News

LG polls suffer another setback

Nov 18 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
KARACHI: 

As the much-awaited local government polls finally make their way to the poorly-governed Sindh province, the process suffers blows time and again due to the half-hearted efforts of the provincial government of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

With the second phase of the polls that will devolve powers to the grassroots level around the corner, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has nullified the inclusion of rural areas into the urban ones in 23 local bodies’ constituencies in 11 districts.

ERC working to define electoral offenses: Akefi

Nov 18 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Calling the separation of small violations from big electoral crimes an important issue, the Electoral Reform Commission (ERC) on Wednesday said such offenders would be punished after their crimes were identified.

ERC chief Shah Sultan Akefi told a seminar “Electoral Reform” in Kabul that the ERC was working together with judicial organs and attorneys to set new criminal rules and drafts for transparency and prevention of violations in the electoral process.

The seminar was participated by a number of members of parliament and election observers.

ECP postpones LG elections in 81 UCs of Sindh

Nov 18 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD: Following the Sindh High Court verdict on suspension of recently carried out delimitation, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has postponed the forthcoming local government elections in 81 union councils (UCs) of Sindh.

The local government polls were scheduled for Thursday, November 19.

Secretary ECP Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad shared the district names while addressing a press conference on Wednesday.

Bilawal hits back at Imran in Badin rally

Nov 17 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

BADIN: Continuing the war of words against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the run-up to the local government elections on November 19, PPP scion Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attracted a considerable crowd at a Badin rally today.

Addressing the PTI chairman, who had earlier criticised the young leader for being 'immature', Bilawal asked, "Imran Uncle, has any one ever taught a fish how to swim?"

District profile: Ruling party faces strong anti-PPP alliance in Dadu

Nov 12 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

DADU: Like elsewhere in the province, the ruling party faces an exclusively anti-Pakistan Peoples Party alliance in Dadu as well but what makes this alliance of four parties relatively strong is the inclusion of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) headed by the influential Liaquat Ali Jatoi, while the situation in Jamshoro appears to be business as usual with little opposition against PPP diehard Malik Asad Sikandar and his nominees.

PPP grabbed 70pc LG seats in eight districts of Sindh: ECP

Nov 11 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party swept the first phase of the local government election in eight districts of Sindh by winning about 70 per cent of the over 3,500 seats, it emerged on Tuesday.

On Oct 31, the LG elections were held for a total of 3,502 seats of chairman, vice chairman, district and general councillors in Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore and Kambar-Shahdadkot districts.

Above the law: Candidates with criminal records elected in Sukkur

Nov 10 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
SUKKUR: 

Eight of the 18 candidates belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who won the recent local government elections in Sukkur have criminal and corruption cases lodged against them.

 

In fact, one of the candidates — Ashfaq Mirani, who has been elected as chairperson of the union committee 24 of Bachal Shah Miani — is a notified criminal with Rs500,000 as head money. In fact, his photo, along with those of other similar candidates, was posted on a billboard outside A-Section police station, until a few days ago.

 

DROs, police want army deployment during LG polls: ECP secretary

Nov 10 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

HYDERABAD: The Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, has said all district returning officers (DROs) and police authorities want deployment of army in the second phase of local government elections in Sindh.

He said that more than the required number of security personnel could be sought for deployment to ensure violence-free elections in the province. He urged all stakeholders to assist the ECP in holding fair polls in line with constitutional responsibilities.

Sisters are doing it for themselves

Nov 09 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

KARACHI: Pakistan’s is for all purposes a patriarchal society. It is a system where women are only allowed minimal input in the decision-making process. There are deviations, off course. We did elect the first woman head of state among Muslim countries. On the whole, however, the situation is still quite grim.

Repeating history? JI, PTI form alliance for second round of LG elections

Nov 07 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
KARACHI: 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have announced their alliance on more than 80 per cent of the city’s seats for the third round of the local bodies’ polls.

“Karachi has been held hostage by political forces for years, which have never contributed towards the development of the city, but this time, the popularity of PTI and the strength of JI will win the local bodies poll,” said JI’s Karachi ameer, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Friday.

LG elections: Political parties form alliance against PPP

Nov 07 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

HYDERABAD: The local chapters of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Dadu district have joined hands to contest the local government elections against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The alliance, announced at a press conference in Dadu on Thursday, also includes the PPP-Shaheed Bhutto (PPP-SB) and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP).

Rangers chief meets MQM and JI delegations ahead of LG polls

Nov 06 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

KARACHI: Delegations of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Jamaat-i-Islami called on the Rangers director general on Thursday and discussed issues relating to the Karachi operation and the upcoming local government elections.

Despite having their own media wings, neither the MQM nor the JI issued any official statement regarding the meeting of their respective delegations with Major General Bilal Akbar, the director general of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh.

Rangers at sensitive polling stations, army on standby on 19th: Khuhro

Nov 06 2015
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

KARACHI: Senior Information Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said that the Rangers will be posted at sensitive and extremely sensitive polling stations in the second phase of local government elections, scheduled for Nov 19, while the Sindh government will request the Election Commission to ensure that army troops stay on standby.

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