Tag: The Current

  • Nawaz Sharif will be arrested if not granted bail, says Sarfraz Bugti

    Nawaz Sharif will be arrested if not granted bail, says Sarfraz Bugti

    The caretaker interior minister, Sarfraz Bugti, has said that Pakistan Muslim Leauge- Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will be arrested on his return in case he is not granted bail.

    The former prime minister has been in London since 2019, and recently he announced his return on October 21.

    On the other hand, PML-N leader and former interior minister Rana Sanaullah responded to Sarfraz Bugti’s statement by saying that the interior minister should not cross his limits.

    Bugti said on Tuesday that if Nawaz Sharif is not granted bail, officials can arrest him at the airport.

    Reacting to Bugti’s statement, Rana Sanaullah said, “Sarfraz Bugti should see the fate of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid before issuing such remarks”.

    “Don’t try to elevate your political stature by making statements about Nawaz Sharif,” Sanaullah said, asking Bugti to stop worrying about Nawaz and concentrate on his duties.

    The former interior minister has also stated that on October 21, the interior minister will not decide where Nawaz would go from the airport.

    PML-N information secretary, Marriyum Aurangzeb, also gave a warning to Sarfraz Bugti by saying, “Mr Sarfraz Bugti, speak according to your political stature. Where Nawaz Sharif has to go from the airport is neither your problem nor your decision”. 

    In response to all the statements given by the PML-N leader, the caretaker interior minister clarified his statement and said, “My statement was given a political colour, out of context. The caretaker government has no political agenda”.

    He also observed that a larger number of PML-N supporters will welcome Nawaz Sharif on October 21.

  • Khan, Qureshi will remain behind bars till October 10 in cipher case: Court

    Khan, Qureshi will remain behind bars till October 10 in cipher case: Court

    A special court established under the Official Secret Act has extended the judicaila remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi till October 10 in the cipher case on Tuesday.

    The PTI Chairman and Vice Chairman will remain behind bars for the next 14 days.

    The hearing was conducted by Judge Abdul Hasnat Zulqarnain at the Attock jail.

    PTI lawyers Barrister Salman Safdar, Latif Khosa, Umer Niazi, and Naeem Panjutha attended the hearing, while the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team was also present there.

    After that, the court extended the judicial remand of both leaders until October 10.

    The FIA booked both PTI Chairman and Vice Chairman last month for allegedly misusing a top secret document for political gain.

    “Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in the secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” reads the First Information Report (FIR) registered against the PTI leaders.

  • There is space for a new political party, says PMLN’s Khaqan Abbasi

    There is space for a new political party, says PMLN’s Khaqan Abbasi

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has criticised the performance of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, stating that there is a need for a new political party in the country.

    “The ability of quick decision making was not seen in the Shehbaz-led government as it should have been,” Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said while referring to the previous coalition government.

    The PML-N leader has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government didn’t take initiatives to give relief to the people of Pakistan. On the other hand, he also criticised the previous coalition government and his own party, PML-N, for not taking meaningful steps to resolve the issues Pakistan is facing.

    Due to the current situation of the country, there is space and a need for a new political party, he remarked.

    “The PDM government didn’t take the decisions that should have been taken,” he said.

    Abbasi stated that PTI chief Imran Khan didn’t spend a single penny on any substantial work during his whole tenure.

    The PML-N leader also observed that the decision of former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial regarding the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will be problematic for political leaders.

    “The little expectation I have from someone to deliver has ended after this decision,” he added.

  • Why doesn’t Imran Khan want to be transferred to Adiala Jail?

    Why doesn’t Imran Khan want to be transferred to Adiala Jail?

    Journalists were left in confusion about the current location of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Monday when officials from Adiala jail denied Khan’s lawyers assertion that Imran had been shifted to their facility.

    A twist in the story has now propped up. According to journalist Saqib Bashir’s sources, Imran Khan has said during the jail hearing that he doesn’t want to be transferred to Adiala jail as he is comfortable in Attock Jail.

    The PTI chief further stated during the hearing that “I will request my lawyers to withdraw the application.

    On Monday, the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Justice Aamir Farooq, issued an order to shift the PTI chief from Attock to Adiala jail. The chief justice remarked that Imran Khan deserves a better class in jail as he is the former prime minister of Pakistan.

    His rights should not be violated, Justice Farooq stated.

  • Chief Justice Faez Isa cracks down on adjournments

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faiz Isa has called on his fraternity to stop the practice of seeking adjournments in order to decrease the number of pending cases in the apex court of the country.

    On Monday, during a hearing of an agreement violation case, the CJP stated, “Get this out of our mind that adjournments will be granted [in cases] from now on,” he said, adding that they should now be considered a thing of the past.

    Emphasizing that there are numerous cases before the Supreme Court that are still pending, Qazi Faez Isa said that in every case, a notice will be given to parties on a single hearing, and a decision will be made about the arguments in the next hearing.

