Tag: topnews

  • 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.

  • 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.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    PM Shehbaz convenes allies’ meeting today on talks with PTI
    
			
    PM Shehbaz convenes allies’ meeting today on talks with PTI
    
			
    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has summoned a meeting of the ruling alliance today (Wednesday) before negotiations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on the Supreme Court’s (SC) directions.
    

    According to news reports, the meeting of the ruling alliance will be held at the Prime Minister’s House at 12:30 pm.
    

    Almost all parties in the ruling coalition have shown an inclination to end the political impasse by entering into negotiations with the PTI, but according to Dawn, Jamat-e-Ulema Islami- Fazl (JUI-F) continues to oppose the move.
    

    Geo News claims that the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leadership has asked former speaker Ayaz Sadiq to contact PTI’s Asad Qaiser and both have agreed to meet today. However, PTI chief Imran Khan has clearly stated that the mandate for negotiations rests with Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
    

    On April 20, the SC adjourned the hearing of the petition till April 27 after the key ruling parties —PPP and PML-N — had assured the Supreme Court they would sit with the PTI on April 26 and try to find a solution on the election date.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Gen Bajwa advised me to dissolve assemblies: Khan
    
			
    Gen Bajwa advised me to dissolve assemblies: Khan
    
			
    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has admitted that he dissolved the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on advice from former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.
    

    “In a meeting with General Bajwa held in the presence of President Dr Arif Alvi, he [Gen Bajwa] said that if you want elections, dissolve your governments,” said Khan while talking on ARY News programme, ‘Sawal Yeh Hai’.
    

    Khan had earlier made multiple accusations against the former army chief, including the allegation that he had conspired to remove PTI government at the center.
    

    The former prime minister further said, “General Bajwa and the [premier intelligence] agency knew that the current rulers had stolen the money from the national kitty and taken it abroad. Despite knowing this, General Bajwa was willing to give them NRO as he had planned an extension [for himself].”
    

    “If you have an ideology, you can’t convince yourself to give NRO to these people,” added Khan.
    

    He also revealed that a leader from the Middle East had told him a year ago that Bajwa was not supporting him any longer.
    

    Khan went on to say that they [coalition government] are running away from elections.
    

    During the interview, Imran Khan also suggested that polls can take place in July if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dissolves the National Assembly — the lower house of parliament.
    

    “Elections can be held in July if the prime minister dissolves the assembly,” the ousted premier said.
    

    He also stressed that caretaker governments in both Punjab and KP — the provinces where Khan’s party was in power before he decided to dissolve its two assemblies on January 14 and 18, respectively — are illegal after the lapse of their stipulated term.
    

    “The caretaker government’s tenure is over already, it has become illegal,” the deposed premier said. He demanded the caretaker government be abolished and a new “neutral” interim setup be instated.
    

    He added that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has given May 14 as the date for Punjab polls and his party won’t let the government extend polling day beyond that.
    

    “If they think they [incumbent government] will pressurise the Supreme Court, we will not let it happen. They will create scandals about the top court to run away from elections,” he said.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Mehndi designs to flaunt this Eid
    
			
    Mehndi designs to flaunt this Eid
    
			
    Girls, we know you’ll all be heading out to celebrate Chaand Raat soon. But is a chaand raat outing even complete without chooriyan (bangles) and mehndi? Here are some trendy mehndi designs you can flaunt this Eid. 
    

    Arabic Mehndi
    

    Arabic mehndi is pretty and delicate and has spaced out patterns because of which it does not look overdone.
    

    

    

    

    

    Indian Mehndi
    

    Indian mehndi designs are full and crowded. It has packed patterns with thinner lines and tiny details. If you’re fond of mehndi, the Indian designs are for you.
    

    

    

    

    

    Pakistani Mehndi
    

    Pakistani mehndi designs are a cross between Arabic and Indian designs with flowers and leaves dominating the pattern. Gola/tikki mehndi designs are very popular in Pakistan because they are simple yet elegant.
    

    

    

    

    

    Mehndi designs for fingers
    

    For those who are looking for the bare minimum, they can opt for mehndi on the fingers only. 
    

    

    

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Fear of operation at Zaman Park: Bushra Bibi writes letter to PM Shehbaz and interim CM Naqvi
    
			
    Former First Lady Bushra Bibi has written a letter to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and interim Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi.
    

    It is being reported that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s wife has sent the letter through her lawyers to the premier and caretaker CM due to fear of a government operation in Zaman Park on Eid.
    

