PML-N retains another seat after vote recount

QUETTA: Following a vote recount, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) managed to retain a Balochistan Assembly seat, ARY News reported.

As per details, Muhammad Khan Lehri of the PML-N was declared winner of PB-14 Nasirabad, defeating Ghulam Rasool Imrani of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) by 1919 votes.

According to Returning Officer (RO), Muhammad Khan Lehri received 20706 votes, while Ghulam Rasool Imrani of the PPP was able to secure 18787.

The PPP’s candidate had challenged the results and requested for recounting of votes.

Read More: PML-N retains PK-40 after vote recount

Earlier on February 19, the PML-N managed to retain a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly seat after a recount of votes with a lead of 186 votes

PML-N’s Sardar Shah Jahan was declared the winner from PK-40 Mansehra over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed independent candidate Shakoor Naumani.

The Returning Officer (RO) ordered the recounting of votes for 173 polling stations on request of the PTI-backed independent candidate.

Sardar Shah Jehan bagged 43104 votes while PTI-backed Shakoor Naumani could get 42918 votes.

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Ramadan relief package: No discount will be available on these commodities

ISLAMABAD: Three essential commodities would not be available at discounted prices at utility stores under the government’s Ramadan relief package, ARY New reported citing sources.

As per details, the utility stores decided not to reduce prices of sugar, flour, and ghee under Ramadan relief package of Rs 7.5 billion.

The sources told ARY News that current prices of sugar, flour and ghee will remain unchanged despite the announcement of the  package.

A 10 kilogram (Kg) bag of flour would be available for Rs648 while the price of sugar for Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) beneficiaries would be Rs 109 Kg. Under the Ramadan relief package, ghee would be sold at Rs 365 per kg.

The utility stores management refused to lower the price of sugar, flour and ghee, maintaining that the prices are already lower for BISP beneficiaries.

The relief package will now be applicable from March 5 instead of March 4. The Caretaker Cabinet had approved the package to start from March 4.

Read More: Cabinet approves Ramadan relief package

Earlier on February 22, the federal cabinet approved Ramadan relief package 2024 worth Rs7.49 billion as the holy month draws closer.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by prime minister Kakar, ratified decisions taken in the ECC meeting.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved Rs 7,492.75 million proposed for subsidy in account of Ramazan Relief Package 2024 to the targeted beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which is provided for in the budget for 2023-24.

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MQM-P confirms support to PML-N ahead of prime minister election

ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has confirmed its support for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominee for prime minister Shehbaz Sharif ahead of elections, slated for Sunday.

The development came following a meeting between the MQM and PML-N delegations at Parliament lodges in Islamabad.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, MQM-P deputy convener Mustafa Kamal affirmed the longstanding alliance between both the parties, emphasising their joint commitment to Shehbaz Sharif’s victory in the upcoming election.

Mustafa Kamal reiterated MQM’s unwavering support for Shehbaz Sharif, expressing confidence in his leadership abilities and vision for Pakistan’s future. He also highlighted the importance of the PML-N president’s success for the welfare of the Pakistani people.

For his part, PML-N leader Rana Tanveer Hussain extended gratitude to MQM for their support to Shehbaz Sharif. He acknowledged Shehbaz Sharif’s personal efforts to secure MQM’s support, despite health challenges.

He revealed that the PML-N president intended to seek MQM’s support personally, but due to health concerns, he was unable to do so.

Read More: MQM-P still mulling who to vote for in presidential elections

Pakistan’s National Assembly is set to witness a one-to-one contest for the post of prime minister of leader of the house tomorrow (Sunday) as nomination papers of allied parties’ candidate Shehbaz Sharif and PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate Omar Ayub have been approved, ARY News reported on Saturday.

Newly-elected National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq approved the nomination papers of Shehbaz Sharif and Omar Ayub Khan for the prime minister election after scrutiny.

The election for the Prime Minister will take place during the session of the National Assembly scheduled for Sunday at 11 am. The election would be conducted through the division of members in the House.

Pakistan People’s Party and PML-N got their speaker and deputy speaker elected with ease in Friday’s session, defeating the SIC and PTI-backed candidates.

Following the prime minister’s election, the newly-elected lawmakers will also elect a new head of the state on March 9, marking an end to the tenure of PTI-backed President Arif Alvi.

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Sher Afzal Marwat castigates Shehbaz Sharif over ‘mandate theft’

ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat on Saturday castigated PML-N nominee for prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, over alleged mandate theft, vowing to continue the party’s struggle until “recovery of mandate”, ARY News reported.

Addressing a PTI rally in Islamabad today, he said that the people of Pakistan gave the mandate to those – who were accused of orchestrating May 9 violence – wherein military installations came under attack following arrest of Imran Khan.

Lambasting his political rivals, Sher Afzal Marwat said that the public has exposed them all on February 8, regretting that PTI’s mandate was stolen through Form 47. “The incumbent government’s reality was stealing prisoner no: 804’s mandate,” he added.

He further said that Imran Khan was innocent but imprisoned for seven months, adding that the PTI founder’s only sin was chanting ‘absolutely not’ and striving for real freedom (Haqeeqi Azadi).

Marwat urged the Supreme Court to take notice of the violation of Pakistanis’ fundamental rights under the judiciary’s watch.

“Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Parvez Elahi, Bushra Bibi, Yasmin Rashid, Sanam Javed, and other PTI leaders have been unjustly jailed for the past two years,” he told the protestors.

“We will continue our struggle and protest in the courts, parliament, and on the streets until Imran Khan is released and the recovery of our mandate,” the PTI leader concluded.

