PTI to move top court for clarity on LHC's Punjab CM election verdict

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Thursday that his party sought clarification from the Supreme Court over a verdict of Lahore High Court (LHC), ordering the recounting of votes for the election of the Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz. "I want to congratulate you all as we all knew that the election of Hamza Shehbaz from the Punjab Assembly was unconstitutional and the LHC's decision has proved it," he said in a video message. Calling CM Hamza a "usurper", Imran said that he had no right to govern Punjab for that much amount of time. "We also believe that clarification is needed about the decision moving forward as we fear that the political crisis in Pakistan would be aggravated if the ambiguity persists." Read more: PTI to approach SC against LHC's Hamza Shahbaz ruling He questioned that if the LHC has decided that Hamza's election was unconstitutional then why is he still the chief minister? "We are approaching Supreme Court for the clarification. If he is still the CM then how can we expect a free and fair election? We know that the Sharif family has a history and they cannot do anything with honesty." The former prime minister said that role of Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Mazari is also controversial and his party was in court against him as well. "This election under Hamza and deputy speaker would further aggravate political turmoil in Pakistan," he added. Imran said that the LHC had given only 24 hours for the election but many PTI members are not even in Pakistan. "I know at least six who are gone to perform Hajj. Some members who live in remote areas of the province like Rajanpur, won't be able to reach on such short notice," he said. Read Lawyers conclude arguments on Hamza’s oath-taking The PTI chief also said that 20 by-elections are also taking place and the representative from those constituencies would also be missed in the PA elections. "Hamza is using all the dirty tactics in connivance with the ECP to win the election by rigging," he lamented. "We sat down with our legal team and came to the conclusion that we will approach the Supreme Court in the morning to seek clarification. We fear that the political crisis in the country would further increase if the matter is not clarified. We must not do anything which could further create problems for the country," he added. The ex-premier said that Punjab is 60 per cent Pakistan and practically there has been no government in the province for the past two months. "I appeal to the Supreme Court that it should give stay on this election." پنجاب کے آئینی بحران پر چیئرمین پاکستان تحریک انصاف @ImranKhanPTI کا پالیسی بیان- #ParadeGround pic.twitter.com/bIx35jDvd9 — PTI (@PTIofficial) June 30, 2022  

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Govt forms commission to probe Imran-led regime's role in energy crisis

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led (PML-N) government has announced to constitute a commission to probe the "mismanagement" by the Imran Khan's regime that "worsened the energy crisis". Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and PML-N senior vice-president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi announced the decision while addressing a presser in Islamabad on Thursday, saying the commission will be formed on the directives by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Speaking on the occasion, Abbasi said that the basic purpose of the commission would be to bring forth the flawed decisions in the petroleum sector that have led to the prevailing energy crisis. Its purpose, he added, is also to expose the corruption during the tenure of the PTI government. https://ift.tt/oMvlLA6   He added that the body would also help bring forth details of the increase in circular debt and the additional borrowing. The PML-N stalwart further said that the flawed decisions made by the Imran-led Cabinet had caused billions of losses to the country. According to him, the proceedings of the commission will be open to the people and the media. “The government has taken the reins of power two months ago,” he said. “The circumstances in which we took power were identified in November and December last year.” He also said that the public was perturbed because of the power loadshedding, stressing that a probe was necessary to determine the causes of the crisis. Expressing his views, Ahsan Iqbal asserted that the ineligibility of the PTI-led government was the reason behind the prevailing energy crisis. Also read: PM Shehbaz meets PPP leadership amid discontent among allies Regarding the economic conditions, the planning minister vowed to make the economy stable “within days”. The development comes two days after opposition parliamentarians in the National Assembly fired a broadside at the government over the ongoing energy crisis. The lawmakers took the ruling party to task for the power and gas outages across the country as well as the increase in the tariffs. They had also pointed out that power theft was not possible without the involvement of the staff of the power and gas companies, saying losses due to the corruption are transferred to the people.  

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Jemima lashes out at PML-N for announcing protest outside her elderly mother’s residence

Jemima Goldsmith, the ex-wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, has lashed out at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over its announcement to stage a protest outside the residence of her elderly mother in Surrey. “What the hell is wrong with these people [PML-N]? Another mass demonstration announced outside my 88 year old mother’s house this weekend. This is the third time!,” she wrote on her official Twitter handle on Thursday. What the hell is wrong with these people @pmln_org ? Another mass demonstration announced outside my 88 year old mother’s house this weekend. This is the third time! What has my Mum got to do with Pakistani politics? It’s disruptive for her & a total waste of police time. — Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) June 30, 2022 She called out the ruling party members for dragging her mother into political affairs saying: “What has my Mum got to do with Pakistani politics? It’s disruptive for her & a total waste of police time.” Following the ouster of former PM Imran’s government in April this year, PML-N supporters held protests outside the residence of his ex-wife’s mother in Surrey, in response to PTI’s demonstrations outside the residence of former PM Nawaz Sharif in London. Also read: PML-N holds protests outside residence of Jemima's 88-year-old mother A video shared by Jemima on Twitter showed a man threatening to break into the bedrooms of her house if the PTI supporters did not stop holding protests outside the homes of PML-N supremo Nawaz. This is a video of hundreds of men protesting for hours outside my 88 yr old mother’s house in Surrey yesterday. The man with the tannoy is threatening - “If Jemima and her children don’t come down here, then we will enter her bedroom.”@metpoliceuk is this legal? https://t.co/0aNE7J0Hmx — Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) April 18, 2022 Jemima had stated that her children were being targeted by protesters and that she was facing antisemitic abuse on social media. “It's almost like I’m back in 90’s Lahore,” she wrote, tagging the tweet with the hashtag Purana Pakistan (old Pakistan), which was the opposition’s slogan in contrast to Imran’s promise of building a Naya Pakistan (new Pakistan). Imran was married to Jemima from 1995 to 2004 and together they have two children, Kasim and Sulaiman. Jemima moved to London after her divorce from the ex-premier where she has been living with her sons ever since.

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Jemima lashes out at PML-N for announcing protest outside her elderly mother’s residence

Jemima Goldsmith, the ex-wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, has lashed out at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over its announcement to stage a protest outside the residence of her elderly mother in Surrey. “What the hell is wrong with these people [PML-N]? Another mass demonstration announced outside my 88 year old mother’s house this weekend. This is the third time!,” she wrote on her official Twitter handle on Thursday. What the hell is wrong with these people @pmln_org ? Another mass demonstration announced outside my 88 year old mother’s house this weekend. This is the third time! What has my Mum got to do with Pakistani politics? It’s disruptive for her & a total waste of police time. — Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) June 30, 2022 She called out the ruling party members for dragging her mother into political affairs saying: “What has my Mum got to do with Pakistani politics? It’s disruptive for her & a total waste of police time.” Following the ouster of former PM Imran’s government in April this year, PML-N supporters held protests outside the residence of his ex-wife’s mother in Surrey, in response to PTI’s demonstrations outside the residence of former PM Nawaz Sharif in London. Also read: PML-N holds protests outside residence of Jemima's 88-year-old mother A video shared by Jemima on Twitter showed a man threatening to break into the bedrooms of her house if the PTI supporters did not stop holding protests outside the homes of PML-N supremo Nawaz. This is a video of hundreds of men protesting for hours outside my 88 yr old mother’s house in Surrey yesterday. The man with the tannoy is threatening - “If Jemima and her children don’t come down here, then we will enter her bedroom.”@metpoliceuk is this legal? https://t.co/0aNE7J0Hmx — Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) April 18, 2022 Jemima had stated that her children were being targeted by protesters and that she was facing antisemitic abuse on social media. “It's almost like I’m back in 90’s Lahore,” she wrote, tagging the tweet with the hashtag Purana Pakistan (old Pakistan), which was the opposition’s slogan in contrast to Imran’s promise of building a Naya Pakistan (new Pakistan). Imran was married to Jemima from 1995 to 2004 and together they have two children, Kasim and Sulaiman. Jemima moved to London after her divorce from the ex-premier where she has been living with her sons ever since.

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My own party conspired against me in 2018 polls: Qureshi

Former foreign minister and senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi has claimed that his own party dealt a blow to prospects of his victory in the election of Punjab Assembly’s PP-217 constituency during the last general elections in 2018. “It was my own party that conspired against me in the 2018 elections,” he said while addressing a public gathering held on Wednesday in connection with the upcoming by-poll in Multan. Qureshi said he would mince no words as he had also categorically told PTI Chairman Imran Khan that the reason behind his defeat in the 2018 election was his party. “The situation in Punjab would not be as it is today if Shah Mahmood had been an MPA from here.” He asserted that if you do not have this way of thinking then July 17 – the date for the by-election- will also pass and it will not make any difference. “People of PP-217 wake up… what difference did it make to me I became the foreign minister… but it made a difference for you, Multan and South Punjab,” he remarked. On the other hand, Zain Qureshi son of Shah Mehmood Qureshi clarified that his father said this in the context of Jahangir Khan Tareen and Aleem Khan. It is pertinent to mention that in 2018, when the former foreign minister lost the provincial assembly to independent candidate Sheikh Salman Naeem, rumours were rife that Jahangir Tareen had a hand in defeating him in the polls. Meanwhile, Salman Naeem joined the PTI and was part of the Jahangir Tareen group after winning the election.

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CCTV cameras to be installed at PA’s 20 constituencies

Preparations for by-elections in 20 constituencies of Punjab Assembly continue as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought the details of highly sensitive polling stations from the returning officers. According to details, the polls supervisory body has decided to install CCTV cameras at high sensitive polling stations in cooperation with the district administration. The election supervisor also plans to call a high-level meeting in Lahore which will be attended by the chief election commissioner, ECP members and the security officials. The meeting will finalise a security plan for the by-elections. Sources said that 50 million ballot papers will be printed for the by-polls in Punjab Assembly’s 20 constituencies. Meanwhile, 3,129 polling stations will be set up and 4,579,943 voters will exercise their right of voting. Last month, 25 PTI dissident lawmakers, which included five elected on seats reserved for women and minorities, were de-seated for voting for PML-N's Hamza Shehbaz in the Punjab chief minister's election. They were officially de-notified by the election commission on May 23. The PTI had filed a petition in the LHC on May 28 requesting it to direct the ECP to notify the five new MPAs and "summon [them] personally". Subsequently, the high court had given the electoral a deadline for June 2 to decide the matter. The commission had, however, decided that the notification would be stayed until by-polls were held in the province on July 17.

