PTI MNAs Asad Qaiser (L) and Omar Ayub (R) speak in the National Assembly on March 4. — DawnNewsTV
ISLAMABAD: The state-owned electronic media on Monday continued blocking speeches made by members of National Assembly (MNAs) belonging to the opposition. However, the authorities concerned expressed ignorance about the decision to black out the opposition.
Leaders of PTI, who are sitting under the banner of Sunni Itehad Council (SIC) in the lower house of parliament, have announced to submit a privilege motion against Pakistan Television (PTV).
• ECP turns down SIC plea as party didn’t submit list for reserved seats on time
• Commission to distribute vacant seats proportionally among other parties; one member dissents
• Nomination papers of Zardari, Achakzai accepted
• PTI rejects decision as ‘unconstitutional, against democracy’; wants Senate, presidential polls postponed
ISLAMABAD: After the Election Commission of Pakistan decided against the allocation of reserved seats to the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) for “having non-curable legal defects and violation of mandatory provision of submission of the party list for reserved seats”, the PTI decided to approach the Supreme Court against the 4-1 decision of the election watchdog.
The announcement of the decision coincided with the acceptance of nomination papers of ruling coalition-backed PPP candidate Asif Ali Zardari and PTI-backed PkMAP leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai for the upcoming presidential elections, set to take place on March 9.The final list of all eligible candidates will be released on March 5, though nominees can withdraw from the race until March 6.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has published the names of candidates for reserved seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
In a notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the electoral watchdog said one reserved seat was each allocated to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan, PML-N and PPP.
The Supreme Court has rejected a petition filed by JUI-F leader Khalilur Rehman seeking re-elections at 11 polling stations in PB-7 Ziarat.
During the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa said the Constitution was clear that the Election Commission of Pakistan is a “constitutional institution” and should be respected.