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Election date: LHC grants time to Punjab governor to submit reply

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Election date: LHC grants time to Punjab governor to submit reply

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought reply from Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman and other parties in a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking the announcement of date for elections in the province.

LHC Justice Jawad Hassan heard the plea wherein PTI Secretary General Asad Umar had requested the court to direct the Punjab governor to immediately announce the date of elections in Punjab.

At the outset of the hearing, Justice Hassan inquired when the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will hold elections in the province. To which, the ECP lawyer said: “We are ready to hold polls”. He further said the governor had replied to a letter sent by the electoral body seeking a date for the elections. The governor had asked the ECP to hold consultation with all stakeholders.

Justice Hassan remarked that elections should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assembly as per the Constitution. “How can you say that economic condition is deteriorated?” the judge asked the ECP counsel. He remarked elections had been held in the past when economic condition was also shaky.

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At one point, the judge asked Mr Umar if a larger bench should be made to hear the case. The PTI leader, however, requested the court not to establish a larger bench.

During the hearing, a lawyer for the Punjab governor sought seven-day time from the court to submit reply, however, it was opposed by the PTI arguing that it would delay the process.

The LHC asked Mr Umar to not worry as now the case was being heard by the court. Later, Justice Jawad Hassan directed the counsel for the governor and other parties to submit their detailed replies by Feb 9 and adjourned the hearing till same date.

During the previous hearing, PTI’s lawyer Ali Zafar argued that elections were supposed to be held within 90 days after the assembly had been dissolved but the Punjab governor had not even announced the date for elections.

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Justice Jawad Hassan remarked that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should be made party in the case as it needed to be addressed that who was responsible for announcing the election date. The lawyer replied that the ECP also stood with them on the matter as the electoral watchdog had already sent a letter to the Punjab governor, seeking the election date and received no response from the other side.

Justice Jawad Hassan said the one responsible for the regulation of elections would be sought as the court would make efforts for upholding democracy. “Elections will be held within 90 days.”

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Nawaz left Pakistan with govt permission, it wasn’t a jailbreak: Solangi

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Nawaz left Pakistan with govt permission, it wasn't a jailbreak: Solangi

 Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had flown abroad after getting permission from the court and the government, not due to jailbreak, said Murtaza Solangi – the caretaker information minister – who added that he would be treated according to law and constitution on his return to Pakistan.

The minister remarked some people were confused on the issue of elections and spreading confusion a business for some others. The caretaker government had no confusion on the issue of elections, he added

Solangi, who visited the Karachi Press Club, told media persons on Saturday that Nawaz was a three-time prime minister and he had no knowledge of which court the PML-n supremo would move after his return.

Replying to various questions on the subject, the caretaker information minister said he didn’t want to speculate as it was Nawaz who would have to answer such queries.

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As the minister faced a flurry of questions about the elections, he again made it clear that the caretaker setup would give equal opportunities to all the registered political parties for taking part in the electoral process.

Solangi reiterated that the caretaker government would fulfil its constitutional responsibilities and provide all the available resources to the Election Commission for conducting the exercise.

When asked about the rupee appreciation and the fuel prices, Solangi said the incumbent setup had no role in pricing mechanism which was linked to the rates in global markets.

However, he added, that there were enough chances of reduction in petroleum products’ rates due to the gains made by the local currency. People would get some benefit of reduction in the value of the dollar, Solangi said.

The minister noted that power theft burdened other consumers and recovering the amount from them through their monthly system was unjustified – a mechanism which, he said, should be changed.

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Solangi said the interim setup was aiming at stabilising the national economy while ensuring that Pakistan didn’t slide towards default and political temperature was cooled down. Legislation wasn’t their prerogative but would do everything reduce the current problems, he added.

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CTD arrests terrorist of banned outfit in Jamshoro IBO

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CTD arrests terrorist of banned outfit in Jamshoro IBO

A team of Hyderabad Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Friday arrested one alleged terrorist associated with a banned outfit during an operation in Jamshoro, Dunya News reported.

According to a CTD spokesperson, a CTD team conducted an Intelligence-based-operation (IBO) in Jamshoro and arrested a terrorist belonging to banned organisation.

He also informed that the arrested terrorist was involved in providing funds to terrorist organization.

The spokesperson further informed that a 30-bore pistol, funding receipts and other evidence have been recovered from the arrested terrorist. He said that further investigation is ongoing.

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Mother, son killed in road accident near Sheikhupura

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Mother, son killed in road accident near Sheikhupura

 A woman and her son were killed and two other children were wounded when the motorcycle they were riding on was hit by a dumper near Sheikhupura on Friday night,

According to details, the accident occurred in Farooqabad area near Sheikhupura where a rashly driven dumper hit a motorcycle, killing a woman and her son on the spot and injuring two other children.

Police and rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the dead and injured to hospital.

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