News

PML-N Candidate Suffers Major Defeat in Pakistan's Senate Polls

Mar 12 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
News 18

Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani got 57 votes against Raja Zafarul Haq (of PML-N) and has been elected as chairman, said Presiding Officer Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasar. 

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) suffered a major setback on Monday when its candidate for Senate chairmanship was defeated by an independent candidate supported by the opposition parties.

SC gives NAB 2 more months to wrap up Sharif corruption references

Mar 07 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn News

The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday extended by two months the deadline given to an accountability court hearing corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family.

In its July 28, 2017 ruling in the Panama Papers case, the apex court had given the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) six months to complete its proceedings on the corruption references against members of the Sharif family.

Acting on the apex court's order, NAB had initially filed four references against the Sharifs and former finance minister Ishaq Dar.

Imran Khan admits PTI lawmakers sold votes in Senate elections

Mar 05 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
The News

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Monday admitted that lawmakers from his party sold themselves in the Senate elections. He was talking to media persons in Karachi.

While admitting that MPAs from the ruling PTI took bribes, Khan asked the Chief Justice to take notice of the matter. Will the masses respect politicians any more, he asked.

Khan was apparently perturbed on losing Senate seats from the Khyber Pakhtwnka assembly at the hands of Pakistan People's Party, which managed to pull off two seats despite having only seven members.

Pakistan Muslim League wins secret Senate elections

Mar 04 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
Al Jazeera

Pakistan's governing party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) gained control of parliament's upper house in a secret ballot on Saturday, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.

The result may revive the political fortunes of the removed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has clashed with the judiciary since the Supreme Court ended his premiership in July by disqualifying him from office over undeclared assets.

Supreme Court issues detailed verdict of Election Act case

Mar 02 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
The News

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued detailed verdict in petitions against Election Act 2017 that removed Nawaz Sharif as  head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Written by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, the 51-page judgment comes days after Nawaz Sharif  passed the mantle of his party on his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab.

ECP issues Code of Conduct for Senate polls

Mar 02 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
Pakistan Today

In order to ensure free and fair polling in the Senate elections tomorrow (Saturday), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a code of conduct on Friday, violation of which will lead to a fine of up to Rs100,000 and a jail term of up to two years.

According to the code of conduct, no one would be allowed to carry mobile phones in the polling stations i.e. assembly buildings, while the assembly members would only be allowed inside if they will be carrying their secretariat cards.

Pakistan's ruling party picks ousted PM's brother as president

Feb 27 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
Reuters UK

Pakistan’s ruling party on Tuesday chose Shahbaz Sharif as its president, officials said, replacing his brother and veteran leader Nawaz Sharif following his latest disqualification by the Supreme Court. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party also elected Nawaz as “leader for life”, in what will be seen as a provocative move and could anger the judiciary after last week’s Supreme Court verdict that removed Sharif as party leader.

PML-N to announce new party president on Tuesday: Marriyum said

Feb 26 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
Pakistan Today

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will announce its new party president on Tuesday. Talking to the media persons in Islamabad on Monday, she said the Central Executive Committee and Central Working Committee of PML-N will meet on Tuesday to hold discussions on the election of the party president.

She said Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif is the most competent and appropriate person for the slot given his political acumen and performance in Punjab province.

PTI-G promises presidential system

Feb 23 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
Geo tv

MNA Ayesha Gulalai announced on Friday that her new party will support presidential form of democracy in the country. Addressing a press conference here, Gulalai announced the manifesto of her party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Gulalai or PTI-G, would also envision judo karate training for women.

Gulalai, who announced the name of the new party in December, has still not officially resigned from Imran Khan-led PTI. A reference by Imran to kick her out of the party was rejected by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Disqualified person can’t head political party, SC rules against Nawaz Sharif

Feb 21 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
The News

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a person disqualified under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution cannot head a political party. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umer Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsen was hearing into the petitions, challenging the controversial Election Act 2017.

Elections Act 2017 passed to reduce effect of disqualification: CJP.

Feb 06 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn News

Deliberating on the Elections Act 2017, which paved the way for disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif to regain presidency of the PML-N, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked a petitioner how having a party chief who is not eligible to contest elections would be in contradiction with the Constitution.

Barrister Farogh Naseem, who is representing opposition MNA Sheikh Rashid, told the court that the law was passed only 17 days after Sharif's disqualification by the Supreme Court in Panamagate case.

Senate elections to take place on March 3.

Jan 29 2018
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn News

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) finalised the schedule for Senate elections on Monday, setting March 3 as the date of the polling.

A returning officer (RO) will issue a public notice on February 3, while nomination papers will be filed between February 4 and 6, the commission announced.

Following the scrutiny of nomination papers by February 9, a list of candidates will be issued on February 15, allowing candidates to withdraw nominations by the following day.

A formal notification by the commission will be issued on February 2.

Sharif reluctant to publicly name Shahbaz as party’s PM candidate.

Dec 24 2017
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn News

Two days after TV channels flashed the news that former premier Nawaz Sharif had named Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as the party’s nominee for the office of prime minister in 2018 general elections, the elder Sharif is said to be reluctant to publicly nominate his younger brother for the coveted office as he wants to keep his cards close to his chest till the last minute, it emerged on Saturday.

Sharif reluctant to publicly name Shahbaz as party’s PM candidate.

Dec 24 2017
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn News

Two days after TV channels flashed the news that former premier Nawaz Sharif had named Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as the party’s nominee for the office of prime minister in 2018 general elections, the elder Sharif is said to be reluctant to publicly nominate his younger brother for the coveted office as he wants to keep his cards close to his chest till the last minute, it emerged on Saturday.

Pakistan’s ousted PM Nawaz Sharif returns as party leader.

Oct 03 2017
Pakistan
Source: 
Financial Times.

Nawaz Sharif has made a defiant comeback as head of Pakistan’s ruling party, more than two months after being disqualified as prime minister on charges of corruption.

Mr Sharif was elected unopposed on Tuesday, a day after his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz forced through a controversial new law allowing politicians disqualified from holding public office to continue as leaders of political parties.

Lahore celebrates Kulsoom's victory in NA-120 by-poll

Sep 18 2017
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

The wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is all set to be officially declared victorious after securing majority votes in the parliamentary by-election for her husband's seat in NA-120, which became vacant when Sharif was ousted from office.

Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz led the campaign on behalf of her ailing mother Kulsoom Nawaz, the candidate, who is being treated for throat cancer in London.

The seat has long been controlled by Sharif and his allies, but the by-election was seen as a test of the popularity of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi sworn in as prime minister of Pakistan

Aug 01 2017
Pakistan
Source: 
Dawn

PML-N's Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was sworn in as prime minister of Pakistan in an oath-taking ceremony held at President House on Tuesday.

 

President Mamnoon Hussain administered the oath to Abbasi.

Abbasi was elected prime minister by lawmakers in the National Assembly earlier today, bagging 221 votes to become the successor to ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

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