Rawalpindi commissioner says poll results ‘manipulated’ under his watch

 

Feb 2, 2024: Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha claimed that the results of the February 8 general elections were manipulated under his watch. He also resigned from his position. Speaking to reporters outside the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Chatha said, " I am taking responsibility for all this wrongdoing". He alleged that the chief election commissioner and CJP were also involved. " We made independent candidates, who had leads of 70,000 - 80,000 votes lose by putting on fake stamps". He added. In his resignation letter to Punjab Governor Ghulam Ali, caretaker CM, Mohsin Naqvi, and the provincial chief secretary he said he was resigning from his post and service as he was deeply involved in serious crimes like mega election rigging in 2024". The commissioner said to the reporters that irregularities in the electoral process and if the local returning officers had delayed the transmission of results, Chatha said that irregularities is a minor word for it. The commissioner further said that "stabbing the country in its back" does not let him sleep. I should be punished for the injustice I have done and others who were involved in this injustice should also be punished", he said.  Chatha said there was pressure on him to the extent that he contemplated suicide in the morning but then resolved to present matters before the public. It is my request to the entire bureaucracy to not do anything wrong for all these political people". Commissioner Chata is retiring on March 13. 

The Commissioner of a Division does not have an official role in the conduct of general elections but can still enjoy an unofficial influence on the conduct of the elections. The deputy commissioners of all the districts were appointed as the district returning officers. Additional deputy commissioner general, additional district deputy commissioner revenue, additional deputy commissioner headquarters, district council chief officer, and the district election commissioners were the returning officers (ROs) of 13 National Assembly constituencies across the Rawalpindi division, and all assistant commissioners were the assistant returning officers. As the administrative head of the Division, the Commissioner can ave an unofficial influence on the conduct of the elections because DCs are subordinate to him on the administrative side.

Gen Faiz and Gen Bajwa advised the political parties about No Confidence Vote: Fazl Ur Rehman

 Feb 15, 2024: Fazal Ur Rehman in a TV interview said that Gen Faiz and Gen Bajwa gave directions to the political parties regarding the no-confidence vote against PTI government.

Meeting of PPP and Mulim League ( N )

 Feb 12, 2024: According to Express News Report Caretaker CM Moshsin Naqvi played a role in holding a meeting between the two sides. He went in his private care to Bilawal Houe and played a  vital role in holding meetings with both sides. This meeting took place with the node of the highest circles.Bilawal reached Lahore from Islambad to attend this meeting. Zardari and Bilal had an hour meeting at the airport.

PTI contacted JI to be part of their party

 Feb 10, 2024: PTI Chairman Barrister Ghaur contacted Jammat e Islami Bahr Ullah Political Affairs in charge of its independent candidates included in their party.

Homeless people near River Ravi Lahore

Feb 10, 2024:  Homeless people's tents near River Ravi Lahore

Nawaz Sharif was sent home three times but never mentioned any general as Mir Jafar: Shabaz Sharif

 Feb 6, 2024: In a rally at kasur Shabaz Sharif said that Nawaz Sharif was sent home three times but never mentioned any general as Mir Jafar. General Mir Jafar was the commander-in-chief of Bengal. He betrayed the ruler of Bengal Nawab Siraj ul Daulah and ascended to the throne as first dependent Nawab of Bengal of the British East India Company.

Allama Raja Nasir Abbass met with Imran Khan in Jail

 Feb 6, 2024: Raja Nasir Abbas after meeting with Imran Khan in Jail said he is a brave man. Slavery is only for Allah. Man Learns in Jail. Jail gives time for Quran recitation and prayer. Elections are part of the struggle for independence. We are front runner in giving sacrifice.

