Daily Times

The Federal Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Interior Ministry, approved the National Prevention of Violent Extremism Policy 2024 on Monday.

The cabinet also approved in principle the proposal of the interior ministry with respect to the establishment of Islamabad Central Business District Development Authority.

The meeting, on the recommendation of commerce ministry, authorized to file review petition against the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision of lifting ban on the export of Monosodium glutamate (Ajinomoto).

The decision was taken in the light of the report of the expert’s special committee that was formed to monitor the impacts of Monosodium glutamate on human health. The report had termed the Monosodium glutamate safe for human health. The committee was comprised of representatives from Pakistan Scientific and Industrial Research, National Agriculture Research Center, National University of Sciences and Technology, Institute of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Federal Ministry of National Food Safety and Research, Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority and Board of Investment.

The meeting of the federal cabinet was held here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

The cabinet, on the proposal of ministry of education and professional training also gave a go ahead to the renewal of the Memoranda of Understands with respect to University of Cambridge, Saint Antony’s College University of Oxford, University of Jordan, Pecking University China, University of Hydal Berg, and Pakistan Chairs in Germany.

Furthermore, the cabinet, on the recommendation of ministry of education and professional training approved nomination of Dr Habib ur Rehman and Dr Kamran Ansari as subject experts in the Board of Governors of University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore and the nomination of Dr Mumtaz Muhammad Shah and Dr Muhammad Ahmed Farooqui as subject experts in Board of Governors of Center of Excellence in Mineralogy, University of Balochistan Quetta.

The federal cabinet, on the proposal of ministry of law and justice and in line with Sindh High Court orders approved the amendment to the jurisdiction of special courts.

On the recommendation of ministry of law and justice and in line with Balochistan High Court orders, the cabinet also approved amendments to the jurisdiction of special courts (customs, taxation and anti smuggling) Quetta and Khuzdar.

Similarly, on proposals of ministry of law and justice and in line with orders of Peshawar High Court, Lahore High Court, Islamabad High Court, Sindh High Court, and Balochistan High Court, the cabinet authorized the additional session judges and other relevant courts to hear the cases under lawyers welfare and protection act 2023.

Separately, the government has formed a joint task force (JTF) to identify and trace perpetrators involved in a “massive malicious campaign”, which it said was aimed at discrediting the state, it emerged on Monday.

The development comes amid claims by the PTI that at least 12 party supporters died in Islamabad as a result of firing by law enforcement agencies (LEAs) during the party’s ‘final call’ protest. PTI Chairman Barrister Ali Gohar told the same figure while talking to the media outside Adiala Jail.