Tag: #election

  • Another ‘unusual’ huddle in Aiwan-e-Sadr sets rumour mill in overdrive

    Another ‘unusual’ huddle in Aiwan-e-Sadr sets rumour mill in overdrive

    A few days after an unexpected meeting among three important people at the President House, another ‘unusual’ meeting took place on Sep 8 (today).
    Former information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani met President Arif Alvi on the completion of the president’s constitutional term.

    Muhammad Ali Durrani is the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F). He also served as information minister in the era of late military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. In 2021, during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, he proposed starting a dialogue between stakeholders.

    In 2020, the former information minister met former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat jail during Imran Khan’s tenure to convey an “important message”. 

    According to Geo News, the former information minister called on President Alvi at Aiwan-e-Sadr. However, no official statement has been issued about the huddle.

    “Political pundits are terming the meeting unusual, as Durrani was inactive in politics for a long time and played a key role in the backdoor meeting,” the publication said.

    Earlier, sources told The News that two important personalities met President Alvi in Aiwan-e-Sadr. The meeting was held on the fourth floor of the Aiwan-e-Sadr, with the premises being off-limits for everyone, including staff.

  • Shehbaz Sharif arrives in London to meet Nawaz

    Shehbaz Sharif arrives in London to meet Nawaz

    Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reached London on Sunday to meet Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif. According to Geo News, the agenda of the meeting between the two brothers included the upcoming general elections and Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan.

    Shehbaz Sharif’s son Salman Shehbaz is accompanying him.

    According to PML-N sources, Shehbaz Sharif will meet his brother as well as other party leaders in London.
    Several former federal ministers are also present in the British capital to join the crucial meeting about Nawaz Sharif’s return to the country.
    Earlier, Shehbaz Sharif has said that his elder brother will return to Pakistan next month and face the law.

  • High court says Imran Khan is not restricted from contesting in future elections

    High court says Imran Khan is not restricted from contesting in future elections

    After the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict de-seating Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) to challenge the commission’s decision to disqualify him.

    On Monday, the high court rejected Imran Khan’s request to suspend the ECP order instantly in the Toshakhana reference on the basis of which he had been disqualified.

    However, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah observed that Khan had not been barred from contesting in future elections, adding that he “won’t face any problems” to contest in the NA-45 (Kurram-I) by-election. The by-election is scheduled to be held on October 30.

    Moreover, CJ said that Khan’s disqualification by the ECP is only to the extent of the seat he was notified on.

    During the hearing today, Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said that his client had been disqualified ahead of the by-election in Kurram and a stay order is needed because the PTI chairman is contesting from the seat.

    The IHC chief justice then observed, “Imran Khan is not disqualified for that election”, adding that he would not face any problems in this regard.

    Justice Minallah also pointed out that the ECP’s detailed judgment is not available yet.

    The chief justice observed that it is normal practice to issue a detailed judgment later.

    “Wait for the [written] verdict. This is a routine matter. The Election Commission is not delaying it,” he stated.

    On October 21, ECP in a consensus verdict, disqualified former Prime Minister Khan and ruled that he is no more a member of the National Assembly (NA) in Toshakhana reference.

    Khan was disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) for misdeclaration.

  • Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to appear before Supreme Court tomorrow: sources

    Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to appear before Supreme Court tomorrow: sources

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain will appear before the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday (tomorrow) over the matter of his letter to Punjab Assembly (PA) Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari on the day of the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) election (July 22), sources have revealed according to Geo News.

    According to media reports, he has left for the capital.

    It is pertinent to mention that after reading Shujaat’s letter to the House, Mazari dismissed the 10 votes of PML-Q cast in favour of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, which led to his [Elahi] defeat in the CM election against Hamza Shehbaz.

    Following the election, a plea was filed by Elahi challenging Mazari’s ruling. On Saturday, the apex court heard it and said that incumbent CM Hamza Shehbaz will work as a trustee CM till Monday and adjourned the hearing.

    ‘Hamza Shehbaz will work as trustee CM till Monday’: Supreme Court

    In a plea filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi challenging Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari’s ruling, the Supreme Court (SC) has said that incumbent Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz will work as a trustee CM till Monday and adjourned the hearing.

    The judges also remarked that the deputy speaker’s ruling appeared to be illegal. Earlier today, a three-bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial heard Elahi’s plea after last night’s Punjab CM election.

    The court has also made it clear that Hamza will work in accordance with the law and the Constitution until then. According to the top court, Hamza is not allowed to use his power as CM in any way that would benefit him personally.

    Outside the court, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PT) leader Farrukh Habib told reporters that the government’s side had no responses or credible arguments to present.

    He said the case has become very “simple and clear” and after today’s hearing, Elahi would be the “legal and constitutional” chief minister once the court verdict comes. He said Hamza is restored only as a “trustee” chief minister so that the province’s governance is not impacted and his oath today has been withheld.

    Earlier today, CJP directed Dost Mazari to appear before the court so that he could explain his position. However, he did not show up. Irfan Qadir, Mazari’s lawyer, asked the court for more time and said he wanted to submit a written response. The court granted him time till Monday.

    It is pertinent to mention that Elahi had the support of 10 PML-Q MPAs apart from PTI. However, a day before the CM Punjab election, a meeting took place between Shujaat and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, which turned the tables in Hamza’s favour. On the day of the election, Shujaat directed his MPAs to vote in favour of Hamza.

    However, the lawmakers cast votes in favour of Elahi but Mazari dismissed their votes. Later both PTI and PML-Q challenged Mazari’s ruling as they were of the view that it is unconstitutional.

