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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gandapur to challenge governor's oath-taking of 25 lawmakers on reserved seats
Listen to article Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced plans to legally challenge the oath-taking ceremony of reserved seat lawmakers held at the Governor House on Sunday, terming it unconstitutional. 'Administering oaths at the Governor House on reserved seats violates the Constitution, which clearly states it must be done on the assembly floor. The speaker never refused—only adjourned the session due to lack of quorum,' Chief Minister Gandapur maintained. The statement came after Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has administered the oath to 25 members of the provincial assembly on reserved seats for women and minorities, following an intervention by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Sunday. According to Express News, the chief minister has decided to file a petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against the swearing-in of members elected on reserved seats for women and minorities outside the provincial assembly. Advocate General of K-P, Shah Faisal Utmankhel, cited Article 65 of the Constitution, which he said mandates that assembly members must be sworn in on the floor of the House. 'The speaker did not refuse to administer the oath; the session was adjourned due to lack of quorum,' he explained. Utmankhel added that the assembly session was already scheduled for July 24. 'In this context, administering oaths at the Governor House is unconstitutional. Article 255(2) only allows for exceptions in cases of impracticality,' he said. Read More: CM Gandapur moves PHC for PTI recognition He further clarified that the chief minister and the speaker did not refuse their constitutional roles, and that a session was duly convened. The government, he said, will challenge the governor's move in court. 'The petition is ready and will be filed tomorrow due to court holidays today.' The speaker of the provincial assembly is also expected to file a separate petition challenging the Governor House ceremony. Meanwhile, K-P Information Adviser Barrister Saif sharply criticised the ceremony, calling it 'an oath taken over democracy's dead body.' He said the speaker had not cancelled the session but merely postponed it due to incomplete quorum. 'This act tramples on democratic traditions,' said Saif. He also accused the Election Commission of 'misleading the public' and acting on directives from the federal government. 'The ECP is determined to eliminate PTI,' he added, warning of legal consequences. Saif called the oath 'unconstitutional and illegal' and said the Election Commissioner would be held accountable for the controversial February 8 elections as well. 'What's being done to the Constitution and law is unprecedented,' he said. Read More: Governor K-P administers oath to 25 lawmakers after PHC intervention The oath taking ceremony was held at Governor House in Peshawar. Representatives of the Election Commission, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly staff, and other relevant government officials were also present at the oath-taking ceremony. Earlier in the day, a scheduled assembly session to administer the oath was disrupted when quorum was challenged soon after proceedings began. As a result, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati adjourned the session until July 24 at 2 PM. Opposition parties subsequently approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to ensure the swearing-in of the newly elected lawmakers. In response, the court directed the provincial governor to administer the oath in lieu of the assembly speaker.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt, opposition unite to block dissident PTI candidates in Senate elections
Listen to article In a rare show of unity, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government and opposition parties — including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) — have joined forces to prevent dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates from securing seats in the Senate elections scheduled for July 21. The development comes as several PTI nominees refused to withdraw their candidacies, defying instructions from party leadership and deepening internal divisions. According to Express News, the PTI political committee recently reaffirmed its agreement with opposition parties regarding Senate seat allocations and instructed its nominees to retract their nomination papers. However, many aspirants rejected this decision, refusing to step down. Read More: PTI workers cry foul over Senate tickets A late-night political committee meeting saw members defending the shortlist released by party founder Imran Khan. While acknowledging Irfan Saleem's long service to PTI, the committee stood firm on Khan's final candidate list. Although some objections were raised over Mishael Yousafzai's candidacy, she was approved out of respect for the founder's selections. Despite endorsing the compromise with the opposition, the committee failed to persuade dissenting candidates to withdraw and is now considering issuing notices to non-compliant nominees. In response, discontented candidates—including Irfan Saleem, Syed Irshad Hussain, Khurram Zeeshan, Aisha Bano, and Waqas Orakzai—held their own meeting. They unanimously rejected the committee's instructions and vowed to contest the Senate elections. لا الہ الاللہ بات سینیٹ الیکشن سے بہت آگے نکل چکی ہے۔ جس فارم 47 کی ناجائز ٹٹوؤں سے خان صاحب بات تک نہیں کرنا چاہتے ان کے ساتھ گٹھ جوڑ نامنظور! اب سامنے وہ درواہا ہے جہاں ہمیں لازمی مزاحمت یا مفاہمت یعنی سیاسی مصلحتوں، گٹھ جوڑ، بند کمروں کی بندر بانٹ میں سے کسی ایک کا انتخاب… — Khurram Zeeshan (@khurramzeeshan) July 19, 2025 Khurram Zeeshan released a video message stating the issue had surpassed a mere Senate contest. He criticized alliances with 'illegitimate' individuals named on Form 47, accusing the party leadership of betraying Imran Khan's principles. 'We stand at a crossroads: resistance or compromise through political horse-trading,' he said, pledging steadfast opposition and declaring, 'We do not do politics; we do jihad.' Irfan Saleem voiced concerns over alleged collusion with establishment-backed figures during the K-P Senate polls, asserting that PTI members derive legitimacy from Imran Khan's mandate and pledging to expose any attempts to compromise party ideology. Aisha Bano called the Senate seat the party's honour and questioned entrusting it to individuals accused of wronging Imran Khan and PTI workers. 'This is not just an election; it is the front of our movement,' she said. Saleem added that he would consult party workers and colleagues before deciding on contesting the Senate election papers. The dissidents' defiance highlights a widening rift within PTI ahead of the upper house elections. Also Read: Court orders arrest of K-P CM Gandapur in arms, liquor case Following these developments, both the opposition and government benches in the K-P Assembly have devised a joint strategy to ensure the success of their 11 agreed candidates. Sources revealed that special panels are being formed to manage the voting process, with provincial ministers tasked to oversee four government-aligned panels. Lawmakers from the ruling party will be gathered at the Chief Minister's House and sent to the assembly in groups under ministerial supervision to cast their votes. ہم اسٹیبلشمنٹ کے اس گندے کھیل کا حصہ نہیں بنیں گے ہم عمرانی نظریہ کے تحفظ کی خاطر آخری بال تک لڑیں گے۔ — Irfan Saleem (@_IrfanSaleemPTI) July 19, 2025 On the opposition side, three panels will be supervised by parliamentary leaders of their respective parties. Members of the seven total panels will be instructed to vote separately for general, women, and technocrat candidates to avoid confusion or crossover. The entire process will be monitored jointly by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah. Opposition candidates will also receive support from government ranks, with votes coordinated through mutual understanding. In the event of any deviation, such as votes cast in favour of rebel PTI candidates, both sides have agreed to launch a thorough joint investigation to hold responsible lawmakers accountable. Read: PA speaker tosses disqualification bid of 26 MPAs into judicial arena Party insiders confirmed senior PTI leaders will be present in the assembly on polling day to oversee proceedings, with key opposition figures also expected to attend. Opposition sources expressed satisfaction with the government's commitment and arrangements. 'We are hopeful that no issues will arise and all 11 candidates will be elected smoothly,' one source said. It was further decided that any complaints or irregularities during the polling process would be immediately reported to the chief minister and opposition leader to ensure timely action.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gandapur convenes APC for tribal peace
The 35th meeting of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Cabinet was held on Friday, presided over by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur. Briefing media on the meeting's decisions, Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, said the Chief Minister announced plans to convene an All Parties Conference next week. The initiative aims to build political consensus and formulate a joint strategy for establishing long-term peace in terrorism-affected areas, particularly in the tribal belt. Highlighting recent peace efforts, the Chief Minister noted that the restoration of calm in District Kurram was made possible through government-led negotiations with tribal elders and jirgas. He expressed hope that similar models could help bring peace to other restive regions. The Cabinet also discussed reforms to the 3MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) law, emphasizing the need to prevent its misuse. The Chief Minister compared it to the outdated Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), stressing that its implementation must now require prior approval from the Home Department. On the topic of natural disasters, the Chief Minister urged all political actors to refrain from politicizing human tragedies and reiterated K-P's readiness to assist other provinces in times of need. The Cabinet approved Rs5 million in compensation for each family of K-P martyrs affected by Indian aggression and Rs10 million for the family of Maulana Khanzeb, who was martyred in a terrorist attack. Several key legal and administrative reforms were approved, including the K-P Agriculture Income Tax Rules 2025, the Environmental Audit Rules 2025, and the Environmental Protection (Sealing or Seizing) Rules 2025. A cabinet committee was formed to review a proposal to remove the death penalty clause from the K-P Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 2019. To support citizens with critical