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  • Government to review bill limiting CJ powers

    Government to review bill limiting CJ powers

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday adjourned a hearing on a set of petitions against the Supreme Court (Practice & Procedure) Act 2023, aimed at limiting the powers of the head of the apex court.

    The hearing was adjourned after Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan told Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial that the government has decided to review the bill as certain provisions within the law exhibit overlapping aspects.

    The hearing was conducted by an eight-judge bench comprising the CJP, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed.

    On May 29, during the hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) review petition with regard to elections in Punjab, Mansoor Awan told the apex court that President Arif Alvi has passed the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill, 2023.

    “The president has signed the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill, 2023. Under the new law, a larger bench will hear review petitions,” he told the three judges bench hearing the petition.

    The bill has been the center of debate since it was first presented, as it led to speculation that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be able to appeal against his disqualification.

  • Al Pacino, 83, and Noor Alfallah, 29, are about to have their first child

    Hollywood legend Al Pacino began trending on social media on Wednesday at incredible speed, making us all think, “Oh no!”

    But then we saw why he was trending and were like “Oh no!”

    Yup, Al Pacino joined the likes of Mick Jagger and Robert De Niro to announce that he and his 29 year old girlfriend Noor Alfallah, are expecting a child together.

    The 83-year-old ‘Godfather’ actor, whose eldest child Julie is older than his current partner, began dating Alfallah in 2021 when the pandemic started. They were both spotted together last April at a diner.

    Alfallah, who works as a music producer, previously dated Mick Jagger and Clint Eastwood.

    And though the news is strange, it has unleashed a string of hilarious memes.

    https://twitter.com/cinepacino/status/1664104292179910657?s=20

    https://twitter.com/poppazo2001/status/1663736625715728385?s=20

    Some fans pointed out that Al Pacino shouldn’t be dating women who are younger than his children.

  • ACC wants Pakistan to withdraw from Asia Cup 2023: Indian media

    ACC wants Pakistan to withdraw from Asia Cup 2023: Indian media

    The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) want to exclude Pakistan from the Asia Cup 2023, The Telegraph India has reported.

    Jay Shah, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary and ACC Chairman, has made it clear to the other countries in the tournament, that his board will not accept Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) suggested ‘hybrid model.’ Shah recently discussed the matter with the heads of member nations and proposed that the tournament should take place at a single venue, specifically Sri Lanka.

    Speculations are rife in Indian media that Sri Lanka secretly shook hands with India on the issue of hosting Asia Cup 2023, hinting to ACC that the weather in the island nation is also perfect for the game.

    PCB had proposed a hybrid model, under which the initial four matches of the group stage in the primary phase of the tournament shall be played in Pakistan.

    Moreover, the next phase, including matches of India and finals, were to be played at a neutral venue. In that scenario, Pakistan will play their group stage match against Nepal on home ground.

    Likewise, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will also be playing their pool matches in Pakistan. The PCB had designated Dubai as a favored neutral location within a hybrid framework.

    The report further added that Pakistan will be informed during the next executive board meeting of the ACC that all other participating nations have agreed to play in Sri Lanka.

    The PCB, as the designated hosts, will have to comply and play in Sri Lanka or withdraw. In that case, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will be the four teams participating, with the inclusion of a fifth team yet to be decided.

    India’s refusal to tour Pakistan and not accepting the hybrid model may push Pakistan to consider pulling out of World Cup. The PCB has reportedly informed ICC officials that their participation in the World Cup depends on government clearance.

  • Pakistani rupee gains ground as State Bank eases cross-border transaction rules

    Pakistani rupee gains ground as State Bank eases cross-border transaction rules

    In a significant turn of events, the Pakistani rupee experienced a notable appreciation against the US dollar in the open-market on Thursday.

    The value of the US dollar dropped to the range of Rs295-300, compared to the previous day’s rate of Rs314. This shift can be attributed to recent changes implemented by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to facilitate cross-border transactions.

    Currency dealers consulted by Business Recorder acknowledged that the supply of US dollars remains limited in the market, as customers are not actively selling their currency. This scarcity could be a contributing factor to the rupee’s recent surge in value.

    According to experts, the recent development is a direct result of the SBP’s decision to allow credit card payments through banks. The SBP, on Wednesday, permitted banks to purchase US dollars from the interbank market for settling card-based cross-border transactions with International Payment Schemes (IPSs).

    Previously, the SBP guidelines only permitted authorized dealers to purchase US dollars from exchange companies for settling card-based cross-border transactions with IPSs such as Visa and MasterCard.