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Fawad says NA independence forgone, running ‘biased’ session

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday expressed concerns over the reports of the National Assembly (NA) being run on “phone calls” from certain quarters, saying that the lower house had forgone its independence and was running a “biased” session. Talking to the media alongside fellow party leaders Shireen Mazari and Asad Umar, the former information minister said that the members of parliament, including Fehmida Mirza, Khalid Magsi and Aslam Bhootani, had referred to this. Bhootani, an independent lawmaker, pointed out that he spoke to certain quarters “from where we normally receive telephone calls” to speak to Ahsan Iqbal for including development schemes in his constituency in the Public Sector Development Programmme (PSDP). Terming the reports of interference in assembly matters as an “anomaly”, the information minister stressed that the country needs to be politically stable before it can be economically stable. READ Five MDA officials sacked over alleged corruption He claimed that nothing was being done in accordance with the Constitution anymore. He asked why the superior judiciary was not hearing Faisal Vawda’s reference and why had it not formed a commission to probe the alleged threat letter despite President Dr Arif Alvi’s letters in this regard. Wondering what the outcome of isolating PTI would be, he stressed that the only way out of the political crisis was to go for new elections. Umar told the media that the PTI requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to issue a notification for five reserved seats in Punjab Assembly immediately as the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) order was out in this regard. He alleged that the incumbent provincial government was planning on rigging the Punjab by-polls by giving misleading information to voters when they text on 8300 to find out about their constituency. He demanded that the ECP probe this matter, alleging that all state institutions were trying to protect the incumbent government. Shireen asked for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation and demanded that the Supreme Court (SC) act against the electoral body since it could not conduct transparent elections. (With input from news desk)

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Bird strikes on the rise at airports across Pakistan

Raising alarm bells for airlines and travellers alike, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Wednesday issued harrowing statistics about the increasing number of bird strikes at the country’s major airports. The report takes stock of incidents between January 2018 and May 2022. Six hundred and twenty-two incidents were recorded in the past four-and-a-half years, with birds colliding with both domestic and foreign aircraft. According to the data, Lahore airport witnessed the highest number of bird strikes, with 198 incidents being recorded during this period. Karachi airport recorded 192 strikes, Islamabad airport 100, Sialkot airport 53, Peshawar airport 40, Multan airport 26, Faisalabad airport 22 and Quetta airport recorded 17 strikes. According to the CAA, 60 per cent of these incidents were reported during the monsoon season. The months of June, July, August and September saw an increase in such incidents. In 2021, 142 incidents were reported, while from January to May this year, 48 incidents were reported. Due to bird strikes, domestic and international airlines had to bear heavy financial losses.

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Is Udaipur incident part of a pre-planned scheme?

The statements of two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokespersons, targeting Islam earlier this month exposed the true face of Hindutva fascism in India and its brutal ambitions against the country’s Muslim minority community. The architects of the hate speech who used it as a tool to suppress the already alienated Muslims were understandably not going to sit idle and knew they had to come up with something to divert the anger aimed at them from not just Muslim countries, but other nations too. What has followed is not surprising as now the planners wanted to project those peaceful protests by Muslims as violent extremism. That is what exactly happened in Rajasthan state’s Udaipur city lately, where a Hindu tailor accused of making anti-Islam remarks was beheaded, with a video going 'viral' in no time. Soon after, two Muslims openly admitted to the killing, further giving rise to the notion of a pre-planned scheme. Also read: Pakistan rejects Indian insinuations linking it to Udaipur killing The way the video went viral on social media and the response that followed points to the said scheme. Analysts believe there could not be an attempt more foolish than this to turn the tide. Kanhaiya Lal, the victim, was first arrested over posting inappropriate content on the social media but he was released soon after. The arrest made him known among the locals. He wasn't provided police protection despite his requests to the authorities concerned. The scheme was aimed to project Muslims, who were known as a suppressed minority, as terrorists. It is the Modi administration's history to cross all limits to create distraction. Pulwama incident took place when there was a need to deflect attention from the Rafale jet scandal and when votes from the lower caste Hindus were needed. Then own people attacked the Kabul temple to shed a bad light on the Sikh community. Also read: Hindu activists, academics condemn BJP's blasphemous remarks Experts say that the Modi administration must stop this heinous game and the Udaipur incident must be probed by an independent authority. Simultaneously, the campaign against Islam and Indian Muslims must be seized, as well as checks should be made on the identity of the two men who committed the crime and made it viral on social media. The BJP government turning a blind eye to the campaign and encouraging hate can lead to further such occurrences. The entire Muslim world is concerned at the rising tide of Islamophobia in India, which is an extremely dangerous trend not for the country but the region and the world. The timeline of the Udaipur incident: May 27: Journalist Muhammad Zubair posted Nupur Sharma's video on Twitter June 5: Iran, Kuwait and Qatar summoned Indian envoy to register their protest June 7: Nupur Sharma was suspended and provided state security June 9: NSA Ajit Doval met Iranian envoy and assured action against culprits June 10: Protests erupted across India June 11: Kanhaiya Lal was arrested for supporting Sharma on Twitter June 16: Kanhaiya Lal was released from prison after five days June 17: Riaz recorded video of threatening Lal, but released it after the killing June 27: Muhammad Zubair was arrested June 28: Ghous Muhammad and Riaz beheaded Lal in Udaipur June 29: The two suspects were arrested in addition to five others

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Bird strikes on the rise at airports across Pakistan

Raising alarm bells for airlines and travellers alike, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Wednesday issued harrowing statistics about the increasing number of bird strikes at the country’s major airports. The report takes stock of incidents between January 2018 and May 2022. Six hundred and twenty-two incidents were recorded in the past four-and-a-half years, with birds colliding with both domestic and foreign aircraft. According to the data, Lahore airport witnessed the highest number of bird strikes, with 198 incidents being recorded during this period. Karachi airport recorded 192 strikes, Islamabad airport 100, Sialkot airport 53, Peshawar airport 40, Multan airport 26, Faisalabad airport 22 and Quetta airport recorded 17 strikes. According to the CAA, 60 per cent of these incidents were reported during the monsoon season. The months of June, July, August and September saw an increase in such incidents. In 2021, 142 incidents were reported, while from January to May this year, 48 incidents were reported. Due to bird strikes, domestic and international airlines had to bear heavy financial losses.

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Gang smuggling stolen mobile phones to Afghanistan busted

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police have busted a 17-member gang involved in snatching mobile phones from citizens and smuggling them to Afghanistan. The criminals comprise IT experts, those with the know-how of hanging mobile phone IMEI numbers and a police constable. The police also recovered 172 cellphones from the gang worth Rs1.7 million. SSP Operations Kashif Aftab Abbassi told The Express Tribune that the notorious group had 17 members and used to work in four different subgroups. The suspects belong to different areas of the city and also include a police constable Imran s/o Momin Khan who has been suspended immediately and action is being taken against him. Read more: Footage of snatching Rs3.5m from a family goes viral Abbasi said that the gang used to snatch mobile phones from the people at gunpoint and was also involved in purchasing stolen mobile phones from different cities of the country including Karachi. He said that the gang was involved in changing the IMEI number of the phone and then they used to smuggle them to Afghanistan. The suspects have confessed to several crimes during the initial investigation and further revelations are expected. Apart from 172 smartphones, 14 computers, a motorcycle, a car and a number of weapons were also recovered from the suspects, identified as Shakir, Shehzad, Naved, Zulfiqar, Zareef, Bilal, Zakir, Zahid, Abdur Raheem, Salman, Amin, Irshad, Imran, Rab Nawaz, Ismael, Faqir Gul and Hazrat Hussain. Also read: Robbers snatch vehicle, valuables near Char Minar Chowrangi SSP Operations Abbasi, while announcing a reward for the team for arresting the culprits, said that the police have launched a crackdown against criminal elements in the city. He said that the noose is being tightened against the "black sheep" of the police department. The police official also said that no concessions would be given to the cops involved in criminal activities and cases and strict action would be taken against them.

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MQM-P threatens to join opposition benches

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) – part of the PML-N-led government – continued to turn up the heat against the government on Wednesday as it fired a warning shot across the coalition by threatening to backpedal from “here to there”. The party – whose crucial support to the then opposition muscled out PTI’s government earlier this year – slammed the government, saying it did not care a fig about the ministries that came at the cost of respect. Speaking in the National Assembly, MQM-P MNA Salahuddin warned that his party will not take a minute before moving from the treasury to opposition benches, adding “we have paid a heavy price to support you”. MQM-P MNA Engineer Sabir Hussain Kaimkhani said he was in the assembly after being elected by his constituency and does not need to beg for the seat of anyone. Read more: MQM-P warns PPP of ‘taking own decisions’ if promises not fulfilled "We get these ministries, these seats so as to earn respect and serve. If we don't even get respect after getting these seats, then we [reject this]," he said. The problems of the people in my constituency are not being solved, he lamented. Kaimkhani said there was "one person present here because of whom we don't have the necessities in our city". “Our airport is shut, our PIA (Pakistan International Airline) office is closed, there are accidents on our railway tracks every day and blasts occur on our railway tracks. But no one is here to answer for the railway and PIA’s downgrade." The MNA, elected from Hyderabad, lamented that there was no electricity in his city. "This attitude will not make this government work. The budget did not give any priority to projects in our areas." "I am walking out against their behaviour and I am leaving after saying this: With them, neither the government nor the assembly can run," Kaimkhani said. However, the MQM-P leaders came back to the house after being dissuaded by the PML-N leaders from staging a walkout.

