Tag: The Current

  • Ayaz Sadiq suspends two PTI-backed MNAs for using foul language

    Ayaz Sadiq suspends two PTI-backed MNAs for using foul language

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq took action against two lawmakers on Friday for making inappropriate gestures during a joint parliamentary session . He suspended the membership of Jamshed Ahmad Khan Dasti and Muhammad Iqbal Khan, who are backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) after they used abusive language during President Asif Ali Zardari’s speech.

    PTI-SIC lawmakers staged a strong protest and created a ruckus during the maiden joint sitting of parliament on Thursday after the February 8 nationwide elections, which was addressed by President Zardari in which he stressed the need for political reconciliation.

    The NA speaker introduced a motion in the lower house of parliament to suspend two members.

    The motion, which was read by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, stated that both MNAs used “abusive language” and approached the dais of the speaker in a “threatening manner”, which was an “unacceptable” action.

  • By-polls: Punjab requests suspension of mobile internet on polling day

    By-polls: Punjab requests suspension of mobile internet on polling day

    Punjab has requested the interior ministry on Saturday to shut down mobile networks and internet services in 13 districts and tehsils of the province on April 21, citing security concerns.

    The request has been made to maintain law and order in the province and avoid any untoward incidents.

    The provincial home department wrote a letter to the interior ministry for the suspension of internet on April 21 as multiple districts and constituencies are set to witness the conduct of by-polls after more than two months of February 8 general polls.

  • 14 members of Balochistan cabinet takes oath today

    14 members of Balochistan cabinet takes oath today

    Fourteen members of the Balochistan cabinet took oath today in a ceremony held at the Governor’s House in Quetta.

    Those who took the oath include Sadiq Umrani, Ali Madad Jattak, Zahoor Buledi, Noor Muhammad Dumar, Sardar Faisal Jamali, Sarfraz Domki, Abdul Rehman Khetran, Saleem Khosa, Asim Kurd Gello, Bakht Kakar, Tariq Magsi, Shoaib Nosherwani, Raheel Durrani, and Zia Langau.

    On March 2, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sardar Sarfraz Bugti took oath as the Chief Minister (CM) of Balochistan.

  • PTI leaders declare president, prime minister ‘illegal’ after first joint parliament session

    PTI leaders declare president, prime minister ‘illegal’ after first joint parliament session

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub Khan has declared the head of state, Asif Ali Zardari, “illegal” after the President’s first speech in parliament on Thursday.

    Zardari stressed the importance of meaningful dialogue between political parties to reduce the political crisis in Pakistan in his speech.

    The PTI leader raised questions on Article 41 of the Constitution, which states that a President is a representative of the federation, pointing out that Asif Ali Zardari hasn’t resigned as co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) as of yet.

    “Law is being violated in this House,” the PTI leader said that he tried to raise a point being a leader of the opposition, but he was denied the floor.

    “As per the law, the floor is given to the opposition leader whenever he asks,” he added.

    On the other hand, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also criticized him, saying that “We do not recognize this president [Zardari]. [Not only this president, but Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the entire cabinet are also illegal.”

  • Motorcyclist killed in collision with Maryam Nawaz’s protocol’s vehicle

    Motorcyclist killed in collision with Maryam Nawaz’s protocol’s vehicle

    A speeding vehicle of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz’s motorcade reportedly caused the death of a motorcyclist at the Chandowal Stop on Shakargarh Road, Narowal, Dawn reported on Friday.

    The CM was heading to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur to join in the three-day Baisakhi festival celebrations. As her motorcade travelled from Narowal to Kartarpur, an Elite Force vehicle collided with a motorcyclist coming from the opposite direction. The motorcyclist, 23-year-old Abubakar from Jassar Town, lost his life on the scene.

    The CM’s motorcade did not stop to take the injured to the hospital.

    Ali Rizwan, a cousin of the accident victim, told Dawn that Abubakar was on his way to the gas station where he worked. He expressed frustration that no officials stopped their car to help the injured Abubakar, nor did they call Rescue 1122. Instead, he noted with disappointment that police officers arrived at the scene after the incident and washed away the blood from the road to eliminate the evidence.

