Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Muhammad Zubair revealed on Sunday that his role in the party is limited now as the party doesn’t consult him while taking decisions.
Acknowledging that country is heading towards the much-awaited general election, set to take place on February 8, 2024, Zubair said that he is in PML-N, “just like Abbasi.”
The quote was in reference to former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who is also at odds with the party. Ex-federal minister Miftah Ismail has also been sidelined.
Muhammad Zubair said while speaking on the Geo News programme “Naya Pakistan” on Sunday, “I think, I am in the PML-N. I am in [the party] just like Abbasi is,” he added, as Abbasi had stepped down from the party office soon after the appointment of Maryam Nawaz as senior vice president and chief organiser.
The PML-N leader also said that he supported the party with full energy from 2013 to 2018. “I stood firm with the party when a difficult time came in 2017 after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif.”
Daughter of former federal minister Shireen Mazari, Imaan Zainab Mazaari Hazir, recently married the love of her life Abdul Hadi Ali Chattha, in a ceremony in Islamabad.
Have you searched on Google who is Imaan Mazari’s husband?
Abdul Hadi Ali Chattha is the Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Committee, Punjab Bar Council and Founder of Fair Trial Defenders Legal Aid Cell.
Well, we got a chance to talk with him and as a Multani, I am filled with happiness and joy that Imaan married someone who was born and raised on a farm (Pind) in Multan.
Abdul Hadi Ali Chattha did his O levels and A levels from Beaconhouse and went to Newcastle University UK for LLB Hons.
He takes pride in being a Multani and honestly, so do I.
When asked when the couple first met, Hadi said, “We first met in F-8 Katcheri because I was there for a client and got introduced to Imaan. We appeared in court together for that case.”
He started working at AGHS legal aid cell with the late human rights giant Asma Jehangir after coming back from the UK.
After her death, he worked at Justice Project Pakistan with Barrister Sarah Belal.
When asked why he left the U.K. or cities like Islamabad and Lahore and came back to Multan, Hadi said, “In 2018 I came back to Multan and established my legal aid cell, Fair Trial Defenders Legal Aid Cell, to give back to the people of my land. We provide free legal representation to clients who can’t afford legal expenses. We have a core team of six lawyers with my co-founder Suleman A Zeb.”
I was late but just in time also. Best wishes and congratulations to the best couple. pic.twitter.com/tYdQKq6u1I
“It’s very difficult to answer that because it’s everything about her.”
He was initially attracted because of her passion and bravery for the work she does. It’s also the side of her no one else knows, she keeps it hidden from the public eye.
Head over heels in love with Imaan, Hadi said, “I have never met anyone like her. She’s the only one of her kind.”
Since Imaan has been to jail recently, I asked him if he would go to jail for her. “I would go to jail with her. No one’s arresting my wife unless they arrest me too.”
Hadi has decided to move his practice to Islamabad, getting an office there in June 2023. “We will be living in Islamabad, serving the people in Multan through Legal Aid Cell.”
I asked if they intended to start a podcast together Hadi said nothing of the sort is happening in the near future.
Hadi has been a great support and core organizer of Aurat March Multan since 2020. He looks after all the legal matters and NOCs required.
When asked whether the couple will be seen in Aurat March Multan 2024 together, Hadi said, “Maybe one year in Islamabad March and one in Multan March. Wherever our comrades need us. “
The most thoughtful part is that they didn’t have a wedding hashtag or an extravagant wedding. “We both wanted it to be as small and intimate as possible. We feel guilty being extravagant especially because of what is happening around us with our Baloch brothers and sisters and the situation in Gaza.”
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has on Saturday rejected the nomination papers of the leader of the Haqooq-e-Khalq Party (HKP), Dr Ammar Ali Jan, from PP 160 Lahore.
The HKP leader and well-known activist claimed that all his documents were cleared during the scrutiny process, but unknown forces intervened.
He also said in one of his tweets on X (previously Twitter): “My nomination papers for PP160 have been rejected by ECP. All documents were cleared during the scrutiny process, but invisible forces intervened later. We will go to High Court and have this decision reversed. The selection process will fail, and democracy will prevail.”
He also wrote on X that HKP staged a historical rally at Shanghai Bridge on Sunday, alleging that police threatened HKP workers and tried to disperse the gathering.
Dr Ammar Ali Jan is a known teacher and activist who leads social work in underprivileged localities of Lahore. During Imran Khan’s government, he was a leading critical voice, subjected to targeted harassment by the police.
