Tag: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif To Return To Pakistan On Oct 21: Shehbaz

By LokMarg

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that his brother and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is set to arrive in Pakistan on October 21, Pakistan-based Geo News reported. He said that the Supreme Court’s recent decision on the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Amendment case has nothing to do with his cases.  

Shehbaz Sharif made the remarks after holding a legal session, attended by Nawaz Sharif, Suleman Sharif and lawyers Azam Nazir Tarar, Amjad Pervez and Attaullah Tarar. He said that the cases against Nawaz Sharif were made on false grounds and were politically motivated, according to Geo News report. 

He said that cases against Nawaz Sharif were made on false grounds and were politically motivated. He said, “There is no legal merit in the cases framed against Nawaz Sharif and he has never relied on the new NAB laws. He will be in Pakistan on October 21.”

Sharif criticised Pakistan’s outgoing Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and said he made controversial and political decisions that benefited Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan. He alleged that Bandial went out of his way to help Imran Khan and violated his oath. 

Shehbaz Sharif asked, “The 2-1 decision he gave is regrettable. To a great extent, he has restored a dictator’s black law. When Imran Khan changed NAB law through a presidential order to give NRO to his sidekicks, where was Bandial? Why didn’t he act like this at that time? That Ordinance was for four months and Imran Khan’s sponsors benefitted from that. That was a classic example of Niazi-NAB collusion,” Geo News reported. 

PML-N President said that Pakistan was harmed through a conspiracy that brought Khan to power and the country’s journey to prosperity and progress halted. He said that if given a clear mandate again, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif will take Pakistan’s economy to the level where it was in 2017 when he was ousted for not taking a salary from his son. 

Speaking about Raja Riaz’s inclusion into the PML-N, Shehbaz Sharif said that he and his brother welcomed the former PTI lawmaker and opposition leader Raja Riaz into the party. 

Shehbaz Sharif said, “We have welcomed Raja Riaz into PML-N. For 16 months, he was leader of the opposition in the national assembly. I hope his joining will strengthen the party.” Riaz thanked Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif for trusting him. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s former law minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that Nawaz Sharif after his return to Pakistan will face all cases in respect of the courts. 

Taking a dig at Imran Khan, Tarar said: “Nawaz Sharif will not put a bucket on his head. He will appear in the courts smiling and he will be vindicated on merit. There is no substance in the false cases made against him,” Geo News reported. 

He further said, “We will work in accordance with the law. We will not attack the courts and we will not do anything to evade the course of justice as was seen recently. There will be open hearings and the truth will be established.” 

Earlier, PML-N Deputy Secretary General Attaullah Tarar said that Nawaz Sharif’s planned return to Pakistan on October 21 will not be affected by the Supreme Court’s decision on PTI chief’s petition challenging amendments made to the country’s accountability laws during the tenure of the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government. He said there was overwhelming evidence that Nawaz Sharif was an innocent man and “no case is a hindrance in his way of return to Pakistan. (ANI)

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Nawaz Sharif Shehbaz Pakistan

Nawaz Sharif To Return To Pakistan On October 21: Shehbaz

By LokMarg

Amid speculations, Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed on Tuesday that his elder brother and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan on October 21, Geo News reported.

This comes ahead of the upcoming elections in Pakistan, after the National Assembly was dissolved last month.

“Nawaz Sharif will reach Pakistan on October 21,” Shehbaz told Geo News on Tuesday.

The statement came after a meeting of the PML-N’s top leadership headed by Nawaz in London.

Nawaz —  who has been in self-imposed exile in London since November 2019 owing to health reasons — was disqualified for life in 2017 by the Supreme Court for not declaring a receivable salary.

While speaking to the media after the high-level party huddle in London, Shehbaz said that the date for Nawaz’s return was finalised after consultation with the party members.

He added that the credit for Pakistan’s attainment of nukes, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the ending 20 hours of electricity load-shedding in the country “goes to Nawaz”.

Shehbaz added the journey of development will continue from where Nawaz had left in 2017 when he was removed from power under a false and baseless case. “Nawaz wasn’t deprived of power but Pakistan’s people were deprived of development and prosperity.”

