ISLAMABAD: Issuing notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for dragging feet on polls in Punjab, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) Monday sought guarantees from the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to bury the hatchet for free, fair, and transparent elections.
These developments came to the fore during the hearing of the plea regarding the date for general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today (Monday).
A five-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, heard the plea. The court also issued notices to governors of two provinces through the chief secretary.
“The court only needs assurance from both sides. The elections should be peaceful, transparent, and fair. If the government and PTI want elections, they have to give assurances,” Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said.
He added the parties would decide what those assurances would be like not the court.
“The parties should evaluate what is and what isn’t good for the public. Pakistan’s Constitution was not made for only setting up or toppling the governments,” he remarked suggesting it was more than that.
The SC’s top judge said that the Constitution was interpreted while keeping the life and happiness of people in mind.
“The current situation is alarming. Elections can only be held when the conditions are favourable,” he said and insisted that one could not run away from the facts.
The chief justice maintained that the country’s atmosphere had turned poisonous due to political intolerance. “The present political situation is terrible. Politicians are at each other’s throats,” he said.
Justice Bandial asked both the government and the Imran Khan-led party to decide what is best for Pakistan.
Sharing his remarks regarding the ECP, the top judge said that it is merely an institution. “The election commission requires facilitation and support for [conducting] polls.”
Apart from sending notices to all parties mentioned in the PTI’s plea, the apex court has also sent a notice to the governors of both provinces through chief secretaries.
The chief justice remarked that polls are essential for running our governance system. “The election process should be transparent and peaceful. Article 218 calls for transparency of elections.”
Apart from the CJP, the bench included Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail.
The PTI moved the apex court following the ECP decision to postpone the Punjab polls from April 30 to October 8 after financial and security authorities expressed their inability to support the electoral process.
In light of the Supreme Court’s split ruling last month, President Arif Alvi announced the date for the Punjab polls after consulting with the ECP.
Following the ECP’s announcement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali also urged the electoral body to also hold the general elections on the same date (October 8) as the Punjab polls given the growing security threats from terror groups operating from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border regions.
Weighing in, Justice Ijazul Hassan said the ECP first said it was unable to fix a date for elections and later it postponed the date (given by the president) in total contradiction to its earlier position.
Justice Munib Akhtar said the Supreme Court’s decision was undersigned by all five judges.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui revealed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was offered the elections “on a plate” but he squandered the opportunity due to his stubbornness and bullying.
While talking to private television network, Senator Siddiqio said that it was decided that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would resign in May and elections would be held by September 2022.
“It was decided that Shehbaz Sharif would resign in May, but the bullying tactics of Imran Khan forced the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to revise their plans,” revealed Siddiqui.
“The message was also indirectly conveyed to Imran Khan that the government would be resigning and that elections for the four provincial assemblies and the National Assembly would be held by September 2022,” he said, adding that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s stance on his brother’s resignation was clear.
The senator also said that Nawaz was not in favour of moving the no-confidence motion against Khan despite the widespread public discontentment with his government.
“Instead, Nawaz Sharif believed that if allowed to continue, Imran Khan’s government would ultimately self-destruct under the weight of its own anti-people policies,” he disclosed during an interview.
Furthermore, Senator Siddiqui clarified that while 90% of the revelations attributed to General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa by journalist Shahid Maitla were accurate but the claim that he had written about Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s “farewell speech” was false.
The senator also reiterated that Gen (retd) Bajwa was seeking an extension beyond November 2022 and that some senior PML-N leaders had also advised Nawaz to consider the request. “However, Nawaz Sharif remained steadfast in his belief that there should be no question of even one day’s extension,” he said.
Siddiqui revealed that even in 2019, Nawaz was vehemently against Bajwa’s extension and the associated legislation. “Immense pressure from some PML-N members persuaded him to accept the decision as a temporary measure, but Sharif to this day, considers the extension to have been a wrong decision,” he said.
The senator shared that Maryam Nawaz, like her father, was also opposed to the continuation of the PDM government after the successful no-confidence motion. In fact, he said on several occasions, Maryam expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation, stating “why should we carry this basket of filth on our heads.”
He said the current premier also informed Gen (retd) Bajwa of the decision, and the army conveyed the message to Khan on its own. “Despite being advised by the army that there was no justification for his May 25 long march on Islamabad, Imran Khan announced the long march on May 22 in a press conference in Peshawar,” he said.
