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39 MNAS NOTIFIED BY ECP AS PTI LAWMAKERS FOLLOWING SC VERDICT Friday, 26 July, 2024 I | 19 Muharram, 1446
SC IN ITS JULY 12 VERDICT HAD DECLARED g ECP SAYS 39 OF 80 MNAS IDENTIFIED AS PTI ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE RESERVED SEATS PTI LAWMAKERS HAD SHOWED THEIR PARTY FOR WOMEN AND NON-MUSLIMS AFFILIATION IN NOMINATION PAPERS
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 26 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
ISLAMABAD
ABIDOON NADEEM
HE Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially recognized 39 MNAs as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers following a Supreme Court ruling on the reserved seats case, it was revealed on Thursday. The ECP issued the notification for these 39 MNAs on Wednesday. In a landmark decision on July 12, the Supreme Court declared that PTI is eligible to receive reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in the national and provincial assemblies. This verdict, achieved by a unique majority, effectively revitalized PTI’s presence in the legislature by affirming its status as a parliamentary party.
Despite an 8-5 split, all 13 judges concurred that PTI qualifies as a parliamentary party. The majority judgement clarified that 39 out of the 80 MNAs listed by the ECP as PTI candidates were
indeed affiliated with the party. The remaining 41 independents must submit notarized statements to the commission within 15 days, confirming their candidacy under a specific political party dur-
Social media slow down due to trial runs of new Rs30b Firewall ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
PM Shehbaz Sharif to attend inauguration of Iranian president ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
ing the February 8 general elections. Last week, the ECP decided to enforce the Supreme Court’s directive. In a meeting on Friday, it was noted that the 39 MNAs identified as PTI lawmakers had indicated their party affiliation in their nomination papers. However, they failed to provide the required party ticket and declaration to the returning officers, making it impossible for the officers to officially recognize them as PTI candidates at that time. The ECP explained that the 41 candidates labeled as independents did not mention PTI in their nomination papers, nor did they disclose their party affiliation or submit any party ticket. Consequently, the returning officers permitted them to contest the elections as independent candidates.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Tehran on Tuesday to participate in the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s President-elect, Masoud Pezeshkian. This was announced during a weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday wherein Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch highlighted that the visit underscores the mutual commitment of both countries to enhance leadership engagement and bilateral relations. Addressing queries regarding recent remarks by US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu at a congressional panel, the spokesperson reaffirmed Pakistan’s position against zero-sum relationships. She underscored the importance of Pakistan’s relations with both the US and China. Regarding Pakistan’s strategic partnership with China, she emphasized its status as an all-weather cooperation. Pakistan aims to further fortify this significant relationship. Highlighting Pakistan’s stance on its ties with the US, the spokesperson emphasized constructive engagement and underscored Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing these relations. Responding to a query, the spokesperson informed that Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies apprehended Al-Qaeda operative Amin ul Haq in March this year while he was illegally crossing into Pakistan from Afghanistan. This information has been communicated to the United Nations. The spokesperson urged the international community to take serious note of human rights violations by India in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, stressing the need to end the suppression faced by the Kashmiri people. In another development, Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi will lead Pakistan’s delegation at the 31st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, scheduled for Saturday.
