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PM SEEKS FINAL SCHEDULE FOR PIA’S PRIVATIZATION IN TWO DAYS thursday, 7 March, 2024 I 24 Sha'ban, 1445
Warns against laxity or irresponsibility in all phases of privatization process
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ISLAMABAD
Approves proposed roadmap for system of automation of FBR in principle
Staff RepoRt
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday sought a final implementation schedule for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). He was chairing a high-level meeting on the PIA’s privatization and restructuring of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The prime minister directed the Ministry of Privatization to present the schedule for the PIA’s privatization in the next two days after taking the necessary steps. He warned that no laxity and irresponsibility would be tolerated and said that complete transparency should be ensured in all phases of privatization. During the meeting, the participants reviewed the progress on the privatization of PIA and considered the next phases of the
process. The proposed roadmap for the system of automation of Federal Board of Revenue was also approved in principle. The participants considered in detail the
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proposals for transparency in the system of FBR, infrastructure reforms according to international standards, increase in taxes through incentives, eradication of corruption
and smuggling, separation of inland revenue and customs departments, and decrease in tax rates. The PM said that the roadmap should be implemented with clear-cut timelines. The targets should be determined realistically but the implementation of reforms should be the fastest in the region, he said, adding the targets could be achieved with round the clock work as “we do not have time to waste as it is a matter of shining future of Pakistan and economic recovery”. The meeting sought recommendations from the Ministry of Law for resolution of legal disputes in the pending cases of tax recovery and revenue in the courts. PM Shehbaz instructed that the hurdles in the recovery of Rs 1.7 trillion stuck-up taxes should be removed with the resolution of legal disputes. He also directed the Ministry of Law to present proposals to create a legal depart-
Imran ‘endorses’ ISPR statement regarding punishment for May 9 perpetrators g
Says polls results buried narrative built after May 9 events ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Endorsing the statement of the Corps Commanders’ Conference released by ISPR a day earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Wednesday demanded punishment for those responsible for the May 9 riots. “Identification of individuals involved on May 9 should be made with the help of CCTV footage, just as individuals involved in the Capitol Hill attack in the United States were apprehended with the help of CCTV footage,” Imran Khan declared while speaking to the media at Adiala Jail on Wednesday. Khan questioned why a judicial commission had not been formed yet regarding the May 9 incident. “There is no interest in conducting a transparent inquiry into the May 9 incident. I insist that those involved in it be punished.” He said denying PTI reserve seats amounted to a negation of democracy.
“How can those who were not entitled to have [PTI’s] reserve seats be given them?” Imran Khan also termed the denial of reserve seats to PTI as unconstitutional. “The people of East Pakistan too were deprived of their mandate which led to the country’s disintegration. These were the most rigged elections in the country’s history,” he added. On Tuesday, the top military commanders reiterated the commitment that planners, instigators, abettors, perpetrators and desecrators of martyrs’ monuments and attackers of military installations on May 9, 2023, would certainly be brought to justice under the relevant provisions of the law and Constitution. The Corps Commanders’ Conference noted with concern the spread of organised misinformation and fake news by certain nefarious elements to sow despondency and divisions within the society. The meeting, held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi with Chief
Fazl says will criticise institutions until they ‘meddle’ in politics LAHORE
of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir in the chair, urged the proud people of Pakistan to remain positive and united and wholeheartedly participate in the progress and development of the country. The PTI founder continued that the rigged elections would harm the country’s economy and cause further losses. “Without political stability, the country cannot function, whereas the Sharif family’s politics relies on SIFC,” he added. Regarding allegations of election rigging, Khan said that the responsibility lies with the caretaker government and the Election Commission of Pakistan. “Even the winners of the elections know that rigging took place. If they think the elections were fair, they should only audit four constituencies.” “Is peaceful protest a clash? If this is a clash, then there is no need for democracy,” Khan remarked. “Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Khawaja Asif have said that General Bajwa had promised to overthrow the government.”
