Tag: CEC

  • Petitions seek postponement of elections, citing ‘snowfall’ and ‘terrorism’

    Petitions seek postponement of elections, citing ‘snowfall’ and ‘terrorism’

    Two separate petitions seeking the postponement of elections have landed before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) a day before the commission is set to publish final delimitation lists.

    The petitions, filed by individuals hailing from Balochistan, cited security issues and snowfall in several districts as reasons to seek the postponement of elections.

    One of the petitions filed by Meena Majeed, a general councilor from Mand tehsil of Kech district, through Advocate Fatima Nazar, stated that Balochistan was dealing with heightened security concerns.

    “Specifically, the Mekran division has witnessed a surge in terrorist activities, ranging from target killings of innocent daily wage earners to alarming incidents such as IED blasts and women suicide bombing,” it stated. The impact was most pronounced in districts such as Kech and Gwadar, where 61 acts of terrorism during the last three months alone claimed 32 lives, it read.

    “This topography coupled with inadequate road infrastructure and poor connectivity presents a formidable obstacle to implementing effective security measures and ensuring the feasibility of free and fair elections,” it added.

    The other petition, filed by Toor Gul Khan Jogezai from district Kila Saifullah Khan through Advocate Azizullah Kakakhel, pointed out that many districts and divisions in the country face heavy snowfall in winter which affects the daily routines of residents.

    As a result, elections can not be held in such areas, since the inhabitants of these areas were either displaced or are limited, until the month of May or restoration of normal life.

    The petition argued that if elections are held in such areas, it is feared that provincial or national assembly candidates would either lose their vote bank or voters would lose their votes in favor of their candidates.

    Hence, it is need of time that the election be postponed to any other suitable time through which the citizens of such an area could participate in a free and fair election and elect representatives according to their choice of constituency, the petition read.

    Elections ‘on time’

    ECP issued a firm rebuttal, cautioning that legal action could be taken against individuals disseminating misleading news about a potential delay in the polls scheduled for February 8, 2024.

    The ECP had earlier set February 8, 2024, as the election date following consultations with President Arif Alvi and in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives.

    Despite the announcement and a consensus among political parties welcoming the development, some political leaders and analysts persisted in casting doubts on the scheduled elections.

    A spokesperson for the ECP, in a statement on Thursday, termed the media reports regarding election delay as “baseless and misleading”.

    The statement said a report claiming that the voters’ lists were not being prepared is “completely false”.

    The spokesperson further said that it has approached the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to take legal action against those “spreading misleading news”.

  • CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja satisfied with Punjab govt initiatives to hold elections

    CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja satisfied with Punjab govt initiatives to hold elections

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja is satisfied with the initiatives taken by the Punjab caretaker government to conduct polls in the province.

    The CEC gave the statement while discussing the upcoming general elections in today’s meeting with Punjab caretaker cabinet.

    The commission provided an extensive overview of the arrangements for the upcoming provincial elections.

    Provincial election commission members Nisar Ahmad Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Ikramullah Khan and Babar Hasan Bharwana also attended the meeting.

    During the huddle, the CEC stressed that general election will be held on time as well as the electoral body will fully support the interim government in conducting a free and fair election in the province.

    Raja has also mentioned that the process of delimitation will be finished by November 30, adding that ECP is ready to conduct free and fair elections in the country.

    The interim Chief Minister (CM), Mohsin Naqvi, said that caretaker government will fully support the electoral body for peaceful and transparent elections.

    “Fool-proof arrangements will be made to ensure the free conduct of elections in Punjab,” CM Naqvi said, adding that the interim government will follow the ECP.

  • President Alvi wants elections in November

    President Alvi wants elections in November

    President Arif Alvi will likely defy the opinion of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the law ministry as he is reportedly contemplating announcing the date for the next general elections, sources familiar with the development have said, reported Kamran Yousaf for The Express Tribune.

    It is expected that the president will write another letter to the ECP, suggesting a date in November for the elections. The sources said that President Alvi was in conversation with his legal team and was advised that an act of parliament could not override the provisions of the Constitution and that parliament might have amended the Election Act 2017 but the Constitution was clear that polls would have to take place within 90 days.

    “Based on that opinion, the president will communicate the election date to the Election Commission soon,” a source revealed.

    Previously, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja decided that he would not meet President Dr. Arif Alvi for a discussion on fixing the date for the general elections. After a recent amendment to existing laws, fixing the date for the election is at the discretion of the ECP.

    The CEC called a meeting of the commission last week to talk to its members about the matter of fixing the date before taking a formal position. It is not the ECP’s responsibility, according to the law, to consult with the president on this matter. “The law is very clear about it. The President has cited the wrong article for this purpose.”

    Alvi had invited Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, for a meeting on August 23 or 24, to fix an appropriate date for holding the general elections.

  • No country has raised concerns regarding polls delay, says Foreign Office

    Following reports of senior diplomats expressing reservations regarding the delay in polls in Pakistan, while mentioning that it could have negative effects on Pakistan’s relationships with democratic nations, the Foreign Office said it has not yet received any such communication from any capital, sources told The News.

