In major blow to PTI, ECP denotifies 43 MNAs

January 25, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday denotified 43 lawmakers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the last batch of the MNAs who resigned en masse.

The development came after National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday approved the resignations of the PTI MNAs in the lower house despite their request for withdrawal of the resignations, raising the total to 123.

According to reports, the NA speaker had approved the resignations on “January 22 and forwarded them to the electoral body the same day” for further processing.

The news had come after the party announced that its MPs are withdrawing their resignations and returning to the assembly in a bid to claim the posts of the leader of the opposition and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee — a powerful NA body that keeps a check on government spending.

Last week, the Election Commission denotified 80 members of the PTI and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Chief of the Awami Muslim League and Imran Khan’s ally.

With the acceptance of 123 resignations, only dissident PTI lawmakers remain in the National Assembly.

Though former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has been disqualified from his seat in the Mianwali constituency, he has won from six constituencies in the by-elections of 11 vacant seats of the National Assembly.

He has not taken yet an oath from any of the winning seats while another PTI candidate Maulvi Mehmood, who won the election from the seat that fell vacant due to the death of Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain from Karachi, is yet to take oath.

On Monday, the PTI approached the ECP that it had withdrawn the resignations and that the commission should not denotify its members.

According to parliamentary sources, the PTI members’ requests to withdraw their resignations were not as per the rules.

The sources in the National Assembly say that the speaker had accepted the resignations of the remaining 43 members on January 22 and sent them to the Election Commission, so email and WhatsApp requests on January 23 were against the rules.

They say the resignations had been accepted on January 22, so on January 23, the withdrawal requests were ineffective.

The speaker had accepted 113 resignations in the last two weeks, while two PTI members Sardar Talib Nakai and Nawaz Alai’s resignations are yet to be accepted for being on leave.

The resignations of PTI members of the National Assembly were approved in four phases: 11 in the first phase, 35, 34, and 43 in the second, third, and fourth phases, respectively.

According to the National Assembly Secretariat, Riaz Fatiyana, Sardar Tariq Hussain, Muhammad Yaqub Sheikh, Murtaza Iqbal, Sardar Muhammad Khan Leghari, Haji Imtiaz Chaudhry, Lal Chand, Jawad Hussain, Nosheen Hamid, Manza Hassan, Saima Nadeem, Tashfeen Safdar, Subia Kamal Khan, Zil-i-Huma, Rukhsana Naveed and Ghazala Saifee are among the 43 MNAs whose resignations were accepted in the last phase.

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LHC orders to present Fawad Chaudhry even if he’s taken to Islamabad

Asifa Farhat

January 25, 2023

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the Punjab government Wednesday to present Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Fawad Chaudhry before it even if he was taken to Islamabad by the police.

Fawad was arrested from his residence earlier today after he publicly “threatened” the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a media talk outside Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park a day ago.

The LHC had ordered authorities to present Fawad before it in response to a petition filed by Fawad’s cousin, Nabeel Shehzad, for the “recovery” of the former federal minister.

The petitioner had filed a habeas corpus plea and urged the court to “recover” the PTI leader, after the Islamabad police acquired his transitory remand. He also appealed the court to stop any illegal action against the PTI leader.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard the plea and ordered the authorities to present the PTI leader before the court by 1:30pm. The time was later extended to 2:00pm, but the authorities failed to produce Fawad before LHC.

Interestingly, the orders were issued after a local court of Lahore had approved Fawad’s transitory remand in a sedition case filed against him in Islamabad on the Election Commission’s complaint.

At the resumption of the hearing at LHC, Fawad’s lawyer informed the court that the motorcade transporting Fawad has left for Islamabad.

The government’s lawyer said that he is unable to state Fawad’s exact location.

At this, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh asked the lawyer how long it will take for him to inquire about the location. The lawyer said that he needs half an hour.

“Bring him back even if he is taken to Islamabad,” Justice Sheikh remarked before adjourning the hearing for a while.

Hours after Fawad’s arrest, the PTI leader was presented before the court of judicial magistrate Rana Mudassir in Lahore’s Cantt.

The former federal minister was presented before the court by the Islamabad Police to seek his transitory remand.

At the outset of the hearing, the prosecution told the judge that Islamabad Police had registered a case against Fawad. The prosecution also urged the court to approve a transitory remand of the PTI leader.

At this, Fawad’s lawyer argued that the distance between Islamabad and Lahore was of just four hours and there was no need for the transitory remand.

