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Category: Politics

  • Petrol, diesel prices set to increase again by Rs10 in February

    Petrol, diesel prices set to increase again by Rs10 in February

    The government is likely to increase the prices of petroleum products by Rs10 for the next month in line with the rising rates in the international market, according to Geo News’ sources.

    The price of petrol will move up by Rs7 per litre while the rate of diesel will increase by Rs10 per litre. The existing price of petrol is Rs147.83 and diesel costs around Rs144.

    However, the official announcement is yet to be made but as per the news outlet, the final decision will be made on January 30.

    Previously, an increase of Rs3 in petroleum products was implemented on January 16.

    Despite growing inflation in the country, for the ease of public, the government has planned to launch Ehsaas Petrol Cards for motorcyclists to enable them to buy petrol at a subsidised rate.

  • After PM’s Khan’s appeal for increase in workers’ salaries, ARY announces pay raise

    After PM’s Khan’s appeal for increase in workers’ salaries, ARY announces pay raise

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on January 24, while answering callers’ questions, during the telecast of the fifth ‘Aap Ka Wazir Azam Aap Ke Sath’, a town-hall-style broadcast where the premier takes questions from the public, said that the corporate sector has made a profit of Rs980 billion.

    “I would call them and ask them to increase the salaries of their staff because you have never made such a profit before today,” said PM Khan.

    Following PM Khan’s appeal to the corporate sector to increase the salaries of their staff, President and CEO ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal on Friday announced a pay raise for lower-level employees.

    Salman Iqbal said the staff receiving a monthly salary of up to Rs20,000 will be given a raise of 80 per cent. “We have reached this stage with the blessing of Allah Almighty and countless efforts of the team,” he said.

    Federal Minister for Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar took to Twitter to congratulate Iqbal and said, “Well done @Salman_ARY for increasing salaries of ARY employees substantially. Big business houses have made exceptional profits in the last couple of years. Hope others will also follow and share the increased profitability with their workers by increasing their salaries.”

    Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry praising Salman Iqbal said, “Our salaried class has been affected by inflation and such steps will help this section of society navigate inflation.”

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said, “@salman_ARY took the initiative to share part of [the] profit with his employees. Others should also pass on benefit to their employees.”

  • Jamaat-e-Islami calls off sit-in protest in Karachi

    Jamaat-e-Islami calls off sit-in protest in Karachi

    Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has called off its sit-in protest in Karachi after the Sindh government agreed to the revisions in the Sindh Local Government Act of 2013 after negotiations successfully concluded between them.

    Both parties have signed the written agreement according to which the health and education institutions will be again transferred to the local bodies, said Sindh Minister for Local Government, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah.

    While addressing the sit-in protestors, Nasir Shah announced that the provincial government will bring amendments to the Local Government law. The notification will be issued in one to two weeks by the Sindh government.

    Both parties also agreed to establish the Provincial Finance Commission, with the mayor and town chairman as members of the commission. It will be awarded once the representatives of the Local Government take power to the authority.

    The mayor and chairman will be responsible for the Building Control Authority and other development authorities.

    The educational institute, Medical and Dental College will be given back to the Karachi Municipality.

    The Solid Waste Management Board will be in control of Mayor Karachi.

    Later on, JI Karachi Chief, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman announced that there would be no sit-in protests in different areas of the city.

    He said, “With the implementation of this agreement with the Sindh government, we have to get some issues resolved by the federation.”

    JI party has been staging sit-in protests for the past 29 days in Karachi. On January 23, Karachi Chief of JI, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman warned that the party will block five entrance points to Karachi if their demands were not met.

    Both parties reached an agreement after several protesters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) got injured from tear gas shelling and police mishandling including the death of one worker on Wednesday. The MQM was attempting to reach the CM House for a sit-in against the Local Government Act.

    The police, however, baton-charged the crowd and used teargas shells in an attempt to dissuade them from entering the red zone.

