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PM, PreSIdenT ‘fIne-Tune’ STraTegy fOr COnSTITuTIOnaL aMendS Friday, 18 October, 2024 I | 14 Rabi ul Sani, 1446
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Meeting comes after both coalition partners step back from earlier stance on constitutional court
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ISLAMABAD
Special committee meeting discusses 26th constitutional amendments draft
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday discussed the proposed constitutional amendments and prevailing political situation in the country during a meeting held at the President House. PM Shehbaz went to President’s House to discuss the proposed constitutional amendments with President Zardari. The meeting between the two bigwigs of the two coalition partners comes after the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stepped back from their earlier stance to establish constitutional courts. On the other hand, during a special parliamentary committee meeting, chaired by Khursheed Shah, discussions were held on the 26th constitutional amendment draft. According to sources, the governing coalition parties and Jamiat Ulema-e-
Islam (JUI-F) have agreed to drop the proposed 26th constitutional amendment, which called for the creation of constitutional courts. Instead, they reached a consensus on forming a constitutional bench. The special committee meeting concluded with the government and JUI-F deciding to consult the Pakistan Tehreek-
PTI all set to stage countrywide protests for release of Imran Khan today LAHORE
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e-Insaf (PTI) on a joint draft. JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman will share the finalised draft with PTI leadership, marking the nearing completion of the amendment process. However, Information Advisor for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Barrister Saif announced PTI will mount both legal and political resistance against the
proposed constitutional amendment. PTI lawmaker Barrister Saif labelled on Thursday that the current government is “illegitimate” and accused it of “attempting to secretly alter the constitution without public representation”. PTI’s political committee has announced its decision to resist recent constitutional amendments and hold a nationwide protest this Friday. The parliamentary committee will reconvene after Friday prayers to continue discussions on the draft. Earlier in the day, the amendments proposed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) to 26th constitutional draft were discarded. The proposed amendments related to local government powers and funds have also been removed from the draft. Both the ruling PML-N and PPP succeeded in convincing MQM. According to the two main coalition partners, the amendments proposed by the MQM-P will be considered in the next 27th constitutional amendment, with the party expressing agreement with the government’s suggestions.
Pakistan, Mongolia agree to form JMC, inter-parliamentary union to boost ties ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will stage countrywide protests on Friday for the release of its founder Imran Khan and other party leaders and workers and against the ban on meeting of lawyers with the incarcerated leader in jail. The PTI, in a statement issued here, stated its leaders held a meeting in which they decided to hold a country-wide protest. It was agreed to make every possible effort to block the way of amendment in both houses of the parliament, the statement said. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said that Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) would stage massive protest Friday (tomorrow) to press their demand for the release of party founder Imran Khan and all the detained workers. In a message to party workers, Gandapur said that PTI would stage countrywide protest after Friday prayers. “We are not allowed to meet the party founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail and we’ll hold protest for his release,” said CM Gandapur. He added that protest would also be staged against the constitutional amendment that the government is planning to bring in the parliament. “We’ll protect the constitution at any cost,” he said. On the other hand, the party’s political committee demanded the release of Aleema Khanum and Uzma Khanum, sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan, advocate Intizar Hussain Panjotha, Azam Swati and all the arrested leaders, workers and members of parliament, including the president of Tehreeke-Insaf Balochistan. The PTI asked the regional organizations to hold a peaceful protest at districts’ headquarters after Friday prayers. The government’s attempt to distort the Constitution through the constitutional amendment is not acceptable, it said. The statement said both houses of parliament have agreed to make every possible effort to block the way of amendment and demanded the release of Imran Khan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz on Thursday offered his Mongolian counterpart to send civil servants to training institutions in Pakistan and also proposed to declare 2025 as the year of Pakistan-Mongolia Friendship to bolster the brotherly ties between the two countries. Pakistan and Mongolia on Thursday agreed to form a Joint Ministerial Commission to enhance cooperation in trade, tourism, agriculture and mining sectors, and an inter-parliamentary union to expand the bilateral parliamentary ties. The bilateral relations were discussed in a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Mongolian counterpart Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene here on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) Meeting. In the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz suggested that both sides should explore new avenues of mutually advantageous cooperation with a particular focus on trade, investment, people-to-people contacts and connections. He offered the Mongolian side to send civil servants to training institutions in Pakistan and also proposed to declare 2025 as the year of Pakistan-Mongolia Friendship to bolster the brotherly ties among the two countries. Prime Minister Shehbaz warmly welcomed Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene and noted that his visit marked a new chapter in the history of the bilateral relationship, defined by mutual respect, goodwill and amity. Felicitating him on his re-elec-
Over 250 arrested as protests erupt following alleged rape at Lahore college RAWALPINDI
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More than 250 individuals have been arrested following violent protests sparked by the alleged rape of a female student at a private college in Lahore, police confirmed on Thursday. Authorities stated that suspects were being identified and apprehended with the help of video footage obtained from the scene. According to a police spokesperson, the total number of arrests has now surpassed 250, with further detentions expected as the investigation progresses. Police also clarified that not all those arrested are students, as some non-student elements were found to be involved in acts of vandalism and other unlawful activities during the protests. These individuals, they said, had taken advantage of the unrest to engage in destructive behavior under the guise of demonstrating against the alleged assault. The police assured the public that the situation in Lahore has now been brought under control, and order has been restored in the city. They emphasized that those responsible for any illegal actions, whether students or outside agitators, would face legal consequences. The investigation into the alleged rape is ongoing, with authorities pledging a thorough and transparent inquiry.
