ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has penned down a letter to National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, urging him to verify the remaining resignations of party lawmakers

PTI Vice Chairman, in his letter to NA Speaker, stated that the PTI MNAs can return to National Assembly for verification of their resignations.

Qureshi said: “I am writing to you on the instructions of the Chairman PTI and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, and in my capacity as the Vice Chairman and Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the party.”

He wrote that after the conspiracy to remove former PM illegally and unconstitutionally from his office, 123 members of PTI MNAs tendered their resignations on the floor of the house on 11 April 2022. “I made an unequivocal verbal announcement of the decision for all party members to resign from National Assembly seats with the clear approval and agreement of 123 MNAs who were present on the floor of the National Assembly,” he added.

In the letter, Qureshi pointed out that 123 PTI MNAs submitted written resignations to former Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri on April 11, 2022. “The lawmakers had submitted resignations as per constitution and assembly rules”, the letter added.

“The resignations were accepted by the then Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly on April 13, 2022,” it noted, adding that Secretary National Assembly Tahir Hussain had also issued a notification in this regard.

However, he said that in a clear attempt by the current government to avoid general elections in the country, the clear order of the former Deputy Speaker was not implemented. “Later, only 11 resignations were accepted illegally on July 28,” it stated.

“It remains unclear on what legal basis could your office selectively de-seat some of the members of the NA instead of all the members who had tendered their resignations at the same time and similar manner on 11 April 2022. Unfortunately, despite a clear position by PTI MNAs to resign and leave the National Assembly,” the letter reads.

He stated: “You have used the position to give political advantage to the government.” Nevertheless, Qureshi said that in the interest of democracy and to demonstrate the clear political choice of the people of Pakistan, our party contested the by-elections held on the seats vacated because of this selective acceptance of resignations. The public's verdict in favor of PTI became very evident in these by-elections whereby the party won 75% of the by-election seats.

“We once again formally request you (Raja Pervaiz) to verify the remaining resignations without any delay,” Qureshi said, hoping that the speaker would not delay the matter any further.

“Although there is no need for any further action from our side, especially given the consistent public position taken by the party leadership and the individual members of parliament in respect of these resignation letters, we could agree a time with you during the next week when we can come to the National Assembly and re-confirm resignations tendered by our members of the National Assembly,” he added.

The letter reads that the proceedings of the NA, including passage of various key legislations, in the absence of the largest and most popular political party of the country from the floor of assembly, are a question mark on the legitimacy of the actions of this current incomplete National Assembly.

“We firmly believe that free and fair general elections are the only way to restore the public's faith in the democratic process in Pakistan and to uphold the mandate and sanctity of the parliament,” he concluded.

ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi has vowed to continue efforts till the remnants of terrorism are extirpated.

In a statement denouncing the suicide blast in Miranshah area of North Waziristan, the President said the entire nation stands united in fight against terrorism.

He condoled with the bereaved families of those martyred in the incident and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has hailed the services of people and security forces for the elimination of terrorism in the country.

In a statement, strongly denouncing the suicide blast in Miranshah area of North Waziristan on Thursday, the Prime Minister said terrorists are playing in the hands of our enemies who want to destabilize Pakistan.

Shehbaz Sharif expressed commitment to punish these criminals for rendering the blood of Pakistani people.

He expressed grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of one security personnel and a civilian and also condoled with the bereaved families.

He paid tributes to the martyrs for laying down their lives for the country.

Condemning the North Waziristan suicide attack in strongest words, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said such cowardly acts cannot dampen our resolve.

In a statement today, she said fight against terrorism will continue till the menace is completely rooted out.

Expressing deep grief over the martyrdom of Havaldar Muhammad Amir and a civilian, the Minister said the whole nation stands by its security forces and sacrifices of our martyrs will not go in vain.

Islamabad : A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) was held on Thursday. Chairman Committee, Senator Hilal-ur-Rehman chaired the meeting; that was attended by Senator SaniaNishter, Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, Senator ShamimAfridi, Senator Dost Muhammad Khan, Senator Gurdeep Singh, Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah, Senator Haji HidayatUllah Khan and senior officers of the Ministry of Sates and Frontier Regions, Department of Finance Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Home Department Khyber Pakhtukhwa along with all concerned.

While being briefed by the Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regarding putting curbs on the survey of damaged houses and non-payment of four lacs to each household in tribal district South Waziristan, the Committee took strong notice of the delay and stressed the need to expedite all matters related to payments at the earliest. While being probed about the reason for delays, the Committee was informed that bureaucratic hiccups were the main reason for this and that a requisition worth PKR 65 billion has been submitted, yet action is awaited to-date. The Committee was informed that not audit has been conducted since the merger. Members asserted that government priorities were completely unjustified and all loopholes in the system must be removed. The Committee was of the view that a summary regarding the survey will be sent on its behalf to the Chief Minister.

Discussing the change of status of Type –D Hospital to a Rural Health Centre (RHC), the Committee took notice of the unavailability of staff on a regular basis. It asserted that minimum staff of a Basic Health Unit (BHU) had been deployed, however, no one is found on premises. The Committee directed Secretary, Department of Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to visit the Health Unit within a week and issue a Show Cause to all those who are absent. A compliance report must be submitted to the Committee.