Imran Khan asked prime minister ship from Gen Musharraf, stood with NS and visited Aven field apartment; Zulifqar Cheema

 Feb 6, 2024: Zulfiqar Cheema former IG Punjab in his column in Daily Express wrote that Musharraf mentioned in his interviews that Imran Khan was asking him for prime ministership. Musharraf said you have a small party, we will get you a few seats. Then Imran Khan turned against him and stood with Nawaz Sharif. He did a lot of speeches in Nawaz Sharif's favor. He also went many times to Nawaz Sharif's Aven Field apartments which later on said that those apartments were bought from after robbing people's money. That time he used to defend Nawaz Sharif more than his ministers. In one of his interviews, he defended Nawaz Sharif's staying abroad and said that Musharraf was a dictator and Nawaz Sharif would not get justice during his presence. After coming to power he said to one of the heads of an agency that the issue is not the economy and the inflation issue is the criticism from the opposition. He asked him to arrest leaders of all the parties. He got the answer that it is not possible in democracy only in fascism.

At least 10 policeman killed in DI khan attack

 Feb 5, 2024: At least 10 cops were killed in late-night attack on a police station in DI Khan on Monday.

Justice Athar Minallah heckled in London

 Feb 4, 2024: Justice Athar MinAllah heckled in London by a group of Pakistanis after the Future of Pakistan Conference at LSE London. The PTI UK issued a statement and condemned the incident. The video shared widely on social media showed the judge being escorted to a car by a group of people as others shouted at him in the background. The hecklers chanted slogans in support of the PTI and against the army.

Imran Khan told about a deal to be quite for three years and stay at Bani Galla and turn will be given later on

 Feb 2, 2024: Imran Khan told that when he was at Attock jail he was given offer to be quite and stay in Bani Gala and his turn will be given later on.

Special Investment Facilitation Council meeting

 Fri Feb 2, 2024: Special Investment Facilitation Council meeting headed by PM and COAS as its member.

LHC Justice Shahid Jamil resigns four yrs. before superannuation

 Friday, Feb 2, 2024: Justice Shahid Jamil Khan of the Lahore High Court, eleventh in seniority, called it a day on Friday almost four years before his superannuation. Insiders claim this is due to noncompliance of his orders in matters of public importance especially and the apathy of the senior judicial hierarchy made him frustrated.

" It was an absolute honor to hold the office, but for personal circumstances, I have decided to turn the page and start a new chapter," Justice Khan penned in his resignation addressed to the president.

In his resignation, he also wrote a few revolutionary couplets of national poet Allama Igbal and an English proverb, " An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit".

With expertise in tax law, he was co-owner with PML-N leader Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan of a law firm, Rana, Khan & Partners, when elevated to the bench on March 22, 2014.

He was unlikely to become the chief justice of the LHC as his superannuation was due on April 29, 2028, at the age of 62.

His imminent resignation had become a common gossip in legal circles since he shared his resolve with some close friends, including lawyers and journalists near September last year.

A lawyer told Dawn that Justice Khan started feeling frustrated by the suspension of his orders on the government's appeals by the division benches of the LHC. He said the government delayed the implementation of the decisions and suspended them by the higher benches.

In one such decision, Justice Khan in January last year working at the LHC Multan seat set aside the appointment of the administrators in Punjab, all new development projects initiated by them and the allocation of funds to the members of the national and provincial assemblies.

The judge had also ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold the local government polls forthwith, on completion of delimitation as scheduled, in the province. Hence, a division bench suspended the decision on an appeal by the respondents.

In another decision, Justice Khan ordered the caretaker Punjab government to nominate amongst lastly elected representatives of the local governments for the establishment of Public Safety Commissions as envisaged under the Police Order 2002.

His other decisions include an order to the caretaker government to public details of all projects sanctioned by it and the previous elected government and a direction to make rules to regulate private housing schemes.

Justice Khan had also taken notice of the absence of a mechanism to control prices of essential commodities especially sugar, flour and ghee in the fasting month of Ramzan in particular.

In December, the judge had set aside the appointments of chairman and the members of the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR). The decision was overturned by a division bench.

He also ordered the PMDC to ensure that all the medical and dental colleges publicly declare fee/charges at the time of admission to curb the exploitation of the students.

He was a member of a larger bench that heard appeals by the PTI and ordered the recounting of votes cast in the election of then-chief minister Hamza Shehbaz after excluding 25 votes of the defecting MPAs.

Justice Khan was on leave for over a month and had been working in the chamber to author pending judgments.

An LHC official claimed that Justice Khan was not enjoying good relations with Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti. He said a senior judge of the Supreme Court had recently requested Justice Khan to change his decision with a promise to address his grievances soon. The judge had given a second thought to his decision but later returned to his resolve, he added.

