'Let Girls Learn' campaign: SHC seeks rejoinder in petition against Maryam Nawaz

Sindh High Court (SHC) Monday sought rejoinder from the petitioner against federal government's reply in a petition, accusing Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of embezzlement of funds in "Let Girls Learn" campaign.
A division bench of SHC headed by Justice Muhamamd Ali Mazhar issued in the petition, filed by Civil Rights Activist Bisma Naureen, seeking initiation of NAB inquiry against Maryam Nawaz over embezzlement of funds. Petition also asked in what capacity Maryam Nawaz visited Washington and met Michele Obama as she didn't hold any official post at that time.
During the hearing of the petition on Monday, Federal Government submitted its reply in the court in which it said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Pakistan & USA for $70 million. Both sides agreed to work on different projects pertaining to education sector.
The US government had allocated $51 million for different projects under USAID while $19 million was released for "Let Girls Learn" project. The project was launched by former US first lady Michelle Obama.
In 2016, Michelle Obama and Maryam Nawaz addressed a joint press conference and announced that the project would benefit 200,000 girls in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) moved SHC, seeking the court's direction for convening of pre-budget session of provincial assembly.
The petition, filed in the court stated that Assembly Rules 2013 explicitly stated that pre-budget session of Sindh Assembly should be held during January to March every year.
It said that rules made it binding that session would discuss on the budget proposal for the last five years. However, pre-budget session was not convened during the said period, required under the assembly rules. Petitioner pleaded the court to direct provincial government to immediately call the session of the assembly for debate on budget proposals.
Sindh Government, provincial Finance and Law & Parliamentary Affairs Ministers have been made respondents in the petition. Later, talking to the media person, Firdous Naqvi said that court was moved after the provincial government is not hearing our pleas for convening the pre-budget session of the assembly.
He said that government forgot section 143 of assembly rules, which required the government to convene pre-budget session. He accused Sindh Chief Minster and Speaker Assembly for flouting the rules for assembly session. He said that current session began on January 06, 2019 and continued unabated till today by ignoring the convening of pre-budget session.