Pakistan gets representation on ICC Executive Committee

LAHORE: Pakistan has gotten representation on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Executive Committee.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi was elected to the newly formed ICC Executive Committee (ExCO). According to a PCB press release, ExCo comprises of five members with representation from India, England and Australia besides two others with Pakistan being elected as the fourth and the West Indies as the fifth member of the committee.

The ExCo will have a number of committees reporting to it and will deal with important matters like constitution, anti-corruption, ethics, integrity, development and HR. This will be the core committee of ICC which will meet with as much frequency as required to assist and advise the ICC Board on operational, management and administrative activities of ICC.

Najam Sethi said this was great news for Pakistan. “Our representation on ExCo would ensure the Pakistan remains involved in important decision making concerning the game of cricket. It also reflects that Pakistan now holds an important and undisputed position with the top echelon of cricket.”

ICC Anti-Corruption Code

After a request from Najam Sethi and advice from a Queen’s Counsel in the United Kingdom sought by the PCB on Mohammad Amir’s ban, the ICC has also agreed to form a committee to review its Anti-Corruption Code.

The work on the drafting of the new ICC Anti-Corruption Code has substantially progressed with a draft clause inserted into the Code permitting a banned player to be involved in domestic matches prior to the end of his ban period.

The Anti-Corruption Code will now be placed before the Board for approval soon after which the PCB will be in a position to make an application for Mohammad Amir.

Govt to form parliamentary committee for electoral reforms

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to constitute a high-level parliamentary committee to prepare a comprehensive electoral reforms package to ensure rigging-free elections in the country.

An official source told The News here on Thursday that the parliamentary committee would include representatives of all the political parties in proportion to their representation in parliament. It would be an influential committee like the one assigned the task of recommending the 18th Amendment by the previous parliament.

Although, most of the political parties had complaints about rigging in the last year elections, it was the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf that has agitated the issue most and recently even started street protests and public rallies to get the electoral process reformed.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan not only seeks the reformation of the electoral process but has also demanded of the removal of all members of the present Election Commission of Pakistan. The PTI wants the constitution of a new commission.

Different political parties, including the PPP, have endorsed the PTI’s demand but they want to address the issue within parliament instead of taking it to the streets. The PTI strategy, however, seems to have worked as the government is now going to set up the parliamentary committee for electoral reforms.

It is expected that like Senator Raza Rabbani-led parliamentary committee for the 18th Amendment, the electoral reforms committee would also prepare a comprehensive electoral reforms package with consensus.

Although, generally the blame is placed on the ECP for electoral rigging in the last elections, the outgoing parliament has had its major share in this situation as it had blocked critically- important ECP legislation, which had sought empowerment of the Election Commission of Pakistan on the lines of the Indian model.

The legislative bill was referred to parliament in February 2013 for enactment but it did not give it a serious thought.During the last one year, none of the political parties in the present parliament has bothered to take it up for consideration either in the National Assembly or in the Senate.

The bill, which was approved by the ECP under the then Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, had mainly sought the empowerment of the ECP to transfer or suspend any officer, including the chief secretary or the inspector general of police, in case such an officer was found involved in meddling in election affairs or creating hurdles in holding of elections in a free, fair and independent manner.

The bill had also proposed 30-day scrutiny period but even this was not allowed by the previous parliament. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had approved a 30-day scrutiny period for nomination papers of candidates to ensure that frauds, fake degree holders, tax and utility bill defaulters and other cheats are barred from contesting the next polls by cross checking their credentials from the concerned authorities.

To ensure true representation of the people, the legislative bill had also recommended that the winners in elections must bag 50 percent of the total votes cast. The fines for violation of the code of conduct were also proposed to be increased manifold. For instance, Rs100,000 fine was recommended to be imposed on a voter casting a bogus vote. Those committing election forgery were also recommended to pay a fine of Rs100,000 and face up to five-year imprisonment.The present system is also short of any mechanism for the implementation of articles 62 and 63 to ensure that only the persons of character could get into parliament.

Sindh govt forms committee to probe MQM workers murders

KARACHI: The Sindh government has formed a four member committee to probe the murder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers.

According to the CM House spokesman, Sind Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has formed a four member committee comprising Sikandar Mandhro, Sardar Ali Shah, Syed Sardar Ahmed and Dr Sagheer Ahmed.

