News Updates Pk

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui clarified on Thursday that decisions regarding cabinet positions had been finalised, but the party had not sought any specific roles. Addressing the media ahead of the National Assembly session, Siddiqui emphasised that the MQM-P's focus was not on governorship or ministries, but on delivering the benefits of democracy to the people. The return of the MQM signifies a genuine mandate, and despite expecting more seats, the party is prepared to voice its concerns about electoral irregularities on appropriate platforms, he added. Furthermore, Siddiqui underscored the persistent nature of the issues, stating that the circumstances today mirror those of 75 years ago. He highlighted the significance of a democracy that truly benefitted the public, highlighting the imperative to grant rights to Pakistan's 230 million citizens. Previously, the MQM-P expected to hold a final round of negotiations with the Pakistan ...

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced on Thursday that his party will sit on opposition benches and not be party of the new incoming coalition government.  The JUI chief further said that he would not participate in the voting for the premier, president, speaker and deputy speaker. Speaking to the media in Parliament House, Fazl maintained that he does not foresee the incoming government completing its five-year tenure.  When asked about his party's intention to join the PTI protest or launch his protest movement, he said: “Wait and watch, will protest together with you.”  Read: Fazl foresees collapse of ‘system’ Fazl was among the newly elected members to take their oath today during the inaugural session of the 16th National Assembly.   Earlier, the JUI-F chief warned of a “system collapse” in the country because of excessive interference from the establishment. Speaking at a news conference in Peshawar, Fazl departed from his oft-repeated stan...

Due to rain forecasts for Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has declared Friday a half-day for all government and private offices, including educational institutions.  The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain and thunderstorms from the night of February 29, 2024, until the morning of March 2, 2024. Residents are advised to prepare for potentially heavy rainfall. In Karachi, rain is expected to start on Friday afternoon after 2 pm, with intermittent spells that may lead to urban flooding. DG PDMA Salman Shah informed the chief minister that the city should expect between 16 to 32 mm of rainfall within a 12-hour period on March 1. All local bodies, hospitals, the water board, Karachi Electric (KE), and cantonments have been instructed to be prepared for any situation. The decision was made during a rain emergency meeting at CM House. The meeting was chaired by the chief minister and was attended by Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, S...

Utmanzai tribal elders from North Waziristan convened a meeting with Corps Commander Peshawar, Lieutenant General Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat, expressing profound appreciation for the unwavering dedication of the Pakistan Army in combating terrorism. In a gathering marked by mutual respect and solidarity, the tribal elders lauded the sacrifices made by the Pakistan Army in the relentless battle against terrorism. They emphasised the significant value the tribal populace places on these sacrifices, underscoring the pivotal role of the military in ensuring regional security. Lt Gen Hayat reiterated the Pakistan Army's steadfast commitment to the welfare of tribal communities. He affirmed that the army is diligently utilising all available resources to uplift the tribal areas, aiming to foster development and prosperity. Read more: Political leaders laud army’s professionalism Addressing the concerns of local youth empowerment, he highlighted collaborative efforts between the Pakistan A...

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said on Wednesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) lawyer had himself stated in the apex court that the party would not get reserved seats if it loses its electoral symbol.  The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was conducting a hearing today on applications regarding the allotment of reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) - the party where most of PTI-aligned independent lawmakers have taken refuge after the PTI lost its electoral symbol prior to the February 8 elections.  PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, lawyer Ali Zafar, and SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza appeared before the electoral watchdog. Zafar objected and said the ECP decided on Tuesday to notices to all parliamentary parties, to which the CEC replied that the watchdog had "not called all the parties, but only those who are entitled to special seats". "All parties are not mentioned in the case. Four petitions of the SIC are b...

A district and session court in Islamabad sent journalist Asad Toor on a five-day physical remand in a case related to the anti-judiciary campaign on social media. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) produced Toor before Magistrate Mohammad Shabbir and sought his remand. The court also allowed the journalist to meet his legal counsel for an hour. “I am a journalist and cannot give my mobile phone. I appeared before FIA twice, my lawyer said that he received the notice in hand on February 24," said Toor during the hearing. He added that they moved the high court against the call-up notice, and reached the FIA office with the high court's order on February 26 to inquire about the FIR and the allegations levelled against him. Meanwhile, in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Toor's mother told the media that she was not aware for which crime her son had been arrested and added that she is filling a petition. Read: FIA summons Asad Toor, Imran Riaz Replying to a journalist’s qu...

