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AYAZ SADIQ GETS SPEAKER, GHULAM MUSTAFA DEPUTY SPEAKER’S SLOTS
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PTI VOWS NOT TO LET NEWLY-ELECTED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FUNCTION ‘UNTIL PROVISION OF DUE RIGHTS’
PTI calls NA Speaker, Deputy Speaker election sans allocation of reserved seats ‘unconstitutional’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
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ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
HE PML-N-led coalition’s candidate for speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq secured a comfortable win on Friday following a 91-vote lead over PTIsupported Aamir Dogar in the election for the vital post. Sadiq secured 199 votes out of the 291 cast, with one vote declared invalid. PTI-backed candidate Amir Dogar got 91 votes. Meanwhile, Ghulam Mustafa Shah, the candidate fielded by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has been elected as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Shah secured an impressive 197 votes, demonstrating strong support from fellow parliamentarians. Competing against him was Junaid Akbar of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), who garnered 92 votes, securing the second position in the election. A total of 290 votes were cast, out of which 8 were rejected as invalid. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq administered
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oath to the newly-elected deputy speaker soon after his election. This is the second time that he has become the speaker. Sadiq had served as the speaker from 2013-2018 in the 14th National Assembly. The polling for the election of the National Assembly speaker has been completed and the counting of votes is underway in the session that has been marred by protests of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers. Sadiq was administered oath by outgoing Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. After the oath-taking, the new speaker took charge of the house forthwith. As the first order of business Sadiq held elections for his deputy. Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Syed Ghulam Mustafa and SIC’s Junaid Akbar took part in contest for the slot. The NA session was convened today to elect the speaker and deputy speaker during which opposition lawmakers chanted slogans against alleged rigging in the Feb 8 polls. Before the session started SIC’s parliamentary party meeting was held in the
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Spokesperson termed the election of Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Prime Minister from the fake incomplete National Assembly without the allocation of the reserved seats for women and minorities as unconstitutional. Reacting over the election of the NA Speaker and Deputy Speaker sans allocation of the reserved seats, PTI Spokesperson stated that the speaker and deputy speaker elected with the help of the mandate thieves would not have any constitutional status. He said that the constitution was trampled under their feet one again by electing NA speaker from a fake incomplete National Assembly, as they reached the house fraudulently after stealing public mandate. PTI Spokesperson categorically stated that according to Article 51 of the Constitution, the House cannot be
house’s lobby, where they vowed to continue their protest in the assembly. This is the second consecutive day that SIC has been protesting in the National Assembly over “rigged” results. As the session began, Speaker Ashraf asked if there were any new members present who had missed the oath-taking a day earlier. As no new members came forward, the speaker then gave the floor to PTIbacked Omar Ayub Khan to speak on a point of order.
completed without the allocation of the reserved seats for women and minorities as per the proportion to the representation of each political party in the National Assembly. He recalled that a total of 23 PTI backed members were being deprived of their constitutional right of the reserved seats under a nefarious scheme; however, PTI Spokesperson that the nation would not succeed any such malicious plot come what may. He went on to say that the group of mandate thieves unlawfully occupying the august house was cognizant of the fact that the allotment of PTI backed candidates’ reserved seats as per the constitution would turn their artificial victory into defeat. PTI Spokesperson pointed out that those who took fake oath after stealing public mandate knew that they did not reach the house with the power of the public vote but through criminal facilitation of the corrupt and biased Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The lawmaker alleged that foreigners were present in the house. “People who got fake mandate have entered the house, hence, they should be expelled,” said Omar, adding that “prisoner number 804”, the number assigned to PTI founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, should be brought to the Assembly. The MNA, who had a sore throat, said they would raise their voice even if their throat is sore or slit.
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Pakistan reiterates its ‘sovereign right’ to make decisions about its internal matters ‘ELECTION RIGGING’
PPP’s Sarfraz Bugti elected ‘unopposed’ as Balochistan chief minister QUETTA
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti has been elected as Balochistan chief minister (CM) unopposed as no other contestant had submitted nomination papers besides him. Sarfraz Bugti, who served as former caretaker interior minister, submitted four nomination papers for Balochistan’s chief minister’s slot to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office. The election for the Balochistan chief minister position was scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday). He has been elected unopposed as no other lawmaker has submitted nominations paper for the slot. PPP and PML-N had jointly nominated Sarfraz Bugti as their candidate for the top slot of the leader of the house in line with the formula decided to form government at federal level and coalition government in Balochistan. The politician had resigned as the caretaker interior minister in December last year and joined the Bilawal Bhutto-led party.
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday said that no country could give directions to Pakistan to investigate allegations of rigging in the February 8 elections, insisting the country believes in its “sovereign right” to make decisions about its internal matters. “Pakistan is a vibrant democracy and there are mechanisms in place inside Pakistan where Pakistani people can resolve any issue pertaining to questions relating to elections or any issue relating to the democratic process in Pakistan,” remarked FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at the weekly briefing in Islamabad. She was responding to a question about the US government’s repeated statements, asking Pakistan to probe into the ballot fraud. “I believe no country can give directions to Pakistan. Pakistan is an independent and sovereign country. We believe in our own sovereign right to make decisions about Pakistan’s internal affairs,” she added. Besides the US government’s reaction, a number of US congressmen wrote a letter to the Biden ad-
ministration, urging the White House not to recognize the new government in Pakistan till election fraud allegations are probed. “Yes, we understand that such a letter has been sent by some Congressmen to the US Secretary of State. This is a communication between public officials in the United States and is not addressed to the Government of Pakistan. We, therefore, have no comments to offer on such letters,” the spokesperson said. Mumtaz also declined to comment on the letter written by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), requesting the Washington-based lender to negotiate only with a legitimate government.
