Two sessions called to discuss budget, lawyers’ movement at Bani Gala

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Two separate sessions were summoned at Bani Gala under the chair of Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the upcoming budget and imminent lawyers’ movement across Pakistan. For the meeting regarding lawyers’ movement, the chief ministers and law ministers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were also summoned. It was reported that the lawyers’ campaign and the government’s strategy will also be discussed during the meeting. The session on budget will also take into consideration the opposition’s response to the budget. The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) announced to countrywide protest on June 14 in response to a reference filed against senior judges of the top court.

Addressing a press conference, PBC vice chairman Amjad Shah said no notice was served to judges under section 176, adding that this is a weak reference. He said Dr Firdous Awan should speak wisely while talking to media.

The PBC members also demanded resignations of the law minister and the attorney general of Pakistan, stating that the May 28 reference against the top court judge was based on ‘mala fide’ intent. The PBC vice chairman urged the government to immediately withdraw the reference. “Purpose of the protest is to guard the essence of the Constitution and preserve the supremacy of law,” he explained.

No economic target achieved

The government missed all the key economic targets for the current fiscal year where Gross Domestic Product locked at 3.3 percent and was almost halved from the target set at 6.2 percent owing to sharp drop in agriculture production and negative growth heralded at industrial sector. On the other hand, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) prepared a new schedule. However, it was purposed to impose Rs150 billion new taxes in the federal budget and Rs30 billion in the Punjab budget. The economic survey report will be released on Monday ahead of the budget on June 11 and the government is likely to set economic growth target of 4 per cent for 2019-20.