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ACKNOWLEDGES LAST YEAR’S 77 POLIO CASES WERE MAJOR SHOCK FOR GOVT ISLAMABAD
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REAFFIRMS GOVT’S DETERMINATION TO ELIMINATE POLIO DISEASE FROM PAKISTAN
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched a nationwide anti-polio campaign for the year 2025 (Feb 39) by administering polio drops to children under the age of five. Addressing the launching ceremony, the prime minister reaffirmed his government’s determination to eliminate the polio disease from Pakistan. He said that the national polio vaccination drive would target millions of children in the country to save their future and health. He hoped that the dedicated teams would work day and night to eradicate the disease, and would reach the far flung areas and villages, adding these teams would successfully meet the huge national responsibility by utilizing their complete energies. The prime minister said that unfortu-
nately, during the last year, a total of 77 polio cases were reported in the country which emerged as a huge challenge, besides posing a setback. This year, only one case was reported, he said, and expressed the resolve to eradicate polio at all costs; with dedi-
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cated team work and support from the international partners. The prime minister also expressed the hope that with international coordination and support, the crippling disease in the neighbouring brotherly country Afghanistan would end.
He appreciated all the international partners including WHO, UNICEF, Bill Gates Foundation and the brotherly country Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their commitment and efforts to the government in its efforts to eliminate polio. Speaking on the occasion, PM’ Coordinator on National Health Services Dr Mukhtar Bharat said that they had highlighted the number of polio cases which were reported last year and did not hide it from the international community. He said that positive outcome was being felt with concerted efforts by all the quarters and only one case was reported this year. He also appreciated the prime minister for his supervision without which they would not be able to get the desired results. PM’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Aysha Raza Farooq said that the polio vaccination was a public campaign in which all segments of society have to take part and urged the parents to coordinate and save their children from polio.
Customs foil fraud attempt in new faceless clearance system, suspends 45 licenses PROFIT
MONITORING DESK
Pakistan Customs has successfully thwarted an attempt to manipulate the newly introduced Faceless Customs Assessment System (FCAS), designed to streamline and improve the quality of customs assessments. Such an attempt was anticipated, and the Karachi Customs team, responsible for FCAS operations, had been instructed by the Federal Board of Revenue
(FBR) to remain vigilant. Those involved in attempting to exploit the system have been held accountable. In total, the customs licenses of 45 agents implicated in the fraud attempt have been suspended, and show-cause notices have been issued in accordance with the Customs Agents Rules. An appraising officer who was found to be complicit in the scheme has been suspended, and a formal inquiry has been initiated under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules. A criminal case has also been filed against the cul-
Naqvi, Sadiq discuss ways and means to revive govt, PTI dialogue
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq met in Islamabad on Sunday and discussed ways and means to revive govt, PTI dialogue process. After more than a year of heightened tensions between the government and the PTI, the two sides commenced dialogue in the last week of December to bring down political temperatures. But despite weeks of negotia-
tions, the dialogue process stalled on major issues — the formation of two judicial commissions and the release of PTI prisoners. The PTI boycotted the fourth meeting this week, calling off talks over a delay in the government forming judicial commissions to probe the protests of May 9, 2023 and Nov 26, 2024. While the government renewed the invitation to the PTI to rejoin the negotiation process by proposing a parliamentary committee, the latter rejected the offer.
Naqvi met with the NA speaker on Sunday, where both discussed matters of mutual interest and the overall situation in the country, a statement by the interior ministry said. It added that the “PTI’s attitude, despite the positive progress made by the government for negotiations,” was also discussed during the meeting. The interior minister lauded Sadiq’s efforts in taking along “all the opposition and government parties together”, the statement added. “Ayaz Sadiq has played a commendable role in bringing together the government and opposition parties,” Naqvi was quoted as saying. The government and the opposition’s negotiation committees comprised members from various parties from both sides. Politicians from the PML-N, PPP, MQM-P, PML-Z, and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) represented the ruling coalition. On the other hand, leaders of the PTI, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen and Sunni Ittehad Council were part of the opposition team.
