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DONALD TRUMP SWORN IN FOR SECOND TERM, DECLARES ‘GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA’ BEGINS Tuesday, 21 January, 2025 I 20 Rajabul Murajjab, 1446
THE 47TH PRESIDENT TOOK OATH OF OFFICE TO ‘PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND’ THE US CONSTITUTION
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TRUMP PLEDGES A BLITZ OF IMMEDIATE ORDERS ON IMMIGRATION AND THE US CULTURE WARS
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ONALD Trump vowed to usher in a new era of American greatness, minutes after he was sworn in as president for the second time to complete an extraordinary political comeback following two assassination attempts, a felony conviction and an indictment for attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss. “The golden age of America begins right now,” he said. Trump took the oath of office to “preserve, protect and defend” the US Constitution inside the US Capitol, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts. His vice president, JD Vance, was sworn in just before him. Trump intends to sign a raft of executive actions in his first hours as president, incoming White House officials said on Monday, including 10 focused on border security and immigration, his top priority. The president will declare a national emergency at the southern border, send armed troops there and resume a policy forcing asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their US court dates, officials told reporters. He will also seek to end so-called birthright citizenship for US-born children whose parents lack legal status, a move some legal scholars have said
would be unconstitutional. The inauguration completes a triumphant comeback for a political disruptor who survived two impeachment trials, a felony conviction, two assassination attempts and an indictment for attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss. The ceremony was moved inside the Capitol due to the extreme cold, four years after a mob of Trump supporters breached the building, a symbol of American democracy, in an unsuccessful effort to forestall Trump’s loss to Joe Biden. Biden and outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in November, were on hand inside the
My conviction is aimed at forcing political deal: Imran Khan ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Imran Khan, the founding chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), believes that his recent sentencing in £190m case is part of a political strategy to force him into making a deal, and has dismissed any suggestions of negotiations or compromise. During a media interaction outside Adiala Jail, Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, conveyed her brother’s position, stating that the PTI founding chairman had firmly rejected the notion of a deal. “He is not going to make any deals. He has no intention of negotiating with the government. He will continue to face the cases against him, regardless of how long he stays in prison,” Aleema Khan remarked. Imran Khan’s comments were in response to his conviction in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, which saw both him and his wife, Bushra Bibi, sentenced. Khan, however, believes the sentence is politically motivated and designed to break his resolve. Aleema Khan further clarified that the decision had nothing to do with any ongoing negotiation committees. She emphasised that her brother had advocated for the case to be taken to higher courts where it could be examined thoroughly. She added that the case would reveal more facts as it proceeded through the legal system. She also questioned the fairness of the judicial process, pointing out that figures like former President Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were not held accountable in similar cases. “Why is it only Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi who are facing these charges?” she asked. The PTI leadership has expressed confidence that the higher courts will offer a fair hearing and allow them to present a detailed case. Khan’s legal team is preparing to challenge the conviction, believing that the proceedings will shed light on alleged political biases within the judicial system.
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Capitol’s Rotunda, along with former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in 2016, arrived with her husband Bill, but Obama’s wife, Michelle, chose not to attend. Numerous tech executives who have sought to curry favor with the incoming administration – including the three richest men in the world, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg – had prominent seats on stage, next to cabinet nominees and members of Trump’s family.
Trump, the first US president since the 19th century to win a second term after losing the White House, has said he will pardon “on Day One” many of the more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack. He skipped Biden’s inauguration and has continued to claim falsely that the 2020 election he lost to Biden was rigged. Trump will restore the federal death penalty, which Biden had suspended, and require that official US documents such as passports reflect citizens’ gender as assigned at birth, incoming administration officials told reporters. They said he will also sign an order ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the federal government on Monday, which is also Martin Luther King Jr Day. But Trump will not immediately impose new tariffs on Monday, instead directing federal agencies to evaluate trade relationships with Canada, China and Mexico, a Trump official confirmed, an unexpected development that unleashed a broad slide in the US dollar and a rally in global stock markets on a day when US financial markets are closed. Even as he prepared to retake office, Trump continued to expand his business ventures, raising billions in market value by launching a “meme coin” crypto token over the weekend that prompted ethical and regulatory questions.
