Peoples Party settles for seats in Punjab cabinet

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) seems content with three ministries in Punjab and does not appear to be pushing the PML-N leadership for the governor’s and speaker’s slots, which the latter is keen on keeping for itself.

PPP’s Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood, who was earlier nominated for the governor’s post by his party, is reportedly upset with the decision.

In the first summary Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent to the president on April 17, he had recommended the name of Mr Mahmood as the Punjab governor. However, when President Dr Arif Alvi returned that summary after holding it for 15 days without a decision, the premier re-endorsed the advice on Saturday asking for the removal of incumbent governor of the PTI, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and appointment of a PML-N loyalist from Bahawalpur, Balighur Rehman.

Citing the Constitution, the PML-N says if President Alvi does not act on the premier’s recommendation within 10 days, Mr Rehman will automatically become the governor. “The prime minister has sent a summary to the president recommending my name for the Punjab governor. And hopefully the president will accept the summary,” Mr Rehman, who remained a minister in the Shahid Khaqan Abbasi cabinet.

“Before the allied parties took over the government, the PML-N had agreed to give the slot of the governor to the PPP, but after coming to power it backtracked. The PML-N is known for this kind of politics,” a source in the PPP said.

On Saturday, Opposition Leader in the Senate Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Adviser to the PM Qamar Zaman Kaira and Punjab Assembly parliamentary leader Hasan Murtaza of the PPP called on Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz here and discussed the power-sharing formula in the province.

“The meeting discussed the PML-N and PPP top leadership’s arrangements with regards to power sharing in Punjab. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had withdrawn his party’s earlier claim on the Punjab governorship on the wish of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.

As per the latest understanding between the two parties, the PPP delegation forwarded the names of its three MPAs to CM Hamza for their induction into his cabinet, which is yet to be constituted. The formation of a new provincial cabinet has been delayed till the removal of Governor Cheema after his stated stance that he would not administer the oath to office-bearers in an “illegally constituted government”.

The insider said the PPP probables for the cabinet were Hasan Murtaza, Mr Gilani’s son Ali Haider and Makhdoom Usman Mehmood. The party has also suggested the names of Shazia Abid, Ghazanfar Abbas Langa and Raees Nabeel for parliamentary secretaries of various standing committees. PPP Punjab information secretary Shahzad Saeed Cheema could be made adviser to the chief minister.

“Besides, the PML-N has also assured the PPP of giving it some positions in various departments in Punjab,” he said, adding the PPP had also been promised the Senate chairman’s slot in the future scheme of things.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Qamar Zaman Kaira said the party leaders had come here to congratulate Hamza upon assuming the chief minister’s office. “Since we have to go along together (in the government) we held consultations on various matters. As in the Centre, in Punjab too we will go along with mutual consultations,” he maintained.

To a question about power sharing in the province, Mr Kaira said: “Along with power sharing, we will be burden-sharing as well.”

Mr Gilani said: “Everything” had already been settled between the two parties in the London meeting between party chairman Bilawal and PML-N supremo Nawaz.

 

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Our govt should've been replaced by more competent people: Imran Khan

PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday said that if his government was to be removed, then it should have been replaced with "more competent" people.

While addressing overseas Pakistanis, Imran Khan said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people in his party have cases against them that are under trial.

"Father [Shehbaz] is on bail and son [Hamza Shehbaz] used to take small amounts of money," he alleged.

Criticising the incumbent government, the PTI chairman said that the "most corrupt man and his party leaders have been imposed on the nation," adding that "this is not only a conspiracy" against Pakistan but also an "insult".

Talking about the Masjid-e-Nabawi incident, the PTI chairman said that people will chant slogans of chor (theives) and ghaddar (traitors) wherever the Opposition leaders go.

"People chanted slogans against them and they filed a blasphemy case against us," said Imran Khan.

The former prime minister further said he has never been anti-America nor anti-Europe.

"We want to have friendships with other countries and not be their slaves," he added.

Addressing the overseas Pakistanis, he had good relations with former US president Donald Trump and his administration. "America is used to get their work done from here," adding that "I have been opposing the war for 15 years but one of our leaders threatened and involved our country in their war."

He went on to say that "Pakistan had no concern with the 9/11 war" but the Pervez Musharraf involved the country after the US threatened Islamabad.

Imran Khan said that the PTI government had received an invitation from Russia and the governments were already in talks regarding gas and the US was angry with Russia for fixing oil at low prices.

Talking about his ousted government, Imran Khan said he knew what was happening against him back in July as the meetings with the Opposition leaders and dissident members of PTI at the US embassy increased. He claimed that removing a government through a conspiracy is the cruellest thing to do.

He said that the US threatened that Pakistan will have to face the consequences if Imran Khan survived and later, "a no-confidence motion was tabled after the threat".

