Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘Complicated process’, ECP responds to delay in LG polls results and rigging allegations

    Amid questions on delayed results and allegations of rigging, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has commented on the second phase of Local Government (LG) elections in Karachi, Hyderabad.

    The commission explained that compiling the results is, “a complicated process” and said it takes time to prepare the result of one union council.

    In its statement on Monday, the ECP said the results are being transferred to the offices of Returning Officers (RO) from all polling stations across the city.

    The provincial election commissioner said that each RO had to compile the result of at least five UCs, which “is causing a delay in releasing poll results”.

    However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) openly accused the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), provincial administration and the electoral body of wrongdoing, warning that any attempt to “change the results” after voting would lead to a strong reaction.

    Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Karachi President Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said: “We are not getting results from the returning officers despite 18 hours of delay since the conclusion of polling.”

    He strongly condemned the delay and called on the concerned authorities to stop the ROs who are “trying to change the results”.

    He said that a lot of people from the PPP also voted for JI. He further said that his party has won over 100 seats, adding that there is ambiguity on the rest of the seats.

    As of now, it’s being reported that PPP leads with victorious on 46 UCs, Jamat-e-Islami has secured 17, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) 13, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) three, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI-F) two, while banned organisation Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) and an independent have one won seat each.

    Voting started early on Sunday morning amid a low turnout, however, official results are still not declared as of Monday afternoon. It is pertinent to mention that a day before the polls, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan announced that they are boycotting the local government polls

  • Elahi gives names for caretaker Punjab CM

    Elahi gives names for caretaker Punjab CM

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Sunday said that three names for the caretaker CM have been agreed upon after the consultation with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    Elahi revealed the three names – Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, Naseer Ahmed Khan and Nasir Saeed Khosa- and said that one of the three would be finalised.

    “We are sending these names to the [Punjab] governor and if the opposition thinks broadly, the agreement upon the suggested names seems likely,” tweeted Elahi.

    Punjab Assembly got dissolved after 48 hours after the governor didn’t sign the summary sent by the former.

    Elahi will remain serving as the Punjab CM until the name for the caretaker CM is finalised.

  • ‘Us ne hmein test kiya, ab us ki bari’: Khan says vote of confidence will be tabled against PM Shehbaz

    ‘Us ne hmein test kiya, ab us ki bari’: Khan says vote of confidence will be tabled against PM Shehbaz

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, in an exclusive interview on Saturday, said that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will be tested through a no-confidence motion.

    Speaking on Hum News’ programme Hum Meher Bokhari Kay Sath, Khan said, “Uss ne humein test keeya, abb uski baari” (He tested us, now it is his turn).

    He said the party would hash out the details of the move in a meeting on Sunday (today) and carry out planning for not only the trust vote but also “other plans to fully thrust them in a testing situation now”.

    When asked about the late-night voting on a confidence vote in Punjab Assembly, Khan said not many people knew this would happen at night, his party kept it secret. According to him, the party completed the numbers first without any bribes and horsetrading and then took the vote of confidence.

    The PTI chief also praised the way Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) stood behind the PTI and supported it. “The way Elahi is standing with us, there was immense appreciation in the party. He was the chief minister and made a real sacrifice. We are recommending he merges the party with ours.”

    About the KP assembly, he said that it will be dissolved within a week.

    During the interview, Khan mentioned that he spent his three and a half years in power in difficulty because his government was a coalition. He said that’s why his party has insisted on a merger between PTI and PML-Q.

    The former prime minister said that PM Shehbaz’s conference in Geneva was equivalent to making fun of Pakistan. He warned that there will be consequences to it in the future.

    Opening up about the extension given to former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, he termed it his “mistake”. He revealed that at the time Bajwa himself sent a message that if he doesn’t get an extension, it will be difficult for him [Bajwa].

    He said that after securing the extension Bajwa changed as he begun asking Khan to give NROs to the Opposition.

  • ECP says LG polls will be held tomorrow

    ECP says LG polls will be held tomorrow

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday said the local government (LG) elections in Karachi and Hyderabad would be held on January 15 (tomorrow) as per schedule.

    The commission has rejected the demand of the Sindh government to postpone it over security threats to political leaders.

