Tag: Maryam Nawaz

  • Who is going to run under a PML-N ticket? Key announcements suggest surprising political shift

    Who is going to run under a PML-N ticket? Key announcements suggest surprising political shift

    In a strategic move ahead of the 2024 general elections, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has officially revealed its powerhouse lineup. The announcement was made by Ishaq Dar, who is the PML-N’s Head of Election Cell, marks a pivotal moment in the party’s preparations for the upcoming political showdown.

    Tickets fiasco?

    Former federal minister Daniyal Aziz, after his differences with the party, has decided to contest the 2024 elections as an independent candidate. His decision comes after PML-N released its list of election candidates.

    X (former Twitter) user Dilawar Hussain wrote, “Disappointed with PML N’s decision not to grant a party ticket to Daniyal Aziz in Narowal. His courage in facing oppression and commitment to party deserves acknowledgment. Wishing for a reconsideration at the senior party level. ”

    The only elected woman MNA from the PML-N in 2018, Mehnaz Akbar Aziz, didn’t get a ticket this time from Narowal (NA 77). Mehnaz Akbar has announced to contest the election as an independent candidate in NA 75, Shakargarh.

    Former PML-N MNA Ch Jaffar Iqbal from NA 106 didn’t get the ticket this time. Instead it was given to the air chief’s brother Naseer Sidhu as per Alag Digital.

    Ch Hamid Hameed from Sargodha didn’t get the ticket. User Mehr Mohsin wrote, “He
    @ChHamidHameed has 40 year’s affiliation with @pmln_org and has been victimised several times for his loyalty with party – I also witnessed 2018 – but no ticket in 2024, what you have learned through your political experience? @MaryamNSharif @NawazSharifMNS @CMShehbaz.”

    User Ali Zain commented, “Hamid Hameed has been winning elections with massive margins in NA 84 (Sargodha City) for the past two elections and yet #PMLN didn’t award a ticket to their best candidate!! This is a huge opportunity for #PTI now to win this seat!”

    User Samraiz Ali pointed out that Khawar Maneka’s brother has been awarded a ticket, “PMLN Ticket of NA 139 Ahmad Raza Maneka. Khawar Maneka’s brother Ahmad Raza Maneka is currently a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, and is affiliated with the PML-N.”

    While criticising the PML-N’s decision on awarding of the ticket to Ghulam Sarwar, user Najam Ali said, “This man bankrupted PIA and he gets the nod. I am speechless.”

    User Rowdy Rana said, “Nominated PMLN ticket holder PP-197 Sardar Masab Ali Dogar is still on bail in 9th May Terrorism FIR case pending.”

    User Israr Ahmed pointed out, “@pmln_org Supreme Leader @NawazSharifMNS awarded party ticket from PP-10 to illegal Blue World City Director Ch Nahim Ijaz for #GE2024 despite the candidate is involved in more than 200 criminals cases registered with @RwpPolice under multiple charges including terrorism, kidnapping, dacoity, robbery, firing on policemen, possessing illegal weapons and land grabbing. PML-N candidate is nominated in 49 FIRs out of 200.”

    Tickets Details

    Islamabad Capital Territory NA 46 Anjum Aqeel Khan, NA 48 Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry

    Rawalpindi Division

    District Attock NA 49 Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, PP 1 Jahangir Khanzada, PP 2 Iftikhar Ahmed Khan, PP 3 Hameed Akbar, NA 50 Malik Sohail Khan, PP 4 Sher Ali Khan, PP 5 Malik Aitebar Khan.

    District Rawalpindi NA 51 Raja Osama Sarwar, PP 6 Mohammad Bilal Yamin, PP 7 Raja Saghir Ahmed, NA 52 Raja Muhammad Javed Ikhlas, PP 8 Iftikhar Ahmad, PP 9 Shaukat Raja (Raja Shaukat Aziz Bhatti), NA 53 Raja Qamar ul Islam, PP 10 Chaudhry Naeem Ejaz, PP 11 Imran Ilyas Chaudhary, NA 55 Malik Ibrar Ahmed, PP 14 Malik Iftikhar Ahmed, PP 15 Malik Mansoor Afsar, NA 56 Mohammad Hanif Abbasi, PP 16 Zia Ullah Shah, PP 17 Raja Abdul Hanif, NA 57 Danyal Chaudhary, PP 18 Sajjad Khan, PP 19 Haji Pervaiz Khan, PP 13 Malik Umar Farooq.

