Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday sought a report on the growing number of polio cases in the country and directed the authorities concerned to immediately formulate a comprehensive strategy on the matter.

The prime minister, chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet, expressed his concern over the surge in polio cases and called a meeting to discuss the situation.

Discussing the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill recently passed by the parliament, the prime minister said the legislation was inevitable for judicial reforms and improvement of judicial system.

Expressing his gratitude to the political parties and leadership for their support, he said the amendment was also the accomplishment of the vision of Charter of Democracy signed in 2006.

The prime minister also thanked for the successful holding of the 23rd meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government and appreciated the performance of the departments involved.

Discussing the agenda items, the federal cabinet referred the Domestic Violence (Preventing and Protection) Bill 2024 to Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases. The bill will provide for an institutional framework to curb domestic violence.

The cabinet was told that the proposed legislation will help punish the perpetrators of domestic violence and ensure relief to the victims.

On the recommendation of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the cabinet approved the appointment of Lt. General (retd) Moazzam Ijaz, Engineer Fahim Iqbal and Asim Shahryar in National Vocational and Technical Training Commission Board as private members.

The body approved the law ministry as a transmitting and receiving agency of applications under the Claims for Maintenance (Recovery Abroad) 1959

It was told that Pakistan had ratified the Convention on the Recovery Abroad 1956 in 1959 and an ordinance in this regard was also promulgated the same year.

The federal cabinet also approved the appointment of Dr Shafia Arshad as Chairperson of National Council for Tibb and Dr Rizwan Asif, Muhammad Khurshid Alam, Ikramullah, Moinuddin and Dr Attaullah as its members.

On the recommendation of the Ministry of National Health, the cabinet also approved the restructuring of the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan. 

The session of the 12-member Special Parliamentary Committee to contemplate name of chief justice of Pakistan has been postponed till 8:30pm. 

The committee, which held its first round of meeting, was constituted for the first time in the country’s history for the appointment of the top judge. 

The session took place at Room No 5 of Parliament House. 

The committee was formed following the 26th amendment and it comprises representatives from both the National Assembly and the Senate. 

It comprises MNAs Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar, Rana Ansar, Gohar Ali Khan, Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza, and Senators Farooq Hameed Naik, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Syed Ali Zafar and Kamran Murtaza.

It emerged that opposition PTI and SIC members did not take part in the meeting. For this reason, the session was postponed till 8:30pm. 

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said efforts would be made to woo the PTI and SIC. And, he clarified, in case of their absence again, the committee would continue its proceedings.

Following his absence from an all-important session of the lower house which oversaw the passing of 26th amendment, the government on Monday took a strict action against MNA Adil Bazai.

National Assembly Speaker wrote another letter to the ECP demanding that the MNA be disqualified and his seat made vacant.

It should be noted that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif sent a reference against Bazai to the speaker as he was absent from the NA session.

Adil Khan Bazai is a member of PML-N and he did not cast vote over the 26th amendment.