Pakistan, India exchange lists of nuclear installations, facilities

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In accordance with the Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, Pakistan and India have exchanged lists of nuclear installations and facilities. The Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India was signed on 31st December 1988 and ratified on 27thRead More →

President Dr. Arif Alvi has refused to sign a bill proposing an increase in the number of union councils in Islamabad, saying that the bill is “aimed at benefiting a particular political party.” The bill, which was passed by the National Assembly last week, proposes to increase the number of union councils in Islamabad from 91 to 121. The President’s Office said in a statement that the President had returned the bill to the National Assembly “as it is against the spirit of democracy and equality.” The statement said that the President had also sought a report from the Ministry of Law and Justice on the legal and constitutional implications of the bill. President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday returned the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2022 unsigned and termed it “anathema to democracy”, explaining that if approved it would “further delay the local government elections”. The President, Dr Arif Alvi, on Sunday returned the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2022 unsigned and termed it “anathema to democracy”, explaining that if approved it would “further delay the local government elections”. Dr Alvi said that the bill was a “blatant attempt” to delay the polls, which were due in the capital later this year, and called on the government to immediately hold the elections. The president’s stance was welcomed by the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), with its chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, saying that holding local body polls was the “democratic right” of the people of Islamabad. The bill aims to increase the number of union councils in ICT from 101 to 125 and direct election of mayor and deputy mayor. The bill, known as the ICT Amendment Bill 2020, was presented to the National Assembly by Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. The major amendments in the bill are: 1. Increasing the number of union councils in the ICT from 101 to 125 2. Direct election of the mayor and deputy mayor 3. Halting the establishment of any new private university in the ICT 4. A ban on the award of honorary degrees by private universities in the ICT 5. Setting up a five-member ICT Regulatory Authority The president also said that it was also stated that local government elections were delayed in Islamabad due to “malafide actions” of the federal government. Last month, the upper house of the parliament passed the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2022, as the opposition lambasted Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani for “suddenly” summoning the Senate session requisitioned by the government without taking the opposition into the loop. The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2020 was presented to the National Assembly by Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Tuesday. The major amendments in the bill are: 1. Increasing the number of union councils in the ICT from 101 to 125 2. Direct election of the mayor and deputy mayor 3. Halting the establishment of any new private university in the ICT 4. A ban on the award of honorary degrees by private universities in the ICT 5. Setting up a five-member ICT Regulatory Authority The president also said that it was also stated that local government elections were delayed in Islamabad due to “malafide actions” of the federal government. The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2020 was presented to the National Assembly by Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Tuesday. The major amendments in the bill are: 1. Increasing the number of union councils in the ICT from 101 to 125 2. Direct election of the mayor and deputy mayor 3. Halting the establishment of any new private university in the ICT 4. A ban on the award of honorary degrees by private universities in the ICT 5. Setting up a five-member ICT Regulatory Authority The president also said that it was also stated that local government elections were delayed in Islamabad due to “malafide actions” of the federal government. Last month, the upper house of the parliament passed “Stop these stealthy midnight attacks on the parliament; stop undermining the dignity and sovereignty of this august house,” deplored Leader of the Opposition in Senate Dr Shahzad Waseem. The Senate’s 323rd session was prorogued only 25 minutes after it was summoned—apparently to only pass the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2022. This bill was not part of the agenda of the hurriedly-called Senate session and was introduced in the supplementary agenda. This infuriated the opposition lawmakers who came down hard on the chairman Senate for “blindly toeing the line of government.” The upper house of parliament passed the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2022 last month, much to the dismay of the opposition lawmakers. The bill was not part of the agenda of the Senate session, leading the opposition to accuse the chairman Senate of blindly toeing the line of government. Leader of the Opposition in Senate Dr Shahzad Waseem was particularly critical, deploring the government's "stealthy midnight attacks on the parliament." The Senate's 323rd session was prorogued only 25 minutes after it was summoned. The opposition then staged a walkout of the house but returned to the house later. Sanjrani also drew opposition’s ire for not referring the bill to the relevant standing committee and putting it before the house for passage. The opposition has accused the Senate chairman of blindly toeing the line of government after a bill was passed during a late-night session. Leader of the Opposition in Senate Dr Shahzad Waseem was particularly critical, deploring the government's "stealthy midnight attacks on the parliament." The Senate's 323rd session was prorogued only 25 minutes after it was summoned. The opposition then staged a walkout of the house but returned to the house later. Sanjrani also drew opposition’s ire for not referring the bill to the relevant standing committee and putting it before the house for passage. Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) dismissed as being in violation of the law, the federal government’s decision to increase the number of UCs in ICT from 101 to 125, indicating that the LG elections in ICT would be held on the already announced date of December 31. The Interior Ministry notified that the number of UCs in ICT was increased from 101 to 125 under Sections 4(1) and 6(1) of the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act 2015. This move was strongly criticized by different political and public circles that saw it as a measure to delay the LG polls against the backdrop of increased public popularity of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which won most of the recent by-polls of the assemblies. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has dismissed the federal government's decision to increase the number of UCs in ICT from 101 to 125, indicating that the LG elections in ICT would be held on the already announced date of December 31. The Interior Ministry had notified that the number of UCs in ICT was increased from 101 to 125 under Sections 4(1) and 6(1) of the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act 2015. This move was strongly criticized by different political and public circles that saw it as a measure to delay the LG polls against the backdrop of increased public popularity of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which won most of the recent by-polls of the assemblies.

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President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday returned the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2022 unsigned and termed it “anathema to democracy”, explaining that if approved it would “further delay the local government elections”. The President, Dr Arif Alvi, on Sunday returned the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment)Read More →

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PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry (right) addresses a press conference alongside party leader Musarrat Jamshed Cheema in Lahore on December 24, 2022. YouTube/GeoNews PTI to finalise date after consultations with Elahi, Moonis. “We are confident that we have the majority,” Fawad says. PTI still adamant about dissolving the legislative.Read More →