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Pakistan General Elections 2024: Which political party will be your pick to win the upcoming general elections?

Which political party would be your pick to win the upcoming general elections 2024 in Pakistan?

  • PTI

    Votes: 45 81.8%

  • PMLN

    Votes: 9 16.4%

  • PPPP

    Votes: 1 1.8%

  • MQM Pakistan

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Jamiat e Islami(JI)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • ANP

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • JUI-F

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    55
The Peshawar High (PHC) on Monday granted protective bail to PTI’s nominee for the provincial chief minister’s office Ali Amin Gandapur in a case registered against him by Islamabad police, ARY News reported.

PHC Chief Justice Ibrahim Khan accepted the bail petition of Ali Amin Gandapur. The court also directed to submit surety bond of worth Rs 100,000.

It is worth noting that the, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder named Ali Amin Gandapur as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) CM.

The former prime minister announced this during his informal media talk in his jail trial in Adiala, where he is incarcerated.

”I have named Ali Amin Gandapur as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM, while no consensus on the premier’s name yet,” the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder was quoted as saying.

His political journey began with his election to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2013 as a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

Source: ARY

arynews.tv

KP CM nominee Ali Amin Gandapur gets protective bail

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High (PHC) on Monday granted protective bail to PTI’s nominee for the provincial chief minister’s office Ali Amin Gandapur in a
arynews.tv arynews.tv
 
FearlessRoar said:
The Peshawar High (PHC) on Monday granted protective bail to PTI’s nominee for the provincial chief minister’s office Ali Amin Gandapur in a case registered against him by Islamabad police, ARY News reported.

PHC Chief Justice Ibrahim Khan accepted the bail petition of Ali Amin Gandapur. The court also directed to submit surety bond of worth Rs 100,000.

It is worth noting that the, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder named Ali Amin Gandapur as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) CM.

The former prime minister announced this during his informal media talk in his jail trial in Adiala, where he is incarcerated.

”I have named Ali Amin Gandapur as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM, while no consensus on the premier’s name yet,” the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder was quoted as saying.

His political journey began with his election to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2013 as a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

Source: ARY

arynews.tv

KP CM nominee Ali Amin Gandapur gets protective bail

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High (PHC) on Monday granted protective bail to PTI’s nominee for the provincial chief minister’s office Ali Amin Gandapur in a
arynews.tv arynews.tv
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Certainly, there is some relief for PTI and PTI supporters now
 
If they act fairly then certainly all these seats will revert to PTI
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ECP hears petitions filed by candidates of 40 constituencies

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is hearing petitions filed by the candidates of 40 constituencies.

According to state-run Radio Pakistan, these petitions are linked to the results of the National Assembly and four provincial assembly constituencies.

The ECP has also established a designated cell for the registration of complaints at its office in Islamabad.

Source: Dawn News
 
FearlessRoar said:
I don't support Imran Khan because I don't like his policies.I have cast my vote for the PML-N candidate because I liked his policies. It is my constitutional right. It doesn't mean I'm a fan of Nawaz Sharif or Maryam Nawaz.
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the amazing policies under their 33 year of rule in Punjab have led to?

It's okay. You can admit you like Nani and her father. No shame in admitting it.
 
PPP, PML-N agree on power-sharing formula for coalition govt

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) reached an agreement on sharing power in a coalition government on Tuesday.

“We are in a position to form the government and we have numbers to show the majority," PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in a press conference at Bilawal House, Lahore.

He said PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif will be the coalition's joint candidate for the premiership, while PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will be the candidate for the presidency.

“The party known as Sunni Ittehad Council does not have the numbers to form a government,” Bilawal added.

Addressing the joint presser, Shehbaz Sharif said they had invited independent members to form a government by proving their majority, which they couldn’t.

He went on to say that the combined strength of PPP and PML-N was enough to form government in the centre.

“Not only will we vote together for the important positions, but will also work together for the betterment of the country,” Shehbaz added.

“Taking government is a matter of selflessness and sacrifice, not about taking turns,” he added.

Meanwhile, Asif Zardari congratulated parties for taking this selfless measure and urged people to pray for the success of the new government.

“All our endeavours are for Pakistan and the upcoming generations,” he said.

The press conference took place after a breakthrough late-night meeting at Ishaq Dar’s residence between Shahbaz and Bilawal.

PMLN leaders Malik Ahmad Khan, and Azam Nazeer Tarar were also present at the meeting.

Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Murad Ali Shah were also part of the PPP delegation.


www.brecorder.com

PPP, PML-N agree on power-sharing formula for coalition govt

Bilawal says Shehbaz Sharif will be coalition's joint candidate for premiership, Asif Ali Zardari for presidency
www.brecorder.com
 
Cricket Warrior said:
PPP, PML-N agree on power-sharing formula for coalition govt

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) reached an agreement on sharing power in a coalition government on Tuesday.

“We are in a position to form the government and we have numbers to show the majority," PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in a press conference at Bilawal House, Lahore.

He said PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif will be the coalition's joint candidate for the premiership, while PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will be the candidate for the presidency.

“The party known as Sunni Ittehad Council does not have the numbers to form a government,” Bilawal added.

Addressing the joint presser, Shehbaz Sharif said they had invited independent members to form a government by proving their majority, which they couldn’t.

He went on to say that the combined strength of PPP and PML-N was enough to form government in the centre.

“Not only will we vote together for the important positions, but will also work together for the betterment of the country,” Shehbaz added.

“Taking government is a matter of selflessness and sacrifice, not about taking turns,” he added.

Meanwhile, Asif Zardari congratulated parties for taking this selfless measure and urged people to pray for the success of the new government.

“All our endeavours are for Pakistan and the upcoming generations,” he said.

The press conference took place after a breakthrough late-night meeting at Ishaq Dar’s residence between Shahbaz and Bilawal.

PMLN leaders Malik Ahmad Khan, and Azam Nazeer Tarar were also present at the meeting.

Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Murad Ali Shah were also part of the PPP delegation.


www.brecorder.com

PPP, PML-N agree on power-sharing formula for coalition govt

Bilawal says Shehbaz Sharif will be coalition's joint candidate for premiership, Asif Ali Zardari for presidency
www.brecorder.com
Click to expand...
Get ready for another horrible tenure of corruption which will break all the records.
 
Cricket Warrior said:
PPP, PML-N agree on power-sharing formula for coalition govt

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) reached an agreement on sharing power in a coalition government on Tuesday.

“We are in a position to form the government and we have numbers to show the majority," PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in a press conference at Bilawal House, Lahore.

He said PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif will be the coalition's joint candidate for the premiership, while PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will be the candidate for the presidency.

“The party known as Sunni Ittehad Council does not have the numbers to form a government,” Bilawal added.

Addressing the joint presser, Shehbaz Sharif said they had invited independent members to form a government by proving their majority, which they couldn’t.

He went on to say that the combined strength of PPP and PML-N was enough to form government in the centre.

“Not only will we vote together for the important positions, but will also work together for the betterment of the country,” Shehbaz added.

“Taking government is a matter of selflessness and sacrifice, not about taking turns,” he added.

Meanwhile, Asif Zardari congratulated parties for taking this selfless measure and urged people to pray for the success of the new government.

“All our endeavours are for Pakistan and the upcoming generations,” he said.

The press conference took place after a breakthrough late-night meeting at Ishaq Dar’s residence between Shahbaz and Bilawal.

PMLN leaders Malik Ahmad Khan, and Azam Nazeer Tarar were also present at the meeting.

Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Murad Ali Shah were also part of the PPP delegation.


www.brecorder.com

PPP, PML-N agree on power-sharing formula for coalition govt

Bilawal says Shehbaz Sharif will be coalition's joint candidate for premiership, Asif Ali Zardari for presidency
www.brecorder.com
Click to expand...

I'm gonna leave this here.

https://twitter.com/x/status/242891774656401408
 
PPP clinches another SA seat after vote recount

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) clinched another Sindh Assembly seat from Karachi, PS-115 after a recount of votes by the Returning Officer (RO) of the constituency, ARY News reported.

As per details, PPP’s Asif Khan emerged victorious with a lead of 766 votes against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed independent candidate Shahnawaz Jadoon.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued Form 49 according to which the PPP’s candidate secured 20310 votes while the PTI-bagged independent candidate bagged 19544 votes.

Earlier in Form 47, the PTI-bagged independent candidate had been declared winner with 20609 votes. PPP’s Asif Khan who had received 18939 votes requested for a vote recount.

