LAHORE: A district and periods courtroom in Lahore confirmed on Tuesday the pre-arrest bail of senior journalist Imran Riaz Khan, because the Investigation Officer (IO) failed to provide any substantial proof to assist the case registered towards him.

The Federal Investigation Company (FIA) Cybercrime Wing had filed an FIR towards Imran Riaz Khan for allegedly defaming and maligning the police division, its officers, together with Inspector Normal of Police (IGP) Punjab, and different nationwide establishments. The accusations have been primarily based on tweets from his Twitter account, the place he was alleged to be making derogatory remarks and spreading false data. The FIR claimed that Imran Riaz Khan, together with different accused individuals, was concerned in mocking state establishments by way of faux and distorted posts, probably harming societal morale, solidarity, and the nation’s integrity.

Throughout the proceedings, Imran Riaz Khan’s counsel, advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq, argued that the complainant, underneath part 44 of the Cr.P.C, lacked the standing to file the grievance. He emphasised that solely the aggrieved particular person, probably the IG Punjab on this case, might have filed the grievance. Moreover, he raised issues in regards to the lack of proof, mentioning that the essential video clip relied upon by the FIA had by no means been collected.

Ashfaq highlighted that the video allegedly uploaded by Ayesha Ali Bhutta and subsequently quote-tweeted by Imran Riaz Khan was by no means seized by the FIA. The complainant failed to provide the alleged video, which was now not out there on Twitter, making it difficult to ascertain any offense. He harassed that the FIA’s data confirmed no recorded statements from the aggrieved particular person or the IGP underneath part 161 of Cr.P.C.

Ashfaq argued that even when assessing the content material of Imran Riaz Khan’s tweet, no offense could possibly be discerned, because it was a mere replica of the IGP’s personal assertion within the alleged video. He famous the absence of technical studies and transcripts of the alleged video in FIA’s data.

Upon inquiry by the extra district & periods choose Muhammad Nawaz Bhatti, the IO acknowledged that the investigation towards Imran Riaz Khan had been accomplished, however failed to supply concrete proof towards him. The choose questioned the idea of the case, and the IO talked about objectionable tweets towards law enforcement officials and retweets from Imran Riaz Khan’s account.

When requested in regards to the timing of the FIR, Imran Riaz Khan’s counsel clarified that he was in an ‘abduction’ at the moment, elevating questions in regards to the validity of the FIR. The choose inquired in regards to the deletion of the tweet that led to the FIR, and the IO confirmed its deletion earlier than the FIR was lodged.

Regardless of the courtroom’s queries, the IO couldn’t current any proof towards Imran Riaz Khan. In response, the petitioner’s counsel argued that his consumer was falsely implicated in a cast case to humiliate and embarrass him.

The choose reserved the choice and later confirmed the pre-arrest bail for Imran Riaz Khan.

KUWAIT: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Tuesday arrived in Kuwait on a two-day official go to to satisfy the brotherly nation’s management.

Upon his arrival on the airport, Kuwait’s Minister for Electrical energy, Water and Renewable Power Dr Jassim Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ostad obtained the prime minister, PM Workplace stated in a press launch.

Pakistan Ambassador to Kuwait Malik Muhammad Farooq and different senior diplomatic officers had been additionally current on the event.

Throughout his go to, the premier will meet Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

In the course of the go to, a brand new period of financial and financial cooperation between the 2 international locations will start.

A variety of MoUs will likely be signed for mutual cooperation in numerous sectors together with manpower, data expertise, minerals and mining, meals safety, vitality and defence, it was additional added.

As a standard Kuwaiti welcoming gesture, the caretaker prime minister was additionally introduced “Kahwa” upon his arrival.

Earlier this month, the interim federal cupboard gave the nod to seven memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with Kuwait for an funding value $10 billion.

The MoUs can be signed by PM Kakar throughout the go to.

The MoUs will likely be inked for initiatives in numerous fields, together with growth of water reservoirs, mining amenities, safety and growth of mangrove forests for coastal areas, funding in IT sector and meals safety.

The MoUs between the 2 international locations grew to become potential as a result of efforts made by the Particular Funding Facilitation Council (SIFC), based on a press release issued by the PM Workplace earlier.

