21st August 2023 News Headlines
A summary of today's important and breaking news regarding PTI and the country that the mainstream media of Pakistan will never show you.
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders, including Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Dr. Yasmeen Rashid, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, and others, have been unlawfully detained for over 100 days. They were presented in the anti-terrorism court today, but due to the Prosecutor's absence, the hearing could not take place. Omar Sarfraz Cheema's health has deteriorated significantly due to his harsh confinement, rendering him unable to stand during court proceedings. Despite heart attacks suffered by Mian Mehmood-ur- Rasheed and Dr. Yasmeen Rashid in jail, they were still brought to court in handcuffs. Nevertheless, the morale of these leaders is high and they remain steadfast and stand with Imran Khan.
- Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been unlawfully detained for over 17 days. Despite this, basic facilities and case hearings have not been granted. Hearing for the request to transfer Imran Khan from Attock to Adiala Jail, along with a request for safe home-cooked food, was postponed on August 17th due to Justice Aamer Farooq's absence, and has still not yet been fixed. Hearing was fixed in the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench for Imran Khan to meet with his lawyers, but the cause list itself was canceled, resulting in no hearing.
- Bench constituted on Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's appeals. Chief Justice Bandial has assigned to hear Toshakhana appeals. Bench comprising of Chief Justice Bandial, Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Mandokhel to hear the case on Wednesday, August 23rd. Chairman of PTI had challenged the August 3rd decisions of Islamabad High Court. Islamabad High Court had returned the admissibility to hear Toshakhana case back to Judge Humayun Dilawar.
- A statement issued from the Presidency states, "In light of yesterday's clear statement, the Presidency has ordered the return of the President’s Secretary's services to the Establishment Division. Letter sent from the Presidency to the Principal Secretary of the Prime Minister. The services of Waqar Ahmed, the Secretary to the President, is no longer required and is being returned to the Establishment Division - Presidency.
- A few days ago, Chairman Imran Khan's legal team filed a petition in the Supreme Court to halt his arrest in other cases. However, today, the Supreme Court Registrar returned it with objections. The legal team plans to re-file the request after addressing the objections.
- Despite the President's order, the Secret Act 2023 and the Army Act 2023 have been made into laws unconstitutionally. A court has been established under the Official Secrets Act. The Official Secrets Act Courts’ additional charge has been assigned to the Anti-Terrorism Court's judge. Judge Abul Hassanat Zulqarnain will hear cases under the Official Secrets Act. According to the law, hearing of cases filed under the Official Secrets Act will be held in-camera (closed room). Shah Mahmood Qureshi has been presented before the court in the case filed under the Official Secrets Act.
- Vice Chairman of PTI Shah Mahmood Qureshi appeared in the court under the Official Secrets Act. During the appearance, Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke with his lawyers, saying, "For twelve hours, I am made to sit on a chair without food or water, and during the inspection, inappropriate questions are asked that have no relevance to the case. I am placed in a room with no mattress or washroom facilities. I sleep on the floor. But I am standing with Imran Khan, and I will continue to stand with him." The court has assigned Shah Mahmood Qureshi to a four-day physical remand under the FIA.
- Former Chief Minister Punjab and President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parvez Elahi was presented in court today, where Lahore High Court's 2-member bench made a decision. Punjab government's appeal rejected, and the single bench's decision restored. Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has been protected from arrest in any secret case. The 2-member bench led by Justice Muhammad Waheed Khan announced their decision.
- Leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Farukh Habib tweeted, "Bail hearings for Lahore High Court, including Khadija Shah, Dr. Yasmeen Rashid, Alia Hamza, Taiba Raja, Robina Jameel, have been postponed without any action due to Prosecutor's absence. This has happened for the second time that the Prosecutor is absent, leaving these women to stay longer in jail. Sometimes the bench is broken; sometimes the prosecutor is unavailable. Attaining justice for these women has been made extremely difficult."
- Lahore High Court Bar Association had closed the entry of police into courts for two days. Lawyers demanded an end to the violation of privacy by police into homes. Today, the CCPO Lahore met with lawyers and assured them that no police officer will conduct raids on homes and violate their privacy, after which the lawyers ended their protest today.
- After a rise of Rs. 2.22 in interbank rates, the dollar has reached Rs. 298. Meanwhile, in the open market, the dollar is being traded at Rs. 302.50. On the other hand, the stock exchange also witnessed a downward trend. Pakistan Stock Exchange's 100-index recorded a decline of over 450 points. The 100-index is shown trading at 47,765 points.
- Wheat becomes expensive; in Lahore, the price reaches Rs. 5,000. per 40kg. After an increase in wheat prices, the price of flour has also increased. In Lahore's open market, the price of wheat has reached Rs. 5,000 per 40kg, leading to a sale price of Rs. 1,450 for a 10kg bag of flour. Besides wheat, the price of chicken has also risen to Rs. 650 per kilo.
- The government has formulated a plan to collect an additional Rs. 122 billion from consumers over the next four months. The plan involves an additional increase of Rs. 4.37 per unit in electricity rates. Consumers will bear an overall additional burden of Rs. 721 billion during the current financial year.
- An important meeting of the PTI core committee took place in which condemnation was expressed over the facilities provided for Chairman Imran Khan's in Attock Jail. They said that they had been observing this since day one. The session judge confirmed that the behavior towards the former Prime Minister was unethical and openly violated jail rules# 257 and 771. The committee also rejected the establishment of special courts under the Secret Act, terming it against the President's orders. Concerns were also raised over Shah Mahmood Qureshi's hearing in these special courts. The committee expressed satisfaction with the party's organizational performance.