Current Final

Category: National

  • State Bank clears air surrounding forthcoming legislation; no, it won’t bankrupt Pakistan

    State Bank clears air surrounding forthcoming legislation; no, it won’t bankrupt Pakistan

    Deputy governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Dr Murtaza Syed has clarified that repayment of loans isn’t a priority on the list of objectives the central bank plans to achieve if it is granted autonomy under forthcoming legislation.

    He was responding to The Current’s query during a meeting of SBP bigwigs, including Governor Dr Reza Baqir, with digital broadcasters amid widespread rumours about a future with an autonomous central bank in Pakistan.

    Besides opposition members, renowned Economist Dr Kaiser Bengali had earlier warned that “the SBP ordinance, which is likely to be introduced soon, is anti-national and could lead to no accountability of central bank officials besides ultimately resulting in the collapse of the country”.

    “Our objectives are controlling inflation, ensuring financial stability and promoting the government’s policies of development and growth,” he said.

    Earlier, SBP Governor Baqir also clarified the air surrounding what he said was not an ordinance but a bill to be presented before the parliament for discussion.

    He said that it wasn’t the first time that amendments to the SBP Act will be discussed.

    “The SBP Act was previously amended in 1994, 1997, 2012 and 2015. Changing the Act does not mean that it cannot be changed again and the parliament has the power to withdraw amendments to the SBP Act,” the SBP governor said.

    However, he added, that clarity in the bill to avoid any sort of troubles in the future was important.

    “The aim of the proposed law is to limit interference in the operations of the SBP. In turn, the bank will be asked what it did to achieve its objectives. Accountability would not be possible if the goals remain unclear. Excess currency printing and lending to the government causes inflation. With the amendments to the Act, this will not be allowed to happen.”

    He said that discipline would have to be exercised to end borrowing, adding that it was easier to ask the SBP to print more money instead of raising taxes.

    “Relying on the SBP does not solve the government’s problems. In the last year and a half, the government has not taken any loan from the SBP. A country that repays loans by printing notes witnesses increased inflation,” he reiterated.

    The SBP governor said that in the past, governments had repeatedly printed excess money, the effects of which are still seen today. The current inflation is not due to monetary policy, but because of administrative shortcomings.

    “If the current government had made the SBP print more money, inflation would have been even higher.”

    Addressing concerns that under the new law authorities won’t be able to hold SBP officials accountable, Dr Murtaza clarified the only difference would be that anti-graft bodies would require permission from the bank’s board beforehand to proceed on allegations.

    He also vowed that the bank would ensure complete transparency in any such instance, which he maintained was also a common practice across the globe.

    SBP members, including Dr Inayat Hussain and Abid Qamar, as well as Information Ministry officials were also present during the session.

  • Pakistan Day Parade: Army headquarters awards Rs10 lacs to Punjab Police

    Punjab Police has been awarded Rs1 million (Rs10 lacs) by General Headquarters (GHQ) over its spectacular demonstration at the Pakistan Day Parade.

    According to reports, Personnel Services & Provost Marshal Director General (DG) Colonel Anjum Mumtaz has directed the Army HQ to award the amount to the soldiers of Punjab Police.

    The cheque to Punjab Police was signed by Brigadier Muhammad Raheel Saleem and the amount will be distributed among the members of the force who participated.

    The March 23 parade that was postponed until March 25 due to bad weather conditions last Thursday featured a spectacular display of military might as well as law enforcement discipline.

    President Arif Alvi attended the parade as the chief guest, while Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) Chairman General Nadeem Raza, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi were also present.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was unable to attend as he was in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19.

    The ceremony kicked off with the fly past of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy fighter jets, led by Air Chief Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, which saluted the president.

    F-16, JF-17, Mirage, AWACs, P-3C Orion and ATR aircraft formation participated in the fly past.

    The parade also showcased the local cultures of the four provinces as floats from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir were featured during the ceremony.

    Contingents of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Special Services Groups, Frontier Corps, Rangers, Islamabad Police, Frontier Constabulary, Airport Security Force and Boys Scouts, marched past the dais while saluting the chief guest, Radio Pakistan reported.

