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PTI’S BARRISTER GOHAR, MARWAT ARRESTED OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT HOUSE Tuesday, 10 September, 2024 I | 5 Rabi ul Awwal, 1446
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PTI LEADER SHOAIB SHAHEEN ADVOCATE ALSO ARRESTED FROM HIS CHAMBERS
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BARRISTER SAIF CLAIMS CM GANDAPUR WENT ‘MISSING’ ON WAY TO ISLAMABAD
PTI leadership faces charges over rally misconduct ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
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ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
SLAMABAD police arrested to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Sher Afzal Marwat, MNA, outside Parliament House following a National Assembly session on Monday. Separately, PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen Advocate was also arrested from his Chambers by people in civilian clothes. Islamabad police spokesperson Jawad Taqi confirmed the arrest of the three PTI leaders. Barrister Saif, the spokesman of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, told media that chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur was also missing for many hours while his cellphone was running switched off. He told media that Gandapur had
travelled to Islamabad for a meeting Monday morning but his phone has been running switched off. His staff phone is also switched off, he claimed. According to police sources, PTI’s 28 leaders have been nominated and would be arrested including leader of the opposition Omar Ayub Khan, Zartaj Gul, Zain Qureshi, Amir Mughal and others for ‘violation of the NoC’ issued for the public gathering held on Sunday. A heavy contingent of Police gathered outside Parliament House and also sealed the Red Zone completely. However, Zartaj Gul MNA and Ali Muhammad Khan managed to flee while Omar Ayub Khan, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Zain Qureshi, Sahibzada Hamid Raza and others were inside the Parliament building and tried to contact Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq but he was not reachable. According to the parliamentary
Accountability court bars NAB from handling Toshakhana case ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Police in Islamabad initiated legal action against leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Monday, citing multiple infractions during a recent rally. The authorities have opened three separate cases under the Public Order and Peace Act due to the rally’s mismanagement and disturbances. The first charge was filed at Sangjani Police Station after the rally continued past its authorized time frame. A second complaint emerged at Sumbal Police Station, accusing PTI leaders of rerouting their processions through unauthorized areas like Sadaat Colony and Srinagar Highway. A third case arose at Noon Police Station following incidents where police officers, including the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Safe City, were pelted with stones by participants. Law enforcement officials have prepared to prosecute, listing 28 PTI
norms, Police cannot detain any lawmaker without informing Speaker National Assembly or Chairman Senate. Till the filing of the report, PTI lawmakers were still inside the parliament house while Police had encircled the parliament building.
leaders, including notable figures like Zartaj Gul and Umar Ayub. These leaders are accused of instigating their followers to attack police with stones and sticks, leading to the arrest of 17 individuals after police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd. This situation was discussed in a press conference by federal ministers Attaullah Tarar and Engineer Amir Maqam, who condemned the PTI’s tactics, suggesting that attendees were coerced into participating and criticizing the provocative rhetoric used by some party leaders, including the Chief Minister of KhyberPakhtunkhwa. Despite stringent security measures, including the deployment of over 6,000 police and Frontier Constabulary personnel and extensive road blockades linking Islamabad to Rawalpindi, the PTI succeeded in holding a significant rally. Public transport services were halted, and local businesses were closed under police orders to manage the rally’s impact.
A heavy police presence had gathered outside the Parliament House in anticipation. As PTI leaders exited the building, police took positions and swiftly moved to detain Marwat.
CJP Isa says no interest in seeking extension ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
An Islamabad court on Monday prohibited the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from pursuing the new new Toshakhana reference against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, transferring the case to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) court. Imran, 71, has been imprisoned at the Adiala Jail for almost a year upon his conviction in four cases — two Toshakhana references, the cipher case, and the Iddat case, in which his wife, Bushra Bibi, is also jailed. Imran’s sentences in the Toshakhana references were suspended while he was acquitted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the cipher case in June. Shortly after the court acquitted him in the Iddat case, however, NAB re-arrested Imran and his spouse in a new Toshakhana case, leaving his possible release from prison hanging in the balance. On Monday, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Ali Waraich heard the post-arrest bail applications of the party founder and his spouse, who were brought before the court from jail. The court declared that following the NAB amendments, the reference in question ceased to come under the anti-graft body’s jurisdiction. Therefore, it will now be transferred to the FIA court, which will rule on bail. According to the written judgment, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the court ruled: “…In the light of the judgement of Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan passed in intra court appeals… the 1st, 2nd & 3rd amendments made in National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999 have been revived.” It stated that the case “[does] not fall within the jurisdiction of this court in the light of amended section 5(0) of NAO, 1999, therefore, this court lacks jurisdiction to proceed with [the] case in hand.” During the hearing, the NAB prosecution team opposed hearing the bail applications and asserted that this court did not have jurisdiction to hear them after the NAB amendments. The court verdict read: “According to amended section 4(d) of NAO, 1999, the case which is not triable by this court under amended NAO, 1999 shall, after examination of the record and with the assistance of the National Accountability Bureau be referred it to the appropriate court.”
