[🇵🇰] Pakistan General Elections -- 2024

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Allied parties clinch speaker, deputy slots in National Assembly​

Nadir Guramani | Dawn.com
March 1, 2024

Newly elected National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq administers oath to Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa. — DawnNewsTV

A day after more than 300 members took oath as lawmakers in the National Assembly, MNAs on Friday elected PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq as the speaker of the lower house of the Parliament and PPP’s Ghulam Mustafa Shah as his deputy.

Sadiq, the Sharifs’ loyalist, and Mustafa defeated PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council nominees Amir Dogar and Junaid Akbar for the coveted slots.

They were the joint candidates of the allied parties — comprising PML-N, PPP, PML-Q, MQM-Pakistan, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party, PML-Zia, National Party, and Balochistan Awami Party — for the office of speaker and deputy speaker.

Out of the total of 291 votes cast in the house, Sadiq secured 199 against 91 bagged by Amir Dogar. Mustafa got 197 votes while Junaid of the SIC received only 92.

As the outgoing speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf announced the results, the house was abuzz with slogans from both the opposition and treasury benches.

 

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Bilawal hopes MQM-P secures ‘undecided’ posts in coalition govt​

Updated Mar 01,
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has conveyed optimism about the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) securing key positions in the coalition government, where agreements between PPP and PML-N could not be reached.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House in Islamabad on Friday, Bilawal addressed questions regarding the ongoing discussions about the power-sharing formula for the coalition government at the Centre. He acknowledged that certain positions remained undecided between PPP and PML-N, and expressed his hope that MQM-P would be considered for these roles.

"We have not reached a decision on certain positions with PML-N, and for those positions, I hope that MQM-P will get a chance," stated Bilawal.

Responding to queries about objections raised against Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Bilawal emphasised that the PPP has no specific issues related to any individual. This stance aligns with the party's commitment to focusing on policy matters and broader political cooperation rather than personal disputes.

 

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Sarfraz Bugti elected Balochistan CM unopposed​

Mar 01,
Sarfraz Bugti, a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and a Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA), has been elected unopposed as Balochistan Chief Minister.

The nomination was made by the PPP, marking a significant development in the political landscape of the province.

Taking to X, he thanked PPP co-chairman and chairman, Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for the nomination. “May Allah guide me and help me to do justice with this heavy responsibility,” he added.

 

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Nawaz woos Fazl to join coalition​

Updated Mar 01,
In a significant move preceding Sunday's premiership elections in the National Assembly, Nawaz Sharif, the supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), paid a visit to the residence of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

The meeting underscored a dialogue between the two former coalition partners as they navigate the political landscape.

Welcoming Nawaz Sharif along with other prominent members of the PML-N, including Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, and Rana Sanaullah, Maulana Fazlur Rehman extended a warm reception. Representing the JUI-F were Ghulam Ali, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, and Noor Alam Khan.

 

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ECP releases schedule: Presidential election set for March 9​

Mar 01,
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially announced the schedule for the upcoming presidential election, marking a crucial moment in the nation's democratic process. According to the released timetable, the polling for the election of the president is scheduled to take place on March 9.

As per the outlined plan, interested candidates must submit their nomination papers by March 2, initiating the formal process leading up to the election. These papers will undergo a meticulous scrutiny process until March 4. Candidates have the option to withdraw their nomination papers by March 5.

On the same day, March 5, at 1:00 pm, the ECP will reveal the final list of approved candidates who will be contesting for the highest office in the country.

Notably, March 6 marks the retirement of the current senators, paving the way for new leadership in the upper house.

The climax of this electoral process will be reached on March 9, with the actual polling for the election of the president. The Parliament House in Islamabad and the four provincial assemblies will serve as the key battlegrounds for this democratic exercise.

 

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PPP’s Ghulam Mustafa Shah elected NA deputy speaker​

Updated Mar 01,
Ghulam Mustafa Shah, the candidate fielded by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has been elected as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly on Friday. Shah secured an impressive 197 votes, demonstrating strong support from fellow parliamentarians.

Competing against him was Junaid Akbar of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), who garnered 92 votes, securing the second position in the election.

A total of 290 votes were cast, out of which 8 were rejected as invalid.

Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq administered oath to the newly-elected deputy speaker soon after his election.

