Category: Politics

News stories of Politics, for the topics that matter the most to young professionals and college students, political news reported with a different angle.

  • Not so fast, Supreme Court: Election Commission to hold meeting today to discuss response to verdict

    Not so fast, Supreme Court: Election Commission to hold meeting today to discuss response to verdict

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is to hold another meeting today to consult a legal expert on how to respond to the Supreme Court’s (SC) recent verdict regarding the allocation of reserved seats to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies.

    The Commission has been conducting meetings on a daily basis since last week to discuss the legal quandary arising after the parliament passed the Election Amendment Act 2024, Informed sources told Dawn.

    It further claimed, “But the situation has changed after the announcement of the detailed judgement of the Supreme Court, and the commission will meet again on Tuesday to seek the opinion of the legal expert.”

    Earlier, the ECP’s law wing claimed that PTI had no organisational structure and refused to allocate reserved seats to PTI.

    On August 8, President Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari signed the Election Amendments Act 2024, which ultimately clashes with the Supreme Court’s July 12, 2024 reserved seats verdict.

    Election Amendment Act 2024 stated, “If a political party fails to submit its list for reserved seats within the prescribed time, it will not be entitled to reserved seats of women and non-muslims candidates.

    Last week, Speaker of National Assembly (NA) Ayaz Sadiq penned a letter to Chief ECP Sikander Sultan Raja, which reads, “The amended Elections Act is in the field and, therefore, it is the statutory obligation of the ECP to honour the laws made by Parliament and uphold the principles of democracy and parliamentary supremacy.”

  • Ali Amin Gandapur charged under Anti Terrorism Act

    Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur has been charged with thirteen provisions, including the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATC), for resorting to violence near the Sialkot interchange on the Motorway.

    The First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Manawan police station in Lahore reads that an armed mob led by CM Ali Amin Gandapur attempted to set fire to vehicles parked at the Sialkot toll plaza on the order of a politician.

    The FIR further states that an armed mob confronted police with AK-47 rifles while Gandapur, Shahid Khattak and other politicians moved ahead during the riot.

    On September 21, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a rally at Punjab’s provincial capital, Lahore. However, CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur was unable to reach the rally venue within the time allotted by the district administration from 3 PM to 6 PM.
    A video circulated on social media showed Gandapur smashing a truck window with a rifle.

  • PTI leaders clash in Punjab Assembly over credit for September rally

    PTI leaders clash in Punjab Assembly over credit for September rally

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders had an altercation at the Punjab Assembly amongst themselves after having a heated debate over the party rally at Kahna on September 21.

    PTI’s Lahore President, Shiekh Imtiaz Mehmood and Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Farukh Javed Moon fought over the credit for the party rally, while the opposition leader of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmed Khan, was also present, Public News reported.

    MPA Firdous Shamim Naqvi cited poor performance, adding that the event did not live up to expectations and criticised PTI leadership for not carrying the rally beyond 6 PM.

    Shiekh Imtiaz, in response, said that with hindrances, it is an achievement to have held a rally; adding that it cost 35 lac.

    While questioning this cost, Moon pointed out that rallies had been held in the past as well, but why did it cost this much now? This infuriated Imtiaz, and both the members ended up in a physical fight.

  • ‘Afghan diplomat 14 August ko national anthem ke ihteraam mein khare hoye thay,’ Faisal Kundi reveals double standards

    ‘Afghan diplomat 14 August ko national anthem ke ihteraam mein khare hoye thay,’ Faisal Kundi reveals double standards

    Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Faisal Karim Kundi, while recalling the Afghan diplomat’s refusal to stand up for the Pakistan anthem in the presence of Chief Minister (CM) KP Ali Amin Gandapur, has claimed that the same Afghan diplomat stood up for the anthem on August 14 during a flag hoisting ceremony.

    Appearing on the Samaa News programme ‘Mere Sawal With Absar Alam,’ Kundi revealed that the Afghan diplomat, along with an Iranian diplomat and an American diplomat, stood up for the national anthem as a respectful gesture.

    He said, “14 August ko mein nay bulaya thaa, tab inhain koi takleef nahi thi or national anthem kay ihteraam may kharay b huway thay.”

    Lambasting CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur’s stance of showing no objection to the disrespect, Kundi said he appeared to be the provincial CM of Afghanistan.

    Earlier, during an official event in Peshawar to commemorate 12th Rabi ul Awal, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), two Afghan diplomats deliberately refused to stand up for Pakistan’s anthem.

    After strong discontent from Pakistan, Afghan Consulate Peshawar spokesperson Shahid Ullah clarified, “The Consul General did not stand due to the music in the anthem. We have even banned our own national anthem for the same reason.”

  • Jerusalem post article declares Imran Khan a central figure in Pak-Israel ties

    Jerusalem post article declares Imran Khan a central figure in Pak-Israel ties

    The Jerusalem Post, one of Israel’s most widely-read newspapers, has declared former Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan a central figure in normalising Pak-Israel ties.

    An article written by Harry Richer asserts, “Figures like Khan could very well be central in changing both public opinion and military policy” for Pak-Israel ties.

    While reviewing the state of Muslim countries trying to normalise ties with Israel for their self-interest, Richer asserted that despite Khan’s pro-Palestine stance, the former PM had hinted at shaping Pakistan’s foreign policy towards Israel.

    Richer predicted, “Normalisation with Israel would bring about significant economic benefits, including technological support in agriculture, cybersecurity, and defence.”

    Richer added, “A change in leadership would most probably also be needed for any resolution to move forward, and figures like Khan could very well be central in changing both public opinion and military policy.”

