Tag: The Current

  • Imran Khan hires UK lawyer to represent him in international courts

    Imran Khan hires UK lawyer to represent him in international courts

    Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has retained the services of British attorney Geoffrey Robertson KC to represent him in international courts.
    The announcement has been made at a time when the former prime minister, who was removed from power in April of last year after a vote of no confidence, is still detained in the Attock District jail after being found guilty on August 5 in the Toshakhana case.

    The PTI leader was found guilty for failing to disclose state gifts he received while in government; as a result, he received a three-year prison sentence and a Rs. 100,000 fine, excluding him from running in future elections.

    The news regarding the UK attorney was made public by PTI on Friday via a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, announcing its decision to hire the renowned lawyer, who has previously worked with high-profile people including Salman Rushdie and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
    “PTI Chairman, Former Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI has appointed the eminent Human Rights Barrister Geoffrey Robertson KC of @DoughtyStreet Chambers to advise and represent him in international courts in relation to unlawful detention and human rights abuses,” the post on X read.

  • Interim PM Kakar cancels trip to Kenya

    Interim PM Kakar cancels trip to Kenya

    Interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has cancelled a three-day official trip to Kenya, scheduled to start on September 4 (Monday), The News has reported.
    According to the Foreign Office, PM Karar was invited by President William Samoei Ruto to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, from September 4 to 6, where he would attend the Africa Climate Summit.
    The publication claimed that the prime minister decided to cancel the trip after weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the prevailing atmosphere in the country.

    Kakar’s trip to the African country would have been his first foreign sojourn since taking oath of office as interim Prime Minister of Pakistan. Interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, caretaker cabinet members, advisers, and special assistants would have accompanied the PM on the visit.
    It was previously reported that the trip to Kenya was related to the strategy the previous government had developed to promote bilateral relations with African countries.

  • Court orders release of PTI’s Parvez Elahi

    Court orders release of PTI’s Parvez Elahi

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to release the president of Pakistan Tehrrek-e-Insaf (PTI), Parvez Elahi, on Friday, after the accountability watchdog’s decision to arrest the former chief minister of Punjab was challenged in court through a petition.

    After Elahi was brought before the court, LHC Justice Amjad Rafiq announced the decision, telling NAB at the hearing today that if Elahi is not produced today, the court will issue a warrant against the director-general of the accountability body.

    On the NAB prosecutor’s reply, Justice Amjad Rafiq said that there will be a complete inquiry, ordering Parvez Elahi’s immediate release.

    It should be noted that when Parvez Elahi first filed an application in the Lahore High Court, the court granted him bail in all cases. But against the decision of the single bench of the court, the Punjab government filed an appeal before a two-member bench, which suspended the decision of the single-member bench.

  • ECP will keep an eye on election campaigns and expenses

    ECP will keep an eye on election campaigns and expenses

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has said on Thursday that it will keep an eye on election campaigns and expenses in the upcoming general elections, stating that the decision has been taken after consultations with political parties.

    According to ECP, the services of the army, police, and other law enforcement agencies will be sought to ensure a safe and peaceful environment at polling stations.

    The electoral watchdog has said that this matter came up in the meeting about the upcoming general elections with Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) PML(Q)

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, ECP secretary, and other senior officers were part of the meeting.

    The TLP’s delegation comprised of party leaders Chaudhry Rizwan, Mohammad Qasim, Ziaur Rahman, and Chaudhry Azhar, whereas the PML-Q was represented by Mohammad Tariq Hussain, Farukh Khan, Ghulam Mustafa, Rizwan Sadiq, and Hafiz Aqeel Jalil.

  • After beating Nepal, Pakistani team is ready for India

    After beating Nepal, Pakistani team is ready for India

    After beating Nepal on Wednesday, captain Babar Azam has said that the Pakistani cricket team is ready to beat India on Saturday’s Asia Cup match, Dawn has reported.

    Iftikhar Ahmed scored an unbeaten 109 and Babar scored a masterful 151 runs in yesterday’s match held at Multan.

    Tournament co-hosts Pakistan bowled out Asia Cup debutants Nepal for 104 in 23.4 overs in their third-biggest victory in a one-day international.

    “This game was good preparation for the India game because it gave us confidence,” Babar, who was named Player of the Match for his 19th one-day hundred, said.

