Latest news with #MalikAhmadKhanBhachar
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt neglecting public welfare: opposition leader
Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar on Wednesday accused the provincial government of neglecting public welfare, alleging it was focusing instead on feasibility studies for bullet trains and leasing aircraft for a provincial airline. "The responsibility of a provincial government is to combat inflation, lower electricity bills, and improve public health and education facilities - not to launch vanity transport projects," he said while addressing a press conference. "People of Punjab need relief, not a bullet train or an airline." Bhachar questioned the government's fiscal transparency, asking why only 50% of the Annual Development Fund had been utilised. He claimed full budgetary allocations were used only at the Punjab Chief Minister's Secretariat and the Governor's House. The opposition leader criticised spending by the Punjab Communications and Works Department, alleging billions of rupees had been spent on constructing a rest house at Rawal Dam, which he called an "unnecessary scheme." "It appears as though the current leadership believes it will remain in power indefinitely," he said. The opposition leader accused the federal government of adopting a "soft approach" regarding rising tensions with India.
Express Tribune
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Opposition stages walkout from PA over 'police harassment'
LAHORE: Opposition lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly staged a walkout on Wednesday in protest against what they described as police harassment of their families and threats to their political careers. "Our protest today is against the conduct of the establishment," said Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, announcing the walkout. He alleged that police officials had not only humiliated their families and children during raids but also threatened lawmakers to abandon politics permanently. Bhachar further claimed that during the raids, police officers told lawmakers that they were acting on the directives of a secret agency. "I am sharing this on the assembly's forum to put it on record," he stated. The opposition leader accused Speaker and Deputy Speaker of being "worthless" and said their presence in the assembly was meaningless in the face of such treatment. Lawmakers carried placards and raised slogans in favour of PTI's founding chairman, Imran Khan. During the protest, PTI MPA Farrukh Javaid condemned police actions, stating, "Women and children should be kept away from politics." He alleged that law enforcement officials had raided their homes and even taken innocent children into custody. Another PTI MPA, Shahid Raza, recounted a February 8 raid on his house, claiming that police damaged vehicles and used abusive language in front of his family. "If our families are not safe today, then no one's family will be safe tomorrow," he warned. Expressing his frustration, Raza issued a strong statement: "Don't force us to consider other means, where people are armed." Similarly, PTI's Seema Kanwal accused the police of intimidating their families and pressuring them to quit politics. In response to the opposition's protest, Punjab Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman countered that PTI was now facing the same treatment it had once meted out to others. As the opposition walked out, Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channer urged lawmakers to hear the government's stance before taking such a step. "As custodian of the House, I condemn any mistreatment of lawmakers' families," he said. Channer directed the minister for parliamentary affairs to form a committee to probe the matter and asked the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate. During the session, opposition lawmakers also criticised the Punjab cabinet's approval of Rs200 billion in supplementary grants for development projects, calling it a "robbery" of public funds.
Express Tribune
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI reveals plan B after Minar-e-Pakistan Rrally permit denied
Listen to article Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced an alternative strategy after being denied permission for its planned rally at Minar-e-Pakistan. According to sources, the party has devised 'Plan B,' focusing on widespread protests across Punjab in the event the rally location remains inaccessible, Express News reported. PTI leadership has decided not to hold the rally at any alternate venue within Lahore. Instead, they will organise protests in various districts of Punjab. Sources within the party revealed that instructions will be given to party members and leaders to hold demonstrations in their respective constituencies. In Lahore, protests are set to be held at key locations, including Liberty Chowk, Azadi Chowk, and Mall Road. PTI leaders have stated that by denying permission for the rally, the government is unintentionally making their protests more successful. Few days ago, PTI decided to hold a public rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on February 8, for which a request was submitted to the Lahore administration. According to Express News, PTI has decided to hold a power show at Greater Iqbal Park. The party has appointed Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza to oversee the event, and she has submitted a written request to the deputy commissioner of Lahore seeking approval for the rally. The request outlines that PTI wishes to hold the rally at the Greater Iqbal Park ground and an NOC (No Objection Certificate) is being sought from the authorities. The organising committee for the rally includes Aliya Hamza, o pposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, and Ali Ijaz Butt. PTI sources have stated that if permission is not granted, the party plans to stage a nationwide protest in response. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chapter President Junaid Akbar had warned of a nationwide campaign against the ruling coalition, citing the government's lack of commitment to resolving political tensions through dialogue. Speaking to a local TV news channel, Akbar said the opposition's willingness to negotiate was wrongly interpreted as a sign of weakness. His remarks came after PTI skipped the fourth round of talks with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government earlier on Tuesday, effectively stalling the negotiation process. PTI and the ruling alliance initiated talks in December last year to lower the political temperature in the country. However, the dialogue process derailed as PTI accused the government of failing to form judicial commissions to investigate the May 9, 2023, protests and the crackdown on PTI demonstrators in Islamabad on November 26, 2024.
