Pakistan Army asserted on Wednesday that no one would be allowed to indulge in violence “in the name of political activity” and sabotage the “democratic exercise of conduct of free and fair elections”, the military’s media wing said.

It was said after the 262nd Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) held at General Headquarters (GHQ), presided over by General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

Election security: Federal cabinet approves deployment of armed forces

“Pakistan Army will perform assigned duties as per the Constitutional mandate, under the guidelines of ECP,” statement from the Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan (ISPR) read.

The forum also discussed deployment of Pakistan Army to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the peaceful conduct of General Elections 2024, scheduled for February 8.

It paid rich tribute to the supreme sacrifices of Shuhadas, including officers and men of the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies and the citizens who have laid their lives for ensuring peace and stability in the country.

The forum resolved that terrorists, their facilitators and abettors, “working on behest of hostile forces to destabilise Pakistan, will be dealt with full might of the state”.

At least 4 dead, 5 injured in blast at PTI rally in Balochistan’s Sibi

As per the ISPR statement, the COAS stated that Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are “sacrosanct and inviolable”.

Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence with all states, however, there would never be any compromise over country’s sovereignty, national honour and aspirations of Pakistani people, he said.

Iran FM in Pakistan for talks after tit-for-tat air strikes

The forum was also briefed on the “callous Indian campaign of extra-territorial and extra-judicial killings, perpetuating state-sponsored terrorism and targeting Pakistani citizens”.

According to details, the Army’s top brass agreed that “blatant violation of international laws by India and its real face be exposed to the world.”

The forum also reiterated unequivocal support for Palestine and the people of Gaza while noting the extremely negative fallout of the conflict and the potential to spill over in the wider region.

“The immediate need for a permanent ceasefire and enduring solution to the Palestinian question was unanimously recognised. In the same vein, Pakistan’s resolve to support the people of IIOJK for their right of self determination was reiterated. Pakistan would continue to morally, politically and diplomatically support Kashmir brothers and sisters till justice is served in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions,” the ISPR statement read.

Pakistan welcomes World Court’s ruling, reiterates call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Meanwhile, the forum acknowledged and appreciated the steps taken against spectrum of illegal activities and criminal mafias, including smuggling, hoarding, money laundering, power theft and illegal aliens.

“The participants emphasised that such actions and their positive impact on the economy and well being of the people need to continue without any let up.”

The forum was briefed on operational preparedness of the formations. COAS asked formation commanders to continue their focus on the training, administration and morale of the soldiers, the military’s media wing said.

PESHAWAR: A national assembly candidate in Pakistan’s election next week was shot and killed on Wednesday in the tribal district along Afghan border, police said, amid fears of an uptick in violence around the parliamentary vote.

Rehan Zaib Khan, an independent candidate in the February 8 election who had claimed to be supported by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party, and four aides were shot in Bajur district, said police officer Rasheed Khan.

He said Rehan Zaib Khan died at a local hospital and his aides were in a critical condition.

Imran Khan and his wife Bushra were jailed for 14 years in a graft case, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said on Wednesday.

Khan’s party has been stripped of its traditional electoral symbol, a cricket bat, on technical grounds, and its candidates are contesting the election as independents.

PTI’s provincial president Atif Khan said Rehan Zaib Khan was a party member but the PTI had another candidate in the constituency with its official backing.

In absence of the party symbol on the ballot, several independent candidates are claiming to have Khan’s party support.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned an emergency meeting tomorrow (Thursday) amid the worsening law and order situation in the country ahead of the general election 2024.

“The ECP has called an emergency meeting tomorrow (Thursday, February 1) at 3:00pm in the wake of worsening law and order situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ahead of the general elections 2024,” the electoral watchdog said in a statement on Wednesday.

The meeting will be attended by high-ranking officials from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), including caretaker ministers, home secretaries, chief secretaries and Inspector General of Police (IGPs), it added.

The electoral watchdog has also invited officials of the intelligence agencies to participate in the emergency meeting.

The development comes after a series of terrorist attacks on political gatherings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

At least 4 dead, 5 injured in blast at PTI rally in Balochistan’s Sibi

Earlier today, the ECP postponed elections on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s National Assembly’s NA-8 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s PK-22 constituencies after a PTI-affiliated candidate was gunned down.

Rehan Zeb Khan, who was contesting from NA-8 and PK-22, was shot dead in KP’s Bajaur district while travelling to Sadeeqabad Phatak for election campaign when unidentified assailants opened fire on him.

Taking notice of the incident, the ECP sought a report from the KP Chief Secretary and Inspector-General of KP police.

This is the second attack on PTI’s electioneering within 24 hours. A day earlier, a bomb ripped through a PTI rally in Sibi, leaving at least four people dead and five others injured, according to police and witnesses.

Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan has emerged as the top pick by Pakistani finance professionals to oversee the cash-strapped South Asian country’s economic recovery, according to a Bloomberg survey that did not name its 12 respondents.

As per the survey, Imran Khan, who is embroiled in multiple cases and was just handed a 14-year sentence on Wednesday, was ranked highest by 12 traders, economists and analysts from some of the nation’s biggest brokerages, who cited the former cricket star’s enduring popularity as a key reason to push through market-focused reforms in the long run.

Three-time former premier Nawaz Sharif – largely seen as a front-runner for the elections with Imran barred from contesting elections – came second, with respondents mentioning his experience in government.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), was a distant third, with some of those surveyed citing a distrust of dynastic politics.

As per the report, Nawaz Sharif and his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, have been gaining support from voters since his return to Pakistan last year.

“An analysis by Bloomberg Economics of Pakistan’s misery index — a combination of inflation and unemployment rates — showed Sharif’s party performed better in managing the economy over the past three decades compared with rivals, including Khan,” added the Bloomberg report.

Meanwhile, the Bloomberg survey found that Pakistan is likely to require another loan from the International Monetary Fund to stay afloat.

“All 12 survey respondents said they didn’t expect Pakistan to survive without a new IMF loan. Half of them said Pakistan can survive without a bailout for six months, in a sign the economy remains fragile,” said the report.

“Four respondents said Pakistan can survive without an IMF loan for three months while two said nine months. None said the country can survive for more than a year without a bailout.”

Last year in June, Pakistan clinched a last-minute $3-billion nine-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF. To date, Pakistan has received two tranches cumulatively amounting to $1.9 billion from the Washington-based lender.

The ongoing program is set to end in April, and Pakistan is expected to receive $1.1 billion from the IMF.

ISLAMABAD: The attorney general for Pakistan reiterated that neither coercive action nor the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) will proceed against the journalists, whom the notices were issued for criticising the judiciary, before February 8.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Tuesday heard the suo motu notice against the harassment of journalists by the FIA.

The attorney general submitted that honest criticism of a judgment or an order is not a crime and no coercive action will be taken nor criminal case registered in this regard and extends an undertaking on behalf of the federal government.

The Press Association of Supreme Court (PAS) and the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA) on January 27 passed a joint resolution. According to that, the FIA has issued notices to journalists purportedly on the ground that the judiciary was being maligned and they apprehend that journalists will be arrested when they attend the office of FIA.

During the proceeding, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, a member of the bench, told AGP Mansoor Usman Awan that if the FIA wants to issue follow-up notice to the journalist then that should be done after the general elections.

The attorney general was directed to file separate comprehensive reports within two weeks with regard to the police investigations on the cases of Asad Ali Toor, Matiullah Jan, Imran Shafqat, and Amir Mir, and whether charges were framed against anyone.

These journalists have claimed that they were abducted and attacked but these crimes were not properly investigated.

The chief justice told the presidents of PAS and IHCJA to file an application under Article 184(3) of the constitution, which will be placed before the SC Committee, set up under the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 for constitution of the bench to hear the matter.

The chief justice remarked that he is strongly against curtailing criticism as freedom of the press is enshrined in the Constitution. “I don’t care if you make fun of me, but if you make fun of the judiciary, the country will suffer. You can criticise the Supreme Court, but the Constitution has some limitations,” he said.

“If you think that you are benefiting me or the Supreme Court by stopping criticism, then you are harming [the institution],” CJP Isa remarked.

He added that journalists are allowed to criticise court’s decisions, but the matter of incitement is different. “We can never restrain a common man or a journalist from criticising.”

Justice Mazhar inquired whether there is no Code of Conduct (CoC) for YouTubers, adding that the PEMRA CoC is for the TV channels. He said that the Courts’ judgments are public property, but while criticising, one has to be careful.

Justice Musarrat Hilali remarked that fair criticism is not a problem but the language used in Tweets is wrong.

“Earning money through abuse has become a source of livelihood for people, it is very sad,” she added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court ruled that qualifications and disqualifications of a candidate for the electoral process must be clearly spelled out in the Constitution or the law.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Athar Minallah declared this in the case of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Tahir Sadiq disqualification case.

His nomination paper for the seat of a Member of the National Assembly from NA-49, Attock-I, was rejected by the returning officer on 30 December 2023, mainly on the ground that he was a “proclaimed offender”. In appeal, the Appellate Tribunal accepted his nomination paper. Thereafter, the respondent filed writ petitions before the Lahore High Court, which were decided against Tahir Sadiq.

The court said if the qualifications and disqualifications of a candidate for the electoral process are not spelled out, then electoral laws must be interpreted in favour of enfranchisement rather than disenfranchisement so that maximum choice remains with the voters to elect their future leadership. With this approach rooted in the high constitutional rights and values, the courts are to deal with the matters of acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers filed for contesting elections.

The judgment said that the right to form or be a member of a political party under Article 17(2) of our Constitution includes not only the right to contest elections but also the right to vote for the candidate of one’s choice. When viewed against the backdrop of the constitutional value of “political justice”, Article 17 (2) remains hollow unless it also recognises the right of citizens to choose their representatives fairly and freely from amongst the candidates.

The right of citizens to participate in national elections as voters is the core of the democratic form of government. This right is also an expression of the choice of the citizens, which finds further support under Article 19 of the Constitution. In exercise of these fundamental rights, citizens shape their destiny by forming the government they want.

It is in this context of both the right of the candidates to contest the election and the right of the voters to vote for the candidate of their choice that the qualification and disqualification of a candidate become material. The aim of prescribing qualifications and disqualifications for candidacies to contest elections is to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the political process. They are designed to ensure that individuals holding public office meet certain standards. In a well-functioning democracy, the criteria for qualifications and disqualifications are clearly defined, publicly known and uniformly applied.

It said that the courts, in their role as guardians of democracy and fundamental rights, should approach electoral matters with circumspection, ensuring that their interventions uphold the democratic principles upon which the nation thrives and the fundamental rights of citizens to contest elections and vote for the candidates of their choice.

“The right to vote freely for the candidate of one’s choice is the essence of a democratic society, and any restrictions on that right strike at the heart of representative government.”

The working of democracy depends on whether the people can decide the fate of the elected form of government. It depends on the choices that people make in different ways. This choice of people cannot be compromised, as their mandate in elections changes the destinies of government. Through the electoral process and voting, citizens participate in democracy, said the court.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a petition of PTI President Ch Pervez Elahi seeking an electoral symbol of “peacock” instead of “donkey cart” allotted to him.

Earlier, a counsel for the election commission argued that a final notification of the election symbol had been issued hence change in election symbol was not possible. He said the ballot papers had also been printed.

He said changing the electoral symbol of any candidate at this stage would delay the election scheduled in the respective constituency.

He also said the petitioner had not approached the returning officer in time.

The counsel of Pervez Elahi stated that the ECP allotted “donkey cart” as an election symbol to the petitioner, whereas he had requested a peacock.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: Capital City Police Officer Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana chaired a crucial meeting at the CCPO office with officers from the Operations and Investigation Wings.

The agenda included discussions on maintaining peace during the election process, addressing pending road certificates, and under investigation cases.

The CCPO assessed performance, emphasizing the need to prevent fighting and firing incidents during various election activities, including rallies and corner meetings.

He affirmed a commitment to taking decisive action against the display of weapons and firing during the election campaign. Kamyana urged supervisory officers to ensure public peace through effective command and control. Divisional SPs were instructed to conduct regular field visits, monitor election activities, and enhance coordination between different police departments for effective monitoring.

The CCPO directed officers to promptly dispose of pending road certificates, electricity theft cases, and under-investigation matters. He stressed the importance of maintaining up-to-date records at respective police stations and continuous communication with prosecutors for challan completion and case resolution. Kamyana emphasized utilizing all available resources to apprehend proclaimed offenders and habitual thieves, with divisional officers regularly seeking reports from teams formed to arrest the accused.

Highlighting the role of the investigation wing, Bilal Kamyana urged officers and personnel to leverage modern forensic science and professional skills to solve cases. The meeting was attended by DIG (Investigation) Imran Kishwar, DIG (Admin) Muntaraz Mehdi, SSP (Operations) Syed Ali Raza, SSP (Investigation) Anoosh Masood Chaudhry, SP Security, and Divisional SPs.

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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari announced to establish a medical college, a university, construct roads, and provide gas facility, if his party comes into power after the general elections.

Addressing a public gathering as part of an election campaign in Kahuta Tehsil (NA-51 Rawalpindi-cum-Murree) on Tuesday, Zardari said that we will steer the country out of the economic crisis with the support of the people. He asked the people to vote for PPP candidate Mehreen Anwar Raja.

