No objections to EVMs, only reservations: PPP

PPP Punjab Secretary General Hassan Murtaza said the party did not have any objection to the electronic voting machines (EVMs) but only harboured some reservations regarding its usage, emphasising that the PPP always welcomed debate on electoral reforms. Murtaza, whose party opposes the immediate usage of electronic voting machines due to the lack of political consensus, was speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the European Union (EU). The EU’s delegation led by its Political Secretary Dillarde Teilane called on the PPP leader. The meeting was also attended by Zaid Ahmed Maher and coordinator DRI Samia Yusuf, finance secretary PPP central Punjab Rana Jawad, secretary events and records Ahsan Rizvi and PPP leader Afraz Naqvi. During the meeting, he said that PPP has always welcomed debate on electoral reforms. He briefed the delegation about the party’s contributions to the strengthening of democratic values in the country, including the passage of the 18th Amendment. He also said that PPP always stood for the rights of minorities, freedom of expression and women’s rights, adding that it believes that “democracy is the best revenge”. He suggested that political parties should give 5 per cent representation to women on general seats, and they should be nominated on the basis of their performance, pointing out party notables including Benazir Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Faryal Talpur. He added that the people were politically aware as women like Abida Hussain, Ghulam Bibi Bharwana and Salim Bibi Bharwana have been getting elected from backward areas like Chiniot and Jhang. Murtaza said that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has played a fundamental role in the registration of women voters.He was of the view that Sindh was being punished because of its political consciousness, saying that electables were used by the establishment to make the governments of their choice. He also paid tribute to the struggle of Jam Saqi and G M Syed. Responding to a question, he said that political parties must discourage bringing the same women to the assemblies again and again. He said that women’s membership in PPP is more than other political parties and their representation in various committees is 5 to 10 per cent. Responding to another question regarding intolerance in politics, the PPP leader held Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan responsible for this, accusing him of not accepting the decisions of institutions. Speaking on the occasion, Teilane said that the EU is in contact with various political parties on electoral reforms. She said that the EU wants improvement in electoral reforms in Pakistan. She also said that the EU is also interested in knowing about legislation regarding the disabled, minorities and transgender persons. The EU will welcome recommendations for electoral reforms at the federal and provincial levels, she added.

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NDMA apprises Senate panel of flood damage

The Senate Standing Committee on Planning was apprised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday that the devastating floods had affected 5,063 kilometres of highways and 243,733,488 livestock as well as damaged more than 1.17 million houses. The meeting of the standing committee was held under the chairmanship of Senator Attaur Rehman. During the meeting, Dinesh Kumar inquired about the absence of planning minister from the meeting, saying that it should not be taken lightly. After the NDMA apprised the meeting about the destruction caused by the floods, the planning secretary said that 26 districts of Balochistan had been affected. He mentioned that 400 small dams were to be built and aerial surveys were now being conducted to determine the condition in the flood aftermath. He said that the government had sent cash relief into the flood affectees’ accounts without the involvement of third parties, adding that Rs1.2 billion had been distributed among them by Wednesday. The members of the committee said that the areas spared by the floods also suffered due to cut-off roads while power had yet to be restored in many areas well. The planning secretary said that they helped for 15 days, urging the NDMA to take responsibility. “Preliminary estimates have been made by the provincial governments and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).” The NDMA officials said that the rains at the Sulaiman Mountains lasted 20 days, and only 3mm of rain was recorded at two places on Friday. They added that similar rain patterns were not expected this month, adding that this year’s rains were higher than expected. Officials told the meeting that the Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission was preparing a damage report. The committee thus sought the report in the next meeting. Earlier, during the meeting, officials of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that the airport in Dera Ismail Khan would be more suitable than Bannu as the location was ideal for it, adding that they also looked at the airport from a commercial point of view besides the arrival of large planes. The planning secretary said that the overall development budget of Pakistan was Rs2,200 billion, comprising Rs700 billion of the federation and Rs1,500 billion of provinces. He said that due to the surge in inflation, the cost of projects was also increasing. He also said that the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway worth Rs308 billion would be constructed through public-private partnership, where the government would invest only Rs8 billion to Rs10 billion. He added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would revive many stalled infrastructure projects.

