Tag: Imran; Pakistan

The Pandora leaks have “opened a new Pandora’s Box” against Imran Khan, said PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal….reports Asian Lite News

 The Opposition leaders in Pakistan have slammed Prime Minister Imran Khan and demanded his resignation following the revelations made in the Pandora Papers, Geo TV reported.

A huge tranche of leaked data on offshore companies that is larger in size and scope than the Panama Papers hit the global headlines on Sunday night, laying bare the financial secrets of the global rich and powerful, including Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet members, financiers, retired generals, media owners and businessmen.

The names of more than 700 Pakistanis were discovered in the data and the majority of them are tax residents in this country.

The Pandora leaks have “opened a new Pandora’s Box” against Imran Khan, said PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal.

“The leader who used to present himself as ‘sadiq’ (honest) and ‘ameen’ (trustworthy) has two more offshore companies,” PML-N’s secretary-general Iqbal was quoted as saying by The News.

The PML-N stalwart said that even before the Pandora Papers were released, government spokespersons had started defending PM Imran Khan, the report said.

Imran Khan wore a “cloak of honesty” and “fooled” the people, Iqbal said, adding that the premier eroded Pakistan’s respect and pride.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman isn’t surprised that the premier’s close aides were named in the Pandora Papers, the report added.

In a post on Twitter, the PPP leader said that “we all know that slogans of ‘corruption, free Pakistan and accountability’ are all hollow and a way to target the opposition”.

“Will the Prime Minister go to the Supreme Court against his people? Or will a report be called for like in other scandals,” Rehman asked.

Imran Khan must ensure investigation of the ministers and other people around him mentioned in the Pandora Papers in the same way he did in the case of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz’s spokesman Muhammad Zubair said on a Geo News programme.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq, meanwhile, demanded immediate resignation of government ministers and advisers named in the Pandora Papers.

The names of 700 Pakistanis, including government ministers and advisers, have appeared in the Pandora Papers.

In his statement, the JI chief said that ministers and advisers should resign if their names are mentioned in the Pandora Papers, otherwise they should be sacked.

He said that for transparency in the investigation and to avoid government influence, it is necessary to remove the government employees named in the Pandora Papers.

ALSO READ: Russia pinpoints Pakistan as culprit behind terror in Afghanistan

ALSO READ: India terms Pakistan world’s biggest destabilising force

Sharif has been critical of the Imran Khan government and has questioned several policy decisions of the government….reports Asian Lite News

Opposition leader and PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday vowed to “bury” Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) politically in the next general elections in the country scheduled for 2023.

Sharif has been critical of the Imran Khan government and has questioned several policy decisions of the government. This statement comes on the heels of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) resounding performance in the recently concluded cantonment board elections.

“The masses will bury the PTI’s politics in 2023. They have had enough of sloganeering, corruption & incompetence that has pushed them backwards by decades. PMLN’s success in cantonment elections in Punjab is beginning of PTI’s political meltdown,” Shehbaz Sharif tweeted.

Earlier this week, Shehbaz had lashed out at the PTI government over the hike in gas prices. He had said the country has the “highest inflation rate and lowest income in the world.”

Demanding to withdraw a proposed hike in gas prices, the Opposition leader also said that rising gas prices are “unjustified” and “another foolish act” by the government, Geo News reported.

Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb also criticised the PTI government, alleging it was “forcing” federal institutions like the NAB and the FIA to lie in court against Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif.

Marriyum said the money laundering cases against Sharif are the same “fake case” that the government had tried forcing the former DG of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to pursue.

“It is Imran Khan’s vengeance against Shehbaz that had cooked up all these cases and had kept them alive to feed his political victimisation and keep his dead politics alive,” Marriyum said targeting prime minister Khan.

She had stated that despite the abuse of power by government institutions, a single penny of corruption in any of cases against Shehbaz Sharif could not be proven. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Pakistan revives Khalistan, Kashmir groups in US with ISI funds

Protesters accused Pakistan of plundering their resources indiscriminately and trampling upon their fundamental rights…reports Asian Lite News

Hundreds of protesters took to streets of Pallandari region in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) demanding independence from Pakistani clutches.

They accused Islamabad of meting out a second class citizen treatment to them for the past seven decades. They said, while on one side Pakistan was plundering their resources indiscriminately, it was trampling upon their fundamental rights on the other side.

