Day: May 7, 2022

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Plea to functionalize Harnai’s water supply scheme

HARNAI: Naqeebullah Shah, leader of National Democratic Party (NDM), Harnai has called on authorities to functionalize the dysfunctional water supply scheme of Muhalla Syedabad, Harnai in order to overcome the dearth of water in the area.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, he said pipe lines had been laid in Syedabad area of district Harnai in Balochistan province some ten years back, but supply of pure drinking water to the residents of the area had not yet been started due to unknown reasons.

He said that residents of the mentioned area had been confronting hardships owing to acute deart of pure drinking water, hence, the said issue needed to be addressed on priority basis. Shah called on authorities to operanalise the dysfunctional water supply scheme of Muhalla Syedabad, Harnai so as to overcome the dearth of water in the area.

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FIA’s petition against IHC order on PECA Ord withdrawn, tells Marriyum

ISLAMABAD: The coalition government Saturday announced withdrawing the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) petition that challenged Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) order against Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

Taking to Twitter, the Federal Information Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb said the petition is squarely against the government’s stated policy and principle for ensuring freedom of expression. Marriyum further stated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken strict notice of the filing of this petition.

Aurangzeb said, “Unfortunately, the news of this petition was a little late to reach us due to the fact that we were in Bisham during the day where there were no signals.” It may be noted that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) today challenged the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) ruling on the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in the Supreme Court (SC).

In its petition, the FIA argued that there was no legal rationale for the IHC’s verdict dated April 8, 2022, in which it had given relief to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). It further said that the lawbreakers would feel further emboldened if section 20 of the Act was held in abeyance as ordered by the high court because it was ‘unconstitutional’.

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Water level at Indus River drops to alarming level

KARACHI: An acute shortage of water was recorded at Indus River which would cause severe damage to crops in Sindh.

The water shortage has increased to 45% at Kotri Barrage, 60% at Guddu Barrage and 41% at Sukkur Barrage. In order to cope with the situation, water releases are being made into canals to cater to people’s drinking and cooking needs only.

The Sindh government has termed the shortage of water under the water agreement as a threat to the agricultural economy of Sindh. It is reported that the water shortage has affected agriculture crops and fruit orchards. The farmers are anxious how to meet production costs of crops.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali, in a telephonic conversation, has discussed acute water scarcity in Sindh with Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah. However, the officials have expressed hope that upcoming rains in northern part of the country will improve the situation.

Meanwhile, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has increased share of Sindh and Punjab and situation will start improving in five days at Sukkur barrage while Kotri will see some improvement in eight days.

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DC Khuzdar supervising quake-relief activities

KHUZDAR: Major (Retd) Muhammad Ilyas Kibzai, Deputy Commissioner, Khuzdar, said Saturday that he was personally supervising the relief activities in the earthquake-hit area Aurnaji in district Khuzdar.

According to a statement issued here on Saturday, he said that in compliance with the directives of Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Chief Secretary Balochistan, Abdul Aziz Uqaili, he was personally supervising relief activities in Aurnaji area of district Khuzdar that was hit by earthquake of moderate intensity the previous day, collapsing about 80 mud houses in the area.

Expressing satisfaction over the distribution of relief gears amongst the earthquake’s affectees, he said that relief goods were still being provided to the affected people of the area.

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PML-N leader Balighur nominated new Punjab Governor

ISLAMABAD: PML-N leader and former federal minister Balighur Rahman has been nominated as new Punjab Governor.

The nomination was unveiled on Saturday as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif forwarded a summary to President Arif Alvi for the appointment of Balighur as the new Punjab Governor. Balighur had earlier served as Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training in Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s cabinet from August 2017 to May 2018.

Previously he had served as the Minister of State for Federal Education and of Interior and Narcotics Control in third Nawaz Sharif government from 2013 to 2017. He had been a member of the National Assembly from 2008 to May 2018.

A few days ago on May 1, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had once again sent a summary to President Arif Alvi advising him to remove Punjab Governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema. According to the constitution, if the President does not remove the Governor on the second advice of the Prime Minister, then the Governor would cease to hold his office automatically after a lapse of 10 days.

President Alvi had promptly removed former Punjab governor Ch Sarwar with the crack of the dawn at 4am on the same day when then prime minister Imran Khan had advised him to remove him. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had sent a summary to President Dr Alvi for the removal of Governor Cheema on April 15. But the President returned the summary after raising an objection.

PM Shehbaz had once again dispatched the summary to the Presidency for Cheema’s removal on May 1 and as per the law, the governor will automatically be dismissed after the lapse of 10 days if the President chooses not to remove him.

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WAPDA chairman Muzammil Hussain resigns

ISLAMABAD: WAPDA Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Muzammil Hussain has tendered resignation from his post, according to a report on Saturday.

Mr Hussain has forwarded his resignation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, mentioning personal reasons for his resignation. Due to personal and family compulsions, he could not continue the job, he wrote to the PM. In August 2021, the Ministry of Water Resources had notified the appointment of Muzammil Hussain as the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) chairman for a second consecutive term of five years.

The then notification had stated: “In pursuance of the cabinet’s decision in case No 747/26/2021 of Aug 17 conveyed vide cabinet division’s memorandum No 26/CM/2021-D of Aug 20, Mr Muzammil Hussain is appointed as chairman, WAPDA, for a term of five years in accordance with Section 4(2) of WAPDA Act, 2958 with effect from Aug 24.”

Mr Hussain had first been appointed to the post on Aug 24, 2016 by the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He was given the charge after Zafar Mahmood had resigned from the post citing personal reasons.

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FIA moves SC against IHC’s ruling on PECA

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday challenged the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) ruling on the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in the Supreme Court (SC), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In its petition, the FIA argued that there was no legal rationale for the IHC’s verdict dated April 8, 2022, in which it had given relief to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). It further said that the lawbreakers would feel further emboldened if section 20 of the Act was held in abeyance as ordered by the high court because it was ‘unconstitutional’.

The Authority contended that the high court had made a flawed interpretation of sections 19 and 19-A of the constitution. “Therefore, it is prayed to the apex court to suspend the IHC’s verdict,” read the petition.