Connect with us

Politics

Toshakhana: IHC seeks report on gifts received by PMs, presidents since 1947

Published

on

  • Notice issued to Cabinet Division for refusal to give details of gifts. 
  • Cabinet division had refused information as it was classified. 
  • Court orders government lawyer to provide details if available. 

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Monday issued a notice to the Cabinet Division for refusing to provide details of the gifts received by prime ministers and presidents since creation of Pakistan, and asking it to submit a report within a month. 

IHC’s Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the petition filed by Abuzar Salman Niazi. Advocate Wasim Abid appeared in court on behalf of the petitioner. 

During the hearing, the advocate said that the petitioner asked for the details of gifts given by other countries to the presidents and the prime ministers, however, the Cabinet Division refused to provide the information as it was classified.

The Pakistan Information Commission gave an order on June 29, however, it has not been implemented even after five months, said the petitioner’s lawyer. 

“Why are you limiting yourself to the prime ministers and presidents and not including the rest of the public servants? This shows your intentions,” Justice Hassan remarked. He added that any petition like this is only related to the prime minister. 

The court addressed Deputy Attorney General Syed Ahsan Raza and ordered him to provide the information if the records are available. 

At this, Raza said that such information should be available on the website, adding that there won’t be any records before 1990. 

The court said that it might be possible that Toshakhana’s records are available. It said to provide the records if available. 

The court then adjourned the hearing and sought the report from the Cabinet Division in a month. 

LHC seeks details of gifts taken from Toshakhana since 1947

This is the second time that a court has dealt with a petition of this sort.

Earlier this month, the Lahore High Court (LHC) sought the details of gifts taken from the Toshakhana since 1947.

LHC’s Justice Asim Hafeez sought details of the Toshakhana gifts over citizen Munir Ahmed’s plea.

During the hearing, federal government’s lawyer informed the court that the sought details cannot be provided.

However, brushing the argument aside, the court directed the authorities concerned to submit the details of gifts taken from Toshakhana since 1947, by January 16.

Latest News

Nawaz Sharif departs for a five-day personal visit to China.

Published

on

By

Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and a former prime minister, departed for China on Monday night for a five-day private visit.

Nawaz Sharif is visiting China, escorted by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Nawaz Sharif reportedly planned to see Chinese company owners as well as discuss the Punjab province’s development projects. During his visit in China, he will also have a medical examination.

In addition, the fact that Nawaz and his party chose China for his first overseas trip after he returned to Pakistan in October of last year shows how much weight the Asian superpower holds.

Eight other Chinese companies were reportedly prepared to start working right away, while 16 Chinese companies had expressed interest in the Nawaz Sharif IT City, which is the brainchild of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who has plans for similar projects in all of the province’s major cities.

Remarkably, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s scheduled visit to China ahead of his anticipated talks with Chinese authorities next month coincides with the elder Sharif’s visit.

Dar’s presence alongside Nawaz simultaneously underscores the party leadership’s confidence in him and serves as a reminder of why he was chosen to be foreign minister.

The fact that this visit was organized in the wake of the recent terror assault in Shangla on Chinese engineers involved in the Dasu hydroelectric Project, however, may provide some insight into the significance of this visit.

That was followed by Pakistan’s resolute pledge to deal harshly with those groups that have been attacking Chinese citizens in an effort to undermine the cordial relations between the two countries.

Continue Reading

Latest News

The creation of a provincial enforcement authority is approved by the PunjabCM.

Published

on

By

The creation of a provincial enforcement authority in Punjab has received clearance from Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab.

District and tehsil-level provincial enforcement authority was presented to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during a meeting that she convened.

Maryam gave her approval for the authority to be established and gave the order to begin the legislative procedure right now.

In every district and tehsil in Punjab, she stated, enforcement authorities will be constituted. According to her, a director-general will be appointed in addition to the chief secretary leading the provincial enforcement authority.

The deputy commissioner will lead the district enforcement authority, while the assistant commissioner will lead the tehsil enforcement authority.

Tasks specific to encroachments on government lands will be carried out by enforcement agencies. Additionally, the authority will have the ability to investigate and prosecute cases of overpricing, hoarding, and encroachment on government territory.

The tehsil enforcement unit will oversee the establishment of a police station and special force at the tehsil level. To be appointed in the tehsil enforcement authority are a unit in command, investigation officers, enforcement officers, and constables.

In addition to carrying out legal duties, the tehsil enforcement unit will be able to file charges, conduct investigations, and make arrests. Additionally, for monitoring purposes, the offices of the district and provincial enforcement authorities will be set up.

In six months, the province’s enforcement agencies are to be activated, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s directive.

Continue Reading

Latest News

PTI announces a public meeting in Karachi.

Published

on

By

Haleem Adil Sheikh said in a statement released here that the decision to reschedule the public event was made during the party’s political committee meeting. He said that instead of being conducted on April 28, the PTI’s public meeting would now take place on May 5 next to Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum.

According to the head of PTI Sindh, his party had asked the Deputy Commissioner East for permission to hold the meeting.

He claimed that the PTI filed a lawsuit in the Sindh High Court after the administration refused to grant them a certificate of non-objection. The hearing for their case is scheduled for April 26, according to Haleem Adil Sheikh.

The PTI Sindh head stated, “Hopefully, we will receive permission from the SHC to hold a Jalsa (public gathering) in Karachi.”

He said that the PTI’s popularity is the reason the Sindh administration is “afraid” and that’s why they haven’t received clearance from the provincial government.

In response to allegations of election tampering and mandate theft in the general elections, the PTI declared a nationwide protest.

Continue Reading

Trending