Tag: The Current

  • ‘We will not hold secret dialogue with military establishment’, says Ali Amin Gandapur

    ‘We will not hold secret dialogue with military establishment’, says Ali Amin Gandapur

    Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur said on Wednesday that he was part of the panel nominated by founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan authorised to hold dialogue with the military establishment.

    “We won’t keep anything [regarding negotiations with the establishment] secret,” Mr Gandapur told reporters after attending a Labour Day event at a hotel in Peshawar.

    “Imran Khan formed a committee and gave us permission to hold talks with the establishment,” he said.

    He also said he is happy to see Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Mulana Fazlur Rehman speaking the truth about election rigging.

    He also criticised in a sarcastic way that the JUI-F chief was part of almost every government, therefore, he will reveal secrets.

    He stated that Fazl first claimed that he ousted Imran Khan’s government but later blamed former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for it, so he should speak more about it.

  • Foreign companies seem uninterested in buying shares of PIA

    The privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has started, but foreign companies do not seem interested in buying most of its shares, The Express Tribune reported on Wednesday.

    Sources claimed that only two companies from Gulf countries sent investment documents by depositing $5,000.

    However, both companies have not submitted applications for tenders yet. The last day to submit applications for tenders for PIA’s privatisation is May 3rd.

    Sources within the Privatisation Commission confirmed that they will probably extend the deadline by a month for submitting applications for PIA tenders.

    Officials responsible for privatisation, including the financial adviser for the national carrier, lack experience in attracting foreign investment.

    Pakistani authorities have not received messages about the process yet.

  • Bilawal Bhutto not in favour of privatising PIA

    Bilawal Bhutto not in favour of privatising PIA

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed his opposition to the Shehbaz Sharif-led government’s privatisation policy for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).

    The PPP chairman said at a Labour Day event in Karachi that his party will try to convince Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to revive PIA through a public-private partnership instead of privatising it.

    On the other hand, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged the Pakistani government to privatise state-owned enterprises to revive the country’s economy.

    However, the finance minister has laid emphasis many times on the importance of privatising state-owned enterprises, including PIA and PSM, for the betterment of the economy.

    Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also said that it will be an “unconstitutional step” if the federal government privatises PIA.

    Former senator Raza Rabbani further clarified that the government’s agenda of privatisation was “unacceptable” to the PPP.

  • US reassures Pakistan of its support to end terrorism

    US reassures Pakistan of its support to end terrorism

    The United States (US) has reassured Pakistan once again of its support to end terrorism in the country for the safety of citizens and protection of human rights, Geo reported on Wednesday.

    “We support Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and the protection of human rights,” US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a press briefing.

  • Six policemen injured in attack in Taunsa

    Six policemen injured in attack in Taunsa

    Six security officials got injured, with one of them in critical condition, after terrorists attacked a police checkpoint in Taunsa Sharif on Wednesday morning.

    The police confirmed that terrorists attacked Hazrat Umar Farooq, also known as Jhangi checkpost, in the Wahova area of Dera Ghazi Khan, near Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    Following the attack, law enforcement agencies swiftly reached the spot and surrounded the area. They then initiated a search operation to apprehend the perpetrators. The injured officials were promptly transported to the Taunsa Sharif THQ Hospital for medical treatment.

    Chief minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz condemned the attack and ordered top-notch medical treatment for wounded security officials.

    She also appreciated the efforts of police officials to tackle terrorism in the country.

  • Sher Afzal Marwat will be new PAC chairman, announces Gohar Khan

    Sher Afzal Marwat will be new PAC chairman, announces Gohar Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has announced the name of party leader Sher Afzal Marwat as the new chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), putting an end to internal conflicts within the party.

    The PTI chairman told journalists in Rawalpindi that “All disputes are over [now] as the party has picked Marwat for the slot.”

    Last week, opposition leader in parliament and PTI member Omar Ayub Khan said that Sher Afzal Marwat should be the chairman of PAC, as PTI’s founder Imran Khan had suggested his name.

    Earlier, PTI senior leader Sardar Latif Khosa announced the name of Hamid Khan as the new chairman of the PAC.

    PTI formed a committee of three party members on Tuesday, including chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur, Shibli Faraz, and Omar Ayub, to hold a dialogue with the military establishment.

  • Rana Sanaullah likely to become interior adviser

    Rana Sanaullah likely to become interior adviser

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) made another important decision after making Ishaq Dar the deputy prime minister of the country.

    Sources have told Samaa that PML-N leader and former federal minister Rana Sanaullah is likely to be given an important role. The government may appoint him as interior advisor, the sources claimed.

    The senior leadership of PML-N wants to see Rana Sanaullah in the interior ministry, and this responsibility will be given to Rana Sanaullah after the approval of former prime minister and PML-N head Nawaz Sharif. 

    The inclusion of Rana Sanaullah in the federal cabinet may also lead to a shuffle in the ministries. 

    Earlier, two days ago, the prime minister of the country, Shehbaz Sharif, appointed Ishaq Dar as the deputy prime minister of Pakistan.

    Ishaq Dar currently has two designations, as he is also the foreign minister of the country.

  • Former minister Fawad Chaudhry denies leaving PTI

    Former minister Fawad Chaudhry denies leaving PTI

    Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry has denied leaving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and clarified that those who have left the party will rejoin in the future. 

    Fawad was speaking to journalists within the premises of the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi. Former PTI leader Shireen Mazari was also present in the premises as multiple party leaders were charged after May 9 instances. 

    Fawad also said while talking to the media that he appeared before the court in relation to the May 9 violent protests case. “When our turn comes, we will tell our story,” he said.

    The former federal minister also suggested that PTI hold talks with all stakeholders, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman.

  • NAB clears Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, others in LNG reference

    NAB clears Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, others in LNG reference

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has cleared former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) reference on Tuesday. The court declared all other suspects innocent in the same reference.

    Abbasi was arrested by NAB in 2019 for allegedly causing a loss of 21 billion rupees to the national exchequer me

    The NAB inquiry revealed that M/S Engro was awarded the LNG terminal at Karachi Port and contracts for LNG regasification by Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) through non-transparent practices. Both Abbasi and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif faced accusations of misusing their powers in awarding these LNG contracts.

    Despite inquiries and accusations, Abbasi has maintained his innocence, stating that there were no irregularities in the LNG contract and stating the necessity of LNG exports in 2013.

  • Who does Khan trust the most in PTI?

    Who does Khan trust the most in PTI?

    Imran Khan revealed the names while speaking to journalists in Adiala jail on Monday.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) designated three PTI members, including Chief Misinter Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur and opposition leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz to talk with the military establishment.

    The former prime minister and PTI founder, Imran Khan, confirmed the names of these three individuals while speaking to journalists in Adiala jail during the hearing of the £190m corruption case.

    On the question of holding talks with establishment, the former prime minister said: “I have authorised Ali Amin, Omar Ayub, and Shibli Faraz for these dialogues.”

    Khan also made it clear in front of the media that only these three PTI leaders are designated to talk with the military establishment.

    Imran Khan also told journalists that he never disrespected state institutions, despite court orders asking him not speaking against them. He also said that these directives from the court are against his fundamental rights protected by the Constitution.

    Imran claimed that confusion regarding the name of the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will end today.