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President Alvi asks ECP to immediately announce date for KP, Punjab polls

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President Alvi asks ECP to immediately announce date for KP, Punjab polls

President Arif Alvi has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to immediately announce the date of elections for provincial assemblies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to “put an end to dangerous speculative propaganda”.

The president has written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been demanding the KP and Punjab governors, and ECP to announce date for elections since the dissolution of the provincial assemblies last month.

In the letter, Mr Alvi referred to the dissolution of the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said “the election of an Assembly is to be held within 90 days of the dissolution as provided by the Article 224(2) of the Constitution”. He added that the conduct and holding of elections was the primary and essential duty of the ECP as per PART VIII of the Constitution, particularly Article 218 (3) which assigned the duty to the ECP to ensure the holding of fair and free elections.

He conveyed that it was ultimately the Commission which, if it failed to discharge its functions and duties, was to be held responsible and answerable for the violation of the Constitution of the country.

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“Referring to Article 42 and Third Schedule, the president stressed that he was under oath ‘to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution’ being the Head of State,” reads the press release. He reminded the CEC and the members of the ECP about their fundamental duty as per their oath to avoid serious consequences of breach/violation of the Constitution/law and announce election schedule of the two dissolved assemblies forthwith. 

Highlighting the significance of the Preamble/Objectives Resolution, the president said the preamble stated in unambiguous words that ‘the State shall exercise its power and authority through the chosen representatives of the people’.

“Such is the unflinching resolve and commitment by the forefathers of the Nation who drafted the Objectives Resolution duly made part of the Constitution (Article 2A). Thus, there remains no obscurity about the democratic principles and values that are to be adhered to, observed and followed”, he further wrote.

He emphasised that the oldest democracies had never delayed elections even during wars. In this regard, he quoted the examples of the USA which held elections despite being at war with Great Britain in 1812 under President James Madison. He further stated that in 1864 during the American Civil War, top advisers of the then president, Abraham Lincoln, wanted to postpone elections due to the Civil War but he disagreed with them, and even though he thought that he was going to lose the elections, he never really contemplated suspending the elections.

He said the Commission itself had already taken an appropriate constitutional step and had announced the holding of bye-elections of National Assembly seats of different constituencies. The president concluded that he was of the firm view that there were no such circumstances in the country that provided any justification for delaying or postponing the elections.

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He stressed that recent world history had shown that the postponement of constitutionally-mandated elections had caused serious long-term setbacks to democracy.

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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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