Tag: Sheikh Rasheed

  • PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi resigns after court stops him from working

    PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi resigns after court stops him from working

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Hanif Abbasi resigned from his post as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) after Islamabad High Court (IHC) had stopped him “temporarily” from performing his duties.

    In a letter, the former federal minister addressed PM Shehbaz Sharif and said that he would be “unable to perform at present” and requested the premier to accept his resignation while thanking him for the opportunity.

    Read more- PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi has fled country, media reports claim

    IHC stopped Abbasi from working as SAPM

    Last month, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah stopped Abbasi from working, saying that “a person convicted in any case is ineligible to hold any public office in the country.”

    He issued the directives while hearing a petition filed by former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, who challenged Abbasi’s appointment as SAPM on grounds of his 2018 conviction in an ephedrine case.

    During the hearing, Hanif Abbasi’s counsel Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon argued that the post of SAPM is not similar to other public offices.

    Justice Minallah said he hoped Abbasi would not use public office till the next hearing.

    “The SAPM’s job is to advise the prime minister, he can do that without a notification as well,” he observed.

  • Khan stopped me from meeting ‘boss’, says Sheikh Rasheed

    Khan stopped me from meeting ‘boss’, says Sheikh Rasheed

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has claimed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan stopped him from going to meet “boss”. Rasheed was alluding to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, Rasheed said, “I will complain to boss about the Rangers. It was not the responsibility of the Rangers to use tear gas at protesters. Police could have done it but the Rangers doing it was wrong. They have a name and status. They should not ruin their reputation like this.”

    Rasheed was referring to the May 25 face-off between the police, Rangers and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters during the Imran Khan-led ‘Azadi March’.

    Anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada asked if he [Rasheed] had called “boss” to complain and whether his number was blocked or not.

    “My number is open,” said Rasheed, adding that his number was open for all.

    When asked if he had contacted the boss, Rasheed responded, “Khan asked me not to go to meet boss. He stopped me. So I didn’t go. I can go to his house anytime but Imran Khan specially asked me not to go to his house.”

    “I do not want to disregard someone’s trust [in me]. Khan told me twice that Sheikh Rasheed, there are people involved in talks so you don’t go and meet him. I know everything. Where, when and what the negotiations were. I am telling you, I am still the most well-informed person of all. And this is the very reason I am telling the present government your days are numbered,” said Rasheed.

  • ‘ISPR did not interview Hafeez Shaikh for caretaker prime minister’: Journalist Nadeem Malik

    ‘ISPR did not interview Hafeez Shaikh for caretaker prime minister’: Journalist Nadeem Malik

    “The ISPR is saying we have not interviewed anyone nor contacted Hafeez Shaikh. It’s not our work to appoint a caretaker prime minister. A caretaker prime minister will be made through constitutional means,” revealed Senior journalist Nadeem Malik during his political talk show “Nadeem Malik Live” on Samaa News. He was quoting the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed claimed that interviews of economists for the seat of the caretaker prime minister are being conducted in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

    Senior journalist and anchorperson Hamid Mir also refuted Rasheed’s claims by quoting ISPR.

    The statement came as former Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh returned from the United States after the Sindh High Court (SHC) granted him a 10-day transit bail and ordered NAB not to arrest him. Reportedly, he was accorded extraordinary protocol at Karachi Airport on Tuesday.

  • ‘Don’t want to hand over government vehicles and houses to thieves’: Fawad Chaudhry

    ‘Don’t want to hand over government vehicles and houses to thieves’: Fawad Chaudhry

    Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry was recently asked about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members who resigned but have yet to hand over government vehicles and houses back to the administration.

    While talking to the media, Fawad responded, “[We] did not want to hand over government vehicles and houses to thieves.”

    Fawad was also asked about the possible arrest of the PTI chairperson Imran Khan, and Chaudhry said that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah would be mad if he arrested Imran Khan. “Whoever will arrest Imran Khan, it will be difficult for him to stay in Pakistan.”

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Sunday warned that if Imran Khan is arrested, Pakistan will turn into Sri Lanka.

    Rasheed said that if Khan is arrested, PTI has already devised a strategy to deal with the situation, adding that the country would plunge into a political crisis and would witness a situation like the one in Sri Lanka. 

  • ‘Maybe PTI does not trust the court’: Justice Athar Minallah

     Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah on Monday questioned former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed if he trusted the IHC.

    Justice Minallah said that it seemed as if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not have faith in the courts.

    “It is said in rallies that courts are not independent. Political statements are made at rallies questioning why courts opened at night. It is said that the courts open at the behest of someone,” he said.

    IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition of the former interior minister against the appointment of Hanif Abbasi as a Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM), with Sheikh Rasheed appearing before the court on Monday.

    The IHC CJ summoned Rasheed to the rostrum and said, “These courts are for everyone. Perhaps, people don’t believe this.”

    “Important cases of this country are being heard in this court,” he said, further telling Rasheed that the IHC would hear his plea if he had faith in his court. Justice Minallah said important and big cases are pending in the high court, like the cases of missing persons and Baloch students.

    “There are other courts and judges who, too, can hear your cases. But if Imran Khan does not have faith [in this court] … I will refer the case to another court,” he stated.

    “If you have faith in it, then this court would hear your case. Also, ask the PTI chairperson about this,” Justice Minallah said, adding that the courts had been “issuing judgements for the weak”.

