Tag: National Assembly

  • ‘We made you PM’: PTI’s Pervez Khattak lashes out at PM Khan, Khan responds

    ‘We made you PM’: PTI’s Pervez Khattak lashes out at PM Khan, Khan responds

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Defence Minister and former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Pervez Khattak exchange bitter words during a parliamentary party meeting chaired by the premier himself.

    It is being reported that Pervez Khattak said in the meeting that, “we have made you the prime minister.”

    “Gas is banned in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we generate gas and electricity and we are the ones who are suffering,” said Khattak, adding, “We will not be able to get votes if this is your attitude.”

    After hearing Khattak, PM Khan got up to leave, and said that if you are not satisfied with me then I will give the government to someone else.

    However, while talking to journalists Khattak said, “No one spoke harshly, I spoke for my right.”

    When asked why Khattak got up and walked out of the meeting, he said that he was not angry with anyone during the meeting but went out to smoke.

    Today, PM Imran Khan himself came to the Parliament House and was presiding over a meeting of the parliamentary party before the National Assembly session.

  • Committee summons ex-CJP Saqib Nisar to ask how Khan won the election

    Committee summons ex-CJP Saqib Nisar to ask how Khan won the election

    

    
    A requisition has been submitted to the National Assembly Secretariat for the meeting of the Standing Committee on Information of the National Assembly (NA).
    

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar has been issued a notice to appear before the committee once again while the committee has also summoned ex-chief judge of Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim for the next meeting.
    

    Committee chairman Javed Latif also summoned former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), President Javed Hashmi, to the meeting and directed him to provide details of revelations regarding the removal of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.
    
    

    The committee has sought details from Javed Hashmi about Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s statement paving the way for the PM post. Javed Hashmi has also been asked to provide details about Saqib Nisar’s role in this regard.
    
    

    Journalist Ansar Abbasi, analyst Hassan Nisar, and Chairman Pemra have also been summoned for the next meeting. The committee has also taken notice of Hassan Nisar’s statement to shoot the person who took the name of democracy.
    

    It may be recalled that earlier, the Information Committee of the National Assembly had summoned Saqib Nisar and Rana Shamim on December 29, 2021.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    No PTI minister present in front row of Parliament, Opposition lashes out at non-seriousness of govt
    
			
    No PTI minister present in front row of Parliament, Opposition lashes out at non-seriousness of govt
    
			
    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif took to Twitter to lash out at the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and said, “The ongoing session of the Assembly, which has been called to pass the catastrophic budget and the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) slavery bill, is currently suspended due to lack of quorum.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    “Neither the government has its members beside it nor its allies,” tweeted Asif, adding, “How will both, the budget and the SBP’s bill will get passed.”
    

    “No minister is present in the front row,” said Asif.
    

    Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during his speech in the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday lamented how the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has imposed taxes on the people of Pakistan. He further said that PTI was bringing a “tsunami of taxes” through the mini-budget.
    

    He also criticised the government over the SBP Amendment Bill 2021, which was approved by a National Assembly panel on Monday, saying that the IMF had demanded the central bank’s autonomy during the eras of PPP and PML-N as well but neither party had agreed.
    

    He said Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif had talked about a national dialogue on the country’s economy but the government refused because of its “stubbornness”.
    

    PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah pointed out the lack of quorum as the opposition walked out in protest over the absence of Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin. The session was subsequently suspended for a short while.
    

    When the opposition returned, Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar defended the government’s economic performance and blamed its predecessors for the country’s financial problems.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Bilawal in Parliament says not expected from a player like Imran Khan to impose taxes on condoms
    
			
    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during his speech in the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday lamented how the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has imposed taxes on the people of Pakistan.
    

    Talking about a list of items on which the government-imposed taxes, Bilawal said that the people of Pakistan are in pain. He said, “It is always said [by the goverment] that Pakistan does not have inflation, this is not based on reality. If you see the statistic, Pakistan has the most inflation as compared to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and India.”
    

