Press Statement By Board of Management Quaid-e-Azam House Museum

ISLAMABAD, APR 6: Management of Quaid-e-Azam House Museum – Institute of Nation Building is an Amanat given to the Board of Management by the Sindh Government in terms of MOU dated 08.02.2021 and Sindh Government Notification dated 06.04.2021.

The three functionaries nominated under the Sindh Government Notification had earlier assured the Sindh Government and the public that Quaid-e-Azam House Museum would neither be used for commercial purposes nor any political activity. This position is re-iterated.

While there is a definite need of a space for use as an Audio-Visual Centre to show Film on Quaid- e-Azam and the leaders in the Pakistan Movement as well as Muslim Statesmen and leaders of the Sub-continent including Pakistan, this activity cannot commence until a definite space is made available. Functions for School/ College students under a Shamiyana in the Garden have commenced and will continue round the year. Similar events of upto 40-50 persons will be held in the Annexe of Quaid-e-Azam House Museum.

While alternate plans for the Audio/Visual Centre and Public Library (Jinnah Library) continue to be explored, any final decision will be subject to the approval of the Heritage Commission under the existing Heritage Laws and Rules as may be applicable. No activity shall be undertaken without such approval and the concurrence of the Sindh Government. The heritage site namely (Quaid-e- Azam House Museum) shall remain intact and un-touched in any manner with a view to its preservation and upkeep by the Sindh Government in terms of the Order of the Chief Justice, High Court of Sindh at Karachi dated 05.02.1984 which specifies the purposes for which Quaid-e-Azam House Museum was sold to the Federal Government by the Administrators of the Estate of Quaid- e-Azam Hashim Raza and Mr. Liaquat H. Merchant in 1984.

The Board of Management expresses its gratitude to the Chief Minister and Government of Sindh for the constitution of the Board of Management and the Trust reposed in the Board of Management and its functionaries. This is in compliance of the Order of the High Court of Sindh at Karachi dated 05.02.1984.

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US sought to punish ‘disobedient’ Imran Khan, says Russia

 

MOSCOW, APR 5: Russia has lambasted “another attempt of shameless interference” by the United States in the internal affairs of Pakistan, adding that it sought to punish a “disobedient” Imran Khan.

In a statement, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Russia had noted that President Dr Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on April 3 on the prime minister’s advice as well as the events preceding it. “Immediately after the announcement of the working visit of Imran Khan to Moscow on February 23-24 this year, the Americans and their Western associates began to exert rude pressure on the prime minister, demanding an ultimatum to cancel the trip,” she said.

“When he nevertheless came to us, [Lu] called the Pakistani ambassador in Washington and demanded that the visit be immediately interrupted, which was also rejected,” she stated.

“According to the Pakistani media, on March 7 this year, in a conversation with Pakistani Ambassador Asad Majid, a high-ranking American official (presumably the same Donald Lu) sharply condemned the balanced reaction of the Pakistani leadership to the events in Ukraine and made it clear that partnerships with the United States are possible only if Imran Khan is removed from power,” Zakharova said.

The Russian official said that further development of the situation left no doubt that the US “decided to punish the ‘disobedient’ Imran Khan”, noting how lawmakers from within the PTI switched sides to the opposition while the no-confidence vote was submitted to Parliament.

“This is another attempt of shameless US interference in the internal affairs of an independent state for its own selfish purposes. The above facts eloquently testify to this,” Zakharova said.

“The [Pakistan] prime minister himself has repeatedly stated that the conspiracy against him was inspired and financed from abroad. We hope that Pakistani voters will be informed about these circumstances when they come to the elections, which should be held within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly,” she said.

The statement from Russia’s foreign ministry comes after PM Imran named US Assis­tant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia Donald Lu as the official who made “threatening remarks” about his regime in a letter, which the premier had brandished during a public rally in Islamabad last month.

Last month, the National Security Committee, which includes all services chiefs, had decided to issue a “strong demarche” over the letter, terming it “blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan”.

Imran has alleged that the no-confidence motion against him is part of the “foreign conspiracy” to oust him from power.

However, the US State Department said claims of a US involvement in the no-trust move against Imran Khan were just allegations without any truth. In a recent interview, Donald Lu, the US diplomat who allegedly made the threat to Pakistan’s ambassador, evaded the question when asked about the regime change in Pakistan.

During the interview, on a question about his conversation with Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington, the interviewer asked: “Imran Khan seems to suggest that you had a conversation with the Pakistani ambassador in the US and told him that if Imran Khan survives the no-confidence motion, Pakistan is in trouble and the US wont forgive Pakistan. Any response?”

Donald Lu avoided direct reply and said: “We are following developments in Pakistan, and we respect and support Pakistan’s constitutional process and the rule of law.”

Asked whether he had had such a conversation, the US official skipped the question again, simply saying: “That’s all I have for you on that question.”

On April 3, NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri had thrown out the no-trust motion against Imran, declaring that “circumstances show there is a nexus between the no-confidence motion, foreign intervention and the activities of the state’s representatives deputed to Pakistan”.

