Author: none@none.com (Nadir Guramani)

President Asif Ali Zardari has given his approval to the tax-heavy Finance Bill 2024, which is part of the government’s budget for next year. This move follows the National Assembly’s passing of the budget with amendments, after weeks of criticism and debate. Despite opposition from parties like PTI and PPP, the bill was ultimately approved by President Zardari as mandated by the Constitution. The budget includes new tax measures and exemptions, aimed at meeting IMF criteria and generating additional revenue. Amendments to the bill also involve changes to property taxes, levies on diesel and petrol, and increased travel allowances for…

Awami National Party (ANP) central President Aimal Wali Khan has called for a judicial commission to investigate the reconciliation efforts between the government and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2021. Khan wrote an application to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing concerns over the alleged facilitation of terrorists under the guise of reconciliation. In 2021, then-Prime Minister Imran Khan and former President Arif Alvi confirmed talks with the TTP, leading to a ceasefire announcement. However, the TTP ended the ceasefire in November 2022. Aimal Wali Khan accused authorities of allowing terrorists to move freely and called for accountability. Khan named six…

Government Launches Operation Azm-i-Istehkam to Combat Terrorism Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced the government’s decision to initiate Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, a national counter-terrorism campaign aimed at eradicating extremism and terrorism in Pakistan. The campaign was launched after consensus among all stakeholders, including provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. However, the opposition in Parliament criticized the government’s move, demanding to be briefed before any military operation. Despite this, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed support for the operation and suggested that meetings on security should be held in terrorism-affected areas of…

Imran Khan Open to Constructive Suggestions from Opposition: PTI Leader PTI leader Raoof Hassan revealed that party founder Imran Khan is open to considering any “constructive suggestions” put forward by Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai through dialogue with the government. This comes after Imran Khan’s directive to initiate contact with all political parties, excluding PML-N, PPP, and MQM-P, who are part of the ruling coalition. Despite earlier statements about not negotiating with ‘mandate usurpers’, the PTI is now open to dialogue with the government. However, there is a clear stance against direct contact with parties accused…

President Asif Ali Zardari has officially established the National Economic Council (NEC), a key body responsible for evaluating the country’s economic status and creating strategies for balanced development. The council, consisting of top government officials including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, is set to play a crucial role in advising on financial, commercial, social, and economic policies. In accordance with Article 156 of the Constitution, the NEC must convene at least twice a year and report its findings to Parliament. Despite the pressing need for a meeting to discuss the current economic situation and upcoming development…

Former National Assembly speaker and PTI MNA Asad Qaiser criticized the demand for an apology from PTI founder Imran Khan by ISPR as “unconstitutional.” The demand came in the aftermath of the riots on May 9 last year, which led to a state crackdown against Imran and his party. Qaiser, in an interview, expressed his refusal to apologize to ISPR, stating that it is not right for any institution to make such demands in public. He emphasized the need to respect all institutions and urged for unity and apologies before God. Reflecting on Past Decisions Qaiser admitted that one of…

With tensions rising in Pakistan’s Senate over the conduct of judges and contempt of court, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has suggested sending the matter to the Senate Secretariat for further investigation. The session saw heated debates with Senator Faisal Vawda moving a privilege motion against a Supreme Court judge, sparking a wave of criticism against the judiciary. Tarar emphasized the importance of institutions working within their defined boundaries, praising Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa while also criticizing Islamabad High Court Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani for his remarks. The minister stressed the need for court proceedings to be…

JUI-F MNA Moves Bill to Repeal Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) MNA Noor Alam Khan submitted a bill to repeal the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003, stating that it is inconsistent with the Constitution. The ordinance had repealed the Contempt of Court Act 1976, and last week, the Supreme Court issued a warning to media outlets regarding contemptuous content. The bill proposed by Alam aims to abolish the current ordinance until a new law is created by Parliament. In a conversation with Dawn.com, Alam mentioned that once the bill is passed, no court will be able to…

In a recent statement, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, expressed that any negotiations with the “Form-47 parties” – referring to PPP, PML-N, and MQM-P – would only be possible if PTI’s alleged “stolen seats” are returned and cases against party founder Imran Khan are dropped. PTI has been claiming that 18 National Assembly seats were wrongly altered by returning officers after the February 8 elections, impacting their victory margin. Ayub emphasized the need for constitutional supremacy and urged the three parties to rectify the discrepancies in Form 47 manipulation. He mentioned the willingness to engage…

The Latest Price Cuts in Petroleum Products The government has recently announced a significant reduction in the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) for the upcoming fortnight. The prices have been slashed by Rs15.39 and Rs7.88, respectively, due to a decreasing trend in the international market. According to the finance ministry, the new price for petrol stands at Rs273.1 per litre, while HSD is priced at Rs274.08 per litre. This move comes after a drop in prices by $8.7 and $4.3 per barrel for petrol and HSD, respectively, on the global market. Impacting inflation rates, high prices of petroleum…