The trial run of a new firewall system has caused a noticeable slowdown of social media, reported a private news outlet citing sources. Officials with knowledge of the matter have confirmed, raising concerns about the future of internetbased businesses in Pakistan. However, they assured that internet traffic would return to its normal pace once the trial period concludes. The government has allocated over Rs30 billion in the development budget for the acquisition and installation of this filtering system. While the Ministry of Information Technology received the allocation, the project’s execution is managed by another power center, leaving the Ministry’s role akin to that of a post office. An official stated that the work on the firewall has been underway since January of this year, including the system’s purchase and installation, which is now complete
and in the commissioning phase. This phase will take a few weeks to conclude. When asked about the impact on internet-based businesses, the official acknowledged that it might be perceived as a subtle threat but emphasized that businesses are not the target. Another official clarified that the firewall is aimed at social media influencers, whom the government believes are involved in spreading fake news. The objective is to reduce their reach by blocking or diminishing the visibility of their content. These influencers are already being targeted under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016, with courts being established to try those accused under this law. Although the firewall is currently in the trial stage, an advertisement from the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) two weeks ago suggested that the paperwork for this purchase might still be in progress. The advertisement, dated July 11, invited tenders for the “supply, installation,
and configuration of Next Generation Firewalls (Ex-Chinese brand – LOT A), Web Application Firewall (WAF) [LOT B] for five years with hardware warranty Next Business Day (NBD) and Support (247/365),” with a closing date for submissions on July 26. A PTA spokesperson explained that this tender is for a separate firewall system, raising questions about the total expenditure on multiple filtering systems, given the Rs30 billion allocation for the first firewall. The spokesperson clarified that the tender is intended for firewalls to be used exclusively on PTA’s internal IT infrastructure, aimed at enhancing the security of PTA’s internal systems at its primary data center and Disaster Recovery site. Specifically, the PTA has issued a tender for the acquisition of four Next Generation Firewalls and two Web Application Firewalls to ensure robust, layered security for PTA’s internal and applicationonly systems.
Consumers to face electric shock on account of 2.63/unit tariff hike g
CPPA submits application to NEPRA on DISCOs request for tariff hike under Fuel Charges Adjustment of June 2024 PROFIT
AHMAD AHMADANI
Power consumers are likely to bear an additional financial burden of Rs 2.63 per unit on account of Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) for electricity consumed in June 2024. Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has submitted an application to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on the request of distribution companies (DISCOs) to increase the electricity price by Rs 2.6307 per kilowatt hour (kWh) under the head Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) of June 2024. The CPPA said that for June the reference fuel charges from the consumers were Rs 7.1403 per unit, while the total cost per unit was Rs 9.7710 per unit. Following this request, the NEPRA has called a public hearing on July 31, 2024. The CPPA, in its application,
has claimed that the total electricity generated with various fuels in June 2024 was recorded at 13,459 GWh, at Rs 8.8938 per unit. The total cost of energy was Rs 119,704 million. The power generation with the hydel source was 4,729 GWh (gigawatt per hour) constituting 35.13 per cent with zero cost of power generation while power production with coal-fired power plants was 2,126 GWh (local coal 1,489 GWh + imported coal 637 GWh) and the total power generated for Rs 26,321 million ( local coal Rs 11.0295/unit & imported coal Rs 15.5349/unit). Similarly, the power generation from gas-based power plants was 1,166 GWh, 8.66 percent of the total generation, totaling Rs13.9275 per unit and the generation from Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) was 2,437 GWh, which was 18.10pc percent of total generation, at Rs 26.3286 per unit.
Likewise, power production from bagasse was recorded at 60 GWh, the price of which has been calculated at Rs 5.9822 per unit. The electricity generated from wind was recorded at 516 GWh, 3.83 per cent of total generation and solar at 118 GWh, 0.87 per cent of the total generation in June 2024. Moreover, electricity generation from nuclear sources was 1,998 GWh which came out at Rs 1.5255 per unit, 14.85 per cent of the total generation, and electricity imported from Iran was 48 GWh amounted to Rs 26.6597 per unit, 0.35 per cent of the total power generation in the said month of June 2024. It is also learnt from the data submitted by the CCPA with NEPRA that net electricity delivered to DISCOs in June 2024 was 13,071 GWh (97.11pc) at a rate of Rs 9.7710 per unit, the total price of which was Rs 127,712 million.
