Imran Khan to contest all nine NA seats in By Election on September 29!

[MenInG]

By-elections on nine National Assembly (NA) seats will be held on September 25, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Friday.

The ECP had previously accepted 11 out of the 131 resignations tendered by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs, following the removal of the party chief from the office of the prime minister earlier this year.

According to the schedule released by the ECP, the candidates can submit their nomination papers from August 10 to 13, which will be verified by August 17, whereas the election symbols will be issued to the candidates on August 29.

According to the Election Commission, the by-elections will be held for the constituencies of NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-45 Kurram, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana Sahib, as well as NA-237, 239, and 246 of Karachi.

On July 28, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf accepted the resignations of 11 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members exactly 109 days after they resigned from their seats.

With the move, the process of accepting the resignations formally began.

The NA speaker accepted the resignations of several key PTI leaders, including former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, ex-interior minister Ijaz Ahmed Shah, ex-state minister for parliamentary affairs Ali Muhammad Khan and ex-state minister for information and broadcasting Farrukh Habib, under Article 64 (1) of the Constitution.

The other PTI lawmakers whose resignations have been accepted are Fazal Muhammad Khan, Shaukat Ali, Fakhar Zaman Khan, Jamil Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Akram Cheema, Abdul Shakoor Shad and Shandana Gulzar Khan. Mazari and Shandana were elected on the reserved seats for women from Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, respectively.

Article 64 (vacation of seats) states: “A member of [Majlis-e-Shoora] parliament may, by writing under his hand addressed to the speaker or, as the case may be, the chairman resign [from] his seat, and thereupon his seat shall become vacant.”

The NA Secretariat officials said that the resignations were accepted after fulfilling the requirements under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.

 

[MenInG]

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan will contest by-elections on nine National Assembly seats scheduled to be held on September 25, according to a party statement issued on Friday.

“In the by-elections of 9 National Assembly constituencies to be held on September 25, Chairman Imran Khan himself will contest from all the seats,” the PTI announced on its official Twitter handle.

Earlier today, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued the schedule for the vacated national assembly seats.

According to the schedule released by the ECP, the candidates can submit their nomination papers from August 10 to 13, which will be verified by August 17, whereas the election symbols will be issued to the candidates on August 29.

According to the ECP, the by-elections will be held for the constituencies of NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-45 Kurram, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana Sahib, as well as NA-237, 239, and 246 of Karachi.

The seats fell vacant after National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf On July 28 accepted the resignations of 11 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members exactly 109 days after they resigned from their seats.

After losing 15 out of 20 seats in Punjab in by-polls and finally losing the chief ministership of the province, the government had decided to move ahead with accepting the resignations of PTI lawmakers pending since April 11.

Amid the PTI’s demand for snap polls and the government's decision to complete the remaining constitutional tenure till August 2023, elections on the vacant seats would not just be a face-off between the ruling alliance and the PTI and its allies but would turn out to be a referendum on their popularity among masses.

Sensing the move, former PTI information minister Fawad Chaudhry had tweeted that ex-deputy speaker Qasim Suri had already accepted the PTI lawmakers’ resignations and sent the same to the ECP, saying the acceptance of the resignations now has no legal value.

Fawad had said that it was a fantasy that by-elections would be held in 11 constituencies, adding that the country was moving towards general elections and the incumbent rulers won’t be able to stop that.

Also read: Question lingers over PTI MNAs’ resignations

Previously, the NA speaker had called in all 131 PTI lawmakers, who had resigned from their assembly seats, to verify if their resignations were “genuine and voluntary”.

However, Imran had barred his party members from appearing before the NA speaker, terming it a trap. The PTI legislatures didn’t show up and since then the matter was pending before the speaker.

On April 16, the NA speaker directed the NA Secretariat to deal with the resignations of PTI lawmakers afresh and present them before him so that they could be treated as per law.

The ruling had come amid claims and speculations that some of the PTI lawmakers were not willing to resign and were conveying messages that their resignations should not be accepted.

The speaker’s direction had come days after former deputy speaker Suri’s ruling through which he had accepted the resignations of the PTI lawmakers after they resigned en masse from the assembly in protest over alleged “foreign interference” which ousted Imran Khan as prime minister.

Ashraf’s ruling had opened up the chapter of the resignation once again and it was being conjectured that the process of verification would “deliberately” take some time to give the newly formed government a breather to settle down.

