Tag: The Current

  • Tayyip Erdogan congratulates Asif Zardari on becoming president

    Tayyip Erdogan congratulates Asif Zardari on becoming president

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called newly-elected president Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday to congratulate him on becoming the head of state.

    The President’s Secretariat said in a statement that both leaders talked about important issues and agreed to work together for the betterment of the countries.

    President Zardari also thanked Erdogan for his phone call and best wishes.

    “President Asif Ali Zardari wished a happy Ramadan to the Turkish nation and desired to see the role of Turkish women in the Islamic world,” read the statement.

    He also expressed a desire to invite the Turkish President to Pakistan for a visit soon.

    Asif Zardari became president for the second time with a big majority on Saturday. He got 411 votes from parliament and the four assemblies.

    Besides the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the newly elected president had the backing of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-Pakistan), and other smaller parties.

  • President Zardari will not take salary as president

    President Zardari will not take salary as president

    The newly elected president, Asif Ali Zardari, has decided that he will not take salar in light of the economic crisis in Pakistan.

    President Zardari took the decision as the country is passing through a difficult time and the economy is not stable.

    President House said that Asif Ali Zardari has decided not to burden the national treasury and prefers not to take a salary.

    Zardari took the oath as the 14th president in a ceremony held at the President’s House on Sunday, with his children and grandson in attendance.

    The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, took the oath from the newly elected president. Political and military leaders, along with foreign ambassadors, attended the ceremony.

    A guard of honour was presented to the new president on the day after the swearing-in ceremony.

  • Asfand Yar Wali’s wife passes away in Charsadda

    Asfand Yar Wali’s wife passes away in Charsadda

    Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfand Yar Wali’s wife and mother of Aimal Wali Khan, has passed away on Monday in Charsadda.

    Funeral prayers were held in the ancestral home Wali Bagh. The deceased was buried near the graves of Khan Abdul Wali Khan and Begum Naseem Wali Khan.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali Khan, former chief minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilor, Sardar Hussain Babak, former senator Farhatullah Babar, former federal minister Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, former and current parliamentarians, and a large number of ANP workers attended the funeral prayers.

    Aimal Wali Khan lowered his mother’s body in the grave.

    The ANP president didn’t attend the funeral prayers due to illness.

  • Which federal portfolio are the ministers getting?

    Which federal portfolio are the ministers getting?

    The portfolios of the newly appointed federal cabinet were announced on Monday as four-time finance minister Ishaq Dar became foreign minister this time. Banker Muhammad Aurangzeb, one of the highest paid heads of a financial institute in the country, took charge as finance minister.

    The notification was issued after 19 members of the cabinet were sworn in on Monday. There are some new faces included in the newly formed cabinet.

    Ex-caretaker chief minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also being tipped to be elected as a member of the upper house of Parliament, has been appointed the interior minister, while Ahad Khan Cheema who had also served during the interim setup was allotted the portfolio of Economic Affairs with the additional portfolio of Establishment Division.

    Khawja Asif has been allotted the defence ministry, and he will also see to matters of defence production and aviation. Ahsan Iqbal will keep control of the ministry for planning, development, and special initiatives.

    On Monday, State Minister Shaza Fatima Khwaja didn’t receive a specific job, but on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Shehbaz gave her the Ministry of Information Technology.

  • Shebaz Sharif wants uninterrupted gas, power supply during Ramazan

    Shebaz Sharif wants uninterrupted gas, power supply during Ramazan

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities on Monday to ensure uninterrupted gas and power supply, aiming to help people during the holy month of Ramazan.

    In a high level meeting on the petroleum sector, the premier instructed officials to give all possible support to private sector, local, and foreign investors in exploring and refining gas and oil, as well as distributing these natural resources.

    Addressing the participants, Shehbaz said that the government is not meant to do businesses, rather its responsibility is to extend all kinds of facilities to the private sector and ensure protection of the rights of consumers, especially the vulnerable segments of society.

    The chief executive asked for steps to promote global investment in exploration of tight gas and undersea oil and gas reserves, regretting that Pakistan’s maritime area was huge in size when compared with Balochistan province, but no steps were taken to explore its hidden natural resources.

  • Asif Zardari elected as the 14th President of Pakistan

    Asif Zardari elected as the 14th President of Pakistan

    Lawmakers across Pakistan, the Senate, National Assembly, and the four provincial assemblies, cast their votes to elect the 14th president of the country and Asif Ali Zardari won by securing 411 votes.

    His opponent, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, secured 181 votes.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) orchestrated the process, which unfolded between 10 am and 4 pm, with meticulous arrangements in place.

    The presidential race sees former President Asif Ali Zardari, representing a coalition of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and other allied parties, vying for a potential second term. He faces stiff competition from Mahmood Khan Achakzai, President of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and the joint candidate of the opposition.

