Opposition to boycott NA session on PM Imran's vote of confidence: Fazl

Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Friday that no opposition member would attend the National Assembly session scheduled for Saturday, in which Prime Minister Imran Khan will seek a vote of confidence.

The announcement from the chief of the 10-party opposition alliance comes a day after the premier delivered an address to the nation, explaining why he was seeking a vote of confidence in the wake of the Senate elections in which the opposition managed to stage an upset.

"Tomorrow a session has been called in which no member of the opposition will take part," Rehman said while addressing a press conference in Sukkur. He added that the opposition will appoint a person to keep a lookout during the session for the "drama they are doing there".

He said Yousuf Raza Gilani's victory was itself a no-confidence motion against the premier.

Rehman, who is also the chief of JUI-F, claimed that President Arif Alvi in his summary to summon Saturday's session had essentially stated that Prime Minister Imran had "lost the trust of the majority" and he, therefore, needed to seek a vote of confidence.

"So when the president talks about losing trust to call the session of the National Assembly, then this further strengthens the stance of the opposition," he said.

After the opposition's boycott, Rehman said, "this session will have no political importance" and the PTI government "will not be considered the representative government of this nation".

He said the PTI had been ruling with "a fake majority" until now and the same would be clearly exposed by the opposition boycott of the "one-sided proceedings".

The PDM chief said the tone in which Prime Minister Imran addressed the nation last night "reflected his defeat".

He said according to Imran, bidding had taken place in the Senate elections and asked the premier whom he was blaming for the same. "He is saying his own PTI members are sellouts," he added.

The government had announced Prime Minister Imran's decision to seek a vote of confidence hours after the ruling coalition suffered an upset on the Senate seat for the federal capital where Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh lost to the opposition’s joint candidate Gilani.

Rejected votes played a significant role in the upset with Gilani securing 169 votes as against 164 bagged by Shaikh, with the number of rejected votes exceeding the margin of victory.

'State of panic'
Rehman said Imran's vote of confidence on Saturday will also include the votes of 18 government MNAs who allegedly voted in favour of the opposition in the Senate polls, adding that "without this, it is not possible that he receives the vote of confidence with a majority of one or two people."

"When some people had sold their loyalties in the no-confidence vote against [Senate Chairman Sadiq] Sanjrani, this same Imran Khan had termed it the voice of their conscience," he said. "Today, why does he equate his own members not voting [for the PTI] to being sold?"

Responding to Prime Minister Imran's remarks that he would bring out the people against the opposition if he lost the vote of confidence, Rehman said: "Whom will you bring the people out against? Against the PDM? Why? On what grounds?

"People will not ask you about this, people will ask you why you destroyed the economy [and] why you weakened different institutions by sacking workers."

He alleged that the prime minister had blamed the ECP over the setback suffered by his party in order to "exert pressure [on the ECP] in the foreign funding case" against the PTI. "We know all of their tactics and in whichever colour you wear the garb, we recognise your height. So the nation can't be fooled any more," he added.

Asked whether the government lawmakers who voted in favour of the opposition were in contact with the PDM ahead of the NA session, Rehman replied in the negative.

He said the multiple meetings held by Prime Minister Imran after the Senate polls reflected the government's "state of panic".

"Everything has escaped from their hands and thus in Pakistan currently there is no government or executive. They (government) should immediately call for fresh elections and a real representative government of the nation should come," he claimed.

In response to a question, Rehman said the PDM's future plan of action, including the strategy for a planned long march, will be decided in a meeting of the alliance's leadership on March 8 in Islamabad.

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Opposition to boycott NA session on PM Imran's vote of confidence: Fazl

Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Friday that no opposition member would attend the National Assembly session scheduled for Saturday, in which Prime Minister Imran Khan will seek a vote of confidence.

The announcement from the chief of the 10-party opposition alliance comes a day after the premier delivered an address to the nation, explaining why he was seeking a vote of confidence in the wake of the Senate elections in which the opposition managed to stage an upset.

"Tomorrow a session has been called in which no member of the opposition will take part," Rehman said while addressing a press conference in Sukkur. He added that the opposition will appoint a person to keep a lookout during the session for the "drama they are doing there".

He said Yousuf Raza Gilani's victory was itself a no-confidence motion against the premier.

Rehman, who is also the chief of JUI-F, claimed that President Arif Alvi in his summary to summon Saturday's session had essentially stated that Prime Minister Imran had "lost the trust of the majority" and he, therefore, needed to seek a vote of confidence.

"So when the president talks about losing trust to call the session of the National Assembly, then this further strengthens the stance of the opposition," he said.

