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AMID STAY ORDER, SUPREME COURT BILL 2023 NOTIFIED AS LAW Saturday, 22 April, 2023 I 1 Shawwal, 1444
EIGHT-MEMBER APEX COURT BENCH HAD STOPPED IMPLANTATION OF BILL A WEEK AGO
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ISLAMABAD
PRESIDENT DR ALVI RETURNED THE BILL UNSIGNED TWICE
STAFF REPORT
N the midst of the prevailing political and constitutional, the National Assembly Secretariat notified Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 as law, despite a stay order issued by an 8-member bench of the Supreme Court, halting its implementation. The development was shared by the National Assembly’s official Twitter account on Friday. “Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 of the Majlis-i-Shoora (Parliament) is deemed to have been assented by the President […] under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is hereby published for general information,” the tweet said. A week ago while grating stay order in the matter, the eight-member bench of the apex court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umer Ata Bandial, had issued notices to the Federal Government, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP), political parties, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in response to pleas challenging the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023. The CJP led bench has termed the bill ‘interference with and intrusion into
the independence of the judiciary.’ However, the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 – curtailing CJP’s suo motu powers has become a law on Friday after being passed by the National Assembly (NA), fulfilling all the necessary requirements and regulations. The National Assembly of Pakistan shared the bill’s copy on its official Twitter handle. On the other hand, President Dr Arif Alvi, for a second time, refused to give his assent to Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 and sent it back to parliament, maintaining that the matter
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was now sub judice before the apex court. The bill was approved by the federal cabinet on March 28 and then lower and upper houses passed the instrument. However, the president refused to sign it into law with the observation that it travelled “beyond the competence of parliament”. Later, a Joint Sitting of Parliament passed the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 again on April 10. Three days later, the Supreme Court (SC) barred the government from implementing the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023. THE BILL: The passed bill – the
Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 – aims at giving the power of taking suo motu notice to a three-member committee comprising senior judges including Chief Justice. It also aims to have transparent proceedings in the apex court and includes the right to appeal. Regarding the constitution of benches, the bill states that every cause, matter or appeal before the apex court would be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by a committee comprising the CJP and the two senior-most judges. It added that the decisions of the committee would be taken by a majority. Regarding exercising the apex court’s original jurisdiction, the bill said that any matter invoking the use of Article 184(3) would first be placed before the above-mentioned committee. The bill says that if the committee is of the view that a question of public importance with reference to the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights conferred by Chapter I of Part II of the Constitution is involved, it shall constitute a bench comprising not less than three judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan which may also include the members of the committee, for adjudication of the matter. The bill additionally said that a party would have the right to appoint its counsel of choice for filing a review application under Article 188 of the Constitution.
PM felicitates nation, Muslim Ummah on Eidul Fitr
Minister assures petrol subsidy scheme won’t derail IMF deal
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
PROFIT
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Pakistan’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, has stated that the proposed petrol subsidy plan will not derail the loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF has raised objections about the subsidy, stating that it was announced without consultation. The loan programme, worth $6.5 billion, has been stalled for months, and the delay in disbursement of the $1 billion tranche has caused significant harm to the economy. Malik remains confident that the IMF can be convinced of the proposed scheme by using the differential gas pricing mechanism model. The government has already implemented differential gas pricing in the gas sector, charging higher rates for the rich and cheaper rates for the poor. The finance ministry has already answered two detailed questions regarding the petrol subsidy plan, in the hopes of satisfying the IMF’s concerns. The government’s proposal would subsidize petrol for 800cc cars and motorbikes while making petrol prices more expensive for the rich. However, concerns have been raised that the pricing model used in the gas sector would be challenging to implement transparently for petrol prices. The IMF has also questioned the modalities of the subsidy plan, and the half-cooked cross-subsidy has caused delays in striking a staff-level agreement with the IMF. It remains to be seen how the IMF will respond to the proposal.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) stalwarts and legal experts to discuss the political situation. According to sources, the federal minister for law and justice, Ayaz Sadiq, Saad Rafiq and other leaders were present in the meeting. Furthermore, former law minister Zahid Hamid and Attorney General Mansoor Usman also had a detailed meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sources said that the PM discussed the current political situation and the ongoing case in the Supreme Court. PM FELICITATES NATION, MUSLIM UMMAH ON EIDUL FITR: Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif felicitated people of Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr. In a message on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, he prayed that the blessed moment may bring for every Muslim immense happiness and joy of life. He said the fasting month of Ramazan ul Mubarak and worship of Allah evoked feelings of patience, contentment and empathy and Eidul Fitr was also an occasion to practically demonstrate these qualities. He advised people to take care of the needy, poor, destitute and orphans around them. These were difficult times and the sacrifice and love of the well
PML-N supremo, Maryam Nawaz meet Saudi Crown Prince Salman: Marriyum ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
to do and rich was needed more than in ordinary circumstances, he said adding, “Those who are facing difficulties due to adverse circumstances should be made part of the celebrations of Eid.” Shehbaz Sharif said it was persistent effort of the coalition government to put on the people minimum burden of the difficult economic conditions. “We are striving to the maximum to provide relief to the people. I believe that Allah Almighty will bring us out of these trying circumstances and comforts of life will return.” The prime minister emphasized that everybody would have to contribute to take Pakistan to its destination and to restore its lost status, to achieve that purpose constructive thinking, focus and constant hard work was needed “As the sweetness of Eid follows the fasting month, God willing, our effort and hard work will
bring economic prosperity in the life of the nation and the country.” He appealed to his countrymen to not forget the flood affectees on the occasion of Eid and include them in their happiness. “On this occasion, we salute the martyrs of the nation who embraced martyrdom while courageously fighting against terrorism and offer our heartfelt condolences to their families. May Allah elevate the ranks of these martyrs and give patience to their loved ones. Ameen,” he added. While expressing solidarity with our Palestinian and Kashmiri brothers and sisters he said, “We pray that Allah Almighty may bless them with freedom. Ameen.” He also expressed solidarity with the earthquake affectees of Turkiye and Syria and sympathized with the bereaved families, prayed for the peace of departed souls and patience for the heirs.