    JF-17 and Sherdils performed acrobatic manoeuvres, painting the sky a myriad of colours as an enthralled audience cheered them on.

    As a mark of the strong bond between Pakistan and Turkey, a Turkish fighter jet also presented a range of dazzling manoeuvres, the report added. A Turkish military band also surprised the audience by playing national songs.

  • VIDEO: PM admits flouting COVID-19 SOPs, which led to him getting infected

    VIDEO: PM admits flouting COVID-19 SOPs, which led to him getting infected

    Disclosing how he got infected during the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has admitted flouting SOPs during the recently-held Senate elections.

    Saying that the third wave of COVID-19 was more severe than any previous ones, the premier, in a televised message, urged people to strictly follow government-issued SOPs as the country could not afford complete lockdown.

    “We should strictly adhere to the SOPs, including wearing masks and avoiding gatherings as we did in the past,” he said and added that the number of COVID-19 patients was rising at a very fast pace.

    Admitting he flouted SOPs during the upper house polls and that was how he and the first lady got infected, the premier said both his wife and him, with the blessings of Allah, were now feeling much better.

  • Govt launches COVID-19 immunization certificate portal

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has announced that the federal government has launched an online portal that will issue certificates to recipients of the prescribed two doses of COVID-19 vaccination.

    Umar, who also heads the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), said that “COVID Immunisation certificate issuance portal has been launched across the country today.”

    “Citizen’s whose vaccination process is complete (both doses) can now download COVID Immunisation Certificate from nims.nadra.gov.pk or get it issued by visiting NADRA mega centres.”

    The certificate can be obtained for only Rs 100 and is a documented proof of completed vaccination.

    The government is currently administering Chinese COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers and senior citizens aged 60 and above across the country. Registrations for those aged 50 and above have also begun from today (March 30).

  • Chakwal resident spends Rs35,000 to cancel Rs300 fine

    Chakwal resident spends Rs35,000 to cancel Rs300 fine

    A citizen hailing from  Punjab’s Chakwal district spent over Rs 35,000 challenging a traffic violation ticket worth Rs300 for using improper number plates on his vehicle. The challan was issued to him by the National Highway & Motorway Police (NHMP).

    As per reports, the petitioner Mohammed Noman Awan had to involve a lawyer, bear his travel expenses and deposit a court fee to register a writ petition against NHMP. He has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to withdraw that challan.

    The petitioner challenged the NHMP act on the basis that there was no specific violations in the Motorway Ordinance under which vehicles on Motorway with improper/duplicate number plates was illegal.

    An official of the NHMP on February 27, 2021, had stopped Noman’s vehicle when he entered the M2 (Lahore-Islamabad) section of the Motorway from Balkasar Interchange.

    Motorway official told him that he was not using specified number plates on his vehicle. However, the police official could not state the exact law under which plying of vehicles on the Motorway with such number plates was a violation.

    Talking to Gulf News on Sunday, Advocate Saad Bin Safdar, the lawyer for the petitioner,  said it was not a matter of Rs 300 but it involved a substantial question of law and the petitioner had asked for the IHC’s involvement for its explanation.

    “Under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1956, only Motor Vehicle Registration Authority issues specific registration number plates that are computerised and of similar size and shape. For the motorists plying their vehicles in Punjab it is mandatory to use these plates on their vehicles. However, since Motorway falls under federal government’s jurisdiction, Punjab’s or any other province’s laws don’t apply there,” said Bin Safdar.

    Moreover, he said it is the basic principle of the criminal law that no conduct may be held as criminal unless it is precisely described in a penal law in the shape of unambiguous statutory text, he said.

    Justice Babar Sattar after hearing the petitioner has asked the Inspector General of the NHMP to submit a detailed reply by April 29.

  • COVID-19: Punjab to impose lockdown in districts with over 12% positivity rate

    COVID-19: Punjab to impose lockdown in districts with over 12% positivity rate

    The Punjab government has decided to impose lockdowns in districts with a COVID-19 positivity rate of more than 12 per cent from April 1 to control the spread of the virus.

    Talking to media, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said  the lockdown will continue till April 11. He added that this will be reviewed by the cabinet committee on COVID-19 after seven days.

