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Tag: ECP

  • 33 candidates passed away waiting for local govt elections in Sindh

    33 candidates passed away waiting for local govt elections in Sindh

    33 candidates who had filed their nominations for the Local Government (LG) elections in Karachi and Hyderabad passed away waiting for the election to happen.

    The second phase of the local election has been postponed repeatedly.

    According to details provided by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), as many as 12 candidates for Union Council (UC) chairman and vice chairman have died since the time their nomination papers were submitted. Similarly, 22 candidates who were running for the district council, town committee, municipal committee and UC ward members seats also passed away.

    Last year, the ECP had told the Sindh government that the second phase of the LG polls in Karachi and Hyderabad would be held on July 24 but it was postponed due to floods.

    The electoral body rescheduled the LG elections for August 28, 2022 but they were put off again due to the same reason.

    On October 18, 2022, the ECP rescheduled the elections for October 23, 2022, but the provincial government sought their postponement for three months because it had deployed police in flooded areas, due to which it was unable to provide the required level of security to polling stations.

    After repeated delays, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Jamaat-e-Islami moved the Sindh High Court. In November, the ECP announced January 15 as the new date.

  • Toshakhana case: Court summons Imran Khan to appear in person on Jan 9

    Toshakhana case: Court summons Imran Khan to appear in person on Jan 9

    A district and sessions court in Islamabad has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to appear in person before the court on January 9 (Monday) and issued a notice to him in this regard.

    The court has admitted the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plea against Khan in the Toshakana case.

    On December 12, the court reserved its verdict after a plea filed by ECP.

    Last month, ECP, in a consensus verdict in the Toshakana reference, disqualified the former prime minister and ruled that the PTI chief was no more a member of the National Assembly.

    The ECP stated that the PTI chief had submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).

  • Session court to announce verdict in Toshakhana case against Khan on Dec 15

    Session court to announce verdict in Toshakhana case against Khan on Dec 15

    A district and sessions court reserved its verdict on a plea filed by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the Toshakhana case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    The verdict will be announced at 2pm on December 15.

    During today’s hearing, ECP’s lawyer Saad Hassan appeared before the court and presented his arguments.

    “Imran Khan said that he constructed a road with the money [acquired from] Toshakhana [gifts],” he said, adding that a prime minister has to deposit any gift they receive to the Toshakhana.

    He further stated that the Toshakhana gifts could be retained after paying 20 per cent of the gift’s price until the PTI government introduced a new law which allowed taking the Toshakhana gifts after paying 50 per cent of its price.

    “The price of the watch was estimated at Rs.85 million,” he said, adding that Khan failed to state the amount for which he sold the Toshakhana watch.

    Imran Khan said that he has deposited the amount [ he paid for] for all the items in the same bank account, the counsel told the court.

    Last month, ECP, in a consensus verdict in the Toshakana reference, disqualified the former prime minister and ruled that the PTI chief was no more a member of the National Assembly.

    The ECP stated that the PTI chief had submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).

    The ECP stated that the PTI chief had submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).

  • ECP sends notice for removal of Imran Khan as chairman of PTI: reports

    ECP sends notice for removal of Imran Khan as chairman of PTI: reports

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally initiated proceedings against former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference, reports Samaa News.

    According to media reports, the election body has sent a notice for the removal of Imran Khan as the chairman of PTI.

    The former prime minister was disqualified from his Mianwali seat in the Toshakhana reference.

    “The respondent has intentionally and deliberately violated the provisions contained Section 137,167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, who has made false Statement and incorrect declaration before the Commission in the statement of assets and liabilities filed by him for the year 2020-21. Hence, attracts disqualification under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution read with section 137 and 173 of the Elections Act,2017,” –– the verdict read.

  • Faisal Vawda disqualified for one term after apologising to SC

    Faisal Vawda disqualified for one term after apologising to SC

    The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Friday barred former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda from contesting in any poll before the next general elections.

    The apex court disqualified Vawda under Article 63(1)(c) of the Constitution, under which a legislator loses membership of parliament for one term only. As such, he will remain disqualified till 2023 and is eligible to contest the next general or Senate elections.

    Vawda apologised to the court unconditionally and accepted that he misstated about his dual nationality.

    In his apology letter after the hearing, the ex-federal minister admitted that he was not eligible for contesting in elections after admitting that he had submitted a fake affidavit.

    The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Umar Ata Bandial, admonished Vawda for misleading everyone for the last three years. He asked the former lawmaker to apologise before the court and resign from his Senate seat.

    “If you apologise before the court with good intentions, then your disqualification will be limited to five years. In case you do not resign, then the court will proceed under Article 62(1)(f).”

    At this, the former PTI leader said that he apologises unconditionally and that he “did not” intend to submit a false affidavit. Vawda also said that he would accept any punishment that the court doles out.

    A day earlier, the court told Vawda to confess that he submitted a forged affidavit or else he will be disqualified for life.

    Vawda had challenged his disqualification in the Supreme Court after ECP barred him from holding public office in a dual nationality case.

    ECP disqualified Vawda as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) and ordered him to withdraw the notification appointing him as senator for concealing his dual nationality.

    Supreme Court says Vawda will be disqualified for lifetime if he doesn’t confess to forgery

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has on Thursday given former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and ex-senator, Faisal Vawda, an option that could soften his disqualification sentence.

    The top court heard the petition against Vawda’s lifetime disqualification from running or holding public office for concealment of his dual nationality.

    “If Vawda confesses to submitting a forged citizenship affidavit then he will be disqualified for one term; however, if the politician does not, then it will be for a lifetime,” the court said.

    A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial heard the petition. The court also ordered Vawda to bring forth a certificate proving his renunciation of US citizenship in the next hearing.