    It has also directed the Sindh government to ensure “foolproof preparations for peaceful elections”.

    ‘Threats to politicians’: Sindh govt once again asks ECP to delay LG elections

    Earlier in the day, the government asked ECP to delay the polls in Karachi and Hyderabad, citing “threats to various political leaders and workers of political parties” after warnings by law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government sent a letter to the commission with polls set to take place in less than 24 hours. The letter mentions the threat and it is added that the Sindh cabinet had also expressed its concern with the non-availability of the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces for static deployment at polling stations.

    The provincial government is repeatedly requesting ECP to delay the polls to calm down Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), which has warned that it will quit the coalition government if its grievances are not addressed before polls.

    ECP clears confusion; LG elections in Karachi, Hyderabad to be held on Jan 15

    On Friday, ECP said that the local government elections in Karachi, Hyderabad, and other districts would be held as scheduled on January 15.

    The ECP rejected the notification issued by the Sindh government last night.

    The decision was taken during a meeting of ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and attended by all four members.

    Local government elections — scheduled for January 15 — will not be held in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Dadu, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced early Friday.

    The decision came after an emergency meeting of the PPP presided by party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and attended by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, provincial ministers and the district presidents of the party’s Karachi chapter, among others.

    In a press conference, Memon said that the decision was taken after the Sindh government withdrew a notification regarding the delimitations of the constituencies in Karachi after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) expressed reservations about it.

    “They (MQM-P) are our allies in the federal government and we take the concerns of our allies very seriously,” the minister said.

    Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vowed to “resist” the decision as they termed the delaying of the local body polls “unacceptable”.

    JI Karachi president Hafiz Naeem-Ur-Rehman termed the decision an “ambush” on Karachi and Hyderabad by PPP and MQM-P.

    “There will be a sit-in today at 3pm outside the Election Commission’s Sindh office,” JI Karachi President Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman had announced in a press conference, early Friday morning.

    PTI Sindh President Ali Zaidi said that the provincial government took the step as they were afraid of defeat.

    PTI leader Ali Zaidi, in a separate media talk on Friday morning also announced that the party will be holding a protest rally outside the Sindh Assembly at 4pm today.

  • ‘Not afraid’; PML-N ready to rock n poll

    ‘Not afraid’; PML-N ready to rock n poll

    The Punjab Assembly is soon to be dissolved and it seems like Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is ready for polls despite Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) recent political victory in the province.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah while talking to the media said the party is ready for the polls which will be held within 90 days after the dissolution and they will fully participate in the campaign.

    He termed the dissolution of assemblies undemocratic. He said earlier the democratic process was derailed with the imposition of martial laws, and now a political dictator is trying to derail it.

    The minister said that the National Assembly, as well as Sindh and Balochistan assemblies, would remain intact until August this year.

    Similarly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the Punjab chief minister’s summary about the dissolution of the assembly would be treated as per law. He said the PML-N is not afraid of elections.

    Meanwhile, Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique met Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif at his residence and discussed political issues.

    It has also been reported that a telephonic conversation between Shehbaz and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif took place and Nawaz asked PM Shehbaz to direct Punjab Governor Baligur Rehman to tackle political matters in the province.

    On Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi signed a summary for the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. A day later, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has prepared a summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly.

  • Khan wants PML-Q to merge with PTI

    Khan wants PML-Q to merge with PTI

    In a meeting with journalists yesterday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the PML-Q should merge with the PTI but discussions have yet to take place on this.


    Looking relaxed and quite confident after pulling off Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s vote of confidence in the Punjab Assembly and the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, Khan praised Moonis Elahi and said he stood by the PTI despite pressure by powerful quarters. “Moonis is a forward-looking young man and he could see PTI’s political future and was able to convince the older leadership of his party.”

    Khan also praised Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for having withstood threats and other pressure. He said that even his own members had a lot of offers, especially women MPAs, but they refused and stood by their party when it came to the vote of confidence.


