National Assembly approves journalist protection bill

The National Assembly Monday gave its nod to the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021.The bill paves way to establish an independent commission for the protection of journalists and media professionals.

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari, who had moved the bill on May 21 this year, said the bill was okayed by the standing committee on human rights headed by PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. “I thank the Opposition for their cooperation in the passage of the bill,” she said.

An independent commission will be established to inquire into complaints against threats or acts of torture, killing, violent attacks, forced disappearance and arbitrary arrests.

The reports of the commission would be laid before the parliament through the Ministry of Human Rights. It would provide for measures to actively investigate, prosecute and punish acts of violence and any threats to journalists providing protection of their lives.

The National Assembly also passed the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which provides for an extension in the tenure of the Prosecutor General of NAB.

The NA also passed the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the National Commission on the Rights of Child (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

The Minister for Law and Justice also laid National Accountability (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 (Ordinance No. XXIII of 2021 and the National Accountability (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 (Ordinance No. XXVI of 2021).

The minister also tabled the Islamabad Capital Territory Charities Registration, Regulation and Facilitation Bill, 2021 and the Covid-19 Bill, 2021.

The opposition members twice pointed out to lack of quorum in the House. The House was found in order at the first attempt made by Agha Rafiullah. However, the proceedings were adjourned after another PPP member raised the question of lack of quorum.

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National Assembly approves journalist protection bill

The National Assembly Monday gave its nod to the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021.The bill paves way to establish an independent commission for the protection of journalists and media professionals.

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari, who had moved the bill on May 21 this year, said the bill was okayed by the standing committee on human rights headed by PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. “I thank the Opposition for their cooperation in the passage of the bill,” she said.

An independent commission will be established to inquire into complaints against threats or acts of torture, killing, violent attacks, forced disappearance and arbitrary arrests.

The reports of the commission would be laid before the parliament through the Ministry of Human Rights. It would provide for measures to actively investigate, prosecute and punish acts of violence and any threats to journalists providing protection of their lives.

The National Assembly also passed the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which provides for an extension in the tenure of the Prosecutor General of NAB.

The NA also passed the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the National Commission on the Rights of Child (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

The Minister for Law and Justice also laid National Accountability (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 (Ordinance No. XXIII of 2021 and the National Accountability (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 (Ordinance No. XXVI of 2021).

The minister also tabled the Islamabad Capital Territory Charities Registration, Regulation and Facilitation Bill, 2021 and the Covid-19 Bill, 2021.

The opposition members twice pointed out to lack of quorum in the House. The House was found in order at the first attempt made by Agha Rafiullah. However, the proceedings were adjourned after another PPP member raised the question of lack of quorum.

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Chairman PPP lashes out at govt over talks with banned TTP

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has criticised the PTI-led government for entering into an agreement with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), alleging that the Parliament was not taken into confidence over the move.

Consequent to the peace agreement, the banned outfit declared a one-month ceasefire starting November 9.

"No one was taken into confidence on the issue of talks with the banned TTP and no consensus was reached in this regard," said Bilawal, speaking to Media.

"I had earlier criticised the talks with the banned TTP and I will do it again today."

The PPP leader also called into question the relevance of the president and the prime minister, saying that "who are they to hold talks with the TTP".

Bilawal lashed out at the banned outfit, saying that it had martyred Pakistan Army soldiers and the children of the Army Public School (APS).

Bilawal said that the Parliament will approve all policies related to Pakistan, asserting that such policies will be adopted through the consensus of all political parties.

Informing the media about recent developments in the peace talks on Monday [November 8], Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry announced that the government and the proscribed organisation agreed to a complete ceasefire.

The Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan has played the role of the mediator in the peace talks, the minister revealed.
“The government-TTP talks will be held in accordance with the laws and the Constitution of Pakistan,” said Fawad, adding that the ceasefire would be extended keeping in view the progress of the talks.

“It is gratifying that the areas of Pakistan [where the Taliban operated] are moving towards absolute peace after a long time,” he said.
Expressing surprise over Fawad Chaudhry's statement, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that the Parliamentary Committee on National Security briefing did not say that an agreement between the government and the TTP had been reached.

"[At the national security meeting,] we were told that there is an offer or possibility of talks. We have not been briefed that an agreement has already been reached with them," the PML-N leader said while speaking in the Geo News programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath' on Monday.

"The consensus of the [national security] meeting was that any such agreement should be approved by the Parliament alone."

He also censured the government, saying, "The government makes decisions which we come to know from the international media."

He also threw barbs at Prime Minister Imran Khan saying the Leader of the House remained absent from the important session. Iqbal alleged that the premier does not consider the Opposition worthy enough to sit with him.