After the resignation of Justice Khan, the LHC is left with 39 judges against the constitutional strength of 60.

Judge Bashir unique place in Pakistan Judicial history

 Judge Muhammad Bashir, Islamabad Accountability Court 1. recently gave the verdict of the Toshakhana case against Imran Khan & Bushra Bibi for misusing the official gifts repository.

The high-profile case against Nawaz Sharif, Yousaf Raza Gilani & Asif Zardari regarding Toshakhana cars is also under hearing in Judge Bashir's court. 

He is also hearing a fake account case against Zardari as well as an NAB reference against Shahid Khaqan Abbassi. 

In July 2018, Judge Bashir pronounced a sentence against Nawaz Sharif, Maryam, and her husband Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield reference. The IHC overturned the verdict last year on November 29, 2023. 

Judge Bashir appointed in 2012 during the tenure of then PM Gilani has served for an unusually extended period.  Accountability court Judges are typically appointed for three years, Judge Bashir has been serving in the NAB court for eleven years.

Judge Bashir has seen appointments by former PM Nawaz in 2018 and Imran Khan in 2021.

Judge Bashir's courtroom has witnessed the appearance of four prime ministers Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Shahid Khaqan Abbassi, Nawaz Sharif, and Imran Khan in making a unique and historically significant aspect of his judicial career.

Imran, Bushra sentenced 7 yrs imprisonment in unlawful marriage case

 

Feb 3, 2024: The court sentenced Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to seven years imprisonment each on Saturday in the un-Islamic marriage case. A fine of Rs 0.5 million each was also imposed on them.

Iran - Pakistan meeting after recent tension after missile strike and killing of 9 Pakistani's in Iran

 Mon Jan 29, 2024: A crucial meeting in Islamabad, Gen Asim Munir and Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian after the missile strike and killing of 9 Pakistanis in Iran.

Sanam Javed withdraws her candidacy from NA-119

Sanam Javed, a PTI candidate from NA 119, sister Falak Javed on Twitter announced that her sister will not contest from NA 119. Maryam Sharif is contesting from this constituency.

Imran Khan: Ready to talk to unwilling establishment

 Mon, Jan 29, 2024: Addressing reporters informally on the sidelines of the cypher case hearing at Adiala Jail, Imran Khan, has once again expressed his willingness for talks while asserting that the establishment is unwilling to engage with the PTI, claiming they have been 'red-lined'.

PTI Election Manifesto 2024: PM will be directly elected, NA will be for 4 yrs, 50% senate seats will be directly elected

 Barrister Gohar Ali Khan unveils PTI election manifesto. The important point is that constitutional changes will be made and PM will be directly elected. The National Assembly term will be 4 years. 50 % of the senate seats will be directly elected.

Pneumonia death toll in Children in Punjab crosses 250

 Jan 28, 2024: Around 870 cases were reported in children in Punjab in the last 24 hours about 177 children were diagnosed in Lahore. Over 250 children died of  Pneumonia since the beginning of the New Year. 

Nine Pakistani Laborer's killed in Iran

 Jan 27, 2024: Nine Pakistani Laborers were killed in Iran.

Hamza Shabaz was attacked by a shoe during Lahore Rally

 Sat Jan 27, 2024: Hamza Shabaz was attacked by a show during the Lahore Rally in NA 108 which went through different parts of the city. He also addressed the rally at different places. When the rally reached near Tarnum Cinema, a man through a shoe towards him. The PML-N workers attacked that man and physically assaulted him.

Shutter Down strike in Gilgit Baltistan after increase in Wheat prices

 Friday Jan 26, 2024: Life came to a standstill in Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday as a complete shutter down and wheel-jam strike was observed across the region in Gilgit, Skardu, Diamer, Ghizer, Astore, Shighar, Ghanche, Kharmand, Hunza and Nagar, with big protest demonstrations and rallies held in all districts against an increase in the subsidized wheat rate and other grievances. The Awami Action Committee (AAC) gave the strike call in consultation with the associations representing traders, transporters, and hotel owners. It was the next phase of the protest going on for the last month against the GB government's decision to raise the subsidized wheat prices. They warned that the Karakoram highway would be blocked if their demands were not fulfilled. Currently, GB is facing 22 hours of electricity outage. Meanwhile, GB Governor Syed Mehdi Shah met President Dr Arif Alvi in Islamabad on Friday and discussed the overall situation in the region, including wheat subsidy and other issues.

