Tag: PMLN

  • Finally, ECP gives date for general elections

    Finally, ECP gives date for general elections

    A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah, is hearing petitions filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SBCA) and others seeking directives to hold general elections within 90 days as stipulated by the Constitution.

    During the hearing, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lawyer, Sharjeel Sawati, said that elections will be held on February 11, as per Geo News.

    After being questioned about wether they have consulted with the president of Pakistan on the date or not, the lawyer was instructed to consult with Arif Alvi today.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Thursday remarked that President Arif Alvi violated the Constitution by not giving a date for general elections.

    At the outset of the hearing, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) counsel Farooq Naek told the court that his party had submitted the request to become a party in the case.

    After this, PTI’s lawyer Ali Zafar started his arguments by saying that the party has limited its petition to only seeking timely elections.

    “Elections must be held within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies as per the Constitution,” he stressed. At this, CJP Isa said that the plea seeking polls within 90 days has then become ineffective.

    “The court was told that it was impossible to hold polls within 90 days in the previous hearing,” he remarked.

    Zafar then said that PTI only wants elections.

    He further said that there won’t be any parliament and law if elections are not conducted.

    “Giving a date and schedule of elections are two different things. President Dr Arif Alvi had written a letter to hold consultations with the ECP,” he remarked.

    The CJP observed that the president had written in his letter that the court should look into the matter of elections.
    “Is the president saying that court should take notice of the issue about elections,” he questioned.

    At this, Zafar replied that the president had said that the court can also review the matter.

    CJP Isa then said that the president did not give any date for elections in his letter. “Did the president not fulfil his constitutional duty,” he asked.

    Zafar said that the president fulfilled his responsibility by consulting on the elections.

    On this point, Justice Minallah asked why the president wrote the letter in September and not on August 15 after the assemblies were dissolved on August 9.

    “Did the president only ask the Supreme Court verbally to take notice of the matter,” asked CJP. He further said that the head of state wrote the letter to the ECP and not to SC.

    CJP Isa then questioned whether the apex court had the authority to give a date for polls. “Is it necessary for the president to consult the prime minister to give a date,” he inquired.

    Zafar replied that consultations are not necessary as the president has his own constitutional duty to give a date.

    During the last hearing, the SC had issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the federal government for their input on polls within 90 days.

    The ECP had earlier set the date for elections in Punjab on April 30, but then postponed them to October 8 — in Punjab as well as KPK.

    PTI filed a plea in the top court against this decision.

    On April 4, the SC had ordered the government and the ECP to hold elections for Punjab assembly on May 14 but both institutions said this would not be possible due to shortage of resources, including funds and manpower.

    On September 21, the ECP announced that general elections will be held in the last week of January 2024. However, it did not issue a specific date.

    The commission also published the preliminary constituency lists.
    According to the ECP, objections to the preliminary constituency lists will be entertained until October 26, with hearings on these objections slated to run until November 25.

    The final electoral rolls are scheduled for release by November 30, and within 54 days following this publication, the election commission has outlined the election timetable.

  • Why was Shahid Khaqan Abbasi barred from flying abroad?

    Why was Shahid Khaqan Abbasi barred from flying abroad?

    Former Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi faced a brief hiccup on Friday when he was initially stopped from flying abroad due to his name being on the no-fly list, as per Shahzad Ali of Samaa.

    However, after clarification, he was allowed to proceed with his travel plans to China.

    Mr. Abbasi and his wife were at Islamabad Airport to catch a flight to China when immigration authorities informed him that he was on the stop list based on orders of the Sindh court.

    Consequently, he was told he couldn’t continue his journey and had to return from the airport lounge.

    Eventually, the issue was resolved, and he was permitted to travel.

    When reached for comment, Mr. Abbasi denied any disruption and stated that he had already departed for China.

    Despite attempts to contact the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) immigration authorities for clarification, no response was received.

    Earlier last month, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s son Abdullah Khaqan Abbasi was prevented from leaving the nation at the Islamabad airport by immigration officials.

    On a foreign carrier, flight EK-613, Abdullah Khaqan Abbasi was scheduled to travel for Dubai.

    Due to the fact that Abdullah’s name was on the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) stop list, the FIA immigration officers stopped him.

    Earlier, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s bail had been extended by the Sindh High Court in a case related to an unauthorized appointment at Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

    The court also ordered that Abbasi’s name and those of the other defendants be added to the Exit Control List (ECL).