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 ...

A senior police official was martyred and three others, including a DSP, were injured on Tuesday during an intelligence-based operation that led to the killing of two top TTP commanders in the Katlang area of Mardan district.  During the clash, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ijaz Khan was martyred with DSP Naseem Khan along with two other police officials injured.  The slain terrorists were identified as Hasan Qadeer Yousafzai, alias Mohsin Qadeer, and his aide Abbas alias Essa. The militants were part of the TTP Haris group, which joined the group in 2011. Before that, they were affiliated with TTP Swat. The terrorist commander was a former service member and joined the terror group in 2011 and Essa was the brother-in-law of Qadeer. Read: Key TTP member arrested in Quetta operation Both moved to Swat with their families during the tenure of the PTI government and were wanted by security forces for attacks on security personnel, facilitation of militant...

PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh said on Monday that the people voted for the PTI, and the party-backed candidates were the real winners of the February 8 elections as per Form-45s. Addressing a large crowd at the Karachi Press Club, Sheikh flanked by Khurram Sher Zaman and other PTI leaders, said "the voters of Karachi elected us!" He added that "our Form-45s were an undeniable proof of it" as he blamed the returning officers (ROs) for changing them illegally. Referring to the Supreme Court's order that upheld the ECP's decision to strip the party of its electoral symbol, the PTI leader said that our symbol 'the cricket bat' was snatched from us. "The party's candidates were then allotted strange symbols, and cellular and internet services were also shut down on the polling day, but even then the people came out in huge numbers and voted for the PTI," he added. “The nation gave its verdict in the PTI's favour,” said Haleem Ad...

The Supreme Court on Monday decided to seek assistance from religious institutions in the Mubarak Ahmad Sani case, and issued a notice to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). The court also issued notices to Jamia Naima, Darul Uloom Karachi, Jamiat Al-Hadith, Quran Academy and Jamita-ul-Natzaar Lahore and sought opinions and reports on the matter within three weeks. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa heard the case. During the hearing, Jamaat-e-Islami lawyer Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said that they have also filed a review petition in the case, to which the CJP replied “Your petition has been received but has not been read yet”. Siddiqui added that they believe the court did not provide proper assistance in the case, and that the petitioner never requested to delete the provisions. Following these remarks, the court ordered the numbering of JI’s application and adjourned the hearing for three weeks. A similar bench during an earlier hearing admitted for h...

Senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Senator Ishaq Dar, has asserted that if President Dr Arif Alvi fails to summon a National Assembly session, the constitutional prerogative allows the Speaker to convene the session on February 29. Dar, addressing the media outside the Punjab Assembly, emphasised that according to constitutional mandates, a session of the National Assembly must be called within 21 days from the date of general elections, thereby underscoring the urgency of the matter. He further highlighted that this principle extends to provincial assemblies as well, clarifying that if a governor fails to summon the session of a provincial assembly, similar procedures can be followed. Also read: The reserved seats’ dilemma The former finance minister refrained from delving into the intricacies of economic strategies, suggesting that such discussions are better suited for more appropriate forums. Sources have revealed that Dr Arif Alvi is reportedly stalling...

Senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Khurshid Shah, has said that his party's attempt to engage with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for government formation was met with refusal, despite efforts to adhere to democratic norms. Addressing the media outside the Sindh Assembly, Shah asserted that the PPP currently holds the "key" to democracy, which they wield in the interest of democratic processes. "We approached PTI first, as per democratic norms, but they refused to cooperate," Shah stated. Highlighting the PPP's stance on supporting the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shah affirmed that his party's support comes without any ulterior motives. Read more: Speaker to summon NA session on Feb 29 if president doesn’t: Dar "We will vote for their prime minister candidate and will cooperate in legislation and other matters, but we will not take any ministry in the Centre," Shah added. Responding to recent protests by opposition...

