ECP reschedules NA-75 Daska by-election to April 10

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to reschedule the NA-75 Daska by-election. According to the announcement made on Wednesday, the by-poll will now take place on April 10, 2021.

"The election date has been extended to bring transparency in the elections and make administrative matters foolproof," the ECP said

Earlier, the ECP had decided to conduct the by-poll on March 18, 2021. The by-poll was originally held on February 19 but had to be declared null and void after the results in 20 polling stations were suspected to be "tampered with."

Subsequently, the Commission issued an order for fresh polls to be conducted.

"Incidents of murders, firing and injuries, bad law and order situation in the subject constituency [created] harassment for voters and other circumstances leading to make the process of results doubtful/unascertainable,” an order issued by the ECP noted.

The staff of the 20 polling stations — where presiding officers went missing and were unreachable as was noted in the ECP statement following election day — will be reappointed for the April 10 by-poll.

According to the district education authority, the staff will be appointed from the department of education.

The authority added that a new presiding officer for polling station number 348 will also be appointed.

The remaining 340 polling stations will have the same staff that was appointed for election duty on February 19.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had sought the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) records on the Sialkot NA-75 Daska by-election held on February 19, 2021.

The record had been sought by a bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, which is hearing a petition filed by the PTI candidate who stood for election in the constituency.

The petitioner wants the ECP's decision to order re-election in the constituency be overturned.

During the hearing, Justice Bandial observed that the top court had ruled that elections should be free and fair.

Justice Sajjad Ali Shah noted that the ECP has the authority to take action without receiving a formal application, but asked on what basis the ECP authorised re-election in the whole constituency.

Upon hearing the judge's remarks, PML-N candidate Nausheen Iftikhar told the court that 23 presiding officers were “kidnapped” during the election.

At this, the court also sought information regarding the area where the firing incident took place in the constituency during, which two persons were killed.

The court, while asking these questions, also directed the ECP to submit all records based on which the elections were declared illegal.

The court observed that it will review the PTI candidate’s plea seeking a stay order on the upcoming by-election — scheduled for March 18 — after it reviews all records submitted to the court and the detailed order issued by the ECP on March 8.

The court issued notices to PML-N candidate Nausheen Iftikhar and other parties in the case and adjourned the hearing till March 16.

Last week, the PTI candidate, Ali Asjad Malhi, had challenged the ECP's decision to hold re-polling for Sialkot's NA-75 seat in the Supreme Court.

Malhi had argued in his petition that the ECP did not properly review the available records, so the decision is contrary to the facts.

The petitioner said there was no justification for the order to hold re-election in NA-75 Daska.

Re-election meant that the people of the constituency will face a law and order situation again, he argued.

Asjad is additionally seeking that the election results of NA-75 Daska on February 19 to be released.

 

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ECP reschedules NA-75 Daska by-election to April 10

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to reschedule the NA-75 Daska by-election. According to the announcement made on Wednesday, the by-poll will now take place on April 10, 2021.

"The election date has been extended to bring transparency in the elections and make administrative matters foolproof," the ECP said

Earlier, the ECP had decided to conduct the by-poll on March 18, 2021. The by-poll was originally held on February 19 but had to be declared null and void after the results in 20 polling stations were suspected to be "tampered with."

Subsequently, the Commission issued an order for fresh polls to be conducted.

"Incidents of murders, firing and injuries, bad law and order situation in the subject constituency [created] harassment for voters and other circumstances leading to make the process of results doubtful/unascertainable,” an order issued by the ECP noted.

The staff of the 20 polling stations — where presiding officers went missing and were unreachable as was noted in the ECP statement following election day — will be reappointed for the April 10 by-poll.

According to the district education authority, the staff will be appointed from the department of education.

The authority added that a new presiding officer for polling station number 348 will also be appointed.

The remaining 340 polling stations will have the same staff that was appointed for election duty on February 19.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had sought the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) records on the Sialkot NA-75 Daska by-election held on February 19, 2021.

The record had been sought by a bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, which is hearing a petition filed by the PTI candidate who stood for election in the constituency.

The petitioner wants the ECP's decision to order re-election in the constituency be overturned.

During the hearing, Justice Bandial observed that the top court had ruled that elections should be free and fair.

Justice Sajjad Ali Shah noted that the ECP has the authority to take action without receiving a formal application, but asked on what basis the ECP authorised re-election in the whole constituency.