    The case involved allegations against Abbasi, Arshad Mirza, Imranul Haque, and Yakoob Babar, with the former petroleum secretary also being present during the court hearing.

  • General Elections ki date aa gaee?

    General Elections ki date aa gaee?

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is getting ready for the next big elections.

    The commission is thinking of setting January 28 as the day for the General Elections in 2024, as per Waqar Satti of Geo News.

    ECP is set to apprise the Supreme Court (SC) after it sought the commission’s response in a case pertaining to timely elections.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, earlier this week, during the apex court’s hearing on the issue of timely elections, observed that it was “not possible” to meet the 90-day deadline for holding elections and lamented the lack of preparations of the petitioners.

    The CJP’s remarks came as he is leading a three-member bench comprising himself, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan to hear petitions filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and others, seeking elections within the 90-day constitutional limit.

    During the hearing, the SCBA lawyer apprised the court that the “90-day period will complete on November 3″.

    To this, CJP Isa inquired whether it would even be possible to hold the polls within 90 days, to which the lawyer conceded that even if the top court gives the order even then it will not be possible to hold the elections within 90 days.

    The National Assembly, as well as the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies, were dissolved by the Shehbaz Sharif-led government on August 9.

    This was done so the ECP could have enough time to organize the elections within the 90-day limit.

    However, the ECP had to wait a bit longer to get everything sorted because they needed to consider the new population census approved by the Council of Common Interest (CCI). This meant they had to do some fresh planning and organization.

    The ECP later announced that the new elections would happen in the last week of January 2024. But before they made this announcement, some people had filed petitions in the Supreme Court, asking them to make sure the elections happen within the 90-day limit.

    These petitions were filed a while back but weren’t looked at during the tenure of former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.

  • NAB has ‘no objection’ to revival of Nawaz’s appeals

    NAB has ‘no objection’ to revival of Nawaz’s appeals

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that they have no objection to the reinstatement of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s conviction appeals in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield cases.

    Sharif, who appeared before the IHC, previously sought the restoration of his appeals against the sentences given in the two corruption references.

    NAB informed the division bench, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and comprising Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb, that it held no objections to the revival of Nawaz’s appeals.

    At the outset of the hearing, NAB Prosecutor General Ghulam Qadir Shah said that a reference can only be taken back if it is yet pending a verdict. “We have reviewed these appeals as well as the facts and legalities of both references,” he said.

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) restored PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s appeals against his conviction in the Avenfield Apartments and Al-Azizia references.

    The verdict, which was reserved earlier today, was announced by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

    The bench issued the verdict while hearing Nawaz’s pleas seeking protective bail in the cases and for restoring his appeals against his conviction.

    During the hearing earlier this week, the IHC issued notices to the NAB on Sharif’s request and extended his bail period, as he appeared before the court with surety bonds worth Rs1 million.

    Sharif had been convicted in 2018 in the two corruption cases and had left for London for medical treatment in 2019, returning to Pakistan on October 21 after nearly four years in self-imposed exile.

    Following his appearance before the IHC, the Punjab government invoked Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to suspend Sharif’s sentence in the Al-Azizia reference.

    On the same day, the PML-N leader was granted bail from an accountability court in Islamabad in the Toshakhana case against him.

    Sharif’s legal saga has been ongoing since 2018 when he was convicted in the Avenfield case, followed by the Al-Azizia case later that year.

    Despite being granted bail by the IHC in 2019, he remained abroad for medical treatment, leading to his declaration as a proclaimed offender by both the IHC and the accountability court.

    In a judgment in June 2021, the IHC rejected Sharif’s appeals due to his continuous absence from court proceedings.

    The court stated that as Sharif was a fugitive, he had lost his right to present his case before the court, leading to the dismissal of his appeal.

    On October 19, 2023, both the IHC and the accountability court provided Sharif with protective bail until October 24, 2023.

  • Jahangir Tareen ki party mein kaun kaun shaamil?

    Jahangir Tareen ki party mein kaun kaun shaamil?

    Senior politician Andleeb Abbas, along with two other former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) women MPAs joined the ranks of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) on Tuesday. 

    In a significant show of support, the IPP patron-in-chief Jahangir Khan Tareen met the trio of former women MPAs, where they officially severed ties with PTI and pledged their allegiance to the IPP.