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8 die in road crashes

At least eight people died and 937 were injured in 885 Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) across Punjab during the last 24 hours. Of the injured, 529 people with serious injuries were shifted to different hospitals, while 408 victims with minor injuries were treated at the incident site. The majority of RTCs involved motorbikes. Further analysis showed that 475 drivers, 30 underage drivers, 90 pedestrians, and 380 passengers were among the victims of these RTCs. The statistics show that 262 RTCs were reported in Lahore with 283 victims, placing the Provincial Capital at top of the list. Faisalabad followed behind with 74 RTCs and 85 victims and Multan at third with 72 RTCs and 74 victims. The details further reveal that 937 victims were affected by RTCs including, 773 males and 172 females, while the age group of the victims shows that 175 were less than 18 years of age, 492 were between 18 and 40 years and rest of the 278 victims were reported above 40 years of age. Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2022.

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Verdict reserved on admissibility of plea against PM meeting ‘absconders’

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved judgment on the admissibility of a petition filed against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's move of meeting people who have been declared proclaimed offenders by the Pakistani courts. Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition pertaining to barring Premier Shehbaz from meeting absconders. During the hearing on Tuesday, the petitioner's counsel, Chaudhry Muhammad Akram Advocate, appeared before the court and took a stand that the prime minister should be barred from meeting the people whom the court has declared absconders. The chief justice asked, “How to stop the prime minister? Which writ petition is made [in this regard]?” The lawyer said that the picture of PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif with senior journalist Najam Sethi on a boat doing the rounds on social media shows that Nawaz is healthy, so “meeting the accused is a violation of the oath of Prime Minister Shehbaz”. The chief justice asked, “How can the court stop the prime minister on just assumptions?” The lawyer said that in the UK, Prime Minister Shehbaz met Nawaz and former finance minister Ishaq Dar. Nawaz had been declared a fugitive by the court in the Panamagate case as he went to London for the treatment of an ailment and never returned while Dar was also declared a fugitive in the assets beyond means case. The chief justice inquired as to where he had met them. The lawyer replied that Dar met the premier in London. Chief Justice Minallah said, “Your application is premature and how can you look at it only on the basis of concern.” After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its decision on the admissibility of the petition.

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JCP defers hiring of 7 SHC extra judges

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday could not agree on the issue of the appointment of seven additional judges for the Sindh High Court and its meeting was adjourned until without any decision. The meeting was chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial through video link and sources said it lasted for four hours. Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf participated in the meeting via video link from Spain and Lahore respectively. According to the sources, the meeting also discussed amendments to the JCP Rules. The participants of the meeting considered the appointment of district and sessions judges Amjad Ali Bhoyo and Saad Abdul Qureshi as well as advocates Rashid Solangi, Khadim Hussain Soomro, Barrister Abdul Rehman, Khurram Rashid and Arbab Ali Hakro as additional SHC judges. Also read: Justice Isa calls into question JCP meetings in his absence The majority of members were of the view that the nomination of judges should be deferred to consider all names thoroughly as well as wait for Justice Isa’s return from abroad. Though Justice Isa participated in the JCP meeting through video link, but he raised objections over the urgency to hold the JCP huddle. There is also a report that two-thirds of the JCP members were not in favour to endorse the nominations. Subsequently, after a four-hour discussion, the commission unanimously deferred the matter. The majority of the JCP members also urged the CJP to hold a meeting to finalise the criteria for judges' appointment. It has also been learnt that LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti had recommended job extension of the majority of additional judges. On the other hand, the superior bars want job confirmation of these judges. The superior bars once again took exception to the elevation of LHC judge Justice Ayesha A Malik to the SC. Also read: JCP agrees on four points to become a judge The commission will consider the confirmation of 13 LHC additional judges on Wednesday (today). Justice Isa, while writing a letter to the CJP a day earlier, had noted that the tenure of 13 LHC additional judges was recently extended by six months, asking why was the matter brought up again so soon. “Does special treatment with regard to LHC incumbents not create unnecessary misgivings? Will those in other provinces and of Islamabad not legitimately question this differential treatment? And, will this provide a pretext to those who want to create fissures in the unity of the nation?” he had added. “The reason to extend the tenure of the 13 LHC additional judges was that we did not have the opportunity to examine their documents contained in two boxes. [They have] now become four boxes that we have not had the time to examine.”

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Cabinet rolls out first policy to tackle hazardous waste

The federal cabinet approved on Tuesday country’s first-ever National Hazardous Waste Management Policy, 2022, hoping that the Centre and provinces would finalise a National Action Plan (NAP) implementation framework of the policy within three months so that the country does not become a dumping ground of hazardous disposals. Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman said that the cabinet has approved the strengthening of classification, transparency, institutional and NAP implementation frameworks and more stringent governance infrastructure for regulation of hazardous waste in the country and at its international borders. The decision has been taken as Pakistan annually produces 30 million tonnes of waste in addition to annually importing 80,000 tonnage of bundled waste from around the world, which has been causing environmental and health problems as well as contaminating the surface water and groundwater supplies. Also read: Hazardous pandemic medical waste piles up “Before Pakistan becomes a dumping ground for our own and the world’s hazardous waste, the government has gone ahead and made a detailed national policy to manage hazardous waste,” the climate change minister said in a press briefing held after the cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb and Adviser to PM for Kashmir and G-B Qamar Zaman Kaira among others shared other key decisions taken in the cabinet meeting, including approval of the visa regime for Afghanistan, housing scheme for Kashmiri refugees and an increase in the Hajj quota. Waste Management Policy Terming the approval of the policy a milestone, the climate change minister said that the implementation of the policy would help protecting health of the people and country’s environment. “The mismanagement of hazardous waste materials has become a serious challenge for Pakistan,” Sherry said, adding that “Our country has been importing all kinds of bundled waste from different parts of the world with an average annual tonnage of 80,000”. “If we are unable to manage our hazardous-waste storage and proper recycling then our own 30 million tonnes of waste every year without adequate disposal will contaminate both our surface water and groundwater supplies and can also wind up as a source of dangerous land pollution,” the minister feared. She noted that the country’s far and few landfills were usually up to their capacity and could not afford further dumping. The minister observed that the government had devised a long-overdue policy, saying “the country needed to get serious about managing waste, separating it as well as tracking it, instead of the unscientific and unregulated manner it has been handled over the years”. Also read: Hospital waste dumped openly on road “The collection, treatment, and disposal of waste material have been causing significant harm to human health and the environment.” The senator said the policy promotes a life cycle approach to manage hazardous waste from its generation to disposal in a manner that does not harm the environment. Moreover, as Pakistan shifts toward an industrial-driven economy, she said, there was a higher likelihood of dumping of hazardous waste and poor management. “Such wastes can potentially cause serious damage due to inadequate storage, transportation, treatment, or disposal operations,” the minister said, adding that studies have suggested that illegal or poor waste management is the most important worldwide cause of contamination of soil and groundwater. Sherry while referring to electronic waste (e-waste) – electronic products nearing the end of their useful life – said they contain recognised hazardous substances that may be directly released or generated after disposal or during the recycling process. “They pose life-threatening health risks for local communities that import the waste illegally,” she said, adding “there is a risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes i.e. low birth weight, total birth defects, and effects on the central nervous system of the baby”. Moreover, she said, e-waste can cause breathing problems, irritate skin or eyes, and cause headaches or nausea. “Pakistan has illegal dumping sites littered all over its cities near residential areas that pose a serious health risk for its citizens,” she said. Also read: Sustainable solid waste management Emphasising on a united front with federal and provincial governments working together to protect environment and people, the minister said that consultations with the provinces and AJK and G-B was completed and a specialised directorate for managing hazardous waste would be established in the ministry to implement the policy. She stressed the importance of compliance with the Basel, Stockholm, Rotterdam, and Minamata conventions. She said that without a proper channel, awareness, or a policy in place the country would face a hazardous waste problem that would be too difficult to control. The premier lauded the minister’s efforts for environmental protection, saying he would soon convene a special meeting on environmental protection where the provincial governments would also be invited. Cabinet approves visa regime for Afghanistan Meanwhile, the federal cabinet through the Afghan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell reviewed and approved the visa regime for Afghanistan after a meeting of an apex committee of NADRA, Board of Investment (BOI) and Foreign Office. Following the approval, the information minister said that the visa applications received from Afghanistan at foreign offices and embassies in Pakistan will be processed on the basis of current nationality and passport instead of country of origin. The information minister said that the federal cabinet has included sub-categories in the work visa category to maximise trade with Afghanistan. In the category, she said, the proposal to introduce drivers, transporters and helpers within the online visa system was approved. Also read: PM Shehbaz gives nod to new transit visas for Afghans Multiple entry visas based on a six-month period will be issued within 48 hours, Marriyum said, adding the interior ministry could extend it to one year. The cabinet exempted drivers, transporters and helpers from getting a letter of recommendation from the BOI and registration of SECP, saying NADRA has been directed to ensure that changes were immediately made in the online system. The premier also formed a cabinet committee to continue monitoring the business facilitation process and to ensure that visa requirements for patients coming from Afghanistan on medical grounds had been made easy. Housing scheme for Kashmiri refugees Adviser to the PM for Kashmir and G-B Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the cabinet has given approval for the release of Rs3.1 billion for the first phase of construction of 1,314 houses for the Kashmiri refugees, who had migrated to Pakistan from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir due to fighting some three decades ago. Kaira said that the housing scheme was being set up for 8,000 Kashmiri families, adding that the AJK government has to provide land for the purpose. Increase in Hajj quota The cabinet approved amendments to the Hajj Policy 2022 on the recommendation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs as a result of the problems encountered in the ongoing operations for the pilgrimage. Under these amendments and on the directions of the Peshawar High Court, 188 private sector pending cases and the quota of additional 2,000 pilgrims received from Saudi Arabia were made part of the government Hajj scheme. The number of government quotas was increased to 34,641 from 32,453. Balochistan quota The cabinet was briefed on the vacant posts in the federal services regarding Balochistan quota before it approved that the ministries and divisions would ensure that recruitment on provincial quota was based on merit and that the domicile rights of the region were not violated. It said that an NOC would be obtained from the Establishment Division for recruitment on Balochistan quota within two weeks and advertisements will be given for all vacancies. Attack on polio team condemned The cabinet condemned attack on polio team in district Tank, which left a polio worker and two constables accompanying the team in North Waziristan dead. The information minister said that the PM has directed the interior minister to submit a report before the cabinet in the next meeting.

