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Pakistan's National Assembly passes bill to clip chief justice's powers

People walks past the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 4, 2022. (AP/File)
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Updated 29 March 2023
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Pakistan's National Assembly passes bill to clip chief justice's powers

  • Bill proposes a three-member committee of senior-most judges take up all suo motu matters
  • ECP says ready to hold polls in Punjab, KP if required funds, security personnel are provided
Updated 29 March 2023
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's National Assembly passed a bill on Wednesday to clip the powers of the country's top judge, preventing him from taking suo motu notices in an individual capacity on issues of fundamental rights and constitute benches for various cases. 

Seeking amendments to the existing law, the bill was tabled by Pakistan's Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday after two Supreme Court judges, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, wrote in a dissenting note that the office of the chief justice enjoyed "unbridled powers." The judges also said the chief justice's "one-man show" in the judiciary needed to be revisited.  

 

The development also takes place at a time when all eyes are on the Supreme Court of Pakistan, as it hears a petition filed by former prime minister Imran Khan's political party challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision to delay polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab provinces to October 8. 

The bill, titled 'The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023', would become law once it is also passed by the Senate—the upper house of Pakistan's bicameral parliament—and receives the president's formal approval. 

A copy of the bill seen by Arab News says that a three-member committee, comprising the chief justice and two of the most senior judges of the apex court, would constitute a bench that would have the power to hear and dispose off a cause, matter or appeal. The decisions of the committee would be made by majority, it added. 

Regarding the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction, the bill says any matter invoking the use of Article 184 (3) [referring to suo motu notices] would first be placed before the committee. In suo-motu cases, the court would itself take cognizance of the matter and initiate proceedings instead of the parties presenting a case or controversy to its attention.

“If the committee is of the view that a question of public importance with reference to enforcement of any of the fundamental rights... is involved, it shall constitute a bench comprising not less than three judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan which may also include the members of the committee, for adjudication of the matter,” the bill reads.

The bill grants the right to appeal in suo motu cases, with the appeals to be fixed before the court within a period not exceeding 14 days.

Speaking on the floor of the house, Tarar said it was the assembly's right to legislate on issues of public importance, adding that all six bar councils across Pakistan have lauded the bill.

“There is no need for a constitutional amendment [to regulate powers of the office of chief justice],” he pointed out, adding that the Supreme Court has been making its rules as per the constitution and law since 1980.

Meanwhile, the apex court adjourned a hearing on the petition filed by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on the delay in polls in KP and Punjab, till tomorrow, Thursday.

ECP's lawyer Sajeel Swati assured the court during the hearing that the ECP was prepared to hold elections if it is provided with the required funds and security personnel to do so. 

Swati informed the court that Pakistan's intelligence agencies provided the commission secret reports of the presence of militant outfits in parts of KP and Punjab, adding that the ECP faces a shortage of 297,000 security personnel to conduct polls peacefully.

He said the finance ministry had also declined to release the required funds during the current financial year that were required to hold the polls.

In response, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that Pakistan had been facing "terrorism" for the past 20 years yet elections were still held in the country. 

The chief justice directed the ECP lawyer to appear again on Thursday with "full preparation" and ordered Pakistan's attorney-general to consult the interior and defense ministers on the minimum time the government required for elections.

Khan, who was ousted in a vote of confidence in April last year, has rejected the election commission's decision to delay the polls. The cricketer-turned-politician says the move is a larger plot to delay polls as the incumbent government is afraid of his rising popularity, which he says has helped him win a string of by-elections in the past couple of months.

Topics: Pakistan National Assembly CHIEF JUSTICE

Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals

Updated 6 sec ago
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Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals

