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Tag: Nawaz Sharif

  • ‘Kisi media walay ko elections mein doubt hai to apni biwi ko bataye, awam ko nahi’: Chief Justice

    ‘Kisi media walay ko elections mein doubt hai to apni biwi ko bataye, awam ko nahi’: Chief Justice

    Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Qazi Faez Isa, issued a firm warning to the country’s media during a hearing of multiple pleas seeking timely elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies.

    “If media raises suspicions about the elections, they will be committing a violation of the constitution,” he remarked, adding that journalists cannot simply grab a microphone and say there are doubts about the elections.

    “An anchor or reporter cannot raise doubts about whether the elections will happen or not,” he stated.

    Faez Isa warned that if rumors or speculations are spread about the elections, action will be taken by PEMRA.

    The head of the apex court stressed that, “Media outlets should know that they do not have the right to lie. Media freedom has been granted in the constitution.”

    He further said that if a media person has suspicions about the elections, he will not tell the public, but he can tell his wife.

    The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the government to ensure the conduct of general elections on February 8, a day after President Arif Alvi and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja unanimously agreed on the aforementioned date during a meeting held at the President’s House.

    A three-member bench headed by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan heard the case.

    The court, in its order, mentioned that the notification of the general election date has also been issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), stating that no party has any objection to holding elections on February 8.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa asked everyone in the courtroom as well as the Attorney-General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, if they had any objection to the election date, but all replied in the negative.

    “After all the requirements are fulfilled, the Election Commission should announce the election schedule,” CJP Isa said.
    The chief justice said: “Elections will definitely be held on February 8, God willing.”

  • FEB 8 2024

    President Arif Alvi announced on Thursday that the general elections will take place in the country on February 8, 2024.

    The X (former Twitter) account tweeted, “On today’s order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr. Sikandar Sultan Raja, along with the Attorney General for Pakistan, Mr. Mansoor Usman Awan, and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan, came to meet President Dr. Arif Alvi, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, to discuss the date for holding the forthcoming General Elections in the country. The President heard about the progress the ECP has made in delimitation and for elections.”

    It further stated, “After a detailed discussion the meeting unanimously agreed to hold General Elections in the country on 8th February 2024.”

    The Election Commission of Pakistan has also tweeted that elections will be held on February 8.

    The development comes hours after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa directed the ECP to confer with Alvi on the poll date after the electoral body said that elections would be held on February 11.

    “Let the ECP meet with the President of Pakistan today and the date for holding general elections in Pakistan be appointed,” the top judge said in a written order, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com.

    He directed AGP Awan to arrange the meeting, provide Alvi with the court order and be available to render assistance. “We expect that the matter of appointing a date for holding general elections shall be settled, and this court will be informed tomorrow (Nov 3),” Justice Isa added.

    The order was issued after a three-judge bench comprising the CJP, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and Justice Athar Minallah heard a set of petitions, calling for holding elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures.

  • Raja Riaz, Rana Sanaullah ki prediction sach sabit hui

    Raja Riaz, Rana Sanaullah ki prediction sach sabit hui

    A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah, was hearing petitions filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SBCA) and others seeking directives to hold general elections within 90 days as stipulated by the Constitution.

    During the hearing, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lawyer, Sharjeel Sawati, said that elections will be held on February 11, as per Geo News.

    Former leader of the opposition in National Assembly (NA) Raja Riaz had said on August 12 this year that the upcoming general elections would be held in February 2024 – three months later than the constitutionally allowed limit of 90 days.

    Talking to Maria Memon on Sawal ye Hai on ARY News, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dissident leader said, “Elections will be held 4 to 5 days before or after February 15.”

    While talking to Kashif Abbasi on his program, Off the Record, on Tuesday, August 15, he said, “The ‘elders’ have decided that the general elections will be held in February.”

    PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday, August 15, that his party’s supremo, Nawaz Sharif, was confident that general elections would be held in the country in February next year.

    “He (Nawaz) is sure that elections will take place in February. Delimitation of constituencies has to be completed before then, and it will be completed by December,” Sanaullah said while responding to a question about Nawaz’s expected return to Pakistan during an appearance on Geo News show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’.

    READ MORE: Finally, ECP gives date for general elections

  • Finally, ECP gives date for general elections

    Finally, ECP gives date for general elections

    A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah, is hearing petitions filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SBCA) and others seeking directives to hold general elections within 90 days as stipulated by the Constitution.

    During the hearing, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lawyer, Sharjeel Sawati, said that elections will be held on February 11, as per Geo News.

    After being questioned about wether they have consulted with the president of Pakistan on the date or not, the lawyer was instructed to consult with Arif Alvi today.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Thursday remarked that President Arif Alvi violated the Constitution by not giving a date for general elections.

    At the outset of the hearing, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) counsel Farooq Naek told the court that his party had submitted the request to become a party in the case.

    After this, PTI’s lawyer Ali Zafar started his arguments by saying that the party has limited its petition to only seeking timely elections.

