Politics

Govt assures ECP of ‘full security’ for general elections

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

Interior minister says will ensure security for peaceful polls.
Bugti says govt to provide all facilities to ECP for elections.
He advises parties to ensure timely correspondence with LEAs.

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmad Bugti said Tuesday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would have “full security” for holding the general elections in a peaceful environment.

In conversation with a private television channel, the interim minister said the caretaker government would take necessary measures to provide all required facilities to ECP for conducting general elections in a transparent manner.

The minister’s comments came after the commission sought the Pakistan Army’s help in ensuring the law and order situation for the polls — slated to take place on February 8, 2024.

During the elections, the security situation is a grave concern for the authorities concerned and to ensure that nothing goes south, law enforcers are deployed at polling stations and they are also on patrol.

The ECP has informed the interior ministry that it faces a total shortfall of more than 270,000 police personnel, prompting it to request for the army’s assistance “in static mode”.

Some political parties have also raised concerns over the security situation, wondering whether it was feasible to hold the elections or not, but the ECP has clarified that intends to stage the polls on February 8 next year.

In the conversation, the minister also told political parties to cooperate with law enforcement agencies (LEAs) before arranging any public or corner meeting for their election campaign.

“Timely information about public gatherings or meetings would help security institutions make better arrangements for them,” the caretaker interior minister added.

Commenting on rising terrorism incidents in different parts of the country, he said that the LEAs were “fully alert to control the menace of terrorism”.

He said enemies are trying to sabotage the peaceful environment of Pakistan. Bugti added that the security institutions are taking all possible steps to defeat terrorism in a befitting manner.

Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) data showed that the country saw a notable surge in militant activities in November as the attacks rose by 34% following a two-month decline.

A total of 63 attacks took place which resulted in 83 fatalities, including 37 security forces personnel and 33 civilians.

Latest News

The PPP and PML-N will confer on power-sharing arrangements in Punjab today.

Published

9 hours ago

Farwa

The coordination committees of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are scheduled to convene today at the Governor’s House in Lahore to deliberate on power-sharing arrangements in Punjab.

The PPP delegation would comprise Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Makhdoom Syed Ahmed Mahmood, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Hassan Murtaza, and Ali Haider Gilani.

Ishaq Dar, Azam Nazir Tarar, Rana Sanaullah, Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, and Maryam Aurangzeb will represent the PML-N.

The conference will discuss local issues in Punjab and offer a forum for the PPP to express its concerns over its collaboration with PML-N in the province.

Both parties seek to fortify their partnership and optimize governance techniques in Punjab.

Latest News

Sheikh Rasheed says PTI and government negotiations won’t provide any results.

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

Sheikh Rasheed voiced his worries about the nation’s ongoing political dilemma while speaking outside the Anti-Terrorism Court.

According to Sheikh Rasheed, a committee was established to negotiate, but the process has not produced any tangible results. In order to emphasize the seriousness of the situation, he said, “Political conditions are extremely bad.”

He made the joke, “Even after war, if negotiations fail, then it will all come down to judo karate,” in reference to the next steps.

“Everyone there prays for Pakistan’s betterment,” Sheikh Rasheed, who had returned from Saudi Arabia, said. He emphasized the necessity for the nation’s circumstances to improve and stabilize.

Assad Qaiser, a former speaker and PTI leader, had earlier called on Speaker Ayaz Sadiq of the National Assembly to discuss the official start of talks with the government.

The two leaders shared their opinions on bringing parties together on matters of national importance and reducing political tensions and conflict.

“I will persuade my people, you persuade the hardliners in your party,” Ayaz Sadiq said to Assad Qaiser.

The party’s founder is in jail, and the PTI leadership has asked to meet with him. “We will continue to confer with him,” Assad Qaiser declared.

Earlier, PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai stated that if the discussions don’t begin, a campaign of civil disobedience will begin on December 14.

Speaking to the media Regarding the meetings, Yousafzai claimed that the government ministers were making insincere remarks.

Latest News

Bushra Bibi maintains bail as the IHC concludes the FIA’s petition.

Published

2 weeks ago

Farwa

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) conducted a hearing about the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) plea for the revocation of Bushra Bibi’s bail.

The court, led by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, rejected the FIA’s petition during the hearing.

Judicial Proceedings

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb sought information regarding Bushra Bibi’s location, to which her attorney, Barrister Salman Safdar, affirmed her attendance in court.

The judge urged the counsel to regard the matters with gravity, underscoring the necessity of adherence to trial protocols.

The court sought details about instances where Bushra Bibi had been exempted from attending trial hearings and clarified that if the High Court grants bail and the accused fails to appear, the trial court holds the authority to cancel the bail.

Justice Aurangzeb assured that such actions would not amount to contempt of the High Court’s order.

Based on these considerations, the court closed the proceedings and dismissed the FIA’s plea.