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JillAni reCuses HiMselF FroM HeAding CoMMission As sC tAKes suo-Motu notiCe oF iHC Judges’ letter
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Tuesday, 2 April, 2024 I 22 Ramazan, 1445
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JILANI SAYS TORS FOR INQUIRY ARE NOT ‘STRICTLY’ RELEVANT TO THE SUBJECT UNDER CONSIDERATION
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Rs 50.00 | Vol XIV No 275 I 36 Pages I Islamabad Edition
CJP FORMS 7-MEMBER LARGER BENCH TO TAKE UP SIX IHC JUDGES’ LETTER
PTI rejects seven-member bench on judges’ letter, demands formation of full court
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ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
ORMER chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani has got release of heading the inquiry commission constituted to probe allegations of interference by intelligence agencies in judicial affairs as the Supreme Court on Monday took suo-motu notice of the matter. A week earlier, six out the eight judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a letter addressed to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members,
regarding attempts to pressure judges through the abduction and torture of their relatives as well as secret surveillance inside their homes. The IHC judges who wrote the letter included Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Saman Rafat Imtiaz. Following the allegation, demand emerged from various quarters for a probe into the investigation, amid which CJP Qazi Faez Isa summoned a full court meeting of the SC judges. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met CJP Isa, and the two decided to form a com-
KP Assembly speaker files review petition against PHC verdict ordering oath-taking of reserved seat MPAs PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati on Monday filed a review petition against the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) order wherein it directed him to administer oaths to opposition MPAs elected to reserved seats. The opposition and provincial government are at odds over the assembly session for the oath-taking of MPAs elected on reserved seats for women and minorities. Last month, a controversy had emerged as KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali had summoned the assembly session for March 22, but the provincial government declared the move against the rules as well as the Constitution, and refused to implement it. The opposition members later demonstrated against the government, accusing it of trying to block the right of women and non-Muslim MPAs to participate in the Senate polls slated for next month. On March 25, more than a dozen candidates of the province’s opposition, who were notified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on reserved seats, urged the PHC to ensure they are administered the oaths before the Senate elections scheduled for April 2 (Tuesday). Among the petitioners were six women MPAs-elect of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and eight returned candidates of the PML-N and PPP. On March 27, the PHC had ordered Swati to administer the oaths to the MPAs elected on reserved seats for women and non-Muslims, and facilitate them to cast votes in the Senate elections. A PHC division bench consisting of Justice Syed Mohammad Attique Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmad accepted three almost identical petitions filed by around 20 opposition MPAs elected on reserved seats, and directed the speaker to include the matter as agenda item No. 1 of the first business day of the session requisitioned for the upcoming Senate elections.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vehemently rejected the seven-member larger bench of like-minded judges headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan to probe into the six judges’ letter documenting intelligence agencies’ interference in judicial affairs, demanding that the matter should be heard by the full court and the proceeding should be televised. Speaking at a press conference along with former chief minister Gilgit-Baltistan Khalid Khurshid, PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan termed the suspension of PTI Chairman-for-life sentence in Thoshakhana case a ray of hope; however, he added that the sentence should have been quashed altogether since it was one of the around 200 frivolous, bogus and politically motivated cases based on political vendetta. Raoof Hasan said that the full court should hear the letter saga and should such decision that no institution could ever dare to interfere in judiciary again. He announced that the PTI would not accept the seven-mem-
mission to investigate the concerns of interference in judicial affairs following the cabinet’s approval. On Saturday, the federal cabinet approved the constitution of an inquiry com-
ber bench because the CJP Isa constituted the bench of like-minded judges to get decision of their choice, which, he said, PTI would not accept come what may. He demanded that the matter should be investigated through full court and the court proceeding should be live telecasted, adding that judicial conference should also be convened; where all judges should be allowed to tell their stories. Raoof went on to say that it would be travesty of law to task a person to form a commission to probe the matter in which he was a nominated accused, as the premier showed his intent during his meeting with former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani as the former wanted a decision of his choice. He noted that Jillani was a credible person and he took a right decision to recuse himself from heading a one-man inquiry commission to probe the interference by intelligence agencies in judicial affairs.
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mission headed by ex-CJP Jillani to probe the allegations and decide whether these are true or otherwise.
