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.
There’s no love lost between PTI’s Imran Khan and PML-N’s Shehbaz Sharif and they are often seen taking jibes at each other. PM Shehbaz has now directly responded to Imran Khan’s Twitter posts on various issues including blocking their flood relief telethon, and silencing pro-PTI journalists, saying they are busy with the rehabilitation of masses in the wake of devastating floods.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the “long-delayed” judgement in the prohibited funding case, previously referred to as the foreign funding case, against the PTI. “For long has Imran Niazi been given a free pass despite his repeated and shameless attacks on state institutions. Impunity given to him has hurt the country,” he tweeted.6
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while nominating Faisal Baloch for Tamgha-e-Shujaat, commended the oil tanker driver for risking his own life to save that of countless others. Head of Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms Salman Sufi had invited Faisal to Islamabad as a guest of honour for his bravery that resulted in saving many lives.
A central figure in FIA’s Rs16 billion money laundering case against the Shehbaz Sharif family, Malik Maqsood Ahmad — frequently referred to as Maqsood ‘Chaprasi’ — has passed away in the UAE. Maqsood died of a cardiac arrest on June 6. He was 49, according to a death certificate issued by UAE authorities. Special Prosecutor Bajwa said Maqsood’s death would not impact the money laundering case.
The counsel for the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) confirmed to a special court in Lahore on Saturday that the agency wanted to arrest Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, in a Rs16 billion money laundering case. The court also reissued the arrest warrants for suspects Suleman Shehbaz, Tahir Naqvi and Malik Maqsood in the case.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will land in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah along with 16 members of the Sharif family. In this regard, the Foreign Office has directed the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia to make preparations. PM Shehbaz Sharif will also be accompanied by 16 coalition members, including party leaders.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have quietly exchanged letters, expressing desire to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. The letters were exchanged after the election of Shehbaz as prime minister but both the sides kept development away from the media glare in what seemed to be a move aimed at avoiding any public attention.
The Punjab police have put on guard nearly 450 armed police personnel besides Elite Force commandos at the five residences and offices of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz in Lahore. The security has been enhanced after Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz have been elected prime minister and chief minister, respectively. Shehbaz has declared his residence at Model Town “PM’s Camp Office”.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has administered the oath to federal ministers and ministers of state, who will form the cabinet of newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Thirty-one federal ministers and three ministers of state and as many advisers to the PM took the oath. The oath-taking ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran at the President House.