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WORKING TO FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR TO HELP PUSH ECONOMY ON RIGHT TRACK: PM Wednesday, 22 May, 2024 I |13 Zil-Qadah, 1445
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EXPRESSES SATISFACTION OVER ECONOMIC SITUATION IN COUNTRY
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ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday while expressing satisfaction over the economic situation of the country, said that from day first, they had been working to provide facilities to the private sector for the economic development, provision of job opportunities and expansion of businesses and investment. He observed that due to the government’s policies, the inflation rate in the country was on the nosedive and through governance they had been taking steps to pass on the effects of the reduction in the price hike to the common man. The prime minister expressed these views
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SAYS DUE TO GOVT POLICIES, INFLATION RATE IS ON NOSEDIVE
while chairing the first meeting of the Economic Advisory Council, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. The meeting was attended by council members including Jahangir Khan Tareen, Saqib Sherazi, Shahzad Saleem, Mussadiq Zulqarnain, Dr Ejaz Nabi, Asif Pir, Zaid Bashir, Salman Ahmed and Sheharyar Chishti. Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Dr Jehanzeb Khan, PM’ Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal, governor SBP and relevant senior officials were also present. The prime minister observed that the positive trends in the stock market reflected trust of the business community and investors in the government’s policies, adding they would pro-
vide further facilities to the foreign investors and business community in the next fiscal budget. The prime minister said that they would reduce the tax ratio on common man and would increase the number of tax filers. For the digitization of the country’s economy, they were taking steps on priority basis, he said, adding that they would ensure provision of quality seeds and timely supply of fertilizers to the farmers for increasing their yield per acre. He further assured to promote small and medium level industry to save agricultural products from wastage. The prime minister directed for removal of all hurdles in acquiring visa by the foreign investors and business people. The meeting was apprised that due to the government’s investment and business friendly policies, the confidence of the local and foreign investors had been strengthened which was reflected in the bullish trends of the stock market. Giving briefing over the economic indicators, the meeting was apprised that during the third quarter of the current fiscal year, the agri sector showed a growth rate of 6.25 percent which was higher by 2.27 percent in the corresponding period last year. Similarly, the industrial and service sectors also witnessed tangible growth rate. The inflation rate had been reduced from 38 percent to 17 percent and the government was immediately ensuring its trickle down effects upon the common man. During the meeting, the council members presented different proposals for the economic stability and for different sectors. The prime minister directed for submission of comprehensive recommendations in the next meeting related to necessary steps for increasing country’s exports.
IHC issues notices on pleas challenging Dar’s appointment as deputy prime minister ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued notices, seeking replies from the respondents on the petition challenging the appointment of Ishaq Dar as deputy prime minister. IHC Chief Justice Amir Farooq presided over hearing of the petitions, filed by Fahad Shabbir and Sher Afzal Marwat. The judge inquired from the petitioners’ counsels about the judgement of Lahore High Court on the matter, asking about the difference between the past and present pleas. Marwat’s counsel Riaz Hanif Rahi submitted that on April 28,
with the approval of the prime minister, a notification was issued for the appointment of Ishaq Dar as the deputy prime minister. He added that the prime minister is an elected office, while there is no mention of the deputy prime minister in the law. Similarly, the post of prime minister is a constitutional post, while there is no provision of the post of deputy prime minister, Advocate Rahi continued. He said the Cabinet Division is not authorised to issue any notification for the appointment of deputy prime minister under the constitution. He said that Dar has already been working as foreign minister. The court inquired him that whether
he asserts that a minister cannot hold two portfolios. Advocate Rahi said two positions have been given to a single person for his personal benefit at the expense of the public. The petitioner’s counsel argued that a person who is illegally appointed cannot enjoy the benefits on state expenses. Moreover, the appointment of a deputy prime minister is a violation of Article 91 of the constitution. The Chief justice issued notices to the attorney general for Pakistan, the federal government, the Cabinet Division secretary, the prime minister and Ishaq Dar and adjourned the case till June 12.
IHC rejects plea seeking Imran Khan’s disqualification in Tyrian White case
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The Islamabad High Court, during proceedings on Tuesday, rejected a petition that sought to disqualify Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in connection with the Tyrian White case. The petition was filed against Khan for purportedly failing to disclose White as his daughter in the nomination papers submitted for the 2018 general elections. Today, a new bench of the Islamabad High Court considered the plea, ultimately dismissing it. The bench comprising Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Arbab Mohammad Tahir and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz heard the case. The case had been pending since May 2023 after a three-member bench hearing the case was dissolved by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. The decision was taken after the opinions of two judges regarding the plea’s maintainability were uploaded on the court website. The bench comprised IHC CJ Aamer Farooq, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Arbab Muhammad
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Tahir and had reserved the verdict in the case on March 30 last year. However, Justice Kayani and Justice Tahir had opined against the petition’s maintainability and uploaded their opinion on the IHC official website which was later removed. The high court explained that without the signatures of the bench head Justice Farooq, the opinion of two judges could not be declared the bench verdict and uploaded to the court website. As the hearing started, the petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Hamid Ali Shah, said that Salman Akram Raja had filed an adjournment petition in this case. Khan’s lawyer Naeem Haider Panjhuta said that this matter has already been settled and the verdict was also uploaded on the website. Panjhuta said that after the verdict was removed from the website, the bench was reconstituted through a press release. Justice Jahangiri asked Panjhuta if he was a lawyer in this case. To this, he replied that he was a proxy counsel. The judge then said that Justice Kayani and Justice Tahir gave an opinion in this case. At this, Advocate Shah said that this was the opinion of two judges and the verdict was not signed by the chief justice. “How can we provide relief when the petition has been dismissed?” questioned Justice Jahangiri. Advocate Shah said that he needed some time to prepare, adding that he could only assist the court after reading the verdict. Justice Jahangiri said that the IHC CJ recused himself from the bench and two judges had given their verdict. The court said that the disqualification plea against Khan had already been dismissed by the bench. “The majority decision has already been issued,” remarked the court.
PM forms body to hold consultations on Peca 2016 amendments g
COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW PECA 2016, ENSURE CONSENSUS ON AMENDMENTS AND SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN 15 DAYS ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The federal government on Tuesday notified an eight-member special committee to conduct consultations on the proposed amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Acts (Peca) 2016. According to a notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the special committee will be responsible for reviewing Peca 2016 and ensure political consensus on the proposed amendments in the Act by holding consultations with all stakeholders. The committee will also make recommendations regarding the amendments, provide support for the Secretariat of the Ministry of Information Technology, and submit its recommendations to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif within 15 days. According to the publication, the committee will be led by Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and comprise Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Senator Sherry Rehman, Nawabzada Khalid Magsi, and Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan. During its meeting on May 14, the cabinet okayed devising a special committee for consultations regarding the amendments being proposed for Peca 2016. Last week, The News learnt from government sources that a special cabinet committee invited media houses and other stakeholders for consultation on the proposed amendment bill and establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Authority. This issue came up in the last meeting of the federal cabinet during which review of the said amendment was stressed to ensure consensus before it was presented in the Parliament. According to sources, the purpose of establishing the Social Media Regulatory Authority was to advise the government on matters related to digital rights, responsible use of the Internet and ensuring compliance with regulations. With its plans regarding the amendments, the government aims to protect the privacy of private lives of citizens from threats posed by social media. Earlier this month, sources told Geo News that PM Shehbaz had approved a draft to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, as part of the federal government’s decision to regulate social media through legislation. The proposed amendment bill was recommended by the cabinet’s Legal Reforms Committee, which suggested the establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Authority, which will fall under the Ministry of Information Technology’s jurisdiction, they added.