Tag: Federal govt

  • Govt to regulate falcon trade

    Govt to regulate falcon trade

    The federal government has directed relevant authorities to streamline the import and export of falcons, ensuring that birds that are brought into Pakistan are taken back by their owners and not exchanged.

    In a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Management Authority on September 4, a Ministry of Climate Change representative stressed the need to tag falcons with microchips and identification passports, Dawn News reported.

    Officials were hopeful that these actions will prevent the exchange or illegal trade of the birds and added, “This is a transit permission, not related to the commercial trade of species.”

    The development came after previous incidents where Gulf princes took young falcons along with them and abandoned injured and aged birds, which were later illegally trapped in Pakistan and sold on the country’s black market; this raised concerns about wildlife exploitation, prompting strict rules to protect the birds.

  • PM Shehbaz plans major constitutional amendments for judicial system reform

    PM Shehbaz plans major constitutional amendments for judicial system reform

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Monday that the government intends to present a constitutional amendment draft for the approval of both Houses of Parliament this week, ending long-debated speculations, to bring about significant changes in the judicial system.

    While addressing a dinner for MNAs of his own and allied parties in the PM’s house, Sharif said that certain elements are busy undermining government performance but they would be helpless under the upcoming amendments.

    Earlier, many YouTubers and journalists speculated about the government’s alleged plans to extend the tenure of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa through an upcoming judicial package; however, both the government and the CJP denied the claims.

    He also asked coalition members of the parliament to ensure their attendance from September 10 till the adjournment of the current session.

    Jang News reported that the government has attained a two-thirds majority in the Houses of Parliament for the proposed constitutional amendment.

    Meanwhile, The News reported that the two major amendments include removing the suo motu powers of the superior judiciary and establishing a constitutional court under the Nawaz-Benazir Charter of Democracy signed in June 2006.

  • LHC summons PTA, federal govt and Information Ministry over internet disruption

    LHC summons PTA, federal govt and Information Ministry over internet disruption

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Information Ministry, and federal government representatives to appear before the court on a petition pertaining to internet disturbance on the next hearing on August 21.

    Advocate Nadeem filed the petition stating that the internet shutdown should be declared unconstitutional and the government should ensure smooth internet.
    The petition stated that ‘’Internet shutdown is a violation of Constitution Article 9 (personal security), 18 (freedom of business), article 19 (freedom of speech).”

    “Apart from the general public, hundreds, if not thousands, of companies have also been affected. Ride-hailing companies like Bykea, Careem and InDrive have taken the brunt, as their users —drivers and passengers — need mobile data on the go,” the petition read.

  • Govt to disclose Toshkhana gifts publicly

    Govt to disclose Toshkhana gifts publicly

    The federal government has decided to publicly disclose the details and records of gifts received and deposited in the Toshakhana over the past two decades.

    The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting after the government faced backlash for it’s reluctance to disclose the list of gifts.

    The Toshakhana was established in 1978. All public officeholders, including parliamentarians and bureaucrats, are bound to report the gifts they have received from foreign dignitaries to the Cabinet Division, whereafter they are to be deposited at the Toshakhana.

    Earlier, the incumbent government told Lahore High Court (LHC) that public disclosure of Toshakhana details could cause unnecessary media hype and could be potentially damaging to Pakistan’s foreign relations.

    Former Prime Minister (PM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has been accused of not sharing details of the state gifts which he received during his tenure as the head of government.

    Last year, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also disqualified the PTI chief as Member of the National Assembly (MNA) in the Toshkhana case.

  • PM Shehbaz directs to reduce electricity use in government offices by 30%

    PM Shehbaz directs to reduce electricity use in government offices by 30%

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee that will work on reducing electricity consumption in government offices by 30 per cent.

    The Prime Minister gave the directives while chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet where a “Proposed Energy Saving Plan” presented by the Power Division was also under discussion. The meeting was briefed on consultations held with stakeholders about energy saving.

    Shehbaz Sharif said that the consultation process with all the stakeholders including the provincial governments should be completed soon.

    Conversion of federal government buildings to solar energy

    Last week, the Premier directed relevant authorities to convert federal government buildings to solar energy at the earliest.

    He issued special instructions for formulating a comprehensive strategy to effectively resolve the issues faced in the early completion of the solar energy projects.

    The PM said the use of solar energy in electricity production could effectively resolve many fiscal issues including the energy crisis in the country and rising prices of electricity.

