Tag: CM

  • Trouble for IK as ECP imposes fine on him for holding jalsa in Peshawar

    Trouble for IK as ECP imposes fine on him for holding jalsa in Peshawar

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has imposed a fine of Rs.50,000 on Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Mahmood Khan, and other party leaders.

    The fine was imposed on them for violating the code of conduct issued for the upcoming by-elections by participating in a rally in Peshawar despite the commission’s warning.

    On September 6, PTI held a rally in the provincial capital Immediately after Imran’s arrival on stage, YouTube’s access in the country appeared blocked or greatly slowed down.

    Following the violation, District Monitoring Officer (DMO), Peshawar, Shahabuddin, had served notices to Khan, the Chief Minister and others, seeking an explanation. They appeared before the DMO and submitted written replies.

    However, the DMO deemed the reply unsatisfactory and imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on each of the leaders, directing them to deposit the fine to the state exchequer by September 18.

    It is pertinent to mention that a day before the Peshawar rally, the DMO had asked PTI not to attend the rally and warned of legal action.

    Another PTI rally is scheduled to be held in Charsadda on September 17 and for that, the commission sent letters to the KP governor and chief minister asking them not to attend it.

    This is not the first time that a fine has been imposed on PTI leaders. In March, ECP slapped a fine of Rs50,000 on Imran Khan, CM Mahmood Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and others for violating the code of conduct as they all attended a public gathering in Swat on March 16 ahead of the no-confidence motion.

  • Floods in Pakistan: Two minor sisters drown in Rajanpur

    Floods in Pakistan: Two minor sisters drown in Rajanpur

    Two minor sisters who were residents of Chak Dilbar of Rajanpur’s Rojhan Mazari city drowned on Friday due to floods. They were daughters of Karim Bakhsh Saheeja.

    According to official data, the massive floods claimed 34 lives besides washing out three tehsils and 300 villages, causing homelessness to millions in Dera Ghazi Khan (DG Khan) and Rajanpur during the last two weeks.

    Read more: Pakistan officially declares flood situation a ‘national emergency’

    Punjab Local Government Minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed visited DG Khan where he presided over a meeting to review the flood damage and relief activities. He said the Punjab government had declared DG Khan and Rajanpur calamity-hit districts.

    It has been reported that many people complained that they failed to encash the cheques of financial aid given by the Chief Minister (CM).

    DG Khan Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Anwar Baryar said the problem arose because most people had no bank accounts and the cheques could be encashed only by those with bank accounts. However, he assured that money would be given to the affected people after due process and assistant commissioners had been asked to help them in opening accounts.

    Read more: Flood Emergency: Here is how you can help

    On Thursday, Chief Secretary (CS) Punjab Kamran Ali Afzal also paid a visit to flood-hit areas of Rajanpur and reviewed the arrangements in relief camps in Rojhan and its suburban areas.

    Earlier, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PDM) officials briefed Afzal that as many as 31 relief camps have been set up in Rajanpur and 13 in DG Khan where 3,585 victims are taking shelter.

    In a separate incident, four friends lost their lives on Friday in the Sanagai area of ​​Lower Kohistan District after being stuck in the floods for three continuous hours. According to the details, five friends were stuck in flood water and they climbed on a rock to save themselves.

  • ‘Announcement in six to eight weeks’: Imran directs Punjab MPAs to prepare for general elections

    ‘Announcement in six to eight weeks’: Imran directs Punjab MPAs to prepare for general elections

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday directed party leaders and parliamentarians in Punjab to prepare for the next general elections as they could be announced in six to eight weeks.

    The direction came during separate meetings held at Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi’s office on Sunday.

    Khan congratulated Elahi on the ouster of an ‘unconstitutional and unlawful’ government from Punjab.

    Steps to provide relief to the people of the province were also discussed during the meeting.

    Khan held separate meetings with various party leaders, including provincial chief of the party Dr Yasmin Rashid, former chief Shafqat Mahmood, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, as well as with MPAs from six Punjab divisions.

    Khan has given Dr Yasmin Rashid a two-week ultimatum to reorganise the party in the province.

