ELECTIONS CRUCIAL FOR SAFEGUARDING RIGHTS OF MILLIONS, AFFIRMS SUPREME COURT

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

UNDERSCORINGthe importance of holding elections within 90 days, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said the rights of millions of people in the country were directly connected to the fundamental right to vote.

This statement by Justice Munib Akhtar came during a hearing conducted by a threejudge bench in response to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) petition to reconsider a previous judgement directing the government of Shehbaz Sharif to hold the Punjab Assembly elections on May 14.

Headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, the bench comprised justices Ijaz ul-Ahsan and Akhtar, who had previously issued the order for holding elections in Punjab.

During the hearing, Sajeel Swati, the counsel for ECP, informed the court that the federal and Punjab governments had submitted their responses in the case, which were recently obtained by the electoral watchdog.

However, Justice Bandial pointed out the response from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had not yet been received. Swati confirmed that the ECP had not received responses from the opposition or any other political party.

Requesting time to review all the responses, Swati appealed to the court to adjourn the proceedings. However, Justice Bandial asked him to present his arguments in the case. The judge assured Swati that if there were any new points to be raised, they could be addressed in the next hearing. He inquired about the potential grounds for the review petition. Following this, Swati began presenting his arguments, asserting that the jurisdiction of the tribunal’s review petition was not limited to constitutional cases. He argued that the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction could be expanded but not restricted. He further argued that the apex court’s jurisdiction in review cases was restricted to civil and criminal matters.

In response, Justice Ahsan highlighted that seeking courts’ intervention for fundamental rights was considered a civil case. However, Swati countered this by observing that proceedings under Article

Mudassir Aqil leaving Telenor Microfinance Bank (EasyPaisa), but what is he leaving behind?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

So that’s basically where the investment went. So the other half is an investment.”

And now the bank has turned profitable

How are things looking for TMB now?

Telenor Microfinance bank has managed to steer itself towards profitability. In the first quarter of 2023, TMB incurred a meager loss of Rs 185 million. It succeeded in reducing its pre-tax losses by over 90%, from PKR 2.185 billion in the same period last year to PKR 185 million.

“In March, we made a profit. Beginning quarter two, you will see profit before tax”, added Aqil.

FUTURE OUTLOOK OF TELENOR

MFB: “We are very excited for the future of TMB because of the new license and very

CII boss urges awareness campaign against offensive content on social media

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt large profitable business (which will be) the largest digital platform in the country. Firstly, we have received NOC (no objection certificate) for a digital banking license. We are actively working on our conversion plan to submit to the SBP to convert to a digital retail bank.” Telenor Microfinance Bank/Easypaisa was one of the five applicants who received NOC earlier this year. Within retail banking, our core focus will be on the mass market which is still predominantly unbanked or underbanked. We want to become a retail digital bank of choice for a common Pakistani. The second focus will remain on small businesses. Apart from that international remittances, freelancers, and women. We are already keenly working on and in touch with relevant institutions.”

Dr. Qibla Ayaz, the chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), emphasized the need for a public awareness campaign across all forms of media to discourage offensive content and highlight relevant laws to guide the younger generation. In an interview with PTV News, Dr. Ayaz urged electronic media to broadcast programs focused on the biography of the prophet as a response to such insolence, aiming to present the role of a true Muslim based on divine commands and sunnah. He further emphasised the importance of reporting such content on social media platforms to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), or the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Timely actions within the boundaries of laws and the Constitution can effectively address such situations, he said. Dr. Ayaz added that regulating harmful speech in online spaces necessitates establishing a clear distinction between legitimate freedom of speech and hate speech. He noted that digital platforms bear legal responsibility in relation to the distribution of illegal content, incitement to violence and terrorism.

On his next stint, he commented that he would share the information in a couple of week’s time. “It is an exciting opportunity. I have been in the Pakistan market for the last 17 years. I spent the first 8 years outside Pakistan. And now I am getting a new opportunity to go and learn a new market. To grow myself, and learn new things. But I will still be in the fintech space. It is an exciting opportunity and I look forward to continuing learning and growing.”

Despite his departure, Aqil is confident in the strong foundation of Easypaisa, believing that it will continue to thrive and achieve even greater success. He remarked, “I am very excited for what I am leaving behind. I think easypaisa is on very strong footing. It is stronger than ever. And I think it will be growing from strength to strength.”

CDWP clears 15 development projects worth Rs249.21b

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has cleared 15 development projects worth Rs 249.21 billion during its meeting held on Tuesday.

As per details the forum considered 15 projects related to the Ministry of Housing and Works, Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, Ministry of Communication, Power Division and Ministry of Railways.

The forum has recommended Umbrella PC-1 of the Flood Protection Sector ProjectIII (FPSP-III)-Updated worth Rs 194.6b to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.

The Ministry of Water Resources is the sponsoring agency of the project while Provincial Irrigation Departments will execute the project. The main objective of implementation of Umbrella PC-I of FPSPIII of NFPP-IV is the improvement of country-wide comprehensive flood management approaches on an integrated and innovative basis by implementation of structural as well as non-structural interventions proposed under National Flood Protection Plan NFPP-IV.