    The Punjab districts with a positivity rate higher than 12pc, as of March 28, include:

    Lahore – 17pc

    Faisalabad – 15pc

    Rawalpindi – 15pc

    Multan – 12pc

    Sargodha – 12pc

    Sialkot – 12pc

    Districts/cities with positivity higher than 8% are:

    Buzdar stated that the provincial government will not enforce any limitations on economic activities or industries. “The construction, transport, goods and industrial sectors will continue to operate as per regular according to standard operating procedures (SOPs),” he said.

    A complete ban will be imposed on wedding events and other gatherings in the province. “It was also decided to close down the mass transit transport system which includes the Orange Line Metro Train and the Speedo bus service.”

    There will be also a complete ban on indoor and outdoor dining at all restaurants and hotels, Buzdar said. “However, takeaway and home delivery will be allowed.”

    He said that the same restrictions will be applied  on sporting, cultural and social activities. “Parks will be closed. Commercial timings for bazaars and markets will be till 6pm, while shops will remain closed two days of the week.”

    Buzdar urged people to follow SOPs strictly. “You will protect yourself and your family members by wearing face masks,” he said.

    Pakistan is currently fighting against the third wave of COVID-19 with a total tally of 659,116.  The country reported 4,525 cases and 41 deaths on Monday.

  • PDM hype dies down further after Fazl, Maryam fall sick

    PDM hype dies down further after Fazl, Maryam fall sick

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz are suffering from fever and have suspended all political activities for four days, their parties have said.

    Fazl, who also heads Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), has been suffering from the fever for the past two days,” a report said citing JUI-F sources. “He is currently residing at his Dera Ismail Khan residence.”

    It further said Fazl had sent his sample for coronavirus testing but the result came back negative.

    “He has suspended political activities [for the time being] as he is unwell,” said sources. “Doctors have advised him to rest.”

    On the other hand, Maryam too has caught “high fever” and is experiencing severe pain in her throat, said the PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb.

    “Maryam has suspended her political activities for four days,” she said in a statement. “She has also gotten herself tested for coronavirus.”

    The PML-N spokesperson said Maryam has been advised by her doctor to take rest, adding she attended a Lahore High Court (LHC) hearing the other day despite being sick.

    CRACKS IN PDM:

    Responding to Maryam’s comments against their party, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders on Sunday said that the PML-N VP’s tone was regrettable but their party knows how to respond to taunting remarks.

    Addressing a joint press conference with Shazia Marri and Maula Bux Chandio, Sherry said that while PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari adopted a “political tone”, the PML-N VP’s tone in her Saturday’s press conference was “regrettable”.

    “We were sorry to see the word ‘selected’ being used to describe the PPP,” Marri said. “However, the PPP knows how to respond to every taunting remark.”

    “There are people in PML-N who understand the delicacy of the occasion. We will continue democratic traditions inside and outside the parliament,” she said.

    The PPP leader said that her party had reservations against Azam Nazeer Tarar, PML-N’s candidate for leader of the opposition slot in the Senate.

    Advising Maryam, Sherry said that the PML-N VP must “reorient her political objectives” and “stick to [the aim of] ousting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government [instead of issuing controversial statements]”.

    “We do not want the PDM to dissolve, therefore, the PML-N should refrain from issuing remarks that would empower the selected government,” she stressed.

    Adding to the comments, Maula Bux Chandio said that the PDM is neither “anyone’s property” nor “a child’s play.”

    “Therefore, saying that the long march will not take place is [inappropriate],” Chandio said.

  • VIDEO: PTI’s Gandapur spotted letting minor kid drive his car

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs (AJK) & Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Ali Amin Gandapur has been spotted letting a minor kid drive a car.

    A video tweeted by senior journalist Mansoor Ali Khan showed at least two other people accompanying Gandapur as the fourth individual in the car, the kid, cruised off the road at an unknown location.

    “Ali Amin Gandapur letting a kid drive the car,” he wrote along with a dig at ruling PTI’s loyalists.

    While there has been no official reaction to the video, amid criticism, a netizen has quoted Gandpur as asking why would the video bother anyone.

