National

SC rejects govt’s fact-finding committee on Faizabad sit-in

Published

4 weeks ago

November 2, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Courtroom of Pakistan Wednesday rejected the federal government’s fact-finding committee, ordering the Legal professional-Basic for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, to kind a brand new inquiry fee quickly pertaining to the implementation of the apex court docket verdict within the Faizabad sit-in case.

The actual fact-finding committee was constituted by the federal government, on Friday, to research the “position and instructions” of all “involved” officers within the administration and dealing with of the sit-in in 2017 staged by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan in opposition to the then-Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) authorities.

The orders for a brand new inquiry fee got here in the course of the listening to of a set of petitions in opposition to the February 6, 2019, judgement within the Faizabad sit-in case.

On February 6, 2019, the SC bench comprising the now-Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Mushir Alam, dominated that the intelligence companies should not exceed their respective mandates.

A number of pleas difficult the SC verdict on the Faizabad sit-in have been filed by the federal authorities, Ministry of Defence, the Pakistan Digital Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP), Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf (PTI) and others.

Nonetheless, many of the petitioners retracted their functions lately, prompting the CJP Isa to ask “why is everybody so afraid to talk the reality”.

“Is it a joke to file a revision petition and withdraw it?” CJP Isa remarked in the course of the listening to.

The court docket dismissed evaluation pleas filed by the IB, PTI, the defence ministry, MQM and Ijazul Haq for withdrawal. It additionally issued notices to Sheikh Rashid over failure to look in court docket and adjourned the listening to until November 15.

A 3-member SC bench comprising the CJP Isa, Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah heard the petitions difficult the ruling.

Through the listening to at this time, the highest decide mentioned the apex court docket needed to know who was behind the Faizabad sit-in.

“We wish to know who was the mastermind of the Faizabad sit-in,” he remarked, expressing annoyance over the choice not being applied since its issuance in 2019.

The chief justice, in the course of the listening to, questioned what the incumbent authorities was doing on the implementation of the SC’s choice within the sit-in case.

“Nobody cares about this nation,” CJP Isa remarked, whereas Justice Minallah mentioned that the county is just for the elites and has been occupied by them for the final 70 years.

Taking a jibe on the authorities’s non-seriousness in the direction of the case, CJP Isa mentioned the court docket will shut the case if the federal government asks it to take action.

“We are going to once more wait for an additional tragedy like Faizabad to happen. Are we threatened by exterior enemies or inside threats?” he questioned, rejecting the federal government’s fact-finding committee.

The chief justice mentioned anybody right here will get up and blocks the roads, then goes overseas after harming the nation.

The chief justice’s comment hinted at Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri’s participation within the 2014 sit-in by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in opposition to the then-government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) within the centre.

“Was the aim of importing an individual to overthrow the federal government of that point?” CJP Isa requested, additional questioning if the mentioned particular person’s companies can be sought once more sooner or later.

“Did this particular person from Canada pay for his personal ticket?” he questioned, additional asking whether it is potential to find out this by the investigation committee.

“[Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority] Pemra, the Election Fee of Pakistan was not impartial at the moment,” he remarked.

The court docket then instantly summoned Pemra Chairman Salim Baig to the podium.

Through the listening to, Pemra’s counsel mentioned he has solely obtained ex-Pemra chairman Absar Alam’s affidavit.

In an affidavit submitted to the apex court docket on Tuesday, Alam had accused then-Director Basic of Counter Intelligence (DG-C) on the Inter-Providers Intelligence Main Basic Faiz Hamid and his subordinates of controlling the “TV Channel coverage” by means of “illegal means”, in his affidavit

The SC had sought recent disclosures on the final listening to, from anybody who was affected by the protest, to disclose new data in writing.

Through the listening to, Alam alleged the spy companies’ interference in media affairs, claiming that the “individuals of intelligence companies” used to name cable operators.

“A Pemra member had obtained a name which was recorded,” he mentioned.

When requested in regards to the caller’s title, Alam mentioned he couldn’t verify it as a result of there was no caller id or quantity on the decision that was obtained.

Alam mentioned that he obtained “verbal orders” for sacking journalist Najam Sethi, who used to host a programme on Geo Information, and he was faraway from the PEMRA chief’s submit when he refused to conform to those orders.

“I used to be eliminated as Pemra chairman by the Lahore Excessive Courtroom on Dec 18. You mentioned to deliver the reality and so I did,” Alam mentioned, including that “it was identified amongst journalists that whoever filed a petition in opposition to me within the LHC is an individual of the companies.”

He additionally said that totally different petitions have been additionally filed in opposition to him in three excessive courts.

Earlier, Justice Minallah remarked in the course of the listening to that the choice of the Faizabad sit-in case was landmark. The chief justice, nonetheless, disagreed saying that it was solely in keeping with the regulation and Structure.

