Pakistan Day: Armed forces show off military might as OIC leaders watch

By

-

March 23, 2022

ISLAMABAD: The country is celebrating Pakistan Day on Wednesday with the armed forces displaying their might in the annual military parade in Islamabad while dignitaries participating in the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) watch as guests of honor.

The main feature of the day is the grand military parade, currently underway, at Islamabad parade ground in which the three wings of the armed forces and other security forces conduct a march while fighter planes present aerobatic manoeuvres.

Pakistan Day commemorates the passing of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, when the All-India Muslim League demanded a separate nation for the Muslims of the British Indian Empire.

The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute in the provincial capitals.

A change of guards ceremony was also was held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, respectively.

The report added that special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajr prayer for Pakistan’s progress and prosperity.

In his address on the occasion, President Dr Arif Alvi said Pakistan was a responsible atomic power that wanted peace with all other nations and respected their sovereignty.

He made it clear that Pakistan would never compromise on its security and sovereignty and would give a forceful response to any aggression directed towards it. “I believe our nation won’t hesitate from any sacrifice for the country’s security,” Alvi added.

The president highlighted extremism and the spread of fake news as among the biggest challenges facing society and called on scholars, parents and teachers to play their part in tackling these societal problems.

Multiple organisations and departments have planned a number of activities including seminars, conferences and discussion programmes to highlight the historical significance of Pakistan Day.

Advertisment

Council of Foreign MInisters of OIC to meet today as Pakistan hosts 48th session

By

Nuzhat Aftab

-

March 22, 2022

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Ministers of Islamic World will meet in Islamabad on Tuesday (today) at the inaugural session as Pakistan is hosting 48th session of Council of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Prime Minister Imran Khan in his keynote address at the inaugural session will highlight Pakistan’s role and contribution towards OIC and deliberate on the challenges faced by the Muslim world.

The theme of the session is ‘Building Partnerships for Unity, Justice, and Development,’ which will be held at the Parliament House.

More than 100 resolutions will be considered during the two-day session of the Foreign MInisters’ of the Muslim World.

The session coincides with the 75th anniversary celebrations of Pakistan’s independence.

On March 23, the visiting foreign ministers will visit the Pakistan Day parade venue and witness the professional capability of Pakistan’s armed forces and the traditional floats of all the provinces, reflecting the national unity.

Later in the day, Foreign Minister Qureshi along with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha will hold a joint press stakeout following the conclusion of the session.

The summit will also discuss developments in Afghanistan and its humanitarian consequences for the Afghan people and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Many African issues will also be on the summit’s agenda, including the situation in Mali, the Sahel region, and Lake Chad, and the situation in Central Africa and the Republic of Guinea.

The OIC foreign ministers will also discuss developments in Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, and other regions during the summit.

Pakistan has a proud history of hosting major OIC events including Summits and Council of Foreign Minister (CFM) meetings. The country hosted the 2nd OIC Summit in Lahore, in February 1974. An Extraordinary OIC Summit was held in Islamabad in 1997, on the occasion of Pakistan’s Golden Jubilee.

Pakistan also hosted the OIC CFMs on four occasions – 2nd Session in December 1970, 11th Session in May 1980, 21st Session in April 1993 and the 34th Session in May 2007. The 1st and the 17th Extraordinary Sessions of the OIC CFM, were held in Islamabad, in January 1980 and December 2021, respectively.

Advertisment

March towards Islamabad: PML-N braces for tit-for-tat strategy to counter siege

By

Sara Maqsood

-

March 16, 2022

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) finalized strategy for upcoming longmarch towards Islamabad and it started mobilizing workers for public meeting at D-Chowk, Islamabad, and directed them to be fully equipped to counter any untoward situation.

PML-N has directed all the party leaders, MNAs, MPAs, ticket holders and district heads to start mobilizing workers and supporters to reach Jati Umra and Model Town in Lahore to accompany the caravan led by Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz.

Party leadership has intensified its preparations for the upcoming event, adding that the workers of adjoining areas of Islamabad and other cities had been directed to reach D-Chowk a day before the scheduled public meeting.

The PML-N leadership was further directed to make alternative plans in case the government created hurdles on their way to Islamabad. Party stalwarts, including PML-N’s Punjab President Rana Sanaullah, Khwaja Saad Raffique, Pervaiz Rasheed, Ayaz Sadiq, Javed Latif and other central leaders were given different tasks with regard to arrangements for the upcoming event.

Similarly, the local leadership of different cities, such as Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Jhang, Mianwali, Sargodha, Multan and Rawalpindi were asked to setup welcome camps alongside the route of the rally, starting from Lahore.

The party sources said Maryam Nawaz allotted different colours to the female parliamentarians and they were asked to mobilize female workers. The female party leaders who were assigned responsibilities for the upcoming event included MPA Hina Pervaiz Butt, Ayesha Raza, Kiran Dar, Sania Ashiq, Sumbal Malik Hussain, Ayesha Ghous Pasha, Bushra Butt, Kanwal Pervez, Rukhsana Kausar and Rahat Afza.

They added the party leadership has also directed the male parliamentarians, ticket holders and local leaders to bring at least 1,000 males and 250 females workers with them. They further said that all leaders were directed to move in flocks with their workers to avoid any possible arrest and to break any siege. Besides, the workers were also directed to stage sit-in wherever they were stopped.

On the other hand, PMLN Punjab President Rana Sanaullah has also released a video message to the party workers asking them to get ready to reach Islamabad’s D-Chowk on a short notice.

“Use of baton charge or tear gas will worsen the situation and all the responsibility of the possible backlash will be on the shoulders of Imran Khan,” he stated.

