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SC judge questions attempts at finding faults in NAB amendments

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SC judge questions attempts at finding faults in NAB amendments

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Supreme Court remarked on Friday that there is, prima facie, an eagerness to find flaws in the amendments made to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws.

The observation by Justice Shah came during the hearing of a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman challenging the amendments made to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws which had been passed by the coalition government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The petition is being heard by a three-judge special bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and also comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

“This is not a case of the violation of fundamental rights,” Justice Shah observed during Friday’s hearing, when PTI’s counsel Khawaja Haris contended that the fundamental rights of people were affected by obstruction in the accountability process of public office-holders in NAB cases.

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Justice Shah questioned, “If we accept for a minute that the members of parliament made amendments to benefit themselves, should we declare the NAB amendments null and void? On what grounds should we do that?” Haris responded that the court could declare the NAB amendments void under the Article 9.

Rejecting this, Justice Shah remarked that “let the judiciary and parliament operate in their own manner; otherwise the democratic system will not work.” He said that the general elections were around the corner and it should be left for the people to decide.

It must be noted that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has suggested in the hearing on August 18 that CJP Bandial form a full court to hear PTI chief’s petition.

“I think that the NAB amendments case should be heard by the full court; the case will have its own impact,” Justice Shah remarked.

CJP Bandial, however, disagreed, remarking that the NAB laws were indeed being misused.

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“Pardons are being given by NAB indiscriminately,” he said, adding that authority had been given in the hands of evil people. “It is the responsibility of the state to establish a just and fair society. The state has to ensure that criminals do not roam free, he said.” He added that people are leaving the country after being denied economic opportunities.

“Justice Mansoor is raising the question of the direct relation of fundamental rights. We understand that many fundamental rights have been affected by the NAB amendments,” the CJP remarked.

“NAB amendments did not directly violate fundamental rights, but there is definitely an aspect directly affecting rights in the NAB amendments,” he said, adding that they must cut down and see the relationship between fundamental rights and the amendments.

He remarked that if the institution of the auditor general was strengthened, he could look into these matters himself. “The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) is an important constitutional institution. A strong auditor general’s office can also look into the accounts of provinces,” CJP Bandial remarked.

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NA Secretariat accepts inclusion of independent members in SIC

NA Secretariat accepts inclusion of independent members in SIC

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NA Secretariat accepts inclusion of independent members in SIC

he National Assembly Secretariat has accepted the inclusion of independent members (PTI-backed MNAs) in the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Dunya News reported.

The National Assembly Secretariat has released a list of 83 members of Sunni Ittehad Council on its official website after the approval of NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

After the inclusion of independent members, Sunni Ittehad Council has become second largest party in the lower house of the parliament with 83 members.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had sent a notification regarding the inclusion of independent members in the SIC to the National Assembly Secretariat.

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Pakistan urges UN to reconsider Palestine’s full membership bid amid US veto

Pakistan urges UN to reconsider Palestine’s full membership bid amid US veto

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Pakistan urges UN to reconsider Palestine's full membership bid amid US veto

Pakistan has called on the United Nations General Assembly to push the Security Council to reconsider and recommend Palestine’s application for full membership of the UN to rectify the historic injustice against the Palestinian people.

“The admission of the state of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations would constitute a concrete political step towards the two-state solution and towards rectifying the historic injustice against the Palestinian people,” Ambassador Munir Akram said in a meeting sparked by a US veto, which blocked an Algerian resolution on 18 April that would have granted Palestine UN’s membership.

The meeting was necessitated by “the veto initiative” — the informal name for a resolution adopted by the Assembly in April 2022, titled “Standing mandate for a General Assembly debate when a veto is cast in the Security Council.”

According to the measure, which was put forth following the repeated wielding of the veto at the Council, blocking action on other situations, the General Assembly has a standing mandate to convene within 10 working days of a veto being cast in the Council.

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Palestine is a ‘Permanent Observer State” at the UN, meaning that it can participate in all UN proceedings, except for voting on draft resolutions and decisions in its main organs and bodies.

In his remarks, the Pakistani envoy said, “The veto cast against Palestine’s admission erodes the credibility of the assurances that have been held out of support for the two-state solution.”

“The diplomacy now underway for peace in Palestine, in Israel and the region would gain considerable momentum if the veto was lifted and Palestine’s admission to the United Nations recommended by the Security Council.”

Ambassador Akram appealed to the United Nations and the international community at large to enforce an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; guarantee unrestricted access to humanitarian aid; prevent further escalation of the conflict; provide international protection for the Palestinians; revive the peace process and hold Israel responsible for its war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“Now, the extremist Israeli leadership is threatening an assault on Rafah which, as the UN Secretary-General has stated, ‘would be an unbearable escalation’, would have a devastating impact on the Palestinians in Gaza, with serious repressions on the occupied West,” he said.

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Ambassador Akram highlighted the plight of the Palestinian people over the past seven decades, including the denial of self-determination, expulsion from their homeland, and enduring a prolonged and brutal foreign occupation.

The Pakistani envoy condemned Israel for its recent war crimes in Gaza, which had resulted in the deaths of over 35,000 Palestinian civilians, indiscriminate bombing, and the blockade of humanitarian aid, which the International Court of Justice has deemed as “plausible genocide.”

Ambassador Akram also hit back at the Israeli representative for making wild accusations against Islamic countries.

“Let me tell the Israeli representative that the outlawed Israeli regime cannot divert attention from its crimes by leveling calumny against the Islamic countries,” he said, adding, “Pakistan, unlike Israel, acts in accordance with international law.”

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PM Shehbaz saddened by passing of UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed

PM Shehbaz saddened by passing of UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed

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PM Shehbaz saddened by passing of UAE's Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences on Thursday following the passing of Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, the representative of the ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Al Ain.

“Deeply saddened by the demise of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed Al Nahyan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the leadership and people of the UAE during this time of mourning,” the prime minister shared on his X timeline.

He emphasised Sheikh Tahnoun’s significant role in strengthening the bond between Pakistan and the UAE, stating that his contributions would be remembered for years to come.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also offered prayers for the departed soul, asking Allah Almighty to grant Sheikh Tahnoun eternal peace.

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Born in 1942, Tahnoun was among the select individuals who had accompanied Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father, since an early age.

In response to his passing, the UAE government declared a seven-day mourning period

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