It added that the interim premier, who chaired the assembly within the federal capital, and his cupboard members appreciated the efforts of the SIFC and the related ministries.

The caretaker prime minister issued instructions to the federal authorities involved to make sure cooperation with the provinces for early and truthful execution of the initiatives.

• Says no resolution but on present chief’s withdrawal or his alternative
• Marwat had inform media chief had determined to not contest polls attributable to authorized prohibitions

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Tuesday rebuffed ‘claims and speculations’ that chief Imran Khan, who’s at the moment incarcerated at Adiala jail, wouldn’t contest intra-party polls for the slot of social gathering chairman.

The assertion by the PTI was issued in response to 1 by a “senior chief”. Though the social gathering didn’t title the chief, earlier within the day PTI’s Sher Afzal Khan Marwat had said that Imran had determined to not contest the election for PTI chairman attributable to authorized prohibitions and his disqualification within the Toshakhana case.

پاکستان تحریک انصاف کے انٹرا پارٹی انتخابات کے انعقاد اور چیئرمین عمران خان کے نئی مدت کیلئے انتخاب میں حصہ لینے کا معاملہ

پاکستان تحریک انصاف کی انٹراپارٹی انتخاب کے حوالے سے میڈیا میں کی جانے والی قیاس آرائیوں کی سختی سے تردید

چیئرمین تحریک انصاف عمران خان کے الیکشن کمیشن…

— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 28, 2023

Marwat, who was appointed a senior vice chairman of the social gathering final week, had made the remarks whereas talking to PTI social media representatives outdoors Adiala jail.

“Khan sahib himself has determined that he won’t contest the polls for the workplace of PTI chairman,” he had stated, including that this resolution was taken with consensus. Marwat stated the choice could be reversed as quickly because the disqualification was put aside.

Nonetheless, hours later, the PTI issued an announcement on social media platform X stating that it “strongly denies” hypothesis within the media on the difficulty. It additionally denied the claims by a “senior social gathering chief” about Imran not operating for social gathering chairman in intra-party elections.

“Discussions are ongoing on all of the vital points concerning the holding of intra-party elections,” the social gathering stated. It stated that no resolution was taken as but concerning withdrawing Imran from the election or nominating one other chief in his place.

The social gathering stated that as quickly because the management reached a conclusion on holding intra-party elections, the date and the number of candidates, the small print could be launched to the media.

In the meantime, Marwat caught by his assertion regardless of the social gathering’s denial. In response to the assertion issued by the PTI, Marwat stated that he had “examined the paradox”.

“No matter I’ve stated in my media discuss in regards to the intra-party election is an accurate assertion. The choices had been taken by the PTI chairman within the presence of Senator Ali Zafar, Barrister Gohar, Umair Niazi and myself,” he stated.

I’ve examined the paradox issued by @ptiofficial
.
No matter I’ve stated in my media discuss in regards to the intra-party election is an accurate assertion. The choices had been taken by Chairman PTI within the presence of Senator Ali Zafar, Barrister Gohar Umair Niazi and myself. I fail to…

— Sher Afzal Khan Marwat (@sherafzalmarwat) November 28, 2023

“I fail to know who’s behind the contradiction and why the deceptive assertion was issued. The media are suggested to confirm my assertion with the above individuals if you happen to don’t thoughts,” he added.

ECP verdict

Final week, the ECP dominated that the PTI intra-party polls weren’t clear, ordering the previous ruling social gathering to carry new elections if it needs to retain its “bat” image.

The PTI was by the fee to carry recent elections inside 20 days in a reserved verdict introduced on November 23.

Within the verdict, the ECP said that the PTI failed to carry free and truthful intra-party elections, including that the polls had been objectionable and controversial.

“PTI’s intra-party elections can’t be accepted,” said the decision, directing it to carry polls and submit the file inside seven days.

“If PTI fails to carry elections inside 20 days then it should face extreme penalties. In case of failure to carry [intra-party] elections, the [PTI] won’t be eligible to safe an election image,” stated the decision.

The ECP had issued notices to the PTI for not holding intra-party polls on August 2 and reserved its verdict on the matter on September 13.