Lahore: Punjab Police have completed security arrangements for by-elections in 14 national and provincial constituencies of Punjab including Lahore.

According to the police spokesman, more than 35,000 officers and personnel will be deployed for the security of the by-elections held in 14 national and provincial constituencies of Punjab. Out of 2,599 polling stations across the province, 419 have been declared as highly sensitive and 1,089 as sensitive.

Inspector General Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar said that more than 4.044 million voters will be provided a peaceful and safe environment for voting. 663 male, 649 female, 1,289 joint polling stations and the staff of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will be provided full security.

He stated that the installation of CCTV cameras at the most sensitive polling stations has been completed.

The IG added that the polling process will be continuously monitored by the Central Police Office, Safe Cities Authority, Control and Monitoring Rooms of the districts.

Dr. Usman Anwar further said that for the by-elections, Punjab Police has full support of Rangers and Pakistan Army, there will be zero tolerance for violation of Election Commission's Code of Conduct, Section 144 and arms embargo.

Lahore: The Lahore high court (LHC) has issued written decree for six months imprisonment and imposed fine on lawyer for misbehaving with judge case.

According to the details, chief justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan issued written decree consisted on 12 pages in which it is stated that the court gives order to imprison the lawyer for six months and impose fine on him for Rs1,00000.

Chief justice appreciated the behavior of the leadership of Lahore bar and high court bar. He said that both the bar’s leadership appeared in form of groups.

The court prohibited the bar’s officials not to appear with more lawyers. Both the bars’ leadership followed the court rules immediately.

It is written in the verdict that to appear with more lawyers in the court gives the wrong impression. It looks like the court is being pressurized.

The court said that the bars sacrificed so much for the freedom of judiciary. All the lawyers should behave positively with the judiciary.

Islamabad: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar Friday said that there will be no negotiations with terrorists, their actions will be responded will full force.

According to the details, the session of National Assembly under the chairmanship of Speaker Ayaz Sadiq is underway, during which the Minister of Law Nazir Tarar, responding to the speech of Umar Ayub, said: ‘I am surprised from where the law is being taught. The state of law and parliamentary traditions from that side are in front of everyone’.

During the law minister's speech, the opposition created noise.

Continuing his speech, the minister stated that for the first time the presidential address was not delivered in the joint session of the House. The honorable members have discussed this before.

He added that the attitude adopted during the constitutional chief's address was shameful.

Nazir Tarar continued to say that the government of Balochistan is taking steps to punish those involved in the Noshki attack. The federal government is also taking the lead in helping the government of Balochistan, and efforts are underway to eliminate terrorist organizations in the area.

Similarly, Sindh Police is working in Kashmore too. They have started an operation and federal agencies are also present to help them, stated Tarar.

The federal minister also said that these problems are old and they are being worked on. Unfortunately, Pakistan has been the target of terrorism for four decades. A security briefing was also held in the same House. Terrorists that were pushed out of the country, were brought back to the country, the government has a zero-tolerance policy.

Azam Nazir told that our young men are sacrificing their lives every day, the government is determined that there will be no negotiations with the terrorists, they will be answered in their language.

He further stated that law and order is the responsibility of the provinces and the federal government is always available and never refused to take responsibility. Wherever the federal government is needed, it was and will be there.

Earlier, the leader of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Omar Ayub, while speaking in the House, said that the Speaker must abide by the constitution and the law. There is lack of constitution and law in the country.

He stated that the constitution is being violated in the country which they condemn. There is inflation in the country, these things should be discussed, we people have sworn to uphold the constitution and law.

At the beginning of the session, the newly elected Member of the National Assembly, Sadaf Ehsan, took oath on the designated seat.

Notably yesterday, Jamiat Ulema Islami-Fazl (JUI-F) approached the Supreme Court against the April 2 order of Peshawar High Court (PHC) due to which the Election Commission reinstated Sadaf Ehsan as a member of the National Assembly.

Later, Noor Alam Khan of JUI(F) addressed the House and said that an illegal act was done by the Speaker, Sadaf Ehsan is not a member of JUI-F but she has been sworn in.

The bill regarding the amendment of the National University of Technology Act 2018 was presented in the House by Federal Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui in the National Assembly. Apart from this, the annual report of the Election Commission 2022 was also presented in the National Assembly.

After that, on the question of rising prices of petrol, Azam Nazir said that the petrol price depends on import and when the prices increase in the global market, we also have to increase the price. For the convenience of the consumers and to maintain uninterrupted availability for the petroleum products in Pakistan, the government has set a 15-day deadline, after which the petrol prices are adjusted keeping in view the global market.

He also stated that in the last few days, the price of petrol has increased in the global market, which has to be borne by the consumers, but the government has been trying to keep the prices low as much as possible.

Later, Amin-ul-Haq of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), calling attention to the street crime in Karachi, said that Karachi is the city of lights, it is the economic hub of Pakistan, when Karachi wakes up, the country sleeps, but today Karachi is becoming rickety. Today, the city is crying the tears of the country, hundreds of street crimes are happening every day, the people of Karachi are carrying out funerals on a daily basis.

He suggested that the IG Sindh should sit with the elected representatives of Karachi and resolve the issues and bring the street crime gangs under control.

Barrister Gohar, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), while speaking in the House, said: “It is unfortunate that we have to protest to get your attention, we only want to draw attention to two things; one is to House run as per law and order and we wanted to say how the House should be run after the President's speech”.

He added that President Zardari is not representing the Unity of the Republic as President. He has not resigned from the presidency of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and is still the President of PPP Parliamentarians, but even so we should discuss his address. This is according to Article-56.

The Speaker replied that when the President's speech comes, we should include it in the agenda.

Later, when Sharmila Farooqui was not allowed to speak, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto, Asifa Bhutto and PPP walked out. Later Bilawal and other members returned to the National Assembly session.

While talking about Asif Zardari, PPP leader Naveed Qamar said that unfortunately in our country there has been a tradition of keeping non-political people in political positions. President was elected, our constitution never said that political people should not be placed in political positions.

More to follow…