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ARY NEWS

Zahid Mashwani

  • ECP rules out early Senate elections

    ECP rules out early Senate elections

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday ruled out the early Senate elections, ARY News reported, citing sources.

    “The elections would be held on the time according to the law”, sources were quoted as saying. On March 11, half of the senators will retire and the election of the chairman and deputy chairman Senate will be held on March 12 and their oath on the same day.

    The ECP has 30 days to conduct the Senate elections and it cannot hold the polls before the time. However, the ECP has the right to conduct the Senate polls between February 11 to March 11.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced that the government would hold the Senate elections, scheduled for March, at an earlier date.

    Read more: Senate polls not possible through show of hands: AGP Khalid Jawed

    Speaking to the media, he had revealed the government had decided to hold the polls through show of hands instead of a secret ballot to bring an end to the practice of horse-trading and added it is going to approach the Supreme Court to seek its opinion on the proposed changes in the voting procedure.

  • Senate likely to go back to routine business from next week

    Senate likely to go back to routine business from next week

     

    ISLAMABAD: After a 10-day halt in routine business due to the second wave of coronavirus pandemic, the Senate Secretariat has devised new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to resume parliamentary sessions from next week, ARY News reported on Friday.

    The Upper House secretariat formulated new SOPs for the resumption of routine business from Monday, December 14, sources privy to the development told ARY News. It is likely that the sessions of the standing committee will be summoned by implementing the prevention measures.

    A limited number of representatives of concerned ministries and journalists will be allowed to attend the forthcoming sessions of Senate, according to the new SOPs. However, the additional staff of the Upper House of the government officers and senators will not be permitted to enter the building’s premises.

    Under the recommendations, all members of the standing committees will be bound to strictly follow the prevention measures by wearing face masks and maintaining social distance. It has been decided that the standing committees will only be allowed to summon its sessions related to COVID-19 pandemic and other important matters.

    After the conclusion of sessions, disinfectant spray will be conducted in the committee room.

  • ECP releases details of assets owned by Senators

    ECP releases details of assets owned by Senators

    ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday issued details of assets owned by the members of the Senate in 2019-20, ARY NEWS reported.

    According to details, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani owned assets worth Rs 106.3 million which included properties in Pakistan worth over Rs50 million besides also owning four vehicles.


    Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla owns assets worth Rs 67.7.

    Treasury Benches

    According to details of the assets owned by members of the treasury benches, Federal Minister Azam Swati owns assets worth over Rs 810 million, followed by Farogh Naseem, who possesses assets worth nearly Rs 400 million.

    Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz have assets of upto Rs 46.7 million, Leader of the House in Senate Shehzad Waseem owns assets worth over Rs 200 million while her wife also possesses assets worth Rs 170 million.

    Taj Muhammad Afridi is among the richest members of the Senate from the treasury side as he owns assets worth Rs 1.22 billion which also included over Rs160 million assets abroad in contrast to Senator Faisal Javed who holds assets worth Rs 10 million.

    Muzafar Hussain Shah of the PML-F owns assets worth Rs 30 million.

    PML-N

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Chaudhry Tanveer owns agriculture land of Rs 36.7 million, non-agricultural land of Rs 47.4 million besides also having Rs 37.9 million in bank accounts and furniture worth Rs 2.5 million.

    Mushahid Ullah Khan possesses plots worth Rs 7.5 million, shares of Rs 65,000 in stocks and jewellery worth Rs 0.8 million. He also owned Rs 3.1 million in bank accounts.

    Read More: Asset details of current senators revealed by ECP

    Senator Abdul Qayyum owns assets including land worth Rs 86.4 million.

    Senator Pervaiz Rasheed does not own any assets in the country and abroad and only have Rs3.3 million in bank accounts. Senator Raja Zafarul Haq showed only Rs 50,000 in the bank accounts without having any property in his name.

    PPP

    PPP Senator Rehman Malik owns foreign assets worth Rs 1.3 million Pounds while her wife also possesses 50 tola jewellery having a worth of Rs2.7 million.     

    Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar owns immovable properties worth Rs 120 million besides also having shares of Rs 5 million in stocks, vehicles worth upto Rs 38.4 million and Rs 23.4 million in bank accounts.

    Raza Rabbani revealed assets worth millions of rupees including Rs 15.3 million investments in the business, Rs 6.2 million worth gifted property besides also owning millions in bank accounts. He also paid an income tax of Rs 1.5 million.

    Siraj ul Haq

    Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Senator Siraj ul Haq was amongst the poorest Senators as he inherited a 12 canal land, has investments of Rs 361,000 in a business and Rs 600,000 in bank accounts.

    JUI-F

    Senator Talha Mahmood of the JUI-F owns Rs 90 million in bank accounts, vehicles having worth of Rs 44.8 million besides also having properties having a worth of Rs 160 million. He also had investments of Rs 27 million and further had other assets worth Rs 33 million.

    Abdul Ghafoor Haideri has revealed assets worth over Rs 6.3 million.