  • Your mobile SIM will be blocked if registered on invalid CNIC

    Your mobile SIM will be blocked if registered on invalid CNIC

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has ordered the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to block all phone SIMs that are registered on an invalid or expired identity card.

    The security czar visited the NADRA headquarters on Thursday in Islamabad and directed authorities to establish NADRA offices all over Pakistan, just as the model police stations were established in Punjab.

    He also stated that by establishing model NADRA offices, service delivery will be enhanced.

  • Five customs officers killed in firing incident in DI Khan

    Five customs officers killed in firing incident in DI Khan

    Local police have confirmed on Thursday that a firing incident in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) claimed the lives of six people, including five customs officers.

    Police officials stated that unknown attackers targeted the officers at Sago Road in Daraban tehsil of the district.

    Five customs officers and one passer-by were killed in the firing incident, police added.

    Attackers armed with weapons hid in bushes, then attacked the vehicle and quickly escaped on motorcycles without being stopped.

    Due to the attack, the driver of the customs vehicle lost control and collided with another vehicle, resulting in the death of the citizen.

    The bodies of the six individuals were shifted to the district headquarters hospital (DHQ).

    Police officials cordoned off the area of the incident, and investigations have started.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur strongly condemned the incident, expressing regret over the deaths

  • Nawaz ‘was not’ ready to become prime minister for fourth time, says senior PML-N leader

    Nawaz ‘was not’ ready to become prime minister for fourth time, says senior PML-N leader

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Senator Irfan Siddiqui has said that former prime minister and party supremo Nawaz Sharif wasn’t ready to become prime minister for the fourth time.  

    “It was Nawaz’s own decision to not become the prime minister,” Siddiqui said while speaking on Geo News’ programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath on Wednesday.

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif became the country’s prime minister for the second time following the party’s nomination after Nawaz decided against running for the coveted post after returning to the country following a four-year self-imposed exile from London.

    The party eagerly awaited the veteran politician’s return and built its election campaign around him. They portrayed him as a saviour who could tackle the country’s problems and guide it to prosperity.

    After the February 8 polls, where major political parties like PML-N, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independent candidates, and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) didn’t win enough seats for a clear majority in the National Assembly, PML-N chose Shehbaz as their candidate for prime minister.

  • Non-formal education will be provided to out-of-school children in Sindh, says Sindh education minister

    Non-formal education will be provided to out-of-school children in Sindh, says Sindh education minister

    Sindh Minister for Education and Mines & Minerals, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, announced on Wednesday that out-of-school children in the province will be provided a facility to complete their studies through a non-formal education strategy. Geo reported on Wednesday.

    A non-formal education authority will be established, which will work with the collaboration of UNICEF and through public-private partnerships. 

    The remarks came during a meeting on Wednesday in Karachi with Education Secretary Sindh Zahid Ali Abbasi and other officials.

    Education minister explained that through a non-formal strategy, a child who is out of school will complete his/her education up to eighth grade within four years. He also said that almost two million children in Sindh will be able to get benefit from the facility.

    He also stated that Sindh is the only province that will take initiatives for out-of-school children in the form of non-formal education.

    He stated that non-formal education centres will be established in areas where the number of out-of-school children is high.

  • NAB clears Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana reference

    NAB clears Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana reference

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has cleared Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif of any wrongdoing in the Toshakhana vehicle reference.

    The anti-graft body has requested the accountability court to clear the former prime minister of any charges. The court directed NAB to include PML-N leaders in the investigation.

    The court may acquit Nawaz Sharif from the Toshakhana reference, as the watchdog stated in its report submitted before the court today, highlighting that the car in question was not a part of the Toshakhana at the time of purchase by the former prime minister.

    The anti-corruption body found that the Saudi government gave a car to then-Prime Minister Nawaz in 1997, which he deposited in Toshakhana.

    The report stated that in 2008, then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani offered Nawaz Sharif to buy the same car.

    Therefore, the PML-N head didn’t buy the car from Toshakhana. Instead, he bought it from the federal transport pool. According to the NAB report, Nawaz Sharif didn’t use a fake account to buy a car.