When asked about the PML-N’s stance if the elections are not conducted on time, the former premier said that “holding polls is the Election Commission of Pakistan’s constitutional responsibility and he hopes that the electoral watchdog will fulfil its responsibility fairly”, Geo News reported.

The London meeting was attended by Suleman Shehbaz, Hassan Nawaz, former federal minister Khawaja Asif, Malik Mohammad Ahmed Khan and Nasir Janjua.

The party’s strategy regarding the election, Nawaz’s return and the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) stance on the elections also came under discussion, according to Geo News. (ANI)

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MEA Pakistan India

Want Normal Relations With Pakistan But: MEA

By LokMarg

Days after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif showed his willingness to talk to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said that India wanted neighbourly ties with Pakistan but there should be an atmosphere free from terror and violence for such a relationship. 

During a weekly briefing of MEA, Bagchi said, “We have seen reports regarding the comments by the Pakistan PM on this issue. India’s clear and consistent position is well known that we desire normal relations with all our neighbouring countries including Pakistan. For this environment free of terror and hostility is imperative.”

Earlier, on Tuesday, the Pakistan PM showed his willingness to talk with India and stressed that there is “nothing against anyone”.

While addressing the opening ceremony of the Mineral Summit in Islamabad, Shehbaz Sharif said that to use build the nation they are ready to talk with the neighbours.

Despite a history of strained ties between the two nations, since their independence in 1947, the Pakistan PM seeks to promote valuable engagement as the country is going through some economic issues.

“With our neighbours, we are prepared to talk to them, provided that the neighbour is serious to talk about serious matters on the table because war is no more an option. Pakistan is a nuclear power, not as an aggressor but for our defence purposes. We had three wars fought in the last 75 years. And what happened is it generates more poverty, unemployment and lack of resources to finance, education, health and well-being of the people,” PM Sharif said.

He stressed that this is not the way to adopt, but to fight through economic competition in the region.”Because if there is any nuclear flashpoint, who will live to tell what happened? So (war) is not an option,” PM Sharif said and added that he knows that both countries cannot become normal neighbours unless “abnormalities are removed” and unless the serious issues are understood and addressed through peaceful and meaningful discussions.

India and Pakistan’s relations were never normal since the formation of the latter country. India has repeatedly raised its concern over Pakistan’s support of cross-border terrorism and has asserted that terror and talks cannot go together.

Following the Indian government’s decision in August 2019 to abolish Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcate it into two Union territories [J&K and Ladakh], the Pakistan government, then led by Imran Khan, expelled India’s ambassador to Islamabad and halted bilateral trade. (ANI)

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Modi Makes Veiled Attack At ‘Countries Supporting Cross-Border Terror’

By LokMarg

In the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a veiled attack at “some countries” for giving shelter to terrorists and supporting cross-border terrorism.

In his virtual address at the Heads of State summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Tuesday, PM Modi, in an apparent attack on Pakistan and China, called on member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) not to hesitate to condemn countries that use cross-border terrorism as ‘policy instruments’ and shelter terrorists.
“Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of their policies and give shelter to terrorists,” Prime Minister Modi said adding that the SCO should not hesitate to criticise such countries and “there should be no double standards on terrorism.”

Addressing the 23rd summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation through video conference the prime minister said that “Terrorism is a threat to regional and global peace, we will have to fight against terrorism.”

The summit attendees were Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“Terrorism has become the prime danger for both regional as well as global peace, and decisive action is necessary to deal with it. Terrorism in whichever form or expression, we have to collectively fight against it. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as instrument of their policies and harbour terrorists. SCO should not refrain from criticising such nations,” PM Modi said.

He added, “There should not be any place for double standards on such a serious issue. We should also increase cooperation to deal with terror financing. We should take further steps to stop the radicalisation of youth in our countries. The joint statement being issued on the issue of radicalisation is the proof of our shared commitment”.

At the United Nations last month, China opposed an effort by the US and India to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Sajid Mir as a global terrorist. Mir is wanted for his alleged role in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

This move of China was sternly criticised by India, as even after 15 years since the Mumbai terrorist attacks, the masterminds behind the atrocity have yet to be brought to justice.

Moreover, PM Modi also laid emphasis on food, fuel and fertilizer crisis and called it a big challenge for all countries in the world surrounded by controversies, tensions and epidemics.