Imran Khan urges nation to prepare for fresh polls ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Omar Ayub Khan, has conveyed incarcerated party founder Imran Khan’s message that the nation should “prepare for new elections”. Speaking to the media after a meeting with beleaguered former premier Imran Khan in Adiala Jail on Thursday, Ayub conveyed Imran’s message, saying, “The nation should prepare for new elections because they will lead to the country’s development.” He continued, “The current government has failed and has pushed the army against PTI and the public,” noting that Imran urged the nation to be ready for elections. Ayub, joined by leaders including Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Sahibzada
Hamid Raza Kazmi, described today’s meeting with Imran as “positive”. He relayed Imran’s message to army chief General Asim Munir, claiming that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the current government aim to create a rift between the Pakistan Army and PTI. “90% of the public stands behind PTI,” Ayub asserted. He also pointed out the alleged disappearance of footage from the May 9 protests at the Corps Commander’s House and GHQ. Ayub noted that footage from the March 14 raid at Zaman Park and the March 18 incident at the judicial complex is also missing, which he explained, has prompted Imran to seek legal action. He stated that the Islamabad commissioner had cancelled PTI’s rally permit, but PTI plans to hold another rally on August 5, led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister
Ali Amin Gandapur. The general secretary of PTI said that during the meeting with the party supremo, PTI members proposed names for reserved seats to Imran, who suggested that women who stood firm during challenging times should be given these seats. Kanwal Shauzab will finalise the details, he added. Criticising the DG ISPR, Ayub stated that the press conference held by him highlighted the government’s failure. He also called for the Chief Election Commissioner and provincial commissioners to resign, accusing them of misinterpreting the apex court’s decision. At a hunger strike camp outside the Parliament House, Ayub emphasised that General Asim Munir should understand the government’s attempt to pit the army against PTI and the people.
IMF set to approve $7b bailout for Pakistan in August g
A STAFF-LEVEL AGREEMENT BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND IMF WAS REACHED ON JULY 12 PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board plans to convene in mid-August to deliberate on Pakistan’s $7 billion bailout package. A staff-level agreement between Pakistan and the IMF was reached on July 12. Sources within the Ministry of Finance have indicated that the IMF board is expected to grant final approval within four to six weeks subsequent to the staff-level agreement. They emphasized the necessity for Pakistan to secure assurances of external financing before the board meeting. Discussions concerning funding aimed at addressing climate change and natural disaster risks are anticipated in the near future. The IMF has shown readiness to consider Pakistan’s request for climate financing. Sources have also disclosed that Pakistan must identify priority projects related to climate change for long-term implementation. The IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) program provides access to affordable, longterm financing. The Ministry of Finance underscores the importance of collaboration with global institutions to achieve these objectives.
Pakistan says no trade offs on China, US ties ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
In a policy statement, the Foreign Office on Thursday made it clear that Pakistan would continue to forge closer ties with China days after a senior Biden administration official told the US Congress that Washington wanted to prevent Islamabad’s “further overreliance” on Beijing. “Pakistan has said on several occasions that it does not believe in zero-sum relationships. For us, relations with the United States and relations with China are both important,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters in Islamabad. “We do not believe in situations where relationship with one country can be sacrificed on the altar of relations with another. China is an all-weather strategic cooperative partner of Pakistan, and Pakistan will continue to strengthen this relationship going forward,” she explained when asked to comment on the recent statement made by US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Donald Lu. Lu sought $101 million in assistance on behalf of the Biden administration to support democracy, human rights and Pakistan’s efforts to stabilise the economy. Commenting on Pakistan’s economic relations with China, Lu said the US was seeking to prevent Islamabad’s “further overreliance” on Beijing. He said Washington’s plan to balance China’s “strong and growing influence” in Pakistan, adding that the US would supersede Chinese investments. “China is the past in terms of investment, we are the future,” he claimed. The spokesperson said Pakistan took note of the congressional briefing but added that it was an internal matter of the US. “This is an internal debate between the US Congress and the administration. Pakistan values its close relationship with the United States and believes in constructive engagement. We would like to develop this relationship on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect, and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs,” she said. “We believe that deliberations of legislative bodies should contribute to promoting positive dynamics in bilateral ties and should be based on mutual respect and understanding,” she added. “We do not comment on the State Department’s budgetary requests. Traditionally, such allocations are made for support to civil society in areas of strategic priorities of the United States government,” she further said. “Regarding the discussions or negotiations that took place between individuals who were doing a sit-in in Chaman and our authorities, we would advise you to contact the relevant authorities, including the government of Balochistan, for any details of the understandings reached between the protesters and the authorities,” she said.