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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
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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
Let me first thank those who have voted for the party I lead. This is a trust that places an onerous responsibility on me and the team which will help me lead the government.
Millions of new voters have voted this time. Millions more will be voting in the next round. Sixty-four percent of Pakistanis are younger than 30 and 29 percent are between 15 and 29. They have new aspirations and are frustrated with how this country has been governed. This makes my job even more difficult. Not only must I lead under trying circumstances that call for major changes in the governance paradigm, the situation also demands a healing touch.
Not everyone has voted for my party. We have a sizeable opposition in the country, both inside and outside parliament. It is the opposition’s legitimate task to hold the government’s feet to fire. Equally, the only way to run the country is for the Treasury and Opposition benches to agree on a minimum of some basic principles — essentially, points of convergence on how, together, we can move forward. The situation calls upon all the political players to avoid political differences to grow to the point of enmity. Divided we all fall.
Read more from EOS here.
While speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan urged political parties to accept the mandate of the people.
“These parties, who haven’t even won so much as 40 seats, they and everyone else need to listen to the what the people are saying, which is that they have accepted Imran Khan as prime minister and they want a better Pakistan,” he said.
He remarked that PPP and PML-N were the beneficiaries of rigging in the Feb 8 polls and were “waiting to see who stabs the other in the back first”.
“Fazlur Rehman said what Imran Khan said before, that this vote of no-confidence against PTI was an engineered process,” Khan said. “He admitted this, and this is the biggest endorsement.”
He also noted that 30 million people voted for PTI and Imran Khan because they were “the only ones capable of removing Pakistan from this slump and putting it on the right track.”
While speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan termed the rigging against his party “the mother of all rigging”, adding that PTI “rejects this in the strongest possible terms”.
He alleged that the 70,000 vote lead that Rawalpindi Election Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha spoke about yesterday belonged to PTI, and demanded that PTI candidates be notified about the original results..
“I also want to point out that 18-19 of our seats in Karachi were stolen by MQM-P. Rigging took place the same way Chattha admitted yesterday,” he said.
“We demand that this process be reversed,” he said.
Omar Ayub Khan, the PTI’s candidate for prime minister, has said that after the allegations levelled by the Rawalpindi commissioner, there should be a judicial inquiry.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said, “There should be a judicial inquiry with independent judges. And those named by the Pindi commissioner should not be involved in this inquiry.”
Referring to the chief justice, Omar said that since the top judge had been named by the commissioner, the party would request that he not become a part of the bench.
“And an independent panel […] there should be a clear and fair transparency,” he said.
Omar Ayub Khan, the PTI’s candidate for the slot of prime minister, has lamented the crackdown on the party over the last few months.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said, “Even now, police are picking up our workers and leaders and pressuring them. This was not the job of any caretaker setup. They exceeded their mandate.”
He further said that the PTI would form the government in the Centre and provinces.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, PTI’s Gohar Ali Khan commented on yesterday’s press conference by the Rawalpindi commissioner — wherein he made rigging allegations.
“This is the first time that a commissioner delivers a press conference according to his conscience,” he said. He further said that a judicial commission should be formed on the allegations levelled and an inquiry should be conducted, adding that the results should be shared with the public.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, PTI leader Gohar Ali Khan has said that voters cast their ballot in favour of Imran Khan even though the party faced many hurdles in the run-up to the Feb 8 polls.
He asserted that the party had won “180 seats” in the National Assembly. Giving a breakdown, he said that the party had won 42 seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 115 in Punjab, 16 in Sindh and four in Balochistan.
“In Balochistan we got one seat, three are due. In Sindh, we did not get even a single one. In Punjab, we are due around 50,” he said. He further said that the provisional result of the Feb 8 polls was delayed.
Gohar said the party’s victory in Punjab was “diluted”, while it was “eradicated” in Sindh and decreased in Balochistan.
The Punjab police has said that Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Khurram Ali submitted a request for 14-day leave on January 17.
“A formal summary in this regard was sent to the Chief Minister Punjab Office on January 30,” the police spokesperson said in a post on X.
