Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, a lawmaker from former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party was elected as the “prime minister” of Pakistan-occupied KashSmir on Thursday.
The top post fell vacant last week after former “premier” Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan was disqualified by the region’s high court over maligning the top judiciary.
Haq, who was the Speaker of the region’s assembly, got the trust of all 48 members present in the house as all major parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, rallied behind him.
His predecessor was disqualified in a dramatic move by the high court in the region on April 11 for committing contempt of court by criticising the top judiciary in a public speech.
Earlier on Monday, an assembly session held to elect a new “prime minister” was adjourned without any polling taking place.
Sardar Tanveer at a function in Islamabad had indirectly blamed the judiciary for affecting the functioning of his government and interfering in the domain of the executive through the grant of stay orders.
Though he appeared before the court and tendered an apology, but it was not accepted. Later his appeal was also rejected by the region’s apex court.
Imran Khan’s Instagram head abducted
Authorities in Pakistan allegedly abducted the Instagram head of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf here on Thursday as part of the federal government’s ongoing crackdown against social media activists from ousted prime minister Imran Khan’s party.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in collaboration with the intelligence agencies and police have launched a nationwide operation against social media activists, especially of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party following an alleged online smear campaign against Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir.
Attaur Rehman, PTI’s Instagram head was picked up from Lahore in the early hours of Thursday.
Khan on Thursday claimed on Twitter that the party’s Instagram lead Attaur Rehman was “picked up” on Thursday morning from Lahore.
“Another abduction late last night — this time of PTI’s Instagram lead Attaur Rehman from Faisal Town Lahore. Strongly condemn these continuing abductions of our social media team. Atta has been with us for 15 years. The powerful are breaking all laws with impunity,” Khan tweeted and demanded his release.
Last week, the intelligence agencies picked another main social media activist, the PTI — ‘Humara Pak’ head Waqas Amjad — who was allegedly tortured in judicial custody.
Last month, Khan’s focal person on social media Azhar Mashwani was also picked up by authorities.
Khan has blamed the military establishment for “abducting” his party’s social media activists.
He deplored the torture of Amjad, saying, “today there is total law of the jungle in Pakistan.”
