Pakistan

Government, opposition and public!

Written

1 year ago

Nov 14, 2021 03:33 AM

Imran Yaqub Khan

The " criminal act" of petrol price hike that happened late Friday night (November 5), provoked public outrage. The hike was postponed till November 1, but was implemented on the night between November 3 and 4.

Imran Yaqub Khan

I am saying it a "criminal act" again and again because it was a routine decision that should have been made in broad daylight, but at 2am in the morning the news broke and the people woke up in the morning to find that a petrol bomb had dropped on them. Now the rise in prices and the pace of inflation is so fast that even the column written on inflation last week before November 5 seems old and this repeated cry is causing boredom.

Apart from petrol prices, electricity rates have also been increased. Basic electricity prices have been increased by Rs1.68 per unit. For commercial and industrial consumers, the price has been increased by Rs 1.39 per unit. For consumers using 300 units, the price of electricity has gone up to Rs13.83 per unit. The government believes that a household using 300 units of electricity is prosperous. And he can afford to raise rates, and if that is true, it would be pointless to talk about it.

Like the people under the news of inflation, the most important news of Friday was also suppressed and this was the news, the report of the Election Commission of Pakistan on the rigging in the by-election of Daska, this report is eye-opener and biggest charge sheet against the PTI government.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has detected systematic rigging in the NA-75 by-election investigation report. What do they think and do when they come to power, this report has put all the truth in front of them. This report is not limited to the disclosure of fraud but it is a criminal case. Several names have been written in this report but this systematic fraud must be thoroughly investigated. According to the report, the education department, police and district administration, ie the entire government machinery were used in the scam. The mastermind behind the rigging and its full implementation cannot be held responsible alone. Criminal proceedings should be initiated on the basis of this report and the culprits should be identified.

Reading this report, the question arises as to whether those who came with the mission of eradicating corruption have corrupted the entire government machinery. The Deputy Director of Colleges, the Presiding Officer, several officers of the Department of Education and then an army of police officers, all of which could not be managed by a single person. How SHOs remained election managers, police personnel stationed at polling stations continued to kidnap presiding officers instead of security, ignorance of returning officer and deputy returning officer, how many factors and roles are involved in this rigging. The story unfolds in layers.

Playing the role of opposition, the same PTI used to call others as ballot box thieves. Here, the entire election was rigged under the scheme. It will happen and the government will come down with a bang but now their own organized fraud has been proved. Those who call others "box thieves" are now ready for self-accountability.

The opposition's reservations about EVMs, ie electronic voting machines, seem to have come true after this report and the plan to snatch the powers of the Election Commission of Pakistan, this report has exposed the government's intentions. Who will now trust those who bulldoze the opposition and institutions and insist on bringing electronic voting machines? ۔

The political and administrative turmoil in the country over the last four or five weeks has made me think that the PTI government is on a "suicidal mission". Inflation bombs are being set off one after another and when there is a backlash against them, the captain addresses his Wasim Akram Plus (Usman Buzdar): "Whenever they ask you about performance tell them ask us after completion of five-year mandate."

Someone reminded the captain that if he had any mandate, it was economic justice, justice system, social justice, poverty alleviation, job creation, breaking status, eradicating corruption. The captain has a long list of promises that he may not even remember.

When the captain was saying this to the Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Bazdar, surely Bazdar must have been very encouraged that whoever had to ask me gave both a deal and a relaxation but is there any politician who is surrounded by political and economic challenges? Valuable can boldly reject all these questions under the pretext of a five year mandate ?? These are the evidences on which I believe that the captain and his team are on a mission of political suicide and the captain's advice to Bazdar was apparently a message to someone else.

The role of the opposition in this situation is also deplorable. The people are dying of poverty and inflation but the opposition is not making any effort to change the public mood into a movement. It seems that the opposition is thinking that the government may fall from its own stupidity or carry out the mission of political suicide itself. Perhaps that is why the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz talking to the media had said that it is the national responsibility of all political parties to find a constitutional way to handle the sinking economy of Pakistan and to get rid of the incumbant government. "

According to political analysts, if the opposition awaits like this, it should know that it will not be possible to get the people out to vote without representing the people. If politicians remain indifferent to the people today, then tomorrow the people will also be indifferent to them and then no one should complain that those who raised the slogan of step up didn't come along.

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Imran Yaqub Khan

Imran Yaqub is senior journalist and analyst

Crime

Two people killed in N. Waziristan target killing

Two people including son of Haji Sher Muhammad were injured in the firing.

Published

9 hours ago

Jun 07, 2023 08:35 AM

Noor Fatima

Bannu: Two people were killed, while two sustained the injuries when unidentified people opened fire in front of Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Mir Ali in North Waziristan.

According to Deputy Commissioner Rehan Gul Khattak, one of the killed includes Haji Sher Muhammad who was the grandson of famous Faqir of Epi Haji Ameerz Ali Khan. Sher Muhammad's colleague Rahimullah was also killed in the attack.

Two people including son of Haji Sher Muhammad were injured in the firing and shifted to Mir Ali Hospital for quick medical treatment.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Salim Riaz, the incident took place near the filling station in front of the hospital. Unknown persons opened fire on Haji Sher Muhammad, killing him along with his companion on the spot. Police have started investigating the incident.

Health

World Food Safety Day being observed

The theme for this year's day is "Food Standards Save Lives."

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 07, 2023 10:32 AM

Noor Fatima

World Food Safety Day is being observed today (Wednesday) to draw attention towards food safety standards. The theme for this year's day is "Food Standards Save Lives."

In his message on the occasion, President Dr. Arif Alvi emphasized to ensure food safety in Pakistan by following food safety standards.

He said food safety standards can help us live an active and healthy life.