    Khan said that fighting with the establishment is madness. On reconciliation with the army, Khan said that it is possible and he is willing to forgive the establishment and move on, whether it is the case of Azam Khan Swati or Shahbaz Gill or other things that took place since the vote of no-confidence against him because he genuinely believes that the military is the most organised institution and has the resources to stop smuggling of dollars, help in the crackdown against corruption and other things.

    Khan recalled the army’s assistance and work during the Covid pandemic, in polio vaccination campaigns and in controlling locusts. He also said that the military establishment only needs direction by the leaders. Their role can be very positive when they move in the right direction. To a question by this reporter on whether the military would get more space to meddle in politics if more role is given to it, he said that it cannot end overnight but leaders have to make sure that a direction is set on how to use the military to establish rule of law. Per him, only the military can take the country out of the current quagmire if it works with all political stakeholders.


    Khan said that the military can establish rule of law and no institution should be above the law. He said that he was not willing to sit with the PDM because they are looters who want an NRO, which basically means they want to be above the law. He said they have no stakes in the country as their assets are stashed abroad, which is why they can also be pressurised by outside powers.


    Talking about Balochistan and former FATA, Khan said he believed in political solutions and not military solutions.


    On being asked (by this reporter) about the crackdown against the media during the PTI’s tenure, Khan said he had nothing to do with it. “I have always taken the legal route when I have had problems with the media. I have a lot of tolerance for media criticism.”


    The PTI chairman was very confident that after the dissolution of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies, the PDM would be left with no choice but to go for general elections. Khan believes that the current establishment will not support the government given the economic crisis. “If this government continues till August, Pakistan will be worse off than even Sri Lanka.”


    Khan said that whatever economic growth was achieved during the PTI tenure had all been undone by the PDM in less than a year.

  • ‘Kacha kaam nahin karna chaahiye tha’: Nawaz Sharif called Rana Sanaullah 3 times

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif called Interior Minister President Rana Sanaullah three times to discuss the Vote of Confidence that his party initiated in the Punjab Assembly.

    According to a news report, Nawaz said to Sanaullah that the Punjab Parliamentary Committee should have shown responsibility, those who took responsibility should not have done a poor job.

    The report further states that Rana Sanaullah said that on the assurance of the members of the parliamentary committee, the party changed their position, and was adamant about its position that the Punjab assembly should be dissolved.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi took a vote of confidence from the House, after which Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman withdrew the notification to suspend Elahi.

    Last night, Elahi signed the summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly. He advised Governor Punjab Balighur Rehman to dissolve the assembly.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry announced the CM’s decision and said that if governor Punjab fails to dissolve the assembly within 48 hours, it will be dissolved automatically.

    Fawad also said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would be dissolved “day after tomorrow”.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    CM KP has prepared summary for dissolution of assembly: Fawad Chaudhry
    
			
    CM KP has prepared summary for dissolution of assembly: Fawad Chaudhry
    
			
    

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry said on Friday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has prepared a summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly..
    




    Talking to the media, Fawad revealed that Khan and his cabinet were scheduled to visit the PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Lahore but were unable to do so due to bad weather
    




    “We spoke to them on the phone,” he said. “They have prepared the advice to dissolve the KP assembly”.
    




    About the dissolution matter of the Punjab Assembly, the PTI leader asked the Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman not to wait for “48 hours” and urged him to dissolve the assembly immediately so that the process for the formation of an interim set up in Punjab be initiated.
    





    Earlier, it was reported that CM KP is expected to meet Khan today (Friday) in Lahore.
    




    The chief minister along with his cabinet was set to arrive in Lahore at the directions of his party chief.
    




    According to ARY News, Imran Khan would announce that the assembly will be dissolved by tonight. 
    




    However, Special Assistant to CM Mahmood Khan on Information Barrister, Muhammad Ali Saif, said that the dissolution of the KP Assembly will take place after the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly.
    




    He said that a summary will be sent to KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali to dissolve the assembly. According to him, there is no problem in KP, but they would wait for the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly first.
    




    He added that after the dissolution of the KP Assembly, a letter will also be written to the Leader of the Opposition— Akram Khan Durrani— for the appointment of a caretaker chief minister.
    




    On the other hand, KP Governor Ali has said that he still stood by his stance that assemblies should not be broken.
    




