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Tag: ECP

  • Murad Saeed is not contesting elections this year

    Murad Saeed is not contesting elections this year

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed withdrew from the general elections 2024 on Thursday.

    During the hearing of the petition filed against his nomination papers in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Murad Saeed’s lawyer told the court that he had returned the ticket and he was not participating in the elections.

    The Peshawar High Court bench, comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Aijaz Anwar, and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah, entertained a plea regarding the rejection of Murad Saeed’s nomination papers and subsequently rendered its decision.

    However, it was revealed during the proceedings that the petitioner had withdrawn the application, informing the court that the ticket had been voluntarily returned.

    On Wednesday, the bench reserved its decision on the petition against the rejection of the PTI leader’s nomination papers.

    Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim remarked in yesterday’s hearing regarding what the law says when a person is declared a fugitive and does not surrender before the law.

    When a person does not appear in front of the law, how can the papers be approved, he will be elected again and legislate, he asked.

    The Advocate General said in his arguments that when a person becomes a fugitive, he loses some basic rights and he has no right to vote or contest election.

    The court stated in its remarks that, “It will then be used as a weapon to prevent anyone from the election”.

    While reserving the decision on Murad Saeed’s appeal, the court declared the documents of Shehram Tarkai and Atif Khan to be correct in this regard.

    A three-member bench of PHC upheld the decision of the Election Tribunal and rejected the petitions against the approval of Shahram Tarkai and Atif Khan’s papers.

  • What is going on in PTI as leaders clash publicly?

    What is going on in PTI as leaders clash publicly?

    In a surprising turn of events within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), party founding chief Imran Khan has reportedly instructed senior vice chairman Sher Afzal Marwat to suspend all political activities in Sindh.

    Disagreements between Marwat and other party leaders, including Raoof Hasan and Barrister Hamid Khan, have escalated, leading to a temporary halt in political engagements.

    Hamid Khan endorsed the statements of Raoof Hasan.

    https://twitter.com/BrHamidKhan/status/1747182074191360492?s=20

    The directive from Imran Khan came a day after Marwat initially announced the suspension of the election campaign in Sindh, citing an alleged “attack” by party leaders Raoof Hasan and Hamid Khan.

    “Keeping in view the statements against me by sick-minded people like Hamid Khan and Rauf Hassan, I am calling off my campaign in Sindh,” said Marwat.

    However, conflicting statements emerged later after Marwat declared his intention to continue the polls campaign.

    “Workers are right and I will continue campaigning for PTI in Sindh. I will not be distracted,” wrote Marwat.

    In a social media post, he expressed his determination to continue campaigning for PTI in Sindh, urging party activists to confront what he referred to as “satanic forces” independently.

    The internal strife unfolded after Marwat launched the PTI’s election drive in Sindh but later called it off due to statements against him by party leaders.

    The controversy intensified as Marwat accused President Arif Alvi of being a “wrong number” and alleged a conspiracy against the party.

    In response, Hasan and Hamid disowned Marwat’s statements, asserting that he did not represent the party’s position and had no official post within PTI.

    Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of PTI, addressed the media, emphasizing the party’s commitment to democratic values and calling for unity among party members. Despite internal disagreements, he expressed confidence in Marwat’s candidacy for the upcoming elections from Lakki Marwat.

    The ongoing disputes raise questions about Marwat’s purported meetings with Imran Khan in jail, with conflicting statements from PTI leaders.

    While Hasan claimed no political leader was allowed to meet Imran, Gohar Ali Khan affirmed Marwat’s continued affiliation with the party.

    As PTI works towards finalizing its candidate list for the February 8 elections, the internal conflicts underscore the challenges inherent in the democratic process. PTI members are urged to set aside personal differences for the party’s success in the upcoming polls.

  • Why are electoral symbols important, and how does ECP allot them to candidates?

    Why are electoral symbols important, and how does ECP allot them to candidates?

    Electoral symbols are allocated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to political parties and independent candidates participating in general elections.

    Major political parties in the country have established electoral symbols, including a bat for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), an arrow for Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and a tiger for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    All the electoral symbols appear on the ballot paper, giving the voters the choice to stamp the symbol of their choice. The ballot paper also has names, but 40% of the country’s 241 million population is illiterate, so symbols can be easier to identify.

    Thousands of candidates participate in elections, as do dozens of political parties and millions of voters. A single ballot paper offers voters a wide range of choices.

    How does the ECP allot electoral symbols?

