Tag: General elections

  • Dr. Tahir ul Qadri is ‘back’

    Dr. Tahir ul Qadri is ‘back’

    After being inactive for seven years, Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has re-entered the political scene, announcing that it will actively participate in the upcoming February 2024 general elections.

    “We shall take full part in the upcoming elections from our own platform and on our electoral symbol,” PAT’s central president Qazi Zahid Hussain told a press conference on Friday.

    Qazi Zahid Hussain, accompanied by party officials including information secretary Nurella Siddiqui, and Raja Zahid, said that PAT candidates will champion the cause of comprehensive reforms in the system, initiating mass-contact campaigns and electioneering immediately.

    Notably, PAT abstained from the 2013 polls but actively participated in the 2015-16 local body elections.

    Hussain clarified that Dr Qadri had endorsed the decision following a two-day consultation by the PAT central executive council. Responding to queries, Siddiqui confirmed that Dr Qadri would not partake in the electioneering process for PAT nominees.

    Highlighting the party’s stance on candidate commitments, Siddiqui stated that once a candidate submits nominations from the PAT platform, withdrawing in favor of another party’s nominee would result in expulsion from the party.

    Additionally, Siddiqui ruled out the possibility of electoral alliances, noting that decisions regarding post-poll cooperation would be made at a later stage.

    Despite being former partners in protest, a party insider revealed to Dawn that any political cooperation with Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was unlikely.

    The insider cited the PTI’s alleged failure to deliver justice to PAT in the 2014 Model Town tragedy, where 14 party activists lost their lives in a police raid, during the PTI’s approximately four-year rule.

  • Strict action will be taken against officials who neglect duties in polls, says Sikandar Sultan Raja

    Strict action will be taken against officials who neglect duties in polls, says Sikandar Sultan Raja

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja warned government officials that strict action will be taken against them if they will show “political bias”, adding that free and fair elections are necessary for a strong democracy.  

    A day earlier, while heading a meeting at the Provincial Election Commission Secretariat, Raja Sikandar said that all resources will be brought into service for unbiased and peaceful polls. He also offered assurances that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will provide full support to the provincial government.

    “There will be no tolerance for any form of political bias among government employees, and immediate action will be taken if such complaints arise,” warned the CEC.

    The ECP secretary briefly detailed preparations for general elections as well as revised the electoral rolls and process of voter registration.

    On the other hand, Sindh election commissioner also informed the meeting about preparations for general elections in the province.

    The Sindh chief secretary also told the huddle that Sindh government will fully cooperate with ECP in the upcoming polls.

  • PPP will form the next government, says Bilawal Bhutto

    PPP will form the next government, says Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said on Monday while addressing an audience at Sukkur’s Jinnah Stadium, that it is “evident” that the PPP will form the next government.

    The former Foreign Minister also said that “The writing is on the wall” that his party will be in power in the next government.

    Talking about the upcoming polls, Bilawal Bhutto stressed that general elections are inevitable.

    He added, “They [elections] will be held within 90 days, if not then within 100 or even within 120 days at most.”

    Earlier, while speaking at a ceremony in Hyderabad, the PPP head said that his former political allies are running away from elections.

    Without naming names, the PPP leader took a jibe at former ally Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for refusing to support elections within the constitutionally mandated 90-day window.

  • Maryam Nawaz to release secret audio tapes of specific individuals before election

    Maryam Nawaz to release secret audio tapes of specific individuals before election

    According to ARY News, Maryam Nawaz, senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will release covert audio tapes of notable individuals during her party’s campaign in general elections.

    After PML-N leadership met in London to discuss the upcoming general elections, the party made the decision to take a strong stance against specific individuals.

    The meeting decided that retaliatory action in the election campaign would be brought forward in the form of a documentary, sources have told ARY.

    Forner Prime Minister and party supremo Nawaz Sharif will expose the role former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and others played against the PML-N, while Maryam Nawaz will release audios of prominent figures during the election campaign.

    Sources also said that only Nawaz Sharif has the authority to decide whether seat adjustment with any political party will be considered or not.

  • President invites CEC to announce dates for general elections

    President invites CEC to announce dates for general elections

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

    Reliable sources in ECP told The News that the CEC called a meeting of the commission 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.”

    President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, has 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.

    The letter, written to Mr. Raja by Dr. Alvi, states that the constitution requires the president to decide a date for general elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA).

    The letter was shared on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the president. It noted that the national assembly was dissolved by the president on August 9th, as per the instructions given by the Prime Minister.

    And “by virtue of Article 48(5) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the president is obliged to appoint a date not later than 90 days from the date of dissolution for the holding of general elections of [the] assembly”, the letter read.

