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  • Pakistan President unilaterally proposes November 6 as date for common elections

    Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Wednesday unilaterally proposed November 6 because the date for the final elections in a letter written to the chief election commissioner, amidst controversy over polling dates within the cash-strapped nation.

    In his letter to CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja, President Alvi cited Article 48(5) of Pakistan’s Constitution, which he mentioned: “empowers and mandates the president ‘to appoint a date not later than 90 days from the date of the dissolution, for the holding of a general election to the Assembly’”.

    Hence, “in terms of Article 48(5), the general election to the National Assembly should be held by the 89th day of the date of dissolution of the National Assembly, i.e. Monday, 6th day of November 2023”, wrote Alvi, who was a founding member of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

    Alvi wrote that “in an endeavour to fulfil the constitutional obligations, the chief election commissioner was invited for a gathering to plan the modalities of implementing the constitutional intent and mandate”.

    However, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) chief turned down the invitation by saying that the president had nothing to do with the election date.

    Alvi in his letter alluded to Raja’s response, saying that the CEC “took a contrary view that as per the scheme of the Constitution and framework of electoral laws, it was the domain of the Election Commission, and following the publication of last preceding census on August 7, duly notified delimitation of constituencies was in progress, a mandatory requirement stipulated by Article 51(5) of the Constitution and section 17 of the Elections Act, 2017”.

    Interestingly, President Alvi’s five-year time period ended final week. Under the Constitution, he’ll proceed to function head of state till the subsequent presidential elections, which can happen after common polls within the nation.

    The growth comes two days after President Alvi met with the caretaker Law Minister Ahmed Irfan Aslam on Monday to debate the elections.

    The National Assembly was dissolved on August 9 making it necessary to carry elections inside 90 days. However, the earlier authorities, simply days earlier than the top of its time period, endorsed the outcomes of the countrywide census.

    The choice made it necessary for the election fee to plan new electoral districts earlier than elections for which it has been offered 120 days by the structure of the nation.

    The ECP has introduced to finish the delimitation course of by November 30 after which announce election schedules that are anticipated to be held in January. However, the president and a few political events insist that the elections ought to be held inside 90 days.

    There is one other controversy because the president insists that he acquired the powers below the Constitution to set a date for elections which is disputed by many together with the ECP. The counterargument is that he misplaced energy to set a date after tweaks in election legal guidelines by the earlier authorities and now the ECP is empowered to set a date.

    Published On:

    Sep 13, 2023

  • Getting Kashmir difficulty at centre of UN agenda ‘uphill job’, says Pakistan’s international minister Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has accepted that the nation has did not get any traction for its Kashmir agenda on the UN.

    New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 11, 2023 14:58 IST

    Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated there are various similarities between the plight of the folks of Kashmir and the plight of the folks of Palestine (Photo: AP)

    By India Today World Desk: Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has accepted that there aren’t any takers of its ‘Kashmir’ agenda on the United Nations council, a difficulty raked up by the neighbouring nation often. The Pakistan minister stated his nation has did not get any traction or help for its agenda from the broader UN membership, information company PTI reported.

    “Islamabad faces an ‘uphill task’ to get the Kashmir issue into the ‘centre’ of the agenda of the United Nations,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was quoted by PTI as saying. He fumbled as he went on to confer with India, describing it first as “our friend” earlier than utilizing the time period “neighbouring” nation, the report stated.

    Pakistan has again and again raised the difficulty of Kashmir on the UN council, regardless of the subject or agenda being mentioned, and has additionally drawn parallels between the state of affairs in Palestine and Kashmir. But it has not suceeded in getting wider UN membership that considers Kashmir to be a bilateral difficulty between India and Pakistan.

    “You’re also right to note that we face a particularly uphill task to try and get Kashmir into the centre of the agenda at the United Nations,” Zardari stated at a press convention.

