News

NA-122: Nisar rejects PTI's allegations of pre-poll rigging

Oct 14 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan rejected on Wednesday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) allegations of pre-poll rigging in the recently held by-polls in NA-122, Lahore.

 

“Allegations have been levelled on the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) without any basis,” Nisar told media men in Islamabad, claiming he had rigorously investigated the allegations but could not find anything substantial.

 

PTI seeks NA-122 voter lists from ECP

Oct 14 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is gathering the evidence of changes in voter lists of the Election Commission of of Pakistan (ECP) for NA-122 by-polls, which the party lost to the ruling PML-N candidate on Sunday.

Led by PTI Punjab organiser Chaudhry Sarwar, a cell has been set up to probe into the reports after receiving at least 100 complaints by voters.

The cell on Tuesday wrote to the ECP to obtain the computerised voter lists used for the by-polls on October 11.

NA-144: Rise of independent candidate Juj shows new trends in politics

Oct 13 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

Aslam Piracha.-

OKARA: Before the NA-144 by-poll schedule was announced, Riazul Haq was not the choice of the PML-N. On October 11, when the young scion of the Nemat family of Okara city posted a very convincing victory as an independent candidate against PML-N’s Ali Arif Chaudhry, now Riazul Haq, alias Juj, has been contacted by both the PML-N and the PTI to join their parties.

Mr Juj won the by-poll with 85,714 votes against PML-N’s Ali Arif, who remained runner-up with 45,199 votes.

Mr Juj is, however, not in a hurry to decide about his political journey.

ECP receives 35 ‘minor complaints’ from Lahore

Oct 13 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

Ikram Junaidi.-

ISLAMABAD: The Elec­tion Commission of Pakistan (ECP) received as many as 35 complaints of minor abnormalities from the three natio­nal and provincial asse­mbly constituencies where by-ele­c­tions were held on Oct 11.

ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad said that they had also received an application from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) regarding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s alleged attempt to influence the by-election in NA-122 by being present in Lahore on polling day.

RO announces results of Lahore by-elections

Oct 13 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

LAHORE: The returning officer announced on Monday official results of NA-122 and PP-147 by-elections.

Ayaz Sadiq of the PML-N retained his National Assembly seat by securing 74,525 votes against his main rival Abdul Aleem Khan of the PTI, who obtained 72,084 votes. PPP candidate Barrister Amir Hassan could obtain only 819 votes.

The turnout was 43.1 per cent. Of the 347,762 registered voters, 149,885 exercised their right to franchise at 284 polling stations in NA-122, while 1,858 votes were rejected.

After by-polls, ‘time to focus on real issues’

Oct 13 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD: Calling for meaningful electoral reforms in the country, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has urged political parties to focus on ‘real issues’ of the people as the latest by-elections offered ‘little to cheer for democracy’.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz reclaimed the coveted NA-122 Lahore seat on October 11 in a close contest with the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after days of mudslinging against each other.

Ayaz Sadiq retakes NA-122, but PML-N loses provincial assembly seat to PTI

Oct 12 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

Amjad Mahmood.-

LAHORE: In a tension-filled close contest, PML-N’s Sardar Ayaz Sadiq retained his NA-122 Lahore seat by defeating PTI’s Abdul Aleem Khan in the by-election held here on Sunday amid extraordinary security as well as media hype.

According to unofficial results, Mr Sadiq secured 76,204 votes and his rival Aleem Khan 72,043.

It’s the fourth consecutive win for the former National Assembly speaker since 2002, twice against PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

A ‘change’ like no other

Oct 12 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

Zulqernain Tahir.-

LAHORE: Unlike previous elections in Lahore, the NA-122 constituents were visibly happy while casting their votes in what they called a “hassle-free environment” and expressed their desire that all future elections in the country should be held under the supervision of the army.

The polling day saw unprecedented discipline and relative calm, said most voters Dawn spoke to at various stations. Women voters were feeling more ‘protected and confident’ while heading towards their polling stations under the security cover.

Flouting rules: Electioneering lands PM, party leaders in trouble

Oct 12 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

 

By Azam Khan / Hasnaat Malik

ISLAMABAD: Top leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have put themselves in a spot by actively campaigning for their party colleagues.

On Sunday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced an inquiry would be held against Premier Nawaz Sharif and other top leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for alleged violations of the code of conduct prior to the NA-122 by-elections.

Parties outnumber election symbols

Oct 12 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

Irfan Ghaur.-

ISLAMABAD: 

The rapidly growing number of political parties registered with the premier poll supervisory body has once again caused shortage of election symbols. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had updated the logos before the 2013 general elections, but the number of registered political parties has again exceeded the quantity of approved emblems.

 

New registrations in the past two years have raised the number of political parties to 307, and after the last update the quantity of available symbols stands at 171.

 

ECP says it has powers to scrutinise funds of political parties

Oct 09 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

Iftikhar A. Khan.-

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan said on Thursday that it had the jurisdiction to scrutinise funds received by political parties from abroad and within the country.

A full bench of the commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s assertion that it had no authority to hear a case about alleged misuse of funds by the PTI and set Oct 10 as the next date of hearing.

A written order is expected soon.

Parliament watch: Electoral problems persist for want of reforms

Oct 09 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

Khawar Ghumma.-

All eyes seem to be set on the fierce battle being fought in Lahore by the ruling PML-N and Imran Khan’s PTI over the NA-122 seat. But even as voters decide the winner on Sunday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will be tested to ensure that this time, the exercise is not marred by the same lapses that necessitated the by-election.

Direct elections on women’s seats under study

Oct 08 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

Irfan Ghauri.-

ISLAMABAD: 

Parliamentary panel on electoral reforms is considering changing procedure of elections on women seats from indirect to direct polls.

The committee on Wednesday sought recommendations from all political parties on proposals to hold direct elections on the seats, reserved for women in the lower and upper house of parliament, including in the four provincial assemblies.

Govt challenges ECP suspension of Kissan package

Oct 08 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

Malik Asad.-

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday challenged the suspension of a Rs341 billion relief package for farmers.

The implementation of portions of the National Kissan Relief Package was suspended by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last week. The package was announced less than three weeks after the schedule for local government elections had been issued in Punjab and Sindh.

Kissan bailout package: With Nawaz’s blessing, govt to take ECP to court

Oct 07 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

 

Abdul Manan.-
 
ISLAMABAD: 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given the go-ahead for taking the top election supervisory body to court over its decision to stay implementation of certain components of the multibillion-rupee Kissan package.

On September 15, Premier Nawaz had announced the 341-billion-rupee bailout package for farmers in a bid to shield them from the financial impact of the persistent drop in agricultural commodity prices.

PTI alleges its LG candidate tortured, killed

Oct 07 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

LAHORE: PTI leaders Mahmoodur Rashid and Chaudhry Sarwar have alleged that the body of a party candidate for councillor from UC-84 bearing torture marks was recovered from the canal on Monday, demanding early arrest of his killers.

At a joint press conference here on Tuesday, they said the party would not politicise the issue of the first information report (FIR) and heirs of deceased Mian Akbar would be free to nominate the suspects in the police report.

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