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ARY NEWS

Zahid Mashwani

  • No decision yet on allocation of reserved seats to SIC

    No decision yet on allocation of reserved seats to SIC

    ISLAMABAD: A decision on whether to allocate reserved seats in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies to Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) after an alliance with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has remained pending.

    The ECP was requested to allot the seats on the basis of the inclusion of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidates in their party. In this regard, a request drafted by SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza was submitted with the electoral watchdog through a PTI representative.

    On Monday, the PTI announced that its independent candidates would join the Sunni Ittehad Council to form governments at the Centre, in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a bid to secure reserved seats.

    The PTI candidates contested the elections as independents after the Supreme Court upheld the election supervisor’s decision, considering its intra-party polls “unconstitutional” and revoked its claim on the electoral symbol of ‘bat’.

    Sources told ARY News that a meeting of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was held to discuss the matters related to allocation of reserved seats to Sunni Ittehad Council. However, the meeting ended without any conclusion.

    In this regard, the electoral watchdog has summoned another meeting on Monday in which Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) will review the application for reserve seats.

    As per the Constitution, the reserved seats are allocated to the political parties on the basis of the number of their lawmakers elected on the general seats. For their allocation, the ECP had already received the priority list of candidates from the parties before the Feb 8 polls.

    Read More: Sunni Ittehad Council vows to bring own PM as PTI independents join party

    The situation this year is different from the previous elections as the largest group of lawmakers are independents, who cannot have the reserved seats.

    There are a total of 346 reserved seats for women – 60 in the NA and 66, 29, 26, and 11 in the provincial legislatures of Punjab, Sindh, K-P, and Balochistan.

    Similarly, there are 10 reserved seats for minorities in the lower house. Besides, there are eight, nine and three reserved seats for minorities in the Punjab Sindh, and Balochistan assemblies.

    Sunni Itthead Council, in its letter, stated that 86 independent candidates of the National Assembly had joined his party, adding that 107 independents of Punjab Assembly, 90 of K-P Assembly and nine independent members of Sindh Assembly now garnered the support of the SIC.

    The SIC requested the polls supervisory body to allocate reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies seats on these criteria.

  • Inquiry committee finds ex-Rawalpindi commissioner’s allegations were ‘false’

    Inquiry committee finds ex-Rawalpindi commissioner’s allegations were ‘false’

    ISLAMABAD: The inquiry committee, constituted by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), concluded in its report that the allegations levelled by former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha regarding ‘election rigging’ were ‘false and based on lies’, ARY News reported on Friday, citing sources.

    The inquiry report came a day after Liaquat Ali Chatha backtracked on his allegations that he played a role in rigging the elections to make the losers win in Rawalpindi Division.

    In a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) secretary, Chattha said last week’s press conference was held at the behest of a senior PTI leader, who also happens to be a proclaimed offender.

    Insiders told ARY News that the high-level committee, in its report, submitted today, recommends legal action against the former Rawalpindi commissioner for making “false accusations and potentially impacting the commission’s integrity”.

    The inquiry committee thoroughly investigated Chatha’s allegations, reviewing evidence and interviewing relevant officials. Their findings, as per sources, conclusively debunked the claims of rigged elections.

    The committee, according to the sources, mentioned the Chatha’s letter in its report and quoted him as saying that he was influenced by “external forces” when making his statement. “Mr Chatha has apologised to ECP in front of the inquiry committee,” it stated.

    The inquiry report has attached Chatha’s statement, along with details regarding returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) from national and provincial constituencies.

    READ: Rawalpindi commissioner resigns over alleged election rigging

    Expressing shame and embarrassment in his letter, the former Rawalpindi commissioner sought an apology from the nation. Chatha stated that the entire plan to malign state institutions was approved by “the PTI leadership”.

    The ex-commissioner clarified that he never instructed any Returning Officer to show favoritism or intervene in the election process.

    “With a 32-year service record, I was scheduled to retire on March 13, 2024, and held concerns about potential loss of benefits in the future. I deeply regret my statement and offer a sincere apology to the nation,” Chatha stated.

    The former commissioner revealed that during his role as Punjab’s secretary, he forged close ties with a political party official, aiming for future advantages.