    Flanked by IPP Information Secretary Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Andleeb Abbas said: “The IPP will make a strong Pakistan. We have a cause to follow, which is above a party and an individual. We have joined the IPP for a cause.”

    Sadia Sohail said: “We are sitting here together for Pakistan. May 9 should not have happened. All institutions should be respected.”

    Sumaira Bokhari said nothing was more important than Pakistan. When asked why they chose to join hands with Tareen and Aleem Khan who [allegedly] represent mafias in the country and their reason to quit the PTI, the trio chose not to respond to any of these queries.

    A group of leaders from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Balochistan also aligned themselves with the IPP. 

    PML-N Balochistan vice president Jaleel Ahmed Khan Musakhel, and his associates met IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan in Lahore to solidify their transition.

    Expressing his thoughts on the occasion, Aleem Khan said, “We want to see more progress in the small provinces. Apart from Punjab, the key political personalities from the other provinces are also joining the IPP.’’

    “The masses are upset by the traditional politics practiced by the PML-N, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and PTI,’’ Aleem Khan added.  

    The IPP’s momentum further gained strength as Pashtun Social Community (PSC) Punjab President Muhammad Sher Khan officially announced his decision to join the party on October 17. 

    The development came after Sher Khan held a meeting with IPP General Secretary Mian Khalid Mehmood.

    Khalid Mehmood welcomed Sher Khan by presenting a party scarf to the latter.

  • All ‘good news’ for Nawaz Sharif

    All ‘good news’ for Nawaz Sharif

    Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s legal battles continued as the accountability court in Islamabad undertook the hearing of the Toshakhana reference today. The proceedings, overseen by Judge Muhammad Bashir, saw significant developments and stringent security measures.

    Rana Muhammad Irfan, the designated pleader, was present at the court. The lawyer representing Nawaz assured the court of his client’s compliance with any orders issued by the court. The judge subsequently postponed the Toshakhana reference hearing until November 20, calling for arguments on the appeal concerning property confiscation.

    Additionally, the judge honored the request made by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor to suspend Nawaz’s warrant in the case.

    The court made it clear that copies of relevant documents would be distributed during the upcoming session, while also issuing a notice to the NAB regarding the property confiscation request.

    Ahead of the hearing, strict security protocols were observed, with a bomb disposal squad conducting a thorough sweep of the courtroom premises. The Federal Judicial Complex in Islamabad was heavily guarded by police, allowing only relevant legal representatives and journalists to access the accountability court.

    Notably, the case also involves Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Asif Zardari and former Prime Minister, Senator Yusuf Raza, Gilani as co-accused.

    Nawaz’s legal representative, Qazi Misbah, filed several applications on his behalf, including the restoration of annexed property, the appointment of a pleader, and the submission of bail bonds.

    Meanwhile, Asif Zardari’s lawyer and senior PPP leader Farooq H Naek sought an exemption from attending the hearing on his client’s behalf.

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) extended Nawaz’s bail pleas in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield references till October 26 (Thursday), after issuing notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over the pleas seeking restoration of appeals in the graft cases.

    A special bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb had taken up the pleas seeking restoration of appeals against the accountability courts’ verdicts in the graft cases.

    The high court had granted protective bail to the three-time prime minister — who returned to Pakistan after four-years-long self-imposed exile on Saturday — prohibiting his arrest in the case.

    The anti-graft body had not objected to Nawaz getting the security bond.

    His counsel filed the petitions, requesting the court to hear the appeals on merit as earlier they were discarded for non-compliance when the PML-N supremo did not return from London after he was granted permission by the court in November 2019 to go abroad for medical treatment.

  • ‘No Comments’ by PM Kakar on ‘extraordinary protocol’ for Nawaz Sharif

    ‘No Comments’ by PM Kakar on ‘extraordinary protocol’ for Nawaz Sharif

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar didn’t comment on the extraordinary protocol given to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif on his return to Pakistan. 

    He was addressing a news conference three days after returning from China, where he attended the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) conference on the 10th anniversary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

    The Pakistani high commissioner in the UK was at the airport to see Nawaz Sharif off, however, Mr Kakar didn’t comment on that either.

    When asked why the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) had to take a biometrics machine to the Islamabad airport to scan Mr Sharif’s fingerprints, the PM said being a citizen of the country, Mr Sharif has a right to undergo biometrics at the airport.