    District Chakwal NA 58 Maj. (Rid) Tahir Iqbal, PP 20 Sultan Haider Ali Khan, PP 21 Tanvir Aslam Malik.

    District Talagang NA 59 Sardar Ghulam Abbas, PP 23 Shehryar Mailk.

    District Jehlum PP 25 Chaudhary Nadeem Khadim, PP 26 Nasir Mahmood Lilla

    Gujranwala Division

    District Gujrat NA 62 Chaudhary Abid Raza, PP 27 Muhammad Hanif Malik, PP 28 Shabbir Ahmed, NA 63 Nawabzada Ghanznfar Ali Gul, PP 29 Nawabzada Haider Mehdi, PP 30, Maj (Rtd) Moin Nawaz Warraich, NA 65, Chaudhary Naseer Ahmed Abbas Siddhu, PP 33 Mohammad Ali, PP 34 Mian Tariq Mehmood.

    District Wazirabad NA 66 Nisar Ahmed Cheema, PP 35 Waqar Ahmed Cheema, PP 36 Adnan Afzal Chattha.

    District Hafizabad NA 67 Saira Afzal Tarrar, PP 37 Mian Shahid Hussain Khan, PP 38 Sheikh Gulzar Ahmed, PP 39 Mohammad Aoun Jahangir.

    District Mandi Bahauddin NA 68 Mushahid Raza, PP 40 Hameeda Mian, PP 41 Syed Tariq Yaqoob, NA 69 Nasir Iqbal Bosal, PP 42 Khalid Mehmood Ranjha, PP 43 Chaudhary Akhtar Abbas Bosal.

    District Sialkot NA 70 Chaudhary Armaghan Subhani, PP 44 Arif Iqbal, PP 45 Tariq Subhani, NA 71 Khawaja Muhammad Asif, PP 47 Mansha Ullah Butt, NA 72 Ali Zahid, PP 48 Rana Liaqat Ali, PP 49 Rana Muhammad Afzal, NA 73 Nosheen Iftikhar, PP 50 Chaudhary Naveed Ashraf, PP 51 Zeeshan Rafique, NA 74 Rama Shameem Ahmed Khan, PP 52 Chaudhary Arshad Javed Warraich, PP 53 Rana Abdul Sattar.

    District Narowal NA 75 Chaudhry Anwaar ul Haq, PP 54 Ahsan Iqbal, NA 76 Ahsan Iqbal, PP 56 Mannan Khan, PP 57, Khawaja Muhammad Waseem PP 58 Bilal Akbar Khan.

    District Gujranwala NA 77 Chaudhary Muhammad Bashir Virk, PP 59 Bilal Farooq Tarrar, PP 63 Muhammad Taufeeq Butt, PP 64 Umer Farooq Dar, PP 68 Chaudhary Muhammad Iqbal, PP 70 Amanullah Warraich, NA 78 Khurram Dastagir Khan, PP 60
    Moazzam Rauf Mughal, PP 61 Imran Khalid Butt, PP 65 Sahibzada Ghulam Fareed, NA 79 Zulfiqar Ali Bhindar, PP 66, Qaiser Iqbal Sindhu, PP 67 Akhtar Ali Khan, NA 80 Shahid Usman, PP 62 Muhammad Nawaz Chohan, NA 81Azhar Qayyun Nehra, PP 69 Irfan Bashir Gujjar.

    Faisalabad Division

    District Chiniot NA 93 Syed Muhammad Raza Bukhari, PP 94 Mehr Shah Behram Baral, NA 94 Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, PP 95 Muhammad Ilyas, PP 97 Muhammad Saqlain Anwar Sipra.

