PTI says Pervez Rashid failed to answer ‘four questions’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Central Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari has said that Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid failed to answer the four questions raised by the PTI.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, she said that Nawaz Sharif had sought clear majority in his speech before the election results.

Terming the minister as a political acrobat she said “we demanded appointment of judicial returning officers but there should have been accountability”.

Mazari added that Najam Sethi was appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board for causing 35 punctures. She also criticized Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who she said had not visited IDPs camp.

Imran Khan says PTI to start revolution from Bahawalpur rally

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has said that the revolution will begin from his party’s rally in Bahawalpur.

Speaking to media on Friday, he said that the PTI will start much needed revolution from the rally.

According to reports, PTI workers were thronging the venue of Jalsa in Bahawalpur district.

PTI to quit assemblies after Eid if demands not met

 

ISLAMABAD: The core committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) here on Wednesday formally decided to quit the National Assembly (NA) and the provincial assemblies after Eidul Fitr, if scientific voter verification was not held for the four NA constituencies in a month.
Under Chairman Imran Khan, the forum met here and discussed the future political course in the backdrop of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s proposed drive against the government. The core committee was sharply divided on siding with the “guest” from Canada and coming out of the National and KP assemblies, it was learnt.

Quite surprisingly, the release issued by the PTI Media Cell missed out to mention any political aspect of the meeting. However, sources told The News that difference of opinion was clearly witnessed during the deliberations.

It has been learnt that Dr Qadri was unhappy with the PTI leadership for its cold-shouldered response to his homecoming. And this was reflected in his statement before the media on Monday night that he was grateful to some leaders of the PTI for their support to him. He skipped the name of anyone, even Imran Khan.

“The PTI is reluctant to publicly announce support to Dr Qadri, as it may entail a massive fallout in case he decided to go back to Canada, as he had done earlier,” a senior PTI leader maintained. Another reason was the public perception that Dr Qadri enjoyed the backing of some invisible forces in his anti-government campaign.

He pointed out it was for these reasons that the core committee and even Imran had declared in categorical terms that his party was not joining any grand alliance – a reference to Dr Qadri and the Chaudhrys of Gujrat.

“The democratic credentials of PTI can suffer immensely in case it went public in support of Pakistan Awami Tehreek of Dr Qadri,” he noted. Sources revealed that Imran met Dr Qadri and PML leaders in London recently. They claimed during the meeting Imran indicated his willingness to support Dr Qadri. However, strong resistance within the PTI about openly supporting him forced Imran to hold back his supporters from joining the PAT workers on the streets welcoming their leader’s return from Canada.

A founding member and a former central vice president of PTI, Akbar S Babar, told this correspondent that the test of the PTI’s present ambivalent policy towards PAT will come when Dr Qadri announces his final showdown at the D-Chowk in Islamabad. He felt that the PTI has found itself in political no-man’s land. Instead of focusing on delivering in the KP and making an impact in the NA, the PTI, he alleged, had wasted precious time to consolidate the electoral gains made in 2013 elections.

Babar, who remained the lead PTI opinion maker according to Imran until developing differences on alleged internal corruption and lack of accountability in late 2011, said that if Imran thought that by joining hands with Dr Qadri and remnants of the PML-Q he would be the next natural choice to run the country, he might have another rude awakening.

Babar predicted that Imran’s next biggest political rival would be Dr Qadri whose claim to the lion’s share in the next political set-up based on sacrifices to remove the present government would be challenged by the PTI.

Meanwhile, PTI’s information secretary has pointed out that Imran has demanded the prime minister to announce Rs6 billion aid for the IDPs as soon as possible. This is essential if a human catastrophe is to be avoided, says a PTI release.

The PTI core committee expressed grave concern over the human misery of the IDPs from the NWA. She said Imran had informed the core committee that he had asked the PTI Razakars to mobilise and help the Imran Khan Foundation in their massive relief effort already underway.

PTI leader asks KP govt to increase aid for IDPS

BANNU: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Frontier Region Bannu, president Malik Mavez Khan and others said on Sunday that allocation of only Rs350 million from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was a joke with internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan.
Speaking at a press conference, they said Senior Minister Sirajul Haq should have allocated 30,000 per family for the IDPs instead of Rs3, 000. PTI members of provincial assembly (MPAs) and ministers should have come to Bannu to serve the IDPs.

