Latest news with #KhyberPakhtunkhwaAssembly
Express Tribune
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
K-P Assembly session on peace turns into war of words
A special session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, convened to consult on the province's law-and-order situation and propose effective measures for peace, ironically descended into political point-scoring, blame games and verbal crossfire on Tuesday, with little substantive progress made. The session, chaired by Muhammad Idrees after a three-hour delay, suffered from poor attendance on both treasury and opposition benches. The repeated quorum breaks, along with the absence of several provincial ministers, further disrupted proceedings. Opening the debate after the recitation of the Holy Quran, PML-N MPA Farukh Khan warned that terrorism was rearing its head again. "This province was once the cradle of peace, home to the Gandhara civilisation, but then a time came when it was drenched in blood," he lamented. He said the public looked to the House with expectations. Recalling Nawaz Sharif's tenure as prime minister, he claimed it had brought peace to the country, and emphasised that the nation now required the "same spirit". "Since the 18th Amendment, law and order has been a provincial subject. The story must begin here, with positive proposals from this House. In times of crisis, governments and oppositions work together we must get on the same page and make history by truly representing our province." However, he pointed out that the province can seek help from the federation. "We cannot endure more lost lives, broken homes, and abandoned lands. Speeches alone will not do, the government must take the lead, and we are ready to stand with it." Ali Shah said the situation was forcing people from Bajaur to flee their homes. "My heart bleeds for them. Conditions in Balochistan and K-P are deteriorating. In Punjab, there is neither an operation nor any drone strike, but our borders have become insecure." Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Sohail Afridi pointed out that no opposition member had spoken against military operations in the merged districts, whereas PTI's entire leadership had opposed the move alongside the provincial government. To this day, the leaders of opposition parties have neither taken a clear position nor issued a statement against the operations. The blood of the Pashtuns continues to be traded," he said. Afridi lashed out at the Awami National Party, saying that "a party led by Aimal Wali cannot lecture us on political maturity". "Political speeches will not achieve anything. Not a single opposition member condemns the operation. During the regime change episode, all opposition parties were part of the London Plan. These people want to disrupt the province's peace once again." A self-created law-and-order situation has been engineered in the province, he alleged and added that the PTI, under any circumstances, support military action in the province.
Business Recorder
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
KP governor administers oath to Opposition MPAs
PESHAWAR: The Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi administered oath to the newly elected members of the provincial assembly on reserved seats for women and non-Muslim. The oath-taking ceremony was held here at Governor's House on Sunday. After the adjournment of the proceedings of the KP Assembly in the name of the lack of quorum in an especially summoned session of the house for the purpose, the Chief Justice, Peshawar High Court (PHC) on a request of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in line with Article 255 (2) of the Constitution of Pakistan had nominated the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to administered oath to newly elected members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on reserved seats for women and non-Muslims. PHC bars elected MPAs on reserved seats from taking oath A formal notification (No. 453-J) issued by the High Court Registrar directed that the oath-taking ceremony should take place at the earliest in accordance with the constitutional framework and prescribed legal procedures. The Governor has been tasked to ensure that the oath is administered in the prescribed manner and that official record is properly maintained. The court has also instructed the Secretary of the Provincial Assembly to facilitate the process by enabling the newly notified members to sign the Roll of Members as per Rule 6 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules, 1988. A formal notification in this regard also issued on Sunday, and its copies were forwarded to key stakeholders including the Speaker and Secretary of the Provincial Assembly, the Election Commission, and the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A ceremony to administered oath to women and non-Muslims elected on reserved seats is schedule at Governor's House today (Monday) at 9:00 A.M. The Treasury benches in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly created the issue of quorum to avoid the administering of oath to women and non-Muslims elected to the house against reserved seats. A special session of the provincial legislature was convened on the request of the Chief Minister to administer oath to the women and minorities' representatives elected on reserved seats to formally enrolled them as members of the house. But it could not happen due to the strategy evolved by the treasury benches, which is divided into two groups over the issuance of tickets by the party leadership, particularly by the jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is going to elect 11 Senators and on the basis of its strength in the electoral college, it has fielded six candidates by issuing them party ticket. The candidates fielded by the ruling party include