The opening ceremony of the 7th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Exercise-2024 was held at National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Pabbi on Sunday, the military’s media wing said in a statement. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the director general of military training opened the 60-hour-long patrolling exercise which aims at enhancing military-to-military cooperation under a complex international security environment. The opening ceremony of 7th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Exercise-2024. PHOTO: ISPR A total of 20 friendly countries, along with military observers, are participating in the event. Major participants include Pakistan, Bahrain, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Morocco, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, United States of America, and Uzbekistan. Read also: Pakistan, KSA hold joint military training exercise Additionally, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Myanmar, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, a...

PPP nominee Syed Owais Shah was elected on Sunday as the 18th speaker of the Sindh Assembly after bagging 111 votes in favour. The election of the speaker and deputy speaker was held through a secret ballot under the now-former speaker Agha Siraj Durrani. Around 147 members of the provincial legislature cast their vote today, however, nine PTI-aligned members and one lawmaker from the Jamaat-e-Islami did not participate in the polling process. The MQM-P had nominated Sofia Shah, who managed to secure 36 votes only. PPP's Anthony Naveed was elected as deputy speaker Sindh Assembly after bagging 111 votes. MQM-P's Rashid Khan secured 36 votes. Anthony is the first deputy speaker of the provincial legislature from a minority group. After the victory, he embraced Speaker Owais Shah. Today, nine PTI-backed independent members of the Sindh Assembly also took the oath, bringing the total number of members who have taken oath to 157. JI's member Muhammad Farooq also took the oath...

Police in Karachi tear-gassed and baton-charged protesters of opposition parties on Saturday and arrested dozens for violating Section 144 as they entered the high-security Red Zone to protest against alleged rigging during the February 8 general elections.  The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced a joint demonstration outside the Sindh Assembly during its inaugural session. However, due to police action against the protesters, the protests spread to different areas of the city and severely affected traffic flow on main thoroughfares.  Following the protests, a heavy police presence was deployed on Sharae Faisal and routes from Karsaz and Nursery were blocked by containers, causing severe traffic jams.  Read: Opposition parties unite in Sindh to protest against ‘election fraud’ All routes leading towards the Sindh Assembly and Karachi Press Club were also blocked with containers pla...

An anti-terrorism court issued an order on Saturday to continue legal proceedings against PTI founder Imran Khan in cases linked to the May 9 even in his absence.  During the hearing on Imran's temporary bail pleas in cases related to the arson at Jinnah House, Askari Tower, PML-N House and other locations, the court extended the bail till March 1.  ATC Judge Arshad Javed said the PTI founder does not have access to a video link and is not present on WhatsApp either, hence his attendance could not be recorded. The court said that the Adiala jail superintendent is liable for contempt as he did not ensure Imran's attendance through electronic means and the hearing on bail pleas would have been delayed by several days. Read Imran, his ex-ministers get bail in May 9 cases Deputy Prosecutor Abdul Jabbar Dogar did not object to the decision based on merit. The prosecutor asserted that the accused's presence is not crucial as everyone knows that Imran is presently incarcerated a...

The Pakistan Army and the Royal Saudi Land Forces on Saturday conducted a joint military training exercise at the Muzaffargarh Field Firing Range. The training exercise consisted of Combined Battle PT, Room Clearance, Small Scale Operations, Close Marksmanship and Firing and Repelling. The event also witnessed the participation of the Cobra gunship helicopters, with forces of both countries actively participating in the exercise. Read: Pakistan, Bahrain hold joint exercise ‘Al-BADAR-VIII' The exercise provided a unique opportunity for the Pakistan Army and Royal Saudi Land Forces to enhance their strengths, exchange skills and boost their military training. The joint military exercise is seen as a testament to the strong relations and cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/bucrdPs

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) restored on Friday the victory notifications of three PML-N candidates who won seats from Islamabad's NA-46, NA-47 and NA-48 constituencies. The electoral watchdog upheld the victory of PML-N's Anjum Aqeel from NA-46, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry from NA-47 and Raja Khurram Nawaz from NA-48. PTI had challenged the victories of PML-N candidates on the basis of alleged rigging during the February 8 general elections. Chaudhry, speaking to the media, said that PTI was doing propaganda regarding federal capital's constituencies, adding that they submitted their Form 45 today and now the court had to prove whose forms were genuine. Read: ECP halts recount in PB-21 amid law and order concerns The ECP on Tuesday reserved its decision in two cases regarding rigging in the Feb 8 general elections and postponed the hearing of three cases till Feb 27, seeking reports from the returning officers. A two-member bench of the ECP comprising Nisar Durrani a...

