Tag: PPP

  • Senator withdraws resolution to ban Social Media in Pakistan

    Senator withdraws resolution to ban Social Media in Pakistan

    Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi has withdrawn his resolution aimed at imposing a blanket ban on several major social media platforms in the country.

    The resolution, which sparked controversy before its introduction in the house, called for the government to prohibit access to Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, citing concerns over their perceived negative impact on the younger generation.

    Even before reaching the floor of the house, Tangi’s resolution faced significant criticism from digital rights activists and journalists.

    Critics argued that the proposed ban would further restrict freedom of expression in Pakistan. The timing of the resolution’s emergence added to its contentious nature, coinciding with ongoing disruptions to access X following allegations of electoral rigging during the February 8 polls.

    Senator Brahmand Tangi, who was expelled by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) one month ago, had moved a resolution in the senate asking that all social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram be banned in Pakistan to protect the next generation from what he has dubbed their “negative and devastating” effects.

    Tangi was expelled by the PPP last month after he went against party policy and remained silent on a resolution asking for delay in Balochistan and KP general elections. However, DAWN has reported that the party has till now not moved a reference against him.
    The resolution has alleged that social media platforms were being used to promote norms “against our culture and religion” and creating hatred among the general populace.

    The document also charges the platforms with being used to run “malicious” campaigns against the army and spreading fake news.
    PPP has said that the senator should not use the party’s name anymore, swiftly distancing itself from the controversial resolution. Nonetheless, it will be on Monday’s agenda.

    Senator Tangi is set to retire on March 11.

  • PPP agrees on Dar as finance minister

    PPP agrees on Dar as finance minister

    The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has agreed to the appointment of Ishaq Dar as the finance minister, as per The News on Monday. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP are ready to form a coalition government in the centre after the February 8 polls nationwide.

    The development comes in the backdrop of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s tirade during election campaign in the run-up to the February 8 polls, wherein he had time and again criticised Dar for mismanaging the economy during the PML-N-led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government.

    In January, Bilawal Bhutto told Geo News that his party will see  “anyone but Dar” as the country’s finance minister because of the poor economic situation in Pakistan.

    The PML-N leader refrained from responding to his comment and said, “He [Bilawal] is like my child. I don’t want to comment on what he said.” 

    “This is the same Bilawal who on the floor [of the parliament] a few months back used to say that for him I’m Dar uncle,” he added.

  • Qamar Zaman Kaira to be next Governor of Punjab?

    Qamar Zaman Kaira to be next Governor of Punjab?

    The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has nominated stalwart loyalist Qamar Zaman Kaira and two other party leaders for the post of governor of Punjab as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has agreed to form a coalition government with the PPP, The News has reported on Monday.

    Sources have told The News that the names of Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood and Chaudhry Riaz are also in consideration for the post of Governor.

    However, the PPP is currently holding consultations for the post of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) governor, as the party will announce the names of their candidates for both positions after the presidential elections, which are going to be held on March 9.

    The development comes after both parties reached an agreement to form a coalition government in the centre, wherein the PPP, with its 54 National Assembly seats, agreed to support the PML-N in government formation after none of the parties managed to secure a simple majority in the lower house in the February 8 general elections.

  • PPP wants Yusuf Raza Gillani as Chairman Senate

    PPP wants Yusuf Raza Gillani as Chairman Senate

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has made a decisive move in selecting former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani as its nominee for the position of Senate chairman.

    Gilani, who recently resigned from the Senate and subsequently took oath as a member of the National Assembly, has emerged as the party’s top choice for the role of Chairman Senate.

    Despite the resignation, PPP leadership remains steadfast in their decision regarding Gilani’s candidacy for the Senate chairmanship, according to a report by The News on Saturday.

    The Bilawal Bhutto-led party is actively consulting its legal and political experts to determine the most appropriate path for Gilani’s re-election to the Senate.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has scheduled Senate by-elections for March 14 to fill vacant seats, but the timetable for the upcoming main Senate elections, due to the retirement of half the senators on March 11, has not yet been announced.

    PPP insiders reveal that the party’s legal team is weighing the options available for Gilani’s return to the Senate, whether through the by-election or the subsequent Senate elections for a six-year term.

    The final decision, expected within a day or two, will hinge on the advice of PPP lawyers, who will obtain nomination papers for the Senate by-election on the seat vacated by Gilani.

    If approved by the party leadership, Gilani will file his nomination for the Senate by-election from Islamabad, the constituency he won after resigning from the Senate.

    However, this course of action may change if PPP leadership opts for Gilani to contest the main Senate elections instead.

    Sources within the PPP also indicate that Gilani remains a top contender for the Senate chairman position, with details of his candidacy finalized in coordination with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Gilani has entrusted the decision to PPP’s top leadership.

    If elected as Senate chairman, Gilani would achieve a unique distinction, having served in the top three constitutional posts in the country: Speaker of the National Assembly, Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Chairman of the Senate.

    While Gilani previously contested the Senate chairman election in 2021, he narrowly missed out on victory after seven of his votes were deemed invalid, leading to the election of Senator Sadiq Sanjrani as Senate chairman.

    He won the seat of the National Assembly in general elections which was contested by his rival. On February 11, after the recount in National Assembly constituency NA-148, the number of votes obtained by the former PM increased.

    Upon the request of Independent candidate Barrister Taimur Malik, the process of verification of Form 45 was carried out in the RO office.
    Resultantly, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani secured victory with 67,377 votes, while Taimur Malik remained runner-up with 67,047 votes. According to Form 47, Gilani had defeated Taimur Malik by a lead of 293 votes previously in the first count. After recounting, Gilani’s lead increased to 330 votes.