    Read more: CJP responds to Rawalpindi commissioner’s allegations

    “The party official went into hiding due to involvement in the May 9 incidents, I was in touch with him and also used to assist him secretly,” he said.

    Liaquat Chatta disclosed a covert meeting with the leader of a political party in Lahore on February 11 and was tasked with devising a plan to ‘confirm’ allegations of election rigging, however, concerned about the potential ineffectiveness of the accusations, he opted to conduct an emotionally charged press conference.

  • ECP to decide on SIC reserved NA seats today

    ECP to decide on SIC reserved NA seats today

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday convened an important meeting to decide on the reserved National Assembly seats of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) today, ARY news reported citing sources.

    According to sources, the meeting will overview the Sunni Ittehad Council’s petition for the reserved NA seats and will allot the quota of the reserved seats to political parties today.

    If the petition submitted by the Sunni Ittehad Council is approved, they will be allocated reserved seats in the National Assembly at a ratio of 4.5. However, if the petition is not approved, the remaining political parties will receive the reserved seats at a ratio of 3, sources added.

    Earlier, the Sunni Ittehad Council filed a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for reserved seats.

    PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced that party-backed independent candidates — who emerged victorious in the Centre, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the 2024 general elections — would join Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as part of their parliamentary strategy.

    The candidate’s national and provincial assembly lawmakers have started submitting affidavits, officially announcing their affiliation with Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) in line with the party’s decision.

    Read More: PTI decides to ally with Sunni Ittehad Council

    The PTI-backed Independent candidates consolidated their lead in the general elections 2024 over mainstream political parties, especially in the National and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assemblies, throughout the result announcement process.

    According to the results announced so far, independent candidates have managed to win 101 seats. It is worth mentioning that out of these 101 independent candidates, 92 are supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf while nine are general independent candidates.

    PML-N is in the second position with 75 seats, while the PPP has won 54 seats. The MQM-P won in 17 constituencies, JUI-F in four, and PML-Q in three, while IPP and BNP won two seats each.

  • Ex-commissioner Rawalpindi ‘records’ statement before ECP committee

    Ex-commissioner Rawalpindi ‘records’ statement before ECP committee

    ISLAMABAD: Former Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali Chatha on Thursday recorded his statement before the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) high-level committee formed to probe the alleged rigging in general elections 2024, ARY News reported citing sources

    According to sources, the ECP issued a notice yesterday to the former commissioner to record statement before the committee.

    The ECP committee also recorded statements of District Returning Officers (DROs) and Returning Officers (ROs) of concerned constituencies.

    The committee led by a senior member of the ECP recorded statements of DROs and RO of 13 National Assembly constituencies and 26 provincial assembly constituencies of Rawalpindi division.

    Read more: ECP committee records statements of DROs, ROs

    The sources privy to the development said that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) also submitted the transcript of former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha’s presser, accusing ECP and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of involvement in the ‘election rigging’.

    The sources added that DROs and ROs have also submitted written statements to the committee. The high-level committee has started the compilation of its report which would be submitted to the ECP.

    Ex-commissioner Rawalpindi allegations

    In a shocking ‘revelation’, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha – who stepped down from his post – dropped a bombshell on Saturday, confessing to be involved in rigging the Pakistan general elections 2024, adding another layer of controversy to the already disputed polls.

    Read more: Rawalpindi commissioner resigns over alleged election rigging

    Taking responsibility for what he termed a “heinous crime,” Chatha implicated not only himself but also accused the Election Commission of Pakistan and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of involvement in the ‘rigging’ — a claim denied by the ECP and the CJP.

    The presser came almost a week after the Feb 8 general elections as the ECP has already been in the crosshairs of several rigging allegations amidst PTI and other political parties’ nationwide protests, claiming they were deprived of their mandate.

    The ECP flatly rejected the rigging allegations put forth by Liaquat Ali Chatta against the Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner.

    The spokesperson said in a statement that neither the ECP nor any of its officials instructed the Rawalpindi commissioner to change election results under his jurisdiction.

  • ECP completes probe into alleged rigging in election 2024

    ECP completes probe into alleged rigging in election 2024

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) high-level committee completed probe into allegations of the former Rawalpindi Commissioner regarding the alleged rigging in general elections 2024, ARY News reported citing sources.