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Shahid Afridi fined for overspeeding on motorway

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi on Tuesday was fined for overspeeding on a motorway while travelling to Karachi from Lahore. The star cricketer was fined Rs1,500 by the motorway police for violating speed limits. The former captain hailed the motorway police, saying law was equal for all and suggested that the speed limit should be increased over 120 kmph. “Good to interact with a polite staff at @NHMPofficial and I found them very professional. Also my humble suggestion we have very good highways, the speed allowed should be more than 120kph!,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle. Good to interact with a polite staff at @NHMPofficial and I found them very professional. Also my humble suggestion we have very good highways, the speed allowed should be more than 120kph! https://t.co/F7qCmcDxfT — Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 28, 2022 He also took selfies with the motorway police. Afridi, known as Boom Boom for his blistering sixes during matches, has played 27 Tests, 398 ODIs and 99 T20I matches for Pakistan. He has scored 1,716 runs in Tests, 8,064 in ODIs and 1,416 in T20s. He took 48 wickets in Test cricket, 395 in OD1s and 98 in T20s.

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PML-N leader Ishaq Dar confirms his return to Pakistan next month

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and former finance minister Senator Ishaq Dar has said that he is returning to Pakistan next month. Dar, who has been living in London since 2017, confirmed to the BBC Urdu saying his “intention to return to Pakistan next month is almost confirmed”. He expressed hope that his medical treatment is expected to be completed in the next 10 to 12 days. In September 2017, Dar was indicted by an accountability court in assets beyond means case. A few days later, he first left for Saudi Arabia and from there went to the UK for 'medical treatment'. Also read: Perpetual arrest warrant for Dar re-issued in assets beyond means case In December 2017, an accountability court declared the former finance minister an absconder over his non-compliance with the authorities concerned in the corruption reference. When asked by BBC Urdu about the cases against him in Pakistan and his bail, Dar said that he is facing only one “fake case which was filed by [former prime minister] Imran Niazi”. The PML-N leader also said that the “baseless” case against him was based on his tax return and added that he always filed his income tax return on time. "That is why when Imran Khan's government approached Interpol to bring me to Pakistan, the documents given to Interpol had no credence, so they gave a clean chit,” he added.

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PML-N leader Ishaq Dar confirms his return to Pakistan next month

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and former finance minister Senator Ishaq Dar has said that he is returning to Pakistan next month. Dar, who has been living in London since 2017, confirmed to the BBC Urdu saying his “intention to return to Pakistan next month is almost confirmed”. He expressed hope that his medical treatment is expected to be completed in the next 10 to 12 days. In September 2017, Dar was indicted by an accountability court in assets beyond means case. A few days later, he first left for Saudi Arabia and from there went to the UK for 'medical treatment'. Also read: Perpetual arrest warrant for Dar re-issued in assets beyond means case In December 2017, an accountability court declared the former finance minister an absconder over his non-compliance with the authorities concerned in the corruption reference. When asked by BBC Urdu about the cases against him in Pakistan and his bail, Dar said that he is facing only one “fake case which was filed by [former prime minister] Imran Niazi”. The PML-N leader also said that the “baseless” case against him was based on his tax return and added that he always filed his income tax return on time. "That is why when Imran Khan's government approached Interpol to bring me to Pakistan, the documents given to Interpol had no credence, so they gave a clean chit,” he added.

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IHC dismisses PTI plea against expats’ voting procedure

The Islamabad High Court on Monday dismissed the petition against constitutional amendment on voting procedure for overseas Pakistanis, saying that parliamentary legislation could not be repealed on mere assumptions as the new law preserved the right of expatriates to vote. Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Dawood Ghaznavi against the amendment in electoral laws made by the incumbent government. During the hearing, the petitioner's lawyer said that the right of other Pakistanis to vote was recognised but not given. “Overseas Pakistanis will not be given the right to vote till the Day of Judgment.” The lawyer said, “Parliament maliciously reduced the issue of overseas Pakistanis' vote to zero again.” The chief justice expressed anger over the stance adopted by the lawyer, saying that the legislation of parliament could not be called “malicious”. After hearing the arguments of the lawyer, the court dismissed the petition as inadmissible, saying that it was hoped that the Election Commission would fulfil its constitutional obligation. “The court cannot direct parliament to legislate,” the chief justice said, adding that it was hoped that the Election Commission would take necessary steps for providing right to vote to Pakistani expats. “This is a very complex issue. The security and secrecy of the vote is very important.”

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Mandatory mask-wearing returns as Covid flares

Mandatory mask-wearing for protection against Covid-19 staged a comeback on Monday, as the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) issued new guidelines in the wake of resurgence in fresh cases. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) the national positivity ratio rose to 2.85%, with the detection of 382 new coronavirus cases from 13,412 Covid-19 tests conducted over the last 24 hours. The NIH said two Covid patients died, while 87 were in critical condition. The NCOC made mask-wearing mandatory on all domestic flights, railways, and public transport within the country. “We request all citizens to wear mask during travel for prevention from Covid-19 transmission,” an NIH spokesperson said. All provinces and regions were also directed to administer booster shots on a priority basis to further improve protection against Covid-19 transmission, while all health officials concerned had been asked to remain alert and vigilant about the situation. While emphasising the importance of precautions, including social distancing and mask-wearing, especially in crowded places, the health authorities also stressed the need for strict observance of the guidelines for the management of markets. According to the NIH data, the highest ratio of Covid cases was registered in Sindh which was 6.17% in the last 24 hours. Karachi has emerged as the new hotspot of the pandemic in the country with the positivity ratio of 22.65%. In Hyderabad, the ratio was 0.32%. Azad Jammu and Kashmir follows Sindh with 2.94% ratio. The ratio in Punjab was 1.17%, while 1.15% was recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Muzaffarabad was the most-affected city with 6.25% in northern parts of the country,. Elsewhere, the positivity ratio was 5% in Nowshera, 4.17% in Abbottabad, 3% in Peshawar, 2.44 in Mardan, 2.76% in Lahore, 2.31% in Islamabad, 1.05% in Rawalpindi and 1.64% in Sargodha. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)

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PM Shehbaz hints at 'more power loadshedding' in July

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has hinted at an increase in the electricity loadshedding in the month of July, saying the government is trying its "level best to avoid the power outages". "The prices of gas and oil have increased exorbitantly globally and we are trying our best [to tackle the issue] though it is overwhelming," the premier said while addressing MNAs from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the ruling alliance in Islamabad on Monday. He added that Pakistan didn't receive the tendered shipments as gas was entirely bought by Europe in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. "The nation shouldn't worry [as] we're trying our best [but] it's entirely possible that there may be an increase in loadshedding in July for a few days." https://ift.tt/MkW27sO "I am saying this because it is possible [though] we are making efforts to keep it at the lowest," PM Shehbaz, who is also the president of the ruling PML-N, said. He also announced on the occasion that the country will begin importing inexpensive coal from Afghanistan in July and use it for generating electricity. The government will also introduce a programme relating to solar power to ease power woes, he added. “The [coal] import will help the country save $2 billion annually,” he said, adding, “We will receive it in half the amount of the coal we imported earlier but it will be of the same efficiency.” He told the lawmakers that the country had successfully avoided a default through it was brought at the brink of bankruptcy of it by the previous government. On the foreign financial support, he said it was good to seek technical assistance from the allied nations, but the “times of carrying a begging bowl” is gone. Also read: NEPRA approves Rs7.90 hike in power tariff The prime minister also told the participants that the terms and conditions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would soon be agreed upon, adding that they had put forth really tough conditions. The government, he added, is also working to boost the production of cotton and wheat. According to the premier, Pakistan has successfully avoided an edible oil crisis. He also said that the direct tax has been imposed on the earnings of owners of different sectors, saying it was for the first time that tax had been imposed on the wealthy lot. “By doing so, we hope to collect more than Rs200 billion from them.” Concluding, Shehbaz said: “Good times are ahead and the coalition government will definitely bring a change with their efforts.”

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PM Shehbaz hints at 'more power loadshedding' in July

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has hinted at an increase in the electricity loadshedding in the month of July, saying the government is trying its "level best to avoid the power outages". "The prices of gas and oil have increased exorbitantly globally and we are trying our best [to tackle the issue] though it is overwhelming," the premier said while addressing MNAs from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the ruling alliance in Islamabad on Monday. He added that Pakistan didn't receive the tendered shipments as gas was entirely bought by Europe in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. "The nation shouldn't worry [as] we're trying our best [but] it's entirely possible that there may be an increase in loadshedding in July for a few days." https://ift.tt/MkW27sO "I am saying this because it is possible [though] we are making efforts to keep it at the lowest," PM Shehbaz, who is also the president of the ruling PML-N, said. He also announced on the occasion that the country will begin importing inexpensive coal from Afghanistan in July and use it for generating electricity. The government will also introduce a programme relating to solar power to ease power woes, he added. “The [coal] import will help the country save $2 billion annually,” he said, adding, “We will receive it in half the amount of the coal we imported earlier but it will be of the same efficiency.” He told the lawmakers that the country had successfully avoided a default through it was brought at the brink of bankruptcy of it by the previous government. On the foreign financial support, he said it was good to seek technical assistance from the allied nations, but the “times of carrying a begging bowl” is gone. Also read: NEPRA approves Rs7.90 hike in power tariff The prime minister also told the participants that the terms and conditions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would soon be agreed upon, adding that they had put forth really tough conditions. The government, he added, is also working to boost the production of cotton and wheat. According to the premier, Pakistan has successfully avoided an edible oil crisis. He also said that the direct tax has been imposed on the earnings of owners of different sectors, saying it was for the first time that tax had been imposed on the wealthy lot. “By doing so, we hope to collect more than Rs200 billion from them.” Concluding, Shehbaz said: “Good times are ahead and the coalition government will definitely bring a change with their efforts.”

