Tag: The Current

  • PPP distances itself from PML-N’s defamation bill 2024

    PPP distances itself from PML-N’s defamation bill 2024

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Wednesday decided to distance itself from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on the defamation bill 2024, SAMAA has reported.

    PPP leader Ali Haider Gillani has said that “The PPP was not taken on board over the defamation bill. The PPP has never wanted to become a part of the defamation bill.”

    Gilani said that party lawmakers were absent during the bill’s approval.

    “It was the directive of the party leadership for the lawmakers to remain absent during the bill’s approval,” said Gilani.

    Earlier, a few days ago, the Punjab government had proposed the defamation bill 2024 in the Punjab Assembly, which was criticised by masses across the country.

    Punjab Information Minister, Azma Bukhari, said on Wednesday, while addressing a press conference, that “Now, nobody will be allowed to insult others on social media. The affected person can file an application through the tribunal. The defamation case will have to wrap up within 180 days.”

    “Three proceedings will be held in 21 days,” she said.

    She said, “There is a dire need to end the process of hurling allegations against each other.”

  • Dr Yasmin Rashid shifted to hospital from jail

    Dr Yasmin Rashid shifted to hospital from jail

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Dr Yasmin Rashid was shifted on Wednesday to Services Hospital as her health worsened in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail, where she has been incarcerated since months.

    Hospital administration confirmed to Geo News that the senior politician had felt abdominal pain and was then shifted to the hospital for medical tests.

    Doctors will observe the cancer survivor for 24 hours to confirm stability.

    The Kot Lakhpat jail’s medical officer released a document declaring Yasmin Rashid a “critical prisoner.” As per the issued document, the senior politician hasn’t eaten anything since Wednesday morning.

    Dr Yasmin is reportedly also dehydrated due to continuous vomiting at the jail.

    The senior PTI leader has been in jail for months in cases linked with the May 9 violent protests that erupted last year after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a corruption case.

  • IT ministry demands Rs20 billion to improve country’s cybersecurity, social media

    IT ministry demands Rs20 billion to improve country’s cybersecurity, social media

    The federal government has sought Rs20 billion for the next fiscal year to improve the country’s cybersecurity and manage social media. According to the proposal, the government will only allow social media platforms to operate if they establish local offices.

    The Ministry of Information Technology has demanded Rs20 billion for the Digital Information Infrastructure Initiative (DIII) in the 2024-25 fiscal year budget, according to government sources who spoke to The Express Tribune.

    The Express Tribune requested comments from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Information Technology, but they did not respond. Government sources also revealed that Rs15 billion has already been allocated as a technical supplementary grant to the information technology ministry for the current fiscal year.

    However, the total cost of the DIII project, which is equipped with Chinese technology, is Rs38 billion. The government is spending a significant amount this year, and the remaining amount has been requested for the next fiscal year.

  • Security forces killed 29 terrorists over last month: ISPR

    Security forces killed 29 terrorists over last month: ISPR

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Wednesday that security forces have killed almost 29 terrorists over the last month along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area.

    The intelligence-based operations were carried out in response to a “surge in terrorist incidents orchestrated from Afghan soil, wherein terrorists from Afghanistan attempt to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan Border and target security forces as well as the innocent civilians.”

    The military’s media wing also stated that security forces conducted operations in Balochistan’s Zhob district and other border areas.

  • PTI’s spokesperson Raoof Hassan attacked by unknown people in Islamabad

    PTI’s spokesperson Raoof Hassan attacked by unknown people in Islamabad

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central spokesperson, Raoof Hassan, was attacked on Tuesday by transgender people in Sitara Market, Islamabad.

    “Extremely shameful and deplorable,” the party said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, adding: “Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan attacked by unknown persons outside the office of a private channel.”

    It is not known why Hassan was attacked.

    In another statement, PTU said that if the spokesperson of the “largest party” is not safe and can be attacked in the capital city, then “what can we make of the safety of others? ”

    The attackers used a sharp instrument to injure Raoof Hassan and escaped easily after the incident.

    On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and information minister Attaullah Tarar condemned the attack and urged a thorough investigation into the incident.

  • Chaudhry Parvez Elahi released from Kot Lakhpat jail after months

    Chaudhry Parvez Elahi released from Kot Lakhpat jail after months

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) president Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was released on Tuesday after being detained in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail for months, Geo has reported.

