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Pakistan

Winter activity and political turmoil!

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When the Supreme Court of Pakistan summoned Prime Minister Imran Khan during the hearing of the APS suo motu case, the tide of national politics began to turn.

Imran Yaqub Khan Profile Imran Yaqub Khan

The Honorable Court first reprimanded the Attorney General and then summoned the Prime Minister in person. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed and the esteemed judges of the bench Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan and Justice Qazi Amin made strong remarks during the hearing. According to political pundits, the summons of the Prime Minister to the Supreme Court seems to be adding to the growing worries for the present government that always claims "change".

Opposition groups called for a boycott of the assembly. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto have once again stood in the same line. In today's joint sitting of the parliament, a joint strategy has been formulated to prevent the government from enacting legislation. The opposition is calling the NAB legislation and government legislation for electronic voting machines one-sided and illegal. The opposition believes that the Imran Khan government is trying to give itself NRO by changing the NAB rules. Attempts will be made to steal the next election through electronic voting machine.

On Tuesday night, PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif had invited the opposition MPs for dinner. Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto also attended the dinner. According to newspaper reports, 180 members of parliament attended the dinner. On this occasion, it was decided that all members of the opposition would ensure attendance in the House. The people who are in the throes of inflation will want the opposition to be their voice.

It's welcoming to see the opposition together. The people may also see a glimmer of hope in their gathering. The purpose of uniting this long-divided opposition is to prevent legislation from gaining a numerical majority. Talking to media persons after the dinner, Shahbaz Sharif said that the country could not move forward without transparent elections. Bilawal Bhutto also assured that the opposition is united under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif. Prior to the dinner, the legal team of the opposition parties also sat together and agreed that the government's efforts to bulldoze the parliament would be thwarted. This commitment of the opposition is commendable.

In the National Assembly on Tuesday, the government had to give up trying to get a vote on two bills. The government couldn't present its bill. The bill introduced by the opposition could not be stopped. This could be seen as a significant development ahead of the joint sitting of Parliament. In such a scenario, the question arises as to whether the opposition is really united and how serious it is to stop the government. Are old grievances gone? Until recently, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was on the ground in opposition to the government alone, taking the wound of separation from the PDM to heart. Young leaders are also going to be emotional, so while opposing the government, they have been opposing the opposition. Now that he is again standing by the side of Shehbaz Sharif, it is hoped that Shehbaz may have ignored Bilawal's statements.

Qamar Zaman Kaira is a seasoned politician and holds a prominent position among the central leaders of the PPP. Kaira Sahib had opened a front against PML-N on the day when the opposition parties in Islamabad were uniting and formulating a plan of action against the government. He accused the PML-N of having backdoor contacts with the Establishment and made it clear that if the statement of respecting the vote was to be respected then backdoor contacts should be terminated. The incumbant government is intact because of PML-N and these people want the government to complete five years.

There are two statements going on in his party. First unite in your party. Nawaz Sharif should clarify whether his statement is resistance or compromise. Kaira's questions must be answered. Now it remains to be seen whether Shehbaz Sharif's tolerance comes to the fore in response or whether there is shelling from PML-N as well. However, PDM spokesman Hafiz Hamdullah did respond to Kaira. In his statement, he said that the PPP had stabbed the PDM in the back for the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. By criticizing the PDM, the PPP is opposing the opposition, not the government. PPP please, it is not appropriate to make a hole in the plate in which you have eaten. If you want to return to PDM, then consult Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the leadership of PDM.

The fate of the people of Pakistan always hangs in balance because of the Opposition's tactics favouring the government. Perhaps that is why Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry has termed the opposition as Bhanmati's family. He also advised the Opposition to wait for the first two years and the next five years. Every time the winter season comes, the political tension mounts. On this, Fawad Chaudhry mockingly called PDM a winter activity and said that these people just go out in winter and then leave. Given the past performance of the Opposition, this confidence of the government is not unreasonable. Now the question is whether the Opposition will be able to surprise the government in the joint sitting of the Parliament. If you look at the number of members of both the houses, the government has a lead of two members in the number game.

