Tag: topnews

  • Govt’s efforts fail, Senator Irfan Siddiqui confirms constitutional amendments postponed indefinitely

    Govt’s efforts fail, Senator Irfan Siddiqui confirms constitutional amendments postponed indefinitely

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui has confirmed that the government’s late-night hustling and manoeuvring to get JUI-F president Fazal ur Rehman onboard to pass the constitutional amendments have failed, and the amendments have been postponed indefinitely.

    Siddiqui, while talking to Geo News, revealed that the government might take a week or ten days to pass the amendments.

    It should be noted that the draft constitutional amendments were to be presented in yesterday’s parliament session, but the government failed to get the magic number to pass the legislation, so the sessions were adjourned for today.

    While today’s sessions of both houses of parliament will be postponed indefinitely, Siddiqui said, “Our numbers are complete, and not being able to pass the amendments is certainly not a failure.”

    “I do not see any big difference in it, and even if the amendments do not take place, it won’t be a doomsday,” said the senior senator.

    He also said that the problem isn’t with the number of votes but some difference of opinion on some points in the proposed amendments, “which is the right of each political party.”

    Irfan Siddiqui confirmed that Fazal ur Rehman has asked for some time to study the details of the draft.

  • Govt struggles to pass constitutional amendments as JUI-F resists

    Govt struggles to pass constitutional amendments as JUI-F resists

    The incumbent federal government has yet to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament to approve a controversial constitutional package.

    Despite the government’s claim of having the requisite magic number in the Senate, the government is struggling to pass the amendments. Chief Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, is resisting voting in favour of the government.

    The magic number to pass the constitutional package in the Senate (Upper House) is sixty-four, whereas the coalition government has confirmed fifty-nine votes.

    Ziauddin and Abdul Moiz Malik

    Meanwhile, JUI-F has five votes in the Senate.

    The government has not shared the constitutional package draft with any party, including Chief JUI-F Rehman, upon which he said, “It is a sensitive issue which should be discussed calmly.”

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Omer Ayub Khan said, “They (the government) have no draft with them, and they did not know what to discuss.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf declared the constitutional package “a serious piece of legislation” and advised the government not to act hastily.

    The Senate meeting is expected at 12:30 PM today.

  • ‘Not in favour of Governor Raj’: Faisal Karim Kundi

    ‘Not in favour of Governor Raj’: Faisal Karim Kundi

    Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Faisal Karim Kundi has accused the provincial government of corruption, saying, “I don’t change clothes as much as ministers in KP are being changed.”

    Speaking to journalists at the Peshawar Governor House, Kundi said that it is the provincial government’s responsibility to maintain peace, but the police were on strike.

    While questioning security issues in KP province, he asked, “Where are six billion rupees handed over to the KP government for police?”

    He also said that the provincial government had failed to maintain peace and that no provincial meeting had been held to discuss security issues in KP.

    Responding to provincial-level talks with the Afghanistan government, Kundi clarified that only the federal government has the authority to engage in dialogues with other countries.

  • PTI calls off Friday rallies to gather strength for Lahore jalsa

    PTI calls off Friday rallies to gather strength for Lahore jalsa

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has cancelled its protests today across the country, to save its strength for the upcoming September 22 Lahore power show.

    The protests were scheduled against the arrests of PTI leaders after the September 8 rally.

    PTI leaders said that the Friday protests were called off at the instructions of founder PTI Imran Khan. The party wanted to gather its strength and mobilise its leaders and workers from across the country.

    Hammad Azhar also tweeted yesterday that the Friday protest has been “postponed” per Khan’s directions, and all focus should be on the Lahore rally.

    PTI spokesman in Punjab, Shaukat Basra, spoke with Dawn News, saying, “Since every peaceful PTI activity has resulted in party leaders and workers’ arrests and registration of FIRs, the party has decided to save its strength and attend the Lahore jalsa with full force and enthusiasm.”

    “The PTI is determined to hold its meeting in Lahore on Sept 22, come what may,” said Basra regarding the issuance of NOC (no objection certificate) by the Lahore administration.

  • Court seeks clarification from federal govt on Khan’s possible military trial

    Court seeks clarification from federal govt on Khan’s possible military trial

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought clarification from the federal government regarding the possible military trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

    “The PTI founder is a civilian, and the military trial of a civilian is a matter of concern for the petitioner and the court,” Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb remarked while hearing Khan’s plea.

    Citing the statement of Director General (DG) Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Ahmed Sharif, Justice Hassan advised the federation to submit its stance on Khan’s possible military trial.

    On September 3, Khan filed a plea under Article 199 of the constitution amid speculation of his military trial.