    Earlier, former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that an “agreement” has been reached and the general elections will be held in October.

    “Instead of by-elections, matters on new elections have been settled. The nation will soon hear about the date for the elections in October, the formation of a new election commission and a caretaker government,” said Rasheed.

    PTI challenges approval of 11 resignations in court

    PTI General Secretary Asad Umar on Monday (August 1) reached the Islamabad High Court where he challenged the approval of the 11 resignations of PTI MNAs.

    “A petition has been submitted in the Islamabad High Court against the election commission accepting the resignations of 11 members of the assembly of their choice,” the PTI leader said on Twitter.

    Umar said that they have approached the court against the acceptance of the 11 resignations. 

    “On April 11, 125 of our people resigned on the floor of the assembly, and on April 13, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri accepted their resignations,” Umar said.

    Asad Umar said that PTI MNAs resigned en masse but the election commission’s decision to accept the resignation of 11 members and not 125 is illegal.

    Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified 11 PTI MNAs following the approval of their resignations by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf.

    According to the ECP, Ali Muhammad Khan, Fazal Muhammad Khan, Shaukat Ali, Fakhar Zaman Khan, Farrukh Habib, Ijaz Ahmad Shah, Jamil Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Akram Cheema, Abdul Shakoor Shad, Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari, Shandana Gulzar Khan have been de-notified. 

    PTI to file judicial reference against Chief Election Commissioner

    PTI Information Secretary Farrukh Habib issued a statement on July 30 and said the party had prepared to file a disqualification reference in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against the CEC Sikander Sultan Raja. He said the CEC met PDM leaders after reserving a judgment in the prohibited funding case.

    “By doing so, the chief election commissioner violated his oath, the code of conduct as well as his constitutional duty,” he added.

    According to media reports, PTI decided to file a judicial reference against CEC Sultan Raja. The decision came during a high-level PTI meeting chaired by Imran Khan, where the party leaders reviewed the coalition government’s recent meeting with the CEC and other ECP members.

  • The real story behind Imran Khan sitting on CM Punjab seat

    The real story behind Imran Khan sitting on CM Punjab seat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan met Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and former federal minister Moonis Elahi at the Chief Minister’s Office on Sunday in Lahore and discussed matters of mutual interest, the political situation, the administrative affairs of Punjab, and the law and order situation.

    A picture of their meeting was shared by Moonis Elahi on social media where Khan can be seen sitting on the CM’s seat while the chief minister sat opposite him. The picture went viral and was widely criticised by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.

    “No self-respecting, dignified man would sit on someone else’s official seat/chair but this man is hungry for power,” tweeted Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

    “

    “Rude Tosha Fitna Khan sits on the chair of Chief Minister of Punjab,” tweeted PML-N leader Saad Rafique.

    The real story

    However, senior journalist Hamid Mir explained the real reason why Khan was sitting on the CM seat.

    Hamid Mir said that when Khan reached Elahi’s office to congratulate him, Pervaiz Elahi asked the PTI chairman to sit on the CM seat but Khan replied that it is Elahi’s seat.

    Moonis Elahi said to the PTI chairman that they got this seat because of him, so he should sit on it. After Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi’s insistence, finally Imran Khan sat on the chair of the Punjab Chief Minister.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Punjab Assembly session: Who will be the new Speaker?
    
			
    Punjab Assembly session: Who will be the new Speaker?
    
			
    The Punjab Assembly (PA) session to elect its new Speaker has started today (Friday). Today’s session will be chaired by Panel of Chairman Wasim Badozai.
    

    The seat fell vacant when the previous Speaker, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, was sworn in as Punjab Chief Minister (CM) after the Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict in his favour.
    

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) have the majority in the Assembly, and have nominated Sibtain Khan as their joint candidate while the Opposition parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), have nominated Saiful Malook Khokhar as their joint candidate.
    

    Khan is currently serving as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries since 2020.
    

    Sibtain Khan claimed that the PML-N would “fail to cause any interruption” during the Speaker’s election. He hoped that he would win the contest “effortlessly”.
    