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Miftah Ismail hints at early exit from his post

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Friday said between the lines that his tenure might end before that of the incumbent government. Speaking at an event at Karachi’s Institute of Business Administration (IBA), the minister added that the government had 13 months but he might not even have that much time. He hoped that the PML-N-Led government would stay for 6.5 years, but he was not sure how much time he had left. “To be honest, I work here in a way that I will stay forever. Pakistan will always stay, right? So you have to plan in a way that works for the next five years. And then it is the choice of those who come next,” he remarked. Also read: Nawaz not happy with Miftah's performance either: Asad Umar “As long as I stay [as the finance minister], I will ensure that the country does not default,” he added. He also praised the policies of PML-N leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar. His remarks come amid a rift in the PML-N as rumours abound that Dar would return to the country and replace him. Miftah had recently announced that the petroleum levy would be further jacked up from this month. According to insiders, an important meeting was held on August 15 under the chairmanship of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif through video link. PM Shehbaz, former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, Dar, Miftah and other senior leaders of the party participated in it. Also read: Miftah faces growing wrath in Sharif’s party In this meeting, a decision was to be taken to change the prices of petroleum products and the government had been pressuring the media for several days that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had prepared a summary of reducing the price of petrol by Rs25 per litre and diesel by Rs15. According to party sources, during this meeting, Nawaz had asked Miftah to give a briefing on the economic situation. The finance minister strongly suggested increasing the prices of petroleum products. On this, Nawaz gave the microphone to Dar. Dar had criticised Miftah's economic policies and his methods. Abbasi had intervened and allegedly scolded Dar. He had told him that governing in the current situation and making tough financial decisions was not an easy task. “If you think that we and our government are not doing a good job, then why you ‘gentlemen’, who have been sitting in London for so long, return to Pakistan and take charge of the country and the economy,” he had added. On this, Nawaz had allegedly hit the table in anger and left the meeting, after which the government issued a notification to increase the prices of petroleum products. After midnight, Maryam had written on Twitter that her father had strongly opposed this decision and even said that he could not put a single penny more burden on the public. PML-N leader Abid Sher Ali had recently lashed out at Miftah for increasing the power tariffs. Ali, while addressing a news conference alongside fellow party leader Talal Chaudhry, had pointed out that while Nawaz was the prime minister, the country was under deep crises. “But still he [Nawaz] had not allowed the electricity tariffs to increase,” he added. This was followed by another party leader, Hanif Abbasi, criticising Miftah, saying he was not performing as per expectations and destroying the “hard work” of PM Shehbaz. Addressing a press conference at his residence along with traders of Rawalpindi, the PML-N leader had said excessive taxes on electricity bills were un-called for. He added that every section of the society, including traders, was unable to pay electricity bills due to the imposition of heavy taxes. Amid the recent rains and floods that have destroyed the crops in the country, the finance minister also had a spat with PML-N leader Mohammad Zubair when the former said the government would consider if the country could import vegetables from India. “More than one international agency has approached the govt to allow them to bring food items from India through the land border,” Miftah had tweeted. “The govt will take the decision to allow imports or not based on supply shortage position, after consulting its coalition partners & key stakeholders,” he had added. In response, Zubair had tweeted that not importing at cheaper rates within a short timeframe would be “criminal”. He had added that the country desperately needed essential food items. “Like we say, we can deal with politics later — this time international politics,” the ex-governor of Sindh had further written.