    Pakistan does not recognise Israel and has long been an ardent and very vocal supporter of Palestine. The ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza has strengthened public opinion in Pakistan against Israel.

    As of October 7, more than 41,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children, have been slaughtered by Israel since October 7. Lancet, the respected medical journal, puts the figure at close to 180,000 dead.

  • Supreme Court’s verdict takes election commission to cleaners for ‘failure’ to perform its role

    Supreme Court’s verdict takes election commission to cleaners for ‘failure’ to perform its role

    In a damning judgment, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on September 23 issued a detailed verdict of the reserved seats case once again, calling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) a “political party” and rightful recipient of their reserved seats’ quota.

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, next in line to become the CJP, wrote the 70-page detailed order days after the NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq wrote to ECP to not implement the top court’s July 12 verdict.

    On July 12, in a significant political and symbolic win for PTI, a thirteen-member bench of the Supreme Court ruled that PTI had the legal and constitutional right to reserved seats.

    The detailed judgement emphasised that lack of political symbols does not devoid any political party of its constitutional rights to take part in elections.

    In today’s verdict the Supreme Court strongly criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failure to play its lawful role in the February 8 elections.

    “The Commission must uphold democratic principles and the integrity of electoral processes by ensuring that elections truly reflect the will of the people, thereby preserving the democratic fabric of the nation. Unfortunately, the circumstances of the present case indicate that the Commission has failed to fulfil this role in the General Elections of 2024,” observed the majority judgment.

    Furthermore, Justice Shah’s verdict points out that the Supreme Court was “surprised” how the ECP behaved as a “primary contesting party against SIC and PTI”.

  • Maulana Fazlur Rehman warns of instability if Constitution overlooked

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman warns of instability if Constitution overlooked

    The Chief of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam- Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has warned that failure to adhere to the Constitution will lead the country towards instability and unrest.

    Speaking at an event in Karachi, he talked about this year’s general elections, labeling the incumbent constituent assembly a product of the establishment.

    Responding to the government’s proposed controversial constitutional amendments, Fazlur Rehman asserted, “Neither the opposition has a draft [of the proposed amendments], nor do the people know about any such document. Here, every institution wants to interfere in the other’s mandate. These can’t be called reforms by any means.”

    The head of JUI-F suggested that institutions operate within their own paradigm and strengthen themselves and expressed a wish to see a robust parliament, judiciary, and military.

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been a formidable challenge for the government as he resisted the so-called twenty-sixth constitutional amendments despite having only five Senate votes, proving himself to be the decision-maker.

  • PTI supporters share old rally picture to claim Lahore rally success

    PTI supporters share old rally picture to claim Lahore rally success

    In an interesting development yesterday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters shared old pictures of the party rally on social media, alleging that the September 21 Lahore rally was successful.

    Many users pointed out that the images being shared by PTI-affiliated accounts are from the 2022 PTI rally and not yesterday.

    Journalists, including Sabir Shakir, Tariq Mateen, and Ihtisham ul Haq, shared misleading pictures yesterday claiming that the recent PTI rally has been a political success for the party.

    Ihtisham later deleted the picture when he was called out for sharing a fake image.

    Interestingly, AFP did a fact-check of a similar matter when PTI-affiliated accounts shared pictures from a 2022 rally to falsely claim that the September 8 rally in Islamabad had a huge number of people.

    PTI has conducted two rallies in the country despite immense difficulties including road closures and detention of party workers since the party founder termed the Lahore rally a “do or die” matter.

  • Speeches against the army and judiciary will not be allowed: Speaker Ayaz Sadiq

    Speeches against the army and judiciary will not be allowed: Speaker Ayaz Sadiq

    Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq said on Friday, “Pakistan’s constitution declares that there can be no talk against the armed forces and the judiciary; therefore, speeches against the army and the judiciary will be stopped.”

    In the past and the present, both the opposition and the government benches have discussed diverse topics, including the country’s institutions.

    Ayaz Sadiq said in an informal conversation with the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) yesterday: ‘I am not talking about retired judiciary members. I am talking about the present service that we cannot talk by taking their name in this way. Speeches against the judiciary and the army will not be aired; we will cut them. We give maximum time to the opposition on our website but will cut such speeches.”

    On the topic of the recent failed attempt by the coalition government to pass the constitutional amendments, the speaker expressed ignorance over the details of the draft.

    He also stated that law enforcement agencies have no role in postponing the sessions of parliament even though, in the past, that was true.

    “In the past, we were told that the NAB Chairman could not be called into the parliament, and the session of NA used to be cancelled,” revealed Sadiq.

  • Over 20 PTI workers arrested in Lahore, Azma Bokhari claims they attacked police

    Over 20 PTI workers arrested in Lahore, Azma Bokhari claims they attacked police

    More than 20 workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were detained by Lahore police for holding a corner meeting in Gulberg area of the city.

    While the party claims to be preparing for the upcoming procession in Lahore, Gulberg police said that the PTI workers pelted stones and opened fire when police officials arrived.

    The police van was damaged in the violence, the police claimed.

    Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bokhari also shared videos on X (formerly Twitter) calling out “Tehreek-e-Fisad” (movement of chaos).

    Azma wrote that the “Gangsters of this movement of chaos have already started burning and encircling the roads, now if we take action against them, they will start crying in protest.”

    Taking a jibe at PTI’s leadership, who are repeatedly asking people to stay peaceful, Azma shared several videos on social media captioning that these people are rooming around Main Boulevard Gulbarg in Lahore, “Listen to the peaceful speeches of their so-called leaders while actually this is their real face.”