Pakistan
Winter activity and political turmoil!
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.
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.
Pakistan
Haq calls for tax exemption for individuals earning less than Rs100,000
The Jamaat-e-Islami Amer highlights the rampant corruption in the country, estimating a daily loss of $7 billion due to corrupt practices.

Lahore: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amer Sirajul Haq on Wednesday called for tax exemption for individuals earning less than Rs100,000.
Speaking at a pre-budget seminar organized by the JI, Haq highlighted the rampant corruption in the country, estimating a daily loss of $7 billion due to corrupt practices.
He urged the government to devise a budgetary system that effectively tackles corruption and criticized the lack of consultation with various stakeholders, including businessmen, farmers, factories, and workers. Haq also advised Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to present an interest-free budget in line with the principles of the Federal Shariat Court (FSC).
Business
Economic Survey 2022-23 to be launched tomorrow
The Economic Survey will provide details about the major socio-economic developments and economic trends of various sectors of the economy including agriculture, manufacturing, industry, services, energy, information technology and telecom, capital markets, health, education and transport.

Islamabad: Economic Survey, containing the details of major socio-economic achievements during the outgoing fiscal year would be launched in Islamabad tomorrow (Thursday).
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will chair the launching ceremony.
The Economic Survey will provide details about the major socio-economic developments, performance, and economic trends of various sectors of the economy including agriculture, manufacturing, industry, services, energy, information technology and telecom, capital markets, health, education, transport and communication.
Annual trends of major economic indicators regarding inflation, trade and payments, public debt, population, employment, climate change and social protections will also be described in detail in the economic survey.
Pakistan
Pakistan, China sign MoU for water resources development
Ambassador Moin Ul Haque said: “The MOU will pave the way for bilateral cooperation in the utilization and sustainable development of water resources and environmental protection”.

Islamabad: Pakistan and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for bilateral cooperation in the utilization and sustainable development of water resources and environmental protection.
The MoU between Chang Jiang Water Resources Commission and Water and Power Development Authority was signed in a ceremony at Pakistan embassy in Beijing.
Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin Ul Haque and Vice Commissioner of Changjiang Water Resources Commission (CWRC), Wu Daoxi signed the agreement.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Moin Ul Haque said: “The MOU will pave the way for bilateral cooperation in the utilization and sustainable development of water resources and environmental protection”.
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