    District Faisalabad NA 95 Azad Ali Tabassum, PP 99 Muhammad Shoaib Idrees, NA 97 Ali Gohar Khan, PP102 Jaffar Ali Hocha, PP103 Muhammad Safdar Shakir, NA 98 Chaudhary Muhammad Shahbaz Babar, PP104 Arif Mahmood Gill, PP 105 Rao Kashif Rahim Khan, NA 99 Mohammad Qasim Farooq, PP 107 Khalid Pervaiz Gill, NA 100 Rana Sana Ullah Khan, PP 108 Muhammad Ajmal, PP 109 Chaudhary Zafar Iqbal Nagra, NA 101 Irfan Manan, PP 111 Chaudhary Fugir Hussain Dogar, PP 113 Ali Abbas Khan, PP 114 Sheikh Mohammad Yousaf, NA 102 Chaudhary Abid Sher Ali, PP 115 Mohammad Tahir Pervaiz, PP 116 Ahmed Shehryar, NA103 Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari, PP117 Malik Muhammad Nawaz, PP 118 Sheikh Ejaz Ahmad, NA 104 Raja Riaz Ahmed, PP 110
    Mehr Hamid Rasheed, PP 112 Israr Ahmad Khan.

    District Toba Tek Singh NA105 Chaudhary Khalid Javaid, PP 119 Uqbah Ali, PP 120 Abdul Qadeer Alvi, NA 106 Muhammad Junaid Anwaar Chaudhary, PP 121
    Amjad Ali, PP 122 Col. (Rtd) Muhammad Ayub Gadhi, NA107 Chaudhary Asad ur Rehman, PP 123 Nazia Raheel, PP124 Syed Qutab Ali Shah.

    District Jhang NA108 Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, PP 125 Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, PP 126 Mehr Muhammad Aslam Bharwana, PP 128 Khalid Muhammad Sargana, NA 110 Muhammad Asif Muawia, PP 129 Khalid Ghani, PP 130 Ameer Abbas Sial, PP131Faisal Hayat

    Lahore Division

    Nankana Sahib NA 11 Chaudhary Muhammad Barjees Tahir, PP 132 Mian Ijaz Hussain Bhatti, PP 133 Rana Muhammad Arshad, NA 112 Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharral, PP 134 Mehr Kashif, PP 135 Agha Haider Ali Khan.

    District Sheikhupura NA 113 Ahmed Attique Anwar, PP 136 Muhammad Hassan Riaz, PP 137 Muhammad Arshad, NA 114, Rana Tanvir Hussain, PP 138 Pir Muhammad Ashraf Rasool, PP 139, Rana Tanveer Hussain, PP 140 Mian Abdul Rauf, NA 115 Mian Javed Latif, PP 141 Amjad Latif, NA 116, Sardar Muhammad Irfan Dogar, PP 142 Mehmood ul Haq, PP 143 Mumtaz Mehmood Khan, PP 144 Chaudhry Sajjad Haider Guijar.

    District Kasur NA 131 Saad Waseem Sheikh, PP 176 Chaudhary Muhammad Ilyas Khan, PP 177, Muhammad Naeem Safdar, PP 178, Malik Ahmed Saeed Khan, PP 179 Malik Mohammad Ahmad Khan, NA 133, Rana Mohammad Ishaq Khan, PP 181Sheikh Alla Uddin, PP 182 Mehmood Anwar, NA 134 Rana Mohammad Hayat Khan, PP 183 Rana Sikandar Hayat, PP 184 Rana Mohammad Iqbal Khan.

    Sahiwal Division

    District Okara NA 135 Nadeem Abbas Rabera, PP 185 Javed Allauddin Sajjid, PP
    192 Ghulam Raza Rabera, NA136 Riaz ul Haq, PP 190 Mian Yawar Zaman, PP 191 Mian Mohammad Munir, NA137 Rao Muhammad Aimal Khan, PP 186 Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, PP 189 Ali Abbas, NA138 Mohammad Moeen Watto, PP 187 Chaudhry IRikhar Hussain Chachar, PP 188 Noor ul Amin Watto.

    District Pakpattan NA 139 Ahmad Raza Maneka, PP 197 Sardar Mansab Ali Dogar, NA 140 Rana Iradat Sharif, PP 195 Kashif Ali Chishti, PP 196 Farrukh Javed.

    District Sahiwal NA141 Syed Imran Ahmad Shah, PP 198, Walayat Shah, PP 199
    Qasim Nadeem, PP 200 Muhammad Arshad Malik, NA 142 Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, PP 201 Naveed Aslam Khan Lodhi.