The NA Secretariat did not explain why the speaker accepted the resignations of only 11 lawmakers and not others and what criteria were being followed for going ahead with a selected few and leaving 120 others in limbo. The secretariat also did not share if the NA speaker planned to accept more resignations in the coming days.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

The PTI on Saturday petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking the suspension of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) by-election schedule for nine general seats of the National Assembly (NA).

The nine seats are among the 11 vacated after the acceptance of resignations of PTI MNAs by the National Assembly (NA) speaker, and their de-notification, last week.

Yesterday, the electoral body issued a notification stating that by-polls for the NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-45 Kurram, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana Sahib, NA-237 Malir, NA-239 Korangi Karachi and NA-246 Karachi South constituencies will be held on September 25.

NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had, on July 28, accepted the resignations of 11 PTI MNAs — nine on general seats and two on reserved seats for women — sparking controversy over the piecemeal acceptance of resignations. These lawmakers were among the more than 120 who had resigned from their NA seats en masse on April 11, two days after former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from the top office in a no-confidence vote.

Subsequently, the party approached the IHC earlier this week, seeking approval for all the PTI’s MNAs’ resignations and identification. The court issued notices to the NA speaker, his secretary, and the ECP.

Today’s petition, submitted by Advocate Faisal Chaudhry, argued that the PTI’s main petition for acceptance of all party MNA resignations was pending adjudication before the IHC.

It said the issuance of the election schedule despite the court taking notice of the prior petition was a “deliberate and malicious effort” to defeat the PTI’s cause and the respondents were bound to follow and defer to the court’s order.

The petition further argued that if the election schedule was not suspended, it would cause “irreparable loss” to the PTI and defeat the cause of the previous petition pending adjudication.

Later in the day, the registrar’s office accepted the petition and fixed it for a hearing on August 10 (Wednesday), to be presided over by Acting IHC Chief Justice Amir Farooq.

Imran to contest on all nine seats

Meanwhile, PTI chairman Imran Khan, in a bid to set a record, has announced candidature for all nine seats in the Sept 25 elections.

During the 2018 general elections, the PTI chairman had contested elections from five constituencies and had emerged victorious on all of them. He had defeated PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafique in NA-131 Lahore, former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of the PML-N in NA-53 Islamabad, the late Syed Ali Raza Abidi of the MQM-Pakistan in NA-243, Ubaidullah Khan of the PML-N in NA-95 Mianwali and Akram Khan Durrani in NA-35 Bannu.

The ex-premier’s announcement has startled many, with some commentators questioning if the PTI chairman could not find any other suitable candidate and the expenses to be incurred in the subsequent by-elections should Imran win multiple seats and quits all but one.

DAWN

 

[cricketjoshila]

Imran khan will fight all 9 seats? If he wins can he represent more than one seat or will he just keep one and resign from other seats?

 

[Major]

Imran khan will fight all 9 seats? If he wins can he represent more than one seat or will he just keep one and resign from other seats?

He will have to resign... Eother way this would drag and they wont have any representation in na

 

[MenInG]

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday fixed for hearing a petition filed against PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s decision to contest for elections on nine National Assembly (NA) seats.

LHC Justice Shahid Jamil Khan will hear the case on Friday (August 12).

The petition, filed by Advocate Mian Asif Mehm*o**od, named the Federation of Pakistan through the Cabinet Division secretary, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar through the law secretary, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) through Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, and Imran as respondents in the case.

Last week, the ECP had announced that by-elections on nine NA seats, vacated after PTI lawmakers’ resignation, will be held on September 25.

Immediately after the decision was taken, Imran had announced his candidature for all the seats.

The petition filed today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, said it had become “a lacuna to contest election on multiple seats by the candidates in the general elections”, highlighting that the issue needed to be addressed as it was a “very clear case of political exploitation”.

It pointed out that this phenomenon was legally “questionable” and the costs of an individual contesting multiple seats were “significant” in by-poll-related expenses that would be required if a candidate secured many seats.

The petition also argued that Imran was already a member of the NA and his announced bid for election to the same house was a “gross illegality/irregularity left by the legislature, whereby he will resign from all nine seats eventually if he wins all the seats and this way public exchequer will have to face a huge financial loss”.

The petitioner said he was filing the application on the basis of public importance/interest to get the ambiguity in the law removed for the “larger interest of the nation”, adding that it needed to be heard in the “supreme interest of justice for the interest of the public at large”.

