Latest news with #PunjabAssembly
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Punjab Assembly Speaker suspends 26 opposition members
The Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmed Khan on Saturday suspended 26 members of the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), for disrupting Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's speech and causing chaos in the assembly session, according to Aaj News. The Assembly Secretariat confirmed that the suspension was issued under Rule 210(3) of the Assembly Rules, barring the members from attending the next 15 assembly sittings. During the session, opposition members shouted slogans, engaged in physical shoving, and tore official documents, violating the assembly's rules of conduct. The Speaker 'condemned' their behavior, saying such disorderly conduct damages the dignity and discipline of the House. He acknowledged that while protesting is a right of assembly members, it must follow the limits set by the Constitution and parliamentary procedures. The Speaker emphasized that maintaining order in the assembly is essential and will be strictly enforced. The suspended lawmakers include Malik Fahad Masood, Muhammad Tanveer Aslam, SSyed Riffat Mehmood, Yasir Mahmood, Kaleem Ullah, Ansar Iqbal, Ali Asif, Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Ahmad Mujtaba Chaudhary, Imtiaz Mehmood, Ali Imtiaz, Muhammad Ejaz Shafi, Sajjad Ahmad, and others. The suspension came after the opposition's loud protests disrupted the assembly during the Chief Minister's address, forcing the Speaker to take action to uphold the assembly's dignity and ensure smooth proceedings.
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Fulfilling IMF conditions was no easy task, says CM Maryam
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated that the Punjab government's decision not to impose a single new tax in the provincial budget is nothing short of a miracle. She emphasized that instead of introducing new taxes, the government expanded the tax net. She also announced that Punjab's domestic debt, which had persisted for the last 30 years, had been reduced to zero. Addressing the Punjab Assembly, CM Maryam Nawaz said fulfilling the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) conditions while meeting the province's constitutional responsibilities was no easy task. She remarked that running over 150 development projects and allocating Punjab's resources for public welfare made achieving the IMF's stringent surplus target extremely challenging—yet her administration succeeded. Maryam Nawaz highlighted that unlike previous governments, her administration did not merely announce projects but also implemented Punjab's largest-ever annual cash-backed development program. She revealed that last year's Annual Development Program (ADP) was worth Rs. 840 billion, but due to successful project execution and public demand, it was increased to over Rs. 1 trillion. Out of this, Rs. 1.013 trillion had already been spent on public welfare, marking the highest allocation in Punjab's development history. She noted that Punjab's fund utilization, previously at Rs. 585 billion, had now reached Rs. 1,100 billion. The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), acknowledging that their support was instrumental in these achievements. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz added that those who once called for the political ouster of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had now been sidelined themselves—not by others, but by their own poor performance. 'Those who chanted 'minus Nawaz' are now themselves 'minus.' Even Aleema Khan has acknowledged this,' she said, referring to recent remarks by Khan's sister. Taking a firm stance against her opponents, the CM stated that false promises to South Punjab had long been a political tactic to form and dismantle governments. 'Unlike previous governments, we have moved beyond slogans. We are delivering on our promises,' she declared, announcing the launch of the province's largest clean drinking water project, starting in South Punjab. Her remarks were met with protests and noise from the opposition benches. Responding calmly, she said, 'Let them protest. I respect their democratic right.' Maryam also presented what she termed a 'historic' and 'tax-free' provincial budget of Rs. 5,335 billion, praising Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman and Finance Secretary Mujahid Sherdil for crafting a budget aligned with Nawaz Sharif's economic vision. Referencing military and diplomatic achievements, she congratulated the nation on 'the victory over India' and commended the armed forces and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for their leadership. She also condemned Israel's recent strikes on Iran, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to peace and solidarity with the Iranian people. Maryam Nawaz underscored her administration's equitable development efforts, stating, 'Every district—whether Bhakkar, Layyah, Rajanpur, D.G. Khan, or Rahim Yar Khan—has the same share in development as Lahore.' She clarified that her competition was not with political rivals but with her own family's legacy. 'My benchmark is Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif—I aim to surpass their record of public service.' The Chief Minister also acknowledged the Mines and Minerals Department's contributions, citing Rs. 30 billion in savings, and noted that public spending had risen by only 3%, including pay and pension increases. Opposition members in the Punjab Assembly may be barred from entering the premises following their misconduct during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's speech. They created chaos, hurled abusive slogans, and tore copies of the agenda, throwing them toward the Chief Minister and Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. During her address, opposition members attempted to approach the Speaker's chair, shouting slogans and disrupting proceedings. Government members intervened to restrain them. Sources indicate the opposition could face entry restrictions due to their actions, including storming the Speaker's podium, using inappropriate language, and throwing documents. It may be recalled that Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan had issued a ruling the previous day outlining a code of conduct for assembly sessions. The ruling prohibits reading books/newspapers or bringing them into the house. It also prohibits passing between a speaking member and the chair. Additionally, eating, drinking, chewing, or smoking inside the assembly is not allowed. Damaging furniture or electronic equipment is strictly prohibited, and carrying sticks or rods without the Speaker's permission is forbidden. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
