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ECP ‘unlikely’ to announce elections date any time soon

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  • CEC working to ensure delimitation process is unquestionable.
  • Recent meetings beneficial; no major party opposed delimitation.
  • President Alvi has mysteriously gone quiet since last Friday.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is in no rush to announce the schedule of the general elections in the country, as the regular meetings are more focused on completing the process of constituency delimitation in an error-free manner, The News reported Thursday. 

Highly placed sources from the ECP told the publication: “It is unlikely that polling day will be determined any time soon and even before the end of the month as the specific question isn’t on the agenda of the ECP’s meetings as yet.”

They further added that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja has been working diligently for weeks to make sure the process of delimitation is undertaken in a way that can’t be questioned. 

Committees for supervision of the process have been constituted and committee members have been asked to constitute subordinate committees comprising people whose integrity cannot be questioned. Committee members are also being monitored so that their work is not affected by politics.

According to sources, the recent series of meetings with the political leadership of various parties proved beneficial for the ECP’s process as no noteworthy party had opposed the delimitation. 

As far as the question of polls in a specific period of time is concerned, though, parties do have divergent views about the timeline. 

The CEC has told the commission that undue haste will not be exercised during the delimitation process since this is a sensitive issue and provides the basis for the elections.

It has been indicated that the ECP will take up the question of the election schedule in the last week of this month. Weather and other logistical considerations will be taken into view before deciding the date of the polls. 

Per sources: “the commission is fully aware of its obligations relating to elections in a free and fair manner…. it will not budge under any pressure coming from any side”.

The ECP is also apparently satisfied with the assurances given by the caretaker administration regarding the provision of required support in relation to the polls. Sources have hinted that the general elections could be held in the last week of January next year. 

Apparently, the ECP has dedicated the third floor of its office to state-of-the-art equipment to keep an eye on pre- and post-poll affairs. It will be used as a monitoring centre where the election results will reach immediately post-counting. 

In an unrelated development, President Arif Alvi has mysteriously gone quiet since last Friday. His official spokesman is also not communicative. The president was set to perhaps announce a polling date this week but he may have retracted from his plan. 

His five-year tenure as the country’s president is set to conclude tomorrow (Friday). While he has been advised to call it a day, and vaguely he was in agreement per rumours, now sources say he wants to avail the constitutional concession that allows him to stay in office till the election of his successor.

The dilemma with Arif Alvi is that while he has constitutional support, he badly lacks political goodwill. 

There is thinking that even political parties have conveyed to the people concerned that it would be difficult for them to accept the process of electioneering in the presence of a highly controversial figure in the Presidency. Alvi is seen to have acted as a partisan head of state. 

Regardless, it is believed by sources that he could resurface tomorrow.

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Honours From The Families Of The Martyrs: September 1965’s Heroes Are Recalled

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Pakistan marks the anniversary of the day the Pakistani Army defeated an enemy attack and won a major victory on September 6. On this day of defence, the families of the war martyrs from 1965 offered their opinions:

The soldiers’ actions in demolishing enemy tanks with explosives and their bravery in the dark were commended by Shaheed Sepoy Muhammad Haleem’s brother. He gave the 1965 martyrs his respects.

The significance of Defence Day is remembered for the martyrs, as stressed by Shaheed Sepoy Shahid Ahmed’s uncle. The brother of Shaheed Sepoy Aftab Hussain offered gratitude to everyone who has given their life in defence of the nation.

In addition to emphasising the value of encouraging rather than criticising the troops, Shaheed Sepoy Wazir Ahmed’s brother praised the soldiers for foiling the enemy’s schemes.

Javed Ahmed, Shaheed Lance Naik’s cousin, emphasised September 6th’s significance as a day of victory.

In addition to expressing support for the Pakistani Army today, the brother of Shaheed Havaldar Shafiq reiterated their dedication to remembering the dead of September 6, 1965.

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The Finance Minister has pledged to attract foreign investments by creating an environment that is friendly to business.

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In a recent statement, Pakistan’s Minister of Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb reaffirmed the country’s unwavering dedication to luring international investments by preserving an atmosphere that is commercially encouraging.

A group of international investors, led by Amin Mohammad Khowaja, the Chief Executive Officer of J.P. Morgan Pakistan, had visited him in Islamabad. He was speaking with them.

Muhammad Aurangzeb also provided further information regarding the ambitious structural reforms program of the government. This agenda aims to strengthen the general macroeconomic stability by widening the tax base, rightsizing the public sector, promoting privatization, and reforming the energy sector.

The Minister of Finance emphasized the great achievements that Pakistan has made in strengthening its macroeconomic indicators, such as the increase in exports by 14 percent, the decrease in inflation to 9.6 percent, which is the lowest level in 34 months, and an overall decrease in the current account deficit among Pakistan’s economic indicators.

It was also brought to his attention that Pakistan’s sovereign credit ratings had improved, which is indicative of a stable and encouraging economic future. According to him, the rigorous fiscal discipline, inflation management, and favorable balance of payments that the country has are the pillars upon which the country’s economic prosperity.

In addition to expressing confidence regarding the potential for larger investment flows into Pakistan, the delegation praised the efforts that the government has made to establish an atmosphere that is conducive to business.

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Journalists require training. Media professionals who have received training can serve as ambassadors. Tarar

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According to Information Minister Atta Ullah Tarar, journalists must possess sufficient skills in order to serve as ambassadors for the country, particularly in the digital realm, to foster unity among people. This is a pressing requirement at present.

During an event in Islamabad focused on journalist training, Atta Ullah Tarrar, the Minister responsible for combating misinformation, stated his official role.

The Information Minister emphasized the indispensability of technology for achieving prosperity, and in line with this, the Government has implemented Pakistan’s inaugural digital land registry system.

Tarar stated that we have the privilege of initiating Pakistan’s inaugural safe city project.

Regarding verification and authentication, the Information Minister lamented the lack of a method to validate information.

According to the Information Minister, terrorist organizations are utilizing social media platforms. Additionally, the minister highlighted that the country’s economy is delicate, and the dissemination of a single false news item might result in significant economic losses for the nation.

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