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NA passes bill abolishing use of EVMs in election

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  • 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.

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Gold prices in Pakistan approach an all-time high.

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Following a substantial surge the prior day, gold prices in Pakistan are ascending to unprecedented levels with an additional gain on Thursday, coinciding with a rise in global precious metal rates.

The price of 24-karat gold in the local market rose by Rs700 per tola, reaching Rs277,900, as reported by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

Likewise, the cost of 10 grams of 24-karat gold increased by Rs600, currently priced at Rs238,254.

Globally, gold prices exhibited an upward trend, increasing by $7 throughout the day. The APGJSA reports that the international gold price was $2,682 per ounce.

Notwithstanding the increase in gold prices, the silver market exhibited stability, with the price of silver maintained at Rs3,050 per tola.

In the previous month, gold prices in Pakistan reached an unprecedented high of Rs 277,000 a tola, driven by substantial gains in the worldwide market.

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A further relief shipment from Pakistan departs for Gaza and Lebanon.

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Following the Prime Minister’s directions, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) persists in delivering humanitarian assistance to the war-affected populations of Gaza and Lebanon.

The second cargo of supplies was sent from Karachi to Lebanon today.

The relief package, dispatched by the NDMA in partnership with the Al-Khidmat Foundation, consists of roughly 100 tons of provisions, including pharmaceuticals, ready-to-eat meat, tents, tarpaulins, thermal bedding, winter apparel, and powdered milk.

The assistance was sent by air from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi to Beirut, Lebanon.

The farewell ceremony at Jinnah International Airport was attended by representatives from the NDMA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Al-Khidmat Foundation, and local authorities.

The delegates underscored the pressing necessity to deliver assistance to the war-affected populations of Palestine and Lebanon, in light of the continuing conflict and the requirements of the impacted communities.

They reiterated the Government’s dedication to assisting their compatriots in need and emphasized the significance of cooperation among welfare groups and the Pakistani populace in enhancing these initiatives.

This constitutes Pakistan’s twelfth aid shipment to Palestine and Lebanon. Previously, ten relief shipments were dispatched to Palestine.

The Government of Pakistan persists in dispatching relief supplies according to the need of the war-affected populations in Lebanon.

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Speech Made by Pakistan’s Prime Minister on the International Day Against Poverty

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In renewing our commitment to a world where no one is left behind and where possibilities for success are unrestricted by one’s origin or circumstances, Pakistan stands together with the global community on this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. In addition to being morally right, ending poverty is essential to attaining sustainable development and guaranteeing everyone’s peace and prosperity.

The people have always been the center of every policy made by our government. We have significantly reduced poverty and made sure that our most vulnerable residents are taken care of thanks to our social safety net programs. We think that providing long-term routes to economic empowerment is equally as important as providing instant relief when it comes to assisting people in escaping poverty. Our focused initiatives seek to equip communities—women and children in particular—with the means to create better futures for themselves.

The Pakistani government is steadfast in its commitment to improving the affordability of living for its citizens despite the obstacles we face on a global scale, such as inflation and economic instability. Our policies are designed to build long-term economic resilience, from meeting housing needs to guaranteeing food security. With the help of programs like the PM Youth Business, Agriculture Loans, Digi-Skills, which offers free IT training, and the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, millions of families are receiving financial support and technological help that is changing their lives.

Eradicating poverty is also a top priority for Pakistan, which is still fully committed to reaching the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a focus on inclusive growth, education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability, we will keep working together with our international partners to achieve these goals. The advancements made in empowering women and guaranteeing that their contributions are essential to the country’s social and economic fabric are another reason for pride.

On this day, I would want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who is devotedly striving to end poverty, both in Pakistan and globally. We can create a future where everyone, regardless of circumstances, has the chance to flourish and succeed by uniting with a shared purpose and unwavering determination.

I speak on behalf of the Government of Pakistan to reiterate our steadfast commitment to this cause and to extend an invitation to all facets of society to work with us to create a world that is more wealthy, just, and inclusive.

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