The major objectives of the project are to reduction in flood losses to private & public infrastructure in an economically sound manner, protecting urban & rural aabadies, agricultural lands besides, vital infrastructure installation, Technical feasibility & detailed design studies of Barrages/Bridges and hydraulic structures which need to be remodelled and upgradation of existing flood forecasting & warning facilities for better flood forecasting.

The CDWP also recommended a revised Sehat Sahulat Program as per its approved cost Rs 31.93b to the ECNEC. Similarly, the forum also approved the Construction of Interchange on Hazara Motorway which connect Abbottabad & Sherwan Road right after first Tunnel (Shimla Hill Tunnel worth Rs1.82b, D.I. Khan Road Development Package Rehabilitation & Upgradation of Kundal Interchange (M-14) to Chashma -D.I. Khan Road (Revised), worth 2.80billion, Construction of Railway Underpass Gojra, District Toba Tek Singh worth Rs1.44b, D.I Khan Road Development Package Revised PC1 for Rehabilitation & Upgradation of Pezu –Tank Road worth Rs 4.87b, Renovation and Construction of offices, Women Barracks & Multi-Purpose Training Rooms at the office of the Superintendent Railway Police, Rawalpindi (Revised) worth Rs 310.375million.

Scorching summer spurs increased demand for mangoes

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

As the mercury levels rise, markets, shops, and roadside vendors across the country have begun showcasing a wide variety of mangoes to entice customers. According to a report by PTV News, mangoes are the most popular fruit during the summer season in Pakistan. With over 600 varieties available, Pakistani mangoes are considered among the best in the world. Aside from their sweet, delicious taste, mangoes also offer numerous health benefits, as stated by a nutrition expert. A horticulturist explains that mango orchards in Sindh and Punjab are the primary sources of mango production in the country. The cities of Multan and Bahawalpur are famous for growing Sindhri, Langra, Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol, Dussehra, Almas, and Saroli varieties. In Sindh, Saroli is the first to be harvested, followed by Dussehra, Desi, and finally Sindhri. A mango vendor selling from a pushcart claims that the fruit is being sold in large quantities due to its affordability. The increasing demand for mangoes has resulted in good profits, with the vendor earning up to Rs3,000 on a good day. A customer expresses that mangoes at every stall are attracting buyers.

In addition to their irresistible taste, mangoes offer various advantages and health benefits. Another customer at a weekly bazaar mentions that mangoes in Pakistan are consumed in multiple ways. Vendors are earning substantial amounts due to the booming sales. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp groups are also showcasing a variety of mangoes through pictures and videos to attract customers online. Consequently, online sales of fruits have experienced a surge. An online customer highlights the main advantage of purchasing mangoes online, as they can now be conveniently delivered to doorsteps without any additional hassle.

184(3) were not civil in nature.

Justice Ahsan pointed out that Article 184(3) had two sections: one related to the public interest and the other to fundamental rights. Justice Akhtar posed a question, asking if a case related to elections was brought before the Supreme Court from a high court, would it not be considered a civil case. Swati responded by saying that the constitutional authority of a high court was greater than that of the apex court.

Justice Akhtar further pointed out the discrepancy in Swati’s argument, saying that according to him, if there was an appeal from a high court, the jurisdiction was limited. However, in the case of a review petition, Swati claimed the scope was not limited. The judge questioned if this did not amount to discrimination in the case of fundamental rights. Additionally, the judge raised concerns about the ambiguity created in the court’s jurisdiction.

Swati asserted that Article 184(3) of the Constitution did not grant the right to appeal, emphasizing that the scope of the review petition could not be limited as a result. He said that in reviews, the court had to consider the requirements of justice, and new points could only be raised in constitutional cases.

Justice Akhtar questioned whether the lawyer was arguing that a review under Article 184(3) should be treated as an appeal. Swati affirmed this and added that the jurisdiction of the review was not limited in cases under Article 184(3). Justice Ahsan expressed concern that accepting the ECP lawyer’s argument would lead to immediate hearings in review cases. He said that the Constitution did not equate the scope of the right to appeal with that of review. Justice Munib observed that granting the ECP’s request would complicate matters further.

Swati argued that the Constitution did not restrict the scope either and suggested that Article 187 of the Constitution could be used for absolute justice in reviews.

Miftah Ismail rejects census data, demands to hold census across Pakistan again

KARACHI Staff CoRReSpoNdeNt

Former finance minister and Pakistan

Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader

Miftah Ismail on Tuesday rejected the country’s first-ever digital census and expressed reservations about the recent digital census and demanded to repeat the count of country’s population again.

Miftah Ismail made the statement while addressing a conference organised by Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) in Karachi to develop consensus against the recent digital census.

The former finance minister said that the statistics of the digital census are inaccurate and the counting of the country’s population should be conducted across Pakistan again. He raised questions about the findings of 3% growth in the population. He added that 9 million children are born across the country every year. He also criticised the difference in population growth rate in Karachi and the other parts of the country.

“Tablet devices have already been purchased by the government. Another census would cost from Rs17 to Rs18 billion to the national exchequer. If the government makes expenses, it would not be an issue as it is being spent for a cause in the country.”