Even Trump deals with 'real power', not PM, says Miftah
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday, Miftah stated, "If the PML-N returns to its original narrative of 'respect the vote,' a political alliance with Awam Pakistan Party is possible."
Clarifying recent allegations, Miftah said he does not engage in blame games. Referring to accusations made by Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Senator Anusha Rahman regarding the Nashonuma programme under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), he categorically denied any wrongdoing and demanded a public apology.
"The allegations are false and baseless. If they do not apologise, I will take them to court," he warned.
He offered condolences to the families of victims of the Gwadar incident, recent rains and other tragic accidents.
Criticising governance failures, he said, while people were drowning in floods, the Punjab government's performance drowned with them. "As for Sindh and K-P, no one expects good governance from them anyway."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
PAC lambasts govt's faulty sugar policies
Listen to article As a sugar crisis persists in the country, officials on Tuesday shared with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) the names of the 67 sugar mills that exported 750,000 tons of sugar worth Rs111 billion to 21 countries over the past year. During a PAC meeting chaired by Junaid Akbar, the industries and production secretary said in 2023-24 Pakistan had surplus sugar of 1.3 million tons, of which 790,000 tons were approved for export. He said that 1.9 million tons of sugar was still available in stock, which could last until November, adding that the sugar crushing season runs from November 15 to March 15. Despite these figures, several committee members expressed dissatisfaction with the situation. The secretary for national food security claimed that the average retail price of sugar was Rs173 per kg but members, including Omar Ayub, said sugar was sold for more than Rs200 in their constituencies. Senator Fauzia Arshad reported that sugar was nearly unavailable in the market and what was available was unaffordable for ordinary citizens. PAC members heavily criticized the government's inconsistent sugar policiesexporting sugar one year and importing it the next. MNA Khawaja Shehraz Mehmood called it a "daylight robbery" and said that the same companies making huge profits from exports are now benefiting from imports. MNA Amir Dogar made direct allegations against political leaders, claiming that the highest number of sugar mills are owned by President Asif Ali Zardari, politician Jahangir Tareen, and the Sharif family. He alleged that Rs287 billion had gone into the pockets of a few powerful individuals. The remarks caused heated arguments between Dogar and other members, including Senator Afnan Ullah of the PML-N and Shazia Marri of the PPP, who demanded that such serious claims be backed with evidence. Further tension arose when Chairman Akbar questioned why the list of sugar mill owners and directors had not been submitted to the committee earlier. Officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) assured that the list has now been obtained and will be presented soon. He questioned how long sugar remains usable in storage, to which the secretary of industries responded that sugar begins to spoil after 3-4 months unless special precautions are taken. The meeting was told that the government is planning to import 300,000 tons of sugar to meet demand before the next crushing season begins. Lawmakers demanded that the government ensure this import does not harm farmers and that sugar is not brought in from countries where it was earlier exported. The PAC directed all relevant ministries to submit detailed reports and warned that future briefings would not be accepted without complete documentation. According to documents seen by The Express Tribune, JDW Sugar Mills topped the list by exporting 73,000 metric tons of sugar worth Rs11.1 billion. Tandlianwala Sugar Mills came second with 41,412 metric tons worth Rs5.98 billion. Ramzan Sugar Mills exported sugar worth Rs2.41 billion. Chaudhry Sugar Mills exported sugar worth Rs1.49 billion while Al-Arabia Sugar Mills exported Rs1.2 billion worth of sugar. The Auditor General of Pakistan revealed that sugar mills earned over Rs300 billion from recent sugar price fluctuations.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
ECP out on a disqualification spree