Senator Siddiqui said the PTI chief’s aim was to take credit for the new elections by marching on Islamabad and telling the people that he took the date of the new elections by sending the government home. However, he said, when Nawaz Sharif learned of this plan, he stated that there should be no talk of resignation and new elections now, asserting that they would never be bullied by Khan.
“Instead, he challenged Imran Khan to test his strength. From this point on, the situation took a turn,” he said. Siddiqui said elections were offered to Imran Khan on a plate, an opportunity which he squandered due to his stubbornness and bullying.
“While Imran Khan now yearns for elections, he will have to wait a bit longer,” he said, adding that the PTI chairman does not honestly want elections, but desires chaos and anarchy, which only reflects his lack of wisdom, landing him to his current position.
KARACHI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) appears to have taken the lead in Sunday’s local government polls held in different Union Councils’ wards across Sindh, unofficial results showed Monday.
As per the unofficial results, the Asif Zardari-lead party emerged as the biggest winner with 39 seats. However, the results are inconclusive as the Independent candidates grabbed nine seats.
The key contestant Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) — an umbrella of different political parties representing the opposition — candidates won six seats.
The Peoples Party also won 10 of the 16 seats of the Chairman and Vice Chairman. While, independent candidates and the GDA contestants secured three and two seats respectively.
Based on the unofficial party position results, PPP took the lead with 21 general member seats out of the total 32 seats. The GDA and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan secured one seat each.
Furthermore, an independent candidate secured victory in 11 member district council seats.
In addition, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), and PTI won one general member seat each.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate won one seat of chairman and vice-chairman.
The People’s Party won 22 seats of general members, while the independent candidate bagged four seats.
The re-polling, which kicked off at 8am on Sunday — continued uninterrupted with reports of sporadic clashes — ended at 5pm on the same day.
The voting was held in 15 districts of Sindh in response to widespread allegations of ‘rigging’ during previous local government elections.
A total of 109,687 registered voters were expected to cast their votes in the 15 districts, with 59,310 male and 50,377 female voters.
The local government polls were facilitated by 15 district returning officers, 26 returning officers, and 52 assistant returning officers, with a total of 81 polling stations established across 15 districts.
The political parties have expressed their concerns over the results and have demanded the electoral watchdog to release the official results as soon as possible, as it will determine the future of their respective districts.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has earlier assured the public that the results will be ‘fair and transparent’.
SRINAGAR: Kashmir Police have nabbed nine youth for harassing, attacking a family in Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu Kashmir state.
In a tweet, police said that taking cognizance of the video, midnight raids were conducted to arrest all nine accused while four bikes have been seized as well.
“Srinagar Police took cognisance of a video wherein a group of youths on bikes are seen harassing & attacking a family on road. Midnight raids were conducted by teams led by SDPO West & SHO Parimpora. All 9 accused are arrested & 4 Bikes seized. FIR registered in Parimpora PS.” Srinagar police tweeted.
MIRPUR (AJK): Dr. Sardar Muhammad Tahir Tabassum former Advisor for human rights AJK and President of the Institute of Peace and Development (INSPAD) has said that the increase in serious human rights violations and killings by the Indian government and forces in Occupied Kashmir is point of concern internationally.
The patience of Kashmiris has now been exhausted and it is time for the Government and Parliament of Pakistan to raise issue of Kashmir on the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Dr Tahir Tabbasum was talking to prominent religious scholar and social personality Maulana Dr. Akhtar-ul-Zaman Ghauri who came here from Britain.
He said that political and religious parties should know that Kashmiris are fighting for the survival and security of Pakistan. Without the freedom of kashmir Pakistan is incomplete and unstable.
Politicians should also pay attention to the security of the country, Dr Tabbsum said, adding in current atmosphere of hatred and enmity, the country is facing more threats, while inflation and unrest is the problem of all of us.
He asked the politicians should solve all problems and disputes together with dialogue. If there is a tendency to be obstinate and conquer each other, then there may be many threats to the framework of democracy.
He said that there is a need to create better strategies and effective institutions to solve the problems of Pakistanis living abroad. Those living outside the country are valuable for us and are the backbone of the country’s economy, he added.
