Tag: TheCurrent

  • ‘Secrets between us’; Aima Baig talks about why relationship with Shahbaz Shigri ended

    ‘Secrets between us’; Aima Baig talks about why relationship with Shahbaz Shigri ended

    Singer Aima Baig recently appeared as a guest on a podcast where she discussed the end of her engagement with actor Shahbaz Shigri. “There were some secret stories circulating between us, which I didn’t want to discuss because they involved many people I didn’t want to name,” Baig said.

    She stressed that marriage builds a new relationship between two families. “There were never any issues between our families; both are very good families,” she remarked.

    “After the engagement ended, I posted a message on social media for my fans, which was misunderstood, and people began criticizing me,” she said.

    Her family supported her a lot, the singer recounted, adding that her siblings protected her from criticism on social media, although she was aware of it.

    During this tough time, when she saw her family worried because of her, she began having suicidal thoughts.

  • No conflict with military, says Sher Afzal Marwat

    No conflict with military, says Sher Afzal Marwat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has said that the military and government should be seen as separate entities. He praised the military, stating that there’s no conflict with them. However, he expressed concerns about the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) involvement in seat issues, delays in cases, and alleged theft of mandate by other political parties.

    The PTI leader said, “Our intra-party elections are happening within 15 days. We need to mobilize our party. All PTI workers will participate in this election. I’ll support those who want to contest from our platform.”

    Talking about a recent raid at his house, he said that his employee has returned, stating he was treated well.

  • ‘An umpire has recently given a no-ball’; Imran Khan slams Supreme Court decision

    ‘An umpire has recently given a no-ball’; Imran Khan slams Supreme Court decision

    Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and Founder Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), engaged in an informal conversation with media representatives during the Toshakhana case hearing in Adiala Jail on Monday.

    He voiced concerns over the political and legal developments, particularly critiquing the Supreme Court’s decision regarding PTI’s electoral symbol, referring to the decision as an “umpire giving a no-ball”.

    Khan suggested that the Supreme Court should have formed a five-member bench rather than a three-member one, to address controversies surrounding PTI’s electoral symbol. These remarks were made amidst the Toshakhana case proceedings.

    He again reiterated his belief that the current situation in Pakistan is part of what he referred to as the “London Plan”, alleging that elements of this plan include his imprisonment before elections, the perceived decline of PTI, and the exoneration of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    Imran Khan further highlighted the alleged misuse of state resources, asserting that Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had obtained bulletproof vehicles from the ToshaKhana without being held accountable.

    “Something very bad is going to happen to them,” he predicted.
    He demanded that an open trial of the cipher case should be conducted so that the people know the facts. “They ask me why did I not keep the cipher secret.”

    He alleged that the expose of former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and U.S. State Department official Donald Lu is responsible for what is happening with PTI now, adding that his party is the only one that has consistently struggled for 27 years to attain its current position.

    Imran Khan remarked that recent decisions by decision-makers fail to accurately gauge public sentiment.

    He predicted significant repercussions for those involved and emphasized the power of social media in bringing transparency to such issues.

    Talking about the upcoming elections, Imran Khan claimed that PTI candidates are not being allowed to run their campaign properly, but he anticipates that the people’s dissatisfaction will become evident on February 8th.

    Despite facing various challenges, Imran Khan stated that PTI has not been entirely eradicated as the people continue to support the party. However, he voiced concerns about the electoral process, stating that PTI intended to give tickets to 850 candidates for the national and provincial assemblies in the general elections but were allegedly not allowed to consult with registered members in jail.

    In response to a question, Imran Khan ruled out the possibility of an electoral alliance with Bilawal Bhutto’s party.

    He also reiterated his claims about biased umpires in the political arena, asserting that Nawaz Sharif has never played a match without favoritism.

    In a related development, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced that the party’s candidates would contest the upcoming elections as independent candidates. Qureshi, while referring to the SC verdict, commented on the perceived lack of a level playing field for the PTI and criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for its stance on intra-party elections.

    He further said that his daughter’s nomination papers were snatched when she went for scrutiny. She was compelled to leave her native city, Qureshi added.
    “We accept the court’s verdict. History will certainly write its judgment on the SC’s verdict [on PTI election symbol]”

    Jail Trials Challenged

    Former Prime Minister and Founder Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has taken legal action by challenging the jail trial notifications related to the Toshakhana and Al-Qadir Trust cases at the Islamabad High Court.