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Will rifts among allies brew distrust in the centre?

The anticipated unease and friction in the ruling coalition showed its tentacles on Monday over the local government elections in Sindh as MQM-P and JUI-F, among others, rejected results of Sindh LG poll results and accused PPP of rigging. The violence-plagued contest convulsed into the coalition government’s seemingly most bitter rift when major allies of the PML-N government vowed to take the matter to the ECP while the PPP rejoiced at its victory, unfazed the allegations of rigging. The emerging cracks have also threatened to spread to the centre as the allies decide to raise their reservations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who thrives on the unity of the rainbow coalition. Senior MQM-P leader Wasim Akhtar accused the province’s ruling party of violating the agreement pertaining to respecting parties’ mandates and alleged that PPP stole MQM-P’s mandate in the first phase of Sindh’s LG elections. Read more: MQM-P warns PPP of ‘taking own decisions’ if promises not fulfilled A senior leader of MQM said that the party would meet ECP officials on Tuesday (today), adding that the reservations have already been conveyed to PPP leadership over the lapses on part of the Sindh government. Meanwhile, Akhtar threatened that MQM-P would not allow holding LG polls in Karachi and Hyderabad if its reservations were not addressed, adding the party would take to the streets if PPP continues to violate its agreement earlier signed about local government, respecting each other’s mandate and recruitment policy in Sindh to the local policing system, among other things. Similarly, JUI-F’s Rashid Soomro while rejecting the results of by-polls urged the prime minister to take notice of the situation and reminded that PML-N could gather up reins of the centre owing to the support extended by JUI-F and MQM-P. He warned things shouldn’t be pushed to the point where the allies were forced to withdraw their support. Soomro while announcing a long march against the Sindh government said that the party would also deliberate on its alliance in the centre and see if it should continue to be a part of the government whose major ally was rigging the election in Sindh and beating up JUI-F’s workers. He revealed that he has updated JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman about the whole situation and the party was ready to launch a movement against the Sindh government just like it did against former premier Imran Khan’s government. He said that the protest would continue till the people of Sindh get rid of the provincial government and former president Asif Ali Zardari. He said JUI-F workers and supporters would protest outside ECP’s regional offices on Tuesday. PPP gives nonchalant shrug Meanwhile, PPP leaders rejected the allegations of rigging and claimed elections were fair, adding if anyone had any reservations then they could go to ECP. Countering the allegations levelled against the party, the leader said that PPP workers were also attacked in different districts, adding that JUI-F and MQM-P and others were happy about the areas where they have won and harboured reservations about places they have lost. Simultaneously, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government felt the heat from some other allies too as Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and an independent MNA, Aslam Bhootani, also expressed severe reservations on the treatment meted out to them. BAP’s MNAs Khalid Magsi and Bhootani lashed out at the government in the National Assembly over its conduct with the allies, warning that the government had an edge of only two votes in the assembly and rudeness didn’t suit it in the current scenario. In his speech, Magsi questioned the whole process of ousting the PTI-led government, saying it seemed the purpose was to just oust them from power and enjoy the perks and privileges instead of focusing on any bigger goals. Read: MQM-P expresses concern over ‘no progress’ on agreement with PPP Commenting on the distribution of the portfolios among the coalition partners, Magsi said that BAP has so far been given only one ministry and decisions were being taken without taking them on board. When needed against the PTI government, he said, the incumbent rulers would visit them but were now not even ready to see their faces, stressing that things should be corrected as the alliance was only in its third month and things were not smoothly working. Bhootani also expressed displeasure over the ruling party’s conduct, saying he joined the PML-N coalition after Zardari approached him. Bhootani swore that he was happy with the PTI government as PTI provided development funds of billions of rupees which, he said, have been slashed by planning minister Ahsan Iqbal. In the NA, he reminded the ruling party that it had just two more votes than required to show a simple majority, saying PML-N wouldn’t have bothered to listen to anyone had its simple majority was of 10 votes. The speeches on the floor of the House had a swift impact as Federal Minister for National Food Security Tariq Bashir Cheema, Magsi, Bhootani, Rubina Irfan and Ehsan Ullah Reki called on the prime minister right after the NA session was adjourned till Tuesday. Later, PM Shehbaz addressed his party MNAs as well as allies during a dinner hosted for them and spoke about the economic condition of the country and how the coalition government escaped default in the face of IMF’s tough conditions.

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MNAs condemn Canadian MP’s remarks against army

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday strongly condemned the Canadian parliamentarian's remarks against Pakistan's military leadership, urging the Canadian government to take notice of the irresponsible statement. Speaking in the National Assembly, Asif said, "Pakistan and military leadership was criticised by a Canadian parliamentarian, which is deplorable … the Canadian government should take action on irresponsible statement." He said that a protest had also been registered through the diplomatic channel against the remarks but it was necessary to debate the issue in Pakistan's parliament too. “Pakistan is enjoying cordial ties with Canada but the remarks against the Pakistan state and its institution cannot be tolerated,” he said. Read more: 'Hatemonger' Imran has divided Pakistanis, says defence minister He alleged that PTI chief Imran Khan is involved in an anti-state campaign outside the country, adding that the government in Pakistan had been changed through a legal process and according to the Constitution. The minister said that the change of government had also been endorsed by the Pakistan judiciary and the majority supported the move. He said that, in the incident of Islamophobia in Canada, Muslims from 2017 to 2022 were targeted and killed in various incidents. "During the last five years, Canada is leading in the cases of Islamophobia in G7 countries. The human rights violations are on the rise in Canada," he added. He expressed displeasure at the silence over human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir, Palestine and against the Muslims living in India, saying: “What an irony it is that western countries always exercise selective sense of justice and look aside when there is a matter of the rights of Muslims in Kashmir, Palestine and Myanmar.” He said it was unfortunate that when the issue of targeting Muslims comes, the international human rights institutions showed criminal silence. Read more: Pakistan issues demarche to Canada over MP’s 'irresponsible remarks' Asif said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership had divided the Pakistan society and overseas Pakistanis. "Over nine million overseas Pakistanis are assets of the country," he added. He alleged that the PTI chairman had promoted hate inside Pakistan and outside Pakistan, adding that all the country's institutions had been used by Imran for political victimisation. Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Raja Riaz Ahmed Khan also condemned the parliamentarian’s remarks against the military leadership. "The house strongly condemned the Canadian parliamentarian’s remarks against Pakistan institutions and its leadership." Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri also called upon the Canadian government to take notice of the irresponsible statement given by a Canadian parliamentarian against the democratic system of Pakistan. "I am truly offended as a Pakistani to hear such an irresponsible statement made on the floor of the Canadian parliament," she added. She said the Pakistan government sees the bilateral relationship with Canada with respect but it did not mean that its parliament should raise questions over Pakistan's democratic government and security institutions. "Pakistan is a sovereign nation, a nuclear state, and has true democratic system that has to be respected," she added. She said such statements on the international level are being made only due to former premier Imran Khan's anti-Pakistan and anti-democratic behaviour who is telling blatant lies in his interviews with the international media. On the grievances expressed by the Muhammad Aslam Bhootani, the minister added that the issues and the grievances of Balochistan needed to be addressed by action and not words. She said the model of Aghaz-e-Huqooq Balochistan introduced by PPP President Asif Ali Zardari can be adopted to minimise the deprivation of the province. (With input from APP)

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International day against drugs observed

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed on Sunday around the world to raise awareness about the impact of drug abuse and illicit trafficking of drugs. The theme of 2022 is “Addressing Drugs Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises”. The Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH) and the Pakistan Law Company organized a seminar and annual award ceremony 2022 regarding World Anti-Drugs Day for service providers who served in drug demand reduction fields the whole year in collaboration with the Anti-Narcotics Force Punjab. Prof. Dr. Murtaza Jafri, vice-chancellor of the National College of the Arts (NCA) presided. Syed Zulfiqar said that without political will we can’t curb the drug menace in the society. “We have no policy for treatment and prevention for a large number of homeless and unknown drug addicts who were using narcotics on footpaths, gardens and parks,” he added. Bodies of 60 homeless drug addicts were found in May 2022 in Lahore due to overdose and shortage of drugs, shortage of food and water, living with miserable conditions and hot weather, he said. The new trend of drug addiction was on the rise among young generation especially those belonging to the upper and middle classes, he said. He said that by involving different government departments the use of drugs could be minimized. People were dependent on different forms of substance in the country, including Gutka etc.   Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2022.