PTI leader and lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat said on Friday that the party has moved the Supreme Court against rigging in the February 8 general elections. Speaking to the media, Marwat said he filed a petition in the apex court against poll fraud, adding that the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and other members of the election body has also been challenged. Notably, the SC on February 21 disposed of a petition seeking to annul the February 8 elections and fined the petitioner Rs0.5 million for a no-show. Read: PTI leader demands judicial inquiry against CEC A three-member bench led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali took up the petition filed by Brig (retd) Ali Khan. The petition was disposed of on the basis of withdrawal by the petitioner. The apex court further barred Khan from adding 'brigadier' before his name. The SC had earlier issued a notice to the petitioner ...

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has announced that it will commence a movement against alleged rigging during the February 8 general elections.  JUI-F leader Aslam Ghauri, in a statement, said that in the initial phase of the movement, meetings at different party levels will be held. According to Ghauri, party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will address the meetings and the first of such assemblies is set to take place on Thursday (today) in Islamabad. "The rigging in these elections has put 2018's rigging to shame," said the and added that a "mockery has been made of the public mandate". Protests against electoral fraud Previously on February 16, JUI-F Sindh staged a protest demonstration outside the Provincial Election Commission office in Karachi against the alleged electoral fraud. JUI-F Sindh Secretary General Allama Rashid Mahmood Soomro addressed the gathering, stating that JUI-F has decided to launch a nationwide movement against “doctored electi...

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) ordered on Thursday the removal of former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser's name from the Exit Control List (ECL), terming the addition of his name as unconstitutional and against the law.  The last hearing of the petition, filed by Qaiser, took place on June 23, 2023.  Read PTI’s Qaiser claims rivals evading polls The PTI leader's counsel argued that Qaiser's name was unfairly added to the ECL and he was barred from leaving for Umrah by officials.  The lawyer added that Qaiser was recently again elected to the National Assembly and is a senior politician.  Earlier in January, the PHC barred the inclusion of former lawmakers from PTI in the fourth schedule.  An individual is placed in the fourth schedule under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 when there is credible intelligence-information against him of being linked to a proscribed organisation. The person is then subjected to restrictions on travel, speech and business...

Supreme Court on Wednesday rebuked police for entering homes without obtaining a warrant, asserting the inviolable right to privacy enshrined in the Constitution. Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, heading a three-judge bench, underscored the sanctity of citizens' homes, stating that any intrusion without a search warrant violates fundamental rights. "Without obtaining a search warrant the privacy of the petitioner’s home was violated. Article 8 of the Constitution gives paramountcy to the Fundamental Rights (including Article 14), which cannot be abridged, and if any law is made in contravention thereof it states that it shall to such extent be void", says judgement authored by Justice Isa. The judgment, issued while granting bail to an accused facing blasphemy charges, emphasised the paramountcy of constitutional liberties. Read more: SC disposes of poll annulment plea The bench also noted that when the police itself do not abide by the law it is a matter of grave...

A district and sessions court in the federal capital suspended on Wednesday the arrest warrants of PTI's Senator Faisal Javed in cases related to vandalism and protests lodged at the Bani Gala police station.  In his second appearance in court after remaining underground for months, Faisal presented himself before the judge for bail in the rioting case.  Civil judge Qudratullah heard the case and approved the bail of the PTI leader till March 13. Read: PTI’s Faisal Javed vows to continue support for Imran The court also scheduled Faisal’s indictment in the vandalism case for the next hearing. Earlier, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) granted transit bail to Faisal against bail bonds worth Rs0.1 million, and ordered the PTI leader to appear before the concerned court. Speaking after his appearance at the PHC, Javed confidently asserted, "Khan saheb [Imran Khan] will contest the elections from Mianwali, and he will soon be the prime minister of Pakistan." The entire senior PTI...