Furthermore, he requested the LHC to direct Imran not to contest any election of the parliament before the submission and acceptance of his resignation as an MNA.

The petition also called for a direction to be issued to the relevant respondents to amend the law so as to regulate the eligibility criteria of parliamentarians to contest the election.

DAWN

 

[Major]

Waste of public funds and tax payers money. Also, these 9 NA areas wont have any representation in NA. Causing more problem for the locals

 

[Bewal Express]

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday fixed for hearing a petition filed against PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s decision to contest for elections on nine National Assembly (NA) seats.

LHC Justice Shahid Jamil Khan will hear the case on Friday (August 12).

The petition, filed by Advocate Mian Asif Mehm*o**od, named the Federation of Pakistan through the Cabinet Division secretary, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar through the law secretary, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) through Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, and Imran as respondents in the case.

Last week, the ECP had announced that by-elections on nine NA seats, vacated after PTI lawmakers’ resignation, will be held on September 25.

Immediately after the decision was taken, Imran had announced his candidature for all the seats.

The petition filed today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, said it had become “a lacuna to contest election on multiple seats by the candidates in the general elections”, highlighting that the issue needed to be addressed as it was a “very clear case of political exploitation”.

It pointed out that this phenomenon was legally “questionable” and the costs of an individual contesting multiple seats were “significant” in by-poll-related expenses that would be required if a candidate secured many seats.

The petition also argued that Imran was already a member of the NA and his announced bid for election to the same house was a “gross illegality/irregularity left by the legislature, whereby he will resign from all nine seats eventually if he wins all the seats and this way public exchequer will have to face a huge financial loss”.

The petitioner said he was filing the application on the basis of public importance/interest to get the ambiguity in the law removed for the “larger interest of the nation”, adding that it needed to be heard in the “supreme interest of justice for the interest of the public at large”.

Furthermore, he requested the LHC to direct Imran not to contest any election of the parliament before the submission and acceptance of his resignation as an MNA.

The petition also called for a direction to be issued to the relevant respondents to amend the law so as to regulate the eligibility criteria of parliamentarians to contest the election.

DAWN

Running scared already

 

[MenInG]

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has dismissed a petition challenging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s decision to contest elections on all nine vacant seats of the National Assembly (NA), ARY News reported on Thursday.

According to details, Justice Shahid Jamil Khan of the Lahore High Court (LHC) heard the petition challenging former prime minister Imran Khan’s decision to contest by-elections on all nine vacant seats of the National Assembly (NA).

During the proceedings, Justice Shahid Khan asked whether the nomination papers had been submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) office. To which the counsel representing the petitioner replied in negative.

Terming the matter ‘immature’, the court said the petitioner should wait until the submission of the nomination papers and then file his objection with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) first and then approach the courts.

The petitioner’s counsel, after observing the court’s vision, decided to withdraw the petition. Subsequently, Justice Khan dismissed the petition after the counsel withdrew it.

The petitioner, Mian Asif Mehmood, Punjab president of the Amun Taraqqi Party, had requested the court to restrain the PTI chairman from contesting the by-elections on all nine seats in the “interest of the country”.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced to contest by-polls from all nine seats, vacated after the NA speaker accepted PTI MNAs’ resignation.

According to the ECP schedule, the by-polls on the nine National Assembly seats would be contested on September 25.

On July 29, the accepted resignations of 11 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs had been received by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

 

[Bewal Express]

Waste of public funds and tax payers money. Also, these 9 NA areas wont have any representation in NA. Causing more problem for the locals

And obviously stealing billions, arresting mothers with children and 17 yrs who tweet isn't causing a problems for the locals. I hope your crooks have the courage to take him on.

 

[gazza619]

Waste of public funds and tax payers money. Also, these 9 NA areas wont have any representation in NA. Causing more problem for the locals

Yeah, thanks for your concerns.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

This just doesn’t make sense, both fiscally and politically. Unless the narrative is that Imran Khan is bigger than PTI itself and that people vote for Imran Khan and not PTI. That’s a damning indictment for the party as an organisation.

 

[Bewal Express]

This just doesn’t make sense, both fiscally and politically. Unless the narrative is that Imran Khan is bigger than PTI itself and that people vote for Imran Khan and not PTI. That’s a damning indictment for the party as an organisation.

It's an open challenge for the mafia to take him on. And IK can't separated from the PTI, they are one of the same.