    “India-Pakistan will always bring high intensity. We want to give 100 percent in every match, and we hope to do that there as well.”

    “When I went in, the ball wasn’t coming on properly, so I was trying to build an innings with Rizwan,” Babar explained.

    “Iftikhar also played a great inning when he came on. I told him to play his natural game, and he was comfortable after hitting two-three boundaries,” the batting maestro stated.

  • Court throws out ECP review petition against May 14 election decision

    Court throws out ECP review petition against May 14 election decision

    The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday threw out the review petition of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) about the May 14 polls order, The News has reported.

    “The court will intervene whenever there is a constitutional violation,” Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said.

    In April 2023, a three-member bench of the apex court headed by CJP Bandial, comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar declared the decision of the ECP to hold elections on October 8 instead of April 30 “illegal” and directed the ECP to hold elections in Punjab on May 14.

    In its 14-page petition, ECP said that the apex court should review its decision as the court “doesn’t have the authority to give the date of elections”.

    “Such powers exist elsewhere under the Constitution but certainly not lie in a court of law,” the ECP had said, citing various legalities and reasons behind its statement.

  • The court bars Imaan Mazari arrest in any FIR registered after August 20

    The court bars Imaan Mazari arrest in any FIR registered after August 20

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered not to arrest human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari in any First Information Report (FIR) registered after August 20.

    Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC heard the case in which Shireen Mazari, former federal minister and the mother of Imaan Mazari, submitted a request on her daughter’s behalf through her lawyers, Zainab Janjua, Salman Akram Raja and Qaisar Imam.

    The Interior Secretary is to submit a report to the court detailing the number of cases that have been filed against Imaan Mazari in the country.

    Earlier, On Sunday, August 20, human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and former lawmaker Ali Wazir were arrested for attending the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) protest in Islamabad.

  • Cipher Case: Imran Khan to remain behind bars till September 13

    Cipher Case: Imran Khan to remain behind bars till September 13

    A special court has extended the judicial remand of former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan under the official secret act till September 13 in the cipher case. He will remain in jail until September 13, Geo has reported.

    Today’s hearing, conducted in Attock Jail, was headed by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain. Due to security concerns expressed by the Interior Ministry, the hearing took place at the jail.

    Imran Khan has been imprisoned in the Attock jail since August 5. However, on Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) overturned the decision of a lower court to jail Imran Khan for three years.

    According to the report in Geo News, Imran Khan’s five-member legal team including Naeem Haider Panjotha, Salman Safdar, Intizar Panjotha, Ali Ijaz Buttar, and Umair Niazi also attended the hearing.

    On the other hand, a special court extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case for 14 days.

    The FIA’s Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) detained Qureshi earlier this month after receiving a complaint from Interior Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar alleging violations of Sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act of 1923, r/w 34 PP.

    “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 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,” the FIR stated.

  • It is ECP’s responsibility to conduct elections: PPP

    It is ECP’s responsibility to conduct elections: PPP

    In a meeting with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) expressed concerns about the upcoming general elections, Geo has reported, reminding the constitutional body that it is its duty to hold timely elections.

    The party has reservations about the date of the elections, stressing that election should be held within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA) as per the constitution.

    On August 17, the electoral body announced the schedule of new delimitations to be carried out as per the new census approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) earlier this month.

    According to the ECP schedule, four months are required for the new delimitation, which means that a general election is not possible in the country within 90 days after the dissolution of the provincial and national assemblies.

    “We had a meeting with the ECP in a pleasant environment, during which we put forward all our reservations,” said PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman in a press conference held after the meeting.

  • Toshakhana case: Bushra Bibi gets bail till September 12

    Toshakhana case: Bushra Bibi gets bail till September 12

    An accountability court has granted bail to former First Lady Bushra Bibi until September 12 in the Toshakhana case, in exchange for surety bonds of Rs500,000.

    Bushra Bibi has been accused of keeping a locket, chain, earrings, two rings, and a bracelet from Toshakhana state gifts.

    According to a report in Samma News, she is also accused of keeping a gold and diamond necklace and bracelet, as well as gold and diamond ring, earrings, and bracelet.

    According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the gifts were not given to the Toshakhana for fair price calculation.