PESHAWAR: PTI leader Irfan Saleem has filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against the election commission’s decision of suspending its order of de-seating PTI leader Murad Saeed. 

Irfan Saleem’s lawyer Ali Gohar Durrani has filed petition in the PHC making the election commission and Jalal Khan MPA as party in the case.

Petitioner has been a candidate of the Senate seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vacated after Murad Saeed was de-notified from the senate by the ECP in its March 25 order over Saeed’s conviction on March 07 by an anti-terrorism court.

The election commission on April 23 issued election schedule for the senate seat and petitioner Irfan Saleem had filed nomination papers for the election.

Later, MPA Jalal Khan appeared before the commission and stated that Murad Saeed had been elected senator but did not take the oath of office thus the seat could not be declared as vacant.

Petitioner Irfan Saleem argued that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on 21 April suspended the senate election. The ECP had declared the seat vacant under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution. Murad Saeed or any other person didn’t challenge the election commission’s order at any forum, according to the plea.

“The election commission has misinterpreted Article 63,64 and 65 of the constitution”, petitioner argued.

“It is mandatory to hold election on the Senate’s vacant seat within 30 days period,” according to petition. “An elected representative could not sit in the house or cast vote. A seat of the house could not be kept blocked owing to not taking oath by the elected representative,” petition argued.

Petitioner pleaded to the high court to declare the ECP’s order and its August 27 notification as unlawful and void.

Peshawar  –  Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday assured tribal journalists from the merged districts that their professional issues would be taken up with the federal government, announcing that awards for the families of martyred journalists would soon be introduced.

Talking to a delegation of the Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) from the merged tribal districts, led by its President Hasban Ullah, at the Governor House, the governor acknowledged the sacrifices made by journalists working in the former FATA, saying many had embraced martyrdom or sustained injuries while performing their professional duties in conflict-hit areas.

The delegation highlighted the challenges faced by journalists in the merged districts, including terrorism, lack of basic facilities, corruption, poor infrastructure and communication problems. They claimed that development funds amounting to Rs100 billion had not been properly utilized in the erstwhile FATA and called for urgent government intervention.

Governor Kundi said the merged districts had remained a war zone for many years and deserved special attention from the government. He said the media was playing a vital role in strengthening democracy and highlighting public issues.

He said the problems of Khasadar personnel and residents of the merged districts would continue to be raised at every relevant forum, adding that many powers relating to the merged districts had already been transferred to the provincial government.

The Governor said he would discuss the journalists’ issues with Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar to seek practical solutions.

Referring to the planned September 27 march, Faisal Kundi said such protests would not benefit the people and stressed the need for dialogue and constitutional means to address grievances. He also called for collective efforts to eliminate drugs from society to protect future generations, saying the fight against narcotics required the support of all segments of society.

He stressed the importance of improving mobile phone network coverage in the merged districts, saying reliable connectivity was essential for the timely receipt of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) SMS alerts and access to other public services.

The governor said the doors of the Governor House were always open to journalists and the public.

Governor directs to resolve issue of withholding sales tax deduction

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday directed the formation of a committee comprising officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Department to resolve the issue of withholding sales tax deduction on purchases made by government departments.

He issued these directives while chairing a high-level meeting held at Governor House regarding the deduction of withholding sales tax on procurement of goods by government departments.

The meeting was attended by Adviser to Chief Minister on Finance Muzammil Aslam, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah, officials of Finance Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA), Planning and Development Department, Local Government Department, FBR, Accountant General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other concerned officials.

The participants held a detailed discussion on the federal withholding sales tax applicable to purchases made by government departments. Legal and financial aspects of tax deductions, existing procedures and challenges faced by departments were also reviewed during the meeting.

Governor Faisal Kundi emphasized that matters related to withholding taxes should be dealt with in accordance with the Constitution and law. He said the issue should be resolved in line with the practices and arrangements of other provinces, adding that the committee comprising FBR and Finance Department officials would work towards finding a viable solution to the matter.

ISLAMABAD  –  The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan (FCCP) on Friday organized a one-day training session on safety and emergency preparedness aimed at strengthening existing safety arrangements, enhancing practical awareness of fire safety, and improving the capacity of officers and officials to respond promptly and effectively to emergency situations. 

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and the FCC Registrar, Muhammad Hafeez Ullah Khan, were present on the occasion, while officers and officials of the court participated in the training session. 

At the outset, Muhammad Ahsan, Director, Capital Emergency Service, Capital Development Authority (CDA), briefed the participants on the emergency response system in place in Islamabad and the procedures for ensuring an effective and coordinated response to emergencies. 