Pildat recommends impartial probe into election-related matters ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
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JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday said a resolution of a Corps Commanders’ Conference could not stop him from criticising the institutions if they continued “interfering” in politics. “When a politician stands against the establishment, the judiciary becomes active. No decision of the judiciary of Pakistan is presented as a precedent in the world. The judiciary has lost its dignity and its decisions have no value,” Fazl maintained while addressing the JUI-F’s lawyers wing in Lahore. A day earlier, the 263rd Corps Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, presided over by army chief Gen Asim Munir, expressed dismay that some segments of polity and social media were “maligning the armed forces” with “unsubstantiated allegations of interference” in the electoral process. The JUI-F chief claimed that it was in their genetic makeup that could not accept “rigged” elections.
“Bajwa also told us to become a good boy and sit quietly. I cannot sit silently like a slave,” he said. Imran said that votes were given to someone else but others were declared winners. “PML-N did not have more than 25 seats, but their government has been formed,” he added. Khan refuted claims of accepting slavery, stating, “The nation accepting slavery always ends. There is no army opposition in our party. Criticism of elections is not criticism of the army.” He said that the narrative built after the May 9 events had failed after February 8 — the day of the general elections. “People did not believe that we committed treason. Keep me in prison for as long as you want but I will not accept slavery. After regime change, the economy has been drowned,” he added. The PTI founder reiterated that a stable government was needed for a stable Pakistan. “I said in the IMF meeting that without political stability, the economy cannot improve, and transparent elections are the only way to achieve this.”
The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) has recommended that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) conduct a “thorough and impartial investigation” into several election related matters. These include delays in the transmission, consolidation and announcement of provisional results, and the failure to publish signed copies of forms 45, 46, 48 and 49 within 14 days of polling day as required under the Elections Act, 2017, and the lack of contingency planning to meet result issuance deadlines in case of the EMS inoperability. Pildat further recommends that election tribunals should be allowed to resolve disputes on a case-by-case basis “Pildat is deeply concerned that only two Election Tribunals have been constituted in Punjab compared to eight constituted after 2018 general election and nine reportedly requested by the ECP this time,” according to an assessment by the group. It also demanded that a Commission of Enquiry be formed similar to the one formed to probe the 2013 election. The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has released its as-
sessment of the 2024 General Election, indicating a concerning decline in fairness scores compared to previous election cycles. The assessment was based on an independent analysis by Pildat, alongside a questionnaire scored by politicians, lawyers, activists, retired bureaucrats and military officials, and politically aware youth. The assessment was divided into three parts; the pre-polling process, polling on election day, and the post-polling process. The report — a copy of which is available with Dawn.com — highlighted key issues including political repression, suspension of mobile and internet services on polling day, delay in announcement of election results, delay in publishing the results of Forms 45, 46, 48 and 49 on the website of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and a delay in allocating reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council. The pre-poll phase — which dealt with questions about the impartiality of key institutions such as the judiciary, the ECP, caretaker governments and intelligence agencies — scored 50 per cent, matching the score of the 2018 election but lower than 62 per cent scored by the 2013 election. The overall score of the second phase stood at 40 per cent, matching the 2018 election score but significantly lower than the 2013 election score of 50 per cent.
ment in the FBR, for preparation of drafts according to law and hiring of services of lawyers. He said six to seven percent economic growth was possible with the implementation of reforms, adding that investment was needed to modernize the revenue and tax system. “We want to bring a system of taxation based on incentives. We desire to reduce the burden of taxes but the business community has to help by playing a role for the progress of people through social service.” The prime minister asked that an effective third party audit system should be ensured, which so far could not be done. He said that tax system with high quality was in vogue in the world and “we also have to improve our system”. He urged that all exemptions in taxes should be thoroughly reviewed. He was of the view that Pakistan would not have been left behind in the world if small and medium enterprises were promoted. “We could not promote our small and medium industry in the last 40 years. Now is the time to expand this sector.” Former caretaker minister for finance Dr Shamshad Akhtar gave a detailed briefing about the restructuring of FBR, automation and on different aspects of the loopholes in collection of taxes and the future strategy. She informed the meeting that Pakistan’s tax to GDP was 9.5 percent which was low as compared to other countries and it was very necessary to increase it for progress and development.