    PML-N’s Khokhar said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will win. “They [PTI] will know who is better and who is a thief,” he added.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Can talk to TTP, not with thieves’: Imran Khan rules out possibility of talks with the govt
    
			
    ‘Can talk to TTP, not with thieves’: Imran Khan rules out possibility of talks with the govt
    
			
    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan addressed his supporters on Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court verdict declared Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the new chief minister of Punjab. He demanded immediate elections that should be free and fair. Khan ruled out any possibility of holding talks with the coalition government.
    

    ‘Can talk to the TTP and separatists but not with thieves’
    

    “I can talk to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the separatists of Balochistan and Sindh, but not with thieves,” said Khan while ruling out the possibility of holding talks with the coalition government.
    

    “Will you speak to someone who robs your home?” 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    ‘A new Election Commission should be formed’
    

    Once again, Khan expressed his complete lack of trust in the incumbent Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja. Khan accused the ECP of supporting former CM Punjab Hamza Shehbaz.
    

    “The Election Commission was involved and tried to defeat us in the by-polls.” 
    

    Terming his party’s win in the Punjab by-elections a “miracle”, he said that despite the government’s attempts, his party managed to win because of the people.
    

    “First of all, Hamza was illegally imposed on us, and even when he was ordered by the top court to refrain from using any state machinery and administration for personal gains, he used all of the aforementioned to rig the elections.”
    

    He demanded that a new Election Commission should be formed.
    

    “Such an Election Commission should be formed that no political party should have an issue with it.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    ‘Yeh jo bikay hain hamaray log, yeh bhi aik shirk hai’
    

    Khan said that those who defected from his party committed shirk.
    

     “Jab yeh apni naukri ko bachanay ke liye ghalat kaam kartay hain,  gunnah kartay hain, yeh bhi aik shirk hai. Aap apnay zameer ko bechtay hain, laalach de kar jo aap ko khareedta hai, yeh jo bikay hain hamaray log bhairr baqriyon ki tarah, yeh bhi aik shirq hai kyun ke Allah Al-Haqq hai.” 
    

    (Those who do wrong things to save their jobs commit sin, it is shirk [idolatry]. Those who sell their self-respect and themselves, it is also counted as shirk because Allah is Al-Haqq). 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Azadi March and Haqeeqi Azadi
    

    Khan recalled that when his party announced its “Azadi March” on May 25, the coalition government attacked the women, children, and families who came out to support PTI. 
    

    “They tried to silence us.”
    

    “Today, I want to thank the Almighty that despite all the impediments, people came out to show support rather than staying at home out of fear,” adding that he is glad that the people of Pakistan have started becoming a nation now.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    ‘Free and fair elections should be held immediately‘
    

    Khan stressed that there is only one way forward and that is through immediately holding free and fair elections. 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    New CM Punjab: Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi
    
			
    New CM Punjab: Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi
    
			
    Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is now the chief minister (CM) of Punjab as per the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Punjab CM election case.
    

    The apex court has directed Governor Punjab Balighur Rehman to administer oath to Pervaiz Elahi by 11:30pm tonight.
    

    Punjab CM election: Supreme Court to announce verdict in a while
    

    In a plea filed by PML-Q’s Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the Supreme Court (SC) heard the case regarding Chief Minister (CM) Punjab election and reserved its decision.
    

    The plea was filed against the Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker’s ruling on the day of the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) election (July 22).
    

    The top court will announce the final verdict at 5:45pm today.
    

    A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial was hearing the case.
    

    Punjab CM election: PPP and Mazari’s lawyers excuse themselves from SC hearing 
    

    Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari and Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) lawyers have declined to participate in the Supreme Court (SC) proceedings as they had demanded a full court bench in the case pertaining to the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) election.
    

    Deputy Speaker Mazari’s counsel Irfan Qadir told the bench that his client had told him not to be part of the proceedings. PPP lawyer Farooq H. Naek also came to the rostrum and informed Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial that he would not be part of the proceedings.
    

    At this, the CJP told him that he “is not a party in the case”.
    

    Coalition govt to boycott court proceedings if full bench not constituted
    

    All political parties in the coalition announced that they will boycott court proceedings till a full bench is constituted.
    