  • Warrior VIII, which began on November 19, aims to bolster counterterrorism capabilities
  • Pakistan’s army chief interacted with the participants of the exercise and praised their morale
Updated 6 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Friday visited the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in Pabbi, located in the Gujrat division of Punjab province, to observe a joint counterterrorism exercise between the Pakistan Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, said an official statement.
The three-week “Warrior VIII” exercise, which began on November 19, is the eighth iteration of bilateral training aimed at bolstering counterterrorism capabilities and enhancing military cooperation.
The exercise comes as China’s security concerns in Pakistan have grown following a spate of attacks targeting Chinese nationals working on dozens of lucrative projects in the country.
“The COAS was briefed on the scope and conduct of the exercise,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said. “He also interacted with the participants of the exercise.”
Thousands of Chinese nationals have been working on the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for nearly a decade, with several of them being targeted by different militant groups operating in Pakistan.
Earlier this year, in March, a suicide bomber attacked a convoy near Besham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing five Chinese engineers. A few months later, in October, a bombing near Karachi airport targeted Chinese workers ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Islamabad.
Beijing has voiced concerns over the safety of its citizens working in Pakistan and has reportedly proposed a joint security mechanism.
However, the foreign office said this month the two countries have a “robust dialogue and cooperation” on a range of issues, including counterterrorism and the security of Chinese nationals in the country.
It also expressed the government’s resolve to work with Chinese authorities to ensure the safety and security of their nationals, as well as their projects and investments.
According to Voice of America, Warrior VIII is the first joint counterterrorism exercise between the two countries in five years.
The ISPR said General Munir also praised the professionalism and high morale of the officers and soldiers participating in the joint military exercise.

Topics: Pakistan Army Pakistan China Ties joint military exercises

European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister

Updated 29 November 2024
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European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister

  • The development will revive PIA’s European flights, strengthen the government’s privatization drive
  • Pakistan’s Airblue has also got Third Country Operator authorization to fly to European destinations
Updated 29 November 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights after a span of four years, Defense and Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif announced Friday, commending all the relevant officials who made the breakthrough possible.
The ban on PIA flights was imposed in 2020 after a crash in Karachi killed 97 people, followed by a former Pakistani aviation minister’s statement claiming that nearly 40 percent of local pilots held “dubious” licenses.
This statement raised global concerns about safety oversight, leading to the grounding of PIA’s European operations.
The suspension added to PIA’s financial troubles, as the debt-ridden national carrier continued to incur losses amid its struggle to recover from a tarnished reputation. The government also faced difficulties privatizing the airline, a condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during recent loan negotiations, due to its precarious financial situation.
“It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe,” the aviation minister wrote in a social media post.

He also announced that the decision granted Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization to another Pakistani airline, Airblue, marking a significant development for the aviation sector.
TCO authorization granted by EASA allows non-European airlines to operate commercial flights into, within or out of European Union airspace.
Airblue, Pakistan’s second-largest airline, operates domestic and regional routes and is expected to explore European operations following the TCO authorization.
Responding to the development, PIA lauded the lifting of the ban as a testament to its adherence to international safety standards.
“This milestone ensures that the entire nation can once again travel directly to European destinations with their national airline,” the airline said in a statement, adding it had worked tirelessly over the past four years to meet EASA’s safety requirements.

“The PIA administration will remain fully compliant with EASA and its rules and regulations,” it added.
Asif credited the lifting of the suspension to reforms in Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), which he said were aimed at aligning the regulator with international standards.
“I am grateful to the European Commission and EASA for conducting a transparent process and our commitment to ensuring aviation safety in Pakistan,” he said in the social media message.
The development is expected to help revive PIA’s European operations and strengthen the government’s privatization efforts by improving the airline’s appeal to potential investors.

Topics: Pakistan International Airlines Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)

Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days

Updated 29 November 2024
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Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days

  • Total number of applications received so far is 11,000 more than during the corresponding period last year
  • Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210, evenly split between the government and private tour operators
Updated 29 November 2024
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Friday that 38,000 Hajj applications had been received in the first 10 days of the submission period, 11,000 more than during the same period last year.
The surge comes as Pakistan prepares to send 179,210 pilgrims for the annual Islamic pilgrimage in 2025, under a quota evenly divided between government and private Hajj schemes.
“By the tenth day, 38,000 Hajj applications have been received,” a ministry said in a statement, adding that designated banks would continue accepting applications over the weekend. The final deadline for submissions is Dec. 3.
Pilgrims under the regular Hajj scheme can secure their booking with an initial payment of Rs200,000 ($719), according to the statement.
Pakistan has steadily improved facilities for pilgrims in recent years.
One key initiative is the Makkah Route Initiative, which streamlines immigration processes by enabling pilgrims to complete formalities at their departure airports.
Initially tested in Islamabad in 2019, the program was later expanded to Karachi, benefitting tens of thousands of travelers.
Efforts have also included the launch of a mobile application, Pak Hajj 2025, to provide pilgrims with essential updates, flight details and navigation assistance in Saudi Arabia.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, attracts millions of Muslims annually to Makkah, with Pakistan consistently being among the largest contributors of pilgrims.

