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Questions raised as MNA Nawaz chairs Punjab govt meetings
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PTI plans long march, sit-in against ‘rigging’ after Eid
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11 file papers for Nawabshah seat vacated by Zardari
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For more on our elections coverage, go here
Questions raised as MNA Nawaz chairs Punjab govt meetings
PTI plans long march, sit-in against ‘rigging’ after Eid
11 file papers for Nawabshah seat vacated by Zardari
For more on our elections coverage, go here
PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub has said that party-backed MNA Bilal Ejaz has lost his NA-81 seat from Gujranwala after a vote recount was held.
In a post on X, Ayub claimed, “The ECP allowed a vote recount, and his votes were reduced by putting double stamps on his electoral symbols.”
He said a PML-N candidate had been declared the winner now, adding, “The ballots were double-stamped to spoil the votes of Bilal Ejaz.”
“This is a complete farce and proves that the commissioners [of] ECP and Chief Election Commissioner should resign immediately,” the PTI MNA demanded.
The Supreme Court has ordered re-election in Balochistan Assembly’s PB-50 constituency in Qilla Abdullah.
Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, a three-judge SC bench on Monday set aside the Election Commission of Pakistan’s order for re-polling at six polling stations in the constituency.
The bench, including Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, ordered the ECP to conduct a fresh election as per the law.
The ECP’s decision was challenged by Awami National Party’s Zamarak Khan, who contended that the turnout at many polling stations in the constituency remained low.
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Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the government is seeking economic consensus with all political parties to push the country towards economic prosperity, Radio Pakistan reports.
Speaking to a private news channel, he said PML-N’s manifesto included giving facilities to Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s interior areas and bringing them at par with major cities.
The minister said the government was also taking steps to overhaul the fragmented tax system, ensuring businesses pay their tax on time, and tackling electricity and gas theft to strengthen the economy.
Former PTI leader Faisal Vawda has said that the politics of “hatred” was not just employed by the PTI but also by other parties.
Speaking to the media in Karachi, he said, “Venom and hatred are not just in the PTI but in the rest of the parties too.
He also recalled his cordial relations with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s Mustafa Kamal, Rauf Siddiqui and Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori.
The scrutiny of nomination papers filed for 48 vacant seats of the Senate is under way and will conclude today, Radio Pakistan reports.
A revised list of candidates will be issued on March 26 and candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by the next day. Polling will be held on April 2.
In Islamabad, MNAs will elect members of the Senate against one general seat and one seat for technocrats, including Ulema.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has constituted five appellate tribunals to address appeals regarding the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers submitted by candidates for the vacant Senate seats.
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The Election Commission of Pakistan has appointed Lower Dir additional deputy commissioner (finance & planning) Jan Mohammad as the returning officer for the by-election on NA-8 in Bajaur tribal district.
After his appointment as RO, Jan Mohammad issued a notification, fixing March 16 to 18 for the filing of nomination papers by the candidates for the by-poll to be held on April 21.
He fixed March 21 for the scrutiny of nomination papers and March 25 for filing of appeals against the decision of the returning officer regarding the rejection or acceptance of the nomination papers.
Similarly, March 28 was set for a decision on appeals by the appellate tribunal.
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PPP MNA Nafisa Shah has congratulated Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari for filing her nomination papers to contest the by-election from NA-207 Nawabshah-I.
While talking to media outside the Islamabad High Court, PTI MNA Malik Amir Dogar expressed hope that PTI leaders would be “acquitted” today.
He said the judges’ observations during the detailed hearing on Monday indicated that the case is nearing conclusion.
He also commented on the decision of PTI-backed winning candidates to join the Sunni Ittehad Council and said it was taken with Imran Khan’s permission.
President Asif Ali Zardari emphasised the need for boosting trade ties with the US and the United Arab Emirates and invited businessmen of the two countries to invest in Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).
US Ambassador Donald Blome congratulated Asif Ali Zardari on assuming the office of president for a second time.
Later, Ambassador of UAE to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi called on President Zardari.
Talking to the UAE ambassador, President Zadari stressed the need for boosting trade ties between Pakistan and the UAE.
The ambassador congratulated President Zardari on becoming the president for the second term and extended best wishes on behalf of the leadership and people of UAE. He invited Mr Zardari to visit the UAE, which the president accepted.
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The Election Commission of Pakistan has notified appointment of five appellate tribunals for the Senate elections 2024, consisting of high court judges.
According to a notification issued here, an appellate tribunal has been constituted for the federal capital comprising Justice Saman Rifat Imtiaz.
Likewise, an appellate tribunal, headed by Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan for Punjab, the appellate tribunal for Sindh will be headed by Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry, the appellate tribunal for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be headed Justice Shakil Ahmed.
