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DESPITE PTI’S OPPOSITION, NA BODY CLEARS ELECTION ACT AMEND BILL 2024 Thursday, 1 August, 2024 I 25 Muharram, 1446
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PTI lawmaker says bill would be tantamount to pitting Parliament against SC
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ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
ESPITE severe opposition by the PTI, the absence of a PPP member, and abstention by a JUI-F member, the National Assembly committee on Wednesday approved a bill proposing amendments to the election law, suggesting that a political party should not be allocated seats reserved for women and non-Muslim candidates if it failed to submit its list for the reserved seats within the prescribed time. Chairman Rana Aradat Sharif presided over the National Assembly Standing Committee’s session to review the bill seeking amends to the Elections Act 2017. PML-N’s Bilal Azhar Kayani who had tabled the bill, briefed on the proposed amendments. The NA Standing Committee approved the bill by a vote of eight against four with one abstention from the JUI-F and the absence of a PPP member. Addressing the session, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the issue of independent members joining any political party and reserved seats was “clear”, saying the bill cleared up many confusions. “Parliament is the legislative body. Courts only interpret. Parliament has the power to legislate where it feels its powers are being interfered with or the Constitution is being rewritten. It is the power of Parliament to make constitutions and laws,” the minister said, asserting that there was nothing new in the bill. Meanwhile, PTI MNA Ali Muhammad Khan remarked that “the bill seems to have come with the will of the law
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Ali Muhammad Khan clashes with Parliamentar y Affairs Minister over the bill
minister.” He questioned whether the bill, were it to be made an act, would apply retroactively or not to which Tarar said it would. The PTI lawmaker said the bill would be tantamount to pitting Parliament against the Supreme Court. In contrast, PTI members voiced strong opposition, with Ali Muhammad Khan emphasizing the need for thorough examination, suggesting that the amendments could be detrimental. JUI’s Shahida Akhtar Ali also criticized the process, arguing that the bill requires more detailed scrutiny and re-evaluation. The Election Commission’s Secretary stated that the Commission could not comment on the bill’s effects, as this falls outside its purview. Khan further criticized the Election Commission, accusing it of misconduct and undue influence on political parties. Ultimately, the committee approved the Election Act Amendment Bill 2024 with six votes in favor and four against. Notably, JUI’s Shahida Akhtar Ali abstained from voting, citing uncertainty about the bill’s restorative effects, and no PPP members attended the meeting. The bill is now set to be presented to the National Assembly for final approval on Friday. On Tuesday, the PML-N had tabled the Election Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Immediately after the bill was tabled, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar suggested it would be appropriate if the bill was referred to a committee for input from all political parties.
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Govt cuts petrol prices for first half of August 2024, LPG prices rise New rates will take effect from August 1, 2024 ISLAMABAD NewS DeSk
On Wednesday, the federal government announced a substantial reduction in petroleum prices for the first half of August 2024. The new rates, which take effect from August 1, 2024, were approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a notification from the Ministry of Finance. Petrol prices have been cut by Rs6.17 per litre, bringing the new price to Rs269.43. Highspeed diesel has also seen a decrease, with its price reduced by Rs10.86 to Rs272.77 per litre. Light-speed diesel prices are down by Rs5.72, now at Rs160.53 per litre. Additionally, kerosene oil prices have dropped by Rs6.32, setting the new rate at Rs177.39 per litre for the first half of August. In contrast, earlier on Wednesday, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) announced an increase in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for August 2024. According to Ogra’s notification, the LPG price has been raised by Rs2.72 per kilogram, bringing the new rate to Rs236.99 per kg starting August 1. The price of a domestic LPG cylinder (11.8 kg) has been adjusted upwards by Rs26.90, now priced at Rs2,796.56. This is an increase from July’s price of Rs2,769.66 for the same cylinder.