    Polling stations were set up within the respective houses of parliament, where the election took place through a secret ballot. The Parliament House in Islamabad accommodated senators and MNAs, while the four provincial assemblies served as polling stations for provincial lawmakers.

    During the voting process, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman acted as Zardari’s polling agent, while Senator Shafiq Tareen represented Achakzai. Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamir Farooq presided over the proceedings at the Parliament House, with notable figures like Zardari’s children, Bilawal, Bakhtawar, and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, in attendance.

    However, not all political parties participated in the election. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Jamaat-e-Islami decided against voting, citing concerns over the credibility of the process.

    The newly elected president of Pakistan is slated to be sworn in on Sunday at 4 pm at the President’s House. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa will administer the oath, with invitations already issued to guests for the ceremony.

    In the provincial assemblies, strict security measures were enforced to ensure a smooth and transparent electoral process. Election Commission members oversaw proceedings, guaranteeing fairness and peace throughout the voting.

    Despite tension and security concerns, the Election Commission upheld its decision to proceed with the scheduled polling, dismissing requests for postponement from opposition candidate Mahmood Achakzai. This commitment underscores the commission’s dedication to upholding democratic principles and adhering to electoral timelines.

  • SJC recommends not using  titles ‘judge’, ‘justice’ with Mazahar Naqvi’s name

    SJC recommends not using  titles ‘judge’, ‘justice’ with Mazahar Naqvi’s name

    A five-judge bench of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has released a 33-page detailed opinion on Friday,  stating that former judge of the apex court, Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, has committed misconduct. The council recommended his removal from office and advised against using the titles ‘Justice’ or ‘Judge’ with his name in the future.

    The SJC discovered that the judge committed several instances of misconduct, which harmed the reputation of the judiciary.

    While Mr Naqvi had resigned a day before the SJC began proceedings on nine complaints against him under Article 209(6), the council decided to continue with its proceedings, with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa saying it was “necessary to remove the misperception that the institution of judiciary is above the law”.
    The Supreme Judicial Council, led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, praised the Pakistan Bar Council (which oversees lawyers) and Advocate Mian Dawood for filing complaints to support the rule of law and accountability.

    The council found Naqvi guilty of violating his oath of office and the Code of Conduct for judges after at least five allegations made by the complainants were proven true.

    The council explained that it could not be stated that Mr Naqvi was “untouched by greed”, “was above reproach”, his conduct was “free from impropriety expected of a judge” in his official and private affairs and thus he violated Article II and III of the Code of Conduct. According to the SJC opinion, it was clear that he violated Article IV as his actions were swayed by consideration of “personal advantage”.

  • ‘It took me 12–13 years to make my place in PML-N’, says Maryam Nawaz

    ‘It took me 12–13 years to make my place in PML-N’, says Maryam Nawaz

    Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Friday that she struggled for 12 to 13 years to make her place in the male-dominated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    “My presence here is a message to mothers, daughters, and sisters that if you want to do something, then being a woman is not an obstacle in achieving your dreams,” Maryam said addressing an event related to the International Women’s Day in Lahore.

    The newly appointed chief minister expressed her wish for a woman to replace her in Punjab and also stated her desire for women to be elected to the chief executive’s office in other provinces as well.

    Maryam Nawaz took oath as the chief minister of an important province Punjab on February 26, and she is the first female chief minister in Pakistan.

    The PML-N vice president won the chief ministerial election after obtaining 220 votes in the provincial assembly.

  • Asif Zardari can win presidential polls easily

    Asif Zardari can win presidential polls easily

    The ruling coalition has calculated that its presidential candidate, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will get more than 400 votes as the upcoming presidential election is scheduled for Saturday, March 9. 

    Zardari is contesting against Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) head Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who is the presidential candidate for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). 

    Senate and National Assembly members will use secret ballots to vote at the Parliament House for the presidential elections, whipe polling will also take place in the four provincial assemblies.

    As many as 325 members of the National Assembly, 91 senators, 354 members of the Punjab Assembly, 157 members of the Sindh Assembly, 117 members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and 65 members of the Balochistan Assembly will cast their vote.

    The ruling coalition parties, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), National Party (NP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), have declared their support for Zardari while PTI-backed SIC and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen have assured their support to Achakzai.

  • SIC files petition in Sindh High Court for reserved seats

    SIC files petition in Sindh High Court for reserved seats

    The Sindh High Court (SHC) has on Friday accepted a plea filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) demanding the allocation of reserved seats for women and minorities in the province.

    The party, which was joined by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed independent candidates who had won the February 8 general elections to claim reserved seats, filed the plea today. 

    The court has decided to conduct a hearing urgently to assess the importance of the matter.

    On March 4, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said in its decision that SIC is not eligible to get reserved seats.

    After that, the party approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) which extended the stay order on the oath-taking ceremony of lawmakers and summoned Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan to appear before the court on the next hearing.