Former NAB chief challenges inquiry commission's proceedings in court over harassment allegations

Former chairman NAB Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal (L) and Tayyaba Gul. — Radio Pakistan/YouTube Screengrab via Independent Urdu/File

ISLAMABAD: Former chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal on Wednesday challenged the inquiry commission’s proceedings in the court over sexual harassment allegations filed against him.

Complaints against the former NAB chief were filed by Tayyaba Gul and women who approached the missing person commission back when he was heading the commission.

 Iqbal’s request for an immediate stay order to halt Lahore High Court’s inquiry has been rejected.

Earlier, the former NAB chief — as the head of the missing person commission — also challenged his summoning by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Islamabad High Court, following which the IHC issued a stay order.

On August 1, he also challenged the PAC’s decision of limiting his position as the chairman of the missing person's commission.

The petition argued that the minutes of the PAC’s meeting on July 7 should be declared "illegal" and that the committee be restrained from taking disciplinary action.

It should be noted that the federal government, last month, issued a notification announcing the formation of an inquiry commission to investigate sexual harassment allegations levelled at the former NAB chief and others.

The commission is investigating allegations of “sexual offences including assault, harassment, outraging and insulting modesty, misdemeanour, misconduct, misuse and abuse of authority” made by the complainant against the alleged offenders.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/former-nab-chief-challenges-inquiry-commissions-proceedings-in-court-over-harassment-allegations/?feed_id=6210&_unique_id=62eae2dc3b355

On Day 7 of Proceedings, AAP Gives Notice on Price Rise & GST

Parliament Monsoon Session Updates, July 26, 2022: Proceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will begin around 11 AM today, a day after sixth consecutive day of the Monsoon session was marred by Opposition protests over price rise, GST and other issues, leading to suspension of four Congress members and adjournment of the Houses. On Monday, many MPs trooped into the well of the House during the question hour, shouting slogans and displaying placards.

Speaker Om Birla warned the protesting members, including from the Congress, TMC and DMK, that those who continue to shout slogans and display placards will have to do it outside the House after 3 pm. He told them that the government was ready to discuss issues raised by them and stressed that people want the House to function.

Concerns about low rainfall, unemployment, losses incurred by farmers, tribal distress, MNREGA payments and government schools were among the matters raised by members in Lok Sabha during Zero Hour on Monday. However, the voices of these members were drowned in continued protests by opposition parties which were demanding urgent discussions on price and rise and other issues.

Since the start of the Monsoon session of Parliament on July 18, opposition parties, including the Congress, have been protesting against price rise, GST and various other concerns, leading to disruption of proceedings.

Here’s What is Happening Latest in Parliament:

• AAP lawmaker Sanjay Singh on Tuesday a notice on inflation and GST in the Upper House under Rajya Sabha’s rule 267.

सांसद @SanjayAzadSln जी ने राज्यसभा में दिया 267 का नोटिस, महंगाई और GST के मुद्दे पर दिया नोटिस। pic.twitter.com/oKWqlvzaAw

— Ajit Tyagi (@_AjitTyagi) July 20, 2022

• Riti Pathak, BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh, on Monday said that the tribals in her constituency were denied benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the Saubhagya Scheme or Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana.

• Jagadambika Pal of the BJP raised the issue of rain shortfall in Uttar Pradesh and said it has caused suffering to farmers in his constituency Domariyaganj. He demanded that a central team be dispatched and a survey conducted to estimate the loss incurred by farmers.

• TMC MP Aparupa Poddar demanded a one-time age relaxation for recruitment into the Indian Army, BJP MPs Uday Pratap Singh and Mitesh Patil asked Railways for stoppages and flyovers, respectively.

• BJP MP Kaushalendra Kumar demanded that the number of days of employment under the MNREGA scheme be increased. He said that in certain areas, instead of 100 days of work people were getting work for just 28 days.

• A trans person applicant may be issued fit medical assessment, provided there are no associated medical, psychiatric or psychological conditions, the government told Parliament on Monday. It said that medical tests administered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for issuing pilot licences recognises transpersons.

Read all the Latest News and Breaking News here

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/on-day-7-of-proceedings-aap-gives-notice-on-price-rise-gst/?feed_id=2166&_unique_id=62df5c07706e4

Ruling coalition boycotts Supreme Court's proceedings

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (L), JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman (R) PML-N stalwart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (C) addressing a press conference after Supreme Court's hearing on July 25, 2022. — Screengrab Geo News

ISLAMABAD:  The Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) leadership Monday announced that the ruling coalition has decided to boycott the Supreme Court's proceedings after the apex court  announced to continue the hearing on the case pertaining to the Punjab chief minister's election with the current three-member bench.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan rejected the petition seeking the formation of a full bench for hearing the case of the Punjab chief minister’s election — where Hamza Shahbaz defeated Pervez Elahi.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while addressing a press conference at the Prime Minister’s House,  said if the Supreme Court doesn’t form a full court, “then we [PDM] will also reject all decisions of the judiciary as we will not appear before this three-members bench.”

“We boycott the proceedings of the apex court,” Fazl announced, adding that the coalition government doesn't want any institution to interfere in its matters.

Fazl, who is also the chief of PDM, said that the counsellors of the government alliance advised the jury according to the constitution; however, the top court “instead impartially considering our demand rejected our petition.”

Endorsing Fazl's statement, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and PPP Co-Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said  PPP along with all other alliance parties of PDM has decided to boycott the court proceedings. He said that when a decision is being taken about an institution then the entire bench should hear the case.

‘This is Supreme Court’s test’

PML-N senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that this is the “test of the Supreme Court now”. He further added that the PDM had warned that if the decision is taken by a full court, then only it will be accepted by the people of Pakistan.

Abbasi said the three judges of the existing bench had the responsibility to decide whether or not history would accept their conduct.

It should be noted that adjourning the hearing till 11:30 am tomorrow, the court announced that a three-member bench — headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — will hear the petition filed by the PML-Q and PTI regarding the Hamza Shahbaz being elected as the chief minister of Punjab.

The press conference followed a huddle of the government leaders at the Prime Minister's House after the verdict was announced.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, JUI-F chief Fazl, and PPP chairman were among the senior political leaders and government figures in attendance

Leaders of the MQM-P, members of ANP, BAP, BNP and other government-allied parties are also present at the huddle, along with other senior PML-N figures.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/ruling-coalition-boycotts-supreme-courts-proceedings/?feed_id=2054&_unique_id=62df0613b37ad