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 65 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Monday flatly refused to seek an extension in his tenure. Talking to journalists, when one of the reporters, while quoting PML-N stalwart Rana Sanaullah, said that if the age limit of all SC judges was increased, he (CJP) agreed to an extension, the chief justice said, “No, this is not the case.” He went on to say that in one of the meetings, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Azam Nazir Tarar and the attorney general of Pakistan were present. “But Rana Sana was not.” He said he had been told the government planned to increase the term of employment of all chief justices (CJs), including him. “I said to them that they should extend the term of employment of other CJs. But I am not interested.” “I am not sure I will be alive
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tomorrow,” Justice Isa said. When a reporter asked why the case of a letter penned down by six judges was not being fixed for the hearing, he replied that it was the committee of judges, which had to do that. “The bench is not being formed due to the illness of Justice Musarrat Halali,” he explained. He noted that the decision to air cases of public interest was made to provide direct access to court proceedings. “The purpose of live transmission was to show our performance to the public. Before this, people only knew what TV channels or YouTubers reported,” he explained. The first case broadcast live, he pointed out, was the Practice and Procedure Act, which was heard by the full court. The ruling led to a transfer of powers from the Chief Justice to a panel of three judges. Chief Justice Isa also highlighted changes in court procedures, including the approval of the
cause list. “Previously, the Chief Justice would approve the cause list every Thursday, and had the authority to modify it”. “That power has now been abolished, and it is now the Registrar’s responsibility to schedule cases for hearings. The cause list no longer comes to the Chief Justice,” he said. He further mentioned that he had returned luxury vehicles provided for official use, including a bulletproof Land Cruiser stationed at the Lahore registry. “I told the government to sell these cars and buy buses for the public instead,” Isa added. Addressing the issue of judges’ inclinations, the chief justice noted that “every judge develops certain tendencies over time”. “It becomes somewhat clear if a case lands with a particular judge, whether they would lean towards the prosecution or not. This happens all over the world.”
It has been decided that all Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members will stand against any amendment to the IRSA Act. Sources also claimed that the federal government aims to repeal the IRSA Water Accord of 1991 and retain control over water distribution powers. The 1991 water accord, formally titled the “Apportionment of Water of the Indus River System Between the Provinces,” was signed by the provinces on March
16, 1991, and later approved by the Council of Common Interests on March 21, 1991. According to the IRSA Act of 1992, the authority must, after the end of each Kharif and Rabi cropping season, submit a water account report to the federal government, with copies sent to the provincial governments and WAPDA. This report outlines the inflows and water supplies utilized by the provinces relative to their allocated shares.
Sindh govt to oppose federal govt's move to amend IRSA Act ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Sindh government on Monday announced its intention to reject the proposed amendments by the federal government to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act of 1992. Sources revealed that any changes to the IRSA Act will be firmly opposed, with an adjournment motion expected to be tabled in the Sindh Assembly.