    If a country raises any doubts and concerns, the authorities can address them, the Foreign Office said.

    If elections are delayed beyond February next year, then that might invoke serious consequences for the country. “Frankly, if elections are delayed beyond February, it will be extremely difficult for us to maintain the same level of bilateral engagement with Pakistan as we are doing now,” a source told Express Tribune.

    It is believed that in case of delay in elections, western countries, might revisit their cooperation with Pakistan. This could negatively impact Pakistan’s engagement with US-led financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
    Not only Western countries want timely elections but they also want a level playing field for all the political parties. “This is something we will be keeping a close eye on,” said another diplomatic source, referring to media restrictions and crackdown against certain political parties.

    Meanwhile, FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch clarified that she has no knowledge of any messages from any capital on this matter, as the positions of Pakistan and other countries on the issue are already known.

    The sources revealed that the government is well aware of the European Union’s (EU) stance and the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) perspective on the matter. If parliamentary elections are deferred without valid reasons, the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade facility could come under scrutiny.

    It has been reported that United States Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, and some other senior Western diplomats had held meetings with high-ranking officials in Pakistan, including caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

    These meetings were aimed at gaining first-hand assessments of the situation. It is understood that these countries have closely followed the developments in Pakistan regarding election preparations and maintained communication with relevant parties to emphasise the preservation of a democratic environment.

    The sources noted that Pakistan has adequately briefed important capitals on the post-dissolution developments in national and provincial legislatures. The government has assured these capitals that the action will strictly adhere to the Constitution and law. The restriction to hold elections within 90 days following assembly dissolution, as stipulated in the Constitution, has been communicated.

    The sources highlighted that the ECP had recently clarified that there are no intentions to delay elections once the delimitation process concludes. Speculation arose that updating electoral rolls based on new delimitations could lead to further delays.

    The electoral body dismissed the concerns, explaining that updating electoral rolls and delimitation can proceed concurrently, as this is not an uncommon practice and would not cause any delay in elections. The ECP has already set December 14 as the deadline for completing the constituency delimitation process, and the enrollment of new voters will also be completed by this deadline.

  • Fawad Chaudhry apologises to ECP in contempt case

    Fawad Chaudhry apologises to ECP in contempt case

    Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry, now associated with the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), has rendered an apology to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a contempt case filed against him, Geo News has reported.

    The case against Fawad Chaudhry was initiated last year in August, for using inappropriate language against the ECP and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

    The ECP, a constitutional body, issued notices to Fawad Chaudhry and other members of the PTI, including Imran Khan and Asad Umar, for using foul language against the CEC and ECP.

    A four-member commission headed by the CEC heard the contempt case against Fawad Chaudhry and others on Thursday.

    Fawad Chaudhry appeared before the ECP and apologised to the commission. He further requested it to withdraw the show-cause notice issued to him.

    Fawad Chaudhry said that whatever he said at that time was the party’s narrative.

    “It was the party’s position that I described. I respect institutions, including the ECP,” the former information minister said.

    The ECP asked him to submit a written apology, adjourning the hearing till August 1.

  • ECP decides to hold local govt polls in Karachi, Hyderabad on Jan 15

    ECP decides to hold local govt polls in Karachi, Hyderabad on Jan 15

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday has announced that local bidy government (LG) elections would take place on January 15, 2023, in Karachi and Hyderabad.

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja — who headed the five-member bench, announced the verdict that the commission had reserved on November 15.

    LG elections in the two divisions were originally scheduled for July 24, but have been put off thrice since then, primarily because of the Sindh government’s request that it didn’t have required police officials as they were busy with flood relief operations.

    The polls were first put off to August 28, then to October 23, and then indefinitely, before the Sindh government on November 10 said it had postponed the polls on its own for 90 days prompting criticism from the PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).

    Today’s development comes days after the Sindh High Court (SHC) had instructed the electoral watchdog to issue the schedule for local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad within 15 days, adding that the polls should preferably be conducted within 60 days.

  • ‘Qanoon ke saamnay sar jhukay’: PM and others react to IK’s disqualification

    ‘Qanoon ke saamnay sar jhukay’: PM and others react to IK’s disqualification

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday disqualified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan under Article 63(1)(p) of the constitution in the Toshakhana reference.

    Article 63 (1)(p) of the Constitution states that an individual is, “for the time being, disqualified from being elected or chosen as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament) or of a provincial assembly under any law for the time being in force”.

    According to the verdict, criminal proceedings will be initiated against Imran for misdeclaration.

    A four-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, unanimously announced the verdict. The PTI chairman is no more a member of the National Assembly.

    The commission stated that Imran Khan submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices in the reference.

    Following the announcement, Khan’s party leaders and the coalition government parties reacted to this major ruling.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif said that PTI should refrain from violence and bow its head before the law.

