CM Gandapur moves PHC for PTI recognition
The petition names the federal government, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and other relevant institutions as respondents. It challenges Section 94(4) of the Election Rules 2017, arguing that it contradicts the Election Act 2017.
According to the petition, PTI is still a functional political party and currently holds a majority in the K-P Assembly. However, the ECP has excluded PTI from the definition of a political party, citing the absence of an electoral symbol.
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Business Recorder
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PTI strategy stalls oath-taking of reserved seat lawmakers in KP Assembly
A session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly scheduled for oath-taking of lawmakers on reserved seats was adjourned on Sunday after the treasury benches raised the issue of quorum, a deliberate move seen as part of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) strategy to delay the process amid internal rifts and growing pressure ahead of Senate elections, Aaj News reported. The assembly session, scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m., was delayed by nearly two and a half hours and eventually adjourned until July 24 at 2:00 p.m. due to a lack of quorum. The adjournment halted the swearing-in of several women and minority lawmakers from the opposition, despite their presence in the house. The session, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, began only briefly before PTI lawmaker Sher Ali Afridi pointed out the quorum, prompting government members to start leaving the hall one by one. Only four PTI lawmakers were present in the chamber at the time, sources said. Opposition parties, including PML-N, JUI-F, and PPP, slammed the government's tactics, accusing it of deliberately obstructing the democratic process. Several opposition lawmakers gathered in front of the speaker's dais, shouting slogans and urging him to proceed with the oath-taking. Speaker Swati noted that the required strength of 25 members was not met, and therefore, the session could not continue. A female member from the opposition objected, saying quorum cannot be pointed out during Quranic recitation, but the speaker insisted on counting members before any further debate. Among those present to take oath were PML-N's Farah Khan, Amina Sardar, Faiza Malik, Shazia Jadoon, Afsha Hussain, Jameela Paracha, and Sonia Hussain, along with JUI-F's Bilqees, Sitara Afrin, and Aiman Jaleel Jan. PPP's Madiha Afridi and Rabia Shaheen, and other minority and women lawmakers were also in attendance. PHC bars elected MPAs on reserved seats from taking oath The move comes amid reports of widening cracks within the ruling PTI's provincial chapter. According to party insiders, tensions between Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and a breakaway faction of PTI lawmakers have intensified, particularly over the allocation of Senate tickets. Sources claimed that the party leadership, anticipating backlash from disgruntled members, had devised a 'Plan B' to avoid the oath-taking altogether. The tactic: disrupt the quorum to prevent the opposition from gaining voting strength ahead of the upcoming Senate elections. Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah told reporters that if the government continues to block the process, the opposition alliance has alternative legal routes to ensure the swearing-in takes place. He added that any delay is a 'blatant subversion of parliamentary norms' and called on the Election Commission to take notice. Meanwhile, opposition parties held an emergency meeting at the Governor's House to outline their next steps. With political temperatures rising in the province, both sides appear locked in a high-stakes standoff that could shape the composition of the upper house in the weeks to come.
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
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Court orders arrest of Gandapur in liquor case
Listen to article A judicial magistrate in Islamabad has ordered the arrest of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur after dismissing his application seeking exemption from personal appearance in a long-pending case pertaining to the recovery of liquor and illegal arms. Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti on Saturday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the chief minister and directed the station house officer (SHO) concerned to ensure his production before the court. A notice was also issued to the SHO for immediate compliance. The case dates back to October 2016, when the Islamabad police claimed to have recovered five Kalashnikov assault rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bulletproof vest, alcohol and three tear gas shells from a vehicle belonging to the PT) leader outside Bani Gala. Gandapur, however, has consistently denied the police allegations. He stated that he had been traveling with two licensed Kalashnikov rifles and maintained that a valid arms licence was present in the vehicle. Regarding the alleged recovery of liquor, he claimed that the bottle in question contained honey, not alcohol. During Friday's hearing, the magistrate observed that the case has remained pending for nearly eight years. The prosecution completed the recording of witness statements in May 2024, yet the accused has failed to record his statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The court remarked that it had provided the accused ample opportunity, and warned that a verdict could be announced even in his absence should he fail to appear at the next hearing. "No further relief will be granted if the statement is not recorded by July 21," the magistrate stated in his written order. The court also noted that the Peshawar High Court's bail order did not mention the present case and did not bar this court from issuing arrest warrants. The hearing was adjourned until July 21.
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
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PTI rift threatens to unravel govt-op bonhomie
Listen to article The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) found itself in the throes of a growing internal rift on Saturday as rebel Senate candidates rejected the party's 'diktat' to withdraw their nomination papers, vowing instead to contest the July 21 polls in open defiance of an opposition-backed consensus deal. The development came as the government and opposition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have struck a rare unity pact to ensure the victory of 11 agreed-upon Senate candidates in a move to sideline the party's rebels. PTI's political committee, meeting late Saturday night, endorsed a power-sharing agreement with the opposition and reaffirmed the list of official candidates issued by party founder Imran Khan. However, the move has triggered a backlash from sidelined aspirants, who accuse the leadership of capitulating to what they term an "establishment-sponsored deal". Despite the directive to withdraw, five rebel candidates, including Irfan Saleem, Khurram Zishan, Waqas Orakzai, former IG Irshad Hussain and Aisha Bano, stood their ground following internal consultations. In public statements and video messages, they declared they would not bow to what they alleged to be "political expediency" and "closed-door compromises". "This has gone far beyond the Senate elections," Khurram Zishan said in a defiant message. "We're being asked to hand over our trust to the very people who jailed our workers, tortured our elders, and stole our mandate via Form 47. We reject political wheeling and dealing. We are not playing politics ... we are waging resistance." Party pushes back, rebels dig in The party's political committee, while backing PTI Imran Khan's handpicked list, acknowledged internal objections, including to candidates like Mishal Yousafzai and Irfan Saleem, but said the founder's decisions were final. The committee warned dissidents that they could face disciplinary notices if they did not comply. PTI leadership has given the rebel candidates a deadline of 12 noon today to withdraw. However, the dissenters, emboldened by what they claim are 20 MPAs in contact with them, appear undeterred. Irfan Saleem accused PTI's leadership of forming an "unholy alliance" to install establishment-backed candidates. "We will not allow this taint on a legislature built on Imran Khan's name," he said. "Our resistance is not personal, it is ideological." Aisha Bano said the Senate seats were "a trust given to us by the party's workers and Khan himself," and would not be handed to those who "stole our mandate". "This is not just another election ... it's the front line of a movement," she said. Govt, opposition join forces to shut out rebels Meanwhile, sources confirmed that the government and opposition in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have struck a rare unity pact to ensure the victory of 11 agreed-upon Senate candidates in a move to sideline the PTI rebels. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and opposition leader Dr Ibadullah will jointly oversee the formation and coordination of seven special voting panels. Four of these will be supervised by provincial ministers, with the remaining three managed by opposition parliamentary leaders. Under the plan, government MPAs will be gathered at the CM House and dispatched in groups to cast votes under ministerial supervision. Opposition MPs will follow a similar strategy. Each panel will be instructed to vote for specific general, women, and technocrat candidates. The cooperation includes an accountability mechanism, with both sides agreeing to investigate if votes slip toward rebel candidates. A backup Plan B, involving delaying the election or swearing in new MPAs, was discussed but ultimately set aside due to a lack of consensus. Senior PTI leaders are expected to be present in the assembly during the vote, as are key opposition figures. Sources within the opposition expressed confidence in the arrangement. "We are satisfied with the government's commitment. All eleven candidates should win smoothly if the agreement holds," they said.
