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‘If National Assembly completes its tenure then election will be held before October 11’

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  • Official says ECP has approached judiciary for ROs, DROs.
  • Says polls will be organised under new election laws.
  • Adds electoral authority is in touch with all institutions. 

Election Commission of Pakistan’s Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal has said that if the National Assembly is dissolved as per the competition of its tenure, then the ECP will hold the polls before October 11.

“If the assembly is dissolved after the completion of the term on August 12, then we will hold the elections before October 11,” Iqbal said during a media briefing alongside Secretary Omar Hamid Khan on Thursday. 

He added that the elections will be held based on the delimitation done after the 2017 census.

The special secretary also said that the ECP will get security officials for the polls and is in touch with all institutions. He added that the ECP has also purchased watermarked paper.

“Elections will be held as per the new electoral reforms,” Iqbal added.

On the other hand, Hamid Khan said that they have approached the judiciary for the deployment of officers as district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs). He added that they have sent letters to the registrars of Islamabad, Peshawar and Sindh high courts for ROs. While they sent a reminder letter to Peshawar and Punjab high courts as they had made the request earlier.

Last month, parliament made amendments to the Election Act 2017 that made changes to the electoral process.  

The bill was approved by Sadiq Sanjarani, who was the interim president at the time.  

Senate Chairman Sanjrani, assumed the role of acting president as President Arif Alvi left for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, signed the summary forwarded by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Under the amendments the the disqualification of a parliamentarian has been limited to a maximum of five years, paving the way for those barred for life from running for public office.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, any other law for the time being in force and Judgment, orders or decree of any court, including the Supreme Court and a High Court, the disqualification of a person to be elected, chosen, or to remain as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) of 9 Provincial Assembly under Paragraph (1) of clause (1) of Article 62 of the Constitution shall be for a period not exceeding five years from the declaration by the court of law in that regard and such declaration shall be subject to the due process of law,” the bill reads.

The amendment also allowed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the date for polls unilaterally, without the president’s approval.

“…the Commission shall by notification in the official gazette announce the date or dates, as the case may be, of the general elections,” the bill reads, amending Section 58 of the Election Act.

The law allows the election commission to make changes to the election programme after announcing the date, but it would have to do it “in writing”.

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Prior to the Lahore demonstration, PTI seeks LHC against arrests.

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The petition requesting protection against the arrests of its workers and leaders prior to the event set for September 21 was submitted by Sheikh Imtiaz and Yasir Gillani.

The petition asserted that law enforcement is apprehending party members throughout Punjab, infringing upon their fundamental right to assemble for a rally.

The petitioners sought a court order to compel the authorities to cease arrests and for the march to occur peacefully.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is set to have a demonstration in Lahore on September 21.

Previously, multiple PTI MNAs, including party chairman Barrister Gohar, were apprehended by Islamabad police subsequent to the Sangjani demonstration in Islamabad.

Barrister Gohar and Sher Afzal Marwat were apprehended outside, while Zain Qureshi and Sheikh Waqas Akram were detained within the Parliament House.

Furthermore, law enforcement apprehended Owais Ahmed Chatha, Syed Shah Ahmed, Sahibzada Hamid Raza of the Sunni Ittehad Council, Yousaf Khan, Maulana Naseem Shah, and Ahmed Shah Khattak.

Sources indicated that Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq permitted the detention of PTI Members of the National Assembly outside the premises of the house. The situation occurred after police submitted a copy of the FIR filed against the PTI legislators for breaching SOPs during the public protest on September 8.

Furthermore, three complaints have been filed in Islamabad under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, alleging breaches of the event’s NOC. The FIR identifies 28 individuals, including PTI officials Barrister Gohar Ali, Sher Afzal Marwat, Shoaib Shaheen, Omar Gul, Zartaj Gul, Aamir Mughal, Seemabia Tahir, and Raja Basharat.

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When PPP Delegations Meet with the Prime Minister, PPP Leadership Reveals Complete Confidence in Government Policies

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The Pakistan People’s Party, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is a significant ally that has consistently supported the Government in every move it has taken to boost the national economy.

Within the presence of Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, he was having a conversation with a delegation of the Pakistan People’s Party, who had visited him in Islamabad.

During the course of the conference, questions were asked about the current political climate in the country.

A proposal called the “Charter of Parliament” was submitted in the Parliament by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the initiative, stating that it will further improve democracy and the government.

The PPP Delegation expressed their appreciation for the economic policies that the government has implemented in order to boost the economy of the country.

As a result of the PPP Delegation’s unwavering faith in the policies and initiatives of the government, the Prime Minister found this to be encouraging.

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An eight-day physical remand of PTI leaders has been approved by the ATC Islamabad. PTI leaders have been arrested.

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An eight-day physical remand of PTI leaders who were detained on allegations of terrorism was authorized by the Advanced Trial Court in Islamabad.

Judge Abu Al Hasnat of the ATC made the announcement of the verdict.

Among the leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who have been taken into custody are Sher Afzal Marwat, Amir Dogar, Zain Qureshi, Nasim Shah, Ahmed Chattha, Sheikh Waqas, and Shoaib Shaheen.

An additional judicial remand of Shoaib Shaheen was also approved by the court…

Barrister Gohar, the Chairman of the PTI, was ordered to be released from the Sangjani Police Station, where he was the subject of a complaint.

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