Bilal Bhutto has suggested to nominate Zardari for the position of President

 Jan 26,2024: Bilal Bhutto has suggested his party nominate Zardari for the president of Pakistan.

I don't agree with the politics of my party - Shahid Khaqan Abbassi

 Jan 24, 24: Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that he is not with Muslim League-N, he does he agree with the politics of his party. I don't think any party will get the majority, if someone boycotts, the election will become more controversial. A gentleman says that he will provide 300 units for free, how is this possible, solar also costs money.

Speaking in today's news program "Faisla Aap Ka", former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that he is not with Muslim League-N, he is not participating in the elections, and he is firm on his decision not to contest the elections.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that he does not agree with the politics of his party, I see the election as pointless, the political leadership has not fulfilled its responsibilities, there are 2 weeks before the elections, and no one has anything to say, is it our fate? The worst democracy is written?

The former prime minister said that the problems have increased so much that no single government can solve them, the military and political leadership have to sit together, and the political leadership does not see any way. How will you do it for free, how is it possible?

He further said that the solar system also requires money, and it is not possible to give anything for free, what will happen in the 16-month government? The PDM government had to start the process of reforms, after the formation of the government, the quarrel of the ministries started.

Talking about May 9, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that May 9 was a great tragedy in the history of the country, the government should have taken the matter to the courts, the government's job is to prosecute, the courts sit day and night and action should be taken. Action should have been taken immediately.

Regarding the elections, the former prime minister said that elections are a constitutional responsibility, they must be held, it would have been better if the elections were made purposefully, there would be chaos after the elections, I don't think that any party will get a majority, boycott is the last resort. It may happen in time, if someone boycotts, the election will become more controversial.

He further said that if there is no opposition, the parliament will be paralyzed, independent candidates of PTI will not be independent, some independent people will be seen as horse trading, pressure talk should end otherwise the election will become controversial, a party view. If not, the other party takes advantage.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also said that Nawaz Sharif will become the prime minister again if the PML-N gets the majority. It would be better.

COAS said to National Youth Conference " Negative propaganda on social media aimed at creating uncertainty, hopelessness"

Jan 24, 24:  Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Wednesday said “negative propaganda” on social media was aimed at creating uncertainty and hopelessness in the country. He was addressing the National Youth Conference.

Justice Athar MinAllah: Suppressing the truth for 75 years we have reached here

 Jan 20, 24: Supreme Court judge Justice Atharmanullah says while addressing a workshop at Supreme Court that if the expression of opinion was valued, neither the country would have prospered nor the political leader would have been hanged, we have reached this point by suppressing the truth for 75 years.

Five students injured in clash between two PU groups

 Jan 21, 24: The altercation occurred between activists of the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) and the Pashtun Student Council.

Reports said a group of IJT activists approached a private canteen located outside Hostel No 9. They started inspecting the rate list of various food items and proceeded to paste their own list on the canteen. The IJT activists then attempted to force the shopkeepers to close their canteens if they refused to implement the new rate list.

In response, activists from the Pukhtun Council also approached the canteen in an attempt to prevent the IJT from closing the shops. This led to a heated argument between the two groups. The situation quickly escalated, with activists from both sides, armed with clubs and sticks, resorting to violence.

According to the FIR available with Dawn, the two student groups had a fight at the Hostel No 9 canteen, during which the students opened fire at each other, resulting in five students being injured. A total of 38 students were nominated in the case.

However, a security official, who sought anonymity, contradicted the FIR’s claims, stating that the students were not carrying any weapons and did not resort to firing.

Azam Khan tones down statement in cipher case

 

Azam Khan’s statement before the trial court on Thursday 1/18/23, last did not include explosive parts of statements that he had earlier given to FIA

ISLAMABAD: The prosecution’s cipher case against Imran Khan got a serious blow as one of the key witnesses — Azam Khan, former secretary to ex-prime minister — gave a much-softened version of his earlier statements recorded under sections 161 and 164 of CrPC before the trial court.