 

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PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif meets JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman​

Mar 01, 2024

 

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'This wasn’t election but selection'​

Updated Mar 01,
Aamir Dogar, while congratulating Sadiq, said that PTI-SIC participated despite being deprived of seats, including reserved seats. Had the results come as per Form 45, my votes would have been 225, said Dogar.

Till this morning, 91 members who were to give me votes were under severe pressure but still decided to vote for me," revealed Dogar.

“This wasn’t election but selection,” Dogar said while referring to general elections and questioned what was the need to spend Rs50 billion on polls if the decision was made by those who counted the votes rather than those who voted. He demanded to give back PTI-SIC won seats, saying party was ready to cooperate.

Referring to the speaker’s offer of reconciliation, Dogar, while paying tribute to Imran Khan’s struggle, said that the party founder has given a go ahead for reconciliation but has linked it with the demand that PTI’s mandate should first be handed back.

 

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Confusion prevails as ECP declares schedules of key elections​

Iftikhar A. Khan
March 2, 2024

PPP leaders Jam Mehtab Dahar and Nisar Khuhro attended the Senate session despite being elected to the Sindh Assembly.

ISLAMABAD: Confusion prevails in upper house of the parliament, as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the schedules for the presidential elections on March 9, followed by polls on six Senate seats on March 14.

The six Senate seats fell vacant after the election of the members of the upper house of parliament to the national and provincial assemblies.

Article 223 of the Constitution clearly bars double membership. Under sub-section 4 of the Article, if a member of either house of the parliament or of a provincial assembly becomes a candidate for a second seat, which he may not hold concurrently with his first seat, then his first seat becomes vacant as soon as he is elected to the second seat.

On Friday, however, at least two ‘strangers’ attended the Senate session in violation of the clear constitutional provision. They included Nisar Khuhro and Jam Mehtab Dahar, both from Pakistan Peoples Party, who have already been elected as members of the Sindh Assembly.

Two ‘strangers’ attend session of the upper house of parliament

Names of both are on the list of six Senators whose seats have fallen vacant and where elections are to take place on March 14.

 

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PML-N, MQM-P accord to empower local govts​

Kalbe Ali Published March 2, 2024

• Proposed 26th amendment wants federation to establish local govts under Article 140-A
• Articles 140-B and 140-C to be introduced; sixth schedule to be added to Constitution

ISLAMABAD: The PML-N and MQM-P on Friday signed a formal agreement to empower local governments, which will be directly established and draw powers from the federation instead of provinces.

The memorandum of understanding, signed at Parliament House, relates to the two parties’ resolve to introduce the 26th amendment to the Constitution.

The two-point agreement was signed by Ahsan Iqbal of the PML-N and Syed Mustafa Kamal of the MQM-P.

 

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Sarfraz Bugti becomes Balochistan CM ‘unopposed’​

Official announcement in assembly today.

 

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PPP invites applications for Senate tickets​

Amjad Mahmood
March 2, 2024

LAHORE: The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) is officially inviting applications from candidates interested in running for vacant Senate seats, with the elections scheduled to take place within the coming weeks.

The seats became vacant either due to the election of some Senate members to different assemblies or resignations by a couple of them.

PPPP Secretary General Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari said in a statement that those interested in getting PPPP tickets for the vacant seats of the upper house of the bicameral parliament should apply to the party by March 3 (Sunday).

The applications must be addressed to PPPP President Asif Ali Zardari with a bank draft of Rs100,000 in the name of the party enclosed and should be sent to Bilawal House, Karachi, or Zardari House, Islamabad, at House No. 8, Street 19, F-8/2, Mr Bokhari added.

Committee formed to look after party’s Punjab affairs

On Thursday, the party wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja to hold Senate polls as soon as possible to complete the 100-member house, which is currently short of 11 members.

Senate elections are usually held in March every three years when 50 per cent of the members retire after completing a six-year term.

 

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Sharif camp optimistic after Nawaz woos Fazl for support​

Kalbe Ali
March 2, 2024

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman share a light moment during a meeting at the latter’s residence in Islamabad on Friday.—White Star
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaMc238IiRov8okfYy3n
ISLAMABAD: PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif visited the residence of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman here on Friday, possibly to seek the latter’s support in the formation of the upcoming coalition government at the Centre, as the JUI-F had abstained during the voting for speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly.

 

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