“At present, the global situation is at a critical juncture. In a world engulfed by conflicts, tensions and pandemics, the food fuel and fertilizer crisis is a major challenge for all countries. We must think together that whether we as an organization can meet the expectations and aspirations of our people.”

“Are we able to meet the modern challenges? Is SCO becoming an organization that is fully prepared for the future? In this regard, India supports the proposal for improvement and modernization in SCO,” he added.

While addressing the SCO summit, PM Modi proposed to use India’s AI-based language platform Bhashini.

“We would be delighted to share India’s AI-based language platform Bhashini with everyone to remove language barriers within SCO. It can become an example of digital technology and inclusive growth. SCO can become a significant voice for reforms within the UN and other global institutions,” PM Modi said.

The prime minister also listed various pillars that India has focused on during its Presidency of SCO and they are Start-up and innovation, Youth empowerment, traditional medicine, Digital inclusion, and Shared Buddhist heritage.

He also stated that over the past two decades, the SCO has emerged as an important platform for peace, prosperity and development in the entire Eurasia region. India’s thousands of years old culture and people-to-people ties with this region are living testimony to our shared heritage.

PM Modi further stated that as Chair of the SCO, India has made efforts to take our multi-faceted cooperation to new heights.

He also said that Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the past 20 years has emerged as an important platform for peace, prosperity and development in the entire Eurasia region. He said that India sees SCO as an extended family.

India’s chairmanship of SCO has been a period of intense activity and mutually beneficial cooperation between Member States. India has hosted a total of 134 meetings and events, including 14 Ministerial-level meetings. India remains committed to playing a positive and constructive role in the organization and looks forward to a successful SCO Summit as the culmination of its Chairmanship.

The rotational presidency remains with India until September 2023. (ANI)

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Humein Sirf Modi Chahiye: Pakistani’s Plea Goes Viral

Humein Sirf Modi Chahiye: Pakistani’s Plea Goes Viral

By LokMarg

In a viral video posted by Pakistani Youtuber Sana Amjad, a fellow Pakistani is heard ranting against the Shehbaz Sharif government over the prevailing state of affairs in the country and saying that they would also have been able to buy goods at reasonable prices had Prime Minister Narendra Modi been ruling Pakistan.

A former journalist, Sana Amjad had stints with several Pakistani media houses. In the viral video, she is heard asking a local why the slogan ‘
Pakistan se zinda bhago chahe India chale jaao
” (Run for your life away from Pakistan, even if it means taking shelter in India) was being raised on the streets, he responds saying he wishes he wasn’t born in Pakistan.
The local said he wishes that the Partition hadn’t happened as he, and his fellow countrymen, could then have been able to purchase essential items at reasonable prices and feed their children every night.

“I wish Pakistan wasn’t separated from India. We would then be purchasing tomatoes at PKR 20/kg, chicken for PKR 150/kg, and petrol at PKR 50 per litre,” he said in the viral video.

“It is unfortunate that we got an Islamist nation but we could not establish Islam here,” he added.

Watch the Pakistani rant about the pain of living in Pakistan here; https://www.youtube.com/embed/19f-hkSytWI

Wishing for “no one but Narendra Modi”, he said “Modi is much better than us, his people respect and follow him so much. If we had Narendra Modi, we wouldn’t need Nawaz sharif or Benazir or Imran, not even (late former military ruler) General (Parvez) Musharraf. All we want is Prime Minister Modi, as only he can deal with all mischievous elements in the country. India is currently the fifth-biggest economy in the world while we are nowhere.”

“I am ready to live under Modi’s rule. Modi is a great man, he is not a bad human being. Indians are getting tomatoes and chicken at reasonable rates. When you cannot feed your children at night, you start ruing the country you were born in,” he added.

“I pray to Almighty to give us Modi and have him rule our country,” he said, with tears in his eyes.

He said the Pakistanis need to stop comparing themselves with India “because there is no comparison” between the two countries. (ANI)

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Indo-Pak Dialogue A Matter Between Two Countries: US | Lokmarg

Indo-Pak Dialogue A Matter Between Two Countries: US

By LokMarg

The talks between India and Pakistan are a matter for those two nations, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price has said.