Read More: Adil Raja, Haider Mehdi have nothing to do with PTI: Marwat

Pakistan’s National Assembly is set to witness a one-to-one contest for the post of prime minister of leader of the house tomorrow (Sunday) as nomination papers of allied parties’ candidate Shehbaz Sharif and PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate Omar Ayub have been approved, ARY News reported on Saturday.

Newly-elected National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq approved the nomination papers of Shehbaz Sharif and Omar Ayub Khan for the prime minister election after scrutiny.

The election for the Prime Minister will take place during the session of the National Assembly scheduled for Sunday at 11 am. The election would be conducted through the division of members in the House.

Pakistan People’s Party and PML-N got their speaker and deputy speaker elected with ease in Friday’s session, defeating the SIC and PTI-backed candidates.

Following the prime minister’s election, the newly-elected lawmakers will also elect a new head of the state on March 9, marking an end to the tenure of PTI-backed President Arif Alvi.

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Umar Farooq Zahoor: Man who bought Toshakhana gifts a proclaimed offender?

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), in its report submitted to Islamabad High Court (IHC), has made startling revelations against Umar Farooq Zahoor, who reportedly brought Toshakhana gifts from deposed prime minister Imran Khan in 2019, ARY News reported on Saturday.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) nullified first information reports (FIRs) registered against Khush Bakht Mirza alias Sophia Mirza by her ex-husband Umar Farooq Zahoor at the Secretariat Police station, Islamabad.

In the case of Khush Bakht Mirza versus The State and Others, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of the high court invalidated the FIRs in a 16-page judgment.

The FIA, in its report, stated that during the course of verification Umer Farooq Zahoor was contacted to ascertain the contents and ownership of the complaint, but to no avail.

“Consequently, it transpired that the complainant [Umar Farooq Zahoor] is wanted in multiple FIRs of the FIA Lahore viz FIR Nos 343/2020 [PS FIA AHTC Lahore] and 36/2020 & 40/2020 [PS FIA CCC Lahore] etc,” the FIA added.

Terming Zahoor a ‘proclaimed offender’, it stated: “The Non-bailable arrest warrants and Proclamations Orders were duly issued against him by the competent courts, and the same are part of the FIA and the Court records. Moreover, he had been subject to INTERPOL Red Notice twice, and Exit Control List (ECL).”

The FIA believes that Zahoor was abroad at the time of filing his complaint and registration of FIR No.465/2022 of PS Secretariat Islamabad Police against the ex-DG FIA, the officials of FIA Lahore, and others.

Read More: Sophia Mirza speaks up about Umar Farooq Zahoor

Meanwhile, IHC revealed that the FIRs were initiated following Zahoor’s application, although investigations indicate his absence abroad during that time. The court ordered Islamabad Inspector General of Police to conduct investigation, covering false statements regarding Zahoor’s whereabouts.

If Zahoor did indeed visit the station, the In charge Police Station will be held accountable for their failure to take action.

Zahoor’s name hit headlines when he claimed in an interview to have bought from the former PTI government an expensive Graff wristwatch, which was gifted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to then PM Imran Khan, for over $2 million.

The Toshakhana issue over the sale of state gifts received by Imran Khan became a major sticking point in national politics after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified the PTI founder for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”.

Imran Khan admitted in a written reply that he had sold at least four presents he had received during his tenure as the prime minister.

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Siraj demands CEC Sultan Raja’s resignation

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Sirajul Haq demanded resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sultan Akram Raja after his ‘failure’ to conduct free and fair General Elections, in 2024

In a statement issued here, JI chief Sirajul Haq said that the Election Commission of Pakistan has failed to conduct free and fair elections.

“The government formed with fake mandate after the rigging in elections,” Sirajul Haq. He said that all institutions have to obey the constitution to bring stability to the country.

The JI chief said that the people of Pakistan have given their decision on February 8, asserting that the same must be accepted.

Sirajul Haq said that even those, who were declared ‘so-called’ winners, know that they did not win on February 8. The JI chief demanded the formation of a judicial commission to audit the recently concluded general elections should be conducted.

Read More: PTI demands immediate resignation of CEC Sikandar Raja

Earlier on February 20, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanded the ‘immediate resignation’ of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for ‘failing’ to hold general elections 2024 in a free, fair and transparent manner.

“Incumbent CEC [Sikandar Sultan Raja] has now become a controversial personality as he failed to stop rigging in elections; PTI demands CEC Raja to resign immediately,” Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told journalists after meeting party’s founder Imran Khan in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.

He said that all the inquiries into election discrepancies should be impartial and without any interference. “We want the election results to be by the mandate of the public,” Gohar added.

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PPP invites applications for Senate by-elections

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has invited applications from the party ticket aspirants for vacant seats in the Senate of Pakistan.

Secretary General PPP Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari in a statement issued here said that the few seats of the Senate are now vacant.

“The PPP invites applications from the aspirants of the party tickets for the vacant seats of the Senate. The applications should be submitted by March 3,” he added.

Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari asked the aspirants to address the PPP president in the application.

“A bank draft of Rs. 100, 000 in the party’s name must be attached with the applications supposed to be sent to Bilawal House Karachi or Zardari House Islamabad by March 3,” the PPP general secretary said.

Read More: ECP announces schedule for Senate by-elections

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the schedule for the upcoming Senate by-election on six vacant general seats.

As per the schedule, the elections will be held on March 14 at different assemblies. The Nomination papers for the vacant Senate seats can be submitted until March 3.

The scrutiny of these nomination papers is slated to take place by March 5, resulting in the final list of eligible candidates who will be contesting for the coveted Senate positions.

Candidates will have the opportunity to retrieve their nomination papers by March 10.

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