The National Assembly of Pakistan has passed a bill known as the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023, which aims to curb the powers of the chief justice of Pakistan in taking suo motu notice. The bill proposes that a three-member committee consisting of senior judges will have the power to take suo motu notice instead of the chief justice alone. This committee will also ensure transparent proceedings in the apex court and give the right to appeal.

However, President Dr Arif Alvi has refused to give his assent to the bill twice, stating that the matter is sub judice before the apex court. The Supreme Court has also barred the government from implementing the bill, citing interference with and intrusion into the independence of the judiciary.

Suo motu notice refers to the power of the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of a matter on their own accord, without the need for a formal complaint or petition. This power has been a subject of debate in Pakistan for several years, with some arguing that it gives too much power to the chief justice and can be misused.

The passage of this bill has been controversial, with some arguing that it is an attempt to curtail the independence of the judiciary and weaken the power of the chief justice. Others argue that it is a necessary step to ensure transparency and accountability in the apex court.

Overall, this is a significant development in the ongoing debate over the powers of the chief justice of Pakistan and the role of the judiciary in the country. It remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved, and what impact it will have on the future of Pakistan's judiciary.

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The Supreme Court of Pakistan recently considered a petition requesting for the national and provincial assemblies to hold general elections simultaneously. The court ordered the federal coalition and PTI to negotiate an agreement on the elections before 4pm on the same day. However, the proceedings did not resume as the three-judge bench did not appear in the courtroom. The coalition parties informed the court that they had planned to hold a dialogue with the opposition after Eid, but Justice Bandial instructed them to hold the talks immediately.

Representatives of the PPP and the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan met with CJP Bandial in his chambers. Farooq H. Naek, who represented the PPP, told reporters that the CJP had been informed that the dialogue had been initiated with the PTI. The court adjourned until April 27, but a written order has not yet been issued. Meanwhile, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman rejected the idea of talks with PTI chairman Imran Khan.

In another order, the Supreme Court directed the government to provide funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, the government refused to comply with the order, and the ECP, defence ministry, and finance ministry submitted their reports to the court in a sealed envelope. The court ordered the SBP to release funds worth Rs21bn for elections from Account No I, a component of the Federal Consolidated Fund worth Rs1.39 trillion, and send an “appropriate communication” to this effect to the finance ministry by April 17. The coalition government rejected its own demand for the provision of Rs21bn as a supplementary grant to the ECP for holding polls in the two provinces.

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The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued an order to the State Bank of Pakistan to allocate Rs21bn ($127m) for the purpose of conducting the general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies by 17th April. This directive was issued to ensure that the election process is carried out smoothly and without any hindrances. 

The court has also instructed the Election Commission of Pakistan to verify that the funds have been made available to it so that they can be used for the election process. This step is crucial in ensuring that the election process is carried out in a transparent and fair manner. 

Moreover, the State Bank and the Finance Ministry have been ordered to submit a compliance report by 23rd April, stating that they have followed the court's order and that the funds have been allocated to the Election Commission of Pakistan. 

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1. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued an order to allocate funds for conducting general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies by 17th April.

2. The directive was issued to ensure that the election process is carried out smoothly and without any hindrances.

3. The Election Commission of Pakistan has been instructed to verify that the funds have been made available to it so that they can be used for the election process.

4. The step is crucial in ensuring that the election process is carried out in a transparent and fair manner.

5. The State Bank and the Finance Ministry have been ordered to submit a compliance report by 23rd April, stating that they have followed the court's order and that the funds have been allocated to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

6. This directive is a positive step towards ensuring that the general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa take place without any issues and that they are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged to offer financial support worth $1 billion to Pakistan, as announced by the country's finance minister, Ishaq Dar. This announcement comes after a visit by a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in January of this year, which failed to resolve a deadlock over fiscal policy adjustments. However, experts have raised doubts over the effectiveness of such promises, as similar pledges have been made in the past without being fully realized.

The IMF has set forth a list of conditions that must be met for any loan package to be approved, including the removal of subsidies, increasing taxes, and eliminating an artificial cap on the value of the Pakistani rupee. Pakistan had previously entered into a $6 billion IMF programme in 2019, which was subsequently increased to $6.5 billion last year. 

It remains to be seen whether the $1 billion in financial support from the UAE will be enough to meet the IMF's conditions and resolve the ongoing fiscal policy deadlock in Pakistan. Nevertheless, this news is likely to be welcomed by the Pakistani government, which has been struggling to secure international support amidst a challenging economic climate.

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The Supreme Court of Pakistan has taken action against the government officials responsible for failing to disburse Rs21bn in funds for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The officials who have been issued notices include those from the finance ministry, State Bank of Pakistan, the Attorney General for Pakistan and the Election Commission of Pakistan. 

This action by the Supreme Court follows a report by the Election Commission which revealed that the government had shown reluctance in releasing the funds required for the election. It is believed that the government is delaying the polls, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has tabled a bill in the National Assembly and Senate seeking the release of funds for holding elections in both provinces. 

This delay in the election process has raised concerns over the government's commitment to ensuring free and fair elections. The Supreme Court's intervention is a positive step towards ensuring that the election process is conducted in a transparent manner and that all necessary funds are released timely to ensure that the election process is not compromised. 

Insights of this Article

1. The Supreme Court of Pakistan is taking action against officials responsible for failing to disburse election funds, which suggests a lack of accountability and transparency in the election process.

2. The delay in the election process may raise concerns about the government's commitment to ensuring free and fair elections.

3. The Finance Minister has tabled a bill in the National Assembly and Senate seeking the release of funds for both provinces, which suggests that the government may have been reluctant to release funds for the election.