Tag: The Current

  • Army major martyred, three terrorists killed in Balochistan operation

    Army major martyred, three terrorists killed in Balochistan operation

    The military’s media wing reported on Tuesday that a Pakistani army major was martyred and three terrorists were killed during a heavy exchange of fire between terrorists and army officials in the Sambaza area of Zhob district in Balochistan.

    Security officials conducted an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) in a remote area of Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

    The troops bravely attacked the terrorists’ location and killed three terrorists.

    However, ISPR said in a statement that 33-year-old Major Babar Khan was martyred while fighting fearlessly with the terrorists during the operation.

  • Politicians criticise, reject recent leaked property records

    Politicians criticise, reject recent leaked property records

    Zulfiqar Ali Badr, spokesperson for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has said that the Dubai properties of the former Foreign Minister and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari are declared before the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    The spokesperson said, “The entire world knows that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Aseefa Bibi grew up in exile.”

    His remarks came as a global team of investigative journalists revealed details of properties owned by the world’s elite in Dubai.

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticised the leaked property records, stating that there was “nothing new in them.”

    He also claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the names of prominent figures like Pervez Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz, Faisal Vawda, and others were also in the Panama leaks, which they didn’t ever deny.

    Similarly, independent senator Faisal Vawda stated on Tuesday that the “Dubai leaks” are part of propaganda, and the timing of the publication of the report is “questionable” as Pakistan is nearing attracting foreign investment.

  • PTI will protest countrywide against inflation, Khan warns government

    PTI will protest countrywide against inflation, Khan warns government

    Incarcerated former prime minister and founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, has warned the government that his party will launch countrywide protests if power and gas tariffs are increased.

    While talking to journalists in Adiala jail, Imran said that a country’s economy can’t stabilise if a government is not formed with the votes of the people.

    The former prime minister said that imposing more taxes will destabilise the country’s economy in the months of June and July. He further explained that as a big chunk of tax money went into paying off debt, it made investors hesitant to invest in Pakistan.

  • Supreme Court allows Khan to attend hearings via video link

    Supreme Court allows Khan to attend hearings via video link

    The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder chairman Imran Khan to attend hearings in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendments case through a video link.

    On September 15, 2023, while considering a petition filed by Imran Khan, the apex court invalidated amendments made to NAB laws.

    A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa, comprising Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Hassan Azhar, heard the government’s pleas challenging the NAB amendments verdict.

    The NAB prosecutor general said at the start of the hearing that the Bureau will support the government’s argument in this case.

    In response to this, Justice Athar Minallah said that Imran Khan wants to attend this case. “How can a respondent be barred from attending court proceedings?” he added.

    Justice Minallah further said, this is a matter of basic fundamental rights. 

  • ‘Who is behind transfer of judges’; Yasmin Rashid questions government

    ‘Who is behind transfer of judges’; Yasmin Rashid questions government

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) incarcerated leader Dr Yasmin Rashid asked the federal government on Tuesday who was repeatedly transferring the judges hearing her case and the cases of party workers.

    “If some innocent person is given bail, he is arrested again in a new case. This is not justice, this is political vengeance, and the PTI has been a victim of this for one year,” the imprisoned PTI leader said in a letter addressed to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.

    Dr Yasim said that one year had passed since the May 9 incident happened, and still, women PTI workers are in jail.

    The PTI leader questioned the “bogus government” as to why police did not show up with cases’ records and wondered where the prosecutor goes at the time of presenting arguments.

    She requested the CJP to make a judicial commission on May 9 as PTI workers have been waiting for justice for one year.

  • Khan wants General Asim Munir to apologise to him

    Khan wants General Asim Munir to apologise to him

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder chairman Imran Khan said in a post on X that “My abduction on the morning of May 9 was part of the London plan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir should apologise to me.”

    Imran Khan further said in the same post that “DG ISPR and the army chief are making political statements in a threating tone, which is affecting the army’s image.”