Imran had visited Moscow in February on a two-day trip which focused primarily on energy cooperation. However, his visit raised eyebrows as it coincided with Russia’s military onslaught of Ukraine.

At the time, the government said it had consulted all concerned quarters before going ahead with the trip, which had been scheduled months in advance.

During his trip, Imran had conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he regretted the situation developing between Russia and Ukraine, adding that Islamabad had hoped that military conflict could be averted through a diplomatic solution.

He had stressed that conflict was not in anyone’s interest and that developing countries were always hardest hit economically in case of conflict. “He underlined Pakistan’s belief that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” said a communiqué issued after a meeting between the two leaders.

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Courtesy Dawn News

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AAA Associates in collaboration with JDC held Ramadan Sehri Banquet

KARACHI, APR 4: The First Sehri of Ramadan was beaming with joy and gratitude, and the hosts along with the guests enjoyed a fulfilling and grand feast to begin the holy month this year, AAA Associates in collaboration with JDC contributed to the occasion. JDC who have been conducting Seher and Aftar for 11 years, along with many other charitable and philanthropic works with a vision of indiscriminate efforts for maximum provision.

It welcomed the representatives of AAA Associates in Karachi, who have promised to deliver 30 bikes for the month of Ramadan - one daily to be awarded to deserving candidates. Chairman AAA Associates, Mr. Fawad Bashir and Country Head AAA Associates, Mr. Kashif Iqbal, with other honourable members of the community were present at the Ramadan banquet. 

AAA Associates believes in the importance of showing empathy and helping others through various works, it is determined to lift the social community and influence productivity and growth in our society. Aftar and Seher will be conducted for the whole month of Ramadan, 2022, in Rawalpindi by the AAA Associates in association with JDC.

Chairman AAA Associates Mr. Fawad Bashir, expressed his views and promised to ensure adequate and sustainable food provision for the malnourished in our community, through constant and consistent efforts to make our society joyous and fulfilling. He said, we need to indulge in the great act of kindness and compassion by feeding the ones struck with poverty and hunger, and those for whom it is hard to make ends meet. 

Previously, AAA Associates with the collaboration of RCCI had arranged Daily Aftar for 500 people throughout the month of Ramadan to feed the underprivileged population of the twin cities in a dignified manner. 

Last year, AAA Associates partnered with JDC in Islamabad on 19th May 2021 setting up the world’s largest Free Mobile Restaurant outside PIMS Hospital in the Capital City. After the successful launch of Free Mobile Restaurant in Karachi, JDC Collaborated with AAA Associates to extend its free food program initiative to other cities by carrying out a similar activity for an underprivileged population of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Syed Zafar Abbas Jafri, General Secretary, JDC Foundation Pakistan, who recently was honoured with Pride of Pakistan on 23rd Mach 2022, conveyed his gratitude for the efforts of AAA Associates and expressed hope that these endeavours will continue to expand and grow.

JDC Foundation Pakistan is an indiscriminate non-profit charitable organization. JDC works for the welfare of humanity in all parts of the world. AAA Associates proudly collaborates with the welfare non-governmental organization JDC, to serve people in need and improve our society with humanitarian services.

We belong to a compassionate nation, 98 percent of Pakistanis contribute to charitable causes, AAA Associates believes, it is significant to move in a direction to eradicate hunger from our society and make it a welfare and nourishing one.

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All orders and actions initiated by PM, president subject to court order: SC

 

ISLAMABAD, APR 3: Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Sunday said that all orders and actions initiated by the prime minister and president regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court’s order.

The chief justice made the observation after taking notice of the current situation in the country following the dismissal of a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan by National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri and the subsequent dissolution of the NA by President Arif Alvi, the spokesperson of the apex court said on Sunday.

A three-member bench of the top court comprising CJP Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar heard the case today.

The chief justice said the law and order situation in the country should not deteriorate, instructing all political parties to act responsibly.

The chief justice said that no unconstitutional step should be taken by any state institution and that no one should try to take advantage of the situation. “Public order should be maintained,” the CJP said.

He said the court did not want to drag the hearing on account of Ramazan and that notices should be issued to all the political parties. Justice Bandial also ordered the interior and defence secretaries to brief the court on the law and order situation.

The chief justice ordered that the PPP’s request be accepted and said the court would review the deputy speaker’s actions. The court, however, rejected a request to suspend the deputy speaker’s ruling and directed the attorney general to present it tomorrow.

Justice Bandial remarked that President Alvi should be made a respondent in the case since it was an “important matter”. He also ordered that the Supreme Court Bar Association and all political parties be made respondents in the suo motu notice.

The court issued notices to Attorney General Khalid Khalid Jawed Khan, the speaker, deputy speaker, defence secretary, interior secretary, all political parties and adjourned the case’s hearing till Monday.

The weeks-long political turmoil in the country reached its climax today as the NA deputy speaker prorogued a much-awaited sitting of the lower house of parliament without allowing voting on a no-trust motion against PM Imran.