Azam Khan’s statement before the trial court on Thursday last did not include the explosive parts of the statements that he had earlier given to the FIA and recorded before a magistrate under sections 161 and 164 of the CrPC respectively.

His statement before the trial court though talked about the missing copy of the cipher after it was handed over to the-then prime minister, it did not say anything about the alleged abuse of the secret document by Imran Khan for his political gains or to target the high military command.

The following portion of his earlier statements under sections 161 and 164 of CrPC, which were part of the prosecution’s case as presented before the trial court, was not part of what he stated before the trial court as a prosecution witness:

“In my view, PM Imran Khan planned to target the high command of the Pakistan Army to pressure them, so that they may come forward to rescue him in a no-confidence motion which was his political gain. The unconstitutional ruling of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri regarding cipher was also directed by the-then PM Imran Khan. In-fact, Imran Khan played cipher conspiracy at everywhere and at every level for his political anti-state motives. Consequently, Imran Khan waved cipher telegram/document in a public rally held in Islamabad on 27.03.2022 which he had told me that said cipher given to him was missing. This abuse of a classified secret document for political gain by the PM Imran Khan was in fact a breach of trust as a public office holder, which led to compromising Pakistan’s foreign policy interest. In my opinion such action of former PM Imran Khan was to sow seeds of doubts in the minds of Army ranks against their high command and that the former PM Imran Khan used cipher conspiracy to build up his political capital without caring for sanctity of state institutions and charged his supporters to push for anti-state agenda and political interest”.

The above part of Azam Khan’s earlier statements, which was missing in his statement before the trial court, was one of the key factors in the making of cipher case against Imran Khan. 

PTI Mehr Waseen with draw his candidacy from NA - 119 and joined PML-N

 1/21/24- PTI Mehr Waseem withdrew is candidacy from NA -119 against Maryam Nawaz.

Sarfraz Ahmad settled in England

 1/19/23: Sarfraz Ahmad Pakistani cricketer settled in England with his wife and two kids.

Jan 16, 24: PTI winning independent candidates can join PTI in the assembly

 Ansar Abbasi in wrote in Jang paper mentioning former attorney general Advocate Anwar Mansoor that PTI is still a registered party in ECP. The independent winning candidate in the assembly can join the PTI. Kanwar Dilsad said that once political party loses its electoral sign it also loses its registration as a political party.

Faisal Wadha's daughter wedding party continued for 25 days

Jan 15, 2024: Faisal Wadha's daughter's wedding party continued for 25 days in which important political and state personalities were present. 

 

Rao Manzhar Hayat claimed unknown personalities for PM and CM positions

 Rao Manzhar Hayat in his January 15, 2024 column in Daily Express mentioned according to his source in Dubai who is an important personality that PM and CM candidates will surprise everyone. Two of those candidates are completely unknown. 

Ch Shujat Elahi contacted court for the Zahoor Elahi Kothi in Gujrat

 Ch Shujat Elahi contacted the court for the family house Zahoor Elahi House in Gujrat. He alleged that Pervaiz Elahi wants to evict him from 5 kanal and 17 Marla family house. The court has missed subpoena to Pervaiz Elahi, Qaisra Pervaiz, Sameer Elahi and Kishwar Sultana. 

During the hearing at Adiala Jail, the health of Judge Bashir suddenly deteriorated

 During the hearing of the Tosha Khana and 190 million pound references against PTI founder, the accountability court's Judge Muhammad Bashir's health worsened and he was shifted to the Jail hospital. He was under treatment at the Jail hospital for an hour and later on sent home.

Election 2024 Landscape

 PML-N

Nawaz Sharif is in the running for two National Assembly seats from strongholds in Lahore (NA-130) and Mansehra (NA-15). Political experts believe that despite having what many perceive to be behind-the-scenes support from the powers to be, it may not be all smooth sailing for Nawaz Sharif, due to the PTI factor.

In Lahore, he will be facing former Punjab health minister Yasmin Rashid, In Mansehra, the Nawaz will face Gustasif Khan of the PTI and JUI-F’s Mufti Kifayatullah.

