LAHORE: A delegation of PPP and PML-N lawmakers submitted on Monday night a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi in the Punjab Assembly, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said.

The confirmation from Sanaullah came during an interview after opposition lawmakers, including PPP Parliamentary Leader Hassan Murtaza, PML-N’s Khawaja Imran Nazir, Chief Whip of PML-N Tahir Khalil Sindhu and others reached the Punjab Assembly Secretariat and submitted the no-trust motion.

It was formally received by Punjab Assembly Secretary Inayat Hussain Lak.

The document submitted by the opposition, a copy of which is available, stated that members of the PPP and the PML-N of the provincial assembly had lost confidence in CM Elahi’s ability to lead the house as per the Constitution.

It added that Elahi had “massacred democratic traditions” and thus he had lost the confidence of the majority of members of the house.

The no-trust move was moved under “Article 136 of the Constitution read with Rule 23 of the Rules of Procedure Provincial Assembly of Punjab (PAP), 1997”.

According to Article 136, a resolution for a vote of no-confidence moved by not less than twenty per cent of the total membership of the provincial assembly may be passed against the chief minister by the provincial assembly.

A resolution referred to in clause (1) shall not be voted upon before the expiration of three days, or later than seven days, from the day on which such resolution is moved in the Provincial Assembly.

If the resolution referred to in clause (1) is passed by a majority of the total membership of the Provincial Assembly, the Chief Minister shall cease to hold office.

Separately, a no-trust motion has also been submitted against PA Speaker Sibtain Khan under Article 53 of the Constitution.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday directed relevant officials not to impose any additional burden on gas and electricity consumers.

He asked the distribution companies of Sui gas to improve the system of recovery of bills. He also ordered the bill payment system for gas and electricity to be made effective.

The premier’s directives came in a high-level cabinet meeting to devise a strategy for the reduction of circular debt in the energy sector held at the PM House in Islamabad to which provincial chief ministers were also invited.

Highlighting the importance of an increase in revenue generation within the energy sector, PM Shehbaz instructed officials to ensure all possible steps. He further directed them to improve the energy transmission system and stop losses and theft of electricity and gas.

Addressing officials concerned, the prime minister ordered to reduce the circular debt in the energy sector. Participants, in the meeting, considered the adoption of a comprehensive strategy to control the present circular debt in the oil and gas sectors.

PM Shehbaz said the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML-N) government, its tenure from 2013 to 2018, had practically eradicated circular debt.

He resolved to bring debt under control with continuous efforts and effective planning and directed for reforms in the energy sector to be undertaken in a way that eliminates circular debt.

Quetta, DEC 19 /DNA/  – Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with UNESCO Pakistan, hosted the third consultative workshop for the development of digital gender inclusion strategy. The workshop was held in Quetta.
The workshop, organized at PTA’s Quetta Zonal Office was the third of a series of five consultative workshops being held to gather multi-stakeholder experts’ recommendations for a strategy to reduce digital gender divide in Pakistan.
The workshop was conducted by Ms. Sadaf Khan, UNESCO consultant. Experts from various stakeholder groups including government organizations such as State Bank of Pakistan, PTV and others attended the workshop. Representatives from Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), NIC Quetta, telecom operators, academia, women entrepreneurs, tech start-ups and non-governmental organizations such as Mercy Corp, People’s Primary Health Care initiative (PPHI), and Health Education and Environment Program Balochistan (HEEP) etc. also participated.
Director Wireless PTA and the head of PTA’s initiative for gender inclusion in ICTs informed the participants that PTA is committed to ensuring the provision of best quality of services to all citizens of Pakistan including women.

PTA’s gender inclusion strategy is being developed with support from UNESCO Pakistan. It aims to recommend specific amendments and additions in policies that can help achieve gender parity in use of internet, mobile phones and digital skills in line with International Telecommunication Union’s 2030 goals. This strategy will help PTA, along with other public and private sector stakeholders, to tackle various barriers to women’s use of mobile and ICTs. The next workshop in the series is scheduled in Karachi on 22nd of December 2022.

DNA

Rawalpindi, DEC 19: A suicide blast occurred in general area Miran Shah, North Waziristan District.
Resultantly, Naik Abid (age 33 years, resident of Mansehra) and 2 civilians embraced shahadat while one civilian was injured in the incident.

Nazir Siyal / DNA
KARACHI, DEC 19: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh president and former federal minister Ali Zaidi visited the parts of Karachi and Malir district here on Monday and held meetings for possible defeat to PPP in forthcoming elections.

Addressing to the gathering at Gulshan Moazzam and Malir Press Club, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh president Ali Zaidi expressed that PTI will defeat Zardari Mafia and his allies in upcoming elections, while untiring struggle would be continued against the PDM mafia he said.

He emphasized workers of Malir that future success is in their hands, so that Keep their struggle long to achieve the objectives in upcoming elections.
PTI leader further said that party needs devotion and struggle for country solidarity not for their loot and plunders in this party. He suggested workers that their is hard accountability in the party when in party, but don’t expect charm if they want luxury and develop business, they should join PPP and PML-N not PTI he told the workers.

Earlier, President Sindh Chapter held meetings with PTI leader Dr Masroor Ali Siyal and Union Council office bearers and workers of far flung areas of Malir district.