  • PM Shehbaz writes letter to CJ asking to form judicial commission to investigate attack on Imran

    PM Shehbaz writes letter to CJ asking to form judicial commission to investigate attack on Imran

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has written a letter to Chief Justice (CJ) Umar Ata Bandial to request him to form a judicial commission to investigate the attempted assassination on Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    The premier said that the investigation of the incident was being “mishandled” and in its aftermath a “derogatory campaign” had been launched against the leadership of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and state institutions.

    Putting forward five questions before the SC, Shehbaz Sharif has asked which law enforcement agencies were responsible to provide security to Imran’s convoy. He also questioned whether security protocols and other SOPs were put in place to secure the convoy and whether these protocols were adhered to. “What are the facts of the incident itself,” the letter says.

    “Whether law enforcement agencies and administrative authorities complied with the prescribed investigation, evidence collection, and handling procedures following the incident,” reads the letter.

    The last questions were: “Whether the investigation into the incident is being deliberately impeded? If yes, by which actors and why? Whether the shooting was a result of a criminal conspiracy hatched to assassinate Imran or the act of a lone shooter? Who are the actors responsible in either scenario?”

    PM’s letter to CJ about Arshad Sharif’s death

    In another letter to the SC, PM Shehbaz — who is currently in Egypt—wrote a letter to CJ Bandial and sought the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the death of slain journalist Arshad Sharif.

    The journalist was killed in a “mistaken identity” case last month in Kenya by local police.

    The Premier suggested the CJ focus on five questions — through which procedure did Arshad Sharif go abroad in August 2022? Who facilitated Sharif’s departure abroad? Was any federal or provincial agency aware of any threat to Sharif? Was any organisation or administration aware of any threat to Sharif? If Sharif’s life was in danger, what steps were taken to save him? What were the circumstances, and reasons under which Sharif went to Kenya from UAE? What is the truth behind the shooting incident in which Sharif died?

    The premier asked the chief justice to form a commission comprising all the justices of the SC. He also assured the apex court that the federal government would provide full support to the commission.

  • Govt to ask Court to review acquittal of Shahzeb’s murderer

    Govt to ask Court to review acquittal of Shahzeb’s murderer

    The Federal government on Tuesday announced that it would file a review petition over Shahrukh Jatoi’s acquittal for the murder of Shahzeb Khan.

    “This is despite the instant case having already been adjudicated to be one of constitutional importance by the Supreme Court, which mandates seeking the assistance of the Attorney-General – as has been sought previously in petitions pertaining to the same matter,” the statement issued by Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali read.

    The letter further stated that the AGP’s Office had already declared that the case was related to terrorism after Jibran Nasir and other activists approached the SC against a Sindh High Court (SHC) ruling that overturned the death penalty for Jatoi and other defendants in the murder case, adding that the SHC’s decision was a “violation of the SC’s order.”

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday acquitted Shahrukh Jatoi and others in Shahzeb Khan’s murder case.

    Shahzeb was murdered in Karachi in 2012.

    An Anti-Terrorism Court handed Jatoi a death sentence in 2013. However, in 2017, the complainants had ‘pardoned’ Jatoi under the country’s Qisas and Diyat law.

  • Interior Minister questioned on rising terrorism, didn’t brief parliament for nine months

    Interior Minister questioned on rising terrorism, didn’t brief parliament for nine months

    The Opposition senators questioned the Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed over the recent terrorist attacks in Islamabad and Lahore in today’s Senate session.

    Earlier this week, in a gun attack, a police officer was killed in the capital and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility. Lahore was attacked on Thursday which claimed the lives of three civilians.

    Senator Raza Rabbani said that Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) had claimed responsibility for one of the attacks while Rasheed said the TTP was behind it. The senator demanded that the minister be summoned to clear the confusion, reports Dawn.

    Several other senators including Pakistan Muslim-League’s (PML-N) sought a reply. One of them said that “he had not seen the interior minister in the House for any briefing during the last nine months.”

    Rasheed made a briefing and said that there are “special motives” behind the killing of the cop in Islamabad. However, about the Lahore tragedy, the minister stated that an investigation is underway. 

    Upon the Oppostion’s insistence of seeking an explanation from the government. Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani told the minister to brief the upper house in this regard and the steps taken by the government on Monday (January 24).

    After the capital incident, the minister had warned of more terrorist-related attacks. Previously in the past month, two terrorists allegedly belonging to the banned outfit TTP were arrested in Karachi.