National

Commerce physique declares closure of retailers unsuitable option to management smog, air pollution

Published

24 mins ago

November 30, 2023

Pakistaneo.com

ISLAMABAD: The official commerce physique of the retail sector within the nation has opposed the closure of markets and retailers in view of controlling the rising smog, as the federal government is attempting to manage mitigate air air pollution by decreasing industrial exercise.

Addressing a ceremony on Thursday Chairman CAP Tariq Mehboob noticed that heavy transport, burning of waste and crop residue and non-compliant factories contribute to smog probably the most, not the retail sector.

“No different nation or area is shutting down markets to manage air air pollution. As is the case in China and our neighboring nations, the main focus should be on controlling motion of huge automobiles which use low high quality gas and emit black smoke; cracking down on burning of waste and stopping factories which might be polluting by burning wooden, tyres, and many others. because of the absence of pure fuel,” he identified.

Talking to media, Tariq Mehboob stated, “For the reason that previous one 12 months, the retail timings are already restricted to 10 PM as per the orders of the Court docket. For the previous few weeks, extra restrictions have been utilized together with late opening and full day closures that are leading to big losses to retail companies and allied sectors, employment and tax technology.”

For the reason that Covid-19 pandemic, shutting down retail has turn into the norm each time any disaster emerges and it solely has a superficial influence on the issue. Retailers have skilled over 30 extended bouts of restrictions on working timings and days over the previous 4 years, with compliant retailers being the worst affected each time.

Much less distinguished markets seldom observe any restrictions imposed by authorities resulting from restricted enforcement capability, as per CAP.

“Not too long ago, ad-hoc modifications to notifications have resulted in confusion and abrupt disruptions for our companies and workers. Furthermore, eating places and different service sectors have been allowed to stay open whereas retailers should shut, so motion of small automobiles nonetheless continues throughout closed interval.

We can’t help the closure of any industrial exercise as a result of it doesn’t addressing the basis causes of smog. Shutting down just one sector repeatedly won’t create the specified leads to smog discount or electrical energy saving,” acknowledged Asad Shafi, Vice Chairman CAP.

On this challenge, Tariq Mehboob defined that, “implementation of full retail shutdown in 6 main divisions of Punjab on final Sunday has resulted in a rare lack of Rs. 10 billion for retail companies, the home provide chain and tax revenues.

That is along with losses already incurred over the previous few weeks throughout associated restrictions. November and December is the height season for retail and companies have allotted their funding a number of months prematurely. Whereas nearly all the pieces else stays open, the organized retail sector has repeatedly turn into the sufferer to abrupt selections and knee-jerk reactions from the authorities. Our business is structured to run 7 days per week and after we are restricted in timings or off-days, we take successful as most of our prices proceed for the closed interval. Furthermore, our suppliers and distributors additionally endure as a result of demand of their services and products are affected, resulting in a domino impact. Such counter-productive selections are creating an pointless drag on revitalizing the financial system and boosting employment.”

The federal government ought to take us into confidence at each stage and applied balanced options that don’t damage the financial system. Whereas we wholeheartedly abide by the choice of the Punjab Authorities, we want to suggest an alternate method which will successfully contribute to smog discount with out adversely affecting home commerce.”

“For instance, the federal government is closing retail on weekends that are the best sale days and hypothetically solely decreasing smog for 10-12 hours of retail timing for 2 days.

If retail closure is seen as a vital measure, our suggestion is to contemplate adjusting the day by day retail working hours to start at 1 or 2 pm, permitting for a day by day saving of 4-5 hours within the morning which might be extra sustainable. This modification goals to strike a steadiness between mitigating smog influence and persevering with financial actions, and, consequently, employment and taxation revenues.

Moreover, manufacturers have thousands and thousands of followers on their social media and authorities can collaborate with them to coach and talk to common public for such initiatives on how you can scale back air air pollution and keep away from its dangerous results.

National

KP witnessed 563 terror incidents in 2023, reveals report

Published

1 hour ago

November 30, 2023

Pakistaneo.com

PESHAWAR: The Anti-Terrorism Division (CTD) on Thursday launched a report on the fear incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2023.

In line with the CTD report, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) witnessed as many as 563 terror incidents this yr. Out of 563 incidents, police had been focused 243 occasions.

In line with the report, the very best 132 incidents of terrorism had been reported in Dera Ismail Khan, 103 incidents in Khyber and 89 terror incidents had been reported in Peshawar?

The report additional revealed that 86 occasions terrorists attacked North Waziristan and 50 occasions South Waziristan? The report additional stated that as many as 837 terrorists had been taken into custody.

The best variety of arrested outlaws was from Peshawar 245.

National

Sindh broadcasts winter holidays for colleges

Published

2 hours ago

November 30, 2023

Pakistaneo.com

KARACHI: The Sindh authorities on Thursday introduced winter holidays for personal and authorities colleges and different instructional establishments, throughout the province.

In line with a notification issued by the Sindh Schooling and Literacy Division, the winter holidays will begin from December 22 to December 31.

All private and non-private training establishments within the province will stay closed as a result of winter holidays from December 22 to December 31.