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appears to be increasingly under legal siege as a growing number of its lawmakers face disqualification on various charges, many arising from May 9-related cases. The wave of disqualifications has sparked concern among legal experts who argue the process may be circumventing constitutional procedures and eroding democratic norms. Though not unprecedented, the disqualifications are bypassing the route laid out in Article 225 of the Constitution, which states that no election of the national or provincial assembly can be challenged except through an election petition submitted before an election tribunal. Since the restoration of judges in March 2009, lawmakers have been unseated by the superior judiciary – particularly the Supreme Court under former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry – on grounds such as holding fake degrees and dual nationalities. Even former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was shown the door in a contempt case. During the tenure of former chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar, a string of PML-N lawmakers also faced disqualification. Notably, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution. Subsequently, PML-N leaders Nehal Hashmi, Talal Chaudhry and Daniyal Aziz were disqualified in contempt proceedings. Two PML-N senators were also de-seated for holding dual nationalities at the time of filing their nomination papers. Now, it is PTI's turn in the hot seat. So far, four PTI lawmakers – two MNAs, one senator, and one MPA – have been disqualified due to convictions related to the May 9 riots. PTI founder Imran Khan himself was convicted in three separate cases before the 2024 general election, effectively barring him from contesting the polls. Recently, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed concern that up to 39 more lawmakers could face disqualification over similar charges in the coming months. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also jumped into the fray. Acting on references sent by the National Assembly speaker, it has begun the process of unseating PTI MNAs. Most recently, PTI's Jamshed Dasti was disqualified by the ECP for failing to disclose assets in his nomination papers. The commission is now reviewing the eligibility of the leader of the opposition in the NA, Omar Ayub. During the tenure of former chief justice Qazi Faez Isa, the ECP was permitted to conduct recounts in three constituencies, leading to the de-seating of two PTI lawmakers. 'Premature move' Former additional attorney general Waqar Rana criticised the ECP's move as premature. "The most appropriate interpretation of Article 63(1)(g) is that the election commission cannot do it on its own after a member has taken the oath of office." He argued that only upon a reference from the speaker can such a member be disqualified, and that too after the conviction is upheld by the highest court. "Indira Gandhi was disqualified by the court, but on appeal, the sentence was suspended by the Indian Supreme Court in 1975, and she continued to serve as both a member and prime minister," he pointed out. Waqar Rana posed a question: if, on appeal, the conviction is set aside, then how can you disqualify a person? The other question is: how has the ECP assumed that convictions will be maintained in appeal? "It is tragic that ECP continues to undermine the democratic process," he added. Another lawyer noted that Article 225 of the Constitution has become redundant, adding that only election tribunals have jurisdiction to take up such matters. Earlier, parliamentarians belonging to the PPP and PML-N were being sent home through superior courts by the exercise of quo warranto jurisdiction. Now, the same is being done with PTI lawmakers by the ECP, without conducting a trial. Likewise, PTI lawyer Abuzar Salman Niazi said that convictions of several PTI lawmakers by the Anti-Terrorism Court, Sargodha, are judgments delivered by a court of first instance and have not yet attained finality. It is settled law that an appeal constitutes a continuation of the trial and that the judgment of a trial court does not become final until all appellate remedies are exhausted. In Federation of Pakistan v. Gul Hameed Khan (PLD 1975 SC 254), the Supreme Court held that "the appellate process is integral to the administration of justice and a judgment in a trial court remains provisional until the conclusion of appeals". "Therefore, any action taken against the PTI lawmakers prior to the disposal of their appeals would be premature and legally unsustainable." Niazi said that the ECP's notification of disqualification, issued prior to final adjudication, constitutes a violation of the principles of natural justice and due process enshrined under Article 10A of the Constitution. Furthermore, the ECP's failure to provide the lawmakers an opportunity to hear before issuing the disqualification notifications is a grave breach of procedural fairness. "Article 10A guarantees the right to a fair trial, and the principle of audi alteram partem — that no person shall be condemned unheard — is a cornerstone of administrative and judicial proceedings. In Asad Ali Khan v. Province of Punjab (PLD 1986 SC 383), the Court emphasised that "the right to be heard is an essential part of the principle of natural justice and must be observed before any adverse order is passed." "The denial of such hearing rights renders the ECP's action not only unlawful but unconstitutional. Moreover, these convictions do not fall within the ambit of Article 63 of the Constitution; therefore, the procedure followed by the ECP reflects a manifest misreading and misapplication of the law." Lastly, he added, the ECP's selective enforcement of judicial decisions raises serious concerns about its impartiality