His remarks came at a press briefing on Monday in response to a question regarding Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call for talks with India and New Delhi’s response to the offer.

Ned Price said, “We have long called for regional stability in South Asia. That’s certainly what we want to see. We want to see it advanced.”

“When it comes to our partnership, our partnerships with India and Pakistan, these are relationships that stand on their own. We do not see these relationships as zero-sum. They stand on their own,” he added.

“We have long called for regional stability in South Asia, but the pace, the scope, the character of any dialogue between India and Pakistan is a matter for those two countries, India and Pakistan,” he said.

Last week, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for “serious and sincere talks” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve outstanding issues. In an interview with Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV, Sharif said that Pakistan has learned its lesson after three wars with India and stressed that now it wants peace with its neighbor.

“My message to the Indian leadership and Prime Minister Modi is that let’s sit down on the table and have serious and sincere talks to resolve our burning points like Kashmir. It is up to us to live peacefully and make progress or quarrel with each other and waste time and resources,” Shehbaz Sharif said.

“We have had three wars with India, and they have only brought more misery, poverty, and unemployment to the people. We have learned our lesson, and we want to live in peace with India, provided we are able to resolve our genuine problems,” he added.

Reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s desire of holding talks with PM Modi, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “We have already said that we have always wanted normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan. But there should be a conducive atmosphere that does not have terror, hostility or violence. That remains our position.” (ANI)

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Imran's Proposal On Appointment Of Next Army Chief

Imran Khan’s Politics Weakens Pakistan: PM Shehbaz Sharif

By LokMarg

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif criticised his predecessor and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for his comments on the retired chief of army staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, The Dawn reported.

“PTI leader’s politics is aimed at making his way to power, even if it meant undermining foundations this country stood on,” Prime Minister Sharif said on his Twitter handle, according to The Dawn.

According to the tweet by Sharif, quoted by The Dawn, Imran’s recent diatribe against parliamentary democracy is the latest in a series of attacks that fly in the face of how democracy functions in modern nation-states.

His politics is aimed at making his way to power even if it means undermining the foundations this country stands on, it added.

Khan in an interview had previously told that giving a 3-year tenure extension in 2019 to the retired CAOS Bajwa was his biggest mistake, similar statements were given by the former speaker of Pakistan National Assembly Asad Qaiser, The Dawn reported.

The Special Assistant to Prime Minister Atta Tarar said Pakistan Muslim League Quaid e Azam leader Moonis Elahi had defamed Khan and General Bajwa in his statements. Although, at the time of the no-confidence vote against Imran, he was urged by Moonis Elahi to support Khan.

Meanwhile, a leader of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Hafiz Hamdullah in a statement said that the election would be taking place as scheduled in October next year. And if the country’s economic condition does not allow then the elections can be delayed for a year.

Previously, Khan also announced that his party has decided not to remain part of the current political system and will instead resign from all the assemblies. (ANI)

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Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir

Lt Gen Asim Munir Named Pak’s New Army Chief

By LokMarg

Lieutenant General Asim Munir was on Thursday appointed as the new chief of army staff (COAS) of Pakistan, ending weeks of intense speculation and political tussle in the country.

“The Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has decided to appoint Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Lt. Gen. Syed Asim Munir as the Chief of the Army Staff using the constitutional authority,” Pakistan Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted.
Aurangzeb said that a summary of the same had been sent to Pakistan President Arif Alvi.

On Wednesday, the Pakistan government confirmed that it had received the summary from the Ministry of Defence with a “panel of names” for the appointment of the new COAS.

“The PM office has received the summary from the Ministry of Defence with a panel of names for the appointment of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Army Staff. The Prime Minister will take a decision on the appointments as per the laid down procedure,” the Pakistan prime minister’s office said in a statement.

Gen Bajwa, 61, is slated to retire next week after a three-year extension.

On Tuesday, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the summary had been forwarded to the PMO from the defence ministry. “The rest of the steps will be completed soon,” he tweeted.

Pakistan’s defence minister has warned opposition leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying that the coalition government will deal with him, after the completion of the appointment process of the new Army chief.