of this vital constitutional body. The PTI leader stated that Sikandar Sultan Raja, whose term as CEC ended on January 26, 2025, was the most contentious figure in Pakistan’s electoral history, as the massively rigged February 8 polls would remain a permanent stain and stigma on his face, forever tarnishing his legacy. He emphasized that those who stole the public mandate have systematically undermined all state institutions by enacting self-serving constitutional amendments to install loyalists and contentious figures in high-ranking positions, enabling them to perpetuate their unauthorized rule and evade accountability. The PTI leader stated that the people would not rest until they reclaim their stolen mandate and hold accountable those responsible for the polls fraud, including the perpetrators, facilitators and beneficiaries. Waqas emphasized that the Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayub and the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shibli Faraz had already written letters to the Speaker of the National
Assembly and the Chairman of the Senate, respectively for the immediate appointment of a new CEC. He urged the government to avoid the dillydallying tactics and constitute a parliamentary panel without any further delay to oversee these important appointments, as stipulated in Article 213 of the Constitution. Waqas made it clear that PTI would not allow the power grabbers to retain the current highly controversial CEC in this esteem position anymore or replace him with someone biased and blue-eyed come what may. He vowed that PTI would leave no stone unturned to ensure the appointment of most credible person on the august position to revitalize the credibility of the electoral watchdog. The PTI CIS asserted that the public had already delivered an unambiguous verdict on February 8 even in the face of coercion and intimidation, and a sea of people would once again emerge on February 8, 2025, across the country to ensure their decision is implemented in its true letter and spirit.
PTI urges govt to form panel to appoint new CEC forthwith ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday called on the government to swiftly constitute a parliamentary panel to fill the key constitutional positions, including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) as well as the members of Election Commission for Sindh and Balochistan through a transparent and consultative process mandated by the Constitution, instead of hiding behind a contentious constitutional tweak as a pretext to delay the much-needed appointments. PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, in a statement on Sunday, warned the government—devoid of a public mandate—against further undermining the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Waqas added the government was hell-bent on damaging all state institutions to safeguard its own vested interests. He called for the appointment of a credible, impeccable and impartial individual as the CEC forthwith to restore the rapidly declining prestige
prits, which include customs agents, appraising officers, and some private individuals involved in the scheme. A dedicated investigation team has been set up, and three individuals have already been arrested. Raids are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects and ensure they face justice. Despite the attempted fraud, FCAS is operating smoothly with no backlogs in customs clearances. The system, hailed as a significant improvement in the efficiency of customs procedures, was launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan just two weeks ago.
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islamabad Bar associations announce drive against transfer of provincial judges to iHc irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Lawyers’ bodies in Islamabad have strongly opposed the recent transfers of judges to Islamabad High Court (IHC), deeming them an attempt to divide the judiciary and an act of bad faith. The lawyers bodies have announced a complete strike and will hold a nationwide convention at 11 AM on Monday (today) at the District Court G-11. The announcement was made during a joint press conference by officials of the Islamabad Bar Council, Islamabad High Court Bar Association, and District Bar Association on Sunday. Addressing the media, Islamabad Bar Council Chairman Advocate Aleem Abbasi stated that all representatives of the district and high court bar associations were present in the emergency meeting. He condemned the recent transfers of three judges to Islamabad by the Ministry of Law, declaring that the lawyers community unanimously rejects these appointments. “These transfers are aimed at creating division within the judiciary and are driven by malintent. Lawyers will strongly oppose this move,” Abbasi emphasised. He further announced a complete strike by lawyers in Islamabad, stating that no lawyer would appear in any court tomorrow. He appealed to lawyers across Pakistan, as well as provincial bar councils, to join the protest in solidarity. “This issue affects the entire legal community in Pakistan. We call upon all bar associations and councils across the country to support our cause,” he urged.