Opposition questions transparency of 2018 polls after accusations against ex-CJP

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif on Monday said that the allegations raised by former Chief Justice of Gilgit Appellate Court Rana M Shamim against Former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar have raised serious questions over the transparency of the 2018 general elections.

Asif's statement came after a story was published in a local newspaper, which stated that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz were kept in jail till the elections on the orders of Justice Saqib Nisar.

However, the former CJ of the Supreme Court has denied the charges. Speaking to the media, Nisar, who ordered the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) in the Panama Papers case that led to the disqualification of then Nawaz Sharif, said he didn't want to respond to the "plain lies" of the ex-GB chief justice.

Nisar said Shamim had asked him for an extension but he didn't accept his request, adding that the ex-GB CJ had also complained to him about the same.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also took exception to this report and said it was an "absurd" story by the journalist.

"All this controversy raises serious questions over the transparency of the elections of 2018... Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were given punishment for crimes they did not even commit," said Asif while addressing a National Assembly session in Islamabad.

Quoting the report, he said that orders were given via phone not to release Nawaz and Maryam before the elections, saying that his leader and his daughters were unjustly imprisoned.

PML-N leader questioned that if the apex court of the country was involved in such practices then where could one expect to find justice.

Responding to Khawaja Asif, Federal Minister for Communication and Postal Services Murad Saeed said that if Nawaz Sharif loves Pakistan so much then why doesn't he return?

"If you (Nawaz) love Pakistan so much then why don't you return the looted money and return to the country," he questioned, adding that if the former prime minister was seeking a compromise then he was making a mistake.

Talking about the report, he said that whatever happened today was akin to "attacking" the judiciary, adding that whenever PML-N doesn't get court orders in their favour they deploy such tactics.

Murad said that Nawaz Sharif was declared a "liar" by the court, adding that PML-N wanted a judge like Justice Qayyum and a regime like General Zia. "When they don't get what they want, then they try to hatch conspiracies against the military, they try to malign the judges and strangle the voice of the media," he added.

The minister said that both Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar were fugitives. "I ask them when would they come to Pakistan? coronavirus pandemic ended... US left Afghanistan... now what is your excuse? Those who were in London are still there."

Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar, while addressing the house, told the opposition parties that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used during the next general elections and the vote theft will be stopped.

Talking about the opposition's planned long march, he said that JUI-F Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman had come to Islamabad earlier too but returned empty-handed.

"One of their (opposition) leaders (Nawaz Sharif) a while ago was instigating his workers to go against the army since he was residing comfortably in London," he added.

Asad said that the government doesn't fear the PDM or the independent media and his statement was about those people belonging to the media who act as "facilitators" of PDM.

"Journalists were asking questions [about PDM] so I said that they were just 'seasonal illness'," he clarified.

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Opposition questions transparency of 2018 polls after accusations against ex-CJP

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif on Monday said that the allegations raised by former Chief Justice of Gilgit Appellate Court Rana M Shamim against Former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar have raised serious questions over the transparency of the 2018 general elections.

Asif's statement came after a story was published in a local newspaper, which stated that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz were kept in jail till the elections on the orders of Justice Saqib Nisar.

However, the former CJ of the Supreme Court has denied the charges. Speaking to the media, Nisar, who ordered the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) in the Panama Papers case that led to the disqualification of then Nawaz Sharif, said he didn't want to respond to the "plain lies" of the ex-GB chief justice.

Nisar said Shamim had asked him for an extension but he didn't accept his request, adding that the ex-GB CJ had also complained to him about the same.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also took exception to this report and said it was an "absurd" story by the journalist.

"All this controversy raises serious questions over the transparency of the elections of 2018... Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were given punishment for crimes they did not even commit," said Asif while addressing a National Assembly session in Islamabad.

Quoting the report, he said that orders were given via phone not to release Nawaz and Maryam before the elections, saying that his leader and his daughters were unjustly imprisoned.