  • Govt plans to launch Ehsaas petrol cards for motorcyclists

    Govt plans to launch Ehsaas petrol cards for motorcyclists

    The federal government has planned to launch Ehsaas Petrol Cards for motorcyclists to enable them to buy petrol at a subsidised rate.

    Earlier this week, Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card was distributed by the government, which will provide free medical treatment to all citizens at government and private hospitals.

    In a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin, several other proposals were also considered such as subsidised fuel, tax reliefs, rise in income/minimum wages, internships, record tax collection and removal of bureaucratic hurdles.

    The government also intends to raise the pay of public sector employees in the upcoming fiscal year 2022-23 budget. Moreover, it has been reported that no consideration was made regarding monetising of bureaucratic perks and privileges.

    A meeting was also held to discuss the Kamyab Pakistan Programme progress. It was informed that the first phase of the programme is going successfully and that the loans are being disbursed after fulfillment of requirements to the deserving applicants.

  • PML-N’s Musadik Malik questions Yusuf Raza Gilani’s absence as Senate passes SBP Amendment Bill

    PML-N’s Musadik Malik questions Yusuf Raza Gilani’s absence as Senate passes SBP Amendment Bill

    The Senate on Friday passed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill 2021 amid an outcry from the Opposition on suffering back-to-back defeats in the House, where it otherwise enjoys a dominating numerical strength.

    The bill was passed by the upper house with the treasury benches enjoying a one-vote lead of 43 members over the Opposition’s 42. The bill was presented by Finance Minister Senator Shaukat Tarin.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Dr Musadik Malik, taking to Twitter, said, “Leader of the Opposition Yusuf Raza Gilani is missing. One vote, i.e. of Mr Gilani, is missing and the bill to make Pakistan a slave of the IMF was passed. And those who made him Leader of the Opposition voted for the government.”

    Taking to Twitter, Gilani’s son, Kasim Gilani said his father was absent from the Senate session because he had to attend Ghulam Rabbani Khar’s Qul. “To schedule secret sessions at midnight deliberately to overlap with bereavements is a violation of all norms of our culture, politics, and decency.”

    “The government summoned the session post midnight knowing well that the Qul of Noor Rabbani Khar was scheduled for today. YRG was in Multan and would not have been able to make it to Islamabad by 10am in anyway ent and he had to attend the Qul of his long time friend, political colleague, and father of two PPP MNAs.”

    On January 25, the Senate session was adjourned for Friday, January 28.

    The SBP Amendment Bill, 2021, promises complete autonomy to the central bank and places a complete restriction on the government’s borrowing from the central bank. However, the government can now borrow at a market rate from commercial banks, which will benefit private banks owned by business elites, according to the Opposition.

    The bill was passed by a majority vote. Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani then adjourned the session till January 31.

  • PTI finalises Hammad Azhar as its official candidate for Lahore mayorship

    PTI finalises Hammad Azhar as its official candidate for Lahore mayorship

    The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has finalised the name of current Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar as its official candidate for the slot of Lahore Mayor.

    A source told Business Recorder, “The party has short-listed his name that will be announced in due course of time; the party high-ups find him the fittest candidate to contest the Lahore Mayor elections. Azhar has shown willingness to give up his ministry and take part in the local bodies’ elections.”

    “Azhar has proven himself as a young energetic minister while heading important federal ministries. He is seen as a clean person full of energy,” the source added.

    Hammad has also served as the federal economic affairs minister and federal industries and production minister. He is the son of veteran politician and former Punjab Governor Mian Muhammad Azhar, thus has strong political roots in Lahore.

    Prior to this news, it was reported that the party had offered the candidacy to Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid.

  • ‘No evidence that Nawaz Sharif’s medical reports were fake’: Attorney-General of Pakistan

    ‘No evidence that Nawaz Sharif’s medical reports were fake’: Attorney-General of Pakistan

    Attorney-General of Pakistan (AGP) Barrister Khalid Javed Khan has said that there is no evidence to support that Nawaz Sharif’s medical reports are fake.