Murad Saeed, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri and Mirza Khan Afridi on general seats, Azam Swati on technocrat and Robina Naz on seats reserved for women. The Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur and joint opposition in the provincial legislature have already developed consensus on the distribution of seats by allowing the election of the five candidates of the later to the Senate. However, some PTI leaders Irfan Saleem, Khurram Zeeshan and Ayesha Bano, who had had filed nominations, but were denied tickets are not ready to accept the decision of the leadership and have come in the forefront of the leadership against the decision of the party. Though the session of the legislature was convened. However, the staying away from the house by the legislatures, particularly treasury benches braked it due to the lack of quorum in the house. As the house began proceedings with Speaker Babar Saleem Swati in the chair, a treasury benches member Sher Ali Afridi pinpointed the lack of quorum and the Speaker has to order the ringing of the bells to bring legislators to the house. But, in legislators did not turned up prompting the Speaker to adjourned the proceedings of the house till July 24,2025. Later, speaking informally in the house, the leader of opposition Dr Ibadullah said that how long will this continue? He said that a period of over on years has been passed, but the members are still awaiting their oath. He said that if the Speaker does not take the oath, then they will file a petition with the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court to administer the oath to them. Earlier, while speaking to the media, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati said tha the oath-taking will take place whenever the assembly session is held, quorum in the house merely after entering the house. When asked regarding the delay in the oath-taking, the Speaker with a meaningful smile said that it will happen eventually. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
25 reserved seat MPAs sworn at KP Governor House after high court intervention
Following intervention of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi administered the oath to 25 members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, elected on reserved seats for women and non-Muslims, in a ceremony held at the Governor House Peshawar on Sunday. The governor administered the oath after the PHC chief justice through an order nominated him to do so. Governor Kundi congratulated the women and minority members of the assembly upon taking the oath on the reserved seats. He also expressed his gratitude to the PHC chief justice of for the nomination. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Federal Minister for SAFFRON, Engineer Amir Muqam, and Leader of the Opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Dr. Ibadullah, along with other members of opposition parties. PHC bars elected MPAs on reserved seats from taking oath This oath was administered under Articles 65 and 255(2) of the Constitution of Pakistan, and in accordance with Rule 6 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules, 1988.
Express Tribune
25-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Rs192b supplementary budget passed
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday approved a supplementary budget of Rs192.74 billion for the current fiscal year (2024-25), clearing 62 funding demands covering additional departmental expenditures. The move sparked a backlash from opposition parties, who staged a fiery protest and a walkout, decrying the move as evidence of the provincial government's flawed planning and faulty economy. Speaker Babar Saleem Swati presided over the session, which quickly turned contentious after he invoked special powers to bulldoze opposition cut motions and fast-track the budget. Opposition members, branding the exercise a matter of "disastrous policy failure", alleged this marked the 14th supplementary budget under PTI's 13-year rule. They lambasted the frequent recourse to such budgets, arguing that when unchecked expenditures balloon year after year and questioning the government's proclaiming of a surplus. Dr Ibadullah, Leader of the Opposition, waded into the debate with figures. "Surplus doesn't fit the bill," he said, pointing to the staggering provincial debt rising from Rs150 billion to Rs800 billion under successive PTI administrations. He questioned the logic of approving patchwork budgets when nearly a third of development funds had gone unspent and alleged Rs200 billion in financial irregularities per the auditor general's findings.
Business Recorder
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
KP PA discusses Mines & Minerals Bill 2025
PESHAWAR: A consultative session on the KP Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 was held at the Old Jirga Hall of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. The session was chaired by Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Babar Saleem Swati, who delivered the opening remarks and briefed participants on the bill. The session was attended by Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi, Leader of the Opposition Dr Ibadullah, Minister for Law Aftab Alam, members of the Provincial Assembly, officials from relevant departments, lawyers, and representatives from civil society. The Speaker explained that the session was convened in light of the questions, concerns, and suggestions raised regarding the bill, with the aim of incorporating the views of all stakeholders. He noted that following cabinet approval and the bill's introduction in the Assembly, it faced scrutiny at various levels, including political circles, civil society, and media discussions, both nationally and internationally. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