My nomination papers for PP160 have been rejected by ECP. All documents were cleared during the scrutiny process, but invisible forces intervened later. We will go to High Court and have this decision reversed. The selection process will fail and democracy will prevail.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s convoy came under attack in Dera Ismail Khan on Sunday.
The politician’s convoy was fired from multiple directions at the Yarik Interchange, the party’s spokesperson, Mufti Abrar, told Geo News on Sunday, adding that the attack took place while the vehicles were passing through the DI Khan area.
He also confirmed that Maulana Fazlur Rehman is safe.
Fazlur Rehman’s brother, however, denied the attack on the party chief, claiming that Maulana was at home when the incident happened.
“Maulana’s car stopped for refueling near the Yarik interchange [when the incident happened],” he added.
Maulana has expressed concerns many times about security issues in the DI Khan area. He also said on December 5 that “There is no police in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Lakki Marwat. Can the polls be staged in this situation of unrest?”
Earlier this week, Fazl had warned that his party will hold Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja responsible if party workers came under attack during electioneering.
In all honesty, 2023 was more like a crazy roller coaster than a democratic process when it comes to Pakistani politics. Here are some of the significant events that happened this year:
Assemblies dissolved
On January 14, 2023, the provincial assembly of Punjab was dissolved while on January 16, 2023, Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was dissolved as former Prime Minister Imran Khan was pushing for early national elections.
May 9
On May 9, 2023, former prime minister and founder chairman of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan was submitting his biometric data for a court appearance when paramilitary forces broke down a window inside the court to get to apprehend him.
The dramatic and sudden arrest of the former cricket star turned leader resulted in violent clashes between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and law enforcement agencies protests to mark the arrest of the former Prime Minister turned into riots.
Several military installations, including GHQ and the Lahore corps commander’s official residence, were attacked across the country within hours of Imran Khan’s detention.
May 9, termed a “black day” by the Pakistani state, ended up provoking a harsh military crackdown on Khan’s party.
PTI Dismantled
Thousands of PTI members, including many women, were rounded up and arrested after May 9 riots.
More than two dozen members of PTI resigned from the politics following the protests.
Notable figures like Shireen Mazari, Asad Umer, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Fawad Chaudhry, Maleeka Bokhari, Abrar ul Haq, Murad Ras, Ali Haider Zaidi, Imran Islamil, Usman Dar, Farrukh Habib, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Andleeb Abbas, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Shaukat Tarin and others either left PTI or quit politics.
Imran Khan Jailed
Police arrested Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on August 5, 2023, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, potentially barring the opposition leader from contesting an upcoming election.
On September 26, 2023, Imran Khan was shifted to the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi from Attock prison, a day after the Islamabad High Court ordered authorities to relocate him to the high-security jail.
Qazi Faez Isa
On September 17, 2023, Justice Qazi Faez Isa was sworn in as the 29th chief justice of Pakistan.
A ceremony was held at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad during which President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir were also present.
Justice Isa was accompanied by his wife, Sarina Isa, while he was taking oath.
Imran Riaz ‘safely’ returns
On the evening of May 11, 2023, police arrested Imran Riaz Khan, a former anchor with the privately owned broadcaster Express News and host of a YouTube channel with over three million subscribers.
Imran Riaz Khan, often called Imran Riaz, was trying to flee the country over fears of his arrest. At the time, authorities accused him of inciting people to violence through his reporting.
He was said to have been freed a few days later, but there was no trace of him and police denied keeping him in custody.
On September 25, 2023, his lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq took to X (former Tiwtter) and posted a picture of Imran Riaz, after his return, stating that the recovery took a long time due to “countless difficulties, a weak judiciary” and the ineffectiveness of the Constitution. He also shared a photo of him with Khan.
The rift between Zardari and Bilawal
On November 23, 2023, the former president of Pakistan and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‘s father, Asif Ali Zardari, during an exclusive interview with Hamid Mir on Geo News’ program “Capital Talk”, said that Bilawal is “inexperienced” and that it would take some time for him to gain more exposure, on Thursday.
“Bilawal is much more talented than I am, but he isn’t experienced,” he said.
On November 24, 2023, in a seeming act of defiance to his father, Bilawal changed his profile picture on X on Friday afternoon, to a photo with his mother Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and head of the PPP till her assassination in 2017.
PPP denied all the claims of a rift between the father-son duo.
Afghan Refugees Repatriation
On October 3, 2023, Pakistan’s caretaker government announced it would carry out mass deportations — known under domestic law as an Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan — asking all concerned to leave the country before 1 November. Although the plan purported to apply to all foreigners residing in the country illegally, it appears designed to target Afghans, millions of whom have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years.