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 32 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
JUI-F member abstains from voting while PPP’s member remained absent from session
PML-N chief’s victory in NA-130 Lahore came through ‘worst form of rigging’: PATTAN ISLAMABAD
MoNitoRiNg RepoRt
PTI vows to oppose NA bill amending Election Act ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Latif Khosa vowed that the party would not allow the Election Act Amend Bill 2024, to pass in the National Assembly’s standing committee stage. A day earlier, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had sent the Election Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 — a move termed by Khosa as “mal-intent” — tabled by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Bilal Azhar Kiyani to the relevant House Committee. The proposed amendment to Sections 66 and 104 of the Election Act seeks to prohibit individuals who contested general election as independent
candidates from changing their affidavit at a later stage to declare affiliation with any political party. The suggested legislation drew a strong reaction from the PTI with its Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan who has said that the said bill is being bulldozed through the lower house in an “unconstitutional manner”. Claiming that the former ruling party secured 50% of the total votes, in the February 8 polls, the PTI chairman said that despite the submission of affidavits by their 41 MNAs, their lawmakers are being targeted. He also expressed hope that the Supreme Court will ensure the implementation of its July 12 verdict which had declared the PTI eligible for reserved seats.
Pakistan faces increased terrorism from TTP-Taliban alliance: UN report UNITED NATIONS Staff RepoRt
A new United Nations Security Council report has underscored the grave threat to Pakistan’s security posed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), highlighting increased collaboration between the TTP and Afghan Taliban in cross-border terrorist attacks, primarily targeting Pakistani military posts. “With Taliban acquiescence, and at times support, TTP has intensified attacks inside Pakistan primarily targeting military installations,” stated the report from the Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaeda, and associate groups. It pointed out that Pakistan suffered more than 800 attacks in recent months. “TTP camps, with Al-Qaeda and Taliban involvement, focus on training local Afghan fighters and TTP operatives,” the report noted, adding that TTP has between 6,000 and 6,500 fighters who continue to use NATO weapons obtained in Afghanistan. It also emphasized the role of night vision capability. “Al-Qaeda is funding purchases of weapons and suicide vests for TTP,” the report added. The report highlighted, “The terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan is causing heightened concern in many (UN) member states.” Pakistan has consistently drawn the international community’s attention to the security threat it faces from TTP terrorists, who it says also have external support. The report further stated, “There is heightened concern among member
states about the terrorist threat emanating regionally from Afghanistan from ISIL-Khorasan and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in particular; new inward travel to Afghanistan of some Al-Qaeda personnel and training, recruitment, and reorganization activities.” It cited several UN member states as saying that the Al-Qaeda figure Abu Ikhlas-al Masri was actively collaborating with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar in providing suicide bomber training to TTP in Kunar Province, with two states holding TTP responsible for the March 26 attack against Chinese nationals working on a hydropower dam project near Besham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “There is increased support and collaboration between TTP and the Taliban, sharing manpower and training camps in Afghanistan and conducting more lethal attacks under the banner of Tehrik-e Jihad Pakistan (TJP). Therefore, TTP could transform into an umbrella organization for other terrorist groups,” the report said. The report also highlighted ISIL-K or Da’esh as the most serious threat, projecting terror beyond Afghanistan, while Al-Qaeda exercises strategic patience, prioritizing its relationship with the Taliban. “Some Member States estimate that ISIL-K has increased from 4,000 to 6,000 fighters, despite the loss of territory and attrition among leadership, while others assess its strength remaining at between 2,000 and 3,500 fighters,” the report said, adding it was difficult to estimate an accurate figure.
PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif’s victory from NA-130 Lahore constituency, against PTI’s Yasmin Rashid in general elections 2024, is likely to have experienced the ‘worst form of rigging’ in the electoral history of Punjab, PATTAN, the civil society organisation, revealed on Wednesday. “The National Assembly constituency NA130 of Lahore is likely to have experienced the worst form of rigging ever happened in the electoral history of Punjab since 2002 general elections as on many Form45s the turnout for NA130 was between 90 per cent and 102pc, while for provincial assembly seats about 40pc,” the PATTAN said in a report. The organisation claimed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seemingly increased Nawaz Sharif’s share in polled votes on Forms-45s which compelled the election officials to increase the overall turnout too for the same polling stations, and eventually that forced them to prepare the fake Form-47. “However, this manipulation created phenomenal discrepancies on the election result forms not only within NA-130 but also with provincial seats, which exposed the scale of rigging,” the report stated. Pattan’s audit revealed huge variance in shared polling stations (SPSs) established for NA-130 and PP -170, PP173 and PP-174 – an extremely “peculiar and rare occurrence”. For instance, on 82 Form-45s, on average the turnout for NA-130 was as high as 86pc, while in the same polling stations the average turnout for provincial seats was just 41pc – a staggering gap of 45pc must have caused discomfort.
