Overview
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a summary advising withdrawal under Article 89(2)(b), and the Prime Minister’s Office issued a notification formalizing the move.
- Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the measure would not be treated as valid without the president’s signature and described the issuance as a mistake.
- Law ministry sources said multiple items were processed through the e-Office system and the SEZ ordinance was printed and publicized before the signed file confirmed it lacked presidential assent.
- The federal government plans to bring the proposed Special Economic Zones changes to parliament as a bill.
- PPP lawmakers, led by Syed Naveed Qamar, walked out of the National Assembly over the episode, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari convened a parliamentary party meeting as the NA session was extended to January 23.