  • Senate session: Govt presents list of national entities slated for privatisation

    Senate session: Govt presents list of national entities slated for privatisation

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government has presented the list of national entities slated for privatisation which include Roosevelt Hotel in New York owned by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Nandipur power plant and 16 others, ARY News reported on Friday.

    A list containing names of 19 government institutions was presented in the Senate session by the federal government which are slated for privatisation.

    The state-owned entities include Roosevelt Hotel in New York owned by the national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Balloki power plant, Haveli Bahadur Shah power plant, SME Bank, First Women Bank, Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Pakistan Engineering Company, Services International Hotel, Jinnah Convention Centre, Mari Petroleum, Nandipur power plant, State Life Insurance Corporation, Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Giddu power plant.

    Read: Federal cabinet greenlights privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills

    Earlier in October, Federal Minister for Privatisation Muhammad Mian Soomro had announced that the privatisation process of four to five state-owned institutions will be completed by June 2021.

    Mohammed Mian Soomro had clarified that the privatisation process will not be interrupted by the expected political campaign of opposition parties which announced to hold long march and demonstrations across the country.

    The privatisation minister had said that the commission will complete the privatisation process of a national entity by December this year. He said that the incumbent government will complete its tenure and it will also collect successes in 2023.

    Read: ECC approves golden handshake plan for PSM employees: sources

    He had said that the matters related to the denationalisation of Roosevelt Hotel owned by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will be resolved soon. Soomro added that it was feared that the company will take over the Roosevelt Hotel from which the entity had acquired the loan.

    He had said that the debt will be paid off soon. It is pertinent to mention here that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved $142 million funds for paying off debt on Roosevelt Hotel earlier in September.

    The amount of $142 million had been approved for the monetary needs and maintenance of the hotel owned by the PIA in Manhattan, US, and it will take care of the loans, interests incurred and other payables of the hotel, read the declaration of the ECC meeting.

  • Four senators tested positive for coronavirus

    Four senators tested positive for coronavirus

    ISLAMABAD: Four senators were tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday, ARY News reported.

    According to the Senate of Pakistan spokesperson, Senator Attaur Rehman, Senator Fida Muhammad, Mirza Afridi and Senator Sana Jamali have been confirmed coronavirus positive.

    This is not the first time that parliamentarians have tested positive for coronavirus as two members of the lower house of Parliament had been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus on May 10.

    Syed Mehboob Shah and Gul Zafar Khan – a PTI MNA from Bajaur – tested positive for the infection.

    On April 30, the National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser had tested positive for coronavirus and went into isolation at his residence.

    Read more: Fawad Chaudhry says political speeches in National Assembly ‘waste of time’

    He, however, recovered completely from it on May 12. The speaker was discharged from the hospital after he tested negative and an improvement in his health condition was witnessed.

    He had also expressed his gratitude towards his well-wishers who prayed for his early recovery.

  • FBR chief excuses to meet Senate chairman once again: sources

    FBR chief excuses to meet Senate chairman once again: sources

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chief Nausheen Javed Amjad has reportedly excused meeting Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, citing sources, ARY News reported on Friday.

    Sources said that FBR chief Nausheen Javed Amjad excused meeting Sadiq Sanjrani minutes before the scheduled meeting.

    The Senate chairman expressed outrage over the cancellation of the meeting by the FBR chairperson and sought reply from her.

    A letter was sent to the FBR chief which sought response from Nausheen Javed over showing irresponsible behaviour who had already excused to meet the Senate chairman twice scheduled earlier.

    The scheduled meetings between FBR chief and Senate chairman in April and May had also cancelled due to refusal of Nausheen Javed Amjad.

    The letter also read that the matter would be sent to the Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges if FBR chief fails to give a satisfactory reply.

    It is noteworthy to mention here that the policy board member, Senator Kahuda Babar, had also complained about FBR chairwoman’s behaviour before the finance adviser.

  • Hajj balloting under government scheme tomorrow

    Hajj balloting under government scheme tomorrow

    ISLAMABAD: Balloting of Hajj applications under government scheme will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 4:00 pm in Islamabad, ARY News reported.

    According to details, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noor ul Haq Qadri will perform the balloting, while all preparations have been finalised in this regard.

    The results of balloting will be uploaded on the religious affairs ministry website.

    The ministry asked the applicants to check their particulars on the website and get corrected the mistakes if any. The intending pilgrims have been advised to contact on these numbers 051-9205696 and 051-9216980-82 in case for any guidance and information.

    According to the Hajj Policy 2020, initially, 179,210 Pakistanis were to perform the sacred religious obligation, including 107,526 under the Government Hajj Scheme and 71,684 through Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs).

    It may be noted that a total of 1,49,330 Hajj applications were received from intending pilgrims by designated banks across the country under the government scheme.

    This year, a total of 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims will perform the sacred religious ceremony.

