Warning: Undefined array key "rbname" in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 14
Hello !

India-Pakistan

PML-N workers protest court verdict against Nawaz, Maryam

2018-07-07

[DAWN] Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison by a corruption court in Islamabad on Friday, lawyers said, dealing a serious blow to his party's troubled campaign ahead of July 25 elections. Small protests quickly broke out after the verdict at the court in Islamabad, which was surrounded by heavy security, and in some other cities including Multan in Punjab, the Sharif dynasty's provincial stronghold. “We reject this decision,” PML-N president and Nawaz's brother Shahbaz Sharif told a televised press conference in Lahore shortly after the verdict. “It is based on injustices. This decision will be written in black words in history,” he said. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan for his part greeted news of the verdict with jubilation at a campaign rally in the Swat valley. “Today all Pakistanis must offer thanksgiving prayers because today is the beginning of a new Pakistan. Now robbers will not go into assemblies, but to jails,” he told a roaring crowd of thousands.

Link

India-Pakistan

Kulsoom Nawaz to undergo first chemotherapy session, says Maryam

2017-10-11

[DAWN] Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, is "being prepared" to undergo her first chemotherapy session in the United Kingdom, her daughter announced on Twitter on Tuesday. Maryam Nawaz tweeted a picture of Kulsoom in the hospital, with Nawaz by her side, and thanked her followers for their "valuable prayers".

Link

India-Pakistan

Qadri returns from London: ‘Metro leaks’ to end politics of Shahbaz

2017-09-02

[DAWN] The chief of Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT), Tahirul Qadri ...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him... , arrived here on Thursday morning from London, promising to continue his struggle for justice for those killed in Model Town during a police operation in June 2014. Mr Qadri, who keeps popping in and out of the country, this time returned after a 10-day foreign tour and, according to party sources, will have a longer stay here "till Justice Baqar Najfi’s report is made public and cases regarding the Model Town tragedy are finalised." Talking to the media at Lahore airport, he said he had returned to the country to celebrate Eidul Azha here, whereas deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... left Pakistain on the occasion. The court has put provincial government on notice for Sept 12 to present its position on the Justice Najfi Report. "This gives us a hope for justice," he said. The PAT chief said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had got a chance to restore its credibility in references against the Sharifs and it must. He said under the NAB ordinance, the accountability courts were bound to give verdict within a month. The Supreme Court had allowed them six months, which was sufficient time to proceed, he added. "Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is the main cause of corruption in Pakistain. If he is not taken to task quickly, he can create instability in the country by colluding with foreign forces," Qadri alleged. Nawaz was not thrown out only because of UAE work permit (Iqama), but all references were those of corruption and it would soon be evident, Qadri maintained.

Link

India-Pakistan

Political future of Zardari looks bleak

2013-06-01

The poor darling. And after he devoted his life to the cause, too. ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's new National Assembly will be sworn in on Saturday, completing the country's first ever democratic transition of power, but for President Asif Ali Zardari the political future looks bleak. Pakistan's 65-year history has been punctuated by three periods of military rule and Zardari was credited with steering the country to its democratic milestone by holding together the fractious coalition government led by his Pakistan People's Party (PPP) for its full five-year term. But the PPP was routed at the polls, blamed by voters for five years of apathy and drift which saw crippling power shortages worsen and militancy continue almost unabated. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) romped to victory and will command 186 of the 342 seats in the new assembly, giving it significant leverage to oust Zardari from the president's house when his term expires in September. The president is chosen by an electoral college comprising the National Assembly, Senate and four provincial assemblies. In the run-up to the May 11 election there had been suggestions the PML-N would allow Zardari, the widower of PPP icon Benazir Bhutto, to stay on in return for his party's cooperation in the lower house. But analyst Imtiaz Gul said that while the PML-N was unlikely to seek an immediate confrontation with Zardari, his days in the top job were numbered. Veteran PML-N leader Sartaj Aziz has been tipped as a possible replacement. "Based on past experiences, PML-N is likely to let Zardari complete his term rather than gunning for him or forcing him out of his office prematurely," Gul said. But he added: "Zardari's future as president has become bleak following routing of his party in the election". Sharif will be sworn in as prime minister for an unprecedented third term on Wednesday. During his two previous administrations he earned a reputation for hotheadedness and pugnacity. And got tossed both times by a general... But the problems facing his new government are enormous -- a failing economy, endless power cuts and rampant militancy -- and analysts say the 63-year-old is likely to seek a more conciliatory path. "With ample challenges and limited resources at their disposal, the government will have to play cool with the opposition by avoiding any confrontation and focusing more on the economy," said political commentator Hasan Askari. Another key question is how Sharif will handle the Pakistani Taleban. He had mooted the idea of talks with the militants but on Thursday they withdrew their offer of dialogue after their number two was killed in a US drone strike.