After the opposition's boycott, Rehman said, "this session will have no political importance" and the PTI government "will not be considered the representative government of this nation".

He said the PTI had been ruling with "a fake majority" until now and the same would be clearly exposed by the opposition boycott of the "one-sided proceedings".

The PDM chief said the tone in which Prime Minister Imran addressed the nation last night "reflected his defeat".

He said according to Imran, bidding had taken place in the Senate elections and asked the premier whom he was blaming for the same. "He is saying his own PTI members are sellouts," he added.

The government had announced Prime Minister Imran's decision to seek a vote of confidence hours after the ruling coalition suffered an upset on the Senate seat for the federal capital where Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh lost to the opposition’s joint candidate Gilani.

Rejected votes played a significant role in the upset with Gilani securing 169 votes as against 164 bagged by Shaikh, with the number of rejected votes exceeding the margin of victory.

'State of panic'
Rehman said Imran's vote of confidence on Saturday will also include the votes of 18 government MNAs who allegedly voted in favour of the opposition in the Senate polls, adding that "without this, it is not possible that he receives the vote of confidence with a majority of one or two people."

"When some people had sold their loyalties in the no-confidence vote against [Senate Chairman Sadiq] Sanjrani, this same Imran Khan had termed it the voice of their conscience," he said. "Today, why does he equate his own members not voting [for the PTI] to being sold?"

Responding to Prime Minister Imran's remarks that he would bring out the people against the opposition if he lost the vote of confidence, Rehman said: "Whom will you bring the people out against? Against the PDM? Why? On what grounds?

"People will not ask you about this, people will ask you why you destroyed the economy [and] why you weakened different institutions by sacking workers."

He alleged that the prime minister had blamed the ECP over the setback suffered by his party in order to "exert pressure [on the ECP] in the foreign funding case" against the PTI. "We know all of their tactics and in whichever colour you wear the garb, we recognise your height. So the nation can't be fooled any more," he added.

Asked whether the government lawmakers who voted in favour of the opposition were in contact with the PDM ahead of the NA session, Rehman replied in the negative.

He said the multiple meetings held by Prime Minister Imran after the Senate polls reflected the government's "state of panic".

"Everything has escaped from their hands and thus in Pakistan currently there is no government or executive. They (government) should immediately call for fresh elections and a real representative government of the nation should come," he claimed.

In response to a question, Rehman said the PDM's future plan of action, including the strategy for a planned long march, will be decided in a meeting of the alliance's leadership on March 8 in Islamabad.

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PCB eyes May-June, September window for PSL 6 completion

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s high-ups put their heads together to look out for a window to complete Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 6 anytime soon this year.

According to the sources, PCB officials sat in a more than three-hour-long meeting here on Friday to discuss possible options to reschedule the remaining matches of the PSL 6.

May-June and September windows came under consideration to stage the postponed matches of the extravaganza. The PCB is considering only a single venue out of Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi to host the remaining matches.

Moreover, an option to outsource bio-secure bubble arrangements is also under the loight whereas a local hotel will be booked for all franchises.

“Three major windows were discussed to host PSL 6’s remaining matches today in the meeting. The final recommendations will be sent to chairman PCB after which franchise managements will be taken in the loop,” the source shared.

It must be noted here that PSL 6 was postponed on Thursday after seven people including six cricketers and a staff member tested COVID-19 positive.

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Will not come under any sort of pressure: ECP responds to PM Imran Khan's criticism

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Imran Khan's hard-hitting speech and statements from a few cabinet members from a day earlier, stressing that the Senate elections were held according to the law and Constitution.

In a written statement, the commission said that it has "never come under any sort of pressure and God willing, will not in future as well".

"We cannot ignore the law and the Constitution to please anyone," said the ECP its statement.

The written statement from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on PM Imran Khan and the government's criticism of the Senate elections.

Referring to former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's victory over Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the ECP said it 'rejects' the analysis and criticism that is being levelled over one result of the Senate elections.

"This is the beauty of democracy and independent elections and the secret ballot which the entire nation witnessed, which was according to the Constitution," it said.

The ECP said that it had heard all delegations that had called on it to discuss election-related matters and conducted a detailed review of their concerns and recommendations ahead of the Senate polls.

"The election commission hears everyone but fulfills its responsibilities in accordance with the law and Constitution and takes decisions independently, not under any sort of pressure," the statement read.

The ECP wondered why elections for the upper house of the parliament, which were held on the same day and managed by the same ECP staff, were accepted by critics where they had won but rejected where they lost.

"Is this not an open case of contradiction?" asked the ECP.

