Tag: government

  • Vegetable vendor arrested for selling vegetables at low rates

    A vegetable vendor in Lahore has been arrested for selling vegetables at low rates. As per details, no state-mandated price list was displayed at his shop.

    The FIR states that the vegetable vendor had been selling okra (bhindi) for Rs73 per kg instead of Rs95, tomatoes (tamatar) for Rs25 per kg instead of Rs50, eggplants (baingan) for Rs52 per kg instead of Rs60, bitter melons (karailay) for Rs52 per kg instead of Rs90, and onions (pyaaz) at Rs33 per kg instead of Rs40.

    https://twitter.com/arshdchaudhary/status/1409211106027966464?s=21

    The case was registered under the Price Control Acts 1958 and 1977 at the Raiwind City Police Station on the directions of Special Magistrate Chaudhry Kashif Bashir against the vegetable vendor, Waqas Majeed.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill has urged authorities to take action against the magistrate.

     

  • Bilawal slams PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal, calls him ‘office-bearer on paper’

    Bilawal slams PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal, calls him ‘office-bearer on paper’

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday criticised the government over the Ghotki train accident and said that he was shocked at the ‘callous’ attitude of the government.

    Differences between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also became visible in the National Assembly (NA) session when PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal criticised the chair for giving the floor to the PPP chairman before him. Ahsan Iqbal said that being from the largest Opposition party, it was his right to get the floor first. When Bilawal took the floor again, he hit out at Iqbal and the PML-N and termed him an “office-bearer only on papers”.

    Responding to Bilawal’s remarks, Ahsan Iqbal tweeted, “PTI attacks him [Bilawal] for a will written on a piece of paper. I don’t know why he felt the need to attack me with this piece of paper issue.”

    Speaking on the floor, Bilawal said a tragic incident has occurred in Ghotki and lamented that a poor person’s life is not safe during travel via the railways.

    “They (government) do political point-scoring even when an incident like these happen,” he said, adding, “I want to convey a message to the affectees of the crash: We stand with you and demand answers from the authorities.”

    Later in the day, Bilawal tweeted that his request to suspend all other business to discuss Ghotki train accident was denied by Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri.

    “PM, railway minister not in NA to answer why in three years of this government we’ve had more train accidents than any other govt in history of Pakistan. Shocked at callous attitude of govt,” he added.

  • Fayyaz ul Hassan offers to hold a joint press conference with Azma Bokhari

    Fayyaz ul Hassan offers to hold a joint press conference with Azma Bokhari

    Punjab’s Provincial Minister for Prisons Fayyazul Hassan Chohan and Secretary Information Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Azma Bokhari had an interesting exchange outside the Punjab Assembly earlier today.

    Fayyaz Chohan offered to hold a joint press conference in the Punjab Assembly with Azma Bokhari.

    “Azma sahiba can talk openly against our government and then it shall be my turn to comment on her party [PML-N],” said Fayyaz laughingly.

    https://twitter.com/arifawan779/status/1400038584984518667

    Azma Bokhari said she should be allowed to answer him point-by-point. Chohan Fayyaz said it would not be possible.

    On being asked by a reporter as to why the two individuals weren’t ready to do a joint press conference, Azma said, ” He [Fayyaz] should resign from his ministry, and stand beside me and hold a press conference as today’s presser is the Opposition’s.” Azma further added that she would happily welcome him [Fayyaz] and present him with a garland if he resigns and joins the Opposition.

    “I offered her [Azma] to speak first because I personally respect her,” said Fayyaz.

    Fayyaz Chohan later took to Twitter and said, “I offered Azma Bokhari to hold a joint press conference today, I was ready to give her the first turn but Azma did not dare accept.”

    To which Azma tweeted, “I asked you to resign. You are not destined to stand beside me.”

  • ‘You asserted yourself as rightful stakeholders,’ Jibran congratulates students after some exams are cancelled by govt

    ‘You asserted yourself as rightful stakeholders,’ Jibran congratulates students after some exams are cancelled by govt

    After the government announced that only elective exams and math papers would be taken by students, Pakistani Civil Rights Activist and Lawyer, Jibran Nasir, thanked the government for its prudent decision and congratulated students on gaining ‘relaxation from their exams’.

    Prior to the government’s announcement, Jibran strongly defended students against the government’s stance of having physical exams on schedule.

    Federal Minister of Education Shafqat Mahmood said that the issue of resolving complaints of non-completion of courses by the students was discussed in a meeting on Wednesday.

    “Several months ago, we reduced the curriculum by 40 per cent to make it easier for teachers and students to prepare,” said the minister.