    According to sources, the committee’s last meeting will be held in Islamabad where the report on Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali Chattha’s election rigging allegations will be finalized and the report will be submitted to the ECP.

    Sources said that the recorded statements of DROs and RO of 13 National Assembly constituencies and 26 provincial assembly constituencies of Rawalpindi division will be included in the committee report.

    Earlier, the high-level committee of ECP recorded statements of District Returning Officers (DROs) and Returning Officers (ROs) of concerned constituencies.

    Read More: PTI demands immediate resignation of CEC Sikandar Raja

    The sources privy to the development said that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) also submitted the transcript of former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha’s presser, accusing ECP and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of involvement in the ‘election rigging’.

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also demanded the ‘immediate resignation’ of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for ‘failing’ to hold general elections 2024 in a free, fair and transparent manner.

    Commissioner Rawalpindi’s allegations

    In a shocking ‘revelation’, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha – who stepped down from his post – dropped a bombshell on Saturday, confessing to be involved in rigging the Pakistan general elections 2024, adding another layer of controversy to the already disputed polls.

    Taking responsibility for what he termed a “heinous crime,” Chatha implicated not only himself but also accused the Election Commission of Pakistan and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of involvement in the ‘rigging’ — a claim denied by the ECP and the CJP.

    Read more: Rawalpindi commissioner resigns over alleged election rigging

    The presser came almost a week after the Feb 8 general elections as the ECP has already been in the crosshairs of several rigging allegations amidst PTI and other political parties’ nationwide protests, claiming they were deprived of their mandate.

    The ECP flatly rejected the rigging allegations put forth by Liaquat Ali Chatta against the Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner.

    The spokesperson said in a statement that neither the ECP nor any of its officials instructed the Rawalpindi commissioner to change election results under his jurisdiction.

  • ECP committee ‘seeks’ transcript of ex-Rawalpindi commissioner’s presser

    ECP committee ‘seeks’ transcript of ex-Rawalpindi commissioner’s presser

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) committee on Monday sought a transcript of ex-Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chatha’s election rigging allegations press talk, ARY News reported, citing sources. 

    In a shocking ‘revelation’, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha – who stepped down from his post – dropped a bombshell on Saturday, confessing to being involved in rigging the Pakistan general elections 2024, adding another layer of controversy to the already disputed polls.

    Taking responsibility for what he termed a “heinous crime,” Chatha implicated not only himself but also accused the Election Commission of Pakistan and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of involvement in the ‘rigging’ — a claim denied by the ECP and the CJP.

    As per details, the ECP has begun its probe into Chatha’s claims and has moved the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for a transcript of the press conference.

    Read more: CJP responds to Rawalpindi commissioner’s allegations

    The committee will record statements of the ROs and DROs of the Rawalpindi division after reviewing the transcript of the ex-Rawalpindi commissioner’s press conference, the sources said.

    They further said, the Terms of References (TORs) of the special committee were finalised yesterday, which will record the statements of ROs of thirteen National Assembly seats from Rawalpindi while statements of ROs of 26 provincial seats from the division will also be recorded in light of the transcript of the Chatha’s press conference.

  • Elections 2024: IPP wins NA-88 Khushab seat

    Elections 2024: IPP wins NA-88 Khushab seat

    ISLAMABAD: Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has grabbed the NA-88 Khushab seat, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results after repolling on Thursday.

    IPP’s Gul Asghar Khan was declared the winner by RO with 82577 votes. With the win from NA-88, the number of IPP seats in NA has jumped to three.

    Meanwhile, according to unconfirmed and unofficial results of PK-90 Kohat, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed candidate Aftab Alam Afridi emerged as victorious with 45358 votes.

    Read more: Elections 2024: Re-polling in Khushab, Kohat, Ghotki underway

    Re-polling at the 53 polling stations in Khushab, Kohat and Ghotki was held on Thursday after the angry mob snatched and burned the ballot papers on February 8.

    Re-polling continued till 5pm without any break.

    Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ordered re-polling in a few polling stations of one National Assembly (NA) and two provincial assembly constituencies.

