Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has finalized plans to return home to Pakistan before the next general elections.
According to media reports, Nawaz Sharif has instructed his party that if Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan dissolves the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assemblies, new elections should be held in both provinces within 90 days as per the constitution, while Nawaz himself will head the election campaign of these provincial elections.
The former Prime Minister has also completed consultations about his return with his lawyers. His legal team will begin pursuing reviews of his convictions in courts immediately after his arrival.
Media reports also suggest that it has been decided at the highest level that Nawaz Sharif will no longer keep himself away from domestic politics and will directly lead his party and supporters in the next election.
Around Rs.80 to Rs.100 million would be required to conduct elections on one National Assembly (NA) seat, while the cost of polls on one provincial assembly seat would be approximately Rs.60 to Rs.70 million, reports Geo News.
In a statement Monday, an ECP spokesperson said that the Commission is bound to hold elections in 60 days in case a seat falls vacant.
The official said that an election on a National Assembly seat costs Rs.80 to Rs.100 million, while the estimated expenditure of an election on a provincial assembly seat is Rs.60 to 70 million.
“In case of dissolution of an assembly, elections will be held only for the respective assembly seat,” the spokesperson said.
Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Saturday that his party will quit all assemblies in its bid to pressurise the Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif-led government into early general elections.
However, PTI — which has called off the long march to Islamabad — is yet to make a final announcement on when it is quitting the assemblies.
Following Khan’s announcement, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that elections will be held on a total of 563 seats across Pakistan which include 123 seats in the National Assembly, 297 seats in Punjab, 115 seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 26 seats each in Sindh and Balochistan.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif—who is currently in London— reportedly wants to come back to Pakistan soon as his return date is being discussed within trusted circles, reports Samaa News.
According to the media outlet, Nawaz said that the public in Pakistan is facing financial problems, not political ones. About the general elections, he was of the view that they will be held at the designated time.
Moreover, he claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s long march has failed. Sharif said that his party [PML-N] is against the politics of revenge and hatred.
Last week, Nawaz was visited by his brother Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in Britain and conducted several meetings with him. It was widely reported that the two brothers were holding consultations on who should be the next head of the armed forces.
The PML-N supremo was granted an eight-week bail on medical grounds in October 2019, and, he was allowed to travel to London for treatment for four weeks. However, Nawaz has not returned since then.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif agreed not to succumb under Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) pressure, especially on their Chairman Imran Khan’s key demand of early elections, reports Geo News.
The Premier, who is currently in London, had a meeting that lasted for over three hours with only Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz, Suleman Sharif, Hasan and Hussain Nawaz and a few other family members present. No one from the party was asked to join the meeting.
Nawaz told Shehbaz to “continue doing his best to take Pakistan out of the economic crisis” and “not succumb to any kind of pressure”.
According to the news report, when Shehbaz Sharif was asked if he will be discussing the appointment of the next army chief with his sibling, the PM said: “I have come today to meet my elder brother and my family. I am meeting them and their children after a long time.”
After the end of the meeting, he was again pressed as to when the next chief of army staff will be appointed but the PM dodged the question, stating instead that the meeting was a family get together with and said: “ my brother, my nieces, my nephews and rest of the family too. We had lunch, gup shup and congratulations to all of you on Pakistan’s (cricket) win.”
This visit to London is the third such trip since Shehbaz became prime minister in April. Sharif’s visit to London comes two weeks before the end of General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure. The army chief is set to retire on November 29.
It has been reported that Shehbaz will consult Nawaz on the appointment of the Pakistan army chief.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, in an address to the nation has once again demanded early elections, warning that PTI’s patience was wearing thin.
“If we want to save the country from discord and chaos, free and fair elections need to be announced immediately,” he said.
“Our patience won’t last long if you continue like this, we will have to give a call to the nation,” said Khan, addressing the government.
“If there is no political stability, the economy won’t stabilise. So I want to tell my people today that we need to have elections quickly to save Pakistan from this quagmire,” the former Prime Minister insisted, adding that it was his fear that there will be no economic progress without political stability.
انتخابات میں تاخیر سے میرا نہیں صرف ملک کا نقصان ہو رہا ہے، میں دعویٰ کرتا ہوں تحریک انصاف اس وقت ملکی تاریخ کی سب سے مقبول ترین جماعت ہے۔ چیئرمین عمران خان pic.twitter.com/Sm3TVtLCcI
“The incumbent government does not have any credibility, both inside and outside Pakistan, especially in the financial markets,” alleged Khan, mentioning that the prices of fuel and electricity across Pakistan had reached an all-time high and warned that they would further increase in the near future.
جب تک سیاسی استحکام نہیں آئے گا معیشت مستحکم نہیں ہو گی اور اب مجھے خوف ہے کہ یہ معیشت جس طرف جا رہی ہے کوئی نہیں بچا سکے گا۔ چیئرمین عمران خان pic.twitter.com/eb72dtKSdR
Unemployment is increasing, inflation is rising, and businesses are closing down, Imran said. “The danger I am seeing right now […] Our credit rating has fallen to negative […] do you know what this means? They think Pakistan doesn’t have the ability to repay and due to this, the cost of loans will increase,”‘ he warned.
کہا گیا شہباز شریف آئے گا سب ٹھیک کر دے گا آج پاکستان بیرونی خسارے میں دھنستا چلا جا رہا ہے روپے کی قدر ہر روز کم ہو رہی ہے اور مہنگائی میں ریکارڈ اضافہ ہورہا ہے۔ چیئرمین عمران خان pic.twitter.com/TYZh88jLFn
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has revealed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will lead the electoral campaign for the next general elections, reports Geo News.
