ISLAMABAD: The federal government has distanced itself from the raid on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President and former Punjab chief minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s house, wherein 27 individuals including servants were arrested, ARY News reported on Saturday. (more…)
Abdul Qadir
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Talks with govt: PTI seeks date for NA dissolution before budget
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegation has sought the date for the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA) before the budget during the second round of talks with the federal government, ARY News reported on Friday.
PTI chief Imran Khan directed the dialogue committee to conclude negotiation with the federal government at the earliest. It was learnt that Imran Khan instructed the dialogue committee to complete the dialogues within a week.
As per Khan’s directives, PTI sought the date of NA dissolution from the federal government before the budget. Moreover, the delegation also rejected the government’s plan to conduct general elections in October.
READ: PTI, GOVT HOLD SECOND ROUND OF TALKS OVER ELECTION DATE
Sources closer to PTI said that the political tensions can be reduced if the government gives a date for NA dissolution. They added that PTI wants significant progress in talks with the government before the next hearing in the Supreme Court (SC).
They said that PTI will not accept the delaying tactics of the government.
Imran Khan for govt-PTI talks
Prior to this development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said that negotiations with the coalition government will only go forward if they are willing to dissolve the National Assembly forthwith.
Talking to reporters at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the former prime minister said that he had instructed PTI negotiating team to only talk with the government if they are willing to dissolve the National Assembly now.
READ: MAULANA FAZLUR REHMAN SAYS ‘NOT READY TO HOLD TALKS WITH PTI’
“I have told Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Fawad Chaudhry to only go forward with the talks if the government is willing to dissolve the assembly immediately and hold elections.”
“There is no need to hold a further round of talks if they (govt) repeat the same talk of holding elections in September or October,” he added.
During his informal discussion with the journalists, Imran Khan further said that the “ball” was now in the government’s court on the matter of simultaneous elections.
“If elections are not held on May 14 it means Constitution is torn apart,” said the PTI chief, adding that the Constitution is supreme not the Parliament.
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Govt, PTI to meet again as first round of talks conclude
ISLAMABAD: Delegations of the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will meet again tomorrow (Friday) as the first round of talks on holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) ended, ARY News reported on Thursday.
The negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were held at Parliament House to break political impasse regarding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and concluded after almost two hours.
A three-member delegation – comprising of Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry and Senator Ali Zafar – were representing PTI in the talks.
Meanwhile, the government’s panel includes Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Senator Yousuf Raza Gillani, Saad Rafique, Naveed Qamar, and Kishwar Zehra.
The delegations of government and opposition will meet again on Friday (tomorrow) at 3pm.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, PPP’s Yousaf Raza Gilani the ruling parties would consult each other and make a decision. “Whatever is decided, it will be based on input from all parties,” he added.
The talks would be resumed tomorrow at 3pm, during which the PTI would present their demands, Gilani said, adding that the coalition parties would then be apprised of the PTI’s demands.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said it had been principally decided that matters would be resolved within the ambit of the Constitution.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while speaking to the media, said the consultations ended after two hours and stressed that political parties find solutions to problems through talks.
However, he said, that his party would not allow the talks to be used as a delaying tactic for elections.
One-point agenda
Talking to journalists before the talks, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi hoped for a breakthrough in negotiations. “We should hope for the beat even in despair,” he said.
Moreover, Fawad Chaudhry noted that PTI has only one-point agenda i.e. election. “We have spoken to [party chief] Imran Khan and out matters are settled,” he said, adding that the three-member committee has full mandate.
He further said that as per the Constitution, elections should be held within 90 days of dissolution of assembly. “Negotiations will only take place as per constitution and law”, he added.
Sanjrani to form parliamentary committee
Earlier in the day, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani decided to form a 10-member parliamentary committee for talks on holding elections across the country on the same date.
In a letter written to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and PTI senator Shehzad Waseem, the Senate chairman has asked both leaders to give four names for the formation of committee to address the ongoing political and economic crisis including the holding of general elections.
“The Senate of Pakistan; House of Federation, being a stabilising factor of the federation is constitutionally bestowed with the responsibility of protecting the national and political harmony vis-a-vis the national and public interest,” he wrote.
Sanjrani added that a 10-member special committee for holding political dialogue is being constituted under the joint convenership of the Leader of the House in the Senate and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and comprising four members each from the treasury and opposition benches.
‘SC can’t force govt to hold negotiations’
Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday adjourned hearing of a plea seeking simultaneous elections across Pakistan.