He said that the PPP would provide medical facility to the people of that area by establishing a hospital with a medical college. He also announced to establish a university to provide education facility to the people. He said that the road from Islamabad to Kahuta is in bad condition and announced to construct road after coming into power.

He said that we know how to pull the country out of crisis. He said that the PPP has already faced such challenges in the past.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: Head of Muslim Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Atiq Khan in a meeting with the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) president and former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Muslim Conference will support PML-N candidates in the general elections.

Talking on the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif assured Sardar Atiq that the PML-N supports the cause of Kashmiris and resolution of Kashmir issue. He said the Muslim Conference and Pakistan Muslim League-N would unitedly raise the strong voice for the Kashmir issue.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

This is apropos a Business Recorder op-ed “Elections and prospects” carried by the newspaper yesterday.

The writer, Rashed Rahman, has presented, as always, a highly informed perspective on the current situation in the country. In other words, he has expressed the essential features of the entire situation succinctly, so to speak.

The writer has argued, among other things, that “The ‘pariah’ party in this polarised political environment is only the PTI. If it can be assumed then that the result of the election is a foregone conclusion, what does this say about the legitimacy of the regime to follow, and what effect will it have on its ability to tackle the imposing mountain of troubles the country faces, first and foremost the economic meltdown?”

In my view, things have become profoundly profound for the PTI rank and file in particular after both the top leaders of party, former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, were awarded 10-year sentence in the cipher case by a special court established under the Official Secrets Act yesterday.

Ironically, the conviction of both PTI leaders was followed by a bomb attack on PTI’s rally in Balochistan’s Sibi that claimed the lives of at least four people.

It is important to note both the developments have taken place nine days before the general elections, which the party is contesting amid a fierce state crackdown and without its iconic election symbol bat.

The fact that the elections have been reduced to a kind of charade or farce cannot be overemphasized as the current political processes of the state have literally thrown PTI out of the election contest.

The situation strongly suggests that PTI is perhaps the only contestant in the election fray that has been effectively deprived of a level playing field from the day one. In other words, PTI doesn’t stand a chance of achieving any big or small success.

The outcome of the elections will therefore be surely challenged by the independent domestic and global monitors alike. The PTI’s predicament clearly shows that democracy in Pakistan is experiencing a setback.

Abu Adnan (Karachi)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

QUETTA: At least four people were killed Tuesday in a bombing near a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) election rally in Sibi, officials said, as the nation prepares to go to the polls next week.

Police in Quetta said a bomb planted on a motorbike detonated as supporters rallied for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

“The PTI rally was passing by there but it is not clear whether the rally was a target or not,” senior police official Farhan Zahid told AFP.

Waseem Baig, a provincial health department spokesman, said six people were wounded in addition to the four killed.

In a statement, PTI said three of its activists were among the dead at the rally — a convoy of motorbikes and cars parading through the city to curry support for a candidate ahead of national elections scheduled for February 8.

A party spokesman told AFP it was too soon to say whether they had been deliberately targeted.

Pakistan’s electoral commission said it was investigating.

The attack came just hours after PTI founder Khan was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of having leaked classified state documents.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has barred the caretaker federal government from overhauling the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), terming the planned initiative a “major policy decision”—and to keep it “pending for consideration by the new to-be-elected government by virtue of the general elections 2024.”

“The planned overhauling of FBR attracts the above—falls under major policy decision which is the prerogative of elected government,” read a letter, Tuesday, from Secretary ECP Dr Syed Asif Hussain to Khurram Agha, the Secretary to the Caretaker Prime Minister.

“The hon’ble caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan may be advised not to go for major reforms in FBR and to keep it pending for consideration by the new to-be-elected government by virtue of the general elections 2024,” the secretary ECP noted in the letter.

FBR nominates team to assist ECP

“No doubt improvement and reformation of state-owned-institutions is one of the core jobs of the government of the day to improve the overall performance of the government machinery. However, under the constitutional scheme and intent of legislature as expressed in Section 230 of the Elections Act 2017, the scope of functions of the caretaker government has been defined,” according to the letter.

With February 8 general polls less than 10 days away, the caretaker government is facing strong backlash from serving and retired officers of the FBR for attempting to overhaul the country’s central tax machinery—a controversial move that appears to be beyond the mandate of the caretakers. Under the existing electoral laws, the mandate of a caretaker government is restricted to only looking after the day-to-day affairs of the country.

Section 230(1) of the Elections Act 2017 provides that a caretaker government shall— (a) perform its functions to attend to day-to-day matters which are necessary to run the affairs of the government; (b) assist the ECP to hold elections in accordance with law; (c) restrict itself to activities that are of routine, non-controversial and urgent, in the public interest and reversible by the future government elected after the elections; and (d) be impartial to every person and political party.

The Sections 230(2) of the same law respectively provides that a caretaker government shall not – (a) take major policy decisions except on urgent matters; and (b) take any decision or make a policy that may have effect or pre-empt the exercise of authority by the future elected government.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: An Iranian team, comprising legal and technical experts, is due to arrive in Pakistan soon after the general election to discuss the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project with the political government, an official of the Petroleum Division told Business Recorder on condition of anonymity.

The official said the dates of the visit by the technical team from Iran are yet not finalised, it is expected that they will arrive in Islamabad later in February when a new political government is in place as a result of the 8th February general polls.

Pakistan would deliberate on further extension of the deadline of September 2024 to avoid Tehran’s moving to the Paris-based International Arbitration, seeking a penalty of $18 billion, the sources in Petroleum Division further stated. In order to avoid the imposition of the penalty, Pakistan was already in contact with the Iranian side to find a way out and to avoid a legal battle in the International Court of Arbitration.

Resurrecting dead IP gas pipeline project

A Pakistani ministerial oversight committee is working on it and several meetings had been held over the past couple of months to review the project.

Tehran is of the opinion that it has laid its part of the pipeline to the area bordering Pakistan but Islamabad is yet to complete its part of the work on its side of the border.

A major challenge before Pakistan is the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran, which barred Pakistan from building its part of the pipeline.

Islamabad had also issued a force majeure notice to Tehran several years ago but Iran did not respond to the notice. The Iranian technical and legal experts’ team was earlier scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on January 21-24 but postponed due to tension between Iran and Pakistan.

Iran earlier asked Pakistan in Nov-Dec 2022 in its second notice to construct a portion of the project in its territory till Feb-March 2024 or be ready to pay a penalty of $18 billion.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

There has been an interesting turn of events in Pakistani politics with several prominent figures now stepping back from running in the upcoming elections. The decision reveals a dramatic shift in the landscape, and could possibly usher a new era of domestic politics and economic policy.

Some key figures not participating in elections

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has expressed dissatisfaction with the current political system. As a result of his concerns about a lack of a level playing field, he will not be contesting the upcoming elections.

Pakistan election symbols and their importance

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader, Chaudry Shujaat Hussain, formally declared that he will not be participating in the elections because of personal reasons. This decision was conveyed by his son, Chaudhry Salik Hussain.

The president of the Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan has opted out of the electoral race citing health concerns. His son is set to step in and fill the void left by his departure.

Ghaus Bux Mehar, a seasoned five-time winner from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has stated his intention to stand down, giving the younger generation a chance to assume leadership roles in Shikarpur.

Notably absent from the elections are Javed Hashmi, Jamal Laghari, Mujtaba Kharal, Hamid Nasir Chatha, Imran Ismail, Mian Shafiq, Asad Umar, Ali Zaidi, Amjad Niazi, Sadaqat Abbasi, and Ali Nawaz Awan. A large number of these people were part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government at one point.

Parties and their manifestos: some have promised much, but most have not bothered at all

Former women lawmakers not contesting this time include Sumera Malik, Nusrat Sahar, Maiza Hameed, Mehnaz Aziz, Ishrat Ashraf, Munaza Hassan, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Shireen Mazari, Andaleeb Abbas, Rida Khan, Umarzadi Tiwana, Ghazala Saifee, Aamra Khan, Asma Qadeer, Seemi Bukhari, Sobia Kamal, and Maleeka Bukhari.

At least four people were killed and five others sustained injuries in a blast at a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) rally in Balochistan’s Sibi on Tuesday, officials said.

As per details, the blast occurred at the city’s Jinnah Road.

The casualties are feared to increase as three of the injured taken to the Civil Hospital were in critical condition.

1,120 polling stations declared highly sensitive in Lahore

The development comes just over a week before the general elections in the country, which are scheduled for February 8.

In its message over the incident, PTI strongly condemned the attack and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

PTI said the blast on its election rally was a failure of both the provincial and federal caretaker governments.

It added that the incident occurred at a time when the state machinery “is busy in subjecting PTI leaders and workers to false and fabricated cases”.

After the blast, an emergency was imposed at hospitals in Sibi as well as in Quetta.

ECP takes notice of Sibi blast

Meanwhile, in a post on X, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said it had taken notice of the incident and summoned a report from the Balochistan’s Inspector-General (IG) and the chief secretary in the province.

“Elections will proceed as planned”

In a post on X, Interim Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai said the blast was an attempt to disrupt the election process and its results.

“Regardless of the actions of terrorists, the elections will proceed as planned. The rally in #Sibi, which was targeted by terrorists, will not discourage the Govt of Balochistan from conducting the elections,” he wrote in the post.

As we approach the general elections, it is clear that predicting outcomes has become more challenging than ever before. In the ever-evolving landscape of constituency dynamics, the complexities surrounding seat adjustments and the uncertainty surrounding the fate of polls have created a sense of confusion.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) unending troubles and the preference for better candidates over loyalists by political parties have further added to this uncertainty. As a result, it seems that no one can confidently predict who will emerge victorious on polling day.

Amidst this mix, independent candidates – often referred to as otherwise electables – have gained immense significance.

The upcoming election in Pakistan is poised to witness a significant increase in the number of independent candidates winning seats. One key factor contributing to this phenomenon is PTI’s loss of electoral symbol. As a result, many of these candidates are now running as independents.

Notably, all political parties are closely monitoring these potential winners. The Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan (PPP) Muslim League (N), in particular, are actively seeking to attract PTI voters and candidates who have chosen to run as independents.

Additionally, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has shown its willingness to welcome PTI supporters who emerge victorious, claiming they share a common vision. After all, parties would want independent candidates who have proven their electoral prowess and appeal to join their ranks.

In this mix of political maneuvering, it is worth noting that influential institutions may also have their interests at play. They may prefer independent candidates to align with parties where they believe their interests are better protected.

Furthermore, there is a notable presence of disgruntled electables who were unable to secure electoral tickets from their respective parties. These individuals, running as independents, are determined to emerge victorious by rallying support from voters and capitalizing on their local influence.

What are the goals of independent candidates?

In the realm of politics, independents often find themselves navigating a complex landscape where alliances and support can make or break their chances of success.

Regardless of which party may quietly support them, independents ultimately stand on their own.

However, in their strategic calculations, they may see an opportunity to revive their political careers by winning the upcoming election on February 8 and subsequently joining a party that can offer them a portfolio.

The reality is that no independent candidate wants to win a poll only to sit idly at home. Instead, they seek opportunities for growth and impact within the political arena.

This essentially means that independents, regardless of whether they belong to PTI or other parties, will likely be eyeing the chance to align themselves with a winning party or alliance.

If even between 10-15% of the seats in the national assembly are won by independent candidates, that would significantly change the contest for prime minister.

Furthermore, this may be used as leverage by certain parties against others or as a means of pressuring some to give up political ground to others.

Come election day, independents are expected to play a significant role in this complex process and will be the leaders that political parties have the ultimate interest in wooing.

The article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Business Recorder or its owners

LAHORE: The Lahore district administration has declared 1,120 polling stations in the provincial capital as highly sensitive and made special security arrangements for these polling stations.

District Commissioner Lahore Rafia Haider chaired a meeting on Monday to review the security and monitoring plan for the general elections 2024. While addressing the meeting, the DC said preparations for the polls were in progress; all efforts were being made to conduct the elections peacefully and adequate arrangements were being made for the convenience of voters. She further said that a total of 2,202 polling booths and 44 offices of returning officers were also among the most sensitive locations; thus, close-circuit-TV cameras would be installed at all sensitive polling stations for security purposes. “Joint teams comprising officials from the district administration, Safe City Authority, NRTC and Punjab Police were working to oversee the security arrangements,” she added. She averred that all resources were being used to conduct a peaceful election, adding that the convenience and safety of the voter was their top priority.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

KARACHI: Election Commission of Pakistan Sindh has issued notices to candidates of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) for violations of the ECP’s defined code of conduct for the forthcoming general elections 2024.

Officials said the Provincial Election Commissioner Sindh Sharifullah has issued instructions to ensure full implementation of the Code of Conduct to make sure free, fair and transparent polls in the country. In this regard, strict monitoring is underway as ECP has issued notices to Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Muhammad Younis Bari for violating the code of conduct in PS 99 Karachi East.

Along with this, a notice has been issued to Haider Imrani, a candidate from the People’s Party for violating the code of conduct in PS 100 Karachi East, and an explanation has been sought from him.

District Monitoring Officer Dadu has sought explanation from the GDA workers for putting party flags on electricity poles in PS 80 Dadu.

Apart from this, the District Monitoring Officer has sought explanations while issuing notices to the workers of several political parties for violating the code of conduct in PS 84.

Also, the monitoring teams of the Election Commission took action against the illegal signboards, posters and banners, flags, and all other advertising materials from parts of Karachi Central, South, Keamari, Malir, Korangi, Larkana and Ghotki etc. Posters, banners etc. have been removed from shops, public parks, government buildings and traffic signals.

