Latest news with #Imran
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Quit PTI, if you can't withstand pressure, Imran tells party leaders
Listen to article PTI's incarcerated founder Imran Khan has delivered a clear message to his party's leadership: Either withstand mounting pressure or part ways with the party, according to PTI's legal spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha. Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail on Saturday, Panjutha alleged that the judiciary has become totally subservient to the government, and that the objectives behind the 26th Constitutional Amendment have become abundantly clear as PTI leaders and supporters are being convicted and disqualified. About Saturday's proceedings of the Toshakhana 2 case, Panjutha said that the hearing was scheduled to take place inside Adiala Jail but could not proceed as planned. "Only some of the legal representatives were granted access, while others were barred from attending. As a result, no substantive proceedings occurred," he said. He added that former first lady Bushra Bibi boycotted the hearing in protest. Panjutha recalled Imran as saying during the meeting: 'Truth ultimately prevails, while falsehood is destined to fail.' The jailed PTI founder further claimed that Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judges and others are acting in concert with the government, withholding CCTV footage related to the events of May 9. Panjutha pointed to the sentencing of MNA Latif Chitrali as evidence of what he described as a broader campaign to disqualify elected PTI lawmakers. 'If senior leaders like Yasmin Rashid and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were to leave the party today, they would likely be released,' he claimed. Drawing parallels with past judicial controversies, Panjutha alleged that former chief justice Saqib Nisar had played a role similar to that of Justice Munir in undermining judicial independence. He further criticised the electoral appeals process, claiming it is being overseen by the same Election Commission of Pakistan officials allegedly involved in electoral malpractice. According to Panjutha, Imran has directed the party to adopt a strategy of peaceful resistance, rejecting any further confrontation or violence. 'The chairman has made it clear: no more bullets. Our protests will now be peaceful,' he said. 'He will personally lead the movement from behind bars, as all other democratic avenues have been closed.' Imran, Panjutha added, considers himself a prisoner for the cause of 'Haqiqi Azadi' (real freedom). He added that all political forces believing in human rights will be invited to join PTI's protest movement. 'Participation is voluntary,' he said, 'but the movement will proceed with or without them.'
India Today
a day ago
- Sport
- India Today
Did you see that coming? RCB ditch the drama with ice-cold nerves in Qualifier 1
Body language doesn't whisper in sport, it roars. Pakistan didn't win the 1992 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground over 50 overs. They won it at the toss. Out walked Imran Khan, not in a team blazer, but in a plain white T-shirt with a tiger emblazoned across the chest. It wasn't a fashion choice. It was a message. In front of 75,000-plus spectators, the 'Cornered Tigers' had found their roar. Imran didn't carry the nerves of a first-time World Cup finalist. He strolled to the centre with the calm of a man who had already visualised the final frame: the trophy in his hands, history in his wake. His voice was steady, his swagger magnetic. For opposition captain Graham Gooch and England, the game may well have ended then and there. As the sun set in Melbourne, Pakistan rose, lifting the coveted to 2025. Different continent. Different format. But that same scent of certainty was in the air. Royal Challengers Bengaluru weren't just present at the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1, They arrived with intent sharp enough to slice through the thick May heat in de Villiers, in the commentary box, saw it before anyone else. No bat had been swung. No coin had been tossed. But the moment Virat Kohli stepped off the team bus at Mullanpur, something shifted. "I've got so much respect for the amount of energy he's still showing, the care, the will to win another trophy, that deep desire. And that's what I saw when I watched him out of that bus today. I just saw business once again. Those eyes laser-focused, really wanting to pull his weight for the team, and it's got such a big impact on the rest of the team."advertisementIt was all in the eyes of the RCB players, eyes that had seen too many playoff heartbreaks, too many promises left unfulfilled. For once, RCB didn't carry the heavy history of 11 playoff defeats like a curse on their shoulders. They looked like a team that had finally stopped flinching at the MOREThat's the word from