PHC halts oath-taking on ‘SIC’s NA reserved seats’ till tomorrow PESHAWAR
Staff RepoRt
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday stopped until Thursday (tomorrow) the oath-taking on the National Assembly reserved seats, given to parties from “what the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) claims its share” and “sought ECP reply to four questions.” The order was issued on a petition filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) — which was joined by PTI-backed independents who won the elections sans their electoral symbol — challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to reject the party allocation of reserved women and minority seats. In a 4-1 verdict earlier this week, the electoral watchdog ruled that the SIC was not entitled to claim quota for reserved seats “due to having non curable legal defects and violation of a mandatory provision of submission of party list for reserved seats which is the requirement of law”. The commission had also decided to distribute the seats among other parliamentary parties, with the PML-N and the PPP becoming major beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the verdict was rejected by the PTI as unconstitutional and the party vowed to challenge it. Today, a two-member PHC bench comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Shakeel Ahmad took up a petition filed by PTI-SIC challenging the commission’s order. In its short order, the court issued a pre-admission to the ECP and all the respondents in the case. It also listed these questions that needed to be determined: Whether the court has the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter or not? Whether the petitioner has locus standi to file the petition? Whether the petitioner is entitled to claim the quota for reserved seats for women and nonMuslims in view of the Constitution, Elections Act and Elections Rules? Whether the defect of non-submission of lists for reserved seats is not curable under the law? Whether the seats for women and non-Muslims in the National Assembly can be kept vacant or are liable to be allocated by proportional representation process on the basis of seats won by political parties? Whether the ECP has misconceived and misinterpreted the provision of the Constitution, Elections Act and Elections Rules? The court further referred the matter to the PHC chief justice for the constitution of a larger bench to “adjudicate upon the intricate constitutional questions involved in the matter”. The bench issued notices to the Attorney General for Pakistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General to assist the court.
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Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was not given a ‘fair trial’, rules Supreme Court CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Verdict on Bhutto reference will enable democracy to progress: Bilawal
ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
The Supreme Court (SC), in its unanimous opinion, on the presidential reference sent to it on the hanging of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), on Wednesday said that the former prime minister did not get a fair trial. The apex court further said that ZAB’s trial was not in accordance with the law and the constitution. The SC was of the view that judges were bound to give verdicts as per law. Moreover, it said that there could be no way forward without admitting the mistakes made in the past. “Judges should never violate their oath and they should also hold themselves accountable,” said Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa while pronouncing the decision. However, the CJP said detailed reasons of the verdict would be given later. The Supreme Court had on Monday reserved its verdict on the presidential reference seeking review of the apex court’s
ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
1979 decision in the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto murder case as it concluded proceedings on Monday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. A nine-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa heard the presidential reference filed in 2011. Other members on the bench included Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Musarrat Hilali.
Wrapping up the hearing on Monday, CJP Qazi Faez Isa remarked ““Not today, but some other day we may sit down and reach a verdict.” Speaking on the occasion, Raza Rabbani said that basic human rights were suspended at that time since there was martial law in the country. “At that time military dictator General Ziaul Haq was the only prosecutor,” he said, and added, “On the other hand, the government and the opposition had sorted out their differences on elections.”
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Wednesday said the historic verdict passed by the Supreme Court on the Bhutto reference would help Pakistan progress on all fronts, including the democratic system and judiciary. History is set to be corrected after 44 years, the PPP chairman remarked, as he pointed to the fact that Bhutto was hanged decades ago April 4, 1979 and his family as well as the party have been describing the move as judicial murder since then. Talking to reporters after a nine-member bench shared its verdict, Bilawal – the grandson of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who was the first elected prime minister of Pakistan – said the court had accepted that Bhutto didn’t get a fair trial.
He noted that it was difficult for ordinary people to trust the judicial system when a popular leader like Bhutto couldn’t get justice. Bilawal, during a short interaction with media persons, thanked amicus curiae appointed by the court and the lawyers who presented their opinion and argued the case. As the Supreme Court announced a unanimous short verdict, Chief Justice Faez Isa observed that no correction was possible without admitting the mistakes committed in the past. Some of the judgments were a product of fear or favour, he said. Bhutto was arrested on the charges of conspiring to murder a political opponent two months after his ouster from the office and declared guilty in 1978 by the Lahore High Court (LHC).
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