Tag: PTI

  • Fugitive candidates will appear before ROs for scrutiny of nomination papers

    Fugitive candidates will appear before ROs for scrutiny of nomination papers

    Candidates who are in hiding or have been declared proclaimed offenders may face the risk of having their nomination papers rejected if they fail to appear before the respective returning officers (ROs) when summoned for scrutiny by December 30, as reported by The News on Sunday.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has confirmed that the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 2024 general elections will be conducted by the Returning Officers (ROs) in adherence to the rules, regulations, and guiding framework set by the electoral authority.

    The scrutiny begins today and is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, December 30. According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the deadline for filing appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers is January 3, 2024.

    The Commission will publish a revised list of candidates on January 11, 2024, while candidates can withdraw their papers by January 12, 2024.

    Nomination papers of several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates linked to the incidents of May 9—sparked by the arrest of the party’s former chairman, Imran Khan—are expected to face challenges from opposing candidates during the scrutiny process.

    Their signatures on the original form could also be challenged, as some candidates have been declared proclaimed offenders and have been hiding since May 9.

  • No ‘bat’ for PTI; ECP takes away party symbol

    No ‘bat’ for PTI; ECP takes away party symbol

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has released its verdict in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) intra-party elections on Friday, declaring that the party will not be given the cricketing ‘bat’ symbol it has contested previous elections with.

    The verdict comes right after a delegation from PTI said that it had been assured by the ECP of a level playing field after the Supreme Court of Pakistan asked the two to hold a meeting.

    The order stated, “So keeping in view, the clear mandate of Elections Act, 2017 read with PTI constitution 2019, and for reasons mentioned hereinabove, it is held that PTI has not complied with our directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November, 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution, 2019 and Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017. Therefore, the certificate dated 4″ December. 2023 and Form-65 filed by the alleged Chairman, is hereby regretted and rejected accordingly. The provisions of Section 215 of the Election Act, 2017 are hereby invoked and PTI is hereby declared ineligible to obtain, the Election Symbol, for which they have applied for.”

    PTI held intra-party polls on December 2, with Barrister Gohar Khan taking the Chairman’s seat after approval from party founder Imran Khan. The results of the polls were contested by founding member Akbar S. Babar, who moved the ECP against what he termed “fraudulent” elections.

    ECP had sought a reply from PTI on the polls violating the party constitution. The party itself meanwhile turned to Peshawar High Court in a bid to defuse what it termed as discrimination by ECP.

  • ‘I will not contest the election, even if Imran Khan asks,’ Aleema Khan

    ‘I will not contest the election, even if Imran Khan asks,’ Aleema Khan

    Aleema Khan, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has stated that none of his family members will contest the upcoming general elections slated for February 8 next year.

    During a chat with journalists outside the Islamabad High Court on Thursday, she remarked: “I will not contest the election, even if Imran Khan asks (me), I will not participate in the election.”

    Aleema clarified that neither Khan’s sisters nor his wife will contest. “None of us is contesting elections. We only come for the cases of the PTI founder”.

    She emphasized that treating the PTI founder in the same manner as former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was unwarranted, highlighting the absence of a young generation during Bhutto’s time.

    She alleged that Nawaz Sharif, the leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had got two umpires, asserting that he was preventing other political players from entering the political arena, stressing that evidence supporting this claim became apparent during the nomination paper submission process, where individuals are allegedly being deprived of their papers.

    She dismissed the cipher case as a mere joke, expressing concern over the rapid pace of the trial and raising the possibility of a death sentence being pronounced by December 30.

    “Our hope for justice is from Allah and justice should also be expected from the Supreme Court, but what is happening is in front of everyone. We are no longer disappointed with the Supreme Court. If you don’t expect anything from the Supreme Court, who will you expect from? If we do not get justice from there, we will definitely get it from Allah,” she remarked.

  • ‘I am more experienced than Barrister Gohar,’ Latif Khosa

    ‘I am more experienced than Barrister Gohar,’ Latif Khosa

    In a recent interview on Geo News’ program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath,’ senior vice president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Latif Khosa, took a swipe at the party’s newly appointed chairman Barrister Gohar.

    Khosa expressed confidence in assuming a leadership role after Imran Khan.

    Directing criticism at Barrister Gohar, Khosa stated that the lawyer lacks the experience that he possesses. He emphasized his role as the senior vice president within PTI, positioning himself as a contender for leadership after Imran Khan.

    During the conversation, Khosa emphasized that, unlike the situation with Nawaz Sharif, the judiciary was not biased in favor of PTI.

    He highlighted the trial without jurisdiction in the Toshakhana case, stating that the punishment given was incorrect and could be rectified through a review order.

    Khosa asserted that the subsequent disqualification of Imran Khan by the Election Commission as a consequence of delaying the sentence was rushed, occurring within three days instead of the stipulated 30 days.

    He further stated that the basic rights of Imran Khan were being apprehended by the courts.

    Khosa mentioned that the situation is leading to uncertainty and keeping PTI out of elections means that the elections are not free and fair.

  • 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.

  • ECP lists Imran Khan as Chairman of PTI

    ECP lists Imran Khan as Chairman of PTI

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has released a list of political parties after the issuance of the election schedule, as per The News on Thursday.
    The list comprises of 175 political parties that are going to take part in the upcoming general election, set to take place on February 8 next year.