SC calls for review of Nikahnama form
Listen to article The Supreme Court has asked the federal government as well as the provincial governments to review the 'Nakahnama form' in order to make it user-friendly, effectively safeguarding the rights of the parties, particularly the women. A three-member bench of the apex court, led by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, noted that without reviewing the Nikahnama form as a whole, the positive step taken by the Punjab government might not achieve the intended goal of protecting the rights of women. The Nikahnama form has been prescribed in the Ordinance of 1961 and notified as part of the schedule of the Rules of 1961. However, the federal government is empowered to make rules in respect of the cantonment areas and the provincial governments in their respective areas of jurisdiction. According to a 22-page judgment, authored by Justice Athar Minallah in a family dispute case, the expressions used in the current Nikahnama form were ambiguous and, therefore, open to be misconstrued. The judgment said that the federal and the provincial governments might consider reviewing the Nikahnama form "to make it more user-friendly", so that "even a literate person of ordinary prudence does not have difficulty in understanding its requirements" and the columns. The judgment stressed the need for removing the "ambiguities likely to arise from the vague and ambiguous expressions used in the headings of the columns in the form currently prescribed" under the Ordinance of 1961, read with the Rules of 1961. "This would not only protect the rights of the parties in general and the women in particular but would also reduce litigation since a more user-friendly prescribed form of the Nikahnama will give rise to lesser disputes," the judgment said. The court noted that Nikah might also be solemnised by a person other than a Nikah registrar. However, it stated that the integrity, competence, knowledge and understanding of the Nikah registrars were crucial for effectively safeguarding the rights of the parties, particularly the women. In the province of Punjab, the judgment continued, the Act of 2015 imposed a statutory upon the Nikah registrar to accurately fill all the columns of the Nikahnama with specific answers of the bride and the groom. The court said that a breach of this statutory duty exposed a Nikah registrar to penal consequences ie imprisonment for up to one month and a Rs25,000 fine. It added the purpose was to protect women from exploitation and provide them with expeditious resolution of family disputes and ancillary matters. "The legislature [Punjab Assembly] was, therefore, conscious of the challenges faced by women in the context of exercising their rights relating to settling the terms and conditions of marriage," Justice Minallah wrote. "The Act of 2015, through which sub-sections (2A) and (4)(i) were inserted in Section 5 of the Ordinance of 1961, was definitely appreciable in securing the rights of the parties, particularly the women, keeping in view the social and cultural norms prevalent in many parts of the country," he said. The court also said that it was indeed a step in the right direction in order to reduce the number of disputes and consequently the volume of litigation as well. "However, we are of the opinion that without reviewing the prescribed form of the Nikahnama as a whole, particularly the expressions used in the headings of the columns, this positive step taken in the province of Punjab may not achieve its intended goal of protecting the rights of women in particular." The Nikah registrars, the judgment stated, had the most important role in ensuring that each party exercised her or his rights and that the entries recorded in a Nikahnama correctly reflected their intention. "It is a statutory duty of each Government to guide the Union Councils in setting out adequate qualifications and criteria for the granting of licences to persons for performing the functions of Nikah registrars," it stated. "Moreover, training and evaluation of performance of those who have been licensed would further guarantee that the social or cultural norms and influences do not prevail over the absolute rights bestowed upon women under the law," it added. "The Governments may also consider taking steps to ensure that persons of integrity and those who possess the required qualification and knowledge are granted licences and regular audits of the record relating to Nikahnamas maintained by the Union Councils are conducted." The court directed the Registrar Office to send copies of this judgment to the cabinet secretary, government of Pakistan, and the chief secretaries of the respective provinces so that they might place it before the competent authorities and forums for considering the observations. The court expected that effective steps would be taken to ensure safeguarding the rights of the parties to a marriage contract, particularly the bride, who might be more vulnerable on account of multiple factors, including the cultural and social norms and beliefs.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab PA approves Rs5,335bn budget
LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Thursday approved a tax-free budget of Rs 5,335 billion for the fiscal year 2025-26, maintaining the current tax structure without imposing any new taxes. The Finance Bill 2025-26 was also passed, ensuring no changes in provincial taxes, property tax, or transport tax, with no additional levies on industries, agriculture, health, or education sectors. During the session, the House approved 41 demands for grants worth Rs4,306.9792 billion, while rejecting eight cut motions presented by the opposition. The newly passed budget and finance bill will take effect from July 1, 2025. Key allocations in the budget includes; Rs120 billion for construction of roads and bridges, Rs462 billion for pensions, Rs258 billion for healthcare facilities, Rs137 billion for education reforms, Rs200 billion for police to maintain law and order, Rs27 billion for jail administration, Rs1 billion for civil defence, Rs26 billion for farmers welfare, Rs66 billion for agricultural loans, Rs18.22 billion for industrial development and Rs37.96 billion for irrigation projects. Moreover, the assembly approved Rs910 billion for various development projects, Rs161 billion for government buildings, Rs26.5 billion for agriculture, Rs19 billion for veterinary services and Rs1.6 billion for fisheries. Grants for registration, stamps, motor vehicle acts, and excise were also approved. Four significant bills were presented by Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman which include Punjab Autism School and Resource Centre Bill 2025, Urban Immovable Property Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025, Essential Commodities Price Control (Amendment) Bill 2025 and Punjab Labour Courts Bill 2025 These bills were referred to relevant standing committees, with the Speaker seeking reports within two months. During the session, government member Saeed Akbar Nawani raised objections over duplicate serial numbers (35 and 41) in the demands for grants, suggesting they should be merged for clarity. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman responded that the practice was longstanding but assured a review to determine if a technical merger was feasible. The Punjab Assembly session was commenced under the chairmanship of Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan after a delay of 4 hours and 6 minutes. The proceedings began with heated exchanges over a point of order, as government member Munawar Ghous lashed out at the alleged illegal actions of the Counter-Cybercrime Department (CCD). Ghous claimed that a former councillor from his constituency was unlawfully arrested by a CCD DSP, handcuffed, paraded in public, and humiliated. He further alleged that the officer slapped the detainee, recorded videos, and encouraged bystanders to film the incident, saying, 'Look at him and make videos.' Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan termed the act unconstitutional and illegal, stating, 'If a video was indeed made, it violates both the law and a High Court order.' He directed the Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs to investigate the matter, calling it a 'bad practice.' In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman assured the assembly that he would look into the issue immediately. The Speaker also emphasized the need for the government to disarm the public, stating, 'I will consider this government successful only when it retrieves weapons from people's hands.' He expressed concern over personal vendettas leading to entire villages living in fear, urging the minister to take the matter to the cabinet. 'Armed civilians spread terror, and murders are occurring in broad daylight,' he added. Minister Shujaur Rehman responded that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was already working on a campaign to eliminate weapons from society and eradicate such a culture. He recalled that the cabinet had previously discussed reopening arms licences in Punjab. Meanwhile, Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan read the ruling regarding his decision on June 16th incident in which the Speaker suspend opposition member Hassan Malik for his misconduct during the budget session. The Speaker stated that opposition members attempted to disrupt the budget speech, with Hassan Malik allegedly throwing the budget book at the Finance Minister. 'After reviewing the video footage, it became clear that this behaviour was repeated, forcing the Finance Minister to halt his speech,' the Speaker said. While acknowledging that protest is a constitutional right, he emphasized, 'I will not allow the assembly to be taken over. I have the authority to suspend members for misconduct. Attempts to obstruct House proceedings will not be tolerated.' The Speaker warned that strict action would be taken against any member trying to disrupt the assembly's functioning. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Tensions flare as PA clears Rs3.67tr in grants
The Punjab Assembly on Thursday approved 36 out of 41 demands for grants worth Rs3,667.71 billion for various departments, rejecting all cut motions presented by the Opposition. The cut motions, which sought to reduce budgetary allocations on grounds of alleged mismanagement and poor performance, targeted key departments such as police, education, health, agriculture, and public health. However, the treasury benches dismissed them by majority vote. The grants were part of the total Rs4,306 billion budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. A day earlier, on June 25, the Assembly had passed five of the demands amounting to Rs638.29 billion. The presentation of grants followed the conclusion of a five-day general discussion on the budget, led by Provincial Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman. Among the grants approved was Rs1,036.96 billion for miscellaneous expenditures, which drew particular criticism from Opposition lawmakers. Sheikh Imtiaz, a member of the Opposition, argued that this amount made up 20% of the total budget and questioned the lack of transparency about the institutions covered under this category. In response, Finance Minister Rehman clarified that this amount included allocations for various authorities, the Pay and Pension Fund (PF), as well as initiatives related to Women Development, Baitul Maal and Zakat and Ushr. The Assembly also approved Rs125.23 billion for general administration and Rs9.54 billion for housing and physical planning, despite similar objections raised by the Opposition regarding lack of clarity and alleged overlaps with other departments. With the Opposition's cut motions exhausted, the remaining grants were presented and passed through voting. These included allocations of over Rs.462 billion for pensions, more than Rs.910 billion for development projects, Rs200.10 billion for the police department, Rs258.97 billion for health services, Rs137.53 billion for education, Rs26.53 billion for agriculture, and Rs15.16 billion for public health. Several other departments, including those related to justice, jails, museums, and infrastructure, also received substantial funding through approved demands.