    “Just spoke to Ali Amin Gandapur and this is what he had to say: ‘Why does it bother anyone when it is my land, my son and my car?’,” he claimed.

    Later, Gandapur tweeted the same:

    Although Gandapur is not new to controversy, it merits a mention that number of incidents of underage kids driving in Pakistan have recently shot up.

    Earlier, a viral video showed a five-year-old boy standing behind the wheel of a black Toyota Land Cruiser V8.

    According to Dunya News, the boy was cruising through Bosan, one of the busiest roads in Multan “to go and buy ice cream”.

    Despite putting his own and others’ lives at risk, he was pardoned by the police upon his father’s assurances.

  • Islamabad police rescue children, manage hostage crisis successfully

    Islamabad Police on Sunday rescued two children and arrested the suspect, handling a hostage crisis successfully.

    As per reports, a man forcefully entered a house in the Bara Kahu area of Islamabad and held two children hostage in order to avoid arrest at the hands of the law enforcement authorities (LEAs).

    The police after a successful operation rescued the children and arrested the suspect. The capital police also shared a video of the incident on social media that shows the suspect getting arrested and being shifted with his face covered.

    https://twitter.com/amnaappi/status/1376231401595502592?s=20

    The police also lauded SP Hamza Humayun for successfully leading the operation to rescue the children and managing the entire hostage crisis.

    The two children held hostage were aged three and two years and have been handed over to their parents. One person was injured after the suspect opened fire on him.

    The police have started an inquiry into the entire matter, besides also recording the testimonies of the eye-witnesses in the neighbourhood.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlxxkKBVneg
  • PDM at war

    PDM at war

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is at war with itself, it seems. The opposition alliance that was formed last year as an anti-government alliance now seems to be fighting a battle within its ranks.

    The two largest parties — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — have had a falling out of sorts in recent weeks.

    While we saw over the months since the formation of the PDM that the PML-N leadership took a rather strong stand on the establishment meddling in politics, the PPP was being cautious when it came to naming anyone directly. The strategies of both parties also seemed to be different, which is understandable given the fact that PDM is a mix of different parties with different ideologies. But one of their common goals was to get rid of the government.

    There were of course differences in strategies as to how to do it: the PML-N and Maulana Fazlur Rehman believed in resignations but the PPP believes that it should be done within the democratic framework while remaining in the system. It is understandable that the PPP would not want to resign given that it is the only Opposition party that is in power in a province. It has more at stake in parliamentary system at the moment than other parties of PDM.

    These issues have now come back in public again after the recent PDM meeting where former president Asif Zardari asked former premier Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan when the issue of resignations from assemblies was proposed once again by the latter. What ensued was a public war of words. From a tweet by Maryam Nawaz warning PM Imran to be wary of a ‘substitute’ being fostered, to Bilawal Bhutto saying he will not respond to a PML-N vice president’s statement and his party VP could respond.

    Then Bhutto-Zardari said a family from Lahore has a track record of being selected, quite obviously taking a jibe at the Sharifs. Things escalated even faster when the PPP went against the consensus decision of PDM on the Leader of the Opposition in Senate being from the PML-N. First they said they do not agree on the name of Azam Nazeem Tarar as he is defending two police officers accused in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination case, who have been accused of negligence after her murder.

    The PML-N says that if the PPP could have a deputy PM who was directly nominated in BB’s letter, then why would they have an issue with Tarar’s name who is not defending any murderers. The PPP’s Yousaf Raza Gilani recently became the Leader of Opposition in Senate after securing votes from the government’s ally, BAP. Apart from the ANP and Jamaat-e-Islami, the rest of the Opposition parties supported Tarar in Senate.

    Now it remains to be seen whether the PDM decides that PPP will remain part of the Opposition alliance or not. The government, it seems, is having fun at the PPP’s expense. However, it is important that instead of this infighting, the Opposition parties should sit with the government and work on electoral reforms, accountability reforms, judicial reforms, among other things. Every democratic government must complete its tenure and bring about reforms.

    It is high time that the PDM stop thinking about a change in government and think long term so that it can benefit the system. Any elections without proper reforms would lead to finger-pointing by those who lose. It is important that all parties put aside their differences for the greater good of democracy.