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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PM calls to strengthen democratic institutions
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the nation to renew its resolve to strengthen parliamentary institutions, uphold democratic values, and ensure that the voices of the people are truly reflected in the lawmaking process. In a message on the International Day of Parliamentarism, he said, "The day is observed every year on June 30 to reaffirm our global commitment to reinforcing democratic institutions." "The day also celebrates the vital role of Parliaments in promoting inclusive governance, ensuring meaningful representation of women and youth, and embracing technological innovation in legislative practices," he said. The PM noted, "Our Parliament occupies a central place in our democratic framework. Through its legislative authority and the vigilant work of its standing committees, Parliament ensures accountability, transparency, and oversight of the executive." "The Constitution of Pakistan enshrines representation of women through reserved seats under Articles 51 and 59. Our women parliamentarians have also risen to leadership positions: currently, eight women Senators and four women Members of the National Assembly serve as Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committees, breaking glass ceilings and setting an example of inclusive and empowered leadership," he remarked. The prime minister said, "Parliament has also remained proactive in enacting progressive legislation, particularly to advance gender equality and social protection." He said, "As we mark this important day, let us renew our resolve to strengthen parliamentary institutions, safeguard democratic values, and ensure that the voices of the citizenry are truly reflected in the lawmaking process." Chaudhry Nisar Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the residence of disgruntled PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and inquired after his health. According to a statement issued by the PM House, both leaders discussed national and international issues. The meeting was held in a very pleasant atmosphere, and they relived their past memories.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PPP likely to join Centre as power-sharing talks advance
Listen to article After extending crucial support to the federal budget, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is expected to formally join the federal government in July, with the distribution of ministries likely to be finalised next month, sources told Express News. The move comes after weeks of tension between the PPP and the ruling Paksitan Muslim League (PML-N) over budget allocations and controversial tax measures, which had prompted strong criticism from the PPP. The party had accused the government of sidelining Sindh and threatened to withhold support for the budget unless its demands were addressed. However, the deadlock eased when the government agreed to a number of key concessions, including a 20% increase in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) budget and the rollback of proposed powers for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to arrest taxpayers without warrants. Read More: Bilawal explains why PPP supports federal budget Addressing the National Assembly on Thursday, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had said his party would support the federal budget after the government accepted its demands to raise the BISP allocation to Rs716 billion, exempt income tax for salaried individuals earning up to Rs100,000, and reduce sales tax on solar panels. Sources familiar with the negotiations say the PPP's budget support has paved the way for a broader power-sharing arrangement with the PML-N, brokered in part by the establishment. They added that the establishment had assured PPP leadership there would be no change in government and that political continuity was essential for national stability. 'The message was clear: the system must continue — and it will,' a source close to the talks said. Efforts are also underway to bring other political forces on board as part of a larger consensus-building initiative. In the next phase, the PPP is expected to become part of the Punjab government, sources said. Backchannel talks between the two parties are already in progress, though a final agreement has yet to be reached.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Ruling coalition gets two-thirds majority in NA
ISLAMABAD: The ruling coalition, spearheaded by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), got its way to a two-thirds majority in National Assembly on Friday, after the Supreme Court ruling in the reserved seats' case that handed the government a critical advantage. In a narrow 7-5 decision, the Supreme Court's constitutional bench overturned its own previous verdict. The ruling restored a Peshawar High Court (PHC) decision that denied reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) – a party backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The verdict delivered a windfall to the PML-N, which scooped up 15 extra seats. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP), an ally of the government, walked away with four, while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) that is not in government snagged three more. No the government has blown past the 224 seats in the national assembly needed for a constitutional supermajority. That gives Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's coalition not just control but dominance, allowing it to pass sweeping legislation or even amend the constitution with little resistance. Before the top court's ruling, the coalition's tally was slimmer: PML-N held 110 seats, PPP 70, MQM-P 22, and PML-Q 5. Post-ruling, the PML-N now commands 125 seats, PPP rises to 74, and JUI-F clocks in at 11. Meanwhile, the opposition led by the PTI-backed SIC has been effectively boxed in. Its strength has been reduced to 100 seats, including 80 from SIC, 8 independents aligned with PTI, and 8 from JUI-F's split representation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'No political space in sight for PTI'