Topics: Hajj 2025 Pakistan Hajj Pakistan Hajj mission Hajj applications

ICC talks continue on fate of Pakistan Champions Trophy

Updated 29 November 2024
AFP
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ICC talks continue on fate of Pakistan Champions Trophy

  • Event’s fate has been hanging in the balance since India declined to visit Pakistan
  • ICC meeting adjourned without a decision but will reconvene ‘in the next few days’
Updated 29 November 2024
AFP

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) said talks were continuing to settle uncertainty around next year’s Champions Trophy, sources told AFP, after India refused to travel to host nation Pakistan.
The event’s fate has been hanging in the balance since earlier this month, when the ICC said India had declined to visit Pakistan for the eight-team tournament.
The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent’s partition in 1947 and that rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field.
A meeting by the Dubai-headquartered ICC was held briefly on Friday but adjourned without a decision, according to several sources with knowledge of the talks who were not authorized to speak to media.
“All parties continue to work toward a positive resolution,” said one source, adding that “it is expected that the board will reconvene in the next few days.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board has previously ruled out proposals allowing India to play in a neutral third country, insisting the full schedule from February 19 to March 9 must be staged on their turf.
Another source said the “Pakistani stance remains the same” following Friday’s brief meeting.

Topics: ICC ICC Champions Trophy 2025 champions trophy Pakistan cricket Pakistan Cricket Board

No let-up in Kurram fighting in Pakistan as death toll hits 98 amid fragile ceasefire

Updated 29 November 2024
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No let-up in Kurram fighting in Pakistan as death toll hits 98 amid fragile ceasefire

  • Tribal elders in the area say dozens of families have moved from the region to safer locations
  • Pakistani parliamentarian from Kurram puts the death toll at 110, seeking government intervention
Updated 29 November 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: Sporadic gunfire and violence persist in Pakistan’s Kurram district despite a ceasefire brokered last weekend by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) administration in the region, following sectarian clashes that have killed 98 and injured over 130 in the last nine days, a police official said Friday.
Kurram, a former semi-autonomous tribal area bordering Afghanistan, has a long history of violent conflicts that have claimed hundreds of lives over the years. A major conflict in the district, triggered in 2007, lasted for years before being resolved by a jirga, or council of tribal elders, in 2011.
The recent clashes in the restive district broke out when gunmen attacked a convoy carrying members of the minority Shiite community in Lower Kurram on November 21, killing 41 people.
Wazir Hussain, a police official stationed in the region, told Arab News that the ceasefire agreement had collapsed, adding that there was no let-up in clashes.
“Armed clashes have continued throughout the district,” he said over the phone. “There is a huge problem of communication because mobile signals and Internet have not been working for days.”
“Almost 98 people have died and over 130 injured in nine days of violence,” he continued. “Ceasefire agreement is nowhere and both the sides have been hitting each other’s positions with small and heavy weapons.”
Last Sunday, the provincial spokesperson of KP, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, announced in a statement that the two warring sides had agreed to temporarily halt attacks and enforce a seven-day ceasefire.
The development followed Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s statement that his administration was working toward a ceasefire before formulating a strategy to prevent such incidents in the future after consulting local elders.
Hameed Hussain, a Pakistani parliamentarian from Kurram, also confirmed while speaking to Arab News that the ceasefire brokered by the KP authorities had failed to hold up in all these days.
He said the death toll had exceeded 98 and stood at 110.
“Only last night’s clashes in Kalkuna, Badshah Kot and other villages have left 18 people dead,” he informed, adding that jirga members were trying to pacify the situation, but the government was finding it difficult to enforce its writ in the area.
Hussain said he had spoken with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier and briefed him about the situation.
“I told the PM that the government should at least secure the roads in Kurram for passengers to travel securely,” he added. “The prime minister promised to ensure durable peace in the area and take steps to resolve the issue.”
Kurram’s Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud told the media the district administration was making efforts to implement the ceasefire agreement.
“A breakthrough to halt attacks and enforce the ceasefire is expected soon,” he added.
The clashes in Kurram mark one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent years, following outbreaks of sectarian violence in July and September that killed dozens.
According to local elders, dozens of families have moved from the region to safer locations to avoid casualties.

Topics: militancy in Pakistan kurram kurram district parachinar

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