Shabaz Sharif is contesting from NA-123 Lahore and NA-132 Kasur, will be facing a lawyer, Afzaal Azeem of the PTI, and Liaqat Baloch,  Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has fielded a lesser-known commodity, Muhammad Ziaul Haq from the constituency.

In Kasur, Shabaz Sharif’s rival candidates are Muhammad Ali Dogar of the PTI and Shaheen Safdar of the PPP.

Maryam Nawaz is contesting the elections for the first time this year. She has filed papers from NA-119 Lahore, where she will be facing Mian Abaad Farooque of the PTI and Iftikhar Shahid of the PPP.

Similarly, Hamza Shehbaz is also in the run for NA-118 (Lahore), where he will be up against vocal PTI leader and former parliamentary secretary Aliya Hamza, Mohammad Afzal Khan of the JUI-F and Shahid Abbas of the PPP.

Both Maryam and Hamza are also contesting provincial assembly seats from Lahore and perhaps both will be eying the chief ministership of the country’s largest province.

PPP

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is contesting the elections from three NA constituencies. Besides contesting on two NA seats from his home province, Mr Bhutto-Zardari has also submitted his papers from NA-127 Lahore, where he will be facing PML-N’s firebrand Ataullah Tarar and Chaudhry Shabbir Gujjar of the PTI.

The young PPP chief is contesting from his native Larkana (NA-194) and Qambar Shahdadkot (NA-196). In Larkana, he will be facing Maulana Rashid Mahmood Soomro of the JUI-F and PTI Senator Saifullah Abro, whereas Habibullah of the PTI will be challenging him in NA-196.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari is also contesting the election from the same native constituency of Shaheed Benazirabad, which he won back in the 2018 elections. Before this, his sister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho had won this seat in all three elections held in 2002, 2008 and 2013. Here, Mr Zardari will face Sardar Sher Muhammad Rind Baloch of the PTI.

JUI-F and JI

The head of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman is vying for two NA seats – NA-44 Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and NA-265 Pishin-cum-Ziarat in Balochistan.

The JUI-F chief, who is the only party head to be vocally demanding a delay in the elections, is expected to witness stiff competition in both constituencies. In DI Khan, he will be facing the hirsute and aggressive Ali Amin Gandapur of the PTI, and former NA deputy speaker Faisal Karim Kundi of the PPP.

In Pishin, meanwhile, his rivals include Syed Zahoor Agha of the PTI.

This will be the first time the JUI-F chief is contesting elections from outside his home province of KP and he has selected the relatively safe seat of Pishin, which the party has been winning since 2002.

JI chief Sirajul Haq is contesting the election on NA-6 Lower Dir where he will be contesting against Bashir Khan of the PTI and Mohammad Sher Khan (JUI-F).

PTI

The beleaguered PTI is contesting the election without the captaincy of Imran Khan. After losing the iconic ‘bat’ symbol, all its candidates are contesting as independents. The party’s erstwhile chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, is running for the NA seat from Buner (NA-10). His main rival there is Sher Akbar Khan, who had won this seat in 2013 on a JI ticket and in 2018 on a PTI ticket. This time, Sher Akbar Khan holds the ticket of PTI-Parliamentarians, a breakaway faction headed by former KP chief minister Pervez Khattak.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had contested the 2008 elections from the same constituency on a PPP ticket, but lost to ANP’s Abdul Matin Khan with a thin margin of less than 3,000 votes. Waliur Rehman of the JUI-F is also in the race in the same constituency.

Another lawyer, Sher Afzal Marwat of the PTI, is contesting the NA seat from Lakki Marwat (NA-41). He will be up against Asjad Mehmood, a son of Maulana Fazlur Rahman.

MQM-P

The urban Sindh-based MQM-Pakistan, which faced a major setback in the 2018 elections, is taking part in these elections after its ‘marriage of convenience’ with the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) of Mustafa Kamal.

Party convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui is contesting elections from Karachi’s NA-248 constituency, where his main rivals are Arsalan Khalid, one of the leading lights of PTI’s social media team, and Mohammad Hassan Khan of the PPP.