The people of Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan districts have vacated their residences and hujras and accommodated IDPs but the government failed to provide them financial and other facilities, they added.

They said the security forces should facilitate the IDPs at checkposts. People of various areas in Bannu district established camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and provided them support including portable water and food items.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters, Malik Amir Feroz Khan Wazir said that Mamandkhel tribe would provide assistance to the IDPs moving from North Waziristan Agency (NWA). Mamondkhel tribe had established camp for the IDPs at Azadmandi, he added.

“The people should generously cooperate with their brothers, who are in miserable condition and lacking water and food items as they had been forced to flee the area due to military operation,” he said, adding that people should vacate their hujras for IDPs.

Malik Ghulam Khan Wazir of Madakhel tribe and others asked the government to take measures for the rehabilitation of the IDPs on emergency basis. Camps should be set up in government schools in Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Karak districts to accommodate the IDPs. The camps should be established near Bannu City as those in the remote areas lacked water, electricity and other facilities, he added.

PTI stages rally in Sialkot over ‘election rigging’

SIALKOT: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Saturday staged rally against alleged election rigging.

Addressing the participants of the rally, PTI chief Imran Khan said that his party would move courts and take out to streets as well against the poll rigging.

He claimed that the last general election was the historic fraud as Election Commission officials said amid the polling that they had failed to conduct transparent election.

Khan said that DPO of Hafizabad ran election campaign of his rival party. He also played an alleged tape of the DPO’s talk during the rally. He also criticized the government over the budget.

Pindi Bhattian police book PTI 28 activists, arrest 10 for misbehaving MPA Farzana

c son and nephew of newly elected PTI MPA Nighat Intasar for misbehaving with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Farzana Butt, Geo News reported.

PTI activists during the Hafizabad PP-107 by-poll on May 29 had mobbed the car of PML-N MPAs Farzana Butt and Salma Shaheen, dragged them out of the car, pushed, shoved, shouted and abused them at the Government High School no.2 Pindi Bhattian polling station. Some of the activists also tried to snatch Farzana Butt’s purse.

The Pindi Bhattian police taking action against this rowdy behaviour of PTI workers registered a case against 13 nominated including Nighat Intasar Bahtti’s son Aoun Jahangir, nephew Azm Jahangir and 15 unidentified PTI workers, while 10 accused have thus far been arrested.

PTI govt in KP may struggle to pass budget

PESHAWAR: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its allies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would definitely have difficulty in passing the next annual budget if the disgruntled members including deputy speaker from the treasury benches boycotted the upcoming budget session.

The 14-member ‘forward bloc’ led by PTI MPA Qurban Ali Khan from Nowshera had walked out from the assembly proceedings in protest against what they called ‘false and fabricated’ campaign against Deputy Speaker Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi.

They threatened to boycott the budget session if their grievances were not addressed and the elements behind the smear campaign against the deputy speaker and his family were not exposed.

Though Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser formed a committee to probe the matter, the disgruntled PTI lawmakers didn’t end the protest and stayed away from the assembly business.

In the 124-member House, the PTI and its coalition partners, Jamaat-e-Islami and Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan, enjoy the support of 69 members including an independent MPA Jamshed Mohmand. It would be difficult for the treasury benches to pass the budget if the 14 PTI dissidents stick to their guns.

On the other hand, the five-party opposition benches would definitely give a tough time to the government as the 10-member Qaumi Watan Party would be more aggressive against Chief Minister Pervez Khattak-led government as the Aftab Sherpao-headed party was part of the treasury benches during the last budget session in 2013.

When contacted, Qurban Ali Khan said that they had not taken any step against the party manifesto or their own government in the provincial assembly, but had sought justice for Deputy Speaker Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi.

“We are waiting for Imran Khan’s return to the country and the decision of the committee formed by the speaker. We have no trust in some of the government functionaries,” said Qurban Khan, who was elected to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from PK-16 Nowshera.

Imran Khan says PTI not joining any alliance

 

LONDON: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has declared that his party will not be part of any opposition alliance and was not in discussions with any party in this regard.
Khan confirmed to The News that he was in London to attend a fundraiser and to spend time with his children and had no intention of being part of any alliance.

