In letter to NA speaker, PM Imran Khan urges formation of committee for electoral reforms

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday penned a letter to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser asking him to form an electoral reform committee in a bid to bring transparency to the elections.

"The recent Senate elections have highlighted once again the scourge of vote purchasing in the prevailing non-transparent manner of conducting elections," the premier said in the letter.

The premier, in the letter, highlighted that the treasury bench had submitted a bill for "meaningful electoral reforms to remove the prevailing stigma attached to our electoral process".

"I would request you to immediately form an inter-party parliamentary committee to discuss these reforms and come to an agreement on how to introduce best practices including the use of technology and introduction of EVMs (electronic voting machines) to strengthen our electoral system and democracy," he said.

The premier said the task should be completed in a definitive time frame so that enough time is given to the relevant institution to bring reforms before the next general election.

"In the context of the Senate, my party and I asked for open ballots to ensure transparency and fairness given how Senate elections had achieved notoriety as being a major market for the purchase of votes," he said.

The prime minister highlighted that the government had moved the Supreme Court in this regard and the judiciary directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure transparent, fair, and free elections and stated that secrecy of the ballot was not absolute”.

"Unfortunately, the ECP paid no heed to the SC judgment and failed to carry out fair and free Senate elections," he lamented.

"The malaise of our prevailing electoral system including but not limited to the free flow of money to purchase votes has been the subject of critique after all elections with the losers declaring the results to have been rigged," he said.

PM Imran Khan said the practice had begun to destroy the entire "credibility of all elections in Pakistan" casting a shadow of doubt over our entire democratic process as well as the functioning of our parliamentary system.

"It is in the interest of democracy in Pakistan to establish a credible and transparent electoral system and put an end to all venues that allow for corrupt practices that are eroding our parliamentary democracy," the premier said.

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Micro-smart lockdowns to be imposed in Karachi's District Central

The Sindh government on Wednesday announced it was imposing micro-smart lockdowns in different areas of the District Central of Karachi owing to the growing number of coronavirus cases reported in these areas.

According to a notification issued in this regard, the micro-smart lockdowns will be imposed in different areas of the Central District on March 17, 2021, and will stay in place for 14 days, i.e. until March 31, 2021.

The areas where the lockdown will be imposed include nine union councils (UCs) in the areas of North Karachi, North Nazimabad, and Gulberg, the notification said.

The notification further said that smart-lockdowns have been imposed upon the suggestion of the district health officer.

All people entering and exiting the designated areas will be required to wear a face mask at all times, the notification stated, adding that unnecessary movement in these areas will also be prohibited.

"All business and industrial activities in the area will remain suspended," the notification further said. "Family gatherings will also be prohibited."

All people who have tested positive for COVID-19 will have to quarantine at home, while the provincial government will take steps to ensure the supply of rations to deserving people.

 

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PM Imran Khan plans to reshuffle federal cabinet: sources

Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to reshuffle the federal cabinet.

The move will be one of the several reshuffles that the PTI government has done since it came into power.

Sources said the premier would change portfolios of the cabinet members based on their performance. Newly-elected Senators Faisal Vawda and Ali Zafar might become a part of the cabinet.

This will be the fifth federal cabinet reshuffle since the PTI government came into power three years ago.

In December 2020, during the last reshuffle, PM Imran Khan changed the portfolios of cabinet members and appointed Sheikh Rasheed as the interior minister.

Moreover, the premier appointed Ijaz Shah as the minister for narcotics control. He was earlier serving as the interior minister. Azam Swati, who had a portfolio of narcotics control, was appointed as the minister for railways. Adviser on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh was made the finance minister after he took oath as a federal minister.

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PM Imran Khan plans to reshuffle federal cabinet: sources

Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to reshuffle the federal cabinet.

The move will be one of the several reshuffles that the PTI government has done since it came into power.

