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ARY NEWS

Zahid Mashwani

  • Opposition alliance’s delegation to meet Fazalur Rehman

    Opposition alliance’s delegation to meet Fazalur Rehman

    ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan led by Opposition Leader Omar Ayub will meet Jamiat Ulema-a-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman to ‘finalise’ strategy against the government, ARY News reported citing sources.

    According to the details, the delegation will call on Maulana Fazalur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad on Wednesday night.

    The sources privy to the development said that the meeting will discuss and finalise plans for a joint opposition movement against the government.

    The leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other parties of the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan will also address a joint press conference.

    It is pertinent to mention here that PTI leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser earlier held a meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and once again invited him to join the joint opposition alliance.

    The sources privy to the development said that Asad Qaiser met Maulana Fazlur Rehman on special directives of PTI founder Imran Khan. The meeting was kept off the record.

    The sources said that during the meeting, Asad Qaiser once again extended an invitation to Maulana Fazlur Rehman to join the ranks of the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan.

    “The PTI and JUI-F have already agreed on various proposals and strategies to launch an anti-government movement under the banner of the joint opposition alliance or any new platform,” the sources said.

    Read More: Fazlur Rehman in favour of consensus between JUI-F, PTI

    Earlier,  Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that it would be ‘fortunate’ if his party and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) develop a consensus.

    In an interview with a private news channel, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that there were big ‘mountain-sized’ differences between the two parties. “PTI’s delegation has come to us and as per our tradition, we have welcomed them,” Maulana Fazalur Rehman added.

    The JUI-F chief said that if their issues with the PTI get resolved, it would be good. “If not, every political party has its stance and opinion,” he said.

    Maulana Fazalur Rehman said that PTI’s delegation had suggested resolving some issues, and both parties agreed to do so.

    He said one or two people from PTI come up with ‘inappropriate’ statements against the JUI-F, adding that they don’t take those statements seriously.

  • CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja in Brazil to study EVM system

    CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja in Brazil to study EVM system

    ISLAMABAD: A high-ranking delegation, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja traveled to Brazil to assess the viability and examine the electoral procedures related to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

    The delegation comprising Provincial Election Commissioner Aijaz Anwar Chohan, Director General (IT) Muhammad Khizer Aziz, and Director Nadeem Zubair, is implementing electronic voting machines (EVMs) across the country, following the example of Brazil and India,according to ECP spokesperson.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) acknowledges Brazil’s electoral process as one of the most advanced and technologically superior globally. Consequently, the ECP has opted to visit Brazil and engage in discussions with high-ranking officials from the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

    Across a span of three days, numerous sessions were convened with various department heads of Brazil’s Election Management Body, the Tribunel Superior Electoral (TSE). These gatherings featured engagements with the Secretary of Communication & Multimedia, the Secretary of Information Technology, and the Head of Identification Management, each delivering in-depth presentations on their electoral methodologies and the Brazilian Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).

    The demonstration of the EVM was also conducted. The major topics which were discussed include ‘Initiatives for strengthening the social confidence on the electoral processes’, “Introduction to the Brazilian EVM”, “Identification System being used in polling process”, and ”Special Advisory for fighting Disinformation”.

    Finally, an important meeting was held between the Chief Election Commission Sikandar Sultan Raja and the Chief Justice of Superior Court of Brazil /President Tribunal Superior Electoral (TSE) Alexender de Moraes on various vital topics including use of EVM.

    The Election Commission plans to delve deeper into Brazil’s electoral system, particularly regarding EVMs, with the aim of implementing pilot projects in Pakistan. To accomplish this task, the ECP’s Information Technology Wing and Project Management Unit will collaborate.

  • Newly-elected Senators take oath of the office

    Newly-elected Senators take oath of the office

    ISLAMABAD: 43 newly elected Senators took oath of office at the Parliament House in Islamabad on Tuesday, ARY News reported. 

    Presiding Officer Senator Ishaq Dar administered the oath. The Presiding officer felicitated the newly elected Senators.

    Yousaf Raza Gilani, Ahad Cheema, Anwaarul Haq, Hamid Khan, Mohsin Naqvi, Anousha Rehman, Ishaq Dar, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Allama Nasir Abbas and other prominent personalities took oath of office.

