Latest news with #K-PAssembly
Express Tribune
22-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Lady health workers end protest after deal
Following successful negotiations with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, Lady Health Workers have officially ended their protest sit-in outside the K-PAssembly. Ishrat Malik, Central General Secretary of the Shaheen Union of Lady Health Workers, announced that Provincial Health Minister Ehtesham Ali took immediate notice of the protest — held during an intense heatwave - and initiated formal talks with union representatives. The LHW delegation included Akhtar Bibi (Provincial President), Ishrat Malik (General Secretary), Rafasat Qamar, Naeema Bibi, and other union officials. During the meeting, the Health Minister assured that the official minutes would be shared within two days. He also confirmed that the Health Department had finalized a promotion and regularization plan for 12,439 LHWs, structured under a four-year framework and now ready to be submitted to relevant departments. According to the plan, promotions will be granted from scale 5 up to scale 14 based on seniority and a percentage-based formula. Under this framework, 40 percent of the workers will be promoted to scale 9, another 30 percent to scale 9 under a separate criterion, 20 percent to scale 12, and the remaining 10 percent to scale 14. The Minister further assured that a summary of the plan would be sent to the Finance Department within days. He praised the critical role played by LHWs in providing healthcare in remote, conflict-affected, and snow-bound areas, emphasizing that public health operations would be unmanageable without their commitment and sacrifice. In view of the government's assurances and considering the harsh conditions faced by the protestors, Minister Ali urged the LHWs to end their sit-in and return home. Responding positively, the Shaheen Union officially called off the two-day protest and expressed appreciation for the government's responsiveness. Ishrat Malik also extended her gratitude to the media for their extensive coverage and support, which she said played a key role in drawing attention to the LHWs' demands and accelerating the negotiation process.
Express Tribune
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Women's representation lacking in K-P Assembly
Although the entire country celebrated International Women's Day like the rest of the world, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly has been without female lawmakers for the past one year. K-P Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, while speaking on the occasion, said the lack of representation of women on reserved seats in the provincial assembly was a regrettable reality which had exposed the Election Commission's clear injustice and discriminatory behaviour. He said that ignoring women's political participation was a violation of democratic and constitutional principles and noted that seats reserved for women in the Assembly remained vacant which not only violated women's rights but also weakened the parliamentary system. "It is extremely regrettable that, on International Women's Day, women in the K-P Assembly are still deprived of their constitutional representation," the Speaker said, demanding that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should make an immediate decision on reserved seats and ensure that women receive their rightful representation, thus completing the democratic system. He assured that the Assembly would continue to raise its voice for women's rights protection on every platform and ensure women's participation in the democratic process. K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, in his message on International Women's Day, emphasized that women were the cornerstone of any society's progress and prosperity. He stated that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had always been committed to protecting women's rights and dignity and would continue its efforts for the cause. He highlighted the vision of the late Benazir Bhutto who, he said, had strongly advocated equal opportunities for women so they could excel in all fields.
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Express Tribune
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Governor blocks bill over legal concerns
PESHAWAR: Once again locking horns with the provincial government, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has declined to sign the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Employees Removal from Service Bill 2025 into law and has sent it back to the Assembly with objections. The K-P Assembly had passed the bill and forwarded it to the Governor, aiming to remove more than 10,000 employees who were recruited during the caretaker government. The Governor has raised several objections to the bill, stating that upon reviewing it under Article 115(5) and Article 116 of the Constitution of Pakistan, certain flaws have been identified that could not only undermine its objectives but also negatively impact the rights of citizens. He pointed out that the bill includes recruitments made through the notification dated January 22, 2023, which were conducted under the instructions of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The Governor noted that while the ECP had relaxed the ban on recruitment in certain cases, the appointments made during the caretaker government are considered legal if they were transparent and based on merit, as established in the 2008 PLD 446 judgment of the Supreme Court. To avoid unjustified dismissals, he recommended that the bill include clarification in this regard. The Governor also objected to sub-clause (4) of Section 1, which makes the bill effective in the future, while sub-clause (2) allows it to be enforced retroactively. Citing the 2024 SCMR 1168 judgment, he argued that a law nullifying past statutory recruitments is unconstitutional and would violate fundamental rights. Similarly, referencing the 2014 PLC (CS) 304 ruling by the Sindh High Court, he noted that withdrawing legally acquired benefits without reasonable justification is a breach of constitutional rights. Furthermore, the Governor criticized Section 4 of the bill, which deprives dismissed employees of their right to appeal. He asserted that this violates Article 10A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair and transparent hearing. He recommended that employees should be given the opportunity for legal defense to ensure justice. Additionally, the Governor suggested taking action against the officers responsible for illegal recruitments to prevent such irregularities in the future. He emphasized that it would be unjust to penalize only the employees while allowing the officials who made the unlawful appointments to go unpunished. Considering these objections, the Governor recommended that the government review the bill and amend it in accordance with constitutional requirements to protect employees' rights and ensure transparency. He warned that if the government disregards these recommendations, the bill could face legal challenges in court.
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Agriculture tax bill sails through assembly
PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly approved crucial bills during Monday's session, including one to implement agriculture tax across the province, and another to dismiss government employees hired during the last caretaker regime. The assembly also approved a bill to establish a new regulatory force similar to the police, sending it to the Select Committee. The committee will be headed by Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur and will include members like Mushtaq Ghani, Munir Hussain, Asif Khan, Ahmad Kundi, Arbab Usman, Idrees Khan, Sheer Ali, and Adnan Khan. The committee was instructed to review the bill and submit a report within four days. The session on Monday was chaired by K-P Assembly Speaker Babar Azam Swati. Agriculture tax The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed the bill to impose agricultural income tax. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural Income Tax Bill 2025 stipulates that a 15% tax will apply on annual agricultural income between Rs0.6 million and Rs1.2 million, 20% tax on income between Rs1.2 million and Rs1.6 million, and 30% on income between Rs1.6million and 3.2million. Agricultural income above Rs5.6 million will be taxed at 45%. A super tax will apply to individuals earning more than Rs150 million, annually , from agriculture. Those who own more than one land will be required to submit location details. A tax will also apply to those with 50 acres or more of cultivated land, or 100 acres or more of uncultivated land. Dismissing govt employees As for the bill to dismiss employees hired during the caretaker government, relevant departments will issue notifications for the dismissal of employees, and a technical committee, headed by the establishment secretary, will be formed to resolve any legal issues or complications. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Employees (Dismissal from Service) Bill 2025 will apply to appointments made between January 22, 2023, and February 29, 2024. However, employees hired under the Public Service Commission, minority and special quotas, or those appointed based on judicial orders and through proper tests and interviews, will be exempted. During the session, Law Minister Aftab Alam presented a motion for the dismissal of employees hired during the caretaker period, citing that the Election Act of 2017 clearly specifies the role of the caretaker government, and the mandate for hiring lies with the elected government.