Khan told The News exclusively that reports that he was taking his party into an alliance were “absolutely” incorrect.

The confirmation from Imran Khan came as the Chaudhry brothers and Dr Tahirul Qadri entered into an agreement to launch a joint movement against the current set-up.

PTI spokesperson Shireen Mazari had said that Khan was in London not for any political meetings but speculation remained rife that the presence of three anti-PML-N party leaders at the same time could lead to the formation of an alliance. But Khan poured cold water on any such development and said that any decision in the future would be taken in consultation with his party.

Separately, speaking to The News Dr Tahirul Qadri said that the Chaudhry brothers had come to London to meet him only and news that the PTI and the MQM were becoming part of the alliance were “misleading” and “media fabricated”.

He told The News that it was just a “coincidence” that Imran Khan, himself and the Chaudhry brothers were present in London at the same time but “the original meetings were planned between them only and had nothing to do with Imran Khan or his party”.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) sources told The News that the Chaudhry brothers wanted to meet Dr Qadri in Canada but the lengthy visa process for the country meant that it was more convenient for Dr Qadri to meet them in London.

A source explained: “Dr Qadri is presiding over a meeting of PAT office bearers on Saturday evening in London and a Europe-wide party convention on Saturday in Birmingham. All other speculation is wrong.”

PTI, PAT, PML-Q leaders may form alliance

 

LONDON: Leaders of three parties have gathered in London giving rise to speculation that the stage is being prepared for an anti-government alliance between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Muslim League-Q.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Muslim League leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain arrived in London on Wednesday afternoon almost at the same time.

The PML-Q as a political unit has no presence in Britain because all the units defected to the PML-N but an aide of Chaudhry Shujaat said that Chaudhry was in contact with Imran Khan’s party and during his stay in London would like to meet Altaf Hussain as well.

He said a meeting with Dr Qadri and Imran Khan was on the cards but didn’t say when and where. He said the PML-Q will join any party that supports mid-term elections and ouster of the current government.

Speaking to ‘The News’ late on Thursday evening, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat confirmed that he will be meeting Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri along with his party delegation.

He said: “We have deep relations with each other and we will be meeting Dr Qadri. Our agenda is one point: betterment of Pakistan and empowerment of democracy. We agree with each other that the current government has failed and new alliances need to be made. We will release more details tomorrow after the meeting.”

On Thursday afternoon, PAT leader Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri also reached London unannounced. It’s the timing of Dr Qadri’s arrival that is of importance because the PAT sources had earlier said that he would be arriving here in the second week of June.

His party spokesman said that Dr Qadri had arrived in London for “medical check-up” although Dr Qadri himself has said that he prefers to live in Toronto, Canada, for medical reasons. A senior leader of PAT confirmed in a twitter message that PTI, PAT and PML-Q chiefs will “finalise anti-govt strategies in London” but later on retracted it.

When contacted by the News, a PAT source said that a meeting was likely and the three parties were in contact but “nothing is finalised yet”.

Dr Qadri was scheduled to reach London in June from Toronto and then fly out from here to Pakistan for what’s now called the “Shahadat Proof Bunker Dherna” but his sudden arrival in London means that he was asked to arrive for talks while the like-minded leaders were also around.

The PAT source said that all the three parties agreed on the need to launch a movement against the PML-N government. “The mandate of this government is fake and it needs to be ousted. We are contacting all the parties in this regard.”

A PTI source said that Imran Khan was in London to spend time with his two sons and “also to attend a fundraiser for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital on Saturday”. He didn’t deny that a meeting might take place between the three parties.

Some sources have said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) will also be taken into confidence and Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri will lead the efforts to bring the MQM on board.

“Dr Qadri is very close to the MQM and Altaf Hussain is his key supporter and has supported Dr Qadri whenever his campaign related to Punjab where both have a common enemy in the shape of the PML-N. Imran Khan and Shujaat also have the same agenda against the PML-N. Their alliance is natural. They have been once key allies of Pervez Musharraf and all of them benefitted from Musharraf in one way or the other. Pervez Musharraf needs them more than ever. This government needs to be brought under pressure to provide an exit route to Musharraf and that will happen when there is a grand opposition alliance in place as a cover,” said a source familiar with the London developments.

