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Tag: PTI

  • Senate receives another proposal for postponement of February 8 polls

    Senate receives another proposal for postponement of February 8 polls

    Independent Senator Hidayatullah presented a new resolution on Friday calling for the postponement of the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8. He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to consider delaying the polls by three months.

    The resolution was formally submitted to the Senate Secretariat by Hidayatullah, representing the Independent Parliamentary Group.

    Senator Hidayatullah’s resolution also highlights the recent surge in violent attacks within the country, along with an increase in incidents targeting election candidates.

    On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Thursday requested a senate session to ensure that general elections, scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024, proceed in a timely fashion, The News has reported.

    PTI senator Ali Zafar took signatures of senate members on a requisition to conduct a session to discuss the matter of holding elections on time. PPP and Jamaat-e-Islami supported the initiative.

    According to the requisition, Pakistan can’t afford political instability. To strengthen democracy, polls should be conducted on time.

    On January 5, the sparsely attended senate passed a resolution in favour of a postponement of the general elections.

    Majority of the lawmakers present in the legislature had approved the resolution — seeking polls delay in the light of extreme weather in hilly areas and deteriorating security situation — moved by independent lawmaker Senator Dilawar Khan.

    Only 14 senate members were present on the day when the resolution passed. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Afnanullah Khan and caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi had opposed the resolution, while PPP’s Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi and PTI’s Senator Gurdeep Singh remained silent.

    Senator Dilawar had also said that COVID-19 is still present, so elections should be postponed.

  • ‘If I can’t contest election, I will go to Supreme Court’: Imran Khan

    ‘If I can’t contest election, I will go to Supreme Court’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan said on Friday that he will go to the Supreme Court (SC) if he is not allowed to contest the upcoming elections set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    Talking to journalists inside Adiala Jail, the former prime minister said in the courtroom that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif, the party’s president Shehbaz Sharif, and PML-N’s senior vice president Maryam Nawaz are certified money launderers.

    Asked about the Al-Qadir case against his wife Bushra Bibi, Imran pointed out that the former First Lady is a trustee. “How can the police arrest her,” he asked.

    He also explained that trust land cannot be owned by anyone; Shaukat Khanum has land worth billions of rupees. “That too is not my property. Bushra Bibi is also a trustee; not even a single penny is ours.”

    Imran Khan further said that all laws were abolished by force; what is happening to PTI has not happened to any party.

  • ‘Imran Khan was offered a two-third majority by Bajwa to end protests in August 2022’, Aleema Khan

    ‘Imran Khan was offered a two-third majority by Bajwa to end protests in August 2022’, Aleema Khan

    Aleema Khan, the sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan disclosed on Wednesday that her brother had once previously, received a message from the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    The message reportedly offered a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to Imran’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), if he agreed to end the nationwide protest he initiated after his ouster from the Prime Minister’s Office.

    PTI USA’s official account on X (former Twitter) posted, “In August 2022, General Bajwa, who was the COAS at the time, asked Imran Khan that if he stops talking about the conspiracy of regime change operation, which overthrew Khan’s government in April 2022, then PTI will be “allowed” to form a majority government in the upcoming elections. However, if Imran Khan doesn’t agree to stay quiet, then PTI will be reduced to only 30 seats.”

    Imran Khan launched a countrywide protest in April 2023, becoming the first prime minister in Pakistan’s history to be removed through a no-confidence vote.

    Despite governing the country for over three-and-a-half years, PTI faced challenges as allies defected, aligning with opposition parties that collectively sought to overthrow the PTI government.

    The former PTI chief had previously asserted that the conspiracy against his government originated within Pakistan, a departure from his earlier stance in which he had blamed the United States for his removal.

    During a media interaction after meeting Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan shared the details of the alleged offer. She quoted her brother, saying, “In August 2022, General Bajwa approached me with an offer that if PTI ceased protests against regime change, a two-thirds majority for the party would be ensured in the National Assembly.”