“The Punjab government approved the 14-day leave of Rawalpindi RPO Syed Khurram Ali based on the recommendations of the summary,” the spokesperson said.
The post said that a notification, a copy of which was shared with the post, had been issued allowing the RPO to proceed on leave from February 18 to March 2.
It should be mentioned that the development comes a day after Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha accused the Election Commission of Pakistan and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of involvement in ‘rigging’ the Feb 8 polls — a claim denied by the electoral watchdog and the top judge.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has notified 36 returned candidates for the National Assembly, Radio Pakistan reports.
The list includes one candidate each from PML-N, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Majlis-e-Wahdat ul Muslimeen and 33 independents from different constituencies of the NA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
JI Emir Sirajul Haq has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, alleging that the Feb 8 polls were the most rigged in the country’s history.
All photos by Abdullah Zehri
A shutterdown strike is being observed across Balochistan by four political parties — namely BNP, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Hazara Democratic Party and National Party — against alleged rigging in the Feb 8 polls.
According to the district administration, the following roads have been closed as workers of the BNP and NP took to the streets:
PTI leaders Barrister Gohar Khan and Omar Ayub will address a press conference at the party’s central secretariat shortly, according a social media post.
PTI Senior Vice President Sher Afzal Marwat has said his residence was raided last night and his laptop was confiscated.
“I managed to run away from my home and now I am at a safe place,” he wrote on X, adding that he would approach the court against the “criminal act”.
President Dr Arif Alvi has summoned a Senate session on Feb 19 (Monday), according to a notification issued by the Senate Secretariat.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 54 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President has been pleased to summon the Senate to meet,” it said.
It must be noted that the president is bound to convene the National Assembly’s session after the official announcement of election results or issuance of its notification within 21 days, as per the Constitution.
The PTI has said it wants the “real mandate” of the public to be recognised, clarifying that it was not demanding the annulment of general elections.
“The results of the elections should reflect the actual votes cast by the people,” it said in a post on X.
The PTI added that all the institutions in Pakistan needed to ensure that only those who are the real representatives of the Pakistani people are seated in the Parliament.
Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai has termed the shutter down strike in the province, announced by nationalist Baloch parties against “poll rigging”, a “failure”.
In a post on X, he said all the major highways in the province were open.
“The Sardars and Nawabs of Balochistan are punishing the common people to reject the elections,” Achakzai added.
PML-N secretary information Marriyum Aurangzeb has called for countering propaganda and misinformation through facts, patience and prayers.
“I understand PMLN Social media team’s anger and frustration over false narratives and baseless accusations, but these times call for our best character and judgement rather than fuelling rage and hate as exhibited by others across,” the former federal minister said in a post on X.
“PMLN despite being victimised, bullied, trolled and harassed in ways worse than name calling, continues to strive and pray for a united, peaceful, tolerant and better Pakistan.”
Veteran politician Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind, who lost the February 8 elections from Kacchi’s PB-12, has demanded repolls in the country amid allegations of rigging.
In an interview with Dawn.com, he suggested that political parties boycott the assemblies.
“Asif Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Bilawal Bhutto are requested to refuse to accept the existence of the present assembly and move towards transparent elections again,” Rind added.
PML-N leader Khawaja Asif has said the decision to nominate Shehbaz Sharif as the prime minister was that the latter had greater experience in dealing with the coalition government.
“But rest assured, Nawaz Sharif will remain our quaid and the coin will always be in his hand,” he asserted.
PML-N leader and former federal minister Khawaja Asif has stressed that it was time political parties think beyond their “personal benefits” and work for the public.
“There can be no economic stability without political stability,” he said at a press conference, lamenting that the current political behaviours were further promoting division in the public.
Regarding the formation of the government, Asif said there was a development in the talks between the PML-N and PPP but stopped short of revealing the details. Regarding the Punjab government, he said PML-N had attained a “comfortable majority” in the province.
PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar has urged the caretaker government to take strict action against those who threatened returning officers (ROs).