    CJP Isa said that by using this case, he was telling everyone that adjournments would no longer be granted.

    The top judge remarked that other courts grant time to submit case-related documents. The Supreme Court is the last resort court where records of all cases have been filed in advance, he added.

  • Imran to be transferred from Attock jail to Adiala jail: High Court

    Imran to be transferred from Attock jail to Adiala jail: High Court

    The Chief Justice of Islamabad High (IHC), Justice Aamir Farooq, has issued orders to shift Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan from Attock jail to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, stating that the former prime minister deserves a better class in jail. His rights should not be violated, Justice Farooq stated.

    The chief justice also said that according to the law, under-trial prisoners of Islamabad should be kept in Adiala jail, asking why Imran Khan is being kept in Attock.

    Mentioning that Imran Khan was sent to Attock jail in the Toshakhana case, the Chief Justice pointed out that his sentence in the said case has been suspended.

    Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal told the court that Imran Khan was being kept in Attock jail in the cipher case.

    On the other hand, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Sher Afzal Marwat, has demanded an exercise machine for Imran Khan, saying that the PTI chief was a sportsman.

    Earlier, Attock jail’s superintendent refused to transfer Imran Khan to Adiala Jail due to security concerns.

  • Anti-corruption establishment arrests Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, from Airport

    Anti-corruption establishment arrests Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, from Airport

    The ex-husband of Bushra Bibi, Khawar Farid Manika, has been arrested at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on Monday.

    Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested Khawar Manika and handed him over to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE).

    The ex-husband of the former first lady was leaving for Dubai when FIA officials arrested him at the airport, as his name is on the Exit Control List (ECL). After that, ACE registered a case against him.

    Khawar Manika is known as a spiritual devotee of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar and is originally from Pakpatan. Manika has also served as an officer in the Custom Department.

    Maneka has three daughters and two sons with his ex-wife, Bushra Bibi.

  • Free and fair elections can be held without Imran, says PM Kakar

    Free and fair elections can be held without Imran, says PM Kakar

    Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, has said that free and fair elections can be held in the country without Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan who is currently incarcerated in Attock jail in the cipher case.

    “Free and fair elections can take place without [Imran] Khan or hundreds of members of his party who are jailed because they engaged in unlawful activities, including vandalism and arson,” said PM Kakar in an interview on Friday with The Associated Press.

    PM Kakar dismissed the possibility that the military establishment would manipulate the results to ensure that PTI doesn’t win as “absolutely absurd”.

    Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that elections would be held by the end of January next year.

    Kakar said that once the ECP sets an exact election date, the caretaker government “will provide all the assistance, financial, security or other related requirements”.

    Imran Khan faces multiple charges in court including May 9 riots when PTI workers clashed with police. Some of the PTI workers were involved in the violent protests and attacks on military installations in different cities of the country.

    PM Kakar also said that the arrested PTI workers are involved in violent protests, attacks on military installations, and other illegal activities.

    “Thousands of PTI activists who did not engage in unlawful activities can partake in the upcoming elections,” he added.

  • No change in Nawaz Sharif’s return to country, says Shehbaz Sharif

    No change in Nawaz Sharif’s return to country, says Shehbaz Sharif

    Shehbaz Sharif, the President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has said that he went to London to discuss legal and political initiatives regarding the arrival of the former prime minister and his brother Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan on October 21.

    The PML-N President said while talking to the media that an important meeting of the party was attended by Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Talal Chaudhary, and others at the Stanhope House in the British capital.

    Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed that there is “zero substance” in speculations about going back to London in a rush and receiving “a special message” for Nawaz Sharif.
    The reports indicated that earlier this week, Shehbaz Sharif had received a message in a special meeting in Gujranwala.

    “Imran Khan taught vulgarity to the nation. Nawaz will end this poison and will educate the youth and will give them employment”, Shehbaz added. Sharif also said that his brother Nawaz is a “ray of hope” for Pakistan.

    On the other hand, Maryam Nawaz has said in media interactions that her father will get a historic reception on his arrival in Pakistan next month.

  • Officers of ‘spy agency’ will perform duties in NAB

    Officers of ‘spy agency’ will perform duties in NAB

    The top anti-corruption watchdog, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), has decided to appoint intelligence agency officers to investigate high-profile corruption cases after Supreme Court’s decision of reopening graft references worth billions of rupees, Geo has reported.

    A letter has been written to the institutions, and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt has also approved that letter, sources have confirmed.

    According to the report, anti-corruption officials have also said that the officers of sensitive institutions will be appointed to key positions and will start working in a few days.

    The insiders also stated that vacant seats in NAB will be filled soon.

    A deputy chairman of the national anti-graft body and prosecutor general will also be appointed soon on a permanent basis, they added.

    The officers of sensitive institutions will perform duties in the NAB offices, as this way a strong and efficient intelligence system can be established in the institutions.