    Sargodha Division

    District Sargodha NA 82 Doctor Mukhtar Ahmed Malik, PP 71 Sohaib Ahmad Malik, PP 72 Mansoor Azam Sindhu, NA 83 Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, PP 73 Mian Manzar Hussain Ranjha, NA 84 Doctor Liaqat Ali Khan, PP 75 Abdul Razzaq Dhillon, PP 76 Mahr Ghulam Dastgir Lak, NA 85 Doctor Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, PP 78 Rana Munawar Hussain, NA 86 Syed Javaid Hussain, PP 79 Taimoor Ali Khan Baloch, PP 80 Sardar Mohammad Asim Sher Maken.

    District Khushab NA 87 Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, PP 82 Malik Mohammad Asif Bha Awan, PP 83 Muhammad Moazzam Sher, PP 84 Karam Elahi Bandial

    District Mianwali NA 89 Obaid Ullah Khan Shadikhel, PP 85 Amanat Ullah Khan, NA 90 Humair Hayat Khan Rokari, PP 87 Inam ullah Khan Niazi, PP 88 Malik Muhammad Feroz Joya.

    District Bhakkar NA 91 Abdul Majeed Khan Khanan Khel, PP 89 Abdul Majeed Khan Khanan Khel.

    Multan Division

    District Khanewal NA 144 Syed Mohammad Mukhtar Hussain, PP 205 Imran Iftikhar Hiraj, PP 212 Irfan Ahmad Alias Rana Irfan Mahmood Khan, NA 145 Mohammad Khan Daha, PP 206 Barrister Chaudhry Osama Afzal, PP 211 Rana Mohammad Saleem, NA
    146 Pir Mohammad Aslam Bodla Siddique, PP 207 Amir Hayat Hiraj, PP 208 Babar Hussain Abid, NA 147 Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazir, PP 209 Chaudhry Zia ur Rahman.

    District Multan NA 148 Ahmad Hussain, PP 214 Mian Shehzad Magbool Bhutta, PP
    215 Shahid Mahmood Khan, PP 218 Salman Naeem, NA 151 Abdul Ghaffar, PP 219 Doctor Mohammad Akhtar Malik, PP 220, Rai Mansab Ali NA, 152 Syed Javed Ali Shah, PP 221 Mian Tariq Abdullah, PP 222 Rana Ejaz Ahmad Noon, NA 153 Rana Mohammad Qasim Noon, PP 223 Mehdi Abbas Khan

    District Lodhran NA 154 Abdul Rahman Khan Kanju, PP 226 Malik Shah Mohammad Joya, NA 155 Siddique Baloch, PP 227 Umair Baloch, PP 228 Syed Mohammad Rafiuddin Bokhari.

    District Vehari NA 156 Chaudhry Nazir Ahmad, PP 229 Chaudhry Mohammad Yousaf Kasela, PP 231 Sardar Khalid Mahmood Dogar, NA 157 Sajid Mehdi, PP 230 Mian Irfan Aqeel Daultan, PP 232 Malik Nousher Khan Anjum Langrial, NA 158 Begum Tehmina Daultana, PP 233 Mian Mohammad Saqib Khursheed, PP 234 Mohammad Naeem Akhtar Khan, NA 159 Saeed Ahmad Minhias, PP 235 Mian Khaliq Nawaz, PP 236 Asif Saeed.

  • PML-N to release final list of candidates by today or tomorrow, says Rana Sanaullah

    PML-N to release final list of candidates by today or tomorrow, says Rana Sanaullah

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah has said on Wednesday that the party has finalized the list of its candidates for general elections 2024, and will release the names by today evening or tomorrow morning.

    “We will issue the list today evening or tomorrow,” Sanaullah said during an appearance on Geo News show Geo Pakistan.

    He also confirmed that the matter of seat adjustment between PML-N and the Jahngir Tareen-led Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has been settled.

    The former interior minister also stated that PML-N has now agreed to provide seven National Assembly (NA) seats and 11 provincial assembly seats, against the IPP’s demand for 13 NA seats and 22 provincial seats.

    PML-N has also agreed on seat adjustments with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), he acknowledged.

    “PML-N will hold 60 rallies in the country,” said Sanaullah while sharing details of the party’s election campaign, confirming that party head Nawaz Sharif will start his own election campaign on January 17.

  • Maryam Nawaz kay pass kitna paisa hai?

    Maryam Nawaz kay pass kitna paisa hai?

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz owns assets worth more than Rs842.58 million, Geo News reported on Thursday.