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Local govt overhaul in the offing

A local government system comprising seven types of elected bodies has been proposed in a draft law for Punjab along with a provision for the appointment of municipal magistrates for recovering dues from defaulters. As per sources, the Local Government Act 2022 envisages a system consisting of district, Tehsil and union councils, metropolitan and municipal corporations, as well as municipal and town committees across the province. The municipal magistrates will be empowered for recovering dues from defaulters in a bid to increase the revenue. They will have the power to issue notices and arrest warrants against defaulters of municipal dues. According to analysts, the local government systems introduced by former president Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government will be rolled back under the new law. However, the union council system will be restored. In the new system, instead of the elected members of local bodies, other candidates would also be eligible to contest elections for the posts of lord mayor, mayor and chairperson. Three seats of technocrats have been allotted in the local bodies. Each union council (UC) will have six wards. The UC chairperson and vice chairperson will be able to contest elections on a party basis as a panel, while a general councilor will be elected from each ward. Each UC will have three seats reserved for women, two for youths, one labourer and one for religious minorities. The chairpersons, vice chairpersons and general councilors will be elected by direct vote. The reserved seats will be filled by the elected members through elections with show of hands. One-third of the membership of each district council will be reserved for women, six per cent each for labourers and minorities, three seats each for technocrats and youths and two for differently-abled members. The council members will elect their colleagues on the reserved seats. The metropolitan and municipal corporations will have the same ratio of reserved seats. Under the new system, the district councils and metropolitan and municipal corporations will be given complete power to impose new taxes in their revenue areas, increase fees, impose fines, seal property, collect toll fee and increase the fees for services, including the water and sewerage tariff. Any new tax or increase in fees has to be approved by the local body concerned. The source said the Punjab government had also decided to establish authorities at the district level under the new local body system to ensure transparency and speedy work in all government departments. The authorities would work under the district council chairperson. The district tourism authorities will be established to promote local tourism, education authorities for ensuring free education, books and opening of new educational institutions, and transport authorities for coping with the traffic issues in each district. The district transport authority will issue new route permits for buses, wagons, rickshaws and other modes of transportation. Similarly, health, population welfare, arts council, social welfare and civil defence authorities will be established at the district level. Heads of all agencies concerned, deputy commissioners and district attorneys will be permanent members of the authorities. Two experts of the department concerned and a highly educated woman will also be appointed as permanent members. Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2022.

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Seven-day polio drive kicks off

Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Noorul Amin Mengal on Saturday inaugurated a seven-day anti-polio campaign. During the drive, 948,000 children will be administered polio drops in the entire Rawalpindi district. The anti-polio campaign is being conducted in seven districts of Punjab, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Layyah, Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Mianwali. The campaign is being carried out in these areas keeping in view the polio virus circulation. District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Lubna Ishaq said that 4465 teams had been deployed for the anti-polio campaign. She said that the Auqaf department will be involved to contact religious figures to cover refusal cases on the same day. The Rawalpindi division commissioner said that polio eradication is a national responsibility. “The effectiveness of the anti-polio campaign should be taken into consideration. Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2022.

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Moonis’ ‘frontman’ was signatory to '32 bank accounts'

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) investigation into PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi’s money laundering case has revealed that alleged frontman, Nawaz Bhatti, was a signatory of at least 32 bank accounts with a credit turnover of around Rs24 billion. However, Moonis has denied any links to alleged frontmen Bhatti and Mazhar Abbas, who according to the FIA, allowed him to borrow their identities to set up the Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) Sugar Mills Ltd from his allegedly ill-gotten wealth. Earlier this month, The FIA had registered a money laundering case against the former federal minister others in a case pertaining to his alleged involvement in a scam to the tune of Rs720 million. The investigation agency had also arrested Bhatti and Abbas on the charges that the two men used to facilitate the PML-Q leader to embezzle money. According to the FIA's FIR, the case against Moonis was registered on June 14 under Sections 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention), 109 (punishment for abetment), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using a genuine forged document) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010. The agency had also accused Moonis of using ‘hundi’ to transfer money out of Pakistan, saying it had "solid evidence" against the former minister. In his response submitted on Thursday to the 33 questions asked by the agency, Moonis has claimed that he did not know Bhatti and Abbas. He also maintained that he had no knowledge of whether he or his family had helped Abbas secure his job. Read Court restrains FIA from arresting Moonis till July 4 He further denied knowing that the two held shares in the RYK Sugar Mills and if he had provided any financial assistance to them. The PML-Q leader further denied using the influence of his father — former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi — to secure a no-objection certificate for setting up the RYK Sugar Mills. Replying to a question on the facts of the case indicating that an orchestrated scheme was employed to disguise the beneficiaries of the RYK Sugar Mills, Moonis said the allegation was "incorrect and misconceived" as all his shares were "duly declared". The FIR had said its Anti-Corruption Circle in Lahore registered an inquiry on August 7, 2020 pursuant to a report of the Sugar Inquiry Commission 2020. It had added that in light of the report, the FIA was mandated by the federal government to probe financial and corporate frauds committed by various sugar mills, including the RYK Sugar Mills. "During the ongoing probe against RYK/Alliance Sugar Mills Group, it transpired that the following low-profile individuals — one of them had been at a very low level at the time — had jointly set up RYK Sugar Mills Ltd. in 2007/2008 at Rahim Yar Khan," the FIR had stated. The FIR had added that the mill was "set up ostensibly by laundering funds from unexplained sources, including proceeds of financial crimes". It further said that the mill's capital increased by Rs720 million in 2008 but the source for these funds, as well as those required for the acquisition of land, import of plants and machinery and administrative expenses, remained "unexplained".

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Asif’s ‘army appoints its own chief’ remarks draw PTI’s ire

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks that the “army appoints its own chief” has drawn criticism from the former ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf which termed him a “danger to Pakistan” and demanded that elections be held so that a new government could make important appointments. Asif’s comments came during an interview with a private news channel when he was asked about the difference between the PTI and the PML-N on the appointment of army chiefs. The defence minister called for an end to the controversy over the appointment of army chiefs, saying that he was at the same post at the time of the appointment of two army chiefs – former chief of army staff Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif and the incumbent army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Both times, he said, PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister but he had no "personal motive" behind those appointments. Asif made it clear during the interview that the process of consultation for the selection of the army chief included seeking input from the defence secretary. He said he had taken the defence secretary’s input before the appointment of Gen (retd) Sharif. “The defence secretary was a very honourable man who said any person awarded three stars was suitable for the post,” Asif added. He criticised PTI Chairman Imran Khan for questioning and "casting doubt" on the appointment of the new army chief in November. Read Don’t accept Alvi as president, says Asif "Why can't there be a system for this (COAS appointment) to happen within the institution?" Asif asked, giving the example of the judiciary which he said had a system in place to appoint the chief justice. He said that the extent to which the army chief's appointment was being discussed in the public realm was unprecedented. "I believe that this [matter] was over-exposed when Gen [retd] Musharraf took an extension of up to nine years," he added. PTI leader and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry quickly took to Twitter to give his two cents on the matter. "People like the defence minister are a danger to Pakistan." He asked if the elected prime minister did not appoint the army chief then “his purpose for being the premier is only to make money”. "This PML-N group from 1985 is the biggest hurdle in the progress of Pakistan," he said. “It is the right of the people to elect a new government.” PTI social media head Azhar Mashwani also reacted to the defence minister's remarks, saying that he had "openly revealed the real purpose of bringing the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) to power". "He has suggested that the authority of appointing the army chief should be taken away from the prime minister and given to the serving army chief," Mashwani added.

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15 illegal hydrants sealed in Pindi

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) during a crackdown sealed 15 illegal hydrants in Dahgal, Adiala Road and Gorakhpur areas and confiscated equipment including water motors. According to WASA officials, water was being stolen through illegal hydrants and sold in different areas of the city through tankers. They said that these illegal hydrants were being by a powerful mafia. They said that due to these illegal hydrants, water supply from tube wells to Adiala Jail and other areas had been affected. The WASA Rawalpindi with the help of the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and police conducted an operation against illegal hydrants and confiscated equipment including motors and pumps from the operators. Officials said that these illegal hydrants sold dirty water to the citizens at an exorbitant price. The assistant commissioner Saddar Rawalpindi said that due to these illegal hydrants, underground water has been depleted and due to the sale of water at a commercial level, citizens were facing a shortage of water. “Under no circumstances will the owners of such illegal hydrants be allowed to supply water,” he said. Owners are strongly instructed to register these hydrants immediately. The sale of water from illegal hydrants in the WASA jurisdiction has become a lucrative business. Fifty to 70 tankers sell water from each illegal hydrant daily, severely affecting WASA's water supply system from tube wells. WASA sources said that illegal hydrants will be completely eliminated so that citizens get water from the water supply network. Meanwhile, the WASA continues to clean 15 major drains passing through the densely populated areas in the city to ensure uninterrupted flow of rainwater during monsoon. These choked drains hamper the smooth passage of rainwater causing inundation of low-lying areas during heavy monsoon rains. WASA Managing Director Muhammad Tanveer, the WASA has already completed cleaning work on Nullah Lehi and sewerage lines across the city. The provincial government has released Rs35 million for the dredging of drains and nullahs including the Nullah Leh. The WASA managing director said that there are 15 drains in the city, most of which fall into Nullah Leh. He said that it has been decided to start cleaning work on all the drains at the same time to complete work in less time.   Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2022.

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British Council showcases films involving ‘local stories’

The British Council in collaboration with Patakha Pictures in Pakistan and the Scottish Documentary Institute in the UK organized a film screening event for “Pakistan Stories” at a hotel in Islamabad. Pakistan Stories seeks to support a new generation of female Pakistani documentary filmmakers to enable them to create engaging films that reflect on their society, and Pakistan’s 75 years of independence. The event celebrated the journey of the ten selected filmmakers through the programme. The filmmakers worked in pairs over a period of eight weeks and were mentored by experts in Pakistan and Scotland to develop and finance their creative skills so they could produce five short documentaries in a safe environment and reach new local and international audiences through their work. Important themes the documentaries cover include: early child and forced marriages, the rights of transgenders, women and disability, women in education and the feminist movement in Pakistan. Guests at the event included the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, the Deputy Director of the British Council, Mark Crossey, filmmaker and founder of Patakha Pictures, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the Director of the Scottish Documentary Institute, Noe Mendelle, as well as top diplomats, senior government officials, journalists, leading experts from the art space, and young aspiring artists and filmmakers. Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2022.