PM Shehbaz warns negligence in Hajj preparations won’t be tolerated ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued strict directives for the special preparations of Hajj 2025, emphasising that no negligence in serving the pilgrims will be tolerated. The prime minister presided over a review meeting regarding Hajj 2025 preparations. He reiterated that pilgrims are Allah’s guests, and ensuring their comfort is the government’s top priority. Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Chaudhry Salik Hussain and senior officials attended the meeting. They were briefed on the progress of the Hajj Fund, which is now in its final stages. Officials informed the prime minister that, like the previous year, SIM cards for pilgrims will be provided from Pakistan, and the Hajj Mobile Application will continue to function to assist them during their pilgrimage. During the briefing, the prime minister directed that a comprehensive report on Hajj preparations be presented in the coming days. He also stressed that highly reputed officers should be appointed for Hajj duties, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the process. Shehbaz Sharif further instructed authorities to provide toptier training facilities for Hajj 2025 pilgrims, ensuring that they are well-prepared before their journey. The prime minister emphasised that pilgrims’ housing, trans-
SC indefinitely adjourns PTI petition against ECP over election rigging ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing of a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), following a request from his legal counsel for an adjournment. During the proceedings, Marwat’s lawyer informed the court that they had received the hearing notice late the previous night, prompting Justice Jamal Mandokhail to remark, “We are giving you time; come prepared for the next hearing.” The court, however, did not set a new date for the hearing. The petition, originally scheduled for a post-holiday hearing, had been ordered on December 12 by a constitutional bench. It calls for a judicial inquiry into alleged election rigging and seeks the suspension of all related government formation activities at both federal and provincial levels until the findings of the judicial commission are released. The PTI’s legal team contends that the alleged denial of proportional reserved seats to a political party with elected representatives in the national and provincial assemblies is a direct violation of Article 51 and Article 106 of the Constitution. The indefinite adjournment leaves the matter of election rigging unresolved, adding to the ongoing legal and political uncertainty in the country.
Justice Mandokhail scolds Hamid Khan for court criticism ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
portation, and other facilities should be meticulously planned and executed. He further underscored that the selection of assistants for the pilgrims must be done transparently and based on merit. Concluding the meeting, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed his commitment to facilitating the pilgrims, stating, “Pilgrims are the guests of Allah, and I will not tolerate any negligence in their service and support from the government.” Previously, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah on Monday signed the annual Hajj agreement 2025 between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Under the agreement, 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims will perform Hajj this year. The agreement includes a commitment to provide
the best possible facilities for Pakistani pilgrims, who will be offered special accommodation in Mina at reduced rates. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Saudi minister assured his Pakistani counterpart of all possible support for better facilities for the pilgrims. Chaudhry Salik Hussain will also participate in a four-day international Hajj conference and expo organised by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj in Jeddah, where additional agreements will be made with institutions and companies responsible for providing facilities to pilgrims. “To make the Hajj journey more accessible, easier, and comfortable, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has introduced a short Hajj program of 20 to 25 days like the previous year.”
