Tag: The Current

  • ‘PPP will stay in Parliament for constructive criticism,’ says Faisal Karim Kundi

    ‘PPP will stay in Parliament for constructive criticism,’ says Faisal Karim Kundi

    As confusion around the formation of the government rages, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Faisal Karim Kundi has said that if his party had chosen to sit in opposition, the country would’ve gone towards another election.”The PPP will stay in Parliament for constructive criticism,” he stated.

    While addressing a press conference in Islamabad today, Kundi said PPP will contest the seats of Senate Chairman and Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), adding that PPP will also help Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) form a government in the centre.

    The politician also urged all political parties to work together for political stability in Pakistan.

  • Maryam Nawaz briefed on Punjab projects even before CM election

    Maryam Nawaz briefed on Punjab projects even before CM election

    The Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Maryam Nawaz, received a briefing on development projects in Punjab. The PML-N nominated Maryam Nawaz as their choice for the province’s chief minister.

    Zahid Akhtar Zaman, the Chief Secretary of Punjab, briefed the PML-N leader after she was nominated for the top provincial position.

    According to sources in Geo News, the provincial chief secretary went to Jatti Umrah on Thursday to brief Maryam and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on the current situation in Punjab.

    During a meeting, Zaman explained the ongoing projects as well as the law and order situation in the province.

    Maryam Nawaz won a National Assembly (NA) and a Provincial Assembly seat in the general elections.

    The party’s stalwart was elected by voters on PP-159 and NA-119, respectively.

  • Fazlur Rehman claims Imran was ousted on Gen Bajwa’s directives

    Fazlur Rehman claims Imran was ousted on Gen Bajwa’s directives

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Thursday that the no confidence motion against Imran Khan’s government was tabled in the National Assembly on the directive of former army chief General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    In an interview on SAMMA, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that “I was personally against the no-confidence move […] but if I had said no despite the insistence of other parties, then an impression would’ve been given that I ‘saved’ the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.”

    Fazl, during the interview, said: “While the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was running the movement for a no-confidence motion, Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid told me that I could do whatever I wanted, but within the system.”

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) removed Imran Khan from government in April 2022 and then a multi-party alliance ruled the country for 16 months before handing over the power to the caretaker set-up.

  • Firdous Ashiq Awan apologises for slapping a police officer

    Firdous Ashiq Awan apologises for slapping a police officer

    Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan has formally apologised for slapping a police officer during the general elections.

    In a hearing held at the Election Commission, chaired by Nisar Durrani, Awan expressed regret for the incident and sought forgiveness in a written statement submitted to the commission. The affected police officer also submitted a written response during the hearing.

    During the inquiry, a member of the Election Commission questioned Awan, asking who she thought she was to take the law into her own hands.

    Awan responded to the inquiry by stating that she apologizes for her actions, clarifying that the polling stations were in a chaotic state and that she was merely trying to ensure order.

    She further stated that the police were a passive spectator and she felt threatened by the crowd.

    The incident, which sparked widespread criticism on social media, has been under scrutiny by the Election Commission.

    The commission has stated that it will issue further directives regarding the hearing at a later date.

    On February 12, Awan said that she slapped a police officer as the person in uniform was facilitating one political party on election day. The IPP leader also said that if the law does not take its course, then citizens will teach corrupt police officers a lesson.
    The video was widely slammed on social media, with users calling out the IPP leader for resorting to violence.

    Read more: ‘Thappay par thappa’, Firdous explains why she slapped a police officer

  • PTI to form KP govt with Pervez Khattak’s Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians

    PTI to form KP govt with Pervez Khattak’s Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to form the government with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians (PTI-P) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). 

    PTI insiders told Geo News that Imran Khan has given permission to make an alliance with PTI-P in KP, led by Pervez Khattak.

    After Jamaat-e-Islami’s refusal, PTI decided to talk with Pervez Khattak and form an alliance. PTI-P has won two seats in the general elections.

    On the other hand, PTI has also nominated Ali Amin Gandapur for the position of Chief Minister (CM) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

  • PTI-backed candidate claims ‘being forced to join PPP or MQM-P’.