    “And whenever the issue of Kashmir is brought up, our friends within, with.. our friend… our.. our… neighbouring countries, strongly object, vociferously object and they perpetuate a post-fact narrative where they try to claim that this is not a dispute for the United Nations, that this is not a disputed territory recognised for the international community,” Pakistan’s international minister stated.

    ALSO READ | India hits out at Pak international minister Bilawal Bhutto for mentioning Kashmir at UNSC debate

    ‘PAK CONSISTENT IN EFFORTS FOR KASHMIR’

    The minister stated although Pakistan finds it tough to get the reality throughout, they’re persistent of their efforts.

    “I think your parallel is very justified. There are many similarities between the plight of the people of Kashmir and the plight of the people of Palestine. I think it’s fair to say that both issues remain unaddressed by the United Nations and we’d like to see an extra focus not only on Palestine but also on Kashmir,” he added.

    The strained ties between India and Pakistan hit a new-low after New Delhi scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the particular standing of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019. India’s resolution evoked sturdy reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy. India blames Pakistan for stirring the unrest by backing terrorists in Kashmir – a cost its neighbour denies.

    New Delhi has maintained it needs regular neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an setting freed from terror, hostility and violence.

    India has additionally reiterated that abrogation of Article 370 was its inner matter and likewise suggested Pakistan to just accept the fact and cease all anti-India propaganda.

    Published On:

    Mar 11, 2023

  • Pakistan but to determine on lifting of ban on cotton import from India

    Pakistan’s Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Wednesday mentioned that the nation’s textile sector had demanded lifting of a ban on the import of cotton from India, however the authorities has to this point not taken any determination on the difficulty.

    Addressing a press convention together with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif right here, Ismail talked concerning the injury precipitated to the cotton crop because of devastating floods which have affected greater than 33 million individuals, inundated a 3rd of the nation and precipitated losses of greater than USD 10 billion.

    Replying to a query with respect to commerce with India, the minister mentioned that the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) was asking the federal authorities to permit import of cotton from India.

    “The government has not taken any decision yet,” he mentioned, with out elaborating when such a call could possibly be taken.

    Pakistan suspended commerce with India after the latter revoked the particular standing of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. But the ban is hurting the crisis-hit nation within the wake floods which precipitated shortage of commodities and pushed up costs.

    ALSO READ| Flood-ravaged Pakistan could import tomato, onion from India amid surge in costs

    When the nation confronted scarcity of onions and tomatoes because of destruction of the crops, Ismail was the primary to drop a touch concerning the possibility of importing the 2 gadgets from India. However, Ismail later mentioned that the federal government will seek the advice of coalition companions on the difficulty, after criticism from the Opposition over the plan within the wake of strained ties with New Delhi over the Kashmir challenge.

    Pakistan allowed import of the 2 gadgets from Iran and Afghanistan.

    Ismail mentioned that greens equivalent to tomatoes and onion had been being imported from Afghanistan and if the market will get secure with this import, the federal government wouldn’t have to import the commodities from India.

    The challenge of cotton and the demand by the highly effective textile foyer is kind of completely different from the import of onions and tomatoes as a result of textile is the spine nation’s exporters which Pakistan has been attempting to extend.

    The finance minister additionally talked concerning the hike in electrical energy and petroleum costs for which he blamed the insurance policies of the earlier authorities of Imran Khan however hinted at slowing down the inflation fee from subsequent month.

    “The nation would have to bear the higher rates for one more month,” he mentioned.

    ALSO READ| Pakistan floods declare 1,290 lives, displace over 6.3 lakhs: WHO

    He additionally blamed Khan for not following the dedication made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) particularly with reference to subsidies on electrical energy, fuel and petroleum merchandise.

    The finance minister mentioned that the earlier authorities had dedicated to the IMF that the federal government wouldn’t give any amnesty to the businessmen and subsidies on petroleum, fuel and electrical energy however going towards the dedication, the PTI authorities provided amnesty in February 2022.

    “This was the reason why the rates of electricity and petroleum products have skyrocketed now,” he mentioned.