As of December 29, 2023, the total number of allegedly illegal Afghans who left Pakistan reached 453,480 and the process is still underway.
Nawaz Sharif Returns
On October 21, 2023, Pakistan’s thrice-elected former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan, ending four years of self-imposed exile in London.
Nawaz Sharif was disqualified when the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) announced its decision on July 28, 2017, in the Panama Papers case. After that, Nawaz Sharif and three of his children were referred to an accountability court, which was ordered to file corruption cases against Sharif’s family within six weeks.
In July 2018, the expelled prime minister was imprisoned for 10 years in the Avenfield properties corruption case, an assets-beyond-means trial.
In the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, the PML-N supremo was sentenced to seven years in jail on December 24, 2018. Nawaz Sharif was taken to Adiala jail in this case, and then he was shifted to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on the very next day. He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million in this case.
The former prime minister was released from jail in March 2019. After that, the Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed Nawaz Sharif to go to London for treatment for fast-depleting platelet levels, and then he left for London in November 2019.
Elections Date Announced
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on November 3, 2023, that 8th February 2024 is the poll date for the General Elections for the National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The date was announced by the President House in a statement following a meeting between the top election officials and President Alvi, hours after the election commission lawyer told the Supreme Court that elections will be held on February 11.
PTI New Chairman
On December 2, 2023, The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) on Saturday elected Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the new chairman in the intra-party elections held on the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Gohar won the chairman’s position unopposed.
The change was forced on the party after the Election Commission of Pakistan warned the PTI last month that it risked losing its emblem – a cricket bat – unless an internal ballot was held for party officers.
Election symbols are crucial in a country where the adult literacy rate is 58 percent, according to World Bank data.
Baloch Long March
Demanding the release of all “missing persons” and an end to “extrajudicial killing” in Balochistan under the leadership of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the march started in Turbat, Balochistan, on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of 24-year-old Balach Baloch.
According to BYC, when the march reached the capital, the city administration didn’t allow them to protest in front of the press club. Maharng Baloch said in her live video from the Facebook page of BYC that Islamabad police arrested 300 male protesters, eight women, and 10 children.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has submitted a review petition on Saturday to the Peshawar High Court (PHC) challenging the decision of its single-judge bench regarding the iconic electoral symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ‘bat’.
The high court issued its verdict on December 26 regarding PTI’s petition that contested the ECP’s decision, which had deemed the party’s internal polls “unlawful” and stripped it of using the ‘bat’ symbol.
While announcing the reserved verdict, the PHC suspended the ECP’s order and restored the party’s ‘bat’ symbol till a final decision on the petition. The court also stated that a double bench will hear the matter after winter vacations.
The ECP, in its plea, has urged the court to review the intra-party elections of the PTI and its determinations concerning the election symbol. The Commission, in its plea, urged the court to schedule the petition for consideration by a division bench, emphasizing broader public interest. The commission asserted its responsibility to conduct elections with honesty, justice, and fairness in accordance with the law. The petition read that Article 218(3) allows the electoral body to organise and conduct the elections, adding that the ECP is also responsible for making all necessary arrangements ahead of the polls.
“This court […] observed that election is a process which starts with the issuance of the election programme and consists of the various links and stages in that behalf as, filing of nomination papers, their scrutiny, the hearing of objections and the holding of actual polls. If any of these links is challenged it really (is) tantamount to challenging the said process of election,” it said.
An accountability court in Islamabad granted a six-day physical remand for former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday in connection with a case involving misappropriation in construction projects in Jhelum.
The court noted that the case investigation should be concluded, ensuring Fawad’s access to his legal counsel. The ex-minister is scheduled to appear in court on January 5, 2024.
Fawad was taken into custody earlier this month by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the corruption case. NAB Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt authorized the issuance of an arrest warrant for the politician. Subsequently, the individual was suspended from Adiala jail, where they were already held in connection with a separate fraud case.
The former minister’s lawyer and brother, Faisal Chaudhry, and NAB Prosecutor Sohail Arif were also present in the courtroom.
In a recent address at the National Farmers Convention in Islamabad, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir expressed concern over the rampant spread of fabricated claims against the state of Pakistan on social media.
“Social media is being used to create an environment of chaos, despair, and panic. Through fake news, an impression is being created that the state is losing its [writ],” the army chief said in an address to the National Farmers Convention in Islamabad on Friday.