Dismissal of no-trust motion

Suri, who was chairing the session, dismissed the motion in a shock move, terming it against Article 5 of the Constitution, which states that “loyalty to the State is the basic duty of every citizen”.

At the outset of the session, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI’s) Fawad Chaudhry took the floor and referred to the clause, reiterating the premier’s earlier claims that a foreign conspiracy was behind the move to oust the government.

“On March 7, our official ambassador was invited to a meeting attended by the representatives of other countries. The meeting was told that a motion against PM Imran was being presented,” he said, noting that this occurred a day before the opposition formally filed the no-trust move.

“We were told that relations with Pakistan were dependent on the success of the no-confidence motion. We were told that if the motion fails, then Pakistan’s path would be very difficult. This is an operation for a regime change by a foreign government,” he alleged.

The minister questioned how this could be allowed and called on the deputy speaker to decide the constitutionality of the no-trust move.

At that, Suri noted that the motion was presented on March 8 and should be according to the law and the Constitution. “No foreign power shall be allowed to topple an elected government through a conspiracy,” he said, adding that the points raised by the minister were “valid”.

He dismissed the motion, ruling that it was “contradictory” to the law, the Constitution and the rules.

Angered by the NA proceedings, opposition parties decided to hold their own meeting in the lower house of parliament with PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq sitting on the speaker’s seat.

They conducted their own proceedings with 195 lawmakers voting in favour of the no-confidence motion, according to PPP’s Sherry Rehman.

Dissolution of NA

Subsequently, in another shock move, PM Imran, in an address to the nation, said he had advised the president to “dissolve assemblies”.

He also congratulated the nation for the no-trust motion being dismissed, saying the deputy speaker had “rejected the attempt of changing the regime [and] the foreign conspiracy”.

The premier further said he had written to the president with advice to dissolve the assemblies, adding that the democrats should go to the public and elections should be held so the people could decide who they wanted in power.

“Prepare for elections. No corrupt forces will decide what the future of the country will be. When the assemblies will be dissolved, the procedure for the next elections and the caretaker government will begin,” he added.

President Alvi then dissolved the NA on PM Imran’s advice under Article 58 of the Constitution.

Fawad Chaudhry confirmed the development in a tweet, adding that the cabinet, too, had been dissolved while PM Imran would continue in office under Article 224 of the Constitution, which is related to elections and by-elections.

Meanwhile, PTI’s Farrukh Habib said new elections would be held in 90 days.

These developments unfolded as opposition leaders lambasted the government for what they called a blatant violation of the Constitution and urged the SC to take notice of the situation and intervene.

‘Political decisions shouldn’t be taken in courtrooms’

Later, Fawad Chaudhry spoke to the media outside the SC and asserted that parliament was a separate institution and today’s NA ruling couldn’t be challenged in any court.

“Political decisions shouldn’t be taken to courtrooms. I feel the processes have now moved forward,” he said.

Chaudhry revealed that the president had dissolved the NA on the prime minister’s advice and within 90 days elections would be held.

Within two to three days, he said, a letter would be sent to “former leader of Opposition Shehbaz Sharif”, seeking “their names for the interim government”.

Responding to a question, he added that the army had no relevance with the current situation. “This matter relates to parliament,” he said.

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Courtesy Dawn News

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President Alvi dissolves National Assembly on PM Imran's advice

 

ISLAMABAD, APR 3: President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday dissolved the National Assembly on Prime Minister Imran Khan's advice under Article 58 of the Constitution.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Imran, in an address to the nation, said he had advised the president to "dissolve assemblies".

According to Article 58, "The president shall dissolve the National Assembly if so advised by the prime minister; and the National Assembly shall, unless sooner dissolved, stand dissolved at the expiration of forty-eight hours after the prime minister has so advised."

The premier's announcement came moments after National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, who was chairing today's session, dismissed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, terming it a contradiction of Article 5 of the Constitution, which says loyalty to the state is the basic duty of every citizen.

The government claims that the no-trust motion against the premier was a "foreign funded conspiracy", citing a 'threat letter' that was received from a foreign country through Pakistan's ambassador, asking for the removal of PM Imran.

In his address today, Prime Minister Imran congratulated the nation for the no-trust motion being dismissed, saying the deputy speaker had "rejected the attempt of changing the regime [and] the foreign conspiracy".

The premier said he had been receiving messages from many people who were worried, adding that "treason" was being committed in front of the nation. "I want to say, 'ghabrana nahi hai' (do not worry). God is watching over Pakistan."

He said he had written to the president with advice to dissolve the assemblies, adding that the democrats should go to the public and elections should be held so the people could decide who they wanted in power.

Prime Minister Imran said the "billions of rupees" that had been spent to "buy" lawmakers' votes would be wasted and advised those who had taken money to donate it to orphanages and the poor.

"Prepare for elections. No corrupt forces will decide what the future of the country will be. When the assemblies will be dissolved, the procedure for the next elections and the caretaker government will begin," he added.

Shortly afterwards, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the prime minister's advice to dissolve the National Assembly had been sent to President Dr Arif Alvi under Article 58 of the Constitution.

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Courtesy Dawn News

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