pakistan

ECP’s stance endorsed? Zardari says Election Commission bound to conduct delimitation

Published

8 months ago

September 9, 2023

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ECP's stance endorsed? Zardari says Election Commission bound to conduct delimitation

Former president Asif Ali Zardari – who is also the PPP co-chairman – on Saturday said it was obligatory for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to carry out delimitation after the census.

At the same time, Zardari said that the country’s top electoral body must hold polls according to the constitution – in a marked contrast to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who had demanded announcement of the general election date.

The former president said they had complete trust in Chief Election Commissioner Sultan Sikandar Raja and other ECP members.

However, Zardari through his statement has apparently endorsed the stance taken by the ECP, which says delimitation is mandatory before holding general elections and that the polls could not be held before January next year.

According to a statement shared on the official X – formerly known as Twitter – account of PPP media cell, Zardari stressed that the country was passing through an economic crisis and, therefore, everyone should in terms of economy, not politics. Everyone’s existence was because of Pakistan, he noted.

On Friday, Bilawal had said that the ECP should announce a date for next general elections, saying his party was ready whenever they were held. “We are ready for elections if held within 60 days and still ready if held in 90 days”, he told reporters.

Read more: It’s confirmed. Nawaz Sharif is coming next month

But just hours after Zardari’s statement was issued, PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said the ECP should announce the date of elections and the schedule, citing Article 224 of the Constitution which stipulates a 90-day.

“If the process of delimitation of constituencies is an issue, then the same must be expedited to ensure that the constitutional mandate for holding elections is not violated. A date for such elections should be announced, immediately,” read a written statement.

At the same time, Rabbani criticised the higher judiciary for usurping the powers of provinces in favour of centralization through their judgments.

“The Court must desist from such tendencies as Pakistan, constitutionally, is a participatory Federation. The rollback of provincial autonomy, be it through executive fiats or judicial pronouncements, will sharpen the internal fault lines and will have serious consequences for the Federation,” he said.

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pakistan

Court reserves verdict on PTI founder’s bail plea in May 9 case

Published

17 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Court reserves verdict on PTI founder's bail plea in May 9 case

The Islamabad district and sessions court has reserved verdict on the bail plea of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder in the May 9 case.

Judicial Magistrate Omar Shabbir heard the case against the PTI leader registered in Shahzad Town police station.

Naeem Haider Panjhota, Sardar Masroof and Amina Ali appeared before the judge as counsel for the PTI leader.

The lawyers said the case against the PTI founder had not been pursued by an authorised officer. All cases against him had been instituted on the basis of politics and should, therefore, be quashed, they demanded.

The court after listening to the arguments reserved the verdict.

Post Views: 8

pakistan

Rawalpindi court bins plea for initiating case against former commissioner Liaquat Chattha

Published

17 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Rawalpindi court bins plea for initiating case against former commissioner Liaquat Chattha

The Rawalpindi Sessions Court on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking the registration of a case against former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Hakim Khan issued a two-page written order on the petition.

In its order, the court observed that apart from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), a departmental inquiry was also being conducted against the former commissioner.

If the allegations were proven in the ECP and departmental inquiries, a legal action was certain, the order stated, adding that in this situation, there was no justification for registering a separate case against the former Rawalpindi commissioner.

Two lawyers from Rawalpindi had filed the petition seeking the registration of a case against former commissioner.

In a Feb 18 presser, the former commissioner admitted that elections in his division were “rigged”.

The commissioner accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja of being complicit in the rigging and asserted that he, along with the CEC and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, deserved punishment, even the death penalty, for their injustice.

Chattha expressed remorse for forcing his subordinates to engage in wrongdoing and admitted that winning candidates were made to lose on 13 seats in the Rawalpindi division.

Later on Feb 23, Chattha retracted his earlier statement in a written statement submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

In the statement, Chattha confessed to having supported the narrative of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) about rigging in the general elections and maligning state institutions in exchange for a lucrative position in the future.

He stated he had been made this offer by a Lahore-based PTI leader with whom he had developed a close friendship.

Chattha alleged that “this entire planning had been formulated after consultation and approval of the senior leadership of PTI”.

He stated that this proposal was made by the said [PTI] individual in consideration of the fact that he was about to retire from service after having remained a part of the services for 32 years and enjoyed all the perks and privileges.

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pakistan

IHC orders Zartaj Gul to appear before court with record in ECL name removal case

Published

17 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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IHC orders Zartaj Gul to appear before court with record in ECL name removal case

Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought the record from Zartaj Gul’s counsel on a petition seeking the name removal of PTI leader and MNA Zartaj Gul from the Exit Control List (ECL).

IHC’s Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the case on Zartaj Gul’s name removal from ECL.

During the hearing, the state counsel stated that Zartaj Gul’s name has been included in the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).

Upon inquiry from the court, the state counsel informed that Zartaj Gul’s name was included in PNIL on the order of Islamabad and Punjab police, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was responsible for including the name in PNIL.

Also read: PTI’s Shibli Faraz, Raja Basharat, Zartaj Gul secure bail in May 9 cases

State counsel added that five cases were registered against Zartaj Gul in Islamabad and Punjab.

The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Usama, disclosed that Zartaj Gul has been granted bail in those cases. He reiterated that the name was being included in the PNIL list despite being on bail.

During the hearing, Justice Tariq Jahangiri inquired about how many cases Zartaj Gul has been granted bail in and ordered the petitioner to appear before the court in the next hearing.

Consequently, IHC has adjourned the case hearing until next week by directing Zartaj Gul’s counsel to appear before the court in the next hearing with records.

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