    The ECP withheld the results NA-88, Khushab, PK-90 Kohat and PS-18, Ghotki) after reports emerged that the polling material was destroyed or snatched from the ECP officials in several polling stations.

  • ECP withdraws Awn Chaudhry’s victory notification from NA-128

    ECP withdraws Awn Chaudhry’s victory notification from NA-128

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has withdrawn the victory notification for the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party’s candidate Awn Chaudhry following the February 8 general elections.

    According to ECP results, Chaudhry secured 172,576 votes while Barrister Raja received 159,024 votes in the constituency, but the victory notification of Awn Chaudhry was challenged by PTI-backed independent candidate Salman Akram Raja.

    The decision was communicated to the Islamabad High Court by the ECP’s director-general of law.

    The Islamabad High Court, in response to a petition filed by PTI-backed independent candidate Barrister Salman Akram Raja, declared Awn Chaudhry’s victory from the National Assembly constituency NA-128, Lahore, null and void.

    Read more: Salman Akram Raja challenges Aun Chaudhry’s election win in IHC

    The court also instructed the returning officer to submit a report within three days. Barrister Raja had challenged Chaudhry’s election win in the Islamabad High Court, seeking the suspension of his rival candidate’s victory notification.

    Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) barred the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from releasing election result of the National Assembly constituency (NA-128) in Lahore, where PTI-backed independent candidate Salman Akram Raja was contesting against IPP candidate Awn Chaudhry.

    The directives were issued on a petition filed by Salman Akram Raja, who claimed the returning officer (RO) violated the election act by not releasing the election result.

  • ECP dismisses Nawaz Sharif’s plea against defeat in NA-15 Mansehra

    ECP dismisses Nawaz Sharif’s plea against defeat in NA-15 Mansehra

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday binned the plea of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif against his defeat in NA-15 Mansehra, ARY News reported.

    According to unofficial and unconfirmed results from all polling stations in the constituency, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independent candidate Shahzada Gustasap Khan won the seat with 105,249 votes, while Nawaz Sharif remained second with 80,382 votes.

    Following defeat in the constituency, Sharif challenged the victory notification of Shahzada Gustasap from NA-15.

    Sharif in his plea stated that the Form 45 of 125 polling stations of the NA-15, Mansehra constituency were not issued.

    Kala Dhakka area of the constituency has been very backward and means of communications have been disturbed due to snowfall in the area, Sharif’s counsel said.

    Read more: NA-15: Nawaz loses against PTI-backed IND candidate

    The counsel alleged that presiding officers had pushed out polling agents “It is the election commission’s responsibility to ensure transparent election,” the lawyer argued. “The elections were not transparent in NA-15,” Nawaz Sharif’s counsel claimed.

    “The Form 47 could not be issued without Form 45,” he said. He pleaded for restraining final issuance of final notification of NA-15 result.

    The ECP after hearing the matter, rejected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif’s plea and ordered the returning officer of the constituency to release Form 49.

  • ECP notifies victory of PML-N candidates from Islamabad NA seats

    ECP notifies victory of PML-N candidates from Islamabad NA seats

    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday issued a victory notification for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidates from three NA seats in Islamabad, ARY News reported.

    As per details, the ECP notified Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Anjum Aqeel was victorious on the NA-46 seat.

    Tariq Fazal Chaudhry was also notified as MNA from Islamabad from NA-47 constituency.

    Raja Khurram Nawaz, the independent candidate, was also declared winner by the Election Commission of Pakistan from the NA-48 seat.

    Earlier on Sunday it was reported that the results of 10 National Assembly seats and 16 provincial assemblies’ seats in Pakitan have been withheld after being challenged by the losing candidates.

    Read more: Elections 2024: Results of 10 NA, 16 provincial seats withheld

    According to ARY News, losing candidates in 10 National Assembly constituencies and 16 provincial assembly seats challenged the results, after which ECP withheld them.

    The results of NA-55 Rawalpindi, NA-49 and NA-50 Attock have been challenged۔ The results of the National Assembly constituencies NA-65, NA-63 and NA-28 have also been challenged۔

    Meanwhile, the results of PP-11, PP-14, PP-16, PP-20, PP-31، PP-33 and PP-59 are also challenged by the losing candidates.