Posts in category: Politics

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said that the environment for backdoor contacts is currently somewhat cold, stressing that dialogue should take place and matters should move in a positive direction.

Speaking to the media at the Dahgal checkpoint on Adiala Road, Barrister Gohar said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi received considerable public appreciation during his visit to Lahore. However, he termed the failure to provide security to the KP chief minister in Lahore regrettable.

He said Sohail Afridi, who is the chief minister of a province, was made to sit in a vehicle and was dropped at a square. Barrister Gohar said the police should not have taken even a single step forward in such circumstances and warned that treating a provincial chief minister in this manner would increase hatred.

He called on the Punjab chief minister and Punjab Police to apologise for the conduct, saying that providing security to a chief minister visiting another province was the responsibility of the provincial institutions. He added that taking the chief minister even a short distance in a police vehicle was an act of humiliation and said that what happened in Lahore the previous night was wrong.

Barrister Gohar reiterated that PTI was peaceful and would always remain peaceful, saying that the party was seeking its rights and justice.

Regarding PTI founder Imran Khan’s health, Barrister Gohar said the Supreme Court had issued an order under which the former prime minister was to be shifted to a hospital and a medical board was to be constituted in accordance with court directions, but the order had not been implemented.

He said PTI had filed contempt of court petitions in the Supreme Court. According to Barrister Gohar, criminal cases were always heard by the Supreme Court, but Imran Khan’s health issue had been turned into a constitutional crisis.

Also Read: ATC Issues Arrest Warrants for PTI Leaders in November 26 Protest Cases

He urged that the health matter should not be “thrown like a football” from one court to another. He said if the Constitutional Court intended to call the case before itself, it should not have adjourned the matter for an indefinite period. Barrister Gohar said PTI disagreed with the Constitutional Court and believed it should not have taken up the case.

Barrister Gohar said political issues should always be resolved through political means and called for positive steps to reduce tensions. He said there were currently no negotiations with the government and that the environment was cold.

He claimed that PTI had significant popularity and said a large number of people would come on September 27. Referring to Sher Afzal Marwat, he said Marwat would be following his party’s line and that notice should not have been issued on his petition.

Barrister Gohar said the question of who would or would not become chief minister in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a political matter. He said courts did not decide academic questions and that it was an established principle that courts also did not hear political questions.

He said PTI’s founder remained the head of the party and that it was the founder who had appointed Ali Amin Gandapur and Sohail Afridi as chief ministers.

Barrister Gohar said the thinking of the country and nation should have changed after May 2025. He said Pakistan’s defence had become invincible in May 2025 and that the world had witnessed Pakistan as a strong defence power. He added that political and economic stability should now also come to the country.

The PTI chairman further alleged that raids were being conducted at the homes of party workers and that police had established camps outside the homes of PTI leadership in Punjab. He said the homes of PTI leaders in Punjab had been sealed and their electricity disconnected, warning that such measures would further worsen the political environment.

Barrister Gohar also said PTI supported Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest and march against inflation. He clarified that the PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami marches would be separate, adding that the Jamaat-e-Islami emir had said PTI would not participate in its march but would attend the All Parties Conference.

RAWALPINDI: Action against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has intensified in Rawalpindi, with detention orders issued for 155 active workers from northern Punjab, while a list of 118 more leaders has been prepared for arrest.

According to the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner, orders arrested and transferred to Adiala Jail. The list prepared for further arrests includes active leaders, former ticket holders and organisational administration is continuing measures to arrest additional workers and leaders, while implementation of the detention orders issued under have been issued to detain 155 active workers for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (3-MPO).

Sources said 35 active PTI workers from Rawalpindi have been arrested and transferred to Adiala Jail. The list prepared for further arrests includes active leaders, former ticket holders and organisational office-bearers.

Sources said some members of the PTI’s local leadership have gone into hiding amid fears of arrest.

The administration is continuing measures to arrest additional workers and leaders, while implementation of the detention orders issued under the 3-MPO has also begun.

