Tag: Imran; Pakistan

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Opposition issues whip ahead of no-confidence motion

The Opposition parties in Pakistan have ramped up their activities ahead of the planned no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government for “misgovernance and bad economic handling”….reports Asian lite News

Ahead of the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government, principal Opposition parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have asked Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) to cancel their foreign visits and stay put in Islamabad for the next few days, media reports said.

The development comes amid reports that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government is planning to arrange foreign visits for the lawmakers as part of the strategy to counter the Opposition’s no-confidence motion plan, The Dawn reported.

The Opposition parties in Pakistan have ramped up their activities ahead of the planned no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government for “misgovernance and bad economic handling”.

“We’ve to take the extreme step to steer the country out of the economic, political and foreign policy crises created by the incumbent government. None can guarantee 100 per cent success. This oppression will continue if [we] wait for the 100 per cent guarantee,” said PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as quoted by The Dawn.

Bhutto has been leading a ‘long march’ against the Imran Khan government in its bid to mobilise the support of the people.

Imran’s hybrid regime is crumbling

Talking about the challenges in the adoption of the no-confidence in the House, Bhutto said, “Yes, it is a difficult task. None can term it to be an easy one. But our duty is to make the effort and we think that this is worth the risk.” He also added further that he would not sit idle even if the Motion doesn’t sail through in the House and would work to oust the ‘selected’ government of Imran Khan, the report said.

Even while the Opposition is mobilising support for the no-confidence motion, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday exuded confidence that it has sufficient numbers in the National Assembly.

Talking to the party members in the National Assembly on Saturday, Imran Khan reportedly said that the Opposition should go ahead with its plan of the no-confidence motion since all coalition partners are with him. He maintained that the government has done its homework.

Both the Government and the Opposition are confident of having the requisite numbers in the National Assembly in the run-up to the no-confidence motion, The News International said citing reports. (ANI)

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Shahbaz Sharif questions Imran’s priorities

Pakistan's Leader of Opposition and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif

Shahbaz said that Prime Minister is not concerned about the problems of the masses but is only concerned about the Opposition….reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan’s Leader of Opposition and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif, on Tuesday, slammed Imran Khan government for accepting huge amounts of international loans saying that the inflation has never been so high in the country.

He further said that Prime Minister Imran Khan should worry about the country’s crippling economy rather than political meetings of the opposition parties, reported Geo TV. “Throughout the history of this country, inflation has never been as high as it is now,” he said

Shahbaz replied, “The prime minister should focus on the country’s inflation rate, unemployment and the catastrophic situation of the economy.” “Corruption worth billions of rupees is happening under the nose of the government,” he criticised the government for the sugar and wheat scams, reported the News Channel.

During a press conference, last week, Shahbaz said that Prime Minister is not concerned about the problems of the masses but is only concerned about the Opposition. Sharif had also lashed out at Imran Khan, accusing him of turning a blind eye to Karachi’s problems.

“Life has become hard for people due to additional taxes, rising electricity prices,” he said.

Furthermore, Earlier, PML-N announced that they will lead a long march against the ruling PTI government from Karachi to Islamabad on February 27. (ANI)

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Imran’s fall soon?

“There is an unconstitutional interference in our system … Whenever the crutches are removed, the government will go home within 24 hours,” claimed PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi…reports Asian Lite News

Former Pakistan premier and senior Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has claimed that 22 MNAs of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are ready to jump ship, adding that a no-confidence motion would be tabled once the required numbers are achieved, Friday Times reported.

“Twenty-two MNAs of the PTI do not want to be with their party. The country is hurtling towards devastation and collapse and the only solution is fair and immediate elections,” he said during a press conference in Islamabad.

“There is an unconstitutional interference in our system … Whenever the crutches are removed, the government will go home within 24 hours,” he maintained.

On Saturday, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif met with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari at Shehbaz’s home in Lahore’s Model Town on Saturday. PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif was also in attendance.

The opposition leaders met to coordinate a strategy aiming to oust the incumbent government, according to insider reports. PML-N had reportedly told PPP that it would like to build a broader coalition with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), after a no-trust proposal is presented to the party’s central executive committee, the report said.

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Infighting surfaces in Imran’s cabinet again

The defence minister while attending the meeting reportedly said that he would not vote for the Prime Minister if new gas connections were not given to the people of KP….reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan faced an awkward situation during a meeting of the parliamentary party of the ruling alliance when Pak Defence Minister Pervez Khattak complained about the neglect of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) by the Centre, Dawn reported.

According to sources, the Prime Minister became angry and snubbed the defence minister for what he (PM) called “blackmailing” him.