Addressing a reception ceremony of overseas Pakistanis living in Jeddah, Rana Sanaullah said that the next general elections will be held on time and Nawaz Sharif will be leading the electoral campaign.
Rana stressed that the government will complete its constitutional term and said that the country cannot afford “Imrani trouble”, corruption and political chaos.
Rana Sanaullah is currently in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah along with his family.
Nawaz will return in September
Federal Minister Javed Latif on August 15 said that the people of Pakistan are wishing for the return of Nawaz Sharif.
Referring to Nawaz’s supporters as “doctors”, Latif said that “the people are his doctors and doctors change their opinion with time”.
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.
الیکشن کمیشن کے بندر بانٹ کر کے اپنی مرضی کے 11 ممبران اسمبلی کے استعفے منظور کرنے کے خلاف پٹیشن اسلام آباد ہائی کورٹ میں جمع کرا دی ہے. سارے ملک کے سامنے لوٹوں کے علاوہ تمام تحریک انصاف کے ممبران نے استعفیٰ دیا. سب کے استعفے ایک ساتھ قبول کئے جائیں
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.
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.
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.
“Even those in quarantine have agreed to elections,” said Rasheed taking a jibe at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.
ضمنی الیکشن کی بجائے نئے الیکشن پر معاملات طے پا گئے ہیں۔اکتوبر میں الیکشن کی تاریخ،نئے الیکشن کمیشن اور نگران حکومت کا فیصلہ قوم جلد سن لے گی۔قرنطینہ والے بھی الیکشن مان گئے ہیں،صرف فضل الرحمن رہ گئے ہیں۔ڈالر 250 کا،بجلی اور LPG میں 10 روپے کا اضافہ مارکیٹیں بند کرا دے گا۔
Sheikh added that only JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is left.
Criticising the coalition government, Rasheed said that their political credibility had come to an end and they cannot flee, cannot go to the people, and neither can they bring their people back to the country. Rasheed was alluding to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.
اتحادیوں کی سیاسی ساکھ راکھ بن گئی ہے۔نہ یہ عوام میں جانے کے قابل، نہ فرار ہونے نہ باہر سے بلانے کے قابل ہیں۔اب خلق خدا فیصلہ کرے گی ۔جمہوریت مذاق اور اسمبلی تماشا بن گئی ہے۔بحران سری لنکا سے لبنان عراق اور اب پاکستان کی طرف آرہا ہے،ان ہی دنوں میں یورپ میں 4حکومتیں ختم ہو گئی ہیں
“Now, the people will decide. They [government] have made a mockery of the assembly and democracy. The crisis is now shifting from Sri Lanka to Pakistan,” he added.
“I can talk to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the separatists of Balochistan and Sindh, but not with thieves. Will you speak to someone who robs your home?”
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is currently reviewing the political situation in Pakistan and it is likely that the PML-N chief may return to Pakistan, reports Ansar Abbasi for The News.
It is also being reported that Nawaz Sharif should restart his interaction, both with the media and the public. The PML-N did not want the government and were eager to go for fresh elections in May this year but were told to continue in the best interest of the country, stated the report.
“We won’t accept it without the return of Mian Nawaz Sharif and in the absence of a level-playing field and clear rules of [the] game for all political parties,” revealed a PML-N insider.
The PML-N wants to see the court decide the appeals against Sharif to give him and the party a fair opportunity to contest the elections.
It is pertinent to mention here that Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government will complete it’s constitutional term in August 2023.
Last week, Ansar Abbasi revealed that the establishment is considering holding elections in October.
“A soft intervention by the establishment between the government and the Opposition has raised the prospect of early talks and general elections in the country in October,” said Abbasi.
Abbasi further said that after the unconditional intervention of the establishment between the government and the Opposition, talks between the political parties are likely to begin soon and the prospect of general elections in October seems imminent.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that the by-elections have made it clear that the coalition government has lost the support of the people.
Khokhar was of the opinion that instead of forming the government, elections should have been held immediately. He also said that the deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should have been done by a government with a fresh mandate.
“Difficult decisions should be made by a government that has a mandate of five years, it is not possible that we have sky-rocketing inflation and people shower us with flowers,” said Khokhar.
“Political parties are still stuck in the 90s, the by-elections made it clear that the coalition government has lost the support of the people, political stability will be further eroded, and governance will become difficult. The country and economy need stabilisation, which is possible only through general elections,” said Khokhar.
If they have won seats through people’s mandate, CM should step down: Malik Ahmad
“In all fairness, if they have won seats through the people’s mandate, then the CM [Hamza Shehbaz] should step down and let them form a government,” said Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan to The News.
“Once the people have spoken, they are the sovereign and if they have spoken in favour of Imran’s narrative for general elections, then they have spoken. Then let there be a fresh mandate. Otherwise, every day there will be a new crisis,” added Malik Ahmad.
Imran Khan to decide when Shehbaz Sharif will be removed: Fawad Chaudhry
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Imran Khan would decide when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be removed.
Speaking to Geo News, Fawad Chaudhry said that all the political parties need to end the ongoing political crisis and show maturity.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the Punjab by-elections by bagging a total of 15 out of 20 Punjab Assembly seats while the ruling PML-N only managed to win four seats. An independent candidate won one seat.