Also Read: ATC Issues Arrest Warrants for PTI Leaders in November 26 Protest Cases

ISLAMABAD: The spokesperson for the Presidency has clarified media reports regarding President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent overseas visit, stating that the trip was entirely private.

According to the spokesperson, all expenses related to the visit were paid by President Asif Ali Zardari personally. The spokesperson said the aircraft used for the trip was also chartered by the president himself.

The aircraft crew, parking, accommodation and other associated expenses will also be paid by the president personally, the spokesperson said.

The Presidency spokesperson further clarified that no expenditure was incurred from the national exchequer on the visit.

President Asif Ali Zardari had recently traveled to Austria and subsequently to London, the capital of the United Kingdom. He returned to Pakistan on the previous day.

The Presidency confirmed that the visit was private.

Also Read: PPP Decides to Withhold Support for Government Legislation

ISLAMABAD: A new travel directive has been issued for passengers traveling abroad from Pakistan, making a vaccination certificate issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) mandatory for all international travelers from September 14, 2026.

According to a notification issued by the Airport Health Department, passengers will not be permitted to travel abroad after September 14 without a vaccination record issued by NADRA.

The vaccinations made mandatory for travelers include polio, meningitis, yellow fever and influenza.

The notification directs passengers to receive vaccinations only from federal government civil dispensaries and obtain a NADRA digital vaccination card before departure.

The department has specifically advised Umrah pilgrims to obtain their NADRA vaccination cards before traveling. Airlines have also been directed to verify passengers’ vaccination certificates before allowing them to board.

According to the notification, facilities for vaccination and the issuance of NADRA certificates will also be made available at airports in the coming days. However, passengers seeking vaccination at the airport will be required to arrive at least six hours before their scheduled flight.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has also made obtaining a NADRA Integrated Vaccination Proof mandatory for passengers traveling abroad in light of the new directive.

Also Read: Govt Cancels 50 Pilot Licences, Suspends 33 Amid Fake Licence Controversy

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said that discussions on the creation of new provinces at an economic forum or seminar would not be productive, adding that the matter could be meaningfully debated in Parliament.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Rana Sanaullah said that if the people wanted new provinces, no one could stop them. He added that the question of what the people wanted would be addressed in Parliament.

Responding to a question about the Interior Minister’s statement regarding new provinces, Rana Sanaullah said that discussing the issue at an economic forum or seminar would not yield results and that the debate should take place in Parliament.

He said the federal minister had not so far raised the matter in Parliament or the Cabinet, adding that the issue of creating new provinces had not yet been brought before the Cabinet. He said that if a joint sitting of Parliament approved the proposal, a referendum would then be held.

Rana Sanaullah said that speeches, statements and discussions at forums by the Interior Minister had not brought any improvement and that the matter should have been discussed in Parliament.

He said that when the debate came before Parliament, all political parties would present their positions. He added that consultations were continuing within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) regarding its position on new provinces and that the party would also participate in the debate.

He said the prime minister would also speak on the issue.  Rana Sanaullah further said that consultation was ongoing within the PML-N on its position regarding new provinces. He said that when the issue came up for discussion in Parliament, the party would present its policy statement.

Also Read: Federal Government Announces Debate on New Provinces in Parliament

An important development has emerged in the Sarhad University case, with Dr Jadoon Khan and Dr Aina, the wife of Colonel Asfandyar, reportedly dismissed from their jobs.

According to sources, the employment of Dr Jadoon Khan and Dr Aina was terminated following administrative action in connection with the Sarhad University case.

Sources said Dr Aina is the wife of Colonel Asfandyar. The dismissal of both individuals from their positions is being described as a significant development in the case.

However, the available information does not provide details regarding the reasons for their dismissal, the nature of the administrative proceedings or the formal decision of the relevant authorities.

LAHORE: The alleged use of a government aircraft to attend the graduation ceremony of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s daughter has been raised in the Punjab Assembly.

