JAKARTA: Pakistan hockey team head coach Siegfried Aikman said that his team geared up to exhibit their best against arch-rivals India in their opening Asia Cup match in Jakarta on Monday today.
Talking to media, he announced Pakistan had covered all the bases. “We are ready for India and I feel that every player is eager to deliver his best and to start the Asia Cup in an impressive style,” he said.
The head coach opined that Pakistan achieved the targets during the preparations. “Let me make it clear that we have achieved our goals from the warm-up matches that were only meant for preparations. Following hard training at camps and tour to Europe I feel every player is ready to deliver against a team that is far superior on the FIH ranking list. Despite our weak ranking, I think when it comes to playing against India, you cannot say anything final,” he said.
“Though they have rested some players, there are a few very impressive players on their side. Pakistan have also got almost 80 percent fresh faces, as we are eyeing the future,” Aikman said. Pakistan and India match starts at 4:30 pm PST.
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday announced to hold Islamabad long march on May 25.
Imran Khan said that the institutions declared that they are neutral then stay neutral. “I tell the police, the bureaucracy and the army we will not be causing any damage. In 26 years of politics, we have always been peaceful”, he added.
Imran Khan exclaimed that this is a war of real independence and they are ready to fight. We prefer death over slavery. He also warned of taking action against the bureaucracy if any illegal action is taken.
Imran Khan said that he has been repeating again and again that his life is in danger.
He also added that it is feared that these people will shut down petrol, diesel and internet, to stop this revolution.
The PTI Chairman stated that on the 25th of May, I will meet you in Islamabad on the Srinagar Highway, you have to reach there at 3pm. I invite all the women because I’ve seen your anger. I had never seen that before. He went on saying that I want people from all walks of life to come because this is Jihad, and not politics.
“I’ve decided and told all my team that we have to be ready to sacrifice our lives,” he added.
Imran Khan made it clear that we will never under any situation accept them. No matter how long we have to remain in Islamabad we will remain there.
He said that the foreign conspiracy against Pakistan was hatched in the United States.The corrupt people joined them for regime change in the country. This conspiracy started eight months ago. I was aware of it since last June.
Further talking about it he said that we have been trying to stop this conspiracy but unfortunately we could not. On March 7, the US Assistant Secretary of State threatened our ambassador. Donald Lu said that if Imran Khan is not removed then there will be problems for Pakistan.
This conspiracy was not against me but against Pakistan, said PTI Chairperson.
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has warned all expatriates of Pakistani origin that their names can be put on the Exit Control List (ECL) if they put up “offensive and seditious” social media posts that may lead to chaos in Pakistan.
“All Pakistani origin expatriates living outside Pakistan are advised to desist from spreading chaos in Pakistan while staying abroad. Their social media posts must not be offensive and seditious,” the FIA spokesperson said in a statement.
The agency directed the expatriates to read the “Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA)” to make sure that their social media posts “do not constitute any offence”.
“If they commit any offence, Red Notices through INTERPOL can be issued against them for their arrest. Their names can be put on Exit Control List. They need to avoid commission of any electronic offences,” said the FIA.
It added that its advice was “only for offenders” and law-abiding persons should not worry about it.
“Any attempts by anyone staying anywhere in the world to create disturbance in Pakistan or to defame dignity of a natural person or to act against modesty of a natural person through fake news or fake videos are against the laws of Pakistan,” said the FIA.
The investigation body said that “such attempts” are punishable under Pakistani laws, adding that offenders will be prosecuted whenever possible.
“Hence anyone must avoid committing any such offences through media of any type. All Pakistani citizens are also advised to avoid commission of such offences,” said the FIA spokesperson.
ABBOTTABAD: With the PTI’s planned long march to Islamabad approaching, former prime minister Imran Khan told the Shehbaz Sharif-led government Sunday that two million people will come to the federal capital irrespective of how many containers are put up to create hindrances.
“Our opponents say if the temperature is high, then people will not come out. Put as many containers as you want, but 2 million people will come to Islamabad,” the PTI chairman said while addressing a public gathering in Abbottabad.
The former prime minister told his supporters that the incumbent government “fears” their passion and added that 11 parties had gathered to remove him from power.
The PTI chairman claimed that when he and his supporters will come to Islamabad, the federal capital will fill up with the chants of “imported hukomat na manzoor” (imported government unacceptable) and “we want real freedom”.
Continuing his claim that the United States conspired to remove him from power, Imran Khan said that the incumbent leaders were involved in the process.
“The Pakistani nation will not accept these leaders,” the PTI chairman claimed.
