ECP issues notice to Imran Khan, fixes hearing for 23 August

Daily Briefs

Photo : Dawn

6 August 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No.179

ECP issues notice to Imran Khan, fixes hearing for 23 August

ECP suspending PML-Q intra-party polls, ECP redrawing constituencies for next elections and PBS data showing that inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) increased by 0.82 per cent from the previous week

PR Daily Brief |

In Brief
ON PTI FUNDING CASE
ECP issues notice to Imran Khan, fixes hearing for 23 August
On 5 August, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notices Imran Khan and summoned him on 23 August with regard to the prohibited funding case, Dawn.com reported. According to the ECP, the case titled “Notice to Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in terms of Rule 6 of Political Parties Rules 2006, in compliance of judgement by the commission dated Aug 2 in case title Akbar Sher Babar” has been fixed for hearing on 23 August. Additionally, the ECP also issued a notice to Imran Khan with regard to his disqualification on 16 August. (Malik Asad, “ECP summons Imran over funding case, disqualification,” Dawn, 6 August 2022)

FIA constitutes five-member team to oversee PTI funding probe
On 5 August, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) constituted a five-member team to supervise the inquiry teams of FIA’s respective zones investigating matter related to the ECP’s order in the PTI’s prohibited funding case. The monitoring team would be headed by FIA director Mohammad Athar Waheed and would be responsible for coordination with and guidance to the respective inquiry teams in each zone. (Malik Asad, “FIA constitutes team to oversee PTI funding probe,” Dawn, 6 August 2022)

Opposition asks Imran Khan to name the “neutrals”
On 5 August, the ruling coalition asked Imran Khan to name the “neutrals” who gave him guarantees over Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja’s appointment. PML-N’s Malik Ahmed Khan and PPP’s Saeed Ghani at separate meetings said, “We demand of you to name the neutrals.” Malik said, “Did Gen Qamar say this to you? And if yes, please have some audacity … have some courage … say it. If Gen Faiz Hameed said this, please take his name and say it.” He added, “where did the neutrals come in? If you, or any member of your party, has the courage, come forward and name them. Also, tell us who do you call neutral – is it the army chief or the DG ISI or the institution”? (“PML-N, PPP ask Imran to name ‘neutrals’,” Dawn, 6 August 2022)

INTERNAL
PML-Q intra-party polls suspended by ECP
On 5 August, a four-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, on a plea filed by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, restrained the party from holding intra-party polls and adjourned the hearing till August 16. Speaking to reporters after the ECP hearing, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Shujaat’s son, maintained that an “illegal” attempt was made to remove the party president. As the intra-party tussle continued, Shujaat, flanked by Cheema, had held a news conference in Lahore, wherein he termed the reports of rifts within the party “false narratives”, and called for a reunion of the party. (“ECP suspends PML-Q intra-party polls,” The Express Tribune, 6 August 2022)

ECP redraws constituencies for next elections
On 5 August, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) published the final list of 266 constituencies of the National Assembly and 593 constituencies of the four provincial assemblies for the future general elections, based on the Sixth Population and Housing Census, 2017. The list created 266 general seats for National Assembly; 593 for four provincial assemblies. Accordingly, Punjab had been allocated 141 National Assembly and 297 provincial assembly seats. Sindh has 61 and 130 seats, respectively, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been allocated 45 and 115 general seats, respectively, and Balochistan got 16 and 51 seats, respectively. There would be three general seats for Islamabad in the National Assembly. (“ECP redraws constituencies for next elections,” The Express Tribune, 6 August 2022)

PROVINCES
Punjab: PM Shehbaz Sharif visits flood affected areas in south Punjab
On 5 August, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited flood-hit areas in south Punjab including Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur. During his visit, he was briefed about the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work in the two areas, including food supply, drinking water and basic health facilities to the displaced people staying at temporary shelters. Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz called for a joint survey by federal and provincial governments to assess the damages.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman issued warning of more rain after the federal cabinet declared a “monsoon emergency.” She said, “According to the Pakistan Met Department, the country will experience more rains in the coming week. Islamabad, Kashmir, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh will receive heavy rainfall from August 6 till 9.” (Tariq Saeed Birmani, “PM Shehbaz visits flood-hit areas in south Punjab,” Dawn, 6 August 2022; Jamal Shahid, “Monsoon emergency in place as minister warns of more rains from today,” Dawn, 6 August 2022)

Balochistan: Child Marriage Bill stuck halfway for eight years
On 6 August, Dawn reported the pending Child marriage Bill, in Balochistan Assembly for the last eight years in draft state for cabinet approval. A consultation held in collaboration with the Education Youth Empowerment Society, Blue Veins, and Girls Not Brides, decided that a committee comprising all stakeholders would be formed to initiate dialogue with the heads of political parties on the issue of child marriage and reach a consensus on the age limit. The participants expressed serious concern over the negative attitude of religious parties and some other quarters regarding the child marriage bill. Female legislators said that while women MPAs made all possible efforts to reach a consensus on the age limit and persuaded the male MPAs to support the child marriage bill, they faced strong opposition from the religious parties’ legislators on the issue of the age limit. (“Balochistan’s child marriage bill in limbo for eight years,” Dawn, 6 August 2022)

