Tag: Top News

  • Islamabad High Court orders release of Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    Islamabad High Court orders release of Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued an order for the release of senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and declared his arrest illegal under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.

    The orders were given by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC while hearing a case pertaining to Qureshi’s arrest.

    The court instructed the PTI leader to produce an undertaking identical to the one provided by former state minister Ali Muhammad Khan when it issued his release orders.
    Following PTI chairman Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case on

    May 9, several PTI leaders, including Qureshi, were detained for “inciting violent protests.

  • ‘My criticism on army is like criticism on children’: IK gives address as he expects arrest

    ‘My criticism on army is like criticism on children’: IK gives address as he expects arrest

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan addressed party workers from his Zaman Park residence through video link on Wednesday.
    “I am afraid today that Pakistan is on the route to destruction,” he said during the speech.

    While talking about his criticism of the army, Imran said, “When I criticise the army, it is like me criticising my children.”

    He blamed PDM for “deliberately trying to create a conflict between the PTI and the army.”

    “If an inquiry is properly conducted into this, it would be revealed who was behind this conspiracy to ban a political party,” said Imran, adding that putting 7,500 people behind bars was pre-planned.

  • Imran Khan condemns ‘arrest, abduction’ of PTI workers, leaders

    Imran Khan condemns ‘arrest, abduction’ of PTI workers, leaders

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has condemned the “arrest” and “abduction” of party leaders, and workers.
    “I strongly condemn the illegal arrests and abduction of our workers and leaders. Our Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Secy General Asad Umar have also been incarcerated for more than a week now. Also, despite court orders journalist Imran Riaz Khan has not been presented in court and there are confirmed reports of torture against him,” wrote PTI chairman in a tweet on Wednesday.

    He demanded the immediate release of all female leaders, workers and the female family members of our leaders and workers of his party.
    “How could Shehrayar Afridi’s wife be jailed? This is purely to spread terror amongst the people so that they don’t stand up for their constitutional rights?,” questioned Khan.

    “I am deeply disturbed after hearing of Dr. Shireen Mazari, the former Human Rights Minister’s treatment and her daughter being physically assaulted by male police officers. After the IHC granted bail to Dr Mazari and Senator Falak Chitrali they were abducted from within Adyala Jail and taken to thana secretariat where Dr Mazari’s screams were heard.,” he added.

    “The video evidence coming forward of the barbaric treatment meted out to our female supporters is reprehensible. Many of our female MNAs, supporters, and workers are being held in jails across Pakistan under inhumane conditions, vulnerable to police excesses. These abductions and the treatment being meted out to women by this fascist government are not only grave human rights violations but are strictly against our culture and Islamic teachings. All these women must be immediately released. Their continued incarceration is unconscionable. I am also raising this with International Human Rights Organizations.”

    Yesterday, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, the daughter of Shireen Mazari, expressed her disappointment in Imran Khan for not speaking up about the arrest, which she labels as an abduction.

    Imran’s tweet did not mention Fawad Chaudhry who last night condemned the May 9 riots while talking yo the media.

  • ‘Black Day’: National Security Committee endorses use of Army, Official Secret Acts against 9 May protesters

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), with the moot being attended by federal ministers, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, the three services chiefs, heads of security institutions and senior officers.

    The meeting endorsed the decision to book violent protesters of May 9, under the constitution and relevant laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act.

    The PM, while addressing the meeting said, “Those who planned, executed and abetted the vandalism on May 9 certainly committed an act of terrorism.”

    It was also decided in the meeting that May 09 will be celebrated as Black Day. “Whatever happened on May 9 will be remembered as Black Day in the history of Pakistan,” the PM added.

    A Special Corps Commander Conference held on Monday at the General Headquarters (GHQ), presided by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, decided that the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of the attacks on military installations and buildings during the protests led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters will be tried under relevant Pakistani laws, including the Army Act and Official Secret Act.

  • Imran Khan cannot be arrested before May 31: IHC

    Imran Khan cannot be arrested before May 31: IHC

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has extended bail for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan till May 31.

    The decision was made during a hearing of PTI’s plea to provide details of more than 100 cases in which Imran is booked.

    The former Prime Minister was represented by Barrister Gohar in court today. The government’s attorney asked for extra time to disclose details regarding the charges brought against the PTI chief.

    The court, while approving the request of the government’s attorney, postponed the hearing until May 31, passing orders not to arrest Imran Khan until then.

    Earlier IHC, barred authorities from arresting Imran Khan till May 17 in any new case registered against him after May 9.

  • ‘If not Army Act, then should we try them under hooliganism act?’: Khawaja Asif on taking action against PTI protesters

    ‘If not Army Act, then should we try them under hooliganism act?’: Khawaja Asif on taking action against PTI protesters

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif appeared on Geo News’ programme ‘Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ on Monday. During the programme, Asif said that the decision to try Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers under the Pakistan Army Act was yet to be made.

    While talking about charging the protesters, the minister said, “If not the Army Act, then should we try them under ‘hooliganism act’?”

    “They will face the law for whatever they have done. No one will go scot-free, not even Imran Khan,” he added.

    The minister also clarified that the government has no plans to ban PTI.