Senior lawyer Hamid Khan, the lawyer for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, targeted the judiciary triggering a rebuke from Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail during a Supreme Court hearing on Monday. The court, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, adjourned the hearing of a petition filed by former PTI chairman Imran Khan, over fraud allegations related to the 2024 general elections. The six-member bench adjourned the case indefinitely to give the petitioner’s legal counsel more time to address objections raised by the court’s registrar. During the hearing Hamid Khan criticised the judiciary for not taking suo motu notice of election-related issues, calling it “weak.” In response, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail advised the senior lawyer to mind his language, saying, “You are a senior lawyer; choose your words carefully.” The bench highlighted procedural complexities, with Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar advising the petitioner’s counsel to come prepared for the next hearing. Justice Mandokhail also questioned whether the entire election could be deemed flawed, noting the potential need for separate inquiries into each constituency. Hamid Khan argued the court had jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, but the bench reminded him of the need to exhaust relevant forums before approaching the apex court. The court granted time for Hamid Khan to address the registrar’s objections. Meanwhile, the PTI is all set to challenge the judgment in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case before the high court on January 21 (Tuesday), saying the decision is “controversial” and party founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were “wrongly” convicted.
Imran sets seven-day deadline as govt ‘rejects’ PTI demand for judicial commission formation ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has directed his party’s negotiation team to withdraw from further talks with the government if a judicial commission is not formed within seven days, according to Barrister Gohar. Speaking to media outside Adiala Jail, Gohar emphasised that the establishment of the judicial commission is critical for meaningful dialogue. “If the government does not move forward on forming the commission, there is no point in continuing negotiations,” he said. Gohar also criticised Irfan Siddiqui, the spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee, for delaying progress. “Siddiqui should not derail the talks by turning minor issues into major controversies,” he said, adding that recent discussions focused on law and order and should not be politicised. PTI is insisting on the judicial commission to ensure accountability and transparency. “Imran Khan has made it clear that the fourth meeting will only happen if the commission is formed within the deadline,” Gohar stated,
highlighting the party’s commitment to negotiations but also its resolve to hold the government accountable for its promises. He accused the government of being uneasy about the demand for transparency, referring to it as the “Form 47 government.” Gohar urged the ruling coalition to focus on dialogue for the country’s benefit. “Successful negotiations mean success for Pakistan,” he said, calling for patience and mutual understanding in the process. The PTI leader concluded by dismissing rumours about official invitations from former U.S. President Donald Trump for his inauguration, clarifying that such matters are determined by his campaign committee and not government channels. Govt rejects PTI’s demand for May 9 judicial commission The federal government has formally rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demand for the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, citing legal and procedural constraints, Express News reported on Monday. According to government insiders, the negotiation committee reviewed PTI’s written charter of demands submitted during the third
round of talks, ultimately deciding against the formation of a judicial commission. Officials argue that cases related to May 9 incidents are already being prosecuted in courts, making additional inquiries redundant. “Judicial commissions cannot be consti-
tuted for matters under active legal proceedings,” said a senior official, dismissing PTI’s claims of unlawful detentions and political prisoners. The PTI had submitted a detailed list of demands, including the creation of two sep-
arate commissions under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2017. The first commission was to investigate the legality of Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 and assess the circumstances leading to his detention.
HARIPUR
out the commission, continued negotiations will be challenging. During the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) government, Ayub claimed that expensive agreements were made. He also mentioned that PTI’s founder had established Al-Qadir University to promote Islamic education. Criticizing PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif’s son, Hassan Nawaz, Ayub raised questions about how Hassan purchased property in London, implying dubious sources of income. On the other side, Omar Ayub on January 15, decided not to consult Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the appointment of the new Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC). Sikandar Sultan Raja, the incumbent CEC is set to retire on January 26. In a formal letter addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, Omar Ayub underlining the urgency of the matter, noted that the tenure of the current Chief Election Commissioner will end on January 26. The opposition leader has called for the immediate formation of a parliamentary committee to facilitate the appointment process of the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). According to the constitution, it is necessary for the prime minister and the opposition leader to consult on the appointment of the CEC and members.
PTI vows to hold talks with other opposition parties STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) central leader and opposition leader, Omar Ayub, has announced that the party is beginning talks with other political parties. According to details, Omar Ayub stated that discussions are ongoing with Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA). He emphasized that the country’s economic condition is deteriorating and further increases in electricity prices are expected. He also called for the formation of a commission to investigate the incidents of May 9 and November 26, stating that with-