    Imran Khan, according to Aleema Khan, expressed his unwavering commitment to principles, stating, “Our parents were born in a slave country; we are free, and I will not bow before anyone except God. We should face death than to accept slavery in a free country.”

    Aleema Khan also shed light on the challenges Imran faces in jail. She criticized the lack of an open trial in Adiala Jail, asserting that the cases against Imran Khan lacked substance. She further claimed that new cases are being brought up whenever he secures bail in an old case, suggesting a deliberate effort to keep the former prime minister incarcerated.

  • 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.

  • Tribunal declares Imran Khan ineligible to contest polls from NA-122 Lahore

    Tribunal declares Imran Khan ineligible to contest polls from NA-122 Lahore

    An election tribunal established at the Lahore High Court (LHC) has validated the returning officer’s (RO) decision to dismiss Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s nomination papers from the NA-122 constituency in Lahore.

    The lawyer of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) argued before the tribunal that Imran Khan is not eligible to contest the election and his proposer didn’t reside in the constituency.

    Justice Tariq Nadeem of the appellate tribunal announced the decision after hearing all the parties.

    On December 30, 2023, Imran Khan’s nomination papers were rejected for National Assembly (NA) seats from Lahore and his home town, Mianwali.

    The former prime minister and PTI founder had submitted nomination papers from Lahore’s NA-122 and Mianwali’s NA-89 for the upcoming polls set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Naseer raised objections to Imran Khan’s nomination papers, mentioning that the PTI founder is disqualified for five years in Toshakhana case, and the ECP found him guilty of corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017.

    After viewing the objections, the RO rejected the nomination papers of the former prime minister.

  • Bat is back for PTI

    Bat is back for PTI

    The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has restored Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election symbol ‘bat’ after hearing PTI’s petition against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision revoking the party’s election symbol and declaring its intra-party polls “unconstitutional”.

    A two-member bench of the PHC was hearing PTI’s writ petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision declaring the intra-party election as null and void and revoking their symbol of a cricket bat, a sign that depicts the party’s founder, Imran Khan’s career in the sport.

    In its verdict, the court termed the ECP’s decision “incorrect”.

    A two-member PHC bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali announced the verdict today. 

    A day earlier, the court heard the arguments by the counsels of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the PTI.

    Earlier today, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Barrister Gohar Khan, said that the party is withdrawing its plea seeking the ‘bat’ symbol from the Supreme Court (SC), adding that the party is hopeful that Peshawar High Court (PHC) will give a favourable decision in the matter.

    “Today, our petition was fixed at the Supreme Court, but we have withdrawn it,” he said while talking to media outside the apex court, adding that the decision from PHC will be issued in the party’s favour.

    Earlier, the PHC had accepted ECP’s review petition and restored the electoral authority’s ruling on intra-party polls and election symbol of the PTI.

  • No more NAB cases against Sharif Family

    No more NAB cases against Sharif Family

    National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Executive Board, chaired by the NAB Chairman, approved the closing of an investigation into the Sharif Trust case involving Sharif’s family including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    The meeting convened on January 1 to approve the closure of corruption cases, including those against PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and his family.

    The meeting approved shutting down six corruption cases, notably a 24-year-old case against Nawaz Sharif and his family in the Sharif Trust case. This decision brings relief to the former premier and his family members.

    Among the closed cases was an inquiry into Islamabad Inspector General Akbar Nasir in the Safe City corruption case. Additionally, the board decided to conclude the investigation into the Park Enclave Housing Society, involving officers of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Another inquiry against federal officers for alleged preferential recruitment was also approved for closure.

    Furthermore, the NAB board approved to close an inquiry against Shahid Malik and Shahbaz Yasin Malik, the CEO of Hilton Pharma.

    The investigation into the Sharif family regarding the Sharif Trust Case was initiated on March 31, 2000, based on allegations of receiving funds through illicit means, lack of audits, misappropriation of funds, and benami property acquisition by the Sharif family in the name of the Trust.

