Islamabad: The framework of the power-sharing formula between the government and the opposition has been prepared on the issue of the formation of National Assembly Committees, after which the negotiations have entered the final stages.

The chairmanship of 26 committees of the National Assembly will be given to the government coalition while the opposition will get the chairmanship of 11 committees. Similarly, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will be from the Opposition and the Chairman of the Kashmir Committee will be from the government coalition. The Speaker of National Assembly House will be the Chairman of the Business Advisory Committee.

According to the framework, 13 members in the standing committees and 16 members in the Public Accounts Committee will be from the government alliance. 15 members in the Kashmir Committee, 18 members in the House Business Advisory will be from the government alliance.

The number of opposition members in the Standing Committees of National Assembly, Public Accounts Committee and Kashmir Committee will be seven each.

Apart from this, the chairmanship of 14 committees of the National Assembly will be from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), while chairmen of eight committees will be from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Mutahidda Qoumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) will get two, Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) will get one committee chairmanship each.

The chairmanship of 10 committees will be independent members supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the chairmanship of one committee will be with Jamat-e-Ulema Islami (JUI). Out of 20 members of standing committees, 14 members will be from government, six will be from opposition parties. Each standing committee will include seven members from PML-N, four members from PPP and one member each from PML-Q and MQM-P.

In the standing committee, five independent members of PTI and one member of JUI will be given as committee members. Out of 23 members of PAC, 16 members will be from the government and seven from the opposition. Among 22 members of privilege committee, 15 members will be from the government and seven from the opposition.

In Government Assurances Committee, 11 of the 16 members will be from the government and five from the opposition. Nine of the 13 members of the House and Library Committee will be from the government and four from the opposition. Of the 26 members of the House Business Advisory Committee, 18 will be from the government and eight from the opposition.

Karachi: There has been a shortage of life-saving medicines across the country once again, with 27 essential medicines including insulin not available at pharmacies.

Drug Inspector Sindh said that 27 important drugs including insulin are not available in medical stores in Karachi and Secretary Provincial Drug Quality Control Board Sindh Syed Adnan Rizvi has written a letter and ordered the drug inspectors of the entire province to survey the unavailable drugs.

According to the officials, 30 important medicines are not available in the market even in the federal capital Islamabad and its surroundings.

Officials stated the unavailable drugs include antibiotics, psychiatric and asthma drugs, while tetanus injections and different types of inhalers are also in dire shortage.

On the other hand, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) officials have claimed that there is no major shortage of drugs in the country, there could be supply chain issues.

DRAP officials say that they conduct drug availability survey on a weekly basis across the country, insulin is available in abundance to the patients, adding that there is no truth in the reports of insulin shortage.

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday granted protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat in the case filed in Kasur.

Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri heard the application of Sher Afzal Marwat.

The court granted two-week protective bail to Sher Afzal on a surety bond of Rs10,000 and restrained the Punjab Police from arresting him.

The court directed PTI leader to appear before the concerned court within two weeks.

Justice Tariq Mahmood remarked: “Mr. Sher Afzal, is there any area left, where you have not been booked”?

On which Sher Afzal replied, ‘My Lord, the cases have been registered from all over the country’.

The court inquired from PTI leader if this case was registered in Kasur. To which he replied yes, he had a procession in Kasur, after which the police registered a case.