“Is it not terrorism when they display the RO’s photos online?” Tarar questioned at a press conference in Lahore, adding that this was a highly condemnable action.
PML-N spokesperson for Punjab, Uzma Bukhari, claimed that the ROs and District Returning Officers (DROs) were being “pushed to be like Liaquat Ali Chattha”, alleging that they were being forced to lie about rigging in the elections.
“This cannot happen in any Banana Republic, that they [ROs and DROs] are pushed to become like Liaquat Chattha, and if they don’t comply, they are told they have no place in this country,” she said.
PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar has asserted that the upcoming era belongs to PML-N.
“Remember, this constituency was Nawaz Sharif’s in the past and remains so today too,” he said at a media talk in Lahore.
He praised Khawaja Saad Rafique for graciously accepting his defeat and urged others to show similar bravery as well.
“On the one hand you’ve won seats, yet you’re complaining about rigging,” he said in reference to the PTI-backed independents. “Choose which statement you’re supporting.”
He also lamented the “wrong use” of social media, saying it has been used to spread lies and create animosity between people.
PML-N leader Malik Ahmad Khan has alleged that the PTI is inciting the public against government officials and called on the caretakers to take action against the party.
At a press conference, he likened the PTI to Pablo Escobar. “There is no difference between the two,” he said, adding that the party’s workers were “harassing” government officials.
Ahmad further claimed that a similar pattern was also soon before the May 9 riots, recalling how PTI workers attacked the police and law enforcement agencies at the time of Imran’s arrest.
“I request the caretakers that the way the situation has developed […] if you don’t pre-empt it, this will spiral out of control,” he added.
PML-N leader Malik Ahmad Khan has said the outgoing Rawalpindi commissioner, who has made explosive allegations of rigging during the Feb 8 polls, was a “non-party to elections”.
“Neither is he the returning officer nor is he the district returning officer […] he has no relation with the entire electoral process. He does not even have any interactive position with the ECP.
“He does not have any relation with the election or the tabulation of poll results. He has nothing to do with the entire process,” the PML-N leader added.
Ahmad further claimed that a “dangerous campaign” had begun against district returning officers to “incite hate” and followed a pattern similar to the May 9 saga.
Ali Amin Gandapur has said his party, after forming the next government in the province with the help of its loyalist MPAs, won’t play the politics of revenge and would rather “reform” institutions.
“Our [PTI’s] aim will be to reform institutions, which are responsible for our witch hunt, for the bright future of our children. Those opposed to reforms will be punished as per the law,” he told a rally against poll “rigging” in the provincial capital’s Gulistan Park on the Ring Road.
It was his first public meeting since his nomination for the CM’s office last week.
Holding a picture of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, Mr Gandapur said the PTI would form the next government in KP to provide women with all legal and constitutional rights.
Former commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha was a hardworking officer and had a composed personality, senior officials of the Punjab government told Dawn.
They said the former commissioner had good relations with all political leaders, including former interior minister Rana Sanaullah Khan.
Originally from Hafizabad, Mr Chattha started his career in civil service as an executive magistrate in 1992. During most of his career, the former commissioner remained posted in Faisalabad and served on a number of positions, including that of executive district officer finance from 1992-2012.
During the tenure of former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, he served as deputy secretary at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. He also remained the deputy commissioner in Gujrat and Sargodha.
Mr Chattha also served as secretary Labour and Housing, Urban Development and Public Health and member Punjab Revenue Board.
Later, he was appointed as commissioner of Dera Ghazi Khan and then transferred to Rawalpindi in the same position.
Leaders from a coalition of Baloch, Pashtoon and Hazara nationalist parties have rejected the Feb 8 election results, accusing the process of being marred by corruption, with allegations of Rs70 billion being given in Balochistan for electoral victories.
Speaking at a joint public meeting in front of the office of Quetta district returning officer on Saturday, they said people of Balochistan had been denied their real mandate, which was a crime, and those involved must be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution.
