Politics

Govt claims Reko Diq issue settled with Akhtar Mengal, BNP-M denies

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

Tarar says he was in touch with coalition partners over Reko Diq.
BNP-M vice president says their concerns weren’t addressed.
Says law minister’s statement was contrary to facts.

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP) has denied the claims of federal Minister for Law Azam Nazir Tarar, who said that issue surrounding the Reko Diq deal had been resolved with the party head.

The federal cabinet earlier this week approved funding for the project but coalition partners BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) had some concerns regarding it. Moreover, Mengal even warned of parting ways with the federal government.

However, Law minister Tarar claimed that the matters had been resolved with Mengal, saying that he was in touch with the BNP-M chief and other coalition partners who wanted to limit the Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection) Act, 2022 to Reko Diq.

Responding to the claim, BNP-M Vice President Malik Wali Kakar said that their grievances had not been addressed by the federal government. He refuted Tarar’s statement that the issue had been resolved and said the minister’s statement was contrary to the facts.

He also said Federal Minister Ayaz Sadiq had sought time for a meeting, which would be agreed upon after consultation with his party.

Fazl-Mengal discussion on Reko Diq

On Tuesday, PDM Chairman and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and BNP chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal expressed reservations about not taking them into confidence on the legislation concerning Reko Diq.

Fazl met Mengal in which matters pertaining to the overall political situation of the country and Balochistan came under discussion.

In this regard, sources said both the leaders expressed concern over not being taken into confidence on the Reko Diq legislation and agreed to adopt a joint political strategy.

BNP-P summons core committee meeting

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tried to allay the allies’ apprehensions.

The sources have claimed that Mengal, who was considering parting ways with the ruling coalition, had summoned a meeting of BNP-M’s core committee to discuss the recent developments and future plan of action.

The former chief minister of Balochistan had also refused to support the Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection) Bill, 2022 in the lower house of parliament. However, the ruling alliance, while apparently bulldozing the concerns raised by the allies, managed to take the parliament’s nod on the bill.

SC okays deal

Last week, the apex court declared the new deal between a Canadian firm and the government on the Reko Diq project legal.

A five-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, shared its opinion on a reference sent by President Arif Alvi.

Canadian company Barrick Gold, which ended a long-standing dispute with Pakistan in March last to strike a new agreement, earlier asked the federal government to get clearance from parliament and the country’s top court to make its investment in the project safe.

In its short verdict, the apex court observed that the government had signed the agreement after taking the Balochistan Assembly into confidence and consulting experts.

Latest News

MQM-P seeks the chairmanship of standing committees

Published

9 hours ago

Farwa

According to people familiar with the case, a MQM-P team met with Sindh Assembly Speaker Qadir Shah and Sindh Interior Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar.

During the meeting, the provincial assembly’s standing committees were discussed, and MQM-P demanded that 14 standing committees be chaired by them.

The gathering focussed on discussions about the formation of standing committees within the provincial assembly. It was revealed that MQM-P advocated for the appointment of chairmanships to 14 standing committees.

The MQM-P has prioritized the Standing Committees on Interior, Education, Health, Finance, Industries, and KMC, submitting a list to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership.

According to sources, the PPP has sought time to reflect on the situation and respond after conferring with senior leadership.

Meanwhile, the MQM claimed that as the second-largest party in the House, they should be given chairmanship of the 14 standing committees.

Latest News

Fazlur Rehman supports the consensus between JUI-F and PTI.

Published

9 hours ago

Farwa

In an interview with a private news channel, Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that the two parties’ divisions were’mountain-sized’. “The PTI delegation has arrived, and we have welcomed them in accordance with our traditions,” Maulana Fazalur Rehman said.

The JUI-F president stated that resolving their disputes with the PTI would be beneficial. “If not, every political party has its stance and opinion,” he added.

Maulana Fazalur Rehman stated that the PTI team suggested settling various concerns, to which both parties agreed.

He stated that one or two PTI members make ‘inappropriate’ statements against the JUI-F, and that those words are not taken seriously.

“We consider solely the delegation liable because they stated that they were dispatched by the PTI founder. We shall keep to our stand as long as they do not violate it.” Maulana Fazalur Rehman

He claimed that the JUI-F has never offended anyone and will not do so in the future. The JUI-F president stated unequivocally that their million-man march on May 9 had nothing to do with the tragedy.

Earlier on May 2, Maulana Fazlur Rehman disputed the results of the general elections and sought new ones, citing ‘widespread rigging and anomalies’.

Speaking to a crowd in Karachi, Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that assemblies had been’sold’. “Sindh Assembly and President House were also sold,” said the official.

The JUI-F chief requested quick re-elections to ensure the democratic process’s integrity.

“The recent elections were fake, and its results are unacceptable,” he continued. The JUI leader called new elections to ensure that the people’s voices are heard and their mandates are respected.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman also criticized the federal government’s foreign policy, particularly its position against Israel and Palestine. “We are being punished for supporting Palestine and opposing Israel,” he declared.

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Salim Haider’s inauguration as Punjab governor will be attended by Bilawal.

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

Punjab governor Sardar Salim Haider Khan, the leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), will take the oath of office today (Tuesday).

The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Governor’s House, according to sources. Chief Justice Sardar Salim Haider of the Lahore High Court (LHC) will administer the oath.

The leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Punjab cabinet members, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and PPP leaders will be present at the oath-taking event.

The ceremony to take the oath of office was originally slated for Sunday, May 5, but it was postponed for two days due to the absence of the current governor, Balighur Rehman. The PPP leaders had been asked by the PML-N to reschedule the event by two days.