According to private TV channel Express News, opposition Punjab Assembly member Waqas Mann submitted an adjournment motion, stating that media reports had claimed a government aircraft was used to attend the graduation ceremony, allegedly incurring expenses of approximately Rs125 million.

The adjournment motion questioned the use of government resources and stated that, if the media reports were accurate, complete details of the matter should be presented before the House.

The lawmaker demanded an explanation regarding the legal and administrative approval for the use of the government aircraft, details of the expenses incurred and the sources through which the payments were made.

The motion also called for permission to debate the matter in the House so that the facts surrounding the alleged use of government resources could be brought to light.

Also Read: Punjab Faces Greater Terror Threat from Neighboring Provinces, Says CM Maryam Nawaz

The appointment of vice chancellors to five major medical universities in Punjab has hit a deadlock after Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider refused to sign the summary sent by the Punjab government.

According to details, the Punjab governor has decided to personally meet and interview all the candidates shortlisted for the positions. The governor will conduct interviews of three shortlisted candidates for each university.

The governor has summoned all the candidates for meetings on Monday.

Following approval from the Punjab chief minister and the provincial cabinet, five names had been proposed for appointment as vice chancellors of the five universities.

According to sources at the Governor House, the governor will not sign the summary without meeting the candidates.

Also Read : Can Referendum Override Constitution? PPP Senator Palwasha Khan Questions

Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider said that if he had reservations about any candidate, he could raise an objection to the summary submitted by the Punjab government. He said he had 15 days to decide on the summary.

The Punjab government had sent the summary containing names for the appointment of vice chancellors of King Edward Medical University and Fatima Jinnah Medical University.

Names for the vice chancellorships of the University of Health Sciences, Faisalabad Medical University and Rawalpindi Medical University had also been sent.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology has expressed anger over substandard mobile services and summoned telecom companies to explain the situation.

A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology was held at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Member of the National Assembly Syed Amin-ul-Haque.

Discussing the issue of poor-quality mobile services and internet connectivity across the country, the committee chairman said it was necessary to address the problem of substandard mobile services nationwide.

He said improving the quality of mobile services was extremely important, adding that users often had to make a call three times.

Officials of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) acknowledged that there were problems with internet quality and mobile services across the country.

The PTA officials said four show-cause notices had been issued to telecom companies during the past six months. Over the past few years, 48 show-cause notices and 22 warning letters had been issued to telecom companies, while fines amounting to Rs68.9 million had been imposed.

The officials said the maximum fine that the PTA could impose on a telecom company was Rs350 million.

Also Read: Pakistan’s Jails Overcrowded as Under-Trial Prisoners Outnumber Capacity

Committee member Ahmed Atiq said 70 per cent of areas in the country were facing mobile service problems.

Dr Mahesh Kumar said Ufone’s service was not working properly at all.

Committee member Shazia Fareed said mobile service at Islamabad’s largest government hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), was extremely poor, adding that even calls could not be made through the mobile service.

Secretary of the Ministry of IT Zarar Hasham Khan said one of the reasons for poor mobile service was the lack of standard-quality equipment and machinery.

He said a committee comprising K-Electric and the Ministry of IT had been formed to examine how towers could be protected from load-shedding.

Zarar Hasham Khan said load-shedding did not only result in power outages but also affected businesses.

The committee summoned Jazz, Zong and Ufone to its next meeting.

The federal government has announced that the National Assembly and Senate will hold a debate on the creation of new provinces in October.

Speaking to the media, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that sessions of the National Assembly and Senate would not be held in September, while sessions of both houses would take place in October.

He said the issue of establishing new provinces would be discussed during the October sessions of both houses.

Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said Parliament House was the proper forum for debate on the creation of new provinces.

He clarified that Islamabad was not going to be made a province, saying the federal capital was instead moving towards adopting a new governance model.

The minister said there was no proposal to turn Islamabad into a separate province.

Also Read: Sindh Assembly Unanimously Rejects Province Division, Passes Resolution Against New Provinces