ISLAMABAD, MAR 1 (DNA) – The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has disposed of 4976 cases upto February 28, 2020 as per the monthly progress report of February 2021 released by Secretary, Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (ColoED) on cases of alleged enforced disappearances.

The Commission under the dynamic leadership of its Chairman, Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal continued its efforts to trace the whereabouts of the Missing Persons. The Commission always feels conscious about the distress of families of the Missing Persons. Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Hon’ble Chairman had two meetings with such families who came from Balochistan. Consequently, efforts have been accelerated with special attention towards the cases of Missing persons of Balochistan.

During the month February, 2021, the Commission conducted hearings at Quetta and Karachi in addition to simultaneous hearings at Islamabad. During these hearings, the Commission disposed of 112 cases of Balochistan, 28 cases of Sindh, 01 case of the Punjab, 08 cases of KP and 05 cases of ICT, thus the total disposal during February, 2021 remained 154 cases. During this month, the Commission registered 144 new cases. Accordingly, the total number of cases received by the Commission from March, 2011 to February, 2021 works out to be  7088 cases, out of which the  Commission has disposed of  4976 cases upto February, 2021, which works out to be 70.20% of the total cases. The remaining 2112 cases are under investigation.

The Commission is determined to put in extraordinary efforts to trace the whereabouts of Missing Persons as per its mandate. The families whose Missing Persons have been traced, paid tributes and thanks for Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal for his untiring efforts. Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman, Missing Persons Commission is serving Missing Persons Commission in an honorary capacity and is drawing no salary and availing other faculties which are admissible as per law.=DNA

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ISLAMABAD, MAR 1 (DNA) – The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) has hailed the government decision to lift the time limit from commercial activities and termed it a positive development as it would allow businesses to operate without restrictions, recover from losses and play a role for economic revival of the country.

Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that the government has taken a proactive approach for businesses as with the decline in the cases of Covid-19 pandemic, it has lifted the time limits from commercial activities, which was a laudable move.

He said that the businesses have suffered huge losses due to lockdowns and limitations on timings enforced to curb the spread of coronavirus and hoped that the lifting of restrictions on commercial activities would help businesses in reviving business activities and making some recovery of losses.

He expressed special thanks to the ICT Administration, Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafaat and Chief Commissioner Amir Ali Ahmed for their cooperation and support to the businesses in these tough times and hoped that they would continue to facilitate the business community similarly in future as well.

The ICCI President further commended the decision of the government to allow the indoor wedding ceremonies from 15th March 2021 with stringent COVID SOPs. He said that thousands of people were employed in marquees and wedding halls, but the closure of these businesses had rendered them jobless putting their families in great financial difficulties.

He said that the growth of business activities of many sub-sectors including poultry, meat, fruits & vegetables etc. was dependent on marquees and wedding halls, therefore, closure of these businesses was multiplying the problems of all allied businesses. Therefore, he hoped that allowing indoor wedding ceremonies would be helpful in reviving the business of multiple sectors.

Welcoming the government decision to life time limit from commercial activities, Fatma Azim Senior Vice President and Abdul Rehman Khan Vice President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry appealed to the business community of all sectors to ensure strict compliance of SOPs while running commercial activities and extend a helping hand to the government’s efforts in controlling the spread of Covid-19 pandemic so that with the normalization of COVID situation, all business activities could get back to the normal routine and play positive role in stabilizing the economy.=DNA

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ISLAMABAD : The government’s ordinance stands void with the Supreme Court’s opinion over the Presidential Reference seeking open ballot for Senate election, Sardar Latif Khosa said.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has authority and responsibility to ensure transparent elections, Latif Khosa said while commenting on the Supreme Court’s opinion over the Presidential Reference.“The Supreme Court when gives a decision it determines the direction,” Khosa commented.

Khosa, a former Attorney General, said that it will be upto the election commission to decide the mechanism for scrutiny of the ballot in the Senate election.

“The government had sought the advice of the apex court over the matter and the court has given its opinion,” he said. “The court’s advice goes against the government,” he said.

“The court has given its ruling under the Article 226 and all institutions are bound to accept the supreme court’s decision,” he further said.

The Supreme Court ruled today that the forthcoming Senate elections are to be held through secret ballot under Article 226 of the Constitution.

The apex court’s 4:1 majority decision, however, held that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is empowered to take all measures, including the use of the latest technology, to hold free and fair elections and curb corrupt practices under Article 218 of the Constitution.

A five-judge larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed pronounced the reserved opinion.

KARACHI : An anti-terrorism court on Monday turned down a bail plea of Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Shaikh in two cases.

The court announced its verdict after hearing arguments of both defence and prosecution sides.

One of the two cases pertained to attempted murder, interference in government duties and disruption during an anti-encroachment drive while the other related to violence, firing and causing terror during the by-polls in Karachi’s PS-88.
On Feb 16, he was arrested for allegedly violating law and order during the by-polls. Subsequently, the two cases were registered against him. The court had sent Haleem Adil Sheikh and his aides to jail on judicial remand.

ISLAMABAD : The Supreme Court has settled the contentious matter for all time, Kanwar Dilshad commenting on the court’s opinion over the presidential reference said on Monday.

“The government was opined that the Senate elections not held under the constitution but the supreme court endorsed that the election in the upper house held under the constitution and the law,” talking to ARY News, former secretary election commission said.

“With the apex court’s opinion over the matter the government’s relevant ordinance now stands dissolved,” Dilshad said.

“”The court has rejected the stance of the Attorney General”, he said. The election commission has now got an opportunity to ensure transparency in the Senate election,” the former ECP secretary further said. “Now it is upto the election commission to take substantial steps to wipe out corrupt practices in the electoral process,” he added.

Replying a question Dilshad said, “The success of Yousaf Raza Gillani in election will pose no threat to the government, but will weaken its legal rationale.”

The Supreme Court Monday morning ruled that the forthcoming Senate elections are to be held through the  secret ballot under Article 226 of the country’s Constitution.

The apex court’s 4:1 majority decision, however, held that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is empowered to take all measures, including the use of the latest technology, to hold free and fair elections and curb corrupt practices under Article 218 of the Constitution.

A five-judge larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Mushir Alam, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Yahya Afridi pronounced the reserved opinion. Justice Afridi dissented to the majority opinion.