Advertisment

CNG stations in Islamabad, Punjab, KP to reopen today

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

-

March 16, 2022

ISLAMABAD: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations in federal capital Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will reopen from 9:00am today (Wednesday) to provide general public gasified fuel.

According to details, the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) has decided to resume gas supply to CNG stations in Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after suspension of more than a month owing to shortage of gas in winter.

All CNG stations will remain open for 24 hours from 9:00am today. The supply was suspended for more than a month to ensure provision of gas to domestic consumers.

Advertisment

Zardari directs PPP MNAs to ensure attendance for voting on no-trust motion

By

Our Correspondent

-

March 15, 2022

ISLAMABAD: Asif Ali Zardari, former President and Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) wrote letters to all his party members in the National Assembly (MNAs) regarding the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

According to details, Asif Ali Zardari, in the letter, has ordered all the members to be present in the Parliament on the day of voting against the PM in the no-confidence motion.

The PPP Co-Chairman also warned that action will be taken according to Article 63-A against those who are absent from the Parliament on voting day.

Advertisment

Opposition to approach IHC for peaceful voting on no-trust motion

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

-

March 15, 2022

ISLAMABAD: Joint opposition parties have decided to approach court for peaceful and uninterrupted voting on no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to details, joint opposition has announced to file a constitutional plea and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal and JUI-F’s Maulana Ghafoor Haideri will approach Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Opposition states that no member of National Assembly should be stopped from exercising his constitutional right and a petition in this regard will be filed in the high court tomorrow (Wednesday).

Earlier in the day, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday challenged Prime Minister and his cabinet members to stop lawmakers from entering National Assembly.

Talking to media persons, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that opposition lawmakers are being pressurized through biased accountability drive as notices are being sent to them by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The PML-N leader said Imran Khan is using foul language and PTI instead of taking matters to the parliament has decided to take the matter to streets.

On the other hand, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Sherry Rehman on Tuesday said that holding a public rally at D-Chowk on the day of no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is illegal and unconstitutional.

Sherry Rehman, in a tweet, said that rally as well as government’s plans to encircle lawmakers are illegal. She, while saying that government is putting country on track to unrest, added that government will be responsible if clashes erupt between workers of political parties.

The PPP leader said that if PTI has required numbers it should challenge the no-confidence motion in the parliament as the decision to send Imran Khan packing will be taken in the National Assembly instead of D-Chowk.

Politics of PTI started at D-Chowk and will also end at the same place, he claimed.

Advertisment

Woman, three children killed in Gujrat

By

Our Correspondent

-

March 15, 2022

GUJRAT: Four including a woman and her three children were shot dead on a family dispute in Shampur area of Gujrat on Tuesday.

According to details, the brother in law of the woman had murdered the victim and her children after an alleged domestic dispute.

On receiving report, the police reached the spot and arrested the suspect and launched legal action against him.

Advertisment

Foreign Funding Case: ECP turns down PTI’s request of adjournment of hearing

By

Palwasha Mustafa

-

March 15, 2022

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday has denied the request of adjournment submitted by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Inasaf (PTI) on the foreign funding case stating that they have been adjourning this case during the past seven years.

According to details, a three member bench heard the PTI’s foreign funding case where chief election commissioner inquired about the comments that were to be presented before the court on the scrutiny report.

Replying to the inquiry, PTI’s lawyer said that Anwar Mansoor has to come from Karachi for the hearings, although he came to Islamabad but is severely ill therefore he cannot attend the hearing.

On the other hand, Akbar S Babar said that today he wants to present his arguments before the court.

Advertisment

Rally at D-Chowk on day of no-trust motion unconstitutional: Sherry

By

Nuzhat Aftab

-

March 15, 2022

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Sherry Rehman on Tuesday said that holding a public rally at D-Chowk on the day of no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is illegal and unconstitutional.

Sherry Rehman, in a tweet, said that rally as well as government’s plans to encircle lawmakers are illegal. Government is putting country on track to unrest, added that government will be responsible if clashes erupt between workers of political parties, she added.

The PPP leader said that if PTI has required numbers it should challenge the no-confidence motion in the parliament as the decision to send Imran Khan packing will be taken in the National Assembly instead of D-Chowk.

Politics of PTI started at D-Chowk and will also end at the same place, he claimed.

Advertisment

Premier bars party leaders from giving statements regarding allies

By

Sara Maqsood

-

March 15, 2022

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has strictly barred party leaders from giving statements regarding coalition partners.

The government is going nowhere and the no-confidence motion and conspiracy against Pakistan will fail, Imran Khan was quoted as saying to PTI leaders.

According to sources, Imran Khan said that the issues related to the allies will be looked at with mutual understanding, adding that neither the government is going anywhere nor the allies.

“Not even the no-confidence motion but the conspiracy against Pakistan will be foiled,” he added.

On the other hand, Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar and PTI leader Amir Kayani have been given the responsibility of holding a meeting of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at D-Chowk, Islamabad.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Core Committee had given powers to Prime Minister Imran Khan to make final decisions amid current political situation of the country. The committee decided to continue aggressive policy and public contact campaign across the country.

PTI, while being hopeful that coalition partners will not side with opposition parties, had tasked ministers to address reservations of government allies.

The meeting was told that government was in no hurry to summon session of the National Assembly and PTI has support of enough members to thwart opposition’s no-confidence motion; however, the opposition parties are offering bribes to party lawmakers.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that opposition was in a hurry because cases against its leadership are nearing logical end.

Meanwhile, sources said that government has decided to summon NA session after the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting.

Advertisment

Tag: islamabad

Adblock Detected!