    A Corps Commander Conference held in Rawalpindi on Monday, decided that the rioters who attacked military installations and buildings during the protests led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, will be tried under the Army Act and Official Secret Act.

  • PDM be warned: allow Army Act trials and some day military laws might be used against you too

    PDM be warned: allow Army Act trials and some day military laws might be used against you too

    A Special Corps Commander Conference held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) and presided by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir has decided that the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of the attacks on military installations and buildings during the protests led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters will be tried under relevant Pakistani laws, including the Army Act and Official Secret Act. The statement released by the ISPR after the Corps Commanders meeting is not just unprecedented but is being seen as a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

    In a statement, Aurat March Lahore said: “Use of military laws and courts to try civilians, the complete absence of due process, transparency and accountability flies in the face of the pretence of democracy under the current PDM regime… State institutions and monuments are not more important than people’s fundamental rights and lives. Respect must be earned through actions, not through the force of draconian laws.”

    It must be noted that if convicted under the Army Act, a person can be sentenced to life imprisonment or be handed a death sentence. Pakistan is going through one of its worst crises ever with the entire system tethering on the brink of collapse. From the military establishment to the judicial establishment, all institutions have lost their credibility. It is high time that political parties and parliament take charge of the situation and make sure that the law is followed instead of going down the path of military trials which offer no transparency.

    A word of caution: if the PDM government go down this path and allows civilian rioters to be tried under military laws, the same will one day be applied to their leadership, their supporters and workers. We have seen history repeat itself too many times to not learn a lesson. Democracy is not about punishing your opponents; it is about ensuring that no one is targeted unjustly for their political views. Rioters, when identified, should be prosecuted as per the law of the land in courts, not military courts. If PTI justified arbitrary arrests, detentions and draconian punishments, PDM should refrain from doing so. Politics isn’t about personal enmity.

  • Naila Kiani becomes second Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest

    Naila Kiani becomes second Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest

    Naila Kiani has successfully scaled world highest mountain Everest (8848.86 m) on Sunday morning, becoming the second woman to do so.

    She scaled the mountain with Nepali climber Pasang Temba Sherpa.

    Samina Baig was the first woman mountaineer from Pakistan to scale Everest in 2013.

    Before this, she climbed Annapurna I in Nepal, K2, Gasherbrum I and II.

    As per media reports, Naila Kiani is the first Pakistani woman climber to summit five peaks over 8,000m.

  • Bilawal advises PTI to end violent protests

    Bilawal advises PTI to end violent protests

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said on Thursday that one attack on General Headquarters of the Army (GHQ) was carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and now another one has been carried out by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Addressing a press conference, the Foreign Minister referred to violent acts of PTI workers, pointing out that this is not the first time that they have violated the law. “I had warned earlier that you people are creating Altaf Hussain in Punjab,” said Bilawal.

    He continued by adding that Imran Khan believes that he can cross every red line and the law is only applicable on others.

    The PPP head advised PTI to not make “matters worse [and] call for an end to violent protests and declare that you will abide by the rule of law and Constitution.”

    Bilawal said that he is principally against banning any political party but said that “such decisions are made in view of the circumstances”.
    If such a decision is taken, he continued, “it would be taken because there would be no other choice left.”

    PM’s address to the nation:

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in an address to the nation on Thursday termed damaging public property an “act of terrorism” and “enmity” towards the country.

    In a short address, the premier said that he would like to warn “terrorists” who are harming the country to stop, otherwise strict actions will be taken against them.

    Sharif was referring to PTI supporters who are protesting against the arrest of party head Imran Khan.

    PM also recalled his party members’ arrests, adding that “revengeful acts in politics never renders good results”.

    He also added that “all evidence” has been accumulated in the Al-Qadir Trust case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who is now under NAB custody for the next eight days.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
    Asia Cup in Pakistan or not: Next 48 hours crucial
    
			
    Asia Cup in Pakistan or not: Next 48 hours crucial
    
			
    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi is in Dubai for a crucial meeting with Jay Shah, the President of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and also secretary for Board of Control for cricket in India (BCCI).
    

    Jay Shah has continuously threatened PCB that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023 and force Pakistan to step back from hosting the tournament.
    

    Pakistan has declared its stance loudly and clearly for everyone that if Pakistan is forced to back off from hosting Asia Cup, warning that if anyone tries to take away Pakistan’s rights, the country will boycott Asia Cup and will also not travel to India for the upcoming World Cup.
    

    Najam Sethi also proposed a hybrid model for India, suggesting that they can play their matches at another venue but it’s Pakistan’s right as host to decide where those matches will be played.
    

    Star Sports’ owner is also attending the meeting.
    

    It is clear that no other team will give the kind of revenue an India Vs Pakistan match can produce. Star Sports has a contract with ACC from 2016 to 2023 under which they paid 50 million USD.
    

    Indian Media has reported that BCCI is planning to organized its own five nation Asia Cup in which they will exclude Pakistan but broadcasters are not ready for this.
    

    Earlier Indian media ran fake news that Asia Cup has been shifted to Sri lanka but Sri Lankan media denied Indian media reports.