    The development comes after the Lahore High Court (LHC) approved the bail of the senior politician in the Punjab Assembly illegal recruitment case. Justice Sultan Tanvir of the LHC announced the decision on Elahi’s bail request.

    After the release, the PTI president reached his residence in Lahore.

    Parvez Elahi was arrested after May 9 events, when authorities cracked down on the opposition party.

    Earlier last year, on May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    The protesters attacked public and private properties, including military installations, in multiple cities across the country. In prominent locations, General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi and Jinnah House Lahore are included, where violent protesters attacked.

    However, the PTI president said that the people of Gujarat “had to suffer a lot of abuse and cruelty”. He also stated that PTI’s mandate was stolen in his home city. “We will not talk to [Chaudhry] Shujaat sahib’s children until our mandate is given back to us.”

    “I was, am, and will stand with the founder of PTI,” he added.

  • Court rejects plea seeking Khan’s disqualification in Tyrian White case

    Court rejects plea seeking Khan’s disqualification in Tyrian White case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed a plea seeking Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s disqualification in the Tyrian White case.

    A new IHC bench heard the petition filed against Imran Khan for not revealing his alleged daughter in the nomination papers for contesting the 2018 general elections.

    Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Arbab Mohammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz heard the case today.

    The Tyrian White case was pending since May 2023, when IHC chief justice Aamer Farooq dissolved the three-member bench hearing the petition.

    Earlier, IHC CJ Aamer Farooq, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir were hearing the case and had reserved the verdict on March 30 last year.

    However, Justice Kayani and Justice Tahir wrote an opinion rejecting the petition’s validity and posted it on the IHC’s website, but it was later taken down.

    On the other hand, during today’s hearing, the court said that the petition against Imran Khan’s disqualification had already been rejected by the bench.

    “The majority decision has already been issued,” remarked the court.

  • Lahore High Court grants bail to Parvez Elahi

    Lahore High Court grants bail to Parvez Elahi

    Former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi received significant relief on Tuesday when Lahore High Court (LHC) approved his bail application in a case involving illegal appointments in Punjab Assembly.
    Justice Sultan Tanveer Ahmad of the LHC announced the decision on the reserved verdict.

    During the hearing, Parvez Elahi’s counsel argued that the former Punjab chief minister did not receive any money from candidates in exchange for hiring them. He alleged that the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) framed Parvez Elahi with fabricated evidence.

    In contrast, the ACE lawyer maintained that the case against Elahi is lawful, and he was arrested on October 25, 2023.
    According to an ACE spokesperson, Elahi made 12 illegal recruitments in the Punjab Assembly for grade 17 positions.
    The candidates were hired in the Punjab Assembly by illegally altering records.

  • Civilians’ military trials are ‘no-no’ under international law, says Amnesty International

    Civilians’ military trials are ‘no-no’ under international law, says Amnesty International

    Amnesty International’s Secretary General Dr Agnès Callamard said on Tuesday that according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, military courts can not conduct trials of civilians.

    In an exclusive interview with Dawn, Dr Agnès Callamard, who is on an official visit to South Asia, said that conducting civilian’s trials in military courts is a “no-no” under international law; “sadly it has happened throughout Pakistan’s political history… [and] is not a novelty”.

    Dr. Callamard said that Pakistan must maintain its international obligations and follow the country’s constitution for fair trials. She stressed the importance of transparency, due process, and urged Pakistan to protect civilians’ rights. 

    “The use of military courts is threatening the constitutionality of what’s happening right now,” she said.

    Talking about the ban on X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan, she said yhat Amnesty is quite concerned by constricting space for freedom of speech in Pakistan.

  • Islamabad High Court to hear petition against Dar’s appointment as deputy PM

    Islamabad High Court to hear petition against Dar’s appointment as deputy PM

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) today against the appointment of Ishaq Dar as deputy prime minister, ARY News has reported. 

    IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will hear the plea filed by PTI’s Sher Afzal Marwat.

    In the submitted petition, the famous PTI leader said that the appointment of Dar as deputy prime minister is illegal because the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader is also working as the foreign minister.

    “The office of the deputy prime minister is unconstitutional, and there is no provision in the Constitution of 1973 that allows the Prime Minister to appoint someone as his deputy,” the PTI leader added.