 

[the Great Khan]

This just doesn’t make sense, both fiscally and politically. Unless the narrative is that Imran Khan is bigger than PTI itself and that people vote for Imran Khan and not PTI. That’s a damning indictment for the party as an organisation.

No it's a strategy to counter what this low life hakoomat is trying to do. They want to try and hold on no matter so from now on he will do this..of they are brave they should face him..they wontvand this will be the last time they do this..when he wins he will vacate all the seats..so they can keep doing these tamashay or get serious..

 

[daytrader]

Coalition govt starts consultations for NA by-polls
PML-N, PPP will field joint candidates for three Punjab constituencies

LAHORE:
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led coalition government has started intra-party consultations to field joint candidates in the by-elections on 10 constituencies of the National Assembly (NA).

The by-election in NA-157 Multan will be held on September 11 while NA-108 Faisalabad’s and NA-118 Nankana Sahib’s will be held on September 25. These three are the only constituencies of Punjab in the by-election.

Sources said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will field its candidates in one of these constituencies while the PML-N will contest the rest.

They said that Ali Musa Gilani, the son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, is likely to be the joint candidate of these two parties in Multan, adding that from Nankana Sahib, Dr Shazra Mansab of the PML-N is likely to be the joint candidate of the two parties. They said that the parties are currently deliberating on a candidate for the Faisalabad constituency.

The sources said that the ruling alliance will also field joint candidates in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh after consultations with the constituent parties.

They further said that the PML-N is also consulting on whether Vice President Maryam Nawaz should be entrusted with the supervision of the by-election campaign.

The sources also disclosed that PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif has held consultations with PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and others regarding the strategy for the by-polls.

All parties have agreed to call a meeting of the coalition leadership this month to formulate a final strategy for the by-elections, they added.

Last week, former prime minister Imran raised the stakes of the otherwise considered dull by-elections by deciding to contest all the nine seats that fell vacant after the NA speaker had accepted the resignations of his party’s lawmakers.

The PTI chief made his decision public after the Election Commission of Pakistan announced the by-polls in the constituencies on September 25.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

PTI readies record nomination papers for Imran


ISLAMABAD: To set a record in the country’s political history, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has prepared nomination papers of its Chairman Imran Khan to be filed for contesting from nine National Assembly (NA) constituencies simultaneously.

After the recent by-elections in Punjab, this is being seen as another big political test for the multi-party ruling coalition. Imran Khan will contest from Mardan, Charsadda, Peshawar, Kurram, Faisalabad, Nankana, Malir, Korangi and Karachi South. Hence, the PTI chairman will run from NA-22, NA-24, NA-31, NA-45, NA-108, NA-118, NA-237, NA-239 and NA-246.

These seats were declared vacant after NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf accepted the resignations of PTI MNAs. Subsequently, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified these legislators and issued the schedule for the conduct of by-election. According to the schedule, issued by the ECP, elections in these nine constituencies would be held on Sept 25.

Meanwhile, PTI Central Secretary General Asad Umar said the incompetence and ineptness of the “imported government” could be judged from the drastic decline in development spending from April to June this year. He noted that during the PTI government, the total federal development spending from April to June last year was Rs314 billion. However, he said the “incompetent government” was slowing down development activity sharply, which was evident from the 67 per cent reduction in development spending from Rs314 billion last year to Rs106 billion from April to June this year.

About Shahbaz Gill’s arrest, he said that reports were surfacing that after judicial remand, he was taken to unknown location instead of Adiala jail, which Asad termed complete mockery of the law. He added that it was not about Gill but the writ of the judicial system, which was being challenged.

PTI Senior Vice President Dr Shireen Mazari came down hard on the government for what she alleged adopting a ham-handed approach and making mockery of justice by torturing Shahbaz Gill and incarcerating his driver’s wife with suckling baby without warrant. In a statement issued here, Dr. Mazari said that every law and rule was being violated and raised the question that if Shahbaz Gill was not kept in police station, then where was he kept?

She said that the late night arrest and incarceration of his driver’s wife with suckling baby without warrant in contravention of the Constitution and law was simply because her husband worked for Gill. She urged that United Nations Human Rights to take notice of the inhuman act.

The News PK

 

[Bewal Express]

The ECP played a dirty game by only accepting these resignations because they were the ones the PTI had the lowest majorities and with dhandli,the Kaptaans momentum could be broken. Kaptaan has turned this pathetic mafia game on his and that's why they ran to the courts. Some idiot said that the ECP was neutral))))

 

[MenInG]

After PPP, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has also withdrawn its candidate for the NA-245 by-election in favour of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in line with a decision taken by the federal ruling coalition, ARY News reported.