Provincial Election Commissioner Sindh Sharifullah while issuing strict instructions to the District Monitoring Officers has further said that the complete implementation of the Code of Conduct should be ensured at any cost.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

The incidence of poverty has skyrocketed in Pakistan since the Covid-19 pandemic and the disastrous floods of 2022. The years 2019-20 and 2022-23 both saw negative GDP growth. Therefore, since 2018-19 up to 2022-23, the average GDP growth rate annually over the four-year period has been 2.7%, compared to the annual population growth rate of 2.5%. This implies that there has only been a less than 1% cumulative increase in real per capita income since 2018-19.

There are varying estimates of the incidence of poverty today in Pakistan. This variation is due largely to the approach adopted for measurement of the extent of poverty among households in the country. There is also a tendency for official estimates to grossly understate the level of poverty and to show a decline in incidence during the tenure of an incumbent government.

The Pakistan Economic Survey of 2021-22 highlights the trend in the incidence of poverty. This is based on the percentage of population with income below the poverty line. The poverty line is based on the cost of ensuring the provision of basic nutritional requirements.

The incidence of poverty is reported at 29.5% of the population in 2013-14, with a decline to 21.9% in 2018-19. If true, then this represents an outstanding performance in alleviating poverty in Pakistan.

The World Development Indicators database of the World Bank gives the estimates of the incidence of poverty in Pakistan, based on an international poverty line of $3.65 per day, measured in 2017 PPP. The incidence is reported at 44.6% in 2013-14 and falling to 39.8% in 2018-19. Not only are the World Bank estimates higher, but they also indicate a more moderate rate of decline.

The Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) has been engaged in doing research on poverty since 1995. According to the SPDC, the incidence of poverty was almost 38% in 2013-14, based on the analysis of household data from the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Projection of the SPDC estimates indicates that it is likely to have fallen to 37% by 2018-19.

Therefore, the range of estimates of the incidence of poverty is from a low of 21.9%, according to the official estimate, and to a high of 39.8% by the World Bank. The SPDC estimate falls within this range. Therefore, the incidence of poverty is taken as 37% in 2018-19.

The next question is what has happened to the level of poverty after 2018-19, in the presence of COVID-19 pandemic in 2019-20 and following the disastrous floods in 2022-23. The BNU Macro-econometric model quantifies the role of different factors in impacting on the level of poverty in Pakistan. The findings are as follows:

(i) On average, 1% rise in real per capita income reduces the incidence of poverty in percentage terms by 1.3%.

(ii) The level of poverty is, as expected, sensitive to rising food prices. A 1% higher increase in food prices in relation to the overall consumer price index leads to a big percentage increase in the level of poverty by 2.2 %.

(iii) A 1% rise in the real level of pro-poor spending reduces poverty by 0.7%.

(iv) A 1% rise in inequality increases poverty by 1.3%. Inequality is measured as the ratio of the income shares of the top income quintile and the bottom income quintile in the population.

Based on these impact coefficients it is possible to project the incidence of poverty from 2018-19 to 2022-23.

The cumulative change, over these four years, in the magnitude of the above four impacting variables is as follows:

Real per capita income: 1%

Relative food prices: 21%

Real pro-poor spending: 46%

Level of inequality: 8%

Based on the above magnitudes and the respective impact coefficients the estimated percentage increase in the incidence of poverty has been derived as 23% between 2018-19 and 2022-23.

Therefore, the likely percentage of the population below the poverty line in 2022-23 is 45.5 percent. This indicates that 110 million people are below the poverty line today, with an increase in number of over 31 million during the last four years. This indeed is the highest ever rise in the number of poor and has never been witnessed before.

An effort has also been made to quantify the ‘poverty gap’ in Pakistan. This is the difference between the income required to take all poor households out of poverty and their actual total income. The estimated magnitude in 2022-23 is large in absolute terms at Rs 1950 billion.

The budgeted allocation for pro-poor spending in 2023-24 is Rs 687 billion. This includes Rs 475 billion for the Benazir Income Support Programme and Rs 212 billion under different heads, including the subsidy to small domestic electricity consumers. Therefore, the social protection programme in 2023-24 covers only 35% of the poverty gap existing already in 2022-23.

Surely, the message is clear. The size of the anti-poverty interventions will have to be increased substantially. But this can only be sustained in the already existing situation of a large budget deficit by substantive measures of progressive taxation and simultaneous sizeable cutbacks in current expenditure.

Fortunately, the need for providing substantial relief to the poor has featured strongly in the election campaign of especially the Pakistan People’s Party and to some extent of the PML(N). Free electricity of up to 300 kwh per month is proposed to be offered. In addition, the PPP has proposed the doubling of salary and allowances of government employees in an overall 10-point agenda for alleviating poverty in Pakistan.

There is no doubt that a sizeable social protection programme is needed with the poverty incidence having gone up from 37% to over 45% of the population in the last four years. As highlighted above, 110 million people of Pakistan are below the poverty line today.

However, it would have been appropriate if the election manifestos had also clearly indicated the major steps of progressive taxation and expenditure cutting to financing the relief program. This would have greatly enhanced the credibility of the claims of providing substantial relief to the poor and ensured its sustainability.

We await the elections next week and hope and pray that the newly inducted government will adopt progressive and structural reforms to enable substantial alleviation of poverty in Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has barred federal ministers, advisors, special assistants to the prime minister and all federal officers from making foreign visits both officials or private till the assumption of office by the next government after the elections.

A notification to this effect uploaded on the Cabinet Division’s website, “Withdrawal of permission for foreign visits dated 29th January 2024” read that the caretaker prime minister has been pleased to withdraw all permissions for foreign visits, official or private, granted to the federal ministers, advisors and special assistants to the prime minister, and all federal officers, including employees of attached departments and autonomous bodies, with immediate effect.

The caretaker prime minister further directed to convey that no leave for any foreign visit shall be granted till the completion of the election process and the assumption of office by the new government.

All federal secretaries have been directed to ensure compliance with these directions.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The printing of ballot papers for the general elections would complete on the coming Friday, whereas the printed ballot papers are being delivered to the provinces using land and air routes, the poll organisation has said.

The printing of ballot papers that started on January 16, continues at the three state-run printing houses, to be completed on February 2, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated on Monday. “The preparations for the general elections are near completion,” it said in a statement.

Earlier this month, the ECP had warned that general elections could face a delay due to the reason that candidates in different constituencies were having their electoral symbols changed—which, the electoral entity said, could cause delay in the ballot papers’ printing.

The poll body is under enormous public criticism for allotting what are being dubbed as degrading election symbols to Pakistan Tehreek–e-Insaf (PTI) candidates who have to contest the general polls as independents in consequence of a Supreme Court’s verdict.

Some of these election symbols include aubergine, pomegranate, bowl, shoe, lamb, harmonium, tongs, hen, bottle, door, the letter ‘K,’ cup and kettle. Various poll contestants moved the courts for having their symbols changed—and the courts mostly decided in favour of the candidates.

In a late-night decision on January 13, the SC ruled against the allotment of the iconic “bat” symbol to the PTI by declaring its intra-party elections as null and void.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), Sardar Akhtar Mengal, has received approval to participate in the upcoming general election scheduled for February 8.

The decision came after a three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, heard an appeal against the acceptance of Akhtar Mengal’s nomination papers.

The appeal was filed by Yasir Ahmad, who contested the acceptance of Akhtar Mengal’s nomination papers.

Yasir’s counsel, Advocate Sultan Ahmed, argued before the court that the Returning Officer (RO) had initially rejected Akhtar Mengal’s nomination papers. However, the election tribunal later accepted the papers, overturning the RO’s decision.

Advocate Sultan Ahmed claimed that the court had disregarded the RO’s decision and accepted Akhtar Mengal’s nomination papers.

LAHORE: Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq has announced that the JI, if voted to power, will assign 10-marla houses to governors, ministers and bureaucrats.

While addressing an election rally in Kot Momin tehsil of Sargodha, he pledged to break the prevailing colonial-era practice of ruling elite residences. The rulers, he said, are utilizing the public exchequer for their personal protocols and benefits.

He urged the voters to choose wisely their representatives in this election. The tested parties, he added, are engaged in friendly wrestling to deceive the people this time again. They have been looting the resources of Pakistan for decades, he said.

“The PML-N and the PPP are the sides of the same coin,” he said.

He said the former three-time Prime Minister sought another term while the PPP chairman believed premiership was his family’s right.

The JI chief said the JI would eliminate an interest-free economy and ensure equal distribution of resources.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The core committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday rejected the sinister move of those bent upon punishing party founding chairman Imran Khan before crucial elections through a cruel and unfair trial being conducted in haste by violating all the norms of a fair trial.

The core committee which met here made it crystal clear that targeting the most popular leader of the country to favour the corrupt through the murder of the justice system is not going to serve any purpose.

The panel also strongly condemned the arrest and baton charge on PTI workers especially in Karachi during the election rallies across the country on Sunday, saying the state fascism and barbarism will not stop the party from carrying out election rallies.

Despite breaking all the records of state brutality, it added, the workers of the party will stand their ground and will remain steadfast unless their mission of breaking the shackles of slavery on Feb 08 is accomplished.

It said that the PTI is taking part in the elections to save the constitution, democracy, and the country, adding the state should respect the mandate of the masses.

Expressing satisfaction with the recently unveiled party manifesto despite all the hurdles created by those who do not want the party in power, it said it will be fully implemented after coming into power.

In contrast to the mockery made by other political parties in the name of the manifesto, it said that 168-page manifesto of the party is revolutionary and promises to steer the country out of the prevalent crisis.

The committee said that the party manifesto reflects the seriousness of the party and that it has the solution to resolve the most complex issues confronting the country.

It said that the party would remain steadfast as directed by the party’s founding chairman and would ensure implementation of the revolutionary manifesto of the party as no power of the world can stop the party from coming into power as it has the support of the masses.

Meanwhile, addressing a presser, Shoaib Shaheen, Ali Bokhari, and Amir Mughal, the PTI candidates from NA-46, NA-47, and NA-48, said that their supporters are being picked from the federal capital after the PTI election rallies on Sunday.

They said that the Islamabad police have broken all records of barbarism in harassing the PTI workers as their only sin was to hold rallies for the party candidates from Islamabad.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: The caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a meeting with provincial Election Commissioner Punjab Ijaz Anwar Chauhan, to discuss the peaceful conduct of upcoming general elections and review the preparations.

Mohsin Naqvi, in his remarks, assured full support from the Punjab government for the seamless execution of the election process. He emphasized the implementation of the Election Commission’s code of conduct, and measures will be taken to ensure compliance.

The CM further stated that law enforcement, including the police and other security agencies, will play a pivotal role in upholding the rule of law during the electoral process.

The Provincial Election Commissioner acknowledged the valuable cooperation of the Punjab government in this regard.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

As the date for general elections, February 8, 2024, looms, the election campaign scene exhibits some troubling tendencies. First and foremost, the lack of the traditional excitement and activity by the contending political parties is conspicuous by its absence.

This malaise appears to have affected not only those vying for electoral success, but even those expected to elect them by casting their vote on the day. This apathy could be ascribed to a number of causes, but two or three appear to stand out.

The political parties in the field can be neatly divided between those ‘acceptable’ to the present power structure, and one party in particular that is not. The ‘acceptable’ parties are all those that were part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government constituted after the ouster of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government through a no-confidence motion in 2022.

To these could be added parties such as the Jamaat-i-Islami and the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, and a few minor contenders on the margins.

The ‘pariah’ party in this polarised political environment is only the PTI. If it can be assumed then that the result of the election is a foregone conclusion, what does this say about the legitimacy of the regime to follow, and what effect will it have on its ability to tackle the imposing mountain of troubles the country faces, first and foremost the economic meltdown?

As described by one analyst, the journey of the PTI since its formation in 1996 may be described as one “from partner to pariah”. This is a fairly accurate description of the process whereby the PTI was belatedly ‘picked up’ by the establishment despite it being ignored by General Pervez Musharraf after the 2002 elections held by him, which have joined the growing list of elections in our history either answering to the description ‘manipulated’ (most of them) or whose results were ignored (1970, perhaps the fairest and freest of them all, the brushing aside of whose results by Yahya Khan’s military regime led to the loss of half the country, East Pakistan).

Imran Khan expected to be made prime minister (PM) by Musharraf despite winning a sole seat. Musharraf’s refusal to contemplate the same in favour instead of adorning his new King’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) of the Gujrat Chaudries with the crown, proved too bitter a pill for Imran Khan to swallow and at the same time betrayed his egotistical belief that he deserved the coveted prize irrespective of the rules governing the formation of governments that enjoy a parliamentary majority (whether genuine or not).

That changed after the establishment (post-Musharraf) decided the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government led by Asif Zardari after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in 2007 and the returned-from-exile Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were too ‘chummy’ despite their early falling out and PML-N going into opposition because in the background lurked the Charter of Democracy signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in exile in London in 2006, in which they committed to forego playing the role of the establishment’s plaything against each other, which had been characteristic of the 1990s.

A government and government-in-waiting (the opposition) united in resisting manipulation against each other was too much for the establishment to stomach. Hence came the change of heart and preferred satrap in 2011 when the PTI burst upon the scene through its rally at Minar-i-Pakistan, Lahore, aided, abetted, mentored and allegedly secured by then ISI chief General Pasha.