“They [police] should just present him [before a court] in Islamabad,” said Fawad’s lawyer. The counsel claimed that the police wanted to get the transitory remand so they could take his client somewhere else.

The counsel also urged the judge to order the police to uncuff his client’s hands. Instead of both hands only one should be handcuffed, he added.

At this, the judge remarked that the lawyer was wasting the court’s time over frivolous arguments.

Fawad’s lawyer also told the magistrate that a habeas corpus plea was pending before a high court and till that is decided his client’s transitory remand should not be approved. The magistrate then adjourned the hearing for a few minutes.

Once the hearing resumed, the court approved the transitory remand of the PTI leader to transfer Fawad to Islamabad and present him in a court of the federal capital.

However, the police has been asked to conduct a medical of the PTI leader at Services Hospital before he is taken to Islamabad.

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Karachi Safe City project: seven years late and counting

Sameena Umar

January 21, 2023

KARACHI: The Safe City project in Karachi, which promised the installation of 10,000 CCTV cameras, has been delayed for seven years despite a Supreme Court order to launch the project in 2016.

The joint venture between the Sindh Government and the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) has been plagued by multiple setbacks, resulting in a staggering 300 per cent increase in the estimated cost of the project.

Initially budgeted at Rs10 billion in 2011, when it was approved, the cost of the project has now risen to Rs40 billion. The project was set to include the installation of CCTV cameras, the establishment of command and control centres, the introduction of face and vehicle recognition software, and a biometric system to identify culprits.

Street crime in Pakistan’s largest city has reached alarming levels in recent years, leaving residents feeling unsafe and vulnerable. Incidents of mugging, theft, and violent crime have risen sharply, with police struggling to keep up with the growing number of reports.

The situation has become so dire that many residents have taken to carrying firearms for their own protection. The lack of surveillance in the city is seen as a major contributing factor to the rise in street crime.

Even so, despite plans to monitor the streets, the project has been delayed for over seven years, and is yet to be launched.

In April 2021, following pressure from the federal government of Imran Khan, the province had approved Rs30 billion to launch the project. In May of last year, Syed Murad Ali Shah, the chief minister, ordered his administration to a detailed plan for the project and invite bids for its physical launch within the next four months.

However, despite his order, the plan is yet to take off. The delay is due to multiple reasons including increasing costs, lack of coordination and political wrangling.

The need for surveillance in Karachi is now more urgent than ever. CCTV cameras not only act as a deterrent to crime, but they also provide vital evidence that can be used to bring criminals to justice.

In addition, the installation of a command and control centre, such as the one established in Lahore, and the introduction of the face and vehicle recognition software and biometric systems would also be a major step forward in the fight against street crime in the city.

The ballooning cost and delays from the provincial authorities have raised serious questions about the government’s performance which critics say is nothing short of a travesty.

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Saadhay 14 August: Bought laughter & satire to Islamabad

Editor

January 21, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The play, which was well-liked in Karachi and successfully ran 100 performances, is now in its final week of performances in Islamabad. Saadhay 14 August, like Karachi, was able to draw large crowds to each performance, and the audiences were astounded by the incredible presentation, drama, choreography, and, of course, the powerful storyline.

President Arif Alvi, attended the performance at the Pakistan National Council of Arts in Islamabad with the first lady. His admiration for Saadhay 14 August demonstrated that the masterpiece was not only adored by the general public but also by those responsible for setting national policy.

Saadhay 14 August is the third and last part in the trilogy that started with Sawa 14 and Pawnay 14 August. Exceptionally well-written by the legendary Anwar Maqsood and masterfully put together by Dawar Mehmood. Saadhay 14 August is a thorough thought-provoker and entertainer.

The political, economic, and social upheavals in Jinnah’s and Gandhi’s respective countries were explicitly presented to them by the inclusion of well-known historical and contemporary personalities. Even when serious situations are shown, people are seen laughing because of Maqsood’s writing magic and every actor’s immaculate performance.
The audience and the main characters of the play are shown everything there is to know about Pakistani and Indian politics from Kashmir to Lahore to Delhi to London. From the bustling streets of Lahore to the burgeoning political activism among its citizens—from a state-sponsored film set in Delhi to London—you see the most outstanding, humorous performances along with Sajid Hassan’s convincing portrayal of a Sindhi politician in London who, like the many politicians and powerful individuals in Pakistan, managed to flee despite having his name on the Exit Control List.