After the latest results, the PPP’s general seats toll in the Sindh Assembly would rise to 87. The PPP has secured 84 general seats in the 8th February’s General Elections while two independent candidates announced to join the party.


arynews.tv

PPP clinches another SA seat after vote recount

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) clinched another Sindh Assembly seat from Karachi, PS-115 after a recount of votes by the Returning Officer (RO) of
arynews.tv arynews.tv
 
Cricket Warrior said:
PPP clinches another SA seat after vote recount

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) clinched another Sindh Assembly seat from Karachi, PS-115 after a recount of votes by the Returning Officer (RO) of the constituency, ARY News reported.

As per details, PPP’s Asif Khan emerged victorious with a lead of 766 votes against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed independent candidate Shahnawaz Jadoon.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued Form 49 according to which the PPP’s candidate secured 20310 votes while the PTI-bagged independent candidate bagged 19544 votes.

Earlier in Form 47, the PTI-bagged independent candidate had been declared winner with 20609 votes. PPP’s Asif Khan who had received 18939 votes requested for a vote recount.

After the latest results, the PPP’s general seats toll in the Sindh Assembly would rise to 87. The PPP has secured 84 general seats in the 8th February’s General Elections while two independent candidates announced to join the party.


arynews.tv

PPP clinches another SA seat after vote recount

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) clinched another Sindh Assembly seat from Karachi, PS-115 after a recount of votes by the Returning Officer (RO) of
arynews.tv arynews.tv
Click to expand...
They will keep recounting until they have won all the seats in the Sindh Assembly.
 
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday became the majority party in Balochistan after two more independent MPAs joined its ranks – taking its tally of seats in the province to 12.

Tribune
 
I still can’t even understand how so many posters still prefer any party of PDM they have shown how incompetent they are.
 
JaDed said:
I still can’t even understand how so many posters still prefer any party of PDM they have shown how incompetent they are.
Click to expand...

They're suffering the symptoms of stubbornness. Luckily for us, the recent election has proven that these people are an obnoxious minority whose political capital is declining every day.
 
JaDed said:
I still can’t even understand how so many posters still prefer any party of PDM they have shown how incompetent they are.
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These guys dont represent anyone. Its the reason they got smashed in the elections. We have establishment that are shitting bricks about what will happen to them when they are out of office, and are desperately putting off the day by playing for time but this isnt going away. If you saw the faces of the PDM criminals, you would find difficult to distinguish between that press conference and from the ISI(s) hostage videos released by the those thugs around a decade ago.
 
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PTI let down all the people that voted for them, instead of sitting back and putting all your trust in the corrupt judges, you should be calling for a nationwide protest, peaceful or not.

The people will come out if you call them out !!!
 
YousafTheBeast said:
PTI let down all the people that voted for them, instead of sitting back and putting all your trust in the corrupt judges, you should be calling for a nationwide protest, peaceful or not.

The people will come out if you call them out !!!
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Yep they should call one. May we they want to consolidate the govt in KP first as a safe haven for their workers.
 
JaDed said:
I still can’t even understand how so many posters still prefer any party of PDM they have shown how incompetent they are.
Click to expand...
They prefer PDM parties because their ancestors used to do the same and their minds are filled with this crap that you have to follow your baap dada no matter what. These people are blind and have no sense of right and wrong left in them. SAD.
 
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ECP ‘unlikely’ to meet result publication deadline

With the clock ticking, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is under mounting scrutiny to fulfil its obligation of posting key post-election documents — Forms 45, 46 and 47 — on its website by Feb 22, a move considered critical to ensure poll transparency.

This requirement, as stipulated under Section 95 of the Elections Act 2017, mandates returning officers to submit comprehensive election results to the ECP within 24 hours of vote consolidation, with the ECP then having 14 days after polls to make these documents publicly accessible.

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have urged the ECP to meet the legal deadline, while sources in the commission insisted it was unlikely to be done.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami told Dawn the ECP’s failure to meet the legal requirement would put a question mark on the legality of the Feb 8 elections.

He warned that any attempts to tamper with the Forms 45 would make it a “fit case of high treason”. He, however, agreed that this would not be the first time the ECP would miss a legal deadline.

Senator Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party also demanded that the mandatory requirement of the law be met, suggesting that the ECP’s failure to timely upload the key documents on its website would add fuel to the fire and exacerbate existing tensions and doubts surrounding the election results.

He, however, regretted that the law and Constitution existed only on paper. He said the elections were already controversial, alleging that results had been prepared before voting and that the electoral exercise was just a formality.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui of PML-N, however, told Dawn that organised efforts were underway to make the elections controversial. He recalled that the same had also been done after the 2013 general elections, which were held to be in line with public opinion by a judicial body headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk.

That time they alleged 35 ‘punctures’ and now they are talking about variations between Forms 45 and Forms 47,“ he said.

‘Delay to cause more harm’

Meanwhile, the Pattan-Coalition 38, an independent election observation group, has also reminded the Election Commission that Feb 22 is the last date to publish the key documents on its website.

“We note with extreme concern that any delay in this regard is likely to cause more harm not only to the repute of the ECP as it is already under tremendous scrutiny, criticism and pressure, but will also seriously damage public trust in electoral democracy and state institutions,” it said in a statement.

It said the conduct of the general election has already tarnished the ECP’s image in the eyes of the public and the international community. It said the ECP had undermined its own stated vision and its mission statement, which says: “We strive to hold free, fair and transparent elections that truly reflect the will of the people in democratic processes.”

Pattan said the ECP could still prevent further harm by uploading the original Forms 45, warning that any tampered forms were likely to deepen the nation’s rage.

“We would therefore like to remind the ECP that transparency in elections is as important as freeness and fairness,” it said. “The uploading of true Forms 45, Forms 46, and Forms 47 will greatly help to regain the lost trust of the people in the working of the ECP, which is extremely crucial to build political certainty in the country, and that is essential to revive the economy.”

ECP ‘unlikely to meet deadline’

Meanwhile, a senior ECP official told Dawn the electoral watchdog was unlikely to place the documents on its website today (Thursday).

He said that around 300 petitions alleging differences between Forms 45 and 47 had been forwarded to the commission by high courts, setting timelines for decisions. He said many petitioners were carrying Forms 45, which were different from the ones possessed by the respondents. He said it would take some time to verify the authenticity of these documents.

Verdicts reserved on three seats

Besides, the Election Commission reserved its verdict on Wednesday on a petition filed by PTI-backed candidate Salman Akram Raja against alleged change in the election results of Lahore’s NA-128 constituency.

During the hearing by a two-member ECP bench, the petitioner appeared along with Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan, while lawyers Shahzad Shaukat and Ziaur Rehman appeared on behalf of Awn Chaudhry, Mr Raja’s rival candidate.

Mr Raja, himself a senior lawyer, said that according to Forms 45, he had won the seat but had been defeated as per Form 47.

He pointed out that according to Form 45, there was a clear difference between the votes cast in the provincial assembly and the National Assembly. He alleged that 110,000 fake votes were cast.

Mr Chaudhry’s lawyer argued that this was not a case of the ECP, but of the election tribunal, and according to the law, it was not necessary to have a candidate around while furnishing Form 47. The bench later reserved its judgement in the matter.

The Election Commission also reserved its verdict in the election case concerning Karachi’s NA-235 and NA-236 constituencies. The ECP’s members in Sindh and Punjab, Nisar Ahmad Durrani and Babar Hassan Bharwana, heard the case.

Mr Durrani remarked that the returning officers of the two constituencies had submitted their reports.

The lawyer representing the petitioner, Saifur Rehman, said that “we have only one request that there is a difference between Forms 45 and Form 47”.

The lawyer said the Election Commission had to differentiate between the original and fake Forms 45, and if the outcomes were based on fake forms, the results for the constituency would have to be declared null and void.

When Mr Durrani asked whether these matters should be sent to election tribunals, the petitioner’s lawyer replied that according to the Elections Act, the ECP could give decisions on these applications. He said four political parties had a different version of Forms 45, whereas the ones held by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan were different.

Mr Bharwana of the ECP noted that today (Thursday) was the last day to give decisions on 50 applications, wondering how the Election Commission could scrutinise all Forms 45.

The lawyer said that according to Forms 45, Saifur Rehman received 113,000 votes, whereas only 1,100 votes were written in Form 47.

To this, the ECP member remarked: “I wonder who can dare to convert more than one lakh votes.” The lawyer said it was the ECP’s responsibility to determine this and prevent such rigging in future.

Mr Bharwana said that with complaints about Forms 45 coming from all over the country, how the Election Commission could scrutinise millions of forms. He also noted that conducting a forensic audit of Forms 45 appeared to be a criminal matter.

Inquiry on Chattha’s allegations

In a related development, the ECP’s inquiry committee formed to investigate the allegations levelled by the Rawalpindi commissioner, Liaquat Ali Chattha, has completed its work within the stipulated period of three days and will submit its report to the Election Commission today (Thursday).