The MQM will have no issue giving its support to an opposition alliance as far as it concerns agitation in Punjab and in any case a movement against the PML-N government only benefits the MQM.Reports said that Chaudary Pervaiz Elahi has also been called to London.

PTI Tsunami alert in Faisalabad today

FAISALABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest rally to highlight the massive rigging of May elections being held on Sunday here, Geo News reported.

Sources said the arrangements for holding PTI public meeting at Dhobi Ghat here are give a final touch. The existing 15 feet high stage in Dhobi Ghat will be used for addressing the meeting, while a separate rostrum has been built for PTI members of the assembly and ticket holders.

PTI organizers at Dhobi Ghat said that 20,000 chairs have been placed in the pindal, however, security agencies sources estimated the number of chairs around 7/8 thousands only. Large banners have been displayed around the ground and adjacent roads and streets, while big screen has been installed in the ground. Some 3000 policemen will be deployed for security arrangements, according to security plan.

PTI leaders claimed that today’s public rally would be the largest in the Faisalabad history.

District administration has given permission to PTI for holding this rally on the condition that the workers would not carry weapons with them and fireworks prohibited.

Jang Group boycott by PTI chief a bid to fool nation: PPP leader

LAHORE: Hyder Zaman Qureshi — senior vice-president of PPP south Punjab — said the press conference by PTI chief Imran Khan in which he announced a complete boycott of Geo News and Jang Group after one year of the general elections was another gimmick to fool the nation.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Qureshi said the abrupt position vis-a-vis a media group and the former CJP almost a year after the general elections was shocking and equally disturbing to say the least as it raised many questions for the PTI brigade to answer.

He asked what had happened that forced Imran Khan to blast and target a media group and the former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP). “Does Khan Sahib think the people of Pakistan are so naive and ill-informed or does he think he can play around with their perceived political immaturity or a memory lapse phenomena?”

He asked why it took Imran 12 months to finally realise and identify the real bad guys behind the alleged election rigging and the warehouse where the punctures were sorted out. “Did Khan not know this when he was all praise for the former CJP in Court Room No 1 and rendering an unconditional apology to the former CJP and when he had to eat his own words,” questioned the PPP leader.

Qureshi further asked if Khan had not spotted the so-called rigging nexus (Geo and the former CJP) when he used to praise the media group and its coverage and programming content and independence in dozens of media programmes, including ‘Capital Talk’.

Qureshi also questioned the timing of the sudden move and said Imran opted to speak against the Jang Group at a time when it was being targeted and involved in an unpleasant situation with the armed forces that mattered for all Pakistanis.

“Did Khan realise and formulate conclusively that the media group was the real engine of rigging and for creating perceptions in favour of the PML-N in winning the elections,” the PPP leader asked.

PTI has set up exemplary govt in KP, says Imran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan claimed on Tuesday that his was the only party on which the nation had pinned hopes for a better future. He said that his party was ready to hold the local bodies elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on April 30.

He made this claim when an ex-candidate of the Qaumi Watan Party for PK-22, Charsadda, Khan Matta, and scores of his supporters joined the PTI here.Imran said his party had established an exemplary government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that would be expanded to other provinces soon.

Meanwhile, he condemned the attack on the Jaffar Express in Sibi and called for thorough investigations into it and awarding of the severest punishment to the culprits.PTI Information Secretary Shireen Mazari said her party had emerged as the second largest political party in the general elections last year. She saidthis during a meeting with a team of US journalists, who called on her on Tuesday.

She noted that the PTI believed in elimination of corruption through across-the-board accountability, expansion of the tax net and imposition of the agriculture tax. She threw light on various initiatives taken by the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

APP adds: Meanwhile, Imran Khan on Tuesday said that the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was ready to hold the local bodies (LB) elections in the province on April 30.Talking to the media outside parliament, he said that according to a recent survey, around 57 percent people were satisfied with the performance of the PTI government.

The chairman of PTI said that formation of a committee by the National Assembly to investigate the allegation of non-payment of taxes by members of parliament and report it within 90 days was a good development.

He said that the committee should first investigate non-payment of taxes by party heads. “I offer myself for the investigation first,” he added.Imran Khan said that payment of taxes by parliamentarians would enhance the prestige of parliament. He asked all the parliamentarians to declare their assets in and outside the country.