    He then added: “If someone thinks that an atmosphere of level playing field should be created for a particular party, which many want, this I can’t do. If Mian Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani citizen, which I think he is, then he has a right to have biometric scans.” 

    “So what extra steps the government has taken in this regard. If NADRA facilitated him, has he gained any political advantage through this process? A normal database procedure was portrayed in a way that level playing field is not available. Do you remember what level playing field was given in 2018?” he asked. 

    PM Kakar also said that he did not believe in giving government ads to print media.

    At one point, Mr Kakar lamented that ghee manufacturers and real estate dealers had opened media houses and thus they did not follow the norms of journalism.

  • Nawaz Sharif’s legal team all set to file protective bail

    Nawaz Sharif’s legal team all set to file protective bail

    Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s legal team is gearing up to file three petitions seeking protective bail in the Avenfield, Al-Azizia, and Toshakhana cases.

    These petitions are expected to be submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) as per sources of Dawn’s reporter Malik Asad.

    It is pertinent to mention that Nawaz Sharif is set to address a public gathering at Minar e Pakistan on October 21, after spending almost four years in the UK for his ‘medical treatment’.

    Nawaz Sharif had previously faced convictions in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references, along with being declared a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana case, which is currently being heard in an accountability court in Islamabad. During his time abroad, he had been granted bail in these cases.

    The decision to approach the IHC for protective bail appears to have been influenced by prior instances where the court had granted protective bail to individuals who were declared proclaimed offenders, including Sharjeel Inam Memon, Arbab Alamgir, and Asma Arbab, without the requirement of surrender beforehand.

    Sources close to the proceedings disclosed that there would be at least two court hearings – one before Nawaz Sharif’s return and another where he would surrender himself before the court.

    Following this surrender, he would be required to pursue pending appeals against his convictions in the Avenfield Apartment and Al-Azizia references, as well as address the ongoing Toshakhana vehicle case.

    The Toshakhana case, previously put on hold under NAB amendments, was reopened following a Supreme Court ruling to revive corruption cases.

    In 2018, Nawaz Sharif was convicted in two cases – the Avenfield Apartments and Al-Azizia references. However, he was acquitted in the Flagship reference. The late Judge Arshad Malik, who presided over the Al-Azizia reference, later claimed to have authored the judgment under duress.

  • Imran Khan is a virus : Ahsan Iqbal

    Imran Khan is a virus : Ahsan Iqbal

    In a fiery political showdown, senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Hamza Shehbaz and Ahsan Iqbal, launched scathing verbal attacks on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on different occasions on Sunday.

    During a political rally in Kasur, Hamza Shehbaz fiercely criticized the PTI chief, citing his failure to substantiate corruption allegations against Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif.

    Hamza accused the PTI chairman of concealing state gifts in the Toshakhana case, a scandal that has drawn considerable public attention.

    Hamza argued that Imran Khan forced the public to bear the burden of him violating the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    He praised Nawaz Sharif, saying, “In 1990, there was no motorway in Southeast Asia. At that time, Nawaz Sharif envisioned building a motorway from Islamabad to Lahore. The world praised the motorway project when it was completed.”

    Meanwhile, Ahsan Iqbal, another senior figure within the PML-N, branded the PTI chief as a “virus” during a workers’ convention.

    Iqbal said: “The PTI chief is an inept person who harmed the country during his tenure,” adding that the PTI had launched a campaign against the entire country.

    Recounting the tenure of PTI, Iqbal said, “PML-N leaders were jailed in fake cases. We faced bogus cases.”

    He stated, “The PML-N will start its election campaign across the country after October 21.”

  • Junaid Safdar and wife Ayesha part ways amicably

    Junaid Safdar and wife Ayesha part ways amicably

    Junaid Safdar, the son of the vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML- N) Maryam Nawaz and grandson of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has confirmed reports of his divorce with Ayesha.

    Taking to Instagram, Junaid Safdar requested the media to respect the couple’s privacy as it is their private matter, and wished his wife well.

    “News about my divorce is true. This is an entirely private matter and I request the media to respect our privacy. I hope with this decision we find our peace In Sha Allah. I will speak no further on this matter. I wish her well.”

    Junaid and Ayesha tied the knot in 2021 in a lavish ceremony held in the UK and Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif was present at the London event. The couple have kept away from the media since their marriage.

    Junaid has removed pictures of him and his wife from his Instagram account.