    When the session began today with Senator Ishaq Dar as the presiding officer, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members launched the protest and demanded adjournment of the house till the election of senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    Speaking on the floor of the house, PTI leader Senator Ali Zafar demanded the election be deferred as the process would be unconstitutional till the house is complete.

    Read more: ECP notifies victory of 37 Senators

    He also blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan for making controversial decisions.

    In response to the objections raised by the opposition members, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that nothing is unconstitutional happening here today and that the house is complete for all functional purposes.

    He also blamed the PTI for creating obstacles in the election of lawmakers from KP after which polls were postponed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

  • ECP notifies victory for 12 Senators from Sindh

    ECP notifies victory for 12 Senators from Sindh

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued victory notification for 12 Senators, recently elected from Sindh, ARY News reported.

    As per details, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Masrror Ahsan, Dost Ali Jaiser, Ashraf Jatoi, Syed Kazim Ali Shah and Nadeem Bhutto have been notified as Senators on general seats from Sindh.

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s Aamir Waliuddin Chishti and an independent candidate backed by PPP and MQM-P, Faisal Vawda were also notified as Senators on general seats.

    Read more: Senate elections: Vawda wins; PPP secures 10 seats from Sindh

    Zameer Ghumro, and Sarmad Ali, on Technocrats seats, Quratulain and Rubina Qaimkhani on the reserved seats for women, and Ponjo Mal Bheel were notified as Senators on the minotory seat.

    It is to be noted that on the April 2 Senate elections, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) bagged 10 out of 12 seats in the upper house of the Parliament from Sindh with Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and independent candidate Faisal Vawda winning a seat each.

  • Polling on vacant seats of Senate gets underway

    Polling on vacant seats of Senate gets underway

    ISLAMABAD: Polling to elect thirty members of the Senate on Tuesday kicked off, ARY News reported.

    In total, 59 candidates are vying for the vacant seats.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan has already notified eighteen candidates as unopposed returned on vacant seats in Balochistan and Punjab.

    Polling for the rest of the thirty seats is being held in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh.

    Polling started in the National Assembly and three provincial assemblies at nine in the morning and will conclude at 4pm.

    Read more: Senate polls: PPP, MQM-P MPAs to vote for Faisal Vawda

    Ballot papers in four different colours have also been printed for the Senate elections.

    White papers will be used for General seats, Green for Technocrat seats, Pink for Women, and Yellow for Minority seats.

    In a separate development, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers would vote for former federal minister Faisal Vawda in Senate polls.

    Senate elections in KP postponed 

    The provincial election commissioner has postponed the Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the application of the opposition members.

    Provincial Election Commissioner Shamshad Khan after consulting with the CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja announced the postponement of Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    The opposition members moved the ECP as the dispute over the swearing-in of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s opposition members elected to reserved seats remains unresolved.

  • Polling on vacant seats of Senate to be held tomorrow

    Polling on vacant seats of Senate to be held tomorrow

    ISLAMABAD: Polling on the thirty vacant seats of the Senate of Pakistan will be held tomorrow (Tuesday).

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has already notified eighteen candidates as unopposed returned on vacant seats in Balochistan and Punjab.

    Polling for the rest of the thirty seats will be held in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh.

    The Senate elections for 11 seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could be delayed if the Speaker of the KP Assembly does not administer the oath to women and minority lawmakers-elect from the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) on the reserved seats, as warned by the electoral body.

    Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan has finalized all preparations for conducting nationwide Senate elections tomorrow (Tuesday).

    According to the Election Commission, polling will be held in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon.

    Read more: ECP finalises arrangements for Senate elections on April 2

    Ballot papers in four different colors have been printed for the Senate elections. White papers will be used for general seats, green for technocrat seats, pink for women, and yellow for minority seats.

    Additionally, the transportation of election materials to returning officers has been completed.

    Returning officers have already issued the final list of the candidates.

  • Pakistan by-elections: ECP sets deadline for postal ballot papers

    Pakistan by-elections: ECP sets deadline for postal ballot papers

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has fixed April 2 deadline for the submission of pleas for postal ballot papers in by-elections on 23 NA and provincial assemblies’ seats in Pakistan.

    The by-elections on 23 vacant seats of NA and provincial assemblies will be held on April 21. According to the ECP, the facility of the postal ballot is available for government officials, armed forces, their families, and prisoners in jail and lockups.