    But Jibran stated otherwise. Speaking on a morning show on HUM News, ‘Subah Say Agay’, Jibran said, “The primary issue faced by students is that they were previously examined for a nine-month course, when schools used to conduct exams for four months. At present, each student was offered only two months of classes, and students were asked to come to their respective institutions on alternate days.”

    Jibran further said that the government should take a decision that will allow students to get back to their institutions and complete their curriculum. “This debate is not for the private sector students but for the ones studying in public/government institutions, who do not have the facility or access to the internet,” added Jibran.

    Jibran compared the decision-making of the government by comparing the present conditions of the students of Pakistan to India. “With a much bigger student population, India still managed to develop a local alternative to exams like school assessed grades (SAG) and in Pakistan, we can’t even complete syllabus,” tweeted Jibran.

    Jibran took a jibe at the government and tweeted, “Pak Govt: Our students are lazy, they want a free ride, they don’t want to study.”

  • Govt takes back appeal against Shehbaz, name still on ECL

    The federal government has withdrawn its petition challenging the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict, which allowed Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif to travel abroad for his medical treatment.

    Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan informed the court that the government was withdrawing its appeal as Shehbaz had decided to take back his petitions against the government in the High Court.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told The Current that the government has not taken it back. “It is disposed of with the order of the Supreme Court (SC) that this order will still not be cited as a precedent in any case in the future and Shehbaz Sharif or anyone on his behalf cannot use it for contempt proceedings against the government. This is clearly in favour of the government.”

    “If this was a proper or legal order, why can it not be used or followed again and why its violation did not amount to contempt. This is the first time where Supreme Court has passed such an order even though the petition was withdrawn from the High Court. It completely vindicates the government’s stand’” added Fawad.

    Fawad further said, “You compelled them to withdraw from the Lahore High Court and even thereafter the Supreme Court did not approve such an order. In addition, the Supreme Court has also ordered expeditious trial of Shehbaz Sharif in the Accountability Court.”

    Chaudhry had earlier tweeted, “The government’s appeal in the apex court was no longer necessary as Shehbaz’s name had been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) and he had withdrawn his petition from the High Court.”

    In May, the LHC had granted conditional permission to Shehbaz to travel abroad for medical treatment. However, when the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly attempted to leave the country on May 9, he was stopped by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). On May 17, the Interior Ministry placed the Opposition leader’s name on the no fly-list.

  • PPP to attend Shehbaz Sharif’s dinner today

    PPP to attend Shehbaz Sharif’s dinner today

    The PPP has decided to attend a dinner being hosted by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif for members of the opposition parties today (Monday).

    The PPP delegation will reportedly include Opposition leader in the Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Sherry Rehman.

    PPP leader Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said that this was an invitation for opposition leaders and not of the Pakistan Democratic Movement alliance ( PDM). He further added, “Neither does the PDM president nor its secretary-general has the authority to kick PPP out of the alliance.”

    “The differences with PPP could have been resolved over discussions or sit downs instead of sending show-cause notices,” Bukhari added.

    Sources in the PPP said the party’s senior leadership thought attending the dinner would serve in the best interest of the opposition, in giving a tough time to the PTI government in the up coming budget session in the National Assembly, The News had reported.

    As per earlier reports, Shehbaz Sharif invited the opposition leaders for a dinner on Monday, in Islamabad.

    However, PPP and ANP were not invited by the PML-N at an Opposition meeting luncheon in Senate earlier today.

  • ‘Slander against Yousaf Raza Gilani is completely baseless’

    ‘Slander against Yousaf Raza Gilani is completely baseless’

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill recently accused Yousaf Raza Gilani of using the Senate vehicle as a taxi service.

    Let’s face it, those who were supposed to be the Chairman of the Senate started a taxi service on a government vehicle,” wrote Dr Gill on Twitter.

    “The wage has to be paid in any case, no matter what. This move is such that I don’t even dare to comment on it,” added the SAPM.

    Gill made the accusation after news of Gilani’s allotted Senate car was seen dropping off a person and was primarily termed as giving a pick and drop service and was accused of charging double fare from the passengers.

    Meanwhile, Gilani’s son Kasim Giliani nullified the accusations, saying: “I didn’t want to respond to the baseless slander and dirty, cheap smears however it is important to put the record straight.”

    He clarified the accusations saying, “One driver of the Senate used the Senate car to drop another driver to a (bus stand/taxi stand) without Yousaf Raza Gilani’s permission. This does not concern Yousaf Raza Gilani at all and the Senate can take appropriate action against the employees.”

    “The low level of cheap shots and completely fabricated attacks by the government trolls only exposes the depths of their morality,” added Gilani.

     Senator Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was elected as leader of the opposition in the Upper House of the parliament on March 26,2021.

