PTI stands disintegrated after civil disobedience call: Shahbaz Sharif

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: #Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif Monday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s demand for technocratic government followed by his call for a civil disobedience has created fissure in the PTI.

“Imran Khan has thrown himself in isolation by indulging in politics that is based on personal ego and stubbornness,” Shahbaz Sharif said in a statement issued here.

He said not even a single person supported Imran Khan’s announcement of civil disobedience. “The people of Pakistan can distinguish between what’s good for them and what’s not,” he added.

Azadi March: PTI workers clash over getting chairs at sit-in

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: Fighting among Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers broke out at sit-in, being staged by party activists on the call on Imran Khan.

Sources said the clash erupted over getting the chairs. The clashing activists freely used fists and clubs in the fight.

Police brought the situation under control.

PTI is staging sit-in to press their demands. Imran Khan has demanded PM Nawaz Sharif to step down over poll row.(GNN)(Geo)(AIP)

Political parties agree not to dissolve assemblies: Sirajul Haq

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq Monday said there was a consensus among the political parties that the assemblies should not be dissolved rather protected.

Sirajul Haq said his party was making efforts for continuity of assemblies and to resolve the issues between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Haq said efforts would be made to convince PTI to reconsider its decision although they were independent in taking a decision.

Ameer JI said there were many other serious problems including the issue of the IDPs of North Waziristan Agency and that attention must be given to those issues.

He said there was a way in constitution to change the government, adding the system should run smoothly as any mishap could damage democracy. (GNN)(APP)(AIP)

Opposition committee fails to contact Imran Khan

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: Opposition committee failed to contact Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for holding a meeting, Geo News reported.

Opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah also rang up PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi, however, his phone was unattended.

Later, sources said, the committee contacted PTI leader Arif Alvi, who assured that he would communicate the message to Imran Khan.

Qadri refuses to meet dialogue team

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: The first round of dialogues between Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and parliament’s talks committee failed here on late Monday night.

PAT chief Tahirul Qadri refused to meet members of the committee, comprises Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Aijazul Haq and Haider Abbas Rizvi.

The dialogue team held meeting with Raheeq Abbasi and Khurram Nawaz Gandapor.

On Monday two separate committees were formed to engage Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in dialogue in the backdrop of their ongoing sit-ins in the capital city.

The committee that would hold talks with PTI chief Imran Khan comprises Syed Khursheed Shah, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Ghazi Gulab Jama and a member from Jamat-e-Islami.

The second committee comprising Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Aijazul Haq, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Hasil Bizenjo will engage PAT leader Tahirul Qadri.(GNN)(Geo)(AIP)

Govt sets up bodies to hold dialogue with PTI, PAT

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: #Government on Monday constituted two separate committees to engage Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in dialogue in the backdrop of their ongoing sit-ins in the capital city.

The committee that would hold talks with PTI chief Imran Khan comprises Syed Khursheed Shah, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Ghazi Gulab Jama and a member from Jamat-e-Islami.

The second committee comprising Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Aijazul Haq, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Hasil Bizenjo will engage PAT leader Tahirul Qadri.

Resolution moved against civil disobedience in BA

#GNN - #QUETTA: A resolution against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) civil disobedience movement was tabled in the Balochistan Assembly on Monday.

According to details, senior provincial minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri tabled the resolution in the house, condemning the ‘unconstitutional and illegal’ moves to damage the present democratic system.

The resolution stated that all undemocratic and unconstitutional activities must be stopped to save the democratic system.

It is pertinent to note here that PTI Chief Imran Khan on Sunday had announced to launch a civil disobedience movement and sought resignations of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif besides demanding mid-term elections.

Imran Khan vows to peacefully lead supporters to red zone Tuesday

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: #Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Imran Khan Monday announced to lead his supporters into the red zone of the capital city to stage a peaceful protest in the ‘fake’ (National) assembly and ‘fake’ Prime Minister House.

“Promise me that not a single pot will be broken and you will remain completely peaceful,” he took a pledge from the participants of his party’s sit-in, being staged fifth day on, by asking them to raise their hands.

The red zone houses Supreme Court of Pakistan, Parliament House, Prime Minister House, President Houses and other important buildings including embassies of various countries, diplomatic enclaves, Foreign Office, NADRA, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and parliament lodges.

“I don’t want you to come in confrontation with the police. I will lead you and you will follow me. I will take the first bullet,” Imran Khan said, adding, ‘we will stage a peaceful protest first in the fake (National) assembly and then in the fake Prime Minister House’.

However, he said, he was sure Pakistani police will not open fire on him. He warned that in case some ‘Gullu Butts’ picked up arms against his supporters, they will not find any place to hide anywhere in the world.

The PTI chief also warned the police not to take any such step that may lead to a chaos.

He invited men, women and children from across the country to join the tomorrow’s peaceful protest demonstration.

Defending his decision to launch a civil disobedience campaign, Imran Khan termed it a ‘best weapon’ to attain ‘Azadi’ (independence) in a peaceful manner.

