Tag: by polls

  • NA-249 by-poll: Others cry foul as PPP clinches victory in unexpected turn of events

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) came out on top after a close contest with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in NA-249 (Karachi West-II) on Thursday.

    According to unofficial results, PPP’s Abdul Qadir Mandokhel, in an unexpected turn off events, won the race against PML-N’s Miftah Ismail close behind.

    The NA seat was created in 2018 by amalgamating neighbourhoods that previously fell in two Upper House constituencies — NA-239 and NA-240 — during three general elections between 2002 and 2013.

    The constituency, with 339,591 registered voters, has emerged to be a highly contested seat with candidates belonging to almost every major political party fighting for it.

    Prominent candidates in the run were Miftah of PML-N, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Syed Mustafa Kamal, Amjad Afridi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Qadir of PPP, Mohammad Mursaleen of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Mufti Nazeer Ahmed Kamalvi of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

    Contrary to pre-poll surveys, the PTI was unable to reclaim the seat fallen vacant after Faisal Vawda’s resignation.

    The PTI, instead, couldn’t even make it to top three.

    Earlier, when Miftah was in the lead, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz claimed that the “masses know who exactly is responsible for their troubles and woes”.

    “I have said it earlier and I will say it again, Imran Khan and PTI will not be able to campaign and if they do, this is how they will be welcomed,” she said.

    Her remarks were in response to a video shared by former journalist Talat Hussain showing PTI candidate for NA-249 Amjad Afridi being heckled by voters of the constituency.

    Earlier, taking strict notice of PTI lawmakers’ presence in the NA-249 constituency during the by-poll, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) directed them to leave.

    According to details, six PTI MPs Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Raja Azhar, Saeed Afridi, Bilal Ghaffar, Shah Nawaz Jadoon and Shahzad Awan were found to be violating the code of conduct by being present in the constituency during polling hours.

    The ECP issued their expulsion orders, directing police to expel them from the constituency.

    Since after the surprising turn of events, rigging allegations are pouring in against the ruling PPP of Sindh.

  • NA-249 by-election: Imran Khan, his PTI most popular, suggest surveys amid polling

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are the most popular in embattled NA-249 constituency of Karachi where a by-poll is currently being held.

    According to surveys by Ipsos, Pulse Consultant and Gallup Pakistan, PTI is likely to retain the seat that had fallen vacant after its Faisal Vawda stepped down; however, rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) could give it a tough time.

    The Karachi West-II seat of the National Assembly lies in Baldia Town neighbourhood of the metropolis.

    It was won by PTI’s Vawda in the 2018 general election after beating PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif.

    As many as 276 polling stations comprising 796 polling booths have been established in the constituency. The voting process on Thursday began at 8 am and will continue till 5 pm without any pause.

    The constituency, with 339,591 registered voters, has emerged to be a highly contested seat with candidates belonging to almost every major political party fighting for it.

    Prominent candidates in the run are Miftah Ismail of PML-N, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Syed Mustafa Kamal, Amjad Afridi of PTI, Qadir Khan Mandokhail of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Mohammad Mursaleen of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Mufti Nazeer Ahmed Kamalvi of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

    TLP which was banned earlier this month over violent nationwide protests is contesting the seat after the Ministry of Interior said it could contest elections until such time that it stood dissolved as a political party registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    Candidates and their supporters have acknowledged a lacklustre ambience reflecting a certain sense of detachment among the voters belonging to the constituency, however, expressed hope that they would come out of their homes by noon.

  • NA-249 by-poll: Candyland owner candidate of PML-N introduces new candy

    NA-249 by-poll: Candyland owner candidate of PML-N introduces new candy

    With crucial NA-249 by-poll in Karachi on April 29 just around the corner, candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), who is the owner of Ismail Industries — parent company of Candyland and Bisconni — has a surprise for constituents.

    Ismail, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Amjad Afridi and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Mustafa Kamal among others are the candidates for the lower house seat that fell vacant after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda resigned from the same.

    Amid intense electioneering, Ismail, who believes that former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif is the most popular leader in the constituency, has introduced his favourite product in limited-time packaging for locals and colleagues.

    The pictures of a white wrapper bearing Ismail, his constituency and party’s name went viral on social media on Monday.

