Latest news with #MinistryofParliamentaryAffairs
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
2024 Pakistan elections report: Election watchdog barred from briefing Senate panel
ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday stopped an election watchdog from briefing a Senate committee, under the pretext of cancelling the group's registration over a report critical of the 2024 general elections. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs told Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs that the Pattan Development Organization could no longer be invited, citing the cancellation of its registration. Pattan's chief, Sarwar Bari, has been under pressure since the group released a report alleging widespread irregularities and vote-rigging in the controversial 2024 general elections. Pattan was expected to offer suggestions on improving election transparency, but its removal overshadowed the committee's discussion on electoral reforms. Led by Senator Dr Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, the committee reviewed proposals to move away from the current first-past-the-post system. Lawmakers discussed switching to proportional representation, aiming to better reflect the public's vote. The panel also debated internet voting for overseas Pakistanis. While concerns remain over security and trust, some members said the idea is worth exploring – with the right safeguards in place. Lawmakers agreed that any digital system would face serious legal and technical challenges but said reforms are needed to strengthen the country's democracy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Meeting diaspora, watching garba, speaking to ANI: What anti-terror MP delegations are doing abroad
Seven delegations comprising retired Indian diplomats and MPs from all major political parties are travelling around the world to deliver India's message of zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. According to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the reason for picking members from parties across the political spectrum was to 'project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism' on the world stage. But many MPs appear to be treating this as an opportunity to project themselves to their voters back home too. The public engagements of prominent politicians participating in this exercise show that the challenge of Pakistan-backed terrorism is not the only one taking up all their time. The netas are paying special attention to the Indian diaspora, attending cultural functions and speaking to the Indian media. Domestic politics first For example, Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, visited the memorial of Bengali freedom fighter Rash Behari Bose in Tokyo on May 23. There, he complained about the rundown condition of the structure dedicated to this 'great son of Bengal' and asked the Indian ambassador in Japan to take it up with the local authorities. Banerjee also offered prayers at the Ramakrishna Mission in Singapore. This sect of Hinduism, which originated in nineteenth-century Kolkata and spread across the world, continues to wield a powerful influence in West Bengal. During his official visit to Japan, Shri @abhishekaitc took time from his demanding schedule to visit the Tama Cemetery in Tokyo, where he paid solemn tribute to freedom fighter, national hero, and one of Bengal's most revered son — Shri Rash Behari Bose. — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 23, 2025 The Bengal leader was by no means the only one playing to his gallery at home on this global sojourn. Ideological opponents both to his Left and Right did not lose sight of their domestic audiences either. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey, who is part of the Indian contingent touring Bahrain and Kuwait, spoke to journalists there about subjects like India's foreign policy and Pakistan-linked terrorism. Except that the interviews were for Indian news wire agencies, such as Asian News International and Press Trust of India. John Brittas of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was in Seoul meeting South Korean ministers and dignitaries. But he still found the time to write a long response to his Kerala rival Shashi Tharoor, who had criticised the CPI(M)-led Kerala government for providing aid to Turkey after an earthquake in February 2023. Photo ops and desi meetups Tharoor, himself an expert on international relations, is leading a delegation too. His group has so far visited the United States, Guyana and Panama. All three countries are members of the United Nations Security Council at present. Soon after the group arrived in New York City on May 24, they paid their respects at the 9/11 memorial and museum. It was a gesture intended to resonate with America's own experience with terrorism. However, there were no American elected representatives around to witness it or meet the Indians because the US Congress is currently in recess. The visit did receive substantial media coverage – but only in India. American papers and television channels did not consider it newsworthy. After this Tharoor's delegation headed to Guyana first and then Panama. On Thursday, the Congress MP shared pictures from his visit to the Panama Canal, which he called an 'engineering marvel'. The group in Kuwait, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, also went to sites of cultural significance, such as the Grand Mosque. In the National Library, they studied 'rare manuscripts, ancient books, historical coins' displayed as part of an exhibition to commemorate 250 years of friendship between India and Kuwait. Besides such efforts, most delegations are devoting a lot of time to meeting the Indian diaspora. Tharoor's group, for example, spoke to members of the Indian community everywhere it went. The Congress leader even posted pictures from a garba performance at one such event in Panama supposedly attended by 300 Gujaratis and Sindhis. In Qatar, Manish Tewari, another Congress MP, spoke in Hindi while talking to expat Indians about Pakistan's involvement in terrorism against India. When Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi met with Indians in Kuwait , he described Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir as 'stupid jokers'. Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar also put up social media posts about their meetings with meetings the Indian diaspora. Chaturvedi was in France, while Sule was in South Africa. Our conversation with the Indian diaspora based in Paris was heartening and heartfelt. They continue to be the best brand ambassadors of India. 3/ — Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) May 27, 2025 The diplomatic grind The aim of this diplomatic exercise was to convince the world that India had no option but to respond firmly to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead and that its military action against Pakistan was 'focused, measured and non-escalatory' in nature. But public documents released by the Ministry of External Affairs suggest that most foreign governments hosting the Indian delegations are yet to be convinced. While ministers and dignitaries in these countries have extended solidarity and support to India in its fight against terrorism, they are stopping short of ascribing the responsibility for Pahalgam to Pakistan. The responses received by the Indian contingent travelling through East Asia illustrate this. That group managed to get an audience with the foreign minister of Japan, who expressed his 'heartfelt condolences' to the victims of the terror attack. They also met the junior foreign minister of Singapore. 'Singapore strongly condemns all acts of terrorism and stands with India against terrorism,' she told them. However, neither of these officials made any mention of Pakistan. There were cultural performances (the garba stood out), a lively q&A… — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 28, 2025 The vice foreign minister of South Korea also 'condemned the [Pahalgam] attack and expressed understanding of India's position' during his meeting with the delegation. But he did not offer explicit support for India's actions during Operation Sindoor. Harsh Pant, vice president of the Observer Research Foundation and a professor of international relations at King's College London contended that in spite of this lack of visible impact at the moment, the delegations were a good idea. 'The world has a lot of things to worry about at the moment and the India-Pakistan issue is not a top priority,' Pant explained. 'But India is doing well to ensure that its message about how it wants to deal with the issue of terrorism is conveyed to its partners and allies. The move to send all-party delegations is a good, sound one. We will find out its effectiveness as time goes by.'
