On Sunday, a cabinet meeting was
chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address various matters pertaining
to Pakistan's ongoing political and constitutional crisis. According to
sources, the meeting focused on the issue of funds for the upcoming Punjab
elections and the federal government's decision regarding the provision of
these funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The officials were
reportedly asked to sit out the meeting.
In addition to the issue of funds,
the meeting was expected to discuss President Dr Arif Alvi's decision to return
the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023, as well as Justice Athar
Minallah's dissenting note and the Supreme Court's verdict on polls.
Discussions on the country's political and economic issues were also on the
agenda.
Most ministers, including the
Prime Minister, joined the meeting online via video link, while others attended
in person at the PM House. The meeting aimed to develop a strategy to address
matters related to the bill with the government's legal team in attendance.
Sources reported that the federal
cabinet meeting approved the decisions made during the National Security
Council (NSC) meeting on Friday. The attendees included Inter-Provincial
Coordination Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Overseas Pakistanis Minister Sajid
Toori, Housing Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay, State Minister Hashim Notezai, and
Prime Minister's advisor Ameer Muqam who was present in-person. Economic Affairs
Minister Ayaz Sadiq and Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq attended the
meeting online.
The country's ongoing political
and constitutional crisis was the focus of a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday. Sources reported that the meeting agenda
included discussions on the issue of funds for elections in Punjab and the
federal government's decision on the provision of funds to the Election
Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Other key topics discussed included President Dr
Arif Alvi's decision to return the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill
2023, Justice Athar Minallah’s dissenting note, and Supreme Court's verdict on
polls, as well as the country's political and economic issues.
Most of the ministers joined the
cabinet meeting online, while some joined in-person, including Inter-Provincial
Coordination Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Overseas Pakistanis Minister Sajid
Toori, Housing Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay, State Minister Hashim Notezai, and
Prime Minister’s advisor Ameer Muqam. During the meeting, a strategy was
devised to address matters surrounding the bill, with the government’s legal
team in attendance. The federal cabinet meeting also approved the decisions
taken during the National Security Council (NSC) meeting that took place on
Friday.
President Alvi returned the bill
curtailing the chief justice's powers with a request for reconsideration in
order to meet the scrutiny about its validity. The bill aimed to curtail the
powers of the chief justice, including the suo motu and the formation of
benches. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) condemned the move to pass the
legislation and called it an "attack on the judiciary." After Alvi's
refusal to assent to the legislation, the government is likely to get it passed
through a joint session of the parliament.
The NSC meeting on Friday decided
to kick-start an all-out comprehensive operation against militant outfits to
root out the menace of terrorism from the country. A high-level committee has
also been formed to make recommendations regarding the implementation and
limitations within two weeks. The meeting emphasized comprehensive national
security, which was central to the relief of the people. The statement said
that the government was taking steps to ensure comprehensive national security.
