ISLAMABAD: The suicide attacker responsible for the deadly blast at a mosque in Islamabad’s Tarlai area had returned to Pakistan from Afghanistan last year, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Friday, as investigations into the attack intensified. According to the minister, the attacker had travelled to Afghanistan around one-and-a-half to two years ago before returning […]
Khawaja Asif
Pakistan vows Baloch-backed victory over proxies: Khawaja Asif
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan will defeat India and Afghanistan in proxy attacks. He claimed that support from the Baloch people is key to national security. He accused terrorists operating in Balochistan of working as Afghan agents to destabilize the region. Speaking outside Parliament House, Khawaja Asif said these groups are trying to blackmail […]
Rare unity in National Assembly NA as lawmakers condemn Balochistan terror attacks
ISLAMABAD — Lawmakers across party lines in the National Assembly on Monday showed rare unity in condemning recent deadly terror attacks in Balochistan, though sharp differences emerged over the causes of militancy and the strategy needed to counter it effectively. Read More: Membership of 23 lawmakers restored after asset disclosure The debate was held after Speaker Sardar […]
Khawaja Asif defends routine Tirah movement
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the current displacement in Tirah Valley is part of routine seasonal migration. He dismissed claims of a military operation, stressing the movement of families is voluntary. Thousands of residents have temporarily relocated due to harsh winter, moving to Bara and Peshawar. Asif addressed the press in Islamabad, flanked by Information […]
“18th Amendment failed us,” says Khawaja Asif
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif criticized Pakistan’s 18th Amendment, saying it transferred most powers to provincial governments. He said incidents in Karachi highlight the need to delegate authority to local levels. Asif also expressed sorrow over the Gul Plaza fire, calling it a national tragedy. Speaking in the National Assembly, he said local governments must be […]
Khawaja Asif terms local govt failure ‘national crisis’
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the failure of local governments has become a “national crisis” in Pakistan. Speaking in the National Assembly, he criticised the continued concentration of authority in provincial capitals. He said the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment, aimed at empowering local governments, had to be withdrawn despite political consensus. Asif argued that […]
Lawmakers call for empowered local bodies after Gul Plaza fire
ISLAMABAD: The deadly Gul Plaza fire in Karachi, which claimed at least 26 lives and left 81 people missing, echoed in the National Assembly on Tuesday as lawmakers called for stronger local governance to prevent similar tragedies. Read More: Karachi rescue teams clear Gul Plaza basement after deadly fire Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the lack of fire-extinguishing […]
Kh Asif rejects Fazl’s criticism of Islamabad’s action against Taliban
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday rejected the comparison between Islamabad’s actions against the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and New Delhi’s unprovoked action against the country in May as “wrong and inappropriate”. The defence minister’s remarks come a day after Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman questioned Pakistan’s objection to Indian attacks when […]
Kh Asif holds ex-ISI chief Hameed responsible for Nawaz’s ouster
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday said the plan of May 9 mayhem was a joint venture of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan. For Imran’s support, the May 9 incident was orchestrated, said Asif, addressing media in Sialkot. He added that the PTI […]
Khawaja Asif announces fresh legal action against Faiz Hameed
SIALKOT: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Friday that further legal action will be taken against Faiz Hameed, the officer in charge of the “remove Nawaz, bring founder” project, calling him a key architect behind political conspiracies. Speaking at a press conference in Sialkot, Khawaja Asif said Faiz Hameed was already tried for 15 months […]