Tag: National Assembly

  • Big move: Senate passes bill aimed at limiting powers of chief justice

    The Senate has passed the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 on Thursday, setting in motion limiting of Chief Justice of Pakistan’s discretionary powers to take suo motu notice.

    Upon voting, the bill received 60 votes in favour and 19 in opposition, breezing through the Upper House despite Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) opposition to it.

    A day earlier, the National Assembly (NA) passed the bill after fiery speeches by government members in parliament, criticising former chief justices.

    The bill states that any matter that comes before the Supreme Court shall be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by a Committee comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and two senior most judges, in order of seniority.

    Moreover, it says that any application pleading urgency or seeking interim relief filed in a cause appeal or matter, shall be fixed for hearing within fourteen days from the date of filing.

    The development has taken place after two top judges—Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah—criticised CJP Umar Ata Bandial, saying that the Supreme Court can’t rely on him for its decision. Using strong words against the CJP, both of them were of the view that institutions should review this “one-man power show”.

  • ‘Pakistani institutions have been making this Frankenstein’: Bilawal’s fiery speech on Khan

    ‘Pakistani institutions have been making this Frankenstein’: Bilawal’s fiery speech on Khan

    In a fiery speech delivered on Wednesday on the floor of the National Assembly, Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that for the past 30 years, “Pakistani institutions have been making this Frankenstein”, referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    “This happens all the time,” he said in a speech that took aim at Imran Khan, the establishment and the judiciary. “Some Einsteins sit in our institutions; they make the decisions for the country. They manufacture these strategic assets, and then the assets come back to haunt the rest of us,” said Bilawal.

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman reminded the members that the nation bravely fought against terrorists and eradicated terrorism from the country.

    It was unfortunate that the terrorism eliminated due to sacrifices of the Pakistan Army, police and common masses had been revived by Imran Khan, the minister remarked.

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who lost his mother- former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto – to a terrorist attack, also said that militants “played Holi” with the blood of the Pakistani nation for years yet the former prime minister pardoned the terrorists and brought them back to resettle them.

    “There is no example in the world of how our tribal people fought with terrorists,” he added.

    Taking aim at the former heads of Inter-Services Intelligence, the PPP head said that General Hameed Gul held [Imran’s] finger, while the role of General Pasha, General Zaheerul Islam, and General Faiz Hameed is obvious to everyone.

    “Dictatorship in the Supreme Court (SC) was started by Iftikhar Chaudhry, and he was also a part of this hybrid war, his aim was the end of the Constitution; General Faiz and General Pasha are gone but Imran remains,” he added.

    The foreign minister said that they have been talking about the supremacy of the Constitution and free media, but undemocratic steps were taken in response to their democratic step.

    He said that they did not do anything undemocratic by expelling an “undemocratic prime minister” and it is not appropriate to remain silent for the sake of democracy.

    “The nation must be told why such situations have happened,” he added.

    He further said that in response to the no-confidence motion, the then-prime minister, the-then speaker of the lower house, and the current president of the country “broke the Constitution”. “What did Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif do in response to this? If the constitution and law have been broken, file a case,” he demanded.

  • ECP de-notifies Khan from six National Assembly seats

    ECP de-notifies Khan from six National Assembly seats

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has de-notified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan from six seats of the National Assembly (NA) that the former Prime Minister won last year in by-elections.

    According to a notification issued by the commission, Imran has been de-notified from the NA-22 Mardan-III, NA-24 Charsadda-II, NA-31 Peshawar-V, NA-108 Faisalabad-VIII, NA-118 Nankana Sahib-II, NA-Korangi Karachi-I seats. These seats are now vacant.

    In October, Khan had broken a record by winning six out of seven seats of NA against candidates of various parties that are part of the ruling coalition.

    Later, he also won NA-45 (Kurram seat), the only seat he is left with after ECP’s notice.

    The PTI chairman broke his own record of victory on five seats which were the most by a single candidate in any election.

  • ‘Do not create controversies’: Khawaja Asif’s lashes out at judiciary on NA floor

    ‘Do not create controversies’: Khawaja Asif’s lashes out at judiciary on NA floor

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday demanded that the Supreme Court (SC) form a full court bench to hear the case pertaining to provincial elections and review past cases, starting with the Panama case in which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for life.

    In a fiery speech on the floor of the National Assembly (NA), Khawaja questioned why some judges were not criticised and raised concerns about judges intervening in parliament’s jurisdiction.

    The minister said he doesn’t want to cross the line in criticism and added that the election date suo motu case should be heard by the full court.