The meeting held at the Parliament House was presided over by the Pak Prime Minister. The meeting cleared the controversial Supplementary Finance Bill-2022, commonly called the mini-Budget.

After the meeting, the Prime Minister sat in his chamber for almost the whole day and met a number of legislators hailing from his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and other parties in the ruling coalition, the report said.

The defence minister while attending the meeting reportedly said that he would not vote for the Prime Minister if new gas connections were not given to the people of KP.

However, Khattak told mediapersons after the meeting that he neither harshly talked to the Prime minister nor hurled any threat of not voting for PM Khan.

Sources said Khattak was of the view that KP was being neglected in terms of provision of electricity and gas while these facilities were being enjoyed by the people of other provinces. They said the defence minister told the Prime Minister that if the situation lingered on, the people of KP would not vote for the PTI, the report said.

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Bilawal: Democracy snatched away

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Targeting the Imran Khan government, Bilawal said that Pakistanis are bearing the burden of a puppet and selected government….reports Asian Lite News

Highlighting the slew of issues afflicting the people of Pakistan, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday said that democracy in Pakistan only exists on paper.

He made these remarks while speaking during a rally in Sindh’s Larkana District on the 14th death anniversary of the slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto.

“We had said that democracy is the best revenge and hence, we restored the system despite all the ill-practices,” he was quoted as saying by Geo News. He added that democracy was snatched from the people of Pakistan.

Targeting the Imran Khan government, Bilawal said that Pakistanis are bearing the burden of a puppet and selected government.

Imran Pic credit ANI

This rebuke comes as PPP has announced it would launch a movement to remove the ‘puppet’ Imran Khan government in Pakistan, reported local media. The party will start a campaign from Lahore on January 5.

“On January 5, which is the birth anniversary of [party founder] Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, PPP’s executive committee will set up its base in Lahore,” Samaa TV quoted Bilawal as saying.

“The end of this puppet government will begin from the city where the foundation of PPP was laid,” he added.

Stressing that PPP can not bear the suffering of people in Pakistan, Bilawal said that only his party can save this country as he asked the party’s provincial leadership and workers to gear up to take part in the agitation against the sitting government.

Remembering his mother, Bilawal said that it has been 14 years but we still miss Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

Referring to Benazir Bhutoo, the PPP Chairman said, “Shaheed Bibi, your Pakistan is in turmoil, there is no freedom of speech, life or even breath.”

“We fulfilled Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s 30-year struggle for the restoration of the 1973 constitution by introducing the 18th amendment and transferring all the powers to parliament,” Bilawal added. (ANI)

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Imran proves majority, sails through Parliament test

With the support of 221 votes of his party members and that of the allies, the government cruised through the session amid the Opposition’s protest…reports Asian Lite News

The joint session of Pakistan Parliament was an opportunity for Prime Minister Imran Khan to prove his majority in Parliament, which he did.

With the support of 221 votes of his party members and that of the allies, the government cruised through the session amid the Opposition’s protest, Express Tribune reported.

Despite the opposition lawmakers’ speeches, urging the National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to adjourn the session so that both the sides could sit together and deliberate upon the agenda items; their hue and cry; sloganeering; surrounding of Speaker’s desk; tearing of the papers and heated arguments with him, the government moved ahead with the legislative business and passed 33 bills, the report said.

The Pakistan Opposition thought Prime Minister Imran Khan had lost the confidence of his members and the allies in the National Assembly and the Senate. However, he passed through this storm comfortably, the report said.

Last week, the government was defeated twice in the National Assembly and it had to put off the joint sitting of parliament within 24 hours of its summoning, as the allies had distanced themselves from the government.

The Opposition was hoping, once again, the government would not be able to complete the numbers and would, ultimately, fail to pass the legislation for changing the voting system. They had believed that they would have the chance to stop the government just the way they did a week ago.

However, when the votes were counted, the opposition found that its seven members were absent for varying reasons – ranging from health issues to foreign visits, the report said.

The Opposition had been putting up brave face ahead of the joint session of parliament but Wednesday belonged to the treasury.

The joint sitting passed all the required bills, including the two key ones, which deal with holding the next elections via electronic voting machines and allowing overseas Pakistanis the right to vote in the future elections.

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BILAWAL: Kaptaan Bhag Gaya

Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressing the PDM opposition party jalsa

Bilawal warned that the countdown to the end of PTI’s tenure has begun, adding “it’s now time for Prime minister Imran Khan to be a bundle of nerves”…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the incumbent Imran Khan-led government opted out of Parliaments joint session as it had “foreseen its defeat”, Geo News reported.

