ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top court criticized a speech delivered by British High Commissioner Jane Marriot in a letter that emerged in the media on Wednesday, saying her reservations about the judiciary’s role in the conduct of the February 8 general elections, which were widely seen as manipulated, were “unjustified.”
The letter written on May 3 referred to the British diplomat’s speech at the Asma Jahangir Conference held last month in Lahore, wherein she said not all political parties were allowed to fully participate in the electoral contest. Her speech, quoted in the media, specifically mentioned the “legal processes” that deprived them of “recognizable party symbols.”
Many Pakistani political parties criticized the last general elections, saying they did not get the required “level playing field” to perform in the national polls. The complaint made by former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was particularly high-pitched, as most of its top leadership found itself behind bars on a number of charges amid a crackdown against them that began after violent protests on May 9, which broke out after Khan was briefly detained in a corruption case.
The PTI was also prevented from using its electoral symbol of a cricket bat after a protracted judicial battle by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a case relating to flawed intra-party polls.
“The law enacted by Parliament (Election Act, 2017) requires democracy within political parties via the holding of periodical intra-party elections; to forestall autocracy, or even dictatorship within them,” the letter written by the Supreme Court registrar explained. “To ensure compliance with this democratic principle the law stipulates that if a political party does not hold intra-party elections, then it would not be eligible for an election symbol.”
“A political party (which had itself voted in this law) did not hold the mandated intra-party elections,” it continued. “The Supreme Court reiterated what the law stipulated ... Therefore, you Excellency’s criticism with regard to this decision, with utmost respect, was unjustified.”
The letter written on the instructions of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa noted that the proceedings of the hearing were live televised for the public.
It also highlighted other steps taken by the top court to strengthen democracy in the country and make the national and provincial elections possible earlier this year.
The Supreme Court registrar also maintained that Britain had also made several mistakes in the past which had led to unbearable suffering to people in different parts of the world. It specifically mentioned the overthrow of Iran’s Mohammad Mossadegh’s government in 1953 and the adoption of the Belfour Declarations that led to the creation of Israel.
It maintained the Supreme Court had acknowledged its past mistakes, adding this should also be done with the British government.
“Let us all stand up and be counted for equality, peace and humanity,” it continued.
Pakistan’s top court rebukes British envoy’s critique of election conduct as ‘unjustified’
https://arab.news/8qkmb
Pakistan’s top court rebukes British envoy’s critique of election conduct as ‘unjustified’
- British envoy said last month not all parties could fully participate in the polls, some were deprived of election symbols
- The Supreme Court mentions the past mistakes of British governments that caused suffering to millions around the world
UK says Pakistan regulatory overhaul to yield £1 billion a year as Islamabad launches reform drive
- Britain says it worked with Pakistan on 472 proposed reforms to streamline business rules across key sectors
- PM Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan has stabilized economy and now aims to attract investment by cutting red tape
ISLAMABAD: Britain’s development minister Jenny Chapman said on Saturday Pakistan’s sweeping new regulatory overhaul could generate economic gains of nearly £1 billion a year, as Islamabad formally launched the reform package aimed at cutting red tape and attracting foreign investment.
The initiative, driven by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government and the Board of Investment, aims to introduce legislative changes and procedural reforms designed to streamline approvals, digitize documentation and remove outdated business regulations.
Chapman said the UK had worked with Pakistan on 472 reform proposals as part of its support to help the country shift from economic stabilization to sustained growth.
“These reforms will break down barriers to investment, eliminate more than 600,000 paper documents, and save over 23,000 hours of labor every year for commercial approvals,” Chapman said at the launch ceremony in the presence of Sharif and his team. “The first two packages alone could have an economic impact of up to 300 billion Pakistani rupees annually — nearly one billion pounds — with more benefits to come.”
Addressing the ceremony, the prime minister said the reforms were central to Pakistan’s effort to rebuild investor confidence after the country narrowly avoided financial default in recent years.
“Our economy was in a very difficult situation when we took office,” he said. “But we did not lose hope, and today Pakistan is economically out of the woods. Now we are focused on growing our economy and attracting foreign investment.”
He described the new regulatory framework as a “quantum jump” that would reduce corruption, speed up approvals and remove longstanding procedural hurdles that have discouraged businesses.
Chapman told the audience that more than 200 British companies operate in Pakistan, with the largest six contributing around one percent of Pakistan’s GDP.
She said the UK saw Pakistan as a partner rather than a recipient of aid.
“Modern partners work together not as donors but as investors, bringing all our strengths to the table,” she said, adding that the reforms would make Pakistani exports more competitive and encourage UK firms to expand their footprint.
Sharif highlighted the role of the British Pakistani diaspora and said Pakistan hoped to unlock more private capital by engaging diaspora entrepreneurs and financial institutions in the UK.