The development comes after MQM-P leader Khawaja Izahrul Hassan met with JUI-F candidate Ameenullah at his residence in Karachi. Khawaja Izhar also thanked the JUI-F leadership for withdrawing its candidature in favour of MQM-P candidate Mueed Anwar

Earlier, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) withdrew his candidature for the by-polls in NA-245 Karachi.

The PPP’s decision has left the MQM’s candidate as the main contestant against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, which had won the National Assembly seat in 2018 general elections.

PTI’s Aamir Liaquat Hussain won the 2018 general election on NA-245, getting 56,615 votes. The runner-up candidate was MQM-P veteran Farooq Sattar who got 35,247 votes.

 

[MenInG]

The Returning Officer (RO) for the by-poll in NA-108 Faislabad has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan’s nomination papers, ARY News reported.

According to detials, the RO Irfan Kosar rejected PTI Chief’s nomination papers over no adequate response over convers over his assets. The RO had contacted the PTI Chief via video link and Imran Khan verified his signatures over the nomination papers.

Imran Khan was expected to take on Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Abid Sher Ali in the NA-108 Faisalabad by-polls.

The coalition government will be facing another political challenge on September 25 as PTI chief Imran Khan decided to contest by-polls on nine NA seats.

For the first time in the political history of Pakistan, a candidate will contest the elections in nine different constituencies.

The former premier had announced to contest by-elections from NA constituencies in Mardan, Charsadda, Peshawar, Kurram, Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib, and Karachi’s Malir, Korangi and Karachi South District.

https://arynews.tv/na-108-faisalabad-imran-khans-nomination-papers-rejected/

 

[MenInG]

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday challenged the Returning Officer's (RO) order before election tribunal of the Lahore High Court, contending that RO rejected his nomination papers from NA-108 (Faisalabad) by "deviating his jurisdiction and violating the constitution".

Imran Khan, in his petition filed through advocate Anis Ali Hashmi, implored the tribunal saying it is astonishing that RO District Election Commissioner Faisalabad rejected his nomination papers on sole ground that the appellant has disclosed the value of the moveable assets but without furnishing details despite no objector had either raised objection on it or demanded such details.

"The items of furniture, fittings and items of personal use do not require the details of each specifically but the value of such articles of personal use. In no return filed under the Election Act 2017 do the returns mention the number of chairs, tables, beds, TV, perfumes, watches, rings, ties, clothes etc. owned by a person but rather the value thereof. The appellant has disclosed the value of the furniture, fittings and items of personal use in the statement of assets and liabilities submitted before the ECP in the gazette of Pakistan on March 12, 2019, March 26, 2020, and May 24, 2021, in the same manner by giving value without the specific items and the ECP has been accepting the same," said the petition.

He submitted that this is also the case in the tax returns of the appellant, adding that the RO has also not understood that the two challans of Rs29,14,500 and Rs1,93,000 although not required were nonetheless submitted by the appellant only to explain the increase in the value of personal assets between June 2021 and June 2022.

He contended that on one hand, the returning officer dismissed the objection that the candidate has concealed the items received by him from Toshakhana by holding that “with regard to the objection of Toshakhana items, the objector could not produce any certified documents” but rejected the nomination papers on an extraneous grounds that “the entry of precious items is dubious and if allowed may provide the candidate a floodgate to skip through scrutiny by the public about their assets”.

He said that the rejection of nomination papers on such an assumption is beyond the jurisdiction of the respondent returning officer.

Former PM contended that the objections raised were properly responded through a written reply to those objections. "All the objections raised by the respondents were baseless, fake and without any support or cogent evidence and authenticated documentation but surprisingly the nomination papers of the appellant were rejected by the respondent RO on the ground that has not been specifically agitating or raised by respondents Abid Sher Ali and Mian Muhammad Yousaf in their objection petitions."

He prayed to the court that the order passed by RO on August 17, 2022, be set aside and further the RO be directed to accept the appellant’s nomination papers for contesting a by-election in the said constituency.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

Polling for by-election in Karachi’s NA-245 began on Sunday morning amid tight security, ARY News reported.

The polling that began at 8:00 am will continue without any break till 5:00 pm.