This change in the PTI’s fortunes fed into the disqualification of incumbent PM Nawaz Sharif in 2017 and the allegedly manipulated result in favour of the PTI in the 2018 general elections that followed. Much to the horror and disappointment of his mentors and supporters in the military establishment, Imran Khan proved hopeless as a PM, failing to produce a single success in the exaggerated programme of development he had announced, and only keeping his government afloat (at the cost of the country) by borrowing in his four and a quarter years’ incumbency 71 percent of all the loans Pakistan had incurred from 1947 to 2018. It is no accident then that the PDM government that followed his ouster was hamstrung by the threat of the country defaulting on its ballooning debt burden.

Having lost the confidence and support of the military establishment that had brought him to power, Imran Khan foolishly believed that he had such overwhelming support within the military that a confident ‘strike’ would produce a mutiny against the successors of COAS Genera Bajwa (his main supporter), i.e. the top command under General Asim Munir.

Nothing else explains the adventure of May 9 when military installations and monuments were attacked and mutilated by the PTI’s leaders and workers. What Imran Khan failed to appreciate was the discipline and unity of command of the military, which was intact.

In the aftermath of the May 9 chaos, those in the upper echelons of the military suspected of sympathy for the PTI were summarily purged, a stampede of PTI leaders of all shapes, sizes and hues were seen recanting on television, and those who refused are to this day being given the run around of cases after cases at which our establishment has proved throughout our history to be extraordinarily adept.

Now, when Imran Khan is in jail and until recently was unable to communicate with his party people, we hear of ‘election’ rallies all over the country by the PTI workers, ostensibly on the call of Imran Khan. If true, this suggests Imran and the PTI have found a way around the wall of silence erected around him since his arrest.

Be that as it may, the attempt was met with the usual tender ministrations of the police, resulting in injuries, arrests and justificatory statements of all kinds from the police and authorities why the baton, water cannon, arrests, etc., were unleashed against the PTI.

Unfortunately, our establishment has proved incapable of learning anything from the past. It is arguable that such repressive tactics merely increase sympathy and support for the perceived underdog, and in our political culture, where the people are still searching for a way out of the quagmire of inflation and unemployment in which they have been trapped for decades and into which they slip further and further day by day, sentiment veers towards support for the victim/s of the establishment, whether deserved or not.

If further proof of this argument is needed, we may glance at the reception Dr Mahrang Baloch and her Baloch Yakjehti Committee have garnered in a massive rally in Quetta after their return from the long march from Turbat to Islamabad in support of their missing persons. One look at the proceedings of that rally and the speech by Dr Mahrang Baloch should clinch the argument that repression beyond reason begets the opposite effect of what was intended.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

KARACHI: Chairman of National Business Group Pakistan, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain said on Monday that the February 8 elections will bring the economy out of ICU.

He said that transparent elections will result in political stability without which economic stability is impossible. If some people tried to make the elections controversial after the voting process had finished, the economy would continue to suffer.

Speaking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that the IMF, other international institutions, and the business community believe the economy is slowly improving. If there is no obstacle, the economic recovery process will be fast, which will help mitigate the suffering of people experiencing problems. If the elements trying to make the elections controversial succeed, it will result in a crisis, and the benefits of the tough measures taken so far will also be lost. The country will be back where it was in April 2022.

The business leader said that the current situation is that hopes, exports, foreign exchange reserves, and incomes of the people and the business community are increasing, which is encouraging, but unemployment and inflation are also increasing.

He said the growth rate is expected to be two percent and unemployment to be eight percent in the current financial year.

The industrial sector is facing difficulties, and the condition of agriculture could be more encouraging. This year’s budget deficit is likely to be 1.6 percent of GDP. If progress is made in increasing the volume of direct taxes, the government revenue will increase while deficit and inflation will decrease.

Mian Zahid Hussain said the country’s energy crisis has become a big threat to the people and the economy. This debt is touching Rs6 trillion. The cost of electricity and gas is continuously increasing, and now there are reports of oil becoming expensive again, worrying people.

Due to continuous inflation, people are getting poorer, but one section of society is getting richer, which is growing social division and triggering unrest and extremism. Without the country achieving long-term political and economic stability, controlling unrest and militancy will be impossible.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that Tehreek-e-Insaf should apologize for the violent incidents of May 9 and return to the national mainstream by indicating the Charter of Economy’s signing and playing its role in the country’s political stability.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: Expressing concern over soaring inflation and unemployment, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif vowed to prioritise economic stability and job creation, if voted to power.

While addressing at election rally in his constituency in NA-130 at old Anarakali on Monday, Nawaz Sharif called upon his supporters to stand united and reaffirmed dedication to the PML-N, urging them to work together towards a prosperous and thriving nation.

The PML-N activists and supporters including women participated in the rally who chanted slogans in favour of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.

Highlighting his services in previous tenures, Nawaz said there was a time when livelihoods were secure and inflation was under control. He expressed determination to restore prosperity and dignity to Pakistani households. He expressed his determination to public welfare, adding, his supporters’ affection was a testament to his sincerity and dedication.

The PML-N supremo also vowed to pursue justice and uphold the rule of law, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability.

Criticising the judicial decisions, he stated that he was unfairly targeted by the judges. He raised concerns about the fairness of judicial proceedings, citing the departure of judges involved in his cases and suggesting ulterior motives behind their resignations. He questioned the integrity of the judges, alleging bias and asserting that his innocence had been proven repeatedly. He also mentioned that the judge who monitored his cases later resigned.

PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz in her speech urged the people to vote the PML-N on February 8 to secure their future.

She said Nawaz faced all the fake cases and later proved innocence. She said Nawaz believes in rendering selfless services to the people and would alleviate the sufferings of the people after returning to power.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

As Pakistanis gear up for the much-awaited 2024 general elections scheduled for February 8, the political landscape is buzzing with activity. Several key players are vying for the public’s mandate, and polls promise to surprise followers and stakeholders alike. Let’s take a closer look at some of the prominent figures who are shaping the course of the upcoming elections.

Contesting elections from his stronghold Lahore’s NA-130, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has made his return to Pakistan ahead of the elections, almost seven years after he was ousted from premiership. The three-time prime minister is considered among the front-runners with main rival Imran Khan currently incarcerated, and his party stripped of the electoral symbol. Let’s take a look at his political background.

Born on December 25, 1949, in Lahore, Nawaz is a prominent Pakistani politician. He served as the Chief Minister of Punjab in the mid-1980s and later became the Prime Minister in 1990 and 1997. Despite achievements in economic reforms and infrastructure development, his terms were marked by controversies and tensions with the military, leading to resignations and a coup in 1999. Nawaz made a political comeback in 2013, securing a third term as Prime Minister, but faced challenges, including corruption allegations. His complex political journey reflects the dynamic nature of Pakistani politics.

Nawaz Sharif’s influence in Pakistani politics has endured through legal battles, periods of exile, and comebacks. His role as a three-time Prime Minister and leader of the PML-N underscores his significant impact on the country’s political landscape, despite facing challenges and controversies throughout his career.

It would be interesting to see how he deals with the establishment if his party wins the elections.

Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz is contesting elections from NA-119, and NA-120, and multiple seats in the Punjab Assembly, such as PP-159, PP-160, PP-165, and PP-80. Though she is new to electoral politics, she has been at the forefront of PML-N’s mantra following Nawaz Sharif’s ouster from power.

Starting her political career in the early 2010s, Maryam emerged as a vocal advocate for her father and the PML-N. Her passionate speeches and strong social media presence have garnered her a following, particularly among the youth.

However, Maryam Nawaz’s political journey has not been without challenges. In August 2019, during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s tenure, she faced legal troubles and was incarcerated over money laundering charges.

Despite the legal hurdles, she secured bail in November 2019, citing fundamental rights and humanitarian reasons. This period of legal scrutiny added a layer of complexity to Maryam Nawaz’s political narrative, reflecting the intricate dynamics of Pakistani politics and the legal landscape surrounding key political figures.

Shehbaz Sharif, former premier and PML-N President, is a prominent figure in Pakistani politics with a distinguished electoral history. Born on September 23, 1951, in Lahore, he has played a crucial role in Punjab’s political landscape, consistently participating in elections across various constituencies. His influence extends beyond regional politics, notably during his term as the Prime Minister of Pakistan within the Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) government.

Shehbaz Sharif also holds the record for the longest tenure in Punjab’s history as chief minister, spanning over 11 years and covering the 1997 Nawaz government, the 2008 Pakistan Peoples Party’s regime, and the 2013 PML-N’s rule.

In the upcoming elections, he is vying for a seat in Kasur’s NA-132 constituency, emphasising his unwavering commitment to electoral politics. Despite legal challenges, including his September 2020 arrest on charges related to money laundering and possessing assets beyond known means by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Shehbaz Sharif has powered through.

Released on bail on April 14, 2021, he maintained political prominence as the opposition leader, guiding PML-N’s reconciliation policy. This approach played a pivotal role in the party’s resurgence to power in April 2022 after a successful no-confidence vote against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, showcasing Shehbaz Sharif’s enduring influence in shaping Pakistan’s political trajectory.

Born on September 21, 1988, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is a prominent Pakistani politician and a member of the Bhutto family. Following the tragic assassination of his mother, Benazir Bhutto, in 2007, Bilawal took on the role of Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

A graduate of Oxford University, Bilawal played an important role in leading the PPP during the 2018 general elections, resulting in the party becoming the largest in Sindh and the third-largest in the country. He took oath as a member of the National Assembly on August 13, 2018. His advocacy centres around principles of democracy, human rights, and social justice. Bilawal has been an outspoken critic of the presidential system, a defender of freedom of expression, and a proponent of women’s rights, actively opposing child marriages.

During the PDM’s government, Bilawal served as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan from April 27, 2022, to August 10, 2023, where he notably adopted a resolute stance on the Kashmir issue, asserting Pakistan’s right over the region.

In a noteworthy departure from his stronghold in Larkana, Bilawal chose to contest the election from Lahore’s NA-127. His campaign is anchored in a ten-point agenda, encompassing initiatives such as the youth card, the creation of millions of jobs, the provision of low-cost houses, and the promise of free electricity for underprivileged households.

Asif Ali Zardari, the current co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and former President of Pakistan (2008-2013), boasts a multifaceted political story woven with both triumphs and controversies. Known for his adept ability to forge cross-party alliances, Zardari has earned the moniker “king of reconciliation” while simultaneously navigating a landscape of accusations and challenges.

Emerging from the shadow of his wife Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari carved his own path in Pakistani politics. As Investment Minister under Benazir Bhutto, he navigated both political triumphs and accusations of corruption. Following her tragic demise, Zardari took the helm of the PPP and ascended to the presidency in 2008. His turbulent term faced economic hardships, security challenges, and military friction.

Zardari’s political acumen extends beyond his own term. He played a decisive role in the no-confidence vote that toppled Imran Khan’s government in April 2022. His influence within the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition cannot be understated, as evidenced by his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s appointment as Foreign Minister.

Zardari’s ambition for his son is an open secret. He is believed to harbour desires to see Bilawal ascend to the Prime Minister’s seat, potentially solidifying a Bhutto-Zardari dynasty in Pakistani politics. However, Zardari’s own legacy remains a subject of debate, with supporters hailing his political sagacity and detractors pointing to corruption charges and a perceived authoritarian streak.

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, contesting election from PP-32 Gujrat, is the current President of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). His political journey spans across various key roles, showcasing a dynamic and influential career in Pakistani politics.

Before assuming the presidency of PTI, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi served as the President of the Punjab chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). His political prominence extends to his role as the former Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, where he played a crucial part in legislative affairs.

Notably, Pervaiz Elahi has twice held the office of Chief Minister in Punjab. His initial term, spanning from 2002 to 2007, was followed by a second term from July 2022 to January 2023. This dual tenure as Chief Minister underscores his experience and leadership within the province.

In the political arena, Elahi demonstrated strategic acumen by leading the PML-Q alliance with PTI in both the 2013 and 2018 general elections. His pivotal role in these alliances culminated in him becoming the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly in 2018.

Despite his previous affiliation with the PML-Q, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi took a bold step in April 2022 when he went against his party’s stance to stand with PTI and Imran Khan during a crucial no-trust vote. This decision showcased his commitment to a cause beyond party lines, and earned him a second, though limited, term as the Chief Minister of Punjab. Further solidifying his political allegiance, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi left PML-Q, his parent party, and joined PTI in March 2023.

Elahi has been in jail since May 9, post PTI worker riots. NAB filed a corruption reference of over Rs 1 billion against him, his son Moonis Elahi, and others, accusing them of plundering the national treasury and receiving kickbacks

Arrested in August, initially in a Rs70 million graft case related to misusing development funds for Gujrat district, he has remained in detention. Despite occasional releases, he has been re-arrested multiple times on charges like money laundering and illegal appointments in the Punjab Assembly, adding complexity to his political profile.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a prominent figure in Pakistani politics, stands as both a religious leader and a vocal political force. As chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) party and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance, he holds considerable sway both within the religious sphere and on the national political stage.

His political history is marked by strong opposition to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, culminating in his leadership of the PDM alliance that successfully ousted Khan’s government in April 2022. Previously, Fazlur Rehman served as Chairman of the Kashmir Committee during his time as a Member of the National Assembly.