Taking to Twitter, Bilawal said “Kaptaan bhag gaya” (the captain ran away), as he shared President Arif Alvi’s notification for the postponement of the session.

“Yet another victory for the United opposition in the Parliament today. Government ran away from joint sessions when they saw they would be defeated yet again. Kaptaan Bhag gaya.”

He said that they (Opposition) are not asking the government’s allies to support them on the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister now.

“Instead, we are talking only about the government’s undemocratic methods and bids to make the election commission controversial.”

Bilawal further said that the countdown to the end of PTI’s tenure has begun, adding “it’s now time for Prime minister Imran Khan to be a bundle of nerves”, the Geo News report added.

He said that he still stands firm on his idea to move a no-trust motion against Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar but they will have to make efforts for it separately.

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Earlier, while addressing the MNAs at a dinner he hosted at the Senate’s banquet hall, Bilawal said that the government had to postpone the Parliament’s joint session due to the efforts by the Opposition.

“Due to the opposition’s contacts with the government’s allies, the government had to retreat and cancel the joint session. Thanks to (Leader of the Opposition) Shehbaz Sharif who gathered the Opposition parties,” said Bilawal.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Earlier on Wednesday, the government postponed a joint session of the Parliament that was scheduled for Thursday.

A meeting of the Federal Cabinet on Tuesday had called the session on Thursday at 11pm to pass the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance (Amendment) Bill and electoral reforms bill among other legislation items.

Later, President Alvi issued an official notification for the postponement of the joint session.

Bilawal said that the Opposition had decided to ensure their numbers to oppose the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance (Amendment) Bill and electoral reforms bill proposed by the government.

He said that the NAB ordinances being presented one after another are based on “mala fide intent”.

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Army Rejects Imran’s Pleas on TLP

According to the sources, the army chief said if the decision-makers were ready to pay the price for using force against the TLP, then the military would do as ordered….reports Asian Lite News

The row between Pakistan PM and Army continues as the military leadership had advised against the use of force against the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters after Prime Minister Imran Khan had authorised it, Dawn reported.

According to sources privy to the fast-paced developments taking place, the Pakistan prime minister had authorised the use of force against the TLP marchers. Once this authorisation was relayed, the Pakistan military leadership reviewed the operational dynamics and possible consequences of using force against the crowd. They calculated what it would entail to apply force against the marchers, and how many casualties could take place if the law enforcers were to use the last resort and open fire on those refusing to disperse. The leadership also factored into this calculation the probable blowback of casualties and its impact on public opinion.

According to sources, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa presented all the pros and cons of using force against TLP workers when the political and military leadership gathered to discuss the issue at the National Security Committee meeting that took place on October 29.

Pic credits IANS

People who know the details of this meeting have confirmed to Dawn that the army chief said if the decision-makers were ready to pay the price for using force against the TLP, then the military would do as ordered. However, mention was made of the previous instances where the government had used force against citizens — Lal Masjid and the Model Town incident — and participants of the meeting were reminded of the consequences of both episodes.

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By the time this meeting took place however, the government had already taken a tough line and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had quoted the prime minister as telling the cabinet on October 27 that the government would not allow anyone to take the law into their hands and challenge the writ of the state.

The military leadership, however, advised against the use of force arguing that it was not a solution. It was then decided to opt for a negotiated settlement in order to, as one source put it, ‘avoid bloodshed’. This is when Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman was identified as someone who could mediate an agreement given his standing as a senior Barelvi cleric.

Pak NSA warns TLP protesters

After having taken the political leadership on board, the Pakistan government has in principle decided to make public the agreement it signed with the TLP but kept secret till its implementation was well under way.

Participants of the briefing told Dawn the senior military officials informed them about how the agreement came about and why it was decided to keep it secret for this long.

According to these officials, the primary objective was to get the TLP protesters off the streets so the situation could return to normal. In this context, there was a concern that unveiling the contents of the agreement at an early stage could have triggered a public debate that may have impeded its implementation that in turn was linked with the ending of the protest.

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Tussle between Imran Khan, Pak Army over ISI chief

Pakistan-Army-Chief-Gen-Qamar-Javed-Bajwa-meets-Prime-Minister-Imran-Khan

Reports about lack of consensus between the civil and military leadership over the matter had been making rounds on social media for the last few days…reports Sanjeev Sharma

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan informed the federal cabinet that he had told Pakistan Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa that he wanted Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed to continue as Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general for some time due to the critical situation in neighbouring Afghanistan, Dawn reported.