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Pakistan corona positivity rate drops to 0.94

11 more deaths due to Coronavirus infection and 400 positive cases have been reported in the country in a single day.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre's statistics, 42,373 tests were conducted on Monday and positivity ratio remained 0.94 percent.
Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Till now 12,954 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab 7,598 in Sindh 5,774 in KP, 947 in Islamabad, 741 in Azad Kashmir, 358 in Balochistan, and 186 in GB.

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Chairman PPP lashes out at govt over talks with banned TTP

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has criticised the PTI-led government for entering into an agreement with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), alleging that the Parliament was not taken into confidence over the move.

Consequent to the peace agreement, the banned outfit declared a one-month ceasefire starting November 9.

"No one was taken into confidence on the issue of talks with the banned TTP and no consensus was reached in this regard," said Bilawal, speaking to Media.

"I had earlier criticised the talks with the banned TTP and I will do it again today."

The PPP leader also called into question the relevance of the president and the prime minister, saying that "who are they to hold talks with the TTP".

Bilawal lashed out at the banned outfit, saying that it had martyred Pakistan Army soldiers and the children of the Army Public School (APS).

Bilawal said that the Parliament will approve all policies related to Pakistan, asserting that such policies will be adopted through the consensus of all political parties.

Informing the media about recent developments in the peace talks on Monday [November 8], Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry announced that the government and the proscribed organisation agreed to a complete ceasefire.

The Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan has played the role of the mediator in the peace talks, the minister revealed.
“The government-TTP talks will be held in accordance with the laws and the Constitution of Pakistan,” said Fawad, adding that the ceasefire would be extended keeping in view the progress of the talks.

“It is gratifying that the areas of Pakistan [where the Taliban operated] are moving towards absolute peace after a long time,” he said.
Expressing surprise over Fawad Chaudhry's statement, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that the Parliamentary Committee on National Security briefing did not say that an agreement between the government and the TTP had been reached.

"[At the national security meeting,] we were told that there is an offer or possibility of talks. We have not been briefed that an agreement has already been reached with them," the PML-N leader said while speaking in the Geo News programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath' on Monday.

"The consensus of the [national security] meeting was that any such agreement should be approved by the Parliament alone."

He also censured the government, saying, "The government makes decisions which we come to know from the international media."

He also threw barbs at Prime Minister Imran Khan saying the Leader of the House remained absent from the important session. Iqbal alleged that the premier does not consider the Opposition worthy enough to sit with him.

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Pakistan corona positivity rate drops to 0.94

11 more deaths due to Coronavirus infection and 400 positive cases have been reported in the country in a single day.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre's statistics, 42,373 tests were conducted on Monday and positivity ratio remained 0.94 percent.
Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Till now 12,954 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab 7,598 in Sindh 5,774 in KP, 947 in Islamabad, 741 in Azad Kashmir, 358 in Balochistan, and 186 in GB.

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England cricket chief Tom Harrison flies to Pakistan for meetings with PCB chairman

English cricket's top administrator has flown to Pakistan in a bid to repair relations damaged by the cancellation of October's Twenty20 tour.

A spokesperson for the England and Wales Cricket Board told AFP in London on Monday that Chief Executive Tom Harrison had travelled for meetings with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja.

Former Test batsman Raja said he felt “humiliated” when the ECB announced in September it was calling off the tour.

England, who last played in Pakistan 16 years ago, are due to play a Test series there in 2022.

The ECB cited “increasing concerns about travelling to the region” in cancelling October's tour, just days after New Zealand also pulled out of a tour to Pakistan over security concerns.

However, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner had said that the commission had supported the tour, adding that the decision was taken by the ECB over "concerns of player welfare".

The first trip by the England men's side to Pakistan since 2005 was only meant to last four days, with two Twenty20 matches in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14.

Two women's T20 matches were scheduled on the same days as double-headers, with three women's One-Day Internationals to follow in the same city.

Pakistan travelled to England last year at a time when Covid-19 infection rates in Britain were among the highest in the world for a three-match Test series and T20 series that saved the ECB millions in television rights deals.

Consequently, there was a bitter reaction in Pakistan when England called off the October fixtures.

“It's the feeling of being used and then binned,” Raja told reporters in September. “One feels slighted, one feels humiliated because withdrawal doesn't have an answer,” he added.

Harrison's visit to Pakistan is expected to be brief as he is due in the United Arab Emirates later this week for an International Cricket Council chief executives' meeting.

The confirmation of his trip came on the day that Cricket Australia announced plans for a tour of Pakistan starting in March 2022 that would be their first visit to the country in 24 years.

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