    According to details submitted by Maryam Nawaz alongside her nomination papers, she owns 1500 kanal land in Lahore. Her assets increased by Rs4 million in one year.

    As per the submitted documents, Maryam Nawaz has a degree of masters in English literature. She doesn’t own a vehicle. She also has to give more than Rs 28.9 million to her brother Hassan Nawaz.

    The PML-N senior vice president also has Rs 10 million in different bank accounts, as well as shares worth Rs 12.2 million in different companies.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) approved Maryam Nawaz’s papers from multiple constituencies in Lahore and Sargodha.

    The scion of the Sharif family had submitted nomination papers for two National Assembly constituencies—NA-119 and NA-120—and four Punjab Assembly constituencies—PP-159, PP-160, PP-165, and PP-80.

  • POLITICS IN PAKISTAN; 2023 ROUNDUP

    POLITICS IN PAKISTAN; 2023 ROUNDUP

    In all honesty, 2023 was more like a crazy roller coaster than a democratic process when it comes to Pakistani politics. Here are some of the significant events that happened this year:

    Assemblies dissolved

    On January 14, 2023, the provincial assembly of Punjab was dissolved while on January 16, 2023, Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was dissolved as former Prime Minister Imran Khan was pushing for early national elections.

    May 9

    On May 9, 2023, former prime minister and founder chairman of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan was submitting his biometric data for a court appearance when paramilitary forces broke down a window inside the court to get to apprehend him.

    The dramatic and sudden arrest of the former cricket star turned leader resulted in violent clashes between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and law enforcement agencies protests to mark the arrest of the former Prime Minister turned into riots.

    Several military installations, including GHQ and the Lahore corps commander’s official residence, were attacked across the country within hours of Imran Khan’s detention.

    May 9, termed a “black day” by the Pakistani state, ended up provoking a harsh military crackdown on Khan’s party.

    PTI Dismantled

    Thousands of PTI members, including many women, were rounded up and arrested after May 9 riots.

    More than two dozen members of PTI resigned from the politics following the protests.

    Notable figures like Shireen Mazari, Asad Umer, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Fawad Chaudhry, Maleeka Bokhari, Abrar ul Haq, Murad Ras, Ali Haider Zaidi, Imran Islamil, Usman Dar, Farrukh Habib, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Andleeb Abbas, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Shaukat Tarin and others either left PTI or quit politics.

    Imran Khan Jailed

    Police arrested Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on August 5, 2023, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, potentially barring the opposition leader from contesting an upcoming election.

    On September 26, 2023, Imran Khan was shifted to the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi from Attock prison, a day after the Islamabad High Court ordered authorities to relocate him to the high-security jail.

    Qazi Faez Isa

    On September 17, 2023, Justice Qazi Faez Isa was sworn in as the 29th chief justice of Pakistan.

    A ceremony was held at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad during which President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir were also present.

    Justice Isa was accompanied by his wife, Sarina Isa, while he was taking oath.

    Imran Riaz ‘safely’ returns

    On the evening of May 11, 2023, police arrested Imran Riaz Khan, a former anchor with the privately owned broadcaster Express News and host of a YouTube channel with over three million subscribers.

    Imran Riaz Khan, often called Imran Riaz, was trying to flee the country over fears of his arrest. At the time, authorities accused him of inciting people to violence through his reporting.

    He was said to have been freed a few days later, but there was no trace of him and police denied keeping him in custody.

    On September 25, 2023, his lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq took to X (former Tiwtter) and posted a picture of Imran Riaz, after his return, stating that the recovery took a long time due to “countless difficulties, a weak judiciary” and the ineffectiveness of the Constitution. He also shared a photo of him with Khan.

    The rift between Zardari and Bilawal

    On November 23, 2023, the former president of Pakistan and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‘s father, Asif Ali Zardari, during an exclusive interview with Hamid Mir on Geo News’ program “Capital Talk”, said that Bilawal is “inexperienced” and that it would take some time for him to gain more exposure, on Thursday.

    “Bilawal is much more talented than I am, but he isn’t experienced,” he said.

    On November 24, 2023, in a seeming act of defiance to his father, Bilawal changed his profile picture on X on Friday afternoon, to a photo with his mother Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and head of the PPP till her assassination in 2017.

    PPP denied all the claims of a rift between the father-son duo.