Upon hearing the judge's remarks, PML-N candidate Nausheen Iftikhar told the court that 23 presiding officers were “kidnapped” during the election.

At this, the court also sought information regarding the area where the firing incident took place in the constituency during, which two persons were killed.

The court, while asking these questions, also directed the ECP to submit all records based on which the elections were declared illegal.

The court observed that it will review the PTI candidate’s plea seeking a stay order on the upcoming by-election — scheduled for March 18 — after it reviews all records submitted to the court and the detailed order issued by the ECP on March 8.

The court issued notices to PML-N candidate Nausheen Iftikhar and other parties in the case and adjourned the hearing till March 16.

Last week, the PTI candidate, Ali Asjad Malhi, had challenged the ECP's decision to hold re-polling for Sialkot's NA-75 seat in the Supreme Court.

Malhi had argued in his petition that the ECP did not properly review the available records, so the decision is contrary to the facts.

The petitioner said there was no justification for the order to hold re-election in NA-75 Daska.

Re-election meant that the people of the constituency will face a law and order situation again, he argued.

Asjad is additionally seeking that the election results of NA-75 Daska on February 19 to be released.

 

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Court dismisses PTI petition challenging Gilani's Senate victory

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by PTI's Ali Awan challenging the Senate victory of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

During today's proceedings, the court also rejected a plea to disqualifying the former premier's son, MPA Ali Haider Gilani

Earlier this week, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) formally nominated Gilani as its candidate for the office of the Senate chairman.

Gilani caused a major upset by defeating Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the March 3 Senate poll on a general seat from Islamabad.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah announced the verdict after listening to the arguments. During the hearing, the PTI MNA told the court that the party wished to bring transparency to the electoral process.

However, the IHC CJ remarked that the party had approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in this regard, adding that there were "alternative forums" to address their grievances. "The election process is currently ongoing and, under the Election Act, you have other forums [for addressing your grievances]," he said.

"Tell us how the court can ignore these forums and hear this writ petition," the chief justice asked. "You are levelling allegations of selling votes. Some of your own are included in this," he remarked.

"The court has faith in Parliament and has always respected parliamentarians." The chief justice added that it was everyone's responsibility to abide by the law. "Your case is pending in the ECP. Use that forum first," the judge told the PTI MNA.

"You are a good and respectable public representative, why have you brought such a petition," he questioned, adding that "this writ petition is not admissible on this occasion." "It is not appropriate to bring political issues to the court unnecessarily," the judge said.

The development comes a day after the ECP rejected a petition filed by the PTI seeking to stop the issuance of the notification for Gilani's victory.

The ECP asked the PTI to file an amended petition and make the lawmakers, who it alleged had been bribed, a party to it.

The petition filed last week by ruling PTI lawmakers Farrukh Habib, Maleeka Bokhari and Kanwal Shauzab had asked the ECP not to issue the notification regarding the opposition candidate’s victory in Senate elections.

The petitions had been filed on the basis of a leaked audio clip of Sindh Minister Nasir Hussain Shah purportedly bargaining with four PTI lawmakers for their votes in Senate elections and a video of Gilani’s son, Ali Haider Gilani, in which he was explaining to some PTI MNAs the techniques to waste their votes and purportedly offering money and development funds.

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Court dismisses PTI petition challenging Gilani's Senate victory

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by PTI's Ali Awan challenging the Senate victory of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

During today's proceedings, the court also rejected a plea to disqualifying the former premier's son, MPA Ali Haider Gilani

Earlier this week, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) formally nominated Gilani as its candidate for the office of the Senate chairman.

Gilani caused a major upset by defeating Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the March 3 Senate poll on a general seat from Islamabad.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah announced the verdict after listening to the arguments. During the hearing, the PTI MNA told the court that the party wished to bring transparency to the electoral process.

However, the IHC CJ remarked that the party had approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in this regard, adding that there were "alternative forums" to address their grievances. "The election process is currently ongoing and, under the Election Act, you have other forums [for addressing your grievances]," he said.

"Tell us how the court can ignore these forums and hear this writ petition," the chief justice asked. "You are levelling allegations of selling votes. Some of your own are included in this," he remarked.

"The court has faith in Parliament and has always respected parliamentarians." The chief justice added that it was everyone's responsibility to abide by the law. "Your case is pending in the ECP. Use that forum first," the judge told the PTI MNA.