Sources said the premier would change portfolios of the cabinet members based on their performance. Newly-elected Senators Faisal Vawda and Ali Zafar might become a part of the cabinet.

This will be the fifth federal cabinet reshuffle since the PTI government came into power three years ago.

In December 2020, during the last reshuffle, PM Imran Khan changed the portfolios of cabinet members and appointed Sheikh Rasheed as the interior minister.

Moreover, the premier appointed Ijaz Shah as the minister for narcotics control. He was earlier serving as the interior minister. Azam Swati, who had a portfolio of narcotics control, was appointed as the minister for railways. Adviser on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh was made the finance minister after he took oath as a federal minister.

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Food security, climate change part of national security: PM Imran Khan

Any country could be secure only when all people believe in its government and own their country. The army alone can’t secure a country,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Islamabad Security Dialogue on Wednesday.

“The national security means that the entire nation stands and has a stake to save the country,” the premier said.
“We see the national security from just one point that is the more we will strengthen our security forces and army, the more secure we will be. But, now we are realising that the national security is about things that no-one ever thought of in the past such as climate change,” the prime minister said.

“Climate change is something that can overshadow all given Pakistan’s vulnerability to it,” he pointed out. “I am proud that our government took action over this,” he added.

Prime Minister Khan lauded the country’s security forces for rendering sacrifices post-9/11 saga to secure Pakistan.

Touching upon food security, he said it is another big issue. “We imported four billion tonnes of wheat in a year for the first time,” he pointed out. Given the growing population, he announced that the government will bring in a comprehensive plan to address the food security issue in Pakistan.

The prime minister said that the government is working towards eradication of poverty like China did and pulled 700 million people out of poverty in 35 years.

About the Kashmir issue, he said the resolution of the longstanding dispute will not only benefit Pakistan but India too. “When we came to power, we tried hard to improve ties with India but the August 5 move of revocation of Kashmir’s special status dealt a blow to these efforts.”

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Food security, climate change part of national security: PM Imran Khan

Any country could be secure only when all people believe in its government and own their country. The army alone can’t secure a country,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Islamabad Security Dialogue on Wednesday.

“The national security means that the entire nation stands and has a stake to save the country,” the premier said.
“We see the national security from just one point that is the more we will strengthen our security forces and army, the more secure we will be. But, now we are realising that the national security is about things that no-one ever thought of in the past such as climate change,” the prime minister said.

“Climate change is something that can overshadow all given Pakistan’s vulnerability to it,” he pointed out. “I am proud that our government took action over this,” he added.

Prime Minister Khan lauded the country’s security forces for rendering sacrifices post-9/11 saga to secure Pakistan.

Touching upon food security, he said it is another big issue. “We imported four billion tonnes of wheat in a year for the first time,” he pointed out. Given the growing population, he announced that the government will bring in a comprehensive plan to address the food security issue in Pakistan.

The prime minister said that the government is working towards eradication of poverty like China did and pulled 700 million people out of poverty in 35 years.

About the Kashmir issue, he said the resolution of the longstanding dispute will not only benefit Pakistan but India too. “When we came to power, we tried hard to improve ties with India but the August 5 move of revocation of Kashmir’s special status dealt a blow to these efforts.”

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NAB Summons Maryam Nawaz in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has once again summoned PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz for questioning in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

Daughter of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been asked to turn up at the NAB Lahore office on March 26. They said she will be quizzed in light of the new evidence the bureau has received.

The sources said the PML-N leader faces charges of alleged involvement in money laundering.

The national graft buster had summoned Maryam last year in August but cancelled her hearing after clash erupted between PML-N supporters and the police personnel outside the bureau’s Lahore office ahead of her arrival there.

It is noteworthy that the NAB has also moved a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking cancellation of her bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case for not cooperating with the NAB in its investigation against her.

A two-member bench of the LHC comprising Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Asjad Giral heard the plea and issued a notice to Maryam to file her response to the bail cancellation plea by next hearing.

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