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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tory complaints miss the mark
Opinion For the past number of weeks, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has been criticized by the Progressive Conservatives and some in the media for delaying the byelection call in the Spruce Woods constituency. More recently, he has also been attacked for a series of spending commitments for initiatives in and around that riding. The complaints are unwarranted for several reasons, beginning with the fact that the premier is not breaching any elections law, rule or regulation by taking his time to set the date for the byelection. Under Manitoba's Elections Act, the contest must occur within six months of the seat becoming vacant. Former Spruce Woods MLA Grant Jackson resigned on March 24, which means the byelection must be held by Sept. 24. That's still more than two months away. Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun Premier Wab Kinew reacts while sparring with a reporter over the vacant Spruce Woods riding seat after an announcement at Brandon University's Brodie Science Centre. The law also requires that election campaigns must be no shorter than 28 days and no longer than 32 days. As such, Kinew must call the Spruce Woods byelection on or before Aug. 27. In other words, he still has several weeks before being obligated to drop the byelection writ. The six-month period may seem unreasonable — some might say opportunistic — but it exists for a reason. It takes time for political parties to recruit credible candidates to seek a nomination, for parties to hold nomination contests and meetings, to build campaign teams, raise funds and do all the door knocking that is required. Six months is a reasonable period of time to get all that done. Beyond that reality, the Tories are also holding Kinew to a different standard than they adhered to when they were in government. In 2022, former premier Heather Stefanson took 152 days to call a byelection in the Thompson riding, and took even longer — 162 days — to call a byelection in Winnipeg's Kirkfield Park riding. On the issue of pre-writ spending, the Tories argue that the government is abusing its authority. In the past three months, Kinew and/or members of his cabinet have made at least six appearances in and around the Spruce Woods riding (which includes the northern portion of Brandon), where they have announced or reannounced more than $330 million in provincial funding for various local initiatives. That includes $120 million in funding and financing for Assiniboine College, $189 million for road and bridge repairs in Westman and $3.3 million for renovations to Brandon University's aging science building. Last week, Kinew also announced that his government is doubling the number of students training to be doctors in Brandon from 10 to 20. The flurry of announcements has irked the Tories, but previous Manitoba PC governments were just as guilty of engaging in targeted spending sprees prior to byelections. That said, are the Tories seriously suggesting that the government should not be investing all that money in Westman on roads, bridges, health care and post-secondary education? It would be political suicide to articulate that precise argument to voters, and yet that is the implication of their grievance. Perhaps the greatest flaw in the Tories' complaints regarding the Kinew government's flurry of promises is the likelihood that all that spending won't change which party's candidate wins the Spruce Woods byelection. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. Since its creation in 2011, the riding has always been represented by a Progressive Conservative MLA, who has always been elected by a huge margin. In the 2023 provincial election, Jackson received more than 61 per cent of the votes cast, and that was the lowest percentage for a Tory candidate since the riding came into existence. The NDP candidate received just 24 per cent. Given that history, does Kinew honestly think his NDP team can win what has consistently been one of the province's safest Tory seats? Pundits asked that same question in the context of Winnipeg's Tuxedo riding until the NDP won it in a byelection last year. With the recent rash of promises, the premier is attempting to buy himself a chance of repeating that achievement in Spruce Woods. The odds are seriously stacked against him, but he lacks for neither confidence nor optimism. At a minimum, he's made the Spruce Woods byelection much more interesting than expected — and the Tories are getting nervous. Deveryn Ross is a political commentator living in Brandon. deverynrossletters@ X: @deverynross
Business Recorder
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
ECP urges political parties to file annual financial statements by Aug 29
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday issued an official reminder to the heads of all political parties to submit their consolidated statements of accounts (Form-D) of the fiscal year 2024–25 no later than August 29. 'In terms of section 210 of the Elections Act, 2017 read with section 204 of the Act ibid and rule 159 & 160 of the Election Rules, 2017, thereof, that the political parties are required to file with Election Commission their Consolidated Statement of Accounts on (Form-D) for financial year, 2024-25 ended on 30th June, 2025 on or before 29th August, 2025,' said a press release issued on Wednesday. It may be recalled that Section 210 of the Elections Act, 2017 provides that a Political Party shall, in such a manner as may be prescribed, submit to the Commission, within sixty days from the close of a financial year, a consolidated statement of its accounts audited by a Chartered Accountant on Form-D containing, annual income and expenses, sources of its funds and assets and liabilities. The Consolidated Statement of Accounts to be submitted to the Election Commission shall be complete in all respects and shall be accompanied by a report of a Chartered Accountant about the audit of accounts of a political party and a certificate signed by an office-bearer authorised by the party Head stating that: No funds were received by the party from any source prohibited under the Elections Act, 2017. The statement of accounts contains an accurate picture of the financial position of the party. The information given above is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. The above statement is audited by a Chartered Accountant, and a detailed report thereof is annexed. The statement of accounts is to be submitted on Form D as provided in the Elections Act, 2017 Printed forms are available, free of cost, in the Election Commission Secretariat, Islamabad and in the offices of the Provincial Election Commissioners, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Form-D / Proforma for the source of funds are also available on ECP's Website. Overwriting should be avoided. The attested copy of the Membership / Certificate issued by ICAP in respect of the Auditor engaged shall be annexed to the Form-D along with the last valid renewal certificate. The Form-D shall also accompany a legible copy of each of the bank statements for the period from 01.07.2024 to 30.06.2025 of the party, along with a bank reconciliation statement. The subject statement shall be addressed to the Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan, Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad and shall be delivered through an office bearer of the party, duly authorised by the party head in terms of rule 156 of the Election Rules, 2017. Statements received through post, fax, courier service or any other mode shall not be accepted.