“The committee has recorded statements of the DROs and ROs of Rawalpindi division,” an official told Dawn. He said the DROs and ROs denied allegations of rigging and the manipulation of results, as alleged by the former commissioner.

SOURCE: DAWN
 
Punjab Assembly to convene tomorrow for oath-taking of newly elected lawmakers

The Punjab Assembly (PA) is set to convene tomorrow for its inaugural session following the general elections held on February 8.

Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman has formally issued a notification calling for the assembly meeting, marking a pivotal moment in the province's political landscape.

Scheduled to commence at 10 am, the assembly session will witness the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected members.

Among the key highlights of the event, Speaker Punjab Assembly Sabatin Khan will administer the oath to the elected representatives, marking their official induction into the legislative body.

The assembly session holds particular significance as it symbolises the democratic transition of power following the electoral process. With the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) securing the highest number of seats at 137, the political landscape is poised for a new era of governance.

SAMAA
 
PML-N claims 36 reserved seats for women in Punjab Assembly

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially announced the allocation of reserved seats, where the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured 36 seats for women in the Punjab Assembly, ARY News reported on Thursday.

The PML-N, despite being in the minority, managed to clinch five out of eight reserved seats for women, meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) secured three reserved seats for women in the Punjab Assembly.

However, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) bagged one seat and PML-Q got one reserved seat for women in the assembly.

In the ECP’s notification, the Sunni Ittehad Council did not secure any reserved seats.

The ECP also notified that the former Minister for Minority Affairs, Tahir Khalil, and four other league leaders emerged victorious as members of the Punjab Assembly.

On the other hand, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) secured 20 reserved seats for women in the Sindh Assembly as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a notification for returned candidates on reserved seats.

According to details, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) six women lawmakers would make it to the Sindh Assembly on the reserved quota while the Grand Democratic Alliance got one woman seat.

The PPP secured six minority seats while the MQM-P bagged two. The ECP is yet to decide the fate of one woman and one minority seat as the Sunni Ittehad Council also approached it to get the reserved seats.

In the house of 168 lawmakers, the PPP’s strength in the Sindh Assembly is 113 after the joining of independent candidates and issuance of reserved seats.

The MQM-P is the second largest in the provincial assembly with 36 seats.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed independent candidates emerged victorious on 13 general seats and the decision on their reserved seats is yet to come

The GDA and Jamaat-e-Islami secured three and one respectively.


arynews.tv

PML-N claims 36 reserved seats for women in Punjab Assembly

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially announced the allocation of reserved seats, where the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
arynews.tv arynews.tv
 
Punjab MPAs to take oath in first session today

The newly elected representatives of the Punjab and Sindh assemblies are set to take the oath of office in their maiden sessions, to be held today (Friday) and tomorrow, respectively.

The PTI, meanwhile, plans to protest the alleged snatching of the party’s Punjab Assembly seats through vote rigging.

On Thursday, Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman summoned the maiden session of the 18th provincial assembly to meet on Friday after the Election Commission of Pakistan partially issued notifications of the lawmakers on seats reserved for women and minorities.

The outgoing Punjab Assembly speaker, Sibtain Khan, will administer the oath to the members of the new assembly.

As per the procedure, the assembly secretary will then announce a four-member panel of chairpersons to be nominated by the speaker for each session under Rule 13(1) of Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, 1997.

Members of that panel are authorised, in their nomination order, to chair proceedings of the house in the absence of speaker and deputy speaker.

The secretary will then announce the procedure to elect the speaker and deputy speaker as envisaged in Rules 9 and 10 of the Punjab Assembly Rules.

The session will then be prorogued to be summoned anew for electing the new speaker and deputy speaker of the house, to be followed by the election of the leader of the house, i.e., the chief minister.

The Punjab Assembly is the largest elected house in the country, with 371 seats, comprising 297 general seats and 74 reserved seats, including 66 for women and eight for minorities.

Top offices

The PML-N has nominated Maryam Nawaz Sharif for chief minister, while the rival PTI has fielded Mian Aslam Iqbal for the slot. However, Mr Iqbal is unavailable as he was said to be in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after getting bail from the Peshawar High Court.

Likewise, Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and Zaheer Iqbal Channer are the most likely PML-N candidates for the speaker and deputy speaker slots, while the PTI has yet to announce its nominees for the two offices.

Mr Rehman is a seasoned politician who has won for the fifth consecutive term and served as the provincial finance minister under Shehbaz Sharif’s administration in Punjab. Mr Channer, from Bahawalpur, is the son of Iqbal Channer, who has been a cabinet member in the Shehbaz government.

Reserved seats in Punjab

On Feb 8, elections were held for 296 general seats, as polling for one seat was postponed due to the death of a candidate. As the ECP has so far issued notifications for 42 reserved seats for women and five for minorities, around 343 MPAs-elect will be able to take the oath of their offices in the first session to bring the 18th house into being.

According to election results, the PML-N secured 138 general seats in the Punjab Assembly, while PTI-backed independents claimed 114.

Of the 23 other independent candidates not supported by the PTI, 20 have joined the PML-N, taking its tally to 158, while one has joined the PPP, which already bagged 10 seats.

The PML-Q clinched eight seats, while one seat each went to the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan and Pakistan Muslim League-Zia.

Of the notified reserved seats, the PML-N has secured 36 seats for women and five seats for minorities to take its total number of MPAs to 199, comfortably above the required simple majority of 186 members.

Meanwhile, PPP has three reserved seats for women, two have gone to the PML-Q and the IPP has just one seat.

In Punjab, PML-N women’s seats have gone to Zakia Khan, Ishrat Ashraf, Mariam Aurang Zeb, Azma Zahid Bokhari, Hina Parvez Butt, Salma Saadia Temur, Rahila Naeem, Bushra Anjum Butt, Sania Ashiq Jabeen, Salma Butt, Kanwal Pervez Chaudhry, Mehwish Sultana, Nausheen Adnan, Asma Ehtisham ul Haq, Kausar Javed, Uzma Jabeen, Ambreen Ismail, Mumtaz Begum, Sunbal Malik Hassan, Rukhsana Kausar, Shazia Rizwan, Motiya Begum, Rabia Naseem Farooqi, Sonia Ashir, Uzma Kardar, Safia Saeed, Tahia Noon, Amina Hassan, Asma Naz, Tahira Mushtaq, Zaib Un Nisa Awan, Fatima Begum, Qudsia Batool, Riffat Abbasi, Atiya Iftikhar and Rushda Lodhi.

The PPP women lawmakers in Punjab are Shazia Abid, Neelam Jabbar Chaudhary and Nargis Faiz Malik, while the PML-Q will have Tashfeen Safdar and Saima Saeed in the assembly. The IPP’s Sarah Ahmad has been notified on the party’s only seat for women in Punjab.

The ECP has yet to issue notifications for 24 women seats and three for minorities. Apparently, these notifications have been withheld until a court decision on petitions filed by the PTI to claim these seats based on its 114 independent candidates.

In addition, out of the total eight reserved seats for minorities in Punjab Assembly, five have been allocated to the PML-N. The non-Muslim seats have gone to Falbous Christopher, Emmanuel Ather, Ramesh Singh Arora, Khalil Tahir and Shakeela Javed.

Sindh Assembly

Meanwhile, the newly elected representatives of the Sindh Assembly will take oath in the first session of the new provincial assembly on Saturday (tomorrow).

Late on Thursday, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori called the first session of the provincial assembly, approving the recommendation of caretaker Chief Minister Maqbool Baqar.

The sitting of the assembly for electing its speaker will be presided over by the outgoing speaker or, in his absence, by the person nominated by the governor. Immediately after the speaker’s election, the assembly will proceed to elect a deputy speaker.

After the election for these two posts, the assembly will proceed to elect one of its members as the chief minister without any debate.

In the Feb 8 general elections held on 130 general seats of the Sindh Assembly, the PPP secured 87 seats, followed by the MQM-P (28 seats), GDA (two seats) and Jamaat-i-Islami (two seats). PTI-backed independent candidates managed to secure 11 seats.

The PPP enjoys a comfortable majority in the house and it doesn’t need support from any other party to get its speaker, deputy speaker and chief minister elected.

The partially notified list of women and minority candidates for the Sindh Assembly contains eight non-Muslim legislators and 27 women.

The Sindh Assembly has a total of 29 reserved seats for women and nine for non-Muslims. Of these, the PPP has been allotted 20 seats for women and six for minorities; MQM-P has secured six seats for women and one minority seat, while the GDA has obtained just one reserved seat for women. This means that the notifications for two reserved seats for women and one minority seat are still pending.