In a significant development for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday, two more independent candidates hailing from Balochistan, Wali Muhammad and Abdul Khaliq, have pledged their allegiance to the party. The duo, victorious in their respective constituencies of Quetta’s PB-41 and Chaman’s PB-51 during the recently held general elections, met with PML-N President and prime minister nominee Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore to formalise their commitment. Accompanying Shehbaz Sharif in the meeting were the party's provincial president, Jaffar Khan Mandokhel, and party leader Jamal Shah Kakar. لاہور: 20 فروری پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کو بلوچستان اسمبلی کی 2 نشستیں مل گئیں پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے صدر اور نامزد وزیراعظم شہباز شریف سے آزاد منتخب ارکان اسمبلی کی ملاقات بلوچستان اسمبلی کے حلقہ پی بی 41 اور 51 سے آزاد حیثیت میں انتخاب جیتنے والے ولی محمد اور عبدالخالق… pic.twitter.com/ahxPos4vxw — PMLN (@pmln_org) February 20, 2024 Read more: Seven more independents defect to PML-N Extend...

The first Senate session following the February 8 general elections echoed with calls on Tuesday for legal action against the chief election commissioner and an investigation into the conduct of polls.  Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani chaired the session during which a motion to suspend the proceedings was presented and approved. The upper house then commenced a discussion on the recently held general elections. Jamaat-e-Islami's Senator Mushtaq Ahmad demanded accountability and a treason case against CEC Sikander Sultan Raja and stated that action should be taken under Article 6 for violations and betrayal of the Constitution. He also emphasised the need for a transparent investigation into alleged irregularities during the elections.   Ahmad said the rigging was exposed by the now-former commissioner of Rawalpindi and maintained that the recent polls have pushed the country towards a 'severe' economic and political crisis.  The JI senator further said the the 'bulle...

In a significant development on Monday, the Senate, the upper house of the Pakistani parliament, voted against the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023, aimed at amending the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. The bill, which proposed public hanging as a punishment for rape accused, faced rejection with a majority vote in the house. Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani presided over the session when Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) presented a motion for the consideration and passage of the bill. However, the motion was met with resistance, ultimately leading to the rejection of the proposed amendments. The voting results revealed a divided sentiment among the senators. Out of the 38 lawmakers present, 24 voted against the legislation, while 14 senators expressed support for the bill. The bill faced opposition primarily from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and National Party. On the other hand, most members o...

The PTI filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday seeking to be allotted reserve seats in the national and provincial assemblies. The ECP was made a respondent in the petition, demanding candidates who submitted their nomination papers for reserve seats and were scrutinized to be adjusted on those seats. According to the party's plea, the PTI was a listed party and had the right to reserve seats. The petition stated that the candidates who sought tickets on reserve seats were PTI members; all of them also submitted an affidavit in this regard. The ECP cannot delist any party, only the Supreme Court has the power to do so, the petition stated. The PTI also requested the court to fix the petition for a hearing today. With the February 8 general election results finally announced, the process of government formation and allocation of specific seats in the provincial assemblies has commenced. The electoral watchdog has also outlined the procedure for distributing...

Popular microblogging site ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter, had its services disrupted in Pakistan on Monday for the third consecutive day. Users nationwide have grappled with prolonged inaccessibility to the platform, marking yet another glitch in internet instability in the weeks leading up to, during, and after the hotly-contested February 8 national elections. According to Downdetector, X services were disrupted at around 1pm. The social media platform also experienced outages earlier in the day, it was reportedly not accessible around 10:30am and services were restored around noon.  This is the third consecutive day of disruptions, which started soon after the now-former commissioner Rawalpindi alleged rigging and irregularities during the February 8 polls and said he played a part in the process. Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha took responsibility for what he termed a "heinous crime," and implicated not only himself but also pointed fingers at the hea...