    SC summons Punjab Deputy Speaker Mazari at 2pm on Elahi’s petition

    The Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday summoned Punjab Assembly (PA) Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari at 2pm in connection with a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi challenging his ruling during the chief minister’s run-off election held on July 22.

    A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar, directed Mazari to submit the complete record of yesterday’s election to the court.

    Elahi’s counsel Barrister Ali Zafar informed the court that in the run-off election yesterday, Hamza secured 179 votes against his client’s 186.

    The SC’s opinion in the May order, Zafar said, states that the parliamentary party can give directions to lawmakers on whom to vote for, and the PML-Q’s parliamentary party decided to back Elahi, but despite that, Mazari dismissed 10 PML-Q votes.

    “They ignored the parliamentary party’s decision,” Zafar said.

    At this, the chief justice said that all the relevant parties — deputy speaker, chief minister, and Punjab attorney-general — should be issued notices so they can provide their version.

    “We wish to hear from the deputy speaker personally. Only the deputy speaker can tell us which paragraph he was referring to,” Justice Bandial said.

    Elahi files a petition against the deputy speaker’s ruling

    In his petition, Elahi requested the court to hold the deputy speaker’s ruling leading to Hamza’s re-election as “bogus and false”.

    “Hamza Shehbaz may kindly be declared disqualified as the Punjab chief minister/ member of the provincial assembly,” the petition read.

    It requested the court to declare the deputy speaker’s decision to discard the votes of 10 PML-Q lawmakers on grounds of Article 63-A of the Constitution as “unconstitutional”.

    What happened in Punjab on July 22?

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) candidate Hamza Shehbaz on July 22 retained the post of the Punjab chief minister after a three-vote victory against the PTI’s candidate, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

    Dost Mazari, citing the Supreme Court’s opinion on Article 63-A of the Constitution, rejected 10 votes cast by PML-Q members in favour of Elahi “against the party line”.

    As a result, Hamza received 179 votes, while Elahi, who was backed by the PTI, managed to bag 176 votes.

  • Maryam Nawaz alleges conspiracy to kill Nawaz Sharif when he was jailed

    Maryam Nawaz alleges conspiracy to kill Nawaz Sharif when he was jailed

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has alleged that there was a conspiracy to murder Nawaz Sharif when he was in jail.

    “Opponents start to tremble as soon as they hear the name of Nawaz Sharif. He was ousted on the basis of Iqama. His position as a prime Minister was snatched from him,” said the Maryam while addressing a rally in Azad Kashmir.

    "There was a conspiracy, a plan to kill Nawaz Sharif while he was still in jail," added Maryam.

    “The Cabinet Meeting spends its time planning to stop Nawaz Sharif rather than investing its time for doing the public some good,” said Maryam.
    

    “Nawaz Sharif resides in London and beats [the Opponents through votes] in their house in every election,” added Maryam Nawaz.

  • Who will win the US presidential race?

    Who will win the US presidential race?

    Voters in the United States (US) will decide on November 3 whether Donald Trump remains in the White House for another four years.

    The Republican president is being challenged by Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden, who is best known as Barack Obama’s vice-president but has been in US politics since the 1970s.

    As election day approaches, polling companies will be trying to gauge the mood of the nation by asking voters which candidate they prefer.

    Biden is currently leading Trump in the national polls. The 10-poll average indicates that just over half of Americans intend to back Biden while Trump’s support trails this by around seven or eight points.

    BUT WHO WILL WIN?

    Trump triumphed in 2016 despite losing the popular vote, and pollsters misjudged the size of his support, so despite Biden’s lead, it is still difficult to predict who will win the keys to the White House.

    However, according to the latest polling averages, Biden’s lead over the incumbent is remaining solid despite a slight downfall in the wake of the US presidential debates and Trump’s diagnosis with coronavirus, The Telegraph reports.

    Who do you think will win the US presidential race?

    Donald Trump
    Joe Biden

    Biden’s polling average has remained above 50 per cent since October 4, and the Democratic nominee has consistently polled in the lead since the race began.

    If state polls are close to the final result, it suggests Biden is on course for gains in at least two swing states — Michigan and Wisconsin — and Arizona, which has been more likely to vote Republican in recent years.

    WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW:

    In American politics, the term swing state refers to any state that could reasonably be won by either the Democratic or Republican presidential candidate by a swing in votes. These states are usually targeted by both major-party campaigns, especially in competitive elections.

    While Florida and Texas are too close to call — carrying 67 electoral college votes between them — Pennsylvania and its 20 votes for the presidency are leaning Democrat according to the latest polls.

    The electoral college is a process and not an actual place. To become president, what really counts is winning a majority of electoral votes. Each state has been allotted electoral votes based on the size of its population and whoever wins a particular state is expected to bag all the electoral votes allotted to that state.

    There are 538 electoral votes in total which means that a candidate needs to secure 270 to win.

    To put it simply, when the US public votes in the election, they are not voting for the president. Instead, they are voting for a group of people who will then choose the president and vice president.

    The word “college” here simply refers to a group of people with a shared task, BBC says. The electoral college meets every four years, a few weeks after election day, to carry out that task.

    Of the states that could go either way based on the latest polls, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida all flipped to Donald Trump from the Democrats in the 2016 election, and his chances of retaining the presidency could rest on reclaiming victory here and holding on to Texas.

    Having voted Republican in every election since 2000, Texas is now a toss-up and could be pivotal to the final result.