Political space for opposition parties, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), may have further shrunk after the establishment bolstered its ties with the West, as analysts suggest that the beleaguered party's chances of making a political comeback during the current regime were virtually nonexistent. However, they caution that the budding relationship with the Trump administration could be a volatile, double-edged sword for the powers that be. Former Punjab caretaker chief minister and senior political analyst Hasan Askari said that PTI has no political future under the current dispensation, which he described as being firmly controlled by a powerful establishment. According to him, the establishment has only grown stronger in the wake of two mini-wars in the region. 'This setup will not cede any space to PTI, as it would mark the beginning of their own undoing. They cannot afford for PTI to do politicking on the streets. As long as they have power, they will keep Imran behind bars,' Askari said. He further noted that no government since Benazir Bhutto's first stint in power had ceded this much ground to the military as the current one has. Askari said that the current setup, which derives its strength "from the very top," could last for a considerable period. However, when it falls, 'it will go down like a house of cards'. He added that PTI will likely outlive this regime and will 'rise from the ruins' the moment it is granted political space. Regarding Pakistan's relations with the US, he said that Islamabad's 'relations with America will last for as long as their interests and ours are aligned'. Pakistan may benefit in the short term, he added, but this relationship is contextual. 'Tomorrow, when our utility diminishes, so will the warmth in the relationship.' Another political analyst, Rasool Bakhsh Rais, said that while PTI may currently be in a bind, it was rapidly regaining ground. 'PML-N and PPP are steadily losing what little public legitimacy they had,' he said. Rais pointed to the Supreme Court's recent decision to hand over PTI's reserved seats to PML-N and PPP, saying it 'has exposed the underbelly of this hybrid-plus regime'. He said that the West has a long history of supporting dictatorships and autocratic regimes when it suits its interests. 'Even in our case, American support for the establishment is only delegitimising the political government. The system might have gained strength, but constitutionally it has become frail.' He added that PTI founder Imran Khan would not buckle under pressure and would stand his ground. 'Imran Khan is a beacon of hope for Pakistan's political system. His stand is in the interest of the country,' Rais said. He noted that while the current dispensation may ignore public perception for now, 'soon they will understand what the opinion of a common man is worth'. Another analyst, Salman Abid, agreed that cordial ties with the US come at a price. He described the US-Pakistan relationship as purely transactional. 'America has significant strategic interests in this region, and it sees Pakistan as crucial to achieving those goals,' he said, adding that this friendship would not come as a 'free lunch". Abid expressed concern that Pakistan's growing closeness with the US could distance it from its long-time ally, China. 'This system has no political weight, and it will continue to function only so long as it has wind in its sails,' he said. He warned that such power structures in Pakistan have a long history of failing spectacularly.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
K-P CM warns Centre of tit-for-tat response
Listen to article Rawalpindi Central Jail authorities on Thursday once again refused to allow key PTI leaders including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and veteran politician Makhdoom Javed Hashmi to meet PTI founder Imran Khan, who is detained at the prison facility. Talking to the media later, Gandapur expressed his anger at the "unjustified restrictions" imposed on the executive head of a province and vowed to pay the PML-N led federal government in the same coin. Hashmi, who also remained a part of the PTI from 2012 to 2014, also condemned the move. The K-P chief minister stated that they had to meet the former prime minister in order to brief him on the K-P budget but the authorities did not allow this to happen. "The K-P budget approval process has not yet been completed and the budget session is ongoing," he added. Cracks in the former ruling party became more pronounced after the K-P Assembly on Tuesday approved the provincial budget. Some PTI leaders expressed amazement at the provincial government's "haste" with Imran's sisters claiming that the PTI founder was not consulted ahead of the approval. Gandapur said he could respond to refusal by authorities to let them meet their incarcerated leader by imposing restrictions on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to the K-P. The PTI has been in power in the K-P since 2013. He said Imran, the PTI patron-in-chief, was to give his input before the budget was passed but he, the K-P chief minister, was prevented from meeting him. He said law or the Constitution are being violated; institutions are not functioning and even the judiciary is not independent. "We were told by jail authorities that we could not meet Imran as a precautionary measure, as if we are terrorists. A meeting with the party founder will eventually happen, but the current method is wrong," he said. He said the party has filed a civil miscellaneous application (CMA) in the Supreme Court as well and asked as to what action has been taken on the letters that Imran Khan wrote to the chief justice of Pakistan, Gandapur also asked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz as to how much authority does the Punjab Home Department actually have in allowing and disallowing a meeting between Imran Khan and his party leaders. He said as a chief minister, it is his right to visit any jail and meet with any prisoner. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi also spoke on the occasion, stating that no one could implement "the minus-Imran formula". He said he had come to Adiala Jail to express solidarity with the PTI founder. Hashmi said he had distanced himself from Imran when he had got closer to the establishment. "Imran does not want freedom, he only demands rule of law," he added.
