Tag: Top News

  • Constitutional court necessary if citizens unsatisfied with existing judicial system: Bilawal Bhutto

    Constitutional court necessary if citizens unsatisfied with existing judicial system: Bilawal Bhutto

    Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Thursday that he supported the coalition government’s proposed formation of constitutional courts in the since-postponed constitutional amendment legislation.

    “At least 50 percent of the cases in Supreme Court are constitutional — which consumed 90 percent of the time,” claimed the PPP leader, asking why a separate court should not be established for better dispensation of justice.

    Bhutto also emphasised that if citizens are not satisfied with the current judicial system, then a constitutional court must be established.

    Interestingly, the former foreign minister also stated that the proposed legislation by the government was “inadequate” because constitutional courts should be established at the provincial level as well.

    He also stressed that there is a need to revise the judicial appointment system, saying, “Parliament has decided that people will decide who will become the judge.”

    Bilawal alleged, “In Pakistan, there is a tradition that if you’re someone’s relative, you can become a judge,” adding that it has severely damaged the judicial system in Pakistan.

  • President approves Practice and Procedure Amendments Ordinance

    President approves Practice and Procedure Amendments Ordinance

    President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Practice and Procedure Amendment Ordinance after the federal cabinet approved the bill.

    According to the ordinance, in the absence of a committee member, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) will be able to nominate a judge as a committee member, The News has reported.

    The ordinance reads, “Each case and appeal will be recorded, and its transcript will be prepared, which will be available to the public, and each case will be heard on its turn; otherwise, reason will be given if the court hears case out of turn.”

    The ordinance also says that court benches will look into cases in light of fundamental human rights and public importance.

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had passed the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act 2023 in a bid to ensure transparent proceedings within the apex court and to safeguard the right to appeal.

    However, Supreme Court’s eight member bench, which was chaired by the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, stayed the bill due to several petitions challenging it.

  • ‘World has progressed, where are we?’: Lahore High Court orders administration to allow PTI rally in Lahore

    ‘World has progressed, where are we?’: Lahore High Court orders administration to allow PTI rally in Lahore

    The Lahore High Court today has rejected appeals asking for suspension of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in Lahore tomorrow.

    A three-judge bench heard the petitions filed in the LHC regarding permission for PTI’s rally in Lahore.

    Justice Tariq Nadeem, while talking to the Chief Secretary, stated, “Those who are ruling today were in opposition in the past, and when they were in opposition, they expressed their concerns. You [Chief Secretary] were in service then and now as well. We need to do good for our country; you should allocate a place for the rally in Punjab. And also allocate two or three places for the party rally in Lahore so people do not face difficulties.”

    Justice Tariq Nadeem lamented, “All the bureaucracy has left their work to be in the court today; the world has progressed so much. What message are we giving to the world?”

    Meanwhile, Justice Farooq Haider asked IG Punjab Police Dr Usman, “Is the police harassing the political workers of a party?”

    The IG replied that nothing of the sort was being done, and no such instructions had been issued to the police.

    The LHC rejected appeals to stop the rally and directed the Lahore Deputy Commissioner to decide the venue for the party’s rally by 5 PM today.

  • ‘September 21 rally is do-or-die for PTI,’ declares Imran Khan

    ‘September 21 rally is do-or-die for PTI,’ declares Imran Khan

    Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Thursday declared the party’s pre scheduled rally to be held in Lahore on September 21 a do-or-die event.

    Speaking to journalists at Adiala jail Rawalpindi, the former Prime Minister said, “The Constitution gives us the right to assemble,” he said, warning that jails will be filled if PTI gets barred from holding the Lahore rally.

    He stated, “I ask the nation to come out for their future on September 21 in Lahore.”

    Citing the judiciary’s role in society, Khan remarked, “The Supreme Court (SC) is the last institution from which people have expectations. If the SC is also destroyed, Pakistan will become a banana republic.”

    Responding to the government’s proposed constitutional amendments, he stated, “To destroy the Supreme Court is to destroy democracy, and to destroy democracy is to destroy freedom. When freedom is destroyed, people become slaves.”

    Lambasting President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Khan said that both will flee again and stressed that everyone is aware of their money which is lying abroad.

  • Speaker directs election commission to dismiss Supreme Court’s ruling on reserved seats

    Speaker directs election commission to dismiss Supreme Court’s ruling on reserved seats

    Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, has penned a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on September 19 stating that after the Elections Act Amendments, 2024, passed by the parliament, the Supreme Court’s reserved seats verdict of July 12 can no longer be implemented.

    On July 12, in a significant political and symbolic win for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a thirteen-member bench of the Supreme Court ruled that PTI had the legal and constitutional right to reserved seats.

    However, on September 14, an eight-judge bench of the Supreme Court sternly criticised the ECP for delaying its ruling on the reserved seats case and warned of serious consequences.

    “After the Judgement of SC, the Parliament has been pleased to pass the Elections Act, 2024 which received the assent of the President on 7th August 2024 and was published in the Gazette of Pakistan on 9th August 2024,” stated the letter by Speaker NA.

    The senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member Ayaz Sadiq further wrote, “In view of this backdrop, it is stated that independent returned candidates who have already given a joining to a political party can’t be allowed to now switch parties in terms of the Amended Election Act.”

    The speaker clarified that the amended act “shall prevail and supersede” the Supreme Court’s July 12 verdict.