The ECP urged critics of the Senate elections to come forth with evidence and then accuse the commission of any wrongdoing. "Let us carry on with our work, don't sling mud on national institutions," read the ECP's statement.

The ECP had convened an important meeting today to review PM Imran Khan's speech, who had levelled serious allegations on the role of the electoral body during the Senate polls.

The prime minister, in his televised speech, had slammed the ECP for not taking measures to ensure transparent polling and held it responsible for the illegal practice of buying and selling of votes as it did not introduce traceable ballots.

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja summoned the meeting to review the statements and allegation levelled by the prime minister against the ECP.

All members of the ECP attended the meeting.

The commission had acquired the video of the premier's speech.

PM Imran took the ECP to task for failing to ensure a transparent election in his speech after the upset defeat of PTI candidate Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh for the Senate seat from Islamabad on Wednesday.

"Your biggest responsibility is a transparent election and it is your constitutional responsibility," he said to the ECP.

"Why did you go to the court and say there should be a secret ballot? Does the constitution ever allow a theft of votes and for bribery to occur like has been in the last 30 years?" the premier asked.

He said the court had allowed the Commission to hold a secret vote but have some sort of identification mechanism whereby the PTI could now have discovered the 15-16 lawmakers "who sold themselves off".

"You saved those criminals with this secret ballot and you hurt our democracy," he said, in indignation at the ECP's move to ignore the Supreme Court's provisions to identify the ballots.

"Did you not know it was your responsibility to investigate such incidents? All the agencies fall under you. This entire drama unfolded in front of everyone," he said, referring to the video where lawmakers can be seen shovelling currency notes into their bags.

"When the country's leadership takes and gives bribes, will you ask the common man to become honest then but do these things yourself?"

He quoted a Chinese saying that says "fish rots from the top".

"You allowed corruption to occur at the top, and this happened right before you, and you knew it would happen. I kept saying that markets have opened and there is an auction going on. And when the Supreme Court gave you a chance, what reason was there to not bar code a mere 1,500 ballots?" the premier asked in exasperation.

"You provided an opportunity for the country's democracy to be discredited [...] I ask you has the strength of our democracy gone up or down with this open horse-trading?" he went on to ask the ECP.

"Pakistan was the name of a great dream. It was meant to be an Islamic welfare state and Allama Iqbal said it will be a shining example for the world.

"Now this video has come and you have no idea how much money has been used and how people sold their souls and how our politics was corrupted," PM Imran Khan said.

"And if such people come into power, how will they serve the nation or recover our nation's wealth? [...] And then they say corruption is rampant in our country," he added.

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ECP’s press release response seems ‘inappropriate’: Fawad

Reacting to the press release issued by the ECP over allegations raised by PM Imran Khan, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said press release statement response seems ‘inappropriate.”

Addressing a press conference along with the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shibli Faraz, Fawad Chaudhry said that the federal government respects every state institution of the country including the Election Commission of Pakistan.

“ECP is respectable to us and will remain”, said Fawad and added that institutions show their impartiality through practical steps, not through press releases.

PM said horse-trading during Senate polls was not stopped, was that the matter of shame for ECP, asked Fawad.

The minister while extending every possible support to the ECP, urged for a joint mechanism devised by the ECP and the government to stop rigging in the polls.

He said that the directions of the Supreme Court for holding fair and free Senate elections were neglected by the ECP. We are not planning to hold any protest in front of the supreme electoral body, Fawad added.

The video of Ali Haider Gilani, the audio of Nasir Hussain Shah and Maryam’s statement about PML-N ticket are the proofs of rigging, which needs to be investigated.

Fawad Chaudhry said that we are confident that Prime Minister Imran Khan will successfully obtain the vote of confidence from the National Assembly.

So far our 177 MNAs have reached the federal capital. The members of PTI and coalition partners have assured their support to PM Imran Khan in the National Assembly in obtaining vote of confidence.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had expressed its disappointment over the allegations raised by PM Imran Khan during his address to the Nation.

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Will not come under any sort of pressure: ECP responds to PM Imran Khan's criticism

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Imran Khan's hard-hitting speech and statements from a few cabinet members from a day earlier, stressing that the Senate elections were held according to the law and Constitution.

In a written statement, the commission said that it has "never come under any sort of pressure and God willing, will not in future as well".

"We cannot ignore the law and the Constitution to please anyone," said the ECP its statement.

The written statement from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on PM Imran Khan and the government's criticism of the Senate elections.

Referring to former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's victory over Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the ECP said it 'rejects' the analysis and criticism that is being levelled over one result of the Senate elections.

"This is the beauty of democracy and independent elections and the secret ballot which the entire nation witnessed, which was according to the Constitution," it said.