While his influence and leadership within the JUI-F and PDM are undeniable, his political stance and alliances have drawn both support and criticism. Regardless of perspective, Maulana Fazlur Rehman remains a key player in the Pakistani political landscape, with his previous role in the PDM likely ensuring his continued prominence in the years to come.

Jahangir Khan Tareen, a prominent figure in Pakistani politics, boasts a multifaceted career marked by both high-level positions and controversies. Once a close ally of Imran Khan and former secretary general of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Tareen is running for seats in the National Assembly from both Multan and Lodhran constituencies.

His political trajectory took a turn in 2021 when he faced an inquiry into the sugar scam, leading to a rift within the PTI. In 2022, Tareen’s independent group within the party played a role in PML-N’s ascent to government in Punjab, further distancing him from his former comrades.

Most recently, Tareen charted his own course by founding the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) in 2023, marking a new chapter in his political journey.

Maulana Siraj-ul-Haq, the current chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, navigates a complex political landscape as both a religious leader and a national politician. As the head of Jamaat-e-Islami, he holds significant influence within the religious sphere. Maulana Siraj ul Haq will contest elections for the National Assembly seat (NA-6) from Dir.

His political history reveals a period of collaboration with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), joining their government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 2013 to 2018. However, a strategic shift led him to leave the PTI alliance months before the 2018 elections, opting to contest on a combined platform with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F).

This highlights his independent political maneuvering and willingness to pursue alliances beyond traditional alignments.

Aimal Wali Khan, grandson of Pakistani Pashtun nationalist leader Abdul Wali Khan and son of former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Asfandyar Wali Khan, navigates the political landscape of Pakistan as President of the Awami National Party (ANP) in the province. He entered politics in 2007 through the ANP’s student wing and later served as the party’s acting General Secretary for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Although unsuccessful in his 2018 bid for a provincial assembly seat, he rose to lead the ANP in the province in 2019. Khan’s political journey continues as he contests the National Assembly elections from NA-25 Charsadda, carrying the legacy of his family’s prominent role in Pashtun nationalist politics within the ANP.

Syed Saad Hussain Rizvi, son of late Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) founder Khadim Hussain Rizvi, emerged onto the political scene following his father’s death in 2020. He assumed leadership of the TLP, a far-right religious political party known for its vocal advocacy of blasphemy laws and its controversial protests.

Rizvi’s political journey has been marked by electoral participation, contesting in two National Assembly seats including Attock and Manchanabad, and involvement in TLP demonstrations that have sometimes led to clashes with authorities. While Rizvi carries the legacy of his father’s influence within the TLP, his own political trajectory and future actions remain to be seen.

Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, currently the convener of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), has navigated a dynamic political landscape marked by shifts in government alliances.

He served as Federal Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication from 2018 to 2020 within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. Notably, he resigned his ministerial position months before a no-confidence vote that ultimately ousted the PTI government in 2022. In the wake of that political shift, Siddiqui aligned with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition, which successfully formed the current government.

Mustafa Kamal is a prominent figure in Karachi’s political landscape. He served as the city’s mayor from 2013 to 2016, representing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). However, in 2014, he parted ways with the MQM due to internal conflicts. Two years later, he co-founded the Pakistan Sar Zameen Party (PSP). In 2023, Kamal’s political journey took another turn when he merged the PSP with the MQM-Pakistan. This move saw him assume the position of Senior Deputy Convener within the MQM-P. Currently, Kamal is contesting the upcoming elections from the NA-242 Karachi constituency.

Note: The list does not feature Imran Khan or some other prominent PTI leaders as they haven’t been allowed to contest elections.

February 8, 2024 is fast approaching and predictions of who takes the center are aplenty. What makes the February 8 general elections unique is the fact that the winner of the previous election is contesting without a symbol. As popular as it may be on ground, it will be nothing short of miraculous for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to match its 2018 performance, where it emerged as the single largest party, and later formed a coalition government.

The out-of-favor PTI is now looking at a historic high turnout in excess of 60 percent to have any chance of staying in the race. The last time this happened was in 1970. This is how difficult a task this could be, more so, considering there is virtually no campaign on the ground. This leaves the two other major political parties, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People Party (PPP) in more realistic contention for the Prime Minister slot.

First, the PPP prospects. Ever since it lost significant ground in Punjab, after the rise of PTI – the PPP has not threatened to be in the pole position. In terms of popular vote, the PPP has strikingly similar numbers for both 2013 and 2018 – with 13 percent share at 6.9 million votes. All surveys indicate the PPP will once again emerge as the clear winner in its stronghold province of Sindh – that has accounted for over 80 percent of its seats and two-third of its popular vote in the last two elections.

But Sindh alone does not land you in Islamabad. With the race in North and Central Punjab increasingly looking between the PML-N and PTI (independents), PPP’s best bet is to repeat its 2008 performance in South Punjab. From being the largest party in South Punjab with 23 of the 50 seats – PPP was reduced to just 5 seats in 2018.

Why is South Punjab so critical? Because it decides who gets the chance to form the government. In each of the last seven general elections since 1990 – the winner of South Punjab formed the federal government – at times in coalition. It has not mattered if you led Central Punjab, or emerged as the largest party in Sindh, or clean swept Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If you did not win South Punjab, you did not form the government in center.

For PML-N, the road to Islamabad may be trickier than the word on street. Unlike the PPP and PTI, who both have one province each where they are likely to emerge as clear winners, the PML-N faces stiff competition from its archrivals PTI, no matter how battered the latter is. Consider this, that the margin of victory in Punjab at 22 percent was the lowest in 2018 (72%: 2013), since at least 1990. While the PML-N swept central Punjab, having lost North and South to PTI was the death knell.

A simple majority (in case of no polling day and post-poll gimmicks) appears highly unlikely for any of the three leading contenders. A coalition government with PTI in it can almost be ruled out at this point, unless of course it wins as big as 2018 (unlikely). This essentially means both PML-N and PPP will need each other to have the required number. An extension of the PDM government from April 2022 to August 2023 – appears a highly likely scenario at this juncture.

That said, there is many a slip twix the cup and the lip. What happens of the winning independents will most likely be decided in the courts – as everyone is eyeing them. More than 22 million new voters (2018: 20 million) will be eligible to vote in 2024 – which makes 18 percent of the total registered voters. Who is able to lure the ones who turned 18 after 2018 may well be the decisive factor come February, 8.

KARACHI: Police detained at least two dozen supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan Sunday as they tried to rally in the country’s biggest city ahead of elections next month.

On Sunday, PTI officials urged supporters to rally across the country despite police withdrawing or declining permission for the gatherings to take place.

Around 2,000 gathered in Karachi, where AFP correspondents saw about two dozen PTI supporters detained by police and taken away in trucks.

PTI media advisor Zulfiqar Bukhari said there had also been arrests in Rawalpindi as well as in other parts of Punjab, the country’s most populous province.

Police officials said they had no information on arrests.

The election has largely been a lacklustre affair so far, with few mass rallies — a combination of party inaction, voter apathy, and the cold winter weather.

Three-time premier Nawaz Sharif, whose Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is expected to take the most seats, has barely been seen on the campaign trail, although Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who heads the other major dynastic political group, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has been more visible.

He held a rally attended by several thousand in Rawalpindi on Sunday.

LAHORE: Senior PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar on Sunday grilled the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during his election rally in Lahore’s NA-127.

The firebrand PML-N leader is contesting the election from NA-127 against the PPP chairman and many political observers are watching the contest very closely.

“A landlord from Sindh (Bilawal) is contesting from Lahore and Nawaz Sharif has fielded his political worker in the constituency against him,” Tarar said, while addressing the PML-N workers in Lahore’s Town Ship area on Sunday.

Criticising the PPP leadership, Tarar said that the party chanted the slogan of “Food, Shelter and Cloth” but it has even snatched the drinking water from the people of Sindh. “It is only the credit of PML-N to initiate development projects in Lahore,” he said.

He added that only Nawaz Sharif knows the art of running the economy as he successfully did it in the past.

“We’ll reconstruct the economy of Pakistan after winning the elections. Nawaz Sharif is going to become the prime minister for record fourth time,” he said.

HYDERABAD: The Convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has said the MQM-P after winning the elections, party wanted to change the system of governance.

Addressing a reception organized by his party in honour of the notable citizens here on Sunday, Siddiqui said as evidence of the party’s commitment to such a change MQM-P had been providing the opportunity of elected representation to people from underdeveloped areas.

“The people should keep a watch on the ways of the party’s legislators and on their changing houses and vehicles,” he suggested.

Referring to the party’s joining of the coalition governments in the recent past, the Convener said they made some compromises to protect their generations and to save democracy.

He claimed that the MQM-P never demanded the ministries and that they were made a part of the government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) for the sake of democracy.

Siddiqui said wherever weaknesses existed in the societies, a ruling cabal grabbed power to serve their interests.

Siddiqui believed that the authority to decide the issues of the water supply and drainage should be devolved to the local level.

He suggested that the constitution should strongly emphasize that no elections of the National and provincial assemblies would be conducted unless the local government were not present in the saddle. Syed Suhail Mashaid, Syed Waseem Hussain, advocate Dilawar Qureshi, Saleem Razzak, Zafar Ahmed Siddiqui and the MQM-P’s candidates for Hyderabad were present on the occasion.

HUB: Former President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday said a strong democracy was crucial to address the problems facing the country.

Addressing an election rally in Hub district of Balochistan, he said that Pakistan Peoples Party always supported strengthening of democracy in the country.

Zardari said Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto raised the flag of democracy and served the country twice as elected prime minister.

Zardari reiterated that PPP would work towards ensuring development in Balochistan after coming to power and stressed that only “genuine political parties” could resolve the problems facing the country.

According to a news release, the former President said that PPP was a federal party and serving the people was a noble cause for its leadership.

Describing Balochistan’s progress in democracy, he recalled that that the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Programme was introduced by PPP.

He mentioned the unanimous National Finance Commission Award introduced during his tenure resulted in an increased budget for Balochistan.

He termed Balochistan the heart of the country, and emphasized its development at par with other provinces, particularly provision of hospitals, water facilities and universities.

Zardari said that only political forces can resolve the problems of Pakistan. He appealed to the people of Balochistan, including Hub, to make the PPP victorious in the general elections to be held on February 8.

PPP leader and former Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, Ali Hassan Zehri, Sabir Baloch, Iqbal Shah, Wadera Hassan Jamot, Abdul Wahab Bizenjo, Abdul Karim Marri, Sharif Palari and other leaders were present.

LAHORE: Capital City Police Officer Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana chaired a meeting of senior police officers at his office to review security arrangements for upcoming general elections.

SSP (Operations) and SP (Security) briefed about the security plan and the participants discussed various issues related to security arrangements, including additional staff deployment at sensitive polling stations, and secure transportation of election material and ballot papers.

The briefing highlighted the use of anti-riot forces on polling day to address any untoward situations and the use of the Election Monitoring mobile app for assistance during the election. The meeting also discussed matters related to the establishment of check posts, barriers, barbed wires, metal detectors, walk-through gates, installation of cameras, and issues concerning the ladies’ search cabin on polling day.

CCPO stated that the police were fully prepared for the peaceful conduct of the general elections. He expressed a firm commitment to assist in the organization of free, fair and transparent elections and mentioned that a comprehensive security plan has been devised for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

CCPO informed that the best security was being provided for electoral activities. He emphasized the coordination of all security agencies to ensure a secure and transparent electoral process. Action will be taken without discrimination in case of any violation of the electoral code of conduct. He assured that stringent security measures will be taken for the safe transportation of election material and ballot papers.

CCPO issued directives for ground-level police performance on Election Day, emphasizing the need to maintain peace and order. The Lahore police have initiated a city-wide flag march to uphold security. Supervisory officers were instructed to regularly assess election-related activities in their respective areas.

The meeting was also attended by DIG (Investigations) Imran Kishwar, DIG (Security) Kamran Adil, DIG (Administration) Muntazir Mehdi, SSP (Operations) Syed Ali Raza, CTO Lahore, Ammara Athar and SP (Security) Akhlaq Allah Tarar.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

KARACHI: Political activities in connection with the general elections have reached the peak in Quaid’s city and in this regard, various political parties organized separate election rallies on Sunday.

Jamat-e-Islami, Pakistan People’s party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement- Pakistan and Tahreek-e- Labaik Pakistan organized public meetings in different areas of the city and urged the general public to vote for their candidates in February 08, general elections.

Jamat-e-Islami organized power show at Bagh-e-Jinnah where central Emir Sirajul Haq, Hafiz Naeem and other leaders addressed the gathering.

They asked the people to elect those representatives who would be able to serve the masses.

Sirajul Haq said Jamat-e-Islami was the only party which could deliver if voted to power. Criticizing former ruling parties, Senator Sirajul Haq said former ruling elites had failed to deliver as a result of which Pakistan’s economy deteriorated.

Hafiz Naeem Rehman said Karachi was neglected during.g previous government’s tenure and youngsters were denied of their share in recruitment. He said now students are denied of their right to get higher education by declaring them fail in Matric and Inter Board examinations.

He warned that if result issue was not resolved Jamat-e-Islami will hold sit in opposite Chief Minister’s house.

Meanwhile, Muttahida Qaumi Movement- Pakistan has also organized corner meeting in Shah Faisal Colony which was attended by large number of party workers.

