Latest news with #Form47
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gandapur vows PTI's 'war for freedom'
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that following the regime change which toppled their government, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is in a state of war. "This is a battle for Pakistan and for freedom, and we will fight until our last breath," he declared. In a statement, the chief minister said elected representatives are being disqualified without justification, depriving them of their constitutional rights. "Even during the elections, our mandate was stolen across the country. There is no longer any trace of the Constitution and the rule of law in Pakistan," he remarked. He alleged that a "borrowed mandate" through Form 47 has been imposed on the nation and that corruption from past governments is being used as a weapon against PTI. Referring to the Kohistan scandal, he said it was a federal matter, yet the blame was being pinned on the provincial government. Highlighting his administration's performance, Gandapur stated that in the past 17 months the province had generated over Rs250 billion in revenue, setting a new record. "We inherited a province buried in debt and struggling to pay salaries, yet we have put it on the path to development," he said. The provincial government has established an endowment fund of Rs190 billion to repay debts, with a target of Rs300 billion. "Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has now become an example for transparency, service, and progress across the country. Our top priorities are eliminating terrorism and restoring public confidence. The scope of traditional Jirgas will be expanded, and public opinion will be decisive," Gandapur added. He stressed that the sacrifices of police and army martyrs will not go in vain, and a strong strategy will be formulated through public input and Jirga consultations. "State-opposing forces are active, and retaliatory actions are at their peak, but we will not back down. This is a war for Pakistan and for freedom, and we will fight until the very end," he vowed. It may be recalled that the series of regional consultative Jirgas on law and order, hosted by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, concluded on Saturday with the fourth and final gathering held at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar. The meeting drew a large turnout of tribal elders from Upper, Central, and Lower Kurram, political party representatives, and members of the provincial and national assemblies. It was also attended by the CM's Adviser on Information and Public Relations Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Senator Noorul Haq Qadri, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, and relevant commissioners, deputy commissioners, and police officials. Participants lauded the Chief Minister for engaging tribal elders to promote peace and for addressing the Kurram issue through peaceful means. They thanked the provincial government for announcing a special development package for the region, launching helicopter services during crises, and extending full support to the local population.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
SC to take up election disputes today
Supreme Court will take up today ten appeals related to electoral disputes. A three-member bench led by Justice Aminuddin Khan will hear these appeals, starting at 9:30am. The bench also includes Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb. The scheduled cases include Aqeel Aslam's petition regarding alleged rigging in PP-182. There are separate petitions by Muhammad Rafiq and Ali Imran regarding delimitation. Ghazanfar Rasool and Major (retd) Faisal Aziz have filed separate petitions challenging the rejection of their nomination papers and Sarbuland Khan and Saleh Bhutani have filed separate petitions seeking recounting of votes. There is a petition by Malik Ashraf Khan challenging the election results under Form 47. There is also a petition by Muhammad Shehbaz regarding dual nationality and its impact on his candidacy.
Business Recorder
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PM, Saad Rafique discuss political situation
ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) moved swiftly on Thursday to capitalise on the difficulties faced by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after a series of court convictions and disqualifications resulted in several National Assembly seats being left vacant. In recent weeks, a number of key PTI lawmakers – including the opposition leader in National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan – have been convicted or disqualified by the courts, resulting in around six seats falling vacant in the lower house. Amid these developments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with senior PML-N leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Thursday to discuss the prevailing political situation and strategise the party's response. This has paved the way for a series of by-elections, with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) expected to announce the schedule shortly. These polls are seen as crucial in determining the current political balance. The PML-N has intensified its preparations for the upcoming by-elections, viewing them as an opportunity to further strengthen its position in parliament and consolidate public support. According to senior PML-N leaders, the forthcoming by-elections on seats vacated by PTI lawmakers are seen as an important test of political strength for both the ruling party and the opposition. Rafique is known within party circles for his candid approach and had taken a somewhat independent stance following the 2024 general elections. Unlike many of his colleagues, he publicly acknowledged electoral defeats amid controversies surrounding the disputed Form 47 results, which PTI continues to challenge. Sources within the PML-N interpreted the meeting as part of efforts to recalibrate internal dynamics and strengthen the party's campaign machinery ahead of the by-polls. Rafique retains considerable influence in Lahore and neighbouring constituencies – areas that remain vital for the party's electoral prospects. PML-N insiders said that Rafique is still reluctant to contest any by-elections given the current political turmoil in the country, which he has openly criticised on several occasions. They added that the prime minister made a last-ditch effort to convince him to contest the forthcoming by-elections, strengthen his position, and play a role in steering the country out of the prevalent crisis. However, Rafique sought time to consult his close aide before making a decision. With the political climate becoming increasingly intense, the PML-N is gearing up for the by-elections with renewed focus. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