    Both notifications, about the jail trial, have been contested by Imran Khan in the Islamabad High Court.

    Notably, the notification for the jail trial in the Al-Qadir Trust case was issued on November 14, while in the Toshakhana case, it was issued on November 28, as per the petitions filed on behalf of the PTI leader.

    The legal challenges assert that the notifications for the jail trial are deemed illegal and are allegedly motivated by malice.

    Imran Khan’s legal team has requested the court to declare the jail trial notifications null and void.

    Additionally, they seek a halt in the proceedings of the trial court until a resolution is reached on this matter.

    Imran Khan has named Chairman NAB (National Accountability Bureau) and others as respondents in both petitions, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the Toshakhana and Al-Qadir Trust cases.

  • Supreme Court ends lifetime disqualification

    Supreme Court ends lifetime disqualification

    In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday overturned the lifetime disqualification of lawmakers, rescinding its previous order that barred politicians from seeking office indefinitely.

    The decision came during the hearing of a case presented by former PML-N provincial member Sardar Meer Badshah Khan Qaisrani. The top court identified inconsistencies between the Election Act of 2017 and a previous Supreme Court ruling regarding the duration of disqualification.

    The Supreme Court declared that no person can be barred for a lifetime from running in elections if they are disqualified under Article 62 (1)(f), setting aside its landmark judgment in the Samiullah Baloch case.

    Sardar Meer Badshah Khan Qaisrani had filed a petition in 2007 challenging his lifetime disqualification over allegations related to a fake degree.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, announced that the Supreme Court aims to conclude proceedings on the lifetime disqualification case by January 4 (Thursday). This crucial decision will determine whether the amendment to the Election Act 2017 aligns with Article 62(1)(F) and establish whether lawmakers’ disqualification from contesting polls should be lifelong or limited to five years.

    The seven-member larger bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and consisting of Justices Mansoor Ali Shah, Yahya Afridi, Aminuddin Khan, Jamal Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Musarrat Hilali, deliberated on the matter of lifetime disqualification for lawmakers during today’s proceedings.

    The apex court acknowledged the contradiction in the Election Act of 2017 and the earlier Supreme Court verdict and took this step after careful consideration. The decision marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over the length of disqualification for politicians and its alignment with constitutional provisions.

  • Bilawal to contest on two, Zardari on one NA seat

    Bilawal to contest on two, Zardari on one NA seat

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), is set to run for two National Assembly seats in the upcoming general elections, while his father, co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari will contest from one National Assembly seat from Sindh, as reported by The News on Saturday.

    According to a list of participating candidates from Sindh and Balochistan announced by the PPP (Parliamentarians), the former foreign minister will run for NA-194 in Larkana-I and NA-196 in Qambar Shahdadkot-I, while former president Zardari will contest elections from NA-207 in Shaheed Benazirabad-I.

    The party released its list a day earlier, revealing the candidates’ names and constituencies in Sindh who are going to participate in a significant political competition scheduled for the upcoming month, aiming to secure positions in both the National and Sindh assemblies.

    Other prominent names that the party has fielded for contesting the much-awaited elections for a seat in the lower house from the southern province, include Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah from NA-201 (Sukkur-II), Nafisa Shah from NA-202 (Khairpur-I), Shazia Atta Marri from NA-209 (Sanghar-I), Pir Aftab Shah Jeelani from NA-211 (Mirpurkhas-I), Mir Munawar Ali Talpur from NA-212 (Mirpurkhas-II), Syed Naveed Qamar from NA-221 (Tando Muhammad Khan), Nabeel Gabol from NA-239 (Karachi South-I) and Abdul Qadir Patel from NA-243 (Karachi Keamari-II), among others.

  • Finally, some good news for PTI

    Finally, some good news for PTI

    Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) aspirants, along with their allies, re-entered the electoral fray on Thursday following successful appeals against the rejection of their nomination papers by Returning Officers (ROs) during the scrutiny process last week.

    The appellate tribunals, responsible for reviewing appeals against ROs’ decisions, swung into action a day after the deadline for filing appeals expired.