Former party chief Dr Farooq Sattar is trying his luck from two constituencies — NA-241 and NA-244.

In NA-241, his opponents include Khurram Sher Zaman of the PTI and Mirza Ikhtiyar Baig of the PPP, whereas in NA-244, he will be against former PTI MNA Aftab Jahangir.

An interesting contest is also expected in NA-242 (Karachi), where Mustafa Kamal will be squaring off against PPP’s Abdul Qadir Mandokhel.

New Parties

he Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) and PTI-P are the two new parties on the scene, comprising mostly PTI defectors.

IPP president Aleem Khan is contesting from NA-117 Lahore, whereas another key IPP leader Jahangir Tareen is vying for two NA seats — NA-149 Multan and NA-155 Lodhran.

Aleem Khan will be facing Ali Ijaz Buttar of the PTI and PPP’s Asif Hashmi. The PML-N, thanks to a seat adjustment, has withdrawn its candidate against Mr Khan.

On the other hand, Mr Tareen is expected to have a tough fight with PTI’s Malik Aamir Dogar in Multan. The PML-N has withdrawn its candidate in favour of Mr Tareen in Lahore but in Lodhran, its candidate Siddique Baloch will continue to challenge him. The PTI has also pitched Pir Iqbal Shah against Mr Tareen, who was once considered a close confidant of Imran Khan.

PTI-P chief Pervez Khattak, meanwhile is contesting elections for a provincial assembly seat (PK-87) from Nowshera. His main opponents are PTI’s Khalilur Rehman and Liaquat Khan of the JUI-F.

Parties in Balochistan

Pashtunkwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai had filed his nomination papers from three NA constituencies in Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdullah. Later, however, Mr Achakzai withdrew from NA-265 Pishin in favour of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Interestingly, JUI-F’s Mufti Rozi Khan also withdrew from the race in NA-263 Quetta, but the party is supporting the independent Haji Lashkari Raisani against Mr Achakzai.

Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-Mengal) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal is also in the race for the NA-263 Quetta seat.

Mr Mengal is also contesting from NA-256 Khuzdar and NA-261 Kallat and in both these constituencies, he will be facing political heavyweights. In Kalat, he will be competing against Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of the JUI-F and in Khuzdar, his main contest will be with Sanaullah Zehri of the PPP.

Besides this, Mr Mengal is also vying for a provincial assembly seat in his native Wadh, where he will be facing his bitter rival Shafiq Mengal, son of former federal minister Naseer Mengal, with whom he has been involved in a bloody dispute.

President of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Khalid Magsi is contesting from NA-254 Jhal Magsi-cum-Kachi-cum-Nasirabad. His main rival is Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, who is tribal chief of the Rind tribe. Sardar Rind had parted ways with the PTI and is now contesting as an independent candidate.

National Party (NP) chief Abdul Malik will also be vying for the NA-259 seat from Turbat, where his main rival is Malik Shah Gorgaj of the PPP.

All quiet on the Sindh front

Unlike other parts of the country, Sindh is unlikely to witness any major contests between heavyweights in the upcoming as none of the senior leaders of different parties are competing against each other.

Only one NA seat — NA-194 (Larkana-Ratodero) — is expected to see much as, since it will feature a contest between Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and JUI-F General Secretary Maulana Rashid Mehmood Soomro. But the contest, although significant, will see the young PPP scion have history on his side, as the constituency is located in the hometown of his grandfather, PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

In Karachi, senior leaders of different parties are contesting the Feb 8 elections but in most of their respective constituencies, they only face second or third tier leaders of rival parties. After the withdrawal of nomination papers by PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif from NA-242, the Feb 8 elections don’t seem to hold any high voltage electoral battles in Karachi, either.

After the rejection of the nomination papers of GDA’s Dr Zulfikar Mirza and his wife Dr Fehmida Mirza, the chances of a close contest in Badin with PPP candidates also seem slim.

Hamid Khan after the SC decision

Speaking in Geo News programme Naya Pakistan to host Shahzad Iqbal on Sunday, Hamid Khan, PTI’s core committee member and one of the senior lawyers who represented the party in the apex court proceedings, said the party would decide on whether to file a petition for review of the apex court verdict or not “after the release of detailed order”.

