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Tag: Pakistan

  • Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan, Wife Bushra Bibi Get 14 Years Jail Term In Toshakhana Case |

    Islamabad: In another stunning development shaking Pakistan’s political landscape, former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were on Wednesday sentenced to a 14-year prison term with rigorous punishment in the infamous Toshakhana case.

    Court Ruling And Penalties

    An Islamabad accountability court, in a decisive move, not only sentenced Khan and Bibi but also barred them from holding any public office for 10 years. Additionally, they were slapped with a hefty fine amounting to Rs 787 million, as reported by Pakistan’s Dawn.

    This verdict swiftly followed another significant ruling just the day before, where Khan and his Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, received a 10-year imprisonment sentence for breaching state secrets. These legal pronouncements occurred amid heightened tensions and just days before the crucial general elections scheduled for February 8.

    Background: What is the Toshakhana Case?

    The Toshakhana case, which has been a focal point of legal scrutiny, stems from allegations lodged by Pakistan’s coalition government, spearheaded by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The accusations revolved around Khan’s purported failure to disclose complete information regarding gifts received through Toshakhana and the alleged clandestine sale of certain items.

    Toshakhana, a department under Pakistan’s cabinet division, is tasked with housing gifts and valuables bestowed upon officials, who are mandated to report all such acquisitions to the department.

    During Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister, he reportedly received numerous gifts, yet refrained from disclosing details citing potential diplomatic repercussions. However, Pakistan’s Information Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, alleged that Khan profited from the sale of state gifts, pocketing a substantial sum.

    Legal Proceedings And Verdict

    The legal saga unfolded with Khan’s indictment earlier last month by Pakistan’s anti-corruption court, acting upon charges pressed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Khan, already incarcerated in connection to the Al-Qadir Trust case, found himself further entangled in legal complexities.

    In a written response submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in September 2023, Khan acknowledged selling several gifts received during his tenure, divulging transactions totaling millions. This admission, coupled with subsequent investigations, led to his disqualification from the assembly for a five-year term by the ECP in October of the same year.

    As the political landscape continues to convulse under the weight of legal entanglements, Khan’s once-towering stature faces profound erosion, while questions linger over the future trajectory of Pakistan’s governance.

  • In Bid To Show Brave Face To India, Pakistan Just Exposed Itself At Global Stage |

    Days after Iran hit terrorist bases in Pakistan’s Balochistan, Islamabad has now retaliated by hitting terrorist bases in Tehran’s territory. In a press brief, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Islamabad undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in the Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. It said that several terrorists were killed during the intelligence-based operation codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’. Tehran has confirmed 9 deaths in the attack. Islamabad’s military action comes after a missile attack by Tehran targeting a terrorist group killed two children in the southwestern Balochistan province of Pakistan.

    Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the sole objective of today’s Act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest.

    Responding to a media query on India’s remark, a Pakistani official said that New Delhi will now understand the action taken in self-defense. “I am sure that India will understand the action Pakistan has taken in its self-defense today.”

    India has said that the attack on Balochistan was a matter between Iran and Pakistan. “Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self-defense,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India.

    India had carried out two surgical strikes on Pakistan after Narendra Modi came to power in 2014. While trying to send a message to New Delhi about self-defense, Pakistan has purportedly exposed itself and Iran. Pakistan wanted to show that it would even respond to India in case of any future events like a surgical strike, it showed to the world that it indeed harbors terrorist groups in its home. Iran has already accused Pakistan of not taking action against terror groups despite several requests.

    Knowing that attacking Iran would further escalate the tension between the two nations, Pakistan took a safer line by saying that Iran is a brotherly country and that the people of Pakistan have great respect and affection for the Iranian people. “We have always emphasized dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges including the menace of terrorism and will continue to endeavor to find joint solutions,” said Pakistan’s foreign ministry.

    By issuing this statement, Pakistan again confirmed that terror groups are thriving uninterrupted in the country, a claim that India has made several times.