“The process will complete in two to three days. The excitement will end, after which we will deal with Imran Khan,” the Pakistan defence minister was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

He made these remarks on the floor of the Pakistan National Assembly, hinting at the formal announcement of the key appointment within the next three days.

This comes after the process to appoint the new army chief started on Monday as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote a letter to the country’s Defence Ministry for a summary of the potential candidates. (ANI)

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Xi Jinping Elected Chinese President For 3rd Term

Shehbaz Meets Chinese Prez Xi In Beijing

By LokMarg

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, becoming the first head of state to visit China since Xi’s re-election for the third time.

This is also Sharif’s first visit to China since assuming office in April this year and follows his meeting with Xi in Uzbekistan in September.
“During his maiden 2-days visit to China, PM Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping met at the People’s Great Hall of China to discuss broad-based cooperation in economy and investment and exchanged views on regional and global developments,” tweeted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Sharif is heading a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He is also scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Keqiang to review the All-Weather Strategic Cooperation Partnership between China and Pakistan.

Ahead of his visit Sharif in an opinion piece for Chinese media outlet Global Times on October 30 said: “I would be soon in Beijing on my first bilateral visit after assuming office, and that too at an opportune time, soon after the successful conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.”

“For Pakistan, relations with China form the cornerstone of our foreign policy; in China, Pakistan is described as Ba Tie i.e. China’s Iron Brother, and elsewhere our ties are appreciated for their unique strength, enduring permanence, and unfathomable trust,” he wrote.

Before leaving for China, Sharif said that his discussions with Chinese leadership will focus on the revitalization of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor among many other things.

“My discussions with Chinese leadership will focus on the revitalization of CPEC among many other things. 2nd phase of CPEC promises to usher in a new era of socio-economic progress that will uplift the quality of our people’s lives. There is a lot to learn from the Chinese economic miracle,” Sharif tweeted.

CPEC’s next phase of high-quality development will encompass key areas such as industry, energy, agriculture, ICT, rail and road network, and developing Gwadar Port as a hub of trade and transshipment, investment, and regional connectivity.

Meanwhile, China raised the issue of the safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan ahead of Sharif’s visit.

Xi Jinping was elected General Secretary of the Chinese communist party for the third time in the recently held 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party where he was elected as the general secretary and head of the pary for the next five years. (ANI)

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Imran's Proposal On Appointment Of Next Army Chief

Shehbaz Rejects Imran’s Proposal On Appointment Of Next Army Chief

By LokMarg

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that he rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s proposal on the appointment of the army chief and instead offered to discuss the Charter of Democracy and Charter of Economy, The Express Tribune reported.

While talking with the vloggers on Saturday, Sharif said that PTI Chairman offered him to resolve two issues in which the first matter was the army chief’s appointment and the second was holding early elections.
“Imran had suggested that we give him three names and he gives three names for the post of army chief and then we decide on the appointment of the new chief from those six names,” The Express Tribune quoted the Pakistan PM as saying.

“If there is a common name in both the lists, then we will agree,” Sharif said, adding, however: “I flatly refused Imran Khan’s offer by saying thank you.”

He further said that instead, he offered “Imran Khan to discuss the Charter of Democracy and Charter of Economy.”

Sharif also said that he had sent a message that the appointment of the army chief was a constitutional duty that will be performed by the PM.

He also said that Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general held a press conference along with the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) earlier this week with his permission, reported The Express Tribune.

Sharif explained that he was told that the ISI chief wanted to hold the press conference because he (ISI DG) was an eyewitness to the meeting between Imran Khan and the army chief. He added the ISI chief put the whole matter in front of the people.

“Imran Khan is currently targeting the army leadership only to fulfill his personal desires,” Sharif said. “Imran Niazi now spewing poison against those who nurtured him. No one is safe from his mischief,” he added.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan reiterated that the only demand he has had for the past six months is the date for early, fair and free elections.

“For all those spreading rumors about my meeting in Lahore, the reason we returned was that Lahore was closer and we had already decided not to move at night. The only demand I have had for 6 months is the date for early fair and free elections. That will be the ONLY demand if talks are to be held,” he tweeted on October 29.

The former Pakistan prime minister has been at odds with the Shehbaz Sharif government and the country’s military establishment since his ouster from power in April this year. (ANI)

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