheed announces Khan’s march in Islamabad

    Former interior minister and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed said on Sunday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will give a call to his supporters to march towards Islamabad once the flood situation eases down.

    Rasheed took to his Twitter handle and warned: “Sitambar Sitamgar ho ga (September will be cruel)”.

    The former federal minister pointed out that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has made yet another agreement of Rs608 billion with the government. “First they robbed the treasury and now the people’s pockets”, he said.

    “Floods have opened the eyes of the people of Sindh, the floods have destroyed the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) reputation. How will other countries give aid when the people of the country refuse to give money to money launderers?”

    He said that the people can not bear the burden of increasing petrol and power prices, yet the “government continues to raise them”.

    In a series of tweets, he said that IMF knows that there is a weak majority of the government and people can come to the streets.

    “The time is not far when factories and shops will be closed, people will be on the streets”, he warned again while adding that floods have become a matter of “political point scoring”.

    Rasheed’s statement came a day after Imran Khan warned the government to stop the “persecution” of his party workers otherwise he will again march on Islamabad.

    He said the government would have “no place to hide” in the event he comes to Islamabad.

  • New FIR filed against Khan for violating Section 144

    New FIR filed against Khan for violating Section 144

    A new First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his other party members at the Abpara police station in Islamabad.

    Asad Umar, Murad Saeed, Fawad Chaudhry, Faisal Javed Khan, Sheikh Rasheed and others have also been booked over violation of Section 144 and named in the FIR. 

    The FIR states that Khan along with his party leaders violated Section 144. It adds that the PTI leaders and their almost 1,000 supporters blocked the road at Imran Khan’s instructions. The FIR says that the party used loudspeakers as well.

    Earlier, an FIR was filed against Khan under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for “threatening” Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and senior police officers during his speech on August 20. However, he was granted transit bail till August 25.

    Read more: IHC to initiate contempt proceedings against Imran for controversial remarks regarding sessions judge

    On Monday (August 22), the Islamabad High Court (IHC) decided to initiate contempt proceedings against Imran Khan for passing controversial remarks about Judge Zeba Chaudhry.

    A day later, the IHC issued a show-cause notice to Imran Khan and summoned him on August 31 in contempt proceedings.

  • ‘Matters have been decided, elections in October’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘Matters have been decided, elections in October’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed said that an “agreement” has been reached, and the general elections will be held in October.

    “Instead of by-elections, matters on new elections have been settled. The nation will soon hear about the date for the elections in October, the formation of a new election commission and a caretaker government,” said Rasheed.

    “Even those in quarantine have agreed to elections,” said Rasheed taking a jibe at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.

    Sheikh added that only JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is left.

    Criticising the coalition government, Rasheed said that their political credibility had come to an end and they cannot flee, cannot go to the people, and neither can they bring their people back to the country. Rasheed was alluding to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    “Now, the people will decide. They [government] have made a mockery of the assembly and democracy. The crisis is now shifting from Sri Lanka to Pakistan,” he added.

    Rasheed’s statement came after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan ruled out the possibility of holding talks with the coalition government.

    “I can talk to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the separatists of Balochistan and Sindh, but not with thieves. Will you speak to someone who robs your home?”

  • Coalition govt should name their favourite judges: Sheikh Rasheed

    Coalition govt should name their favourite judges: Sheikh Rasheed

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed condemned the coalition government for calling Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial’s bench a “fixed bench”. Yesterday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz said that bench-fixing is a crime like match-fixing.

    Sheikh tweeted that “no-confidence should be submitted against [Prime Minister] Shehbaz Sharif”, adding that after the army, the Supreme Court (SC) is now being targeted.

    He asked the coalition government to name their “favourite judges”. Rasheed also claimed that the PML-N is running away from elections.

    Prior to the SC hearing on the matter of the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) election, the coalition government held a joint press conference.

    The government demanded a full court bench but the SC rejected this demand. On Monday, it was announced that all political parties in the coalition will boycott court proceedings till a full bench is constituted.