The former prime minister went on to say that he was “never ready to be part of the war on terror with the US and neither was he willing to give air bases to Washington.”
“Americans wanted a leader like Pervez Musharraf who would have obeyed them upon receiving a single call,” Khan claimed.
Turning his guns towards PM Shehbaz Sharif, the PTI chairman claimed that he was a “beggar, servant, and a thief”.
“The lies that Sharif family have told, I have not seen anyone spread such lies ever before,” claimed the PTI chairman.
He added that when the imported government came to power, the prices of all goods increased.
Khan also requested the media to go to shops and ask about the prices of ghee like they used to do when he was in power.
The former premier said that the value of the US dollar against the Pakistani rupee increases when stolen money is sent abroad, adding that ever since the new government assumed power, the rupee’s value has been decreasing.
ISLAMABAD: Reacting to the Masjid-e-Nabvi incident, former prime minister Imran Khan termed it a “public reaction” and said that it was a “consequence” of their deeds.
On Thursday, a group of Pakistani protesters violated the sanctity of Masjid-e-Nabvi in Madina when they chanted slogans against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation as soon as they entered the holy mosque to pay their respects at the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH).
Following the incident, the political and religious leadership of Pakistan and others from different sections of society vehemently condemned it.
Speaking on the matter after keeping mum for more than 24 hours, Imran Khan said that in the history of the country masses have never reacted in such a manner.
“We are not asking the people to come out, it’s the public themselves coming out to protest as they are in pain and anger, however, I can challenge they [the rulers] won’t be able to show their faces in any public place,” he added.
Imran Khan further said his government was toppled through a foreign conspiracy and the current government was part of it.
“A bunch of crooks is imposed on Pakistan and NRO II is given through foreign conspiracy, therefore what happened at Masjid-e-Nabawi was a result of their deeds,” he said.
The PTI chairman said when the incident took place the PTI workers all around the world were busy in Shab-e-Dua.
“Neither can I think of inciting the people to hooliganism at Masjid-e-Nabvi nor can a true lover of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) think of doing this,” he said.
“The place I have in my heart for Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), I don’t need to prove it, and I have raised my voice around the world against islamophobia,” Imran Khan said, adding, “I believe that iman [faith] cannot be completed until you love Prophet (PBUH).”
A day earlier, at least five Pakistani nationals were arrested for “abusing and insulting” Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Minister for Narcotics Control Shahzain Bugti at Masjid-e-Nabvi in Madina, confirmed the Saudi publication Saudi Gazette.
Director of information at the Saudia Arabia Embassy in Islamabad, had also confirmed that some Pakistani nationals have been arrested for violating the sanctity of Masjid-e-Nabvi and an investigation has been launched into the matter.
ISLAMABAD: Ousted prime minister Imran Khan announced Saturday that the PTI would begin the anti-government long march towards Islamabad in the last week of May.
“We will be giving this call to all Pakistanis, not just PTI supporters, as Pakistan has been insulted after the country’s most corrupt people were imposed on us by a foreign power,” Khan said in a video statement.
Former prime minister Khan was ousted from power on April 10 after the National Assembly voted against him on the no-confidence motion — making him the first premier to be voted out through the move.
Khan had repeatedly blamed the US for backing the no-confidence motion and has refused to accept newly elected PM Shehbaz Sharif, saying “there can’t be any bigger insult to this country.” The Joe Biden-led administration in the US, however, has denied the allegations.
In his message released today, the ex-prime minister said the PTI’s Core Committee has decided to give the call as “60% of the people in the federal cabinet are on bail”.
“The person who has become the prime minister is dubbed as the crime minister. His [family] has cases worth Rs40 billion pending in the FIA and NAB,” Khan said.
The PTI chairman reiterated that such people being in power was an “insult” to Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb has clarified that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would travel to Saudi Arabia on his own expenses, criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders for spreading “lies” about the trip set to take place later this week.
“Contrary to lies being propagated by PTI, Prime Minister will be travelling to Saudi Arabia later this week on a commercial flight at his own expense,” the federal minister said on Twitter.
“Even during his 10 years as CM Punjab during 2008-18, he always travelled commercially and at his own expense,” she added.
The information minister also advised her former counterpart Fawad Chaudhry not to make “such a baseless statement against journalists as no media person was going to Saudi Arabia at the state’s expenses.
Aurangzeb went on to say that the fake news was the hallmark of the former information minister.
She recalled that the media used to give prominent coverage to Imran Khan when he was in the opposition, but after coming to power he targeted and victimised them. “Now after being thrown out of power in a disgraceful manner, the PTI leadership is maligning the media.”