    “Elections must be held within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies as per the Constitution,” he stressed. At this, CJP Isa said that the plea seeking polls within 90 days has then become ineffective.

    “The court was told that it was impossible to hold polls within 90 days in the previous hearing,” he remarked.

    Zafar then said that PTI only wants elections.

    He further said that there won’t be any parliament and law if elections are not conducted.

    “Giving a date and schedule of elections are two different things. President Dr Arif Alvi had written a letter to hold consultations with the ECP,” he remarked.

    The CJP observed that the president had written in his letter that the court should look into the matter of elections.
    “Is the president saying that court should take notice of the issue about elections,” he questioned.

    At this, Zafar replied that the president had said that the court can also review the matter.

    CJP Isa then said that the president did not give any date for elections in his letter. “Did the president not fulfil his constitutional duty,” he asked.

    Zafar said that the president fulfilled his responsibility by consulting on the elections.

    On this point, Justice Minallah asked why the president wrote the letter in September and not on August 15 after the assemblies were dissolved on August 9.

    “Did the president only ask the Supreme Court verbally to take notice of the matter,” asked CJP. He further said that the head of state wrote the letter to the ECP and not to SC.

    CJP Isa then questioned whether the apex court had the authority to give a date for polls. “Is it necessary for the president to consult the prime minister to give a date,” he inquired.

    Zafar replied that consultations are not necessary as the president has his own constitutional duty to give a date.

    During the last hearing, the SC had issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the federal government for their input on polls within 90 days.

    The ECP had earlier set the date for elections in Punjab on April 30, but then postponed them to October 8 — in Punjab as well as KPK.

    PTI filed a plea in the top court against this decision.

    On April 4, the SC had ordered the government and the ECP to hold elections for Punjab assembly on May 14 but both institutions said this would not be possible due to shortage of resources, including funds and manpower.

    On September 21, the ECP announced that general elections will be held in the last week of January 2024. However, it did not issue a specific date.

    The commission also published the preliminary constituency lists.
    According to the ECP, objections to the preliminary constituency lists will be entertained until October 26, with hearings on these objections slated to run until November 25.

    The final electoral rolls are scheduled for release by November 30, and within 54 days following this publication, the election commission has outlined the election timetable.

  • PPP ready to form alliance with PTI in Punjab

    PPP ready to form alliance with PTI in Punjab

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab chapter has expressed its willingness to form an alliance with any political party, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), against Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), in the upcoming general elections in Punjab, Geo reported on Wednesday.

    “PPP opponents are making alliances, and the party is also ready to devise its strategy for the upcoming elections,” said PPP Punjab acting president Rana Farooq Saeed at a press conference after a meeting.

    Former state minister Tasneem Qureshi, Secretary Information PPP Punjab Shahzad Saeed Cheema, Mian Azhar Hassan Dar, Ali Sanwal, Azhar Awan, Haji Azizur Rehman Chan, and others attended the huddle.

    Shahzad Saeed Cheema criticised PML-N for depending on deals, stating that PML-N could not sustain a competitive stance without a deal in its favour. He further said that the party led by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ensures a “level playing field” only for itself in the elections.

    The PPP constantly emphasised the importance of a “level playing field” for all political parties taking part in the upcoming general elections, which are scheduled for January 2024.

  • Nawaz Sharif ready to start election campaign on November 10

    Nawaz Sharif ready to start election campaign on November 10

    Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head, Nawaz Sharif, is ready to start his party’s election campaign on November 10, as the date for the polls looms nearer.

    The former PM, who returned to Pakistan on October 21 after almost four years of self-imposed exile in London, said in the party’s meeting yesterday that, “We will strengthen judicial institutions if we come into power.”

    Sharif chaired an in-person party meeting on Tuesday, after a gap of almost four years.

    According to party sources who talked to Geo News, the PML-N supremo will lead the election campaign and monitor the ticket distribution process for the upcoming general elections, scheduled to be held at the end of January next year.

    The party’s general secretary, Ahsan Iqbal, said, “It is our wish that Nawaz Sharif becomes the country’s next prime minister.”

  • Nawaz gets relief as NAB refuses to arrest him: Court

    Nawaz gets relief as NAB refuses to arrest him: Court

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) said on Tuesday that former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif got relief because National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) refused to arrest the former PM.

    On October 19, the IHC granted a two-day protective bail to the former prime minister in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield references.

    The decision was then followed by the IHC’s verdict on October 26, which restored Nawaz’s appeals against his conviction by accountability courts in the two cases and also granted him bail.

    The court restored Nawaz Sharif’s application against sentence in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases “due to explicit and unambiguous stance” taken by the anti-graft body of not objecting to the petitioner’s plea.  

    “Since the learned prosecutor general, NAB did not oppose the applications for the restoration/resurrection of the appeals, the applications are allowed and the appeals are restored with all legal consequences,” read the order by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

    “These applications were allowed, and the appeals were resurrected. They are to be heard and decided by this Court on merits,” the court added.