  • All eyes on Maulana Fazlur Rehman as success of constitutional amendments hangs in balance

    All eyes on Maulana Fazlur Rehman as success of constitutional amendments hangs in balance

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman may win a lot of seats or not a lot, but his political importance stays intact.

    Senator of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Irfan Siddique has said that constitutional amendments cannot be passed without Chief Jamiat-e-Ulema Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s cooperation.

    Appearing on the Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada kay Saath’, Siddiqui stated, “As soon as Maulana Fazl is satisfied, the constitutional amendments will be tabled.”

    Responding to Rehman’s concerns over the constitutional amendments, Siddiqui cleared, “Maulana had no objection to the constitutional court or formula of appointment of judges.”

    In opposition, speaking to journalists following a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaisar in Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman remarked, “They (opposition parties) completely rejected the government proposed amendments draft.”

    Interestingly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is still hopeful of winning Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s confidence for the judiciary-centric legislation.

    Appearing on the Geo News programme ‘Capital Talk,’ Asif said, “Fazl is a shrewd politician, and we will definitely find a resolution.”

    Meanwhile, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, said that he couldn’t comment on anything regarding the JUIF stance.

    Speaking to journalists at Adiala jail Rawalpindi on Wednesday, he remarked, “All political forces have to unite for democracy. If Maulana is standing with democracy, it is a good thing.”

    To pass the controversial constitutional amendments, the incumbent government lacks thirteen votes in the National Assembly (NA) and nine in the Senate.

  • China proposes joint security plan to Pakistan

    China proposes joint security plan to Pakistan

    China has offered several proposals to Pakistan, including a joint agreement to combat Chinese security concerns over terrorism.

    China has aimed to boost its multibillion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, transforming several CPEC Phase-1 Projects to Phase-2, government sources told Express Tribune.

    The sources further disclosed that China is proposing the establishment of a joint company to sustain its citizens’ security working in Pakistan for the CPEC project.

    Pakistan and China also vowed to combat terrorism with “zero tolerance” and stressed the need for a comprehensive approach towards security concerns in Pakistan.

    It has also proposed an agreement on the China-Pakistan earth science research project in the CPEC Phase-2.
    Chinese authorities are aiming to cooperate in infrastructure, minerals, energy, safety and security, science and technology.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa govt to challenge constitutional amendments

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa govt to challenge constitutional amendments

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, led by Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur, has decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the federal government’s proposed constitutional amendments.

    In a provincial cabinet meeting chaired by Ali Amin Gandapur, cabinet members stressed that parliament is incomplete as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has not yet received its reserved seats.

    “Federal government doesn’t have the authority of constitutional amendments,” cabinet members added.

    The KP cabinet meeting also approved a grant of thirty million rupees for the Lahore High Court Bar Association, and by relaxing the ban on vehicle purchases, the cabinet also approved ninety lac rupees for High Court judges.

    Earlier, the federal government announced the twenty-sixth constitutional amendment, which reads that the eight-member National Assembly Committee will send the names of top senior judges to the Prime Minister (PM) for the position of Chief Justice (CJ) of the Federal Constitutional Court. The committee will then choose one CJ out of three recommended names, ruling out the scenario of the most senior judge as CJ.

  • Joe Biden appreciates Pakistan’s efforts in tackling terrorism

    Joe Biden appreciates Pakistan’s efforts in tackling terrorism

    President of the United States (US) Joe Biden has highlighted the significance of Washington’s relations with Pakistan for “regional stability and security” after he received a Letter of Credence from the Pakistan Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Shiekh.

    At a ceremony at Blair House in Washington DC, Biden said, “The relationship between our two countries remains important for regional stability and security. We appreciate US-Pakistan cooperation on countering terrorist threats,” a statement released by the Pakistan embassy in the US read.

    “The United States will continue to stand with Pakistan to tackle the most pressing global and regional challenges of our time,” he added.

    The US President’s statement comes at a crucial time when the US imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies and a Chinese research institute that had assisted Pakistan in developing the Shaheen Three and Ababeel missile systems.

    During a press briefing from Washington yesterday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller had stated, “We have been clear and consistent about our concerns with Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme for many years.”

  • ‘He’s acting like the CM of Afghanistan’: KP Governor criticises Gandapur

    ‘He’s acting like the CM of Afghanistan’: KP Governor criticises Gandapur

    Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi criticised KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for defending Afghan diplomats and their disrespect of the national anthem yesterday.

    “He is acting like the chief minister of a province of Afghanistan rather than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said the PPP affiliated Governor.

    On Tuesday, intense criticism was directed towards Afghan Acting Consul General Muhib Ullah Shakil and his aide when they refused to stand up for Pakistan’s national anthem, defying diplomatic norms, at the National Rehmat-ul-Lil-Aalamin (PBUH) Conference in Peshawar.

    Afghan Consulate Peshawar later clarified that the gentlemen did not stand up for the anthem due to the “music in them.”

    Gandapur later defended the diplomat, saying, “There was no disrespect intended, and they explained why they didn’t stand up for the national anthem.”

    Governor KP, while speaking on the Geo News programme last night, recalled, “ I spoke positively with the CM KP Gandapur, but he took advantage of that.”

    “I am sitting on a constitutional position, I will not allow anything against the constitution, but if anyone works for the peace and development of the province, I will support him,” said Kundi.

    He also emphasised that states talk to other states rather than a provincial chief minister.