    “Your lawyers must have told you that there are rules and the chief justice can take up a case at any time,” CJ IHC told Rasheed.

    Rasheed said that he had appeared before the court because he had faith in it. “I will talk to Imran Khan,” added Rasheed.

    Justice Minallah said, “One should have the respect for the judiciary in their heart.” He then told Rasheed to “decide by tomorrow” whether he had faith in his court.

    At that, Rasheed asserted that he was already decided on the matter.

    “I have been a minister 16 times and that is why I have appeared before the court,” said Rasheed.

    IHC directs PM Shehbaz to review Hanif Abbasi’s appointment as SAPM

    IHC on Monday directed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review his decision of appointing Hanif Abbasi as his special assistant.

    Rasheed had filed the petition challenging Abbasi’s appointment on May 6. 

  • Rana Sanaullah says PTI supporters will become ‘humans’ after being thrashed

    Rana Sanaullah says PTI supporters will become ‘humans’ after being thrashed

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters will become human beings after being thrashed.

    “This is your misconception that you will be able to cause anarchy or chaos in the country. Nothing will happen,” Sanaullah told former Prime Minister Imran Khan. “They [the supporters] will become human beings after a few thrashings.”

    “Even yesterday, he (Imran Khan) told his supporters not to spare anyone. I am warning you for the last time — not as a minister — but as the president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab. If you don’t let go of these tactics and keep inciting your supporters to misbehave with members of other parties, you will face the same fate too. You won’t be able to escape from it.”

    The minister warned Khan that if he didn’t mend his ways, the PML-N too would instruct its workers to “catch and beat them up”.

    Rana Sanaullah demanded guarantees of a ‘peaceful’ PTI march to Islamabad as well.

    “They will have to give [the government] assurances that the march will be peaceful, political, and democratic,” said Sanaullah. 

    Sanaullah also warned former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and said,  “You told people that this march will be bloody. I am warning you to take your words back or I won’t let you step out of your house.”

  • PM Khan to meet MQM-P today before no-confidence motion

    PM Khan to meet MQM-P today before no-confidence motion

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is expected to meet Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Saturday in an effort to appease his government ally ahead of the no-confidence motion, according to Geo News‘ sources.

    MQM-P delegation including Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Aamir Khan, Wasim Akhtar and Khawaja Izharul Hasan will leave for the capital today at 4pm.

    As per the news outlet’s sources, the premier had requested a meeting with the MQM-P delegation on Friday but party’s leaders were in Karachi at the time so the meeting was scheduled for today.

    Earlier, it was reported that MQM-P and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are working on a draft related to Sindh’s issues. PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that matters have been settled with the key government ally. Similarly, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that MQM-P would announce that they are with the Opposition in a day or two.

    According to Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, voting on the no-confidence motion against PM Khan will take place on April 3 or 4.

  • ‘Early elections can also be called in the country’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘Early elections can also be called in the country’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Thursday said that Pakistan might move towards early elections, also adding that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan would defeat the Opposition’s no-confidence motion.

    During a press conference, Rasheed told disgruntled members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that “switching parties won’t earn them any good”, saying that “turncoats must also keep in mind that early elections can also be called in the country”.

    “I want Pakistan and democracy to progress. The situation in the country is moving towards betterment with every passing day,” said Rasheed.

    Rasheed claimed that the country would get “good news” from this point onwards.

    “Let me tell you with the responsibility that nobody is going anywhere,” the minister emphasised, saying he met Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar who is firmly standing with Imran Khan.

    “He is also not going anywhere,” Rasheed said regarding Buzdar.

    Rasheed said that he was not in touch with disgruntled PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen — whose group has not made it clear whether they will support the PM or not.

    “Jahangir Tareen is a good man, may God bless him with good health,” he said.

    Rasheed said PM Khan would hold a “historic” jalsa in Islamabad on March 27.

    PM Khan, in a video message today, invited the nation to join him on March 27 to reinstate the government’s stance against the “dacoits” ruling Pakistan for the last 30 years.

    The premier urged the Pakistanis to stand with the right side.

  • ‘I pray that the government allies will walk with Imran Khan’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘I pray that the government allies will walk with Imran Khan’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed speaking with reporters outside Prime Minister House has said that he prays to God that the allies of the government support Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on the day of the no-confidence vote.

    Rasheed said that it is for the public to decide who will win the vote, on March 27 people will come out in support of Khan and the Opposition will see it as well.

    Speaking with reporters he further said that Khan has got cards in his hand as well. He will reveal them on March 27 and everyone will see them.

    Earlier it was reported that three major coalition partners of the government, Mutahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), have decided to part ways with the government ahead of the no-trust motion against PM Khan.

  • Political Situation: Remaining Pak vs Aus matches shifted from Rawalpindi to Lahore

    Political Situation: Remaining Pak vs Aus matches shifted from Rawalpindi to Lahore

    All T20I and ODI matches between Australia and Pakistan scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi have been relocated to Lahore, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed announced on Friday.

    The decision was taken amid rising political tensions in the Federal Capital. The Australian team will be provided with Presidental level security.

    “We are providing the Australian team with Presidential levels of security. All remaining matches have been moved to Lahore due to the prevalent political situation in the country. We are extremely grateful for the Australian team and they are our esteemed guests,” said Ahmed.

    The last Test match is scheduled to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from March 21-25. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on March 29.