Pakistan backs the appointment of a UN special envoy on Afghanistan as the crucial conference to discuss the way forward for the neighbouring country kicked off in Qatar’s Doha on Sunday. The UN-sponsored two-day conference is being attended by special envoys from over 20 countries, human rights activists, and representatives opposed to the Taliban regime. The Afghan Taliban declined the invitation after the organizers refused to accommodate its concerns. The Taliban wanted to be treated as the only true representative of Afghanistan and to have other delegates invited with their consent. The Pakistani delegation is led by the special envoy on Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani. He is also accompanied by Pakistan's head of mission in Kabul and other senior foreign ministry officials. The conference is discussing the independent assessment of the UN special coordinator on Afghanistan. The report, submitted in November last year, recommends a series of measures to engage with the T...

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh has said that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja should tender an apology before the nation or be ready to face Article 6. Addressing a crowded press conference on Sunday and flanked by PTI Sindh General Secretary Advocate Ali Palh and others, he said that the CEC failed to hold elections within the stipulated time and he committed contempt against the people and their mandate.  Sheikh added that in Islamabad, the party leader has already given a presentation regarding PTI winning 180 seats as per Form 45, which were "snatched from us by changing Form 47". He further said the fraud was revealed by commissioner Rawalpindi a day before. The party leader maintained that on February 8, the "nation and the captain were victorious" and added that they have all Form 45s from Karachi and the data will be shared online. "All Form 45s of my constituency NA-238 are pre...

PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique stressed on Sunday that the party identify its mistakes and rectify them, giving an example of PTI founder Imran Khan and the effective use of social media by his party. Addressing party workers, Rafique maintained that there was "no complaint with the chief election commission, but injustice was done to this constituency, my constituency was divided into pieces during the elections”. Praising the PTI social media team, the PML-N leader said that the former premier had the power of a strong digital media presence and reiterated that “our party should identify mistakes and rectify them”. “The Imran project was prepared in 2010, and the seeds of hatred were sown, it should be clear who sowed the seeds of hatred, efforts are being made to weaken Pakistan from abroad,” he said and asked, “How will anyone accept the elections in this atmosphere of bitterness?” “If the PML-N won in Punjab, did no rigging take plcae in K-P, Sindh and Baloch...

A day after Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha confessed to his role in rigging the recent Pakistan elections, the city's regional police officer, Syed Khurram Ali, took a 15-day leave on Sunday Ali said he and his family were leaving for a 15-day trip to the United Kingdom.  On Saturday, the Punjab Information Department invited Commissioner Rawalpindi, along with RPO Rawalpindi, to a press conference regarding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket tournament. Ali's office then informed that the senior officer had applied for leave before the elections, but was not granted and approval for leave post-elections was given.  The RPO attended the office on Friday and later the same evening travelled to Lahore. The additional charge of his responsibilities has been taken over by CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani. However, authorities said it is not known whether Ali has left for the UK or still present in Lahore. They added that he has 15-day leave and sh...

Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Saturday condemned the "coercion" faced by winning independent candidates to align with specific political parties against their will. The statement comes as many independent candidates, most supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, have announced joining Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other parties. On Friday, seven more independent candidates including a newly-elected member of the National Assembly defected to PML-N during a meeting with party leader Maryam Nawaz and Rana Sanaullah. “Mr Riazat Ali Sahar, Vice Chairman and Mr Farooq Hamid Naek, Chairman Executive Committee, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) along with Mr Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon, Hafeezur Rehman Chaudhry, Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti, Mr Haroon-ur-Rashid, Mr Hassan Raza Pasha, Mr Tahir Nasrullah Warraich, Mr Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig, Syed Amjad Shah, Mr Khush Dil Khan, (members PBC) are deeply troubled by the ongoing political turmoil in the country, particularly concerning allegation...

