Latest news with #ImranKhan
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Imran Khan's sons meet US Congressman Brad Sherman
Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, sons of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, met with US Congressman Brad Sherman in Washington to kick off a campaign to garner international support for their father's release. In a post on X, the congressman shared that he was concerned to hear that Imran remained isolated from his family, friends, attorneys, and doctors. 'His sons also shared that his physical health may be deteriorating,' Sherman wrote. 'The people of Pakistan deserve to have their leaders be treated fairly under the law.' The meeting comes amid their plans of reportedly returning to Pakistan to join rallies in Pakistan calling for their Imran Khan's release. The son's have been slowly gaining momentum in the media, even appearing on a recent podcast to speak out against the 'inhumane conditions' under which he was being unlawfully held. Imran, imprisoned since August 2023, is serving a sentence at the Adiala Jail in £190 million corruption case and also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the May 9, 2023 protests. Meanwhile, the two brothers earlier met US special presidential envoy Richard Grenell in California. In a photo shared on X, Grenell stood alongside the Khans and US Commission on International Religious Freedom Vice Chairman Dr Asif Mahmood. Grenell issued a rallying message: 'Stay strong… millions around the world are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone.'
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
KP CM inaugurates state-of-the-art food testing laboratory
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Wednesday inaugurated the province's first state-of-the-art 'Provincial Food Testing Laboratory and Centre for Research' in Hayatabad, Peshawar. Established at a cost of Rs 905 million, the facility is the first of its kind static food testing laboratory in the province, equipped with advanced machinery and modern testing capabilities. Officials stated that the laboratory will provide scientific analysis of food quality and detect adulteration using cutting-edge equipment. The lab encompasses specialized sections in food microbiology, food chemistry and nutritional analysis, pesticide residue detection, and mycotoxin analysis. It also includes capabilities for heavy metal analysis, dairy, meat, and edible oil testing, as well as sensory evaluation. Designed under one roof, the facility comprises eight dedicated sub-laboratories and is integrated with an online reporting system and a modern Management Information System (MIS). The lab has the capacity to test nearly 1,500 parameters across more than 100 food items and meets international ISO standards. It can detect harmful chemicals like aflatoxins and formalin, and microbial contaminants including salmonella, listeria, E. coli, and mold. Additionally, it allows testing for heavy metals in water and beverages, and performs comprehensive nutritional profiling including fat, protein, moisture, ash content, and calorific value. Speaking to the media on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the facility aligns with the vision of Imran Khan, under which the provincial government is committed to delivering quality public services and improving public health. He added that the lab is capable of identifying antibiotic residues in dairy and meat products and offers halal certification services. This includes verification of halal meat and detection of harmful or prohibited animal sources. Over 20 Food Authority offices across the province will serve as sample collection points, while a digital traceability system will allow easier public access and transparency. The Chief Minister lauded the timely completion of the project and directed authorities to ensure that the lab's systems are regularly updated and aligned with emerging technological trends. He stressed that food adulteration is a serious crime and those involved are enemies of public health, warning that no leniency will be shown in this regard. The Chief Minister said that only food items approved by this laboratory would be allowed for sale in the market, adding that other departments and government agencies would also benefit from the facility's services. Reiterating his government's commitment, he said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is determined to ensure the availability of safe and healthy food to its citizens and will make no compromises on public health. He termed the establishment of the modern food testing laboratory and research centre a landmark development that will significantly enhance the province's food safety regime. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Gulf Today
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Pakistan courts sentence dozens from Imran Khan's party
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 on Tuesday, 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 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. Aleema Khanum, sister of Imran Khan, speaks to the media following Imran's 14-year jail sentence outside Adiala Jail. Reuters 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. Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan's supporters hold Khan's portrait during a protest in Peshawar. AFP 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." Imran Khan, with his wife Bushra Bibi, speaks to the media before signing documents to submit surety bond over his bails in different cases. File / AP 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. Agence France-Presse
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI denounces sentencing of Yasmin Rashid, 40 others in May 9 case
