Current Final

Tag: PTI

  • ECP asks finance ministry for additional Rs14 billion for elections

    ECP asks finance ministry for additional Rs14 billion for elections

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has requested the Ministry of Finance for more money for elections on vacant seats in National Assembly (NA), and by-elections in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    According to the electoral body, the expenses of general elections have increased from Rs 47 billion to Rs 61 billion, incurring the need for an additional amount of Rs 14 billion.

    ECP has also proposed April 9 to 13 for the elections in Punjab and April 15 to 17 for elections in KP and asked the Governors of both provinces to select a date within the given timeline.

    The KP Assembly was dissolved on January 18 while the Punjab Assembly was dissolved on January 14 on the directives of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan whose party was in majority in both provinces.

    In Punjab, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi was sworn in as the caretaker Chief Minister (CM) on January 22, while Mohammad Azam Khan has taken oath as the KP chief executive on January 21.

  • Govt to disclose Toshkhana gifts publicly

    Govt to disclose Toshkhana gifts publicly

    The federal government has decided to publicly disclose the details and records of gifts received and deposited in the Toshakhana over the past two decades.

    The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting after the government faced backlash for it’s reluctance to disclose the list of gifts.

    The Toshakhana was established in 1978. All public officeholders, including parliamentarians and bureaucrats, are bound to report the gifts they have received from foreign dignitaries to the Cabinet Division, whereafter they are to be deposited at the Toshakhana.

    Earlier, the incumbent government told Lahore High Court (LHC) that public disclosure of Toshakhana details could cause unnecessary media hype and could be potentially damaging to Pakistan’s foreign relations.

    Former Prime Minister (PM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has been accused of not sharing details of the state gifts which he received during his tenure as the head of government.

    Last year, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also disqualified the PTI chief as Member of the National Assembly (MNA) in the Toshkhana case.

  • PTI decides to take back resignations of remaining MNAs: Asad Umar

    PTI decides to take back resignations of remaining MNAs: Asad Umar

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary-General Asad Umar has said on Monday that 44 party lawmakers have decided to withdraw their resignations from the National Assembly (NA).

    Taking to Twitter, Umar announced that the remaining 44 MNAs of the party, whose resignations are yet to be accepted, have decided to take back their decision to leave the national assembly.

    “An email has been sent to the speaker,” said the PTI leader in his tweet. He also shared the names of the MNAs who have withdrawn their resignations.

    Meanwhile, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said 45 lawmakers had decided to withdraw their resignations so that the party could take back the post of the leader of the Opposition and parliamentary party leader.

    He added that the aim of the move was to get rid of the “fake” NA opposition leader and prevent “turncoats” from voting for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a vote of confidence.

    Following the announcement, the PTI lawmakers staged a sit-in outside the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) headquarters after being barred from entering the speaker’s house.

    However, authorities restricted the MNAs from entering the building by placing barbed wires on the road leading to the ECP.

    The development comes about after the National Assembly Speaker Pervez Ashraf, in a surprise move accepted the resignations of 69 MNAs during the previous week.

  • Imran cites British PM Rishi Sunak fine for not wearing seatbelt as ‘rule of law’

    Imran cites British PM Rishi Sunak fine for not wearing seatbelt as ‘rule of law’

    British Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak was fined by the police on Friday for not wearing a seatbelt in the car while filming a social media video.

    Lancashire Police announced on Twitter that they have issued Sunak “with a conditional offer of fixed penalty”.

    In the video that went viral on Thursday, the seatbeltless Conservative leader speaks from the back seat of a moving car about his policies for boosting growth during a trip to Lancashire in England’s north.

    According to BBC, passengers caught failing to wear a seat belt when one is available can be fined £100 (PKR 28,475).

    Reacting to the news, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former PM Imran Khan highlighted the rule of law in Britain.

    In a tweet, Khan said, “This is rule of law where no one is above it; this differentiates prosperous nations from poor ones.”

    “No NROs, no qabza GPS, no custodial torture for tweeting the truth about the powerful because the justice system protects the weak. Justice was the bedrock of Riyasat e Madina,” he added

    However, Sunak apologised afterward and called it a “brief error of judgement”.

    It is the second time Sunak has received a fixed penalty notice while in being in the government.

    Last April, he was fined along with the-then PM Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie for breaking Covid lockdown rules by attending a gathering in Downing Street in June 2020.

  • PML-Q wants seats from PTI to merge into the party

    PML-Q wants seats from PTI to merge into the party

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi has put forward a set of conditions to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) if they want a merger with his party, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

    The chief minister has asked for seat adjustments in Gujrat, Chakwal, and Gujranwala divisions from PTI in the next general elections which are likely to take place within the year.

    Samaa has reported that Elahi has even asked for a written agreement of the deal from PTI chief Imran Khan.

    Elahi has categorically stated that without any significant political benefit, the PML-Q will not unite with the PTI.

    However, senior leaders of PTI have opposed Elahi’s demands for half of the seats in the aforementioned divisions.

    Earlier, Khan had proposed that PML-Q should merge with it as the Elahis showed immense support to him in the Punjab Assembly dissolution process.

    After this, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain suspended Elahi’s party membership, making it difficult for Elahi to merge his party with PTI.

    Subsequently, Elahi clarified that no final decision has been taken yet on a merger, saying that consultations are still underway.

  • ‘Arresting Imran Khan will only strengthen PTI’, warns Asad Qaiser

    ‘Arresting Imran Khan will only strengthen PTI’, warns Asad Qaiser

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser has warned that if former Prime Minister Imran Khan is arrested then it would make the party more powerful.

