Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s focal person on Digital Media and Technologies Ahmad Jawad resigned on Friday, claiming “government decisions come from three different places”. Jawad posted a copy of his resignation on his Twitter handle which stated that his “greatest service in politics is that [he] introduced new principles”. He added that he is resigning from his post due to the prime minister’s constraints.
Lahore’s Special Court (Central-I) declared Suleman Shehbaz and Tahir Naqvi proclaimed offenders in the Rs16 billion money laundering case after both the suspects failed to appear despite being summoned. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had booked Shehbaz and his sons in November 2020 under sections 419, 420, 468, 471, 34 and 109 of Prevention of Corruption Act and r/w 3/4 of Anti Money Laundering Act.
Drama in the Punjab assembly went to far when a ‘middle finger’ was raised in the house. Punjab government spokesperson Attaullah Tarar displayed some very uncouth behaviour in the Punjab Assembly on Monday. Tarar, who is from the PML-N, was told to leave the Punjab Assembly during Monday’s session chaired by speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
While Pakistan suffers from extreme economic disability with IMF down its throat, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Friday proposed a Rs9.5 trillion inflationary federal budget. The new budget for fiscal year 2022-23 provides solace to the salaried class whose tax burden has been significantly lessened in addition to 15% increase in salaries of the inflation-stricken government employees.
The resolution against the embattled premier was tabled by the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on March 28 and it was approved for debate the very same day. The no-confidence motion, signed by about 100 lawmakers from the PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), was submitted before the National Assembly Secretariat. The leaders alleged that the Imran Khan-led government was responsible for rising inflation.
PML-N MPA Mian Jalil Sharaqpuri has termed the act of his colleague, MPA Mian Rauf, ‘anti-sharia’. Mian Rauf and his supporters, put a ‘lota’ on Sharaqpuri’s head over his meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. The estranged PML-N lawmaker has asked the party to take action against Rauf, adding that choosing not to do so would mean the party backed his action.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar has confirmed that two meetings took place between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mohammad Zubair. DG ISPR said that matters in relation with PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz were discussed during the meetings.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Banking Crime Circle, Lahore, has traced secret bank accounts of the employees of Suleman Shehbaz with Rs9.5 billion deposits. The employees of the youngest son of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif worked in the Ramzan Sugar Mills and Al-Arabiya Sugar Mills. The FIA had provided details of those accounts to the joint investigation team (JIT), which was investigating the case.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif informed the Islamabad High Court that it was not possible for him to return to Pakistan and surrender. The PML-N supremo informed the court of his inability to return through a review petition against the IHC’s order that had directed him to surrender before the court by September 10.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has tested positive for the coronavirus, party leader Ahsan Iqbal revealed in a Tweet. Aurangzeb’s mother is also reported to have tested positive for the infection. On Monday, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and PTIA MNA Jai Prakash, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi tested positive for coronavirus.