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
2024 elections report: Election watchdog barred from briefing Senate panel
ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday stopped an election watchdog from briefing a Senate committee, under the pretext of cancelling the group's registration over a report critical of the 2024 general elections. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs told Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs that the Pattan Development Organization could no longer be invited, citing the cancellation of its registration. Pattan's chief, Sarwar Bari, has been under pressure since the group released a report alleging widespread irregularities and vote-rigging in the controversial 2024 general elections. Pattan was expected to offer suggestions on improving election transparency, but its removal overshadowed the committee's discussion on electoral reforms. Led by Senator Dr Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, the committee reviewed proposals to move away from the current first-past-the-post system. Lawmakers discussed switching to proportional representation, aiming to better reflect the public's vote. The panel also debated internet voting for overseas Pakistanis. While concerns remain over security and trust, some members said the idea is worth exploring – with the right safeguards in place. Lawmakers agreed that any digital system would face serious legal and technical challenges but said reforms are needed to strengthen the country's democracy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
India Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Pak bets on Bilawal Bhutto for global outreach following India's Op Sindoor move
Hours after India announced its seven-member delegation for global diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan appointed Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to lead its own international peace Saturday, India's Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs announced that senior political leaders, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and NCP MP Supriya Sule, to brief key foreign governments on the recent India-Pakistan conflict and India's stance on the issue. Tharoor will head a delegation to the US, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia, while Sule will visit Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South teams include both opposition and ruling alliance members -- Kanimozhi, Sanjay Jha, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Baijayant 'Jay' Panda, and Shrikant Shinde -- and aim to convey India's position to key international TAKES CHARGE OF PAKISTAN'S NARRATIVEPakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif appointed Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to present Pakistan's stance. Bilawal confirmed via X post."I was contacted earlier today by Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif], who requested that I lead a delegation to present Pakistan's case for peace on the international stage. I am honoured to accept this responsibility and remain committed to serving Pakistan in these challenging times," he to a report in The News International, Pakistan formed a high-level committee under Bilawal's leadership. It includes former ministers Khurram Dastgir Khan and Hina Rabbani Khar, as well as former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Pakistani side claims that Bilawal's delegation will advocate for regional peace. Islamabad's move is being seen as an attempt to control the narrative internationally and counter Watch
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
NA body passes resolutions to condemn actions of Indian govt
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs unanimously passed two resolutions separately that strongly condemned the actions of the Indian government, including the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the downgrading of diplomatic relations and the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives in Gaza, characterising Israel's actions as a form of ethnic cleansing. The committee met with MNA Rana Iradat Sharif Khan at Parliament Lodges, Islamabad on Thursday. The committee, unanimously, passed two resolutions. The first resolution strongly condemned the actions of the Indian government, including the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the downgrading of diplomatic relations, deeming these actions as a serious provocation. The second resolution strongly condemned the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives in Gaza, characterising Israel's actions as a form of ethnic cleansing. Furthermore, the committee extended its heartfelt condolences on the passing of Pope Francis, acknowledging the global impact of his death. Earlier, the Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs briefed the Committee on efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the Prime Minister's Public Affairs and Grievance Wing, with a focus on expanding its outreach across Pakistan, especially in remote and underserved areas. The ministry provided an update on its coordination on the development of a comprehensive strategy to integrate the Chief Ministers' public grievance management systems, including AJK and GB, with the Pakistan Citizen's Portal (PCP). The committee was also briefed on the status of assurances given on the floor of the House. Since the inception of the 16th National Assembly, a total of 44 Assurances have been made by various Ministries/Divisions, of which implementation reports of the 22 Assurances have already been submitted. The meeting was attended by MNAs, Mahmood Bashir Virk, Shaikh Aftab Ahmed, Muneeba Iqbal, Naveed Aamir, Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Mujahid Ali, Ali Muhammad and Hameed Hussain. Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and other senior officers of the ministry also attended the meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