    According to Section 216, political parties can submit an application to the election commission to apply for electoral symbols.

    Registered political parties can claim the same election symbol as allocated to them in the previous polls.

    On the other hand, an independent candidate can apply for allotment of an election symbol from the symbol list published by the ECP.

    If the two independent candidates want the same electoral symbol, then priority will be given to the candidate who has previously taken part in elections.

  • ECP fears delay in polls as independent candidates want to change electoral symbols

    ECP fears delay in polls as independent candidates want to change electoral symbols

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) showed concern that the upcoming polls could be delayed in the case of changing candidates’ symbols, despite the fact that symbols have already been allocated to them.

    Pakistan’s general elections have already been postponed for several months, while some major figures are calling for additional delays for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, the Supreme Court has instructed officials to guarantee that elections are held on February 8.

    In a statement, ECP said that the election symbols have already been allotted to election candidates, but politicians are “having them changed through various forums”.

    “It should be noted that after the allotment of the election symbols, the election commission has ordered the printing of ballot papers to the three printing corporations and the printing work has started,” the statement said.

    According to Geo News, if the high court allows independent candidates to change their electoral symbols, the ECP will postpone general polls in those specific constituencies.

    The official version was along the lines as the ECP said: “If the process of changing the election symbols continues, then on the one hand, there is a fear of delay in the election because the ballot papers will have to be reprinted, for which the time is already limited, and on the other hand, the special paper ballot papers will be wasted.”

  • ‘An umpire has recently given a no-ball’; Imran Khan slams Supreme Court decision

    ‘An umpire has recently given a no-ball’; Imran Khan slams Supreme Court decision

    Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and Founder Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), engaged in an informal conversation with media representatives during the Toshakhana case hearing in Adiala Jail on Monday.

    He voiced concerns over the political and legal developments, particularly critiquing the Supreme Court’s decision regarding PTI’s electoral symbol, referring to the decision as an “umpire giving a no-ball”.

    Khan suggested that the Supreme Court should have formed a five-member bench rather than a three-member one, to address controversies surrounding PTI’s electoral symbol. These remarks were made amidst the Toshakhana case proceedings.

    He again reiterated his belief that the current situation in Pakistan is part of what he referred to as the “London Plan”, alleging that elements of this plan include his imprisonment before elections, the perceived decline of PTI, and the exoneration of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    Imran Khan further highlighted the alleged misuse of state resources, asserting that Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had obtained bulletproof vehicles from the ToshaKhana without being held accountable.

    “Something very bad is going to happen to them,” he predicted.
    He demanded that an open trial of the cipher case should be conducted so that the people know the facts. “They ask me why did I not keep the cipher secret.”

    He alleged that the expose of former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and U.S. State Department official Donald Lu is responsible for what is happening with PTI now, adding that his party is the only one that has consistently struggled for 27 years to attain its current position.

    Imran Khan remarked that recent decisions by decision-makers fail to accurately gauge public sentiment.

    He predicted significant repercussions for those involved and emphasized the power of social media in bringing transparency to such issues.

    Talking about the upcoming elections, Imran Khan claimed that PTI candidates are not being allowed to run their campaign properly, but he anticipates that the people’s dissatisfaction will become evident on February 8th.

    Despite facing various challenges, Imran Khan stated that PTI has not been entirely eradicated as the people continue to support the party. However, he voiced concerns about the electoral process, stating that PTI intended to give tickets to 850 candidates for the national and provincial assemblies in the general elections but were allegedly not allowed to consult with registered members in jail.

    In response to a question, Imran Khan ruled out the possibility of an electoral alliance with Bilawal Bhutto’s party.

    He also reiterated his claims about biased umpires in the political arena, asserting that Nawaz Sharif has never played a match without favoritism.

    In a related development, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced that the party’s candidates would contest the upcoming elections as independent candidates. Qureshi, while referring to the SC verdict, commented on the perceived lack of a level playing field for the PTI and criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for its stance on intra-party elections.

    He further said that his daughter’s nomination papers were snatched when she went for scrutiny. She was compelled to leave her native city, Qureshi added.
    “We accept the court’s verdict. History will certainly write its judgment on the SC’s verdict [on PTI election symbol]”

    Jail Trials Challenged

    Former Prime Minister and Founder Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has taken legal action by challenging the jail trial notifications related to the Toshakhana and Al-Qadir Trust cases at the Islamabad High Court.