the #RCB camp - IYKYK #TATAIPL | #PBKSvRCB | #Qualifier1 | #TheLastMile IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 29, 2025Strangely enough, the centrepiece of this new RCB wasn't Kohli. It was Rajat Patidar - unglamorous and unshaken. No cinematic aura. Just a steely calm. Patidar looked like a man who knew exactly where his arrow needed to go: fish's eye, no distraction. And when you're leading a side haunted by its past, that kind of clarity is the first ball was bowled, he made his way to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, quietly discussing plans, tightening the screws of strategy. No nerves. Just notes. Precision. It felt THURSDAY, THE PAST DIDN'T MATTEROn a stage where RCB have so often stumbled, they stood tall, with the conviction of a team that knew it was time. Punjab Kings never stood a body language of their fielders in the first few overs told the story. Liam Livingstone set the tone early, stopping what appeared to be a certain boundary by flinging himself across the turf. The inner ring felt like a fortress. Nothing went past it. RCB players were putting their bodies on the line to ensure their bowlers felt supported while executing their plans on a spicy the toss went RCB's way, giving them the advantage of having a crack at the Punjab Kings batters on a pitch with a good covering of grass. But it was the execution by their pacers that set the tone for their massive eight-wicket were no freebies. The plan was clear: hit hard lengths and squeeze the room out of Punjab's explosive top order. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh had set the tournament alight during the league phase. But on Thursday, the RCB pace trio snuffed out their fire - and the voices in the crowd - with clinical teams don't overcomplicate things. They stick to the plan - and that's exactly what RCB did. The pacers did all the talking. On a pitch that offered zip and movement, RCB bowlers did the simple things right. Yash Dayal, in his first over, hit a good length and got the ball to tail into the left-hander. Priyansh played a well-timed shot, but straight into the hands of Krunal Pandya at short down, nine to go. Bhuvneshwar Kumar joined the party. Prabhsimran, riding the exuberance that had fuelled his best-ever IPL season, charged down the track and dispatched the senior pacer for boundaries. Bhuvi didn't flinch. He hit the same length, and this time found the outside edge - Prabhsimran paid the price for a wild came RCB's messiah - Josh Hazlewood. Despite returning after a month-long break, Hazlewood showed no signs of rust. In his very first over, he got one to zip off the surface, and the extra bounce was too much for PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer. Out of shape as he tried to heave across the line, he was gone.30 for 3 in the fourth over. Then came the big blow. Josh Inglis, fresh off a match-winning fifty against a Jasprit Bumrah-led Mumbai attack just days earlier, was undone by a sharp bouncer aimed at the body by Hazlewood. He went for the pull, but there wasn't enough on it to clear the deep fine-leg for 4 in the sixth over. RCB were in no mood to relax despite having Punjab on the mat. There was more pace as captain Rajat sensed the moment to go for the kill on a surface still assisting seamers in the sixth Dayal was given an extra over after the powerplay - and the left-armer delivered. He removed Nehal Wadhera, Punjab's backbone in the lower middle-order, to twist the knife further.A start in their pursuit ofBhuvneshwar Kumar & Josh Hazlewood with back-to-back wickets to put #RCB on #PBKS are 48/4 after 6 | #PBKSvRCB | #Qualifier1 | #TheLastMile IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 29, 202550 for 5 at the end of the seventh. And then, it was time for spin. There was no better moment for young leg-spinner Suyash Sharma to step in - and he made it count. He tore through the lower-middle order, taking three wickets in just the first eight balls of his crisis man, Shashank Singh, was undone by Suyash, and Punjab were in full-blown crisis. In a baffling move, Punjab sent out youngster Musheer Khan - making his IPL debut - as an Impact Sub at 60 for 7. The pressure was far too RCB's bowlers hunting for blood and Virat Kohli barking orders with unmatched aggression inside the 30-yard circle, Musheer fell for a duck. Marcus Stoinis struck a couple of lusty blows for his 26, but he too fell to Suyash, who was landing his googlies like a seasoned CATCH THAT DEFINED THE NIGHT The defining moment came in the 15th over. Josh Hazlewood returned to finish the job. A couple of streaky boundaries in the previous over had pushed Punjab past 100, but RCB were in no mood to concede even a shred more than what the wildly swinging Punjab deserved on a night their batting bordered on back-of-a-length delivery from Hazlewood, another wild heave - this time from Azmatullah