    PTI-backed candidate claims ‘being forced to join PPP or MQM-P’.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidate Shanawaz Jadoon has claimed that he was declared the loser in Karachi’s PS-115 (Keamari) constituency when he refused to join the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) or the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

    The politician said in a video statement that he was threatened by unknown persons that he would lose his provincial assembly seat if he did not join the PPP or MQM-P. 

    “I’ve been receiving phone calls since morning asking me to leave Imran Khan. I told them that I won’t leave Imran Khan under any circumstances,” he said in the video statement.

    Shanawaz Jadoon has said that he is standing with Imran Khan and party workers, who struggled day and night to get him elected as a Member Provincial Assembly (MPA).

    “I will die, but never leave Imran Khan’s side. Thousands of such seats can be sacrificed for Imran Khan and the people of my constituency,” he said, adding that he has no interest in becoming a member of the provincial assembly.

  • More voters, less turnout: FAFEN on Feb 8 polls

    More voters, less turnout: FAFEN on Feb 8 polls

    The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has reported that around 60.6 million Pakistanis voted in the country’s 12th general elections, held on February 8. This number was higher than 2018 elections, in which least 54.8 million citizens participated. The number this increased by 5.8 million voters, according to FAFEN post-election analysis report.

    The election watchdog reported that fewer people voted in the recent general polls compared to the total number of registered voters. In 2018, 52.1 percent of registered voters participated in the polls whereas this year, only 47.6 percent turned out to vote.

    The decrease in turnout, however, can be largely attributed to the increase in registered voters from 106 million in 2018 to 128.6 million in 2024. A considerable rise of 22.6 million registered voters between the 2018 and 2024 elections was highlighted in the report.

    The report suggested that the turnout might have been affected by several factors, including severe winter in some areas, concerns about violence and terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, and uncertainty regarding how the elections would be conducted.

    The analysis report on voter turnout reveals that KP had the lowest turnout. The report also notes that voter turnout varies across National Assembly (NA) constituencies, with Islamabad Capital Territory recording the highest turnout.

  • Will PTI secure reserved seats in National Assembly?

    Will PTI secure reserved seats in National Assembly?

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has confirmed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will not get reserve seats despite an alliance with other political parties, including Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), ARY News reported on Wednesday.

    ECP sources revealed that the MWM did not submit a list of reserved seats for women as required by Section 104 of the Election Act, and they missed the submission deadline.

    Furthermore, it was revealed that political parties are allowed to submit the list of reserved seats until the deadline for the submission of nomination papers. 

    However, once the deadline passes, no political party can submit a list of reserved seats.

    A day earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced plans to form an alliance with MWM to create a government in the centre.

  • Jamat-e-Islami will not join hands with PTI to form government in centre

    Jamat-e-Islami will not join hands with PTI to form government in centre

    Jamat-e-Islami (JI) confirmed on Wednesday that they will not form a government with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), despite PTI-backed independent candidates leading with higher number of seats in the February 8 general elections.

    JI leader Amir Liaqat Baloch said while talking to Geo News that his party is not going to join hands with the PTI for the formation of a government in centre.

    “There is no reason for us to form an alliance with PTI only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Baloch, adding that talks with PTI were related to both governments — federal and provincial. 

    PTI leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said that there is no point of forming a government with JI as it has no representative in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
    A day earlier, the PTI founder said that his party will not talk with mainstream political parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

  • ‘PTI can talk to all parties to solve country’s problems’; Ali Muhammad Khan offers olive branch

    ‘PTI can talk to all parties to solve country’s problems’; Ali Muhammad Khan offers olive branch

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-supported independent candidates are currently leading in numbers after the recent general elections. However, the party’s leadership seems unsure about their stance on discussions with other political parties in the context of forming a government in Islamabad.

    A day earlier, former Prime Minister Imran Khan said that his party will not talk to mainstream parties, including, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

    On the other hand, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan said in an interview with Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ that PTI can talk with all political parties to solve the country’s problems, offering an olive branch as opposed to his party’s hard-line stance.

    “We have no personal fight with these parties,” Ali said pointedly, adding that PTI is ready to sit with other political stakeholders, as soon as “tomorrow morning”.