Addressing the corner meeting, MQM leaders Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Syed Mustafa Kamal and others claimed that their party will win the upcoming general elections in Karachi. They appealed the people to get out of their houses on February 08 and make their party as victorious. Dr Khalid Maqbool said people of this city had already given decision on January 21 public meeting held at Bagh-e-Jinnah.

Pakistan People’s party also held ‘Jalsa’ in Liyari which was addressed by Asifa Bhutto Zardari, daughter of former premier Benazir Bhutto and other leaders. She said Liyari is PPP’s fort and people will vote for their party. She hurled slogans in favour PPP.

Tahreek-e-Labaik Pakistan and other parties also organized rallies and begged votes from people present on the occasion.

TLP leaders claimed their party would get majority seats in National as well as Provincial Assemblies.

LARKANA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday advised against blaming the politicians for everything by shifting all the responsibility to them in democracy and said February 8 was the day for the people to perform their ‘duty’.

The days leading to February 8 were the time when the people had to fulfil their responsibility, Fazal said, as he described the elections as a process which depended upon the masses.

“People would be responsible for the good or the bad (result on February 8),” the JUI-F chief told his supporters in Larkana as he is aiming at a strong showing in upper Sindh where has been able to garner a large support base due to a number of economic, social and political factors.

In his address, the seasoned politician also talked about the supremacy of parliament. “We have made the law. Only we will interpret it,” he said, asking the institutions to respect the politicians, and made it clear that Pakistan can not be run without following the law and the constitution.

He promised a comprehensive accountability of those “robbing the mankind” – a reference to the inability to protect people’s rights and the practice of denying the very basic needs to them in the context of Sindh.

Earlier on Saturday, Fazal said killings and kidnappings were a norm in Sindh, adding that the people associated with his party were facing pressure and threats in the province.

The Maulana regretted the fact that Pakistan couldn’t march forward and was in a reverse gear at a time when the neighbouring countries had achieved a remarkable economic growth and development. “There is something wrong. Someone isn’t discharging the responsibility.”

He said the people making laws were weak but those violating them were strong in Pakistan and wondered when “we would stop opting for wrong decisions”. Wrong decisions could never produce right results, the seasoned politician told his supporters.

A battered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) too has unveiled its election manifesto, vowing to carry out constitutional reforms if voted to power. Its manifesto also promises, among many other things, the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission to “administer a healing touch, redressing historical wounds and fostering a state characterised by compassion and inclusivity,” and creation of Islamic welfare state — Riyasat-e-Madina — but not a theocratic state. No doubt, PTI’s is a creative manifesto, so to speak.

Not only is it vastly different from those presented by two other major parties of the country — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — so far, it also a reflects a very well thought-out election strategy.

Despite trials and tribulations that the party has been facing since the then prime minister and founder of PTI Imran Khan ousted from power after he failed to survive the vote of confidence against him in 2022, the party has been putting up an impressive show with a view to regaining whatever it has lost since. In other words, the party has persevered in a dignified manner in order to make a return to the prime minister’s house.

However, given the extent of PTI’s ordeal, this seems to be an utopian dream. But the party is required to work harder in order to make its presence felt at the general election regardless of the outcome.

More importantly, the party has to demonstrate a lot of prudence and wisdom, exercising a lot of caution insofar as its approach to the election is concerned.

Tehsin Mirza (Karachi)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started the delivery of national and provincial assemblies’ ballot papers to various District Returning Officers (DROs) while concurrently printing them for the upcoming elections.

An ECP official told APP on Sunday that ballot papers for two constituencies in the National and Provincial Assemblies of Lodhran and Vehari were sent from the Islamabad Printing Press to the relevant District Returning Officers (DROs).

Ballot paper printing is progressing smoothly and is expected to conclude around February 3 or 4, said the official.

The ongoing printing process involves 270 tons of special paper, he said, adding that the ECP already had directed the Printing Corporation of Pakistan on January 14 to print 260 million watermarked ballot papers for the February 8 polls.

Distinctive watermarks will embellish the ballot papers, which are slated to be printed using three different machines. Stringent security measures have been implemented at the Printing Corporation premises throughout the ballot paper production process.

The introduction of watermarked ballot papers in the country took place during the 2018 general elections, signifying a notable milestone.

Three printing machines, including the Security Printing Corporation, the Pakistan Postal Foundation, and the Printing Corporation of Pakistan, were used to share the workload for this endeavour.

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that PPP would steer the country out of the multi-faceted crises after coming into power.

Addressing a public gathering in Liaquat Bagh here on Sunday, he said: “This is the same city where Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto were martyred. I have come to this city because the country is in danger,” he said.

The PPP is the sole political party that can help the country emerge from the economic, societal and security crises, he said. The society is plagued with the politics of hatred and division, and the PPP is the only party that aims to bury it forever, he added.

Bilawal Bhutto challenges Nawaz Sharif for debate before election

The PPP resolves to establish a truth and reconciliation commission to help unify the country so that the country can progress and prosper, Bilawal added.

He said Jiyalas need to work hard for the sake of the country till February 8, the general elections date. The PPP has the experience to combat the plethora of problems faced by the people, he said. “Only the PPP can help bring political stability and legitimise the electoral process by fulfilling its promises and helping the country treading a new path. The PPP appeals to the people to trust it in this election, and opt for a new view. They need to stamp the arrow of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and the Pakistan Peoples Party,” the PPP chief said.

He criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N). “The PTI needs to realise that Imran Khan is not in the elections, and he will not become the prime minister,” Bilawal said.

“The workers of PML-N should be told that their party is not protecting the sanctity of the vote, rather it is destroying it,” he deplored.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Making “all powerful institutions subservient to the Constitution,” restricting the state institutions’ role to “service only”, carrying out constitutional reforms to allow the election of the prime minister directly by the people of Pakistan, establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission to “administer a healing touch, redressing historical wounds and fostering a state characterised by compassion and inclusivity,” and creation of Islamic welfare state — Riyasat-e-Madina — but not a theocratic state — are some of the key highlights of PTI’s general polls manifesto launched here on Sunday.

Titled “Shandaar Pakistan, Shandaar Mustaqbil Aur Kharaab Maazi Say Chutkara,” the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) manifesto promises: standing up for the downtrodden, investing in human capital, ensuring a healthy, educated population, improving the quality of life for the less privileged, respect for the human being not the wealth they posses, improving the nations ethical foundation based on teachings of Islam, and ensuring no one in the country goes to bed hungry.

Gohar asks workers to support ‘PTI candidates’

The key highlights of the manifesto also include: strengthening the institution base of the country, strengthening the pillars of the state, all powerful institutions to be made subservient to serve the nation as defined in the Constitution of Pakistan, all to be equal in front of law, state institutions’ role would be restricted to service only, enhancing democratic local governance for community empowerment, austerity in all spheres of government, less people, better paid, all perks monetised, compensation and promotion based on performance and competence not on years of service, inclusive education comprehensive national education system that offers both vocational and academic pathways, access to education for qualified and provision of affordable housing.

Unveiling the manifesto at a presser, Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan disclosed that the party leaders who prepared the manifesto did not attend the presser due to the fear of arrest.

In line with the manifesto, the PTI, if elected to power, will carry out a constitutional amendment to allow the people of Pakistan, instead of the members of National Assembly, to directly elected their PM, he said.

He said reforms would be done in criminal procedure code to ensure speedy justice to public.

On economic front, short-term and long-term reforms would be launched aiming at broadening the tax net, making the State Bank of Pakistan autonomous, incentivising the corporate sector as well as other initiatives, Khan said.

Under health reforms, the provision of Sehat Card for the provision of free healthcare to pubic would be extended across Pakistan under “Sehatmand Khushal Awam, Jiye Pakistan” initiative, he said.

Under education reforms, a uniform education system would be launched across the country aiming at ending the class divisions under “Parha Likha Pakistan, Hunarmand Pakistan,” the PTI chief said.

Khan said the PTI is the most popular political party of Pakistan but it is not allowed to run its election campaign.

He said the PTI has its own lawyers but they were being replaced with others lawyers by the judges in different cases concerning Imran Khan. Gohar Khan demanded of the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of this issue.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has established 90,675 polling stations for the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.

According to the ECP, out of the total polling stations, 41,403 are combined whereas 25,320 are for male and 23,952 for women voters.

The total number of polling stations in Punjab is 50,944, Sindh 19,006, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 15,697, and Balochistan 5,028.

Check your vote: here is how you can find out your constituency

Moreover, there will be a total of 2,76,398 polling booths, including 1,47,552 male and 1,28,846 female.

Meanwhile, the electoral watchdog has also introduced an active WhatsApp helpline, providing citizens with a platform to register their election-related complaints swiftly, Radio Pakistan reported.

The WhatsApp number ‘0327 5050610’ aims to enhance accessibility and responsiveness in addressing concerns leading up to the general elections in 2024.

Pakistan polls 2024: 10 key political parties and their electoral symbols

The ECP has already established an election monitoring and complaint centre to address voters’ grievances pertaining to the general elections.

At the center, the public can contact and register their election-related grievances.

Apart from WhatsApp, the complaints can be submitted through email at [email protected], or the dedicated helpline 111-327-000.

At least 25 people were arrested after a clash between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and police during an election rally at Karachi’s Teen Talwar.

The incident unfolded when PTI, alleging deprivation of its constitutional right to campaign, held a rally in the Red Zone without prior permission, according to police.

As per witnesses, PTI activists attempted to block the road, and police responded with tear gas, leading to resistance from PTI workers who allegedly threw stones at the police, causing injuries. The police called for reinforcements, using tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd.

Speaking to the media DIG South Asad Raza said PTI had not obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the rally, and that the participants attempted to enter the Red Zone, prompting a police response.

PTI, on the other hand, claimed to have informed the district administration about the rally, accusing the police of unnecessary aggression and hindrance to their campaign. The party threatened protests if detained workers were not released, emphasizing a lack of a level playing field.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Hammad Azhar reported the arrest of his father in Lahore, criticizing the state of human rights and the rule of law. In response to the arrests, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan condemned the actions, emphasising citizens’ constitutional right to hold peaceful rallies.

The clash unfolded as part of PTI’s directive to its ticket holders to hold rallies nationwide, with warnings of cancellation for non-compliance. The party’s manifesto launch coincided with these events, as Imran Khan directed candidates to address voters, projecting resilience against potential arrests.

As February 8 elections are around the corner, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday unveiled its election manifesto, promising constitutional and social reforms.

PTI leader Gohar Khan, addressing a press conference in Islamabad, announced the manifesto titled ‘Shandaar Pakistan, Shandaar Mustaqbil aur Kharaab Maazi sey chutkara’ (Great Pakistan, great future, and freedom from bad past).

Gohar Khan said the party, if elected, would decrease the tenure of the National Assembly to 4 years from currently 5 years. He also mentioned about some constitutional amendments that could lead to the country’s prime minister being chosen “directly by the public and not by the members of the National Assembly”.

Gohar Khan also promised to form a truth and reconciliation commission that could address injustices faced by the common man.

“We cannot have two laws, one for the rich and one for the poor,” he said.

‘Uniting people’: Nawaz Sharif unveils PML-N’s manifesto

PTI leader further said that the Code of Criminal Procedure would be reformed to provide “protection to the people”.

Speaking about the economy, the party’s manifesto promised to reform the tax scheme while increasing the tax net. It also vowed to provide a subsidy specifically for the farmers.

PTI’s website ‘blocked’ countrywide

Gohar said the party would work on promoting solar energy projects, introducing a universal health card, and bringing educational reforms.

About the foreign policy, PTI leader mentioned that the party’s first principle would be to ensure that “no one can interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs”.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday requested the former premier and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif to inform him when and where Nawaz Sharif wishes to debate. He added that he was prepared for “any debate and scrutiny” with the PML-N supremo saying that “deflecting” from his challenge will not work.

“Please tell me the time and place Mian sahib would like to debate,” the former foreign minister said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Bilawal, who is also the PPP’s candidate for prime minister’s office, on Friday, took to the social media platform, X, and dared Nawaz Sharif for a debate anywhere before February 8 to provide voters with crucial insights into their plans. “I invite the PM candidate of PMLN Nawaz Sharif, to engage in a debate with me anytime, anywhere before Feb 8,” Bilawal said in an X post.

He further said globally, presidential and prime ministerial candidates participate in televised debates, providing voters with crucial insights into their plans. “This transparency is vital for an informed electorate ahead of the voting process,” Bilawal further said.

Shehbaz Sharif, the head of the PML-N, had responded to Bilawal’s challenge when he claimed that Nawaz would have been better invited to an inspection of Sindh by the “gentlemen” rather than a discussion.

Subsequently, Bilawal demanded the “city and on which date your brother wants to debate”.

The ex-foreign minister suggested three locations for the debate with Nawaz today: Gambat in Khairpur, Tharparkar, and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Karachi.

“Mian Nawaz Sharif can debate with me in Gambat, Khairpur. He can come and visit the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, a hospital that surpasses any hospital in Punjab, and where all treatment is absolutely free,” Bilawal said.

He asserted that Nawaz had never once visited Gambat, even though he had served as prime minister three times.

“Or perhaps he would prefer to come to Tharparkar, where we can also inspect the infrastructure, and compare Thar with Cholistan. The coal project in Thar, which you and your brother opposed, is providing cheap electricity not to Karachi, but to Faisalabad,” he said.

