Tag: The Current

  • Court wants Imran Khan, Qureshi presented before judge

    Court wants Imran Khan, Qureshi presented before judge

    A district and sessions court approved a request on Friday to bring Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi to court. The court directed authorities to make sure that the politicians appear in court on April 20th.

    Judicial Magistrate Mureed Abbas heard the petition for the production of evidence in the Parliament attack case involving Imran Khan and others. During the hearing, Naeem Panjotha, the lawyer representing the former prime minister, presented his arguments.

    The lawyer argued that the Superintendent of Adiala jail does not obey the order of any court. He insisted the court ensure that jail officials adhere to the orders and produce Khan.

    He also said that jail authorities come up with excuses and don’t even arrange for a video link hearing for the PTI founder.

    The judicial magistrate, following Panjotha’s arguments, said Khan is in Adiala jail and the situation is different, and while the option of video link is there, the attendance takes place in the e-court.

  • Gandapur gets bail; arrest warrants suspended

    Gandapur gets bail; arrest warrants suspended

    An Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad has given permission for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to be granted pre-arrest bail in the judicial complex vandalism case. Meanwhile, the Sessions Court has stopped his arrest warrants in cases filed at Bani Gala and Golra police stations in Islamabad.

    The ATC granted Gandapur interim bail until April 17, approving his pre-arrest bail request.

    Gandapur’s lawyer Raja Zahoorul Hassan told the court his client was named in the first information report (FIR), but he had no role in the vandalism incident as he was not present on the scene. The lawyer further revealed that despite facing 50 FIRs, Gandapur was not even being allowed to reach the court.

    However, Gandapur turned himself in to the Sessions Court in Islamabad, which led to the cancellation of the arrest warrants issued against him in cases filed at Bani Gala and Golra police stations.

  • Drama stirs up as Khan’s presence in  Punjab Assembly takes stage

    Drama stirs up as Khan’s presence in  Punjab Assembly takes stage

    Imran Khan, incarcerated founder of PTI, caused chaos in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday as a portrait of the former prime minister was placed on the opposition leader’s seat, leading to disorder in the house. Members of the treasury walked out after the chair refused to take any action.

    During Thursday’s budget session, which resumed after a two-day break, Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar chaired the session. PML-N lawmakers Malik Waheed and Bilal Yameen protested when they saw Mr. Khan’s portrait on opposition leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachhar’s seat.

    On a point of order, they demanded the chair remove the portrait of a person “who has been convicted by a court of law and is still behind bars.” They claimed that bringing the picture of a convict into the house was against assembly rules.

    The chair advised the protesters to join the budget session instead of raising objections. However, the two PML-N members kept protesting, interrupting the session. They then left when the deputy speaker didn’t make a decision about the portrait.

  • Government likely to extend new IMF programme for three years, says Shehbaz Sharif

    Government likely to extend new IMF programme for three years, says Shehbaz Sharif

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has indicated that the government is likely to extend the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme for three years.

    “The new tranche of loan is likely to be received from the IMF in a few days, however, we would need another programme,” he said while addressing a session of the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s (SIFC) apex committee attended by civil-military leadership on Thursday.

    Shehbaz Sharif also stated that the presence of civil-military leadership, including elected lawmakers, in the session is a clear message of unity, development, and prosperity for the country.

    The PM also said that the former coalition government, comprised of 13 political parties, prioritised the country over politics.

    “There are major challenges to national economy. The SIFC is an important platform which was primarily establishment to remove hurdles in foreign investments, and it held several meetings during the last eight months.” Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir played vital role in SIFC’s formation, he added.

  • PTI’s Barrister Gohar didn’t accept Hammad Azhar’s resignation

    PTI’s Barrister Gohar didn’t accept Hammad Azhar’s resignation

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has decided not to accept the resignation letter of senior PTI leader Hammad Azhar, as per SAMMA

    Khan said: “I cannot accept Hammad Azhar’s resignation during the ongoing situation.”

    “Currently, we will not accept the resignation from the party posts, nor do we have any intent of doing so.”

    Hammad left his party positions including PTI’s Punjab president and general secretary.

    “I will continue to work for the PTI as a party worker. I have decided to resign after thinking a lot,” Azhar said.

    Hammad Azhar has been declared a proclaimed offender in the May 9 case.

  • PTI hired lobbyists to malign Pakistan, alleges Attaullah Tarar

    PTI hired lobbyists to malign Pakistan, alleges Attaullah Tarar

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday denounced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for allegedly masterminding the cipher conspiracy for his own gains. He said that the party hired a lobbying firm for the recent US Congress hearing involving Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State.