Saadhay 14 August provides satire and amusement in one package. The spectacular the play’s team is now travelling to Lahore where they will perform Saadhay 14 August for the city’s zealous populace after the incredible house packed performances in Islamabad.

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Maryam Nawaz to return to Pakistan on January 29

Our Correspondent

January 20, 2023

LONDON: The schedule of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz Sharif return to Pakistan has been finalized. The PML-N vice president will return to the country on January 29.

According to PML-N sources, Maryam Nawaz will leave London on January 28 and reach Lahore at 4:00pm on January 29 (Sunday).

On her return, Maryam Nawaz would assume her new responsibilities as “Chief Organizer” of the party. Sources also informed that the PML-N vice president has been tasked to lead the party’s election campaign Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In October last year, Maryam Nawaz left Pakistan for London to unite with her father after her name was removed from the no-fly list after three years.

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Nawaz takes stock as PML-N leaders gather in London

TNT Monitoring Desk

January 20, 2023

LONDON: Breaking his silence for the first time after his party faced a major political blow in Punjab following Parvez Elahi’s victory in a vote of confidence shortly before the dissolution of the provincial assembly, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif said “a cruel joke had been played on Pakistan… for the sake of personal gains”.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with a delegation of senior PML-N leaders from Pakistan, he said: “We all discussed the situation in Pakistan. Pakistan will come out of this difficult situation and we will be the ones to take the country out of it.”

When asked if he held former army chief retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa and former spymaster General Faiz Hamid responsible for the state of the country, he said: “The reality is before everyone. Now no name or face is hidden. Pakistan was used for personal gain. It was a cruel joke played on the nation.

“In my Gujranwala jalsa, I stated who was responsible and everything was out in the open. It is my responsibility to tell the nation about the wrongs committed against the people, and it is my responsibility to make things right.”

At the time, he also questioned who was responsible for the “two governments” in the country, and went on to blame then army chief Gen Bajwa and then ISI chief Faiz Hamid as being behind everything.

His remarks came in the wake of a top-level huddle where he and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, met with party leaders to discuss strategy as the possibility of polls in two provinces grows.

The meeting took place amidst heightened political activity back home, with the dissolution of both the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assemblies and the imminent return of Ms Nawaz to Pakistan.

PML-N leaders Rana Sanaullah, Pervaiz Rashid and Javed Latif were also present at the meeting held at Stanhope House on Thursday, where along with the ongoing political situation, Ms Nawaz’s return to Pakistan and the party’s election campaign prospects were discussed in the four-hour huddle.

Although it was being speculated that Mr Sanaullah — who was charged with overseeing trust vote proceedings in the Punjab Assembly — had been summoned to London to explain the party’s defeat, a source privy to the discussion rubbished reports that the senior Sharif was annoyed with the interior minister.

“The meeting took place in a very good atmosphere. Mian sb told Rana sb ‘we have been waiting for your arrival for four days’. He [MNS] also said in the last few days homework has been done and it will be presented to you [Sana]. Mian sb said as president Punjab, Rana sb’s recommendations are key and the party will act on them,” the source said.

The source claimed the meeting was called to discuss the return of Ms Nawaz and her role as chief organiser. “Rana sb’s opinion on that programme and implementation to mobilise the party was critical to Ms Nawaz’s return.”

When pressed on the party’s defeat in the vote of confidence at the Punjab Assembly, Rana Sanaullah attributed it to the “doublespeak” of CM Elahi, who had earlier said he wouldn’t take a vote of confidence or dissolve the assembly.

“We had the numbers and we will show we have the numbers. The coming elections will show PML-N strength and victory,” he told reporters outside the PML-N’s London headquarters.

He said there will be more meetings in the coming days, and that the party’s election campaign will be kicked off according to the guidance given by their leader. He confirmed Ms Nawaz will return next week.

When asked about the return of the senior Sharif, Rana Sana said, “It is understood MNS will return, and he will lead the party’s election campaign. The legal formalities regarding his return were also discussed, DAWN reported.

“MNS return is critical as he is the leader of the party, he has the vote and support of the people.”

The interior minister also rubbished reports of rifts between former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the PML-N leadership. “There are no differences and Mr Abbasi is committed to the party.”