While being briefed by the Finance and Revenue Department regarding demarcation of boundaries of tribal district South Waziristan and allocation of funds for establishment of Headquarter and line department offices for newly created districts, the Committee stressed the need to curtail any notification unless proper demarcation of the area is completed. A letter will be written to the Chief Secretary by the Committee in this regard.

Discussing issues of non-absorption of large numbers of Levies and Khasadars Force of ex-FATA in Khyber Pakhunkhwa; non-payment of salaries to police personnel of Tribal District South Waziristan and details of ghost police personnel of merged areas that are absent from duty, the Committee was provided details of the same by Additional IGP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Home Department. A final document will be shared with the Committee after reconcilling the details presented by both offices.

ISLAMABAD: International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan will be held in Geneva, Switzerland on 9th of next month to mobilize support towards building back better after the recent devastating floods in Pakistan.

This was announced by Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while speaking at her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.

She said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will co-chair the conference.

The spokesperson said Pakistan will present the reconstruction rehabilitation, recovery and resilience framework based on post disaster needs assessment launched in October this year to estimate the flood damages.

The spokesperson said the conference will engage the international community to mobilize support towards building back better after devastating floods. It will also be an opportunity to hold an informed dialogue on climate adaptation and resilience and to discuss supportive arrangements for the recovery processes.

The Prime Minister and the UN Secretary General have jointly addressed an invitation letter to donor countries, international financial institutions and other development partners for this conference.

The Foreign Office Spokesperson said a comprehensive dossier has been developed highlighting India's involvement in a deadly terrorist attack in Johar Town, Lahore last year.

She said our law enforcement agencies with the support of international counterparts have found concrete evidence that the masterminds, financiers and the facilitators of Lahore terrorist attack were Indian nationals and are located in India.

She said the Indian agencies recruited terrorists for this attack, trained them, provided them finances and logistic support. Pakistan has initiated international legal proceedings including from Interpol and Mutual Legal Assistance processes to bring those responsible to justice.

Responding to a question, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch rejected the statement by the Indian External Affairs Ministry on the recent visit of the OIC Secretary General to Azad Jammu and Kashmir. She said we consider it as untenable. She said Jammu and Kashmir is one of the oldest internationally recognized disputes on the agenda of the UN Security Council and it remains unresolved due to India's intransigence and unwillingness to implement the UNSC resolutions.

She urged the international community including the OIC to play their role in highlighting the atrocities in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Spokesperson said peace in South Asia has remained hostage to India's illegally occupation of and brutalities in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

She said India's hegemonic ambitions have caused tensions with its neighbors and its hubris for domination remains a primary obstacle to meaningful regional cooperation.

Islamabad : Joint session of Parliament will be held on Tuesday at 3 in the afternoon.

The session was earlier scheduled to begin at 4 pm.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shahbaz Sharif has accorded approval to appointment of new Pakistani ambassadors in different countries.

According to sources the approval for summary on appointment of ambassadors has been given on the recommendation of foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

PM has accorded approval to appointment of Nauman Bashir Bhatti as ambassador in Kazakhstan Muhammad Saeed Sarwar in Tajikistan and Hassan Ali Zaigham in Kyrgyzstan.

ISLAMABAD : President Dr. Arif Alvi has highlighted the need to make concerted efforts to improve the accessibility and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) into the mainstream of society so as to make them equal, productive, and active citizens of society. He added that media had a special role to play in eliminating discrimination, negative stereotypes, and social taboos against PWDs, besides enhancing their acceptance in society.

President Dr. Arif Alvi expressed these views during an interactive session with persons with disabilities (PWDs), organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Punjab Social Welfare Department, at Governor House, Lahore on Thursday. First Lady Begum Samina Arif Alvi, Punjab Minister for Social Welfare Department, Ghazanfar Abbas Cheema, Chairman NADRA, Muhammad Tariq Malik, senior officials of the Punjab Government and PWDs attended the session.

Talking on the occasion, the President underlined the need to enhance the inclusion of PWDs in all sectors of life, besides providing them education and employment opportunities in the mainstream institutions. He said that persons with hearing, visual, physical, and mental disability could be imparted education in regular schools provided they were given the right Assistive Technology and proper training was given to their teachers.

President Dr. Arif Alvi called for bringing in attitudinal changes at the individual and societal level towards PWDs to make them feel more welcome in society. He said that globally the attitudes towards PWDs were changing and they were increasingly being facilitated and included in all streams of life, whereas Pakistan lagged behind in terms of the participation of PWDs in different activities. He said that PWDs needed to be given jobs as per their quota and PWDs with mild and severe forms of disability also needed to be accommodated as per their abilities and skills in different jobs.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said that in Pakistan there was a lack of correct data about the number of PWDs in Pakistan, however, as per different estimates they were more than 10% of our population. He added that Pakistan should not ignore this huge section of its population and should make proportionate efforts to provide facilities to them and to develop their abilities to the fullest potential.

First Lady Begum Samina Arif Alvi while talking to the participants emphasized the need to make society more inclusive, providing Assistive Technology to PWDs, easing their registration with NADRA through one-window and online operations, fulfilling the job quota, and educating them in mainstream educational institutions.

Participants of the session shared their views on the problems faced by PWDs in different walks of life and shared various suggestions on improving their inclusion and participation in society.