Workers protest after Master Tiles fails to pay four months wages on eve of Eid g
NOTICE The offices of Pakistan Today will remain closed from April 22, 2023 (Saturday) to April 23, 2023 (Sunday) on account of Eid-ul-Fitr. Hence, the paper will not be published on April 23, 2023 (Sunday) to April 24, 2023 (Monday). The Pakistan Today office will reopen on April 24, 2023 (Monday). We wish our readers a safe Eid.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and the party’s senior Vice President and Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, it was reported on Friday. In a tweet posted on her official handle on Friday, Information and broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the PML-N leaders discussed further developing Saudi-Pak brotherly relations, and solutions to the problems faced by Pakistan. Moreover, Nawaz expressed good wishes for the Saudi leadership. The meeting, that comes at a time Pakistan is going through serious economic and political troubles, had not been publicised earlier, neither have any pictures of it been released. The PML-N leaders are currently in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had told the lower house of the parliament that Saudi Arabia had provided another $2 billion to Pakistan in order to bolster the country’s foreign exchange reserves. “Showing great kindness, Saudi Arabia has provided us another $2 billion while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also promised to give us $1b,” Shehbaz said while speaking on the floor of the Nation Assembly. In January, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir met MBS at the winter camp in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, and reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the two leaders also discussed ways to enhance relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in addition to a number of issues of common concern.
FACTORY MANAGEMENT TRIED TO PLACATE PROTESTORS WITH RS10,000 PER WORKER AND PROMISE OF RELEASING THE PAYMENT AFTER EID DESPITE EARLIER PROMISES LAHORE
SHAHAB OMER
Master Tiles & Ceramic Industries Limited, has not been able to pay wages to its factory workers for the past four months, leading to the workers protesting outside the factory. Founded in 1982, Master Tiles came to mainstream attention back in 2020 when one the scions of the group wedded into the family that owns Jalal Sons in Lahore in a lavish and star-studded event estimated to have cost Rs 2 billion. According to details available with Profit, factory workers had been in talks with management about the release of their salaries which had not been made for the past four months. The company had promised that the workers would get their wages before Eid. However, the wages were not
released and to try and placate the workers the management agreed to release Rs 10,000 per worker and pay the rest after Eid. Unhappy with the broken promise, the workers organised a protest chanting slogans against company’s CEO Sheikh Mehmood Iqbal. Speaking to Profit, one of the workers of the factory, Muhammad Bilal informed that for the last four months, on the one hand, the salary has not been paid, while on the other hand, the workers are being threatened to prevent them from protesting. “Sheikh Mehmood, the owner of Master Tiles, has withheld our salaries for four months. Although Sheikh is also a big donor to Tablighi Jamaat, he refuses to pay the wages to the workers. We are constantly protesting for payment of salaries and the bosses are threatening us with severe pun-
ishment,” he exclaimed. “We also protested outside the Master Tiles factory in Kamonki but the owners did not care, instead they started threatening us with the police. Sheikh spent around 200 crores on his daughter's wedding but they have not paid the salaries of their 4000 employees for the last four months as tomorrow is Eid. They are not billionaires, they are trillionaires, their daughter's wedding which took place in 2020 and was called the most expensive wedding in Pakistan. The wedding guests were given gifts wrapped in gold foil. Their factories are state of the art but they are very cruel when it comes to paying the workers,” he lamented. Muhammad Muzamil, another factory worker, informed Profit that the owners and management had promised to make some payments to the workers before Eid but now
the management has reneged on this promise citing ‘poor factory conditions’. “So, the workers staged a dharna at the factory gate as a protest, but instead of fulfilling their very legitimate demand, the management is threatening them. The employees also protested by blocking the GT Road for not getting their salaries, but this news could not be aired on any TV channel because it is a heavy advertisement party. Now the owners have come down on open hooliganism with the full support of the entire district administration, Commissioner Gujranwala and the police. “Yesterday, after the continuous protest of the workers, the factory management announced the payment of only RS 10,000 per person and made false promises to pay the rest after Eid. Due to the dire need of money on Eid, the workers were currently willing
to receive a payment of ten thousand per person, but the cruelty is that this payment was also made to the same workers who were present on spot. Later, when the rest of the workers came to collect this money, the factory management flatly refused and threatened them with serious consequences, filing cases and arrests through the police, forcing them to return home emptyhanded,” he informed. However, some workers also told Profit that they would continue to protest against the factory owners until their salaries were not paid. On the other hand, the issue of non-payment by Master Tiles to the workers on the occasion of Eid was also viral on social media. Many attempts were made to talk to the company's HR team about the issue of non-payment of salaries, but could not be contacted.