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Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PTI rejects Economic Survey as 'IMF script'
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday blasted the government's Economic Survey, accusing it of misrepresenting indicators and delivering a budget shaped entirely by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram and PTI MNA Mubeen Arif Jutt held a joint press conference at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House. Citing media reports, the opposition leaders claimed that the number of people living below the poverty line has surged to 45 per cent, up from 35 per cent, with approximately 30 million people now classified as impoverished. "This entire budget has been handed down by the IMF this Economic Survey is basically a Form 47 document," Omar Ayub alleged, referring to the controversial election form and manipulated figures in the February 8 general elections. "Pakistan's purchasing power has collapsed. In 2022, someone earning Rs50,000 now effectively earns Rs22,000." Ayub further claimed that wheat prices have risen by 50 per cent over the last three years, citing comparisons from the Bureau of Statistics' two-year datasets. "Poverty has reached 44.7 per cent. Planning budget worth 80 per cent remained unutilised and lapsed." "And we need to ask: Has the number of four-legged donkeys increased or the two-legged ones?" Addressing the media, Sheikh Waqas Akram lambasted the government's performance. He said the poor have been rattled to their bones, adding that reports reveal that the poverty has jumped from 35 to 45 per cent. "There was no earthquake or natural disaster in these three years that could explain the collapse in agriculture, and yet it has tanked." He noted that 37 per cent of the population is linked to agriculture, and "their backs have been broken". Waqas also recalled a moment from an NFC meeting, where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's provincial finance minister reportedly asked how electricity growth was being calculated. "The reply? They are counting electricity generated from solar panels installed on people's rooftops over which the government has no control." "Inflation hasn't eased. For the first time, 30 per cent of livestock remained unsold during Eid. In the last three years, three million people have left the country. When we left government, the debt stood at Rs43,500 billion. Since then, another Rs31,500 billion has been borrowed." "This budget is not the government's it is dictated by the IMF. This Economic Survey is Form 47, not reality." PTI MNA Mubeen Arif Jutt, also speaking at the presser, referred to the comment by the finance minister suggesting that the policy rate should be halved. "If the government is serious about revival, it must take responsibility instead of relying on window dressing," he said.
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Selection of CEC chief, ECP members: PTI nominates members for parliamentary body
ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday formally nominated its members for the parliamentary committee tasked with selecting the new chief election commissioner (CEC) and two members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). In a statement on X, the opposition leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub posted a June 2 letter addressed to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, in which PTI nominated four National Assembly members and two senators for the committee. The nominees include MNAs Asad Qaiser, Gohar Ali Khan, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Latif Khosa, along with senators Shibli Faraz and Allama Raja Nasir. The move comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited the opposition leader for consultations on appointing a new CEC, following the expiration of the terms of the current CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja and two ECP members from Sindh and Balochistan on January 26, 2025. The premier's letter highlighted that despite their terms ending, the incumbents have continued to perform duties under Article 215 of the Constitution. According to Article 213 of the Constitution, the prime minister and opposition leader must send three names for each position to the president by mutual consensus. If no consensus is reached, names are submitted to a 12-member parliamentary committee equally representing the treasury and opposition benches, which then recommends a name to the president. The PTI's nominations follow procedural consultations within the party and were announced a day after the prime minister's invitation for dialogue with the opposition. The nominations are part of the constitutionally mandated process under Article 213(2B) for appointing the CEC and members from Sindh and Balochistan. The appointments are pending amid deep political polarisation in the country, with little prior engagement reported between government and opposition leaders on the matter. PTI had earlier filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in March, challenging the delay in appointing a new CEC. The petition named the federal government, Senate chairman, National Assembly speaker, and ECP as respondents, alleging constitutional violations due to the delay. It requested the court to compel relevant authorities to form the parliamentary committee and hold meaningful consultations under Article 213. Meanwhile, two other ECP members from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue their terms until 2027, ensuring partial continuity within the commission. The selection process remains critical as the ECP is responsible for overseeing the transparency and conduct of elections in Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
CEC, members' nominations: PM invites Omar for consultation
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday invited the Opposition Leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub for consultations over the long-overdue appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), months after the incumbent's term expired in January. In a letter dated May 16, Sharif acknowledged that the term of current CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja ended on January 27, 2025. However, Raja continues to serve under the constitutional provision allowing the CEC and Election Commission members to remain in office until successors are appointed. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
PM Shehbaz invites Omar Ayub for consultation on new ECP chief
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub for a meeting to discuss the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). In a letter on Wednesday, the PM highlighted that the term of CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja, along with two other members, Nisar Ahmad Durrani from Sindh and Shah Muhammad Jatoi from Balochistan, ended on January 26. However, they have continued to serve under Article 215 of the Constitution. The letter pointed out that, according to Article 218, proposals for the new CEC and members must be forwarded to the parliamentary committee. The appointment process for the CEC and members of the ECP is outlined in Article 213 of the Constitution, which mandates that the prime minister and the leader of the opposition jointly propose three names to the president for approval. In case of disagreement between the two, the prime pinister and opposition leader will submit their individual nominations to a parliamentary committee. Following this, the National Assembly speaker will establish a 12-member committee, with equal representation from both the government and opposition benches. The committee will then select one nominee to forward to the President for approval, ideally by consensus. Under Article 217, if the CEC's term expires, the senior-most member of the Commission will assume the duties of the Chief Election Commissioner. Should the senior member be unavailable, the next senior member will take over the responsibilities.
Arab News
6 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
PM invites opposition leader for talks on Pakistan election commissioner's appointment
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday wrote a letter to opposition leader Omar Ayub, inviting him to hold consultations regarding the appointment of a new Pakistan chief election commissioner. Former chief election commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and two other members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from Sindh and Balochistan completed their five-year tenures on Jan. 26 this year. However, they continue to hold office as per Article 215 of the constitution until their replacements are appointed. As per Pakistan's constitution, the prime minister shall forward, after consultations with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, three names for the appointment of the chief election commissioner to a parliamentary committee for hearing and confirmation of any one person. 'In view of the aforesaid, you are invited for a meeting for consultation, in terms of clause (2A) of Article 213 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, in order to finalize three names each for appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Members from Sindh and Balochistan,' a copy of Sharif's letter to Ayub, seen by Arab News, said. Raja oversaw Pakistan's contentious general election last year marred by a countrywide shutdown of cellular networks, suspension of Internet services and delayed results. Ayub's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other opposition parties alleged the ECP, under Raja, manipulated the results of the polls to facilitate his political rivals. The ECP strongly rejected the PTI's allegations while the caretaker government at the time said mobile phone and Internet services were suspended to maintain law and order in the country. Sharif's government has also rejected the PTI's allegations and said the polls were free, fair and transparent. Former prime minister Imran Khan's PTI has held several protests against the government and demanded it investigate allegations of rigging in the 2024 election, and return its 'stolen' mandate. The government, on the other hand, has urged the PTI to seek legal recourse and avoid taking to the streets in protest. Talks between the two sides to break political tensions were held earlier this year. However, after a couple of rounds, the PTI pulled out, accusing the government of not fulfilling its demands to form judicial commissions to probe violent protests in May 2023 and November 2024. The government alleges the violent protests were instigated by the PTI leadership.
