pakistan

Chief Justice Isa questions the rationale behind lifetime disqualification after completing sentence

Published

5 months ago

December 11, 2023

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Chief Justice Isa questions the rationale behind lifetime disqualification after completing sentence

Chief Justice Faez Isa on Monday wondered how a person could still remain disqualified for life after completing the sentence and added that the Supreme Court had two different opinions on lifetime disqualification.

The remarks during the hearing of a case heard by a Supreme Court bench headed by the chief justice, which also comprised Justice Athar Minallah, which pertains to the lifetime disqualification of Sardar Meer Badshah Qaisrani – a former member of Punjab Assembly – before the 2018 elections.

Chief Justice Isa asked the additional attorney general about the federal government’s stance on lifetime disqualification, to which he replied that the Section 232 of Election Act was above than the Supreme Court judgment, fixing the disqualification period at five years.

As a result, the country’s top judge took notice of the contradiction between the Supreme Court’s judgment on lifetime disqualification and the amendment made in the Election Act by the Parliament during the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government.

The Supreme Court issued notices to the attorney general and the provincial advocate generals while making it clear that the matter under review would not be used as pretext to delay the general elections scheduled for February 8.

It also sent the question of lifetime disqualification to the three-member committee, of which the chief justice and two senior most judges are members, for the formation of a larger bench to decide the matter.

Citing the reasons behind the orders, the Supreme Court noted that the confusion on whether to follow the Election Act or the Supreme judgment was damaging to democracy and would affect the decision-making of officials and tribunals overseeing the upcoming elections.

The Supreme Court said the next hearing of the matter under review currently would be held next month – January 2014 – and ordered that the notice taken in connection with the present case should be published in the country’s top two English dailies.

Meanwhile, the latest developments in the apex court can have far-reaching effects on Pakistan’s politics as three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif is a main victim of lifetime disqualification.

However, he has already been acquitted in the Avenfield case and the Islamabad High Court is expected to soon complete the hearing of Al-Azizia reference, as the elder Sharif wants a clean chit to contest the upcoming elections on the basis of his innocence and being wrongly convicted in 2017.

But the notice taken by the chief justice and the subsequent orders leading to a larger bench to make a decision on lifetime disqualification will certainly settle a burning political issue once for all.

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KP CM Gandapur’s interim bail extended till May 28 in arson attack case

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2024

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KP CM Gandapur's interim bail extended till May 28 in arson attack case

A district and sessions court of Rawalpindi on Saturday extended the interim bail of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur till May 28.

The additional district and sessions judge conducted hearing of interim bail plea for Ali Amin Gandapur in a case of arson and meddling government affairs. Advocate Muhammad Faisal Malik appeared on behalf of the KP chief minister.

During the hearing, a request was submitted by KP CM Gandapur for exemption from attending court proceedings which was accepted by the court.

Gandapur had made the request due to his official engagement in government affairs. Later, the additional district and sessions judge extended the interim bail of CM Gandapur till May 28.

It should be remembered that a case was registered against Gandapur in Nasirabad police station.

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pakistan

CM Maryam directs measures for land record digitalisation

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2024

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Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has issued directives to implement concrete measures for the digitalization of land records across the province.

Presided over a crucial session focused on Board of Revenue reforms, CM Nawaz received a comprehensive briefing on the Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement (PULSE) project.

During the session, officials from the Punjab Land Record Authority and Management of State Land provided insights into the project’s business plan and execution strategies.

The digitalization of land records under the PULSE project is being undertaken with the support of the World Bank.

This ambitious initiative aims to digitize all land records in Punjab on an owner-based system, marking a significant step towards transparency and efficiency in revenue management.

Key highlights from the briefing include the categorization of land properties into clear, and disputed categories, denoted by green, yellow, and red respectively.

Each buyer will be assigned a unique property number, streamlining legal processes and reducing complications associated with property transactions.

The implementation of a transparent partition of land and parcel document system will enhance the transparency and fairness of revenue management.

The digitalization process will also simplify the Record of Rights (Fard) and property transfer system, ensuring accessibility and efficiency for citizens.

In a move to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, the government plans to introduce services such as overseas property transfer, mutation, registration, and e-survey.

CM Maryam Nawaz has underscored the importance of swift action and collaboration among relevant departments to expedite the digitalization of land records.

Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari, MPA Sania Ashiq, chief secretary, P&D chairman, SMU head and other officials attended the session.

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pakistan

PM directs envoy to extend all possible help to Pakistani students

Published

16 hours ago

May 18, 2024

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PM directs envoy to extend all possible help to Pakistani students

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the Pakistani ambassador in Bishkek to provide all possible help to Pakistani students.

Prime Minister Sharif contacted the Pakistani Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Hassan Ali Zaigham by telephone and directed to provide all kind of support and assistance to the Pakistani students. He also ordered the Pakistani ambassador to visit the hostels and meet the students.

On this occasion, the Pakistani ambassador informed the prime minister about the current situation in Bishkek and said no Pakistani was killed in the incident.

He said the embassy was assisting the wounded students. The prime minister emphasised to keep in constant touch with the parents of the students and provide them timely information.

PM Sharif directed that all kinds of medical facilities should be provided to the injured students, and arrangements should be made for immediate return of the injured students who were willing to return to Pakistan.

Government of Pakistan will bear the cost of return of students. The prime minister said he was personally monitoring the situation in Kyrgyzstan.

“We will not leave our students alone in this situation. Our government is also in touch with the government of Kyrgyzstan,” said the prime minister.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep concern over the attacks on students from Pakistan and other countries in Kyrgyzstan. He directed the Pakistani ambassador in Bishkek to provide all possible help to the Pakistani students.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the Pakistani Embassy had provided emergency numbers and was continuously monitoring the situation.

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