    The electoral body made it clear that an individual will not be allowed once a ballot paper is issued against his or her name.

    According to the commission, the by-elections will be held for six vacant seats of the National Assembly; 12 of the Punjab Assembly, two each of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan legislatures; as well as one of the Sindh Assembly.

    Read more: ECP announces schedule for Senate by-elections

    The ECP said the nomination papers for the by-elections could be submitted to it from March 16 to 18. It added that the nomination papers would be scrutinised on March 21.

    Appeals against the nomination papers can be submitted to the ECP till March 25.

    The commission said the election tribunal would dispose of the appeals till March 28 and the nomination papers could be withdrawn till March 29.

    The final list of candidates will be displayed on March 29 and electoral symbols will be allotted on March 30.

  • ECP notifies victory of PML-N’s Azhar Qayyum from NA-81

    ECP notifies victory of PML-N’s Azhar Qayyum from NA-81

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has notified victory of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Azhar Qayyum as MNA from NA-81 after a recount, ARY News reported on Tuesday. 

    Pursuant to the order dated 11th March 2024 passed by the Election Commission of Pakistan in case No.F.7(427)2024-Law-III(GE), the returning officer NA-81 Gujranwala-V carried out the recounting of votes and as a result of the recounting, PML-N’s Azhar Qayyum has been declared the winner with a majority of the votes, the notification read.

    Earlier Bilal Aijaz, an independent candidate backed by PTI, was declared the winner with 117,717 votes while the PML-N candidate finished as runner-up with 109,926 votes

    PML-N’s Azhar Qayyum requested that the ballots be recounted, and the Returning Officer (RO) granted his request. Following the vote tally, Azhar Qayyum defeated independent candidate Bilal Aijaz, backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), by a margin of 3197 votes.

    After the recounting, Azhar Qayyum secured 110,057 votes while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed independent candidate Bilal Aijaz bagged 106,860 votes.

  • Senate elections: ECP extends time for nomination papers’ filing

    Senate elections: ECP extends time for nomination papers’ filing

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has extended the time for filing nomination papers for Senate elections for the convenience of the candidates.

    A spokesperson of the Election Commission said the candidates can now file their nomination papers with the concerned returning officers till six pm today.

    Today is the last day for submission of nomination papers for the upcoming Senate elections scheduled to take place on April 2.

    More than 89 candidates have submitted nomination papers for the Senate’s 11 vacant seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the election commission said. Those filed nomination papers included Faisal Javed, Azam Swati and Talha Mehmood.

    Read more: Senate Polls: Last day of filing nomination papers

    The People’s Party, MQM, PTI, and independent candidates have received nomination papers for 12 Senate vacancies in Sindh.

    Former minister Faisal Vawda has also submitted his nomination papers as an independent candidate for the upper house seat today.

    Senate elections on 48 vacant seats will be held on April 02 in the National Assembly, Senate, and the four provincial assemblies.

    According to the schedule, candidates can file their nomination papers till Saturday (today).

    March 19th has been fixed for scrutiny of the nomination papers. A revised list of the candidates will be issued on March 26th while the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by 27th March.

  • ECP completes preparations for Senate elections

    ECP completes preparations for Senate elections

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce the schedule for the election on Senate vacant seats on March 14, ARY News reported.

    As per details, the preparations have been completed for the polling for 48 Senate seats, scheduled to take place on the second of the next month (April).

    After the merger with KP, the elections on the four FATA seats will not be held.  “These seats have been abolished after the merger of tribal areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) under the 25th Amendment of the Constitution,” the ECP said in its statement.

    Nomination papers about the Senate elections can be obtained from the Election Commission Secretariat Islamabad as well as the provincial elections commissioners of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

    Candidates can submit their nomination papers to their respective Returning Officers on Friday and Saturday (March 15, 16).

    Read more: ECP appoints ROs for conduct of Senate elections

    Earlier, 52 senators retired on March 12 after completing their six-year tenure.

    According to the ECP, the Senate polls will be carried out on seven general seats, two women seats, two technocrat seats and one minority seat in Punjab.

    It added that the elections will be contested on 12 seats in Sindh as well in the aforementioned denomination while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the polls will only be carried out on 11 seats.

    Two senators will be elected from Islamabad, one each under the general as well as technocrat/Ulema category.