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Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
No formal talks for release of IK with federal govt: Saif
PESHAWAR: Advisor to KP CM on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif has said that no formal negotiations are underway with the federal government regarding the release of PTI chairman Imran Khan. He said that during Indian aggression, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stood united with the Pakistan Army, the nation, and the federal government. He urged the government not to exhibit political arrogance after this major success. Speaking at the 'Meet the Press' event at the Abbottabad Press Club and earlier at a seminar organized by Hajra Hamza Foundation at Jalal Baba Auditorium on World Thalassemia Day, Dr. Saif said that the cases against Imran Khan are baseless and that he is being subjected to injustice. He emphasized that keeping Imran Khan in jail will not break his spirit and that such actions are only increasing PTI's popularity. He challenged the government to release Imran Khan and face him politically, stating that the federal government has no legal or constitutional authority to make decisions. He confirmed that some individuals are attempting to mediate a resolution, but warned that political instability in the country threatens both the economy and national security. During the Thalassemia seminar, Maj. Gen Abid Latif Khan (retd) highlighted the role and efforts of the foundation. At the 'Meet the Press' event, President of Abbottabad Press Club Sardar Naveed Alam, General Secretary Raja Munir Khan, and President of Abbottabad Union of Journalists Atif Qayum raised demand for fund for a media colony, issuance of accreditation cards for journalists, medical funds, and inclusion of Abbottabad journalists in informational tours and training workshops. Regarding the media colony for the journalists of Abbottabad, Dr. Saif said that the Chief Minister has been approached and efforts will be made to resolve the matter within the current fiscal year. He also assured support in resolving other issues faced by journalists. Dr. Saif described the federal government's tactics as signs of fear and stated that Imran Khan will not enter into talks for personal gain but is willing to accept any condition for the sake of Pakistan. He criticized the federal government for turning Islamabad into a city of containers in response to PTI's protest movement and for targeting unarmed workers instead of competing politically. He condemned violence against journalists in Punjab and the suppression of dissent. Dr. Saif revealed that Imran Khan would soon announce the next phase of the protest movement and emphasized that internal party differences should not be aired in the media. On the health front, Dr. Saif noted that the provincial government has included treatment for thalassemia in the Sehat Card program, and bone marrow transplants will now also be covered at the government's expense. Earlier, President of Abbottabad Press Club Sardar Naveed Alam presented the PC-1 file for the media colony to the provincial advisor and reiterated the demand for special funding. Commemorative shields were presented to Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif and officers of Information Department by the Abbottabad Press Club and Abbottabad Union of Journalists. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
No investment amid chaos, warns Abbasi
Awaam Pakistan Party (APP) chief Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Thursday that no country could attract investment amid political chaos and in the absence of the rule of law, emphasising that no improvement should be expected until the country was governed under the Constitution. Speaking at the 'Meet the Press' programme at the Karachi Press Club (KPC), Abbasi condemned India's actions after Pahalgam attack, particularly the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. "No one could be allowed to stop water. We have to become one nation and confront the Indian aggression," he said. The former prime minister dilated on several issues facing the country – from canals controversy to the law and order situation – and criticised the federal government's performance. He also spoke about the infrastructure and services delivery issues in Karachi. "Karachi is the jugular vein of Pakistan, if this does not work, then Pakistan will not work," Abbasi, who served as the prime minister for year in 2017-18, told the reporters. "The conditions that will be in Karachi, will be the same in the whole of Pakistan." He said that 70 of the population of Karachi did not have access to tap water. "Where in the world water is supplied through tankers. It means that the required amount of water is available but the people are deprived of tap-water facility," he said. On the canals issue, he said that the issued should have been raised in the Senate and the National Assembly. "Sindh is in protest today, which will impact the entire country." On Balochistan, he said that the solution to its problem would be found only through talks and listening to its people's concerns. Abbasi said that everywhere in the world laws were enacted for media freedom, therefore, "today is not the time to restrict the media" by resorting to legislation. "Today, new provinces are needed. Reforms are needed, but unfortunately, reforms were not being discussed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Musk threatens federal employees still working from home with administrative leave