PML-N leader questioned that if the apex court of the country was involved in such practices then where could one expect to find justice.

Responding to Khawaja Asif, Federal Minister for Communication and Postal Services Murad Saeed said that if Nawaz Sharif loves Pakistan so much then why doesn't he return?

"If you (Nawaz) love Pakistan so much then why don't you return the looted money and return to the country," he questioned, adding that if the former prime minister was seeking a compromise then he was making a mistake.

Talking about the report, he said that whatever happened today was akin to "attacking" the judiciary, adding that whenever PML-N doesn't get court orders in their favour they deploy such tactics.

Murad said that Nawaz Sharif was declared a "liar" by the court, adding that PML-N wanted a judge like Justice Qayyum and a regime like General Zia. "When they don't get what they want, then they try to hatch conspiracies against the military, they try to malign the judges and strangle the voice of the media," he added.

The minister said that both Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar were fugitives. "I ask them when would they come to Pakistan? coronavirus pandemic ended... US left Afghanistan... now what is your excuse? Those who were in London are still there."

Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar, while addressing the house, told the opposition parties that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used during the next general elections and the vote theft will be stopped.

Talking about the opposition's planned long march, he said that JUI-F Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman had come to Islamabad earlier too but returned empty-handed.

"One of their (opposition) leaders (Nawaz Sharif) a while ago was instigating his workers to go against the army since he was residing comfortably in London," he added.

Asad said that the government doesn't fear the PDM or the independent media and his statement was about those people belonging to the media who act as "facilitators" of PDM.

"Journalists were asking questions [about PDM] so I said that they were just 'seasonal illness'," he clarified.

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PTI wins support of allies on electoral reforms: Fawad

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has addressed the reservations of its coalition partners and evolved consensus on the matter of electoral reforms, said Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday.

He said this while addressing a press conference in Islamabad after Prime Minister Imran Khan met with the leaders of allied parties — MQM-P, PML-Q, GDA and BAP.

Fawad said during the huddle all reservations of coalition partners over electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other electoral reforms had been addressed.

“All allied parties have expressed full confidence over the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and PTI,” he added.

Fawad said it was unanimously decided in the meeting that joint session of parliament will be summoned on Wednesday at 12pm. “All electoral bills will be tabled and allied parties will support them,” he claimed.

Last week, the government put off joint session of parliament within 24 hours of its summoning due to a lack of required numbers of its lawmakers and reservations relayed by its own allies.

Speaking on the occasion, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that PM Imran personally addressed the queries of the allied parties and added that initially 8 to 10 electoral reforms bills out of 32 will be presented in the upcoming joint session.

Fawad also welcomed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision of taking notice of an affidavit, submitted by the former top judge of the Gilgit Appellate Court, accusing former chief justice Saqib Nisar of 'keeping' former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in prison till the general elections of 2018.

“Despite taking notice, PML-N leaders held a press conference and tried to malign the judiciary,” said the information minister pleading the court to also summon PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khawaja Saad Rafique for making “baseless allegations”.

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'PML-N digging its own grave' in Shamim-Nisar case: PM Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the PML-N was "digging its own grave" by getting involved in the case where ex-chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan apex court Rana Shamim has levelled allegations against former chief justice of Pakistan, Justice (retd) Saqib Nisar.

The prime minister's comments came during a meeting with the PTI-led government's coalition partners, where the matter came under discussion, sources said.

The allied parties opined that PML-N could be served with a contempt of court notice for its statements over the matter.

At this, the prime minister said the matter is in the court and they will do what they seem fit, sources added.

A story published in The News had revealed that Shamim had alleged Nisar of issuing instructions to keep former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz in jail till the general elections in 2018, a claim which ex-chief justice completely denies.

 

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UN chief warns climate catastrophe close, Thunberg trashes deal at COP26

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned of an impending “climate catastrophe”, while environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg dismissed Saturday’s COP26 climate conference deal as “blah, blah, blah”.