    Testifying before a Congressional panel yesterday, the top US diplomat said: “I wanna be very clear on this point [that] this conspiracy theory is a lie [and] it is a complete falsehood.”
    The federal information minister condemned PTI for its anti-state narrative, including recent protests that took place outside the headquarters of International Monetary Fund (IMF). He said the sole purpose of the protests were to derail the debt agreement talks currently being finalized.

    “The PTI hired lobbyists in the United States for a congress hearing on the so-called regime change conspiracy, but their leader could not evade divine justice,” he said citing a proverb “man proposes and God disposes”.

    He pointed out that historically Pakistan had rarely witnessed an instance where a person would jeopardize national interests for his own ego, pointing towards Imran Khan.

    PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Khan talked with the media outside the High Court and said that the protests outside the IMF’S headquarters in the US were organized by overseas Pakistanis and that the party did not send anyone from Pakistan to organize it.

  • Ex-Army Chief Bajwa threatens PML-N’s Khawaja Asif

    Ex-Army Chief Bajwa threatens PML-N’s Khawaja Asif

    Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif revealed on Shahzeb Khanzada’s show last night that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa threatened him that he would hold a press conference against him after the minister’s criticism about the previous army chief’s policy of rehabilitating Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants back into the country.

    Khawaja Asif pointed out that when the former army chief previously gave a briefing to the parliament,
    “A rosy picture was painted that if the Taliban were to return to Pakistan, it would usher in a new era of peace and brotherhood.”
    He further said “Its not wrong or blasphemous of me to suggest that they return to the same forum and explain.”

    Asif said that he did not insult anyone by asking that Bajwa and Gen (ret.) Faiz Hameed be summoned before the national parliament to give a briefing about their flawed policy. He reiterated, “What Pakistan is currently going through is basically a ‘continuity’ of that infamous briefing that the ex-generals gave us.”

    When the anchor asked him whether he received any advice from his party to stay away from this topic, he replied that they did not, and it is a matter of principle for him.

  • Hammad Azhar resigns from PTI Punjab President post

    Hammad Azhar resigns from PTI Punjab President post

    Hammad Azhar, senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), voluntarily resigned from his roles as acting Punjab President and General Secretary on Wednesday, citing legal cases and the challenges the party is currently facing as the reason for the surprise decision.

    The politician, who was once a federal minister during the PTI regime, submitted his resignation letter to PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan and Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan. He said that he’s staying underground because of cases and raids, and he believes the party would benefit more from leadership that’s actively present on the ground.

    “It has been an honour, but it would be selfish of me to continue while I am still in hiding and unable to represent the party even on television. In my opinion, at this stage, the party would be best served by a leadership in Punjab that is able to be present on the ground and lead from the front,” he stated in the letter.

    Leadership ought to have the opportunity to be on television and directly meet the founding chairman, Imran Khan, Hammad observed, pointing out that he lacks this access and permission.

  • Gen Asim Munir, Saudi Prince Muhammad Bin Salman discuss military cooperation

    Gen Asim Munir, Saudi Prince Muhammad Bin Salman discuss military cooperation

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz on Wednesday to discuss military cooperation between both countries.

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a press release saying that the army chief met with the Saudi prince during an official visit to the Gulf Kingdom.

    “Wide-ranging issues of mutual interest, including regional peace and security and bilateral defence and security cooperation, came under discussion,” the ISPR statement read.

    During the meeting, the prince stressed that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan shared strong and brotherly relations with each other, adding that they stood for each other. 

    After that, the COAS thanked the Saudi prince for his warm sentiments and support towards Pakistan.

    According to state-run Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Minister of Defence Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, National Security Advisor Dr Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Chief of General Intelligence Khalid bin Ali Al-Humaidan, Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Malki attended the meeting.

  • Mohsin Naqvi seeks to review social media laws amid nationwide X disruption

    Mohsin Naqvi seeks to review social media laws amid nationwide X disruption

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has sought a review of social media laws to prevent misuse, as the popular social networking platform X has been disrupted nationwide for over a month.

    X, formerly Twitter, is not accessible to millions of Pakistani citizens without a VPN, getting suspended before the February 8 general elections.

    “Social media laws should be envisaged,” Naqvi said while speaking to journalists in Lahore on Tuesday, adding that “social media is being misused. Social media regulations have been implemented across the globe.”

    Mohsin Naqvi also said that it is necessary to maintain a difference between freedom of expression and spreading propaganda. “Everyone has the right to freedom of speech; however, it should not be misused.”

    The interior minister also said smear campaigns against politicians, the judiciary, and other national institutions should be stopped, further adding that there should be the implementation of social media laws in the country.