health needs, financial assistance of Rs48.1 million was sanctioned for four patients — Rozina, Anas Khan, Muhammad Aman, and Muhammad Azlan — for life-saving treatments. In education, the Cabinet approved the handover of Dir Model School Dodba for establishing a Khyber Medical University Institute of Health Sciences campus in Upper Dir. It also authorized land acquisition worth Rs38.69 million for a project to supply Swat River water to Mingora via gravity flow. Cost adjustments were also approved for health initiatives, including an increase in funding for the Health Management Information System Phase-II, from Rs318.5 million to Rs375.2 million. Administrative decisions included appointments to the Paraplegic Center Board of Governors, the K-P Child Protection and Welfare Commission, and the posting of the Health Foundation's Managing Director. Under the Provincial Action Plan, the Cabinet sanctioned the installation of RFID and machine-readable number plates for already-profiled non-custom paid (NCP) vehicles, clarifying that the move would not involve any tax collection.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CM Gandapur moves PHC for PTI recognition
K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has filed a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) seeking official recognition of PTI as a political party. 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.
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Poll body reshuffles K-P seats distribution
Listen to article The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday unveiled its order with regard to allocation of reserved seats to various political parties in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly on petitions filed by the PML-N, the ANP and the PTI-Parliamentarians. According to the written order, one women's seat and one minority seat previously allocated to the JUI-F have been withdrawn. As a result of the PML-N gaining one additional women's seat, both the JUI-F and the PML-N now have 17 members each, including 9 women and 1 minority member. One minority seat will be decided by a coin toss between the two parties. The PPP also lost one women's seat and is now left with 5 women and 1 minority seat, totaling 10 seats in the assembly. The ANP and the PTI-P each have 2 general and 1 women's seat. One women's seat will be decided between them in a coin toss. The final seat allocations will become clear after these tosses. The polls oversight authority also accepted independent lawmaker Tariq Awan's request to join the PML-N. It, however, turned down the PTI-Parliamentarian and the ANP's request to be granted one additional reserved seat on the basis of two general seats. It noted that a seat won in a by-election cannot be counted towards allocation of reserved seats. Despite the ECP's decision regarding reserved seats and a letter from K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, urging Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to convene a session of the assembly, there is uncertainty over the oath-taking of the new members and the upcoming Senate elections. At the K-P government level, consultations among legal experts are ongoing. If the new members are not sworn in during working days before July 19, the Senate elections could once again be postponed. The PTI's provincial government has yet to decide on calling an assembly session in which the new members would be sworn in. Opposition parties have already submitted a request to the assembly secretary to call the session, but despite this, the K-P government remains undecided and continues consultations with legal experts. A related case is being heard in the Peshawar High Court, which has sought a reply from the advocate general by today (Wednesday)* The situation is expected to become clearer after that. If the provincial government still does not convene the session for the oath-taking, then under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the chief justice himselfor his representativecan administer the oath to the new members. However, if the oath is not administered, the Senate elections scheduled for July 21 may once again be in jeopardy. While Senate elections were held in April last year in the other three provinces and at the federal level, elections could not be held in the K-P due to non-allocation of reserved seats. The Provincial Assembly Secretariat is expected to hand over the Assembly Hall to the ECP between July 16 and 18, so that arrangements can be made to use it as a polling station for the Senate elections. In this regard, the K-P election commissioner, along with his delegation, called on the KP Assembly speaker, Babar Saleem Swati, at the speaker's chamber. The meeting focused on matters related to the election code of conduct, administrative preparations, and ensuring a transparent electoral process. Leader of the Opposition Dr Ibadullah was also present alongside the speaker during the meeting. The ECP delegation requested full cooperation from the KP Assembly for the smooth conduct of the Senate elections and emphasized that the electoral process should be carried out peacefully, in accordance with the Constitution, law, and the code of conduct. The speaker assured the delegation of complete support and stated that the assembly would provide a fair, transparent, and dignified environment for the Senate elections. He said democratic traditions would be upheld and the electoral process would be peaceful and effective.
