Committee to examine treachery as Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb announced on Friday that the federal cabinet has comprised a committee to investigate the case of Qasim Suri.
The Supreme Court had observed on July 14 that the former deputy speaker of the National Assembly overlooked the no-trust resolution against former prime minister Imran Khan and failed to verify that the government was changed on account of a foreign country’s interference, highlighting that the move was “jurisdictional excess” taken without any lawful authority.
The minister was informing the media in Islamabad after a federal cabinet meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“The federal cabinet approved the decision,” Maryam Aurangzeb told the media. Committee to examine treachery.
She said that a resolution was passed in the cabinet meeting “to stop attacks on the parliament, Constitution, and democracy forever”. A committee was also formed today, she said, that will propose measures in light of the court’s decision in the next meeting.
The special committee will be headed by Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and will include representatives of the interior and information ministries as well as federal ministers and all allied parties.
Replying a question on who will be brought about under Article 6 [high treason], Marriyum Aurangzeb said that “the court’s decision is clear in which it is mentioned that the speaker, deputy speaker, president, prime minister disrespected their constitutional duties”.
“The cabinet has decided that the committee will make a proposal to end this autocratic violation and the cabinet will approve it,” she said.
Responding to questions regarding fears of political oppresion, the information minister added that “we are not Imran Khan’s government. An independent inquiry commission will be formed to supervise the matter”.
She also added that she “wished not to comment on the matter too early”, but the process remain clearly visible like glass.
She further added that an independent query commission is to be formed to probe into the matter under the Commission of Inquiries Act, 2017 under the supervision of Law Minister Azam Tarar who will finalize the terms of reference and panel list for the commission in conjunction with the cabinet. She also said that the Commission on Enforced Disappearances was also afflicted by various similar complaints from women, and would also be made a part of the committee.
She also revealed that the commission would be “time-bound” but further details were still to be finalized. Committee to examine treachery.
The minister said all relevant agencies, including the armed forces, police, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority were lauded for their continuing efforts, and ordered to remain vigilant. The cabinet approved preemptive security measures to protect people.
PM Shehbaz also ordered a relief package to be dispatched immediately to the affectees after NDMA, provincial authorities’ survey is completed.
The information minister said that following the reduction in petroleum products prices in the international market, the government had ordered strict monitoring of reduction in public transport fares on federal, provincial, and local levels.
Blaming the country’s economic woes on the previous PTI government, the minister said that an agreement had been reached with the IMF after tough negotiations and particularly the efforts of Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, adding that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto and their respective teams were praiseworthy.
“The government’s resolve is clear,” she said, “the country can emerge out of economic crisis only through self-reliance and stability”.
She also revealed that the cabinet had approved an import of three million ton of wheat, but agreements will be made taking advantage of the global fall in prices, and under tight monitoring and transparent process.
Speaking about the ban on luxury import items, the minister said the items that reached Pakistan’s ports within two weeks after the ban was imposed will be released with an additional 5% duty, while those reaching after the two-week cap will be released into the market with 15% duty.
