KARACHI: The minority communities in Sindh are troubled yet again. For the upcoming local government elections, they have been deprived of the right to vote for their own candidates as the non-Muslims nominated on the reserved seats for minorities will be elected by members of union councils and union committees.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday announced that the government is ready to back Pakistan People’s Party (PPP-P) candidate Raza Rabbani as Senate Chairman.
During a pre-luncheon press conference at the Prime Minister House on Tuesday, the PM heartily welcomed the nomination of the opposition and said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will not nominate its own candidate for either Chairman or Deputy Chairman.
The PM went on to say that the government wanted a unanimous decision and has consulted all parties and taken decisions based on national interest.
Reports from Pakistan say Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's political party has gained strength in Senate elections as the second largest party in the upper chamber of the National Assembly and now has just one seat less than the opposition.
Pakistan’s Geo-TV reported early on March 7 after victory notifications were sent to most winning candidates that Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz had won 26 seats.
Pakistani lawmakers voted for new senators in parliament's upper house on Thursday in an election that looked set to strengthen Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's grip on power and increase his ability to pass important legislation.
The main opposition party, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), currently holds a majority in the Senate.
But early, unofficial results indicate that after Thursday's vote, Sharif's ruling Pakistan Muslim League is expected to win almost equal representation in the upper house.
Political activities are gaining momentum as date for election to the fifty-two seats of Senate draws nearer. Major political parties have already constituted their Parliamentary Boards for finalising the aspirant candidates to contest Senate elections. The Boards are conducting interviews of the intending candidates. Different political parties are also contacting other parties for seat adjustments.
ISLAMABAD: One hundred and eighty four candidates have submitted their nomination papers for the upcoming Senate elections, a statement by the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday said.
According to the election commission, 23 candidates from Punjab, 28 candidates from Sindh, 39 candidates from Khyber Pakhtunkha and 42 from Balochistan submitted their nomination papers.
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday announced that elections to fill Senate seats would be held on March 5 instead of March 3.
According to sources, the elections were postponed as more time was needed for scrutiny of the candidates.
The candidates' legal requirements for running in the senate elections will be scrutinised according to Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution which state the necessary qualifications for induction in the Parliament.
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce the schedule for elections on 52 Senate seats next month, an official told Dawn on Tuesday.
He said the polling day was likely to be fixed in the first week of March. Nomination papers for the elections have been printed and ballot papers will be printed after publication of the final list of candidates.
Elections will be held for seven general and four reserved seats from each province, including two each for women and technocrats, four seats from Fata, two from Islamabad and two minority seats.
An election tribunal issued on Monday a short order calling for the opening of voting bags in NA-122 and PP-147, Express News reported.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan had recorded a statement at a hearing of the tribunal on Saturday regarding alleged rigging in NA-122 during last year’s general polls.
ISLAMABAD: As the earlier-set deadline to fill the post of chief election commissioner (CEC) expired, the Supreme Court on Monday extended the deadline to appoint a permanent CEC till December 1.
The three judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk observed that, in case of the non-appointment of CEC until December 1, the court shall consider issuing notices to prime minister as well as leader of opposition in National Assembly for explanation that why the appointment has not been made so far.
After months of wrangling, a parliamentary panel on electoral reforms on Tuesday agreed to hand over administrative control to the top poll supervisory body over returning officers (RO), polling staff and on duty security personnel.
In its meeting, the sub-committee on electoral reforms proposed amendments in the election laws, empowering the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to have control over polling officials.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid to inform and consult various heads of political parties regarding the appointment of the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). But it may not like the answer that it gets.
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday warned that if the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government remains adamant about its demand for bio-metric systems, then the much-awaited local bodies’ elections will be delayed further.
The local bodies’ elections have been postponed time and time after again since 2009.
ECP expressed its reservations and said if K-P’s fresh legislation will be followed, then elections cannot be held till August/September of 2015.
Parliamentary panel on electoral reforms has finally done a substantial work and compiled a total of 1,283 recommendations, presented by different stakeholders to revamp the electoral system of the country.
During a meeting on Monday, the panel – a 33-member bipartisan Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms – also constituted an eleven-member sub-committee to vet these proposals – received from close to a dozen organisations.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Punjab chapter president Ejaz Chaudhry has announced the party will not take part in any by-election in the province after resigning from its Punjab Assembly seats.
Mr Chaudhry said the PTI would also not take part in the by-election being held in PP-162 (Sheikhupura) on September 22.
ISLAMABAD: In a televised address to the nation, a visibly concerned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday requested that a Supreme Court commission investigate alleged irregularities in the 2013 general elections.
"I request the Chief Justice of Pakistan [Justice Nasirul Mulk] to form a three-member commission that will investigate the rigging allegations and give a final decision," he said.
LAHORE: An election tribunal on Tuesday declared the results of 33 polling stations in PP-97 Gujranwala null and void, Express News reported.
The tribunal also ordered re-elections in the district.
Former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MPA Nasir Cheema had challenged the success of Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N) member Muhammad Ashraf Warraich in PP-97, alleging that the polling results were rigged during May 11, 2013 general elections.
Cheema had asked the tribunal to check the results and re-count the votes.
LAHORE: The top leadership of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) is said to have given the government the go-ahead to acquiesce to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s demand for a full audit of votes cast during the May 2013 election and has resolved to give the PTI a ‘free hand’ for the long march scheduled for August 14, The Express Tribune has learned.
Pakistan Awami Tehreeek chief Tahirul Qadri said on Thursday that revolution and reform are parallel to each other and though they move together, they do not have a meeting point.
Speaking to Express News at his residence, Qadri said Imran Khan’s demand for mid-term elections will not change the exploitative system PAT is fighting against.
