Latest news with #MalikAhmadBhachar
Malay Mail
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Top Imran Khan ally among over 35 PTI members jailed 10 years over riots
ISLAMABAD, July 23 — A Pakistani opposition leader was among more than three dozen members and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan's party sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday, the government said. The sentences were handed down by anti-terrorism courts in the eastern cities of Lahore and Sargodha after dozens were found guilty of involvement in anti-government riots when Khan was first arrested. 'Punjab Assembly's Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Bhachar has been awarded a 10-year sentence,' deputy minister of law Aqeel Malik said in a press conference. Bhachar helms the opposition in Punjab, Pakistan's most populous and politically influential province. Following yesterday's verdict, he pledged on social media 'not to abandon' support for Khan. A spokesman for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party told AFP that Bhachar was not arrested until Tuesday evening. In addition to Bhachar, a court in Sargodha also sentenced a sitting lawmaker, a former parliamentarian and 32 other supporters of PTI to 10 years each for attacking government buildings, Malik said. Separately, a court in Lahore sentenced eight PTI members to 10 years in prison each for their involvement in riots in that city. Those sentenced include former governor of Punjab province Omar Sarfraz Cheema, former provincial minister Yasmin Rashid, and Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhary, a sitting senator. However, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was acquitted along with five others. Khan, in office from 2018 to 2022, was initially arrested in May 2023, sparking nationwide unrest, some of which targeted military facilities. Yesterday's sentences were handed down for attacks on police and civilian installations in Khan's home constituencies of Mianwali city and Lahore. Those accused of targeting military installations are facing separate trials in military courts. PTI has vowed to challenge the verdicts in higher courts. The prosecutions 'expose a disturbing pattern of procedural impropriety, selective justice, and constitutional violations,' said Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, the London-based spokesman for PTI. He called the trials 'political spectacles... that are being rushed through at breakneck speed - day-to-day hearings, even late-night sessions till 10:40 PM on a Saturday.' Khan has been jailed since August 2023 on a slew of corruption charges his party says are politically motivated. His supporters and senior party leaders have also faced a severe crackdown, with thousands rounded up and Khan's name censored from television. Last year, a UN panel of experts found that Khan's detention 'had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him' from contesting elections. Khan's popularity continues to undermine a shaky coalition government that kept PTI from power after the polls last year. — AFP
France 24
11 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Pakistan courts sentence dozens from Khan's party
The sentences were handed down by anti-terrorism courts in the eastern cities of Lahore and Sargodha after dozens were found guilty of involvement in anti-government riots when Khan was first arrested. "Punjab Assembly's Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Bhachar has been awarded a 10-year sentence," deputy minister of law Aqeel Malik said in a press conference. Bhachar helms the opposition in Punjab, Pakistan's most populous and politically influential province. Following Tuesday's verdict, he pledged on social media "not to abandon" support for Khan. A spokesman for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party told AFP that Bhachar was not arrested until Tuesday evening. In addition to Bhachar, a court in Sargodha also sentenced a sitting lawmaker, a former parliamentarian and 32 other supporters of PTI to 10 years each for attacking government buildings, Malik said. Separately, a court in Lahore sentenced eight PTI members to 10 years in prison each for their involvement in riots in that city. Those sentenced include former governor of Punjab province Omar Sarfraz Cheema, former provincial minister Yasmin Rashid, and Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhary, a sitting senator. However, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was acquitted along with five others. Khan, in office from 2018 to 2022, was initially arrested in May 2023, sparking nationwide unrest, some of which targeted military facilities. Tuesday's sentences were handed down for attacks on police and civilian installations in Khan's home constituencies of Mianwali city and Lahore. Those accused of targeting military installations are facing separate trials in military courts. PTI has vowed to challenge the verdicts in higher courts. The prosecutions "expose a disturbing pattern of procedural impropriety, selective justice, and constitutional violations," said Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, the London-based spokesman for PTI. He called the trials "political spectacles... that are being rushed through at breakneck speed — day-to-day hearings, even late-night sessions till 10:40 PM on a Saturday." Khan has been jailed since August 2023 on a slew of corruption charges his party says are politically motivated. His supporters and senior party leaders have also faced a severe crackdown, with thousands rounded up and Khan's name censored from television. Last year, a UN panel of experts found that Khan's detention "had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him" from contesting elections. Khan's popularity continues to undermine a shaky coalition government that kept PTI from power after the polls last year.
Business Recorder
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Taxation steps: Opposition slams federal, Punjab govts
LAHORE: Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Bhachar castigated the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) governments in the centre and Punjab for burdening the people with more taxes and politicising the Swat incident. While addressing a press conference on Wednesday, he said at midnight, the federal government raised petrol and diesel prices; it was an irony that petroleum prices are decreasing worldwide, and in Pakistan, it is the opposite. He pointed out that a tax of over Rs 100 per litre has been imposed on the common man, adding that the increase in petrol and diesel prices will heavily impact the farmers and the common man. 'Just a few days ago, the budget was presented, and the government claimed that the public would receive relief; instead, taxes were imposed on petrol. Moreover, no relief was given to the farmers,' he said. He accused Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz of falsely claiming that the Punjab budget was tax-free; in reality, she imposed a tax even on small two-marla houses. The opposition leader also castigated the Punjab government for politicising the Swat incident, which he considers a tragic event. Instead of focusing on others, they should reflect on their actions. The deaths of 23 children in Pakpattan due to a lack of oxygen and the 20 children who died during delivery within a week also deserve attention, and those responsible should be held accountable,' he said, adding that there was widespread regret over the Swat incident. He pointed out that in Punjab, 1,132 health centres were being shut down, impacting 130,000 employees, many of whom have served for 20 years; they deserve an explanation for why these employees were losing their jobs. 'Notably, no statement has been issued by the honourable lady regarding the deaths,' he added. 'In a cunning move, Maryam renamed the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology after herself, but now it was being claimed that the notification was fake. This family seems to have a penchant for naming every hospital, school, and road after themselves,' he added. On the suspension of their provincial legislators, Bhachar claimed that they were suspended so that the government could pass its bills. 'The authority to requisition was taken away from us. We believe this Assembly is unnecessary; we have already referred to it as a fake assembly. Our leader expressed appreciation for the members of the Punjab Assembly who refused to bow down to figures like Maryam Nawaz and staged a vigorous protest,' he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