    However, in response to stakeholder feedback, the SBP opted to extend this privilege to banks, allowing them to source dollars from the interbank market for such transactions.

  • China lifts ban on seafood product imports from Pakistan

    China lifts ban on seafood product imports from Pakistan

    China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) has confirmed the resumption of aquatic product imports from Pakistan and several other countries, aiming to enrich the supply of domestic aquatic products and boost the stability of the seafood industry and supply chains. In a statement released on May 26, the GAC announced that imports from 20 overseas companies would be allowed.

    The GAC statement revealed that the 20 companies resuming exports to China are based in various countries, including Pakistan, Brazil, Malaysia, Spain, New Zealand, and Indonesia.

    This move comes after China suspended imports from eight overseas suppliers last year due to non-compliance with safety and hygiene controls, as well as inadequate adherence to COVID-19 control measures set by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

    Although industry experts told the Global Times that this recent change would not have a significant impact on overall supply in China, they acknowledged that the rise in seafood imports reflected a growing demand among Chinese consumers.

    Cui He, Director of the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance, stated that the increase in imports was driven by China’s expanding consumption patterns and its customers’ preference for quality aquatic products offered by some overseas companies.

    According to Geo, China’s seafood imports have been on the rise, primarily sourced from countries such as Russia, Australia, and Argentina, according to Cui. Last year, China experienced a 35 per cent surge in seafood imports, reaching a value of $19.13 billion, as reported by data from the International Trade Centre.

    The GAC emphasised its commitment to strengthening the management of imported food safety. While the resumption of imports from Pakistan and other countries is expected to contribute to the diversification of China’s aquatic product supply, the focus on ensuring the safety and quality of imported food remains a priority for Chinese authorities.

  • List of prominent PTI members who have left the party till now

    List of prominent PTI members who have left the party till now

    Following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 in connection with a corruption case, the country saw violent protests as his supporters clashed with law-enforcement agencies. The protests also targeted state and military installations, which resulted in a severe crackdown on the party.

    Many prominent PTI leaders were arrested including Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chahudry, Asad Umar and Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    The arrests and the criticism of the party led many PTI members to quit. Most of them left the party after holding press conferences or releasing video messages condemeing the events of May 9. At least 100 Members of PTI have left the party.

    Here is a list of prominent members of PTI who have until now left the party:

    1. Raja Khuram Nawaaz

    2. Shireen Mazari

    3. Fawad Chahudhry

    4. Amir Mehmood Kiyaani

    5. Amin Aslam

    6. Khusro Bakhtiyar

    7 Jamshed Iqbal Cheema

    8.Musrat Jamshed Cheema

    9.Abrarul Haq

    10. Senator Saifullah Niazi

    11. Firdous Ashiq Awan

    12. Fayyazul Hasan Chauhan

    13. Faizullah Kamuka

    14. Khawaja Qutb Farid Koreja

    15. Khurram Shehzad

    16. Maleeka Ali Bokhari

    17. Mubeen Khilji

    18. Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir

    19. Makhdoom Syed Tariq Mahmoodul Hassan

    20. Imran Ismail

    21. Rabia Azfar Nizami

    22.Muhammad Abbas Jafri 

    23.Syma Nadeem

    24. Omar Amari 

    25. Imran Ali Shah

    26. Karim Bakhsh Gabol

    27. Syed Ghulam Shah

    28. Sanjay Gangwani

    29.  Zulfiqar Ali Shah

    30 .Kaneez Fatima

    31.Kaneez Fatima

    32.Chaudhry Ali Akhtar

    33.Shakil Shahid

    34.Hafiz Muhammad Ehtisham

    35.  Jhang, Rashida Yaqub Sheikh 

    36.Jalil Sharqpuri

    37. Syed Saeedul Hassan

    38. Saleem Akhtar Labar

    39. Chaudhry Hussain Elahi

    40.Chaudhry Ehsanul Haq

    41. Dr Mohammad Afzal

    42.Chaudhary Jehanzeb Rasheed

    43. Zaheeruddin Khan Alizai

    44. Aun Dogar

    45. Abdul Hai Dasti

    46. Malik Mujtaba Niaz Gishkori

    47.  Alamdar Husain Qureshi

    48. Sajjad Hussain Cheena

    49. Ashraf Rind 

    50. Javed Akhtar Ansari

    51. Ahsan Saleem Baryar

    52. Muhammad Saleem Baryar

  • Imran Khan’s name and picture to be banned on TV? Babar Awan expresses concern

    Imran Khan’s name and picture to be banned on TV? Babar Awan expresses concern

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Babar Awan has expressed concern over a possible ban on airing pictures and names of Party chairman Imran Khan.