Omarzai. The ball caught the edge and looked destined to race past the wicketkeeper. But Jitesh Sharma wasn't having it. He flung himself into the air and snatched a one-handed blinder, sending the commentary box into raptures."What a catch," exclaimed Ravi Shastri on was a half-chance turned into a highlight reel moment. After years of heartbreak in clutch moments, RCB weren't letting even half-chances slip. And that told the story - of desperation, discipline, and the will to rewrite the bowlers did the damage, it was Patidar's unflappable calm and precision that kept RCB's foot firmly on the 102 was mere formality - even with Kyle Jamieson swinging the ball like a violinist in the powerplay. Yes, RCB lost Virat Kohli early, but Phil Salt lit up the night with his fastest IPL fifty - a 23-ball blitz that ended the chase within 10 10 pm, RCB had confirmed their place in the IPL final after nine long ON THE BIG PRIZE Even the post-match scenes said it all. No chest-thumping. No exaggerated theatrics. Kohli simply raised his index finger and pointed to his wife, Anushka Sharma, in the stands, telling her that there's one more to go. Patidar, true to form, addressed the fans with a quiet promise: wait till June a team that once threw a yacht party just for making the playoffs, the muted reaction to reaching the final said RCB have made all the right moves - smart auctions, better balance, fresh leadership, less reliance on one man. But on Thursday, they showed the real shift wasn't on the team sheet. It was in the 3 could be the day cricket's most agonising wait finally ends. If RCB bring the same focus, the same cold-eyed calm, and the same disregard for pressure, it just might updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Must Watch IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI seeks to snub talk of talks with govt
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) central information secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Wednesday dismissed reports of ongoing negotiations with the government, saying dialogue "does not work like this". Addressing a news conference, the party's central information secretary clarified that PTI founding chairman Imran Khan has denied initiating talks. "You can't drive daggers of hatred into someone's chest and still expect goodwill in return," he added. He further clarified that the negotiation committee had been constituted by Imran himself and that his participation was at his direction. "No one can claim we didn't sit with them, we did so only on the founder's instructions." Criticising the "rigged" political landscape shaped by the February 9 polls, Akram asserted that the "Form-47 government" must stop its "campaign of cruelty and repression" against political opponents. Taking a jibe at the judiciary amid PTI's legal woes, he alleged that verdicts could now be predicted based on the composition of the bench. "Our lawyers already inform us what the judgment will be, the system stands naked," he said. Vowing to resist until the very end, he said the PTI will fight "till the last ball". "The world is watching. We will not surrender. We will not concede defeat." Waqas also demanded the repeal of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, calling it detrimental to the country. "It has caused irreparable harm, everything is being dismantled." Commenting on the Al-Qadir Trust case, he reiterated that no financial benefit had accrued to either the PTI founder or his spouse, Bushra Bibi. "The whole world knows he is not corrupt. Pakistan has been turned into a joke." "He is not even allowed to speak to his children or meet his sisters. Books are not being permitted. This government is haunted by his presence," the PTI leader said, calling it a "regime of paranoia". He alleged that the Punjab Police was blocking political leaders from meeting Imran and that surveillance cameras had been installed, "noting every move". "We are demanding the rule of law and constitutional supremacy. This path of tyranny must end." He also rubbished all speculation of a backdoor arrangement. "The PTI founder does not want a deal. He said ten months ago he would rather spend his life in jail than enter a compromise." "He has not bowed and will not bow. Even Rana Sanaullah admitted this publicly." Citing an example, he said a young man named Raza Ali, imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat Jail for two years, had recently been granted bail by the Supreme Court. "His ailing grandmother repeatedly told the court her grandson was innocent." "The person he was accused of injuring wasn't even on the list of the wounded," he said. "This child spent two years behind bars for no reason." He said the party's legal team would soon present detailed information about all such unjustly imprisoned individuals. "The Supreme Court must ensure its judgments are implemented."
