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Political Landscape
The opposition demands the prime minister to answer the allegations of corruption reported in Panama papers. This week Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) submitted the petition seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the basis of corruption allegations. However Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the petition on the grounds that the party did not approach the appropriate forum and termed the petition non- maintainable.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan had filed a petition in the SC to issue directions for disqualification of Premier Nawaz, his son-in-law Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar from the seats of National Assembly.
Meanwhile as the government realizes the intensity of situation, it has started taking measures to avoid confrontation. In this regard, the federal government has decided to hire the services of top lawyers to save the ruling family from disqualification.
The team of top lawyers will not only represent Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, PM’s son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar and Hamza Shahbaz in front of the National Assembly speaker but also defend them at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). If government fails to submit reply on references filed by PTI in the office of the National Assembly speaker by September 6, the matter would automatically be referred to the ECP, according to the constitution.
MQM Minus One Formula
The popular political party of Karachi, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), is in deep trouble after its leader Altaf Hussain’s anti Pakistan comments and attack by its workers on media houses followed by wrath of the security establishment as well as the common people. Not only the people, but party heavyweights have also started to quit the party or distanced themselves from MQM. Although MQM leader Farooq Sattar have disassociated the party from Altaf Hussain, many former members still believe that Farooq Sattar is not capable of disconnecting himself from London and Altaf.
Meanwhile MQM leader Farooq Sattar has announced that the party had made the “required” amendments to its constitution to formally dissociate itself from Altaf Hussain, and had removed his name as the party’s supreme leader and the decision-making authority in party affairs. Farooq Sattar said the decision to remove the name of Altaf Hussain was made in consensus with party members and advisory board. The MQM has also introduced the new party flag that does not carry its founder’s name on it. The new flag has the party’s symbol ‘kite’, replacing former party chief Altaf Hussain’s name on it.
War Against Terror
The United States has once again urges Pakistan to “do more” to counter extremists groups operating from its soil. US Secretary of State John Kerry visited India this week where both the countries announced measures to strengthen security and energy ties. Indian Foreign Minister Swaraj also accused that Pakistan for “providing safe havens to terror groups”, while US Secretary Kerry urged Islamabad to do more to combat extremists operating from its territory. He also added that he had personally raised this issue with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The start of Kerry’s visit came hours after the two sides signed an agreement in Washington that allows access to each other’s military bases for repairs and re-supplies.
Meanwhile terrorists are being tried in Pakistan as the Supreme Court has dismissed the judicial reviews filed by 16 terrorists against military court judgments. The military court awarded the 16 petitioners death sentences after finding them guilty of carrying out different terror activities including the brutal carnage at Army Public School in 2014, the Bannu Jail Break and other terrorism-related incidents.
Moreover four accused terrorists involved in the 2009 attack on Sri Lankan cricket team and the 2008 Iqbal Town blast were killed in Lahore this week. A statement released by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) said that the accused terrorists were being taken for identification of a house when they attacked the police and got killed in retaliation. The statement said that a large quantity of weapons and explosives materials was also seized from the possession of the attacking terrorists.
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