    According to the list, former Prime Minister Imran Khan is still the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), despite the fact that Barrister Gohar Khan was recently elected as chairman of PTI.

    The issue of PTI’s intra-party election conducted on December 2, 2023, remains undecided, as the ECP reserved its judgement after hearings.

    Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is the head of  Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari leads the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP). On the other hand, former foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is a chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

    Similarly, Khalid Maqbool Siddique is the head of  Muttahida Qaumi Movement- Pakistan (MQM-P), and Abdul Aleem Khan is the president of a newly formed Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).

  • Imran Khan will contest elections from three constituencies

    Imran Khan will contest elections from three constituencies

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Wednesday that imprisoned founding chairman Imran Khan will contest elections from at least three constituencies on February 8 next year.

    PTI senator Ali Zafar told journalists that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will soon announce its decision regarding the ToshaKhana case against Imran Khan, as the election schedule has already been released.

    “We want to inform you that Imran Khan will contest elections from at least three constituencies, and we hope that the IHC will announce its judgement soon in the Toshakhana case, as the election schedule has been issued,” he added.

    PTI’s petition requests the temporary halt of the former PM’s conviction in the Toshakhana case.

    The senator also encouraged party workers to submit their nomination papers, stating that the party will prioritise imprisoned workers.

    “Those [workers] who rendered sacrifices for the party, facing cases and braving difficulties will be allotted [party] tickets 100 per cent,” the PTI senator said.

    The PTI leader clarified that the final decision on ticket allocation will be made by the incarcerated party founder.

  • Hassaan Niazi is up for contesting elections

    Hassaan Niazi is up for contesting elections

    Hassaan Niazi, prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and ex-prime minister Imran Khan’s nephew, has officially declared his intention to participate in the upcoming general elections.

    The decision was revealed as his mother filed a petition in the Lahore High Court, seeking approval for his nomination papers.

    The petition argued that, with the Election Commission having announced the election schedule, Hassan Niazi remains eligible, having neither faced disqualification nor conviction; he is presently in custody.

    The legal plea urged the court to grant permission for the completion of Hassan Niazi’s nomination paper for the submission process.

    It further proposes a meeting between the court commissioner and Hassan Niazi to facilitate the verification or rejection of the nomination papers.

    The move sets the stage for a potentially dynamic political scenario, with Hassan Niazi’s candidacy poised to shape the unfolding electoral landscape.

    The Case

    A Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday granted the police two-day transit remand of the focal person of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and ex-prime minister Imran Khan’s nephew, Hassaan Niazi.

    The police had produced Niazi in the court seeking his transit remand to take him to Karachi, where he is wanted in connection with sedition charges registered against him.

    The case against Niazi was registered on the complaint of a citizen named Muhammad Iqbal at the Jamshaid Quarters police station.

    According to the first information report (FIR), Niazi was involved in inciting people to revolt against national institutions and attempting to provoke disharmony in a video on social media.

    The statement had allegedly created anger and distress among the masses.

    During the hearing, the prosecution argued that Niazi’s presence was required in Karachi for further legal proceedings.

    Therefore, the court approved the request for a two-day transit remand, allowing the police to take Niazi to Karachi for progress in the case.

  • Government blocks CNICs of 18 PTI leaders

    Government blocks CNICs of 18 PTI leaders

    The caretaker federal government has blocked the CNIC of former minister Hammad Azhar and 18 other leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    The party leaders are facing legal charges following the May 9 riots. The list of leaders with blocked CNICs consists of Ali Amin Gandapur, Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, Malik Karamat Khokhar, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Zubair Khan Niazi, Malik Nadeem Abbas, and Ghulam Mohiuddin Dewan.

    According to officials, the CNICs have been blocked at the request of the police and will remain suspended until investigation is completed.

    Authorities also said that if PTI leaders do not appear before the court, they will be deprived of their legal rights.

    Earlier On Sunday, PTI conducted its first virtual jalsa through various social media platforms, amid accusations of an alleged ‘internet crackdown’ aimed at stopping the event’s impact,.

    Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Khan spoke to approximately one million social media users globally, reaching audiences in Asia, Europe, and America.

  • Qasim Suri, Kumar Sanu or Hamid Mir? Who was THAT MAN at PTI virtual jalsa?

    Qasim Suri, Kumar Sanu or Hamid Mir? Who was THAT MAN at PTI virtual jalsa?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had a virtual jalsa on Sunday night and the internet is in fits after seeing the new look of one central leader.

    Qasim Suri, central senior vice president, member of the core committee of PTI, and the former deputy speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, made a public appearance after a long time and people can’t accept that he looks like a different man.

    Netizens compared him to Indian singer Kumar Sanu.

    “Kal space mein Qasim Suri Ki Jagah Kumar Sanu Aagae Thy Ghalti Se.”

    Others thought he looked like Geo anchor Hamid Mir.

    “Qasim Suri looking like a Mexican Drug Cartel Kingpin.”

    “If he is Qasim Suri then I am Alexandra Daddario”

    “Looking at Qasim Suri’s pictures, I’m convinced ke jo kaam aurton k liye makeup karta ha mardon ke liye wo kaam Beard krti ha Cutie came from Metaverse”

    https://twitter.com/Burqaa_Avenger/status/1736645635091366209?s=20