And even those who welcomed the deal in Glasgow said a huge amount of work remained to be done.

Guterres acknowledged the shortcomings of the agreement, in a statement following the deal reached on Saturday evening at the Glasgow conference.

“The #COP26 outcome is a compromise, reflecting the interests, contradictions and state of political will in the world today,” he tweeted. “It’s an important step, but it’s not enough.”

“Our fragile planet is hanging by a thread”, he warned, adding “we are still knocking on the door of climate catastrophe.”

In a follow-up tweet, the UN chief sent a message to “young people, indigenous communities, women leaders, all those leading on #ClimateAction.” “I know you might be disappointed. But we’re in the fight of our lives & this fight must be won.”

Thunberg, arguably the world’s best known environmental campaigner, was more blunt in her assessment.

“The #COP26 is over,” she tweeted. “Here’s a brief summary: Blah, blah, blah.

“But the real work continues outside these halls. And we will never give up, ever.”

During the conference, Thunberg and other activists had denounced the way it was playing out, arguing that world leaders had failed to match their words with real action.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remained relatively upbeat.

“There is still a huge amount more to do in the coming years,” Johnson said.

“But today’s agreement is a big step forward and, critically, we have the first ever international agreement to phase down coal and a roadmap to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.”

A European Commission statement said the deal kept the targets of the 2015 Paris climate agreement alive, “giving us a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius”.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said delegates to the conference made progress on commitments to cut back on dangerous emissions, and on raising $100 billion a year to help developing and vulnerable countries. “But there will be no time to relax: there is still hard work ahead,” she added.

During the final negotiations, China and India insisted that language on fossil fuels be weakened in the final summit decision text. In recent days, the Australian government has vowed to sell coal for decades to come.

But Kevin Rudd, Australia’s former prime minister, now the president of the Asia Society, remained hopeful.

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PTI wins support of allies on electoral reforms: Fawad

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has addressed the reservations of its coalition partners and evolved consensus on the matter of electoral reforms, said Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday.

He said this while addressing a press conference in Islamabad after Prime Minister Imran Khan met with the leaders of allied parties — MQM-P, PML-Q, GDA and BAP.

Fawad said during the huddle all reservations of coalition partners over electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other electoral reforms had been addressed.

“All allied parties have expressed full confidence over the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and PTI,” he added.

Fawad said it was unanimously decided in the meeting that joint session of parliament will be summoned on Wednesday at 12pm. “All electoral bills will be tabled and allied parties will support them,” he claimed.

Last week, the government put off joint session of parliament within 24 hours of its summoning due to a lack of required numbers of its lawmakers and reservations relayed by its own allies.

Speaking on the occasion, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that PM Imran personally addressed the queries of the allied parties and added that initially 8 to 10 electoral reforms bills out of 32 will be presented in the upcoming joint session.

Fawad also welcomed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision of taking notice of an affidavit, submitted by the former top judge of the Gilgit Appellate Court, accusing former chief justice Saqib Nisar of 'keeping' former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in prison till the general elections of 2018.

“Despite taking notice, PML-N leaders held a press conference and tried to malign the judiciary,” said the information minister pleading the court to also summon PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khawaja Saad Rafique for making “baseless allegations”.

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'PML-N digging its own grave' in Shamim-Nisar case: PM Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the PML-N was "digging its own grave" by getting involved in the case where ex-chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan apex court Rana Shamim has levelled allegations against former chief justice of Pakistan, Justice (retd) Saqib Nisar.

The prime minister's comments came during a meeting with the PTI-led government's coalition partners, where the matter came under discussion, sources said.

The allied parties opined that PML-N could be served with a contempt of court notice for its statements over the matter.

At this, the prime minister said the matter is in the court and they will do what they seem fit, sources added.

A story published in The News had revealed that Shamim had alleged Nisar of issuing instructions to keep former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz in jail till the general elections in 2018, a claim which ex-chief justice completely denies.

 

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