    Announcing the decision, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that since the coalition government’s request for the formation of a full court bench was rejected, they have also rejected this decision of the court.
    

    “We will not appear before this bench and will boycott it.”
    

    Punjab CM case: Full court bench rejected 
    

    The Supreme Court has rejected the request for a full court bench.
    

    Earlier today, the coalition government had demanded the formation of a full court bench in the case pertaining to Punjab chief minister election.
    

    The three-member SC bench will resume hearing the deputy speaker Punjab Assembly case tomorrow (July 26) at 11am.
    

    More legal clarification needed, CJP Bandial on the formation of full court bench
    

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has said that the court will decide whether to form a full court bench or not after listening to more legal clarification.
    

    The top court has also said it is uncertain whether the decision on the formation of a full bench will be made today or not.
    

    CJP also remarked that if the situation gets out of hand will we make full bench court. 
    

    Full court bench can only be formed in September
    

    During today’s hearing, CJP Bandial remarked that the full court bench can only be formed in September, questioning that should all work be stopped till then? 
    

    ‘If there is no full court bench, we will boycott the proceedings’: Rana Sanaullah
    

    Prior to the SC’s decision on the formation of full court bench, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that “if the Supreme Court does not form a full court bench, we will boycott the proceedings.” He added that if the full court is not formed then Hamza Shehbaz will not become a party in this case.
    

    Rana Sanaullah gave a reference, he said that in 2015 eight judges had given a decision regarding the party chief.
    

    Along with Rana, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the way the constitution has been interpreted, it is beyond understanding.
    

    Supreme Court reserves verdict on formation of full court bench
    

    After a joint press conference by the members of the ruling coalition and requests made by SCBA and lawyers, the top court has reportedly reserved its verdict on the formation of a full court bench. The hearing has been adjourned till 5:30pm.
    

    PTI’s leader Fawad Chaudhry said that the top court will announce whether they are hearing the petition or a full court bench. Taking a jibe at the government and its coalition partners’ lawyers, Chaudhry said that they didn’t have any solid arguments.
    

    The Supreme Court (SC) has resumed its hearing on a plea filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s petition challenging Punjab Assembly (PA) Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari’s decision in the Chief Minister (CM) run-off election on July 22. 
    

    SC resumes the hearing 
    

    A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial along with Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, is holding the hearing at SC’s Room 1.
    

    On Saturday, the top court said that Hamza Shehbaz would work as trustee CM till Monday and adjourned the hearing.
    

    Petition on Article 63-A should be heard: Ahsan Bhoon
    

    Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon requested the Supreme Court on Sunday to take up the Bar’s already filed review petition against the “short judgment passed by the apex court” on May 17 in the presidential reference over the interpretation of Article 63-A.
    

    Bhoon underlined that it was the right time for the apex court to take up the SCBA petition and decide the matter once and for all “so that no one dares to point finger towards the apex court”.
    

    “What’s the hurry Bhoon Sahab, let us hear this case first,” said CJP Bandial during today’s proceedings.
    

    The bench called former SCBA head Advocate Latif Afridi who said that the country’s current political situation is “very complicated” at the moment and requested a full court bench.
    

    Elahi’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said the Bar presidents should not be involved in such matters.
    

    The deputy speaker’s lawyer, Irfan Qadir, also requested the court to constitute a full bench. At this, the CJP asked him the grounds on which a full court bench should be constituted.
    

    Qadir requested the bench to read paragraphs one and two of its decision on the presidential reference seeking interpretation of Article 63-A, stating that everything would then be clarified.
    

    Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the court that he has received some important information. At this, the top court asked him to sit. The court also directed Hamza’s lawyer Mansoor Awan not to take directions from Tarar.
    

    SC shouldn’t be blackmailed: Fawad Chaudhry
    

    While talking to the media, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry said that PTI has no issue with a full court bench.
    

    “The party has reservations that SC shouldn’t be blackmailed. Otherwise, it is up to the chief justice to make a full court bench,” said Chaudhry.
    