The President said nutritional and safe food can also help us overcome the problems of malnutrition and stunting besides helping prevent various foodborne diseases.

As per World Health Organization (WHO), the aim behind observing the day is to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security and human health.

The WHO highlights that the production and consumption of safe food have immediate and long-term benefits for people, planet and the economy.

The need to establish a world food safety day was discussed in several sessions of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from 2016 onwards.

Even a resolution was adopted on December 20, 2018, by the assembly to mark June 7 as the day to "celebrate the myriad benefits of safe food".

"Food safety is everyone's business," according to the public health agency.

Pakistan

May 14 verdict becomes history, not possible to implement: CJP

The hearing of the case was adjourned till June 13.

Published

5 hours ago

Jun 07, 2023 12:55 PM

Noor Fatima

Islamabad: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial Wednesday said the implementation of May 14 verdict to conduct elections in 90 days is not possible, however this decision has become history.

According to details, a three-member bench headed by CJP comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar is hearing the cases of petitions filed against the Supreme Court Review of Orders and Judgments Act and the Punjab Election Review case simultaneously in the Supreme Court.

The petitioners have appealed in the Supreme Court to declare the Review of Orders and Judgments Act invalid.

At the beginning of the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan said we have received some appeals regarding the issue of Review Act that has to be seen at a stage.

Attorney General has been notified, after the notice on the Review Act, the bench under the Election Case Act will hear the case.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said: “Supreme Court Review Act is against the Constitution, the same issue was raised in the Practice and Procedure Act”.

Supreme Court had placed a ban on the Practice and Procedure Act. The injunction of the Act also applies to the Review Act, he stated.

Ali Zafar added that Supreme Court can hear Punjab Election Revision case, however the Supreme Court Revive Act is not applicable to this Court because of the injunction.

The court can stay the decision on the Revision Act till the decision of the Review Act. Arguments in the election review case are almost over, now the case should be completed, said barrister.

Justice Muneeb Akhtar said: “If the Review Act is implemented, then the lawyer of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will have to give arguments again in the larger bench”.

He stated how the court can hear the Punjab election case if Supreme Court Review Act has been implemented? Also tell us how the Supreme Court Review Act is not applicable in the Punjab election review case.

CJP Bandial added that everyone wants the decision of Punjab election review case, the lawyer of ECP argued that they have wider powers, appeals also have some limits.

He added that Punjab election review case is not new, it has been discussed earlier. The arguments of the Election Commission's counsel were on expanding the scope of the review, if the election review case goes to a larger bench, then ECP's counsel can start arguments from there.

Umar Atta Bandial said: “The court decision will remain in history that elections are mandatory in 90 days, it was to be seen whether 90 days can be extended for elections”.

He questioned if the conditions after the events of May 9 are as per listed in the constitution for postponement of elections? Everything is not possible by violence and force.

PTI’s Barrister Ali Zafar requested to decide the Punjab election review case, stating that whatever the circumstances or arguments are, the court should decide the Punjab election review case soon.

“On the night of May 15, I felt that the constitution had died. On the day, the fixed term of the elections and the decision of the Supreme Court were insulted,” said Barrister Ali.

He added: “Every day I feel that the constitution has been killed. Whatever arguments the Election Commission's lawyers give, it will not change the reality”.

Barrister Ali Zafar said that when the review act was passed, it was asked in the senate that how are you making laws that contradict the constitution? This review act was passed by the Senate in 5 minutes and there was no debate there.

The amendments in Article 184-3 are certainly good, but this is possible only through constitutional amendments. Laws related to the independence of the judiciary can only be made through constitutional amendments, said Ali.

Chief Justice asked whether you think the government has given the right to appeal in Article 184-3, which is against the constitution. Barrister Ali Zafar responded: “The points which were not raised in the main case cannot be brought up in revision”.

CJP Umar added that there are good amendments related to Article 184-3 in this law, the only mistake made was calling the revision of Article 184-3 as an appeal. We will ask the Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan why the government made a mistake.

Attorney General replied that the petitioners against the Supreme Court Review Act are in their personal capacity, if Ali Zafar wants to be a party to the case, then file the petition.

Umar asked about some way to save time, stating that the good thing is government and the institutions have decided to follow the law.

“Today the government’s point is not based on mathematics but on the law and facts. We appreciate the good legislations of government, he added.

Bandial inquired the government was protesting at the gates, did the protest mean to obstruct justice? This duty of justice that we are doing is God’s work, to interfere in our work is to interfere with the truth.

Petitioner Zaman Khan Wardag and other petitioner Ghulam Mohiuddin adopted the arguments of Barrister Ali Zafar against the Supreme Court Review of Orders and Judgments Act.

The court issued notice to the parties in the Supreme Court Review of Orders and Judgments Act case.

Court says that the petitions came against the Supreme Court Review of Orders and Judgments Act. According to them, the act to extend the scope of review is illegal, constitutional amendment is necessary to expand the jurisdiction of review. A larger bench has already issued an injunction on the Practice and Procedure Act, fixing the two cases for hearing together on Tuesday.

It has also issued notices to the Attorney General, the party president, the federal government, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in the Supreme Court Review of Orders and Judgments Act case.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till June 13.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan said possible the case will be heard on a daily basis from Tuesday, the Punjab elections case will also be scheduled along with the review case.

Notable earlier on May 29, a gazette notification was issued for the implementation of Supreme Court Review of Orders and Judgments Act, 2023.

Following the new law, revision appeals can be filed within 60 days of decisions under Section 184/3 and it will be heard by a larger bench than the decision-making bench. However, in the past, a review petition was heard by the same bench that passed the judgment.

The scope of revision petition will now be the same as that of an appeal as per new law.