On the arrest of four individuals believed to be Pakistanis for allegedly transporting weapons to Yemen from Iran, the spokesperson said that Pakistan was in contact with the US authorities. “We have seen the press release issued by the US Department of Justice indicating the said charges. We are in touch with the US Embassy in Islamabad and our mission in Washington to ascertain more facts regarding the incident and to provide consular access to the individuals following confirmation of their nationality,” she added. The suspects were detained on January 11 in an operation conducted by the US Navy Seals off the coast of Somalia in the Arabian Sea. The main suspect identified as Muhammad Pehlwan was charged with transporting weapons to the Houthis in Yemen. The other three were accused of giving false information. The spokesperson said that there were no bases for speculative reports that certain countries had already conveyed their concerns to Pakistan over its move to start work on the long-delayed multibillion-dollar Iran gas pipeline project.
PTI’s Ali Amin Gandapur elected KP chief minister, demands justice for Imran and party PESHAWAR
AZIZ BUNERI
Amid intense sloganeering, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday elected PTI’s Ali Amin Gandapur as the 22nd chief minister of the province. The PTI leader clinched an overwhelming victory with 90 votes against rival Ibadullah Khan from the PML-N. Gandapur, who had served as a federal minister during the PTI government, was nominated for the coveted slot by imprisoned party founder Imran Khan last month. He contested polls on a National Assembly seat (NA44) and a provincial seat (PK-113) in Dera Ismail Khan. In KP, PTI-backed candidates in a comfortable majority to form the provincial government. The PTI leader was also among the party leaders who were sent to jail in the aftermath of the May 9 riots. On Friday, the KP Assembly convened to vote for the coveted slot of the provincial chief executive and saw Gandapur securing a comfortable victory. The session began a little later than scheduled. Otherwise calm, pro-Imran Khan slogans continued to echo in the house throughout the session, which was boycotted by the JUI-F. In his victory speech after the CM elections today, Gandapur asserted that he had become the chief minister in an “independent capacity” and lamented how his party was not even given a “playing field let alone a level playing field” in the February 8 general elections. “We do not want to carry out politics of revenge,” he said. But at the same time, the PTI leader also stressed that “we know how to snatch our rights”. Gandapur said he was ready for a probe into the allegations of rigging in the general elections. “Come here and conduct an investigation on the basis of Forms-45,” he stated. “You can open [investigate] whichever constituency you want,” he said. “I am putting the entire province before you […] we hope that every democratic politician would say that the mandate should be returned because stealing a mandate is akin to betraying the public and violating the Constitution,” Gandapur said in the fiery speech. He also demanded the immediate resignation of the chief election commissioner, claiming that the Election Commission of Pakistan had failed to fulfill its responsibility. Gandapur also urged the Supreme Court to set up a judicial commission to probe the allegations of rigging. The PTI leader further stated that Imran Khan was languishing in jail today only because he “exposed a foreign conspiracy before the public”. “Today, the entire nation knows who is elected and who is selected,” Gandapur said. Talking about the May 9 riots, he said around nine first information reports were registered against him on the day. “If you find any evidence against me, come and arrest me,” the PTI leader said. He demanded that a “judicial inquiry” should be held into the May 9 events and the “real beneficiaries” of the saga should be exposed. Gandapur also stated that all the PTI leaders falsely implicated should be released within a week and warned that otherwise action would be taken. Gandapur also promised to end terrorism in KP and said that the government would ensure every person in the province would be able to sleep in peace. Talking about the economic situation of KP, Gandapur said that he would focus on increasing the revenue of the province and reducing the burdens on the poor segments. “We will give property, right to inheritance, free legal assistance to women,” he promised, adding that the government would also invest in trade and business development to create employment. Gandapur also announced that health card in the province would be restored from the first day of Ramazan.
Nawaz makes new bid to woo Fazl to join coalition ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
In a significant move preceding Sunday’s premiership elections in the National Assembly, Nawaz Sharif, the supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), paid a visit to the residence of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JUI-F). The meeting underscored a dialogue between the two former coalition partners as they navigate the political landscape. Welcoming Nawaz Sharif along with other prominent members of the PML-N, including Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, and Rana Sanaullah, Maulana Fazlur Rehman extended a warm reception. Representing the
JUI-F were Ghulam Ali, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, and Noor Alam Khan. Sources privy to the discussions revealed that Nawaz Sharif and Maulana Fazlur Rehman engaged in a one-on-one meeting lasting for about an hour. The deliberations primarily centred on political matters, concluding with both leaders departing in an amiable mood. Addressing the media post-meeting, Rana Sanaullah, a senior leader of the PMLN, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “We have endured challenging times together and have consistently sought guidance from Maulana Fazlur Rehman,” he stated. “Our association has weathered the storm during the PTI government, with Maulana’s support.”
Sanaullah emphasised the cordiality observed during the meeting, asserting that there was no animosity between the two parties. “Maulana Fazlur Rehman remains our beacon. Our earnest endeavour is to retain his counsel and ensure its efficacy,” he affirmed. Dispelling speculation, Sanaullah clarified that Nawaz Sharif’s visit was not aimed at garnering votes from Maulana Fazlur Rehman but rather to deliberate on the nation’s prevailing political climate. He underscored mutual respect between the leaders, highlighting their willingness to consider each other’s perspectives. Sanaullah also lauded Mahmood Khan Achakzai as a revered and patriotic figure, hinting at potential engagement between PML-N and Achakzai.