Dr Tajir went on the say that the nation understands very well that who is being made the nonsense statements and meaningless talks against the army. Politicians have to end the atmosphere of enmity and adopt tolerance, pati ence, otherwise the forces hostile to the country will become more powerful and the young generation will deteriorate further, they will lose the element of respect, he said.
He said that the country’s political and the economic situation is getting worse day by day and personal war of the politicians is not stopping. Those who make accusations and taunts are devoid of intelligence, maturity now save the people from this misery and refrain from such ignorant accusations and the government and Both the opposition should act with political awareness, wisdom and consciousness, he added.
The attitude of the justice system has also become a cause for concern.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned live and recorded coverage of protests and public gatherings in Islamabad for today (Monday).
As per the notification, live or recorded coverage of any protest or public gatherings cannot be carried out. However, the regulator’s decision to ban the live media coverage of protests and rallies was made under Section 27 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002.
In case of non-compliance, Pemra said “license shall be suspended under Section 30 (3) of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007, without any show cause notice in the public interest along with other enabling provisions of law.”
The ban on coverage has been imposed in view to maintain the law and order situation.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former prime minister Imran Khan has departed for the federal capital to appear before an Islamabad court today to seek interim bail in five cases related to vandalism in the judicial complex.
He is also likely to appear before the Islamabad High Court.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leaders Shibli Faraz and Fawad Chaudhry barred on Thursday former prime minister Imran Khan’s lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat from arguments in Toshakhana case.
In connection with the hearing of suspension of the arrest warrants for Imran Khan, Shibli Faraz and Fawad Chaudhry asked Advocate Sher Afzal Marwat not to give arguments. Both PTI stalwarts stopped Sher Afzal Marwat from talking in this regard.
Subsequently, Advocate Marwat went on to say, “I will not continue with my arguments.” After that, he left the courtroom”.
ISLAMABAD: The Additional District and Sessions Court Islamabad on Thursday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s plea seeking the suspension of non-bailable arrest warrants issued in the Toshakhana case.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal announced the verdict reserved earlier redirecting the authorities concerned to arrest the former prime minister and present him before the court on March 18.
He mentioned that the decision has been taken after reviewing each and every aspect of the law, hoping that the petitioners will enjoy reading the detailed verdict.
The party approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday requesting it to suspend Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants in the Toshakhana case, but the high court directed the deposed prime minister’s counsel to move the trial court as the order for his arrest was “in line with the law”.
The additional district and sessions judge presided over today’s hearing where Khan’s counsel provided the court with two options — either suspend the issued warrants or issue bailable arrest warrants.
Meanwhile, the situation at Khan’s Zaman Park residence is seemingly calm following the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) orders of stopping the police operation till 10am today. But when the court resumed the hearing today, it clarified that it has not stopped police from executing the arrest warrants and asked PTI to resolve the ongoing issue.
PTI workers and police clashed for nearly 24 hours as Zaman Park virtually became a battleground, with the law enforcers trying to get through supporters and arrest Khan, who was voted out as the prime minister last April.
Scores of people — including police personnel and PTI workers — were injured in the process as the law enforcers fired teargas and party supporters resorted to throwing Molotov cocktails.
Legal proceedings against Khan began after he was ousted from office in a parliamentary vote early last year. Since then, he has held nationwide protest rallies demanding a snap election, during one of which he was shot and wounded.
Written verdict
“[…] it is concluded that the application is not justified by law as well as fact which is hereby rejected,” the written verdict read.
The verdict mentioned that the applicant has “prayed that in view of the undertaking given by him and the sureties offered by him to the satisfaction of this court, the order dated 13.03.2023 may kindly be recalled and suspend the warrant of arrest.
“Keeping in view the law and order situation created by the applicant, he has lost some of the normal rights granted by procedural as well as substantive laws and he has to actually surrender before the court due to his defiance of the court process.
“Such eventuality is never appreciated by the court and it is regarded as willful default.”
Judge Iqbal stressed that the law is equal for the powerful and weak segments of society and it is not a fun tender such an undertaking after causing great loss to the public exchequer as well as damage to persons and properties.
“Keeping in view post order development of issuance of non-bailable warrant of arrest and act and conduct of the applicant, the warrant may not be cancelled just on the basis of his undertaking,” it stated.