    Both notifications, about the jail trial, have been contested by Imran Khan in the Islamabad High Court.

    Notably, the notification for the jail trial in the Al-Qadir Trust case was issued on November 14, while in the Toshakhana case, it was issued on November 28, as per the petitions filed on behalf of the PTI leader.

    The legal challenges assert that the notifications for the jail trial are deemed illegal and are allegedly motivated by malice.

    Imran Khan’s legal team has requested the court to declare the jail trial notifications null and void.

    Additionally, they seek a halt in the proceedings of the trial court until a resolution is reached on this matter.

    Imran Khan has named Chairman NAB (National Accountability Bureau) and others as respondents in both petitions, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the Toshakhana and Al-Qadir Trust cases.

  • ECP allots election symbols to 150 parties for February 8 elections

    ECP allots election symbols to 150 parties for February 8 elections

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has on Monday allotted election symbols to 150 political parties that are contesting seats in the National Assembly (NA) and provincial assemblies for the upcoming general election set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    After the Supreme Court’s ‘bat’ symbol verdict announced late on Saturday, former ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was missing from the list of published on the ECP website.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) has been allotted ‘tiger’ symbol, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) ‘arrow’, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) ‘sword’, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Nazriati (PTI-N) ‘batsman’, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) ‘eagle’, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) ‘kite’, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) ‘book’, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JI) ‘scale’, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) ‘turban’, Balochistan National Party (BNP) ‘axe’, Awami National Party (ANP) ‘lantern’, Balochistan National Party Awami ‘camel’ and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) ‘cow’.

    Last week on Saturday, the ECP issued a notice to returning officers to not allot an election symbol to any election candidate who belongs to another political party.

    The five-member bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, issued the order, which said: “Therefore, in exercise of powers, conferred upon the commission under Section 4 of the Elections Act, 2017, the commission hereby, directs that no symbol of any political party be allowed to any such candidate who is member of another political party and seeks allocation of symbol of other political party.”

    Electoral authorities had already allotted poll symbols to 117 independent candidates.

  • ‘Crime of Kings is King of Crime’; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Nazriati (PTI-N) leader Akhtar Iqbal Dar accuses Imran Khan of corruption

    ‘Crime of Kings is King of Crime’; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Nazriati (PTI-N) leader Akhtar Iqbal Dar accuses Imran Khan of corruption

    The leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Nazriati (PTI-N), Akhtar Iqbal Dar, has leveled serious accusations against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), alleging the submission of fake tickets by PTI candidates under the banner of PTI-N.

    Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Dar expressed bewilderment at the emergence of PTI candidates allegedly utilizing PTI-N tickets.

    He adamantly declared, “I do not know from where the PTI candidates got our tickets. PTI submitted our fake tickets; I issued tickets to PTI Nazriati candidates.”

    Accusing PTI of forgery, Dar underscored the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that candidates from one political party cannot exploit the platform of another. He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and take appropriate action against instances of electoral forgery.

    Dar asserted the distinct identity of PTI-N, stating, “PTI-N has its own manifesto, its own constitution; our slogan is the death penalty for corruption.” He called for transparency in the electoral process and adherence to ethical standards.

    Responding to rumors circulating since midnight, Dar revealed that the distinguishing mark on PTI-N tickets is the unmistakable ‘batsman’ symbol. He claimed that Returning Officers (ROs) had inquired about their tickets, and PTI-N clarified that their tickets bear the clear mark of the regular ‘batsman,’ a symbol consistent with their 2018 election tickets.

    Journalist Murtaza Ali Shah took to X (former Twitter) and said, “ECP has stopped the retuning officers not to allow the candidates to get the Batman symbol while deceiving to be the members of an other party – after PTI decides to get Batman symbol of PTI-N”

    Displaying a PTI-N ticket to the media, Dar said, “This is our ticket. PTI has submitted our fake tickets. The ECP has issued a clear and blunt order that no candidate of any party can use the ticket of any other party.”

    Dar explained the genesis of PTI-N, stating, “In 2007, I felt the need to discourage rigging, hooliganism, money politics, electorate politics, and promote transparency. That’s why PTI-N was formed, and I must be a part of PTI-N.”
    PTI-Nazriati was formed by Akhtar Iqbal Dar in 2012 after differences with PTI founder Imran Khan. Like many past members, he alleged that the party established in the name of justice had become a party of turncoats with the inclusion of politicians from other parties.

