[🇵🇰] Pakistan General Elections -- 2024

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The political leadership has yet not been able to agree on a charter of economy for the new government​

The government needs to create a healthy industrial culture to maximise indigenous resources.

 

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Former caretaker Punjab chief minister Mohsin Naqvi will be sworn in as the interior minister on Monday (today) when the new federal cabinet members will be administered their oath of office, a source within the PPP confirmed.

 

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The PPP leader maintained that Naqvi was “Rawalpindi’s man”, who would become the interior minister with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s blessings.

Naqvi extended all kinds of favours to the PML-N but not to the PPP’s provincial chapter – so much so that it had complained to the party leadership of ex-interim CM’s “discriminatory” attitude towards them.

 

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Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz appears to have preferred fresh faces over old guards as more than half of her eighteen-member cabinet comprises first-time ministers.

Meanwhile, in a somewhat surprising move, despite having a coalition partner in PML-Q, her cabinet did not feature any member from IPP, even as strong rumours suggested the party's parliamentary secretary was in line for a ministerial position.

 

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Ishaq Dar becomes FM as PM Shehbaz’s 19-member cabinet sworn in​

Federal ministers include Khawaja Asif as defence minister, Attaullah Tarar as information minister, MQM-P's Khalid Maqbool, IPP's Aleem Khan and ex-Punjab CM Naqvi.
Updated about 3 hours ago

 

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ECP announces schedule for Senate polls​

Electoral body sets April 2 for elections on 48 seats as 52 senators retire today

Our Correspondent
March 11, 2024

PHOTO: AFP/FILE


ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Monday that elections for 48 Senate seats would take place on April 2, following the expiration of the six-year term for the current Senators on Tuesday.

52 seats in the upper house of parliament will become vacant, but elections will only be held for 48 senators. The reduction is due to the abolition of four reserved seats for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) following the 25th constitutional amendment.

The official schedule for the elections is set to be issued on March 14, according to the electoral watchdog. The polling will include seven general seats, two for women, two for technocrats (including Ulema), and one for non-Muslims from Sindh and Punjab.

Furthermore, lawmakers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan will participate in electing members for seven general seats, two women, and two technocrats (including Ulema).

Members of the National Assembly will elect one general seat and one technocrat seat (including Ulema) from the federal capital.

 

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In preparation for the upcoming elections, the ECP appointed returning officers (ROs) for Islamabad and the four provinces.

Saeed Gul, the Director General Training of the ECP, will serve as the Returning Officer in the federal capital.

Meanwhile, Aijaz Anwar Chohan, Sharifullah, Shamshad Khan, and Muhammad Farid Afridi will act as returning officers in Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan, respectively.

In addition, by-elections for six vacant Senate seats are scheduled for Thursday, March 14. The polling will take place at the upper house of parliament, as well as at the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies in Karachi and Quetta.

These vacancies in the general category arose in the federal capital, with two in Sindh and three in Balochistan, as senators relinquished their seats after being elected as members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies.

Former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri recently joined the lower house of parliament, while Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar were elected to the Sindh Assembly.

Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai and Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti became members of the Balochistan Assembly.

 

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President Zardari decides to name daughter Aseefa as first lady​

Investigation reveals president holds authority to confer the title upon any female member of his family

News Desk
March 11, 2024

President Asif Ali Zardari with daughter Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari. PHOTO: PPP MEDIA CELL


President Asif Ali Zardari has decided to confer the title of first lady upon his daughter, Aseefa Bhutto, Express News reported.

Traditionally, the role of 'first lady' has been reserved for the wives of presidents or prime ministers, prompting questions about the legitimacy of appointing a daughter to the position.

Express News' investigation into the matter has revealed that the president holds the authority to confer the title upon any female member of his family. Legal experts consulted by the news outlet confirmed that there are no legal barriers preventing such an appointment.