  • PPP’s Sarfraz Bugti elected CM Balochistan unopposed

    PPP’s Sarfraz Bugti elected CM Balochistan unopposed

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sarfraz Bugti was elected on Saturday as the unopposed leader of the house in the Balochistan Assembly. The newly-elected chief minister got 41 votes.

    Bugti will take the oath today, with the swearing-in ceremony to be held at the Governor House at 3 p.m, where Balochistan Governor Abdul Wali Kakar will administer the oath.

    Sarfraz Bugti’s nomination was announced in the Balochistan Assembly’s session today.

    The former federal minister submitted his nomination papers after instructions from PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardrai and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

    He is also supported by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri and Sardar Sarfaraz Chakar Domki.

  • PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq elected speaker National Assembly

    PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq elected speaker National Assembly

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Sadiq has been elected as the new speaker of the National Assembly (NA) on Friday afternoon.  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-supported candidate Amir Dogar was in competition with PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq for the position of speaker NA.

    Sadiq won the contest with 199 votes, gaining a majority from the members of the PML-N, PPP and other lawmakers backing his nomination in the lower house. 

    The counting of votes is being done by the NA Secretariat staff in the presence of polling agents for both candidates.

    The NA session was held today to elect the speaker and deputy speaker. However, the elected PTI-backed MNAs chanted slogans against alleged rigging in the February 8 polls.

    The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Raja Parvez Ashraf chaired today’s session of NA.

    Raja Parvez Ashraf will also take oath from the speaker and deputy speaker of the NA. After taking the oath, the new speaker will take charge of the lower house.

  • After Punjab gives control to a woman, all hail women deputy speakers in KP, Balochistan

    After Punjab gives control to a woman, all hail women deputy speakers in KP, Balochistan

    After Maryam Nawaz was given the charge of Chief Minister in Punjab, other provinces are also stepping up and recognizing the position of women in politics. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have also elected women for the post of deputy speakers in their respective assemblies.

    PTI-backed member from Chitral, Suraiya Bibi has been elected as the Deputy Speaker in KP Assembly after securing 87 votes.

    Suraiya Bibi is from the constituency of PK-1 Chitral, representing the Banu, Chitral, and Lower Dir regions. She has served as the Vice President of the Malakand Women’s Wing of the Tehreek-e-Insaf. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology. However, it is important to note that she is the second woman in the province to have been elected for this post. The first was Mehr Taj Roghani from Mardan, who is now a senator.

    In Balochistan, Ghazala Gola has been elected unopposed as the deputy speaker of the Balochistan Assembly.

    She belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and according to her Twitter bio has served as a provincial minister on women’s development in Balochistan.

    Additionally, Sindh Assembly has elected Anthony Naveed from PPP as the deputy speaker. Naveed is from a minority community and is a former Special Assistant To Chief Minister Sindh – Pakistan on Interfaith & Harmony.

  • Won’t vote for top positions in National Assembly: JUI-F’s Fazlur Rehman says about five party seats

    Won’t vote for top positions in National Assembly: JUI-F’s Fazlur Rehman says about five party seats

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has announced that his party will not take part in the electoral process for the top political slots, including president, prime minister, and National Assembly (NA) speaker. It is important to note that JUIF has five national assembly seats.

    The senior politician told journalists in Islamabad on Thursday that his party will sit in opposition and party members will not vote in forthcoming polls in the National Assembly (NA).

    In response to a question regarding JUI-F’s strategy for a protest movement, he said, “Wait for it. We will represent the nation soon.”

    “I haven’t met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) quaid Nawaz Sharif so far. A delegation arrived yesterday which comprises representatives of the PML-N, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).”

    “We had a pleasant conservation as we were already very frank with them,” the senior politician said, regarding dialogues with major parties that formed a strong coalition to rule the country.

  • ‘PPP pressurising PML-N to sideline MQM,’ alleged MQM’s Kamran Tessori audio leak sparks new debate

    ‘PPP pressurising PML-N to sideline MQM,’ alleged MQM’s Kamran Tessori audio leak sparks new debate

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) is facing challenges in talks with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as another alleged audio of Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori goes viral on social media.

    Earlier, an audio clip went viral in which MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal revealed to the party’s Rabita Committee that PML-N “doesn’t want to talk to us”. He accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of trying to corner them.

    Kamal has confirmed that the audio is genuine.

    In the latest audio, Kamran Tessori can be heard saying that MQM-P is paying the cost of becoming part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government.

    “We were part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government when PML-N and the PPP were in opposition. We supported the PDM, which angered our voter,” Tessori said in the audio, which could not be independently verified.

    “MQM-P got seven seats despite all the hurdles [in 2018 elections] which was our vote bank. We didn’t get the vote today [in the 2024 polls]. The party is being offered one ministry [Information Technology] as part of government and they are bringing their own governor in Sindh as well.”

  • PPP’s Murad Ali Shah elected as CM Sindh for third time

    PPP’s Murad Ali Shah elected as CM Sindh for third time

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Murad Ali Shah has been elected as the chief minister of Sindh for the third consecutive time on Monday afternoon.

    Shah previously served as the chief executive of Sindh from 2016 to 2018 and then again from 2018 to 2023.

    Today, the election for the province’s chief executive began after a half-hour delay via open ballot, with those supporting the PPP’s Shah and MQMP’s Ali Khurshidi directed to go right and left of the assembly hall, respectively.

    A total of 148 members of the provincial assembly took part in the electoral process, with Murad Ali Shah securing 112 votes to become the 25th chief minister of Sindh. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) Ali Khurshidi was in competition with newly-elected chief minister Murad Ali Shah.

    On the other hand, MQM-P leader Abdul Waseem congratulated Murad Ali Shah on becoming CM Sindh.

    “We all need to respect the elected members and resolve the problems. I hope Murad Ali Shah will live up to people’s expectations,” he said.