Local leaders say Pakistan has created a humanitarian crisis in the region but the world doesn’t get to know the reality owing to the media censorship in the region.

While some media houses are coerced into toeing the administration’s line, others have self-censored themselves out of obligation in return for the cash and other luxuries showered on them.

ALSO READ: Pakistan, China making efforts for recognition of Taliban govt

ALSO READ: Afghans stage 2nd protest against Pakistan in Delhi

According to local media, the federal cabinet will meet and discuss ways to garner revenue from the PM House building…reports Asian Lite News

Reeling under a financial crunch, Pakistan Prime Minister’s official residence in Islamabad has been put on the market for rent.

After the ruling Tehreek-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government announced in August 2019, its plan to convert the Prime Minster’s House into a university, PM Imran Khan had vacated the residence. The federal government has now dropped the plan and decided to instead rent out the property, Samaa TV reported.

The federal cabinet, which had earlier announced a state-of-the-art federal educational institution at the Prime Minister House has, according to sources cited by local media now decided to allow people to hold cultural, fashion, educational, and other events at the premises located at the Red Zone, Islamabad.

“Two committees have been formed for this purpose. They will be responsible for ensuring the discipline and decorum of the PM House are not violated during the events,” Saama TV said.

According to local media, the federal cabinet will meet and discuss ways to garner revenue from the PM House building.

The auditorium of the Prime Minister’s House, two guest wings, and a lawn can be rented out to generate funds. High-level diplomatic functions, international seminars will also be held at the former principal workplace of the Pakistani premier.

Imran Khan after taking over as the country’s PM had announced that the Pakistan government doesn’t have money to spend on the public welfare schemes, while some in the country are “living like our colonial masters used to live”. He has since then been living at his Bani Gala residence and only uses the PM office.

Pakistan’s economy has shrunk by USD 19 billion in the last three years since Khan came to the power. When he became the PM he took many austerity steps to cut down the government expenses to give respite to the country’s economy.

Earlier, former finance minister Miftah Ismail remarked that the Imran Khan-led regime was “toying with the economy”, adding that it had increased the loans of the government and state institutions by Rs 45,000 billion.

Protest against load shedding

People of Pakistan’s Swabi district on Monday staged a protest against the prolonged electricity load shedding in the region.

The people of numerous villages reached Shewa Adda on motorcycles and tractor-trolleys and blocked the road for all kinds of traffic at the main intersection for three hours, The Dawn reported.

Protestors slammed Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and elected representatives for the fragile electricity supply.

“Power supply remained suspended for hours even if there was little rain. They complained the Pesco did not attend calls by consumers to know about the reasons for frequent power outages,” the speaker said during the protest.

Meanwhile, the opposition said people in Pakistan have to face problems of electricity and gas load-shedding because of Imran Khan-led PTI government’s “incompetence and greed for money.”

PML-N President said the “never-ending problem” of electricity and gas load-shedding has been going on for the last few months, which is a sign of mismanagement on part of the government.

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s energy crisis was deteriorating as the country is facing an electricity shortfall of somewhere between 7,000 and 8,000 megawatts.

Unannounced load-shedding has reached its peak in Punjab, including Lahore, due to the electricity shortfall. Unannounced power suspension of up to three to five hours at many places during the last 72 hours had heightened the misery of the public.

Due to the power crisis, besides Lahore, long hours of load-shedding are also taking place in other cities, including Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Afghan team in Pakistan to probe abduction of its envoy’s daughter

ALSO READ: India asks Pakistan to keep consistency in words and deeds

Under the Elections Act, 2017, all political parties are required to hold intra-party elections on time…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan election commission has issued a show-cause notice to Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, for not holding intra-party elections within the stipulated time.

Dawn reported that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday served the notice and sought reasons from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief for not holding intra-party polls due on June 13, 2021.

Under the Elections Act, 2017, all political parties are required to hold intra-party elections on time.

The ECP requires political parties to conduct intra-party elections before every five years, and the parties can hold the polls in three or four years as enshrined in their respective constitutions.

“… in terms of Section 215 (4) of the Elections Act, 2017, you are required to show cause as to why your party may not be declared ineligible to obtain an election symbol for upcoming Election (s),” the ECP notice to the premier reads.