    Speaking on Geo News show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, the AGP Javed said they do not want to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Shehbaz Sharif over the subject of Nawaz Sharif’s return. Instead, he said, they want the situation to be settled amicably.

    AGP Khalid Javed said that Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid too said that the medical reports of Nawaz Sharif were not fake.

    AGP said that he is waiting for a decision made by the medical board constituted to further comment on the reports. Until they don’t submit an authentic and comprehensive report, he will wait.

    He also said that he has requested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif to cooperate and submit Nawaz’s recent medical reports so that the due proceedings can happen. He also said that the medical board will then examine Nawaz’s reports once again and will plan out further accordingly.

    Earlier this week, the AGP had written a letter to the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif to bring back his brother Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan.

    The AGP had instructed Shehbaz to submit Nawaz’s medical reports within the next 10 days. In case he fails to do so, contempt of court petition will be filed against Shahbaz, he had said.

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar had previously revealed that it was “100 per cent Imran Khan’s decision” to send the former PM to London for his medical treatment. “This was first discussed in a cabinet meeting,” he said, adding that the decision was entirely made by the prime minister and the premier did not say that the decision was not his. 

  • 10 soldiers martyred in terrorist attack on checkpost in Balochistan’s Kech

    10 soldiers martyred in terrorist attack on checkpost in Balochistan’s Kech

    Ten soldiers were martyred after terrorists attacked a security forces’ check-post in Balochistan’s Kech district, informed Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

    According to the statement issued by ISPR, the “fire raid” by terrorists occurred on the night of January 25-26.

    “During intense exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed and several injured. While repulsing terrorists’ fire raid, 10 soldiers embraced martyrdom,” read the statement.

    “The armed forces are determined to eliminate terrorists from our soil no matter what the cost,” the ISPR statement said.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan paid tribute to the martyred soldiers. “I salute the 10 martyred soldiers who repulsed a terrorist fire raid on checkpost in Kech Balochistan. We are resolute in our commitment to rid Pakistan of all forms of terrorism.”

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, “The graveyards of Jhelum smell of the blood of these martyrs.”

  • SCBA president files petition against lifetime disqualification in SC

    SCBA president files petition against lifetime disqualification in SC

    President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Mohammad Ahsan Bhoon on Thursday filed a petition against the lifelong disqualification of lawmakers and said that such a law without the right to appeal is unjust.

    The petition asks the Supreme Court (SC) to rule that the declaration by a court of law under Article 62(1)(f) only applies to the election under question, and does not entail a perpetual or lifetime bar on contesting future elections, reports Dawn.

    The petition argues that the lack of clarity regarding the procedure for a declaration under Article 62(1)(f) continues to pose an obstacle to the constitutional protection of citizens under Article 17(2), which allows citizens to form or become a member of any political party.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the result of this petition can affect the outcome of SC verdicts disqualifying former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, as well as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) disgruntled leader Jahangir Tareen.

    The two were disqualified as lawmakers in judgements rendered in the Panama Papers case on July 28, 2017, and the Hanif Abbasi case on Dec 15, 2017, respectively.

    The contents of the petition said that the principle of lifetime disqualification should only be applied to electoral disputes. Under Article 184/3 of the Constitution, the SC cannot act as a trial court and there is no right to appeal against the decisions made by the apex court, which contradicts the principles of justice.

    The petition said that the lifelong disqualification without the right to appeal is unjust to the voters. 

  • Government ally PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shujaat advises govt to focus on inflation instead of Nawaz

    Government ally PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shujaat advises govt to focus on inflation instead of Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has advised the government to focus on national issues instead of Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan.

    Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that Nawaz will not come back. “It seems rather funny when PTI’s members make comments about his return.”

    He further stated that if the government keeps focusing on Sharif’s return, then Pakistan is in the hands of Allah. According to him, the government has spent a large amount of money on his [Nawaz] proceedings.

    While talking about the issues in the country, he also pointed out that no one gives any sort of solution to solve inflation because they [govt] are busy in the leg-pulling of others.