    “Due to fear of Imran Khan, there is news of banning his name and picture on TV channels,” Babar tweeted on Wednesday.

    He further said that the government should file a review appeal against the results of the 1992 World Cup.
    “if Shehbaz and Maryam will not mention Imran in their speeches what else will they talk about?” his tweet added.

    Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) PEMRA has urged TV channels to boycott people “damaging peace” and not to promote people “inciting hatred” in relevance to the incidents of May 9 when PTI supporters clashed with law enforcement agencies. However, the media regulatory authority did not specifically mention Imran Khan’s name.

    It is being assumed by commentators that the notification was referring to the PTI chairman.

    “As per Article 19 of The Constitution of The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, [commission of] or incitement to an offence,” the notification issued by PEMRA read.
    “It is crucial to strike a balance between protecting freedom of speech and maintaining public order,” the notification added.

  • Petrol price slashed by Rs8 to Rs262 per litre for next fortnight

    Petrol price slashed by Rs8 to Rs262 per litre for next fortnight

    In a televised address on Wednesday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced a significant reduction in the prices of petroleum products by the federal government.

    Effective from 12 am tonight, the price of petrol will be lowered by Rs8 per litre, bringing it down to Rs262 per litre. Similarly, the price of diesel will be reduced by Rs5 per litre, making it Rs253 per litre.

    Minister Dar said that these revised prices would remain unchanged for the next fortnight, providing stability and predictability for consumers. He further stated that this reduction in prices is part of a cumulative effort, as the government has already decreased the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs20 and Rs35 per litre respectively throughout the month of May.

  • It is our responsibility to get our workers out from jails: Fawad Ch

    It is our responsibility to get our workers out from jails: Fawad Ch

    Former Pakistan Tehreek–e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail and Mahboob Maulvi held a press conference outside Central Jail Rawalpindi (also known as Adiala Jail) on Wednesday, after meeting Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    Former PTI leader Aamir Kiani was also present in the meeting in which reportedly, the four leaders asked Qureshi to leave the party.

    However in the presser, Fawad said that he had a detailed discussion with Qureshi regarding the current political situation, adding that “we” have to find a solution.

    The former minister said that many PTI supporters are in jail, and it is their responsibility to get them out.

    “We cannot leave open ground for the opposition in present circumstances,” he remarked, adding that the group had also had discussions with Asad Umar, Parvez Khattak, Asad Qaiser, Hammad Azhar and Ali Zaidi.

  • HRCP expresses concern over conducting trials of civilians in military courts

    HRCP expresses concern over conducting trials of civilians in military courts

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in a statement has warned all political stakeholders that unless they desist from any further measures that could imperil the country’s fragile democracy, they may find themselves unable to steer the country safely through the multiple crises it is facing.

    “HRCP has closely monitored the ongoing political crisis and notes with great alarm that civilian supremacy has emerged as the greatest casualty. The government’s inability—or unwillingness—to safeguard civilian supremacy or to preserve the dignity of Parliament has proven tremendously disappointing. At the same time, the political opposition’s history of hostile politics and contempt for the rule of law has played no small part in triggering the wanton destruction of property during 9–10 May. These were not peaceful protests. The evidence points to acts of arson, rioting, looting, vandalism and trespass onto state and private property,” the statement issued by the human rights watchdog of Pakistan read.
    HRCP also expressed its disappointment in the judiciary. “HRCP regrets that the failure of the judiciary to credibly maintain its independence and impartiality has exacerbated the rule-of-law crisis in the country.”

    HRCP also demanded an independent investigation of the allegations of violence against PTI workers.

    HRCP reminded authorities that torture or any form of degrading treatment of persons in custody are serious violations of human rights. The disappearance of at least two journalists must also be investigated in a transparent manner, the findings made public and the perpetrators held strictly to account.
    The human rights organization also expressed concern for conducting military trials of civilians. “While those responsible for the destruction of public and private property must undoubtedly be held accountable, there is ample provision in civilian laws for this. Any government seriously committed to upholding civilian supremacy would strongly consider repealing Article 2(1)(d) of the Act, which allows civilians to be tried in military courts, thereby denying them their constitutional right to a fair trial. HRCP also objects to the arbitrary manner in which certain cases are selected to be tried by military courts, thereby violating the principle of equality before the law and equal protection of the law,” read the statement