    — ENDS —

  • Pakistan: IMF to supply $1.1 billion amid catastrophic floods

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to launch $1.17 billion (€1.17 billion) in funds to the federal government of Pakistan because the nation offers with a spiraling dying toll and widespread destruction from floods that the federal government has deemed a “climate catastrophe.”

    The cash was initially a part of a authorities bailout mortgage from 2019, however the remaining funds had been held up after the earlier administration of Imran Khan didn’t meet the IMF’s calls for to chop vitality subsidies.

    “Alhamdulillah the IMF Board has approved the revival of our EFF program,” Pakistan’s finance minister Miftah Ismail stated on Twitter.

    The IMF has additionally agreed to increase this system by a further $1 billion, he later added.

    It comes because the United Nations launches an attraction on Tuesday for $160 million to fund emergency assist.

    The nation’s planning minister Ahsan Iqbal believes reconstruction might value upwards of $10 billion.

    IMF welcomes spending cuts

    The present authorities of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attracted widespread criticism in current months after it imposed three gasoline worth hikes — cumulatively totaling 50% — and raised the price of electrical energy to successfully finish the subsidies of his predecessor.

    However, the insurance policies introduced authorities spending consistent with the IMF’s current necessities for large mortgage.

    In an announcement, the IMF didn’t point out the floods particularly however as an alternative welcomed the brand new spending cuts.

    “Pakistan’s economy has been buffeted by adverse external conditions, due to spillovers from the war in Ukraine, and domestic challenges,” the IMF’s deputy managing director Antoinette Sayeh stated.

    “Steadfast implementation of corrective policies and reforms remain essential to regain macroeconomic stability, address imbalances and lay the foundation for inclusive and sustainable growth.”

    Trade with India on the desk

    The unprecedented humanitarian and financial disaster has prompted the Pakistani authorities to contemplate resuming commerce with India.

    “We can consider importing vegetables from India,” Ismail instructed native information channel Geo News TV.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated he was saddened by the devastation brought on by the floods.

  • Pakistan Zindabad: 11-hour police ordeal for household, pals over a sport

    TWO males had been detained and questioned for eight hours by way of Saturday-Sunday evening and three girls for at the least three hours Sunday morning by the Delhi Police — all as a result of they had been heard saying “Pakistan Zindabad” as a part of a biking sport close to Khan Market Metro station late Saturday evening.
    Their ordeal, that began at 1 am on Sunday, ended solely by midday with the police admitting that “Pakistan Zindabad” was mentioned in a “lighter vein”, and no case was made out.
    Ahead of Republic Day, police mentioned, they had been on “high alert” after they obtained a name round 1 am a few “group shouting slogans, praising Pakistan”.
    An enquiry officer was despatched to the spot. “Two families (one from Delhi, the other from Gurugram) along with their child had come to India Gate Saturday night. They had rented Yulu bikes they were racing, and they had named each other after countries like India, Pakistan, Japan and Australia. They were cheering each other on by shouting these names when some locals heard them shout, ‘Pakistan zindabad’,” mentioned Eish Singhal, DCP (New Delhi and PRO).
    During interrogation on the Tughlaq Road police station, police discovered the household had “named” the 14-year-old boy “Pakistan” in the course of the sport.
    “When the boy was slow, others, which included his parents, shouted ‘Pakistan haar gaya… peechhe reh gaya,’ and when the boy started speeding, they cheered him with ‘Pakistan Zindabad’,” mentioned the officer.
    The two males within the group – certainly one of them is the boy’s father — had been detained by the police for eight hours, earlier than being allowed to depart at round 9 am Sunday.

    The three girls and the kid had been additionally taken to the police station at evening however allowed to go dwelling. The girls, together with the kid’s mom, had been once more known as to the police station between 8 and 9 am and let go at midday.
    Officials of the Special Cell and Intelligence Bureau had been concerned throughout questioning, mentioned sources.
    Singhal mentioned, “They were cheering and said Pakistan zindabad in a lighter vein.”