Bilawal has been targeting the PML-N leadership, particularly Nawaz Sharif in his election campaign while the PML-N leaders criticising the PPP over its “poor performance” in Sindh, where the party has been ruling for over 15 years.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) successfully conducted a mock exercise of the Election Management System (EMS) on an experimental basis on Saturday, yielding useful and encouraging results.

An ECP spokesman said that presiding officers, on the whole, managed to deliver results satisfactorily. However, connectivity challenges at certain points during the exercise caused minor issues in transmitting results to some presiding officers. These challenges are being promptly addressed.

A comprehensive trial was initiated, involving the participation of Returning Officers’ offices at 859 locations nationwide, he said adding that this comprehensive test encompassed Fiber/DSL connectivity, EMS app log-in, usage, and the steps for results transmission and editing.

It effectively accomplished the transmission of results by Presiding Officers and the compilation of results by Returning Officers through EMS. It’s noteworthy that the primary goal of EMS is to compile and tabulate results at the RO level. Throughout this exercise, all ROs completed the compilation and tabulation of results without encountering any issues.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ‘candidates’ for both national and provincial assemblies on Saturday took part in a virtual convention and vowed to stand by their leader Imran Khan through thick and thin, rejecting all the claims of the rivals that they may defect to other parties after winning Feb 08 elections.

Some of the candidates joined the online convention from the venues of the election rallies taking place in their respective constituencies. They claimed that the support they are getting from the masses is unprecedented, adding the people are not ready to compromise on anything less than bringing back the jailed PTI chief into power with a three-fourths majority.

“The way the people are participating in the election rallies despite police crackdown and harassment shows victory of the PTI with a two-thirds majority will be too small as they are bent upon bringing Khan back with a three-fourths majority,” said a PTI candidate from Kasur.

Meher Banu Qureshi, the daughter of jailed former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, participated in the virtual convention via zoom, said that the support of people in her constituency is massive.

She said that no power of the world can stop the PTI from coming into power, adding the people have only one demand: they will take revenge on Feb 8 through vote for what those at the helm of affairs did with Imran Khan and his party after ousting him through a farcical vote of no confidence.

Other candidates who took part in the online convention said that they had never seen such a charged crowed in election rallies in history of the country which, they insisted indicates return of Imran Khan to power with a thumping majority no matter how hard they “usurpers” try to stop him through ridiculous state oppression and concocted cases.

They maintained that the symbols which were allotted to ‘PTI candidates’ through a ‘conspiracy’ to confuse the party voters, have become irrelevant as the name of Imran Khan has turned into a “brand” and an election symbol for masses.

According to PTI some of the candidates, they had no money to run their campaigns but it is the people of the area who are helping them to run the election campaigns.

They maintained that they would continue their election campaigns despite all the hurdles created by the authorities and police highhandedness as the election will decide the future of the country.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: The following are highlights of the PML-N manifesto launched here by the party supremo Nawaz Sharif on Saturday:

• Provision of interest-free loans to small farmers.

• Use of modern technology to overcome crop damage.

• All government offices will be made environment-friendly.

• Supremacy of Parliament will be ensured.

• Articles 62 and 63 will be restored to their original form.

• Introduction of Panchayat System for alternate dispute resolution.

• Judicial, legal and justice system will be reformed.

• Timely and efficient judicial system will be implemented.

• Limit adjudication time to one year, especially for cases affecting life of a common citizen.

• Minor cases will be decided in two months.

• NAB will be abolished.

• Strengthen existing anti-corruption institutions and agencies.

• Comprehensive amendments in Civil Procedure Code, 1908 and Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 to standardise the procedural laws.

• Effective, fair and timely prosecution.

• Court proceedings will be telecast live.

• Commercial courts will be established.

• Courts of overseas Pakistanis will be made better and stronger.

• Digital system will be established in judiciary.

• Inflation will be reduced by 10% by fiscal year 2025.

• Inflation will be brought down to 4 to 6% in next 4 years.

• Over 10 million jobs to be offered in 5 years.

• Maintain a low CAD for the next 5 years by keeping it in range of around 1.5 % of GDP.

• To achieve exports of goods & services of more than $58 billion by the end of 2029.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has announced its manifesto for coming general election and has urged the people to rally behind Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for transformative change in the country.

Senator Sherry Rehman, the vice president of the PPP, on Saturday, officially launched the party’s manifesto ahead of the 2024 general elections, and lauded Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for unveiling a visionary and people-centric pledge, and urged the masses to rally behind the youth leader for transformative change, steering away from the politics of hatred and divisiveness.

The manifesto, titled, “Chuno Nai Soch Ko,” outlines a comprehensive plan for inclusive development and transformative change, centering on economic gains anchored in social justice.

She said: “After extensive consultations with all regions of the country as well as civil society stakeholders and experts, the PPP has launched its manifesto for 2024 with a clear message for inclusion and transformational change based on prioritising economic gains premised on social justice, the creation of employment opportunities, and a strong focus on providing both growth and relief to the most vulnerable sections of the population.”

Senator Rehman stressed that given the situation of the country, business as usual is no longer an option, nor could the country wait for trickle-down, supply-side economic policies for any transformative change.

“We cannot wait for the rich to get far, far richer before they allow their wealth to filter down to the landless, the poor, the unemployed, and the unempowered.”

“While we will incentivize entrepreneurs and encourage public-private partnerships for creating and governing substantive health and education initiatives for quality services that reach all, we will seek to burden share with those who can afford it. It’s time for strategic re-sets, and we are ready to harness the clean energy of local solar parks, divert wasteful spending, and create a Pakistan that grows and adds value to change the lives of our citizens.”

In discussing the imperative of inclusive economic growth, Senator Rehman emphasized that investments must be encouraged and enabled to ensure the benefits of growth reach every stratum of society. “Resources have to be mobilised to give way for distribution that is fair, for the labour and women and farmers that turn the wheels of our country to earn a decent, living wage and not just become destitute or victims of health traumas and climate disasters overnight to eke out a subsistence living that leaves children malnourished, with a high percentage still prey to disease and stunting,” she said.

She added that, as mentioned in the manifesto, the party will ensure that all Pakistanis can send their children to good local schools, and make sure that healthcare is available to all for free.

“The focus on young people, women, and the socially disadvantaged, with incentives, support, and an enabling environment for change, has been a core theme for creating prosperity in Pakistan by flattening social pyramids and empowering the growing numbers of the vulnerable and the poor in the country,” she said.

“We are clearly seeking to address the growing food and water insecurity challenges in our country, the lack of jobs and vertical growth opportunities for our young, underemployed workforce, while seeking viable solutions for chronic and systemic issues that hamper our public social services as well as addressing those emerging global issues that look likely to pose risks to our economy and social fabric.”

The senator further said that the PPP aims to roll out a diverse range of programs addressing issues such as food insecurity, healthcare accessibility, social safety net expansion, and initiatives like the youth card (Jawan Mustaqbil), along with comprehensive offerings to support farmers (Khushal Kisan) and labourers (Mazdoor ko Mehnat ka Sila), ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the people.

“By giving them resilient homes and ownership of those homes, as has already begun in Sindh post-flood areas, we will change them into home and small land owners, with women as the actual title holders of these new assets. We will provide social protections under the BISP, expand the existent projects, and empower young people by providing financial support and training, as well as creating youth centres in every district.”

She said that along with diversifying Pakistan’s manufacturing base to spur value-added exports while putting agriculture, technology, and green energy at the forefront, the PPP will bring the country back to the food surplus it had done under its previous tenures.

“We believe in speaking to all kinds of voters, including people who have previously voted for other parties or young people who have never voted. We don’t want to govern only for PPP supporters, we want to help all Pakistanis. We want a new style of politics, where politicians focus on helping the people instead of helping themselves and other elites.”

Rehman stressed that the party’s 10-Point Economic Agenda, launched in the early part of the campaign by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, had formed the heart of its new thinking on creating a social contract with the people of Pakistan, who have been struggling with soaring inflation and climate and social distress on the ground.

“None of the points have been just thrown together to create a manifesto without a plan to implement the cross-cutting themes, but instead bolstered by thought leadership on how the economic space to fund the people’s agenda for strategic re-sets of our human capital and resources to grow and add value to change the lives of our citizens,” she said.

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reacted to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s invitation to Nawaz Sharif for a public debate, saying should have been better if the former prime minister was invited to inspect Sindh instead of any debate.

The response comes following PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari challenged PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif for the US-style pre-election debate ahead of the 8 February general polls.

“Yesterday, a gentleman invited Nawaz Sharif for a debate. It would have been better if he had invited Nawaz Sharif to (visit) Sindh for an inspection (of development works) instead of debate. It would have provided an opportunity to make a comparison, as well as, a debate,” Shehbaz Sharif said, in response to Bilawal’s challenge, without naming him.

Bilawal has been targeting the PML-N leadership, particularly Nawaz Sharif in his election campaign while the PML-N leaders criticising the PPP over its “poor performance” in Sindh, where the party has been ruling for over 15 years.

Bilawal Bhutto challenges Nawaz Sharif for debate before election

Bilawal, who is also the PPP’s candidate for prime minister’s office, on Friday, took to the social media platform, X, and dared Nawaz Sharif for a debate anywhere before February 8 to provide voters with crucial insights into their plans. “I invite the PM candidate of PMLN Nawaz Sharif, to engage in a debate with me anytime, anywhere before Feb 8,” Bilawal said in an X post.

He further said globally, presidential and prime ministerial candidates participate in televised debates, providing voters with crucial insights into their plans. “This transparency is vital for an informed electorate ahead of the voting process,” Bilawal further said.

“A political leader and my friend said he wanted to have a debate with Nawaz Sharif. I want to tell them who have a complaint that the ‘lion’ is not hunting that they will find out on February 8,” Shehbaz Sharif said in response without naming Bilawal during his address to PML-N election rally in Rawalpindi’s Liaqat Bagh on Saturday.

In his address to a massive rally of the party, the PML-N president also highlighted the services of Nawaz Sharif, saying the PML-N supremo provided free medicines in Punjab hospitals.

He also slammed the performance of the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led Imran Khan’s government. “What did the PTI do in its tenure,” he asked the participants, hoping that the PML-N would sweep the upcoming elections and Nawaz would return to power for the fourth time.

He said that the people will not choose those politicians, who mislead the masses and brought economic crises in the country. Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted the mega public welfare projects executed by PML-N government during its previous tenure, particularly Motorways and Laptop scheme.

He said that Nawaz Sharif gave the metro bus service for the people of Rawalpindi, adding that the previous government of PTI did nothing for the city and its people. He claimed to change the fate of the people after coming into power.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: A Commonwealth team led by former Nigerian President Dr Goodluck Jonathan will be deployed to Pakistan to observe the general elections scheduled for 8 February 2024.

At the request of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), through the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, a 13-member Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) is due to arrive in Islamabad on 1st February and will remain in the country until the electoral process is completed, the Commonwealth Secretariat said in a statement on Saturday.

‘High chances of a coalition government’, says brokerage house as Pakistan braces for elections

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has selected a team of multidisciplinary experts from across the Commonwealth, according to the statement. It added that the observer group will offer an independent and comprehensive assessment of the electoral process. “I applaud Pakistan’s commitment to transparency and accountability. The Commonwealth is pleased to support Pakistan’s democratic journey. We look forward to peaceful and fair elections,” said the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

“I am grateful that the former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has once again accepted our invitation to serve as Chair of an election observer group. The team of observers will assess the conduct of the process as a whole and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the further strengthening of the electoral system,” she further stated. “It is hoped that these recommendations will be of benefit to the people and government of Pakistan in strengthening their electoral processes,” she added.

She added that the Commonwealth Secretariat would be ready to assist with this process if deemed necessary. She also called on all stakeholders, including political parties and their supporters, to contribute to a peaceful election in keeping with the Commonwealth values.

During their stay, the members of the observer group will be stationed throughout the country. The COG will be supported by a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by Linford Andrews, Adviser and Head of the Electoral Support Section. While in Pakistan, the members of the observer group will also meet with a wide range of interlocutors, including representatives from political parties, election officials, media stakeholders, and civil society groups. On the Election Day, members of the COG will observe and consider all aspects of the election process across Pakistan- from the opening of polling stations and the voting process to the counting of ballots and announcement of results.

Following the Election Day, the group will hold a press conference and issue an interim statement with its preliminary findings. Their final report, including recommendations to help improve future electoral processes, will be presented to the government of Pakistan and the Election Commission.

The report will also be shared with other stakeholders. Members of the Commonwealth Observer Group, include, Chairperson: Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former president of Nigeria; Observers, Dr Linet Damaris Njeri Muthoni, criminology and gender expert, Australia; Barbara Malimali, Principal of Pacific Chambers and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Fiji; Nazima Natasha Raghubir, journalist and media advocate, Guyana; Ahmed Issack Hassan, former Chairperson of the Independent National Election Commission of Kenya and Advocate, High Court of Kenya; Anahila Lose Kanongata’a JP, former Member of Parliament, New Zealand; Belinda Kora, Founder and Lead for Women in Media and Secretary of the Media Council of Papua New Guinea; Sarah Lucy Flood-Beaubrun, former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Saint Lucia; Umaru Fofana, Editor-in-Chief, FreeMedia Group and former President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists; Mohamed Mahdoom Mohamed, former Commissioner General of Elections, Election Commission of Sri Lanka; Brian Speers, lawyer and mediator and former President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, United Kingdom; Mohamed Chande Othman, former Chief Justice of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Jacob Goma, elections expert, Zambia.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: With focus on economic revival and changing lives by bringing ease in the lives of the people, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Saturday unveiled its Election Manifesto 2024, which promises the development of the youth, job creation, promotion of small and medium enterprises; boosting the agriculture and IT sectors through various incentives and above all uniting the nation.

The PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on Saturday launched the party manifesto at a ceremony held at the PML-N Secretariat at Model Town Saturday.

Among others, Shehbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar, Maryam Nawaz, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Pervaiz Rashid, Irfan Siddiqui and others were present on the occasion.

Parties and their manifestos: some have promised much, but most have not bothered at all

The PML-N manifesto envisages six percent economic growth, generating employment, focus on women empowerment, improved relations with neighbouring countries, setting up five IT cities, promotion of agriculture sector, supremacy of the parliament, development initiatives and steps for the betterment of the people.

Speaking on the occasion, Nawaz described the national economy as the most important aspect of the PML-N manifesto. “Pakistan was facing tough challenges with the economy being the biggest,” he said, adding: “Had the process of reforms initiated by the PML-N since its first government was not stopped, the country would have distinguished status in the comity of nations today,” he said.

“We only want service to the people and uplift of the country as a dignified nation,” he said.

He said the PML-N’s manifesto has been prepared with great efforts and would be fully implemented, if the party is voted to power. Terming it as a strange coincidence that despite him being ousted as the prime minister in 2017 and political vendetta against the PML-N, his party members are once again preparing to contest elections and they are presenting their manifesto. He made it clear that he does not intend to express his grievances nor is in a mood to complain today.

Highlighting the PML-N’s previous tenures, Nawaz said there was no inflation, and cheap electricity was made available for the people after great efforts. “If voted to power, the PML-N would ensure cheap electricity and speedy development,” he said.

Nawaz disclosed that Shehbaz Sharif was ready to step down soon after forming the government in 2022, but decided against the planned move after the PTI chairman gave an ultimatum. We decided not to accept any pressure, he said, adding: “The PML-N paid the price by sacrificing the political capital for standing up for Pakistan.”

He also talked about the Charter of Democracy signed with late PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto. He said the PML-N had serious differences with the PPP during its 2008-13 tenure, but he rejected the advice of leading the long march towards Islamabad instead of ending it in Gujranwala as the struggle was meant for only the judges’ restoration. He said the advice for throwing the PPP government through protest campaign was presented again and again; however, the PML-N stood by democratic principles and Charter of Democracy.

Nawaz also mentioned his visit to Bani Gala for developing political understanding.

Speaking on the occasion, the PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said the party manifesto had three points, i.e., focus on human resource development for the youth through job creation and small and medium enterprises; boosting the agriculture sector through various incentives and uniting the nation.

He added that Nawaz Sharif had never promised in 2013 to end 20-hour of daily power outage but he ensured ending of load shedding within three years despite the sit-ins and other challenges.

Shehbaz made it clear that Nawaz Sharif’s election manifesto was about uniting people. He said a special body will be established to ensure the effective implementation of the manifesto.

The PML-N Manifesto Committee Chairman Senator Irfan Siddiqui said there is nothing in the manifesto that the PML-N will not be able to accomplish when it comes to power. The PML-N supremo had directed the committee not to include anything in the manifesto that the party cannot fulfil in the future, he said, adding: “Nawaz Sharif had forbidden the panel from showing false dreams in the manifesto.”

He said about 32 committees were formed to draft the manifesto, which also includes the party’s past performance.

PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal said the manifesto was a foundation for making Pakistan one of the strongest economies by 2047 – exactly 100 years after independence.

Moreover, the PML-N manifesto envisages bringing down inflation in the 4%-6% range. This level of inflation would not only provide huge relief to the consumers but also enable provision of capital at affordable rates to entrepreneurs for both green field and brown field projects.

The manifesto says our target is to achieve a per capita income of $2000 by the end of the year 2029, based on achieving higher growth and stability in the exchange rate

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

With Pakistan bracing for general elections on February 8, 2024, to elect representatives for the National and Provincial Assemblies, there are high chances of a coalition government being formed, said Topline Securities, a brokerage house, in a report released on Saturday.

The brokerage house, in its latest report, said investors are interested in whether the new government will get a majority or if will it be a weak coalition government.

“We think that in case one party gets 50% plus seats, that will definitely boost investor confidence, and markets will react positively. This will also give a positive signal to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and other lenders,” said the report.

“On the contrary, a coalition government with support of smaller parties will remain fragile and may struggle to implement the much-needed economic reforms,” it noted.

The report said “a smooth transfer of power to an elected government will help overcome concerns of bilateral and multilateral lenders, including the IMF, at a time when Pakistan is facing a severe external debt repayment challenge”.

Pakistan remains under a $3-billion, nine-month Stand By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF. To date, Pakistan has received $1.9 billion from the Washington-based lender.

The current IMF programme is scheduled to end in the second week of April.

Meanwhile, Topline Securities highlighted that another key area to look for is how the new government will manage economic challenges, especially to deal with the IMF for a long-term program.

“The new government and its Finance Minister can play a significant role in negotiating with friendly countries for debt rollover/debt re profiling and finalizing a new IMF program that requires a lot of painful reforms,” it said.

Furthermore, it will be interesting to evaluate the new government’s relationship with the establishment.

“Pakistan has a poor history of worsening civil-military relationships that have badly affected the political continuity, with negative implications for the economy and the markets,” Topline said.

On the stock market performance, the brokerage house said that the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) recovery is likely to continue in 2024.

“We expect benchmark KSE-100 total return index to reach 75k by Dec-2024.

“However, this is based on current low PE (Price to Earnings) multiples without assuming any re-rating amid high risk of debt sustainability. We may also see a post-election rally in line with historical trends,” it said.

Topline said that a smooth transfer of power to a new government after elections, a new long-term funding program from the IMF and an expected fall in interest rates will be the key drivers of equities in 2024.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that party supremo Nawaz Sharif's election manifesto was about "uniting people".

The former PM said this in a ceremony held by the PML-N to launch their much-awaited election manifesto. The party launched its manifesto with the slogan ‘Pakistan Ko Nawaz Do’.

Shehbaz further said that every political party launches its manifestos, but none of them fulfill it. The PML-N president added that a special body will be established to ensure the effective implementation of manifesto.

While addressing the ceremony, Nawaz said that the manifesto was prepared and written with great effort.

"If allowed to come to the government, we will implement it fully," the party supremo said.

Parties and their manifestos: some have promised much, but most have not bothered at all

Earlier in the ceremony, the party’s manifesto Committee Chairman Senator Irfan Siddiqui said the PML-N supremo had directed the committee not to include anything in the manifesto that the party cannot fulfill in the future.

He said there is nothing in the manifesto that the PML-N will not be able to do when it comes to power.

“Nawaz Sharif had forbidden us from showing false dreams in the manifesto,” Siddiqui said.

Manifesto

The detailed manifesto was shared by the party on its official account on social media platform X.

The manifesto vows to combat the impacts of climate change and a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.

The PML-N also vowed to ensure youth representation in national politics through parliament, and provincial and local governments.

ISLAMABAD: In an upbeat message to his workers to come out in a huge number to use their right to franchise for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates on Feb 08, the party chairman Gohar Ali Khan on Friday cautioned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz to keep a charter flight on standby for an emergency exit to England after facing a humiliating defeat in the crucial elections.

Speaking at a presser, he said that Sharif has no option but to keep a charter flight on standby on Feb 08 evening so that he can leave for England on yet another self-imposed exile as he is destined to face a crushing defeat in the elections.

Taking a jibe at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for his claim to manage PTI candidates as they are contesting the election as independents, he said that “the horse-trading” expert father-son-duo would soon be disappointed.

“Though the brought up of Bilawal has been done to buy votes instead of making it to the power corridor through the power of the people, we will shatter all his dreams of managing PTI candidates as no one will defect the party after winning the elections,” he declared.

He denied claims of asking party candidates to take oath on the Holy Quran not to betray the party, saying they all are doing this on their own, as they are committed to their leader Imran Khan.

He also complained of PTI workers’ harassment by the police and warned them not to push the party against the wall, as in a democracy there should be a free hand for all to support their respective candidates.

To a question, he said that if voted into power, the decision who to be made Prime Minister would be taken by the party’s founding chairman Imran Khan, adding “We’re optimistic that Imran Khan will be allowed to contest elections”.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker government – which is meant to ensure free and fair elections – on Friday blocked the official website of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the country without citing any reason.

The website could not be accessed which, according to PTI has been blocked by the Information Technology Ministry headed by Dr Umar Saif – a University of Cambridge educate computer scientist and academic.

The PTI, deprived of its iconic “bat” symbol for the upcoming polls, has fielded its leaders as independent candidates with different electoral symbols. To combat confusion among voters and to ease access to election-related information, the party launched an online portal on its website insaf.pk.

It also introduced a feature whereby voters can message on Imran Khan’s official Facebook account to get information about PTI-backed candidates.

The party’s official X account tagged the official handles of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), interim information minister Murtaza Solangi and interim IT minister Umar Saif.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is all set to unveil its manifesto for the upcoming general elections on Saturday (today) that focuses on youth, agriculture and IT sector.

The PML-N manifesto outlined both long-term and short-term plans aimed at providing relief to the public through measures like checking inflation, reducing electricity bills and ensuring the completion of projects associated with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

The PML-N manifesto is being unveiled in a ceremony chaired by the party’s supremo Nawaz Sharif. The party leaders including Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shehbaz, Ishaq Dar and others would also attend the ceremony.

The PML-N manifesto underscores party’s claim to possess the solution for all of Pakistan’s crises, the sources said.

“The PML-N’s narrative is that Pakistan should be given to people of May 28 not May 9.”

The PML-N manifesto also focuses on economic revival, eradicating unemployment and poverty, amending national accountability laws and enhancing the local government system. Some points of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) may be incorporated into the party manifesto, the sources added.

The PML-N’s manifesto will also comprise an assessment of its 2013-2018 tenure and future plans. It will consist of two parts: an evaluation of the party’s performance during its 2013-2018 tenure and future plans.

The PML-N manifesto promises to give maximum facilities to the youth apart from facilitating them for getting education and soft loans for running businesses. It has also been promised that steps will be taken to create job opportunities for the youth. With special attention on free treatment facilities, the PML-N manifesto also promised various steps for healthy society.

The PML-N manifesto also promises steps for agriculture particular livestock sector. In agriculture, hybrid seeds and modern technology would be promoted.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday issued a show-cause notice to Senator Saifullah Abro – a party candidate contesting February 08 elections from NA-194 – after he withdrew in favour of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

In a post on social media platform X, Abro confirmed his meeting with Bilawal and said he had decided to withdraw from the election race in NA-194, a constituency from where Bilawal is also contesting elections.

“I am withdrawing in favour of Bilawal and have decided to compete with the tiger (PML-N),” he said. Meanwhile, Bilawal thanked Abro for his support.

“PTI workers across the country are beginning to understand that the only way to stop PML-N is to vote for PPP’s arrow on Feb 8,” he wrote on X.

“I also appeal to political workers from all parties to vote smartly and we can pull off a surprise on Election Day,” the PPP chairman added.

This angered the PTI which slapped the party senator with a show cause notice for violating party discipline and joining hands with PPP, a party with which Imran Khan has ruled out any alliance for elections.

“You being elected as a senator on the party’s ticket in the Senate of Pakistan and also awarded party ticket to contest General Elections 2024 have shown grave indiscipline by violating the party’s discipline,” said the notice, issued by PTI secretary-general Omar Ayub Khan.

He directed Abro to provide a written response within three days on why action should not be taken against him, adding “If your reply is unsatisfactory or you do not respond, further action will be taken as per party policy and rules.”

At a rally a day earlier, Bilawal had urged PTI workers not to “waste” their votes on independent candidates and instead opt for his party’s candidates on Feb 8.

He said if PTI supporters wished to stop PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif from becoming the prime minister for a fourth time, they could either waste their vote by opting for independent candidates, “which amounts to supporting the PML-N” or “strategically use their right to vote.”

“They [PTI supporters] should consider this a contest between two parties, and to stop the lion in its path, they should stamp the arrow of PPP,” Bilawal said while referring to the electoral symbols of PML-N and PPP.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman has said that after 2018, the number of out-of-school children has increased alarmingly and expressed hope that the new government after the elections would try to solve this issue on priority.

He expressed these views while addressing the closing ceremony of Pakistan Learning Festival 2024 on Friday. On this occasion, Punjab Schools Education Secretary Ahsan Waheed, Country Head British Council Pakistan James Thomson, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Agahi CEO Bela Raza Jameel, Dr Sughri Sadaf, Children Library Complex Managing Director Khawar Shahzad and people in large were present in the ceremony.

The governor further said that it is very important to teach students high moral values and build their character, and stressed the need for inclusive education in the country. He also said that it is praiseworthy that the Children's Library Complex is providing the facilities of library, museum, VR gaming, planetarium, movies, and indoor games to the special children. “The Complex has taken commendable steps to promote various educational and recreational activities among children,” he added.

On this occasion, Children's Library Complex Managing Director Ahmed Khawar Shahzad gave a detailed briefing on the aims and objectives of the institution. He said the Complex is providing educational and entertainment services to children from four years to 14 years of age, and it also provides these services to children with special needs.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024