Tag: topnews

  • Govt-TLP reach agreement to establish ‘Counter Blasphemy Wing’

    Govt-TLP reach agreement to establish ‘Counter Blasphemy Wing’

    The federal government and Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have signed a 12 point agreement on Saturday.

    The agreement has been signed to settle matters that led to TLP starting its ‘Pakistan Bachao March’ from Karachi on May 22.

    From the government’s side, the agreement was signed by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

    The government has accepted a multitude of TLP demands including the establishment of a “Counter Blasphemy Wing.”

    The agreement also states that Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act will be imposed on accused persons arrested on charges of blasphemy.

    TLP has also demanded a reduction in petroleum prices.

    The agreement also states that the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will write a letter to the United States (US) government in three days, demanding the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

  • Murtaza Wahab elected as Mayor Karachi

    Murtaza Wahab elected as Mayor Karachi

    Murtaza Wahab of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been elected as Mayor Karachi, defeating Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) candidate Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman.

    He won by securing 173 votes, whereas the JI candidate secured 160 votes.

    The electoral process for Karachi Mayor and Deputy Mayor was held at Karachi Arts Council (KAC). The election was held on show of hand basis. The voting started at 11:00 am. As pet the orders of ECP live cameras were not allowed during the voting.

    He is PPP’s first leader to get elected as Karachi’s mayor.

    On the other hand, Salman Abdullah Murad of PPP and Saifuddin Advocate of JI are also contesting today for the post of deputy mayor.

  • Video: Former Twitter CEO says Modi Govt threatened to shut down platform in India

    Video: Former Twitter CEO says Modi Govt threatened to shut down platform in India

    Twitter’s co-founder and former boss Jack Dorsey in an interview with YouTube channel Breaking Points talked about censorship requests he received from the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Jack said that Twitter received “many requests” from the Indian government to block accounts covering farmers’ protests. The former CEO of Twitter further said that the platform also received multiple requests to block those accounts that were critical of the government.
    He has also said that the Indian government threatened to shut down Twitter in the country.

    “India is a country that had many requests of us around the farmers protest, around particular journalists that were critical of the government, and it manifested in ways such as ‘we will shut Twitter down in India,’ which is a very large market for us; ‘we will raid the homes of your employees,’ which they did; ‘we will shut down your offices, if you don’t follow suit,’ and this is India, a democratic country,’” Dorsey said.

    Dorsey said that Turkey also has similar requests like India. He noted that Twitter, which frequently engaged in legal battles with the government and prevailed, was also threatened with closure by the Turkish government.

  • This Twitter user is leaking audios of judiciary, politicians and the big judge wants to find him

    This Twitter user is leaking audios of judiciary, politicians and the big judge wants to find him

    Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday asked authorities to track a Twitter account, which had been responsible for leaking audio conversations linked to judiciary.

    The CJP mentioned the Twitter account which goes by the username @indibell_.

    “Check out Indibell’s Twitter handle, is it operating from outside the country or inside the country?” The CJP directed the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan.

    Here is the Twitter account:

    Justice Bandial made the remark while hearing petitions against the audio leaks inquiry commission. The five-judge bench conducted the hearing is led by CJP Bandial, and includes Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed.

    The federal government set up the Commission on May 20 in exercise of its power under Section 3 of the Pakistan Commissions of the Inquiry Act, 2017, to inquire about the audio leaks.

  • Not all trials related to May 9 will take place in military courts: Rana Sanaullah

    Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that a total of 499 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed regarding the 9 May incidents. “Out of these, 88 FIRs were registered under the Terrorist Act, while the remaining 411 FIRs were filed for other offenses,” he stated while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

    The minister added that 19 people from Punjab and 14 from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will be tried in military courts. “These people trespassed and entered sensitive defence installations, so the question is how did they manage to get there,” he said.

    However, the minister clarified that not all trials will take place in military courts.

    “A rumour is circulating that all trials will take place in military courts but that is not true. The military will investigate the case but not take cognisance of it. They will see whether the Army Act or the Official Secrets Act is applicable or not.”

    While criticising former PM Imran Khan, Sanaullah said, “If Imran is left unchecked, he can lead the nation towards a disaster.”

  • Imran Khan suspects he can be arrested on Tuesday

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that he might get arrested again when he appears before a court in Islamabad on Tuesday.

    “On Tuesday, I’m going to appear before court in Islamabad for various bails and there are 80% chances that I will be arrested,” Imran said that while speaking to Fareed Zakaria on CNN.

    “Everything is being done just to dismantle our democracy, so right now, as we speak, over 10,000 workers have been arrested. My entire senior leadership is in jail,” he added.

    Imran Khan further said that the government is taking such actions against him because they fear they would lose upcoming elections.

  • Lahore High court orders release of 123 PTI workers

    Lahore High court orders release of 123 PTI workers

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the release of 123 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who were arrested in connection with May 9 protests following the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan.

    Justice Anwarul Haq heard PTI leader Farrukh Habib’s plea who sought the release of detained party activists.

    The PTI leader’s lawyer told the court that all of the prisoners are political activists.

    The court directed the government to release them without delay.
    The workers were arrested from Faisalabad and are currently detained in different jails throughout Punjab.

  • 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.

  • ‘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.