    “Vawda should admit his mistake and be disqualified under 63(1) C, otherwise the court shall proceed with the case under 62(1) F,” the Chief Justice said before warning that there was enough material before the court to disqualify Vawda “for life”.

  • ECP decides to hold local govt polls in Karachi, Hyderabad on Jan 15

    ECP decides to hold local govt polls in Karachi, Hyderabad on Jan 15

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday has announced that local bidy government (LG) elections would take place on January 15, 2023, in Karachi and Hyderabad.

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja — who headed the five-member bench, announced the verdict that the commission had reserved on November 15.

    LG elections in the two divisions were originally scheduled for July 24, but have been put off thrice since then, primarily because of the Sindh government’s request that it didn’t have required police officials as they were busy with flood relief operations.

    The polls were first put off to August 28, then to October 23, and then indefinitely, before the Sindh government on November 10 said it had postponed the polls on its own for 90 days prompting criticism from the PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).

    Today’s development comes days after the Sindh High Court (SHC) had instructed the electoral watchdog to issue the schedule for local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad within 15 days, adding that the polls should preferably be conducted within 60 days.

  • Toshakhana case: Court records ECP official’s statement against Imran Khan

    Toshakhana case: Court records ECP official’s statement against Imran Khan

    A District and Sessions court in Islamabad on Tuesday heard the statement of an official of the Election Commission Pakistan’s (ECP)—District Election Commissioner Waqas Malik—during the hearing of a Toshakhana reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    The proceedings were initiated on an ECP complaint after the commission found him guilty of “false statements and incorrect declaration” in his election papers and disqualified him for concealing information about Toshakhana gifts he received during his tenure as prime minister.

    During the hearing, the district election commissioner said he had been authorised to pursue the case. He added that the ECP is an independent institution that functioned under the Constitution and ensured that corrupt practices are curtailed.

    Malik further said members of the National Assembly submitted their returns to the ECP annually. Similarly, Khan also submitted his returns from 2018 to 2021, he said.

    After listening to the statement, the court adjourned the hearing till December 8.

    Last week, the ECP sent the reference to court, asking it to proceed against Imran under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime minister. The commission seeks a three-year jail term and imposition of fine as the punishment.

  • High court says Imran Khan is not restricted from contesting in future elections

    High court says Imran Khan is not restricted from contesting in future elections

    After the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict de-seating Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) to challenge the commission’s decision to disqualify him.

    On Monday, the high court rejected Imran Khan’s request to suspend the ECP order instantly in the Toshakhana reference on the basis of which he had been disqualified.

    However, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah observed that Khan had not been barred from contesting in future elections, adding that he “won’t face any problems” to contest in the NA-45 (Kurram-I) by-election. The by-election is scheduled to be held on October 30.

    Moreover, CJ said that Khan’s disqualification by the ECP is only to the extent of the seat he was notified on.

    During the hearing today, Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said that his client had been disqualified ahead of the by-election in Kurram and a stay order is needed because the PTI chairman is contesting from the seat.

    The IHC chief justice then observed, “Imran Khan is not disqualified for that election”, adding that he would not face any problems in this regard.

    Justice Minallah also pointed out that the ECP’s detailed judgment is not available yet.

    The chief justice observed that it is normal practice to issue a detailed judgment later.

    “Wait for the [written] verdict. This is a routine matter. The Election Commission is not delaying it,” he stated.

    On October 21, ECP in a consensus verdict, disqualified former Prime Minister Khan and ruled that he is no more a member of the National Assembly (NA) in Toshakhana reference.

    Khan was disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) for misdeclaration.

  • Islamabad police books PTI’s Senator Faisal Javed and others on terrorism charges for protesting after Khan’s disqualification

    Islamabad police books PTI’s Senator Faisal Javed and others on terrorism charges for protesting after Khan’s disqualification

    The Islamabad police have registered cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Senator Faisal Javed Khan and others on terrorism charges for protesting against Friday’s Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) verdict which disqualified PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

    A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against PTI leaders on Friday on the complaint of Subinspector Inamullah at Islamabad’s I-9 police station.

    The FIR said police officers in an official vehicle were posted at Faizabad to maintain the law and order and security situation. It said that around 8pm on Friday, a large PTI rally of around 1,000 to 1,200 people carrying sticks and rods started moving towards Faizabad.

    The complaint named PTI leaders Amir Kiani, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Faisal Javed Khan, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Umer Tanveer Butt, Rashid Naseem Abbasi and Raja Majid.

    It added that the demonstrators advanced while running over the police contingent with vehicles with the “intent to kill”.

    It is pertinent to mention that PTI workers across Pakistan came out of the streets protesting against their party chairman’s disqualification, however later at night, Imran Khan called for an end to the protests.

  • Punjab, KP CMs give Khan authority to dissolve assemblies: report

    Punjab, KP CMs give Khan authority to dissolve assemblies: report

    After the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s disqualification in the Toshakhana case, the Chief Ministers (CM) of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) authorised Khan to dissolve their respective assemblies, reports Geo News.

    According to the details of the news report, CM KP Mehmood Khan and Punjab CM Pervaiz Elahi attended a meeting through a video link and gave the former prime minister the authority to dissolve both provincial assemblies.

    A PTI leader told Geo News that dissolving provincial assemblies is more necessary than a long march as the purpose of the long march is new elections.

    “Therefore, if assemblies get dissolved, a new election will have to be called,” said the PTI leader.

    In a major legal victory for the ruling coalition on Friday, the ECP, in a consensus verdict in Toshakhana reference, disqualified former prime minister Imran Khan and ruled that the PTI chairman is no more a member of the National Assembly.

    Criminal proceedings will be initiated against the PTI chairman for misdeclaration, the verdict said.

    The ECP stated that Imran Khan submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).