Today’s hearing
At the outset of the hearing, the PTI chief’s lawyer Khawaja Harris read out the IHC’s order on the party’s petition against the arrest warrants.
In response, the judge said that the trial court has not received the IHC’s order through the official process, but noted that the issue can be resolved within a second and asked where is Khan.
“Has Imran Khan presented himself before the court?” the judge asked. At this, Harris asked the judge whether it was important for the former prime minister to appear before the court in person.
“We want Imran Khan to appear before the court. Why isn’t he presenting himself before us? What’s the reason behind it?” he asked, noting that in line with the law, Khan should assist the police and not resists it.
“Imran Khan created a scene by resisting [arrest],” the judge said, adding that the IHC’s order also mentions that the lower court’s order should not be affected through “illegal actions”.
The judge also remarked that there “would be no issue” if the warrants were bailable, but the warrants issued against Khan were non-bailable. “The arguments you have presented are related to bailable arrest warrants,” the judge told the lawyer.
Harris then asked the judge whether he wanted to remain stern and keep Khan’s arrest warrants active. At this, the judge added that the warrants were issued to ensure Khan’s in-person presence.
The lawyer then added Khan himself has said that he wants to appear before the court and he is not seeking any exemptions.
You have two options, Harris said, adding that the first option is to suspend the non-bailable warrant by accepting the undertaking request, and the second is to accept the surety and issue a bailable arrest warrant.
The PTI’s lawyers, requesting to suspend the arrest warrants, said that Khan wants to give an undertaking to the court that he will appear in the session court on March 18.
The judge then said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should also be issued a notice. At this, the lawyer said that the court should issue the notice and summon the election commission today.
Judge Iqbal also asked Khan’s counsel why the situation in Lahore’s Zaman Park was so “bad”. “This warrant has become not only the most expensive in Pakistan but the world. The government has spent millions of rupees to follow through on this warrant.”
Khan’s counsel lamented that whatever is happening at Zaman Park should not have taken place, and at this, the judge said that Khan should have been brought straight to the court.
“It is not possible that Imran Khan is harassed when he appears before the court. We are a poor country and it is not feasible to spend millions of rupees on a warrant.”
The judge added that if the PTI chief surrenders himself to the authorities, then he would tell the police to stand down and asked the counsel what could be amended in Khan’s warrants.
Harris then pleaded that Khan is giving an undertaking and that the court should suspend his warrants. “The warrants were issued in line with the law, then why did [authorities] face resistance? It is the nation’s money. The most you could have done was to hold a peaceful protest.”
The judge said in criminal cases, suspects appear before the court and once they do, the non-bailable arrest warrants are suspended. “The police can’t sit idle when arrest warrants are issued for March 18.”
The judge then added that he was issuing a notice to the ECP and adjourned the hearing till 12pm.
Once the hearing resumed, Law Officer Tahir Kazim told the court that the investigation officer in the case was in Lahore and the election commission’s counsel will appear before the court at 2:30pm.
Khan’s lawyer urged the court to use its authority and suspend the arrest warrants and if the judge were to restore the warrants at 2:30pm, then the counsel required time to file an appeal against it.
Harris said that the court should make a decision after analysing all the aspects. In response, Judge Iqbal said that the court’s decision was valid and in line with the law.
The judge said had Khan presented himself before then the situation might’ve been different as his absence has complicated matters. “The court wants to completely cooperate with Imran Khan and it does not wish for any harm to him, however, there were laws to be followed.”
The court said that it has to follow IHC’s orders, which mentioned that the trial court’s decision of issuing the arrest warrants was legally justified.
The PTI chief’s legal counsel then reiterated his appeal of suspending Khan’s warrants and asked the court to issue bailable arrest warrants. He also mentioned that the IHC has asked to consider the undertaking as well.
“Imran Khan will not once, but present himself multiple times before the court. Imran Khan will appear before the court on March 18 as well,” Harris said.
The court then said that it was “very strange” of Khan to resist arrest and noted that violence should not have taken place.
The judge then adjourned the proceedings till the appearance of the ECP’s lawyer.
When the hearing resumed again, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Akbar Nasir Khan said police representatives were not allowed to meet the former prime minister.
The IGP said that “no one” from the PTI leadership spoke to Islamabad police and instead, Molotov cocktails were thrown at them. “Police personnel, who were at Zaman Park to implement court orders, were tortured.”
