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Business Recorder
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PTI strategy stalls oath-taking of reserved seat lawmakers in KP Assembly
A session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly scheduled for oath-taking of lawmakers on reserved seats was adjourned on Sunday after the treasury benches raised the issue of quorum, a deliberate move seen as part of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) strategy to delay the process amid internal rifts and growing pressure ahead of Senate elections, Aaj News reported. The assembly session, scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m., was delayed by nearly two and a half hours and eventually adjourned until July 24 at 2:00 p.m. due to a lack of quorum. The adjournment halted the swearing-in of several women and minority lawmakers from the opposition, despite their presence in the house. The session, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, began only briefly before PTI lawmaker Sher Ali Afridi pointed out the quorum, prompting government members to start leaving the hall one by one. Only four PTI lawmakers were present in the chamber at the time, sources said. Opposition parties, including PML-N, JUI-F, and PPP, slammed the government's tactics, accusing it of deliberately obstructing the democratic process. Several opposition lawmakers gathered in front of the speaker's dais, shouting slogans and urging him to proceed with the oath-taking. Speaker Swati noted that the required strength of 25 members was not met, and therefore, the session could not continue. A female member from the opposition objected, saying quorum cannot be pointed out during Quranic recitation, but the speaker insisted on counting members before any further debate. Among those present to take oath were PML-N's Farah Khan, Amina Sardar, Faiza Malik, Shazia Jadoon, Afsha Hussain, Jameela Paracha, and Sonia Hussain, along with JUI-F's Bilqees, Sitara Afrin, and Aiman Jaleel Jan. PPP's Madiha Afridi and Rabia Shaheen, and other minority and women lawmakers were also in attendance. PHC bars elected MPAs on reserved seats from taking oath The move comes amid reports of widening cracks within the ruling PTI's provincial chapter. According to party insiders, tensions between Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and a breakaway faction of PTI lawmakers have intensified, particularly over the allocation of Senate tickets. Sources claimed that the party leadership, anticipating backlash from disgruntled members, had devised a 'Plan B' to avoid the oath-taking altogether. The tactic: disrupt the quorum to prevent the opposition from gaining voting strength ahead of the upcoming Senate elections. Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah told reporters that if the government continues to block the process, the opposition alliance has alternative legal routes to ensure the swearing-in takes place. He added that any delay is a 'blatant subversion of parliamentary norms' and called on the Election Commission to take notice. Meanwhile, opposition parties held an emergency meeting at the Governor's House to outline their next steps. With political temperatures rising in the province, both sides appear locked in a high-stakes standoff that could shape the composition of the upper house in the weeks to come.
Express Tribune
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Safari park in Ghari Chandhan proposed
Special Assistant to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Forests, Environment, Wildlife, and Climate Change, Pir Musavir Khan, has proposed declaring the Ghari Chandan Plantation as a safari park to promote wildlife. He visited Gharri Chandan in Peshawar on Sunday. During his visit, he reviewed the species planted under the Billion Tree Plantation Project. Chairman DDAC Peshawar, Sher Ali Afridi, Conservator forest, other officers of forest department and local residents were also present on the occasion. While briefing the Special Assistant about the Ghari Chandan Plantation, it was shared that approximately 2,400 hectares of land had been afforested, contributing to a seven per cent increase in the province's forest area. During the visit, the Special Assistant also met with the landowners of Ghari Chandan, who shared their demands, concerns, and issues. Pir Musavir Khan informed the landowners that a project for nine solar-powered tube wells in the Gharri Chandan and surrounding areas had been included in the Annual Development Program. Speaking about the trees in Gharri Chandan, SACM said that 30 per cent of the area had been planted with eucalyptus trees, and a survey was being conducted for their harvesting. The revenue generated from this would be shared, with 80 per cent going to the landowners. Additionally, he proposed declaring Gharri Chandan as a safari park. This would not only ensure the protection of wildlife but also provide employment opportunities to local residents. Regarding the salaries of the Neguhban Force in Gharri Chandan, he assured that the salaries for January and February would be paid soon. Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has launched an ambitious spring plantation drive to fight deforestation, reduce air pollution, and tackle the region's mounting climate change challenges. The campaign, which spans from Chitral to DI Khan and Kohistan to Waziristan, aims to plant 2.6 million saplings throughout the province. The afforestation campaign was also carried out in all seven tribal districts where elders, farmers and religious scholars were involved. Musawar Khan, the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Environment and Forests, said that the initiative will plant a range of tree species, including both regular and fruit-bearing varieties in K-P. He told media that l Central-Southern Forest Region will see the planting of 892,000 saplings, while the Northern Forest Region will receive over a million1,057,000 saplings. Additionally, the Forest Department will directly plant 560,000 saplings across the province. In Peshawar, 82,544 saplings will be planted along with 480,000 seasonal plants, which will be planted twice a year. Key areas targeted for plantation include Hayatabad, Regi Model Town, GT Road, Jamrud Road, Ring Road, Motorway, and Northern Bypass. The initiative also includes 1,300 climber plants to be planted along the BRT flyovers and pillars. The Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) has already planted over 191,000 trees in the city over the past three years.