The heads of these four parties — Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), National Party (NP) and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) — alleged that the candidates declared winners in the elections did not secure their positions through legitimate votes but were instead aided by “supernatural entities”.
They also called for a province-wide wheel-jam strike today (Sunday) and declared that they would support parties that would stop civil and military interference in politics.
PPP which emerged as the single largest party in Balochistan Assembly with 11 seats after the February 8 elections, dropped to the second position after losing a seat from Kohlu in the re-polling held on Friday on the orders of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
According to provisional results issued by the Kohlu RO’s office, PML-N’s Nawab Jangeez Khan Marri won from PB-9 Kohlu after re-polling in the seven polling stations. He obtained 7,544 votes against PPP’s Mir Nasibullah Khan Marri, who had earlier won the contest with 6,277 votes.
Mr Marri contested the election on the same seat in 2023 on the ticket of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and served as the minister for education in the Jam Kamal and Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo-led coalition governments. However, he joined PPP during the visit of Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to Quetta.
Mian Khan Bugti, an independent candidate for NA-253 (Ziarat-Harnai-Sibi-Kohlu-Dera Bugti), maintained his victory after re-polling in seven stations within the constituency. He initially won NA-253 on Feb 8 and later joined the PML-N. He defeated Mir Dostain Khan Domki of PML-N, who is the younger brother of caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Madad Domki.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) raised serious concerns about the integrity and credibility of the Feb 8 elections, citing a range of issues that have cast a shadow over the democratic process.
In a report released yesterday, the HRCP urged an independent audit of Feb 8 general elections under the supervision of a parliamentary body.
According to HRCP’s election observers, who conducted spot-checks in 51 constituencies, the nationwide shutdown of internet and cellular services on polling day, coupled with arbitrary changes in polling information, hindered voters’ access to polling stations.
“This was particularly true for women with restricted mobility, persons living with disabilities, the elderly, and low-income voters. Of particular concern is the protracted delay in announcement of election results by the returning officers,” said the report.
While the polling process itself was generally transparent and peaceful, the post-polling procedures raised significant concerns, it said.
Read full report here.
Amid rising political tension and protests over the alleged vote rigging in the Feb 8 general elections, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has come out with a piece of advice to the protesting parties and individuals: pursue legal recourse instead of agitation.
In a statement issued hours after Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chattha made startling allegations of rigging in the elections, providing an impetus to the agitating parties, the caretaker premier warned that violence and agitation would not be tolerated in the country.
He said the recently conducted elections in the country had been a step towards promoting democracy and significant turnout from all segments of society, including both genders, had been acknowledged internationally.
Post-elections, he said, it was imperative that all the stakeholders realise that victory and defeat were inherent aspects of democratic processes.
PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz has been given the chief minister’s security, party sources disclosed a day earlier.
She now has two bulletproof cars, four police squad vehicles, a traffic wardens’ pilot, and one signal jammer vehicle for her security. The entire squad has arrived at her residence in Jati Umra.
She has already taken on the role of chief minister, as Punjab chief secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman and IGP Dr Usman Anwar recently provided her with briefings on administrative and security matters of Punjab at her residence.
The PML-N has nominated Maryam for the position of chief minister. Having emerged as the largest party in the Punjab Assembly, and with the support of around 16 independent MPAs-elect, its total count has increased to 153.
Pakistan’s economic challenges, particularly its fragile external and liquidity position and unsustainable budget deficit, are enormous, and the Feb 8 polls have failed to bring even a semblance of political stability needed to deal with them by producing a fractured mandate.
Last summer, the country had barely avoided a default on its international payments thanks to a nine-month $3 billion bailout package from the IMF, scheduled to end in mid-April.
The split public mandate has triggered intense politicking, as no party has won enough seats to form its government on its own, and every party is reluctant to lead the country. The PPP has announced that it will conditionally back a minority government to be led by the PML-N from the outside, knowing the failure to stabilise the economy could result in political backlash from the public.
In return for its support, it wants all top constitutional offices for itself. Additionally, it has demanded the PML-N support for forming its government in Balochistan and a share in Punjab.
Read more here.