    The Panama Papers Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report, submitted to the Supreme Court, had criticized NAB for delays in the investigation and urged prioritization.

    Under the recently amended National Accountability Act 2002 by the previous PDM government, the NAB has concluded the Sharif Trust investigation under Section 31-B.

    This decision by the NAB’s Executive Board marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against the Sharif family, as they receive a respite from multiple longstanding corruption cases.

  • Usman Dar’s mother Rehana Dar cleared for contesting Sialkot elections

    Usman Dar’s mother Rehana Dar cleared for contesting Sialkot elections

    The mother of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar, Rehana Imtiaz Dar, will take part in the upcoming election against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif from NA-71 Sialkot-2, after an election tribunal approved her nomination papers on Tuesday.

    She will contest for a National Assembly (NA) seat in the upcoming general elections, set to take place on February 8, 2024. Her papers were earlier rejected by the returning officer (RO) on grounds of grabbing 40-marla land by forgery.

    The election tribunal, however, heard her appeal against the decision and annulled the RO’s decision, after which her papers were cleared.

    However, the nomination papers of Dar’s sister-in-law, Ruba Dar, wife of his brother Umer Dar, were rejected from the same constituency.

    In December 2023, Usman Dar said that he will strongly support his mother in the upcoming polls.

  • Rawalpindi police arrest Imran Khan in GHQ attack case

    Rawalpindi police arrest Imran Khan in GHQ attack case

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the GHQ attack case pertaining to May 9 riots.

    The former prime minister was summoned by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday in connection with the GHQ attack case. Khan is already behind bars in cipher and graft cases.

    However, Imran Khan attended the hearing via video link, as he could not be produced in court by Adiala jail police.

    During the hearing, police officials asked for the custody in May 9 cases, but ATC Judge Malik Aijaz Asif declined the request.

    The ATC judge instructed the police to investigate the PTI founder in Adila jail.

    The development occurred days after the arrest of PTI’s senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the May 9 case after getting bail in cipher case from the Supreme Court (SC).

    Earlier, a local court in Rawalpindi approved Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s 14-day remand in connection with May 9 cases and sent him to Adiala jail.

  • Former Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar Finally Speaks Up

    Former Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar Finally Speaks Up

    Former Chief Minister Punjab and Imran Khan’s ‘Wasim Akram Plus’ has finally broken his silence after leaving Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI).

    In a recent media interview on Monday, the mild-mannered Buzdar emphasized the need for all political parties to come together for the betterment and stability of the country.

    When asked why he isn’t targeted as other PTI members are, Buzdar stated, “For the past two years, I have been dealing with legal matters in courts. I hope that challenging times will soon come to an end, issues will be resolved, and Pakistan will move forward towards progress and development.”

    He also said that he has never talked ill about anyone and never will.

    When asked about his stance on PTI, Buzdar refrained from commenting, stating that everything is in the hands of the people, and the public is the ultimate judge.

    He advised PTI to sit together with others and talk for the progress of country.

    Responding to questions about his competence, Buzdar expressed confidence that the people of the province can vouch for his sincerity and dedicated service to the region. He added, “People are the best judges, and they will vote for whoever they believe is better suited for the job.”

    Buzdar stressed the importance of political parties setting aside differences and working collaboratively for the greater good of the country.

    He emphasized the need for unity and collaboration to contribute to the improvement of Pakistan.

    He sent well wishes to his former party and disclosed that he has joined hands with the head of the Muslim League Zia, Iijaz-ul-Haq.

    A joint press conference was held where Iijaz-ul-Haq said, “I believe that elections will take place on February 8. Usman Buzdar, Yar Muhammad Rind, Amin Aslam, and 25 others are with us. We have support from various regions, including Peshawar, Sialkot, Khanewal, Sargodha, and Rajanpur. We are in contact with more parties, and they will soon be invited to join. We are forming an alliance in the name of National Unity to eliminate polarization.”