    Afghan Refugees Repatriation

    On October 3, 2023, Pakistan’s caretaker government announced it would carry out mass deportations — known under domestic law as an Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan — asking all concerned to leave the country before 1 November. Although the plan purported to apply to all foreigners residing in the country illegally, it appears designed to target Afghans, millions of whom have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years.

    As of December 29, 2023, the total number of allegedly illegal Afghans who left Pakistan reached 453,480 and the process is still underway.

    Nawaz Sharif Returns

    On October 21, 2023, Pakistan’s thrice-elected former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan, ending four years of self-imposed exile in London.

    Nawaz Sharif was disqualified when the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) announced its decision on July 28, 2017, in the Panama Papers case.
    After that, Nawaz Sharif and three of his children were referred to an accountability court, which was ordered to file corruption cases against Sharif’s family within six weeks.

    In July 2018, the expelled prime minister was imprisoned for 10 years in the Avenfield properties corruption case, an assets-beyond-means trial.

    In the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, the PML-N supremo was sentenced to seven years in jail on December 24, 2018. Nawaz Sharif was taken to Adiala jail in this case, and then he was shifted to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on the very next day. He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million in this case.

    The former prime minister was released from jail in March 2019. After that, the Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed Nawaz Sharif to go to London for treatment for fast-depleting platelet levels, and then he left for London in November 2019.

    Elections Date Announced

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on November 3, 2023, that 8th February 2024 is the poll date for the General Elections for the National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

    The date was announced by the President House in a statement following a meeting between the top election officials and President Alvi, hours after the election commission lawyer told the Supreme Court that elections will be held on February 11.

    PTI New Chairman

    On December 2, 2023, The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) on Saturday elected Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the new chairman in the intra-party elections held on the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    Gohar won the chairman’s position unopposed.

    The change was forced on the party after the Election Commission of Pakistan warned the PTI last month that it risked losing its emblem – a cricket bat – unless an internal ballot was held for party officers.

    Election symbols are crucial in a country where the adult literacy rate is 58 percent, according to World Bank data.

    Baloch Long March

    Demanding the release of all “missing persons” and an end to “extrajudicial killing” in Balochistan under the leadership of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the march started in Turbat, Balochistan, on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of 24-year-old Balach Baloch.

    According to BYC, when the march reached the capital, the city administration didn’t allow them to protest in front of the press club. Maharng Baloch said in her live video from the Facebook page of BYC that Islamabad police arrested 300 male protesters, eight women, and 10 children.

  • ‘Khamosh hojaao,’ Maryam Nawaz gets furious at female PML-N worker

    ‘Khamosh hojaao,’ Maryam Nawaz gets furious at female PML-N worker

    The Parliamentary Board of Muslim League-N is conducting interviews of candidates for the distribution of party tickets.

    More than 400 women gathered at the meeting to give interviews to the Parliamentary Board. Each of the N-League women gave details of the work they had done for the party and the time and hardships they had put in.

    According to We News, Madiha Niazi, a worker from Lahore, got up and said, “I am a common political worker, I am neither someone’s niece nor nephew,” implying that she has no reference. She went on to say that party workers like her are not paid any heed and their sacrifices are ignored conveniently.

    Madiha Niazi complained, “We are not even being listened to fully,” to which Maryam Nawaz angrily said that you should be quiet and sit down, other women have to be heard too.

    Madeeha Niazi replied, “I have not come to sit here, I have come to relate all my sacrifices for the party, if you want to throw me out, throw me out, I will not leave without completing.”

    When Madiha Niazi finished her speech, several other women also started narrating their sacrifices for the party.

    According to PML-N sources, before this fiasco, senior leaders sitting in the parliamentary board praised the work of some women, including Hina Parvez Butt, Saba Sadiq and Uzma Bukhari. A woman who came for the ticket of reserved seat got up, asking, “What are the sacrifices of Hina Parvez Butt for the party? We stood with the party in difficult times, surrounded the courts, remained outside the NAB, raised slogans for the leaders, during this time we were penalized by the then authorities but we stood with the party.”

    She went on to criticise the elitism of the mentioned women “They come wearing branded clothes and good makeup, they have no services to offer.”

    She continued: “We poor workers have been there in front of courts during the trials of party leaders but how many times has Hina been spotted there? We should not be underestimated.” The woman demanded to be given the same status as those who wear branded suits.

