In partnership with
Profit
Sindh leadership PM ORDERS SPEEDY IMPLEMENTATION OF PTI moves SJC for removal of CEC, ECP members BILATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH CHINA Sunday, 21 July, 2024 I | 14 Muharram, 1446
g
SAYS RELOCATION OF CHINESE INDUSTRY TO PAKISTAN WOULD HELP IMPROVE OVERALL ECONOMY
g
BRIEFED ON PROGRESS OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS LAUNCHED WITH CHINESE COOPERATION
– directs early completion of Islamabad Technology Park ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
P
ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the concerned authorities to expedite the process of implementing the agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) made with the Chinese government and companies, saying that delay in implementation of the agreements would not be tolerated. China is a time tested friend of Pakistan who helped Pakistan in every hour of need, the prime minister said while
chairing a review meeting regarding PakChina cooperation here at PM House. He said that the Chinese leadership was determined to further expand investment in Pakistan. The prime minister pointed out that the transfer of the Chinese industry to Pakistan would help improving the country’s overall economy, increasing Pakistan’s exports and creating new employment opportunities. During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed on progress of different projects that were launched with the Chinese cooperation. The prime minister was told that Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway would be completed through Public Pri-
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the project team of Islamabad Technology Park and the Information Technology Ministry to complete the project within current calendar year instead of the scheduled completion date of June 2025. The prime minister, during his visit to the under-construction site of the country’s largest Islamabad Technology Park, said that the project was launched in 2022 during the coalition government of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the contract was awarded to a South Korean company. He said the project was being completed at a cost of Rs 25 billion out of which $70 million (soft loan) was being provided by the South Ko-
vate Partnership. It was informed that the plan to send 1,000 students for modern agricultural vocational training at government expense had been completed. The first batch of students was being sent to China at the beginning of this ac-
rean government. “Soon after taking charge of my office, I issued directions to continue work on the project round the clock,” he said adding that he as Chief Minister Punjab had introduced the system of 24 hours work on the development projects. Expressing satisfaction over the progress of the project, PM Shehbaz Sharif asked the project management to try their best to complete the project by September or October this year. He said after completion of the project, some 120 offices of different companies would be established in the Park. Similarly, he said an incubation center with 15 offices and startups would also be part of the Technology Park with a business support center where legal marketing and financial support facilities would be provided under one umbrella.
ademic year while the the next batch would be sent to the Chinese modern agricultural universities after learning Chinese in Pakistan.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Nawaz distances himself from govt; condemns power price hike LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
PTI ready to resign from assemblies, dissolve KP Assembly for fresh polls: Fazl ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 21 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Saturday announced that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has agreed to dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly and resign from other assemblies to pave the way for new elections. Speaking to the media on Saturday, Rehman revealed the formation of a committee to negotiate with PTI, headed by Kamran Murtaza and including members Maulana Lutf Rehman, Fazl Ghafoor, Aslam Ghori, and Maulana Amjad. Rehman emphasised that despite past conflicts, JUI-F is ready to normalise relations with the PTI. He stressed that PTI’s willingness to dissolve KP Assembly and resign from other assemblies is crucial for holding transparent elections. He further called for parliamentary and local body elections to be held simultaneously and suggested the abolition of the caretaker setup. Addressing the current political instability, Rehman criticised the economic policies and the high electricity bills that have burdened the public. He urged ‘decision-makers’ to prioritise the welfare of the people and ensure fair elections for political stability. Rehman also condemned the establishment’s role in perpetuating political instability and called for a change in their approach. He warned that the country’s current path could lead to further division and emphasised the need for responsible governance. In addition to political remarks, Rehman announced a series of public peace conventions, including a nationwide black day on August 5 to protest India’s actions in Kashmir, a farmer’s convention in Mardan on August 10, a trader’s convention in Peshawar on August 11, and a peace convention in Lakki Marwat on August 18. He stressed that peace and political stability are essential for economic progress and warned against any further political adventures or martial law.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday distanced himself from PM Shehbaz decisions and condemned his own party’s government’s recent hike in electricity prices, labelling it a significant burden on all citizens, not just the poor. Speaking at a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister’s House in Lahore, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Saturday, Sharif stressed that the country is being poorly managed, resulting in severe economic hardships. Nawaz Sharif criticised the rising electricity bills, noting that they have become unaffordable for many Pakistanis. He recalled that