In Sindh, the PPP’s women legislators will include Seema Khurram,Tanzila Umi Habiba,Rehanan Laghari, Bibi Yasmeen Shah, Nuhzat Pathan, Syeda Marvi Faseeh, Sadia Javed, Farzana Hanif, Sajeela, Hina Dastagir,Rukhsana Parveen, Heer Soho, Nida Khuhro, Saima Agha, Rooma Sabahat, Arooba Rabbani, Khairunisa, Maleeha Manzoor, Shazia Umar and Shaheena.

Meanwhile, Hamir Singh, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Giyanoo Mal, Sham Sunder, Khatumal and Anthony Naveed have been picked on minority seats.

MQM-Pakistan will be represented by the following women: Sofia Saeed Shah, Sikandar Khatoon, Kiran Maqsood, Farah Sohail, Qurat Ul Ain Khan and Bilqees Mukhtar. Meanwhile, Mukesh Kumar Hasija and Aneel Kumar will be their non-Muslim representatives.

The GDA’s sole women’s seat has gone to Fozia Kausar.

PTI to protest ‘rigging’

Meanwhile, as the Punjab Assembly’s elected candidates are set to take the oath in its maiden session today, the PTI plans to protest the alleged snatching of provincial assembly seats through massive rigging.

In a late-night development on Thursday, the PTI leadership decided that all party-backed winning candidates led by the party’s nominee for Punjab chief ministership, Mian Aslam Iqbal, will attend the Punjab Assembly’s maiden session.

Hammad Azhar, PTI’s general secretary for central Punjab, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that all the PTI-backed candidates who were defeated through “rigging” in the results calculations in Form 47s would stage a protest demonstration in front of the Punjab Assembly. Party workers and supporters would also join the protest demonstration.

Mr Azhar said the “PDM gang” would never do anything good for the people as they were now answerable to those candidates whom people had given heavy mandate. “The masses’ situation will improve when people will be allowed to choose their leaders,” he said.

The PTI leadership has strongly agitated against the tactics being employed to keep Mr Iqbal away from taking part in the chief minister’s election and ensure the field is open for Maryam Nawaz Sharif to assume the top office.

Asked whether all the PTI-backed winning candidates would attend the session, a PTI spokesman said there was no compulsion on the party-backed candidates to take oath on Friday. “They may take oath any time later,” he added.

SOURCE: DAWN
 
This seat in actuality belonged to PTI
====
Interim order on NA-15 Mansehra results stay today

The ECP observed on Monday that it will be issuing an interim order today regarding the stay on releasing the final results for NA-15 Mansehra.

The electoral watchdog heard PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s plea against election results from the seat. He has contested PTI-backed independent candidate Shahzada Gustasap Khan's success from the constituency following the Feb 8 elections.

The hearing was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The CEC observed that the ECP cannot continue the stay for an indefinite period.

“Sometimes you are late, sometimes you don't come prepared,” the CEC reprimanded Nawaz's lawyer.

Earlier during the hearing, the former premier’s counsel told the ECP that they had still not received the RO’s [returning officer] report.

PTI-backed candidate’s counsel Babar Awan however argued that, “We won with a margin of 25,000 votes.” He maintained that, as per the law, a recounting of votes cannot be ordered on such a huge margin.

Source: The Express Tribune
 

Speaker convenes NA meeting on Feb 29 after president objects to summary​

President Arif Alvi has returned the summary of caretaker parliamentary affairs ministry, objecting to the proposed meeting of the National Assembly scheduled for 10 am on February 26. The president has raised concerns, insisting that the process of allocating reserved seats for women and minorities must be completed before calling the National Assembly into session.

The move has set off a constitutional debate, with Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf ultimately deciding to call the meeting on Thursday, February 29, citing Clause 2 of Article 91 of the Constitution.

This decision follows consultations with senior officers and constitutional experts of the National Assembly Secretariat, who reviewed the situation arising from the president's refusal to sign the summary.

According to constitutional provisions, the meeting of the National Assembly must be convened within 21 days of the elections, and February 29 is the mandated date under Article 91.

If the National Assembly meeting proceeds as scheduled on February 29, the schedule for the new speaker will be released on the same day after the oath. Subsequently, on March 1, papers for the speaker's election will be submitted, and on March 2, the speaker will be elected, along with the deputy speaker.

The process for submitting nomination papers for the election of the prime minister is slated for March 3, followed by the prime minister's election in the National Assembly on March 4. The Election Commission of Pakistan will then conduct the election for the president on March 9.

The constitutional timeline also necessitates the meeting of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on February 29.

Source: The Express Tribune
 

LOL, the prime example of thief accusing others of theft​

=====

ECP reserves verdict on Nawaz's NA-15 Mansehra election plea​

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reserved its judgment on Tuesday on PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif's plea challenging the election victory of PTI's candidate from NA-15 Mansehra.

The PML-N leader's counsel Javed Jadoon as well as PTI-backed candidate Shahzada Gustashap Khan's counsel, Babar Awan, completed their arguments on the case today. A two-member bench of the ECP headed by Member Sindh Nisar Durrani conducted the hearing.

During the hearing, Nawaz’s counsel argued that they received a copy of the returning officer’s (RO) response yesterday evening, claiming that they did not receive Form 45s of 123 polling stations.

The ECP Sindh member asked Jadoon if there was a stay on the release of final election results. "Yes," the counsel replied.

The counsel further stated that, “The ballot boxes were not sealed," adding that this constituency witnessed "greater rigging and vote-tampering than in Daska". The RO was booked in the case but he fell sick and vanished after being shifted to the hospital, he alleged, adding that the counting of votes continued till 4 am the next morning.

Source: The Express Tribune
 

Imran nominates Amir Dogar for National Assembly speaker​

PTI leader Omer Ayub on Tuesday said party founder Imran Khan had nominated Amir Dogar for the position of National Assembly speaker while Junaid Khan was picked for the slot of deputy speaker.

The announcement was made after Ayub and other party leaders held a string of meetings with the imprisoned PTI chief at Adiala Jail.

Dogar served as the chief whip in the NA during the PTI government. He also served as the special assistant to the prime minister on political affairs during Imran’s tenure. Dogar was also among the several PTI leaders who were arrested in the aftermath of the May 9 riots.

Dogar won the February 8 general elections from Multan’s NA-149 constituency. He has been once again appointed as the PTI chief whip in the lower house of the Parliament.

Meanwhile, Junaid Khan — Imran’s nominee for the NA deputy speaker — had emerged victorious in the polls from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Malakand district.

In his media talk today, Ayub stated that Junaid was one of the oldest members of the PTI and had proved his allegiance with the party despite a myriad of challenges.

“God willing, the PTI will form governments,” he added.

Source: DAWN
 
hassan918 said:
the PTI will form governments,” he added.
Click to expand...
PTI is not forming govt anywhere except KPK. They will be sitting in the opposition and IMO they should not leave the parliament open for PDM to rule. Until they arr interested in talking to PPP about coalition (which is far away from happening), this is not possible for them to form a govt.
 
20-member cabinet ‘sans allies’ likely in Punjab

After the swearing-in of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, consultations over the formation of provincial cabinet have started in the Sharif camp.

In the first phase, a 20-member cabinet is likely to be formed this week.

The PML-N leadership also held talks with its allied parties — PPP, PML-Q and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), which are also expected to get ministries in the cabinet in the second phase.

Senior PML-N leaders Rana Sanaullah, Pervaiz Rashid and Marriyum Aurangzeb are likely to be accommodated in the provincial cabinet.

Mr Sanaullah and Mr Rashid are expected to be inducted as special assistants or advisers to the CM, as they are not members of the Punjab Assembly.

Mr Sanaullah, who is considered close to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, is expected to get the coveted portfolios of home and law. He had served as the provincial law minister in the last tenure of former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif from 2013 to 2018.

Later, he also served as the interior minister in the 16-month stint of the PDM government in the Centre following the ouster of former premier Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion.

Mr Sanaullah contested and lost the National Assembly election against a PTI-backed independent candidate from his hometown, Faisalabad.

There is still no clarity over what portfolio is to be given to Mr Rashid, another confidant of the Sharif brothers and a former senator.

Mr Rashid has been attending every administrative meeting that Ms Sharif has chaired since taking the oath on Monday.

There are also reports that the Sharif family may send Mr Rashid back to the Senate, but a final decision in this regard will be made by Nawaz Sharif.

“Interestingly, both Sanaullah and Rashid are not on good terms, and in case Nawaz Sharif decides to depute them in Punjab to assist his daughter, they will have to shun their egos,” a party insider told Dawn on Tuesday.

He added that outspoken party leader, Azma Bokhari, is being given the portfolio of information ministry while Ms Auranzeb, who has been brought to Punjab from the centre to assist the CM, would also get an important ministry. Both were inducted into the assembly on reserved seats for women.

