LHC approves Rana Sanaullah’s bail in assets beyond income case

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted interim bail to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah in assets beyond income case.

A two-member bench of the high court heard the bail petition of Rana Sanaullah in the assets case.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor Faisal Bukhari told the court that Sanaullah had received Rs127 million salary while performing duties on different public positions from 1990 to 2019, whereas, he don’t have any other sources of generating income.

He detailed that Sanaullah’s inherited properties include a 10-Kanal agricultural land and two houses. The case against the PML-N leader being proceeded in the anti-narcotics court was different in its genre.

The prosecutor said that the anti-corruption watchdog is holding an investigation into Sanaullah’s assets as he had not disclosed all of its properties. He added that Rana Sanaullah had not mentioned his 14 properties anywhere and it is necessary to arrest the accused for the purpose of investigation.

Sanaullah’s counsel Amjad Pervaiz told the LHC judge that the anti-corruption watchdog has failed to provide any evidence against his client.

He said that NAB was giving arguments about the same properties for which the anti-narcotics force (ANF) is alleging for being owned by Sanaullah through drug smuggling. Pervaiz added that Sanaullah had declared all of his properties in the tax returns.

The court remarked that it will become a matter of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to investigate if Sanaullah did not mention the actual market value of his properties.

After the conclusion of arguments from both sides, the court approved the interim bail of Rana Sanaullah against the two surety bonds of Rs5 million each.

Earlier on January 28, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had moved to the Lahore High Court (LHC) to take up Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah’s bail petition in assets beyond income case.

In its plea to LHC, the anti-corruption watchdog had stated that Sanaullah is currently on interim bail in the case. The accused had been granted interim bail in March last year in the assets case.

It further stated that the hearing was not fixed due to non-availability of a bench. The bureau had pleaded the LHC for early hearing of Sanaullah’s bail plea and give a verdict after hearing the arguments from both sides.

It is pertinent to mention here that NAB had launched assets beyond income and money laundering probe against Sanaullah. After getting a notice from NAB, the PML-N leader got interim bail from LHC.

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Five parties demand allotment of separate Opposition benches as Senate meets for first session

Opposition parties in the anti-government coalition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) clashed in the first formal Senate session on Monday.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani chaired the first sitting.

Five opposition parties in the Senate, who had earlier decided to constitute an independent group in the House consisting of 27 members, demanded they be allotted separate opposition benches in the Senate. These parties are PML-N, JUI-F, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, National Party and BNP (Mengal).

The group is being led by the PML-N designated opposition leader Senator Azam Nazir Tarrar.

"We should be allotted separate opposition benches and the hidden cameras [in the Senate elections] should be investigated," Senator Tarrar said.

Senators supporting Opposition leader Yousaf Raza Gillani protested Tarrar's remarks. Government members, too, protested when senators from the Balochistan Awami Party were presented with gifts and a commotion broke out in the House.

Tarrar said that 27 senators from five parties have formed a separate opposition group. He said the opposition will play a "positive and constructive" role.

He said he was saddened by the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition.

On the other hand, the Dilawar Khan group, which supports Gillani, also demanded separate seats in the Senate.

The House met today after the election of new senators on March 3, the Senate chairman and deputy chairman on March 12 and notification of Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Yousaf Raza Gillani on March 26.

Opposition leader in the Senate Yousaf Raza Gillani said he will work with all Opposition parties and will also speak on behalf of the government if ever need be.

Speaking during the first Senate session, Gillani said he contested the Senate elections with the cooperation of PDM and will accompany the opposition in the Senate session.

"The PDM has become the voice of constitutional rights for women, minorities and others. We have come for the public interest and it is our duty to represent the people. The country faces many challenges for which we have to work together," he said.

The Opposition leader advised newly elected members in the Upper House to learn from the experiences of the old senators.

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PM Imran Khan directs spokespersons to highlight govt's achievements

Prime Minister Imran Khan has called upon spokespersons to highlight the government's achievements so far, stressing that the government's performance will be visible to the masses in the days to come.

The prime minister's comments came during a meeting he chaired of the party's spokespersons, where he spoke to them on several matters and directed them to promote the government's works.

The premier said the government was taking "serious" steps to curb inflation, as he vowed the regime would not let the "satta" (gambling) mafia thrive in the country.

During the meeting, Special Assistant to PM on Interior and Accountability Shahzad Akbar also provided a briefing on the government's legislation on basic commodities, while Finance Minister Hammad Azhar spoke about the country's economic situation.

"We have fixed the price of sugar," the prime minister said, as he told the members of the meeting that the government was legislating on stabilising the prices of basic commodities.

"The government will take indiscriminate action against people involved in artificially hiking prices," the premier vowed.

