The Federal Cabinet has expressed resolve to uphold the dignity of all institutions of state and to protect the rule of law and authority of the federation.
The meeting of the federal cabinet was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.
At special invitation, former Minister for Law and Justice Dr. Babar
Awan briefed the cabinet about the constitutional and political
situation of the country.
Later, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq
Awan told media persons that the briefing continued for more than three
hours and was followed by questions by cabinet members.
Dr. Babar Awan explained the details of the judgments of the
Supreme court delivered regarding the privatization, power projects,
sugar price hike, NICL, NRO, NAB and appointment of ad hoc judges, and
removal of the PCO judges.
He said that the present Government, for the first time in the
history of the country, has implemented hundred percent judgements of
the apex court.
He briefed the cabinet about the powers and responsibilities of
different institutions of the state and also about the tricotomy of
powers as given in the constitution.
Dr. Babar Awan apprised the cabinet of written grievances by the
Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah on the transfer of
an officer and said the posting of Chief Secretary and IGP can be made
by the Federal Government in consultation with the Chief Minister and
Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan.
He told the cabinet that the Government will uphold the rule of law
and separation of powers of executive from the judiciary. It will
ensure that the state institutions must act in accordance with the
constitutional laws and within the given framework. He said the
Government has never interfered in the matters of the judicial and
essential services postings, transfers and appointments. He also said
that the Government can neither appoint nor can dismiss a judge of a
constitutional court through a notification except the mechanism given
in various articles of the constitution.
Replying to questions by newsmen, the Information Minister said the
PPP struggle and gave sacrifices for independence of the judiciary and
it can never think about undermining any institution or adopt a
confrontationist approach.
The cabinet discussed the Ramazan package and approved substantial relief for the common man during the holy month.
The Prime Minister stressed that all concerned departments should
ensure adequate supply of necessary house-hold items in the market.
He directed the Cabinet members for adopting effective measures to
bring down the prices of essential commodities during Ramazan ul
Mubarak.
The Cabinet approved the subsidy of two billion rupees for Utility
Stores enabling it to provide essential items to people on subsidized
rates during the month.
A subsidy of fourteen rupee a kilogram has been approved for Ghee
and Oil; ten rupee per kilo each for Daal Chana, white gram, Dal Moong,
Dal Maash, Beson, Dates (Khajoor), Rice (Bastmatti), Rice (Sella),
Broken Rice, Sharbat and Squashes; forty rupee per kilogram for tea and
five rupee a litre on tetra pack milk. All Utility Stores will provide
10% Subsidies on all the spices during the holy month.
The Cabinet approved the proposed amendments in the relevant laws
making offenses like tampering oil and gas pipelines, damaging and
causing destruction to pipelines and theft of oil and gas liable to
punishment. The perpetrators would attract imprisonment upto fourteen
years and a fine of up to 10 million rupees.
It also gave ex-post facto approval to the realse of financial
support of 65 billion to PEPCO in order to improve the supply of
electricity to the people.
Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said the Prime Minister expressed concern
over unscheduled load-shedding that compounds difficulties of the
common man and asked the authorities concerned to prepare formula for
load-shedding in consultation with all stakeholders and strictly
implement it. He also gave instructions for reducing gap between demand
and supply of electricity.
In line with the Supreme Court judgement, the cabinet approved amendments in the National Tariff Commission.
It approved start of negotiations for finalization of MoU regarding
collaboration in trade promotion activities between Trade Development
Authority of Pakistan and India Trade Promotion Organization.
The meeting agreed to the signing of MoU on media cooperation exchanges between Pakistan and China.
The cabinet agreed in principle to start negotiations for
modernization and expansion of Pakistan Steel Mills with Russian
Federation.
It discussed the issues related to equal treatment for contribution
in research and development fund for fixed line and mobile operators
and decided that 0.5% contribution will be applicable to all fixed line
and mobile phone operators.
Replying to a question the Information Minister said the present
Government has completed three and a half years of its tenure despite
rumour mongering and it will complete its remaining tenure as well. He
said almost all political parties in the parliament are in the
government in one province or the other and what kind of new
dispensation the fresh elections would produce. SANA