Other names doing rounds as possible cabinet ministers are Bilal Yasin (a relative of Mr Nawaz), Faisal Ayub Khokhar (son of PML-N Lahore president Saiful Malook Khokhar), Zakiya Shahnawaz, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Manshaullah Butt, Khizar Hussain Mazari, Ashiq Karmani, Ahmad Khan Leghari, Sher Ali Gorchani, Raheela Khadim Hussain and Sibtain Bokhari.

PPP, PML-Q and IPP lawmakers, to be inducted in the cabinet at a later stage, may not get any important ministries.

CM visits Civil Secretariat

Meanwhile, CM Maryam held a meeting with the provincial bureaucracy at the Civil Secretariat in Lahore. She was also briefed by the secretaries about their departments’ performance.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Sharif vowed not to “violate merit”. “There will be no political appointments in government departments,” she said while emphasising the need for structural reforms.“

She also presided over a meeting to collect data on deserving people in the province and directed the departments concerned to initiate the repair and maintenance of roads. The CM also visited the Punjab Safe City Authority headquarters and ordered the launch of similar projects in all districts by December 31.

SOURCE: DAWN
 
KP to elect CM today, Balochistan follows suit tomorrow

After electing custodians of the house on Thursday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan lawmakers will respectively elect their leader of the house in the election for the chief minister on Friday and Saturday.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI has nominated Ali Amin Gandapur for the coveted slot against PML-N candidate Ibadullah Khan, with the polling scheduled for 10am.

In Balochistan, the PPP which is eyeing the CM seat unopposed has yet to name its nominee, with only a day left in the election. A source told Dawn that the candidate would be announced today (Friday), hoping the PPP CM would get elected unopposed like the Balochistan Assembly speaker.

As the KP Assembly met on Thursday, it elected Babar Saleem Swati as the speaker and Suraiya Bibi as the deputy speaker. Although the session was relatively calm, pro-Imran slogans continued to echo in the house throughout the session.

At the outset of the session, outgoing speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani administered the oath to Abdul Munim and Laiq Khan. The ceremony was followed by voting for the KP Assembly speaker.

The PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate Babar Saleem Swati won the election against Ehsanullah Khan, the joint candidate of the PPP, ANP, PML-N, and the PTI-Parliamentarians.

In the 106-strong house, Mr Swati bagged 89 votes whereas Mr Khan got 17 votes. Mushtaq Ghani administered the oath to newly-elected speaker Swati, who announced voting for the deputy speaker slot. Suraiya Bibi, who won the election from Chitral on a general seat, defeated PTI-P’s Arbab Muhammad Waseem by securing 87 votes against her rival’s 19 votes.

The session was boycotted by the JUI-F.

During the session, a similar situation like Wednesday was seen during the sitting when PTI workers kept chanting pro-Imran Khan slogans from treasury benches.

They also chanted slogans against PML-N’s Sobia Shahid on the second day during the voting of the KP Assembly speaker. Ms Shahid later brandished her shoe at the guest gallery and reached out to the CM-designate Ali Amin Gandapur, who stood up and asked his supporters to calm down.

Balochistan speaker elected unopposed

In Balochistan, PML-N nominee Abdul Khaliq Achakzai became the speaker while PPP’s Ghazala Gola bagged the deputy speaker slot without facing any opposition.

Mr Achakzai was nominated by the PML-N for the slot at the eleventh hour. Both candidates were declared winners unopposed as no one else had submitted papers for the posts.

The assembly session was presided over by Zamrak Khan Piralizai, who administered oath to the newly-elected speaker. Speaker Achakzai subsequently announced the election of Ghazala Gola unopposed and administered the oath to the deputy speaker.

As oath was being administered to the speaker, National Party chief Dr Abdul Malik, along with three others, walked out of the house. He said he was boycotting the proceedings because the elections were rigged.

After the unopposed election, Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai assured the house that the proceedings of the assembly would be run with consultation and cooperation of all the members and parties. “As custodian of the house, I will treat every member equally and will run the house through cooperation and understanding with all members,” he assured.

He, however, expressed his reservation about the boycott of oath-taking of the speaker and deputy speaker by the National Party.

Interestingly, former interior minister Sarfaraz Bugti was administered oath on Thursday after he skipped Wednesday’s proceedings. The PML-N’s Jam Kamal Alyani and Mir Zafar Zehri did not attend the session.

SOURCE: DAWN
 

ECP quashes Sunni Ittehad Council's plea for reserved seats​

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) delivered on Monday a decisive blow to the aspirations of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) by rejecting their plea for designated seats.

In veridict handed down by the commission, firmly asserted that the Sunni Ittehad Council is not entitled to a reserved quota for women and minorities.

The verdict, reached with a majority of 4 -1, saw Member Punjab, Babar Hasan Bharwana, as the lone dissenter in the panel.

This decision marks a significant setback for the Sunni Ittehad Council, particularly following their bid to secure allocated seats after being bolstered by independent MLAs who aligned with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) post-elections.

The Sunni Ittehad Council's plea had been under the Election Commission's scrutiny, with the commission having reserved its decision following hearings on the matter.

Today, the commission pronounced its final verdict, dashing the hopes of the Sunni Ittehad Council for a dedicated representation.

This decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan reverberates within the political landscape, particularly in the aftermath of its earlier actions, including the suspension of PTI's intra-party elections prior to the general elections and the subsequent withdrawal of the party's election symbol, the bat.

As a consequence of the commission's ruling, PTI candidates found themselves compelled to contest the elections independently, highlighting the seismic repercussions of the ECP's decisions on the political arena.

Source: SAMAA
 
It doesn't make sense that the group who took the most number of seats in general election isn't going to get any reserved seats.
 
Wow! I thought ECP was dead but they are still alive
====
ECP uploads much-awaited Form 45s on website

The Election Commission of Pakistan has uploaded Form 45s, Form 46s, Form 48s and Form 49s on its website, 26 days after the February 8 general elections

Source: Dawn News
 
Another story of the mandate being stolen.

--------------------

PML-N gets lucky as reserved seats doled out

The PML-N has become the largest political party in the National Assembly, with the number of its MNAs surging by 16 to 123 following the distribution of reserved seats — denied to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) — among three political parties.

The PML-N initially won a total of 75 general seats and was joined by nine independents. With the allocation of 19 reserved seats for women and four reserved seats for minorities, the number reached 107.

According to notifications issued a day after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided that the SIC was ineligible for the reserved seats, the PML-N has been allocated 15 out of the remaining 20 reserved seats for women and one out of the three remaining seats reserved for minorities, taking the PML-N’s tally to 123 seats.

Likewise, the number of seats won by the PPP has now gone up to 73 from 68. The party initially won 54 general seats and was allocated 12 seats reserved for minorities and two for women. After the allocation of four more seats reserved for women and one for minorities, the number of PPP lawmakers now comes to 73 — still fewer than the PTI-backed independents who had joined the SIC hoping to get reserved seats.

The MQM-Pakistan has 22 members in the National Assembly, while the number of JUI-F lawmakers has gone up to 11 from seven. PML-Q has five and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party has four MNAs.

PML-Zia, Balochistan Awami Party, Balochistan National Party (Mengal), National Party, and Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party have one member each in the National Assembly. Moreover, of the 99 independents who had won the elections, nine did not join any party.

Moreover, the Feb 8 elections did not take place in one National Assembly constituency, while the result of one constituency has been withheld.

Out of the three remaining reserved seats for women in the National Assembly from Punjab, two have gone to PPP and one to PML-N. Samina Khalid Ghurki and Natasha Daultana of PPP, and Tamkeen Akhtar Niazi have been notified as winners.

KP Assembly

The most interesting distribution of reserved seats has been observed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, where PTI-backed independents had won 91 seats compared to just 19 seats secured by all other political parties combined.

However, the JUI-F, which could get only seven general seats to stay on top among these political parties, has been allocated 10 reserved seats for women.

Likewise, the PML-N, which won six general seats, has been given eight reserved seats. PPP, which bagged four general seats, has six reserved seats. ANP and PTI-P, which clinched one general seat each, have also been lucky to have their numbers double in the provincial assembly.

Meanwhile, the ECP on Tuesday uploaded key post-election documents — including Forms 45, 46, 48 and 49 — on its website after once again violating the law.

The release comes around a month after the general elections amid public outcry over the delay in placing key electoral documents on its website and vote rigging and result manipulation allegations.

Under the law, the Election Commission was supposed to release these documents within 14 days after the elections.

SOURCE: DAWN
 
Election on 48 vacant Senate seats set for April 2

The Election Commission of Pakistan will hold the election on 48 vacant seats of the Senate of Pakistan on April 2, the electoral body said on Monday.

The ECP will issue the election schedule for the election on March 14 while the candidates can submit nomination papers from today (Monday).

As many as 52 seats in the upper house will fall vacant after the expiration of the 6-year term of the incumbent Senators on Tuesday.

