Latest news with #Form45
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PTI's rigging claims baseless, shameful: Azma
LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s claim of election rigging after suffering a clear defeat by 39,000 votes is extremely shameful and tantamount to denying reality. She stated that according to the FAFEN report, 116 polling agents expressed satisfaction with the electoral process. She added that the people of Sambrial have out rightly rejected and cast away the anti-state narrative of the PTI founder. She said that the people of Punjab now vote for and strongly support Maryam Nawaz's politics of public service, as the Pakistan Muslim League (N) is the only party with a genuine vision for development, stability, and public welfare. Responding to PTI leader Waqas Akram's press conference, Azma Bokhari stated that PTI faced a humiliating defeat in the Sambrial by-election. As per FAFEN's report, presiding officers duly provided Form 45 to polling agents, and out of 121 interviews conducted, 116 polling agents confirmed their satisfaction with the voting process. She noted that the vote share of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) in Sambrial increased from 41% to 59%, while PTI's vote share dropped from 35% to 29%. These statistics are enough to open the eyes of so-called intellectuals and analysts who continue to push PTI's narrative, she said, adding: 'Blaming the police and district administration instead of accepting defeat is a long-standing habit of PTI.' She reiterated that the people of Sambrial have firmly rejected the founder of PTI's anti-state rhetoric. The people of Punjab now vote for Maryam Nawaz's politics of service and continue to support it. This seat has always belonged to the PML(N), and it will remain unbeatable in the future as well, she added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Snail-paced tribunals
The clipped February 8, 2024 verdict is now literally questioning the independence of the judiciary. Even 14 months after the vote, it is heart-wrenching to note that more than two-thirds of the petitions challenging the results of national and provincial assembly constituencies remain undecided. This not only violates the constitutional dictum to settle such rows within a stipulated time period, but also comes to delegitimise the ruling edifice, apart from raising questions on the biases of the Election Commission. Adding to this is the outcome in the form of abject political instability that is reflected in a sense of disconnect with state-centrism. The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), an independent think tank, maintains that the overall pace of decisions has been slow. It says between February 1 and April 20, 2025, election tribunals decided 24 petitions related to the general elections, bringing the total number of decided petitions to 136 of a total of 372 being heard across the four provinces. Of these, 26% relate to National Assembly seats and 42% to provincial assembly seats. Apparently, the intention is to deny justice to the PTI candidates, most of whom contested as 'Independent' and were declared successful as per Form 45, only to be declared otherwise under a jaundiced order of Form-47 by the electoral watchdog. One of the prime reasons behind this stalemate is the influence of the executive over the judiciary. The non-formation of tribunals in real time, an inordinate delay in hearing the cases and a biased approach from the state prosecution are the obstacles to dispensation of justice. Likewise, four tribunals remained largely dysfunctional during the reporting period, including two in K-P, one each in Punjab and the Islamabad Capital Territory. This dilemma is casting negativity: coupled with this is the phenomenon of an incomplete Senate, as K-P lacks representation in it, and the non-implementation of the Supreme Court's July 12 verdict on awarding of reserved seats for women and minorities.
News18
24-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
Jailed Imran Khan Looks To Build Pressure On Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir With 6-Point Plan
According to the sources, Imran Khan has presented a six-point plan, with General Asim Munir's resignation as a non-negotiable step: advetisement 1. General Munir Steps Aside: General Asim Munir must resign as Chief of Army Staff immediately, enabling neutral military leadership to oversee a democratic transition. Khan argues that Munir's authoritarian grip undermines Pakistan's future. 2. Negotiated Transition to Civilian Rule: Imran Khan leads a UN-mediated transitional government, culminating in free elections within 12 months using verified February 2024 Form 45 results. This, Khan believes, restores the people's mandate without delay. 3. Independent Election Inquiry: A bipartisan commission, backed by UN oversight, investigates 2024 election fraud. Those responsible, including military actors, face constitutional penalties, ensuring accountability. 4. Justice for Human Rights Violations: Officers implicated in killings, abductions, or torture, including under Munir's command, face trials in reformed civilian courts. The ICC will step in if Pakistan fails to deliver justice. 5. Reparations for Victims: A government-funded programme, supported by UN administration, compensates citizens for losses due to political persecution, addressing grievances and fostering reconciliation. Advertisement 6. Judicial and Military Reform: Remove compromised judges and establish an independent judiciary with UN expertise. Begin a five-year demilitarisation of governance, with US-monitored progress to prevent backsliding. Call to Action Khan: Lead with this framework to reclaim rightful role. Munir: Step aside now—history will judge refusal harshly. Guterres: Deploy UN mediators and investigators to enforce this plan.
Express Tribune
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
JI to launch fresh movement against power tariffs
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has decided to launch a fresh movement against rising electricity prices and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) after Ramazan, instead of joining the opposition's anti-government campaign. JI emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that his party would not align with political groups that "change their stance at a single phone call", lambasting them for focusing on fresh elections instead of demanding a judicial commission to probe electoral rigging. "I fail to understand why PTI is demanding new elections when they have Form 45 in their possession," he said while speaking at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday. He stressed that the priority should be a judicial commission to probe electoral fraud. He also questioned why the opposition parties remain silent on the legitimacy of what he called a "fake parliament" that prioritised laws against "fake news" rather than electoral transparency. The JI emir pointed out that the previous movement led by his party against rising electricity prices and IPPs had forced the government to engage in negotiations. However, the government ultimately failed to provide relief to the public. He reiterated that after Eid, Jamaat-e-Islami would once again take to the streets, demanding a reduction in electricity tariffs and action against IPPs. He argued that electricity prices were being kept high due to pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and questioned why the government could not renegotiate with the lender. "The government must show courage to reduce electricity prices," he said. "Shockingly, the IMF has now even gained access to our judiciary."
Express Tribune
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI, JI observe 'Black Day'
KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Sindh, observed Saturdya, February 8, 2024, as a "Black Day" in protest against the 'theft'of the people's mandate in the general elections. The PTI held strong protests across various cities of Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Larkana, and several others, against the manipulation of the electoral process. At Karachi Press Club, police attempted to halt the protest, and over 25 PTI leaders and workers were arrested across different cities during efforts to suppress the protests. The protests focused on the theft of the mandate and the demand for the release of PTI chairman Imran Khan. PTI's workers and leaders showed remarkable determination, and the number of participants increased steadily as the protests unfolded across the region. PTI leadership declared that they would not back down from their struggle and that the protests would continue until their rights were restored. In Karachi, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, Karachi President Raja Azher, and General Secretary Arsalan Khalid led a large protest at Karachi Press Club, highlighting the theft of the people's mandate. PTI's winning candidates, based on Form 45, held rallies and marches across different constituencies of Karachi, culminating in the protest at the Press Club. The PTI Women's Wing, Labour Wing, Youth Wing, and other district leaders and workers from PTI participated in large numbers. Despite heavy police deployment around the Press Club, the protest was held at Fountain Chowk, where strong slogans were raised against the "fake government" formed through mandate theft. Meanwhile, JI Ameer Monem Zafar has condemned what he described as "establishment-sponsored rigging" of the February 8, 2024 general elections. Addressing the protesters outside the Election Commission of Pakistan's Sindh office on Saturday, the JI leader vowed that his party would continue to resist the "products of Form 47," referring to the current coalition government and those responsible for installing it. The protest, which was part of a nationwide "black day" observed by JI, marked the anniversary of what the party considers the "rigged" 2024 elections. This protest was in response to the appeal made by JI Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. Participants carried placards and banners, chanting slogans against the "products of Form 47" and calling for justice.