He said the party was not only deprived of its electoral symbol but also the playing field. “There isn’t any playing field, let alone a level playing field,” he added.

After a daylong hearing on Saturday, the apex court set aside the Peshawar High Court (PHC) ruling giving the party its electoral symbol. It upheld the December 22 decision of the ECP that barred the PTI from keeping bat as its electoral symbol for the upcoming polls due to irregularities in their internal polls.

Hamid Khan said: “The electoral symbol has been taken away to prevent us [PTI] from getting the reserved seats.” He said the intra-party election — the matter which was the bone of contention between the poll organizing body and the PTI — is an internal affair of the party as per the Elections Act 2017.

Hamid contended that other parties were given their desired electoral symbols after accepting their internal elections. He said they had presented all the fundamental documents for the party polls before the apex court, but if small details of the matter are looked into, then finding faults would be inevitable in each case.

The senior counsel also said the authorities concerned could have slapped a fine on the PTI if they found any irregularity like it was done in the case of the Awami National Party (ANP).

About the PTI members who expressed their grievances before the top court on being deprived of the right to contest the intra-party polls, the lawyer said if anyone had any issues regarding their “expulsion” from the party, they could have gone to civil courts.

“The Supreme Court is not supposed to look into the matter of expulsions,” he said, adding that those who opposed the intra-party polls are not party members.

Casting doubts on the transparency of February 8 elections, Hamid said the upcoming elections do not have “credibility”.

“No credibility is left of the polls when the people are deprived of their right to election,” Hamid said.

Meanwhile, terming the SC ruling “controversial” and “deeply” disappointing, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan vowed to file a plea seeking a review of the decision.

Battered by subsequent blows, the PTI leaders expressed the resolve to still contest the polls with all their candidates as independent contenders now, since it no longer has a unified symbol.

The party’s election results have a high probability of facing an impact as different electoral symbols could confuse their voters.

On an electoral map, the PTI leaders appear haphazardly strewn, as the ECP allotted separate electoral symbols to them.

Some of the main PTI leaders who will contest elections on different symbols from Lahore, are Yasmin Rashid from NA-130 with symbol ‘laptop’, Salman Akram Raja on NA-128 with ‘racquet’, Latif Khosa has been given English letter ‘K’ for NA-122 and Mian Azhar given ‘wicket’ for NA-129.

PTI senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s children, Mehr Bano Qureshi and Zain Hussain Qureshi, have been allotted ‘chimta’ (tongs) for NA-151 and shoe for NA-150 constituencies of Multan, respectively.

Umair Niazi will fight the election with the symbol ‘door’ on Mianwali’s NA-90 seat. Shoaib Shaheen is given a ‘shoe’ to contest elections in Islamabad’s NA-46 constituency.

‘Piyala’ (bowl) will represent Shandana Gulzar in NA-30 constituency of Peshawar and ‘kettle’ will represent Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in the NA-10 constituency of Buner.

Jamshed Dasti, who is contesting on two National Assembly seats from Muzaffargarh, has been allotted ‘harmonium’ for NA-175 seat and ‘aeroplane’ for NA-176.

Renowned singer Abrarul Haq, who is the PTI candidate from NA-117, has been allotted the symbol of ‘guitar’ and he is contesting against the joint candidate of Istehkam Pakistan Party (IPP) and PMLN Abdul Aleem Khan. Yasir Gilani, a Provincial Assembly candidate from PP-145, has been allotted the symbol of ‘duck’.

From NA-118, Alya Hamza of PTI has been allotted the symbol of ‘dice’ whereas Muhammad Mandi, the provincial assembly candidate of PTI has been given the symbol of ‘Lamb’. Nadim Atlaf Sherwani, the PTI candidate contesting against Maryam Nawaz from NA-119, has been allotted the symbol of ‘cricket stumps’. Wasim Qadir of PTI from NA-121, contesting against PMLN’s Sheikh Rohail Asghar and PPP’s Iftikhar Shahid, is also contesting on the same election symbol. Bajash Niazi, a PTI Provincial Assembly candidate, has been allotted the symbol of ‘Dove’.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1147866-pti-in-disarray-after-losing-bat