However, the election would be held on 48 Senate seats as four reserved seats for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas had been abolished after the 25th Constitutional amendment.

With this, the total seats in the Senate will fall to 96 from the earlier 100 seats.

Voting would be held to elect members against seven general seats, two women, two seats for technocrats, including Ulema and one seat for non-Muslims from four provinces.

Members of the National Assembly will elect one general seat and one seat for technocrats, including Ulema from the federal capital, it added.


AAJ News
 
Cricket Warrior said:
Election on 48 vacant Senate seats set for April 2

The Election Commission of Pakistan will hold the election on 48 vacant seats of the Senate of Pakistan on April 2, the electoral body said on Monday.

The ECP will issue the election schedule for the election on March 14 while the candidates can submit nomination papers from today (Monday).

As many as 52 seats in the upper house will fall vacant after the expiration of the 6-year term of the incumbent Senators on Tuesday.

However, the election would be held on 48 Senate seats as four reserved seats for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas had been abolished after the 25th Constitutional amendment.

With this, the total seats in the Senate will fall to 96 from the earlier 100 seats.

Voting would be held to elect members against seven general seats, two women, two seats for technocrats, including Ulema and one seat for non-Muslims from four provinces.

Members of the National Assembly will elect one general seat and one seat for technocrats, including Ulema from the federal capital, it added.


AAJ News
Click to expand...
which means out of 48 atleast 40 seats would be awarded to noon leage as a gift.
 
ECP starts preparing for by-elections on 24 seats

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started preparing for the upcoming by-elections scheduled to be held on 24 seats in the National and provincial assemblies.

In anticipation of the electoral event, the ECP has taken several measures to ensure a smooth and transparent voting process.

One of the key preparations made by the election commission is the arrangement of a special paper for ballot papers. Sources in the ECP say that the schedule for the by-elections is set to be released soon, providing clarity and transparency regarding the timeline and procedures involved.

Moreover, in the upcoming by-elections, ECP officers will serve as returning officers, overseeing the conduct of the electoral process and ensuring adherence to electoral laws and regulations.

The by-elections have been necessitated by the vacancies left by various political figures. Significant among these vacancies is the NA-207 seat previously held by Asif Ali Zardari, who vacated the position upon assuming the presidency.

Similarly, Maryam Nawaz and Ali Amin Gandapur have also vacated their seats in the National Assembly after taking over the charges as chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkha, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left vacant one seat each in the National and Punjab Assemblies.

SAMAA
 

Gullible people always suffer the most​

====

Barrister Gohar accuses ECP of conspiring to change PTI’s victories into losses​

Barrister Gohar Khan has alleged that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is hatching a conspiracy against his party by accepting pleas to recount votes in constituencies where PTI candidates won.

“Recounting can’t be done after the consolidation of results,” he said while speaking to the media in Islamabad today. “Only pleas against PTI are being accepted.”

Barrister Gohar accused the electoral watchdog of conspiring to change the victories of PTI candidates into losses through the recounting process.

Source: Dawn News
 
NA-81 Gujranwala result: PML-N's Azhar Qayyum emerges victorious after recounting of votes

After recounting of votes, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Azhar Qayyum Nahra has emerged victorious in NA-81 Gujranwala, defeating Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed candidate Chaudhry Bilal Ejaz with a difference of 3,201 votes.

The Returning Officer (RO) announced the NA-81 results after the recounting of votes, declaring PML-N’s Azhar victorious candidate with a lead of 3,201 votes.

Prior to this development, the PTI backed Bilal won the National Assembly seat by lead of 7,791 votes but his victory was challenged by PML-N’s Azhar.

Following a petition, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ordered recounting of votes in 75 polling stations.

Earlier, the top electoral body issued the notification of Khan Bahadar Doggar of the Nawaz-led party as the returned winning candidate from the constituency PP-100 who has succeeded after recounting the votes, The News reported.

From this constituency, the PTI-backed candidate Chaudhry Umair Wasi Zafar was declared the winner with a lead of about 4,000 votes and the notification of his success was issued.

However, on the application of the PML-N’s losing candidate, the commission ordered a recounting held on March 12 at the office of the Election Commission, Faisalabad. After recounting, the PML-N candidate secured more votes than the previous and was declared the winner.



Geo TV
 
Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, daughter of President Asif Ali Zardari, was elected unopposed as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) on Friday, marking a significant milestone in her political journey, Express News reported.

The Returning Officer (RO) declared her victory in a notification released today after all opposing candidates withdrew their nomination papers. Aseefa clinched the seat from the constituency of NA-207 Shaheed Benazirabad-I, which had been vacant following her father's election as president.

In response to her victory, Aseefa expressed gratitude on the microblogging platform 'X', stating, "I pledge to serve all my constituents to the best of my abilities, with dedication and irrespective of political affiliation."

She extended her gratitude to the people of her constituency, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers and media organisations for their unwavering support from the initial nomination stage until the final publication order.

Earlier, President Zardari decided to confer the title of the first lady upon his daughter, Aseefa Bhutto, sparking a debate over the traditional role of the first lady.

Traditionally, this title has been reserved for the wives of presidents or prime ministers, prompting questions about the legitimacy of appointing a daughter to the position.

Some legal experts, when contacted, confirmed that the president holds the authority to confer the title upon any female member of his family. They said there are no legal barriers preventing such an appointment.

With her dual roles as a lawmaker and the likely first lady, Aseefa is poised to make significant strides in shaping Pakistan's political landscape and continuing her family's enduring legacy.

Source: The Express Tribune
 
Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr. Yasmeen Rashid has challenged former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s victory from NA-130, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

In a petition submitted before the election tribunal of Lahore High Court (LHC), Rashid pleaded that the ECP issued Sharif’s notification victory contrary to the law.

It merits mention here that the victory of former prime minister from NA-130 was challenged in LHC on Feb 10.

On February 13, the LHC disposed of the petition filed by Yasmin Rashid against the victory of Nawaz Sharif from NA-130.

On February 14, the ECP had issued a notification of the victory of Nawaz Sharif from NA-130.

Nawaz Sharif had clinched the seat by grabbing 179,310 votes against PTI-backed Dr Yasmin Rashid who could get 104,485 votes.

Source: Ary News
 

Govt approves deployment of civil armed forces, military for Sunday by-elections​

The federal government has authorised the deployment of civil armed forces and the Pakistan Army for the provision of general security to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the peaceful conduct of the April 21 by-elections, it emerged on Saturday.

The poll campaign for by-elections in around two dozen National and provincial assembly constituencies came to a close on Friday as all is set for the first major by-poll exercise after the 2024 general elections on April 21

According to the commission, by-elections will be held for five vacant seats of the National Assembly; 12 of the Punjab Assembly, two each of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan legislatures as well as one of the Sindh Assembly. In addition, re-polling in all constituencies of PB-50 (Killa Abdullah) will also take place on the same day.

An order from the interior ministry dated April 19 said the federal government had approved the ECP’s April 3 request and authorised the deployment of a “sufficient strength” of the civil armed forces and the army — the latter only as a standby or quick reaction force — from April 20-22 as second/third tier responders to provide general security.

“The exact number of troops, date and area of deployment will be worked out by the ECP in consultation with all concerned stakeholders,” the order said.

It added that the forces would be deployed in the following areas of the National Assembly: NA-8 Bajaur, NA-44 Dera Ismail Khan-I, NA-119 Lahore-III, NA-132 Kasur-II and NA-196 Kamber-Shahdadkot-I.

In the provincial assemblies, it said the forces would deployed at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s PK-22 Bajaur-IV and PK-91 Kohat-II; Balochistan’s PB-20 Khuzdar-III, PB-22 Lasbela and Punjab’s PP-22 Chakwal-Cum-Talagang, PP-32 Gujrat-VI, PP-36 Wazirabad-II, PP-54 Narowal-I, PP-93 Bhakkar-V, PP-139 Sheikhupura-IV, PP-147 Lahore-III, PP-149 Lahore-V, PP-158 Lahore-XIV, PP-164 Lahore - XX, PP-266 Rahim Yar Khan-XII and PP-290 D.G. Khan-V.

The order said the date of de-requisitioning the deployments will be decided after mutual consultation among all stakeholders.

A day ago, the Punjab Police finalised a security plan for the by-elections. Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar had said that more than 35,000 officers would be deployed for the security of the by-polls.

Out of 2,599 polling stations, 419 were declared highly sensitive while 1,081 were declared sensitive.

Source: DAWN
 
Rigging was in full swing
=====
PML-N’s win in by-polls symbol of ‘people’s trust’

The PML-N on Sunday described its victory in the by-elections as a manifestation of the people’s trust in the public-friendly policies of the government and a clear rejection of the narrative of falsehood crafted by the PTI leadership from behind bars.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the newly elected members of the National Assembly and provincial legislatures in the by-polls.