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India warns Sikh pilgrims against accepting Pakistani hospitality

Ever since its inception, the Kartarpur Corridor has been at the source of Indian hostility towards the visa-free passage of Sikhs to Pakistan; most notably, the extended closure of the corridor from the Indian side under the guise of coronavirus-related safety protocols, which effectively deprived many Sikhs of the freedom to carry out their religious rites. Now in true Bharatiya Janata Party style hostility, the Narendra Modi-led government has issued an advisory for Sikhs and Hindu pilgrims coming to Pakistan directing them to desist staying as a guest of any Pakistani citizen. The advisory further warns that the Indian pilgrims who accept the hospitality of Pakistani citizens will be blacklisted for the future. The advisory comes at a time when 495 Sikh pilgrims from India are presently visiting Pakistan to celebrate the anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Even apart from the current pilgrimage, typically, Sikhs and Hindus who come to Pakistan prefer visiting their ancestral hometowns with the permission of Pakistani authorities and to meet long-lost friends and family. Pakistan's Sikh Prabandhak Gurdwara Committee, taking offence to the advisory, has maintained that the Pakistanis are hospitable people and it is a matter of honour and respect for their guests to treat them as family members. The committee further said that the Indian government wants to sow the seeds of hatred through such tactics. Sardar Amir Singh, the head of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, while talking to the Express Tribune, said, "This is a sad step taken by the Indian government." Sardar Amir was of the view that the fascist Indian government was trying to deprive Sikhs of a chance to see the lands of their ancestors. The advisory has been on the cards for a while now as earlier, the Indian government had raised objections that some pilgrims visiting Gurudwara Darbar Sahib via Kartarpur Corridor meet their friends and conduct business. Such pilgrims, the Indian government contended, were misusing the Kartarpur corridor. In response, Pakistan's Foreign Office had strongly rejected Indian propaganda about using the Kartarpur Corridor for business meetings. Furthermore, the Foreign Office said that the fabricated propaganda was a part of India's deliberate campaign aimed at undermining Pakistan's historic move to open the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims from India and around the world and that in reality the Indian government was trying to divert attention from the atrocities it was inflicting on its minorities. Member of the Punjab Assembly, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, referring to the Indian government’s advisory, said that Indian agencies have been trying to prevent Sikh pilgrims from coming to Pakistan with various tricks and excuses for a while now. “Previously, they told pilgrims that their lives are in danger in Pakistan. They also said that a visit to Pakistan might hurt pilgrims’ chances of getting visas for other countries. Thankfully, Sikhs have rejected such baseless propaganda,” the lawmaker said. On the other hand, Paramjit Singh Sarvaya, the secretary of the Indian Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the largest representative body of Sikhs in India, when asked about the advisory, told the Express Tribune that such instructions are normal practice for whenever a group of Sikh pilgrims goes to Pakistan from India. “The purpose of these instructions from the Indian government is to ask pilgrims to be cautious while going to Pakistan and to limit themselves to religious rituals only.” However, Sardar Amir, the Pakistani representative of the Sikh community, does not see Parmajit’s logic. “Sikhs who come here for religious pilgrimage often want to visit the bazaars and reunite with family members and friends they might not have seen for decades. The Indian government cannot just root out the love we have for each other by such absurd measures,” Sardar Amir told the Express Tribune.

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Retailers refuse to sell daily use items at official rates

Grocery retailers in Rawalpindi have refused to sell daily-use items including rice, pulses and oil at official rates after negotiations with the local administration remained failed. The grocery retailers said that they receive essential items from wholesalers at higher prices and could not sell them at the official rates. The Karyana Merchant Association claimed that the wholesale dealers of different commodities including lentils, flour and ghee have hiked prices. Traders Saleem Pervez Butt, Mian Afaq Ansari, Malik Abdul Hameed and Rao Hashim told The Express Tribune that prices of pulses, white gram, red beans etc have risen to Rs100 per kg after the exponential increase in the price of petroleum products and the depreciation of the rupee against the dollar. They said that there is a huge difference between the rates issued by the deputy commissioner’s office and in the wholesale market. “Grocery shopkeepers cannot afford to purchase white gram at Rs300 per kg in the wholesale market and sell them at Rs190 per kg.” “We have asked the deputy commissioner that whatever price is fixed by the administration, they provide us items on subsidised rate than the official price, only then we are ready to sell the commodities at the official rates,” they said. “The district administration says that the wholesale markets are not under their control but they force grocery sellers to sell items at cheaper rates. That is why we have convened a meeting of grocery shops and small traders from all over Punjab and have decided not to sell the items at the official rates and have stopped selling all these items for an indefinite period.” The traders said that these items were also expensive at utility store outlets but “we are being forced to sell these items at cheaper rates as compared to utility stores, which is next to impossible”. They further said that their boycott will continue until the deputy commissioner issues a new price list according to the wholesale market rate. The grocery seller had earlier stopped selling pulses but after the administration promised to fix new rates, they resumed selling pulses. The traders have also announced to stage a sit-in and protest in front of the chief minister's house in Lahore. They said that the government, deputy commissioners and price magistrates have no control over the open market. They said that wholesale dealers, importers, and manufacturers were increasing prices daily. They said that the wholesale market fixes different rates in the morning and in the evening and no one was there to ask them and regulate prices. They said that they have given a five-day ultimatum to the Punjab chief minister to regulate prices in the wholesale market, otherwise, all grocery traders from across Punjab will gather outside the Chief Minister's House in Lahore and stage a sit-in. Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2022.

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PPMA warns of medicine shortage if taxes not abolished

The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) has demanded of the government to abolish taxes on raw materials, citing shortage of 40 types of medicines, including life-saving drugs, and fearing 100 more if their request is not accepted. “Abolish taxes on our raw materials,” PPMA Chairman Qazi Mansoor Dilawar said during a meeting with the federal ministers at the Parliament House on Friday. Ministers Khursheed Shah, Miftah Ismail, Naveed Qamar, Ayaz Sadiq and Nazir Tarar along with the Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Asim Ahmad were present. The PPMA chairman apprised the ministers of the difficulties being faced by the pharmaceutical industry. “The prices of raw materials has more than tripled.” Dilawar urged the government to refund Rs48 billion collected as sales tax on import of raw material, withdraw 17% sales tax on import of raw material and increase prices of medicines by up to 25% to prevent collapse of the pharmaceutical industry. He added that they had been suffering from severe crisis for the last six months but the government was constantly showing lack of seriousness. “Sales tax was imposed and promised to be refunded in this regard … both the governments have so far collected our refunds of Rs48 billion which the government is not ready to give back due to which they have no more resources to import raw materials.” Increasing prices of gas, electricity and petroleum products and manpower wages had led to a 45% increase in production costs, he added. The PPMA chairman suggested that the government impose taxes on raw materials used for other purposes than pharmaceutical products. Finance Minister Miftah assured the PPMA chairman that he would get Rs48 billion refunds released from the FBR. The FBR chairman said that Rs40 million refunds had been given in the last one week. Ahmad accused the pharmaceutical companies of buying raw materials tax free and selling them in the market. Miftah asked Dilawar whether they were selling raw materials tax free. The finance minister said they would meet again on Monday to resolve all issues.

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Local PML-N leader dies of heart attack at Pindi election rally

Former local body chairman Kallar Syedan, Sheikh Abdul Qudus died of a heart attack on the stage moments after he finished addressing an election rally of PML-N for Punjab Assembly’s constituency PP-7 Rawalpindi on Friday. Qudus was participating in the election campaign of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Raja Saghir in the upcoming by-election, Express News reported. پنجاب اسمبلی کے حلقہ پی پی 7 راولپنڈی میں مسلم لیگ ن کے انتخابی جلسے سے خطاب کے بعد سابق چئیرمین بلدیہ کلر سیداں شیخ عبدالقدوس اسٹیج پر ہی دل کا دورہ پڑنے کے باعث انتقال کرگئے۔ pic.twitter.com/WXzmmBSYr7 — Shabbir Dar (@dar_shabbir) June 24, 2022 In a video that has gone viral on internet, Qudus can be seen taking his seat after addressing the election rally. A man gives him water but his condition suddenly deteriorates and he faints, falling unconscious on the lap of the person sitting next to him. Read more: Senior PML-N leader passes away in Lahore Later, he was rushed to a local hospital but declared dead by the doctors who said that Qudus died of cardiac arrest.

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Rs80b ‘burden’ passed on to salaried class