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All set for Senate elections today as ECP issues final list of contenders ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalized the arrangements for the upcoming Senate elections, scheduled to take place today. According to the commission, voting will be conducted in both the National and provincial assemblies from 9 am to 4pm. In preparation for the elections, a motion to utilize the National Assembly hall for the Senate election will be presented and approved during today’s Lower House session. Ballot papers have been printed in four different colours for the Senate elections to represent various categories of seats. White papers will be used for general seats, green for technocrat seats, pink for women seats, and yellow for minority seats. The delivery of election materials, including ballot papers, to the returning officer has been completed, ensuring the smooth conduct of the electoral process. In some provincial assemblies, candidates have been elected unopposed. All 11 candidates from the Balochistan Assembly have been elected unopposed, along with candidates on seven general seats from the Punjab Assembly. However, in other regions, tough contest is expected between the treasury and opposition parties. In Islamabad, two candidates each are competing for general and technocrat seats. In Punjab, there are four candidates for women’s seats, and three each for technocrat and ulema seats. Moreover, two candidates are contesting the minority seat in the province. The election commission also unveiled the final list of candidates vying for the Sen-
ate seats in Punjab. In the race for the two technocrat seats, federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, PML-N’s Dr Musadik Malik, and PTI’s Dr Yasmin Rashid will go head-to-head. Similarly, four candidates will compete for the two seats reserved for women, including Anusha Rehman, Bushra Anjum Butt, Faiza Malik, and Sanam Javed. Khalil Tahir Sandhu and Sunni Ittehad Council’s Asif Ashiq are set to contest for the minority seat. Moreover, the returning officer concerned has issued notifications confirming the unopposed victories of certain candidates on general seats for the upcoming Senate elections in Punjab. Returning Officer Ijaz Anwar Chauhan issued notifications for seven newly selected senators on general seats, where Ahad Khan Cheema, Pervaiz Rasheed, Mohsin Naqvi, Talal Chaudhry, and Nasir Mehmood have emerged victorious through PML-N’s support. Hamid Khan and Raja Nasir Abbas from the Sunni Ittehad Council have also been declared winners without facing any opposition. On the other hand, there are 11 candi-
dates for general seats and three for women’s seats from Sindh. There are four candidates for technocrat seats and two for minority seats. From Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there are 16 candidates running for general seats and four candidates for women’s seats. Moreover, there is a contest among six candidates on ulema and technocrat seats. The election commission had declared that the Senate poll in KP Assembly will be postponed if the members on reserved seats are not sworn in. The candidates vying for a spot in the Senate from Balochistan in the upcoming elections to the Upper House of parliament were elected unopposed on all the seats on March 29. The election commission announced that the candidates from Balochistan were elected unopposed on all seats of the Senate. The seats up for grabs from Balochistan were seven general seats, two women’s seats, and two technocrat seats. Also, 20 of the 33 candidates of the Senate had withdrawn their nomination papers, while two contenders stepped down in favour of their opposing candidates, the ECP confirmed.
IHC suspends Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s sentence in Toshakhana case ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the sentence awarded by the trial court to PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in Toshakhana case. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the sentence awarded by the trial court to PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in Toshakhana case. Two-judge bench consisting of IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Aurangzeb Monday conducted the hearing on appeals of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi against their conviction and sentencing in Toshakhana case. The court pronounced its ruling after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lawyer said the Bureau had no objection to the suspension of sentence. IHC orders to let PTI founder, Bushra Bibi meet on Eid Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday ordered to arrange Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi meeting on Eid-ul-Fitr. As per details, IHC’s Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard Bushra Bibi’s request to be transferred from Bani Gala Sub Jail to Adiala Jail. The court ordered the authorities to arrange Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s meeting on the occasion of Eid and a meeting was also allowed once a week. Justice Hassan Aurangzeb further questioned how the state can declare private property as a sub-jail. At this, the hearing of Bushra Bibi’s plea seeking her transfer from Bani Gala Sub Jail to Adiala Jail was adjourned.
PM vows to ensure exemplary punishment for culprits of Behsam attack DASU
MIAN ABRAR
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed for ensuring foolproof security measures for the Chinese nationals working on Dasu Hydropower Project as well as across the country and expressed resolve to ensure exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of Besham terrorist attack of March 26. While addressing a gathering of the Chinese nationals working on the hydropower project, he said the government would ensure that the perpetrators and culprits of March 26 incident should get the exemplary punishment, so that it would be a lesson and that no one could commit such dastardly act in future. Premier Shehbaz Sharif said that the sole purpose of his visit was to offer deep and sincere condolences and express feelings to the Chinese brothers and sisters in Dasu over a sad incident that took place on March 26 in which five Chinese and one local lost their lives. He said it was a cowardly act on part of the terrorists to kill innocent Chinese and a
Pakistani for no other reason except to disturb and damage the exceptional friendship between Pakistan and China. Present on the occasion were federal ministers Amir Muqam, Attaullah Tarar, Chairman WAPDA Lt Gen. (retd) Sajjad Ghani, Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, members of the Chinese company and senior officials. PM Shehbaz termed it conspiracy of the enemies of Pakistan and it was a dastardly act on part of the perpetrators who found every opportunity to harm this friendship which was strengthening by each passing day and expanding and moving forward with speed. “That is the reason enemies do not spare any opportunity to damage and create a wedge between the two Iron Brothers,” he added. Prime Minister Sharif said that they shared the moment of sadness and sorrow and assured that the government would not leave any stone unturned and would not spare any opportunity to ensure the best possible security measures for the Chinese families and nationals.
He also assured the Chinese leadership, the people and the Chinese ambassador that all foolproof security arrangements would be made for the Chinese people working and supporting a prosperous and developing Pakistan. The prime minister said that after the incident, he had visited embassy immediately to offer condolences on behalf of his government and the people of Pakistan to the Chinese leadership and the Chinese people. He informed that a joint investigation team was also constituted on the same day and its report was due any time. He further assured that they would not waste time to act upon the recommendations of the inquiry committee in letter and spirit. Besides, a high level security meeting was held on March 27 in which they discussed better coordination with the provincial governments over the additional security measures, he added. The prime minister said that Pak-China friendship would march forward in unison and the enemies of CPEC and this exceptional relationship would be defeated completely.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Jiang Zaidong said that the prime minister visited the embassy and reassured security for the Chinese nationals. He also expressed gratitude to the government and people of Pakistan for express-
ing solidarity, adding that they were ready to work together to further build their strategic partnership with Pakistan. The gathering also observed 30-second silence for those who lost lives in the tragic incident.