  • Nawaz Sharif to chair in-person party meeting after almost four years

    Nawaz Sharif to chair in-person party meeting after almost four years

    Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is going to chair an in-person party meeting after a gap of almost four years, to formulate a campaign as general elections loom nearer, Geo News has reported on Tuesday.

    Senior party leaders have started reaching the PML-N supremo’s residence, Jati Umra, for the important huddle.

    A discussion on the political situation of the country is also on the meeting’s agenda.

    The party’s leadership will also discuss plans for the resumption of Nawaz’s political activities in Pakistan, and finalizing a schedule for the PML-N head’s countrywide tours will also be discussed in the meeting.

    Party members will discuss and plan the launch of election campaign.

  • NAB has ‘no objection’ to revival of Nawaz’s appeals

    NAB has ‘no objection’ to revival of Nawaz’s appeals

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that they have no objection to the reinstatement of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s conviction appeals in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield cases.

    Sharif, who appeared before the IHC, previously sought the restoration of his appeals against the sentences given in the two corruption references.

    NAB informed the division bench, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and comprising Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb, that it held no objections to the revival of Nawaz’s appeals.

    At the outset of the hearing, NAB Prosecutor General Ghulam Qadir Shah said that a reference can only be taken back if it is yet pending a verdict. “We have reviewed these appeals as well as the facts and legalities of both references,” he said.

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) restored PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s appeals against his conviction in the Avenfield Apartments and Al-Azizia references.

    The verdict, which was reserved earlier today, was announced by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

    The bench issued the verdict while hearing Nawaz’s pleas seeking protective bail in the cases and for restoring his appeals against his conviction.

    During the hearing earlier this week, the IHC issued notices to the NAB on Sharif’s request and extended his bail period, as he appeared before the court with surety bonds worth Rs1 million.

    Sharif had been convicted in 2018 in the two corruption cases and had left for London for medical treatment in 2019, returning to Pakistan on October 21 after nearly four years in self-imposed exile.

    Following his appearance before the IHC, the Punjab government invoked Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to suspend Sharif’s sentence in the Al-Azizia reference.

    On the same day, the PML-N leader was granted bail from an accountability court in Islamabad in the Toshakhana case against him.

    Sharif’s legal saga has been ongoing since 2018 when he was convicted in the Avenfield case, followed by the Al-Azizia case later that year.

    Despite being granted bail by the IHC in 2019, he remained abroad for medical treatment, leading to his declaration as a proclaimed offender by both the IHC and the accountability court.

    In a judgment in June 2021, the IHC rejected Sharif’s appeals due to his continuous absence from court proceedings.

    The court stated that as Sharif was a fugitive, he had lost his right to present his case before the court, leading to the dismissal of his appeal.

    On October 19, 2023, both the IHC and the accountability court provided Sharif with protective bail until October 24, 2023.

  • All ‘good news’ for Nawaz Sharif

    All ‘good news’ for Nawaz Sharif

    Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s legal battles continued as the accountability court in Islamabad undertook the hearing of the Toshakhana reference today. The proceedings, overseen by Judge Muhammad Bashir, saw significant developments and stringent security measures.

    Rana Muhammad Irfan, the designated pleader, was present at the court. The lawyer representing Nawaz assured the court of his client’s compliance with any orders issued by the court. The judge subsequently postponed the Toshakhana reference hearing until November 20, calling for arguments on the appeal concerning property confiscation.

    Additionally, the judge honored the request made by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor to suspend Nawaz’s warrant in the case.

    The court made it clear that copies of relevant documents would be distributed during the upcoming session, while also issuing a notice to the NAB regarding the property confiscation request.

    Ahead of the hearing, strict security protocols were observed, with a bomb disposal squad conducting a thorough sweep of the courtroom premises. The Federal Judicial Complex in Islamabad was heavily guarded by police, allowing only relevant legal representatives and journalists to access the accountability court.

    Notably, the case also involves Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Asif Zardari and former Prime Minister, Senator Yusuf Raza, Gilani as co-accused.

    Nawaz’s legal representative, Qazi Misbah, filed several applications on his behalf, including the restoration of annexed property, the appointment of a pleader, and the submission of bail bonds.

    Meanwhile, Asif Zardari’s lawyer and senior PPP leader Farooq H Naek sought an exemption from attending the hearing on his client’s behalf.

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) extended Nawaz’s bail pleas in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield references till October 26 (Thursday), after issuing notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over the pleas seeking restoration of appeals in the graft cases.

    A special bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb had taken up the pleas seeking restoration of appeals against the accountability courts’ verdicts in the graft cases.

    The high court had granted protective bail to the three-time prime minister — who returned to Pakistan after four-years-long self-imposed exile on Saturday — prohibiting his arrest in the case.

    The anti-graft body had not objected to Nawaz getting the security bond.

    His counsel filed the petitions, requesting the court to hear the appeals on merit as earlier they were discarded for non-compliance when the PML-N supremo did not return from London after he was granted permission by the court in November 2019 to go abroad for medical treatment.