The PTI chairman said tax collection couldn’t be improved unless the politicians themselves set the example.To a question about the street children football team, he said that Pakistan had anincredible talent in all the sports. He said changing of the cricket team captain would harm the performance of the team.Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the PTI, in consultation with other opposition parties, would challenge the Pakistan Protection Bill.

New schedule for PTI UK party elections announced

LONDON: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that the party’s intra-party elections will be held on Sunday 13th April in 12 regions of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

PTI leader Imran Khan had directed the postponement of the elections about two weeks ago to first review structure for its overseas chapters. A ‘Special Committee’ comprising of Asad Umar, Shafqat Mehmood, Saifullah Niazi and Dr Arif Alvi was tasked to review functioning of international chapters and submit recommendations for improvements.

A source in the PTI informed that the ‘Special Committee’ submitted their report to the PTI Central Executive (CEC) and Core Committees (CC) on 17th March in which several recommendations to strengthen Office of International Chapters (OIC) were made as well as recommendations on how to cater to the needs of party’s overseas chapters.

The PTI CEC and CC showed their satisfaction over functioning of the UK chapter and it was agreed that it was already in compliance with all the recommendations made by the committee. It was recommended that no reason existed to further put UK intra-party elections on hold and it was important that new schedule should be announced.

It has been announced that the election voting day will be Sunday 13th April; Monday 31st March will be the membership cut-off deadline; and Sunday 6th April has been set as the candidate panel nomination deadline. The elections will be held in 12 regions which include London, East of England, South East, South West, North East, North West, West Midlands, East Midlands, Wales, Yorkshire and Humber, East of, Scotland, West of Scotland.

Each region will elect a body comprising of president, vice president, information secretary and general secretary. Thereafter, national body for UK consisting of president and general secretary will be elected from amongst regional elected representatives.

These are 3rd intra-party elections in UK and the chapter has become an important overseas arm of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf which is contributing financially as well as in policy making of the party. Britain has played an important role in taking the PTI in the top league of Pakistani political parties. Its UK chapter is considered a leading overseas chapter in terms of all organisational aspects. The PTI has the distinction of being the only Pakistani political party that is now holding elections on time in a proper democratic manner. The MQM in the UK has a disciplined chapter like it has in Karachi. The PPP and the PML-N are fast becoming irrelevant because both parties lack any democracy in their ranks and these parties are divided in various factions. PTI has become probably the strongest overseas Pakistani party with more than 3,000 paid-up members, mainly youth. As compared the parties lag far behind.

New schedule for PTI UK party elections announced

LONDON: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that the party’s intra-party elections will be held on Sunday 13th April in 12 regions of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
PTI leader Imran Khan had directed the postponement of the elections about two weeks ago to first review structure for its overseas chapters. A ‘Special Committee’ comprising of Asad Umar, Shafqat Mehmood, Saifullah Niazi and Dr Arif Alvi was tasked to review functioning of international chapters and submit recommendations for improvements.

A source in the PTI informed that the ‘Special Committee’ submitted their report to the PTI Central Executive (CEC) and Core Committees (CC) on 17th March in which several recommendations to strengthen Office of International Chapters (OIC) were made as well as recommendations on how to cater to the needs of party’s overseas chapters.

The PTI CEC and CC showed their satisfaction over functioning of the UK chapter and it was agreed that it was already in compliance with all the recommendations made by the committee. It was recommended that no reason existed to further put UK intra-party elections on hold and it was important that new schedule should be announced.

It has been announced that the election voting day will be Sunday 13th April; Monday 31st March will be the membership cut-off deadline; and Sunday 6th April has been set as the candidate panel nomination deadline. The elections will be held in 12 regions which include London, East of England, South East, South West, North East, North West, West Midlands, East Midlands, Wales, Yorkshire and Humber, East of, Scotland, West of Scotland.

Each region will elect a body comprising of president, vice president, information secretary and general secretary. Thereafter, national body for UK consisting of president and general secretary will be elected from amongst regional elected representatives.

