Pakistan

Political game heats up as PTI approves dissolution of Punjab, KP assemblies

Published

6 months ago

Farwa

PTI to announce date of dissolution in two-three days.
PML-N vows to use all resources to stop move.
CM Punjab reassures supporting PTI’s decision.

As the government and opposition in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mull strategies to emerge victorious amid the ongoing political crisis, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said Monday that the party’s leadership has approved the dissolution of assemblies in both provinces.

“As you all know, we are quitting the assemblies. Therefore, the [party’s senior leadership] has approved the decision to dissolve the assemblies,” Chaudhry told journalists in Lahore.

As he called off the long march to Islamabad last week, PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced that his party and allies would quit the assemblies as they wanted to opt out of the “corrupt system”.

Chief Minister Punjab Pervez Elahi — a strong ally of the PTI — also backed the decision and said that he would not wait for a minute to dissolve the assembly if Khan orders him to — putting further pressure on the coalition government in the Centre to move toward early general elections.

While the coalition rulers have ruled out holding general polls in the country before August, the PTI is insisting that the ongoing political turmoil can only be resolved through snap elections.

In the presser today, Chaudhry said that Khan has spoken to Chief Minister KP Mahmood Khan and the PTI chief would hold a meeting with CM Elahi later this week.

“The meetings of the parliamentary parties of both the assemblies have been summoned for later this week, following which, the assemblies will be dissolved,” he said.

Chaudhry said the PTI has kickstarted the process of allotting tickets to politicians, and as the party’s lawmakers resign from their respective assemblies, 563 seats from across the country will be vacated and elections will be held on them.

He said that the opposition will also be invited to hold consultations with the government in both provinces over the formation of the interim government.

Chaudhry said even if elections are held after seven to eight months, it won’t affect PTI due to its popularity, but the party wishes for political stability — which can only be achieved through early elections.

“Therefore, [Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif] should announce the date for general elections and dissolve the National Assembly. But if you don’t, then PTI will dissolve the assemblies wherever it rules.”

Chaudhry added that the PTI would announce the date of the Punjab and KP assemblies’ dissolution in the next two to three days.

CM Elahi’s challenge; opposition’s strategy

Before Chaudhry’s announcement, CM Punjab Elahi challenged the opposition to table a no-confidence motion against him as the latter began talks on its strategy to send the provincial government packing.

In a statement, the chief minister said PML-Q and PTI have a combined 191 lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly, and they are enough to defeat the opposition’s moves.

“When the assembly is in session, the voting on a no-confidence motion cannot take place. Similarly, a confidence vote cannot be held while the assembly is in session,” he said.

چیئرمین پاکستان تحریک انصاف عمران خان کے ساتھ کھڑے ہیں۔عمران خان جب کہیں گے پنجاب اسمبلی تحلیل کردیں گے۔ہم عمران خان کی ہدایت پر اسمبلی توڑنے کیلئے ہر وقت تیار ہیں۔پنجاب اسمبلی میں ہمیں اکثریت حاصل ہے۔ پنجاب اسمبلی میں پاکستان تحریک انصاف اورمسلم لیگ ق کے اراکین کی تعداد191ہے۔
— Ch Parvez Elahi (@ChParvezElahi) November 28, 2022

CM Elahi added that the governor’s rule can also not be imposed while the assembly’s session is going on.

“I will dissolve the assembly whenever Imran Khan asks me to. I stand with PTI Chairman Imran Khan and I am all ready to dissolve the assembly on his orders.”

He added that the opposition is in minority and will remain there. “They do not have the guts to table the no-confidence motion. But if they still wish to, they can go ahead and table it.”

پنجاب اسمبلی میں اپوزیشن اقلیت میں ہے اوراقلیت میں ہی رہے گی۔ اپوزیشن والے صرف نعرے لگا سکتے ہیں،عدم اعتماد لانا ان کے بس کی بات نہیں۔تحریک عدم ا عتماد کا جسے شوق ہے وہ لے آئے۔اسمبلی ان سیشن ہو تو تحریک عدم اعتماد پر ووٹنگ نہیں ہوسکتی اورنہ ہی اعتماد کا ووٹ لینے کا کہا جاسکتا ہے۔
— Ch Parvez Elahi (@ChParvezElahi) November 28, 2022

In a press conference today, PML-N leader Ata Tarar said that the coalition parties would adopt all the political and legal options to prevent the assemblies from dissolution.

He made the remarks following a PML-N parliamentary advisory committee meeting held with Hamza Shahbaz in the chair.

Referring to a plea filed by Hamza Shahbaz in the Lahore High Court (LHC)against the election of PTI’s Sibtain Khan as Punjab Assembly speaker, he pleaded with the court to hear their case.

Tarar said that PML-N would go to “its last extent” to save the Punjab Assembly from being dissolved no matter “which move it might need to resort to”.

“The options of a no-confidence motion and asking the governor to take a vote of confidence have been considered,” he said, adding that the PML-N would also consult its coalition partners.

Pakistan

KU students end protest after ‘picked up’ student returns

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

KARACHI: Students of Karachi University called off their protest after a fellow student who was allegedly “picked up” from the varsity’s premises returned.

