5-member bench hears NRO implementation case, AG expects court will exercise restraint

SC issues contempt notice to PM, summons him on Aug 27

Islamabad—The Supreme Court (SC) Wednesday issued contempt notice to Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the NRO implementation case and directed him to appear personally before the bench on August 27. A five-judge special bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, heard the case on Wednesday. The Court issued a show-cause notice to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf over his failure to implement its directive of writing a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

PTI, AML form electoral alliance

Islamabad—Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and President Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid Ahmed held conclusive talks regarding formation of electoral alliance, sources said. According to the sources, the meeting was held in Imran Khan’s residence here on Wednesday in which both the parties finalized the formation of electoral alliance. During the meeting, both the leaders agreed to jointly take part in the next elections and to support each other’s candidate. The PTI also decided that it would not field a candidate from its party against Sheikh Rashid.

Ephedrine case SC rejects request for adding suspects to ECL

Islamabad—The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a request filed by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to add the names of Ali Musa Gilani and 13 other suspects to the Exit Control List (ECL) in the ephedrine quota case. A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing the case on Wednesday, during which the ANF submitted its request to add names of 14 suspects to the ECL.

Review petitions filed against contempt law, NRO case rulings

Islamabad—The federal government on Wednesday filed a review petition against the Supreme Court’s ruling of July 12 in which the prime minister was asked to write the Swiss letter without seeking any advice. The petition filed on behalf of the government by Attorney General Irfan Qadir pleaded that the order to the Prime Minister is contradictory to the Constitution which required him to seek advice from the quarters concerned over any such step in accordance with Article 90 and the Rules of Business of the National Assembly.

Tribunal disqualifies PML-Q MPA over fake degree

Lahore—An election tribunal of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday disqualified PML-Q MPA Malik Iqbal Ahmad Langrial over fake degree issue. The tribunal also ordered election commission to hold by-election in PP-226, Sahiwal. The election tribunal comprising Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh passed the orders on a election petition filed by Mian Saif-ur-Rehman, a candidate who lost election to the respondent MPA in 2008.

CCI body for equitable power distribution

Islamabad—The 19th meeting of Council of Common Interest held here on Wednesday constituted a committee to address the complaints of provinces of uneven loadshedding. The meeting held under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf at Prime Minister’s Secretariat decided that a Committee be constituted, headed by Minister for Water and Power and include Chief Secretary and a technical member, from each province The terms of the reference of the committee include recommendation of a mechanism to ensure equitable distribution of available electricity and measures for recovery of power dues.

Govt has accepted SC decision on contempt law: Kaira

Islamabad—Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira Wednesday said likewise past, the government would implement the decisions of the apex court in future as well. Talking to media after attending a seminar on ‘civil-military relations: impact on human rights’, he said,” the government has due respect for judiciary and there is no clash among institutions. The minister recalled that the government has accepted the Supreme Court’s verdict regarding disqualification of former prime minister as well as the nullification of Contempt of Court Act.