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India yet again sets condition after Pakistan offers ‘sincere’ talks

TNT Monitoring Desk

January 20, 2023

NEW DELHI: In response to Islamabad’s desire to normalize bilateral ties with its nuclear-armed neighboring country, India has yet again set a condition before resuming talks with Pakistan.

“India reiterated its position on relations with Pakistan and said that a ‘conducive atmosphere free of terror’ is needed for talks,” state-run ANI quoted the Indian foreign ministry’s spokesperson as saying.

Replying to a question during a press briefing Arindam Bagchi, the Indian foreign ministry’s spokesperson, said: “We have already said that we have always wanted normal neighborly relations with Pakistan.”

He added, “But there should be a conducive atmosphere which does not have terror, hostility or violence. That remains our position.”

The comments came four days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during an interview with Al Arabiya news channel, asked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to hold “serious and sincere talks” — to resolve the burning issues with New Delhi, including Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“My message to the Indian leadership and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that let us sit down [at] the table and have serious and sincere talks to resolve our burning issues like Kashmir,” the premier said.

PM Shehbaz said that flagrant human rights violations were taking place day in and day out in IIOJK, adding that the neighbouring country had usurped any semblance of autonomy given to Kashmiris according to Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. The autonomy was revoked in August 2019.

The premier also said that the minorities in India “are being persecuted”. “This must stop so that message can go around the globe that India is ready to have talks.”

PM Shehbaz said Pakistan and India “are neighbours and have to live with each other”.

The ties between the two nuclear-armed nations halted in 2019 after the Modi administration revoked the special status of IIOJK and has since been continuing its unabated terrorism in the Himalayan valley.

Islamabad and New Delhi in November 2003 agreed to a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary, but the truce was breached repeatedly after Modi came into power in 2014.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch earlier this week told journalists that Pakistan would welcome United States’ facilitation in the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

“Regarding the Pakistan–India relations and the facilitation by third parties, including the United States, Pakistan has always said that we would welcome the international community to play their role in promoting peace in the region including in facilitating dialogue and resolution of the core dispute between Pakistan and India i.e. the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” she said.

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Got ‘trump card’ to put PDM to test: Imran Khan

Asifa Farhat

January 20, 2023

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan warned the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), saying he had a “trump card” and plenty of choices to put his political rivals to the test.

Speaking to senior journalists in Lahore, the deposed premier took a dig at Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman, alleging that by omitting to include the election date in the summary sent following the dissolution of the assembly, he had breached the constitution.

Recounting the demand of the elections, Imran Khan said if the polls will not held, the country will have to face a Sri Lanka-like situation.

Berating Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Imran Khan held the financial czar responsible for the economic woes.

Making his claim on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Imran Khan said serious voices were being heard regarding vandalism within the PML-N.

He also chided the PML-N for “inherent politics,” saying former party leader Chaudhry Nisar was the first to raise the voice against dynastic politics.

Imran Khan also made it clear that there was no plan to stage a protest, even if the date of general elections was not announced.

Earlier, PTI chief convened a parliamentary party meeting in Islamabad tomorrow (Friday) to discuss the party’s future strategy in the National Assembly.

The PTI meeting will begin at 10 am at KP House, with the deposed premier expected to speak via video link. In the meeting, the strategy for returning to the NA and appointments to three parliamentary posts will be reviewed.

The decision to meet the NA speaker will also be taken during the meeting of the parliamentary party.

On the other side, PTI) chief Imran Khan said that allowing the incumbent government to commit more wrongdoing would be a ‘stupid idea’.

The members of the PTI’s parliamentary committee called on the deposed premier to discuss the issue of establishment of Punjab caretaker government. Senior leader Fawad Chaudhry was also present. The PTI discussed the names of Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, Naveed Cheema and Naseer Khan and Imran Khan agreed to send two names to the parliamentary committee after final consultation.

Speaking on this occasion, Imran Khan recalled that the country could not afford to delay the elections, adding that endangering the transparency of the elections was a very sensitive issue which was tantamount to enmity against the nation. He said transparent elections were the most serious matter and need of the hour.

As for the role of the caretaker government, Imran Khan stated that those with the best reputation and ability were best suited for the job. “The PTI is nominating personalities with the best reputation and ability,” he added.

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Islamabad, parts of KP hit by 5.6 magnitude earthquake

Our Correspondent

January 19, 2023

ISLAMABAD: A mild earthquake hit Peshawar and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) around 4:30pm Thursday — making it at least the third shock in less than a month.

