[🇵🇰] Pakistan General Elections -- 2024

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IHC issues notice to ECP on MWM plea​

Malik Asad
March 7, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan on a petition filed by Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) seeking a directive for the ECP to upload Forms 45 and 47 on its website.

IHC Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petition.

Advocate Imaan Zainab Mazari, appearing on behalf of the MWM, argued before the court that the ECP was under obligation to upload these forms as well as other documents related to constituency-wise election on its website in 14 days under the Elections Act.

She said the ECP had failed to comply with the statutory provision of uploading the Form 45 and Form 47 on its website.

She pointed out that the ECP uploaded these forms on its website for a while, but removed them later.
She requested the court to order the ECP to upload these forms on its website.

Justice Farooq also clubbed an identical petition filed by PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen and issued the notice to the ECP and adjourned the hearing till next week.

 

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Federal cabinet to be decided after presidential vote: Rana Sanaullah​

PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah has said that the federal cabinet would be decided after the new President takes oath on March 10.
Speaking on Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, the former interior minister said: “I think it will be done by March 10-11.”
When asked why the cabinet formation was being delayed and if the delay was because PML-N leader Ishaq Dar’s role could not be decided so far, Sanaullah explained that everyone was focusing their attention to the presidential vote.

 

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Bilawal says Zardari’s presidential role similar to Queen of England’s​

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that the presidential nominee and his father Asif Ali Zardari will have a role similar to the one Queen of England had in the United Kingdom.
While addressing the media after a meeting of the coalition government, the former foreign minister said that it would be the first time that a civilian would hold the presidential office twice.
He said that because of the 18th amendment, all the responsibilities of the president had been transferred to the parliament and national assembly, which was a “huge victory” in Pakistan’s political struggle.
“Now I tell him that this time around, your role would be that of the Queen of England in the United Kingdom,” he said.

 

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Zardari assures PM Shehbaz of allies’ support in face of prevailing challenges​

Former president Asif Ali Zardari has said that coalition parties are standing alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the wake of prevailing challenges being faced by the country.
Addressing the media today with PM Shehbaz, PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other allied party leaders, Zardari said: “We will use [all our strength] whenever the need arises, will give them electoral and even international help when needed.”
He also suggested that the country could be a force multiplier for China if they uplift agricultural techniques, fix canal linings and make a dam.

 

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SIC petitions LHC over ECP decision to reject reserved seats allocation​

Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza has challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to reject the party’s plea seeking allotment of reserved seats in the Lahore High Court.
On behalf of Raza, Advocate Ishtiaq A Khan filed the plea, which listed the electoral watchdog as the main respondent.
The petition pointed out that the ECP was neither a tribunal nor a court, adding that the SIC should be allotted the reserved seats based on their representation in the National Assembly.

 

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MQM-P announces to vote for Asif Ali Zardari in presidential election​

BR Web Desk

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Thursday announced to vote for the ruling coalition’s joint candidate Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential election.

This was announced by party’s convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui after a meeting with a delegation led by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the federal capital.

“Thanks for coming. We are with you. We will support Zardari Sahab in the presidential election and will vote for him,” Siddiqui told reporters in joint-presser with Bilawal.

The meeting was held after a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for coalition partners. He described MQM-P’s demands as genuine and urged them to vote for Zardari.

 

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Oath-taking of MNAs ‘contempt of court’, says PTI’s Omer Ayub​

PTI-backed MNA Omer Ayub Khan has said that the lawmakers who took oath today on reserved seats committed “contempt of court” and their swearing-in should be declared “void”.

Speaking on the floor of the lower house of the Parliament, he stated that PTI leaders were not being allowed to meet incarcerated party chief Imran Khan by the Adiala Jail superintendent.

“We should be told if the jail superintendent is answerable to the court or to the government,” Ayub demanded.

“Today, on behalf of all my opposition members, I demand that the oath taken today should be declared null and void as it has no legal standing,” he said, adding that the opposition would continue to protest until SIC members on reserved seats took oath.

PTI-backed Omer Ayub Khan speaks on the floor of the National Assembly. — DawnNews

 

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ICYMI: Polling for presidential elections to commence at 10am tomorrow​

Polling for the presidential elections will begin at 10am tomorrow and conclude by 4pm, state-run Radio Pakistan reports.

Asif Ali Zardari, the joint candidate of PPP and the PML-N, and Sunni Ittehad Council’s nominee Mahmood Khan Achakzai are vying for the office of president.

It must be noted that the president is elected by an electoral college comprising members of the Senate, National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies. Voting is held through a secret ballot.

A joint session of the Parliament will be convened in Islamabad tomorrow during which the members of the National Assembly and the Senate will exercise their right to vote. Similar sessions will also be held in the provincial assemblies