In a statement, the premier said the victory of the newly elected members of the PML-N in the by-elections was a manifestation of the people's confidence in the party.

He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the people who had voted for the PML-N in the by-elections.

“We assure the people that they we will not leave any stone unturned in their service. We will try to fulfill their faith in us with full honesty and hard work,” he added.

PM Shehbaz observed that along with the visible signs of economic improvement, the change in public opinion was also becoming noticeable.

“The success of the PML-N candidates is a public acknowledgment of the government's service in restoring the economy, reducing inflation, and improving foreign relations,” he added.

He continued that with economic improvement and increase in relief for the people, public opinion would further change in the future.

The premier noted that forecasts of economic improvement by international financial institutions, news agencies and surveys also had a positive impact on public opinion.

He added that the negative political behaviour of the opposition after February 8 this year – the day of the general elections -- had also left its supporters and the people confused and disappointed, apparently referring to the PTI.

The premier noted that losing and winning was part of the electoral process and it was a democratic attitude to adopt the path of political cooperation instead of hurling accusations.

“Flaws and objections in the electoral process can only be removed through mutual cooperation and political dialogue.”

In a video message, Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar said the preliminary results of the by-polls had validated the fact that the people of Pakistan firmly believed in the leadership of the PML-N.

“They fully welcome the people-friendly policies of its government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” he added.

He said the economic reforms implemented by PM Shehbaz as well as his team had given a hope to the people, who had shown their trust in the government by voting for the PML-N.

The minister credited his party for kicking off the journey of economic stability in the country by curbing inflation and increasing foreign reserves.

Tarar said the people had rejected the “false” and “misleading” narrative of the PTI, whose leadership was allegedly conspiring against the country from behind the bars to achieve its ulterior motives.

“[The PTI leadership is] issuing statements from prison that seriously damages the credibility of Pakistan at the international level,” he added.

“The ‘anti-state narrative’ is further pushed through these false statements.”

The minister maintained that the people had rejected the PTI founding chairman Imran Khan’s “politics of hatred, chaos, division, falsehood and hypocrisy”.

He continued that the performance of the PML-N governments in the Centre and in Punjab spoke volumes and had truly manifested in the form of the results of the by-polls.

“The PML-N stood victorious in most of the by-polls today,” the minister said, vowing that the government was aggressively taking measures to restore the stature of the country at the international level and provide relief to the people by stabilising the economy.

He paid tribute to the people for standing by the “truth” and burying the narrative of “falsehood”.

He expressed his gratitude to the Almighty for the PML-N’s success in the by-polls.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the PTI’s “bullying” would not be tolerated in any case, adding that the “murderers” of PML-N activist Muhammad Yousaf, who was killed in Narowal, had been arrested.

In a statement, CM Maryam offered her condolences to the family of the slain PML-N activist.

She said turning politics into hatred and personal enmity was a major challenge for the society.

“Politics means service and reforms, not violence and intolerance.”

Earlier in the day, Yousaf, a 60-year-old PML-N activist, was killed during a clash with PTI activists in Kot Najo village of Narowal during the by-election for its constituency PP-54.

The federal information minister in a news statement also condoled with the PML-N activist’s bereaved family and condemned the PTI for the tragedy.

Tarar regretted that the PTI had resorted to violence and killing for winning the by-polls through rigging.

“Muhammad Yousaf’s sacrifice will not go in vain,” he added, vowing to bring his killers to justice.

Tarar also prayed to the Almighty to grant Yousaf’s departed soul eternal peace as well as courage to his bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.

Source: The Express Tribune
 
In Punjab, the PML-N grabbed 10 provincial seats while the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) won one. In KP, one seat each went to the SIC and an independent candidate.

In Balochistan, the PML-N and the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) won one provincial seat each. Separately, the Awami National Party (ANP) also won a provincial seat from PB-50, where re-polling was conducted.

Meanwhile, in Sindh, where by-elections were held on NA-196, the PPP emerged victorious with a huge margin.

Punjab
In Punjab, the PML-N won two NA seats and 10 Punjab Assembly seats while the IPP also won one provincial seat, according to the provisional ECP results. The result of PP-266 is still awaited.

PML-N’s Ali Parvez won Lahore’s NA-119 with 61,086 votes while SIC’s Shahzad Farooq got 34,197 votes. The PML-N also won Kasur’s NA-132, where its candidate Rasheed Ahmad Khan got 146,849 votes while Sardar Hussain Dogar of the SIC garnered 90,980 votes.

Lahore’s PP-146 was won by Rashid Minhas of the PML-N with 31,499 votes while SIC’s Mohammad Yusuf came second with 25,781 votes.

PML-N’s Mohammad Riaz bagged 31,841 votes in Lahore’s PP-147 whereas independent candidate Mohammad Khan Madni got 16,548 votes.

PML-N’s Chaudhry Mohammad Riaz won Lahore’s PP-158 with 40,165 votes while Moonis Elahi, the son of Parvez Elahi, received 28,018 votes as an SIC candidate.

In Narowal PP-54, where the polling process was marred with a man dying in reported clashes between PML-N and PTI workers, Ahmed Iqbal Chaudhry of the PML-N won with 59,234 votes. SIC’s Owais Qasim was the runner-up with 45,762 votes.

PML-N’s Musa Elahi won PP-32 (Gujrat-VI) with 71,357 votes against former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi, who contested as a Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate.

In PP-239 (Sheikhupura-IV), PML-N’s Rana Afzaal Husain bagged 46,585 votes against SIC’s Ejaz Husain, who was the runner-up with 29,833 votes.

In Wazirabad’s PP-36, PML-N’s Adnan Afzal Chatha was the unofficial winner with 74,779 votes while SIC’s Fayyaz Chatha got 58,682 votes.

The PML-N also emerged victorious in Dera Ghazi Khan’s PP-290 with its candidate Ali Ahmed Khan Leghari winning 62,484 votes. Independent candidate Sardar Mohammad Mohiuddin Khan Khosa came second with 23,670 votes.

While Bhakkar’s PP-93 saw a close contest between the PML-N and independent candidate Mohammad Afzal Khan, the former’s candidate Saeed Akbar Khan won with 62,058 votes against 58,845 of Afzal’s.

A similar contest was seen in PP-22 (Chakwal-cum-Talagang), where PML-N’s Falak Sher Awan bagged 58,845 votes against SIC’s Nisar Ahmed, who won 49,970 votes.

The IPP also managed to grab a provincial seat, with its Mohammad Shoaib Siddique receiving 47,722 votes in Lahore’s PP-149. Zeeshan Rasheed of the SIC came second with 26,200 votes.

KP
In PTI-ruled KP, the NA seat from Bajaur (NA-8) was won by Mubarak Zeb Khan, the younger brother of Rehan Zeb — an independent candidate who was shot dead in the run-up to the Feb 8 polls. Mubarak contested the by-polls as an independent candidate and grabbed 74,008 votes. SIC’s Gul Zafar Khan came second with 47,282 votes.

The NA-44 seat in Dera Ismail Khan, vacated by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, was won by his brother Faisal Amin Khan who garnered 66,879 votes against PPP’s Abdul Rasheed Khan Kundi, who won 21,979 votes.

Mubarak also won Bajaur’s PK-22, where he secured 23,386 votes against Jamaat-i-Islami’s (JI) Abid Khan, who was the runner-up with 10,477 votes while the SIC came third.

However, the SIC won Kohat’s PK-91, where its candidate Dawood Shah won 23,496 votes against independent Imtiaz Shahid, who received 16,518 votes.

Source: Dawn News
 
So the Establishment attack the public to ensure a win, when we know that they and their front men can't get more than 20% of the vote. Last week NS and his boot polishers launched an " attack on the establishment" but all this fake crap is rumbled within a few days as they use the same establishment to attack PTI reps and their families and this time they got the form 45s done 1st.
 
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ECP takes shine out of ruling majority

The ruling coalition lost a big chunk of the reserved seats in parliament after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday suspended the membership of 77 lawmakers who were elected on reserved seats previously denied to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order.

The allocation of reserved seats in the legislature has become a contentious issue as the SIC, which did not officially contest the elections, claimed reserved seats based on the support of PTI-backed independents.
Acting on a appeal filed by the SIC, the Supreme Court had already suspended a previous ruling by the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

The ECP’s de-notification and the apex court’s restraining order mean the composition of both the National and provincial assemblies may require to be reworked.

The lawmakers, whose membership was suspended, included 44 from the PML-N, 15 from the PPP, 13 from Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), and one each from MQM-P, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, Awami National Party, Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians.