    Rulings were issued on many appeals, while notices were dispatched to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other relevant parties for further cases.

    Numerous PTI candidates, facing rejection of their nomination papers, took up the challenge against RO decisions. Simultaneously, objections were raised against the acceptance of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif’s papers in Karachi.

    According to the election schedule, nomination papers were accepted until December 22, scrutinized by December 30, and the appeal window extended until January 3. The tribunals are expected to conclude all appeals by January 10.

    Among those approved by the appellate tribunals are PTI Central Vice President Firdous Shamim Naqvi for NA-236, Karachi, and party ally Sheikh Rashid and his nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafiq for NA 56 and 57, Rawalpindi. Additionally, several other candidates from various parties, including Ijazul Haq and Punjab Assembly Speaker Sabatin Khan, received the green light to contest elections.

    Firdous Shamim Naqvi took to Twitter (former X) and wrote, “Jibran, Andaleeb and Shiraz, the team that batted for me to get my nomination cleared by the tribunal. My thanks to all those who prayed for my success. I hope to contest with your support and bat for Pakistan. Inshallah we will all succeed on the 8th of February 24.”

    In Rawalpindi, two election tribunals continued hearings on Thursday, deciding a total of 26 appeals—approving 20 and rejecting six. Notably, the tribunals accepted appeals from prominent figures such as PTI founder Imran Khan, former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi, and former minister Fawad Chaudhary, prompting notices to the ECP and relevant returning officers.

    Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz, a tribunal judge, emphasized the need to adhere to the Constitution and the law during appeal hearings, discouraging the discussion of political matters in court.

    In Islamabad, an appellate tribunal issued notices on appeals from 51 candidates whose nomination papers were rejected, including PTI’s Ilyas Mehrban, Aamir Mughal, Shiraz Kayani, and Zubair Farooq. Tribunal Judge Arbab Muhammad Tahir also sought responses on the appeal against the acceptance of the transgender candidate Nayab Ali’s nomination papers for NA-46 and NA-47.

    Meanwhile, in Karachi, the appellate tribunal at the Sindh High Court accepted the nomination papers of PTI Central Vice President Firdous Naqvi for NA-236, Karachi, declaring objections to his papers as “illegal.”

    The election process is currently undergoing a thorough review, with various candidates and parties actively participating in the appeal process to ensure fair representation in the upcoming elections. The tribunals are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the final candidate list for the upcoming polls.

  • Supreme Court issues notice to IGP, chief secretary on PTI’s petition

    Supreme Court issues notice to IGP, chief secretary on PTI’s petition

    The Supreme Court issued notices on Wednesday to the Inspector General of Police Punjab (IGP), chief secretary, and advocate general in response to a plea filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), seeking a level-playing field in the upcoming general elections on February 8, 2024.

    A three-member bench, including Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Musrat Hilali, heard the case and adjourned the hearing until January 8.

    PTI leader and lawyer, Sardar Latif Khosa, presented arguments on behalf of party leader Shoaib Shaheen.

    The proceedings of the case were broadcast live on SC’s website and YouTube channel.

    The apex court directed the ECP on December 22 to address the concerns of PTI regarding level playing field in the upcoming general elections, set to take place on February 8.

    At the beginning of the hearing, CJP Isa reprimanded Khosa for using the title “Sardar” with his name.

    “Stop using words like Sardar, Nawab, and Peer,” the CJP said while expressing displeasure over the use of such a title.

    Qazi Faez Isa asked the PTI lawyer for evidence that ECP violated the apex court’s direction regarding level-playing field matter.

    “I have brought the CD containing all evidence,” Khosa replied adding that PTI leaders were not allowed to submit their nomination papers.

    “The entire Pakistan has seen what is happening with PTI.”

    After this, CJP advised PTI lawyer to avoid “political speech” in the courtroom and talk about constitution and law.

    “What does the IG and the chief secretary have to do with the election?” the CJP wondered.

    “Do you want action against individuals or the Election Commission?” the CJP asked.

    Sardar Latif Khosa replied to CJP that it’s the responsibility of ECP to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections in the country.