At the last hearing before Eidul Fitr, the SC had asked political parties to hold talks on April 26 and come up with a response by April 27 after giving stakeholders a chance to reach an agreement.
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the case.
At the outset of the hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan told the court first contact between the government and the opposition was held on April 19 and it was decided to hold a meeting on April 26.
Federal Ministers Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Saad Rafique met PTI leader and former NA speaker Asad Qaiser who during the meeting said he is not ‘authorised’ for talks, the AGP said.
Political impasse
It is to be noted here that the government had assured the Supreme Court of holding talks with the opposition over elections in two provinces on April 26.
During SC’s last hearing on polls delay case, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had assured the Supreme Court that they will sit with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and try to find a solution on the election date.
A three-member bench of the top court — headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — has sought a progress report on the talks by April 27.
The Supreme Court – in its April 4 order – declared Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone elections to the Punjab Assembly till October 8 “unconstitutional” and fixed May 14 as new date.
Read More: Maulana Fazlur Rehman ‘major hurdle’ in talks with opposition
The National Assembly later passed a resolution rejecting the three-member Supreme Court bench’s verdict on the Punjab polls, stating that it would not provide funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for polls.
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Imran Khan secures protective bail in seven cases
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted protective bail to the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in seven cases.
A bench headed by IHC CJ Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the pleas.
At the outset of the hearing, PTI chief’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar appeared in the court and maintained that they had acquired Khan’s protective bail from Lahore High Court (LHC) after which they arrived at the judicial complex but they weren’t allowed to move further.
“More FIRs against Imran Khan were lodged that day,” he added. At this, IHC CJ asked the lawyer to clarify why had they bypassed a forum to reach IHC. Imran Khan’s lawyer said attacks on two former prime ministers have taken place, my client has also serious security threats, he added.
To this, CJ IHC remarked that the government has done ‘wrong’ by withdrawing Imran Khan’s security. The notices were also served to the federal govt.
Former prime minister Imran Khan reached Islamabad via road from Zaman Park. Amid security threats, Imran Khan’s vehicle was allowed to enter the premises of the IHC.
Bail pleas, reservations
Imran Khan has filed different petitions for bail before arrest in Islamabad High Court.
The petition argued that cases have been registered on political retaliation, the court should prevent the parties from arresting the petitioner۔
On the other hand, the Islamabad High Court has raised objections to Imran Khan’s 7 bail before arrest petitions. The registrar’s office of the Islamabad High Court has raised 2 each objections.
Read more: Islamabad police finalise strategy to arrest PTI workers
The Registrar’s Office objected that Imran Khan had not done biometrics and how an application could be filed in the High Court before the trial court.
Islamabad police plan to arrest PTI workers
Islamabad police have finalised a plan to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers during former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrival in the federal capital, said sources.
As per details, the persons wanted during March 18 protests will likely be arrested by Islamabad police for which teams have been given tasks.
The Islamabad police spokesman said that the decision was taken in a meeting was held under the chairmanship of IG Islamabad in connection with Imran Khan’s appearance in the court, in which injured DIG operations, SSP operations and other senior officials were present.
Read more: PEMRA bans live, recorded coverage of rallies in Islamabad
Islamabad police have warned of arrests as section 144 is enforced and people with the court’s permission will only be allowed to enter the premises.
PEMRA bans coverage of rallies
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned live and recorded coverage of rallies, and public gatherings in Islamabad ahead of former prime minister Imran Khan’s court appearance in the federal capital۔
According to details, PEMRA has issued a notification, stating that the ban has been extended to cover public meetings and rallies in the Islamabad area for March 27۔
The notification said that the license of satellite TV channels would be revoked for violating the instructions۔
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Murad Saeed’s residence raided in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police raided Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed’s house on Tuesday, ARY News reported.
PTI leader Murad Saeed lambasted Capital police said that despite getting bail on ‘fake cases’ his house was raided by police when only women were present there.
“What is the reason for this raid?” Saeed questioned.
Earlier in the day, the police raided Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) former UC chairman Raja Qaiser Ahmed’s residence.
Raja Qaiser had already left the house before the police raid.
Earlier in the month, the federal police raided Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Shibli Faraz’s residence on Sunday.
READ: POLICE RAID IMRAN KHAN’S ZAMAN PARK RESIDENCE
The capital police raided and searched PTI Senator Shibli Faraz’s house near Parbat Road, Islamabad when he was not in the capital territory.
Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani expressed concerns over the police raid at the house of Senator Shibli Faraz and took notice of the incident.
He directed the police officials to avoid the violation of the sanctity of the house and asked the IG Islamabad to present a detailed report of the incident.
Prior to the raid, the Lahore police force launched a crackdown against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers after compiling lists containing more than 100 names.
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PTI worker ‘hit’ by police vehicle outside judicial complex
ISLAMABAD: An incident was reported from Islamabad where a traffic police vehicle ‘hit’ a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker near the judicial complex, ARY News reported on Sunday.
In a video, available with ARY News, a police vehicle can be seen hitting and injuring a PTI worker near Islamabad’s judicial complex.
Luckily, the PTI worker sustains minor injuries.
It is pertinent to mention here that PTI chairman Imran Khan and other party leaders were booked in a case pertaining to vandalism at the capital’s judicial complex during his appearance at the court in the Toshakhana case.
The case was registered at the counter-terrorism department (CTD) police station under various sections of crimes including Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997.
The PTI leaders who were named in FIR include Ali Amin Gandapur, Murad Saeed, Aamir Mehmood Kiani, Asad Qaiser, Shibli Faraz, Asad Umar, Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Nawaz Awan, Hassaan Niazi and others.
According to the FIR, the PTI workers damaged the police check post and the main gate of the judicial complex.
“PTI workers were armed with stones which they threw at a checkpost of the Dhok Kashmirian police station. They also burnt down barriers and tents at the checkpost,” the FIR stated.
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Imran Khan forms ‘emergency committee’ to overlook PTI matters
LAHORE: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has constituted a six-member ‘emergency committee’ to overlook party matters in case of arrest, ARY News reported on Tuesday.
The six-member committee – constituted to overlook party matters – included PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Senator Saifullah Niazi, Senator Azam Swati, Ijaz Chaudhy, Murad Saeed and Ali Amin Gandapur.
The emergency committee will overlook the matters if Imran Khan gets arrested, as per a statement issued by the political party.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Islamabad police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse PTI workers gathered outside party chief Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
The police team reached Lahore to arrest Imran Khan after a district and sessions court issued his non-bailable arrest warrants for failing to attend the hearing in Toshakhana reference.
The court of ADSJ Zafar Iqbal restored non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran in the Toshakhana reference. It instructed the police to arrest the PTI chief and present him in court by March 18.
In a statement, the Islamabad police spokesperson said that they have reached Lahore to arrest PTI chief on court orders.
While reacting to the reports of the arrest, PTI leader Hammad Azhar on Sunday afternoon called all party workers to reach Zaman Park in Lahore and remain peaceful.
Imran Khan’s message
In a video message shared on Twitter, the PTI chief urged the nation to stand resolute and fight for ‘Haqeeqi Azadi (real freedom) and rule of law’.
Imran Khan noted that the government believes the nation will ‘not react’ if he gets arrested, urging the party workers and supporters to prove the incumbent rulers ‘wrong’.
“You [the nation] have to prove that we are a living nation”, the former premier said, asking the nation to continue its struggle for real freedom and come out of their houses. He further said that he will continue to fight for the supremacy of Rule of Law.
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Imran Khan pens letter to CJP, other SC judges over audio leaks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has penned a detailed letter to all judges of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice of Pakistan on the issue of audio and video leaks, ARY news reported.
In a detailed letter, former prime minister Imran Khan has requested the SC to immediately hear the constitutional petition filed in October last year for hearing and steps should be taken for protection under Article 14.
In his letter, Imran Khan also put the eight most important questions before the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial and other judges.
Chairman PTI says that ‘suspicious, unverified’ audios and videos have been going on for the past several months. These alleged audios and videos are based on conversations between current and former politicians and ordinary people.
Mr Khan urged the judiciary to take notice of the development, saying taping conversation was a violation of basic rights.
Read more: Imran Khan urges judiciary to take notice of tapping phones, audio leaks
He said that the Prime Minister’s House is undoubtedly the most sensitive house of the state. Matters of national sensitivity are discussed in the Prime Minister’s House.
The former prime minister said that many former government figures and ordinary people, including him, have been victims of these ‘fake leaks’. “Unverified, unauthenticated, edited and tampered leaks” were used to target and silence criticism in the following months.
Imran Khan further said that Article 4 of the Constitution gives every person the right to be protected by the law and to be treated according to the law. They are being violated with unjustifiable brazenness.