Elon Musk warned Monday that government employees who have not yet returned to working from their offices full time will be placed on administrative leave, a fresh escalation of his effort from within the Trump administration to tighten the screws on the federal bureaucracy. Musk's threat follows an executive order from President Donald Trump last month ending the widespread allowance of work-from-home and ordering federal employees back to their offices. 'Those who ignored President Trump's executive order to return to work have now received over a month's warning,' Musk posted to X, replying to a Fox News clip from Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.). 'Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave.' Forcing federal workers back to the office was one of many day one executive orders signed by Trump. The return to in-person work order requires department heads to 'as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis.' By announcing that workers will be placed on leave this week, Musk, the de-facto leader of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, is again placing himself in between workers and their normal chain of command. Over the weekend, Musk's team created mass confusion across agencies by sending an email asking workers 'What did you do last week?' and requesting five bullet points of accomplishments. Immediately, a power struggle emerged, with Trump loyalists at departments across the government instructing their employees not to reply. FBI Director Kash Patel instructed agency staff to 'please pause any responses,' and an email to State Department employees made clear that 'no employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command.' Those directions were in direct conflict with Musk, who said that failure to reply would be 'taken as a resignation.' Despite frustration and backlash from the agencies, many Republicans in Congress supported the email. 'I don't think this is a request that is that difficult,' Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) said on NBC's 'Meet the Press' Sunday morning, though he encouraged 'a little compassion and, quite frankly, dignity, in this as well.' Musk has already exerted immense influence over the federal government as thousands of government workers are being placed on leave or fired, though some efforts are being held up in court. On Friday, Trump administration officials told POLITICO that the break-neck pace may slow down following criticism over the speed and scope of the changes. Trump himself continues to advocate for Musk's work, and said over the weekend he hopes Musk will work even faster. 'ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE,' he posted to Truth Social. 'REMEMBER, WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE, BUT ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. MAGA!'
Politico
24-02-2025
- Business
- Politico
Musk threatens federal employees still working from home with administrative leave
Elon Musk warned Monday that government employees who have not yet returned to working from their offices full time will be placed on administrative leave, a fresh escalation of his effort from within the Trump administration to tighten the screws on the federal bureaucracy. Musk's threat follows an executive order from President Donald Trump last month ending the widespread allowance of work-from-home and ordering federal employees back to their offices. 'Those who ignored President Trump's executive order to return to work have now received over a month's warning,' Musk posted to X, replying to a Fox News clip from Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.). 'Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave.' Forcing federal workers back to the office was one of many day one executive orders signed by Trump. The return to in-person work order requires department heads to 'as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis.' By announcing that workers will be placed on leave this week, Musk, the de-facto leader of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, is again placing himself in between workers and their normal chain of command. Over the weekend, Musk's team created mass confusion across agencies by sending an email asking workers 'What did you do last week?' and requesting five bullet points of accomplishments. Immediately, a power struggle emerged, with Trump loyalists at departments across the government instructing their employees not to reply. FBI Director Kash Patel instructed agency staff to 'please pause any responses,' and an email to State Department employees made clear that 'no employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command.' Those directions were in direct conflict with Musk, who said that failure to reply would be 'taken as a resignation.' Despite frustration and backlash from the agencies, many Republicans in Congress supported the email. 'I don't think this is a request that is that difficult,' Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) said on NBC's 'Meet the Press' Sunday morning, though he encouraged 'a little compassion and, quite frankly, dignity, in this as well.' Musk has already exerted immense influence over the federal government as thousands of government workers are being placed on leave or fired, though some efforts are being held up in court. On Friday, Trump administration officials told POLITICO that the break-neck pace may slow down following criticism over the speed and scope of the changes. Trump himself continues to advocate for Musk's work, and said over the weekend he hopes Musk will work even faster. 'ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE,' he posted to Truth Social. 'REMEMBER, WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE, BUT ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. MAGA!'