    Asking for the Speaker’s attention, Bilawal said, “Speaker Sahib, tax on contraceptives has been imposed as well.”
    

    “It was not expected from a khiladi [player] like [Prime Minister (PM)] Imran Khan to impose a tax on contraceptives as well,” said Bilawal.
    

    “Sir, contraceptives are not a laughing matter. There is a population explosion in regions of Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. You [PM Khan] are not even providing basic needs to the [people] in terms of food, sufficient jobs, education, and health. The entire world is supporting this sector and you are imposing a tax on contraceptives,” said Bilawal.
    

    The PPP chairman further said, “There is a crisis of HIV and AIDS, which is not being informed to the people. This a very serious matter.”
    

    “Through this mini-budget, by imposing a tax on contraceptives, you have proved to the nation that Imran Khan Sahib has imposed a tax on everything and did not leave [contraceptives] out of it. Khan Sahib is imposing a tax on an infant’s food, milk this is a direct hit on the weakest class in our society. You [Imran Khan] have literally snatched food from a child’s mouth.”
    

    “You are damaging women’s empowerment. You are damaging the right of choice and independence of women,” said the PPP leader.
    

    “Both your [Imran Khan] decisions [to impose a tax on contraceptives and milk, food products of infants] will have historic damage,” said Bilawal Bhutto.
    

    However, it is pertinent to mention here that the most common contraceptives that are available in the market which are being taxed are condoms. 
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Missing persons bill gone ‘missing’, admits Minister Shireen Mazari
    
			
    Missing persons bill gone ‘missing’, admits Minister Shireen Mazari
    
			
    Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari revealed that a bill about enforced disappearances in the country, which was recently passed by the National Assembly (NA), had gone “missing”.
    

    Speaking at a press conference Mazari said: “We had prepared the bill regarding missing persons and it was passed by the [relevant] standing committee and the National Assembly. But it went missing after it was sent to the Senate.”
    

    The minister said there were reports, however, that the bill was now at the Senate Secretariat.
    

    The bill, Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021, was passed by the NA on November 8, 2021, and is aimed at making amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure.
    

    It was introduced in the National Assembly by the interior minister in June 2021.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Video: Female MNAs physically fight during the mini-budget session
    
			
    The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers got involved in a physical fight during the National Assembly’s session at the time of the presentation of the controversial finance bill i.e. mini-budget.
    

    In a video, PTI’s Ghazala Saifi and PPP’s Shagufta Jumani can be seen shouting and pushing each other when the protesting opposition members had gathered in front of the seats of ministers.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    However, immediately after that the members of the treasury and the Opposition separated the two members of the National Assembly.
    

    PTI’s Saifi issued a statement claiming that she had got her thumb fractured. She said, “I am appalled at the way Shugafta Jumani has conducted herself. To behave in such a way, in a space which has such specific codes of ethics, a place for us to voice the concerns of the people we represent, for it to be reduced to this sort of brawl-like behaviour should be a cause of intense shame for Ms Jumani.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    On the contrary, according to PPP’s Jumani and other party members, Jumani was attacked by Saifi and she only retaliated.
    

    PPP MNA Raja Pervez Ashraf said that Jumani had come to him complaining that a PTI lady had attacked her. He claimed that she also received a minor injury and termed the incident unfortunate, reports Dawn.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Federal government to present mini-budget of Rs350 billion today
    
			
    The federal government will present the mini-budget worth Rs350 billion today.
    

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan summoned a meeting of the federal cabinet that will approve the mini-budget at noon today. The federal cabinet, with PM Khan in the chair, will give a go-ahead to the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021.
    

    The Finance Amendment Bill 2021 will directly be presented in the National Assembly (NA) as part of the government’s effort to get the IMF package worth $6 billion.
    

    Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin will introduce the bill in the house to amend certain laws relating to taxes and duties.
    

    The Opposition has already vowed to block the passage of the bill during the NA session. The opposition has claimed that the bill will further increase inflation and add to people’s misery.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Are PTI’s MNAs joining PML-N? Shahid Khaqan responds
    
			
    While talking about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) members, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi claimed that once their ‘support’ ends they will come out.
    