IK alleges inhumane treatment at Adiala Jail
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday alleged that he is being subjected to inhumane conditions during his imprisonment at Adiala Jail, calling it the 'harshest prison term in the country's history,' and urged his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to unite ahead of a planned protest on August 5. In a message shared through his legal team on X, Khan said, 'Never in the history of Pakistan has any political leader been subjected to the treatment that I am currently enduring.' Khan, who has been in custody since his conviction in multiple cases, claimed that he is being denied basic rights, including access to clean water, books, newspapers, television, and contact with his children. He also said that his wife, Bushra Bibi, is being held under 'inhumane conditions.' The former premier, ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 and later arrested following a series of legal challenges, compared his situation to that of rival Nawaz Sharif, alleging preferential treatment for the former prime minister despite corruption convictions. Khan said he has been allowed only limited political meetings, restricted to 'certain choice individuals,' and warned party members against infighting. 'Every member of the party must immediately set aside all internal differences and focus solely on the movement planned for August 5th,' he said. 'Anyone found engaging in factionalism within the party will be expelled.' He also criticized the current government, formed after the February 8, 2024 controversial general elections, accusing it of manipulating results and undermining judicial independence through the 26th Constitutional Amendment. 'The so-called government formed through Form 47 has crippled the judiciary,' he said. 'We must launch a robust campaign to liberate the judiciary, for no nation can survive, let alone progress, without judicial independence.' Khan maintains that the PTI secured a public mandate in the February 2024 elections, despite its candidates running without the party's electoral symbol, and urged leaders to reflect the will of the people. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Imran urges leaders to set aside differences
PTI founder Imran Khan has ordered every member of his party to immediately set aside all internal differences and focus solely on the party's August 5 protest movement, "for which no meaningful momentum is being built at present". In a special message dated July 22 released from Adiala Jail, the former prime minister described PTI leaders' internal rifts at this "critical juncture" as "disgraceful and condemnable" and warned that anyone found engaging in factionalism within the party will be expelled. He said he was fighting for the future of our generations, and every sacrifice he made was for that cause. "To create rifts within the party at this time would be a direct betrayal of my mission and vision," he added. According to the PTI founder, the "so-called government formed through Form 47" has crippled the judiciary through the 26th Constitutional Amendment. "The way biased judges are now delivering blatantly unjust verdicts under these courts is visible to the entire nation. We must launch a robust campaign to liberate the judiciary, for no nation can survive, let alone progress, without judicial independence." Imran said his greatest success is that despite unprecedented oppression, the public stands with him. "On February 8th (2024), the people expressed their trust in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf by voting for you even in the absence of an electoral symbol. After such a clear mandate, it is the moral and political responsibility of every party member to become the voice of the people," he added. At the beginning of the message, Imran Khan claimed that never in the history of Pakistan had any political leader been subjected to the treatment that he was currently enduring. He said former PM Nawaz Sharif committed corruption worth billions and was nevertheless granted every possible comfort in prison. "In contrast, never before has the innocent and apolitical spouse of a political figure been imprisoned under such inhumane conditions as those imposed upon Bushra Bibi." The PTI patron-in-chief stated that he was enduring the harshest prison term in the country's history solely for the supremacy of the Constitution and in service of my nation. On Thursday, Judge Shahrukh Arjumand of the Special Central FIA Court adjourned till July 26 the hearing of the Toshakhana-II case in which Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are key accused. During the hearing held inside a courtroom in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, both Imran and Bushra were presented. Later, talking to the media outside the prison PTI's Central Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Imran's sister Aleema Khan and PTI Senator Ali Zafar, stated that the Toshakhana-II trial should be declared null and void, as a closed-door trial is a violation of the Constitution and the law. They said Imran's sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan, have both confirmed their plan to come to Pakistan. They said it was their constitutional right to meet their incarcerated father. In this regard, a formal constitutional petition is being filed in the Islamabad High Court this week. The purpose of filing the petition is to ensure that the jail authorities have no legal grounds to deny the meeting. The petition is expected to be filed at any time, they added.