PTI leader and senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja was arrested on Saturday in Lahore as the party protested alleged rigging in the February 8 elections. Surrounded by security personnel and media persons, Raja said he stood "with the people of Pakistan" as the police dragged him towards their vehicle. “I am with the people of Pakistan” Senior Supreme Court lawyer Salman Akram Raja’s statement before his unlawful arrest by police: pic.twitter.com/HJqAWDT1og — PTI (@PTIofficial) February 17, 2024 On February 15, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar announced the initiation of nationwide protest demonstrations for Saturday (today) against perceived rigging in the general election. He invited all political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, Grand Democratic Alliance, Awami National Party, and others, who believe their mandate was stolen, to join the protest for democracy, rule of law, and freedom. PTI, JI unite against poll rigging Last night, in a significant de...

Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatta, in a shocking revelation on Saturday, confessed to his "involvement in rigging election results in the city", and resigned from his post demanding to be "hanged for doing injustice" to the Rawalpindi Division. Chattha, in a press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, claimed that 13 candidates from Pindi were forcefully declared winners, adding that "we gave the losing candidates leads of 50,000 votes". “I have done injustice to the Rawalpindi Division," he said. "I tried to commit suicide today after Fajr prayer. But then I thought, why should I die a forbidden death? Why not put everything in front of the people?” he said. "I accept the responsibility of election rigging in Rawalpindi Division and surrender myself to the police," he said. The commissioner said he undertook many development projects in the city but regretted tarnishing his legacy by "stabbing the country in the b...

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb stated on Friday that former premier Imran Khan inviting the US to interfere in the country's elections goes against Pakistan's sovereignty. Addressing a press conference along with party leader Ataullah Tarar, she questioned where Imran's slogan of "Absolutely Not. We are not slaves" went when he urged the US to adopt a tough stance on 'rigging' in the recent general elections in Pakistan. Marriyum said that if anyone has objections to election results, they should approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). She criticised the propaganda being spread regarding non-definite results in the media. She emphasised that while they are not the spokespersons for the ECP, these are the laws. Furthermore, she accused the PTI of creating unnecessary "chaos and spreading anarchy" during the elections. Citing instances when similar situations occurred, the PML-N leader said that ...

The Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) of the United States Mission in Pakistan, Andrew Schofer, concluded his four-day visit to Karachi, emphasising the United States' dedication to strengthening ties, promoting democracy, economic growth, and women's empowerment in the region. Schofer reiterated the United States' commitment to deepening its partnership with Pakistan, focusing on shared priorities such as democracy, inclusive economic growth, and regional stability. "This visit to Karachi is the reflection of our commitment to our continued engagement with diverse stakeholders and reinforcing our bilateral ties," he was quoted as saying by a statement issued by the Consulate General of the United States of America in Karachi on Friday. One significant aspect of the visit highlighted the United States' support for the people of Sindh in the face of climate disasters and post-flood recovery efforts. Since 2022, the US has extended over $215 million in assistance to...

Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi challenged their respective sentences on Friday in the Toshakhana and cypher cases. The appeals argue that both Imran and Bushra were subjected to a sham trial, where the courts not only proceeded unfairly and hastily but also ignored their fundamental right to a fair trial and due process. The lead counsel, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, filed two appeals, writ petitions, and applications, challenging the orders passed by the special judge and NAB during the jail trials of the Toshkhana and cypher cases. Barrister Zafar has contended that the ex-premier and his wife have been erroneously convicted and sentenced by the accountability court and the special judge. The appeal further argued that their freedom and liberty have been curtailed, blatantly violating their fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973. The evidence presented against them is deficient in every manner and fails to connect them with the alleged charges. T...

Students of Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) class-XI, who failed to clear the examinations in 2023, will be allotted 15pc grace marks to clear the examination, according to a notification issued by the provincial government of Sindh.  The decision was taken after the fact-finding committee, constituted on the instructions of interim chief minister Justice (retd) Baqir, submitted its report.  The provincial chief executive has approved the recommendations presented by the head of the fact-finding committee, VC NED Dr Sarosh Lodhi. The 15pc additional marks will be given to students of pre-engineering, pre-medical and general science. The subject-wide breakdown of grace marks is as follows: 15 marks in mathematics, 12 marks in physics and statistics. 12 in Chemistry, 6 in botany and 6 in zoology. The fate of thousands of students hung in the balance after the announcement of the allegedly disputed results. Over the past two ...