and commitment to the rule of law. While the ECP rapidly acted to implement the trial court's decision against PTI lawmakers, it has failed to enforce the binding judgment of the Supreme Court's largest bench regarding reserved seats for over a year. He argued that such selective and inconsistent conduct undermines public confidence in the institution and violates the principle of equality before law as guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution. "As held in Justice Qazi Faez Isa v. Federation of Pakistan (2014 SCMR 1272), "the sanctity of constitutional bodies depends on their neutrality, fairness, and adherence to the rule of law." The current conduct of the ECP falls short of these constitutional expectations and requires immediate rectification," he added. A three-judge bench of the Lahore High Court will take up the Dasti disqualification case today (Wednesday). Meanwhile, May 9-related trials have accelerated following a Supreme Court directive mandating the conclusion of all such proceedings within four months. Legal observers argue that the courts have often allowed powerful circles to shape political outcomes by fast-tracking trials against selected parties — first the PML-N during the Panama Papers case, and now the PTI in May 9 cases. Once, the apex court ordered expedited NAB proceedings against the Sharif family; now the same court, under CJP Yahya Afridi, has directed ATCs to wrap up May 9 trials within a similar tight deadline.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Digitisation: tread the path carefully
EDITORIAL: The incumbent government is focused on digitisation in areas of engagement with the general public — which began with the use of ATM cards by the beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), and more recently by a proactive drive towards digitisation by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and yet to be implemented recent decision by the cabinet to print QR codes on all utility bills (electricity, gas, and telephone). The objective of such an exercise is salutary: to ensure all payments to BISP beneficiaries are effectively disbursed and all dues to the government are effectively collected. Reports suggest that many BISP beneficiaries, who are not literate and unable to withdraw the cash themselves, are forced to rely on others to withdraw their quarterly payments. Many who assist beneficiaries charge a flat fee for the withdrawal, while there are some who are unscrupulous and defraud a beneficiary of a sizeable portion of the money. And while some do register a complaint in the FIA yet the amount involved is so small from the FIA's perspective that investigation, if any, is perfunctory. State Bank and FBR have jointly introduced online collection of taxes and duties which, as per the Bank's website, is 'aimed at improving payments system especially in the context of revenue collection besides facilitating taxpayers and minimising incidence of leakages' as 'empirical studies show a strong correlation between electronic tax collection and revenue growth.' This again presupposes that a small or even a medium-sized business would have the necessary manpower — 'computer literacy' — to pay online without incurring any extra cost — a supposition that may not be accurate and may actually push many a prospective taxpayer to opt to operate purely on cash — a trend that is fairly widespread in this country. However, the SBP does note that 'digital risks emanating from the system need to be addressed carefully. Cybersecurity and privacy issues should be prudently tackled for developing taxpayers' trust and making digitisation more progressive.' With respect to QR codes, there is a legitimate concern that QR codes may actually allow the fraudsters to pay off part or whole of someone else's utility bill. In the UK, QR codes are increasingly found in electricity bills that provide tariff details, consumption and other relevant information that may potentially facilitate payment. However, what is relevant to note is that QR codes in use in the UK have features like advanced encryption and string customer authentication that assists in protecting financial information. While the recent thrust by the government towards a cashless economy is supported as its objective is to streamline payment/dues and to ensure fewer delinquents, yet Pakistan has not achieved any degree of cyber security that is critical before this objective can be met. One would hope that the government focuses attention on education; so far the provincial outlays on education have been small and more than offset by budgeting large amounts on physical infrastructure that, disturbingly, is increasingly requiring massive annual maintenance due to the floods as Pakistan remains one of the most climate-stressed countries in the world. To conclude, a holistic approach would entail starting with higher education outlays, at least 6 percent of total expenditure, which would provide the public with the know-how to use the digital platforms effectively and guard themselves against the ever-present likelihood of fraud in this country. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