    But what candy is it?

    Amid mixed reactions by netizens, sources told this scribe that the candy inside the wrapper was none other than Ismail’s personal favourite.

    Speaking to The Current last week, the PML-N leader had mentioned the very popular and old Fanty as his favourite product produced by his company.

    He had gone on to explain how the product had beaten the lifecycle of any other and retained its position as a widely-loved candy through decades.

    WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW:

  • PM sacks KP minister for supporting PML-N candidate in Nowshera by-polls

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister for Irrigation Liaqat Khattak has been de-notified for supporting the candidate of rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in by-polls for PK-63 Nowshera constituency.

    Special Assistant to KP Chief Minister (CM) on Information Kamran Bangash tweeted the notification, saying that Khattak was removed after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s approval.

    “The Governor of the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in exercise of the powers conferred under clause 3 of Article 132 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with clause 1 of Article 105 thereof, is pleased to de-notify Mr Liaqat Khattak from his office,” read the notification.

    The PK-63 election was won by the PML-N, according to unofficial results.

    The seat had fallen vacant after the death of PTI MPA Mian Jamsheduddin, who had died of coronavirus.

  • By-polls: Maryam shares videos of vote theft as PML-N claims victory on three seats

    By-polls: Maryam shares videos of vote theft as PML-N claims victory on three seats

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz shared videos on her Twitter handle, accusing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers of stealing ballot papers during the Wazirabad (PP-51) by-polls.

    The PML-N vice president alleged that her party supporters nabbed the ruling party workers trying to sneak out with ballot boxes. Maryam shared a number of videos seemingly showing unidentified persons carrying white bags and surrounded by enraged PML-N workers.

    “PTI people caught red-handed stealing bags full of votes by PMLN MPA Adil Chatta and Ataa Tarar. [The] seal was also broken. Police was a part of the plan to steal votes for PTI,” the vice president wrote on her handle.

    According to PML-N’s Ataa Tarar, the presiding officer stationed at the Virtual University polling station was allegedly casting fake votes. Tarar claimed the votes that were cast in the men’s section of the polling station were 600, but upon examination by the polling agent of the PML-N, 852 votes were found.

    In another video shared by the PML-N leader, a man could be seen sitting in a car with a white bag which is described by Maryam a bag of votes. “He was caught red-handed. PML-N workers did not allow him to escape. Rangers also present,” Maryam said in another tweet.

    Subsequently, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took notice of the videos shared by the PML-N leader and summoned a report from the returning officer. The ECP later withheld the results over irregularities in polling.

    By-elections were held in four constituencies on Friday: two in Punjab and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the unofficial results, PML-N emerged victorious in Daska, Gujranwala and Nowshera (PK-63), whereas a PTI candidate was leading on Kurram (NA-45) seat.

    According to preliminary results obtained from 213 polling stations, PML-N candidate Nosheen Iftikhar was in the lead with 61,571 votes in NA-75 Sialkot, while the PTI candidate Ali Asjad Khan had obtained 55,872 votes. Maryam Nawaz claimed victory on the Daska seat. In Daska, at least two people –PML-N and PTI supporters — were killed as a result of firing on a polling station.

    In Wazirabad, PML-N’s Begum Talat Shaukat bagged 53,903 votes, while PTI’s Chaudhry Yousuf stood runner-up with 48,484 votes. Wazirabad’s PP-51 fell vacant after PML-N MPA Shaukat Manzoor Cheema died on June 3, 2020.

    In Nowshera, PML-N candidate Ikhtiar Wali, backed by the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement, won the by-election by securing 21,112 votes against his rival candidate Mian Umer Kakakhel of the PTI, who got 17,023 votes.

    PTI’s Fakharuzzaman Bangash clinched victory after receiving 16,911 votes, while independent candidate Haji Syed Jamal secured 15,560 votes.

  • Karachi by-polls: Sindh police detain PTI MPA over violation of ECP code of conduct

    Karachi by-polls: Sindh police detain PTI MPA over violation of ECP code of conduct

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Haleem Adil Sheikh was detained by the Sindh police on Tuesday for violating election rules, as the former claimed that his vehicle was fired upon by unknown persons during the polling in Malir’s Darsano Chana.