  • Palmist told Khan that a big rock fell on Shehbaz instead of him

    Palmist told Khan that a big rock fell on Shehbaz instead of him

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Monday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has been told by a palmist that there was a big rock that was going to fall on Khan but it fell on Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif instead.

    He made these revelations on ARY News in Waseem Badami’s programme 11th Hour.

    Rasheed said that everyone is with Imran Khan so it would be a waste for anyone who stands against him in the elections.

    Talking about his audio leak, Rasheed said since childhood, his [Sheikh] messages and tapes have been going viral.

    He said that after the PTI swept Punjab by-polls, he received messages from top bureaucrats for the first time addressing him as ‘respected sir’.

    During the show, he further revealed that Imran Khan has planned to do a tour of Sindh, especially the interior side of the province.

    Rasheed again stressed that he is of the view that they should be friends with the establishment. He said that Imran Khan has said that we will not talk against the establishment anymore and have to focus on the elections.

    Appearing on the same programme on Tuesday, former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry agreed with Rasheed’s statement and said that they will not talk against the establishment. “We will try to normalise things in the future”, he added.

    Moreover, he said that PM Shehbaz Sharif should dissolve the National Assembly. According to him, election date will be announced within 45 days and the elections are likely to be held in October.

  • Stay away from Punjab by-elections, Sheikh Rasheed warns establishment

    Stay away from Punjab by-elections, Sheikh Rasheed warns establishment

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Saturday asked the establishment to stay away from the by-elections in Punjab that are being held on Sunday, July 17.

    “Today I want to say something very important to the establishment. Tomorrow is a very important day. I have never witnessed such an election ever in Pakistan’s history,” said Sheikh Rasheed in a video message.

    “I wish to request them to stay away from the elections. The nation will not tolerate any kind of rigging or bullying. You have to prove in tomorrow’s elections that you are impartial,” he added.

    “If its path is blocked, this country will witness an inferno that will engulf everyone. This is why tomorrow is a test for Pakistan’s political stability,” Rasheed said.

    “The people must be granted the right to [elect their own leaders] and no one must interfere.”

  • Sheikh Rasheed to appear before anti-corruption department tomorrow

    Sheikh Rasheed to appear before anti-corruption department tomorrow

    The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) summoned former interior minister and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed in a corruption case tomorrow (Friday).

    The accusations against him are that he embezzled millions of rupees on account of fees in the sale of state land to Life Residencia Islamabad Housing Society. In this regard, ACE also summoned the management of the housing society.

    According to Dawn, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader has claimed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has a personal grudge against Rasheed. The leader didn’t comment on ACE inquiry but he said that “he [Rasheed] is among those the Sharifs are not going to spare as long they are in power”.

    Earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) filed a Rs720 million laundering case against Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Moonis Elahi.

    At the time, the PML-Q leader alleged that he was being pressurised by the PML-N. He said, “The PML-N is at a loss to understand that it can pressure me to change my loyalty towards former premier and PTI chairman Imran Khan. We will not abandon Khan, come what may.”

  • ‘A large part of the army wants elections’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘A large part of the army wants elections’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that the establishment wants early elections to take place in the country.

    “The army itself is saying that elections should be held. A large part of the army is of the positive opinion that elections should be held,” said Rasheed, adding that a preception is being given that the military establishment is backing the sitting government.

    Rasheed was speaking to Channel 24.

    Read more: ‘Refrain from commenting on Pakistan’s nuclear programme’: Gen Nadeem Raza responds to Khan’s comment

    Veterans of Pakistan, an organisation of former military officers, held a press conference in Islamabad on June 6, where Brig (R) Mian Mehmood claimed that when the situation in Pakistan started to deteriorate, their team led by General Ali Quli went to meet the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    “General Bajwa very clearly promised that he would hold elections in 90 days to make the situation in Pakistan better. Today we ask Gen Bajwa: where did his promises go?”