pakistan

Donald Lu favours probe into Pakistan election irregularities

Published

2 months ago

March 20, 2024

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Donald Lu favours probe into Pakistan election irregularities

US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu has raised questions ove fairness of Feb 8 general elections in Pakistan and recommended probe into allegations of rigging.

Lu on Tuesday submitted a written statement expressing concerns about irregularities in the elections but stressed the need to “stay engaged with Pakistan to help it navigate through the crises it is facing.”

Lu will appear before a subcommittee of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the topic of “Pakistan After the Elections: Examining the Future of Democracy in Pakistan and the US-Pakistan Relationship.”

Former ambassador Lu is at the centre of crises in Pakistan arose due to his alleged warning to ex-Pakistan envoy to the US Asad Majeed which was conveyed to Islamabad through a cipher. Former prime minister and PTI founder mentioned the cipher in his public speeches alleging a US conspiracy to him from power in 2022.

In his written testimony, Lu highlighted Washington’s concerns about irregularities in Pakistan, which encompass restrictions on freedoms, violence, and allegations of interference in elections.

He mentioned that several political leaders faced obstacles, such as the inability to register specific candidates and political parties, which disadvantaged them in the electoral process.

He also highlighted the harassment and abuse faced by many journalists, particularly female journalists, at the hands of party supporters.

On the other, he mentioned some “positive aspects” in the elections, such as a high turnout of over 60 million voters, including more than 21 million women, and a record number of women and minority candidates.

Despite expressing concerns, Lu stressed the importance of strengthening Pakistan’s democratic institutions and fostering economic stability through avenues such as development grants, private sector investment, and humanitarian aid. He also mentioned Pakistan’s mounting debt challenges and stressed the need of economic reforms and private sector-led investments to spur economic growth.

Underscoring the significance of counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan, he also advocated for respecting human rights and religious freedoms. Additionally, he stressed the need to collaborate with the subcommittee to implement US policy in Pakistan and advance a vision of a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous nation.

The written testimony, uploaded to the House subcommittee’s website a day ahead of the hearing, noted that Islamabad is an important partner, being the top destination for Pakistan’s exports.

“Unfortunately, Pakistan is facing mounting debt challenges after the past decade of elevated borrowing, including from [China]. This year, nearly 70 percent of the federal government’s revenue is expected to go to payments to service this massive debt,” Lu said, explaining why the US needs to stay engaged with Pakistan.

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KP CM Gandapur’s interim bail extended till May 28 in arson attack case

Published

3 hours ago

May 18, 2024

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KP CM Gandapur's interim bail extended till May 28 in arson attack case

A district and sessions court of Rawalpindi on Saturday extended the interim bail of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur till May 28.

The additional district and sessions judge conducted hearing of interim bail plea for Ali Amin Gandapur in a case of arson and meddling government affairs. Advocate Muhammad Faisal Malik appeared on behalf of the KP chief minister.

During the hearing, a request was submitted by KP CM Gandapur for exemption from attending court proceedings which was accepted by the court.

Gandapur had made the request due to his official engagement in government affairs. Later, the additional district and sessions judge extended the interim bail of CM Gandapur till May 28.

It should be remembered that a case was registered against Gandapur in Nasirabad police station.

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pakistan

CM Maryam directs measures for land record digitalisation

Published

3 hours ago

May 18, 2024

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Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has issued directives to implement concrete measures for the digitalization of land records across the province.

Presided over a crucial session focused on Board of Revenue reforms, CM Nawaz received a comprehensive briefing on the Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement (PULSE) project.

During the session, officials from the Punjab Land Record Authority and Management of State Land provided insights into the project’s business plan and execution strategies.

The digitalization of land records under the PULSE project is being undertaken with the support of the World Bank.

This ambitious initiative aims to digitize all land records in Punjab on an owner-based system, marking a significant step towards transparency and efficiency in revenue management.

Key highlights from the briefing include the categorization of land properties into clear, and disputed categories, denoted by green, yellow, and red respectively.

Each buyer will be assigned a unique property number, streamlining legal processes and reducing complications associated with property transactions.

The implementation of a transparent partition of land and parcel document system will enhance the transparency and fairness of revenue management.

The digitalization process will also simplify the Record of Rights (Fard) and property transfer system, ensuring accessibility and efficiency for citizens.

In a move to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, the government plans to introduce services such as overseas property transfer, mutation, registration, and e-survey.

CM Maryam Nawaz has underscored the importance of swift action and collaboration among relevant departments to expedite the digitalization of land records.

Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari, MPA Sania Ashiq, chief secretary, P&D chairman, SMU head and other officials attended the session.

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pakistan

PM directs envoy to extend all possible help to Pakistani students

Published

3 hours ago

May 18, 2024

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PM directs envoy to extend all possible help to Pakistani students

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the Pakistani ambassador in Bishkek to provide all possible help to Pakistani students.

Prime Minister Sharif contacted the Pakistani Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Hassan Ali Zaigham by telephone and directed to provide all kind of support and assistance to the Pakistani students. He also ordered the Pakistani ambassador to visit the hostels and meet the students.

On this occasion, the Pakistani ambassador informed the prime minister about the current situation in Bishkek and said no Pakistani was killed in the incident.

He said the embassy was assisting the wounded students. The prime minister emphasised to keep in constant touch with the parents of the students and provide them timely information.

PM Sharif directed that all kinds of medical facilities should be provided to the injured students, and arrangements should be made for immediate return of the injured students who were willing to return to Pakistan.

Government of Pakistan will bear the cost of return of students. The prime minister said he was personally monitoring the situation in Kyrgyzstan.

“We will not leave our students alone in this situation. Our government is also in touch with the government of Kyrgyzstan,” said the prime minister.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep concern over the attacks on students from Pakistan and other countries in Kyrgyzstan. He directed the Pakistani ambassador in Bishkek to provide all possible help to the Pakistani students.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the Pakistani Embassy had provided emergency numbers and was continuously monitoring the situation.

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