    In Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ on Monday, Khaqan shed light on whether PTI’s Members of National Assembly (MNAs) are joining PML-N. According to him, time will tell.
    

    “They are afraid of calls and they will appear after they seize receiving the telephone calls as they know they have no political future with the ruling PTI”, he said while recalling the latest joint sitting, saying only 190 members showed up, but when the telephone calls started, all the members came.
    

    Answering about the passing of mini-budget in the House, he said that the party will try its best to be present in full numbers and according to him, the government tries to get bills passed through “browbeating”.
    

    Abbasi, who is the secretary-general of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) ruled out the possibility of any deal for a way into the power corridors.
    

    “We do not want a share in power nor do we seek interests. We can have negotiations while staying within the purview of the Constitution. We have nothing to give. What can we give to anyone?” he added.
    

    When asked about the proposed names for the post of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman by the Opposition. Khaqan didn’t give a clear answer and laughed it off.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    MNAs only come to mark attendance, third parliament session adjourned
    
			
    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the session on Monday due to lack of quorum in the lower house for the third consecutive day.
    

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Sheikh Fayyazuddin mentioned the empty treasury benches and said that he is “ashamed”, reports Dawn.
    

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers were not present in the assembly on Monday because of the 14th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto.
    

    For the quorum of the lower house, the presence of 86 members (one-fourth) out of the 342 members is necessary.
    

    On December 22nd and 24th, the sessions were adjourned because of the same reason.
    

    However, the assembly record shows that on Dec 22, a total of 219 members had marked their attendance. On Dec 24, 176 members had marked their attendance.
    

    Moreover, it shows that on the opening day of the NA session, 89 lawmakers belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and its allies were present. Similarly, a great number, i.e. 105 treasury members, were present when the session was called the second time.
    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Law implemented against corporal punishment, schools told to be vigilant
    
			
    The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) gave the direction to heads of all educational institutions to be watchful against corporal punishment as the new law against hitting students is implemented across the federal capital schools. The President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi approved the Act on December 1.
    

    The bill on banning corporal punishment was approved in the National Assembly on February 2021.
    

    The new law states the teachers who commit corporal punishment will face serious consequences including compulsory retirement and dismissal from services.
    

    A letter was submitted on December 22 by the FDE to 423 heads of institutes that come under them to ensure strict compliance with the new regulations. A huge penalty will be imposed on the individuals who are proven to be guilty.
    

    The spokesperson of FDE, Abdul Waheed said: “We will ensure complete implementation of the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Act 2021. All heads have been informed about the new law and in case of its violation, the FDE will take action.”
    

    According to the letter, there are two categories of penalties that are minor and major which will apply to the individuals.
    

    A minor penalty includes withholding increment in salary or promotion for some specified time period, censuring. Halting from promotion and recovery from pay are included in this category.
    

    On the other side, if a teacher is found guilty then they will face demotion to a lower position, compulsory retirement, removal, and dismissal from service come under major penalties.
    

    The FDE also directed all institutions to hold orientation for staff members on the Act within one week of the issuance of the letter.
    

    The law also explains that corporal punishment is such a physical force in which a student receives some degree of pain or discomfort, no matter how light it could be. Hitting (smacking, slapping, spanking) a child or with the use of the stick, belt, whip, shoe, wooden spoon, etc.
    

    Physical force could be kicking, shaking, or throwing a child, scratching, pinching, biting, pulling hair, or boxing ears. Forcing a child to stay in uncomfortable positions, burning, scalding, or forced ingestion, for example, washing a child’s mouth out with soap or forcing him to swallow hot species, including mental abuse.
    

    The court of the magistrate shall take the case when the complaint of physical punishment is registered either by a student to whom a physical force is inflicted, his parents, or next of kin.
    

    The law will also be enforced in private schools. The federal government shall formulate a comprehensive system for the enforcement and monitoring of this law in private institutions whether registered or unregistered. It shall devise a system for complaints to address any corporal punishment.