The MQM on Friday observed a day of mourning in protest of the extra-judicial killing of party workers. The MQM had appealed for businesses in Sindh to remain shut after the bodies of four workers were found in Karachi. The Sindh Assembly also passed a resolution against the extra-judicial killing of MQM workers on Friday.

PCB announce 6-member selection committee

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket board (PCB) announced a 6-member selection committee on Thursday with Moin Khan appointed as chief selector, Geo News reported.

Other members of the committee are former wicket keeper Saleem Yousuf, Wajat ullah Wasti, M.Akram, Shoib Mohammad and Ijaz Ahmed.

M.Akram has been relieved of his duties as bowling coach of the Pakistan team and instead has been appointed as head coach of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Nisar meets government committee

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan met with the government committee tasked with holding peace talks with the Taliban.

Nisar was briefed by the committee over their first direct meeting with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Shura which took place at an undisclosed location in North Waziristan yesterday (Wednesday).

The interior minister and government committee discussed demands put forward by the TTP Shura during yesterday’s meeting.

 

Govt committee, Taliban Shura likely to meet today

ISLAMABAD: The first direct meeting between the committee representing the government and Taliban Shura is expected to be held today (Tuesday) in North Waziristan, sources said.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday chaired a meeting attended by ISI chief Lt. Gen Zaheerul Islam and members of the talk committee. The minister sought suggestions for the proposed agenda of talks with the militants.

Taliban committee member Prof. Ibrahim said that the meeting between the government committee and the Taliban Shura was likely to be held on Tuesday or Wednesday in which members of the coordination committee of the militants will also take part.’

Taliban, government committee to meet in FATA: Prof Ibrahim

PESHAWAR: Professor Ibrahim has informed Geo News that the meeting between the Taliban shura and government committee will be held in FATA in the next two days.

The Taliban committee member said the location for the meeting had been decided but was being kept secret. Professor Ibrahim added that he was not aware of the agenda for the meeting.

According to Ibrahim members of the Taliban committee will also be present during the meeting.

 

Govt to set up new committee for dialogue: Baloch

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for SAFRON Abdul Qadir Baloch has said that government will formulate a new committee to initiate dialogue process with representatives or group of Taliban for ensuring peace in the country.
Talking to Pakistan Television, he said that both the committees will restart talks under the chairmanship of Prime Minister.
He said that the committees will hold dialogue, adding that decision will be taken by the members of the government formed committee and Taliban concerned authorities.
Abdul Qadir Baloch appreciated the successful achievement of the committee for restarting dialogue to maintain peace in the country.
To a question, Minister said that government was thinking about the formulation of new committees to continue the dialogue process.
He said that the government in consultation with all the stakeholders will continue talks and take decision for peace.
He lauded the sacrifices of the Pakistan Army for fighting war on terror and maintaining peace across the country.

Govt committee submits recommendations to resume peace talks

ISLAMABAD: The committee formed by the government to hold peace talks held a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the committee submitted recommendations to the prime minister to resume the dialogue process. Prime Minister Sharif directed the committee to continue consultations and it was decided that a meeting with the committee nominated by the Taliban will be held in the next few days.

Participants of the meeting agreed that attacks such as the one on a court in Islamabad are harmful for the dialogue process.

Prime Minister Sharif said all efforts should be made for peace as this was a necessity. He added that efforts for permanent peace should countiue.

The meeting was held to deliberate on the Taliban’s announcement of a month-long ceasefire and the future course of action regarding the dialogue process.

The Taliban announced a month-long ceasefire after fighter jets and gunship helicopters conducted surgical strikes against militant hideouts in the tribal areas. The strikes were carried out after 20 FC personnel were killed by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan despite the ongoing peace talks.

Following the Taliban’s announcement, the government stopped the strikes. In a statement issued by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan the decision was taken after consultations with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif.

GSP plus: Cabinet committee formed

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: ISRARUL HAQ 

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday constituted a special cabinet committee to benefit from the GSP Plus status granted to Pakistan by the European Union. Minister for Industries Muhammad Shafique will be the convener of the committee.
Minister for labour and human resource, minister for human rights, Advisor to the Chief Minister Ijazun Nabi, MNAs Khusroo Bakhtiar, Pervaiz Malik, MPAs Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, SM Tanvir, Azfar Hassan, the chief secretary, Industry Department secretary, Labour secretary, women development secretary, the human rights secretary, environment protection secretary and Punjab Investment Board chairman will be its members.