The National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) reported that tremors were also felt in Charsada, Islamabad and its surrounding areas, which were measured at 5.6 on the Richter scale, while its depth was 190 kilometres.

The epicentre of the earthquake was 237 kilometres west of Chitral, according to NSMC.

The Pakistan Metrological Department also shared the details of the earthquake via Twitter saying, “An earthquake originated on 19-01-2023 at 16:30 PST. Mag: 5.6. Depth: 190km. Lat: 35.89 N. Long: 71.39 E. Epicentre: 37 km west of Chitral.”

The NSMC further reported that two more earthquakes of medium magnitude were felt 70 kilometres from KP’s Bisham and 28 kilometres South of Kharan.

Immediately after the earthquake, residents of affected cities took to Twitter to share their experiences, while others scrambled and started praying for safety.

One user said, “Severe Earthquake jolts Abbottabad! Lasted for more than 10 seconds.”

Earlier this month on January 5, another earthquake was felt in parts of Pakistan.

The NSMC had then reported that the magnitude of those termors was 5.8 on the Richter scale, while the US Geological Survey claimed that the magnitude of the quake was recorded as 5.5 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake’s effects were also felt in Peshawar, Lower Dir, Chitral, Khyber District, Waziristan, Tank, Bajaur, Mardan, Parachinar, Murree, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Multan, Sheikhupura, Chiniot and Kotli.

Additionally, just a day before that, a low magnitude earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale had struck parts of Punjab at 3:04pm, the NSMC said.

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No respite: Inflation edges up to 24.5% in December

Nuzhat Aftab

January 2, 2023

ISLAMABAD: In line with the market expectations, consumer prices increased rather slowly to 24.5% in December amid persistent inflationary pressures, indicating no letup for the people, whose purchasing power has already hit rock bottom.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), the inflation monitor, rose to 24.5% in December from 12.3% in the same period last year, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Monday.

Despite a slight increase of 0.7% in the index movement, the majority of the consumer goods remained out of the people’s reach.

The inflation rate, however, was not in line with the Ministry of Finance’s expectations, which ranged from 21% to 23%.

Data further showed that the month-on-month inflation rate slowed down to 0.5% in December.

The reason behind a slight increase in the inflation rate was an uptick in the rate of increase in perishable food items.

Food inflation surged by 32.7% in cities and 37.9% in villages/towns last month, respectively, showed the PBS data. Prices of both perishable and nonperishable food products went up significantly compared to the same period last year.

The food group prices surged by over one-fourth in December compared to the same month a year ago. But prices of perishable food items soared by 55.93%, which still shows a significant demand and supply gap.

Prices of onions increased by 415% compared to a year ago followed by a 64% increase in rates of tea and a 58% rise in that of wheat. Vegetable ghee and cooking oil prices surged up to 32%, milk fresh 26% and rice 47%, according to the PBS.

Prices of the alcoholic beverages and tobacco group soared by 35% while those of the clothing and footwear group surged by 17.22%.

Core inflation, which is calculated after excluding the volatile energy and food prices, increased in December to 14.7% in urban areas and 19% in rural areas. The core inflation is still higher, indicating the underlying inflationary pressures.

The non-food inflation rate was 14.8% in cities and 20.7% in villages. Prices of housing, water, electricity and gas fuels group were higher by nearly 7%.

The transport group saw a price hike of 42%, according to PBS. Petroleum prices witnessed a record-high increase in 2022, going up almost 60%, which was the highest increase in a year.

For the July-December period of the current fiscal year, average inflation came in at 25.02%, which was nearly three-fold compared to 9.81% in the same period of the last fiscal year 2021-22.

Economist Sana Tawfiq, while speaking to Geo.tv, cited an increase in the prices of perishable goods — fresh vegetables, poultry, etc — and an uptick in the recreation and culture index — which is related to winter break in schools and colleges — as major contributors.

“Overall, there was no major change that was in line with the expectations,” she said, adding that the number was expected to remain elevated because of base difference.

However, the economist said that continuous increase in core inflation was a “major concern”. Keeping all these in view, Tawfiq said it was expected that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will further hike monetary policy interest rates in its next policy announcement due on January 23.

Regarding the inflation outlook, she predicted that “the CPI inflation will remain elevated till May as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to be revived; however, it is expected to decline gradually as base-effect kicks”.

But in the second half of the ongoing fiscal year season factors, including Ramazan and Eid, will have an impact on the number, she added.

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