    SC hearing on Punjab CM election: Political leaders banned to enter court
    

    Before the hearing, all the political leaders were banned from entering SC for the hearing on the matter of the election of the Punjab CM. Strict security arrangements were also being made
    

    An official of the Islamabad police said only leaders of respondent parties would be allowed to enter the court premises with the permission of the SC administration. He added that political parties had provided lists of leaders in this regard.
    

    “No rally, procession, or gathering will be allowed in the Red Zone, including around the Supreme Court”, he said.*
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Unidentified men attack political commentator Ayaz Amir
    
			
    Unidentified men attack political commentator Ayaz Amir
    
			
    Unidentified men reportedly attacked senior columnist and analyst Ayaz Amir and his driver in Lahore on Friday.
    

    Amir was leaving the office of Dunya News located at Lahore’s Abbott Road when unidentified men attacked him. The assailants also snatched his wallet and mobile phone.
    

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident and asked Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz to hold a high-level investigation.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    CM Punjab ordered that the attackers should be arrested at the earliest. He condemned the attack on Ayaz Amir.
    

    

    

    

    

    		
    

    
	

    

    

    

    

    

    

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan also condemned the attack in “strongest terms”.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The incident occurred a day after Ayaz Amir’s strongly-worded speech delivered at a seminar in Islamabad, where he had criticised the policies of former premier Imran Khan, accusing him of facilitating the realtors and property tycoons during his rule. He also criticised the extension granted to the army chief, criticising Khan’s decision.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Construction work for Swat Motorway Phase-II to begin next week
    
			
    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan will lay the foundation stone for Swat Motorway Phase-II in the next week.
    

    The CM instructed that development on the Dir Motorway project’s PC 1 for land acquisition be quickened so that practical work on the project can proceed.
    

    He was presiding over a meeting of the Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority to discuss the status of various road projects, including the Swat Motorway Phase II and the Dir Motorway.
    

    The meeting was informed on the status of Swat Motorway Phase II, which will be 88 km long and will be built at a cost of Rs58 billion and will run from Chakdara to Fatehpur. It was also revealed that a contractor deal for the project’s construction had been inked.
    

    It was revealed that Rs6.7 billion had been allocated for the project’s land acquisition. In addition, section four was implemented for the purchase of land.
    

    Project Plan
    

    Swat motorway will have four lanes at first and will be expanded to six lanes later. Chakdara Interchange, Shamozai Interchange, Barikot Interchange, Mingora Interchange, Kanju Interchange, Malam Jabba-University of Swat Interchange, Sher Palam Interchange, Matta Khawazakhela Interchange, and Madin-Fatehpur Interchange would be among the nine interchanges.
    

    On the Swat River, a total of eight bridges will be built. The project also includes the construction of four rest spots in various places, as well as the construction of connection highways if required.
    

    PHA officials briefed the meeting on Dir Motorway that an Expression of Interest for a 30 km long Dir Motorway from Chakdara to Rabat had been floated. Three interchanges, four flyovers, 24 bridges, two underpasses, and two tunnels will be part of this road project.
    

    These developments, according to the Chief Minister, would help boost tourism, trade, and economic operations, making them a “milestone” for the long-term growth of the Malakand division. These initiatives will also provide employment chances for locals in addition to improving transportation facilities.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet approves Rs2.5 billion subsidy under Ramzan package
    
			
    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet on March 29 okayed a subsidy package of Rs2.5 billion for the upcoming holy month of Ramzan, to ensure an uninterrupted supply of edible items at lesser rates.
    

    KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan presided over the meeting, which was attended by ministers, chief minister’s advisers, and administrative secretaries.
    

    Following the meeting, government spokesman Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif revealed that 2,800 points had been set up around the KP to sell 20kg bags of wheat flour for Rs800 instead of the customary Rs1100 during Ramzan, while 10kg bags would be sold for Rs400.
    

    During Ramzan, the cabinet also decided to set up 83 sasta bazaars, 123 Ramazan facilitation centers, 42 mobile utility stores, and 96 Ramzan dastarkhwans.
    

    All of these points will be supervised by monitoring units led by respective secretaries and deputy commissioners to prevent price hikes and shortages of vital commodities on the market.