In the K-P Assembly, 21 lawmakers on reserved seats for women and four for minorities were de-notified. Similarly, in the Punjab Assembly, 24 women lawmakers and three minority MPAs got their membership suspended.

In the Sindh Assembly, the membership of two female and a male member on minority seat was revoked till further orders.

According to a notification, in the National Assembly, 19 women members were suspended, comprising 11 from Punjab and eight from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. This included the suspension of four women’s seats belonging to the PML-N, two each from the JUI-f and the PPP.

Furthermore, the membership of three minority members in the National Assembly was also suspended.

The ECP withheld the notifications of the 23 reserved seats -- 20 for women and three for minorities. Later, on March 5, the commission distributed the seats to ruling parties, allocating 15 seats reserved for women to the PML-N, four to the PPP and one to the JUI-F. It allocated one seat each reserved for the minorities to PML-N, PPP and MQM-P.

Consequently, the PML-N became the largest party in the National Assembly with 123 seats, whereas the tallies of the PPP and the JUI-F rose to 73 and 11, respectively. The ECP also issued notifications on the reserved seats for women and minorities in Punjab and K-P assemblies on the same day.

The PML-N had initially won a total of 75 general seats and was joined by nine independents. With the allocation of 19 reserved seats for women and four reserved seats for minorities, the number reached 107. However, after getting the additional seats following the ECP’s March 5 notifications, the PML-N’s tally jumped to 123.

The reserved seats are allocated in the National Assembly under Article 51 of the Constitution and in provinces under Article 106. The relevant law is Section 104 of the Elections Act.

Clause 6(d) of Article 51 says: “Members to the seats reserved for women which are allocated to a Province under Clause 3 shall be elected in accordance with law through proportional representation system of political parties’ lists of candidates on the basis of total number of general seats secured by each political party from the province concerned in the National Assembly.”

Clause 3(c) of Article 106 says that the members who fill seats reserved for women and non-Muslims allocated to a province under Clause 1 “shall be elected in accordance with law through a proportional representation system of political parties’ lists of candidates on the basis of the total number of general seats secured by each political party in the provincial assembly”.

Both the constitutional provisions explain that members to the reserved seats will be elected “in accordance with the law”.

The relevant law, i.e., Section 104 of the Elections Act, says: “For the purpose of election to seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in an assembly, political parties contesting election for such seats shall, within the period fixed by the Commission for submission of nomination papers, file separate lists of their candidates in order of priority for seats reserved for women and non-Muslims with the Commission or, as it may direct, with the Provincial Election Commissioner or other authorised officer of the Commission, who shall forthwith cause such lists to be published for information of the public.”

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE
 

SIC not eligible for reserved seats, says ECP in response submitted to Supreme Court​

The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) does not qualify for reserved seats as the political party doesn't allow non-Muslims to be a part of it, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated in its response submitted to the Supreme Court.

A plea filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed SIC against the denial of seats reserved for women and minorities in the national and provincial assemblies is currently subjudice in the apex court under a full bench.

SIC was joined by PTI's independent candidates for representation in the legislatives after they won the February 8 general elections as the top court had stripped their party of its electoral symbol 'bat' ahead of the nationwide polls.

Later, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) denied the PTI-backed SIC the reserved seats on an appeal filed against the ECP's ruling to distribute the seats among other parliamentary parties.

However, a three-member apex court bench suspended the PHC verdict in a May 6 ruling, which subsequently drove the polls organising body to suspend its verdict.

This caused the ruling coalition to lose its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.

In its response, the ECP informed the top court that the reserved seats cannot be alloted to the SIC as the party did not submit the list of candidates before the January 24 deadline.

It also stated that the PTI candidates were asked to submit the certificate for the allotment of PTI-Nazriati's (PTI-N) election symbol. Later, the candidates withdrew the PTI-N's symbol and were declared independent candidates, it added.

The electoral authority further stated that the independent candidates joined SIC, after which it gave the majority 4-1 verdict of not allocating the reserved seats to the PTI-backed party and later the PHC upheld the ruling.

"SIC is not eligible for the reserved seats. There is no doubt/nothing wrong in the ECP and the PHC's decision of not giving reserved seats to SIC. The decision is in line with the laws and Constitution," the response read.

As per the SIC constitution, a non-Muslim person cannot be a part of the party, which is unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, SIC submitted the additional documents to the apex court, including the ECP's notification of success for two National Assembly lawmakers-elect, with a plea to bring the said documents on judicial records.

The SIC counsel also attached the ECP's February 2 verdict regarding the independent candidates.

The plea stated that the additional documents were crucial to decide on the reserved seats case.

The Supreme Court's 13-member bench is scheduled to resume the hearing on SIC's petition against the denial of reserved seats on June 24.

Source: GEO
 

Reserved seats can't be allocated contrary to principle of proportional representation: SC judge​

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan's Justice Ayesha A Malik on Tuesday said that the reserved seats cannot be allocated contrary to the principle of proportional representation.

Justice Malik made these comments during the hearing on the petition filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), the ally of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), against the denial of reserved seats for women and minorities.

A 13-member full court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, heard the matter.

The bench comprises Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.

"Whether SIC wins or loses this case, what will other parties benefit from it?" questioned Justice Ayesha during the hearing today, noting that the the reserved seats can only be allotted on the principle of proportional representation and not contrary to that.

Meanwhile, Justice Minallah said women and minorities must get representation in parliament.

He said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were affected earlier but the SC did not come forward to help.

"The same is happening as it did in 2018. One party is the victim," said Justice Minallah, adding that the court did not learn from its history.

The judge added that there would surely come a time in the future when the Supreme Court will regret its decision again.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned till 11.30am on Thursday.

Source: GEO
 
Govt requests SC to throw out SIC plea for reserved seats

The federal government requested the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan to reject the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) plea seeking reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies, ARY News reported.

The Attorney General submitted a written reply to the apex court, requesting it to dismiss the SIC’s petition. The Attorney General argued that the SIC did not participate in the general elections and was not even a parliamentary party at the time of the distribution of reserved seats.

“Therefore, the SIC is not entitled to reserved seats,” the government’s top lawyer added.

The Attorney General added that even if independent members join the SIC, the party still cannot be given reserved seats for women and minorities.

He argued that even after joining the SIC, the independent canidates would still be considered as independents.

“The reserved seats can only be given to a party that has won seats in the general elections and submitted the priority list to the Election Commission of Pakistan,” the Attorney General added.

He requested the SC to uphold the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to not allocate reserved seats to the SIC.


ARY NEws
 
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Monday expressed deep disappointment with the Supreme Court's ruling on vote recount in three National Assembly constituencies, calling it a "murder of justice"

The Supreme Court, earlier in the day, overturned the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision that nullified the vote recount in three National Assembly constituencies where Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates had secured victories.

A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, delivered the reserved verdict with a 2-1 majority, ruling in favour of the PML-N leaders who had filed the appeals.

However, Justice Aqeel Abbasi of the Supreme Court dissented from the majority decision, opposing the ruling in favour of PML-N candidates Azhar Qayyum Nahra, Abdul Rehman Kanju, and Zulfikar Ahmed.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, alongside Omar Ayub, Raoof Hasan and Shibli Faraz, strongly criticised the verdict.

“We are extremely disappointed with the Supreme Court’s ruling. This is nothing short of a murder of justice. Our seats have been handed over to another political party with the stroke of a pen,” Gohar said.

He added that PTI has been subjected to severe injustice, alleging that attempts were made to strip the party of its symbol to prevent them from contesting the elections. “But every time, we emerged victorious,” Gohar stated.

Gohar emphasised that the role of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is to conduct free and fair elections in the country. “If the election commission fails in this duty, it must be held accountable,” he asserted.

Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz criticised the legitimacy of those declared victorious in February 8 elections, saying, “According to Form 47, these individuals have no standing. The public has rejected them.” Faraz accused the authorities of delaying results and the Lahore High Court of stalling judges' appointments, claiming it was because they couldn’t get judges of their choice.

Faraz also criticised the ruling coalition's actions in parliament. “Everyone knows the purpose behind the bills they brought to parliament. We have never disrespected any institution, be it parliament or the Supreme Court, but these people have even used the Senate floor for their interests,” he said.

He expressed concern over the weakening of the Constitution, questioning the future of a country where the Constitution is being tampered with. “We have struggled to improve this nation, but the election commission is not doing its job properly. It has failed to ensure free and fair elections,” Faraz added, vowing to continue PTI's struggle to highlight how voters’ rights are being disregarded.

Raoof Hasan reiterated PTI's demand that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa should recuse himself from cases involving the party's founding chairman, Imran Khan. “Despite multiple requests, Justice Isa has not withdrawn from these cases. Our sole demand is that he refrains from hearing the cases related to our chairman,” Hasan said.

Source: The Express Tribune
 
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