Khawaja Asif sets 15-day challenge for Imran Khan’s release ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Federal Minister for Defence, Khawaja Asif, on Monday issued a challenge to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, urging him to stand by his recent statements and secure the release of his leader, Imran Khan, within 15 days. In a sharp rebuke of CM Gandapur’s speech at a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in Islamabad, Khawaja Asif denounced Gandapur’s threats of mobilizing Pashtun workers from his party to march on Punjab and hold a rally in Lahore. The Defence Minister also censured Gandapur’s comparisons of recent political upheavals in Bangladesh with Pakistan, labeling them inappropriate and incendiary. Khawaja Asif criticized the KP chief minister for his alleged inability to curb terrorism within his own constituency, suggesting instead that Gandapur should focus on restoring peace locally with his “army” of party workers before attempting any political activities in Punjab. Questioning the practicality of Gandapur’s claim of commanding an “army” of workers, Asif argued that if such forces exist, they should be utilized to combat terrorism. He warned that failure to manage terrorism could label Gandapur as an accomplice to terrorists. This confrontation follows a recent PTI rally where Ali Amin Gandapur declared that the military would not be allowed to try Imran Khan, claiming all cases against the PTI founder had been dismissed. Gandapur also threatened that if the government fails to release Imran Khan from Adiala Jail within two weeks, PTI supporters would take matters into their own hands and announced plans for an upcoming rally in Lahore, regardless of official permissions.
PML-N ministers accuse PTI for misconduct, violation of public gathering law ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
In the wake of a contentious rally by Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI), ministers from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have accused PTI of coercing attendees and misusing public resources, casting a spotlight on the deepening political divide in the country. Federal Ministers Attaullah Tarar and Engineer Amir Maqam, in a detailed press conference, decried the actions and rhetoric of PTI, specifically targeting their leadership’s alleged unethical tactics to swell their rally’s numbers. Amir Maqam called out the Chief Minister of KhyberPakhtunkhwa for his provocative language and accused PTI of focusing on threats rather than providing solutions for national issues. He alleged that PTI’s internal conflicts over corruption have alienated them from public concerns, highlighting a disconnect that has widened under their governance. Attaullah Tarar further criticized the disrespectful remarks made against PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz during the rally, describing them as a violation of Pakistan’s traditions and an affront to the nation’s respect for women. He condemned PTI’s governance failures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, noting the lack of major development projects during their tenure and accused them of failing to address critical issues like terrorism. Both ministers labeled the rally a failure and suggested that PTI should refocus its efforts on genuinely serving the people of the province rather than engaging in political theatrics. This sentiment was echoed by Punjab’s senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who criticized PTI founder Imran Khan for seeking relief under the amended National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law, which he had previously condemned. Aurangzeb labeled Khan as the “Toshakhana thief” and a convict in the £190 million case, questioning his sincerity in seeking justice. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari accused PTI of using fake images and videos to promote their rally and claimed that PTI was spreading false information on social media to hide the event’s lackluster turnout. She highlighted the government’s concerns over PTI’s use of state resources, specifically criticising the deployment of Rescue 1122 vehicles from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad, describing it as a concert funded by the taxpayers of KP. Despite logistical challenges and governmental pushback, the rally drew a large crowd. PTI managed to hold the event after overcoming legal barriers, including a last-minute court intervention that allowed the rally to proceed under the new Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024.
Court redirects Toshakhana case after SC verdict on NAB amendments RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
In a pivotal development, an accountability court has transferred a new Toshakhana reference against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to another court following the Supreme Court’s verdict on National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendments. This move came during a bail hearing for the former prime minister and his spouse, relating to new accusations of receiving a jewelry set from the Saudi crown prince. The hearing was conducted at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, by Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich. During the proceedings, Salman Safdar, the lawyer for Imran Khan, argued that the accountability court was no longer the right
venue for this case under the updated NAB laws. He requested the transfer of the reference to a suitable court following the bail decision. The backdrop to this legal battle includes a recent Supreme Court decision, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, which reinstated the NAB amendments made through the National Accountability (Amendment) Act, 2022. This ruling overturned a previous decision that had nullified these amendments, which were challenged by the PTI under the previous government. The modifications restrict NAB’s investigative scope to corruption cases valued over Rs500 million and exempt regulatory bodies from its purview, transferring existing inquiries and trials to respective authorities. The prosecution from NAB objected to
the bail applications during the session, asserting that the accountability court lacked the authority to proceed with the bail under the amended laws and recommended transferring the matter. After hearing both sides, Judge Warraich adjourned the session for three hours before ruling that the case should be handed over to a special judge central, who will consider the bail pleas in the subsequent session. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, arrested on July 13 following their clearance in another legal matter, have filed for post-arrest bail through their attorney. Their applications argue for bail on the grounds of “justice and fair play,” naming the state and the chairman of NAB as respondents. The case continues amid heightened legal scrutiny and political tension.