    “The Election Commission did justice in the Toshakhana reference. The nation has seen that the post of Prime Minister has been made a source of personal income through corrupt practices. The idol of honesty and trust was shattered,” the premier added.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz spoke to the media in London. She said, “Khan is Pakistan’s first certified liar with irrefutable evidence of theft.”

    She added that after this verdict criminal proceedings should start against Khan and he should be punished for his theft.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that Khan has been caught “red-handed”. In a tweet, he stated: “He who would spread lies about the alleged corruption of his political opponents has been caught red-handed.”

    The former planning minister, Asad Umar, made an announcement, saying: “The decision will be challenged in court. The dream of ‘minus Imran Khan’ will never come true.”

    Umar’s party mate Fawad Chaudhry asked the people to come out of their houses for their rights.

    He called the ECP’s ruling a “slap on the face of 220 million people”.

    “Not just anyone cannot disqualify Imran Khan. Only the public can do that,” the PTI leader said.

    He alleged that today’s verdict was “written by Nawaz Sharif and signed by his servants”.

    Alongside him, PTI leader Shahbaz Gill said the PTI would approach “every forum” against the verdict. “Imran has been disqualified from just one seat, not politics,” he added.

    Minister for Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman, took to Twitter to say that Imran Khan’s disqualification case is no different as he is not the only one who has been disqualified.

    In a series of tweets, she said, “Those who claim to bring a neutral umpire want the umpire to decide in their favour, otherwise the decision will not be accepted.”

  • Rana Sanaullah warns PTI again after Imran says party is all ready for long march

    Rana Sanaullah warns PTI again after Imran says party is all ready for long march

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has warned Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, again that the federal government will respond with “full force” if he announces a long march and enters Islamabad.

    On Monday, the federal minister said that Khan has started the culture of bringing huge crowds out on the streets, but the government knows how to end it.

    Speaking about the by-elections in which PTI won the majority of the seats, Sanauallah said that while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has “responsibly carried out its job in the by-polls”, Khan was busy “spreading propaganda against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).”

    Rana Sanaullah revealed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will lead his party’s next election campaign.

    Despite the warning, the PTI chief said the long march will be announced within this month. He told the federal government to announce a date for general elections in a few days or else the long march date will be announced. Imran Khan stressed that all preparations for the long march have been completed.

    Last week, Sanaullah warned Khan about his party’s long march, saying, “Jab yeh long march ke liye aayeinge [Islamabad], iss ko pakar kar ulta kardeinge” (We will hang Khan upside down if he takes his long march into Islamabad).

    The federal minister also said that there is a possibility of Khan and other party leaders being arrested during the long march.

  • Fact Check: PPP did not suspend Aitzaz Ahsan from CEC, party membership

    Fact Check: PPP did not suspend Aitzaz Ahsan from CEC, party membership

    Claim: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) decided to take action against former federal minister Aitzaz Ahsan after his recent statement about the army chief and decided to suspend his Central Executive Committee (CEC) and basic membership of the party.

    “A resolution will be adopted in today’s session against Aitzaz Ahsan’s remarks and a show-cause notice will be served to him,” party insiders shared with a news outlet, adding that the decision had been taken on PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari’s instructions.

    Fact: PPP’s sources have revealed that no such decision has been taken and the prerogative of such decision lies in the hands of party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Co-chairman Asif Zardari. PPP leader Anny Marri also tweeted negating the news about Ahsan’s suspension, saying there is “zero truth to this”.

    Details:

    Senior PPP leader Ahsan had given a statement while talking to the media persons at the Lahore High Court against Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Ahsan alleged that the army chief rescued the Sharif family from conviction in cases and he has committed a big crime.

    He said the cases against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif were open-and-shut and their conviction was evident.

    He further said it was unfortunate that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had been used for political engineering in Pakistan.

    Punjab PPP acting president, Rana Farooq Saeed, disowned Ahsan’s statement against the army chief, alleging that the senior leader has become a part of Imran Khan’s “anti-democracy agenda”.

    “Aitzaz Ahsan has become a full part of Imran Khan’s conspiracy to derail democracy in the country [by stating that the army chief has rescued the Sharifs from conviction in cases],” said Saeed.

    Verdict: FALSE

  • Toshakhana case: ECP directs Khan to submit reply by Sept 7

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday to submit his reply in the Toshakhana case against him by September 7.

    Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the counsel for the PTI chairman, appeared before an ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and appealed for some more time to file a reply.

    He said that Khan’s lead counsel Barrister Ali Zafar is in Lahore, which is why he was unable to consult with him regarding the case. He assured the ECP bench of submitting a reply at the next hearing.

    The CEC observed that since everything was part of the record, it must not take so much time to submit a reply.

    However, the bench granted a week’s time to the PTI chief and the hearing was adjourned till September 7.

    Earlier this month, National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf sent a reference to the ECP seeking Imran Khan’s disqualification. In the reference, it was stated that Khan did not declare the gifts taken from Toshakhana in his assets and the detail of the amount he had received by selling those state gifts.

    In April, an investigation by news organisation Fact Focus revealed that Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi kept all 112 presents worth Rs142.02 million from the Toshakhana of Pakistan.