[🇵🇰] Pakistan General Elections -- 2024

[ghazi]

NA to elect speaker, deputy speaker on Mar 1​

Updated Feb 29, 14:53
Elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of NA will be held on March 1, incumbent NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf announced. The elections will be held through secret ballot.

PTI’s candidate for premiership, Omar Ayub, has said that the house is incomplete, adding that even people nominated on reserve seats couldn’t come to take oath during the inaugural session today.

 

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K-P elects speaker, deputy speaker​

Updated Feb 29,
The nominee of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Babar Salim Swati, was elected speaker of K-P Assembly after securing 89 votes while the PPP nominated Ehsanullah Miankhel bagged only 17 votes.

Outgoing Speaker Mushtaq Ghani administered the oath to Swati.

Suraiya Bibi, also nominated by SIC, clinched the deputy speaker slot. She is an MPA from Chitral and backed by PTI.

 

[ghazi]

'PM election on March 3'​

Updated Feb 29,
The election for the slot of prime minister will take place on March 3, Sunday, key officials of the National Assembly shared. A formal announcement in this regard is expected to be made by today evening, to put an end to the confusion about the election date, lawmakers stated.

 

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NA Secretariat accepts nomination papers for posts of speaker, deputy​

Feb 29,
The National Assembly secretariat has accepted the nomination papers of the candidates vying for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker. The elections are scheduled to be held on March 1 (tomorrow).

PML-N’s Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and PTI-backed Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar submitted their nomination papers for the post of NA Speaker. Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah and Junaid Akbar’s names have been proposed by the treasury and opposition benches respectively for the post of NA deputy speaker.

Among those who proposed Sadiq’s name for NA speaker were PML-Q’s Chaudhry Salik Hussain, IPP’s Abdul Aleem Khan, PPP’s Syed Naveed Qamar, and PML-N’s Owais Ahmed Laghari.

Among those who seconded Dogar’s name for the position were PTI’s Sahibzada Sibghatullah, Ali Muhammad Khan and Dr Amjad Ali Khan.

 

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MQM-P did not ask for any cabinet positions, says Siddiqui​

Updated Feb 29,
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui clarified on Thursday that decisions regarding cabinet positions had been finalised, but the party had not sought any specific roles.

Addressing the media ahead of the National Assembly session, Siddiqui emphasised that the MQM-P's focus was not on governorship or ministries, but on delivering the benefits of democracy to the people.

The return of the MQM signifies a genuine mandate, and despite expecting more seats, the party is prepared to voice its concerns about electoral irregularities on appropriate platforms, he added.

Furthermore, Siddiqui underscored the persistent nature of the issues, stating that the circumstances today mirror those of 75 years ago. He highlighted the significance of a democracy that truly benefitted the public, highlighting the imperative to grant rights to Pakistan's 230 million citizens.

 

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JUI-F to sit on opposition benches, announces Fazl​

Updated Feb 29,
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced on Thursday that his party will sit on opposition benches and not be party of the new incoming coalition government.

The JUI chief further said that he would not participate in the voting for the premier, president, speaker and deputy speaker.

Speaking to the media in Parliament House, Fazl maintained that he does not foresee the incoming government completing its five-year tenure.

When asked about his party's intention to join the PTI protest or launch his protest movement, he said: “Wait and watch, will protest together with you.”

 

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Imran's letter to IMF akin to hostility towards state, says Nawaz​

Updated Feb 29,
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that PTI founder Imran Khan's letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - linking the country's political stability with any further bailout talks - is akin to hostility against the state.

Nawaz made these remarks as he arrived at the Parliament House for the inaugural session of the 16th National Assembly (NA). When probed further, the PML-N leader said such tactics were the 'tradition' of PTI.

Nawaz further said that "no political party will write such letters" and asked if this was not an act of hostility. "You can draw the conclusions yourself."

 

[ghazi]

PM disapproves of Imran’s IMF letter​

Updated Feb 29,
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has expressed his disapproval of PTI chief Imran Khan’s letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), terming this move as 'highly irresponsible'.

Appearing on a talk show of a private TV channel, the prime minister said the letter was sent at a time when the caretaker government had significantly worked for economic revival, with relevant indicators showing positive trends and achieving various financial targets.

He mentioned that negotiations with the IMF are underway for a $6-billion-dollar agreement, which is crucial for the economic health of the country. Moreover, different multilateral agreements also depend on it.