Friday, 29 July, 2022 I 29 Zil Hajj, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 388 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition
PDM urges govt to senD PresiDential reference to sc for article 63-a interPretation ISLAMABAD
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HE Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — a multi-party alliance with representation of ruling PML-N — on Thursday recommended to the government to send a presidential reference to the Supreme Court seeking its interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution by a fullcourt bench for “a way out of the prevailing constitutional and political crisis.” Announcing key decisions taken by the PDM following a meeting today, alliance chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said the meeting decided that the recent interpretation of the Article 63-A by a three-member bench of the apex court while ruling on Punjab chief minister’s election had fuelled reservations and triggered a constitutional crisis. “The political parties have expressed reservations on the observation of three judges of the top court [on Punjab chief
minister election] which complicated the matter,” he said. He said that sending a reference to the apex court was now essential in view of widespread differences of opinion
206 dead as monsoon triggered flash floods devastate Balochistan, Sindh QUETTA / KARACHI staff report
The flash floods triggered by the torrential monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Balochistan and Sindh, leaving more than 206 people dead and caused colossal damage to communication infrastructure, houses, standing crops and other installations. According to Balochistan Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Aqili on Thursday, flash floods triggered by the torrential rains have claimed several more lives in Balochistan raising the death toll to 111. “Provincial government is facing a huge challenge to cope with the situation arising after the heavy downpour and flash floods,” he said during a press briefing here at Jamali Auditorium of Civil Secretariat. Chairman NHA Khuram Agha and DG PDMA Naseer Nasar were also present. Sharing details about the damages caused by rain and relief operation in the calamity-hit areas, the Balochistan CS said that 10 districts of the province were worst affected by the monsoon rain, adding that during the recent monsoon spell, 500 percent more rain was recorded than during the past 30 years. About colossal damages caused to property, infrastructure and livestock, the CS said that rain and floods have damaged over 10,000 houses, of them 6,700 are completely destroyed. It caused damages to at least six main bridges, approximately 565km of road while 712 livestock also died. Torrential rain and floods also caused damage to the 197,930 acre agricultural land in parts of the province. Highlighting the government prompt response to the catastrophe, the Chief Secretary noted that even before the premonsoon due to the forecast of rains, the vacations of the staff of all the concerned institutions were cancelled. As many as 17,500 people affected by heavy rain have been rescued while the federal government and the provincial government have announced Rs10 million compensation for the dead people. Compensation will also be given to those whose property and livestock have been damaged. Abdul Aziz, however clarified that the provincial government and Pakistan Army helicopters are on standby but not being used due to bad weather. He noted that section 144 has been implemented in the province. Heavy traffic between Quetta to Karachi is suspended as citizens are being requested to avoid unnecessary travel for ten days. The CS expressing satisfaction over the response of district administration said that deputy commissioners of all districts are doing relief work. “If any officer shows negligence, action will be taken against him.” It may be recalled that torrential rain starting from 13 June is continuing to play havoc in parts of the province. Labella, Khuzdar Jhal Magsi and its surrounding areas are the worst affected districts where heavy downpour and flooding has badly hit the human settlements destroying infrastructure and inundating hundreds of villages. “Those died during the monsoon rains and flooding included 34 children, 30 women and 42 men,” a report issued by PDMA said, adding 62 people suffered injuries. The provincial government, district administration, PDMA and Pakistan Army have launched rescue, relief operations in the worst affected districts. However, due to the large scale of calamity, the relief operation is not yielding desired results as flood-stricken people still need more help from the government and international humanitarian organization for their rescue, relief and rehabilitation.
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among different circles as well as legal experts, media and the civil society. Fazl also said it was unanimously agreed that the government would complete its term and the elections
would be “held on time”. “Under the resolution, it is also our demand that the ECP must immediately announce its verdict in the foreign funding case, which has been lingering for eight years,” he told journalists. The PDM chief said the ECP must fulfill its legal, constitutional responsibility without any delay, adding that the electoral watchdog was currently “under a cover of mysterious silence”. He claimed that ample evidence was available against the PTI, saying the law must take its course and a verdict must be delivered at the earliest. He also said the “mess created by Imran in three and a half years cannot be cleaned in just an year.” We will clean his mess in the next five years, the PDM chief claimed. “Imran must also remain within his limits. His propaganda is based on social media gimmickry. We will take decisions with unanimity and move forward,” Fazl said in response to a
question. He also said the PDM meetings will continue for days to discuss problems faced by the country. Speaking on the occasion, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said the plea for a full-court bench was rejected by the Supreme Court to “facilitate Laadla” (the blue-eyed) and deliver an unjust verdict to dent the government. “The three-member bench of the SC has already become controversial,” she said. “Our 25 MPAs were given to Imran and Chaudhry Shujaat’s 10 MPAs were also provided to Imran. This was the mistake and misinterpretation,” Maryam claimed. She accused the SC bench of violating the Constitution, adding that “if you think we will accept this decision, we won’t”. Maryam said the coalition will not allow Imran to constantly “operate as a bully and abuse of his opponents”. “We will not let that happen.”
NA speaker accepts resignations of 11 PTI MNAs ISLAMABAD staff report
In a surprise move, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaz Ashraf on Thursday accepted the resignations of 11 PTI MNAs, although all 131 lawmakers had resigned on April 11. According to details, the National speaker accepted the resignations of 11 MNAs out of total 131. It is not clear as to why the resignations of only 11 MNAs have been accepted by the speaker. It is to be recalled the PTI lawmakers had resigned en masse on April 11, two days after former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from the top office after the no-confidence motion moved by the joint opposition in the parliament against him succeeded. The confirmation of the acceptance of the resignations was issued by the NA Secretariat, which issued a list. The lawmakers whose resignations have been accepted included: Ali Muhammad Khan, Fazal Muhammad Khan, Shaukat Ali, Fakhar Zaman Khan, Farrukh Habib and Ijaz Ahmed Shah. Jamil Ahmed Khan, Muhammad
Akram Cheema and Abdul Shakoor Shad’s names are also on the list. Dr Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari and Shandana Gulzar Khan, who were both MNAs on reserved seats for women, will also cease to be members of the lower house of the parliament. Earlier, there were reports that the National Assembly speaker held consultation with PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq in a bid to
accept the resignations of PTI lawmakers. According to media reports, the PML-N wanted to accept resignations of eight PTI lawmakers, including former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan. The legislative department of National Assembly had asserted that homework in this regard has been completed while the final decision would be taken by the NA Speaker.
Foreign funding case shows how Imran being protected: PM Shehbaz ISLAMABAD staff report
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the eight years-long delay in the decision of foreign funding case against Imran Khan evidenced how “Ladla” was being protected. The prime minister, in a tweet, said that the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for not taking salary while contrary to that the PTI leader was being treated as “untouchable.” He said that despite the passage of eight years, the decision in the foreign funding case was yet elusive. He said that in the foreign
funding case, Imran Khan filed nine writ petitions in the Islamabad High Court and also got 50 adjournments.
In a similar tweet on July 19, the prime minister had asked the Election Commission of Pakistan to announce the “long-de-
layed” judgment on PTI foreign funding case. He said that for long Imran Khan had been been given a free pass despite his “repeated and shameless” attacks on state institutions. “Impunity given to him has hurt the country,” he commented. Meanwhile Minister of State for Petroleum Musaddiq Malik on Thursday questioned the “double standards” of justice and asked for a level-playing field for all the political parties in the country. “We have always accepted all decisions of the courts, but we also ask of them to bring about a real verdict,” Malik said while addressing a presser in Islamabad.
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