    The by-polls in PS-88 constituency were conducted after Ghulam Murtaza Baloch, the minister for human settlement, died of COVID-19.

    Meanwhile, the PTI MPA was quoted by Samaa, saying the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers allegedly attacked him. He showed a bullet mark on his windshield, saying his bulletproof vehicle was attacked by the PPP. The bullets were fired in the presence of the police,” he alleged.

    SHEIKH DETAINED:

    The PTI leader was arrested by the provincial police even though the reports of his arrest were refuted earlier. According to Geo, the MPA will be taken to the Memon Goth police station in armoured vehicle.

    As the arrest took place, riot police were stationed outside the SSP’s office. Water cannons and additional troops were also ready to deal with any protests. All the police personnel were given anti-riot gear.

    Before the arrest, the MPA was expelled from the constituency following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s orders for violating the code of conduct and was subsequently detained. Dawn reported that that Sheikh’s guards “resorted to firing” at a polling station in Ghulam Hussain Jokhio Goth after the chief election commissioner’s “prompt orders to evict the leader of the opposition from the constituency”.

    Furthermore, the PPP also accused the PTI leader of violating the ECP rules. The PPP wrote a letter to the ECP and urged it to take notice of the alleged rule violations by Sheikh. According to the letter: “Sheikh could be seen roaming the constituency with armed persons and was harassing voters.”

  • Long march can wait: PML-N to contest by-polls, Senate election

    Long march can wait: PML-N to contest by-polls, Senate election

    In spite of calls for mass resignations and long march towards Islamabad by the Pakistan Democratic Movement, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Zubair has said that his party will take part in the by-polls to be held in February.

    Speaking in a TV show, Zubair said the party has also decided to take part in the Senate polls — a U-turn on the party’s earlier policy of mass resignations. He further said the decision to march on Islamabad will be taken in the light of the by-polls.

    It may be noted here that the PML-N has already hinted at a delay in the long march due to the “cold weather”. Its Punjab president Rana Sanaullah said that the much-hyped march will be held in March, instead of Jan or Feb, when the weather will be favourable.

    Separately, the National Assembly speaker has decided to accept the resignations of two PML-N lawmakers, Muhammad Sajjad Awan and Murtaza Javed, prompting protests from the said lawmakers.

    According to Awan and Javed, the resignations — dated Dec 14 and written on their official letterhead — were not sent to Speaker Asad Qaiser.

    These resignations were sent to the party leadership and it would be their decision if they wanted to forward these letters to the speaker, the lawmakers said, adding that the speaker has no authority to “verify” their resignation letters at this point.

    On the other hand, the NA Secretariat said that these resignations would be accepted automatically if the lawmakers failed to appear before the speaker within a week.

    Earlier this month, Lahore’s Khokhar brothers of PML-N handed over their resignations from respective assemblies to the party leadership.

    MNA Malik Afzal Khokar and MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar had submitted their letters amid talks of mass resignations by opposition lawmakers in a protest against the government.

  • Govt will hold by-polls in case of Opp’s mass resignations, says PM

    Govt will hold by-polls in case of Opp’s mass resignations, says PM

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced holding by-elections on vacant seats if joint opposition’s lawmakers step down as part of anti-government protests.

    “The government will hold by-elections if they leave the assemblies. If the opposition is confident, then so am I,” he said while speaking to senior journalists on Tuesday.

    The premier was referring to threats by opposition parties to resign from the parliament as part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s protests against the government.

    While a decision in this regard is yet to be taken by the opposition parties, it is being said that mass resignations could lead to a full fledged general election.

    Speaking to journalists, PM Imran also said he was aware of the fact that the opposition has support from abroad.

    “Some countries do not want to see Pakistan progress. Muslim countries around the globe have been destabilised under a well-conceived conspiracy, which is being replicated in Pakistan,” he alleged.

    The premier said that whenever the government sat down with the opposition, their leaders brought up their cases. “The opposition wants to disband NAB so that their cases can be disposed of.”

    PM Imran also admitted that his biggest mistake was not going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier. He said that the IMF wants to raise electricity prices but the government is not in favor of it.