Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA, Shir Afzal Marwat, has stated that Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, is visiting the province due to political pressure from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister, Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao. Speaking to the media outside the parliament, Marwat said that funds for his constituency have been halted to appease PTI’s co-founder, Ayesha Gulalai.
Marwat called the ordinance a “serious blunder,” saying that it cannot be enforced without the President’s signature. He also demanded that those responsible for the oversight be held accountable. The MNA said that the auction of car number plates bearing the names of prominent personalities, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, would be held.
Marwat also criticized the KP government for allowing the auction of the number plates, despite refusing to give permission for a rally in the province. The MNA said that the perpetrators of a recent murder case had thrown the victim’s body into a canal after the killing and escaped.
Separately, Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, advised the KP lawmakers to take up the issue with their Chief Minister instead of writing to the federal government. Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Local Government, Nabeel Gabol, asked the PTI to withdraw its call for a 8 February strike in the province.
The Minister of State for Finance, Wajid Hassan, said that the real issues facing the country are the high prices of electricity and taxes, rather than the recent controversy over the auction of car number plates. In other news, the UAE and Pakistan have agreed to simplify the immigration process between the two countries, with a formal agreement to be signed soon.
In a separate development, the opposition alliance, TIP, has announced that it will not back down from its demand for the restoration of the country’s basic rights. Federal Minister, Musadik Malik, said that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) was responsible for cutting and planting trees in Islamabad. The Islamabad Police said that the “Determination of Stability” operation against terrorism is ongoing with full force.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, said that the party was clear in its stance that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was a terrorist organization. Federal Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, advised the KP lawmakers to take up the issue with their Chief Minister instead of writing to the federal government.
In a different incident, a Karachi resident was arrested for allegedly stealing 60 tolas of gold and Rs 6 million in cash. In a separate development, JUI-F chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, criticized KP CM Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao for not being given protocol. In a tragic incident, a lawyer, Sheikh Abdul Ruff, was shot dead in Islamabad. PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, said that the party was clear in its stance that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was a terrorist organization.
In Iran, protests that had been ongoing for two weeks have come to an end, with calm restored and international calls resumed. However, internet services remain suspended. According to reports, the protests, which were sparked by economic issues, were discussed during a meeting between Iranian officials and foreign diplomats.