    The letter states that a court order has been issued in the matter of the government conducting an operation at Imran’s Lahore residence. It further adds that a plan has been hatched to misinterpret the court order, while reminding the recipients that an operation has been conducted in the past despite court orders. The document warns that if an operation takes place in Zaman Park on Eid, then higher courts will be approached.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Judiciary cannot re-write Constitution’; PM Shehbaz remains defiant
    
			
    ‘Judiciary cannot re-write Constitution’; PM Shehbaz remains defiant
    
			
    A defiant Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the judiciary can only interpret the law, but cannot re-write it.
    

    “There is no example in the world where the parliament’s law — which has not even come into existence right now and has not taken its applicable shape — was subjected to a stay order,” said PM Shehbaz while addressing the launch ceremony of the constitution’s mobile app in Islamabad.
    

    “The Constitution has taken birth from the cradle of the parliament. The judiciary can interpret the Constitution — that is their right — but the judiciary cannot rewrite the Constitution,” said the Premier as his government faces off with the Supreme Court.
    

    “This (rewriting Constitution) is only the parliament’s authority,” he added, warning that the “parliament will use its constitutional and legal rights on this” matter.
    

    Shehbaz said the country was “standing at crossroads today” and that politicians, including him, had committed numerous mistakes.
    

    “The ones who stand above others are those who move forward after learning from their mistakes and subordinate themselves to the national interest for the nation’s supreme aim,” he said.
    

    The prime minister said the government was “working day and night to improve Pakistan’s difficult conditions and will keep doing so”.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Trying to update our software’: Khan says reign of terror controlled by other force, not PDM
    
			
    ‘Trying to update our software’: Khan says reign of terror controlled by other force, not PDM
    
			
    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chair­man Imran Khan on Wednesday claimed that the “reign of terror” that his party was going through was not controlled by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) but by another force that sees itself as above the law.
    

    In a series of tweets Khan said, “The way we have descended into becoming a banana republic where there is no Rule of Law & only law of the jungle, it is clear that this reign of terror is not controlled by PDM puppets but by another force that sees itself totally above the law.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    “Our ppl are abducted & afterwards sham FIRs are registered. As bail in one FIR is granted, another FIR pops up. I have over 145 FIRs against me. Its a circus of FIRs. My Bani Gala caretaker, my Zaman Park cook, our social media’s Mashwani, Waqas & my security incharge Ghumman – all abducted & tortured to try & update their software.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    “Ali Amin got bail in one sham case, & another FIR popped up & now another one with police taking him to Lahore.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

     “Despite his falling ill on the way & being taken to hospital, he was removed from hospital before he had stabilised. Now total fascism prevails.”
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Moonis bought benami Spanish properties on same day father Pervaiz Elahi became CM
    
			
    Chaudhry Moonis Elahi purchased several properties in Spain on the day his father, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, took oath as Chief Minister (CM) Punjab on July 27 last year.
    

    Writing for The News, Umer Cheema has revealed that this information has been obtained by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from Spanish authorities.
    

    Moonis confirmed holding benami properties in Spain, which includes an apartment, a Range Rover and a company among the newly made assets apart from a bank account and previously incorporated companies.
    

    Moonis admitted to their ownership and said he would declare them in his next year’s tax return. He said it was nothing more than a coincidence that the purchase of properties occurred on the day his father took the oath.
    

    National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore had written a letter to the authorities in Spain for an ongoing investigation of alleged corruption, looting and ill-gotten properties against the family.
    

    It has been found that Barcelo hotel in Barcelona is also owned by Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi family, while another multi-story plaza is also said to be owned by Elahi family—with a person named Saqib Tahir appointed as caretaker, reports Samaa News. 
    

    The Canary Islands in Spain are also said to be home to various historic buildings, plazas and orchards, owned by Eahi family.
    

    Moonis Elahi has recently started a taxi service in Barcelona by obtaining 250 taxi vehicles on bank lease.
    

    In Spain, Chaudhary Pervez is known as the frontman of the Elahi Family.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    SC to hear defence ministry’s request to hold simultaneous elections across Pakistan
    
			
    SC to hear defence ministry’s request to hold simultaneous elections across Pakistan
    
			
    The Supreme Court (SC) will shortly hear a plea by the defence ministry to hold elections across Pakistan simultaneously.
    

    A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, comprising of Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, will take up the plea shortly.
    

    A day earlier, the ministry requested the apex court to withdraw the order for upcoming elections due to the fear of terrorist attacks on political campaigns.
    

    The ministry has submitted a sealed petition in the SC, requesting that the elections be held simultaneously across the country after the completion of the term of the National, Balochistan, and Sindh assemblies.
    

    It may be noted that this is the same bench that announced the April 4 verdict directing the government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold snap polls in Punjab on May 14.