    “When political statements and press conferences are made, political parties have the right to respond,”  he added.

    The former Prime Minister also said that he will write a letter to COAS General Asim Munir about the economic and political situation of the money-strained country, Geo News has reported.

    While talking to journalists in Adiala jail on Monday, the former Premier said, “I will write a letter to the army chief on the [prevailing] situation in the country.”

    The remarks came about a few days after he assigned an “important responsibility” to former president Arif Alvi, who is continuously trying for better relations between PTI and the establishment.

    PTI founder assigned the responsibility of talks with the establishment to Alvi after declining the military’s demand to apologise for the May 9 violent protests. 

    On a question regarding the £190 million settlement case, the PTI founder said that Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had confiscated money, finding it “suspicious transactions” but not “money laundering.”

  • PM Shehbaz resigns as party president, paving way for Nawaz

    PM Shehbaz resigns as party president, paving way for Nawaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has resigned as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president, Geo News reported on Monday.

    The development comes after president PML-N Punjab chapter Rana Sanaullah announced that party supremo Nawaz Sharif will lead the party.

    PML-N’s central committee will meet on May 18 in Lahore at 11:30am.

    PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal sent notices to the central committee about the meeting under Article 15 of the party constitution.

    Nawaz Sharif stepped down as prime minister in 2017 when the Supreme Court (SC) disqualified him for life for not declaring his receivable salary.

    The apex court also disqualified Nawaz Sharif in 2018 as PML-N president in the Panama Papers case.

    The top court said in its verdict that a person can’t lead a political party who is disqualified under Articles 62 and 63.

    On January 8, 2024, the top court abolished bans on people with criminal charges from taking part in polls.

  • PM Shehbaz to meet IMF mission for new loan deal

    PM Shehbaz to meet IMF mission for new loan deal

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to meet the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission next week to talk about a new loan programme, ARY News reported on Monday. 

    Sources in ARY claimed that the prime minister is expected to talk about getting more money from lenders, and reassure the Fund about meeting targets in the new loan programme.

    They will discuss continuing stringent economic policies in the budget for the upcoming year.

    Pakistan is seeking a $6 to $8 billion bailout package from the international lender for three to four years to address its financial woes.

  • Grand dialogue needed to solve country’s problems, says Rana Sanaullah

    Grand dialogue needed to solve country’s problems, says Rana Sanaullah

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah said on Sunday that PML-N is committed to solving all political issues through dialogue, adding that the party is prepared for a comprehensive discussion with all political leaders, Express Tribune reported.

    The PML-N leader also said that we need a thorough discussion with all political parties to create a good and productive political environment for the progress of the country.

    “Unconditional talks were the only way to move forward and address critical challenges,”  he said.

    The Prime Minister’s adviser on political and public affairs maintained that the federal government is trying to convince the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to join the federal cabinet.

    “In my personal assessment, the PPP will join the cabinet,” Rana Sana added.

    Responding to a question, Sanaullah stated that Nawaz Sharif was likely be elected as the president of the party in the upcoming general council meeting, scheduled for May 28.

  • No legal, moral justification to restrict Zartaj Gul from travelling: IHC

    No legal, moral justification to restrict Zartaj Gul from travelling: IHC

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday ordered a hearing on the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Zartaj Gul to remove her name from the Exit Control List (ECL) to allow her to go for Hajj.

    There is no legal or moral justification to restrict Gul from travelling, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri remarked in his order.

    The court, in its order, stated that the Interior Secretary should appoint a senior officer who knows about the law to assist the court, and the authorised officer should be aware of the facts of the case in the next hearing along with the relevant records.

    The state lawyer said during the hearing that the petitioner secured bail in multiple protest cases and was not absconding.

    On April 18, an anti-terrorism court granted Zartaj interim bail in the May 9 case. After the lawyers presented their arguments, the judge granted interim bail to the PTI leader until May 10.