Day: April 10, 2023

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the bomb blast in Quetta today.

In a statement, he prayed for those martyred in the blast and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.

The Prime Minister reiterated the resolve to thwart the nefarious designs of terrorists.

Earlier, four people were killed and eight others including police personnel were wounded in a bomb blast at Shahra-i-Iqbal in Quetta.

According to police sources the blast took place near a police vehicle.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik says strengthening state institutions is inevitable for strengthening democracy in the country.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday, he said discrimination in delivery of justice weakens state institutions.

The Minister of State said everyone should be equal in the eyes of law.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The Senate on Monday passed a resolution demanding that the general elections for the National Assembly and all the provincial assemblies should be held simultaneously for strengthening the federation.

The resolution moved by Tahir Bizenjo noted that the House firmly believes that political stability is important for economic stability.

It said that according to the spirit of article 280, the general elections for all the assemblies must be held simultaneously on its stipulated time under neutral caretaker setups to bring true political and economic stability.

Winding upon discussion on a motion, Minister for Power Khurram Dastagir said that three thousand three hundred megawatts of electricity is being produced from Thar Coal project.

He said four of the Thar Coal projects which faced criminal delay during the previous government have been completed over the last eleven months.

The Minister said Thar Coal projects are a manifestation of cooperation between the federal and provincial government of Sindh.

Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Shazia Marri has said that the government is working to provide relief to the poor people.

Speaking in the Senate today, she said the government has provided four hundred and four billion rupees for Benazir Income Support Program.

Shazia Marri opposed the resolution on the Federal Ehsaas Rashan Riayat Program saying the previous government did not make any budgetary allocations for this program rather reappropriated funds from the BISP for it.

The House has now been prorogued.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Date for 7th population and housing census has been extended till Saturday to complete three percent remaining field work.

A notification issued Pakistan Bureau of Statistics in this regard said 97 percent of field work has been completed that is a great pleasure for the nation.

The census field work has been completed over 99 percent in Punjab, 98 percent in Sindh, 90 percent in Islamabad and 82 percent in Baluchistan while the census work has almost been completed in KPK and AJK.

The census work has been completed 100 percent in 131 districts out of 156 districts across the country while 70 to 80 percent census work completed in remaining 25 districts and work is in progress.

It is pertinent to mention that work completion percentage may slightly increase after synchronization of data from some completed blocks which fall in offline zone.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has stressed that the country can be steered out of challenges by working together.

Speaking at the National Constitutional Convention in the National Assembly Hall in Islamabad today, he said each political party will run election campaign on their respective manifestos, but when there is a realization of the importance of working collectively then matters can be addressed.

The Prime Minister paid glowing tributes to the framers of the 1973 Constitution including Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto saying they pursued the course of consultation instead of confrontation and gave the country a constitution which is keeping the federating units united.

He said this is such a historic achievement which will always be written in golden words.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The Joint Sitting of the Parliament today passed the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill, 2023.

The Bill proposes that every cause, appeal or matter before the Supreme Court shall be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by a Committee comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and two senior most judges in order of seniority. It further states any matter invoking exercise of original jurisdiction under clause (3) of Article 184 of the Constitution shall be first placed before the committee for examination and if the committee is of the view that a question of public importance with reference to enforcement of any of the fundamental rights is involved then it shall constitute a bench comprising not less than three judges of the apex court , which may also include the members of the committee for adjudication of the matter.

The Bill recommends that an appeal shall lie within 30 days from the final order of a bench of the Supreme Court, who exercised jurisdiction to the larger bench of the apex court and such appeal shall for hearing be fixed within a period not exceeding fourteen days. Furthermore, it grants a party the right to appoint counsel of its choice for filing a review application. An application pleading urgency or seeking interim relief filed in a cause, appeal or matter shall be fixed for hearing within 14 days from the date of its filing.

It was moved by Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar.

Earlier, it was passed by both the Houses of the Parliament and sent to the President for former approval making it into law. But the President returned the Bill to the Parliament for review.

The Senate on Monday passed a resolution demanding that the general elections for the National Assembly and all the provincial assemblies should be held simultaneously for strengthening the federation.

The resolution moved by Tahir Bizenjo noted that the House firmly believes that political stability is important for economic stability.

It said that according to the spirit of article 280, the general elections for all the assemblies must be held simultaneously on its stipulated time under neutral caretaker setups to bring true political and economic stability.

Source: Radio Pakistan

A National Constitutional Convention, held in connection with Golden Jubilee of 1973 Constitution at the National Assembly Hall, today passed a resolution pledging to protect and defend the constitution of Pakistan in letter and spirit.

The resolution moved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called upon all state organs to ensure that the constitution of 1973 is fully implemented and that the rights and interests of the people of Pakistan are protected and safeguarded.

The resolution recognized the Constitution of 1973 as the mainstay of Pakistan’s democracy, providing for the participation and representation of all sections of the society in the governance of the country.

It reaffirmed the commitment to uphold the principles of democracy, rule of law, human rights, and social justice as enshrined in the Constitution.

It emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of federalism, which is one of the fundamental tenets of our Constitution.

The resolution declared April 10, 2023, as the National Constitution Day, to be celebrated each year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of 1973 and to educate the people of Pakistan about the Constitution and its significance for the country.

Former President, Asif Ali Zardari said nobody will be allowed to play with the constitution.

Speaking at the convention, he said we have always worked for the strengthening of democracy and we will build Pakistan.

Speaking in the Convention, Senator Raza Rabbani said democracy can only be strengthened by acknowledging past mistakes.

Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the Costitution of 1973 gave the country a way forward to tread the path of progress and constitutionalism.

Emphasizing the need for strengthening democratic norms, he said difference of opinion is the beauty of democracy, but political acrimony should not be such which undermines the democratic setup and strengthens the hands of undemocratic forces.

In his remarks, Supreme Court’s Judge, Justice Qazi Faez Isa, on behalf of his institution, stated that we stand by the book of constitution.

He said we are also defenders of this document.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa said this constitution is our identity and we need to recognize its importance and implement it.

The National Constitutional Convention passed another resolution paying homage to the framers of the constitution for drafting the country’s constitution which remains a beacon of hope and inspiration for the people of Pakistan.

The resolution moved by Mian Raza Rabbani reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the constitution and rule of law, and to ensuring that the constitution remains a living document that reflects the aspirations and needs of the people of Pakistan.

The resolution called upon all institutions and citizens of Pakistan to uphold the constitution of Pakistan to honor the spirit and values of its framers, who sought to create a just, egalitarian and democratic society based on the principles of Islam and democracy.

The resolution declared all the members of the Constitution Committee of 1973 and the 5th National Assembly of the country as national heroes of Pakistan.

In yet another resolution moved by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the National Constitutional Convention declared that the National Assembly Hall in the State Bank Building in Islamabad as a national heritage and recognized its cultural and historic significance to Pakistan.

It directed the relevant government agencies to take immediate steps to restore the National Assembly in the SBP building to its former glory and ensure it is maintained in good condition for the posterity.

Another resolution moved Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb resolved that constitution and democratic civic education shall be made a compulsory part of curriculum.

The resolution said that the public service broadcasters, and independent media shall devote a fair amount of time to expand understanding about the constitution and its relevance as a vibrant contract between the citizens and the State.

All the resolutions were unanimously passed by the convention.

Source: Radio Pakistan