    PTI-N was registered with the country’s top electoral authority in 2016 after accepting an application from Dar. At that time, the Khan-led party had filed an application in the Lahore High Court against the decision which was rejected.

    The PTI-N fielded 35 candidates in the 2018 elections. Although, they did not win any seats they secured over 21,000 votes from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The party has a base in Punjab.

    It’s not just the symbol and name; both parties also have the same flags.

    In June 2022, PTI had urged the ECP not to grant the symbol to PTI-Nazriati, citing potential confusion among voters. However, the ECP did not entertain PTI’s request.

    Earlier today, PTI initiated a “plan B” by aligning with its splinter group, PTI-Nazriati, to secure the “batsman” symbol for its candidates, as the fate of its long-held “bat” symbol hangs in the balance pending a Supreme Court hearing.

    Amidst the Supreme Court’s deliberations on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s petition challenging the restoration of PTI’s “bat” symbol by the Peshawar High Court, PTI instructed its candidates to submit PTI-Nazriati tickets to Returning Officers. The move comes as a backup plan in case the iconic “bat” symbol is denied.

    The official PTI account posted on X, stating, “Whoever has PTI-Nazriati tickets should immediately submit them and take any kind of hindrance to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and high courts.”

    The move to secure an alternative symbol gained traction following Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa’s remarks during a recent hearing.

    While the Supreme Court’s decision is pending, tensions rise within the political landscape. PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen submitted a plea to the ECP, requesting acceptance of PTI Nazriati tickets for candidates. However, the ECP issued a statement warning against attempts to deceive the commission through such requests.

    The evolving situation poses challenges for PTI-Nazriati candidates who have already received tickets in constituencies where PTI is fielding its candidates. The uncertainty surrounding the electoral symbol deadline adds further complexity to the political landscape, with the Supreme Court expected to announce its decision soon.

  • Karachi police faces severe shortage of security personnel ahead of General Elections

    Karachi police faces severe shortage of security personnel ahead of General Elections

    As the nation braces for the upcoming general elections, Karachi police is facing a substantial shortage of 14,300 security personnel, including female officers.

    As per The News, Khadim Hussain Rind, the additional inspector general (AIG) of Karachi, revealed that the city’s police force had initiated robust security arrangements for the elections scheduled for February 8.

    However, he underscored the significant shortfall in required personnel.

    “Over 46,076 police personnel are needed for the election security plan, while Karachi Police have only 31,776. The required number of female police personnel is also not available,” said the AIG.

    He elaborated on the specific needs for female personnel, highlighting, “At least 3,200 female personnel are required for security arrangements at women’s polling stations while we have 1,200 female personnel. The KPO faces a shortage of 2,000 lady cops.”

    As per the security plan, eight police personnel are required for the most sensitive, six for sensitive and four for normal polling stations each. In Karachi, there are 2,033 most sensitive stations, 3,008 sensitive stations, and 308 polling stations are declared normal, while 16,264, 18,048, and 1,232 personnel respectively are required for them.

    Rind disclosed that 35,544 personnel would be assigned to duty at 5,349 polling stations in the megacity.

    Additionally, a quick response force is set to be deployed at polling stations, with 3,892 personnel assigned to 2,774 buildings. Furthermore, 4,210 police officers will be placed on reserve duty under the supervision of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), accompanied by nine Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), 16 Superintendents of Police (SPs), 57 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), and 107 Station House Officers (SHOs).

    The AIG outlined plans to allocate 2,430 personnel for various election commission offices, welfare duties, hospitals, and miscellaneous tasks.

    However, he emphasized the glaring shortage of 14,300 police personnel and revealed that multiple options were under consideration to address this gap. Possibilities include deploying lady health workers, and polio staff, or hiring private security guards, anti-encroachment, excise police, anti-corruption, or forest department personnel to bolster the existing security measures.

    As the elections draw near, efforts are underway to mitigate the shortfall and ensure the safety and integrity of the electoral process in Karachi.

  • Family ties; PML-N candidate list favours relatives

    Family ties; PML-N candidate list favours relatives

    As the general elections loom closer, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has disclosed its roster of candidates for both the National and Punjab Assemblies, drawing attention for granting tickets to more than 30 family members, as reported by The News.

    The announcement was made by Ishaq Dar, PML-N’s Head of Election Cell, marking a pivotal moment in the party’s preparations for the upcoming political showdown.