Reports about lack of consensus between the civil and military leadership over the matter had been making rounds on social media for the last few days, but after it appeared on regular media on Tuesday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry was compelled to clarify the government’s point of view.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief whip in the National Assembly Amir Dogar said Prime Minister Khan and Gen Bajwa held a detailed meeting late Monday night on the matter.

Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed

The meeting was also confirmed by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry during his presser after the cabinet meeting, stating that the issue of appointment of new ISI DG Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmed Anjum had been resolved and that the PM enjoyed the authority to appoint the chief of the country’s premier spy agency in accordance with law and Constitution.

Also sharing details of the meeting, Pak PM’s aide on political affairs Amir Dogar said the premier wanted Lt. Gen. Hameed to stay as DG ISI in view of the situation in Afghanistan, adding that Prime Minister Khan and Gen. Bajwa enjoyed relation of respect and dignity, the report said.

Khan was of the opinion that the government wanted to take all institutions on board, Dogar said. “The body language of the prime minister was quite positive and he seemed confident,” he added.

The PTI’s chief whip said the prime minister had told the cabinet that he was an elected prime minister and chief executive of the country.

“The prime minister has the authority to appoint the DG ISI and he held a detailed meeting with Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa in this regard,” Chaudhry told the press conference.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (Source: ANI)

“The federal government will follow a legal and constitutional procedure on the appointment of the Inter-Services Intelligence director general,” he said.

The minister categorically stated there would be no step taken from the PM Office or the military setup that damaged the repute of one another, the report said.

Referring to rumours circulating about the matter, the minister said: “I see on social media, there are many who have wishes; I want to tell them that the Prime Minister’s Office will never undermine the respect of the Pakistan Army and army chief. And the COAS and the army will never take any step that will undermine the respect of Pakistan’s prime minister or civil setup.”

He stressed that both the prime minister and the military leadership were in close coordination, and the DG ISI would be appointed after fulfilling all legal requirements. “Both (PM Khan and Gen Bajwa) are in agreement over this and the prime minister has the authority over it,” he added

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Hardliners could take Taliban to what it was 20 years ago: Imran

Referring to the issue of women’s rights, he said the Taliban should be incentivised to “walk the talk” –pointing out that the group had said it would allow women to work and get educated….reports Asian Lite News

Urging the world to engage with the Taliban, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that there “must be hardliners within the group” (Taliban) and it can easily go back to the Taliban of 20 years ago, which would be a disaster, according to local media.

Imran Khan, in an interview with the Middle East Eye on Monday, said: “The world must engage with Afghanistan.”

According to Dawn, Khan warned of the consequences of not doing so.

“There must be hardliners within the group [and] it can easily go back to the Taliban of 20 years ago. And that would be a disaster,” he said, adding that Afghanistan could once again descend into chaos if no engagements were made and it could become a fertile ground for terrorists like ISIS, which is a worry for all countries in the region.

(Image Source ANI)

“It would be a total waste, what will the US have to show after 20 years? Therefore, a stable Afghanistan government which can then take on ISIS. And Taliban are the best bet to take on ISIS, that is the only option left.”

Asked about the lack of inclusiveness in the Taliban’s interim government, Imran Khan said that it is not present “right now” but hoped it would be in the future, adding that it was needed because Afghanistan was a diverse society, reported Dawn.

Referring to the issue of women’s rights, he said the Taliban should be incentivised to “walk the talk” –pointing out that the group had said it would allow women to work and get educated.

“Yet, the government is clearly trying to get international acceptability so it wants an inclusive government, talks about human rights and not allowing its soil to be used for terrorism by anyone,” Dawn quoted Imran Khan as saying.

Earlier, dozens of Afghan women activists on Sunday held protests in Afghanistan demanding political and social inclusion.

These women sought female representation in the caretaker government of the Taliban and said that they will not stop resisting until their role in the new government is clarified, Tolo News reported.

“Today, October 10, is World Women Solidarity Day with Afghan Women. And women from over 100 countries are due to protest in support of Afghan women,” a protester said.

“The Taliban repeatedly say that women have the right to education, work and political inclusion in the government, and they should show it in practice,” another protester said.

The Taliban have been continuously trying to portray a good image in front of the world while promising rights to women and minorities but the on-ground situation in Afghanistan shows that all these are mere words by the Taliban.

During the protest, a former government employee also expressed frustration with the Taliban and said that the government formed by the group will collapse if women are not included in decision making.

As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan once again after 20 years, experts believe that Afghan women are most likely to face an uncertain future under the group’s regime.

Days ago, veteran women’s rights activist Mehbouba Siraj had also urged the international community to fully support Afghan women amid the deteriorating situation in the war-torn nation, reported Pajhwok Afghan News. (ANI)

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