The government has caved in to the demand of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and passed on the burden of Rs80 billion on the salaried class by increasing their tax rates and withdrawing the relief announced hardly three weeks ago. It has set the minimum income tax rate of 2.5% for those earning up to Rs100,000 a month as well as a maximum of 35% on the monthly income of over Rs1 million, according to the proposed amendments to the Finance Bill 2022. The coalition government has reversed its two earlier decisions to exempt up to those with earning Rs100,000 a month from income tax and rolled back its move to reduce the highest income tax rate from 35% to 32.5% after the IMF refused to budge on its demand. On June 10, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail had announced an income tax relief of Rs47 billion for the salaried class. The coalition government has not only withdrawn the relief but also imposed Rs33 billion in net additional taxes in comparison with June 2021 for the salaried class, throwing a burden of Rs80 billion on them. Also read: PM Shehbaz announces 10pc 'super tax' on large-scale industries The IMF had proposed to tax the upper middle and rich income groups, which earn in the range of Rs104,000 to Rs1 million a month at a single rate of 30%, which the government did not accept. The new rates are still lower than the initial demand that the IMF had put before the last government of the PTI. The IMF had demanded an unjustified rate of 30% to be charged from persons earning Rs100,000 to Rs1 million a month to collect an additional Rs125 billion from the salaried class. “We tried to get maximum concessions from the IMF for the salaried class but it did not completely accept our position,” Miftah told The Express Tribune. He added that the net additional impact on the salaried class was Rs33 billion a year. About 1.24 million salaried people have filed income tax returns for the tax year 2021. Of them, 333,000 fall in the income tax exemption slab of Rs50,000 per month. This slab is still exempted. The government has now proposed a 2.5% income tax rate on up to Rs100,000 monthly income as against nil tax proposed on June 10. This is still half of the rate the salaried class paid in the outgoing fiscal year. The government has proposed a 12.5% income tax rate for people earning up to Rs200,000 a month –which is 78% higher than that proposed on June 10. The finance minister had earlier vowed that he would not put an additional burden on those with a Rs200,000 monthly income. For the outgoing fiscal year, the salaried persons were paying 10% for up to Rs150,000 monthly income and 15% on up to Rs208,000 monthly income. For the fourth slab carrying people of up to Rs300,000 monthly income, the government has now set  20% income tax rate as against 12.5% proposed on June 10  -- an additional burden of 60% in comparison with the three-week old rate.  The existing tax rate for this income group was 17.5%. Last month, inflation in Pakistan stood at 13.8%, which is expected to spiral due to many taxation measures like the Rs50 per litre petroleum levy. On a monthly income of Rs500,000 -- the fifth slab  -- the government has proposed 25% income tax as against the three-week old rate of 17.5%. For people earning over Rs1 million a month, the government has proposed a 32.5% rate -- up from 22.5% from three weeks ago. For the outgoing fiscal year, the tax rate for this slab was 25%. However, the IMF had proposed a 35% rate for them earlier. There are over 6,000 individuals, who earn up to Rs1 million a month. Read more: PSX plunges by over 2,000 points after PM Shehbaz announces 'super tax' For those who earn over Rs1 million a month, the government has now proposed a 35% income tax rate -- up from the three-week old rate of 32.5%. The finance minister said in the country, there were hardly 12,000 people, who had declared a monthly income of over Rs1 million. At present, people earning over Rs1 million a month to Rs2.5 million were paying 27.5% income tax rate. The revision in tax rates for the salaried class is expected to bring Pakistan and the IMF more closely to each other. However, the IMF has not yet shared the draft of the Memorandum for Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP). The government expects to receive the MEFP document either on Friday night or Monday.

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Russia sanctions adding to Pakistan’s woes

Pakistan on Friday admitted that it is enduring the negative fallout of the Western sanctions on Russia and other countries, saying the situation is aggravating and complicating its economic challenges. Since the invasion of Ukraine, the western countries, led by the US, have imposed sanctions on Russia including on its energy sector. The conflict coupled with western sanctions have shot up the energy prices and disrupted the supply chains. This has resulted in the increase in oil prices, which have shown some respite this week. Chinese President Xi Jinping addressing a business forum ahead of the BRICS [five emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa] summit, decried western sanctions on Russia, especially those of the US, saying that they were weaponising the economy and this was a double-edged sword affecting everyone. Pakistan is also being negatively affected by the oil crisis and like other developing countries, it risks inviting western sanctions if it tries to import energy products from Russia. Islamabad has failed to complete the multi-billion dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project fearing western sanctions. When asked to comment on the Chinese president’s remarks, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar acknowledged that the country’s economic challenges had been aggravated by the western sanctions on Russia in reaction to its invasion of Ukraine. “In principle, our historic position on sanctions is well known. We believe that if this instrument has to be used, it should be used through the mechanisms that are internationally available that is through the UN,” he added while responding to the question. “What I can say is that on the situation in Ukraine we have clarified our position from the beginning and it remains the same,” he said. “The situation is unfortunate and it has led to many consequences, which have serious impact on the international community, particularly the developing countries, and as you said on countries like Pakistan and others who are facing the consequences of the situation.” The FO spokesperson said perhaps these consequences are “further aggravated and complicated by the sanctions that come into play”. Responding to a recent statement by Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval that New Delhi would engage with Pakistan on its terms, the spokesperson said his remarks were nothing new. “Our position vis-à-vis the importance of friendly cooperative relations with neighbours including India, the need for dialogue – a dialogue which is result-oriented and meaningful, and which can lead to progress on outstanding issues including particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute – is very clear.” He elaborated that the environment for such a dialogue was not there and this is what the foreign minister also said recently. Also read: PM Shehbaz announces 10pc 'super tax' on large-scale industries He said the environment had been vitiated by Indian actions, and the onus was therefore on New Delhi to take necessary steps to create an environment which will be conducive for dialogue. “Now what the Indians have been saying all along, this bogey of terrorism, it’s an old repeated, parroted position. It has no locus standi, especially coming from India which itself is a state sponsor of terrorism, involved in supporting, financing, perpetrating terrorism and sabotage in Pakistan over the years, including in the past through its presence in Afghanistan,” Iftikhar added. The spokesperson said New Delhi had also used the ploy of terrorism to undermine the legitimate struggle for self-determination of the Kashmiri people and to divert the attention of the international community from its widespread atrocities and human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). “So, our position on that is quite clear.” When asked to explain the context of the summoning of the Canadian high commissioner, the spokesperson informed reporters that the diplomat was called to the Foreign Office over the remarks made in the Canadian parliament recently by one of its members. “We have taken up this issue with the Canadian government. We have underlined that freedom of expression entails responsibility, and that Pakistan takes serious exception to the baseless and unsubstantiated remarks that have been made.” He, however, underlined that Pakistan and Canada enjoy multifaceted relationship and Islamabad wished to deepen its bilateral ties based on mutual respect and trust. “Such incidents are not helpful in that context.”

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SC quashes NAB case against global oil firm

The Supreme Court has ruled that where there was no entrustment of property, there could be no criminal breach of trust. “If the property belongs to and is owned by the accused in his own right, it cannot be said that he was entrusted with that property and that by using or disposing of that property he committed the offence of criminal breach of trust,” read a 10-page judgment authored by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah while quashing the reference of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Shell Petroleum Limited (SPL), which was accused of illegal sale of jet fuel by the anti-graft body. “'Entrustment’ is an essential ingredient of the offence of criminal breach of trust as defined in Section 405, PPC; therefore, where there is no entrustment of property, there can be no criminal breach of trust,” it added. A three-judge bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial heard the matter. Makhdoom Ali Khan appeared on behalf of the petitioners. Senior lawyers say that this judgment will go a long way in protecting commercial entities from the excesses of NAB when their conduct is not contrary to any specific law. Justice Shah in his ruling wrote that in a welfare state, the legislature enacted laws in public interest for the regulation of some trades or businesses by statutory bodies or government functionaries. “Such regulation may involve obtaining of licences and permits to conduct a certain trade or business impose reasonable terms and conditions as to how that trade or business is to be conducted; and control the production, distribution and consumption of any commodity during the conduct of that trade or business.” The judge further noted in his order that the control on the production, distribution and consumption of some commodity, however, neither affected any change in the legal relationship between the contracting parties, nor did it alter the legal character, substance and consequence of the commercial transactions. Such regulation does not change the private nature of the trade or business. The court held that no offence under Section 9(a)(x)&(xi) of the NAB Ordinance was thus made out of the petitioners’ alleged act of illegally selling JP-I in the open market, even if it was taken to be true on its face value. Also read: SC quashes NAB reference against oil firm “The findings of the Accountability Court and the High Court, having been made without examining the essential ingredients of the offence under Sections 405 and 409 of the PPC and of the offence under Section 9(a)(x)&(xi) of the NAB Ordinance, are found legally incorrect.” The court noted that in the present matter, it was not the case of the prosecution – NAB -- that the oil allegedly sold by the petitioners in the open market illegally, was entrusted to them or their employer company by members of the public at large or entrusted to the firm by oil refinery companies in the capacity as a banker, merchant, factor, broker, attorney or agent. "There was no ‘entrustment’ of property in the present case at all that could have made the case against the petitioners fall within the scope of the provisions of Section 405, PPC and consequently constituted an offence under Section 9(a)(x)&(xi) of the NAB Ordinance,” the order read. “Although the ‘entrustment’ of property within the meaning of Section 405, PPC does not envisage the creation of a formal trust with all the technicalities of the law of trust, it does contemplate that to constitute entrustment the accused must have held the property in a fiduciary capacity.” The court noted that the word “trust” had been used in Section 405 in the ordinary sensr, and covered not only the relationship of trustee and beneficiary but also that of bailer and bailee, master and servant, pledger and pledgee, guardian and ward, and all other relations that postulated the existence of a fiduciary relationship between the complainant and the accused. The order read that in the present case, the employer company of the petitioners, purchased JP-I from the oil refinery companies, in its own right. The order read that NAB had, however, in disregard of the scope and extent of Sections 405 and 409 of the PPC, based its case against the petitioners on the minutes of a product review meeting on August 4, 2010, wherein the director (L&M) of the petroleum and natural resources ministry reiterated the “directives/priority of JP-I supplies” and instructed the oil marketing companies to follow that “directives/priority” and to make the supply of JP-I to defence, local carriers (PIA, Shaheen, etc) and scheduled carriers. "The prosecution (NAB) has referred to Rule 43C of the Pakistan Petroleum (Refining, Blending and Marketing) Rules 1971 (“1971 Rule”). This Rule provides that the Authority may, if it is of the opinion that public interest so requires, by order in writing, direct any refinery, marketing company or its agent or dealer, or a blending plant (or reclamation plant) to supply such quantity of any petroleum product to such person as may be specified in the order. As per Rule 2(b) of the 1971 Rules, the “Authority” referred to in Rule 43C means the Director General of Oil, and not the Director (L&M). As the Director (L&M) is mentioned to have reiterated the “directives/priority of JP-I supplies”, in the minutes of a Product Review Meeting, dated 04.08.2010, and not to have issued the said “directives/priority” by himself, any such “directives/priority” issued by the Director General (Oil), is neither available on the record of the case nor has it been otherwise produced before us. Irrespective of the said “directives/priority”, if any, it will not make the case against the Petitioners to fall within the definition of the offence of criminal breach of trust under Sections 405 and 409 of the PPC, or of the offence of corruption and corrupt practices under Section 9(a)(x)&(xi) of the NAB Ordinance.”

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