during his tenure, load shedding was eliminated, and electricity rates were kept under control, with lower bills and a stable dollar rate until 2017. He lamented that the situation has deteriorated since 2018, severely impacting the poor. Sharif also highlighted the government’s failure to handle the International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiations effectively, pointing out that his administration had previously sent the IMF packing, only for it to be invited back by subsequent leaders. He called for immediate relief measures to alleviate the public’s suffering. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz echoed Sharif’s sentiments, emphasising the detrimental impact of rising flour and electricity prices on the economy. She announced plans to expand the solar panel financing scheme,
which aims to provide free or loanbased solar systems to the public. The scheme, known as the Roshan Gharana, is expected to launch by 14 August, with a detailed plan requested from the relevant departments. The Punjab Energy Department presented proposals for providing solar systems to the public at no cost or on loan. Secretary of Energy Naeem Rauf briefed the attendees on the Chief Minister’s Solar Panel Financing Scheme, noting that test runs have commenced at various locations to monitor performance. The meeting concluded with Nawaz Sharif urging swift implementation of the Roshan Gharana scheme to provide maximum relief to the public, underscoring the importance of immediate action in response to the economic crisis.
sonal convenience, stating that delaying the hearing would be unjust. He emphasised that the right to review is enshrined in the Constitution and should not be hindered by judges’ vacations. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Muneeb Akhtar, however, contended that only the 13 judges who originally heard the case could conduct the review, noting that many judges are currently on summer break or abroad. They suggested that the review petitions be scheduled after the holidays. Justice Isa opposed this majority decision, insisting that the hearings should proceed immediately, even if it meant cancelling the summer break. He cited the urgency stipulated
in the Practice and Procedure Act, which requires review petitions to be scheduled within 15 days. Justice Muneeb Akhtar pointed out that judicial rules allow for vacation periods, and once announced, they cannot be easily revoked. He added that the new judicial year starts in the second week of September, making it challenging to accommodate the review petitions immediately. He argued that awaiting a detailed decision while postponing the review hearings would strip individuals of their rights and undermine the law. The committee ultimately decided, by a 2-1 majority, to schedule the review petitions post-holidays, despite Justice Isa’s dissent.
‘PTI reserved seats’: CJP dissents as SC’s body decides to hear review pleas after summer break ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Supreme Court Practice and Procedures Committee on Saturday decided to schedule the review petitions regarding reserved seats after summer break despite insistence by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa for early hearing. The development at the 17th meeting of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedures Committee held here with CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa. During the meeting, the CJP highlighted the constitutional right to a timely hearing, stressing the importance of promptly scheduling review petitions regarding reserved seats. He argued that judges should prioritise constitutional duties over per-
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a reference in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and five members of the commission under Articles 209 (5) and (6) of the Constitution. PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, Justice (r) Noorul Haq Qureshi, and MPA Muhammad Shabbir complained, alleging that the CEC and officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had failed to perform their constitutional duties. The CEC and members of the election watchdog had allegedly stolen the mandate of the PTI through rigging in the February 8 general elections and maliciously misrepresented the Supreme Court orders, the reference read. The PTI in the complaint, filed through Barrister Ali Tahir, accused the CEC and ECP officials of involvement in pre-election, election day, and postelection rigging. The complainants accuse the Chief Election Commissioner and members of misconduct, alleging that they politically appointed bureaucrats as Returning Officers (ROs) and District Returning Officers (DROs). They claim that former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Chattha revealed that 70,000 votes were fraudulently cast for PML-N in each constituency in Rawalpindi, implicating the Chief Election Commissioner and Chief Justice in the process. The complaint further asserts that the Election Commission deprived PTI of its election symbol and its nominated members of their party affiliation, affecting over 120 million voters. They submitted that the respondents have wrongfully declared candidates from the complainant’s party as independents in the elections violating the spirit of the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s orders, and undermining democracy in the country which they are bound to uphold. Following the Supreme Court’s verdict on petitions related to reserved seats, the complainants sought immediate accountability of the respondents. They submitted that the ECP had attempted to undermine the PTI mandate, but the top court’s ruling had exposed unconstitutional and illegal activities of the election commissioners accounting for gross misconduct. They contended that according to Article 224 of the Constitution, general elections must take place within 60 days of an assembly completing its term, or within 90 days if an assembly is dissolved prematurely. The complainants have requested an inquiry into the allegations and recommended the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner and members if the charges are proven.