    READ MORE:  Elections not possible before May 2024,’ says former ECP secretary

  • PTI wants general elections in July, amendment in constitution and much more

    PTI wants general elections in July, amendment in constitution and much more

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) finally sat together to discuss the matter of elections on Thursday.

    According to Geo News, the former ruling party PTI has put forward three conditions for reaching a consensus. One of them is that they want general elections in July instead of October.

    Other than this, PTI has asked the government to dissolve Balochistan and Sindh Assembly as well as National Assembly (NA) in May. Thirdly, the party wants an amendment in the constitution for simultaneous elections and for that, the resignations of their Member of National Assembly (MNA) have to be withdrawn.

    The first round of the negotiations lasted for two hours while the second round will be held today.

    It is important to mention that Supreme Cout (SC) gave May 14 as the date for polls in Punjab and KP, but later asked the political parties to negotiate with each other to reach a conclusion.

  • ‘Whether I am in jail or not, party will sweep elections’: Imran Khan

    ‘Whether I am in jail or not, party will sweep elections’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has claimed that whether he is in jail or not, his party will “sweep” the elections.

    The former prime minister said he does not know if he will end up getting disqualified or not, but stressed that it “doesn’t matter” because he believes his party has a popularity wave that is “unprecedented” in Pakistan’s history. He made these remarks in a chat with American media group National Public Radio (NPR).

    “What is happening is that the government is petrified of elections. They’re scared that we’re going to win the elections. Therefore, they are trying everything to get me out of the way, including assassination, because I survived an assassination attempt – [and am] very lucky to be alive,” Khan told NPR.

    Speaking with Steve Inskeep, Khan said that in his tenure, there was maximum media freedom.

    “Steve, my three and a half years were the most liberal three and a half years in our history. I mean, the – we never interfered with the judiciary, which was always the case in the past. We never interfered with the media. The only time there were problems with the media was not because of us, because of the army, because of the army establishment,” Khan responded.

    Talking about ‘rule of law’ Khan said that it is his “firm belief” that because he’s been all over the world as a professional international sportsman, the difference between rich countries and poor countries is not lack of resources, but rule of law. 

    “Countries that have rule of law prosper, countries that don’t have rule of law become banana republics. So our fight in Pakistan is to bring the powerful elite under the law,” he said.

  • Elections should be held once: Saad Rafique

    Elections should be held once: Saad Rafique

    Federal Minister for Railways and Aviation, Khawaja Saad Rafique, has said that elections in Pakistan should be held once, otherwise there is a risk of anarchy.

    Talking to the media in Lahore on Tuesday, he said that the country cannot face another crisis.

    Taking a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said that Khan cannot dissolve the assemblies as the constitution has given that power to the leader of the House.

    Saad said that there were no particular circumstances that led to the dissolution of provincial assemblies, claiming that pressure was put on chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to do so.

    He also said that Khan should participate in All-Parties Conference (APC), as he was of the view that all political parties should unite and play a role against terrorism.

  • No one is ready to invest in Pakistan, says Imran Khan

    No one is ready to invest in Pakistan, says Imran Khan

    Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), addressed his supporters on Monday about the alarming economic crisis in the country.

    He started off by clarifying that he was not only addressing the nation but was also speaking to the institutions as economic deterioration would affect the entire country.

    Khan said that amid the ongoing economic downturn, small and large-scale businesses are the most affected. He added that exports are also declining gradually.

    “This might be the biggest economic crisis that this country has ever witnessed,” the PTI chief said.

    Moreover, he urged the business community to speak up. “I want to tell all of you that you will be responsible for the destruction of the country if you do not speak up,” he said.

    He pointed out that no one is ready to invest in Pakistan as they have lost trust in the country’s economy.

    Khan, concluding the address, said that the only solution to the crisis is free and fair elections.

    The former Prime Minister has been asking for early general elections, however, the government has said that polls will take place on their scheduled time in October 2023.

  • Some PTI members don’t want to dissolve assemblies, says Asad Umar

    Some PTI members don’t want to dissolve assemblies, says Asad Umar

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former federal minister Asad Umar has admitted that there is a difference of opinion among party members on the dissolution of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies, reports Daily Jang.

    He also revealed that while a few party members are in favour of the immediate dissolution of assemblies, however, others are against it.

    It is pertinent to mention that PTI has given December 20 deadline to the government to finalise a date for general elections or else assemblies will be dissolved as announced by Imran Khan on November 26.

    A day earlier, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry warned the ruling coalition that the party would order the dissolution of assemblies if a final date for the next general election is not announced by next week.

    Earlier this month, Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi said that he did not see elections taking place in the next four months. However, he showed full support for Khan’s decision over the dissolution matter.