The ECP said that it had heard all delegations that had called on it to discuss election-related matters and conducted a detailed review of their concerns and recommendations ahead of the Senate polls.

"The election commission hears everyone but fulfills its responsibilities in accordance with the law and Constitution and takes decisions independently, not under any sort of pressure," the statement read.

The ECP wondered why elections for the upper house of the parliament, which were held on the same day and managed by the same ECP staff, were accepted by critics where they had won but rejected where they lost.

"Is this not an open case of contradiction?" asked the ECP.

The ECP urged critics of the Senate elections to come forth with evidence and then accuse the commission of any wrongdoing. "Let us carry on with our work, don't sling mud on national institutions," read the ECP's statement.

The ECP had convened an important meeting today to review PM Imran Khan's speech, who had levelled serious allegations on the role of the electoral body during the Senate polls.

The prime minister, in his televised speech, had slammed the ECP for not taking measures to ensure transparent polling and held it responsible for the illegal practice of buying and selling of votes as it did not introduce traceable ballots.

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja summoned the meeting to review the statements and allegation levelled by the prime minister against the ECP.

All members of the ECP attended the meeting.

The commission had acquired the video of the premier's speech.

PM Imran took the ECP to task for failing to ensure a transparent election in his speech after the upset defeat of PTI candidate Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh for the Senate seat from Islamabad on Wednesday.

"Your biggest responsibility is a transparent election and it is your constitutional responsibility," he said to the ECP.

"Why did you go to the court and say there should be a secret ballot? Does the constitution ever allow a theft of votes and for bribery to occur like has been in the last 30 years?" the premier asked.

He said the court had allowed the Commission to hold a secret vote but have some sort of identification mechanism whereby the PTI could now have discovered the 15-16 lawmakers "who sold themselves off".

"You saved those criminals with this secret ballot and you hurt our democracy," he said, in indignation at the ECP's move to ignore the Supreme Court's provisions to identify the ballots.

"Did you not know it was your responsibility to investigate such incidents? All the agencies fall under you. This entire drama unfolded in front of everyone," he said, referring to the video where lawmakers can be seen shovelling currency notes into their bags.

"When the country's leadership takes and gives bribes, will you ask the common man to become honest then but do these things yourself?"

He quoted a Chinese saying that says "fish rots from the top".

"You allowed corruption to occur at the top, and this happened right before you, and you knew it would happen. I kept saying that markets have opened and there is an auction going on. And when the Supreme Court gave you a chance, what reason was there to not bar code a mere 1,500 ballots?" the premier asked in exasperation.

"You provided an opportunity for the country's democracy to be discredited [...] I ask you has the strength of our democracy gone up or down with this open horse-trading?" he went on to ask the ECP.

"Pakistan was the name of a great dream. It was meant to be an Islamic welfare state and Allama Iqbal said it will be a shining example for the world.

"Now this video has come and you have no idea how much money has been used and how people sold their souls and how our politics was corrupted," PM Imran Khan said.

"And if such people come into power, how will they serve the nation or recover our nation's wealth? [...] And then they say corruption is rampant in our country," he added.

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PTI workers to display backing to PM Imran Khan at D-Chowk tomorrow

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers will exhibit support to Prime Minister Imran Khan at Islamabad’s D-Chowk tomorrow after the premier announced to take vote of confidence from the National Assembly (NA) on Saturday

The PTI activists from Jhelum, Attock and other cities will gather at D-Chowk of Islamabad at 11:00 pm tomorrow to show solidarity with the premier.

The political workers have been fully activated across the country including social media platforms with #mainbimrankhanhoon as a strategy to counter the propaganda being run by the opposition parties by elaborating the public support to the premier.

It emerged that the social media campaign will be run on Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram to elaborate effective policies of the PTI-led government. Under the ongoing campaign, the ruling political party has also released a documentary film regarding the premier’s narrative against corruption and horse-trading in the Senate.

Moreover, the initiative of different welfare projects and economic successes will also be elaborated in the documentaries. The nation will be made aware of the federal government’s effective strategies like tackling the coronavirus pandemic crisis, Rs1,500 billion relief package, payment of foreign loans, institutional reforms, imports and exports and others.

The campaign will also cover the PTI government’s future projects of low-cost housing units, Billion Tree Tsunami project, Sehat Insaf Cards for health insurance, loans for youth, KP-FATA merger, successes on the diplomatic front, Afghanistan reconciliation process and zero-tolerance against corruption politicians.

Earlier on Thursday, President Dr Arif Alvi had summoned the session of the lower house on March 6 after PM Khan announced to seek a vote of confidence from the National Assembly (NA).

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