The premier, giving another task to party leaders and spokespersons, said they should keep an eye on inflation.

Following the meeting, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said the prime minister had directed government officials to provide relief to the people during the Holy month of Ramadan.

"The prices of basic food items will be available at lower rates," the interior minister said, speaking to the media, adding the premier had also directed to ensure flour, sugar, and other food commodities are available at cheaper rates during the Holy month.

On the political front, Rashid said the prime minister had asked the government representatives to avoid fearing the Opposition. "The Opposition poses no threat for the government," he said.

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Yousaf Raza Gillani confirms receiving show-cause notice from PDM

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Yousaf Raza Gillani on Monday confirmed receiving show-cause notice by the Pakistan Democratic Movement.

“The PPP has received PDM’s show-cause notice, but not yet replied,” Yousaf Raza Gillani said in his informal talk with the journalists after addressing in the Senate session.

He said until now, the PPP is part of the opposition alliance, PDM and will comment on the situation after PPP’s reply, he added.

Read more: Shahid Khaqan lashes out at PPP, says Gilani’s nomination caused damage to PDM

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) have been served show-cause notices over alleged violation of Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) consensus decision and principles.

The notices were issued after approval from the PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

PPP has been asked to explain within a week, its conduct of getting appointed its candidate, former PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, as Leader of Opposition in Senate, by defying the consensus decision of component parties of the Opposition alliance.

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NA-75 Daska re-election: ECP increases number of sensitive polling stations

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has increased the number of sensitive polling stations up to 47 in the NA-75 constituency of Daska ahead of re-election, reported on Monday.

The election commission’s spokesperson said that it has been decided to make strict security arrangements at the polling stations declared sensitive. The polling process in the sensitive polling stations will be monitored through CCTV cameras.

The spokesperson added that Rangers personnel will be deployed outside and inside the sensitive polling stations.

Moreover, the commission completed the training of new election staff of the 20 disputed polling stations. Returning Officer (RO) Akhtar Abbasi has directed the staff to ensure transparency in the polling process.

The RO also administered oath to the polling officers and concerned staff.

The by-poll is scheduled to take place on April 10 in the Daska constituency as the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday upheld ECP’s decision for re-polling in the constituency.

On Friday, the Supreme Court (SC) had upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to hold re-polling in the entire National Assembly constituency NA-75 in Daska.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Umer Ata Bandial had heard the petition of PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi, challenging the ECP order of February 25, 2021, declaring the by-election at NA-75 Daska void and ordering re-polling in the whole constituency.

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Pakistan records 4,323 coronavirus cases, 43 deaths in last 24 hrs

Coronavirus has claimed 43 more lives in Pakistan during the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 14,821, reported on Monday.

The latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed the COVID-19 has claimed 43 more lives and 4,323 fresh infections were reported during the period.

During the period of a day, the total count of active cases was recorded at 61,450 and the positivity rate stood at 9.96 per cent.

The health facilities across the country conducted 43,362 coronavirus detection tests, taking the total number of COVID-19 tests to 10,446,697 since the first case was reported.

According to the statistics, 19 patients were declared critical, adding to the total number of patients suffering from sensitive health condition up to 3,587.

Overall 615,960 people have recovered from the virus including 2,902 who have regained their health from COVID-19 during the past 24 hours.

Yesterday, keeping in view the recent spike in COVID-19 cases amid the third wave of the disease, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had suspended inter-provincial transport for two days a week (Saturday and Sunday).

The NCOC had restricted inter-provincial public transport only on weekends. However, cargo trucks, containers, medical and emergency services will be exempted from the restrictions.

The new restrictions will come into force from April 10 and will continue to remain effective till 25th of April. NCOC further said that Pakistan Railways will continue to operate passenger trains seven days a week with 70 per cent occupancy.

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Yousaf Raza Gillani confirms receiving show-cause notice from PDM

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Yousaf Raza Gillani on Monday confirmed receiving show-cause notice by the Pakistan Democratic Movement.

“The PPP has received PDM’s show-cause notice, but not yet replied,” Yousaf Raza Gillani said in his informal talk with the journalists after addressing in the Senate session.

He said until now, the PPP is part of the opposition alliance, PDM and will comment on the situation after PPP’s reply, he added.

Read more: Shahid Khaqan lashes out at PPP, says Gilani’s nomination caused damage to PDM

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) have been served show-cause notices over alleged violation of Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) consensus decision and principles.

The notices were issued after approval from the PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

PPP has been asked to explain within a week, its conduct of getting appointed its candidate, former PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, as Leader of Opposition in Senate, by defying the consensus decision of component parties of the Opposition alliance.

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