Parachinar violence: Interior Minister calls for peace and unity
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PESHAWAR NewS DeSk
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed grave concern over the tragic events in the Kurram area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, urging local leaders to contribute positively towards a lasting solution to the conflict. He assured the government’s full support in resolving the matter and promoting peace in the region. During a meeting with a Kurram delegation led by MNA Hameed Hussain from Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Minister Naqvi conveyed his profound sorrow over the loss of lives and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured in the clashes. Naqvi highlighted the need for unity and harmony, emphasizing that the conflict had been misrepresented and that collective efforts were crucial for fostering brotherhood in the area. “The government will provide all possible assistance to resolve the matter,” Naqvi assured the delegation. He underscored the importance of collaboration among community leaders to ensure a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict. The delegation included prominent figures from Kurram, such as Munir Hussain, Prof Shabbir Bangash, Bashir Bangash, Rahim Gul, and Haji Noor Rehman. The minister also urged the leading figures of both warring groups in Kurram to engage constructively and work towards reconciliation and harmony. Deadly clashes over an alleged land dispute between two tribes in the Kurram district ended after six days of intense warfare on Tuesday. The Kurram deputy commissioner reported that security personnel had been deployed after clearing the fronts from the parties involved.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Tehran missile strike NEWS DESK
Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were assassinated following an attack on his residence in Tehran, according to a statement from the IRGC. “Offering condolences to the brave nation of Palestine, the Islamic Ummah, the fighters of the Resistance Front, and the honorable people of Iran, this morning (Wednesday), the residence of Mr. Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political office of the Islamic Resistance of Hamas, was struck in Tehran. As a result, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred,” the statement reads. Investigations into the incident are ongoing. Hamas reported that Haniyeh was assassinated “in a Zionist airstrike on his residence in Tehran” after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday. “Hamas announces to the great Palestinian people, the Arab and Islamic nations, and all the free people of the world, the martyrdom of brother leader Ismail Haniyeh,” Hamas stated, as reported by AP. In another statement, the group quoted Haniyeh, saying that the Palestinian cause en-
tails “costs” and “we are prepared for these costs: martyrdom for the sake of Palestine, for the sake of God Almighty, and for the dignity of this nation.” In the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Haniyeh’s assassination, labeling it a “cowardly act and a dangerous development.” Political factions in the occupied territory have called for strikes to protest the killing. Since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October, over 39,360 Palestinians have been killed and more than 90,900 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Condemnations have poured in from around the world following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov called the act “an absolutely unacceptable political murder” and warned that it would “lead to further escalation of tensions.” Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, head of Yemen’s Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Committee, denounced the attack as “a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values.”
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Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri stated, “This assassination by the Israeli occupation of Brother Haniyeh is a grave escalation aimed at breaking the will of Hamas and our people. This escalation will fail to achieve its objectives. Hamas is an institution and not dependent on individuals. We will continue on this path, confident in our eventual victory.” The Turkish foreign ministry expressed its condolences to the Palestinian people, noting the heavy sacrifices they have endured. It criticized the Netanyahu government, stating, “This attack reveals that the Netanyahu Government has no intention of achieving peace. It also aims to spread the war in Gaza to a regional level. If the international community does not act to stop Israel, our region will face much greater conflicts.” Areepen Uttarasin, a veteran Thai politician and former Gaza hostage negotiator, emphasized the gravity of the situation: “The assassination is very serious because it occurred in Iran. It shows that Hamas’s opponents can strike anywhere. Assassinating the Hamas leader will make negotiations and de-escalation more difficult. Things will become more violent and the situation will worsen.”
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Political leaders mourn Haniyeh’s assasination, term it blow to Palestinian cause RAWALPINDI
Staff RepoRt
Political leaders on Wednesday while communicating through various platforms expressed their grief and dismay over the death of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound dismay and grief over the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. Lauding the services of Haniyeh, Shehbaz Sharif said that Ismail Haniyeh and his family had rendered great services for the cause of freedom in fight against the oppressive regime. Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, former JI Emir Sirajul Haq, and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed on Wednesday expressed grief over the death of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. In a message on X, Hafiz Naeem said Ismail Haniyeh’s migration and martyrdom were a dedication to Allah. He praised Haniyeh, stating that the Hamas chief had fought against the cruelest power on earth. Naeem referred to Haniyeh as the “lion of Allah,” saying he had succeeded and made his way to paradise. He added that Israel and its supporters would pay the price for this cruelty.