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March 21, 2022: National / International Current Affairs
1. NA speaker summons no-trust session on 25th
• In an apparent move to prolong the voting on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on March 20, 2022 summoned the session of the lower house of parliament on March 25, violating the Constitution under which he is bound to convene a session within 14 days after the submission of a requisition.
• Meanwhile, the government also took a significant decision under which it will file a reference in the Supreme Court on Monday (today), seeking `an opinion` of the apex court on two main points whether the disqualification of a legislator is for life time and whether the dissident MNAs of any party can cast vote on a no confidence resolution.
• The speaker, who under the Constitution was bound to call the NA session by March 21 [within 14 days after the opposition`s requisition], gave an excuse that since the three-day conference of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) would be held in the NA hall, there was no other place in the federal capital to convene the NA session.
2. Pakistan signs deal to avoid $11bn penalty in Reko Diq case
• The government on Sunday claimed to have saved the country from $11 billion penalty in Reko Dig case and reconstituted a project aimed at excavating huge gold and copper reserves from the site in Balochistan.
• The federal and Balochistan governments and two international firms Antofagasta PLC and Barrick Gold Corporation have reached an agreement in principle on a framework to reconstitute the Reko Dig project, and a pathway for Antofagasta to exit the project.
• Prime Minister Imran Khan witnessed the signing ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, he expressed the hope that the investment would mark the beginning of largescale investments in Balochistan that would change the quality of life of ordinary citizens in the province
3. IMF seeks details of petrol, power subsidy funding
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sought copies of financial agreements with the provincial governments and other details from the federal government to confirm the financing of discounts on electricity and petroleum products announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin disclosed at a press conference on March 20, 2022.
• The talks with the IMF were earlier scheduled to conclude on Friday last but then `they [Fund staff] wanted to see agreements with the provinces to basically reassure we are not involved in aerial firing` on the financing of PM`s relief package for petroleum prices, he said.
4. Canadian mosque worshippers attacked with bear spray
• Worshippers at dawn prayer in a suburb of Toronto tackled and subdued a 24-year-old man who allegedly entered their mosque and attacked people with bear spray on Saturday, according to local police.
• Peel Regional Police said the man walked into the Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, and allegedly `discharged bear spray towards people in the mosque while brandishing a hatchet just before 7am`.
• Speaking on behalf of the mosque, Nadia Hasan of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said a group of about 20 men were praying when the man sprayed them.
• Some of the men turned around and they very bravely decided that they were not going to let him attack them, she said. `They tackled him to the ground and apprehended him until the police showed up.
5. North Korea fires multiple rocket launchers
• North Korea fired multiple rocket launchers on March 20, 2022, Seoul said, the latest in a series of provocations by the nuclear-armed nation to heighten tensions in the region.
• Pyongyang launched a string of banned weaponry this year and tested what it claimed were components of a `reconnaissance satellite` although Seoul and Washington have described them as a new ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) system.
• `There were shots suspected to be from North Korea`s multiple rocket launchers this morning,` said the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a text message to reporters