Link

India-Pakistan

Sharif's party quits Pakistan government

2008-05-13

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif pulled his party out of Pakistan's six-week-old coalition government on Monday, plunging the volatile Muslim nation back into political uncertainty. Sharif, whose Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) was the second-largest member of a four-party alliance, made the announcement after failing to break a deadlock with its main coalition partner over the reinstatement of dismissed judges. Sharif made the restoration of 60 judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf in November the main condition for joining the coalition led by the party of Asif Ali Zardari, the widower and political successor of the late Benazir Bhutto. Three days of talks in London between Sharif and Zardari, whose Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leads the coalition, ended on Sunday without any breakthrough. "Our ministers will meet the prime minister tomorrow and will submit their resignations," Sharif told a news conference. Nine of the 24 ministers in Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's cabinet belong to the PML-N, including Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who was due to present the annual budget in weeks with the country sliding deeper into economic problems. Sharif, who submitted his nomination papers to contest a by-election due in late June, said his party would continue to support the PPP government despite quitting the cabinet. "For the time being, we'll not sit in opposition."

Link

India-Pakistan

Perv blindly following Washington's dictates: Uncle Fester

2007-12-03

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday denounced President Pervez Musharraf, accusing him of ‘blindly’ following Washington’s dictates. Sharif, who returned last week from seven years of exile, led separate rallies on Sunday involving thousands of supporters in Lahore and in the nearby town of Phoolnagar. “Today Pakistan is in danger,” he said at a gathering of more than 6,000 supporters who carried his portraits and the green flags of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. “One individual is out to destroy the country for the sake of his lust for power.” Nawaz-Bhutto meeting: Sharif confirmed he would meet former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to discuss boycotting the January vote to discredit Musharraf, who the former premier said was “out to destroy” Pakistan. Bhutto and Sharif are scheduled to meet today (Monday) to discuss the election boycott issue.

Link

India-Pakistan

Musharraf not a legitimate president: Nawaz

2007-11-30

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday dismissed Pervez Musharraf’s presidency as “illegitimate”, saying the Supreme Court bench Musharraf purged to ensure a second term should be restored to rule on his election. Hours after Musharraf was again sworn in as president, this time as a civilian, Nawaz demanded he end emergency rule and release opponents jailed after the November 3 crackdown. “Under the circumstances, we do not accept him as a legitimate president,” said Nawaz, adding that the judiciary of November 2 must be restored. “That judiciary was thrown out by Musharraf just for personal reasons,” he said in an interview with Reuters at his home. “Whatever decision that judiciary gives [on his re-election]...that would be a decision which would carry legitimacy and credibility.” Nawaz said his arch rival, Pakistan People’s Party Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto would have to join the polls boycott for it to work. To a question about the acceptance of his nomination papers, he said, “If they’ve already decided to turn down my papers, then I can do nothing. There are no courts where I can go to, there is no judiciary which can address my grievances.”