Pakistani students in Bangladesh moved to safety amid deadly protests: FO ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
As the ongoing deadly protests in Bangladesh widened, Pakistani students present in the South Asian country have been moved to safety to keep them from harm, a Foreign Office spokesperson said on Saturday. Student-led protests against the job quota have killed at least 110 people this week, with the government deploying army to quell the deadly events. For five days police have fired tear gas, rubber bullets and hurled sound grenades to scatter protesters throwing bricks and setting fire to vehicles. Assuring the safety of the Pakistani students present in Dhaka and other cities of Bangladesh, the FO said that they had been shifted to secure locations. The spokesperson said that Pakistan’s mission in Dhaka is in contact with all the Pakistani students and the deputy head of the mission has met some of them present in Chittagong. “All students are safe,” the FO spokesperson said, adding that the Pakistani High Commission has accommodated them at safe sites. “These include the high commission building, the Pakistani ambassador’s residence, and some other safe places,” the statement added. The demonstrations — the biggest since Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was re-elected for a fourth successive term this year — have also been fuelled by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of the population. With the death toll climbing and police and other security forces unable to contain the protests, Hasina’s government imposed a national curfew and deployed the military, who were given orders to shoot on sight if needed. Soldiers patrolled the deserted streets of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Saturday, setting up roadblocks during a curfew imposed in response to the protests.
Opposition alliance demands judicial probe into Bannu rally violence ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Opposition alliance of Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Saturday demanded formation of an independent judicial commission immediately to probe into the deaths and injuries caused by the firing on Bannu Aman March. The meeting of the opposition alliance was presided over by senior politician and head of the movement Mahmood Khan Achakzai, which was attended by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Secretary General and Leader of Opposition National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Leader of Opposition in Senate Sena-
tor Shibli Faraz and PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hassan. Chairman Sunni Ittehad Council Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Chairman Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen Allama Nasir Abbas and JUI Shirani Group leader Syed Qasim Agha also participated in the meeting. The participants stressed that the judicial commission should be headed by a serving judge, which should be free from any external pressure, to ensure a transparent investigation into the violent incidents in Bannu. They demanded that the incumbent IG and Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) miserably failed in restoring peace in the province; hence they should be dismissed forthwith.
The meeting announced to hold a countrywide protest on Friday (July 26) for the release of all political prisoners including PTI Founding Chairman Imran Khan and reclaiming PTI’s stolen mandate. During the meeting, the participants held a detailed discussion over the prevailing political and economic situation of the country along with the future course of action. In the meeting, the participants passed a unanimous resolution demanding an immediate release of Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and all other PTI’s leaders and workers, who were unjustly imprisoned in fake, frivolous and baseless cases.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
KP govt announces commission for ‘transparent’ probe PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Saturday announced the formation of a commission to probe the outbreak of violence at a peace rally in Bannu a day earlier, the provincial spokesperson said. On Friday, at least one person was killed and 22 others sustained injuries when gunfire caused a stampede at peace
march in Bannu. The gathering was attended by thousands who were demanding security in the district. The peace rally, organised by local traders and political parties, saw participants waving white flags as symbols of peace. The violence was condemned by activists and rights organisations, who claimed that the death toll was much higher than reported.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03