    Among several cases, Khan is currently incarcerated for the May 9 riots.

    Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had remarked that there is a possibility of Khan’s military trial based on “evidence against him.”

  • Arrested PTI MNAs presented in parliament

    Arrested PTI MNAs presented in parliament

    Ten Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers have been produced in the parliament on Thursday to participate in the National Assembly (NA) session.

    Under the watch of a heavy squad, federal capital police handed over Members of the National Assembly (MNA) Sher Afzal Marwat, Malik Owais Jhakar, Malik Amar Dogar, Zain Qureshi, Ahmad Chatha, Zubair Khan Wazir, Syed Ahmad Shah, Syed Naseem Ali Shah, Yousaf Khan, and Shiekh Waqas Akram to Sergeant-at-Arms.

    Earlier, Speaker NA Ayaz Sadiq had ordered the production of lawmakers who were apprehended from parliament premises.

    Sadiq had also suspended five officials after the MNAs were arrested from parliament.

    Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the order for the physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders.

    Yesterday, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) approved the physical remand of six PTI leaders and 30 others for violating a new public protest law.

  • ‘Imran Khan to be eliminated in Morsi style,’ claims Aleema Khan

    ‘Imran Khan to be eliminated in Morsi style,’ claims Aleema Khan

    Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, has shared a message from her brother pertaining to the September 10 arrests of PTI lawmakers from parliament premises.

    She claimed in the tweet that Khan received information from credible and reliable sources, which disclosed, “A decision has been taken to eliminate Imran Khan.”

    The former Prime Minister claimed that a plan had been made to finish him in the style of former Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi.

    While lambasting the country’s premier intelligence agency, Khan claims, “Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) controls Adiala jail Rawalpindi.”

    Aleema Khan stated that all concocted cases have been cleared against Khan, but he is still in prison.

    On Tuesday at midnight 3 AM, plain clothes men entered the parliament, cut the electricity supply, and arrested at least six PTI legislators.

    Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Khan, Sher Afzal Marwat, Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, and Zain Qureshi were also arrested. Gohar was released after a brief detention.

    Speaking at parliament yesterday, Gohar clarified that the rally was delayed amid road blockages, which prevented the Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Ali Amin Gandapur, from reaching the Sangjani area for the rally.

  • Govt just three votes away from extending judges’ tenure

    Govt just three votes away from extending judges’ tenure

    The incumbent government led by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif intends to extend the judge’s tenure as soon as it secures enough votes in the Upper House.

    The incumbent government is only three votes short in the Senate to amend the tenure of Supreme Court and High Court judges, a government source told Geo News.

    Government sources further revealed that the incumbent government has achieved a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly (NA). Once the Senate’s majority is secured, Parliament will pass constitutional amendments.

    After constitutional amendments, the tenure of Supreme Court judges will be extended to sixty-eight years of age, and that of High Court judges will be extended to sixty-five years of age.

    Earlier, Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar had remarked that suggestions for extending the judge’s tenure could be considered. Meanwhile, Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa had vehemently rejected the extension offer.

  • Speaker suspends five security officials after PTI lawmakers arrested from parliament

    Speaker suspends five security officials after PTI lawmakers arrested from parliament

    Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has suspended five security officers for four months after the arrest of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers from parliament premises.

    The National Assembly Secretariat issued an order of suspension of the officials, including Sergeant-at-Arms (BPS-20) Muhammad Ishfaq Ashraf.

    The order read, “During the period of his suspension, he will be entitled to draw pay and allowances as admissible under the applicable rules.”

    In a joint parliament session today, Sadiq ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the arrest of Members of the National Assembly (MNA).

    During the meeting, Sadiq stated that no compromise would be tolerated on the dignity and prestige of the parliament.

    On Tuesday at midnight 3 AM, plain clothes men entered the parliament, cut the electricity, and arrested at least six PTI’s legislators.

  • Physical remand approved for key PTI figures

    Physical remand approved for key PTI figures

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has approved the physical remand of six Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and thirty others for violating a new public protest law.

    Lawmakers associated with PTI including Sher Afzal Marwat, Zain Qureshi, Naseem Shah, Amir Dogar, Ahmed Chattha, are charged in connection with the Sanghjani police station case.

    However, PTI bigwig, advocate Shoaib Shaheen is exempted from physical remand, but the court has advised sending him to judicial custody.

    Earlier, the Federal Capital Administration allotted a three-hour time slot from 4 PM to 7 PM for the rally at Sangjani, which was violated by PTI leadership, resulting in a crackdown.

    Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, and Sher Afzal Marwat, were arrested from parliament premises.

    However, Islamabad police released barrister Khan after a few hours of detention.