There are currently 440 MPs in both houses. The PTI and its allies have 221 members in the National Assembly and Senate. Opposition parties have 219 members in the National Assembly and Senate. There are 156 members of PTI, 7 members of MQM and 5 members of BAP in the National Assembly. PML-Q has 5 members and GDA has 3 members. Awami Muslim League, JWP and Azad are one member each. If you look at the opposition, there are 83 members of PML-N, 56 members of PPP, 15 members of MMA and 4 members of BNP in the National Assembly. The ANP has one member and the opposition has the support of three independents. The government and allies have 42 seats in the Senate. PTI 27, BAP 9 and MQM 3 are members of the Senate. The government also has the support of the Functional League, the Q League and an independent candidate. The Senate has 57 opposition members. PPP has 21 members, PML-N has 9, JUI-5 and National Party has 2 members. Jamaat-e-Islami One, PK Map 2, ANP 2 and BNP also have 2 members. The opposition also has the support of six members of the Dilawar Khan group in the Senate.

It seems that the joint sitting of the parliament is going to be tumultuous no matter what else happens.

Imran Yaqub Khan

Imran Yaqub is senior journalist and analyst

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Crime

LIR course concludes at Emergency Services Academy

The Secretary, Emergency Services Department, Dr Rizwan Naseer attends closing ceremony of LIR course.

Published by Hussnain Bhutta

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Lahore: The Leadership in Resuscitation (LIR) Course organized by Community Safety Wing of Emergency Services Department in collaboration with Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi was held at Emergency Services Academy for 45 master trainers of Pak Life Saver Program (PLSP) of the Service on Saturday.

Secretary, Emergency Services Department, Dr Rizwan Naseer attended closing ceremony of LIR course and said that the trainers of LIR would be expected to further train emergency responders on High-Performance Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (HP-CPR) to provide quality CPR to cardiac arrest patients.

Dr. Rizwan Naseer also directed them to provide scenarios to emergency responders and enhance their decision making and critical thinking skills at the time of emergency as you all have learnt in Leadership in Resuscitation course. He also thanked to the management of Aga Khan University, Karachi for organizing LIR course for master trainers and conducting evaluation of Emergency Medical Technicians at Emergency Services Academy.

Dr Rizwan recalled the initiative of the Prime Minister’s Pak Life Saver Program to train citizens on essential lifesaving skills of CPR & Bleeding Control for which the Rescue 1122 was given the responsibility of National Focal Point to train masses to save lives as much as possible.

 Accordingly, Rescue 1122  developed Pak Lifesaver App and web portal for online training followed by hands-on practice at nearest Rescue stations. Dr Rizwan appreciated Community Safety Wing and district training teams for training of – Lifesavers on Prime Minister Pak Life Saver Program. He also congratulated the participants of the LIR course on successful completion of the course.

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Pakistan

PTI to talk only with COAS, ISI chief

Imran Khan wanted talks from the beginning but there was no response from the other side, said Shehryar Afridi.

Published by Noor Fatima

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Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior and former federal minister Shehryar Afridi Saturday said that they will not negotiate with the federal government, but only with the army chief, with Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and with the army of Pakistan.

Talking to a private news channel, he stated that they (the current rulers) ask to hold talks but they themselves are not qualified for it. We will hold talks only with the army chief, DG ISI and Pakistan Army,

He added that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan wanted talks from the beginning but there was no response from the other side. It is wrong to think that Imran Khan wants National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) or deal. They will talk to the army chief for the better future of Pakistan.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur has expressed his ignorance of Shehryar Afridi's claims regarding negotiations with the establishment.

Speaking to the media at the judicial complex, he said that he can answer himself regarding the negotiations with the army chief.

Ali Amin Gandapur stated that the current government has been imposed without a mandate.

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Pakistan

Faisal Karim claims PTI make new plan similar to May 9 

PTI should talk to politicians.

Published by Qurrat Tul Ain

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Karachi: Pakistan Peoples party’s (PPP) leader Faisal Karim Kundi stated that PTI is pushing the establishment again into politics and making a new plan of another May 9.

According to the details, Faisal Karim Kundi was doing a press conference in Islamabad regarding the PTI’s new strategy towards politics nowadays.

He said that PTI is again doing the politics of hatred. So many voices have raised from PTI and they are under a conflict for the posts.

PPP’s leader also said that PTI had protested on the visit of Chinese president. Being a politician, it is necessary to believe on table talks. PTI should talk to politicians.

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