Latest News

NA passes bill abolishing use of EVMs in election

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Law minister says holding polls using EVMs in a single day “impossible”.
Dismisses impression that amendment is aimed at depriving overseas Pakistanis of their right to vote.
Says govt does not believe in snatching overseas Pakistanis’ right to vote.

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday passed a bill to abolish the former government’s election reforms giving overseas Pakistanis the right to vote through i-Voting and electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The development came during the Parliament meeting convened by President Arif Alvi to deliberate on the current economic situation of the country.

The Election Amendment Bill 2022 — which was introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi — was introduced in the National Assembly today.

The NA had bulldozed legislation for use of EVMs through the passage of a bill on November 17, 2021, giving overseas Pakistanis the right to vote in general elections through a voting device introduced by the PTI government.

Speaking at the NA session, Federal Minister of Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar said that holding polls using EVMs in a single day is “impossible”.

Tarar said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had also expressed its inability to hold the elections through i-voting and EVMs in such a short span of time, that too without proper homework.

He said two amendments are being brought to revive the Elections Act 2017, enabling the ECP to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.

The minister dismissed the impression that the amendment was aimed at depriving overseas Pakistanis of their right to vote, adding that Pakistanis living abroad were a “precious asset of the country” and the government does not believe in snatching their right to vote.

Regarding the use of EVMs, the law minister said they are not against the use of technology, but they had concerns about misuse of technology as the Results Transmission System (RTS) had failed in the 2018 elections to favour a particular political party.

Meanwhile, a motion to suspend the rule of sending Election Act Amendment Bill 2022 to the Standing Committee was also passed.

Moreover, the house also approved the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021, formulating a post-retirement procedure for its chairman.

Following amendments were made to the ordinance:

NAB’s deputy chairman will be the acting head of the watchdog when its chairman retires
If the deputy chairman is absent then any senior officer will be given charge of the top post
Tax-related matters have been excluded from NAB’s jurisdiction
Provincial and federal cabinets’ decisions for enjoying financial benefits will not be under NAB’s ambit
NAB will not probe irregularities in any development scheme or project
NAB cannot take action over the decision of any regularity institution
Judges’ appointments in accountability courts will be for a maximum three-year term
Consultation with the concerned high court chief justice will be mandatory for the removal of an accountability court judge
The consultation process for the appointment of a new NAB chairman will start two months prior to the incumbent’s retirement
The consultation process for the appointment of a new NAB chairman will be completed in 40 days
If the prime minister and the opposition leader fail to agree on any name for the coveted post, the matter will be sent to the parliamentary committee
The parliamentary committee is bound to finalise the name for the post of NAB chairman in 30 days
After completing a three-year term, a person can not be re-appointed to the post of NAB chairman.

Entertainment

UAE grants Aiman Khan a Golden Visa

Published

9 hours ago

Farwa

The actress Aiman Khan has notified her fans and followers that the United Arab Emirates has granted her a Golden Visa.

Renowned for her dramatic roles in plays like “Ghar Titli Ka Par,” “Meri Beti,” and “Ishq Tamasha,” Aiman Khan has been spotted putting more emphasis on her personal life with her spouse, fellow actress Muneeb Butt, and moving away from the entertainment industry recently.

Instagram users saw Aiman Khan post a photo of herself receiving the Golden Visa from UAE officials.

The actress was shown gratitude in the caption for the extraordinary hospitality and kind welcome she received from the Dubai government.

Aiman Khan is shown in the accompanying photo, probably when applying for a visa, looking smart in black among representatives from the United Arab Emirates.

Fascinatingly, Aiman Khan’s spouse, Muneeb Butt, previously uploaded a comparable Instagram picture revealing his triumphant Golden Visa acquisition.

Often taking his wife, Aiman Khan, along, Muneeb Butt travels to Dubai for business and pleasure. Even after their daughter Amal was born, the well-known couple continued to observe this habit.

Furthermore, Miral, their second daughter, made her first vacation outside of Pakistan when they recently took her to Dubai.

“Dubai holds a special place in my heart, from memorable vacations to productive work trips,” Muneeb Butt complimented in the description.

Education

Youth from North Waziristan are given an educational and recreational tour by the Pakistan Army.

Published

9 hours ago

Farwa

Youth from North Waziristan set off on a three-day enjoyable and enlightening excursion as part of the Pakistan Army’s “Ilm Tolo Da Para” project.

The young participants in the trip had a great time touring some of Islamabad’s most notable sites, such as the magnificent Faisal Mosque, Ayub Park, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Pakistan Monument Museum, Folk Heritage Museum, and the picturesque Lake View Park.

The Imam led an insightful workshop for the students at Faisal Mosque, exploring the mosque’s significance and its place in the history of the country.

The youth’s awareness of their country’s legacy was strengthened by their visits to the People’s Heritage and Pakistan Monument, which provided them with valuable insights into the sacrifices made during Pakistan’s founding.

As the eager young people engaged in exhilarating rides, games, and other leisure pursuits, Ayub National Park transformed into a playground where they made enduring memories.

The youth gave the Pakistan Army their sincere gratitude for organising this beneficial event that combined learning with leisure.

Latest News

Leading the Green Pakistan Initiative in Malam Jabba is the Pakistan Army.

Published

9 hours ago

Farwa

Around 20,000 trees have been actively planted at Malam Jabba by the Pakistan Army, which is spearheading the Green Pakistan initiative. Preserving the region’s natural beauty while increasing tourism is the goal of this coordinated endeavour.

The current initiative in Malam Jabba is being led by the Pakistan Army and is supported by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department, district administration, local communities, and students.

In March and April, the Pakistan Army’s Green Pakistan initiative saw massive tree planting in Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Dir, and Chitral. The Army’s initiative in environmental preservation has garnered a great deal of public admiration.

This practical strategy will help Malam Jabba become a tourism destination and foster an environmentally conscious society, positioning it as a beacon of natural beauty.