    “It has complained that parliamentarians criticise judges by naming them. I want to ask why some judges are not criticised?”

    Asif said that when judges intervene in the parliament’s jurisdiction, politicians will raise questions about it.

    “Why former justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Khosa are criticised and not Justice Nasir ul Mulk and Tassaduq Hussain Jillani’s name should be raised as well?” he asked.

    Taking a jibe at PTI’s Jail Bharo Tehreek, Khawaja said Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s son came to bail his father out one day after his arrest. 

    “No one came for us when we were arrested for several days. We were sent to 90 days remand. PM and his daughter served jail sentences for numerous days. No one got bail for this. On the other side, they [PTI] get instant bail,” said the minister. 

    “They carry out photo sessions in front of a police van and then leave for home. Jail Bharo Tehreek has flopped. Now it should be doob maro film (Drown in Shame),” said Asif.

    “Imran does not come out of his home, gets pre-arrest bail and then directs his party workers to offer their arrests. Imran’s medical record has not been done yet as he went to his own hospital,” said Asif. He added that the PTI chief considers the people of Pakistan fools. 

    Khawaja questioned how the treatment meted out to Nawaz Sharif justified.

    “Rewriting the Constitution is not the judiciary’s job. This is the outcome of the way Article 63 was rewritten. The way Nawaz Sharif’s government was removed was unfair.”

    Asif urged the judiciary to “prove its gracefulness”. 

    “I would say, correct the mistakes of the past which you have made so that the structure of the state could rely upon a strong foundation that no one can ever dare to challenge it. Do not generate controversies. Do not rewrite Article 63. If such would continue to happen God forbid, an unfortunate incident could take place,” warned Asif.

  • President Alvi approves mini-budget amidst concerns of pushing Pakistanis into deeper poverty

    President Alvi approves mini-budget amidst concerns of pushing Pakistanis into deeper poverty

    President Dr Arif Alvi has given his approval for the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023, also known as the mini-budget, under Article 75 of the Constitution, which requires the president to assent to a bill presented to him within 10 days.

    National Assembly had passed the Rs170 billion mini-budget with some modifications, which will have an annual impact of about Rs550 billion.

    The budget’s approval has brought Pakistan closer to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but at the cost of pushing people deeper into the poverty trap.

    The majority of the taxation measures were implemented, although the president had not given his assent when the National Assembly passed the bill.

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar admitted during his wind-up speech that inflation was unbearable for the people and blamed the maladministration of the previous government of former prime minister Imran Khan.

    Dar also admitted that the news stories about Rs675 billion to Rs700 billion taxes were not untrue and the IMF had demanded those measures, which the government did not accept. Dar added that almost all major issues with the IMF had been sorted out, and Pakistan is now very near to the staff-level agreement.

  • National Assembly passes mini-budget to meet IMF targets

    National Assembly passes mini-budget to meet IMF targets

    The National Assembly of Pakistan passed the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2023, aimed at amending certain laws relating to taxes and duties. The bill is intended to generate an additional Rs170 billion within the next four and a half months, to fulfill the last prior actions agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Pakistan’s reserves have fallen to a critically low level of $2.9 billion, which experts believe is sufficient for only 16 to 17 days of imports. The completion of the ninth review of a $7 billion loan programme with the IMF would lead to a disbursement of $1.2 billion, as well as unlock inflows from friendly countries.

    The Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar, introduced the bill to the National Assembly on February 15, and the formal debate started on it after moving a motion by Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar on February 17. In his concluding speech during the NA session, Dar said the new taxes proposed in the bill would not affect the poor segments of society, as most of the new taxes are being imposed on luxury items that they don’t use.

    The government has also proposed an increase of Rs40 billion in the budget of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to help the poor cope with rising inflation.

    The Finance Bill aims to increase the general sales tax (GST) rate from 17 per cent to 18 per cent, with an increase to 25 per cent on luxury items. The bill proposes to raise the federal excise duty (FED) on cigarettes, and aerated and sugary drinks. GST on 33 categories of goods covering 860 tariff lines, including high-end mobile phones, imported food, decoration items, and other luxury goods, will increase from 17 per cent to 25 per cent, however, the raise will be notified through another notification.

    The excise duty on cement has been raised from Rs1.5 to Rs2 per kilogram, a measure expected to generate an additional Rs6 billion. An excise tax of 10 per cent has been proposed on non-aerated drinks like juices, including mango and orange, to raise an additional tax of Rs4 billion.