    On Thursday, Punjab CM Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi signed the summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly.
    




    In a brief one-line advice addressed to Governor Rehman, Elahi said: “I Pervaiz Elahi, chief minister of Punjab, hereby advise you to dissolve the provincial assembly.”
    




    


    




    Speaking to the media after Elahi’s meeting with Imran, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry said that “if the governor does not accept the advice then, the assembly is automatically dissolved after 48 hours.”
    




    He said that a letter would be sent to former Punjab CM and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Hamza Shehbaz in the next two days for finalising an interim government in Punjab, adding that elections would take place in the next 90 days.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Sherry Rehman, Ayesha Malik get featured in Forbes 50 Over 50
    
			
    

    Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman and the first female judge of Pakistan’s Supreme Court Justice Ayesha Malik have been featured in the prestigious Forbes’ ’50 Over 50: Asia 2023′ list.
    




    Featuring Malik, Forbes detailed her achievement as part of Pakistan’s judiciary.
    




    The magazine wrote: “In 2022, at age 56, Malik became the first woman to serve as a justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, in the country’s 75-year history. Malik issued a seminal judgement outlawing the use of virginity tests in rape cases. She also served on the board of the Punjab Judicial Academy and as chair of the Judicial Officers Female Supervisory Committee.”
    




    Highlighting Rehman’s achievements Forbes stated, “At the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), Rehman made global news, suggesting a new deal to channel money from rich countries to poor ones that have suffered climate-related disasters”.
    




    “She was the first female to hold office as Leader of Opposition in the Senate in 2018,” added the magazine.
    




    The magazine includes names of 50 women over the age of 50 from Asia-Pacific, who are reaching new heights in their industries and inspiring the region’s next generation.
    




    Apart from Rehman and Malik, Forbes included the names of Malaysian biologist Asma Ismail, Indian novelist Geetanjali Shree and Australian businesswoman Vicki Brady and other superwomen who are making headlines globally.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Bilawal ko wazir-e-azam banana hai toh Karachi ko sath le kar chalna parega’: MQM-P unites against PPP
    
			
    ‘Bilawal ko wazir-e-azam banana hai toh Karachi ko sath le kar chalna parega’: MQM-P unites against PPP
    
			
    

    A few days before scheduled Local Government (LG) elections, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal let go of the past grievances as he announced merging his party into Muttahida Quami Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P).
    




    Addressing a joint press conference in Karachi, Kamal along with Dr Farooq Sattar, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and others took a jibe at Pakistan People’s Pakistan (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for ruining Karachi in the past. During the important presser, all the leaders reiterated that they won’t let LG elections take place on January 15.
    




    Kamal said that Karachi was not liberated from Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) only for PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari to take over and “think of it as his”.
    




    He also claimed that Zardari wants his son—Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari— to become the Prime Minister. He said, “Bilawal ko wazir-e-azam banana hai toh Karachi ko sath le kar chalna parega” (If you want Bilawal as PM, you have to take Karachi along with you).
    




    He said that there are no personal fights with Altaf Hussain.
    




    MQM Revival Committee Head Farooq Sattar addressed the presser and announced rejoining MQM-P.
    




    He said that the people of Pakistan saw hope in the MQM. “We have kept aside all our differences. This is a message for the entire country. We are presenting a united MQM.”
    




    He said that if MQM was given a chance, the $10bn raised by Pakistan at a climate conference in Geneva, could be generated in Karachi.
    




    He said that the MQM had been separated from its past reputation to transform into a part of intellectuals and educated people. He noted that the country was increasingly polarised, saying that Karachi should be “given one chance”.
    




    Khalid Maqbool, meanwhile, said that all those sitting here wished to see Pakistan succeed despite the difficulties of the past five years. He also alleged that the MQM was defeated in the 2018 general elections through rigging.
    




    Talking about the local government polls, he said that the party would contest the elections if delimitation was carried out by tonight. “But if these aren’t fixed, then we will fight for our rights.”
    




    A day earlier, leaders of the Karachi-based party asked Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to tell them whether or not he was responsible for the situation of the port city and Hyderabad so that the party could accordingly decide about staying with or leaving the federal government.