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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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Pakistan

Case of missing persons cannot be solved overnight: Azam Nazir

He stated that they worked on this matter in previous governments as well and are still working to solve this problem.

Published by Noor Fatima

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Islamabad: Federal Law Minister Nazir Tarar Tuesday that the government is fully aware of its responsibilities, the issue of missing persons cannot be solved overnight.

In Islamabad, Federal Minister for Law Nazir Tarar, while holding a press conference along with Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, said that the soldiers of our forces were martyred in the war against terrorism. Many times, it is said that governments are not serious to resolve the matter of missing persons, our government has done a lot for missing people.

He stated that they worked on this matter in previous governments as well and are still working to solve this problem. Our government is still taking this matter seriously.

Azam Nazir Tarar added that the issue of missing persons was raised for the first time during Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) era. 10,200 cases of missing persons have gone to the commission. Caretaker governments had limited powers, legislation could not be enacted during their tenure.

The federal law minister continued to say that it was propagated on social media regarding missing persons. This issue was raised in 2011, then a commission was also formed on it. Baloch leaders have also been included in the commission, the issue of missing persons is an administrative issue. For four decades, Pakistan has been in a state of war. The terrorism and internal affairs have complicated the country's situation.

While, Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar said that a lot of noise was made about rigging in the by-elections, the narrative of hatred, hypocrisy and division has been rejected.

Attaullah stated that the country is going towards development, the stock market is setting new records every day, investments are coming in the country, international organizations are saying that Pakistan will reduce inflation, the government is taking all measures for the development of the country.

He added that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan tried to harm the country for his own sake. Pakistan is first, all political parties are later, attempts are being made to create a political narrative from jail, lies will not be allowed.

The Minister of Information continued to say that talking against foreign policy has now become a thing of the past. When talking about Bushra Bibi's health, which hospital is better than Shifa, her allegation of floor cleaner was ridiculous. If you have any concerns about Bushra's health, tell openly.

He further said that PTI is running a false campaign that Bushra Bibi's life is in danger. Sometimes these people speak against the defense institutions and sometimes against the army chief.

Atta Tarar further stated that there is a deficit of 800 billion rupees in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The government is going to digitize the tax reforms and Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR). All the decimals regarding the economy are positive, we have to change this situation.

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Pakistan

PHC issues notice to advocate general against approving budget 

Later then the court postponed the hearing till May 2.

Published by Qurrat Tul Ain

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Peshawar: The Peshawar high court (PHC) has issued notice to advocate general on the plea against the approval of budget in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet.

According to the details, a two-member bench consisted of justice Shahid Khan and justice Ejaz Anwar heard the plea against the approval of budget of provincial cabinet.

Lawyer Amin-ur-Rehman Yousafzai advocate told the court that the applicant is the opposition leader in KP assembly. The budget of March has been presented in assembly and approved. However, the process has not been followed for the budget of the month of April.

It is stated in the application that whatever the law has been used to support for the budget approval. This is only for the caretaker government now the assembly is present. The budget will be presented in assembly for the approval and the approval will be taken.  

However, funds cannot also be used for different projects. It is also illegal to use fund of provincial government.

Later then the court postponed the hearing till May 2.

 

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Pakistan

IHC full court session to be held today

Yesterday, the office of the Chief Justice of IHC asked all the judges for suggestions.

Published by Noor Fatima

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Islamabad: The full court session called by Chief Justice Islamabad High Court (IHC) Aamer Farooq on the issue of the threatening letter received by the judges will be held today.

Yesterday, the office of the Chief Justice of IHC asked all the judges for suggestions.

Chief Justice IHC Aamer Farooq has called the full court meeting at 2:30pm today.

It is pertinent to note that the senior most judges of IHC, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Saman Riffat Imtiaz wrote to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb was not among the judges who signed the letter.

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