Thereafter, Tariq Masood, Assistant Director, delivered a comprehensive briefing on the nature and classes of fire, appropriate firefighting methods, personal safety measures, safe evacuation procedures, and key aspects of emergency preparedness and contingency planning. The participants were also provided hands-on training in the correct and safe use of fire extinguishers. The experts addressed the participants’ queries and provided practical guidance on relevant safety measures. 

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi observed that the training session was aimed at reviewing the existing safety arrangements and identifying measures for their further improvement. He reiterated the key safety considerations highlighted during the session and expressed the hope that the training would prove beneficial for the officers and officials of the Court. 

The initiative forms part of the Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan’s continuing efforts to strengthen institutional preparedness and enhance its capacity to respond effectively to emergency situations.

Shangla  –  The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department has ordered the reposting of all teachers recruited on a Union Council basis to their respective Union Councils, while exempting those covered by the provincial government’s Wedlock/Spouse Policy.

According to a directive issued by the department’s Civil Secretariat office in Peshawar, the decision is based on the recruitment policy and appointment rules applicable to Union Council-based teachers at the time of their recruitment.

The department has directed all District Education Officers (Male and Female) to review the postings of teachers appointed under the Union Council quota and repost them to their respective Union Councils.

The district education authorities have been given 15 days to complete the process and submit detailed compliance reports to the Elementary and Secondary Education Department.

The directive was issued through letter No. SO(PE-M)/E&SE/2-1/Transfer-Posting/CM Directives/UCs & District Cadre/KP/2024 by the Section Officer (Primary Male & Female).

Teachers whose current postings fall under the provincial government’s Wedlock/Spouse Policy will remain exempt from the directive, according to the department.

The department has circulated copies of the directive to relevant senior officials and offices, including the Accountant General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Chief Minister’s and Chief Secretary’s offices, the Director of EMIS and senior officials of the Education Department.

It also directed the Director of EMIS to upload the circular on the department’s website to ensure that district authorities and other stakeholders are informed of the decision.

The directive requires district education authorities to complete the reposting process within the stipulated 15-day period and report compliance to the department.

Shangla  –  Rainfall continued for the fourth consecutive day in Shangla and other upper districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while hailstorms in mountainous areas brought a sudden change in weather and an early onset of cold. According to reports, intermittent rain persisted in both the upper hilly areas and the plains of KP. During the night between Thursday and Friday, heavy rain in the upper areas was followed by hail at several places, leading to a noticeable drop in temperature. The weather turned pleasant, while colder conditions began to prevail in high-altitude areas.

In view of the increased cold in the upper mountainous areas following the heavy rain and hail, herders have started shifting their livestock from colder regions to warmer plains. The seasonal migration of livestock from upper areas usually begins with a change in weather and the onset of cold. However, this year, the process has accelerated due to increased rainfall and the early arrival of cold weather. Herders living in the upper mountains and pastures are moving their animals to safer and relatively warmer areas.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast that the current spell of rain will continue for the next two days, with further rain, strong winds and colder weather expected in the upper areas.

Continuous rainfall has also disrupted daily life in hilly areas, while water levels in local streams and rivers in low-lying and riverine areas have risen.

Meanwhile, debris from landslides caused by heavy rains last week on the Bisham-Alpurai Highway has not yet been fully cleared, causing continued difficulties for traffic. Citizens and commuters have urged the relevant departments to immediately remove debris from landslide-hit areas and make the highway safe to prevent possible accidents during the ongoing rains.

In Alpurai and surrounding areas, the power supply system was severely affected as soon as the rain began. Several feeders were shut down, plunging most parts of the valley into darkness on Thursday night. The prolonged power outage caused severe hardship for residents, while the suspension of electricity during the rains also affected domestic consumers and business activities.

Locals said power outages have become routine with the onset of rain, creating serious problems for residents. They demanded that the authorities take emergency measures to stabilize the power system during rain and other adverse weather conditions and expedite the restoration of affected feeders.

Due to torrential rain, water levels in local streams and rivers in Shangla also rose, raising concerns about possible disruption to local irrigation and related activities. In view of the possibility of flash floods in streams following heavy rain in mountainous areas, local residents have been advised to remain cautious.

Citizens said that while continuous rainfall has made the weather pleasant and the natural environment more scenic, landslides, power outages and disruptions on highways have increased public difficulties. They urged the district administration, relevant departments and power authorities to take emergency measures to restore roads, electricity and other basic facilities during the rains.