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Bilawal mocks Imran for holding ‘concerts’ amid flood devastation

Lashing out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said that Pakistan was facing the biggest disaster in its history but the former prime minister was busy holding "concerts" in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. “Pakistan is facing the biggest disaster in our history. 1/3 of our country [is] underwater! 1/7 citizens [are] affected, 35 million ppl! [While] Ex-PM is holding concerts in KP & Punjab," he wrote on his official Twitter handle. 🇵🇰 is facing biggest disaster in our history. 1/3 of our country underwater! 1/7 citizens affected, 35million ppl! ex PM is holding concerts in KP & Punjab. CMs busy organizing his events instead of helping flood victims. Shameful, pehaly insan bano, phir siyasatdan bano! pic.twitter.com/ra0oal8WrW — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) September 2, 2022 He said that the chief ministers of both provinces – Punjab and K-P – were busy organising PTI’s ‘musical event’ instead of helping flood victims. "Shameful, pehaly insan bano, phir siyasatdan bano! (become a good human first and then a politician)," he advised the former prime minister. During his address at a public gathering in Gujrat earlier in the day, Imran Khan warned the incumbent government that his "freedom movement" will march towards Islamabad if ‘political victimisation’ against his party continued. Read more: Imran threatens to march on Islamabad if ‘political victimisation’ continues "I am warning you [PML-N-led coalition government] today, our justice movement will come to Islamabad if you continue to do this [political victimisation] and you will have nowhere to hide," he said. He lashed out at the government for its alleged use of force on PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, saying that he was stripped naked and tortured. When the PTI was in power, he went on to say, the opposition's campaign against the government was based on rising inflation. However, during their own tenure, inflation has now reached record levels. "Bilawal came to Islamabad and said Imran Khan ki kanpen tangengi... for God's sake improve your Urdu first," he said and added that the entire opposition of that time used to say the government had become a slave of the IMF.

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Rs6b set aside to ease traffic woes

The government has decided to revamp four main arteries of the provincial capital to ensure a smooth flow of traffic in peak hours. The project will be completed with an estimated cost of Rs6.17 billion. Under the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the government will repair, restore and expand four main roads, including Manga Raiwind Road, Lake City to Raiwind Road and Raiwind Railway Crossing to Sua-e-Asal. Lahore Deputy Director Development Farhan Rasheed said initially development works of four main roads are being started soon. Under this project the government will widen and repair 18-kilometer-long Manga-Raiwind Road with an estimated cost of Rs2.20 billion out of which Rs220 million has already been released. Similarly, 10-kilometre-long Lake City-Raiwind Road will be revamped with an estimated cost of Rs1.14 billion. Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2022.

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Man gunned down by friend

A man allegedly shot his friend dead and injured a passerby following a heated verbal exchange in South Cantonment on Thursday. Reportedly, Umar Shahzad and Umar Sultan had a dispute with Ashan. After the argument, Shahzad drew a gun and fired. Ashan and a passerby, identified as Ali Raza, sustained gunshot wounds. Ashan succumbed to his injuries, while the injured was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. The suspect Shahzad was arrested. Police registered a case against Umar Shahzad, Umar Sultan and three other suspects and were investigating the matter further. Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2022.

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Five rare deer fall prey to infection

Five deer, belonging to an endangered species, died of bacterial infection at the Bahawalpur Zoo. This was confirmed by Zoo Curator Usman Bukhari on Thursday. He said that the dead deer included two female does and three bucks. "Our veterinary doctors examined the deer’s bodies," he said, adding that test reports confirmed that bacterial infection caused death of the deer. Bukhari said the Ariaal deer were infected and under treatment by veterinary doctors. He added that medical samples of the dead deer were dispatched to Lahore for further laboratory examination. Bukhari added that all five deer died within a week. He said that a team of veterinary doctors were also monitoring the health of the remaining deer. Official sources said that Punjab Wildlife Secretary Capt (retd) Zafar Iqbal took notice of the deaths and directed the officials concerned to conduct an inquiry into the incident. Earlier, three mouflin sheep were also found dead at Bahawalpur Zoo on August 29. Official sources said arrangements have been made for the forensic examination of the bodies of the deer and sheep. Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2022.

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