Listen to article Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has denounced the verdicts issued by anti-terrorism courts, sentencing senior party leader Dr Yasmin Rashid and 40 others to 10 years in prison in connection with the May 9 riots case. The party labelled the decision politically motivated and a serious blow to judicial integrity. PTI has called the ruling an attempt to disrupt its planned rally on August 5, intended to mark the anniversary of Imran Khan's arrest. Despite the setback, the party has vowed to continue with its political activities. Dr Yasmin, 72, a former provincial health minister and cancer survivor, has been in custody for nearly two years. PTI highlighted footage from May 9, in which she can be heard discouraging demonstrators from entering the Corps Commander House, arguing that the evidence undermines the charges brought against her. Party officials allege that the convictions are part of a broader campaign of political retaliation, pointing out that PTI leaders who publicly distanced themselves from the party were acquitted in similar cases. Those who remained loyal, they argue, are now facing disproportionate legal consequences. PTI further questioned the credibility of witness testimony presented in the trial. According to the party, the sole witness—an on-duty police constable—initially claimed to have overheard PTI founder Imran Khan planning the May 9 events. However, during subsequent proceedings via video link, the witness reportedly declined to confirm that testimony under oath. Read More: Shah Mahmood Qureshi acquitted, Yasmin Rashid sentenced to 10 years in May 9 riots case "This inconsistent and allegedly coerced testimony raises serious concerns about due process," the party stated, adding that differing outcomes for similarly charged individuals call into question the impartiality of the judicial process. The party also criticised ongoing restrictions on access to Imran Khan, who remains incarcerated. PTI claims that Khan's family members, legal team, and party leaders have been denied visitation rights, in violation of both Pakistani prison regulations and international human rights standards. Under the Prison Act of 1894 and the Jail Rules of 1978, PTI argues that Khan, as a former prime minister and an A-Class prisoner, is entitled to designated legal and personal privileges. These include access to private quarters, medical treatment, consultation with personal physicians and attorneys, visitation rights, and adequate time for exercise. The party maintains that these rights are legal entitlements, not discretionary benefits, and urged authorities to ensure compliance with national and international norms regarding the treatment of prisoners. Also More: Punjab opposition leader, PTI supporters sentenced to 10 years in May 9 case A day earlier, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore acquitted six Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Hamza Azeem, in connection with the May 9 riots. The court delivered its verdict in the case concerning inflammatory speeches and vandalism at the Sherpao Bridge. The court, which had completed final arguments from both the defence and prosecution, reserved its decision before announcing the ruling. The verdict stated that the ATC acquitted Qureshi, Azeem, and four other accused individuals due to insufficient evidence. However, the court found 10 others guilty and handed down 10-year prison sentences for their role in the violence that followed the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. ATC Sargodha also sentenced Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, PTI's Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar, and other party workers to 10 years in prison each. They were found guilty of involvement in creating law and order disturbances, anarchy, and arson during the May 9 riots, which erupted following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. May 9 Riots The May 9 riots erupted nationwide following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, after which PTI leaders and workers staged protests targeting both civil and military installations, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military condemned the events as a "Black Day" and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act. As a result of the unrest, many PTI members were arrested and tried in military courts. In December, a military court convicted 25 individuals, including Imran Khan's nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi, and later sentenced 60 more. In January, 19 convicts had their sentences pardoned following successful mercy appeals, although PTI expressed dissatisfaction over the limited number of pardons. The military trials had initially been halted following a Supreme Court ruling but were resumed following the court's instructions to finalise pending cases and announce judgments for those involved in the violent incidents.
Business Recorder
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Imran Khan's sons meet Trump aide to launch US campaign for father's release
Sulaiman Khan (28) and Kasim Khan (26), sons of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, have met with U.S. special presidential envoy Richard Grenell in California to kick off a campaign to garner international support for their father's release. The brothers made a bold public debut in May, highlighting their father's imprisonment since August 2023 at Pakistan's Adiala Jail. Serving a sentence related to a £190 million corruption conviction, Imran Khan is also facing ongoing trials under the Anti‑Terrorism Act linked to the May 9, 2023, protests. In a photo shared on X, Richard Grenell stood alongside the Khans and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Vice Chairman Dr Asif Mahmood. Grenell issued a rallying message: 'Stay strong… millions around the world are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone.' Mahmood expressed admiration for the brothers' determination and praised Grenell's support, calling it a stand for justice and principle . In a previous May interview, Sulaiman and Kasim revealed they had 'exhausted' legal and diplomatic channels, alleging their father was held in 'complete isolation' in a cell likened to those used for death row inmates, without access to lawyers or doctors . They appealed directly to high‑profile figures, especially former U.S. President Donald Trump, to generate global pressure in support of Imran Khan's basic human rights . The siblings are now focusing on a campaign to confront what they describe as a suppressive wave against dissent in Pakistan. Their U.S. launch is expected to coincide with a planned protest movement in Pakistan scheduled for early August, marking the second year since Imran Khan's arrest. Although Pakistani officials have not formally reacted, Barrister Aqeel Malik, the Minister of State for Law and Justice, noted that Article 16 of Pakistan's constitution does not extend to foreigners, and that violating visa rules could lead to consequences. Meanwhile, political voices within the ruling PML‑N are split over whether the Khans should be allowed to return to Pakistan.