Chairman PTI said that a constitutional application was filed in October 2022 for the protection of other fundamental rights including privacy. “Unfortunately, my application could not be scheduled for hearing till now.”
After the application, things have worsened instead of improving, Imran Khan said in his letter and added actors involved in constitutional violations are promoting more fake content.
Unfortunately, and respectfully, it has come to a situation where recently even alleged conversations purporting to be between an ex-Chief Minister and a Judge of the Supreme Court were leaked through social media,” he highlighted.
This has made it clear that now people are being subjected to secret surveillance and recordings as usual and these recordings are being changed and made public at will.
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Imran Khan calls on President Alvi to order inquiry against Gen Bajwa
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday asked President Arif Alvi to order an immediate inquiry against former chief of army staff General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa for “violating his oath and Constitution of Pakistan.”
In a letter dated Feb 14, Imran Khan referred to an article of journalist Javed Chaudhry in which startling revelations were made attributing General (retd) Bajwa.
“Some very disturbing information has now come into the public domain whereby it is clear that Gen retd Bajwa as COAS violated his oath of office repeatedly,” the PTI chief stated in a letter written to the president on Thursday.
“He [Mr Bajwa] has admitted to journalist Javed Ch that ‘we’ (and it would be critical to ascertain from him who was the ‘we’ in reference to) considered Imran Khan dangerous to the country if he continued to stay in power,” Khan told the President in the letter.
“The question that arises is who gave him the power to decide that an elected PM was supposedly a ‘danger to the country if he continued to stay in power’. Only the people through elections can decide who they want to elect as PM.”
سابق آرمی چیف جنرل قمر جاوید باجوہ کی جانب سے بطور آرمی چیف کی پے در پے حلف کی خلاف ورزیوں کا معاملہ
چئیرمین پاکستان تحریک انصاف عمران خان نے جنرل قمر جاوید باجوہ کے خلاف فوری تحقیقات کا مطالبہ کر دیا 1/2 pic.twitter.com/J0bmuxzEys
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 16, 2023
“Taking such a right on himself is in clear violation of his oath as given in Third Schedule Article 244 of the Constitution,” he stressed.
In the letter, Imran also mentioned Gen Bajwa’s alleged admission that he “managed to get NAB (National Accountability Bureau) case against Shaukat Tarin dismissed”.
“Regardless of the merits of his claims in this case, he has also admitted he managed to get NAB case against Shaukat Tarin dismissed revealing that NAB was under his control – again a clear violation of the Constitutional oath because the army itself is a department under the Ministry of Defence and civilian official autonomous institutions do not come military control,” Khan wrote.
Imran Khan, who is currently facing multiple cases in different courts, said that it was the Constitutional duty of the President and as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to “take immediate action and institute an inquiry so as to establish whether such grave violations of the Constitution and oath of Office under the Constitution have taken place”.
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PTI MNAs likely to attend today’s NA session
ISLAMABAD: The 43 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, who were restored following LHC ruling, have decided to attend today’s National Assembly (NA) session, ARY News reported on Thursday citing sources.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) order de-notifying 43 PTI MNAs and restrained the by-polls in those constituencies.
Sources privy to the development told ARY News that PTI MNAs will gather at chamber of Senate’s opposition leader chamber and will wait for Imran Khan’s call to attend today’s lower house session.
The LHC issued directives on a plea filed by Riaz Fatyana, Nasarullah Khan, and other PTI leaders challenging the acceptance of their resignations as MNAs by Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
In the petition, the PTI leaders accused the NA speaker of accepting resignations to ‘politically victimize’ the opponents. They pleaded with the court to nullify the decision of speaker Raja Pervaiz Asharaf and the order of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
ECP order
On Jan 25, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified 43 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members of the National Assembly (MNAs) following the acceptance of their resignations by NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
After the announcement of PTI MNAs’ return to the National Assembly, the federal government made a move to accept their resignations in an apparent bid to reduce the number of opposition lawmakers.
The de-notified PTI MNAs included Riaz Fatyana, Sardar Tariq Hussain, Mohammad Yaqub Sheikh, Murtaza Iqbal, Sardar Mohammad Khan Leghari, Zile Humma, Rukhsana Naveed, Ghazala Saifi, Nousheen Hamid, Sobia Kamal Khan and others.
Ashraf had already accepted resignations of 70 PTI members last month in two phases.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had announced resignations from the National Assembly on April 11 last year, minutes before the election of Shehbaz Sharif as the new prime minister.