The ECP also sought a response from the prime minister within 14 days, warning that the election commission “shall take further action under the law” if the notice was not responded to, Dawn reported further.

The election commission said a political party was required to submit a certificate signed by an office-bearer of the party, assuring that the polls were held in accordance with the constitution of the political party and the Elections Act.

However, the PTI failed to provide the certificate with regard to the conduct of intra-party elections due on June 13, 2021 as required under legal requirements, said the ECP.

It also highlighted that a political party enlisted under the Elections Act shall be eligible to obtain an election symbol for contesting elections for parliament, provincial assemblies or local government after the submission of the certificate of intra-party elections.

India lodges protest against PoK polls

India has termed elections in Pakistan occupied Kashmir as a cosmetic exercise to camouflage illegal occupation and has lodged a protest with Pakistani authorities.

India has asked Pakistan to vacate the territory illegally occupied by it.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at the regular media briefing on Thursday that the exercise of so-called elections has been protested and rejected by the local people.

“Let me make very clear. The so-called elections in Indian territory under illegal occupation of Pakistan are nothing but an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation and the material changes undertaken by it in these territories,” he said.

Huge protests and rigging were reported in recently held elections in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

Imran Khan’s PTI has won the majority by bagging 25 seats in the so-called elections.

India has totally rejected the exercise in the occupied territory and said Pakistan has no local standi on the issue.

The MEA spokesperson said the cosmetic exercise can neither hide the illegal occupation by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations.

“India has lodged a strong protest with the Pakistani authorities on this cosmetic exercise, which has been protested and rejected by the local people. Such an exercise can neither hide the illegal occupation by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation, and denial of freedom to people in these occupied territories. Pakistan has no locus standi on these Indian territories,” he said.

“We call upon Pakistan to vacate all Indian areas under its illegal occupation,” he added.

Many locals have reportedly been injured and widespread manipulation has been carried out by Pakistan’s ruling party. Locals have held huge protests against elections conducted by Pakistan on July 25. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Taliban Targets Pakistan’s Dirty Bomb Assets

Last month, the Punjab Provincial Assembly passed the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Privileges (Amendment) Act, 2021…reports Asian Lite News

Raising concern about the new law that threatens press freedom in Pakistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has asked Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar and Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi to amend the proposed legislation.

Last month, the Punjab Provincial Assembly passed the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Privileges (Amendment) Act, 2021, a bill that empowers the speaker to form a judicial committee with the ability to penalize journalists over their coverage of the legislative body, according to news reports.

If enacted, that judicial committee would have the power to conduct summary trials and sentence journalists to up to six months in jail and fine them up to 10,000 rupees (USD 63) on the basis of a complaint by any assembly member, CPJ said citing local media reports.

“The Punjab Provincial Assembly’s move to authorize summary trials and sentencing for journalists amounts to a direct assault on press freedom in Pakistan and a threat to any journalist covering the assembly,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, in Washington, D.C. “Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar must reject the Punjab Privileges (Amendment) Act unless all provisions threatening freedom of expression are removed.”

CPJ was not able to obtain the text of the bill, which has not been published on the provincial assembly’s website.

The bill empowers the assembly’s sergeant-at-arms to arrest journalists within the assembly without a warrant on the order of the speaker, and includes three-month prison terms for “publishing any false or perverted report of any debate or proceedings,” “misrepresenting any speech made by a member before the Assembly,” or “making or publishing any maliciously false, scandalous, defamatory, or derogatory statement concerning any Member,” according to those reports.

Journalists could be sentenced to six months in prison and a fine if convicted of “using criminal force to obstruct, assault, threaten, or insult” any assembly member or officer.

Defendants in those cases would be able to appeal their verdicts, but only to the speaker of the assembly, according to media reports.

Responding to journalist protests against the proposed bill, Sarwar earlier this month announced that he would work with Elahi to revoke all of its press-related provisions, according to The Nation. On July 5, Elahi announced a number of revisions to the bill, according to news reports.

However, in a joint statement published that day, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the Lahore-based Joint Action Committee, a coalition of civil society groups, rejected those revisions and demanded that Section 21 of the bill be totally abolished, as it empowers the speaker to reintroduce the revised and omitted clauses at any time. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Pakistan looks for alternate pipeline instead of PSGP