    Tehmina Daultana also jumped in and had a heated debate with Maryam Nawaz.

    Maryam asked Tehmina Doultana, a stalwart, “What are your services for the party,” to which an infuriated Tahmina Doultana replied, “What do you want? What should I do at this age, you want me to die?”

    At this point, Nawaz Sharif had to intervene to control the situation, saying, “You women are our strength.” He told the women that the party is moving forward because of them, calling them the party’s pride. “All of us went to assemblies because of you, you are an asset to the party.”

    Hina’s response

    Hina Parvez Butt took to Twitter and refuted that any such conversation never happened at the meeting.

    She stated categorically that none of this happened.

  • MARYAM NAWAZ, PML-N’S CANDIDATE FOR CHIEF MINISTER PUNJAB

    MARYAM NAWAZ, PML-N’S CANDIDATE FOR CHIEF MINISTER PUNJAB

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar, said on Wednesday that his wife, vice president of PML-N, Maryam Nawaz, is the party’s candidate for the position of Punjab’s chief minister, Dawn has reported.

    Captain Safdar also said that after getting a clean chit from courts, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif will contest the upcoming elections for a National Assembly (NA) seat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s NA-15 (Mansehra).

    “Nawaz Sharif will be our election candidate from NA-15 (Mansehra-II). He will become the prime minister as an elected representative of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to address the province’s deprivation,” Mr Safdar told reporters outside the deputy commissioner’s office in Mansehra.

    Safdar also said that he himself will submit the nomination papers of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    He further said that PML-N leader Amir Muqam is the party’s candidate for KP’s chief minister.

    Captain Safdar also mentioned that he will not contest the election from NA-15, as he wants to become a senator. “I will never decline the party’s offer for a Senate ticket,” he said.

    PML-N president and former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will submit his nomination papers from Lahore’s NA-123, PP-158, and PP-164 seats.

  • Who is contesting elections from where?

    Who is contesting elections from where?

    A day after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the schedule for general elections, political parties are yet to announce lists of candidates.

    Former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz PML-N, will reportedly contest polls from Lahore.

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, another former Prime Minister, who hails from Murree but was elected from Lahore, has opted to not contest the upcoming elections.

    Two ex-PMs from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf will be contesting from Multan and Gujar Khan respectively.

    PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz will be contesting from Lahore and Karachi, while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be a candidate from Karachi and Larkana.

    Former President and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari will try his luck from Nawabshah.

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be contesting from Dera Ismail Khan.

    Jamat e Islami Ameer Siraj-ul-Haq will contest polls from Peshawar.

    PML-N is expected to finalise the list of all its candidates next week, The News has reported.

    As per sources, PML-N has concluded work on more than 70% of constituencies for choosing candidates and the list of the first batch of ticketholders might be made public tomorrow (Sunday).

    The party’s parliamentary board conducted 10 meetings to finalise candidate names from various areas and is expected to complete the task on Monday (December 18).

    The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and regional parties will issue the list of their candidates by the mid of next week.

    They are engaged in seat adjustment with other parties while the fate of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is still hanging in the balance as the ECP gives its verdict on its intra-party elections on Monday.

  • Nawaz Sharif free in Avenfield apartments reference

    Nawaz Sharif free in Avenfield apartments reference

    In a massive relief for the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference on Wednesday.

    The verdict was announced by a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

    Nawaz Sharif was facing a 10-year jail sentence in the Avenfield properties corruption reference since July 2018, charged with owning assets beyond known income. An additional one-year sentence was imposed for non-cooperation with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), both to be served concurrently.

    Having been declared a proclaimed offender in two cases, Al-Azizia and Avenfield, in December 2020, Nawaz Sharif spent nearly four years in London on medical grounds before returning to Pakistan last month. Upon his return, he sought the restoration of appeals against his convictions, which had been dismissed for non-prosecution during his medical stay abroad.

    The second case against Nawaz was the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, for which Nawaz Sharif received a seven-year jail term on December 24, 2018, accompanied by a fine of Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million. The decision for this case is yet to be taken. 

    The IHC restored these appeals in a decision last month, leading to today’s pivotal hearing. Nawaz Sharif’s legal counsel, Amjad Pervaiz, argued before the court, pointing out perceived loopholes in the Avenfield reference.