The info minister also reiterated that the PTI’s rule had deprived the masses of affordable flour, sugar, medicines, electricity and gas, and ruined the economy and employment opportunities.
Taking a jibe at Fawad over the ongoing case, Aurangzeb asked him to also “tweet about the watch, necklace and rings of the Toshakhana.”
According to the minister, everyone now knew about the reality of his “farce of austerity”, which had resulted in the biggest fiscal deficit in the country’s history in the past four years.
ISLAMABAD: The schedule of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia starting from April 28, has been issued.
According to the details, PM Shehbaz Sharif will visit brother Islamic country on April 28 and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Akhtar Mengal, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other members of the Assembly including Maulana Asad Mahmood, Shagufta Jamani, Sardar Sardar Khalid Magsi, Siddiqui and Amir Haider. Hoti, Shah Zain Bugti, Aslam Bhootani, Ali Nawaz Shah, Mohsin Dawar, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Abdul Malik Baloch, Shah Owais Noorani, former Special Assistant Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi will also be a part of the PM’s delegation.
The 16 members of Sharif family will also visit, including Hamza Shehbaz, his wife and daughter Samavia, Maryam Nawaz, Capt (R) Safdar, Sabiha Abbas Sharif while Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz will reach Jeddah from London.
In this regard, Federal Minister for Information Maryam Aurangzeb said that contrary to the lies propagated by PTI, the Prime Minister will fly to Saudi Arabia this weekend on a commercial flight at his own expense. During the 10 years he always traveled at his own expense, she added.
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated that it had not yet received any notification of resignation by any Member of the National Assembly, adding action would be taken only after receiving the notification.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja presided over a meeting at the ECP Secretariat, and besides two members of the commission, the secretary and other senior officers also attended. Soon after the PTI government was sent packing, the party had sent resignations of 123 MNAs to the National Assembly Speaker who is yet to decide their fate.
The meeting considered the letter written by PTI Chairman Imran Khan to the ECP in which he had said that the party had resigned from all seats in the National Assembly and there was no representation of it in the assembly. “A case against the dissidents has been sent to the ECP under Article 63A of the Constitution,” the letter added.
However, the ECP contended that according to the law, it had not received any notification of resignation of any member from the Speaker. “Action will be taken according to the law upon receipt of the case,” it added.
Moreover, the ECP has issued notices to all Members of the National and Provincial Assemblies against whom the declaration under Article 63A has been received by the Speakers of National and Provincial Assemblies. Notices have been issued to the MNAs for April 28.
The former National Assembly deputy speaker had sent the reference against PTI’s 20 ‘dissident’ MNAs to issued to the MNAs for April 28. The former National Assembly deputy speaker had sent the reference against PTI’s 20 ‘dissident’ MNAs to the ECP. However, they did not take part in voting in the no-trust motion and hence, apparently, there is hardly any possibility of action against them.
Similarly, Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had also sent a similar case to the ECP against some 26 ‘dissident’ members for action. Notices have been issued to the members to hear their cases for May 6. The ECP has also issued notices to the PTI.
The meeting on Imran’s letter was held as the PTI has planned demonstrations outside the ECP Secretariat and its district offices across the country against the alleged “biased” attitude of the chief election commissioner on April 26.
ISLAMABAD: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Chairman, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has defended the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and said former premier Imran Khan was exerting pressure on the Election Commission of Pakistan to influence the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) foreign funding case.
He praised CEC Sikander Sultan Raja for withstanding the pressure of the former government and improving the standing of the ECP.
The PPP chairman’s comments came in the wake of the PTI announcing protests outside the offices of the ECP throughout the country on Tuesday (today) against the CEC over his allegedly biased behavior.
In a statement Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said they supported all institutions in their effort to transition from controversial to constitutional roles. “Imran Khan’s politics now is to target all institutions with his ‘Mujay kyun nahi bachaya’ campaign. His politics is now based on lies and propaganda,” he said.
The PPP chairman claimed people knew that the only reason Imran Khan was targeting the ECP was that the CEC, who had been selected by the PTI itself, had refused to turn the commission into the former ruling party’s Tiger Force.
Raja has stood with his institution and the Constitution, and if this continued then there were hopes of seeing an empowered ECP in the future, Bilawal said in the statement.
He also chastised Imran Khan for giving a protest call at ECP offices, saying it was a blatant pressure tactic to further “bully, blackmail and pressure” the institution into not releasing the “damning” decision in the PTI’s foreign funding case. “All such efforts will fail. Truth will prevail, Insha’Allah,” he added.