  • Senate passes Zainab Alert Bill 2020 by majority vote

    Senate passes Zainab Alert Bill 2020 by majority vote

    ISLAMABAD: The Senate of Pakistan on Wednesday passed Zainab Alert Bill 2020 which defines the law for the response and recovery of missing children, ARY News reported.

    According to the recent amendments passed by the Senate Standing Committee Human Rights, the police would be bound to register FIR of the missing child and action would be taken against the officers, denying to lodge the report.

    The cases related to child rape cases will be heard by special judges.

    A helpline 1099 will be established under the law besides constitution of an agency to take immediate action after responding complaints about abduction, murder and rape of minor children, read the bill.

    The bill was presented by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Khan Swati. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) opposed the bill.

    The bill is being presented for the approval in haste, said PML-N Lawmaker Javed Abbasi, citing that the tenure of proposed punishment for the accused is short in the bill.

    Read more: Senator Faisal Javed praises National Assembly for passing Zainab Alert bill

    Federal Minister Shafqat Mehmood and PTI Senator Faisal Javed requested the house to pass the bill as the nation is waiting for its passage. The bill remained in discussion in the NA, standing committee and now is in Senate, we can make amendments in it in future, they added.

    Later, the bill was passed with majority of votes.

    About Zainab rape, murder case

    The bill is named after Zainab Ansari, who had been kidnapped on January 4 and found from a garbage heap on January 9. Zainab’s autopsy report suggested that the minor was sexually assaulted before being strangulated to death.

    On January 21, the Supreme Court gave three days’ time to a joint investigation team formed to probe the rape and murder of Zainab to track down the culprit.

    The JIT arrested the culprit named Imran Arshad on January 23 after the DNA proved that he was behind the rape and murder of Zainab and at least eight other girls from Kasur.

    Read more: NA passes Zainab Alert bill for response, recovery of missing children

    The rapist had been handed a total of three counts of death penalty and Rs2.5million in fine in another case of child sexual abuse.

    Imran Arshad, who was already awarded four counts of the death penalty, one life term, 7-year jail term and Rs4.1 million in fines back in February for raping and murdering a seven-year-old girl named Zainab in Kasur, had confessed sexually abusing at least eight minor girls.

    Imran Ali, who was awarded death penalty in the rape and murder case of seven-year-old Zainab, had met his ultimate fate on October 17.

    Ali was hanged to death at 5:30 am at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Central Jail. He was executed in the presence of Judicial Magistrate Adil Sarwar, the deceased’s father, Muhammad Amin, and her uncle.

  • Bill seeking salary appraisal for parliamentarians rejected in Senate

    Bill seeking salary appraisal for parliamentarians rejected in Senate

    ISLAMABAD: A bill tendered seeking an appraisal of salaries allotted to parliamentarians was rejected by a thumping majority on Monday, ARY News reported.

    Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani had initiated voting on the request which got 16 votes in its favour.

    Read More: Babar Awan opposes bill seeking increase in salaries of parliamentarians

    29 senators voted against the motion, requests for jacking up salaries of senators and national assembly members both have been rejected.

    Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) voted against the bill and opposed the notion of raising salaries of politicians.

    Read More: PTI to oppose bill seeking raise in Senators’ salaries  

    Major opposition parties also opposed the bill whereas political parties with limited numbers in the parliament voted in the bill’s support.

    Yesterday, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani along with a delegation had announced to visit Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) Bahadurabad office in Karachi aimed at appeasing the key coalition partner of the federal government.

    Read More: NA Speaker opposes increments in lawmakers’ salaries

    According to sources, matters pertaining to MQM-P’s grievances, current political situation and other issues will also be discussed in the meetings.

    Sadiq Sanjrani, during his stay in Karachi, will hold important meetings with MQM-P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and members of Rabita Committee.

  • Sikandar Sultan Raja appointed as CEC, notification issued

    Sikandar Sultan Raja appointed as CEC, notification issued

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Friday issued notification showing appointment of Sikandar Sultan Raja as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for five years, ARY News reported.

    The reconstitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan is completed as the federal government has appointed Sikandar Sultan Raja as the CEC.

    Furthermore, the notification states appointment of Nisar Durrani as member from Sindh and Shah Mehmood Jatoi as member from Balochistan in the Election Commission of Pakistan.

    The appointments in the Election Commission of Pakistan come after, the Parliamentary committee, earlier this week, had reached consensus  after prolonged talks.

    Read more: Parliamentary committee approves name of Sikandar Sultan Raja as new CEC

    The name of Sikandar Sultan Raja was forwarded by the federal government.

    The participants had also finalized names forwarded by the opposition including Nisar Durrani from Sindh and Shah Muhammad Jatoi from Balochistan as members of the commission.

    The formula was suggested to the premier for the acceptance of name for CEC from the government’s side and the appointment of two ECP members over recommendations of the opposition.

    Read more: Govt, opposition end deadlock on CEC appointment: sources

    Earlier on January 17, the parliamentary committee had made some progress during a meeting to discuss names for the appointment of chief election commissioner (CEC) and members of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), sources had said.