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
I won't accept slavery, says Imran
Amid swirling whispers of backroom bargains and quid pro quo compromises, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has doubled down, declaring he would rather "rot in jail for life" than kneel before what he denounced as "a system of Pharaohs and Yazidiyat". The former prime minister urged his party to brace for a sweeping nationwide movement. "Whatever torture they inflict, I will never accept slavery," Imran Khan conveyed from Adiala Jail through his sister Aleema Khan, who spoke to reporters on Monday. "Even if they keep me in jail for life, I will not surrender," Imran told his sister, adding that the party should now prepare for a nationwide movement rather than concentrating on Islamabad. Aleema said her brother sent across three key points during their meeting. "He has not been given even the basic rights entitled to an ordinary prisoner. In the last eight months, he has been allowed to speak to his children only once." "We sisters are not allowed to meet him, and even the books we try to send are withheld by the jail administration," Aleema lamented. She further alleged that Imran's personal doctors were not being allowed to examine him and that court orders on contempt petitions were being flouted. "Bushra Bibi has been jailed to pressure him. But even then, he said: 'I will not bend.'" Aleema also criticised vloggers and YouTubers who claim that a deal has been struck for Imran's release. "Now we understand these are planted stories to cool down public sentiment. They say Americans have arrived and a deal is done, but all of it is just to manage public expectations." Imran's message to his party, according to Aleema, was clear, asserting that the PTI was a party of ideology, not selectable. "Young people other than the founder are also in jail. We received votes for our ideology, not personalities. Anyone not aligned with this ideology has no place in the party. Those playing on both sides of the wicket are also not welcome." She added that Imran was visibly angry when he said: "Time has changed. Just look at the judiciary. The Al-Qadir case hasn't been fixed for a hearing in three months. Other cases related to May 9 and bail are also pending. Judges promised hearings, but didn't deliver." 'Imran to be released before Eid' On the other hand, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed optimism that the incarcerated party supremo might be released before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. Speaking to journalists outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) alongside Senator Shibli Faraz, Gohar urged party workers to remain calm, saying all legal avenues were being exhausted. "We are making every effort for his release. We've held protests, raised the issue in Parliament, and approached the courts," he said. "Workers have every right to raise questions, and we value their emotions. No one can fathom how and why Imran Khan has spent two years behind bars." According to Gohar, Imran remains steadfast in faith. "He says we turn to Allah in hardship, and He will show us the way." He noted the party's patience was being tested. "Our people are tired, and even judges are tired of writing judgments. We are doing our best to ensure Imran Khan's cases are fixed and decided on merit." Senator Shibli Faraz added that the acting chief justice of the IHC had personally assured Barristers Gohar and Latif Khosa that Imran Khan's petitions would be scheduled for hearing this week. "This wasn't just any assurance. It came from the acting chief justice himself, and we take it seriously." He warned that blocking access to justice leads to instability. "People approach courts for justice. If denied, it leads to injustice and unrest. We believe in the Constitution and will continue to press for justice." "The 26th Constitutional Amendment was the handiwork of PPP and PML-N. They've already destroyed their politics. Once Imran is free, their governments will fall," Faraz added. Court allows photogrammetric, polygraph tests In a related development in Lahore, an anti-terrorism court granted permission to police to conduct photogrammetric and polygraph tests of the PTI founder once again. The court accepted the prosecution's request, directing that results be submitted by June 9. Earlier, DSP Legal Javed informed the court that investigations could not proceed without these tests. Imran Khan refused the tests twice in writing, and a third time verbally. "We assure the court that we will cooperate, and justice will not only be done but seen to be done."
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Shooting academy coach booked for gangrape of minor, fifth FIR registered
Indore: Annapurna police on Monday registered a case of gangrape against Mohsin Khan , coach and owner of a shooting academy and his two accomplices. They have been accused of holding a minor captive during lockdown and gangraping her. "On the complaint of the minor, a case of gangrape was registered against Mohsin and two others ---Faizan and Imran. Faizan and Imran are brothers. The case was registered under various sections of the POCSO and 3/5 of the Freedom of Religion Act," said ACP Shivendu Joshi. In her complaint, the girl, who was a minor at the time of the alleged crime, mentioned that she was employed in domestic work due to financial difficulties after her father's death. She was introduced to Mohsin through an acquaintance and began working at his flat. "In February 2020, Mohsin began making inappropriate physical contact with me, forcing me to sit on his lap, undressing me, and dressing me in new clothes in his presence. Mohsin repeatedly assaulted me in unnatural ways and continued the abuse over time," the complaint read. According to the girl, Mohsin's associates Faizan and Imran also visited him frequently and behaved inappropriately with her. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo During the lockdown, the three allegedly kept her confined for 15 days and took turns raping her. She also accused them of showing her obscene videos, filming her against her will, forcing her to eat meat, and threatening to kill her and her widowed mother if she resisted or told anyone. "They pressured me to convert to Islam and marry Imran, using threats and a pistol to intimidate me," she mentioned in her complaint. Police suspect that Mohsin deleted significant data from his mobile phone and have involved cyber experts to attempt recovery. Another team is gathering information on his contacts and questioning other victims. DCP Rishikesh Meena confirmed that Mohsin was being interrogated in three different FIRs involving rape, cheating, and molestation. Authorities are also scrutinizing his bank accounts for possible external funding, as some organizations have alleged that Mohsin received financial support for his activities. "Mohsin who was in judicial custody was produced before the court on Monday and taken on a seven-day police remand. The police will bring him from jail for further interrogation related to the new charges," said ACP Shivendu Joshi.
