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PTI to issue show-cause notices to dissident MPs today: Asad Umar

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  • “Lawmakers who want to review their decision can do so in the reply,” says Umar.
  • “If our people reconsider calmly, their grievances can be addressed,” says Qureshi.
  • “A presidential reference will also be moved against MNAs,” adds Qureshi.

With multiple PTI MNAs coming out in the open against Prime Minister Imran Khan, Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar announced on Friday that the party would issue show-cause notices to its dissident lawmakers for allegedly allying with the Opposition.

The minister, who is also the secretary-general of the PTI, announced in a press conference alongside Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.

Umar said that the party was already working on the show-cause notice.

”I will sign the show-cause notices today and will be issued afterwards,” announced Umar. He added that lawmakers who want to review their decision can do so in the reply.

Before Umar, Foreign Minister Qureshi while appealing to the dissident lawmakers urged them to think “calmly” about their decision and review it.

“As a friend and well-wisher, I appeal to you to reconsider your decision,” said Qureshi. He added that the PTI MNAs were “smart and political” people who knew what the law and Constitution state.

“If our people reconsider calmly, their grievances can be addressed,” said Qureshi who is also the PTI vice-chairman. He claimed that the lawmakers by joining a rival will not be able to survive politically.

Ahead of Umar‘s comments on the notices, Qureshi had said that the decision was taken by the PTI’s political committee given the law, Constitution and ethics.

He had also added that apart from the notices if the MNA’s deviate from the party line then a presidential reference will also be moved against them.

The show-cause notice is being sent to the dissident lawmakers after it emerged that multiple PTI MNAs were seeking refuge in the Sindh House Islamabad in fear of the government. It is being reported that the lawmakers have decided to vote in favour of the Opposition’s no-confidence motion.  

No space for minus Imran Khan PTI: Qureshi

Amid calls for a minus Imran Khan PTI, the party vice-chairman “categorically” stated that there was “no space” for such a move.

Taking a jibe at PML-N and PPP, Qureshi said that those making such calls have forgotten about the charter of democracy. He added that such calls were also presented to the PPP and PML-N about their leaders which they rejected.

“These formulas have been used which were rejected by the people,” said the PTI vice-chairman. He added that Imran Khan was the founding chairman of the party and no one can take his place just like Bilawal and Asif Ali Zardari cannot take Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s place.

“Imran Khan is the person who planted the tree himself. Would I be worried more about the plant than the person who sowed it?” asked Qureshi. He added that people used to make fun of Imran Khan and now today has established four governments.

The suggestions for the removal of Imran Khan as prime minister were made by PTI allies MQM-P and PML-Q.  

‘No plans for Governor rule in Sindh’

Foreign Minister Qureshi also dismissed Interior Minister Shaikh Rasheed’s call for imposing governor rule in Sindh.

“There was no plan to impose governor rule in Sindh, neither there will be,” said Qureshi. He added that the PTI’s political committee had advised PM Imran not to take such a decision.

“Saeed Ghani and Bilawal should not worry PTI has no such plan,” said the PTI vice-chairman.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed had a day earlier proposed the premier take the step in order to stop “horse-trading” taking place at the Sindh House.

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May 9 arsonists also attacked police on March 8 outside Zaman Park: Mohsin Naqvi

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  • Naqvi says “propaganda” being done on arrest of female PTI workers.
  • Caretaker CM says 2-year-old videos were shared on social media.
  • Punjab IG says police ready to appear before the judicial commission. 

LAHORE: Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday shared that those who attacked the police in Zaman Park on March 8 were also involved in the rioting that took place on May 9 after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest.

On March 8, the PTI chief planned to launch a rally in Lahore but things turned sour when the interim government-imposed Section 144 within the provincial capital. Following this, there was a clash between the police and PTI workers.

However, today CM Naqvi said that the same people that had clashed with the police on March 8 were also involved in the May 9 rioting.

On the “propaganda” being done regarding the arrest of female PTI workers, the caretaker chief executive claimed that 2-year-old videos were being shared on social media.

He also said that 32 women were arrested related to the attack on military installations in Punjab. However, 21 of those have already been released while only 11 are on judicial remand.

CM Naqvi added that nearly 500 women were involved in the May 9 incidents but the interim government avoided their arrest.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Punjab (IGP) Police Dr Usman Anwar, while clearing the air on the arrest of female PTI workers, said that the police have videos of people getting arrested on the spot.

He further added that those involved in the May 9 mayhem uploaded videos themselves.

“Various agencies verified with their own camera system. These lists [of people involved] are complete, and action is being taken,” the police chief said. 

He also slammed the PTI for claiming he had sent his men to torch the important installations. “Whoever wants to form a judicial commission can form it we are ready to go before any judicial commission.” 

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PTI’s Shehryar Afridi re-arrested upon release from Adiala jail

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  • “Afridi was released on completion of his ‘house arrest’ period.”
  • Police officials take the PTI leader to an undisclosed location.
  • Shehryar Afridi along with his wife was picked up on May 16. 

Amid the ongoing crackdown against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in connection with the May 9 attacks on the civil and military installations, the party’s leader and former state minister Shehryar Afridi was re-arrested shortly after being released from Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Tuesday.

Afridi along with his wife was picked up on May 16 from his residence in Islamabad under Section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance 1960, which enables the government to arrest persons “acting in any manner prejudicial to public safety”. His wife, however, was released later on the orders of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Soon after his release from the jail, police officials again took him into custody and transported him to an undisclosed location.

According to the jail administration, Afridi was released on completion of his “house arrest” period under the MPO.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner has extended Afridi’s house arrest under MPO for another 15 days.

The duo was apprehended after violent protests, triggered by the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan from the IHC in the Al-Qadir Trust case, erupted almost across the country.

During the days-long protests, which ended only after Khan’s release, enraged PTI workers allegedly attacked private and public properties, including military installations — the Lahore Corps Commander’s House or Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) entrance. At least eight people lost their lives during the violent protests.

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ATC declares Zaman Park search warrant ‘ineffective’

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  • One-time search warrants are not for forever, judge says.
  • PTI chief Khan had moved ATC against search warrants.
  • He claimed LEAs secured warrants with “malicious intent”.

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore Tuesday declared a police search warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence “ineffective”.

ATC Judge Abhar Gul Khan, while announcing the reserved verdict on the PTI chief’s plea, said one-time search warrants are not for forever.

The PTI chief had moved the court three days back against the search warrants, naming the state, commissioner of Lahore, DIG operations Lahore, SSP operations Lahore, and others as respondents.

In the plea, the PTI chief claimed that law enforcement personnel secured the warrants with “malicious intent”.

“It is most respectfully prayed that the search warrant relating to petitioner’s house situated at Zaman Park, Lahore may kindly be set-aside /cancelled/recalled being illegal, unlawful, inappropriate which lacks the requisite legal parameters for a valid warrant in the interest of justice and fair play,” he said in the plea.

Urging the court to take strict action against the respondents, Khan asked the court to deal with them severely for “their unlawful and illegal misuse of authority under the pretext of the search warrant”.

The authorities had secured the search warrants claiming that they wanted to arrest the “terrorists” present inside the PTI chief’s residence. However, when they arrived there on May 19, Khan refused to allow a search operation at his residence.

The hearing

At the outset of the hearing, the judge asked the commissioner what was the reason behind the law enforcers’ action at Zaman Park. The commissioner said his men went here to remove encroachments.

But, he noted, they had not followed up on the search warrants so far.

The judge asked the investigating officer whether he still needed the search warrants. At this, he said that he would respond to the court’s question after consulting his colleagues.

The court, after hearing arguments, had reserved the verdict.

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