    Nawaz’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz questioned the ownership of the properties, arguing that there was neither verbal nor documented evidence indicating Nawaz’s ownership. The defense emphasized the lack of evidence proving that Maryam Nawaz and other family members were under Nawaz’s patronage.

    Pervez argued that the NAB failed to prove any of the allegations against Nawaz Sharif. “The properties in question were acquired at different times, with some being acquired between 1993 and 1996. The appellant had no connection to these properties, and the prosecution did not clarify their relation to the properties in the reference.”

    He said that Wajid Zia, former DG FIA, admitted that there was no evidence to establish Nawaz Sharif’s connection to the properties. The charge sheet stated that the assets were not in accordance with declared assets.

    The court based the sentence on assumptions, and the decision was generally written without specific evidence. It was written that children are generally under the guardianship of their father, he said.

  • Shehbaz Sharif candidate for Punjab’s chief ministership, says Rana Sanaullah

    Shehbaz Sharif candidate for Punjab’s chief ministership, says Rana Sanaullah

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Rana Sanaullah has said that former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif will be the party’s next candidate for Punjab’s chief ministership.

    Shehbaz Sharif has served as a three-time chief minister of Punjab, as well as being Prime Minister for around 16 months when the Pakistan Democratic Movement came into power after ousting the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan.

    “In my personal opinion, given the destruction during the Buzdar regime and in the manner in which Punjab was progressing till 2018, it is Punjab’s need that Shehbaz Sharif take charge of Punjab’s affairs,” PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah told Geo News’ Shahzeb Khanzada.

    “Had Shehbaz Sharif got the opportunity to [serve as the chief minister] after the 2018 elections as well, then Punjab would have become an example for the rest of Pakistan,” Sanaullah, who served as the interior minister under Shehbaz in the Centre, said.

    According to the PML-N leadership, Shehbaz Sharif can work in any capacity under the leadership of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    “My assessment says that Shehbaz Sharif will be ready to work with Nawaz Sharif in any capacity. He will not complain about it,” the ex-interior minister said.

  • Nawaz Sharif attracts over 30 electables to PML-N camp

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has successfully garnered the support of more than 30 influential electables from Balochistan, Geo News reports.

    The seasoned politician, who recently returned to Pakistan after a four-year self-imposed exile, orchestrated the feat during his visit to Quetta.

    Accompanied by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz engaged in discussions with leaders from various political factions during his visit to Balochistan.

    Following these deliberations, over 30 individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Balochistan National Party–Mengal (BNP-M), National Party (NP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) joined the ranks of PML-N.

    From BAP, former Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal Khan, Mir Saleem Khosa, Noor Mohammad, Baba Buledi, Sardar Masood Luni, Rubaba Buledi, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, Shoaib Nosherwani, Ramin Jan Muhammad Hassni and Muhammad Khan Lehrijoined the PML-N ranks.

    PPP leaders Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail, Sardar Fateh Muhammad, and Faiq Jamali jumped ship to join the PML-N.
    From the National Party, Mujib Mohammad Hassni and former senator Dr Ashok Kumar, while Zeenat Shahwani of BNP-M and PTI’s Muhammad Jamali and Sardar Atif Sanjrani also joined the PML-N.

    The PML-N delegation, which held discussions with a BAP delegation led by Nawabzada Khalid Magsi, also marked a noteworthy reconciliation between the historically contentious parties. BAP, founded in 2018, has roots in political dissidents from both PML-N and the PML-Q.

    To strengthen its position in the province, PML-N is reportedly exploring electoral alliances, including with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F).

    Talks suggest that, if successful, the parties may jointly contest the general elections, with a shared decision on the chief minister’s candidacy.

    Sources said that the JUI-F has also put forward the name of Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri conditioning their support if he is made the province’s chief executive.

    The development comes as earlier this month the PML-N and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) announced their electoral alliance to jointly contest the upcoming general elections in Sindh.

    In response to these developments, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari offered a suggestion to Nawaz Sharif, urging him to “focus on Lahore,” on Tuesday.

    “Mian sahab has been adviced to visit other provinces. I would suggest that he should stay in Lahore and focus on its problems,” said the PPP chairman during a presser in Mithi, calling on PML-N to do politics on its own and stop relying on others.