  • State won’t accept ‘elements’ supporting terrorists in Balochistan, says PM Kakar

    State won’t accept ‘elements’ supporting terrorists in Balochistan, says PM Kakar

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar criticised “elements” who are backing terrorists and militants in the name of supporting Baloch protesters demanding the release of all missing persons.
    The prime minister’s statement came during a press conference in Lahore as the Baloch families of missing persons protested against “enforced disappearance” and “extrajudicial killing” in Islamabad.

    PM Kakar said that the state would not tolerate elements who are supporting militants and terrorists involved in the killing of individuals from Balochistan, including teachers, doctors, and lawyers.

    The Prime Minister also criticised the media for portraying the Baloch families protest in an inaccurate way, but in reality, he said, Baloch stood with Pakistan.

    The premier said that there was no restriction on freedom of expression and that every citizen has the right to protest within constitutional limits. “The families have the right to protest for their beloved ones, but others are just launching baseless criticism.”

    However, he also said that the state won’t allow those elements who want to support militants and terrorists in the country.
    “Those who want to support them [armed militants] should join the camp of the militant outfits who termed terrorism as a movement,” he added.
    Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar also said that the Indian spy agency, Research and Analysis Wing (Raw), is funding terrorists in Balochistan.

    On the other hand, Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch tweeted on X (previously Twitter) in response to Kakar’s press conference: “From the inception of our movement, our demands have been clear: an end to all forms of human rights violations in Balochistan and the cessation of the Baloch genocide. We’ve presented these demands to the state through the media. Our stance has remained clear from the beginning – we seek negotiations with the state regarding these demands. Sadly, the world witnesses the continuous irresponsibility and stubbornness of the state, where peaceful protestors endure torture and arrests, and media trials are conducted against this peaceful movement. Today, the Prime Minister of Pakistan declared victims of enforced disappearances as terrorists, insulting victim families and addressing peaceful political activists in a threatening tone. However, we assert to this state and government that we will persist in informing the world about your oppression and barbarism.”

  • Supreme Court to finalise lifetime disqualification case on Thursday

    Supreme Court to finalise lifetime disqualification case on Thursday

    Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, has announced that the Supreme Court (SC) aims to finalise the proceedings on the lifetime disqualification case by January 4 (Thursday). This significant decision will determine whether the Election Act 2017 amendment aligns with Article 62(1)(F) and establishes whether lawmakers’ disqualification from contesting polls should be lifelong or limited to five years.

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) addressed the matter of lifetime disqualification of lawmakers today.

    A seven-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, and comprising of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Musarrat Hilali.

    During the hearing of a case submitted by former PML-N provincial member Sardar Meer Badshah Khan Qaisrani last month, the top court noted discrepancies over the length of disqualification in the Election Act, 2017 and a Supreme Court ruling.

    The apex court noted that there is a contradiction regarding the duration of disqualification in the Election Act, 2017 and a SC verdict.

    In 2007, Meer Badshah Qaisrani filed a petition against his lifetime disqualification over a fake degree.

  • ECP files review petition against PHC order on PTI ‘bat’ symbol

    ECP files review petition against PHC order on PTI ‘bat’ symbol

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has submitted a review petition on Saturday to the Peshawar High Court (PHC) challenging the decision of its single-judge bench regarding the iconic electoral symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ‘bat’.

    The high court issued its verdict on December 26 regarding PTI’s petition that contested the ECP’s decision, which had deemed the party’s internal polls “unlawful” and stripped it of using the ‘bat’ symbol.

    While announcing the reserved verdict, the PHC suspended the ECP’s order and restored the party’s ‘bat’ symbol till a final decision on the petition. The court also stated that a double bench will hear the matter after winter vacations.

    The ECP, in its plea, has urged the court to review the intra-party elections of the PTI and its determinations concerning the election symbol.
    The Commission, in its plea, urged the court to schedule the petition for consideration by a division bench, emphasizing broader public interest. The commission asserted its responsibility to conduct elections with honesty, justice, and fairness in accordance with the law.
    The petition read that Article 218(3) allows the electoral body to organise and conduct the elections, adding that the ECP is also responsible for making all necessary arrangements ahead of the polls.

    “This court […] observed that election is a process which starts with the issuance of the election programme and consists of the various links and stages in that behalf as, filing of nomination papers, their scrutiny, the hearing of objections and the holding of actual polls. If any of these links is challenged it really (is) tantamount to challenging the said process of election,” it said.