According to the ECP, a total of 263 polling stations have been set up for the by-election, of which 60 polling stations have been declared sensitive and 203 most sensitive.

Strict security measures have been adopted for maintaining the law and order situation during the polling in Karachi’s NA-245.

The constituency comprises Jamshed Quarters, Pakistan Quarters, Martin Quarters, PECHS, Lines Area, Soldier Bazaar, New Town, Patel Para, Garden West, Martin Quarters, Teen Hatti, PIB Colony, etc. As many as 166,869 votes were cast in this constituency.

Read more: Farooq Sattar, PTI or MQM: Who will win NA-245 contest?

The by-election was originally scheduled to be held on July 27, however, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed it due to torrential rains in the metropolis.

A total of 17 candidates belonging to different political parties are contesting the by-election from the National Assembly constituency 245. Among them, the most prominent are Farooq Sattar (Indp) PTI’s Mehmood Baqi Moulvi, MQM’s Moid Anwar and PSP’s Syed Hafeezuddin.

Three-way contest
The NA-245 by-poll is expected to be a three-way contest between Farooq Sattar, PTI’s Mahmood Maulvi and MQM-Pakistan’s Moeed Anwar.

The MQM-Pakistan candidate enjoys the support of its allies in the coalition government in the center. In the 2018 General Election, Aamir Liaquat Hussain defeated Dr. Farooq Sattar by securing 56,673 votes.

 

[MenInG]

Polling began in the highly anticipated by-election in the NA-245 constituency of Karachi on Sunday, as up to half a million voters are set to pick a representative for the seat that was vacated by the late Aamir Liaquat Hussain of the PTI.

The process, which began at 8am this morning and will continue till 5pm, saw low turnout when voting commenced, according to DawnNewsTV. Footage broadcast on television showed election officials sitting in a relatively barren polling station.

However, as the day progressed, turnout improved and citizens were seen at election camp offices getting information.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are on our way to winning Karachi NA 245 election. Our camps are full of voters while opposition camps are empty. I am asking all our voters to go immediately to vote if they haven't already done so.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1561295094141042689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has secured a resounding victory in Karachi’s NA-245 by-election by a margin of nearly 17,000 votes as its candidate Mehmood Maulvi secured 29,475 votes for the National Assembly seat that had fallen vacant due to death of PTI MNA Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain in June.

According to unofficial and preliminary results released by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday of all 263 polling stations, MQM-P’s Mueed Anwar came in second with 13,193 votes followed by TLP’s Muhammad Ahmed Raza who bagged 9,836 while independent candidate Dr Farooq Sattar got 3,479 votes.

The voter turnout remained at around 12 per cent.

The voting process, which began at 8am today, continued till 5pm without any breaks. Counting began soon after and results started to trickle in after 6pm in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

A total of 263 polling stations were set up by the election commission for the by-election, of which 60 polling stations were declared sensitive and 203 most sensitive.

As many as 17 candidates contested the by-polls, including candidates of MQM-Pakistan, Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).

PTI’s Maulvi, MQM-P’s Mueed, PSP’s Syed Hafeezud Din, TLP’s Muhammad Ahmed Raza and MQM Bahali Committee’s Dr Farooq Sattar, who contested as an independent candidate, were some of the major contenders for the seat.

The ECP had appointed Syed Nadeem Haider as the returning officer for NA-245 by-election. In view of the polls, the electoral watchdog had also banned development works and transfers of officials within the limits of the NA-245 constituency.

In the 2018 general election, Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain, 50, was elected from NA-245 on PTI ticket. The seat had fallen vacant after the popular television host and politician passed away on June 9 at his residence.

 

[daytrader]

 

[MenInG]

The Lahore High Court on Wednesday allowed PTI chief Imran Khan to contest by-elections in the NA-108 (Faisalabad) and NA-118 (Nankana Sahib) constituencies while rejecting objections of the Election Commission of Pakistan and a PML-N candidate's plea challenging the acceptance of ex-PM's nomination papers, respectively.

The orders on two separate pleas were issued by Justice Shahid Waheed of LHC's appellate election tribunal.

The ECP had on Aug 17 rejected Imran's nomination for the NA-108 by-poll due to "insufficient details regarding his assets".

"Imran Khan's nomination papers were not rejected due to signature verification issue. Imran's nomination papers were rejected due to insufficient details of assets," the ECP had said in a statement as it quoted the returning officer's rationale for the decision.