Pakistan

CJP terms SCBA’s role in Punjab CM’s election case ‘biased’

Published

6 months ago

Farwa

CJP Bandial recalls Punjab chief minister election case.
Govt’s request to form full bench in case was not in line with law.
“The law is equal for all,” chief justice says.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial Monday termed the Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) role in the Punjab chief minister election case “biased”.

Addressing a full court reference on the eve of the beginning of the new judicial year, CJP Bandial recalled the Punjab CM election case, which drew criticism from political parties.

The CJP said that the federation requested a full court bench which was not in accordance with the law, while the role of the SBCA was also “biased”.

In July, the SC had termed the ruling of the former Punjab Assembly deputy speaker, Dost Mazari, “illegal” and announced Pervez Elahi as the new CM of the province.

The ruling coalition had demanded that a full bench hear the case and the government’s demands were also backed by the top court’s bar association.

“Patience was shown despite the political parties’ strong reaction to the annulment of the ruling of the then Punjab deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari,” the chief justice said.

CJP Bandial added: “We are aware that the country is facing a serious economic crisis, but the law is equal for all.”

Referring to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s (JCP) meeting in which the body had rejected Bandial’s nominated judges of high courts for their appointment to the Supreme Court, the CJP asked, did the federal government’s response respect the judiciary?

CJP Bandial said that when he assumed the office, there were challenges related to the provision of inexpensive and speedy justice, a backlog of cases and usage of suo motu power.

Highlighting the achievements, the CJP said that the number of cases pending with the judiciary reduced to 50,265 from 54,134.

“The respected judges sacrificed their yearly vacations and decided 6,458 cases during a short period of June-September.”

Stressing the need for new appointments to the top judiciary, he urged the SCBA to assist the court.

Talking about speedy justice, the CJP said that he, after consultation with other judges, took notice of the then NA deputy speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling and declared it illegal after a five-day hearing and issued the verdict within three days.

A large number of cases were lodged with the apex court following the political events in March 2022, he noted.

Pakistan

Ramadan 2023: Sindh revises school, college timings

Published

16 hours ago

Farwa

The Sindh School Education and Literacy Department on Monday announced the revised timings for all the educational institutions in the province during the holy month of Ramadan.

All the government and private schools in Sindh will now start at 7:30am and continue till 12pm (noon) from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the school timings on Friday will be from 7:30am to 11am.

Office timings

On Monday, the federal government also notified timings for public offices during the holy month.

In a notification, the Establishment Division said the public offices coming under the ambit of the federal government would operate from 7:30am to 1:30pm from Monday to Thursday.

Moreover, the public offices coming under the ambit of the federal government would operate from 7:30am to 12:00pm on Fridays.

First Ramadan expected on March 23

Meanwhile, The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast that there is a strong possibility that the crescent for Ramadan 2023 will be sighted on the evening of March 22 (Wednesday).

The update was shared by the Met department’s Climate Data Processing Centre. This means the first of Ramadan is likely to fall on Thursday, March 23 in Pakistan.

Pakistan

Cleric shot dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar

Published

16 hours ago

Farwa

A cleric was shot dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar on Tuesday after morning prayers.

According to police, Maulana Abdul Qayyum Sufi, was going back home after Fajr prayers in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block-9 when assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire at him.

The police said that Maulana Abdul Qayyum Sufi was a member of the Pakistan Ulema Association and a prayer leader at Mohammadia Noorani Islamic Centre.

There were no further details available about the incident.

Pakistan

Ramadan 2023: Minimum Nisab set at Rs103,159 for Zakat deduction

Published

16 hours ago

Farwa

The Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety has fixed the Nisab for Zakat deduction for the ongoing year.

According to a notification issued by the ministry, Zakat will be deducted from saving accounts, profit and loss sharing accounts and other similar accounts having a minimum balance of Rs103,159 or above, on the first of Ramadan.

The Nisab was fixed at Rs88,927 in the previous year.

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Under the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance 1980, no Zakat would be deducted in case a bank account has a lesser amount than the value announced by the ministry, added the statement.

“All the Zakat Collection Controlling Agencies (ZCCAs) are requested to deduct the Zakat accordingly,” it said.

The first of Ramadan will likely fall on March 23, this year, subject to the appearance of the moon.

To be liable for Zakat — which is one of the five pillars of Islam — one’s wealth must amount to more than a threshold figure, termed the “Nisab”.

Those who do not want Zakat deduction from their accounts can submit a “Zakat exemption” form to their respective banks.