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Bilawal blames PML-N for ‘stealing mandate’ in AJK votes, seeks inquiry
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of benefitting from alleged rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, demanding a judicial probe into reported polling-day incidents.
Addressing a PPP workers convention in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal thanked the voters in Mirpur for voting for his party and noted that the PPP had earned a majority of votes in various constituencies. Now it’s up to the party to preserve the popular mandate, he said.
According to unofficial and tentative results of first phase of AJK Legislative Assembly elections, PML-N won nine out of 13 constituencies in Mirpur while PPP got four seats.
Bilawal questioned the fairness of the voting process and stated the results did not reflect the public’s aspirations in certain areas. He questioned PPP leader Ch Muhammad Yasin how the senior politician could lose in his own village despite having considerable local backing.
Bilawal said the incidents at polling stations have marred the election process and said that attacks were reported at roughly 30 polling stations despite security precautions. “If it was isolated incidents it would be one thing,” he said, “but when the volume of what’s been reported is so great it raises serious questions.”
The PPP leader stated further that the phased elections had created chances for electoral manipulation. He said the acts were designed to affect the outcome of the polls, although electoral authorities have not validated such claims.
Bilawal remarked that the national institutions should focus on the national interest of Pakistan instead of the benefit of any political party, criticising the approach of the federal government. He also raised worry over internet shutdowns during the election time, saying such tactics left an adverse picture about democratic procedures in Azad Kashmir.
“Election irregularities are nothing new. Political issues in Azad Kashmir should be resolved through constitutional and democratic means,” Bilawal stated. He claimed political discourse may have saved violence and loss of life, referring to prior instability in the area.
Bilawal requested free, fair and transparent elections and also demanded constitution of an impartial inquiry body to probe the reported irregularities during the electoral process.
He also attacked a boycott effort and accused the political opponents of misleading their own leaders. Bilawal appealed on people to participate in the democratic process by voting irrespective of the political party they belonged to.
PPP chairman said he would preserve the party’s electoral mandate and stated that the elections to be held in Muzaffarabad on August 2 would be held without permitting any attempt to influence the public’s vote.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has asked all intending pilgrims enrolled under the government’s Hajj Scheme 2027 to deposit their second instalment by October 20, the last date for depositing the dues.
“Pilgrims must pay by the deadline to avoid cancellation of their Hajj applications,” the ministry added.
The ministry’s spokesperson said that so far over 97,000 pilgrims have deposited the second instalment and total revenues through the National Information Technology Board’s (NITB) digital Hajj portal have reached Rs61 billion.
Of these pilgrims, 45,245 paid using One Link and 3,685 paid with debit or credit cards. Another 47,563 cleared their dues via bank challans.
Those pilgrims who have not yet paid have been asked to complete the process through NITB’s Hajj online or Pak Hajj mobile application.
The government has also made it necessary for all prospective pilgrims to undergo medical checkup. They have to download the medical fitness certificate from Hajj portal, get it validated by a registered doctor and upload it on the portal.
Pilgrims have been encouraged to keep checking Pak Hajj app for latest information and official instructions about Hajj 2027.
— The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) kicked off on a bullish note on Tuesday with the benchmark KSE-100 Index rising more than 400 points in early trade.
The index rose to 166,425 points at the start of the second trading session of the business week, indicating better market performance.
The KSE-100 Index closed down 453 points at 165,966 points in the last trading session.
The benchmark index turned positive during early trading after falling in the previous session. The latest gains were made as the benchmark index went into positive territory during early trading.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has issued notices under Section 19 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, in connection with the ongoing inquiry regarding Dr Amjad Ali, MPA and Special Assistant to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa dysfunctional Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Housing.
The inquiry is into claims of acquisition of assets beyond known sources of income, corruption and unscrupulous behaviour.
NAB has called four witnesses, Bacha Syed, Muhammad Arif Shah, Siraj Ahmed and Naveed Ahmed, to record their statements and furnish relevant documents between October 20 and 22.
The agency also asked for data relating to allotment, ownership and payment of plots in connection with Islamabad’s Eighteen Housing Society and Jalozai Housing Scheme.
Read More: Rs920m scam uncovered in KP education department
Besides, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Accounts Department has been instructed to provide record of salary, allowances, incentives and travel expenditures of Dr Amjad Ali.
NAB has cautioned that non-availability of sought records may invite initiation of legal action including prosecution against the concerned persons.
The probe remains focused on the charges under investigation, and the issue of summons notifications does not, by itself, demonstrate misconduct.
Govt Hajj scheme 2027: Second instalment payment deadline falls today
PSX gains over 400 points at opening
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