“In case Nawaz Sharif gets scared and takes a flight to Raiwind, we will still be able to bring him to his knees through civil disobedience, we will still be able to topple his government,” he argued.

He said he and people like him remained slaves to the rulers like the ones in power today but he would never want the future generations to face such slavery.

Imran Khan questioned on what merit the Prime Minister had appointed his close relatives on lucrative positions. “What is the qualification and merit on the basis of which Nawaz Sharif placed his daughter on Rs100 billion fund?” he asked.

“What kind of democracy it is that is not based on merit; this is a fake democracy,” he reiterated.

PTI resigns from NA, 3 provincial assemblies

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: #Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Monday announced to resign from the National and three provincial assemblies.

PTI vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while talking to media persons here said: “We are resigning from National Assembly, Punjab Assembly, Sindh Assembly, and Balochistan Assembly.”

He said, for the time being, his party is not resigning from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, as there is a coalition government in the province and the allies will have to be taken into confidence before making such a big decision.

Shah Mehmood said the decision to quit provincial cabinet of KP will be taken after holding consultations with the coalition partners.
(PTI) Has Decided To Resign From All The...

According to Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir, the PTI’s stance as announced by its Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday did not go down well with the supporters of its ‘Azadi March’. Therefore, he said, the PTI leadership had to reach the decision to resign from assemblies.

On Sunday, the fourth day of PTI’s Azadi March in Islamabad, Imran Khan, while addressing his supporters, gave a two-day deadline to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down and also announced to launch a civil disobedience campaign with immediate effect.

He said from now on he would not pay taxes or utility bills and appealed the entire nation to do the same.

Javed Hashmi opposes decision
President PTI, Javed Hashmi vehemently opposed the decision of his party to quit NA and provincial assembly seats.

He said tendering of resignations will not lead to the holding of mid-term elections. 

Govt to uphold LHC decision on long marches: #Nisar

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: Appreciating the decision of #Lahore High Court (LHC) that barred staging of long marches and sit-downs in Islamabad, Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Wednesday said the court’s orders will be upheld in letter and spirit.

Addressing a press conference here, Chaudhry Nisar declared demands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan as ‘illegal and unconstitutional’.

He said the district administration will decide whether the protest is legal and within the parameters of the Constitution.

The Interior Minister said the PTI chief had, in the past, repeatedly demanded constitution of a three-judge Supreme Court commission to investigate into the allegations of irregularities in May 11, 2013 general elections.

He said a democratic assembly cannot be sent packing on the demands of a violent crowd. “Islamabad cannot be left at the mercy of a proponent of bloodshed,” he added.

However, PTI chief Imran Khan said in a media statement that LHC has barred ‘unconstitutional’ protest but his party will go ahead and stage a ‘constitutional’ march.

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Azadi March will rid country of ‘monarchy’: Imran Khan

#GNN - #LAHORE: #Pakistan #Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Wednesday said he sees a new Pakistan from tomorrow, as he announced to go ahead with his ‘Azadi March’ and rid the country of ‘monarchy’.

Addressing the party workers here, he said the ‘monarchy’ will be overthrown and an apolitical interim set up will be installed in the country which will hold transparent elections in the country.

He rejected the Prime Minister’s proposal to have the PTI’s allegations of poll rigging investigated by a three-judge Supreme Court commission.

Imran Khan ruled out a transparent probe in the presence of PM Nawaz Sharif. “How can a commission conduct a transparent investigation in the presence of Nawaz Sharif who himself was involved in getting the elections rigged,” he said.

He said PTI will bring back the country’s Rs200 billion stashed away in overseas banks and that Pakistan will have a mechanism of accountability which it has never seen to date.

Telling his workers to keep their spirits high and brace for the ‘Azadi March’ tomorrow, he said those who got the elections rigged will be exposed and punished.

He said Javed Hashmi will be with among PTI workers tomorrow and will be very much part of the ‘Azadi March’ on Islamabad.

“I will remain with my party workers on the streets till we get justice,” the PTI chief asserted.

Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said the decision of Lahore High Court (LHC) that barred staging of long marches and sit-downs in Islamabad will be implemented in letter and spirit.

Chaudhry Nisar declared demands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan as ‘illegal and unconstitutional’.

He said the district administration will decide whether the protest is legal and within the parameters of the Constitution.

The Interior Minister said the PTI chief had, in the past, repeatedly demanded constitution of a three-judge Supreme Court commission to investigate into the allegations of irregularities in May 11, 2013 general elections.

However, PTI chief Imran Khan said in a media statement that LHC had barred ‘unconstitutional’ protest but his party would go ahead and stage a ‘constitutional’ march.

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Facilities non-existent in Bannu IDPs camp: Khrusheed Shah

#SUKKUR: Opposition #leader in the #National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah Sunday observed that facilities are almost non-existent in Bannu whose local population is one million and now 900,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are there to seek refuge.

Talking to media representatives at Sukkur airport, he said the US should respect the territorial integrity of Pakistan and refrain from undertaking strikes without taking Pakistan on board.