    The finance bill also proposed a 10 per cent withholding tax on functions and gatherings held in marriage halls, marquees, hotels, restaurants, commercial lawns, clubs, community places, or other places, expected to raise Rs1 billion to Rs2 billion from this tax. The excise duty on carbonated or aerated drinks has been raised to 20 per cent from 13 per cent to generate an additional Rs10 billion for the government.

    The proposed increase in excise duty on business, first, and club-class air tickets will raise an additional Rs10 billion for the government, with a tax rate of 20 per cent (or Rs50,000, whichever is higher) proposed on the value of air tickets.

  • Govt to present Finance Bill 2023 today to fulfil IMF conditions

    Govt to present Finance Bill 2023 today to fulfil IMF conditions

    The federal government has been forced to head to parliament after President Arif Alvi ‘adv­ised’ Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday to take parliament into confidence over the Rs 170 billion in new taxes that are being levied.

    As per the agenda, the National Assembly will meet at 3:30pm and Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar will present the Finance Supplementary Bill, 2023 in the lower house.

    A session of the Senate has also been summoned at 4:30pm to move the bill there as well so the document can be sent to President Dr Arif Alvi immediately for assent.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who didn’t attend the last session, will be present during today’s meeting.

    The governm­ent had initially planned to introduce “tax and non-tax mea­­sures” to generate funds to the tune of Rs 170 billion. However, in a last-minute change, it decided to drop proposals pertaining to non-tax measures, particularly the flood levy to the tune of Rs 100 billion.

    In a late-night development, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued SRO178 to enhance a federal excise duty on locally manufactured cigarettes which would generate up to Rs 60 billion in taxes on tobacco products.

    The government will generate Rs 55 billion more through a 1 per cent increase in GST – from 17pc to 18pc. The remaining Rs 55 billion will be collected through an increase in excise duty on airlines tickets, sugary drinks and an increase in withholding tax rates.

    Dar had called on President Alvi to apprise him about the talks with the IMF for the revival of the programme.

    The government decided to approach the Parliament after President Dr Arif Alvi gave the government a cold shoulder on bringing the mini-budget via an ordinance in his meeting with Dar.

    “The president advised that it would be more appropriate to take parliament into confidence on this important subject, and that a session be called immediately so that the bill is enacted without delay,” a statement issued by the President House said after the meeting.

  • Khan will not physically address election rallies

    Khan will not physically address election rallies

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has decided not to personally participate in public gatherings held during campaigns in by-elections for National Assembly (NA) seats, reports Geo News.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has scheduled the election for the NA by-polls in March.

    PTI members had resigned from their NA seats following the no-confidence move that toppled Imran Khan from the premiership last April.

    The decision of the PTI’s senior leadership that Imran will not physically appear at rallies was made keeping in mind threats to his life.

    He alleged that he would be eliminated in an explosion or blast, and later the blame would be placed on the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    “After killing me, they will say that Imran was killed in a terrorist attack,” he alleged.

    Khan was shot in the leg on December 3 in Wazirabad, while leading a protest march to Islamabad.

  • Khan will not contest in upcoming National Assembly by-polls

    Khan will not contest in upcoming National Assembly by-polls

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has decided not to contest on National Assembly (NA) vacant seats, multiple media outlets have reported.

    According to Geo News, former Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) of the PTI will participate in the upcoming national assembly by-elections. Khan has reportedly directed them to submit their nomination papers and start election campaigns in their constituencies.

    A day earlier, Khan also withdrew his nomination papers from National Assembly Constituency NA-193.

    It is pertinent to mention that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that by-elections for 33 vacant seats will be held on March 16.

    PTI leaders had announced that their party chief will contest on 33 seats out of 35 seats, leaving aside the two women’s reserved seats.

    On Thursday, it was reported that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will also participate in the upcoming by-polls with the party completing the process of finalising its candidates.

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  • ECP asks finance ministry for additional Rs14 billion for elections

    ECP asks finance ministry for additional Rs14 billion for elections

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has requested the Ministry of Finance for more money for elections on vacant seats in National Assembly (NA), and by-elections in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    According to the electoral body, the expenses of general elections have increased from Rs 47 billion to Rs 61 billion, incurring the need for an additional amount of Rs 14 billion.

    ECP has also proposed April 9 to 13 for the elections in Punjab and April 15 to 17 for elections in KP and asked the Governors of both provinces to select a date within the given timeline.

    The KP Assembly was dissolved on January 18 while the Punjab Assembly was dissolved on January 14 on the directives of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan whose party was in majority in both provinces.

    In Punjab, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi was sworn in as the caretaker Chief Minister (CM) on January 22, while Mohammad Azam Khan has taken oath as the KP chief executive on January 21.