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Our govt should've been replaced by more competent people: Imran Khan

PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday said that if his government was to be removed, then it should have been replaced with "more competent" people.

While addressing overseas Pakistanis, Imran Khan said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people in his party have cases against them that are under trial.

"Father [Shehbaz] is on bail and son [Hamza Shehbaz] used to take small amounts of money," he alleged.

Criticising the incumbent government, the PTI chairman said that the "most corrupt man and his party leaders have been imposed on the nation," adding that "this is not only a conspiracy" against Pakistan but also an "insult".

Talking about the Masjid-e-Nabawi incident, the PTI chairman said that people will chant slogans of chor (theives) and ghaddar (traitors) wherever the Opposition leaders go.

"People chanted slogans against them and they filed a blasphemy case against us," said Imran Khan.

The former prime minister further said he has never been anti-America nor anti-Europe.

"We want to have friendships with other countries and not be their slaves," he added.

Addressing the overseas Pakistanis, he had good relations with former US president Donald Trump and his administration. "America is used to get their work done from here," adding that "I have been opposing the war for 15 years but one of our leaders threatened and involved our country in their war."

He went on to say that "Pakistan had no concern with the 9/11 war" but the Pervez Musharraf involved the country after the US threatened Islamabad.

Imran Khan said that the PTI government had received an invitation from Russia and the governments were already in talks regarding gas and the US was angry with Russia for fixing oil at low prices.

Talking about his ousted government, Imran Khan said he knew what was happening against him back in July as the meetings with the Opposition leaders and dissident members of PTI at the US embassy increased. He claimed that removing a government through a conspiracy is the cruellest thing to do.

He said that the US threatened that Pakistan will have to face the consequences if Imran Khan survived and later, "a no-confidence motion was tabled after the threat".

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Present Govt taking measures to immediately reduce load-shedding: Finance Minister

Minster for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail says the present government is cognizant of load shedding problem and is determined to provide relief to the masses by ending load shedding.

He was chairing a meeting on funding for power and petroleum sector in Islamabad.

Read more: Murad orders preparation of investment policy to attract investment

The chair was briefed on power plants with fuel positions and funds required for optimal working of these power plants.

The Finance Minister stressed that required steps should be taken immediately for efficiently reducing load shedding.

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Russia-Ukraine crisis: Dozens evacuated from steel plant as US sends more weapons

US President Joe Biden announced another package of military assistance for Ukraine on Friday as dozens of civilians were evacuated from Mariupol s besieged steelworks, the last pocket of resistance against Russian troops in the pulverized port city.

Worth $150 million, the latest US security assistance for the "brave people of Ukraine" would include artillery munitions and radars, Biden said. A senior US official said it included counter-artillery radars used for detecting the source of enemy fire, and electronic jamming equipment.

Read more: Fighting traps civilians in Ukraine plant as Putin urges defenders to disarm

Friday s new batch brings the total value of US weaponry sent to Ukraine since the invasion began to $3.8 billion -- and the president urged Congress to further approve a huge $33 billion package including $20 billion in military aid, "to strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield and at the negotiating table."

Biden, other G7 leaders, and Ukraine s President Volodymyr Zelensky, are to meet virtually on Sunday to discuss Western support for Kyiv in its struggle against President Vladimir Putin s invasion.

Zelensky said more than 40 women and children had been evacuated on Friday from the Mariupol steelworks after spending two months in underground shelters and that "diplomatic options" were underway to "rescue our soldiers."

The Russian defense ministry gave a figure of 50 civilians evacuated, including 11 children, saying they were handed over to the UN and Red Cross, which are assisting in the operation.

It said the "humanitarian operation" would continue on Saturday.

About 200 civilians, including children, were estimated to still be trapped in the Soviet-era tunnels and bunkers beneath the sprawling Azovstal factory, along with a group of Ukrainian soldiers making their last stand.

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Governor Punjab, Mr. Omar Sarfraz Cheema, calls on President Dr. Arif Alvi at Aiwan-E-Sadr

Governor Punjab Omar Sarfraz Cheema called on President Dr Arif Alvi at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Friday.

According to sources, the current political situation in Punjab came under discussion during meeting between Governor Punjab Omar Sarfraz Cheema and President Dr Arif Alvi

Read more: PM Shehbaz Sharif extends Eid greetings to civil and military leadership

Sources also informed that Omar Sarfraz Cheema also took Arif Alvi into confidence on important issues.

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Shehbaz, Miftah discuss public relief steps

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif Friday held a meeting with Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail and discussed measures for providing relief to the people.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction about the present price of sugar and said the price of sugar came down after three years which was relief to the people.

Read more: PM Shehbaz Sharif calls Imran Khan "Press freedom predator"

He issued direction to provide cash credit to Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) for buying of wheat. The Secretary Finance was also present in the meeting.

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