"You are a good and respectable public representative, why have you brought such a petition," he questioned, adding that "this writ petition is not admissible on this occasion." "It is not appropriate to bring political issues to the court unnecessarily," the judge said.

The development comes a day after the ECP rejected a petition filed by the PTI seeking to stop the issuance of the notification for Gilani's victory.

The ECP asked the PTI to file an amended petition and make the lawmakers, who it alleged had been bribed, a party to it.

The petition filed last week by ruling PTI lawmakers Farrukh Habib, Maleeka Bokhari and Kanwal Shauzab had asked the ECP not to issue the notification regarding the opposition candidate’s victory in Senate elections.

The petitions had been filed on the basis of a leaked audio clip of Sindh Minister Nasir Hussain Shah purportedly bargaining with four PTI lawmakers for their votes in Senate elections and a video of Gilani’s son, Ali Haider Gilani, in which he was explaining to some PTI MNAs the techniques to waste their votes and purportedly offering money and development funds.

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Educational institutions in seven cities will closes for 2 weeks: Shafqat Mehmood

Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said on Wednesday that educational institutions in seven cities of Punjab will close down for two weeks from March 15 (Monday) in light of rising Covid-19 cases.

The minister was addressing a press conference alongside Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan shortly after the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) reviewed the coronavirus situation at educational institutions.

Mahmood said spring break will begin in the following cities and will continue till March 28.FaisalabadGujranwalaLahoreGujratMultanRawalpindiSialkot
Mahmood added that the same decision will also apply to educational institutions in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he specified that the directive will only be applicable to schools in Peshawar where a high positivity rate has been recorded. "In Peshawar, all educational institutions will remain closed from March 15 to March 28. Half of the students will keep attending classes in other districts."

Briefing the media on the decisions taken during the NCOC meeting, the minister said that all steps have to be taken while keeping in mind the nearly 50 million children that attend schools, colleges and universities. "This is a sector that has a direct effect on the spread of the disease," he said.

He stated that officials conducted an analysis of the situation in the entire country, adding that the situation in Sindh and Balochistan were satisfactory." Therefore, it was decided that 50 per cent of all children would attend classes every day while maintaining social distancing and wearing face masks."

The minister added that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) previously enforced will continue to be followed. He added that on the other hand, the situation was not as satisfactory in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

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Pakistan records 1,786 fresh corona infections in last 24 hrs

Pakistan has recorded 43 more coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 13,324, on Wednesday.

According to the latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the COVID-19 has claimed 43 more lives and 1,786 fresh infections were reported during the said period.

The total count of active cases is 16,699.

In the past 24 hours, as many as 1,393 patients have recovered from the virus in a day and 1,664 patients are still in critical condition.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with the fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 595,239.

A total of 39,425 tests were conducted across the country during this period. Overall 565,216 people have recovered from the deadly disease so far while 9,318,038 samples have been tested thus far.

Pakistan is going to start the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination today following an announcement made by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan on Tuesday.

“Beginning with the senior most citizens, who will receive SMS with instructions on their cell phones,” he tweeted.

The NCOC head Asad Umar had announced that the vaccination of people aged 60 years and above will start from Wednesday.

“Vaccinations will be done in reverse order by age. Which means the oldest person who has registered will be vaccinated first. Full details will be issued tomorrow,” Umar tweeted.

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Pakistan records 1,786 fresh corona infections in last 24 hrs

Pakistan has recorded 43 more coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 13,324, on Wednesday.

According to the latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the COVID-19 has claimed 43 more lives and 1,786 fresh infections were reported during the said period.

The total count of active cases is 16,699.

In the past 24 hours, as many as 1,393 patients have recovered from the virus in a day and 1,664 patients are still in critical condition.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with the fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 595,239.

A total of 39,425 tests were conducted across the country during this period. Overall 565,216 people have recovered from the deadly disease so far while 9,318,038 samples have been tested thus far.

Pakistan is going to start the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination today following an announcement made by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan on Tuesday.

“Beginning with the senior most citizens, who will receive SMS with instructions on their cell phones,” he tweeted.

The NCOC head Asad Umar had announced that the vaccination of people aged 60 years and above will start from Wednesday.

“Vaccinations will be done in reverse order by age. Which means the oldest person who has registered will be vaccinated first. Full details will be issued tomorrow,” Umar tweeted.

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