Link

Arabia

Nawaz meets Saudi king

2007-09-17

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif met Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Sunday for the first time since being deported from Pakistan. The meeting was held at the royal palace in Jeddah, a newspaper reported. The paper did not give details of the meeting but said that it was held in a cordial atmosphere and various matters were discussed.

Link

India-Pakistan

Nawaz gets the boot

2007-09-11

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was on Monday arrested and deported to Saudi Arabia four-and-a-half hours after he arrived in Islamabad from London to challenge the rule of President General Pervez Musharraf. That worked well. PIA flight PK-786, carrying the former prime minister, his party workers and journalists, landed at 8:45am at Islamabad International Airport, but Nawaz refused to leave the aircraft for about 90 minutes. "Don't make me go out there!" All other passengers were allowed to leave the plane and a team of officials, accompanied by black-uniformed commandos, went on board to “discuss various options” with Nawaz. "You can go hard, or you can go easy, but you're goin'!" Surrounded by the commandos, Nawaz eventually stepped off the aircraft and was frog marched escorted to the Rawal Lounge, where he refused to hand over his passport to immigration officials. Sources said officials again held talks with him but he remained steadfast in his decision to stay in Pakistan. "Youse can't toss me! Do youse know who I am?" An official said Nawaz was shown arrest warrants for corruption and money laundering charges and a copy of his 2000 exile agreement. “Government officials and some Saudi officials held talks with him for about two hours,” a source said. "See that? It sez we won't hit you if you leave the country and don't come back!" "I left the country!" "You came back, too. Mahmoud! Hit him!" "Owwwwwww!" AFP adds: Nawaz later arrived in Jeddah, where the official SPA news agency reported: “Nawaz Sharif is a guest of Saudi Arabia, which welcomed his coming to live in the kingdom forever and ever once again.” He was greeted by Saudi intelligence chief Prince Muqrin, SPA said.

Link

India-Pakistan

Nobody can prevent my return to Pakistan: Nawaz

2007-09-05

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated that no one could prevent him from returning to Pakistan, adding Gen Musharraf and his government cannot bar people from receiving him at Islamabad airport on September 10. In an interview with Geo News, Sharif said he had never bowed before any dictator and the people were with him. “I will not leave any stone unturned to solve the people’s problems,” Sharif said, adding that September 10 would change the political scenario of Pakistan. He criticised US President Bush, saying that instead of interfering in Pakistan’s affairs, the US should take stick to its own boundaries. He said only dictators bowed before every US order, while the democratic rulers took their decisions independently. Sharif claimed he would oust Gen Musharraf from Pakistani politics after next general elections, saying Musharraf’s tenure was ending on October 15 and he had no right to stay in presidency after that date.

Link

India-Pakistan

PML-N finalises Sharifs' return plan today

2007-08-29

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Central Executive Committee will meet today (Wednesday) in London to finalise a plan for the Sharif brothers’ return, PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will chair the first-ever PML-N meeting after the Supreme Court verdict allowing the Sharif brothers to return from their exile. Ahsan said the party leadership would finalise the place of arrival of the former PM and his brother in the country. “The party has planned to receive them before the approaching Ramadan,” he said, adding that the final date would be announced after the meeting. Calling the reports about the Sharif-Musharraf contacts as “baseless”, he said if the PML-N wanted a secret deal with Musharraf it would not have opted for a judicial process. He said his party would continue its efforts for the restoration of democracy and that it would oppose the imposition of an emergency in the country.

Link

India-Pakistan

Nawaz vows to contest polls

2007-08-24

LONDON: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday he intended to return home “as soon as possible” and contest elections to try to oust President Pervez Musharraf from office, Reuters reported. “It is the beginning of the end of Musharraf,” he told a news conference here. Asked what role he would play in challenging Musharraf, Nawaz was evasive. “Our party is preparing to contest the elections and I am very much part and parcel of my party,” he said.

Link

Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$T in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 132
-12 More