According to the notification, unlike the other three provinces and the federal capital, two appellate tribunals have been formed for Balochistan, comprising Justice Ejaz Swati and Justice Nazeer Ahmed Langove.
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After mostly staying away from public view since the Feb 8 general elections, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif made a conspicuous appearance on Monday by chairing three administrative meetings of the Punjab government.
The move has raised many eyebrows since Nawaz holds no official position in either the provincial or federal government and is officially only a National Assembly member.
An official handout issued after the meeting said the PML-N supremo issued directions to ministers and officials regarding different infrastructure projects, including the underground train and metro bus, farmers’ plight, electric bikes for students and Ramazan relief package.
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PTI leader Latif Khosa has downplayed the alleged split within the party over the decision to join the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
Speaking on Geo News show Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, he said: “Nothing is happening. When you ask different people then they will give their own opinion.”
He instead hinted at the issue allegedly being perpetuated by the PTI’s opposition and the former caretaker government.
Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman has presented the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 worth Rs4,480.7 billion in today’s Punjab Assembly session, Radio Pakistan reports.
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PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has defended the party’s decision to join the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), saying that it was a “very correct and serious decision”.
He said the SIC was the most suitable party in comparison to other political parties present in Parliament to avail the reserved seats.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Engineer Ziaur Rehman has filed his nomination papers for the NA-44 seat, which PTI’s Ali Amin Gandapur vacated after his election as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister.
PTI MNA Malik Amir Dogar has said that the decision of PTI-backed winning candidates joining the Sunni Ittehad Council — currently facing criticism from some party leaders — was taken with party founder Imran Khan’s permission.
Speaking to reporters outside the Islamabad High Court, Dogar said, “There is no dispute. Everything was done with consensus.
“When I had gone to meet Imran Khan *sahib — Ali Muhammad Khan and Barrister Gohar sahib, [Latif] Khosa sahib were with me — there was consensus,” he added.
“We had two to three options. Among those, we chose this with Khan sahib’s permission,” Dogar said on the matter of joining the SIC.
PTI-Parliamentarian Information Secretary Ziaullah Bangash has termed PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat’s allegations regarding corruption in the former KP government as “baseless and false”.
In a post on X, he said former chief minister Mahmood Khan “outright rejected such unfounded accusations”, terming Marwat’s remarks as “childish”.
“Members from previous terms are also included in the current cabinet, so do not tarnish Imran Khan’s leadership,” Bangash added.
He urged Marwat to present evidence to the National Accountability Bureau if there was any.
PTI leader Taimur Jhagra has called out the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for using “delaying tactics” to prevent candidates’ petitions from being submitted before the election tribunals.
In a post on X, the former KP finance minister said the electoral watchdog’s behaviour will only raise “serious questions” about its role in the entire process.
“Candidates across 9 Peshawar seats having been ping-ponged across ROs, DROs, and ECP to try to get attested copies of the supposed Forms 45 that tally with the Forms 47 of the result. This is happening despite high court orders,” Jhagra alleged.
Ex-premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has called for the country’s politicians to hold a national dialogue to bridge the “divides”.
In an interview with DawnNewsTV, the estranged PML-N leader said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should hold talks with “everyone”.
“He will have to sit together. It is a reality — whether you accept it or not — that the PTI has won seats. The fight is on how many,” he said.
Abbasi further said, “May God guide the PTI so that they understand what is a parliamentary system. They have entered it [so] should [play the role as] opposition; they are in such huge numbers.”
The politician asserted, “Until a consensus is reached, the country cannot be run.”
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed candidates contesting Senate polls to submit their election returns of elections expenses on forms-C within 30 days, APP reports.
According to a notification issued by the electoral watchdog, the candidates need to comply with the directions within the allotted time or face action under Sections 136 (4) and 136 (5).
Former Senator Babar Awan and PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub have met Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed — party members who have been in jail in cases pertaining to the May 9 violence.
In a post on X, Awan termed the incarcerated women’s morale “higher than the Himalayas”. “Release Imran Khan and jailed women,” he added.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that it was difficult for a government that has “questions on its mandate” to run the country’s affairs.
In an interview with DawnNewsTV, the seasoned politician said the previous PML-N-led government of 16 months did not have a “quarrel on mandate”. “Today, fingers are pointed at the mandate.”
He further said that the “divide” in the country needed to be eliminated, for which the entire political, judicial and military leadership needed to “sit together”.
Abbasi added that time would tell if the current system of the country’s economic matters being decided by the Special Investment Facilitation Council would prove to be fruitful.