    In a notable revelation, 36 candidates have familial ties, including father-son, father-daughter, husband-wife, brother-in-law, mother-son, father-in-law, and uncle-nephew relationships among them.

    PML-N stalwarts Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are set to contest the National Assembly polls from Lahore, while PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz will participate in both the National Assembly and provincial assembly polls.

    Malik Saif ul Mulook Khokhar, the President of PML-N Lahore, and his son Faisal Ayub, have secured tickets for the National and provincial assemblies, respectively.

    Afzal Khokhar and his nephew Irfan Shafi Khokhar from Lahore are also contesting on PML-N tickets.

    From Dera Ghazi Khan, former minister Awais Leghari and his son Amar Leghari are nominated for National Assembly seats in Rajanpur.

    Additionally, former minister Khawaja Saad Rafique is vying for a National Assembly seat, while his brother Salman Rafiq is contesting for a provincial assembly seat, both from Lahore.

    In Muzaffargarh, former minister Syed Basit Bukhari and his daughter Syeda Shahr Bano Bukhari have been fielded as candidates.

    From Bahawalpur, Iqbal Chanar is nominated for a National Assembly seat, with his son Zaheer Iqbal Chanar is contending for a provincial assembly seat.

    Chaudhry Khalid Javed Waraich and his son Uqba Waraich are PML-N’s candidates for the National and provincial assemblies from Toba Tek Singh, respectively.

    Yaqoob Shaikh is contesting for the National Assembly from Jhang, while his wife Rashida Yaqoob is running for a provincial assembly seat.

    Notable leaders like Daniyal Aziz didn’t make it to the list.

    PML-N ticket distribution extends to various regions, including Kasur, Vehari, Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa, Lodhran, Khanewal, and Sheikhupura, with candidates such as Rana Hayat, Begum Tahmina Daultana, Amjad Farooq Khosa, Siddique Baloch, and Mian Javed Latif, among others.

    Notably, the PML-N has introduced eight new faces in Punjab for National Assembly tickets, including Bilal Azhar Kayani and Attaullah Tarar. The party has also allocated tickets to six women for the National Assembly and three for the provincial assembly in Punjab, showcasing a diverse candidate pool.

  • ECP challenges Peshawar High Court’s Verdict on PTI’s ‘Bat’

    ECP challenges Peshawar High Court’s Verdict on PTI’s ‘Bat’

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has moved the Supreme Court to challenge the recent Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict that declared void ECP’s ruling of “unconstitutional” intra-party polls and revoking the party’s iconic bat electoral symbol.

    The ECP, in its plea submitted to the apex court, asserted that the PHC decision should be declared illegal, citing non-compliance with the Election Act in the conduct of PTI’s intra-party elections.

    This move follows a detailed review of the PHC decision,
    with sources indicating that the electoral body had explored various options during a meeting, ultimately deciding to appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court.

    Anchor person Kamran Khan said, “Free and Fair Elections Ball is now in the Supreme Court’s Hands: Unfortunately, the Election Commission of Pakistan is determined to remove the PTI’s election symbol, the Bat. Furthermore, the ECP has not complied with Peshawar High Court’s judgment regarding the PTI’s party certificate on its website.”

    Minutes before the ECP’s plea, the PTI took legal action by filing a contempt of court petition against the ECP. The PTI contended that despite the PHC orders, the ECP had failed to upload the certificate regarding the PTI’s intra-party elections on its website, which the party argued amounted to contempt of court.

    X (formerly Twitter) user Muhammad Anas wrote, “Petition of contempt of Court has been filed in Peshawar High Court against the ECP. ECP didn’t notify the Bat as an election symbol of PTI violating the Court orders.”

    Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja and other ECP members are named as respondents in the PTI’s contempt plea.

    In response to the PHC’s decision, PTI’s chief election commissioner, Niazullah Niazi, personally submitted a certified copy of the PHC verdict to the ECP.

    The PHC, in its ruling, declared the ECP’s decision of December 22, 2023, as illegal and without jurisdiction, directing the ECP to publish the PTI’s intra-party polls certificate on its website. The court affirmed PTI’s entitlement to the bat symbol under relevant sections of the Election Act 2017 and Election Rules 2017.

    The ECP’s challenge in the Supreme Court sets the stage for a legal confrontation, with implications for the PTI’s participation in the upcoming general elections. The time-sensitive nature of the issue adds complexity, as the deadline for Returning Officers to allocate poll symbols to candidates is January 13, posing a challenge in the event of a symbol change.