Punjab: Protest against dynasty politics of Shah Mahmood Qureshi by PTI
On 5 August, PTI workers held a protest demonstration in Multan against Shah Mehmood Qureshi for giving a party ticket to his daughter Meher Bano Qureshi as a candidate for the by-election in NA-157. The constituency is considered a stronghold and home seat of Shah Mahmood Qureshi. A large number of PTI workers lodged a protest outside the ECP office in Multan against Mr. Qureshi and his family for promoting dynastic politics in the party. They said Shah Mehmood Qureshi had fielded his son Zain in PP-217 Multan and now he had given the ticket to his daughter making them agitate against the family. (Imran Gabol, “By-poll in NA-157: PTI workers protest candidature of Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s daughter,” Dawn, 6 August 2022)

ECONOMY
Sensitive price index seeing increasing trend on a weekly basis
On 5 August, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data showed that inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) increased by 0.82 per cent from the previous week, mainly due to a slight increase in perishable food products. Last week, a 3.68pc increase was noted in the SPI, which was the highest since the change of the base year for measuring the SPI. The year-on-year increase in the SPI was 38.63pc, the highest ever recorded. This is the highest increase recorded on a year-on-year (YoY) basis. (“Weekly inflation continues to rise,” Dawn, 6 August 2022)

Cash margins on imports reversed by SBP
On 5 August, SBP reversed the cash margins on imports from 100 per cent to 25 per cent and in some cases to zero, showing the strength of confidence of the policymakers hoping for a better outcome of negotiations with the IMF and friendly countries. The current government, which just a few days ago was facing a serious threat of a country’s default on external payments, took the daring step of reducing the cash margin to the lowest level. The claims of the finance minister played a key role in bringing down the dollar value in the currency market, and the speculative part of the exchange rate vanished in a single session as the dollar lost over Rs9 two days ago. (Shahid Iqbal, “SBP reverses cash margins on imports,” Dawn, 6 August 2022)

EXTERNAL
COAS reaches out to UAE, Saudi Arabia for bailout package
On 5 August, DG ISPR confirmed that Gen Bajwa, the chief of army staff (COAS), received a telephone call from UAE President. Pakistan is in talks with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and China to provide the necessary funding. When Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif travelled to Saudi Arabia in April, he returned empty-handed as Riyadh had not given any firm assurance. The reason the army chief had to play a role stemmed from the fact that other countries perhaps were not ready to accept the assurances of the civilian leadership. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are particularly working in tandem with the IMF and other Western countries on financial assistance for Pakistan. (Kamran Yousaf, “COAS reaches out to UAE, Saudi Arabia for bailout package,” Dawn, 6 August 2022)

JUDICIARY
Factions in the judiciary to be avoided by amending JCP rules
On 5 August, Senior JCP member Akhtar Hussain wrote a letter to the CJP stating that the issue would not have cropped up if the meeting had not been ‘abruptly terminated’ and a formal vote and final decision were recorded in the minutes at its end. While emphasizing that the fierce and evident division that cropped up within the judicial institution was not in the national interest, Mr. Hussain highlighted that the only solution to avoid factionalism, which was unfortunately prevailing, was to amend the JCP rules and frame more objective, transparent and measurable criteria and processes for the nomination and appointment of judges. He further said that it was necessary to consult all commission members before deciding to release the audio recordings to relax the rules. (Nasir Iqbal, “Changes in JCP rules urged to avoid ‘factions’ in judiciary,” Dawn, 6 August 2022)

Pakistan on Twitter

"Imported govt has no int credibility despite US regime change conspiracy & powerful handlers. CrimeMinister returned from KSA & UAE with begging bowl empty so COAS doing needful directly as he did with US! PDM brought in only 4 NROs.WHY? Just to counter IK's Absolutely Not to US."
-Shireen Mazari

"Inflation continues to haunt the people at 39%. The imported used to protest when the SPI was 17% in march. They have proved to be anti people and came to power only to fix NAB and Electoral process to their advantage. Please accept,you can't handle the economy,so call elections."
-Shaukat Tarin

"There is no question of Pakistan's land being used in Afghanistan's drone attack, the question is whether Pakistan's airspace was allowed to be used or not. The repeated statement that Pakistan's land has not been used is unclear. The relevant ministries will have to issue a formal statement."
-Ch Fawad Hussain

Daily Briefs

ECP issues notice to Imran Khan, fixes hearing for 23 August

ECP suspending PML-Q intra-party polls, ECP redrawing constituencies for next elections and PBS data showing that inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) increased by 0.82 per cent from the previous week

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