  • Incumbent government fails to control inflation, 9.1pc ahead of Ramzan

    The Consumer Price Index (CPI) witnessed a new round of inflation (increase in prices of goods and services) up to 9.1 per cent from 8.7 per cent in February.

    Inflation took place primarily due to price increase in food items, clothing and footwear, say the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

    Non-food items also witnessed a price hike due to higher energy rates in Pakistan. Due to the shortage of production, at the beginning of the current Fiscal Year (FY), inflation stood at 9.3pc in July that eased down to 8.2pc.

    On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, inflation increased by 0.36pc due to the increasing price of cooking oil, sugar, wheat, pulses, petroleum products, and electricity charges.

    Higher food prices pulled up inflation by 11.5pc YoY and 1.7pc MoM in the urban areas of Pakistan. The situation is similar in the rural areas where the food items prices increased 11.1pc YoY and 1.5pc, on MoM in March.

    The MoM increase indicates that prices of essential food items will see a further rise next month. The weekly prices also show an upward movement which will drag monthly inflation.

    The urban areas saw a price hike in March from the previous month included eggs 12.96pc, fruits 10pc, potatoes 9.54pc, chicken 6.58pc, sugar 4.82pc, tomatoes 4.67pc, pulse mash 4.57pc, pulse gram 4.39pc, rice 1.61pc, and wheat flour 1.46pc.

    The items whose prices declined in urban areas were onions 2.37pc, dried fruits 2.19pc, fish 1.78pc and vegetable 1.48pc.

    In rural areas, egg prices were higher by 15pc, chicken 12.21pc, potatoes 11.43pc, fruits 6.08pc, sugar 5.77pc, besan 4.71pc, pulse gram 3.89pc, gram whole 2.53pc, pulse mash 2.52pc, pulse masoor 2.18pc, vegetable ghee 1.58pc, cooking oil 1.53pc, and wheat flour by 0.97pc.

    Whereas tomato prices decreased by 6.10pc, fish 1.14pc, condiments & spices 0.61pc, and wheat 0.33pc.

    Average inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) surged to 18.7pc in March from 11.9pc during the previous month. On an MoM basis, it increased by 5.7pc in March.

    The Wholesale Price Index was slightly up from the previous month’s 9.5pc to 14.6pc in March. WPI inflation MoM increased by 3.7pc in March.

  • Contempt case against ECP possible, warns govt

    Contempt case against ECP possible, warns govt

    Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that the government will begin contempt proceedings against the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), including the chief election commissioner (CEC) if they do not resign from their posts.

    Addressing a press conference along with Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar on Tuesday, Fawad said that the government is working with the Attorney General of Pakistan and will go for contempt of court proceedings against ECP officials. He warned that the ECP officials should step down themselves or legal options will be exercised.

    Earlier, the government had demanded election commission officials to resign and reconstitute the election body as it “failed to act as a neutral umpire”. 

    Meanwhile, ECP has sent notices to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its own scrutiny committee to appear before the watchdog on March 22 to explain their stance over keeping secret the foreign funding documents of the ruling party.

  • Senate chairman vote: ‘Govt will do whatever is necessary to win this time’

    Senate chairman vote: ‘Govt will do whatever is necessary to win this time’

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz has said that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will do whatever is necessary to ensure the victory of Sadiq Sanjrani in the Senate chairman election.

    Speaking in Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ as the country heads towards another critical vote following the government’s defeat at the hands of opposition alliance for Yousuf Raza Gilani’s election, the minister said the government would do whatever is required to win the Senate chairman slot.

    While responding to media reports about the government’s offer to JUI-F, Faraz said no formal offer has been made to Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri for the post of Senate deputy chairman, and neither it is possible.

    “The JUI-F is just raising the matter to gain importance,” he said.

    “Abdul Ghafoor Haideri came to meet us and we informally discussed these things while having food in the library,” he said, adding that the government also goes to Opposition senators for seeking votes in the Senate elections.

    To a question whether the Senate chairman would be elected by seeking votes, using power or using money, Faraz said the opposition always violates rules and uses money.
    “We are ready this time. It can’t happen that we play Sharif Sharif [morally] and do everything according to law. We would do everything necessary for winning,” Shibli said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    He added that it was not possible that the government remains unmoved, while the opposition uses every tactic for its benefit, which was witnessed in the Senate elections.
    Faraz said the government would not play “nicely” and would make every effort for the success of its candidate.

    “It’s not happening that the opposition is allowed to even touch the ball in a football game with hand, while the government just plays with the foot. Love begets love and vice versa,” he said.

    The minister, however, made it clear that he was not talking about using money in the Senate election.