    Asad Qaiser also said that the government could detain party chief Imran Khan in the run-up to general elections. Stating that the incumbent government is “panicking”, Asad Qaiser said that the rulers can go to any length to stop Imran Khan. However, he reiterated that PTI doesn’t care about such matters.

    “This [Imran’s arrest] would only end up strengthening the PTI,” he said.

    Responding to National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s decision to accept the resignations of 34 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs, the former Speaker called the action a “great injustice” to his office.

    Qaiser said, “You should take the law and the Constitution into account while making decisions when you hold a constitutional position. Therefore, instead of granting the wishes of political figures, you must act in accordance with the law,” he remarked.

  • Bilawal blames PTI policies for TTP attacks

    Bilawal blames PTI policies for TTP attacks

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari— who is currently in Davos for the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting— has spoken to Al Jazeera about the recently held conference in Geneva for Pakistan’s devasting flood losses, a looming economic crisis and the soaring threats of terrorism.

    In his interview, the 34-year-old minister blamed the previous government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its wrong approach and “policy of appeasement” towards the Taliban.

    He said, “I believe that the previous government had the wrong approach. Its policy of appeasement towards the Taliban has created problems for the people of Pakistan”, adding that this approach has been ended by the incumbent government.

    He said that recently the government also had a national security meeting and it was decided then that Pakistan would adopt a zero-tolerance policy against terrorist groups.

    Talking about the oppressive Taliban reign in Afghanistan, Bilawal urged the world to continue engaging with Afghanistan as it is the only solution. He said, “We [Pakistan] are neighbours, we couldn’t separate if we wanted to. The only way to enhance leverage on both sides is to continue to engage with them.”

    “I do not think turning our back and disengaging is an option. And it’s certainly not an option for Pakistan which shares such a long and porous border with Afghanistan”, he said, highlighting that both “Pakistanis and Afghanis are victims of terrorism”.

    About the economic and food crisis back home, the minister pointed out that Pakistan is not alone in facing the economic crisis as the world is also suffering and these all are the result of post-covid and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    However, he hoped that the situation will get better in the coming days. `

    Terming the Geneva conference “resilient”, he thanked the international community for pledging more than $9 billion for Pakistan’s flood rehabilitation and climate resilience building.

  • Is Imran Khan coming back to National Assembly to take PM Shehbaz out?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has hinted at the possibility that his party may return to the National Assembly (NA) to table a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    The PTI fears that its dissenting member Raja Riaz who is holding the parliamentary party leader’s position in the NA may decide to vote in favour of PM Shehbaz if President Dr Arif Alvi asks Shehbaz Sharif to take the trust vote.

    Talking to the media at his Lahore residence, Khan said planning and consultations with party leaders and legal experts are going on to strategise how PTI’s turncoats can be stopped from siding with the ruling coalition of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

    “He [Shehbaz Sharif] will have sleepless nights in the days to come”, Khan reportedly said to journalists.

    He claimed that some Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNAs want to join the PTI.

    “Some PML-N members of the National Assembly are in contact with the PTI and they have expressed their interest in joining our camp. We will test them before giving them party membership,” Imran said, adding that he saw elections taking place in March or April.

    The former ruling party is considering “testing” PM Sharif’s strength in the house sensing that cracks are appearing in PDM’s ranks.

    PTI’s senior leader Fawad Chaud­hry has said that the party’s return to the National Assembly was linked with its plan to oust PM Sharif, reports Dawn.

    He said PTI was seeking legal opinion on how it could bind its MNAs to vote in line with the party policy in case of a no-trust move, and if that can be achieved without joining the assembly.

  • No decision yet: CM Elahi addresses PTI and PML-Q merger reports

    No decision yet: CM Elahi addresses PTI and PML-Q merger reports

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi on Monday clarified that no final decision has been taken yet on a merger between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

    Clarifying that consultations are still underway, Pervaiz Elahi said that Imran Khan first offered Moonis the invitation to merge the two parties and then asked to be the president of the party.

    However, he added that yesterday a meeting between the two parties took place in which all 10 PML-Q Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) were present. “It was mutually decided that we will ask the people in our constituents first,” he said.

    Reacting to the show-cause notice sent to him by PML-Q, he said “Nothing as such has happened yet and they already have a problem,” he retorted.

    Earlier, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain suspended Elahi’s party membership after he hinted at a merger between his party and ally PTI.

    The PML-Q issued show-cause notices to Elahi as well as Moonis Elahi, Hussain Elahi and Senator Kamil Ali Agha.

    The notice gave Elahi seven days to provide an explanation for his comments, otherwise, proceedings would be initiated against him.

    PML-Q electoral college office-bearers authorised Elahi, the party’s provincial president, to make decisions on behalf of the party with regard to its merger into the PTI.

    However, Express Tribune has reported that according to sources within the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the PML-Q could not be merged with the PTI on Elahi’s wish as the party is registered in Shujaat’s name.

    PML-Q ready to merge with PTI, decision expected today

    On Monday, it was reported that PML-Q is ready to merge with PTI.

    According to news reports, the majority of PML-Q is in favour of the merger. Elahi summoned a meeting to discuss the matter with his party.

    PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi, son of Pervaiz Elahi, was reportedly ready to merge with PTI and a formal announcement was expected on Monday.

    Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan had proposed that PML-Q should merge with it.

    The PTI chief praised the Elahis and said they stood by the PTI despite pressure from powerful quarters.

  • ‘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