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Jamshed Dasti de-seated over fake degree
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday disqualified Member of the National Assembly Jamshed Dasti on grounds of possessing a fake academic credentials. The commission accepted a reference sent by the Speaker of the National Assembly along with two petitions seeking Dasti's disqualification. A three-member Election Commission bench, led by ECP Member (Sindh) Nisar Durrani, heard a petition filed by Ameer Akbar concerning the assets and liabilities of MNA Jamshed Dasti. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) member of the Election Commission questioned whether MNA Jamshed Dasti possessed any undisclosed property. In response, the petitioner's lawyer argued that Dasti had listed an FA (Intermediate) qualification on his nomination papers, despite not having completed his matriculation. The petitioner's lawyer added that Jamshed Dasti had only submitted his matriculation certificate from the Karachi Board in response. Upon hearing this, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) member of the Election Commission remarked that the ECP held the authority to disqualify him. The decision followed the approval of two petitions against him, one of which was a reference filed by the National Assembly Speaker seeking his disqualification. The Election Commission has also directed authorities to initiate legal proceedings against Jamshed Dasti. In May, the Election Commission decided to have Jamshed Dasti's academic credentials authenticated by the Karachi Education Board. Jamshed Dasti, elected from NA-175 Muzaffargarh in the previous general elections, faced legal proceedings under Articles 62 and 63, as well as Sections 4, 9, and 137 of the Elections Act, 2017. Petitions seeking his disqualification were filed by Ameer Akbar, Zulfiqar Dogar, and Sardar Faizul Hassan. Meanwhile, the ECP rejected opposition leader Omar Ayub's request to drop the assets-related case, and adjourned the hearing until July 29. A five-member bench, led by the Chief Election Commissioner, convened to hear the case concerning Omar Ayub's assets. Representing the PTI leader and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, his lawyer contended that asset and liability details are mandated to be submitted by December 31. According to the rules, the Election Commission is authorized to initiate a complaint against a Member of the Assembly within 120 days of receiving inaccurate asset declarations. However, in this instance, the Commission issued the notice after April 29 this year. Omar Ayub's counsel contended that the Election Commission's notice violated procedural rules and urged its withdrawal. However, the Commission dismissed the request. Election Commission member Shah Mohammad clarified to Omar Ayub's legal counsel that the initial notice was issued within the prescribed timeframe and affirmed that the Election Commission had ensured the provision of a fair trial.
Express Tribune
02-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
ECP asks parties to submit financial statements
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday reminded all the heads of Political Parties to submit their consolidated statements of accounts (Form-D) for financial year 2024-25 on or before August 29. "In terms of section 210 of the Elections Act, 2017 read with section 204 of the Act ibid and rule 159 & 160 of the Election Rules, 2017, thereof, that the political parties are required to file with Election Commission their Consolidated Statement of Accounts on (Form-D) for financial year, 2024-25 ended on 30th June, 2025 on or before 29th August, 2025," said a press release issued.
Express Tribune
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Reserved seats
Listen to article The much-awaited decision on reserved seats has cleared the air and now PTI is neither a parliamentary party nor is it eligible for the seats reserved for women and minorities in national and provincial assemblies. The judgment delivered on Friday by the Constitutional Bench under Justice Aminuddin Khan has set aside the July 12, 2024, eight-member majority decision of the Supreme Court, which had declared the PTI eligible for reserved seats. In fact, the Constitutional bench has restored the Peshawar High Court's original order that had outright dismissed the PTI's plea for reserved seats after it had changed its nomenclature to Sunni Ittehad Council on the floor of the house. Since the Sunni Ittehad had not taken part in the February 2024 general elections, the PTI taking refuge under its banner was infructuous, and goes on to endorse the claim held by the Election Commission. This was fait accompli for PTI, as its logic and argument on the reserved seats was found untenable, in the review petition, even by the honourable judges who had earlier voiced for it. The strength of the decision can be gauged from the fact that seven judges put their weight behind review pleas filed by ECP, PML-N and others, while three judges 'partially allowed' them'. The proceedings, likewise, saw a fair lawsuit as dissenting notes too were entertained as those of Justices Ayesha A Malik and Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, and the last to the recuse was Justice Salahuddin Panhwar. The 12-judge judgment now makes it obvious that those who had earlier joined the Sunni Ittehad could face the defection clause under Article 63A of the Constitution, if they chose to rejoin PTI after this judgment. In principle, the PTI has had a fair hearing and now as per law, the reserved seats under Article 51 and Article 106 and the Elections Act will go to the coalition because the 77 seats cannot be kept vacant. With nine judges having corrected the error in the review petitions, it's time to walk straight and let the Constitution have its way.