SC orders transfer of dam fund to federal govt’s public account ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
tion as the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Shehbaz Sharif stated he looked forward to working closely with Oyun-Erdene in the days ahead to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Oyun-Erdene warmly felicitated the prime minister on the successful conduct of the SCO CHG Meeting and appreciated Pakistan’s leadership role as SCO CHG Chair. He reciprocated that Mongolia shared Pakistan’s desire to build stronger and closer bilateral relations through joint efforts and collaboration. The Mongolian prime minister also planted a sapling in the lawn of the Prime Minister’s House. ‘Pakistan to work with SCO states to make organization more effective and stronger’ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met SCO SecretaryGeneral Zhang Ming wherein he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work wholeheartedly for promotion of the organization’s development priorities for the benefit of all its member states and the wider region. In the meeting held on the
sidelines of the 23rd meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG), the prime minister stressed that Pakistan stood ready to work with SCO member states to make the organization more effective and stronger. Recalling Secretary-General Ming’s earlier visit to Pakistan in July 2022, Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed him in Islamabad and thanked him for the support extended by the SCO Secretariat to Pakistan in organization of the SCO CHG Meeting. He also thanked Zhang Ming for his dedication and outstanding services as the outgoing Secretary-General of SCO and wished him every success in his future endeavours. Zhang Ming warmly felicitated the prime minister on the successful organization of the SCO CHG Meeting and its positive outcome. He appreciated Pakistan’s constructive contributions to SCO’s work and activities across all domains and expressed satisfaction over Pakistan’s leadership role as SCO CHG Chair.
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered transfer of the dam fund to the federal government’s public account. The court issued a written order regarding the dam fund case. On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a written order regarding the Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dams Funds case. The court also ordered the closure of the Supreme Court’s account established for the said funds. The court further instructed that a sub-account under the government’s public account be created to facilitate the transfer and management of the funds. The order also stressed that the federal government should expedite the transfer of the funds and manage markup. The court clarified that, whenever required, the funds from the respective account can be used to construct the dams. It is to be recalled that the federal government demanded release of dams funds from the Supreme Court (SC). A four-member bench headed by CJP Qazi Faez Isa heard the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams funds case today. Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman informed the court that a miscellaneous application had been filed and dams funds must be handed over to the federal government and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). Amir Rehman said that the funds were deposited in the account opened in the State Bank in the supervision of the SC. CJP inquired about the amount of funds collected for dams. Wapda counsel Saad Rasool informed the court that Rs 20 billion was deposited in dams funds.
Maulana Fazl warns govt against consequences of arrests, intimidation of opposition MPs ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-Fazl) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman late Thursday night warned the government against consequences for arrests and threatening of Parliamentarians from the opposition benches and said that if these threatening tactics would go on, then his party would make a final decision. Addressing the media after a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on the Constitutional Amendments proposals, Maulana Fazl said that his talks with the government coalition parties were going on right track and there was no need to hurl threats to the opposition Members of the Parliament (MPs). “Our lawmaker has been threatened while daughter in law of Shah Mahmood Qureshi was picked up last night. Now Akhtar Mengal has complained that his party lawmakers are being threatened. We will ask the govt why such tactics when talks are on. If they don’t behave, then we will disrupt
talks with them,” he asserted. He said that he had convened party’s parliamentary party meeting and gave a specific direction for vote on the Constitutional Amendment and all MPs would follow it. He said that his talks with the PTI leaders remained fruitful and both parties agreed on major points. He said talks would continue for few more days. The Maulana said that the JUI-F had already rejected the government draft proposals and will do the same if the government did not agree to their proposals. He said that his party was against person specific lawmaking and would not become a part of any lawmaking to benefit or target any individual. PTI Chairman Gohar Khan said that his party delegation held fruitful discussions with the JUI chief and they had also shared PTI’s proposed amendments with the Maulana. “We will consult with Imran Khan today and will come out with the party’s decision,” he said.
Seven treasury MNAs to vote against Constitutional amendments: Barrister Gohar ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar on Thursday claimed that seven treasury members in the National Assembly (MNAs) would vote against the proposed constitutional amendments, saying the government’s numbers completed only in their books. “We have learnt from reliable sources that seven members of the treasury benches have refused vote in favour of the proposed amendments”, Barrister Gohar stated while talking to a private TV channel. The PTI chairman also denied reports the government had consulted its members. “The government members said they will not vote even if they are disqualified,” he said, adding that the legislators believe
those voting in favour of the constitutional amendments would be doing so against their conscious. Probably, he said, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also knew that parliamentary members of his own party were not going to vote for the amendment. His remarks came as the Special Committee of the parliament met again on Thursday to discuss the draft amendments in the Constitution, proposed by the government. Meanwhile, talking to journalists after coming out of the committee meeting, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub said he kept the “truths” before the committee. He said coercive tactics were being used against those opposing the proposed constitutional amendments.
“PTI leader Zain Qureshi’s wife was abducted, Daud Shah and several MNAs and their family members were kidnapped, and a raid was carried out at my house. Members of the JUI-F were also threatened,” he said, apprising that the JUI-F had not yet shown willingness to agree to the government’s draft. Hoping to reach a consensus on the amendments, Senator Irfan Siddiqui said it was a day of good and positive news today. Expressing his party’s support for the government’s proposed draft, MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar said his party had decided to cooperate for the judicial reforms. On the meeting, he said the dialogues were in favour of Pakistan. Parliamentary Committee’s Meeting The parliamentary committee’s meeting has been adjourned till noon on Friday.