These are 3rd intra-party elections in UK and the chapter has become an important overseas arm of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf which is contributing financially as well as in policy making of the party. Britain has played an important role in taking the PTI in the top league of Pakistani political parties. Its UK chapter is considered a leading overseas chapter in terms of all organisational aspects. The PTI has the distinction of being the only Pakistani political party that is now holding elections on time in a proper democratic manner. The MQM in the UK has a disciplined chapter like it has in Karachi. The PPP and the PML-N are fast becoming irrelevant because both parties lack any democracy in their ranks and these parties are divided in various factions. PTI has become probably the strongest overseas Pakistani party with more than 3,000 paid-up members, mainly youth. As compared the parties lag far behind.

SC issues notices to Chairman PTI, AG over appointment of Chairman NAB

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan and the Attorney General over Imran's petition against the appointment of Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, resumed hearing of the case pertaining to Syed Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi and Imran Khan's petitions against appointment of Chaudhry Qamar Zaman as Chairman NAB.
During the course of proceedings, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah also filed an application through his counsel Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan to become party in the case.
Aitzaz Ahsan said that the point raised by Chairman PTI against the appointment of Chairman NAB was not correct and argued that Chairman NAB's appointmrnt was in accordance with the Constitution and law.
Chairman NAB's appointment was done after consultation with the Leader of Opposition and other parties and all legal requirements were fulfilled and there was not any legal justification to dismiss him, he added.
He further said that Chairman PTI's allegations has nothing to do with the reality and facts.
The court accepted the application to become party and issued notices to Chairman PTI and Attorneuy General for Pakistan and adjourned the hearing till March 27.-

Veena Malik to enter politics, joins PTI

 

LONDON: Veena Malik has announced that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will be her party of preference when she joins practical politics in Pakistan.
The actress and commentator, who is in London these days with her husband Asad Khan Khattak, said this during a meet the press here organised by the leading organisation of Pakistani newsmen in Britain- Pakistan Journalists Association (PJA).

She was all the praise for Imran Khan’s party and said that she believes efforts should be made to get Pakistan rid of corruption and the PTI has that programme against corruption. PJA’s President Wajahat Ali Khan moderated the question and answer session in which a large number of leading Pakistani community figures also participated.

One of the reasons why Veena Malik has fondness for the PTI is the fact that her hubby is a long-standing PTI supporter. “Asad has always been part of the PTI family and I now I am also part of the same extended family. This is the platform for us. I come from a military background but my father always wanted me to enter politics. My father-in-law is also of the same view, he is a supporter of Imran Khan too. So the whole family is basically the PTI family.”

She announced that she would be travelling to Pakistan in the end of March and the couple would meet the veteran Rawalpindi politician Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed for tea. “Sheikh Rasheed sb is also part of the PTI family so it will be good to have tea with him.”

Asad Khattak quipped that since Sheikh Rasheed had extended invitation to Veena Malik for tea several years ago — which the actress had then reportedly turned down — meeting the fiery politician will make his wish come true.

When questioned about wearing Pakistan’s traditional scarf — Dupatta style — Veena Malik said that she had decided to take scarf out of her personal choice and nobody had forced her into it. “Those who know me know that Veena Malik cannot be forced or coerced into doing things against her will. This is a personal decision and it doesn’t mean that I am making a political statement or want to send out a message. It’s true that my family and friends have supported me in many decisions that I have made in my life. Now I am married and living a happy life. I am a Pakistani Muslim and I am proud of my identity. I have always supported Pakistan whether in India or elsewhere and I will always do that.”

She revealed that it’s her desire to masters in Islamic studies. “I have told Asad that I want to do Masters in Islamic studies and that he should help me get admission so that I could do my Masters degree.”

Grassroots outreach: PTI council meeting to unveil provincial agenda

File photo of PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: QAZI USMAN 

LAHORE:  “Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) will hold its provincial council meeting on March 2. PTI chairman Imran Khan will preside over the meeting,” said Dr Yasmin Rashid, the party’s general secretary, on Thursday.

She said the PTI was the first party to hold intra-party elections. She said the party leadership wanted to continue the practice. PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chudhary said 600 office bearers would attend the meeting. He said members of the parliament would also be present. He said representatives of some think tanks and newspapers columnists had also been invited.  He said the programme would contain a review on the performance of the PTI in the Punjab and its achievements so far. Information Secretary Andleeb Abbas said the provincial council would also act as an information and communication cell between the general public and the PTI office-bearers.