A KU student confirmed to Geo News that Saqib, the student who was allegedly “whisked away”, has returned.

The students of the varsity had launched a protest, earlier today, after Saqib was allegedly “taken away”.

The protesters told Geo News that the student, studying at the Department of Urdu, was allegedly whisked away by some people in plain clothes. They said the men claimed they were from a law enforcement agency.

However, KU Security Adviser Dr Moiz Khan said Rangers have disassociated themselves from the incident.

The university’s administration analysed the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to identify the students and the people who picked him up.

After the incident, the students staged a protest outside KU’s Silver Jubilee Gate and blocked the University Road.

However, upon the police’s request, they shifted their protest to the front of the varsity’s administration block.

The Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) claimed that the student was its worker.

Pakistan

Jibran Nasir’s ‘kidnapping’ case registered hours after he was ‘picked up’ in Karachi’s DHA

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

Cases registered under sections 365 and 34 of PPC.
Nasir’s wife seeks immediate release of her husband.
Protest today at 4:00pm at KPC to demand Nasir’s release.

KARACHI: The port city’s police have registered a “kidnapping” case of prominent lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir on the complaint of his wife, Mansha Pasha, hours after the advocate was “picked up” from Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area.

The case has been registered at the Clifton Police Station under two sections of the Pakistan Penal Code — 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

Pasha, a renowned actress, told police in an application earlier that her husband was “picked up” by men on Thursday night.

Mansha Pashas application to the police. — provided by the reporter — Mansha Pasha’s application to the police. — provided by the reporter

Police were at first, according to Pasha, not registering the FIR. She said she would move the court if the law enforcers did not register the case.

She stated: “On 01.06.2023 at about 11:00 pm, I was returning from dinner with my husband in our personal car … when a white color Toyota Hilux / Vigo … intercepted and hit our car from the front-left side and forced us to stop near Ideal Bakery on 26th Street, Defence Phase 5, Karachi.”

She further added: “Another vehicle i.e. a Silver Corolla blocked our vehicle from behind and as such, we were surrounded. Some 15 people along with weapons came out from the said vehicles in civil clothes and forced my husband to get out of the car, man-handling him towards the subject vehicle. They then abducted him and took him away and his whereabouts are unknown till now.”

In her application, she also requested immediate action be taken to ensure his swift release.

“In light of the above-mentioned situation, I have no other recourse than to approach your office for registration of my complaint for my missing husband. I would be thankful if an immediate action is taken for his swift release. Furthermore, action in accordance with law must be taken against those who abducted my husband,” she wrote.

Furthermore, Pasha told Geo News that a protest was being held at 4:00pm at the Karachi Press Club to demand her husband’s release.

Condemnations

As the news of Nasir’s abduction went viral, several people and human rights organisations condemned the incident.

Concerned by the abduction, they demanded that Nasir be returned home safely and quickly.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) took to Twitter stating: “HRCP is deeply concerned by reports that lawyer and activist [Jibran Nasir] has been abducted by unknown armed persons in Karachi. We demand that he be safely recovered immediately and his abductors held accountable under the law.”

Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms Salman Sufi also tweeted his support for the human rights activist.

“Very disturbing to hear about [Jibran Nasir] abduction. Hope Sindh police will assist his family and locate him immediately. Jibran has always spoken against violent extremism and rioting. Hoping for his safe and immediate return,” he wrote.

Moreover, Imaan Mazari, the daughter of the former human rights minister Shireen Mazari expressed his dismay at the news.

“No words… complete madness,” she tweeted.

Pakistan

8-year-old girl raped in Islamabad

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

Afghan girl was raped by a man in broad daylight.
Case lodged at Shahzad Town Police Station.
Medico-legal official confirms the girl’s rape.

ISLAMABAD: An 8-year-old Afghan girl was raped by a man in broad daylight who managed to run away in the presence of residents of Mohallah Diptian falling in the jurisdiction of Shahzad Town Police Station, The News reported Friday.

The minor victim was shifted to a hospital where the medico-legal official confirmed the rape.

The Shahzad Town police have registered the case against the unidentified rapist under sections 376 and 377/B of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the father of the victim but couldn’t hunt down the rapist till the filing of this report.

Hazar Gul, an Afghan national, hailing from Jalalabad, lodged a complaint with the Shahzad Town, saying that he was living in Mohallah Diptian, located near Mariam Masjid with his family for a couple of months.

“I was present at my house along with my elder brother when we heard some noises from the street, we rushed out of the house and witnessed a young man running towards us, consequently, without knowing the reason for his escape, we both tried to intercept him but he succeeded to let loose from our clutches and ran off from our custody,” the complainant narrating his story, said.

However, he said, “We moved towards the place where people of the street were gathered and saw my minor daughter crying.”

Upon query, the minor victim told him the tale of the brutal attack on her, saying she was playing near her house when she was dragged by the rapist into an under-construction house and raped forcibly.

The DPO (Rural) has taken up the case and asked the Shahzad Town police to take the case as a challenge and use all their efforts to make headway to arrest the rapist, the police sources said.

The SP has constituted teams and sent them to different locations to get a clue about the rapist.

The sources added that the police have rounded up a few suspects for investigation, claiming that the police teams would make headway to the criminal and hunt him down within the next 24 hours.