Commenting on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) programme to hold a long march in Islamabad, he termed the statement of Imran Khan as positive in which he said it would only be a march and not a sit-down in the capital city on August 14.

“The government should take into consideration his positive statement,” he said.

He said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) endorses PTI’s fresh demand of votes verification across the country.(GNN)(thenews)

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Taking a stand: PTI activists protest Yaseen Khalil’s removal from cabinet

PESHAWAR: Activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a protest outside the Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday to express their anger over the removal of Yaseen Khalil from the provincial cabinet.

Protesters, from different areas of PK-5 constituency, set up a hunger strike camp and demanded the provincial and central leadership reinstate Khalil.

The party workers chanted slogans in favour of Yaseen Khalil. Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser arrived at the scene and assured enraged activists he would take up the matter with the PTI leadership. Following this, the protesters dispersed peacefully.
Khalil, when approached, told The Express Tribune he had already made it clear in the assembly that the only objection he and his voters had was the manner in which he had been removed from the cabinet.

“I should have been asked to submit my resignation,” he said.

Khalil added he has been in contact with his supporters and has urged them to refrain from agitation.
“This is our internal matter. I spoke to the protesters and asked them to end the camp,” Khalil said.

He vowed to continue to fight for the rights of his constituency as an MPA.

Similar protests have earlier been held in favour of former health minister Shaukat Yousafzai who has also urged his supporters to remain calm as he had accepted the party’s decision.

Khalil and Yousafzai were removed from the cabinet earlier this month over ‘bad performance’.

(By Our Correspondent) Published in GNN & Tribune, May 21st, 2014.

PTI threatens to halt traffic if protest barred

PTI Punjab president claims that rigging has taken place on at least 70 National Assembly seats. PHOTO: FILE

FAISALABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has threatened to paralyse traffic in the Punjab if the government created any impediments for the participants of the party’s proposed May 11 protest in Islamabad, PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry said on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference, Chaudhry said that arrangements had been made to stage a historic protest in Islamabad.

“We have received reports from sources in the police and administration that the government plans to sabotage our protest call and resort to underhand tactics to create hurdles for the PTI workers to keep them from participating in the protest. However, all police officials and other government functionaries who attempt to create hurdles in the protest will be taken to task,” Chaudhry said.

He said that “The Sharif government has failed on all fronts. Rampant poverty, electricity and gas shortages, unemployment and inflation demonstrate that this government is incapable of delivering.” He said that due to energy shortages, exporters in the Faisalabad region alone had suffered a loss of Rs85 billion and around 15 million daily-wage employees had lost their jobs. He claimed that rigging had taken place on “at least 70 National Assembly seats and PTI candidates who were winners were made to lose in these constituencies.”

The PTI leader expressed concern over the law and order situation. “Street crime has jumped 70 percent in the Punjab compared to the previous year.”

(By Shamsul Islam) Published in GNN & Tribune, May 8th, 2014.

Too enthusiastic: CJ seeks Khan’s comments on PTI activists’ rowdyism

A large number of his supporters had tried to follow him to the courtroom of the chief justice when Imran Khan arrived at the LHC. PHOTO: INP

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday asked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to submit in writing his position on the disturbance caused by PTI supporters at the court which forced the chief justice to leave the courtroom.

A large number of his supporters had tried to follow him to the courtroom of the chief justice when Imran Khan arrived at the LHC.

There was a near-stampede when the narrow entrance to the room got blocked.

When the security staff tried to stop PTI supporters from entering by closing the doors, they started hammering on the door and broke a glass pane. At one point, the door was dismantled.

During this commotion, the chief justice left the court room where he was holding proceedings of another case.

PTI Chief Imran Khan had gone to court to attend proceedings of the petition filed by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq who has challenged an order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The court adjourned hearing till May 15.

The chief justice, in his written order addressing Imran Khan said, “Precautions must be taken by persons with political following who have an added duty to control irresponsible behaviour by their supporters. The brash conduct by fervent supporters in the present case should have been anticipated and prevented.”

The written order of the LHC chief justice further said, “Khan’s counsel expressed regrets that the crowd of supporters forcibly entered the courtroom. The doors of the court were unhinged in the process but court proceedings were not interrupted. However, the forcible entry disturbed the decorum and tranquillity of the court and the case under hearing was shifted to chambers [of the chief justice].”

“Khan’s counsel, Ahmed Awais, was called to the chamber where he regretted the rash behaviour. Thereafter, he advised Imran Khan to leave the courtroom and to disperse the enthusiasts. That was done,” the order said.

Khan left the court without speaking to newsmen. The chief justice said an opportunity had been granted to Khan to state his position on the incident. Sadiq, in his petition, had challenged order of the election commission to the returning officer inspect election record of NA-122. He said returning officers are not responsible for the elections record after they submit it to the ECP. Khan had approached the ECP for inspection of the polling record after he lost election from NA-122 against Sadiq.

(By Our Correspondent) Published in GNN & Tribune, May 8th, 2014.