Pakistan, like many other nations, is grappling with the challenge of fake news on social media, where unfounded reports fueled by emotional appeals are spreading rapidly and contributing to societal divisions. A detailed report earlier this year by EU DisinfoLab revealed that Indian media outlets were involved in a smear campaign against Pakistan, quoting non-existent organizations, journalists, and bloggers.
COAS Munir highlighted that such smear campaigns are not limited to external actors, as investigations have revealed the involvement of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in using state resources to spread false propaganda against state institutions.
Addressing the farmers, COAS Munir addressed the rumors and negative impressions being spread about Pakistan. He emphasized the historical significance of Pakistan, stating that it is founded on the principles of the Kalima, with divine backing for the country.
COAS Munir reminded the audience of Pakistan’s abundant resources, including glaciers, rivers, mountains, and fertile land producing world-class rice, fruits, and valuable minerals like granite, gold, and copper.
He lamented that Pakistan, once one of the fastest-growing countries in Asia in the 1960s, witnessed a decline due to forgetting the golden principles of faith, unity, and discipline advocated by the Quaid-i-Azam.
Moving forward, COAS Munir discussed the Green Pakistan Initiative, highlighting its focus on boosting agriculture. He assured that a major chunk of the initiative’s income will go to the provinces, while the rest will be kept for farmers and agricultural research, he said, noting that the “role of the army in this is only to serve the people and farmers”.
COAS Munir pledged to ensure easy agricultural credit, a cold storage chain, climate change-resistant seeds, and genetically engineered livestock for farmers.
The Returning Officer (RO) for NA-4 on Friday rejected the nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed as the candidate was on the absconder’s list.
Murad Saeed has been absconding since the May 9 incidents.
PTI’s lawyer has said that he has completed all the documents required by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and will appeal against the verdict in Peshawar High Court (PHC).
Meanwhile, the Provincial election commissioner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has directed returning officers across different districts to recover unpaid fines from various political leaders, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as per Dawn.
These fines, imposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), are under scrutiny as part of the nomination paper review process for the upcoming February 8 elections.
A letter dated December 28, issued by the provincial election commissioner and obtained by Dawn.com, reveals that a total of 62 political figures from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab have outstanding fines ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs50,000.
The fines are linked to violations committed during election campaigns, with the severity of the violations determining the penalty amount.
According to the letter, Imran Khan faces a substantial debt of Rs200,000 to the ECP, making him the highest debtor on the list.
The former premier allegedly committed four separate violations in March 2022, each resulting in a fine of Rs50,000. Notably, these violations occurred just a month before Imran Khan’s removal through a parliamentary vote.
Other prominent figures on the list include former Chief Minister of KP Mahmood Khan, who owes Rs150,000 for three violations, and ex-federal minister Murad Saeed, facing a fine of Rs100,000 for two violations.
Several members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-P) are also included, with outstanding amounts ranging from Rs50,000.
The ECP letter states, “Candidates and public office holders [in the past] violated the code of conduct during election campaigns of various previous elections… fines were imposed upon them under Section 234 sub-section (3) of the Election Act 2017.”
It further notes that some individuals failed to deposit the fines and others filed appeals that were rejected by the ECP.
The competent authority has directed returning officers to share the list of defaulters and ensure the recovery of unpaid fines during the scrutiny of nomination papers. The deadline for scrutinizing nomination papers is December 30, with the process commencing on December 24.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Friday that it will display the final list of the candidates’ list on January 23 (Tuesday).
According to the electoral watchdog, the candidates will be able to withdraw their nomination papers until Monday, January 22.
The ECP is expected to display the candidate list on January 20. The appellate tribunals will decide on the appeals until January 19.
The appeals against RO’s verdict on the special seats can be filed until January 16.
The electoral watchdog had revised the election schedule for the special seats. The scrutiny of the nomination papers of women and minorities candidates will continue until January 13.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif announced plans to take part in the upcoming general elections from Karachi’s NA-242 constituencies, Geo News reported on Friday.
In the last general elections, Shehbaz Sharif contested from NA-249 constituency of Karachi, but former Pakistan Thereek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda defeated him by a slim margin.
However, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) announced on December 23 that no agreement had been reached for seat adjustments with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) regarding the NA-242 constituency in the Kemari district.
The party’s representative dismissed all claims about a seat arrangement with the Shehbaz Sharif-led party.
The spokesperson added that MQM-P Senior Deputy Convenor Mustafa Kamal is the party’s candidate for the seat.
Shehbaz Sharif said while addressing a press conference in Karachi that PML-N will resolve the issue of transport in Karachi after winning the election on February 8 next year.