He added that the personnel were not carrying any weapons and asked the court what answer would he give to the families of the law enforcers who were injured.
“In the past, it was not unusual for the police to arrest someone from their house and present them before the court. If one person is given exemptions, then others should be given the same as well.”
The judge asked the IG how much damage was incurred to state property. Khan told the court that 65 policemen were injured and the police’s water cannon was burnt.
ECP lawyer Saad Hassan termed the demand of suspending Khan’s arrest warrants “ridiculous” and noted that until a suspect does not present themself before the court, their warrants cannot be suspended. He then demanded the court keep his warrants intact.
ISLAMABAD: The revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program for Pakistan, has taken a new turn, as the Fund has put forward a new condition before signing a staff-level agreement.
After allegedly fulfilling all prior conditions to unlock the next tranche of a billion dollars, Pakistan is facing another obstacle due to now conditions by international lender.
Finance Ministry officials revealed that the IMF has sought a written assurance of financing from friendly countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by June 30.
Finance Ministry officials said the written assurance must be provided by the executive directors of the respective friendly countries at the International Monetary Fund.
The Finance Ministry along with the Prime Minister Office has become active in obtaining the written assurance from the friendly countries.
The authorities expect to obtain the written assurance soon, the sources said.
Pakistan has completed the implementation of all preconditions set by the IMF, including implosion of Finance Bill 2023 or mini-budget and increasing electricity and gas tariffs.
The Finance Ministry said Pakistan had also agreed with the IMF’s last condition not to take direct loans from commercial banks.
Pakistan and IMF officials have completed negotiations on the revised Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies.
Sources say Pakistan hopes to seek a staff-level agreement approval from the IMF executive board.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan has fulfilled the toughest of IMF conditions, which resulted in burdening the masses.
He also forewarned that there will be more burden on “hardworking Pakistanis” in the days to come in the wake of these conditions.
“I absolutely acknowledge this,” the prime minister had said in an interview to a private TV channel, about the tough days ahead, adding Pakistan will sign the staff-level agreement within a few days.
The premier said when he came to power, he and his coalition partners were aware of the economic situation of the country, as it was on the brink of a default.
Amid a standoff on an agreement between the IMF and Pakistan, the American currency gained 85 pasias to reach Rs282.85 against the rupee at the closing time of interbank trading on Wednesday.
The IMF review dates back to August 2022 and was signed by the then finance minister Miftah Ismail, and the then acting governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Murtaza Syed.
Pakistan had also slashed all subsidies that were untargeted, including electricity subsidy to exporters; and removed the cap on the US dollar with a market-based exchange rate to meet IMF conditions.
Ishaq Dar then assumed charge as the finance minister at the end of September 2022, and on October 6 announced the resumption of the electricity subsidy to exporters.
The federal government announced a Kissan Package at the end of October last year that offered cheaper inputs and credit to farmers without clear policy.
In February this year, the government slashed the subsidy on electricity for the export sector as well as farmers will end from March, while a subsidy of Rs12.13 per unit on electricity will be returned to the export sector.
ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday appointed Dar Ali Khan Khattak, a Grade 20 officer, as the new inspector general of police (IGP) of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Sources say the government made this decision so the GB police personnel, allegedly deployed at Zaman Park, could be withdrawn.
The authorities took a decision to call back Gilgit Baltistan allegedly deployed at Zaman Park.
The GB police force is allegedly deployed at Zaman Park in Lahore to protect PTI chief Imran Khan against his possible arrest.
Previously, Wazir Saeed was serving as the GB police chief.
The Establishment Division issued a notification for the removal of Mr Saeed. He has been asked to report to the division.
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday alleged that Gilgit-Baltistan police force has been deployed at Zaman Park to attack the Punjab police over trying to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.
The minister said this in a presser that comes as clashes between PTI workers and law enforcement agencies intensified for the second day.
As per latest updates, the operation has been suspended on the Lahore High Court (LHC) orders.
Marriyum claimed that Imran wanted ‘anarchy and chaos across the country’, adding that the incumbent government had nothing to do with his arrest. She furthered that if the government wanted to arrest him, they had state powers in place, as well as the “same powers Imran used to jail his political opponents”.
